Charlie Sampson

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.