Love & Other Great Expectations

by Becky Dean

An American girl embarks on a competitive scavenger hunt in England—and along the way, meets up with a bookish British boy who can't help her with the clues . . . but might make the trip take some unexpected turns. Britt Hanson has always preferred scoring goals on the soccer field to analyzing dusty old books. But when an injury ends her dream to play in college, she jumps at the chance to compete in a scavenger hunt in England that takes her to the locations of classic novels—the prize money would change her life! Once in the UK she meets bookish and very British Luke Jackson. He can’t actually help her with any of the clues (against the rules), but something about Luke compels her to invite him to join her. She wouldn’t mind getting to know him—and listening to his accent. To win, Britt must outsmart three competitors who aren’t afraid to play dirty while solving clues and traveling around the English countryside. Along the way, Britt learns that sometimes you have to follow the map and other times, you need to throw caution to the wind and see where the cobblestoned road leads you.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Travel, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult Romance

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2022

About the author

Becky 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.

Reviews

[Erin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Are you finding what you're looking for?"
"Better," he said. "I found something I wasn't looking for."

This book took me completely by surprise, in more ways than one! First, because I won this book in a Mystery Pre-Order giveaway, so I didn't even know I had won it until it arrived at my doorstep! Two, because YA contemporary is not a genre I EVER read. I don't think I have a single other contemporary on my shelves (although this book may change that!) And third, because it ended up being exactly the book I needed to read this week.

In fact, I put another book back on the shelf to pick this one up, because I needed something more lighthearted and easy than a sweeping fantasy series (with a lot of worldbuilding to keep up with)! Honestly, the cover was just so cute, and after reading a few reviews, if felt like it would do the job of helping me to rest a bit more while reading.

And I am so glad I picked this book up! It truly blew me away. Where do I even begin?

The author did such a fantastic job of lacing together very witty writing that is both fun and clever while also being informative, into an exciting but cozy plot, with a great cast of characters and the perfect dash of romance.

While the plot does have the air of "unrealistic teen dream trip", it is one hundred percent the kind of adventure I would want to go on if I visited the UK! The entire scavenger hunt was such a fun way to spend with with the great literary classics, and it was so fun to watch Britt get to have experiences that mimic iconic moments from classic literature.

We're talking Dickens, Austen, Sherlock, the Inklings (Lewis & Tolkien), Shakespeare and Chaucer!

"I hate to see a pretty girl drinking alone."
"Then don't look at me while I continue reading my book"

Luke, Britt, and Al were all amazing in their own ways. I tabbed this book, and I have like five tabs just making times I was obsessed with Al. She has perfectly dry humor, acting nonchalant at every turn, and she was such a *fun* character.

"Forigve me for running away?" I asked.
"If you forgive me for not chasing after you."

Luke and Britt are such a great pairing, while they are opposites in a lot of ways - Luke is a nerd, Britt is an athlete; Luke is reserved, Britt is outgoing - they also compliment each other perfectly, and their personal struggles and journeys of discovery mirror each other so well. Not to mention they have just the most adorkably swoony romance. Chapter 18 was just my absolutely favorite.

"Sometimes you need other people to help you see yourself more clearly."

But the themes are the things that grabbed hold of me and just would not, could not let go of me. And while the writing, characters, and plot were all phenomenal, it is the themes in the stories that push it beyond five stars into something life changing.

"It's better not to love something, isn't it? It's harder to get hurt if you don't care."

Britt is a girl who thought she had her life figured out with soccer, but after a bad injury she is having to start over, figure out what she what's to be. Who she wants to be. The kind of loss and grief that she has to first acknowledge, and then process, is so relatable in a way we don't talk about a lot. When we think of grief, we think of the death of a death, but grieving the death of a dream is extremely painful in its own way. The way Becky Dean navigates this journey with Britt is so authentic and relatable, giving space for Britt to make mistakes and grow, and for us to learn by experiencing the journey with her.

"I believe you will move on, but it's okay not to be okay."

This story is so much about learning to let go of the expectations and dreams you have for yourself and your life. But it's more than just letting for, it's also giving yourself the freedom to love something new without fear of losing that too. It is such a deep concept that I've never seen explored so well, this idea that every time you lose something, it makes loving something new even harder. Just beautifully done, and so incredibly encouraging for me in the season of life I am in right now.

"Forgiveness is acknowledging that they hurt you but moving forward and letting go of bitterness."

Not to mention, there are always great themes of trying new things, forgiveness, second chances, and humility. There is a lot of great things going on in this book.

"I have you to thank for helping me discover who I want to be. No what, but who."

Love & Other Great Expections is such a story of hope, and I am so looking forward to lending it out every one I know! While literary lovers will definitely enjoy this book hands down, it has a deep message of truth that I think can encourage any heart.

Definitely Literature Approved.

Also, please note it was incredibly hard for me to pick just a few quotes and not copy and paste the entire book. So many great lines!

[Nova McBee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone looking for a sweet, clean read or who loves traveling, adventure, cute nerdy British boys, British literature, lots of banter, and coming of age stories will enjoy this book!
Great for 13+!

[Alissa J. Zavalianos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so this book was perfection.

First of all, I LOVED all of the literary connections, especially Tolkien and Lewis! And then Sherlock Holmes, Jane Austen, King Arthur, Shakespeare, and Chaucer! Ahh, It just made my literature-loving heart so giddy.

And then all the friendships! Okay, so Spence, Peter, Britt, and Amberley (or however it’s spelt) really have some beef with one another. I love how throughout the story, some of those issues get unearthed and they learn to forgive and move on. I perhaps would have liked a bit more closure when it came to Peter’s story, but maybe that’s a book for another time?

And don’t even get me started about Luke. He was perfect for Britt in every way. His willingness to tag along with her adventures and “help” but also not help because that’s technically cheating, and yet watching their friendship to more unfold…*sigh* it was perfection.

And Al! Ahh, I loved her friendship with Britt. Seriously so funny and so much sarcasm 😂

And then all the side details about family and life decisions and choices and growing up. It was just all so well done.

This story is sweet and cute and I really have no negative things to say. I for sure will be doing a reread sometime in the near future. I think I’ve rediscovered my love for contemporary, European late high school romance this year (very niche, I know 😂).

All right, Becky Dean, welcome to my list of favorite authors now! So excited to read more from you 💛

Content:
No sex (just kisses)
No language (just euphemisms like “freaking” etc.)

P.S. Thank you SO much, Erin Phillips, on recommending this superb piece of fiction! Forever grateful for you! 💛

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I am sadly putting Love $ Other Great Expectation to my DNF pile. My DNF pile is growing.
Miss Dean is writing the story is like putting together a blog and adding choppy conversation/ banter. As a YA novel, the book is lacking moral message to empower yourself.

There is no chemistry whatsoever with the characters. Everything seems cold and forced.
Enough said. Moving on.

2 stars

[Brittanica Bold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute debut novel by Becky Dean. If you enjoy Kasie West, Morgan Matson, and Jenn Bennett, this is a must read!

What I initially thought was going to be another Breakfast Club reimagining (because we don’t have enough of those terrible creations in existence…), turned into a cross between Meant To Be and Today Tonight Tomorrow that I loved!

In this fast-paced, swoony homage to The Canterbury Tales, not only will their literary educations be tested, but past buried issues will be dug up, treacherous plans for winning will unfold, and some of them will discover more about themselves than they ever imagined.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and Becky Dean for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions expressed below are my own.

What I liked about the book:
1. I loved the trip through the UK, especially with the classic literature themed hunt! As someone who has had their UK trip planned out for at least 2 decades, (which, yes!, includes going to places in some of my favorite books and the dwellings of some of my favorite authors) I will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS read books where young people traipse through Europe and find themselves. It’s definitely a favorite theme of mine, and Becky Dean didn’t disappoint! I felt like I was in the UK right along with Britt for the ride!


2. As previously mentioned, I loved the literary tie ins, but I especially liked how there were a lot of critical thinking sessions and deep conversations between Luke and Britt about how those classics relate to real life.

The high-level thinking in this book reminded me of late nights chatting with my dad at a young age about existential and philosophical things, given we are both terrible overthinkers and insomniacs. These are some of my fondest memories from my adolescence, and I was happy to revisit those feelings again <3

3. I loved the storytelling aspect that came through in Britt’s journey. She was so good at it and I hung on her every word! She was creative and a true showman without even realizing it, which I loved since she just chalked herself up to a dumb jock most of the time.

4. I absolutely adored all of the dry British humor brought in by Al and Luke. It was perfect especially contrasted to Britt’s loud and garish humor. And who doesn’t love a Monty Python reference???


5. Not only was the anxiety of being a young person captured perfectly, but the budding young romance brought me back to days of yesteryear. The fleeting glances, the constant butterflies, the “did he mean to touch my hand?!?!” moments, the intense blushing….sigh, youth truly is wasted on the young.


6. I liked how Britt and Amberlyn came to an understanding and put to bed all their old issues, but they also didn’t become fast friends after. That is so realistic and I appreciated the author not just putting a bow on it and making them BFFs again.

7. Main character Brittany “Britt” Hanson finally represented a non-toxic Brittany (that doesn’t happen as often as you would think). And yes, this gets its own bullet point because she spells her name the right way, dammit!


What didn't do it for me:
1. I wanted a bit more from the characters. We got a lot of introspectiveness with Britt, which was good, but we didn’t get too much with the other characters. I wanted to know more about Luke, Al, and Amberlyn, even Spence and Peter. This book definitely had me wanting more books to get to know the other three competitors, but that just won’t work with how this book wrapped up.

Unfortunately, I’ll probably never get an Amberlyn + Nick book, a Peter working for Ms. C book, or a Spence learning to not be a tool book. I’ve made peace with this.

2. Not to be that person, but I’m fairly certain this should be considered a treasure hunt rather than a scavenger hunt…I’ll see my snobbish ass out


4 go-find-yourself stars!

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read if you like:
❀ UK setting
❀ YA Insta love
❀ Classic literature

Summary: When English lit instructor Ms. Carmichael offers High School Senior Britt Hanson and several of her classmates an offer of a lifetime - a scavenger hunt in the UK with a $100K prize - none can refuse. Upon arriving, Britt becomes immediately smitten with Londoner Luke Jackson, and soon the two are working together to help her win the jackpot.

Thoughts: In order to enjoy this book, you must first suspend any sense of disbelief as the premise of the book seems a bit absurd. Ms. Carmichael refers to the scavenger hunt as a “unconventional endeavor,” and that it certainly is.

Once we move past that, I think this was a cute rom-com for juveniles/young adults that touches on some pretty important and heavy topics such as self esteem, friendship, parental abandonment, etc. The ways in which the author wove these issues into the storyline, and then addressed them head on, was excellent.

What I felt was missing, however, was more in-depth character development across the board. This was a story about adventure, and therefore was more plot heavy, and less about the characters. While this will not necessarily be a negative thing for some, for me, it created an inability to connect with any of the characters.

I did a partial audiobook read as well reading on my kindle, and I would say the narrator did a decent job portraying each of the characters and was clear and concise in her narration.

A super cute cover and an overall average YA romance. I would recommend it primarily to much younger audiences (as opposed to YA that’s a bit more mature) or to those who really love the tropes presented.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delight! i decided upon this story as I am drawn towards many things British, it sounded interesting, and I like to give a new author a chance/help support him or her. Probably not what one would expect but I do have an eclectic reading tastes at times.

Having only briefly been in England, but having a fondness for the British people as my province of Newfoundland was settled hundreds of years ago with so so many Irish, Scottish, and British as we have a heritage indeed with them.....from much of our words and terms (along with a major American influence; that's a wonderful thing too I might add!, which makes us a unique blend too) Even when traveling there or abroad down in Florida for example; when meeting anyone from the UK, they would always smile fondly when I would say what province I was from :) aaww.

So, with all the beloved iconic aspects that are so British on the cute cover plus the charming tale itself, I was pleasantly surprised at what I figured would be an enjoyable little chick flick/ rom com per say but had such wonderful themes of forgiveness, taking chances, the importance of family, reconciliation, all with a satisfying conclusion.

Such a lovely, wholesome, and even laugh out loud at times book that I can gladly recommend to anyone; especially young (or even middle aged! ) adults as she is an author that passes my "one chance" trying out.

[shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s better not to love something, isn’t it? It’s harder to get hurt if you don’t care.”
4 ★ | 12-13+
love & other great expectations | becky dean

⇨ 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 (mini review!) 💗
This was adorable! I checked it out from the library but couldn’t get into so I ended up listening to the audiobook. The setting was so unique and fun, the romance was sweet and rather cliche but still enjoyable, and there were so many references that I wish I understood all of them!

I understood the nods to jane austen and c.s.lewis, but most everything else was lost on me and resulted in a lot of google searches, but gladly so because I learned so much about classic english literature! If you enjoy that topic you will LOVE this book.

Note: I really disliked the narrator’s voice, so I’d suggest reading the book/ebook.


content considerations:
romance: 2/5 (flirting, crushing, kissing, etc. similar to kasie west books but maybe a tad less descriptive with the kissing)
language: 0/5
other: none really!

[Emily ✞ || [fallon's vrs] · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️ | clean travel romance | 11/12+ | PG

୨୧ ❝ you make the world brighter. you’re beautiful and determined and special, and I don’t know how I lasted my whole life without you in it ❞ ୨୧

꒰🎶꒱ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: london boy ⇾ taylor swift

not to be the one making bad puns, but I did have great expectations for this book. (har har 😝), but it didn’t quite…meet them. this book was all kinds of cute, but it just fell flat at times and felt a little dry at others. the beginning, especially, felt a little…juvenile?

Luke didn’t make me squeal like some of my favorite mmcs did, which disappointed me. he was a little boring at times. yes, he had his moments where I giggled, and he redeemed himself a little toward the end, but he was kinda mid.

nothing was particularly bad about this book, I in fact liked it a lot and still one hundred percent recommend, but it was just kinda…there for me. nothing exceptionally special, not really ‘giggling kicking my feet’ worthy either. which disappoints me, because I’ve seen this book at my library (which is a Christian library, fyi), at several thrift stores, and book stores and was just dying to read it.

my favorite character was Peter, for some odd reason, even though he was such a grump. huh, maybe that says something about me and not the book. perhaps I’m naturally drawn to grumps.

all-in-all, it was just ‘meh’ and ‘enjoyable’ all in one. I didn’t have any urge to pick the book up or keep going, but that didn’t mean it was terrible, just not my favorite.

side note! I did not take notes for this book, bc I had just started doing that (again) after a few months of slacking with my content warnings. I was also on vacation while reading this so I kinda forgot. sorry!


─────୨♡୧─────

꒰🇬🇧꒱ content warning (spoiler free)

➸spiritual content:
a few mentions and/or discussions of density, I believe there were a few mentions of God, and maybe praying; some people are seen meditating


➸sexual content:
2 or 3 kisses, semi-detailed, quite a bit of thinking about kissing and looking at lips, romantic touch that is chaste not horny or sensual; a few times Britt thinks about Luke in bed; ogling at handsome guys and suggestively waggling eyebrows; Britt admires Luke’s muscles once; minor sexual innuendos like Britt asking ‘where did you come from?’ and Luke replying ‘don’t American parents have that conversation with their kids?’ teasingly, nothing beyond that; Britt says Luke should read to her every night and she gets embarrassed; Britt sleeps on Luke’s shoulder; Luke takes off his shirt to use it to stanch a wound Britt got, but he puts his jacket on a moment later; a mention of guys being eye candy; a character falls in love with every pretty girl he sees; some flirting, talks about boyfriends, girlfriends, and dating


➸language:
1 crap, 2 sexy, 2 freaking, some name calling and unwritten curses


➸drugs/alcohol/smoking:
our protagonists eat at bars and pubs, but they’re not like the typical bars. no drinking. some background characters drink; mentions of pints; I think maybe one background character was drunk, but I’m not sure


➸lgtbq+:
none!


➸magic/witchcraft:
none, though there was a woman with these crystals coming out of a strange store, and I just got a weird vibe from that, I guess it could be seen as a hint to someone practicing witchcraft? three women pose as the three witches from Macbeth and Britt thinks they’ll try and tell her the future, even though she knows it’s fake


➸violence:
Bitt gets a bad cut on her chin, remembering an injury (tearing an ACL), bruises, and falling down


➸possible triggers:
Britt got an injury playing soccer, a genetic blood condition and Britt has to take blood-thinning medicine, Britt feels like she has to live up to her mother’s expectations by being as successful as her older siblings, Britt’s father left when she was young and she hasn’t seen him since, a mention of a grandma having a stroke

─────୨♡୧─────

꒰☕️꒱ quotes (if I have any)


➸ ”Maybe I just wanted to spend time with a pretty, crazy American.”
“Did you call me pretty? Or was that a qualifier for the adjective crazy?”
“It was not a qualifier. It was two separate adjectives, both of which accurately describe you. Although after the knife incident, I believe crazy is coming through stronger.”

➸ ”If you keep sweeping things under the rug, eventually the rug doesn’t lie flat anymore.”
“Then you trip on it and fall on your face?”
“Exactly.”

➸ ”Books are like adventures. They take you to new places and let you be new people. The best ones teach you about life or inspire you.”

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, funny, and very entertaining.

[graceee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ೃ⁀➷ 4.25 ✰

“𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳?”

“𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. “𝘪 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.”

This book was sooo cute!! Agh! I loved it! When I started it, I was feeling a bit slumpy, so I didn’t immediately get sucked in. But yesterday I was home alone and not feeling well, rewatching Gilmore Girls for the 80th time when I was like… as much as I love watching Lorelai have a quarter life crisis because of three different guys again and again (and again)… I need something new. And so, I picked up this book.

And boy am I so glad I did! First off, SOMEONE TAKE ME TO ENGLAND!! The setting in this book is so rich and fun. I wonder if I could get excepted into Oxford?

Yeah. Totally. Heh…

Anywhoodle, this book just made me so happy! It was so refreshing to read a YA romance that is… wait for it…. Clean. ::gasps from the crowd:: I know!! And I mean, I’m not super picky with my content, but it definitely feels like a breath of fresh air to not read anything that’s icky or lusty or anything like that. Also, I adored the main character. And most of the other characters. Wow, Grace, great job….what a great segway into…

*ೃ༄ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥

Alright, yes, the title is a work in progress, but let’s move on. Also, the Taylor Swift songs— I picked the lyric that matches the character best, not necessarily the whole song. Cool? Cool.

🫧 Britt Hanson
𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿
𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺?

I LOVED HER!! Oh my gosh I loved her!! She was funny, quick witted, and extroverted… but not in an annoying way?? It was refreshing to read about a main character who likes being around people and preferred a busy town over nothingness. And while I do not sport, nor does speaking in front of lots of people make me super excited, I felt like I could relate to her. She didn’t just sit alone all the time. But at the same time, she makes kind of surface level connections instead of truly deep ones. ALSOOOO, she has trouble talking about the deep stuff. Like girl… literally me. I am a joke about it now, cry about it later kinda girlie. Anyways, I also really related to her in the way that while she desperately wants to be there for people and comfort them and give them advice… she doesn’t know what to say or what would be best. THAT DESCRIBES MY WHOLE LIFE. AH!! Plus she was hilarious. All in all, I could see a lot of myself in Britt (minus the sports and crazy outgoingness), and I loved her narration. 10/10 fmc… great job Becky Dean. You slayed.


🫧 Luke Jackson
𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗸𝗶𝗱
𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥

Let’s ignore his terribly basic name and focus on the fact that HE READS TO CHILDREN FOR FUN 😭 I love this man and nothing is going to change it. Usually, I go for the comedic relief, golden retriever guys. But something about his sarcastic wit and calmness was SO CUTEEEE! I loved his love for literature, how he easily bantered with Britt, and how thoughtful he was. He didn’t talk down to Britt when he knew more than her. HE IS AMAZING. But with all of that said, I wish he had a bit more of a flaw? He just seemed a bit too perfect… but I mean… I can’t really complain. Just thought I should say something…
Did I mention he reads?

🫧 Al Jackson(?)
𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧
. . . . 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴

No other lyric works for her 😭 But I LOVED AL!! She’s so deadpan and sarcastic, but she also showed her love in many different ways. And although she didn’t outright say it, she cares deeply. Al is definitely an acts of service girlie. Plus, she’s an accountant. I dunno why, but I found that funny. She just does money and math all day. Slay? I guess? I dunno. That’s all I have to say about Al, but I really did love her character!! Her friendship with Britt was amazing. All in all, Al added so much to the story, and her character felt so unique. I adored her!


Okayyyy so no other characters matter lol

Anywhoodle, this book was sooo cute!! I loved the scavenger hunt and all the different dynamics between the competitors. At first I was expecting kind of found family thing to happen… that was not the case lol. I’m not complaining because I love how it turned out already, but just know there is no found family between competitors.
OH AND NICK AND LUKE��S FRIENDSHIP WAS SO CUTE!! And I no want to go punting 😭 ugh, curse this book for adding so many new things to my bucket list!

Becky Dean, I think I’ll be reading more from you. 🫶🏻

immediate review: ahhhh i loved this book sm!! it was soo cute!! 4.25 stars

[Caitlin Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 ⭐️ RTC!

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a literary lover’s dream! All the bookish references are golden, the Britishness a delight, the themes lovely. And it totally exceeded my expectations! 😉

Britt…oh my goodness, she’s optimistic, she’s awkward, she’s hilarious, she’s relatable. Luke is sweetly and adorably British. Quiet, bookish, serious, reserved. And also very relatable…in a lot of ways, he’s me in male form. 😏 Also, Al (Alexis) is a girl after my own heart; we would definitely be friends. She’s a master deadpanner and her dry wit had me laughing ridiculously.

YA romance isn’t usually my thing, but this book absolutely delivered. It was sweet and swoony without overbearing drama. The romance is insta-attraction, but it isn’t based on physicality but rather character, which I loved.

There were so many beautiful themes woven into this story: forgiveness, true worth, being yourself, letting people in, and being authentic.

Definitely a highlight read of the year!


And take a moment to appreciate this quote:

“‘You should not be so focused on rushing to the next place that you fail to appreciate where you are.’”

[Allyson Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ack! This book was so amazing!! Luke, Britt, Al... 🤩🤩🤩

So many books that I read are shallow. They spin a great story, provide a nice place to escape to and... That's about it. Yes, I enjoy those type of books as well, but they can get dull.

When compared to books that make you think, feel, and imagine how your own life could be better... They feel like child's play. Books like L&OGE make you look at your own life in ways you hadn't done before. They make you think of things you hadn't thought before. And they make you feel, truly feel. It's a soul crushing, heart wrenching experience. And I love it.

Blame it on the adorable romance, the British accents, or Britt's comedic ways, but those were all just the icing on the cake for me. Because, to me, this book is brilliant. I'm in love. Over the moon. And I don't want to shut up about this book now! Don't mind me while I go recommend it to all my friends... 🥰

Please read it! You won't regret it.

*please note: I received a copy of this book from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions were my own.

[Lexi Dacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could rate this with a a higher number of stars, I would!

LOVE AND OTHER GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Becky Dean is "The Amazing Race" meets "The Holiday" meets your favorite RomCom! It is such a sweet, swoony romance story full of humor and wit with a huge dose of British charm. You roam the English city streets and countryside along with Britt and Luke who fall for each other on this wild, romantic scavenger hunt of a lifetime.

Reading about the red double decker buses zooming past on a cloudy London street and the rolling green hills flying past in the train window to Oxford I was immediately transported back to my own trip. England is a place with tons of nostalgia for me and an unmistakable hint of romance and magic.

I love supporting authors who write amazing books and love Jesus. I was thrilled to see that Becky has a heart for God and that her romance was one I could fully recommend. It is clean, sweet, and full of romantic tension with those smarty pants lines that make me laugh out loud. It's everything I personally want in a love story that will last. We need more delicious love stories like this that you think about long after the last page because they touched on something real. :) If you love England and sweet/smart romance this is the book for you! Thank you Becky Dean for writing such a lovely story about true love.

[★*☆♪Ev★*☆♪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3

It's really good. But it's not my favorite of hers. Hearts Overboard is definitely the best book she has written. But a good light read.

[Quill&Queer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that remind me of why I read certain genres and while I'm not a huge fan of Romance books, some YA Romance books leave me with the stupidest smile on my face, especially when they involve the couple connecting over something fun, like this treasure hunt across the United Kingdom.

I liked that this wasn't romance-focused, while Britt and Luke connected quickly, this story was more about Britt's coming to terms with her medical condition, her fears for what might happen if she gets injured and replanning her entire future now that she can never play soccer again.

The clues themselves, themed around really famous novels were really fun, and I could easily join in with my basic knowledge of classic books. I loved that this took us from London, to Glastonbury, Oxford and Bath, pausing each time to really give us a picture of places they visited.

If I had to nitpick, there were some minor errors and confusion - I didn't understand how Britt could do this trip on £200, the train fares from London to Bristol (there is no train to Glastonbury, this was skipped over) alone would blow the budget. And I wished there were more female authors - just Jane Austen featured, no Brontes, no Mary Shelley.

I would love to see this have a sequel with a new main character and new set of clues to solve, perhaps connecting back to this book like the Anna And The French Kiss series did. Luke and Britt could even appear in the role the Al took, babysitting the younger competitors.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It sucks, but I can’t change it. So, I’m here to move on.”
“I believe you will move on, but it’s okay not to be okay.” He squeezed my hand. “To be disappointed or angry or to grieve…because you lost something important, too.”
•
What an absolutely brilliant book! Such heart was woven into the pages and I absolutely felt seen by Britt’s character. As someone who struggles with the same emotional struggles she has, I felt as if I was learning right along with her as she traveled across the UK. It was such a beautiful story and I’m very excited for more novels form Becky Dean in the future!

[&#x10b3a;☼.☆彡sᥲrᥲ ☆彡.☼&#x10b3b; · Rating 5 out of 5]

꧁♡︎ 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤♡︎꧂


♡︎ 13+ 𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖~ 𝔸𝕕𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 ♡︎
Romance/ kissing hand holding
Language/NONE
Other/ witches who give her a note.
Adventure/ TONS

꧂ ꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐎 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃!!
𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊!???
𝐒𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐟* 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 :(
𝐈𝐌 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑
𝐚𝐧𝐝... 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑 *𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐏*
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓?!?
𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐒
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬!?
𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐟𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬.
𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊
𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮 :𝐃

𝐀𝐋𝐒𝐎
𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨
𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭, 𝐢 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐮. :)

꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂ ꧁


𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲
꧁♡𝐁𝐘𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 ♡︎꧂

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me miss England even more than I already did somehow. 7 weeks was just not long enough in that breathtaking country! I’m already trying to figure out how to make it work to go back😂
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Love and Other Great Expectations was such a fun read! A literary scavenger hunt across England?! Um, yes please! Since that’s essentially what I did (minus the prize money)it was especially fun to follow Britt and Luke to places that I completely fell in love with.
I loved the flirty banter between the two main characters. They were both such real feeling characters with fun personalities.
The author did a wonderful job bringing her characters and her setting to life. I definitely want to read more by her!

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#england #thebookwormsbookshelf #loveandothergreatexpectations #beckydeanauthor #beckydean #contemporary #contemporaryfiction #feelgoodbook #funreads @beckydeanwrites

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I may have lost one dream, but that wasn’t the end of the story.”

I picked up this book after several recommendations from friends. I was expecting a light-hearted coming-of-age YA novel set in my beloved England, but I got SO. MUCH. MORE. This book had a depth I wasn’t expecting and showed me that just because one dream ends doesn’t mean we’re done dreaming forever. I was also shocked by how perfectly it depicted the day-to-day thoughts and worries of someone living with a blood clotting disorder and taking blood thinners, which I definitely wasn’t expecting going into this book. Thank you, Becky Dean, for somehow writing exactly what I needed to read at a time in my life when I needed it most. I will forever be grateful that you did and that the Lord led me to this book when He did.

[Kaylee Gwyn (literarypengwyns) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Is it fair for me to dock half a star off this rating JUST BECAUSE IM SO UPSET THAT I DIDNT GET AN ALL EXPENSES PAID COMPETITIVE TRIP AROUND THE UK FOR $100K RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?! It isn’t fair? Well I’m a grown adult and I do what I want.

Seriously though, this book was so delightful. It hit everything I love in books: travel, romance, literature, discovering one’s self, and strong female characters who are working through a rough patch.

Brit was picked to head to the UK for a week long scavenger hunt inspired by The Canterbury Tales. She and three other classmates hit up Bath, Scotland, The Moors, London, and Oxford following in the footsteps of some of the most famous British classic literature authors to exist. Problem? She isn’t as studious as the other contestants and has no idea why she was selected. Oh, and she’s hiding a big secret so that her competition won’t use it against her.

I loved Brit. She reminds me so much of myself at 18. I too was smart but not the smartest of my smart friends. I also played soccer and enjoyed being loud and telling stories to get others excited. I also had thoughts that moved so fast that I couldn’t take time to slow down and analyze some of my favorite stories like my teachers wanted. She was me and I love her.

She happens to make quick friends with a very handsome Brit who helps her along the hunt and they grow feelings. I felt like he truly did help Brit discover who she is and what she wants from her future, all while Brit changed him as well!

Anyhoo, this was a quick and enjoyable read that gave me wanderlust and has me wanting to pick up my favorite classics and hop back across the pond to visit some of my favorite literary sites.

*thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review*

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an unexpected delight! I loved this. 😂 I almost never read modern YA fiction but it just shows how fun it can be to branch out. I already want to reread this. It’s a wacky, suspend-your-disbelief story in many ways, but it has so much heart and Britt really does mature. It’s a good ol’ Bildungsroman. The trio of Al, Luke, and Britt is so also fun. So much humor, so much adventure, so much learning how to care for others. I enjoyed Britt’s collisions with her classmates from time to time too. I wouldn’t call this Christian fiction but the inclusion of Tolkien and Lewis made me wonder. Luke brings up spiritual questions as well. The author is a Christian! I love how she balanced her faith and love of books with her storytelling. I also loved how Britt was a natural storyteller even though she wasn’t a great writer. And the fact that Luke could see this in her and appreciated it. Super fun summer read!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was an incredible read! The author’s writing style was super easy to follow, Britt’s voice was distinct and relatable, and I felt like I was right beside the characters exploring the UK.
I loved the premise. The scavenger hunt based on classic British literature that helped Britt undergo a personal journey was a brilliant idea. It seems like the kind of thing that would come off as very academic, but I liked how the author handled it. It was really fun to read, and Britt got into some interesting situations while participating.
Britt was a really great character. She wasn’t afraid to laugh at herself and she was able to recognize her flaws and tried to learn and grow. Her fears about her future were realistic and I was able to empathize with her. Her relationship with Luke was really cute, and I love how they hit it off right away. They had a clear connection, and the author took the time to develop their connection as friends and people before really introducing the romance. I also liked Britt’s relationships with Al and Amberlyn. They were interesting side characters who contributed to Britt’s journey.
I thought the pacing was excellent and the story flowed really well. I was able to see the settings in my head while reading, and I really did feel as if I was right beside Britt. I think this YA contemporary will be devoured by readers looking for a story of self discovery, romance, and some excellent mishaps while touring the UK.

[L. Soper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love & Other Great Expectations is a very sweet adventure story. This is not my favorite genre; however, it was a very light read with interesting characters and a fun premise.

Britt is fun, outgoing, and on the outside comes off as a confident jock who has her entire future planned out. On the inside, however, she's contending with life-changing news, sorting through past and present relationship/friendship issues, and grappling with what her future will look like all while participating in a challenge of a lifetime and meeting her first love.

I don't want to spoil any details by explaining the challenge, but the premise is super cool, and I thoroughly enjoyed traveling around the UK on this adventure with Britt.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

[Brittany Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you have a travel bug for Britain? Do you love swoony romance and bookishness and humour? Then read this!

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this debut contemporary YA novel, Britt Hanson has suffered a knee injury that has ended her soccer career and cost her the scholarship that was going to pay for college. When her English teacher announces that she is sponsoring a scavenger hunt contest in the UK with a significant financial prize attached, Britt sees her chance to potentially create a new plan for the future. As she begins to solve the clues of the hunt, all of which involve works of classic English literature, Britt befriends Luke Jackson, who, while forbidden by the rules to help with the actual hunt, proves to be excellent company - and perhaps a bit more.

This was such a delightful read from beginning to end. While there are certainly problems, the story is not bogged down by angst. Instead it is propelled forward by the wonderfully endearing and believable dialogue of Britt and Luke, and by the quickly-paced movement from one clue to the next. None of the books included in the hunt are obscure, and the clues were pretty easily solvable, both by me as the reader, and by Britt herself, despite the fact that she isn't a big reader. The descriptions of the books make them sound appealing, and they absolutely would have made me want to pick them up as a teenager, despite being intimidated by classics back then. The armchair travel aspect of the book is also a joy, especially during this time when many of us haven't traveled anywhere in a long time and are just getting back to it.

Love and Great Expectations is quick, cozy, and completely clean. I would love to see another book just like it from this author in the future!

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a cute road trip story, taking the reader all over the United Kingdom. I enjoyed the scavenger hunt and how many fun things Britt got to experience and I'm pretty jealous of her getting a free trip like that. There's also a sweet romance and a lesson on finding what you love to do and adapting to change when life gets in the way of your plans.

Britt is a people person, great at drawing others in and telling entertaining stories. What she isn't great at is forming strong relationships with others and tends to run away if things get tough. At times I didn't love Britt, especially because I'm the opposite of her and prefer reading and solitude. I did think that she and Luke were good together and appreciated that she's good at making others laugh and like her.

The setting was the best part of this and makes me want to take a trip overseas. Maybe I'll find my own scavenger hunt of things to do and see!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy.

[Il Filo di Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Veramente super carino!
Mi è piaciuto il rapporto fra i due personaggi protagonisti: normale troverei il tutto troppo affrettato, ma in questo caso non l’ho percepito, mi sembravano solo troppo carini 💕
Ho adorato questo viaggio itinerante (i posti che hanno visitato 🤩), ma soprattutto quello interiore della nostra protagonista.

Molto, molto carino! 🥰

[Jill Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fabulous fun. Loved it!