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Love, Lies, and Too Many Guys: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26A college student has more to lose than she can imagine in a funny and heartfelt romantic comedy by the author of Chasing Stardust.
Twenty-year-old Kennedy Beaman is a virgin, and she’s fine with that…most of the time. But her mother, who is full of regrets after a bad marriage, won’t stop pushing her to “experience life” while she can. So Kennedy and her best friend, Nicole, make a list of guys who get her heart racing. It’s all fun and games until the list goes missing.
When Kennedy’s “get laid” list goes viral, she’d rather own the campus-wide spectacle than be a victim. Nicole convinces her to turn her humiliation into a reality show–style competition—the last man standing will be her first after the spring formal. An online feminist magazine ups the ante by offering Kennedy a scholarship in exchange for her story.
But as she weathers one bad date after another, Kennedy finds herself drawn to Jordan Keller, a sullen, faux-hawked Mr. Wrong who didn’t even make the list. Can she figure out what she really wants in life before the final round? Otherwise, she may lose something she’ll miss more than her virginity—her heart.
Twenty-year-old Kennedy Beaman is a virgin, and she’s fine with that…most of the time. But her mother, who is full of regrets after a bad marriage, won’t stop pushing her to “experience life” while she can. So Kennedy and her best friend, Nicole, make a list of guys who get her heart racing. It’s all fun and games until the list goes missing.
When Kennedy’s “get laid” list goes viral, she’d rather own the campus-wide spectacle than be a victim. Nicole convinces her to turn her humiliation into a reality show–style competition—the last man standing will be her first after the spring formal. An online feminist magazine ups the ante by offering Kennedy a scholarship in exchange for her story.
But as she weathers one bad date after another, Kennedy finds herself drawn to Jordan Keller, a sullen, faux-hawked Mr. Wrong who didn’t even make the list. Can she figure out what she really wants in life before the final round? Otherwise, she may lose something she’ll miss more than her virginity—her heart.
- GenresRomance
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Erica Lucke Dean
20 books212 followersAfter walking away from her career as a business banker to pursue writing full-time, Erica Lucke Dean moved from the hustle and bustle of the big city to a small tourist town in the North Georgia Mountains where she lived in a 90-year-old haunted farmhouse.
Tired of being woken up in the middle of the night by a pesky poltergeist, the author of contemporary young adult, romantic comedy, and paranormal romance moved into a cute little cabin in the woods, where she lives with her husband, her dogs, and the occasional bear. Much like the characters in her books, Ms. Dean is a magnet for disaster, and has been known to trip on air while walking across flat surfaces.
How she’s managed to survive this long is one of life’s great mysteries.
You can find out more about Erica, in addition to her humorous blog posts and disasters, on her website.
Represented by: Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Follow me on Bookbub to get notified when my books go on sale. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erica...
Tired of being woken up in the middle of the night by a pesky poltergeist, the author of contemporary young adult, romantic comedy, and paranormal romance moved into a cute little cabin in the woods, where she lives with her husband, her dogs, and the occasional bear. Much like the characters in her books, Ms. Dean is a magnet for disaster, and has been known to trip on air while walking across flat surfaces.
How she’s managed to survive this long is one of life’s great mysteries.
You can find out more about Erica, in addition to her humorous blog posts and disasters, on her website.
Represented by: Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Follow me on Bookbub to get notified when my books go on sale. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erica...
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 8, 2026
Speaking as someone who also didn’t “get her card punched” until later than many consider typical, I thought this might be an interesting read.
It was, but it wasn’t. By the end of the book, I mostly felt angry and irritated at the whole thing. 😅 It wasn’t any one thing, more the culmination of so many things adding together that just frustrated the heck out of me.
I don’t like Nicole. First she lost the list, then lied by omission. Then she caved on allowing alcohol at the party when Kennedy expressly stated a dry party was a hard line for her by claiming, I didn’t actually promise/I implied, then she gets wasted, breaking yet another promise to have Kennedy’s back. I understand Kennedy wanting to forgive her because of their history, but I used to have a friend like that. The operative phrase there is “used to.” I can definitely see that friendship falling apart later.
I knew they were in for a bad time in the boat as soon as Trey said they were on Lake Lanier. I’d never go on that lake - just ICK. (Google it; it’s awful.)
The ending was unsatisfactory. If we’re going to see Kennedy finally coming into her own, that should’ve included her finally talking to her dad. This is supposed to be a rom-com; her dad and the conflict she feels over him should at least be addressed, if not resolved.
•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•
It was, but it wasn’t. By the end of the book, I mostly felt angry and irritated at the whole thing. 😅 It wasn’t any one thing, more the culmination of so many things adding together that just frustrated the heck out of me.
I don’t like Nicole. First she lost the list, then lied by omission. Then she caved on allowing alcohol at the party when Kennedy expressly stated a dry party was a hard line for her by claiming, I didn’t actually promise/I implied, then she gets wasted, breaking yet another promise to have Kennedy’s back. I understand Kennedy wanting to forgive her because of their history, but I used to have a friend like that. The operative phrase there is “used to.” I can definitely see that friendship falling apart later.
I knew they were in for a bad time in the boat as soon as Trey said they were on Lake Lanier. I’d never go on that lake - just ICK. (Google it; it’s awful.)
The ending was unsatisfactory. If we’re going to see Kennedy finally coming into her own, that should’ve included her finally talking to her dad. This is supposed to be a rom-com; her dad and the conflict she feels over him should at least be addressed, if not resolved.
•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2,5⭐️
First of all, a big thank you to NetGalley and to the author for allowing me to read this book ! <3
WARNING: spoilers ahead!
"Love, lies and too many guys" follows Kenneddy Beaman's story; a girl focused on losing her virginity after her mom recommends her to not wait all her life for the "perfect guy" to arrive. But, when a list she jokingly writes with her best friend –a list that includes the names of all the guys from campus she'd like lose her virginity with– gets leaked, a competition in between all of those guys starts. The prize? Being the one to take her virginity.
As I started reading this book, the plot looked so promising. I was hooked, reading chapter after chapter in minutes, entertained and willing to know what was going to happen after Kenneddy's list got leaked! But, the more I read, the more I thought "hey, couldn't this problem have been solved, like, two chapters ago?". The book started to become a chore to read, with filler chapters and problems that appeared out of nowhere and were resolved by magic. Some things I would've loved to read more about –like Kenneddy's relationship with her father, and how they got to fix it afterwards; or Jordan's parents– were just discarded quickly, while minor characters and scenes got way more attention.
I really liked Kenneddy as the main character. Even after reading some of her choices and decisions I didn't like or agree with, I think she's a character you can easily understand and empathize with. Although I would've loved to read her standing against some of Nicole's advice and words, I did like her.
But, don't get me started with characters as Nicole. I don't think I liked her at any point of this reading. Who'd want an enemy having a best friend like this? Not only does she push our FMC to decisions she doesn't want to make, but acts behind her back practically all the time! I felt so bad for Kenneddy throughout the whole book.
On the other hand, I did enjoy the romance between Kenneddy and Jordan. Their push-and-pull at the very start of the book was addictive to read, and watching them slowly fall each other was so cute! Jordan Keller is a real yearner, and he proved it chapter after chapter. One thing I didn't like as much was their relationship at the end of the book; they seemed to be fighting and forgiving each other without solid arguments, and constantly changing one's mind. Although the end was beautiful, that one thing threw me off.
In conclusion, "Love, lies and too many guys" was definetly an entertaining read, but there are some plot holes, relationships and characters I would've loved to know more about. A cute rom-com, though! :)
First of all, a big thank you to NetGalley and to the author for allowing me to read this book ! <3
WARNING: spoilers ahead!
"Love, lies and too many guys" follows Kenneddy Beaman's story; a girl focused on losing her virginity after her mom recommends her to not wait all her life for the "perfect guy" to arrive. But, when a list she jokingly writes with her best friend –a list that includes the names of all the guys from campus she'd like lose her virginity with– gets leaked, a competition in between all of those guys starts. The prize? Being the one to take her virginity.
As I started reading this book, the plot looked so promising. I was hooked, reading chapter after chapter in minutes, entertained and willing to know what was going to happen after Kenneddy's list got leaked! But, the more I read, the more I thought "hey, couldn't this problem have been solved, like, two chapters ago?". The book started to become a chore to read, with filler chapters and problems that appeared out of nowhere and were resolved by magic. Some things I would've loved to read more about –like Kenneddy's relationship with her father, and how they got to fix it afterwards; or Jordan's parents– were just discarded quickly, while minor characters and scenes got way more attention.
I really liked Kenneddy as the main character. Even after reading some of her choices and decisions I didn't like or agree with, I think she's a character you can easily understand and empathize with. Although I would've loved to read her standing against some of Nicole's advice and words, I did like her.
But, don't get me started with characters as Nicole. I don't think I liked her at any point of this reading. Who'd want an enemy having a best friend like this? Not only does she push our FMC to decisions she doesn't want to make, but acts behind her back practically all the time! I felt so bad for Kenneddy throughout the whole book.
On the other hand, I did enjoy the romance between Kenneddy and Jordan. Their push-and-pull at the very start of the book was addictive to read, and watching them slowly fall each other was so cute! Jordan Keller is a real yearner, and he proved it chapter after chapter. One thing I didn't like as much was their relationship at the end of the book; they seemed to be fighting and forgiving each other without solid arguments, and constantly changing one's mind. Although the end was beautiful, that one thing threw me off.
In conclusion, "Love, lies and too many guys" was definetly an entertaining read, but there are some plot holes, relationships and characters I would've loved to know more about. A cute rom-com, though! :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! It’s a pretty fun read - Kennedy and her best friend Nicole unintentionally start a Bachelorette style game at their college campus. The writing starts off pretty witty, like “My stomach tries sending an unsolicited refund,” but seemed to disappear part way through the book. I’ve listed the aspects I couldn’t shake below - while there's a good amount, if you can suspend disbelief, you’ll enjoy the book just fine.
*PACING - The beats for the narrative seem a little off. It takes longer than expected, about a third of the way through the book, for Kennedy to find out that her list of guys got leaked. The scholarship from Eve’s Orchid, which keeps Kennedy continuing the contest, comes in around the 60% mark.
*SETTING - The vibes really make this seem more like a high school setting that got aged up to college to avoid centering the story around an underage girl making a contest out of losing her virginity. Maybe it’s more realistic for very small colleges, but how small is this campus? Why is there only one dining hall? Why is everyone on the same schedule for their classes?
*TUITION - Look, tuition costs are at an all time high. No one wants to take out student loans, but it IS the reality of many students. Even putting that aside, she’s willing to endure a humiliating PR campaign, date guys who gross her out, string along a guy she really likes instead of…talking to her dad. Yes, he broke her mom’s heart, but there isn’t much otherwise to say he wouldn’t be willing to help her financially. She even calls it “a game I wanted no part of”! Girl.
*OVER EXPLAINING - I actually liked Jordan, the male lead, but man, I wish Erica Lucke Dean wouldn’t have referred so much to his mask dropping, or really, over describing his actions. It would have been more impactful if she trusted the reader enough to interpret that he’s interested in Kennedy in their initial interactions.
*NICOLE - Okay, yes, she’s needed to drive the plot, but Nicole is a horrible friend for most of the book! It’s even acknowledged how ridiculous she’s being, but goodness gracious. She’s incredibly pushy, rude, and prone to abandoning Kennedy when she needs to stick by her best friend. Ugh.
*OTHER RANDOM PLOT HOLES - Why wouldn’t her sorority sisters mention the list to Kennedy when it first hits Instagram? Why is Nicole’s spring break plans mentioned abruptly as if we were supposed to have heard about it before? Why is an engineering major taking calculus as a junior, not a freshman?
*PACING - The beats for the narrative seem a little off. It takes longer than expected, about a third of the way through the book, for Kennedy to find out that her list of guys got leaked. The scholarship from Eve’s Orchid, which keeps Kennedy continuing the contest, comes in around the 60% mark.
*SETTING - The vibes really make this seem more like a high school setting that got aged up to college to avoid centering the story around an underage girl making a contest out of losing her virginity. Maybe it’s more realistic for very small colleges, but how small is this campus? Why is there only one dining hall? Why is everyone on the same schedule for their classes?
*TUITION - Look, tuition costs are at an all time high. No one wants to take out student loans, but it IS the reality of many students. Even putting that aside, she’s willing to endure a humiliating PR campaign, date guys who gross her out, string along a guy she really likes instead of…talking to her dad. Yes, he broke her mom’s heart, but there isn’t much otherwise to say he wouldn’t be willing to help her financially. She even calls it “a game I wanted no part of”! Girl.
*OVER EXPLAINING - I actually liked Jordan, the male lead, but man, I wish Erica Lucke Dean wouldn’t have referred so much to his mask dropping, or really, over describing his actions. It would have been more impactful if she trusted the reader enough to interpret that he’s interested in Kennedy in their initial interactions.
*NICOLE - Okay, yes, she’s needed to drive the plot, but Nicole is a horrible friend for most of the book! It’s even acknowledged how ridiculous she’s being, but goodness gracious. She’s incredibly pushy, rude, and prone to abandoning Kennedy when she needs to stick by her best friend. Ugh.
*OTHER RANDOM PLOT HOLES - Why wouldn’t her sorority sisters mention the list to Kennedy when it first hits Instagram? Why is Nicole’s spring break plans mentioned abruptly as if we were supposed to have heard about it before? Why is an engineering major taking calculus as a junior, not a freshman?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 2.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First of all, Nicole. I don’t want to say she’s a bad friend, but…she had many chances to tell Kennedy she’d lost the list and didn’t. At first she lied by omission, but the minute Kennedy kept asking if she’d burned it and if she was fine, she kept denying it and saying she’d gotten rid of the list, and was even avoiding her instead of just coming clean. And then, she went AWOL without telling her the truth.
And the thing she wrote about Jordan. Instead of feeling bad about the list being all over socials, she was defending herself!
Then the party scene. Kennedy emphasized on how she didn’t want any alcohol at the party, and Nicole went ahead to go against that too, and then goes ahead to get drunk. I have so many, but these are the ones that stood out to me.
Jordan Keller seemed to be the only one who genuinely cared about Kennedy and what she was doing. I could also tell that he liked her instead of lusting after her like majority of the other guys. This was before I found out he posted the list. I wish he’d just come clean sooner. Elijah is the only other guy that genuinely liked her and wasn’t in it for the ‘prize’
The book is okay, but some of the chapters felt like filler chapters and I just feel like it was way longer than it needed to be. I also don’t like how she didn’t hear her dad out at the end of the book. She doesn’t HAVE to forgive him, but they could have had that conversation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First of all, Nicole. I don’t want to say she’s a bad friend, but…she had many chances to tell Kennedy she’d lost the list and didn’t. At first she lied by omission, but the minute Kennedy kept asking if she’d burned it and if she was fine, she kept denying it and saying she’d gotten rid of the list, and was even avoiding her instead of just coming clean. And then, she went AWOL without telling her the truth.
And the thing she wrote about Jordan. Instead of feeling bad about the list being all over socials, she was defending herself!
Then the party scene. Kennedy emphasized on how she didn’t want any alcohol at the party, and Nicole went ahead to go against that too, and then goes ahead to get drunk. I have so many, but these are the ones that stood out to me.
Jordan Keller seemed to be the only one who genuinely cared about Kennedy and what she was doing. I could also tell that he liked her instead of lusting after her like majority of the other guys. This was before I found out he posted the list. I wish he’d just come clean sooner. Elijah is the only other guy that genuinely liked her and wasn’t in it for the ‘prize’
The book is okay, but some of the chapters felt like filler chapters and I just feel like it was way longer than it needed to be. I also don’t like how she didn’t hear her dad out at the end of the book. She doesn’t HAVE to forgive him, but they could have had that conversation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cute and quirky rom-com with a twist.
This book follows Kennedy who, after having a trough breakup, decides to make a list of potential guys she'd lose her v-card to. When the list gets posted on the internet and goes mega-viral, a magazine picks up the story and offers Kennedy a scholarship to run the whole thing like a gameshow/contest to pick her winner.
Rom-coms are just something special. The romance wasn't groundbreaking, but sometimes we need a more realistic love story. The pacing was a little off, but I still ate this book up! I had a edgy phase in high school, so high school me would have been obsessed with Jordan. The chemistry was there, and I liked the little hints that were dropped early on. I am glad that the ex-boyfriend plotline was dropped pretty early on, and there wasn't a real love triangle in this.
While the romance was enjoyable, the friendship between Kennedy and Nicole was awful. Nicole disappeared for days, lost the list, was more interested in her boyfriend than her supposed best friend, and went behind Kennedy's back for the competition MULTIPLE times. Then she had the audacity to claim it was all for Kennedy's benefit. Nicole should have been supportive, but she was just toxic.
Nicole aside, the book was very enjoyable. I recommend anyone that is looking for a low-stakes, cutesy romance to give this a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book follows Kennedy who, after having a trough breakup, decides to make a list of potential guys she'd lose her v-card to. When the list gets posted on the internet and goes mega-viral, a magazine picks up the story and offers Kennedy a scholarship to run the whole thing like a gameshow/contest to pick her winner.
Rom-coms are just something special. The romance wasn't groundbreaking, but sometimes we need a more realistic love story. The pacing was a little off, but I still ate this book up! I had a edgy phase in high school, so high school me would have been obsessed with Jordan. The chemistry was there, and I liked the little hints that were dropped early on. I am glad that the ex-boyfriend plotline was dropped pretty early on, and there wasn't a real love triangle in this.
While the romance was enjoyable, the friendship between Kennedy and Nicole was awful. Nicole disappeared for days, lost the list, was more interested in her boyfriend than her supposed best friend, and went behind Kennedy's back for the competition MULTIPLE times. Then she had the audacity to claim it was all for Kennedy's benefit. Nicole should have been supportive, but she was just toxic.
Nicole aside, the book was very enjoyable. I recommend anyone that is looking for a low-stakes, cutesy romance to give this a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
Title: Love, Lies, and Too Many Guys
Author: Erica Lucke Dean
Publication Date: October 20, 2026
Rating: 2⭐️
I really, REALLY thought I was going to love this book, but unfortunately it was not for me.
The premise of it is simple: Our FMC decided to make a list of potential guys who she wouldn't mind losing her virginity to. The list somehow goes viral, and instead of feeling humiliated, she pretended it was the plan all along and created this “college contest” to see which guy would win. In return she would also get a scholarship from a magazine who picked up on her story.
Cool right? But….
From the very beginning I wasn't sure about Kennedy (our FMC). And despite the guys who Kennedy had dates with (which were so flat and boring), I thought the worst character had to be the so called “best-friend”, Nicole. I cannot understand WHY they were friends at all considering she had no respect for Kennedy, their friendship and wasn't a reliable person.
Overall, it left me wanting more. More romance, more comedy, more closure. I just wanted to have my cheeks hurting from silly smiles while kicking my feet or laughing out loud by witty remarks, but I never got that feeling.
The best bit had to be Jordan, even though he’s not really my type. That says a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. All thought and opinions are my own.
Title: Love, Lies, and Too Many Guys
Author: Erica Lucke Dean
Publication Date: October 20, 2026
Rating: 2⭐️
I really, REALLY thought I was going to love this book, but unfortunately it was not for me.
The premise of it is simple: Our FMC decided to make a list of potential guys who she wouldn't mind losing her virginity to. The list somehow goes viral, and instead of feeling humiliated, she pretended it was the plan all along and created this “college contest” to see which guy would win. In return she would also get a scholarship from a magazine who picked up on her story.
Cool right? But….
From the very beginning I wasn't sure about Kennedy (our FMC). And despite the guys who Kennedy had dates with (which were so flat and boring), I thought the worst character had to be the so called “best-friend”, Nicole. I cannot understand WHY they were friends at all considering she had no respect for Kennedy, their friendship and wasn't a reliable person.
Overall, it left me wanting more. More romance, more comedy, more closure. I just wanted to have my cheeks hurting from silly smiles while kicking my feet or laughing out loud by witty remarks, but I never got that feeling.
The best bit had to be Jordan, even though he’s not really my type. That says a lot.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. All thought and opinions are my own.
July 10, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.
Genre: College-Age Romantic Comedy
Love, Lies and Too Many Guys, by Erica Lucke Dean is a fun, lighthearted college rom-com filled with humor, romance, and plenty of entertaining moments.
I flew through this book and found it to be a quick, enjoyable read. It had me laughing out loud more than once. As an '80s movie fan, I especially loved the nostalgic references sprinkled throughout the story. By the time I finished, I was singing Peter Gabriel, which felt like the perfect ending.
This is a light, easy read that's perfect when you're looking for something fun and low-stress. The characters are college-aged, making it a great choice for readers who enjoy young adult or new adult romantic comedies.
Overall, this was a charming and entertaining read that kept me smiling from beginning to end. If you're looking for a quick rom-com with humor, nostalgic '80s references, and plenty of heart, Love, Lies and Too Many Guys is worth adding to your reading list.
Recommended if you enjoy:
• College rom-coms
• '80s pop culture references
• Laugh-out-loud banter
• Quick, feel-good reads
Genre: College-Age Romantic Comedy
Love, Lies and Too Many Guys, by Erica Lucke Dean is a fun, lighthearted college rom-com filled with humor, romance, and plenty of entertaining moments.
I flew through this book and found it to be a quick, enjoyable read. It had me laughing out loud more than once. As an '80s movie fan, I especially loved the nostalgic references sprinkled throughout the story. By the time I finished, I was singing Peter Gabriel, which felt like the perfect ending.
This is a light, easy read that's perfect when you're looking for something fun and low-stress. The characters are college-aged, making it a great choice for readers who enjoy young adult or new adult romantic comedies.
Overall, this was a charming and entertaining read that kept me smiling from beginning to end. If you're looking for a quick rom-com with humor, nostalgic '80s references, and plenty of heart, Love, Lies and Too Many Guys is worth adding to your reading list.
Recommended if you enjoy:
• College rom-coms
• '80s pop culture references
• Laugh-out-loud banter
• Quick, feel-good reads
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of Love, Lies, and Too Many Guys is both funny and painfully believable. Kennedy and her best friend make a private list of men she finds attractive, only for it to disappear and go viral across campus. Rather than let everyone else control the story, Kennedy agrees to turn the humiliation into a reality show–style dating competition, complete with a scholarship offer from an online feminist magazine.
I liked that Kennedy’s situation becomes about more than losing her virginity. She is dealing with pressure from her mother, public judgment, money, friendship, and the growing realization that performing confidence is not the same as knowing what she actually wants. Jordan, the moody guy who was never on the list, complicates everything in a way that feels inevitable but still entertaining.
Some of the competition setup is intentionally over-the-top, but it gives the novel plenty of room for awkward dates and bad decisions. Kennedy’s struggle to take ownership of her choices gave the story more substance than I expected from the premise. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
I liked that Kennedy’s situation becomes about more than losing her virginity. She is dealing with pressure from her mother, public judgment, money, friendship, and the growing realization that performing confidence is not the same as knowing what she actually wants. Jordan, the moody guy who was never on the list, complicates everything in a way that feels inevitable but still entertaining.
Some of the competition setup is intentionally over-the-top, but it gives the novel plenty of room for awkward dates and bad decisions. Kennedy’s struggle to take ownership of her choices gave the story more substance than I expected from the premise. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun, fast-paced college romance filled with drama, friendship struggles, awkward situations, and plenty of entertaining moments. The unique premise immediately grabbed my attention, and the blend of humor, romance, and campus gossip kept the story engaging throughout. Alongside the lighthearted moments, it also explores themes of self-discovery, confidence, and making choices for yourself.
The writing is simple, engaging, and easy to follow, making it a quick and enjoyable read. I also appreciated Kennedy's personal growth, and the romance with Jordan developed naturally, with several sweet moments that added warmth to the story.
Overall, this was a charming college rom-com with humor, heart, and personal growth. It was an enjoyable read that balanced romance and self-discovery well.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is simple, engaging, and easy to follow, making it a quick and enjoyable read. I also appreciated Kennedy's personal growth, and the romance with Jordan developed naturally, with several sweet moments that added warmth to the story.
Overall, this was a charming college rom-com with humor, heart, and personal growth. It was an enjoyable read that balanced romance and self-discovery well.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you enjoy snarky banter, a slightly unhinged premise, and John Hughes movies, you will enjoy this over-the-top romp through a college girl's worst nightmare.
Kennedy Beaman refuses to be humiliated when her list potential guys she could lose her virginity to accidentally gets posted to the internet. Chaos ensues. The characters are straight out of an old 80s movie, complete with an inappropriate mother, a wildly unreliable and cringy best friend, several hot frat boys, a dark and moody mystery man, and a creepy pair of nerdy fanboys. (...And a few spicy scenes).
I felt the story lagged a bit in the middle and there were a few unresolved issues that felt like they should have been addressed (mostly her relationship with her father), but the absolutely CINEMATIC ending more than made up for it.
Kennedy Beaman refuses to be humiliated when her list potential guys she could lose her virginity to accidentally gets posted to the internet. Chaos ensues. The characters are straight out of an old 80s movie, complete with an inappropriate mother, a wildly unreliable and cringy best friend, several hot frat boys, a dark and moody mystery man, and a creepy pair of nerdy fanboys. (...And a few spicy scenes).
I felt the story lagged a bit in the middle and there were a few unresolved issues that felt like they should have been addressed (mostly her relationship with her father), but the absolutely CINEMATIC ending more than made up for it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first ARC read and I couldn't be more happier!!!
If it wasn't for my job I would've finished this a few days ago! I loved this book so much 🥺 It was everything I needed to get back to reading after uni.
Kennedy's story is so entertaining, I really enjoyed it!!! I also liked most of the scenes with the guys (most of all #that one) (: Loved the plot overall, it was such a interesting way of portraying the v-card theme.
There were a couple of things I didn't really enjoyed (one of the female characters specifically) but I get why was it necessary for it to be like that
As I said, overall is a pretty entertaining, heartfelt and joyful book! Im definitely adding Erica to my list of authors from now on 💗
If it wasn't for my job I would've finished this a few days ago! I loved this book so much 🥺 It was everything I needed to get back to reading after uni.
Kennedy's story is so entertaining, I really enjoyed it!!! I also liked most of the scenes with the guys (most of all #that one) (: Loved the plot overall, it was such a interesting way of portraying the v-card theme.
There were a couple of things I didn't really enjoyed (one of the female characters specifically) but I get why was it necessary for it to be like that
As I said, overall is a pretty entertaining, heartfelt and joyful book! Im definitely adding Erica to my list of authors from now on 💗
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one was definitely packed with drama and so much plot, which kept me entertained from start to finish. If you love YA stories with high school/college vibes and all the messy friendships, crushes, and chaos that come with that stage of life, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
The story follows Kennedy and her best friend, who create a list of guys on campus she’d be interested in losing her virginity to. Of course, the list ends up getting way bigger than expected, and suddenly Kennedy becomes the most talked about girl on campus. I’ll leave it there because I don’t want to spoil too much!
The ending was really cute and wrapped everything up in a satisfying way. Overall, it was a fun, drama filled YA read that kept me turning the pages. 📚✨
The story follows Kennedy and her best friend, who create a list of guys on campus she’d be interested in losing her virginity to. Of course, the list ends up getting way bigger than expected, and suddenly Kennedy becomes the most talked about girl on campus. I’ll leave it there because I don’t want to spoil too much!
The ending was really cute and wrapped everything up in a satisfying way. Overall, it was a fun, drama filled YA read that kept me turning the pages. 📚✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The characters were fine, but there are things that could be improved to make the story either more entertaining or more endearing. I didn’t really fall in love with the main character, but he’s okay; I feel like they could have given Kennedy a less cliché nickname—it would have worked better. The ending felt a bit rushed, but since it’s a book for teens, I’m not sure how else it could have played out. The premise was interesting, but I don’t think kids actually react the way the book portrays them—I think he would have been bullied or something similar, but it’s not my place to judge. The plot was interesting, but I feel like it could have been executed better.
Oh! And I totally hated Nicole !
Oh! And I totally hated Nicole !
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received as an arc from NetGalley.
Think university age "The Bachelorette" with a dash of 80's teen movies. Kennedy and her best friend jokingly make a list of potential guys for her to loose her virginity to. When that list gets out that joke becomes a reality, with a group of guys vying for the chance.
I was really torn on what to rate this one. I really liked Erica's writing style but there was a lot of the book I just didn't like. Mainly Kennedy's best friend Nicole. Right off the bat she isn't a good friend, and it feels like all Kennedy can say is that they've been best friends for years even when she does terrible things. I contemplated giving two stars for the ick factor alone.
I'm curious to read other books by Erica, because I did enjoy her writing style and found the book had good pacing. I just think this storyline wasn't for me.
Think university age "The Bachelorette" with a dash of 80's teen movies. Kennedy and her best friend jokingly make a list of potential guys for her to loose her virginity to. When that list gets out that joke becomes a reality, with a group of guys vying for the chance.
I was really torn on what to rate this one. I really liked Erica's writing style but there was a lot of the book I just didn't like. Mainly Kennedy's best friend Nicole. Right off the bat she isn't a good friend, and it feels like all Kennedy can say is that they've been best friends for years even when she does terrible things. I contemplated giving two stars for the ick factor alone.
I'm curious to read other books by Erica, because I did enjoy her writing style and found the book had good pacing. I just think this storyline wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a funny and easy read!
Kennedy finds herself in the middle of a mess after creating a list of potential guys to lose her virginity to...one insignificant joke turns into a game that can secure Kennedy tuitions for the rest of college. Between dates (not so good ones though 😅), lies and manipulations,Kennedy ends up losing herself...Could she find Love among this disaster?
If you want a small, cute and funny story, try this one 😊 and I wasn't expecting the little twist near the end 😅
Thanks Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing thanks for providing me with an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Kennedy finds herself in the middle of a mess after creating a list of potential guys to lose her virginity to...one insignificant joke turns into a game that can secure Kennedy tuitions for the rest of college. Between dates (not so good ones though 😅), lies and manipulations,Kennedy ends up losing herself...Could she find Love among this disaster?
If you want a small, cute and funny story, try this one 😊 and I wasn't expecting the little twist near the end 😅
Thanks Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing thanks for providing me with an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love, Lies, and Too Many Guys was a great book to enjoy as a light but heartwarming read. Kennedy is sweet and believable and through her conversations with my favorite character Jordan, I found myself rooting for her and wishing to have her as my friend.
The story moves at a nice pace, advancing but taking time to understand each character better and allowing the reader to form opinions about each of them. The romance grows in a perfect way for a calm but charming story that's guaranteed to make you smile.
If you love a fun lighthearted new adult romance in a college setting, this book is for you.
The story moves at a nice pace, advancing but taking time to understand each character better and allowing the reader to form opinions about each of them. The romance grows in a perfect way for a calm but charming story that's guaranteed to make you smile.
If you love a fun lighthearted new adult romance in a college setting, this book is for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is your rom-com recommendation if you miss those nostalgic ‘80s movies that leave you feeling hopeful and smiling long after the credits roll.
✨an absolutely unhinged bestie
✨a delightfully motley crew of men
✨a swoon-worthy MMC
✨an FMC who throws caution to the wind and dives headfirst into a small-town, college style, bachelorette dating experience only to find herself falling into something real. The only problem? Their love has to stay a secret if she wants the future she’s worked hard for.
Sleep Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ pick this one up when you’re in the mood for a light-hearted, feel-good read before bed!
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!!
✨an absolutely unhinged bestie
✨a delightfully motley crew of men
✨a swoon-worthy MMC
✨an FMC who throws caution to the wind and dives headfirst into a small-town, college style, bachelorette dating experience only to find herself falling into something real. The only problem? Their love has to stay a secret if she wants the future she’s worked hard for.
Sleep Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ pick this one up when you’re in the mood for a light-hearted, feel-good read before bed!
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hey Kennedy, i like freaks too!
It was a light and enjoyable read. I’m pretty sure my 16-year-old self would have absolutely loved this book because the romance feels very much like a teenage love story. The writing is easy to get into, and despite a few plot holes and the fact that I never really connected with Nicole as a character, I still found myself wanting to keep reading. It’s one of those books that keeps you turning the pages, even when you notice its flaws. Overall, it was a cute, entertaining read that I don’t regret picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
really do not know what to say.
The book looked cute from the summary, but in reality, it was a HOT MESS!
While I know its just a story, it was so completely unrealistic.
Bad grammer, the mom will just get on your nerves with her "about face" on the subject at hand, the bestie is beyond annoying
Please do not waste your time
The book looked cute from the summary, but in reality, it was a HOT MESS!
While I know its just a story, it was so completely unrealistic.
Bad grammer, the mom will just get on your nerves with her "about face" on the subject at hand, the bestie is beyond annoying
Please do not waste your time
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Found this immature and cringey. I couldn’t get over MILF Town, talking about mounting ???, the entire first chapter just made me uncomfortable. Not for me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Originally, reading the concept, I was really excited by this book, but it ended up being a bit of a mixed read.
My biggest issue was the central premise. I wasn't a fan of the pressure placed on someone so young to have sex, especially when it was encouraged by a parental figure. It made parts of the story feel uncomfortable rather than empowering.
I also found Nicole incredibly frustrating. Instead of supporting Kennedy, she constantly made her life harder, and their friendship became more irritating than enjoyable to read.
I did enjoy the male lead and the plot twist surrounding him, and once the story picked up with the competition, scholarship storyline, and third-act conflict, I became much more invested.
Overall, the slow start and some frustrating character dynamics made this difficult to get into, but the second half was much stronger.
My biggest issue was the central premise. I wasn't a fan of the pressure placed on someone so young to have sex, especially when it was encouraged by a parental figure. It made parts of the story feel uncomfortable rather than empowering.
I also found Nicole incredibly frustrating. Instead of supporting Kennedy, she constantly made her life harder, and their friendship became more irritating than enjoyable to read.
I did enjoy the male lead and the plot twist surrounding him, and once the story picked up with the competition, scholarship storyline, and third-act conflict, I became much more invested.
Overall, the slow start and some frustrating character dynamics made this difficult to get into, but the second half was much stronger.
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