Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

Andie Christopher's "Unrealistic Expectations" delivers a thought-provoking exploration of relationship dynamics. The premise, centering on a relationship therapist navigating her own romantic turmoil through a fake-dating scheme, is inherently intriguing.

The book delves into themes of authenticity and the application of therapeutic principles in real-life relationships, which I found particularly compelling. I appreciated the initial use of therapy quotes at the start of chapters, though I wished this continued throughout. Galvin's character development, especially his emotional journey, was a highlight. However, I found the third-act conflict and its resolution somewhat underwhelming.

January LaVoy's narration was superb, making the audiobook a quick and enjoyable listen.

3.5 stars

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Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher is an adult contemporary romance where a therapist heroine needs to fake date her old childhood crush to improve her reputation before releasing a book about relationships.

It follows Jessica, a therapist, whose boyfriend breaks up with her right before the release date of her book. Then she runs into her old high school crush, and they end up fake dating for both of their benefit. People will believe she has a good relationship so she can give advice to people about them, and it will also help Galvin because his ex-girlfriend said some shitty things about him online. They then obviously spend a lot of time together, and as lines begin to blur, they figure out they are more compatible than they thought.

It's a really fun and entertaining book. While it talks about healthy relationships, communication, and all those things, it's not overly serious and remains lighthearted. I really enjoyed the dynamic between them since they are quite different but they work together really well. Jessica is a bit more put together and mature while Galvin has some insecurities about being good at relationships, and they create a safe space for each other. It's sweet, steamy, and addicting, and it's a good book to fly through in one sitting.

I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fun, easy read that also deals with some meaningful topics.

Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher was a solid read. While I don't want to put my own unrealistic expectations on a therapist, I did find myself wanting to shake Jessica a bit.

Big thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for shairng this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

It took me a while to get into this book. The storyline was ok, but I found myself zoning out while reading. Overall great story though.

Overall okay read, but main characters were irritating and snobby, which made them unrelatable and me unempathetic towards them. I love a "fake dating" novel, but this one just didn't seem to do it for me.

In my honest opinion, I did not find many aspects of this novel appealing. I usually enjoy the fake dating trope; however, it felt like the reasons behind their fake dating agreement were misshapen and misaligned and that Jessica needed Galvin significantly more than he needed her. It felt as though there were many loose ends introduced and left untied, namely Jessica's parental situation, Galvin's parental situation, and Abby's divorce. I wanted to like Jessica as a character, but she felt extremely surface-level even though the narrative attempted to flesh her out with her mother's unexpected visit. Galvin did feel slightly more complex than Jessica did, but his exposition felt rushed for the sake of their reunion. All in all, this isn't a bad book by any means, but I would not necessarily recommend it in any significant capacity.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
I love fake dating turning into real. This was definitely a wonderful read.

This was really good up until it just ended, it ought the character development and their journey together worked well, but then it just ended. There was no real resolution, no epilogue, no closure about her ex, nothing. It just ended.

Two of the healthiest characters I’ve seen in a romance. They make such sound of mind decisions that it was actually a delight to read about their love story.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

The Fake Dating or Marriage trope is one of my favorites. It's a forced proximity where two people may think they have absolutely nothing in common and are really, at the start, out to help themselves. Then along the way find out that maybe they care about helping each other.

Both of the main characters here are needing back up in very public settings, one to sell her new relationship book - when she doesn't actually have a relationship - the him to shut down the massive derogatory public humiliation his ex-girlfriend doled out on social media.

Both have been burned and timid about relationships. It's fun to watch them learn to trust and love again, and overcome reluctance to step back into the dating world.

This fake relationship in Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher is a good one. Their chemistry was fantastic so the fake dating thing was incredibly believable.
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Jessica is a relationship therapist who gets dumped the day before her book about relationships gets published. While out drowning her sorrows, she runs into an old college friend, Galvan, who is also drowning his own sorrows after being publicly emasculated by his ex. With both their reputations on the line, fake dating sounds like a good idea. But is it?
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This was a quick, entertaining read that I am happy to tell you all about!

This was my first book by this author and it was really fun! I loved her authorial voice adn humor. There was some clumsy writing like repetitive language choices, but that could still be an ARC thing. I had a hard time personally taking the name Galvin seriously, but that's a me problem. I also had some issues with the way Jessica talks and thinks about her mom. (I don't love women being called malevolent floozies and cultivating a "town bike image" in a romcom.) In general, I felt like Jessica needed to go straight to therapy with her focus on her mother. (110 uses of the word "mother" in a 300 page book...) But I loved the fake dating of it all and I'm excited to read more from AJC.

I REALLY enjoyed this read.

I was hooked from the beginning and loved this author's writing style.

Jessica is a therapist who is working on releasing her Dating Self-Help book but that doesn't mean she has her whole life put together. Her bf breaks up with her and thats just the beginning. Even though Jessica is a therapist, it's not easy for her to take her own advice. In comes Galvin, who doesn't have a great example of what love is since his parents didn't end up happy. This is reflected in the partners he choses and the choices he makes.

I LOVED the character development, the growth in Galvin and his way of showing up for Jessica was beautiful.

Not a huge fan of the ending, wondering if there will be another book?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher.

I enjoyed this book, but I wasn't extremely engaged in it. I would say that it was fine but I wasn't feeling connected with the characters. I didn't dislike it at all, I just didn't love it.

I thought this book took a minute to really get into but once I did I was hooked trying to figure out how the relationships would develop. I did end up recommended this to a few people who absolutely loved it as well.

I thought I would love this way more than I did and that makes me sad but overall it very cute and I might pick up the authors next book.

Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher is a spicy romantic comedy that delivers a perfect blend of humor, heart, and unexpected twists. Jessica Gallagher, a relationship therapist facing a breakup on the eve of her book launch, finds herself in a PR nightmare. Enter Galvin Baker, her old crush, and the two embark on a fake dating escapade that turns out to be anything but predictable.

Christopher crafts a narrative filled with witty banter, genuine emotions, and some seriously sweet moments. Jessica and Galvin's journey from fake dates to something more authentic is a joy to witness. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of relationships, weaving a tale that goes beyond the facade of fake romance.

The characters are relatable and endearing, each with their quirks and vulnerabilities. Jessica's crisis management and Galvin's fear of commitment add layers of depth to their dynamic. As they navigate the intricacies of their fake relationship, readers are treated to a delightful exploration of love, expectations, and the unexpected.

Unrealistic Expectations not only explores the pitfalls of modern dating but also delivers a message about replacing unrealistic expectations with genuine connections. Christopher's writing is engaging, and the story unfolds at a pace that keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you're looking for a romantic comedy that balances sizzling chemistry with heartfelt moments, this book is a must-read.