Amanda Sellet returns with The Odds of Getting Even, a delightfully chaotic follow-up to her debut Hate to Fake It to You that proves lightning can indeed strike twice. This time, we’re trading Hawaiian beaches for the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, where Jean Harrington—our perpetually unlucky-in-love protagonist—finds herself entangled in a web of lies that would make even the most seasoned poker player fold.
The premise is classically screwball: Jean, a reluctant resort employee with artistic aspirations and a titanium heart encased in barbed wire, stumbles upon a bashful scientist in desperate need of towels and company. What begins as innocent poker lessons with the mysterious “Charlie” quickly evolves into something far more complicated when Jean discovers her shy snake enthusiast is actually Charles Pike IV, heir to a brewing empire and recent ex-boyfriend of pop sensation Adriana Asebedo.
Character Development: The Heart of the Game
Jean Harrington: The Wounded Artist
Sellet’s greatest strength lies in her character development, and Jean Harrington is a masterpiece of contradictions. She’s simultaneously vulnerable and fierce, claiming to have a heart of “pure titanium” while secretly yearning for genuine connection. Her backstory—involving a privileged ex-boyfriend named Smithson who destroyed her reputation—provides crucial context for her commitment-phobic tendencies without excusing her more questionable decisions.
Jean’s voice crackles with authenticity, whether she’s delivering withering one-liners or revealing her deepest insecurities. Her description of past heartbreak as being like a shark attack—”those big teeth took a chunk out of your thigh”—perfectly captures her defense mechanism of turning pain into dark humor.
Charlie Pike: The Reluctant Heir
Charlie emerges as more than just a love interest; he’s a fully realized character struggling with the weight of family expectations and his own social awkwardness. His genuine passion for herpetology and his discomfort with his brewing dynasty heritage make him refreshingly three-dimensional. The way he lights up when discussing snakes, only to shut down when reminded of social conventions, speaks to Sellet’s understanding of how society shapes our willingness to share our authentic selves.
His relationship with his overbearing security chief Mugsy and his well-meaning but clueless parents reveals the gilded cage of privilege—he has everything except the freedom to be himself.
The Mechanics of Deception: Plot Analysis
The book’s central conceit—Jean assuming a false identity to infiltrate the Pike family’s centennial celebration—provides endless opportunities for both comedy and conflict. As “Eve,” the alleged niece of a booze magnate dubbed “Sockless Tommy,” Jean must navigate high society while orchestrating her revenge with the help of ambitious journalist Hildy.
Strengths in execution:
- Layered irony: The fact that both Jean and Charlie are essentially performing versions of themselves creates delicious dramatic tension
- Escalating stakes: What begins as personal vendetta evolves into a complex game involving corporate espionage and public humiliation
- Organic comedy: The humor emerges naturally from character interactions rather than forced situations
Areas where the plot occasionally stumbles:
The convenience of certain revelations sometimes strains credibility. Jean’s ability to maintain her cover identity while simultaneously planning Charlie’s downfall requires a suspension of disbelief that doesn’t always feel earned. Additionally, some secondary characters exist primarily to move the plot forward rather than feeling like genuine individuals.
Writing Style: Sellet’s Signature Voice
Sellet’s prose sparkles with the kind of wit that makes you want to highlight entire passages. Her dialogue feels lived-in and natural, capturing the rhythm of real conversation while maintaining the heightened reality necessary for romantic comedy. She has a particular gift for internal monologue that reveals character while advancing the story.
The author’s background as a journalist serves her well in crafting believable media subplot elements, from tabloid headlines to industry gossip. These details ground the story in a recognizable world while maintaining the escapist fantasy that rom-com readers crave.
Her handling of class dynamics is particularly nuanced. The contrast between Jean’s working-class hustle and Charlie’s privileged guilt creates authentic tension without demonizing either position. The book acknowledges that money can’t buy happiness while also recognizing that financial security provides options unavailable to those without it.
Thematic Depth: More Than Just Romance
Beneath the surface comedy, The Odds of Getting Even explores themes of authenticity, forgiveness, and the courage required for vulnerability. Jean’s journey from self-protection to openness mirrors Charlie’s struggle to balance family loyalty with personal truth.
The book’s treatment of public versus private identity feels particularly relevant in our social media age. Both protagonists struggle with the gap between how the world perceives them and who they truly are. Jean’s artistic ambitions and Charlie’s scientific interests represent their authentic selves, while their romantic personas—whether calculated or inherited—feel performative.
Pacing and Structure: The Art of Revelation
Sellet demonstrates masterful control over information distribution. The revelation of Charlie’s true identity comes at precisely the right moment to maximize both Jean’s emotional devastation and the reader’s investment in their relationship. The author skillfully balances multiple plot threads without losing narrative focus.
The book’s structure mirrors a poker game—appropriate given the characters’ initial bonding activity. Information is revealed strategically, stakes are raised incrementally, and the final showdown delivers both emotional and comedic payoffs.
Romance Development: Chemistry and Conflict
The romantic tension between Jean and Charlie crackles from their first meeting. Their initial poker lessons serve as perfect metaphor for their relationship—both are skilled at reading others while hiding their own cards. The physicality of their connection feels organic, developing naturally from intellectual compatibility and shared humor.
Their reunion at the Pike family estate provides delicious tension as both characters struggle with conflicting desires for revenge and reconnection. The author navigates the tricky territory of maintaining reader sympathy for both characters despite their deceptions.
Supporting Cast: A Gallery of Memorable Characters
The secondary characters add richness to the narrative without overwhelming it. Hildy, Jean’s journalistic partner-in-crime, provides both comic relief and plot momentum while serving as a foil to Jean’s more impulsive tendencies. The Pike family members feel authentic in their well-meaning obtuseness, particularly Charlie’s parents, who embody the challenges of generational wealth and expectation.
The appearance of Smithson, Jean’s teenage tormentor, provides crucial backstory while demonstrating how past trauma can influence present behavior. His casual misogyny and unexamined privilege make him a perfectly hateable antagonist.
Critical Assessment: Areas for Improvement
While The Odds of Getting Even succeeds admirably as entertainment, it occasionally sacrifices character development for plot convenience. Some of Jean’s more extreme actions—particularly her willingness to publicly humiliate Charlie—feel motivated more by genre requirements than genuine character logic.
The book’s treatment of celebrity culture through the Adriana Asebedo subplot feels somewhat superficial. While effective as a plot device, it missed opportunities to explore the complexities of fame and public perception more deeply.
Additionally, the resolution comes perhaps too easily for characters who have caused each other significant pain. The emotional work required for genuine forgiveness and trust-building feels somewhat rushed in service of the happily-ever-after ending.
Comparison to Previous Work
The Odds of Getting Even represents a clear evolution from Sellet’s debut Hate to Fake It to You. While maintaining the signature humor and romantic tension, this sequel demonstrates increased confidence in handling complex emotional territory. The author’s ability to balance multiple plot threads shows growth in storytelling sophistication.
Fans of Sellet’s earlier works, including her young adult novels By the Book and Belittled Women, will recognize her talent for creating flawed but lovable characters who grow through their mistakes.
Similar Reading Recommendations
Readers who enjoy The Odds of Getting Even would likely appreciate:
- Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series for similar protagonist voice and romantic comedy styling
- Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners for fake identity romance with family complications
- Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World for class-conscious romance with authentic emotional depth
- Sarah Hogle’s You Deserve Each Other for couples working through deception and trust issues
- Emily Henry’s Beach Read for enemies-to-lovers with writerly protagonists
Final Verdict: A Winning Hand
The Odds of Getting Even succeeds as both a worthy sequel and a standalone romantic comedy. Sellet’s gift for creating flawed but sympathetic characters, combined with her sharp wit and emotional intelligence, produces a reading experience that’s both entertaining and surprisingly touching.
While the book doesn’t break new ground in the romantic comedy genre, it executes familiar tropes with enough freshness and skill to feel original. The author’s ability to find humor in human foibles while maintaining genuine affection for her characters makes this a book that lingers in memory long after the final page.
For readers seeking smart, funny romance with emotional depth, The Odds of Getting Even delivers exactly what it promises—a delightful romp through the complications of love, lies, and learning to be vulnerable. In a genre often criticized for predictability, Sellet proves that execution matters more than innovation, and that the best romantic comedies remind us why we believe in love despite its complications.
The odds were definitely in favor of this book winning over readers who appreciate character-driven romance with a healthy dose of chaos. Sellet has crafted a sequel that honors its predecessor while establishing its own identity—much like her protagonists learning to balance their authentic selves with the roles they play for others.