Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book! I read it in one day. I loved the storyline and the characters in this book. I would definitely recommend this book.

Synopsis: Drew has always wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby. So when her husband springs for a trip for her 40th birthday, Drew is elated. Joined by their close friends, Drew and Nate prepare for the weekend of a lifetime. But growing tensions between the couples threaten to derail the entire weekend and their lives.

Overall: Full disclosure, I googled "kentucky derby romance books" after watching this years' derby, which I watch every year. That's how I found this book. It was different than I expected. It had all the things I wanted: mint juleps, hats, and fashion. But it was so much more than that. I was surprised at the depth of the characters and the very artful way in which Francis crafted the tension within each couple's marriage. I was happily surprised!

Rating: 4/5

Recommend: Yes, especially if you're a fan of the Kentucky Derby!

I love Wendy Francis books but this one I just could not get into! Maybe it was the Kentucky Derby theme, but it just didn't do it for me this time

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Two couples take a long weekend trip to enjoy the Kentucky Derby festivities. As a local currently living in Louisville, Kentucky I found the plot summary fascinating, but the author gets a lot of little details wrong. If you’re going to talk about a city and what it’s known for, do your research. The author hits the nail on the head when it comes to horse racing and descriptions of Churchill Downs. However, when you stare out at the city line it’s NOT the University of Kentucky stadium you see from Churchill Downs, it’s the University of Louisville and if you don’t understand that rivalry you will piss off a lot of readers. And don’t get me started on the bourbon. None of the bourbons listed in the book are even close to the $100 minimum price tag they are actually affordable, everyday bourbons with the closest to skimming top shelf being Makers Mark. Aside from the distracting, inaccurate details, the books was just average. The secrets the characters had were not that shocking and the revelations were anticlimactic at best. I wanted more drama and boundary pushing of these relationships and never got it. The ending was underwhelming and honestly, predictable.


Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.

Love books based around horses. I also listened to the audiobook as well. Great book that was fun to read and to listen too. Great job

Wendy Francis has such a distinct voice in women’s fiction and this one was a hit! I loved the drama, the friendship, the anticipation, and the Kentucky Derby setting! Admittedly, from the upper, upper Midwest, I have next to no knowledge about the derby other than the fact that it’s in Kentucky! Lol. The outfit descriptions were so fun and I will need to google Millionare’s Row just for a visual!

Thanks Wendy for another fun one!

there was so much packed into this book. Wendy is such a good author at writing what she does. you know every time you can rely on her to give you exactly what you want and need going into the book. the people feel like people she truly gets the depths of so when we read them we feel it all alongside them too.
the book really gives you pause aswell as entertainment. you are neither feeling there are too many good guys and bad just people. people who do what people do and sometimes make good decision and sometimes not so good.
there is also the real workings of relationships and how much hard work must come into both sides to keep it on course and to keep each other steady. people seem to shy away thinking "hard work" surely it shouldnt have to be. but you are literally having to lean and be leaned on by yourself and for someone else. being depended on and being dependent needs trust, love and work. but when done right it can be magical. and when we make mistakes it is only then that you see where the foundations youve built will carry you.
i think the added location of the book was the added fun and zest you wanted and it brought together these couples in such good ways which brought more than betting on the races to the front.

Betting on Good was a warm, heartfelt read with a blend of charm and sincerity that made it feel like catching up with old friends. The premise drew me in straight away—set against the backdrop of community, second chances, and the quiet bravery it takes to start over. Wendy Francis writes with a softness that still carries emotional weight, and while the plot didn’t always surprise me, I found comfort in the familiar beats and the way the characters gradually opened up.

There were moments that made me smile, and others that made me pause and reflect. I appreciated how the story balanced the personal with the relational—there were layers of grief, healing, and hope that unfolded gently. The romance was sweet, but it didn’t overpower the heart of the story, which was really about growth and belonging.

It’s not a fast-paced book, but it didn’t need to be. It gave me that quiet, content feeling I get when I finish a book that’s simply… good. Not dramatic, not loud, but honest and warm. A lovely weekend read for when you’re in the mood for something that feels like a deep breath.

By complete coincidence, I read this book over the Kentucky Derby weekend, in fact I missed the actual race because I was reading. Anyway, Betting on Good follows two couples who take a weekend getaway to attend the Derby and the surrounding festivities as part of a birthday celebration for Drew, one of the wives.

These couples have been married, for years and been friends for a very long time. They are neighbors, and their children run in and out of both homes without thinking. Nate knows this trip is Drew's dream, and he hopes it will also be the answer to his problems with money. Graham and Leslie are no longer on the same page. Leslie works hard and is frustrated by Graham who seems to have just given up, refusing to do...anything. Nate and Leslie are old college pals who have secrets and Drew begins to lean on Graham for adult conversation and he starts to idealize her.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let the games begin.

This was a nice little look at two established relationships and the nature of adult friendships and the little course corrections and recommitments that are needed to keep things going after the honeymoon phase is over. Add free flowing alcohol and the excitement of gambling and racing and anything can happen.

The details of the Oaks and the Derby and the entire atmosphere down to the fashions and cocktails were especially fun this weekend. This was a quick, easy read, perfect for a Spring afternoon.

I requested to read Wendy’s Francis’s new novel as it was Kentucky Derby time and this novel focuses on two couples who attend this annual event where things do not go as planned (to put it mildly).

Francis’s writing puts you right into the event with intriguing characters who have plenty of baggage. This was a quick, light-hearted read but that does not make the story less memorable.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a chance to read and review this novel.

Are you in the mood for a good book? Check out Betting on Good by Wendy Francis. It’s available now!