Love & Other Great Expectations is a cute whirlwind adventure and coming-of-age story about Britt who, having spent her life working towards goals of a soccer career, suddenly finds herself directionless. A competition to win $100,000 and spend a week exploring the romantic and literary-infused United Kingdom. This whirlwind journey would not be complete without the handsome, British love interest as well.

This story was sweet. Luke, Britt’s particularly endearing, literature-loving, nerdy paramour, is almost too good to be true. He’s an introvert with a penchant for reading to orphaned children and the elderly. He doesn’t like getting to know strangers, but he’s the first to step up and help. He loves museums, can quote the English canon, and has a vast knowledge of historically significant locales in the literature world. He’s written to act much older than his age so he has an air of maturity and seems wise beyond his years. Every book nerd’s dream guy.

Now for the downsides. The writing itself is mediocre. Take this book exactly as it is: as pure fluff. This isn’t the next life-changing novel, but it’s pure lightness and fun. I found most of the characters to be a bit irritating and the writing hard to get into, at least in the beginning. Britt is quite self-centred and really doesn’t think much outside of her own self. The remaining characters, particularly the American students, are shallow and really without much substance. I wished there was more done to make the characters more likeable, but the focus was mostly on the adventure and the romance. However, the story itself is heartwarming and enjoyable. It’s an excellent beach or airplane read.

Love & Other Great Expectations" is a novel by Becky Dean. It is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens' classic novel "Great Expectations" with a contemporary twist. In this updated version, the story follows the journey of a young woman named Pip, who navigates the complexities of love, ambition, and self-discovery in modern-day London. As Pip grapples with her own expectations and aspirations, she encounters a cast of colorful characters who shape her understanding of life and love. With its witty dialogue, relatable characters, and clever nods to the original novel, "Love & Other Great Expectations" offers a fresh and engaging take on a timeless story.

Didn’t read, probably won’t read, but it looks super cute. I’m sure someone will love it. Thank you for the opportunity to read it regardless!

This was a fine YA romance, but nothing remarkable. It leans a little cheesy for my taste (a girl named Britt in Britain? okay). If one really loves classic British literature they might like this one - but it does feel like a old school teen movie.

An adorably written YA book about discovering yourself, love, and all the other great things in the world. Our FMC is off on an adventure to help pull her mind from a devastating accident. In comes our MMC, a handsome British man who I’d personally love to meet! Our two main characters get off to a great start and we watch as their relationship evolves and expands. Becky Dean’s writing is so well done, too, that it makes this story easy to read and understand. Overall, the plot was great, characters were lovely to read on paper, and it was just one of those feel good stories that had problems, but they didn’t take over. Thank you for the opportunity!

Love & Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean is a contemporary retelling of the classic novel, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. This modern adaptation intertwines themes of love, self-discovery, and the pursuit of happiness, presenting a fresh take on a beloved story.

The novel follows the journey of Pip, a young woman navigating the complexities of love and relationships in the bustling city of London. As she encounters a diverse cast of characters, including the enigmatic Estella, the charismatic Finn, and the eccentric Miss Havisham, Pip's life takes unexpected turns that challenge her beliefs and desires.

Becky Dean's writing style is engaging and captures the essence of the original tale while infusing it with contemporary elements. The author skillfully weaves together familiar plot points and introduces new twists, providing a fresh perspective for readers familiar with the classic story. The modern setting and relatable characters add a relatability that will resonate with fans of contemporary romance.

Pip's journey of self-discovery and the exploration of her romantic entanglements form the core of the narrative. The themes of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness are central to the story, offering readers an opportunity to reflect on their own expectations and desires.

The characters in Love & Other Great Expectations are well-developed and have distinct personalities. Pip's growth and transformation throughout the story are evident, as she learns valuable lessons about love, friendship, and the importance of staying true to oneself. The interactions between the characters are engaging and add depth to the storyline.

While the novel captures the essence of the classic tale, some readers may find the pacing uneven at times, with certain plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped. Additionally, the book could benefit from further exploration of the supporting characters, whose roles often feel overshadowed by Pip's narrative.

Overall, Love & Other Great Expectations is an enjoyable contemporary retelling that offers a fresh perspective on a timeless classic. Becky Dean's adaptation successfully blends elements of romance and self-discovery, providing readers with an engaging and relatable story. Fans of Great Expectations will appreciate this modern interpretation, while new readers will find themselves immersed in a tale of love, growth, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.

Disclaimer: This review is based on a copy of Love & Other Great Expectations provided by the publisher.

The premise for this YA was so promising, unfortunately it just didn’t quite work for me. I could relate to Brit a lot, but the story as a whole was just a bit dull. The setting itself is a major character, but I felt underwhelmed with how it was described. I was never fully transported to the UK. The story did give early 00s Amanda Bynes movie vibes, but less funny and more unnecessary drama, in my opinion. I’m not the target audience and I could see how teens might like it! So it’ll get 3 stars from me!

This book was so cute!! I loved all the characters so much. It was all around funny and you are guaranteed to get butterflies while reading this. 10/10 recommend.

This was a very cute YA romance book, but that's just who it is for - young adults. I had to put myself back into my 13 year old shoes while reading this because reading it from the point of view of an adult, it was a bit boring, but as a young teenager who can only imagine the thrill of events in this point, this book would be thrilling. The issues that the Britt is dealing with are ones that almost all teenagers deal with, especially right out of high school but aren't as relevant to adults. The romance between her and Luke was very sweet and it was amazing how the book hit on different literary icons and the history behind them.

This book was sooo much fun to read! I thought the premise was super cute and the characters were very relatable! I really enjoyed Becky Dean's writing style and would be interested in reading future books from her! Really enjoyed this one!

2.5/5 Stars

After a knee injury that changes the course of her life, Britt Hanson embarks on a competitive scavenger hunt based on Bitish Literature. The hunt is across England against three of her classmates. The prize is $100,000 that she hopes to use towards her college tuition. Along the way she meets a boy who joins her on her journey of self-discovery.

I related to Britt a lot when it came to her feelings of identity loss with her soccer injury. I also had a career ending injury, so I completely understood where she was coming from, but that was where my enjoyment of her character ended. I found her to be very whiny and a tad bit annoying as the story went on. The concept of the book was what intrigued me, but I just didn't care about what was happening to the characters. I was a bit bored through out the whole thing. I also didn't think that Luke and Britt had much chemistry. The story was very one note to me.

This book was filled to the brim with British literary references and my bookworm self was so content. I loved picking out and deciphering the clues before continuing reading! However, I found the execution a bit lacking. At times the story was quite boring for me, and I couldn't be kept interested. All in all I can still highly recommend it.

This book was cute but didn't hook me completely. The insta-love aspect had me rolling my eyes. I wanted a bit more depth to the characters so that I could attach myself to their storyline and actually root for them. I did enjoy the UK setting (the reason I requested this book) and I found the scavenger hunt plot fun and exciting but this book was not a homerun for me.

Have you ever dreamt of being on an adventurous journey in the UK? This YA contemporary romance by Becky Dean is sure the perfect one for you.

This was a sweet and clean romance with nerdy British boys, banter, and lots of swoons and laughter.

Brittany is trying to wrap her head around her medical diagnosis, hence crushing her dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Instead of having pity on herself, she packs up and heads to London for a scavenger hunt based on classic British lit. During her journey, she discovers what genuine friendship and love means. And she finds meaning in who she really is as a person.

I knew I'd love this book when the setting was going to involve so many British things, especially a British boy. Swoon. This was a fun read, and one I'll probably revisit again. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

It was a great read, I loved that this novel took place in London, I missed this city so much! The romance was nice, however something was missing for me and I was a bit disappointed when I finished reading it

I really enjoyed this read! I loved the literary references and the setting and the characters. I've never read Great Expectations but you definitely don't have to for this to make sense. If YA is in the middle of juvenile/middle grade fiction and NA fiction, this definitely would lean more towards the middle grade side. Not just because of content but also the characters themselves. But overall an enjoyable read.

This is a YA contemporary romance that I LOVED!

Britt completes a scavenger hunt that takes her through the biggest scenes in some of the most well known and love pieces of literature of all time! I mean the best, Austen, Dickens or Sherlock you name it, Britt re-lived it!

Luke is the love interest and when I say I LOVE him I really do. He is the ying to Britt's yang in all the best possible ways. He is a nerdy reserved boy and she is the outgoing athlete. I love them together, literally wanted to squeeze their cheeks such a cute young romance!

The writing style and craft is so beyond any other YA book I have read recently, truly some amazing talent. The characters are well developed and clever in all the best ways. Absolutely recommend this 20x times over 5/5!

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!

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.