What do you think?
Rate this book
Love Unmasked
From the author of Hearts Overboard comes a swoony mystery-filled romance in which a girl on a school trip to Venice gets swept off her feet by a mask-wearing stranger...but does she know him already? Lose yourself in the masquerade—because sometimes, the greatest adventure begins when you unmask your heart.
People pleaser Evie Whitmore can’t believe her art and architecture class trip has brought her to Venice—home of gondolas and crumbling palazzos, and the inspiration for both her art and her hidden passion, Elven Realms, a series of novels set in the very city she’s about to explore.
Rumors about an underground Elven Realms fan club swirl, and Evie, wearing a costume and mask, sneaks out at night to find it. There’s no way she can tell anyone what she’s doing—not her friends, and certainly not Gabriel Martinez, the bad boy loner she’s been partnered with on the trip.
But Evie’s not the only one on this clandestine quest. She collides with someone else in disguise—a stranger whose eyes hold secrets. He calls himself Angelo, and he too loves the novels. Venice is a labyrinth, and as they unravel clues together, their connection deepens. Who is Angelo, really? And who does Evie want him to be?
People pleaser Evie Whitmore can’t believe her art and architecture class trip has brought her to Venice—home of gondolas and crumbling palazzos, and the inspiration for both her art and her hidden passion, Elven Realms, a series of novels set in the very city she’s about to explore.
Rumors about an underground Elven Realms fan club swirl, and Evie, wearing a costume and mask, sneaks out at night to find it. There’s no way she can tell anyone what she’s doing—not her friends, and certainly not Gabriel Martinez, the bad boy loner she’s been partnered with on the trip.
But Evie’s not the only one on this clandestine quest. She collides with someone else in disguise—a stranger whose eyes hold secrets. He calls himself Angelo, and he too loves the novels. Venice is a labyrinth, and as they unravel clues together, their connection deepens. Who is Angelo, really? And who does Evie want him to be?
Audible Audio
First published July 15, 2025
27 people are currently reading
6259 people want to read
About the author
Becky Dean
4 books296 followersBecky Dean is a fan of adventures both real and fictional. When she’s not writing or traveling, she can be found drinking tea, watching science fiction shows, or quoting The Lord of the Rings. Though she lives in Texas with her husband, she remains a Southern California girl at heart.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
July 18, 2025
This was so good. Not quite as good as Hearts Overboard (also by Becky Dean) but I don’t think anything can top that.
Can we pause for just a second to appreciate how cute the cover is? The colors, the scene, the-the—EVERYTHING. 😍
Oh, and guess what? Another Becky Dean book, another late night spent reading 🤭. I’m not even quite sure how late I stayed up. But seriously, whenever I read a Becky Dean book I can’t sleep. It’s like I physically can’t go to bed until I read just one more chapter. And another, and another, and another.
I tabbed a lot. And my tabs match the cover! It looks so good. 🥰
I wish the Elven Realms was a real book series. It sounds so good. I would totally read it.
The fan club is so cool. I would love to go to something like that. Especially 'cause I'd get to dress up in a cool costume. And be anonymous so I might not be as awkward lol.
The “what are you thinking?” game they play sounds fun. But I can guarantee you that I’d be awful at it lol.
Dai Tanaka is a cool name. And Gabriel and Evangeline are some of my favorite names ever. What are the chances that two of my favorite names made it into the same book and are the MC’s names?
Do I spy a Princess Bride reference? 👀 ROUS-es? “Rodents of unusual size?”
Gabriel and I have a very similar sense of humor. I find him quite funny. Dai and Bryce are funny too. Some of the funny conversations they had sounded like conversations I would have with my brothers. Specifically on pages 76 and 77 when Bryce was joking that all birds are robots.
I know that Natasha’s not really a reader but she should still know what fanart is! Fanart isn’t just for books. It can be for TV shows, movies, video games, etc. Like, seriously, who doesn’t know what fanart is?
Quotes! ⬇️
Can we pause for just a second to appreciate how cute the cover is? The colors, the scene, the-the—EVERYTHING. 😍
Oh, and guess what? Another Becky Dean book, another late night spent reading 🤭. I’m not even quite sure how late I stayed up. But seriously, whenever I read a Becky Dean book I can’t sleep. It’s like I physically can’t go to bed until I read just one more chapter. And another, and another, and another.
I tabbed a lot. And my tabs match the cover! It looks so good. 🥰
I wish the Elven Realms was a real book series. It sounds so good. I would totally read it.
The fan club is so cool. I would love to go to something like that. Especially 'cause I'd get to dress up in a cool costume. And be anonymous so I might not be as awkward lol.
The “what are you thinking?” game they play sounds fun. But I can guarantee you that I’d be awful at it lol.
Dai Tanaka is a cool name. And Gabriel and Evangeline are some of my favorite names ever. What are the chances that two of my favorite names made it into the same book and are the MC’s names?
Do I spy a Princess Bride reference? 👀 ROUS-es? “Rodents of unusual size?”
Gabriel and I have a very similar sense of humor. I find him quite funny. Dai and Bryce are funny too. Some of the funny conversations they had sounded like conversations I would have with my brothers. Specifically on pages 76 and 77 when Bryce was joking that all birds are robots.
I know that Natasha’s not really a reader but she should still know what fanart is! Fanart isn’t just for books. It can be for TV shows, movies, video games, etc. Like, seriously, who doesn’t know what fanart is?
Quotes! ⬇️
I certainly wasn’t insulted that an airport bathroom was preferable to talking to me. I would not take it personally.
I was totally taking it personally.
(Page 14)
“We don’t bite,” I said.
“Tanaka does sometimes,” Bryce said.
(Page 28)
“Hey,” said Dai. “No switching rooms. I’ll contain the biting.” He took an enormous chunk out of his fresh bread while holding creepy, wide-open eye contact with Bryce, and Natasha and I laughed.
(Page 29)
Dai shoved Bryce’s arm. “He’s obviously smart enough to know that being friends with you means listening to outrageous theories and being force-fed a disgusting amount of protein shakes.”
“You love those protein shakes.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“Protein shakes do seem a more effective social deterrent than biting,” Gabriel murmured.
(Page 29)
“Did you go to the game last week?” Bryce aimed that question at Gabriel.
“What game?”
“The baseball one. District playoffs.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Um. It’s fun? And we’re good?”
“So if the team wasn’t good, it wouldn’t be fun and you wouldn’t go?”
“I would,” Bryce said.
“Because you’re on the team,” I told him, and he grinned and pointed at me.
(Page 30)
My partner in crime inched the curtain aside and peered out. If he was spotted, I was staying here forever and letting him get caught alone. I would live behind the curtain and haunt the lobby until the entire building was abandoned and crumbling into a canal and I could slink away without a single person seeing me.
(Page 38)
My partner joined me, crouching more gracefully, without the threat of rearranging the furniture with his face.
(Page 39)
“Sadly, I couldn’t bring my lockpicks on the plane.”
I sighed dramatically. “TSA rules are the worst.”
(Page 49)
“That’s what’s amazing about books, isn’t it? The way they can sweep you away. Let you live another life when you need to not be in yours.”
(Page 51)
His laugh was soft. “The bad makes you appreciate the good, though. If you’ve known darkness, it’s easier to appreciate the brilliance of light. Darkness gives the light more meaning.”
Did the dark days since losing my dad make me better appreciate the time I’d had with him? “Experiencing the light makes it hard when you lose it, though.
(Page 52)
Secrets were a broad bridge leading straight toward fear. Inviting it. After living with them for so long, you tended to forget, until something brought the reminder crashing back—that you weren’t in control at all, and everything you’d built could collapse in an instant if the truth got out.
(Pages 53&54)
She didn’t hear me—earbuds in, probably playing cheerful chirping birds or crowing roosters or the sounds of sleep being murdered, or whatever else morning people listened to at a time when they should be unconscious.
(Page 55)
He grunted.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You clearly have an opinion.”
“Not one you want to hear.”
“That doesn’t stop you most of the time.”
(Pages 63&64)
Gabriel had stopped and was staring at me.
Oh. Right. I gave him a smile. “Ready, partner?”
“Are you trying to sound like a cowgirl?”
“Yep. Yeehaw.”
(Page 66)
“If Mr. Tanaka has abandoned his plans for world domination through pigeons, it’s time to begin,” Mr. Owens said.
(Page 70)
I posed with my friends as Bryce filmed us before he zoomed in on the pigeons below.
“Tanaka’s army is waiting for him,” he said.
“Don’t worry, troops. I shall return for you,” Dai called.
(Page 72)
Being trapped inside something beautiful was still being trapped.
(Page 73)
I sidled up to Gabriel, who lurked at the edge of the group. “You are here.”
“Where else would I be?”
“Halfway to Rome? Jumping in that canal you mentioned? You kept disappearing.”
“Stalking me again?”
(Page 74)
“Maybe some of us are better with directions than you.”
“Yeah, you strike me as a guy who’s great a following directions.”
“It’s my favorite pastime. Sometimes I but IKEA furniture because I love reading the booklets so much.”
I snorted. “Aren’t those just pictures, without words?”
“Adds to the fun.”
(Page 79)
He grunted. “Worrying so much must be exhausting.”
“It’s called being responsible and polite.”
“Being polite is exhausting too.”
“Then you should have lots of energy saved, since you don’t spend any of it on politeness.”
(Page 90)
Excuse me, sir, may I have another card? I accidentally ate the first one along with your delicious gelato.
(Page 93)
My heart might burst from the magic of that, the way a story could connect people. No matter how different our lives were, we weren’t that different in the end. These people were instant friends, instant family.
(Page 107)
“I am the master of stealth.”
I scoffed. “You’re as stealthy as Dai with an army of robotic pigeons.”
(Page 118)
“Morning,” Dai said as he took a seat at our table. “What are you thinking?”
“ROUS-es,” I said at the same time Natasha said, “Infrared binoculars,” and I groaned.
“Ooh, ROUS-es would complement my pigeon army.”
(Page 120)
“Maybe I love opera,” he said. “Maybe that’s the one thing I wanted to do in Venice.”
(Page 124)
“I prefer not to call people. Phone calls are evil.”
(page 129)
“A friend is someone you can rely on. Someone trustworthy and loyal. Someone you can be yourself with and who’s honest with you. They make you better but don’t try to change you. In my experience, those people are hard to find.”
(Page 129)
“People aren’t simple.”
“Exactly. Different parts come through at different times. We have layers.”
(Page 155)
“Why capuchin monkeys are so creepy.”
“How dare you! Monkeys are cute.”
“Nope, they look too human. Definitely creepy.”
(Page 170)
“To make sure you hadn’t thrown yourself into a canal? Does she know you have a tendency to do that?”
“That’s a more recent hobby. Since meeting you.”
(page 211)
He sighed. “Fine, maybe I like to be invited so I can say no. Even if I don’t want to go, it’s nice to be asked.”
(Page 249)
The delicious smell of paper and old books was like a hug from a friend. Was there a better scent in the world?
(Page 273)
One door opened directly onto a turquoise canal. FIRE EXIT was painted on a narrow stone wall with an arrow and a stick figure diving into the water, which was exactly where the arrow pointed—into the canal.
“Solid plan,” Gabe said. “Seems like a good escape from fire.”
“And any other uncomfortable situation?”
“Exactly.”
(Page 274)
“How sad it is that so many modern storytellers rely on anti-heroes and have moved away from classic heroes like underdogs and noble protectors who fight against darkness.”
(Page 336)
July 26, 2025
you are telling me that this girl had no idea they were the same person? like babes u are THAT dumb about that? I would have been so suspicious "no take it off pls I need to see im just nosy as frick"
second, in the age of 2025 how is cosplaying and liking fantasy novels "weird". its almost weirder to NOT LIKE it.
anyways, need me a Gabriel
second, in the age of 2025 how is cosplaying and liking fantasy novels "weird". its almost weirder to NOT LIKE it.
anyways, need me a Gabriel
June 19, 2025
"a mask let you choose to be anyone you wanted, and go figure, i had apparently decided to be one hundred percent me."
plot
tbh...going into this, i had low expectations considering i didnt like hearts overboard, so that definitely helped because this book was extremely stereotypical. its popular group and nerd group and oh my gosh my social status is going to die if i get caught touching a fantasy book AHHH. that was like the only annoying part about it, and we could have gone without it. i enjoyed going on the little scavenger hunt for the secret club clues, and the shared love she had with her dad over the books (although i wish this was fleshed out a lil more), and the school assignment, but now that i think of it, we never saw the completed assignment LOL. anyways.
the theme was like "you can be a fan of something even if youre not totally obsessed"/ "you can say no to people and have healthy boundaries"/ "you can open up and trust people more without assuming theyre all bad" and ik this because it might as well have been lit up in a neon sign saying "THIS IS THE THEME. THE THEME IS HERE, AND ITS THIS". i got it, thanks.
but basically just expect lots of exploring in italy! and cosplay and secret fan clubs.
characters
ah, my favorite part
evie
so aside from her being like this:
"actually, i would likely crack under pressure and immediately admit the wrongdoing so no one else got in trouble, because I WAS A HUGE DORK LIKE THAT." (emphasis added by yours truly)
and the fact that she was so scared of her classmates finding out she liked fantasy books (ABSOLUTELY ABHORRENT LIKE HOW DARE SHE LOVE A HUGE GENRE OF LITERATURE OMG THE WORLD IS ENDINGGGGG) that she (prepare yourself) shoved a piece of paper in her mouth to hide it and then proceeded to gag it back up... um... mom pick me up im scared. how was she not more nervous for people seeing her throw up paper like a vulture?
but yeah, aside from that, she was pretty good mc! i liked her well enough lol. she had hobbies (art) and was kinda relatable!
"you can never have too many rhinestones," gabe muttered.
"I'm putting that in the yearbook as your senior quote."
"i think he's the type i didnt know i wanted but that i need. the rumors are wrong. he didnt get arrested, he didnt go to juvie, he didnt terrorize hamsters-"
gabriel
call him gilbert blythe 2.0 for how many times his eyebrows moved to express his emotions
anyways,
i was eating up gabe and evie's banter hehehe. theyre the perfect couple bc they have some similarities, but theyre personalities are so opposite. he's, in evie's words, "mr. zero words. mr. unappreciative. mr. broody loner." who is secretly a softie and very introspective (we all know and love the overused type LOL)
he barely smiled or laughed much so evie made it her goal to get him to and it was just so adorable. if youve read powerful it was basically a mak and adena situation.
not to make yet another reference to another book, but gabriel also did the mr. darcy hand flex LOL.
he's just a chill guy...the embodiment of unbothered, moisturized, happy, in my lane.
but someone get this man a canal.
he needs them to live.
misc.
ive never been more confused than when i read: "are you carrying a phaser? because your beauty stuns me. beam me up, hottie." WHAT LOL (dw it was not gabriel saying that)
i liked how the conflict at the end was fixed...like instead of one character going to make amends, both of them did. it wasnt just one person apologizing, and the issue didn't last very long which i appreciated bc i hate miscommunication
id definitely recommend if youre in the mood for a lighthearted palette cleanser! the vibes are fun and adventurous, perfect for summer :)
cw: kissing, romantic tension
~
thank you to netgalley for the arc🫡
rtc but gabriel >>>>
plot
tbh...going into this, i had low expectations considering i didnt like hearts overboard, so that definitely helped because this book was extremely stereotypical. its popular group and nerd group and oh my gosh my social status is going to die if i get caught touching a fantasy book AHHH. that was like the only annoying part about it, and we could have gone without it. i enjoyed going on the little scavenger hunt for the secret club clues, and the shared love she had with her dad over the books (although i wish this was fleshed out a lil more), and the school assignment, but now that i think of it, we never saw the completed assignment LOL. anyways.
the theme was like "you can be a fan of something even if youre not totally obsessed"/ "you can say no to people and have healthy boundaries"/ "you can open up and trust people more without assuming theyre all bad" and ik this because it might as well have been lit up in a neon sign saying "THIS IS THE THEME. THE THEME IS HERE, AND ITS THIS". i got it, thanks.
but basically just expect lots of exploring in italy! and cosplay and secret fan clubs.
characters
ah, my favorite part
evie
so aside from her being like this:
"actually, i would likely crack under pressure and immediately admit the wrongdoing so no one else got in trouble, because I WAS A HUGE DORK LIKE THAT." (emphasis added by yours truly)
and the fact that she was so scared of her classmates finding out she liked fantasy books (ABSOLUTELY ABHORRENT LIKE HOW DARE SHE LOVE A HUGE GENRE OF LITERATURE OMG THE WORLD IS ENDINGGGGG) that she (prepare yourself) shoved a piece of paper in her mouth to hide it and then proceeded to gag it back up... um... mom pick me up im scared. how was she not more nervous for people seeing her throw up paper like a vulture?
but yeah, aside from that, she was pretty good mc! i liked her well enough lol. she had hobbies (art) and was kinda relatable!
"you can never have too many rhinestones," gabe muttered.
"I'm putting that in the yearbook as your senior quote."
"i think he's the type i didnt know i wanted but that i need. the rumors are wrong. he didnt get arrested, he didnt go to juvie, he didnt terrorize hamsters-"
gabriel
call him gilbert blythe 2.0 for how many times his eyebrows moved to express his emotions
anyways,
i was eating up gabe and evie's banter hehehe. theyre the perfect couple bc they have some similarities, but theyre personalities are so opposite. he's, in evie's words, "mr. zero words. mr. unappreciative. mr. broody loner." who is secretly a softie and very introspective (we all know and love the overused type LOL)
he barely smiled or laughed much so evie made it her goal to get him to and it was just so adorable. if youve read powerful it was basically a mak and adena situation.
not to make yet another reference to another book, but gabriel also did the mr. darcy hand flex LOL.
he's just a chill guy...the embodiment of unbothered, moisturized, happy, in my lane.
but someone get this man a canal.
he needs them to live.
misc.
ive never been more confused than when i read: "are you carrying a phaser? because your beauty stuns me. beam me up, hottie." WHAT LOL (dw it was not gabriel saying that)
i liked how the conflict at the end was fixed...like instead of one character going to make amends, both of them did. it wasnt just one person apologizing, and the issue didn't last very long which i appreciated bc i hate miscommunication
id definitely recommend if youre in the mood for a lighthearted palette cleanser! the vibes are fun and adventurous, perfect for summer :)
cw: kissing, romantic tension
~
thank you to netgalley for the arc🫡
rtc but gabriel >>>>
August 7, 2025
This was so good! Ahh! I love it. So cute!
July 10, 2025
4⭐️
Thoughts: clichéd love story but cool plot regardless! Although she has a very different personality than mine, I connected with the main character a lot in this book as she has the same hobbies as me (reading and drawing). I loved the fmc’s friend group, they had such a cute dynamic especially with their “what are you thinking?” game that resulted in so many funny moments in the book, it makes me want to play it irl with my friends. I love how the author brought the fictional book series, “Elven Realms” that we saw mentioned in Love & Other Great Expectations to life in this book. It was really fun to hear about this whole other book series within Love Unmasked including characters, settings, and costumes; the author even included a short guide to the Elven Realms at the end of the book. I appreciated the cosplay and secret club elements, they were so fun to read about! I loved how she set the scene for Venice, learning about the setting has been my favorite part of each of the four books that Becky Dean has published, It’s clear that she does an impressive amount of research for her books. One thing I didn’t like/thought was weird was how Evie, the fmc, hides her love of books, it just seems like an odd thing to be embarrassed about imo as reading is an incredibly common hobby.
Genre: romance
POV: first person, past tense
Trope: grumpy x sunshine, rivals to lovers
Age rating: 12+
Violence: none
Romance: a few non-semi descriptive kisses, hand holding
Drinking/drugs/smoking: none
Language: none
Trigger warnings:
- death of parent
Publish date: 15-July-2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thoughts: clichéd love story but cool plot regardless! Although she has a very different personality than mine, I connected with the main character a lot in this book as she has the same hobbies as me (reading and drawing). I loved the fmc’s friend group, they had such a cute dynamic especially with their “what are you thinking?” game that resulted in so many funny moments in the book, it makes me want to play it irl with my friends. I love how the author brought the fictional book series, “Elven Realms” that we saw mentioned in Love & Other Great Expectations to life in this book. It was really fun to hear about this whole other book series within Love Unmasked including characters, settings, and costumes; the author even included a short guide to the Elven Realms at the end of the book. I appreciated the cosplay and secret club elements, they were so fun to read about! I loved how she set the scene for Venice, learning about the setting has been my favorite part of each of the four books that Becky Dean has published, It’s clear that she does an impressive amount of research for her books. One thing I didn’t like/thought was weird was how Evie, the fmc, hides her love of books, it just seems like an odd thing to be embarrassed about imo as reading is an incredibly common hobby.
Genre: romance
POV: first person, past tense
Trope: grumpy x sunshine, rivals to lovers
Age rating: 12+
Violence: none
Romance: a few non-semi descriptive kisses, hand holding
Drinking/drugs/smoking: none
Language: none
Trigger warnings:
- death of parent
Publish date: 15-July-2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars (finished on July 31st)
(I have no idea how @abby was able to read this book in a day-less than a day, I give her so much credit!)
My thoughts:
*gasp* you must be wondering why I didn't like this 😭
Well, I think the main part would be that it took. me. FOREVER. to. get. through. I thought it would be pretty easy, but it strained me back for quite a bit. It didn't get fast-paced until like the last 100 pages.
I will say, I did love the characters, the romance towards the end was pretty good, however I think there was too much kissing 😭(I'm not sure why I think that)
Age rating: 14-16
Content concerns: A weird pickup line was said that made me cringe so so much/kissing towards the end, nothing bad.
I would recommend to anyone who needs a clean romance!
(I have no idea how @abby was able to read this book in a day-less than a day, I give her so much credit!)
My thoughts:
*gasp* you must be wondering why I didn't like this 😭
Well, I think the main part would be that it took. me. FOREVER. to. get. through. I thought it would be pretty easy, but it strained me back for quite a bit. It didn't get fast-paced until like the last 100 pages.
I will say, I did love the characters, the romance towards the end was pretty good, however I think there was too much kissing 😭(I'm not sure why I think that)
Age rating: 14-16
Content concerns: A weird pickup line was said that made me cringe so so much/kissing towards the end, nothing bad.
I would recommend to anyone who needs a clean romance!
Read
September 22, 2025I love all of Becky Dean's books!
June 12, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads
My Quick Takes:
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️🔥 none/brief kisses
- Content 🤔 past death of parent
Let’s hear it for a TRUE 👏🏼 YA 👏🏼. Love Unmasked gives The Lizzie McGuire Movie meets Lord of the Rings cosplay and I ate it up!! This story was SO CUTE! And perfect for the high school aged reader.
The main characters are 18, on spring break in Venice, and working through big topics like fitting in, where to go to college, and what career to pursue, as well as fun teen topics like “is he flirting with me” and hand-holding/first kiss kind of butterflies.
For the extra cautious parent, the main character sneaks out at night, violating the school’s spring break trip rules.
This is the first book I’ve read by Becky Dean and oh my word I can’t wait to read more!
My Quick Takes:
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️🔥 none/brief kisses
- Content 🤔 past death of parent
Let’s hear it for a TRUE 👏🏼 YA 👏🏼. Love Unmasked gives The Lizzie McGuire Movie meets Lord of the Rings cosplay and I ate it up!! This story was SO CUTE! And perfect for the high school aged reader.
The main characters are 18, on spring break in Venice, and working through big topics like fitting in, where to go to college, and what career to pursue, as well as fun teen topics like “is he flirting with me” and hand-holding/first kiss kind of butterflies.
For the extra cautious parent, the main character sneaks out at night, violating the school’s spring break trip rules.
This is the first book I’ve read by Becky Dean and oh my word I can’t wait to read more!
August 6, 2025
WOOHOO FINALLY FINISHED THIS THANK GOODNESS i have been so bad about reading recently i keep getting on my phone as soon as i pick up a book😭
this was pretty good! i feel like becky dean always hits and i loved the storyline in this one! i do wish there would have been a BIT more romance instead of just going back and forth between exploring italy and going to the club, but it did build up the setting really well so i guess i cant complain that much. i love how evie brought gabe out of his shell and how much he cared about her! this was so cute!
this was pretty good! i feel like becky dean always hits and i loved the storyline in this one! i do wish there would have been a BIT more romance instead of just going back and forth between exploring italy and going to the club, but it did build up the setting really well so i guess i cant complain that much. i love how evie brought gabe out of his shell and how much he cared about her! this was so cute!
August 15, 2025
What. On. Earth. Did. I. Just. Read? This is a masterpiece.
This is the first book I've read that I've desperately wanted to annotate. The prose was pure gold, and my Notes app is filled with quotes and rants about the story.
I would absolutely recommend Love Unmasked. If I hadn't read Love & Other Great Expectations before (Also by Becky Dean!), this would be my favorite book by a long shot. I was shipping Evie and Gabriel from page 1 (Yes, before he appeared on page 9 😇), and the entire story didn't disappoint.
The references to Love & Other Great Expectations truly made me shriek. It was amazing. I seriously cannot express how much joy this story brought me, and I'd absolutely recommend. Please, please, please read Love Unmasked if you want a clean romance with all the vibes of Italy and cuteness.
This is the first book I've read that I've desperately wanted to annotate. The prose was pure gold, and my Notes app is filled with quotes and rants about the story.
I would absolutely recommend Love Unmasked. If I hadn't read Love & Other Great Expectations before (Also by Becky Dean!), this would be my favorite book by a long shot. I was shipping Evie and Gabriel from page 1 (Yes, before he appeared on page 9 😇), and the entire story didn't disappoint.
The references to Love & Other Great Expectations truly made me shriek. It was amazing. I seriously cannot express how much joy this story brought me, and I'd absolutely recommend. Please, please, please read Love Unmasked if you want a clean romance with all the vibes of Italy and cuteness.
July 9, 2025
It wouldn’t be summer without a fantastic Becky Dean release 😊
I loved this addition to her completed works and was left feeling so happy during and after my read!
What I liked about the book:
I love the grumpy x sunshine trope and that’s exactly what we got in Evie and Gabe! Evie was a people-pleasing, rule following (for the most part…), popular girl/teachers’ pet, while Gabe was a misunderstood, grumpy loner who was assigned to the teacher’s pet.
I loved watching these two banter, especially once they found out more about each other and started to grow a friendship. Their chemistry was so good that I yearned for the next conversation when they were apart. We learned so much about them and I feel that they were able to give each other perspectives they hadn’t considered before, which lead to character growth for both of them. While Gabe learned that he could open up to people, Evie learned that it was alright to put herself first.
In typical Becky Dean fashion, this book was super swoony!! Not only did we have the sarcastic bad boy fall for the goodie two shoes, but we had the goodie two shoes who could take everything he dished and serve it back! The romantic tension was phenomenal, as always!
I loved following these two around Venice during the day, journeying with them through all the historical points of interest and learning some facts I didn’t know. I also loved following Evie and “Angelo” as they explored more hidden parts of the city to live out their “nerd fantasies” associated with a popular fantasy series. Dean truly captured what it feels like to travel and feel like the world is your oyster as a teen stepping away from home for the first time.
Speaking of the fantasy series, Becky Dean always brings the nerd culture references to her books, but she truly outdid herself this time by creating a whole separate world within the world: the Elven Realms universe (side note: that’s totally inspired by LOTR right???). I loved the experiences the group put together for the fans of the series, watching Evie connect with others about her secret obsession, and the overall “I’m sneaking out after hours, but it’s to LARP” rebellion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance, and Becky Dean for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
4.25 STARS!
I loved this addition to her completed works and was left feeling so happy during and after my read!
What I liked about the book:
I love the grumpy x sunshine trope and that’s exactly what we got in Evie and Gabe! Evie was a people-pleasing, rule following (for the most part…), popular girl/teachers’ pet, while Gabe was a misunderstood, grumpy loner who was assigned to the teacher’s pet.
I loved watching these two banter, especially once they found out more about each other and started to grow a friendship. Their chemistry was so good that I yearned for the next conversation when they were apart. We learned so much about them and I feel that they were able to give each other perspectives they hadn’t considered before, which lead to character growth for both of them. While Gabe learned that he could open up to people, Evie learned that it was alright to put herself first.
In typical Becky Dean fashion, this book was super swoony!! Not only did we have the sarcastic bad boy fall for the goodie two shoes, but we had the goodie two shoes who could take everything he dished and serve it back! The romantic tension was phenomenal, as always!
I loved following these two around Venice during the day, journeying with them through all the historical points of interest and learning some facts I didn’t know. I also loved following Evie and “Angelo” as they explored more hidden parts of the city to live out their “nerd fantasies” associated with a popular fantasy series. Dean truly captured what it feels like to travel and feel like the world is your oyster as a teen stepping away from home for the first time.
Speaking of the fantasy series, Becky Dean always brings the nerd culture references to her books, but she truly outdid herself this time by creating a whole separate world within the world: the Elven Realms universe (side note: that’s totally inspired by LOTR right???). I loved the experiences the group put together for the fans of the series, watching Evie connect with others about her secret obsession, and the overall “I’m sneaking out after hours, but it’s to LARP” rebellion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance, and Becky Dean for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
4.25 STARS!
November 4, 2025
3.75! super cute, a little cringe tho lol (wasn’t the biggest fan of the audiobook narrator so that might not have helped lol)
Read
November 17, 2024tl;dr
A super cute grumpy/sunshine high school rom com with a relatable lead and a fun supporting cast. Weirdly, the part about masks and a secret club somehow feels superfluous.
Thoughts
I'm incredibly split on this book. I showed up expecting the thread about book-lovers donning masks and seeking out a secret club to be my favorite part. It's literally the point of the book, right? But not only was it not my favorite part, I don't think I liked it at all? But let's rewind and start with what DID wind up being my favorite part. Evie and Gabriel are very cute together. We get a touch of grumpy/sunshine dynamic with a heavy dose of "got off on the wrong foot" energy, and it was very sweet seeing them slowly open up to each other. The little sparks of joy Evie gets when she makes Gabriel smile were exceptionally cute, and the progression of their relationship felt very natural. Plenty of blushing, hand-holding, and some sweet kisses tie up the daytime arc as a very cute rom com. Other highlights of the daytime events include Evie's outgoing friend group (and a bonus rom com happening off screen with one of them), and a family where problems eventually get solved via open communication. Hooray for open communication!
But as much as I enjoyed the characters and their interpersonal interactions, I simply could not get into the plot. The promise of Evie using a mask to be "more herself" seems only half-fulfilled, as she doesn't really behave any differently as Fantasma. I'm not asking her to be an axe murderer in her downtime, but I had expected her to be a little more exploratory under the cover of anonymity. Maybe go back to all that piano she liked, but wasn't allowed to do? The closest we come is that she shows fanart to more people, but she was drawing fanart in front of Gabriel already, so even that doesn't feel like a huge leap.
Angelo is likewise very similar to his daytime self. I imagine his identity isn't supposed to be a huge secret for the reader, but I definitely expected there to be a starker contrast between the two of them in-world. An art-lover who doesn't care what other people think of him, encourages Evie to think more about herself, and makes clever jokes? I'm shocked Evie didn't pick up on it by night three even though by her admission, they have the same physical build.
But I think what threw me the most was the club itself.
The daytime story is sweet and cute and a great high school romance packed with blushes, crushes, and learning to be more true to one's self. Fans of Becky Dean will almost assuredly love the ride. I just didn't find the nighttime arc to land nearly as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A super cute grumpy/sunshine high school rom com with a relatable lead and a fun supporting cast. Weirdly, the part about masks and a secret club somehow feels superfluous.
Thoughts
I'm incredibly split on this book. I showed up expecting the thread about book-lovers donning masks and seeking out a secret club to be my favorite part. It's literally the point of the book, right? But not only was it not my favorite part, I don't think I liked it at all? But let's rewind and start with what DID wind up being my favorite part. Evie and Gabriel are very cute together. We get a touch of grumpy/sunshine dynamic with a heavy dose of "got off on the wrong foot" energy, and it was very sweet seeing them slowly open up to each other. The little sparks of joy Evie gets when she makes Gabriel smile were exceptionally cute, and the progression of their relationship felt very natural. Plenty of blushing, hand-holding, and some sweet kisses tie up the daytime arc as a very cute rom com. Other highlights of the daytime events include Evie's outgoing friend group (and a bonus rom com happening off screen with one of them), and a family where problems eventually get solved via open communication. Hooray for open communication!
But as much as I enjoyed the characters and their interpersonal interactions, I simply could not get into the plot. The promise of Evie using a mask to be "more herself" seems only half-fulfilled, as she doesn't really behave any differently as Fantasma. I'm not asking her to be an axe murderer in her downtime, but I had expected her to be a little more exploratory under the cover of anonymity. Maybe go back to all that piano she liked, but wasn't allowed to do? The closest we come is that she shows fanart to more people, but she was drawing fanart in front of Gabriel already, so even that doesn't feel like a huge leap.
Angelo is likewise very similar to his daytime self. I imagine his identity isn't supposed to be a huge secret for the reader, but I definitely expected there to be a starker contrast between the two of them in-world. An art-lover who doesn't care what other people think of him, encourages Evie to think more about herself, and makes clever jokes? I'm shocked Evie didn't pick up on it by night three even though by her admission, they have the same physical build.
But I think what threw me the most was the club itself.
The daytime story is sweet and cute and a great high school romance packed with blushes, crushes, and learning to be more true to one's self. Fans of Becky Dean will almost assuredly love the ride. I just didn't find the nighttime arc to land nearly as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
July 1, 2025
Every time Becky Dean publishes a new book, I say it’s my new favorite Becky Dean book. And for Love Unmasked, it’s true yet again. I adore all her books, but the concept of a girl sneaking out to find a secret club for her favorite fandom and meeting a masked stranger is too good not to love. Pair that with strong banter, the best kind of romantic tension, and all the lovely details and descriptions of Venice, and I fell head over heels for this book.
I really love the way this story plays out. The juxtaposition of Evie during the day exploring Venice with her classmates versus Evie at night sneaking out to indulge in her favorite fandom is such a great vein to explore. I adore everything Becky Dean includes in this book about fandoms and nerd culture, and the theme of staying true to one self and what they enjoy has such a strong message for the YA audience.
Some elements might come across a little predictable, but I appreciate the lengths Becky went to keep readers guessing as to who might be under the mask. The theme of masks in general was also nicely done all around.
In addition, I adore Gabriel and his perspective so much. I love when two characters can complement each other in such great ways. I also like that the characters learn there are consequences for their actions. Not enough YA books address this in a realistic way.
Love Unmasked has everything that I expected from a Becky Dean book--great descriptions of a place that give me a longing for travel, banter and adorable romance, great friendships, and layers of story that indulge both the cute and fluffy moments and the serious, soul-searching ones. This is easily one of my favorite reads of the year!
~Thank you to the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.~
I really love the way this story plays out. The juxtaposition of Evie during the day exploring Venice with her classmates versus Evie at night sneaking out to indulge in her favorite fandom is such a great vein to explore. I adore everything Becky Dean includes in this book about fandoms and nerd culture, and the theme of staying true to one self and what they enjoy has such a strong message for the YA audience.
Some elements might come across a little predictable, but I appreciate the lengths Becky went to keep readers guessing as to who might be under the mask. The theme of masks in general was also nicely done all around.
In addition, I adore Gabriel and his perspective so much. I love when two characters can complement each other in such great ways. I also like that the characters learn there are consequences for their actions. Not enough YA books address this in a realistic way.
Love Unmasked has everything that I expected from a Becky Dean book--great descriptions of a place that give me a longing for travel, banter and adorable romance, great friendships, and layers of story that indulge both the cute and fluffy moments and the serious, soul-searching ones. This is easily one of my favorite reads of the year!
~Thank you to the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.~
July 20, 2025
Another amazing Becky Dean book! This book truly does make you feel like you’re in Venice. It’s definitely rivaling Hearts Overboard for my favorite Becky Dean book. The main character was relatable and felt so real. All the shout outs to public libraries were absolutely amazing. I think I even spotted a princess bride reference. A must read book for any YA romance reader.
August 12, 2025
This review contains a few random statistics, my personal thoughts, and a content review! 🩷
Book - Love Unmasked
Author - Becky Dean
Pages - eBook, 370
Genre(s) - YA contemporary romance
Published - 2025
Trope(s) - Grumpy x Sunshine, hidden identity, forced proximity
Setting - 5/5
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4.5/5
Cover - 4/5
Vibes - 4/5
Plot - 4/5
Overall - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is definitely my second favorite Becky Dean book! Above it is Hearts Overboard and below it is Picture-Perfect Boyfriend. I’ve head to read Love & Other Great Expectations but I have high hopes!!
I lovedddd the characters in this book, especially Gabriel. I related to him a lot, and well, I just really liked him lol he was amazing! Dai was funny too, and Natasha was a good friend. Not the biggest fan of Bryce though… Evie was a great character and I related a bit to her as well.
The setting is beautiful. I think I’ve come to realize that I really really really want to visit Italy. Like, really. The descriptions of museums and churches and other architecture in this book was incredible, and Venice felt like its own character!
It took me way longer to read this book than it should have (darned reading slump) so at first I thought it was kinda slow, but it really wasn’t.
Eleven Realms seems super cool, and I wish it was real :))
My only complaint about this book is well, it’s 2025. Liking fantasy books and cosplaying and drawing fanart isn’t that weird. Like seriously, it’s a totally normal thing for people to like. Even *gaps* the POPULAR people!!
Either way this was a super fun read and I’ll continue to pick up anything that Becky Dean writes!
Age Rating - 12/13+ (no language, no spice, no innuendo, some kissing, Evie does break the rules of the school trip by sneaking out at night, but she’s 18 and a legal adult so she’s not breaking any laws)
Book - Love Unmasked
Author - Becky Dean
Pages - eBook, 370
Genre(s) - YA contemporary romance
Published - 2025
Trope(s) - Grumpy x Sunshine, hidden identity, forced proximity
Setting - 5/5
Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4.5/5
Cover - 4/5
Vibes - 4/5
Plot - 4/5
Overall - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is definitely my second favorite Becky Dean book! Above it is Hearts Overboard and below it is Picture-Perfect Boyfriend. I’ve head to read Love & Other Great Expectations but I have high hopes!!
I lovedddd the characters in this book, especially Gabriel. I related to him a lot, and well, I just really liked him lol he was amazing! Dai was funny too, and Natasha was a good friend. Not the biggest fan of Bryce though… Evie was a great character and I related a bit to her as well.
The setting is beautiful. I think I’ve come to realize that I really really really want to visit Italy. Like, really. The descriptions of museums and churches and other architecture in this book was incredible, and Venice felt like its own character!
It took me way longer to read this book than it should have (darned reading slump) so at first I thought it was kinda slow, but it really wasn’t.
Eleven Realms seems super cool, and I wish it was real :))
My only complaint about this book is well, it’s 2025. Liking fantasy books and cosplaying and drawing fanart isn’t that weird. Like seriously, it’s a totally normal thing for people to like. Even *gaps* the POPULAR people!!
Either way this was a super fun read and I’ll continue to pick up anything that Becky Dean writes!
Age Rating - 12/13+ (no language, no spice, no innuendo, some kissing, Evie does break the rules of the school trip by sneaking out at night, but she’s 18 and a legal adult so she’s not breaking any laws)
August 21, 2025
I blame my cat for pinning me to the couch so I just had to finish this book instead of cleaning my apartment. Whoops.
In all seriousness, this was an amazing YA romance with all of Becky Dean’s humor and heart. I related so much to Evie with her people pleasing nature and her feelings of being both too much and not enough. I wasn’t sure about her and Gabe at first, but their romance really grew on me, and I was squealing by the time their slow burn finally culminated. I loved the interwoven elements of the fantasy series the Elven Realms that Evie loves—I would LOVE to go to that secret fan club, especially the ball. And I loved how Gabe saw Evie for who she was and encouraged her to take time for herself and start saying no to people. It was so lovely to see her finally show her true self to the people she cared about.
A great ending to one of my favorite romance series!
In all seriousness, this was an amazing YA romance with all of Becky Dean’s humor and heart. I related so much to Evie with her people pleasing nature and her feelings of being both too much and not enough. I wasn’t sure about her and Gabe at first, but their romance really grew on me, and I was squealing by the time their slow burn finally culminated. I loved the interwoven elements of the fantasy series the Elven Realms that Evie loves—I would LOVE to go to that secret fan club, especially the ball. And I loved how Gabe saw Evie for who she was and encouraged her to take time for herself and start saying no to people. It was so lovely to see her finally show her true self to the people she cared about.
A great ending to one of my favorite romance series!
July 15, 2025
I would like to thank netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
This was very lighthearted and cutesy, but something felt off the entire time. The best way I can explain it, is that it felt like reading fanfiction without having any knowledge of the original source. It would have been good fanfiction too, it was sweet and the romance was really cute, it just felt underdeveloped. There was also a lot of showing rather than telling, like the author was scared we wouldn’t get the point of the story so she had to spell it out for us directly. The character development didn’t feel natural either. The author definitely has potential, it’s just clear this isn’t her best work.
This was very lighthearted and cutesy, but something felt off the entire time. The best way I can explain it, is that it felt like reading fanfiction without having any knowledge of the original source. It would have been good fanfiction too, it was sweet and the romance was really cute, it just felt underdeveloped. There was also a lot of showing rather than telling, like the author was scared we wouldn’t get the point of the story so she had to spell it out for us directly. The character development didn’t feel natural either. The author definitely has potential, it’s just clear this isn’t her best work.
June 24, 2025
3 Stars
It was kind of fun. It was kind of cute. It was kind of disconnected from the current teenage experience. I don't know. It wasn't anything spectacular, but it also wasn't really bad? It's just a book.
I wanted more from this, but I didn't hate what I got. And there's some merit to that. Anyway, my full review will be available at Gateway Reviews on August 15, 2025. Stop by if you want!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
It was kind of fun. It was kind of cute. It was kind of disconnected from the current teenage experience. I don't know. It wasn't anything spectacular, but it also wasn't really bad? It's just a book.
I wanted more from this, but I didn't hate what I got. And there's some merit to that. Anyway, my full review will be available at Gateway Reviews on August 15, 2025. Stop by if you want!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
September 6, 2025
Another sweet romance by Becky Dean! I loved a lot of elements of this book, but I do think it fell a little short for me compared to how much I ADORED Hearts Overboard. All in all, though, I'd definitely re-read it or recommend it to anyone who loves clean romance. (Also, I need the author to write the Elven Realms series now. 😂)
October 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!! I absolutely love Becky Dean and all her books so far!! This book is definitely not my favorite of hers but i still really enjoyed it! I did find a typo in it which was annoying, but the book itself made up for that. I didn’t really connect was well with the FMC in some ways, but in others ways i did which i liked. I really enjoyed her and Gabe together as well. Overall, great book!
August 14, 2025
Evie's mother was barely in this, but she triggered me so hard I hated her.
October 1, 2025
(3.5 rounded to 4) “Sleep was for the weak, and people who knew how to say no.”
August 2, 2025
Thank you Get Underlined / Love Underlined for the gifted copy!!
Ok, I read this in one sitting. I absolutely loved it so much. It was such a cute read and felt magical. The romance was cute and I loved Gabe! He was such a character.
I do wish we would’ve had the reveal different or maybe a lot sooner to get the afterwords of their love story. But, I still really enjoyed it and thought it was cute. I would definitely recommend this book!
Ok, I read this in one sitting. I absolutely loved it so much. It was such a cute read and felt magical. The romance was cute and I loved Gabe! He was such a character.
I do wish we would’ve had the reveal different or maybe a lot sooner to get the afterwords of their love story. But, I still really enjoyed it and thought it was cute. I would definitely recommend this book!
March 17, 2025
Grumpy x sunshine dynamics never fail to entertain me, and this book was no exception. The Venice setting, along with the secret underground club featuring masks and costumes, added a captivating touch. The slow-burn chemistry between Evie and Gabe was well done—their banter was fun, and they had some really adorable moments. What stood out to me was the message of self-acceptance, reminding us that perfection isn’t everything, and that’s something worth appreciating. However, the storyline was quite predictable, which took away some of the excitement. Still, if you're looking for a sweet, quick, and lighthearted read, this one is definitely worth considering!
July 6, 2025
OVERALL STAR RATING: 4/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
I will forever be drawn to a book that promises to whisk me away to Italy! I read and loved Hearts Overboard by Becky Dean, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this upcoming release. I truly appreciate her commitment to writing clean and closed door books and this one gave great grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-more vibes.
This story is perfect for true book lovers. Have you ever been so incredibly devoted to a book series that you’d even dress up in cosplay to express your passion? Well, this describes our FMC, Evie Whitmore. She’s deeply in love with the Elven Realms book series, but she keeps her level of obsession a bit of a secret. When her school plans a trip to Venice, Italy, she finds out about a secret Elven Realms fan club that meets up at night. Costumed, mask-wearing fans embark on a true adventure of seeking out clues within the city to determine the location of the secret fan club. Evie is bound and determined to make her bookish dreams come to life while in Venice. While Evie has never EVER been a rule breaker, her love of the Elven Realms causes her to sneak out of her hotel each night and hit the town on her own. Well, she assumed she’d be alone, but she winds up running into another mysterious masked character at the hotel where she’s staying. The mystery man goes by the name of Angelo, and they decide to embark on this journey together.
As you can probably guess, Angelo and Evie strike up quite a connection and contemplate whether to reveal their true identity to each other. It’s fairly easy to predict from the start how it’s all going to pan out.
The premise of the story was very fun and unique, but I feel in a way the story romanticized the whole “adventure” of breaking school rules so I just wanted to make that little note for anyone who may be giving this to a 12-17 year old to read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
I will forever be drawn to a book that promises to whisk me away to Italy! I read and loved Hearts Overboard by Becky Dean, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this upcoming release. I truly appreciate her commitment to writing clean and closed door books and this one gave great grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-more vibes.
This story is perfect for true book lovers. Have you ever been so incredibly devoted to a book series that you’d even dress up in cosplay to express your passion? Well, this describes our FMC, Evie Whitmore. She’s deeply in love with the Elven Realms book series, but she keeps her level of obsession a bit of a secret. When her school plans a trip to Venice, Italy, she finds out about a secret Elven Realms fan club that meets up at night. Costumed, mask-wearing fans embark on a true adventure of seeking out clues within the city to determine the location of the secret fan club. Evie is bound and determined to make her bookish dreams come to life while in Venice. While Evie has never EVER been a rule breaker, her love of the Elven Realms causes her to sneak out of her hotel each night and hit the town on her own. Well, she assumed she’d be alone, but she winds up running into another mysterious masked character at the hotel where she’s staying. The mystery man goes by the name of Angelo, and they decide to embark on this journey together.
As you can probably guess, Angelo and Evie strike up quite a connection and contemplate whether to reveal their true identity to each other. It’s fairly easy to predict from the start how it’s all going to pan out.
The premise of the story was very fun and unique, but I feel in a way the story romanticized the whole “adventure” of breaking school rules so I just wanted to make that little note for anyone who may be giving this to a 12-17 year old to read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
April 19, 2025
This book was so cute! It was the perfect summer read about a young woman who is trying to figure out her life and gets to spend time in Venice on a school trip, while sneaking out each night to find a secret club that reenacts things from her favorite book world. The secret club, along with the romance in this book was so great (I want a secret club like that about a fantasy series please). It was great to see Evie and Gabriel come out of their shells throughout the book and really just explore all the city and to offer, as well as getting to know each other.
Thank you to Random House Children’s, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Random House Children’s, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2025
Becky Dean writes YA contemporaries set in interesting and fun locales and this one was no different - it is set in Venice! Everything about the setting came to life. I’ve been to Venice before so that helped, but it was nice to revisit my memories of Venice - and the book made me feel like I was there and made me want to go back! That’s how lifelike the setting was.
The story is centered around popular girl and people pleaser Evie, who secretly loves a fandom and doesn’t want anyone to know because she’s afraid they will judge her. She is most excited for the trip to Venice because there is an underground club celebrating the fandom so she sneaks out to meet up with others. She wears a mask to hide her identity and meets up with a guy (also masked) and they decide to attend the fandom events together.
This story had major vibes of The Lizzie McGuire movie, from the Italian setting (though the movie is set in Rome) to the main character sneaking away from her school group. I happen to LOVE the Lizzie McGuire movie so that made the book even more enjoyable for me.
I liked experiencing Venice again through Evie’s eyes and how she becomes friends with the offish Gabriel, who pushed her out of her comfort zone a bit. The story was sweet, and while predicable, the anonymous romance was enjoyable to read about.
A perfect light, summery read!
The story is centered around popular girl and people pleaser Evie, who secretly loves a fandom and doesn’t want anyone to know because she’s afraid they will judge her. She is most excited for the trip to Venice because there is an underground club celebrating the fandom so she sneaks out to meet up with others. She wears a mask to hide her identity and meets up with a guy (also masked) and they decide to attend the fandom events together.
This story had major vibes of The Lizzie McGuire movie, from the Italian setting (though the movie is set in Rome) to the main character sneaking away from her school group. I happen to LOVE the Lizzie McGuire movie so that made the book even more enjoyable for me.
I liked experiencing Venice again through Evie’s eyes and how she becomes friends with the offish Gabriel, who pushed her out of her comfort zone a bit. The story was sweet, and while predicable, the anonymous romance was enjoyable to read about.
A perfect light, summery read!
December 15, 2025
OMG !!!! I don't remeber the last time I added a book to my top ten books!!!! but my god this was soooooo good to pass up ..
The story is set during one week where Evie and Gabe ( two class mate) are forced to be partners for an art project .. IN VEENICE ITALY, Evie is a perfect sturdent whos wants to please everyone, while Gabe is the nerdy boy who doesn't want anything to do with this trip and just wants to hang out until its over, Evie is hiding a secret, she came to this trip for another purpose, she wants to find the secret club for her favorite fantasy series which is based somewhere in venice, and on her way to sneak out she meets another person who is also cosplaying as a character from the series (Angelo) .. and as the friendship between Evie and Gabe deepens during the day, she is falling in love with another person ib the night ..with this magic how can Evie face this hard choice ?
this book was pure magic, I devoured each word and it was one of the best books I've read in the past seven years .. if you liked Geekerella you will defintly LOVE this book .. just do yourself a favor and read it pleaaaaseeeee
The story is set during one week where Evie and Gabe ( two class mate) are forced to be partners for an art project .. IN VEENICE ITALY, Evie is a perfect sturdent whos wants to please everyone, while Gabe is the nerdy boy who doesn't want anything to do with this trip and just wants to hang out until its over, Evie is hiding a secret, she came to this trip for another purpose, she wants to find the secret club for her favorite fantasy series which is based somewhere in venice, and on her way to sneak out she meets another person who is also cosplaying as a character from the series (Angelo) .. and as the friendship between Evie and Gabe deepens during the day, she is falling in love with another person ib the night ..with this magic how can Evie face this hard choice ?
this book was pure magic, I devoured each word and it was one of the best books I've read in the past seven years .. if you liked Geekerella you will defintly LOVE this book .. just do yourself a favor and read it pleaaaaseeeee
June 16, 2025
3.5 Stars
I adore books about travel and have enjoyed Becky Dean's previous books, so I was really looking forward to seeing where she would transport readers next. This newest book is set in Venice, and it has an added element of fandom, which is a lot of fun. While the concept of an underground fan club feels original, some of the other tropes and narrative strategies feel a little more tired to me. My struggle with this book is that it's almost painfully predictable. At first, I wondered if that was the point and if the reader was intended to be in on Angelo's real identity, but then the characters start doing some sleuthing to figure out who he is. This is still an enjoyable read that really delivers on fun activities in Italy, but I would have preferred not being able to guess exactly how the story played out.
I adore books about travel and have enjoyed Becky Dean's previous books, so I was really looking forward to seeing where she would transport readers next. This newest book is set in Venice, and it has an added element of fandom, which is a lot of fun. While the concept of an underground fan club feels original, some of the other tropes and narrative strategies feel a little more tired to me. My struggle with this book is that it's almost painfully predictable. At first, I wondered if that was the point and if the reader was intended to be in on Angelo's real identity, but then the characters start doing some sleuthing to figure out who he is. This is still an enjoyable read that really delivers on fun activities in Italy, but I would have preferred not being able to guess exactly how the story played out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews