Charlie Sampson

9

In Betting on You, by Lynn Painter, cynical Charlie Sampson and logical Bailey Mitchell meet at the airport and instantly dislike each other. Years later, they meet again, make a life-altering bet, and gradually fall in love. The story is told from both Bailey and Charlie's perspectives, and includes pop culture references and cats. The bet: Charlie bets Theo that he can get Bailey to date him, after Theo jokes that she's too uptight. Bailey and Charlie also make a bet on whether two coworkers will get together. Fake dating: To disrupt the pleasantries between Bailey's mom and her new boyfriend, Bailey and Charlie pretend to date. Character traits: Charlie is sarcastic and cynical, while Bailey is logical and romantic. Charlie struggles with anxiety and vulnerability, and pops Tums to deal with stress. Shared experiences: Bailey and Charlie bond over their shared experiences as children of divorce, including issues with their mothers' boyfriends. Tropes: The book includes classic rom-com tropes, such as Charlie initially calling Bailey "Glasses" as an insult.