Thank you to Netgalley for blessing me with a ARC of Love & Other Great Expectations. As a teacher, I have some reservations with the liberties that Ms. Dean takes with this $100,000 scavenger hunt that Ms. Carmichael creates for these 4 students. I just do not see this kind of trip happening without backlash from other students and parents even though it is her money to spend. I would have liked to see a little bit more character development between the three other contestants along with Luke and Britt but instead Ms. Dean focuses on developing Britt and Luke. They are an adorable couple and there is room at the of the novel for them to have a UCLA scavenger hunt designed by Ms. Carmichael. Or maybe a Christmas novella that continues their storyline on. I would love for Al to show up at UCLA with some type of accounting emergency. Again as an English teacher, I wanted to know exactly why Luke's dad took money for grades at Oxford but that detail was left unsaid. One of the best parts of the novel is how Ms. Dean incorporates the history side of her chosen authors without overwhelming the reader who may not be the English lover that I am. I also love that for Shakespeare task she did not send them to the Globe or Stratford-Upon-Avon but instead a rather cool Shakespearian location that showed some real intelligence in her choice. Bottomline, I bought a paperback copy for my classroom library and will happily recommend it to kid who loves rom coms.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did, the premise sounded interesting and the fact that it took place in the UK was an instant selling point for me. I found the story lacking in depth, it felt like the characters were circling around singular problems that had nothing to do with the main plot. The characters were also hard to root for. Wouldn’t mind recommending this book to beginning readers.

This is definitely a young adult hit that I think will find it’s way to booktok soon. While some young adult books capture the attention of older ages I do t think this one will be that. Smaller range of demographics but will be one to recommend to teens and the college/young 20’s crowd for sure

Britt Hanson is at her all-time low when she finds out she can't play soccer anymore and she will be losing her scholarship to her dream school UCLA. But, when her English teacher sends her and 3 of her classmates on a scavenger hunt around England she might still be able to go to college if she wins the prize money. The one thing she didn't expect to find while looking for clues is love but it might just be what she needs. This was a good book with likable lead characters and a story that kept me wanting more.

So, while the premise is wildly implausible and the plot openly predictable, this was just so damn heartwarming and sweet and occasionally mildly funny I can't bring myself to mind one bit.