Love and Other Great Expectations, by Becky Dean
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Pub Date: 6/14

Britt Hansen had it all figured out: she was supposed to go to UCLA on a soccer scholarship..until a knee injury got in the way. She's selected by a teacher to compete in a scavenger hunt across England, solving clues that take her to the settings of literary classics. During her travels, she meets the adorably bookish Luke, who tags along as her sidekick while she figures out her clues..and a new plan for her future.

This was such a fun read! Britt's travels sound like such an incredible adventure, especially with a cute British boy along for the ride! The book covered more than YA romance- it was a story of self-discovery and acceptance. I thought the way the book described Britt's struggle of feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of her future was very relatable, and really felt for her when she coped with having to give up doing the one thing she loved and believed she was good at. One thing that stood out about this book-Britt was so different than most other female MCs I've read- I haven't read many books with female athletes as main characters or narrators, and her outspoken/impulsive personality was a huge contrast to the passive/pushover/self-sacrificing leads I usually gravitate towards. At first it took me by surprise, but getting to know Britt through her journey of self-discovery was actually pretty refreshing.

Read this if you love:
💗 The Love & Gelato books
💗 Scavenger hunts
💗 YA novels
💗 British literature- lots of references to Jane Austen, Shakespeare, King Arthur, Sherlock and more

I found this one to be kind of boring, but I'm going to chalk this up as being the wrong book for me. If I'd read it when I was 16, I probably would have loved it. The scavenger hunt premise was cute but strained credulity a little too much for me as an adult.

This novel was fun and fast-paced, not taking too long in any of Britt’s adventures in the U.K., but also not skimping out just to get to the next destination. I enjoyed Britt and Luke as a traveling duo – with the snarky chaperone, Alexis, in the background – and found myself smiling at some of their antics to get the clues (the King Arthur one is by far my favorite). Even with the fun, cute factors, the fear of the future for both Britt and Luke were confronted, and each of them had to learn to face it.

Britt was an interesting character to have as a main character in a book that’s centered around literature because she – and she states this a lot – is not a reader. Up until this point in her life, she was a soccer player, and a darn good one. But then she got injured, and now she can’t play ever again due to a genetic diagnosis she gets after sugery. So, of course, she’s more than upset about that, and the fact that she has no other plans for her future. Despite being picked as one of the students to win this money, she doesn’t have high hopes of winning, even though she really wants to. Her development in learning to face her fears about her diagnosis and future was one of the elements I loved in this story. She learned something on this trip about herself and how she needed to change.

Luke was a great companion for Britt. He was the total opposite in that he had the bookworm/nerd thing going on, but wasn’t physically incapable. Not to mention that he often sought peace and quiet in times, while Britt had to keep going and/or talking. His banter and patience with Britt was impeccable, and I loved his relation to Alexis, which definitely seems coincidental for the book, but then again, this is a small world when it comes to family. Alexis, of course, was enjoyable. I loved how she cared but pretended not to and acted like an annoyed babysitter.

I would like to say that I enjoyed the other characters, but we didn’t get to know them that well. I would have liked more context to Spence, Peter, and Amberlyn, and even Ms. Carmichael as well. They all had potential for interesting backgrounds, but we didn’t get to see much of that. Only a few glimpses here and there.

Lastly, I loved that fact that this was a clean YA novel. No swearing (or if there was any, it was barely noticeable… but I’m pretty sure there wasn’t any at all), and no romance that went from a first meet to having the characters lose their virginity to one another. It was a sweet book, with a little romance, cute moments in the right places, and focused on the characters learning about themselves and growing as people.

Love and Other Great Expectations is available today, June 14th! I highly recommend this book for an anytime read for anyone who loves sweet YA novels, stories that take place in the U.K., or wants a cute summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the traveling aspects of this book. As someone who doesn’t travel nearly enough, this was a great trip for me. I often dream of visiting England. I also loved the scavenger hunt aspects as well. Although I wish we could have gotten to know the other competitors more.

The romance was okay, I just think that YA romances may not be for me anymore. I think I would have enjoyed the book even more if they just remained friends. But overall, this was an easy to read and enjoyable book!

This one was super cute! It took me a while to get through it because I wasn't consistent about reading it, but it never failed to catch me again. It was a fun story, and although there are some things I wish it had done, I really enjoyed it as a whole.

My favorite thing about it was definitely the hunt through Europe. The inclusion of all the classics (even though I'd only read two of them) was so fun! And the descriptions of all the locations were amazing. Even though I've never been to Europe, I felt like I was experiencing it right with our characters. Plus, they had so many fun and iconic experiences along their journey!

I wasn't a huge fan of the romance though... They were cute together, but they weren't anything special. I almost wish they'd stayed as pure friends, and explored that relationship. I'll admit, I found the ending to be cute, but other than that, the ship wasn't anything special.

As for my biggest complaint, i wanted moreI. I wanted to explore the other characters too. I wanted to know more about Al, as she was an awesome character. I wanted more time with Peter, as there was definitely more going on there. All of the other competitors had more potential, but none of it was tapped.

Despite that, I still really enjoyed this. It was the perfect romp through a summer adventure, and one I'd definitely recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 stars

Eh, it was alright but nothing special. I really wasn't a fan of the ending, but I did like the side characters. Overall, I think I'm leaving this book with the feeling of loss. Not in that I'm sad that it's over, but this book was missing a lot. For me, there was a lack of depth, lack of romance (at least to merit the title), and a lack of tangible growth. I was hoping for a big moment at the end, but it was a little rushed and unsatisfying.

Love & Other Great Expectations is a combination of exploring Europe, a cute bookish boy, and a good ole scavenger hunt. So much fun!

Britt is headed to a scavenger hunt in England after a soccer injury derails her plans and she asks Luke, a cute British boy, to join her. Will Britt win this literary scavenger hunt? Will she win more than the prize money and also win Luke's heart?

This book was so cute and I really loved Britt and Luke together. They really balance one another out and they also had great personal growth throughout the story as well. A fund, adventurous book, perfect for the summer! Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The perfect read if you love classic lit or if you’re in need of a little adventure.

This was such a charming story with a likeable cast of characters. Dean has a lovely writing style and I know I’ll pick up more books by this author in the future.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was fun and sweet. I really enjoyed the travel aspect of it and watching Britt navigate the journey. This is a great read for anyone who is a fan of YA romance and excitement.

Thank you to RandomHouse and NetGalley for approving this eArc! Honestly, I didn't like Britt too much at first - she was entertaining to read about, but it felt like everything she did or didn't do revolved around soccer. As the story went on, we learn more about why soccer is so important to Britt, beyond the UCLA scholarship she could've received. Her character development was something I loved; From someone who doesn't know what they want to do (since she's still stuck in her longing and past for soccer) to someone who has discovered that she isn't just built for soccer and can be more than just an athlete. The slow burn between Luke and Britt was impeccable. I was glad that their dynamic wasn't merely focused on their attraction but that they actually enjoyed each other's presence and could help each other's trauma in one way or another. Every character in this book had their own secret, and they were revealed in perfect timing so that there weren't plot holes and could provide closure to most of the issues, like Amberlyn and Britt's mutual dislike or Peter's one-sided hate for Britt. All in all, it's a great read if you like a lighthearted rom-com that isn't just centered around romance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
I enjoyed this YA read, but it also surprised me.
I was expecting a cute rom com with some travel adventure on the side, and I mostly got that, though I did cringe a bit at how it was somehow an insta-love vibe with a slow burn, that ultimately felt a little confusing even by the resolution at the end.
What I did not expect was the depth of character development the author attempted. It didn’t always land, and some characters could have done with more attention, but overall I quite liked the way the autor wove in serious themes and questions for the main character in particular to ponder while traveling. If I suspend disbelief and put aside that this novel was supposed to take place over only one week, it works even better, but the timeline was one of the reasons I couldn’t quite go along with the premise fully. A month would have been more realistic for the character development, relationship building, and frankly the travel adventures the author included. I was glad that all the loose ends seemed to tie together at the end, as there were many small mysteries frustrating me throughout the book trying to figure out what character’s motivations were.
Overall an interesting read and enjoyed it.

low expectations with high rewarded outcome. fantastic weekend read and will definitely recommend to others

Rating: 5⭐️

Thank you to Delacorte Press for gifting me an eArc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

We follow Britt Hanson who’s life has turned upside down after devastating news that she can no longer play soccer. So when she’s chosen by her English teacher as a part of a competition with a cash prize, she takes the opportunity. Set abroad in the UK, she meets Luke who helps her travel the country while also opening Britt’s eyes to what and who she is meant to become.

I absolutely loved this story! As someone who played soccer for years and also had my fair share of injuries, I related to Britt so much. More than I thought I would. I loved her humour and wit. I also loved Luke and his bookish personality. Both characters had secrets that were hard to share but they grew together through the whole book which was enlightening.

The amount of detail in this book is fantastic. I really felt like I was a part of this group traveling around the UK and now I want to travel there even more! It’s sounds amazing to go there. It’s at the top of my bucket list for sure! I loved the literature themed scavenger hunt and how Britt recalled her adventures through her oral storytelling. I was captivated by her voice!

This was a clean, lighthearted, story perfect for fans of European travel, bookish British boys, and literary innuendos!

This was a cute read. I think it’s perfect for those wishing to travel especially if you have a thing for England! It kind of reminded me of that Mary Kate and Ashley movie where they went to London England! I connected with the main character who goes through a sports injury and what I call injury grief. I also found it to be about finding yourself after the thing you always identified with is taken from your life.

Love & Other Great Expectations was such a fun and cute read. The story follows a high school girl named Britt Hansen. Britt gets injured playing soccer and then receives some devastating news regarding her health. Struggling with her new health condition she gets something to be excited about. She is given a once in a lifetime opportunity by her English teacher. She and three of her classmates have to go on a scavenger hunt following literary clues around England. Whoever wins will get a life changing amount of money. I found myself trying to figure out the clues before reading on.

It was such a fun adventure following Britt along her journey. She meets a boy named Luke who was struggling with his personal life and needed a distraction, so he joins Britt on her adventure. It was so nice to watch their feelings grow for each other.

All the characters have a great amount of growth in such a short amount of time. I love that she met Luke. They balance out each other so well making a great match. Seeing Britt’s confidence grow throughout the book was inspiring and the way the story ends was absolutely perfect.

A big thanks to Netgalley & Random House Children's for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

An injury crushes Britt’s dreams of playing soccer in college. But when her English teacher offers her the chance to participate in a scavenger hunt across England to win $100,000, she has the opportunity for new dreams. Along the way, she meets Luke, an English boy who helps her solve the clues, find herself in the process, and gives her the opportunity for a little romance in the process.

Fun fact: I studied abroad in England when I was in college, so reading Britt’s British adventures reminded me of my own time traveling across the UK. Much like Britt, when I first arrived in England, I was a bit lost in life and through my travels and my experiences in England, I really grew up and found myself. I may not have had the scavenger hunt Britt had, or the romance, or the opportunity to win a large amount of money (although that would have been great haha), but I could really relate to what Britt was experiencing as I read this one.

Outside of my huge personal connection, there was so much I loved about this book. All of the tie ins to classic British literature, the adventure as they searched for clues across the UK, the sweet romance, and the angst of that transitional time in your late teens, all created such a fun read. I loved this one and cannot wait for more from Becky Dean.

Thanks to Delacorte Press for the advance copy.

What a fun adventure - can this be real life please? I'd love to have this happen to me. It was so real and entertaining. I loved Britt and kept picturing Blake Lively from the move Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (it fit so well). Luke, Al, Nick, and all the cast of characters were fun. Must read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a friggin’ CHARMING book! This was so well done, so compelling and sweet, and thankfully not too young and angsty. We follow Britt, who after losing her hopes of a soccer scholarship to injury, enters a contest to win money to still attend UCLA. (Go Bruins!!)
The contest is basically my dream. A literary scavenger-hunt across the UK. Britt meets friends along the way, finds a little love (cue every dreamy hero with British accent), and ultimately learns a lot about herself. So cute!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Becky Dean, and the publisher of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Britt Hanson has always been the star on the soccer field, but when an injury and a surprise diagnosis end her chance to play college soccer and even go to college, she is crushed. Then a surprise trip to England from a teacher changes everything. Britt has a chance to compete for $100,000 by doing a scavenger hunt in around England. As she's competing, Britt meets book smart Luke. Luke isn't allowed to help her with the clues, but joins her on the adventure of a lifetime around England.
To win, Britt will have to outsmart her classmates who play dirty. Will she be able to do it without being distracted by the very cute Luke?

This was a cute and fun summer YA read! I loved how it tied in famous writers/novels from England. I will be recommending this book to friends who love YA and readers who love England.

Love & Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean immediately captured me from the very first line with its funny and relatable contemporary YA voice. As an avid reader and writer, I absolutely loved that the plot was about a scavenger hunt based on Classic English Literature. I thought that the premise of the book was unique and entertaining. I really loved the banter between the characters and how all the characters were well-rounded and had depth to them despite being based on YA stereotypes. They felt like real teenagers with their own personal struggles and messes which I really think is important for successful YA. The romance between Britt and Luke was so cute and felt like an authentic first love story.
Overall, I loved Love & Other Great Expectations. I will be recommending it to all my friends who love YA contemporary and I'm so excited to read Becky Dean's future work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's- Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of Love & Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean in exchange for an honest review. This review will be posted on Goodreads/Amazon upon publication of the book.