Happy New Year! There’s something quite satisfying about starting a new year by finishing a series you’ve read across several years as the books have released. Back in March 2023, I reviewed Betting on the Boy Next Door, the first book in Melanie Jacobson’s Betting on Love series, so it feels especially fitting to begin 2026 by writing about the fourth and final instalment.
Betting on the Best Friend brings the series to a close with Ruby and Charlie’s story, and what a lovely way to wrap things up.
I’ve reviewed several of Melanie Jacobson’s romantic comedies on the blog over the years, and I keep coming back for a reason. Her stories are fun, her humour is effortless, and her characters feel real and layered rather than cookie-cutter, same old same old. Being gifted an ARC of this novel was an added blessing since I didn’t have Kindle Unlimited membership until late November (yay!).
Betting on the Best Friend by Melanie Jacobson is a romantic comedy which revisits the familiar friendship group, so it was great catching up with Sami, Ava, Madison and the men who now hold their hearts. While it took me a chapter or two to fully resettle into the rhythm of these characters, it didn’t take long before I rested comfortably in their world.
Charlie was a standout character in the earlier books. Patient, steady, and genuinely kind—the poster boy for hero material—so stepping into his point of view was a treat. Seeing how he thinks and loves only confirmed what readers likely suspected all along.
Ruby, too, was an interesting heroine to explore. I’ll admit I never loved her choice in men (Niles was never my favourite), so there was a certain irony in watching someone who helped her friends find love date the wrong guy long-term. That history made her growth, self-awareness, and eventual romance more satisfying.
At its heart, Betting on the Best Friend is a warm, engaging friends-to-lovers romance, and a strong conclusion to the series. It ties up loose ends, revisits beloved characters, and gives readers a sense of completion.
If you enjoy light-hearted romance with emotional depth, found family, and characters you grow attached to over time, the Betting on Love series is well worth the journey. If you’ve already read the earlier books, Ruby and Charlie’s story is a rewarding way to say goodbye.
Until next time,
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