Becky Dean is back with her trademark coming-of-age story of a daughter who is trying to discover herself and how she fits into her family and her world. Savannah is high-strung and anxious. She loves predictability and routine. But she’s also tired of being boring.

Enter Tanner, her long-time frenemy. They’ve been forced together throughout their childhood, since their mothers are co-workers and best friends. She hates the nickname he gave her—S’Moore (S. Moore…her name…my daughter and I loved it)—and sees him as kind of a doofus. He’s constantly dropping the ball, and his parents have very low expectations of him, and yet his grades and hers are pretty comparable.

Surprisingly, Tanner offers to help her become less boring in a quest to get her boyfriend back. He’s right there with her, coaching her through all the scary things she does, and giving her a glimpse of the depths he keeps hidden from the rest of the family.

Once again, Dean is spot-on in her descriptions of feelings and adventures. She does a great job of peeling back the layers and exposing the characters not only as they are, but as they are on the road to becoming. She has become an auto-request for me!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Kissing. Some potentially dangerous situations, but nothing severe. Some deceiving of parents.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like Alaska travel, cruises, coming of age, characters with anxiety.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/07/different-takes-on-coming-of-age.html

Savannah is heading on an Alaskan cruise with her greatest competitor, Tanner, right after her boyfriend breaks up with her on the last day of school. To get her now ex-boyfriend off her mind, Tanner encourages Savannah to use their vacation as a way become less "boring" and try new things.

This was a cute YA book. The setting and different experiences were fun and I can see many high school students enjoying the adventurous aspects of the setting. I liked Savannah and Tanner's relationship and the individual issues they had with their own identities - it felt real to what many teenagers experience. I think it was a great novel of discovering who they were and trying to get over the idea of disappointing anyone (parents, themselves, etc.).

"His laugh was loud and free and joyful, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. Our gazes met, and his joy was contagious, filling me with light like a star being burned inside my chest."

I love a book set on a cruise. I've only cruised once myself, and the experience was beyond terrible, but that doesn't stop me from loooovingggg cruise settings, especially Alaskan cruises. Something Becky Dean does so well in her newest YA romcom is utilizing her environment and relying on imagery to set the tone for her scenes, and I think the Alaskan cruise was the perfect choice for our main characters in Hearts Overboard, Savannah and Tanner. This novel highlighted Dean's strengths and improved upon the weaker parts of her previous novel, Love and Other Great Expectations; Hearts Overboard has demonstrated that Dean has found her groove as a writer, and I'm thrilled to see where she goes from here!

Synopsis:
Savannah and Tanner have been rivals their entire lives. Whether it was academics, sports, social lives, or even their parents, the two have made it their mission to one-up the other. So when Tanner steals the astronomy club presidency out from under Savannah, a role she's waiting three years to fulfill, and then proceeds to witness her boyfriend break-up with her in front of half the student body, Savannah thinks she can't possibly despite Tanner any more. And she's about to spend two weeks with him on a boat.

Of course, Tanner and Savannah's parents are co-workers and best friends, and the two are joining their parents on a company-wide Alaskan cruise. Newly dumped for being too "boring," Savannah reluctantly agrees to Tanner's outlandish idea to prove her to her ex that she's fun: under Tanner's guidance, Savannah will spend the next two weeks partaking in spontaneous, adventurous activities that will highlight her carefree attitude and show Caleb exactly what he's missing. In return, Savannah will help Tanner figure out a college major that will appease his parents, who see his dedication to football as a waste of time compared to Savannah and his sisters' more academic goals.

Obviously the alliance will be a waste of time, right? There's nothing romantic about the Alaskan wilderness, or a cruise where Savannah and Tanner are the only teens for miles, or even the classic academic rivals, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity tropes. Nothing romantic. *winks*

Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book! After feeling pretty blasé about Love and Other Great Expectations, I had middling hopes for Hearts Overboard, but even from the first chapter I knew that Becky Dean had something special with this newest novel. The characters were fleshed out, with fears and hopes and dreams and insecurities that were all addressed in emotional scenes not just between Tanner and Savannah, but also their friends and families. The true standout for me was the scenery, though. Dean did an amazing job describing the nature and wildlife with such detail that I could picture it perfectly. I longed to be there with them (although not enough to cruise again within the next decade.)

Overall:
This is a great YA romcom for ages 13 and older, and features a female main character in STEM as well as non-traditional families, parental pressure, childhood trauma, strong female friendships, and all your favorite romance tropes! Highly recommend, and can't wait for Becky Dean's next novel!

I buddy read this with my daughter who is in her early teens, and we both thought it was super cute. The romance was adorable without being smutty. My daughter said she can't wait to read more from this author.

*4.5 stars rounded up*
This was a really cute story with an amazing setting and a sense of adventure. At first Savannah struck me as a little self-centered and set in her ways, but as I got to know her, I started to understand her better. Plus, it gave a good opportunity for character growth, which we see a lot of over the course of the story. Despite Savannah's negative feelings about him in the beginning, Tanner was a likable character who had a lot of depth too. It was interesting to watch the characters learn a lot about each other (maybe Savannah didn't know as much about Tanner as she thought she did) while also learning a lot about themselves along the way. There was a lot of introspection about taking risks, trying new things, and facing fears. I enjoyed the romance aspect, even if I sometimes got a little frustrated with Savannah's (admittedly understandable) denials along the way. The book was a quick read and kept me interested the whole time. I was a little sad to reach the ending of this one since I enjoyed it so much. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

Thank you to Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the advance review copy of Hearts Overboard! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

“This was way outside my usual box, but once again, I was glad I’d done it. Each small step made the next one easier, and they were pushing the walls of my box outward, inch by inch.”

When Savannah Moore’s boyfriend breaks up with her very publicly on their last day of junior year because she’s too boring, Savannah decides that she’s going to use her mom’s company cruise to Alaska to prove that she’s not “Moore the Bore” and try to win him back. Except, when her long-time rival Tanner who just happens to be going on the cruise as well finds out about Savannah’s plan, he starts pushing her more out of her comfort zone than Savannah had been thinking. From zip lining to dogsledding to karaoke to a polar plunge, Savannah starts to realize that maybe, just maybe, she’s having fun being adventurous with Tanner. But when things get a little too real and scary, Savannah will have to decide whether to go back to the safety of what she already knows or to risk her heart on a new adventure.

Can we say “perfect timing?” I was approved for an arc of Becky Dean’s HEARTS OVERBOARD literally right after my family and I booked an Alaskan cruise for this summer, so of course I had to read this amazingly adventurous book while taking the SAME CRUISE as Savannah. Like, exactly the same. And wow, was that a fun experience! But even if you’re not hiking glaciers and traveling by train through the Alaskan wilderness while reading Savannah’s story, this book is still such a fun ride! I absolutely loved Savannah and Tanner’s relationship, which included both entertaining banter and deep conversations. While not relatable for everyone, Savannah’s character is crafted so well, making it seem like she’s someone you’ve known for years. And of course, Dean’s descriptions of the setting were stupendous, surely compelling anyone not already in Alaska to start looking at flights. With heart, hope, and a whole lot of Alaskan love, HEARTS OVERBOARD is the perfect book to read during such a sweltering summer!

Content Warnings: Anxiety, parental abandonment, divorce

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

3.5 stars 🌟

This was a quick, fun read about learning to embrace change and try new things. One thing I really liked about this book was how descriptive the author was with the setting. I've never been to Alaska or Canada but the author did a great job of making me feel like I was there.

Character-wise, Tanner was definitely a highlight for me. He was just so fun and I enjoyed his aura. Our M.C. Savannah was cool too. As someone who also has a desire to control situations and enjoys routine to an extent, I related to her quite a bit. Although, she could be a little too much at times for me.

Overall, I liked this book. It was a quick, nice read. Thank you, Random House Children’s, NetGalley, and Becky Dean for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!

A big thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC!

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Becky Dean, and it has made me excited to check out her other works. This was such a cute novel, you guys have no idea. Two people that seem like complete opposites are forced to spend time with each other (resulting in them into falling in love) is not a new concept, but I eat it up every single time.

"Tanner was saved by the food’s arrival, but I kept studying him. He couldn’t hide the hard edge to his jaw, despite the fact that he was extra loud through the meal, making jokes and chatting with the server. Presenting the façade he wanted people to see, so no one got close enough to notice the good guy inside. The smart, thoughtful guy who chased down milkshakes and distracted me from my fears and believed I was worth more than a parking lot breakup."

The descriptions were super vivid and descriptive. It genuinely feels like the author did her research on capturing the background, if she hasn’t been on the trip herself. That, alongside the activities done by Tanner and Savannah made the trip seem realistic and exciting. Kind of like we went along for the ride instead of things just happening in the background. The main characters were also really cute, especially the way they interacted with each other.

As much as I liked this book, I will admit that there were a few instances that bothered me. It mainly has to do with a bit of the character’s characterizations, and the way that it ended (it just made me want more! But in a good way). Regardless, I still enjoyed this book and will be giving some of her other books a try!

GENERAL INFO

Hearts Overboard- a standalone

Publication: 7-9-24, Read 7-7-24

Book's cover: captures Savannah and Tanner on the Alaskan cruise

Format: eBook, 364 pages

Source: Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's| Delacorte Romance for this ARC💙! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Setting: LA to Alaska

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

Tropes: clean romance, rivals to lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity, slow burn romance, STEM

HEA/HFN ending: HEA

Epilogue Included: no

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary: Savannah is dumped on the last day of junior year by her boyfriend Caleb. He told her she was boring and stuck in her ways. She and mother go on a company cruise to Alaska where Savannah will try new things, and post her adventures on social media to show Caleb he was wrong. Enter academic rival and popular jock Tanner whose family is also on the cruise because his mother works with Savannah's. He makes her a deal to help her try new things and she will help him figure out his college major.

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F

Amount of Sex In The Book: none, kissing only

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Heroine : Savannah Moore- into STEM, sticks to routine and schedules, Type- A personality

Hero: Tanner Woods-into STEM, a footballer who's fun and goes with the flow

H /h RELATIONSHIP INFO

OW/OM/Exes: OM for h, her ex boyfriend Caleb

AUTHOR OVERVIEW: Becky Dean, new to me author

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: The banter between Savannah and Tanner brought out their competitive streak. When Tanner becomes the "Fun Coach," Tanner sees another side of him, realizing he's not so bad. I loved all the activities they did together and the bear scene was funny. This is a good, light-hearted, YA romance.

My Alaska loving heart could not put this book down. I’ve been on a couple Alaskan cruises and the details about both the cruises and the port cities were so well done! I already was eager to book another cruise there, and this has made me even more so.

Savannah & Tanner are both such great characters. The way they feed off each other and work together was absolutely perfect. His nickname for her?? Adorable. I loved how as they learned more about each other, they also learned how they could help each other to be better versions of themselves while also accepting that there’s nothing wrong with the way they are in the first place and they only need to change things if that’s what they actually need to do. I’m literally twice Savannah’s age yet she felt so relatable, and I think that’s really nice. Reading YA as an adult can sometimes make it tough to relate to the characters or understand their motivations, so I appreciated that I felt that connection.

While there are some minor side characters, this story is very largely about just Savannah and Tanner, and I think that’s great. There were times, early in the book, that I didn’t necessarily love the way they spoke to each other & I would have loved an extra chapter or epilogue at the end, which is why I decided to give this a 4 instead of a 5. I do understand why the book ended the way it did, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, the ending just seemed to come very quickly after the resolution of complications and I think an extra chapter would have been nice.

I’m so glad I read this, and already have pre-ordered a physical copy for my shelves and for rereads. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the third book by this author that I've read and once again, five stars!!! I totally related to the main character, Savannah, and adored Tanner and how he was with her. This was a perfect YA romance to get me out of a major reading slump!

I don’t usually read YA but when I do I know it’s gonna be cute. And this was no exception. Savannah just got dumped by her boyfriend for being “boring” and now she is stuck on an Alaskan cruise with her family and their friends whose son just happens to be her “enemy.” Or is he?

They make a deal. He’s gonna help her take more adventures while she helps him try and settle down for what college experience he wants.

This book was relatable. Who hasn’t felt in a rut before? We just don’t all have the courage to try new things. Maybe if a cute boy was there to help, who knows? ;)

Thank you Random House Children and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a really fun enemies to lovers, forced proximity, YA summer romance between two high school rivals who are on an Alaska cruise vacation with their families. I loved how these two opposites helped one another expand their boundaries, try new things and go after what they really want. Perfect for fans of authors like Emma Lord and Lynn Painter. It was also excellent on audio and I really enjoyed the Alaska setting! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC!

An incredibly fun coming-of-age story featuring a rivels-to-lovers story full of adventure and stepping outside your comfort zone. The writing was reminiscent of Lynn Painter but with more outdoorsy flair. I loved message of this story. It's one of those books I would have recommended to my teenage self. I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter.

I am genuinely so sad this book is over. Tanner and Savannah are just so incredibly lovely. The backdrop of the Alaskan cruise was really fun, especially i went on one last month. Reading a YA novel with no language or innuendo, just butterfly inducing flirting is one of my very favorite things. Just like this book.

If you like Alaska, vacations, enemies to more, mom's best friend son (is that a trope- it definitely isnt talked about enough if it is), character growth, food, physics, history, college, and books that make you smile, swoon and cloae your eyes in delight, read this one. Immediately.

A sweet academic rivals-to-lovers story between a STEM girl and a jock boy who find themselves on an Alaskan cruise together and love is just on the horizon.bSavannah Moore and Tanner Woods are long time rivals. On the same day Savannah discovers that Tanner beat her in the astronomy club president election she is also very publicly broken up with by her boyfriend Caleb for being too boring... and Tanner just happens to witness it as well. Savannah and Tanner are polar opposites but they are both forced to go on the same Alaskan cruise. Savannah just wants a break from everything and to get this opportunity to meet new people and prove that she is fun, what she does not want to do is endure activities with Tanner, but it can't be helped as their families are long time friends. When Tanner discovers her plans he decides to help and wants to encourage her to try everything. Savannah is beginning to realize that Tanner knows her better than she ever thought and that she never really knew him at all. The more they begin to spend time together the more Savannah is beginning to realize that Tanner might be the one she wants. This was a really cute sweet read and I had fun with it, I loved this was a journey for Savannah to open herself up more and discover what really makes her happy. Tanner was a really sweet and supportive love interest for her and I enjoyed their dynamic. It's acute read overall and I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a sweet read!

Release Date: July 9,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was a cute YA romance. I was able to over look some things (like why did the FMC want her ex back? But we’ve all been there). It kind of weirdly reminded me of To All the Boys I Loved Before so if you enjoyed that writing style I would recommend this book.

💜🛥️ Hearts Overboard ARC Review 🛥️💜

Thank you so much to Becky Dean, Delacorte Romance and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Hearts Overboard is a standalone contemporary YA romantic novel. Savannah expected her senior year of high school to be perfect. But when her boyfriend breaks up with her and she looses the election for the astronomy club election to her academic rival, she’s determined to prove that she’s not as boring as others think she is

This was a fun read. I enjoyed seeing Savannah expand her horizons and try new things. Tanner was a fun character and I loved how he pushed Savannah past her comfort zones - I would have liked to see some of the book from his PoV too. The travel world building was fun and I enjoyed the Alaskan atmosphere.

Overall this was a solid three star read for me. The characters and story were cute and I would have loved some of Tanner’s PoV. This book had a romantic subplot with YA levels of on page smut, so overall one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of YA romance with academic rivals, forced proximity with a smidge of travel adventures, then absolutely pick this one up!

Hearts Overboard is a fun YA novel about discovering yourself and realizing that (sometimes) first impressions deserve a second look. Savannah Moore is a teenager who loves science, math, and engineering, and she's about to spend two weeks on a cruise with her parents, her parents' best friends, and their teenage son, Tanner. Even though the teens are "rivals" (their parents both seem to admire and appreciate the other one more), Tanner's sweet goofiness helps Savannah step out of her comfort zone as they make their way along the Alaskan shore, zip-lining, off-roading, sledding with dogs, etc. There are lots of silly moments sprinkled in with sincere conversations -- a delightful read from start to finish!

Although neither of these characters are marked as neurodivergent, I will say that there are a LOT of similarities between Savannah and Tanner's dynamic and my relationship with my husband (autistic girl/ADHD boy).

This one's completely clean, too: just two kisses, no drinking/drugs/swearing
While the author does thank Jesus in the acknowledgements, there are no religious mentions in the book at all.

Super cute book! This is an adorable, clean, YA romance book with a fun setting. I wouldn’t think of a book set in Alaska as a summer read, but this is definitely up there for a summer recommendation! It moved a little too slow for my liking, but that didn’t take away from the rest of the story. Thank you NetGalley!