We have an engaging heroine, clever dialogue, and a decent, if predictable, plot. The premise is amusing and the overall rom-com vibe is upbeat, while still allowing for a bit of edge here and there. I enjoyed that the emphasis was less on swoony romance and more to the effect that it takes a village, (of friends and family), to get a good romance going. It's also nice to remember that humor is a big part of sex positivity. A fine and diverting entertainment.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Just from the title alone, Kristen Bailey soars wonderfully for "Great Sexpectations". Just from the title alone I'm sure it'll peak interest while garnering assumptions which is thematic throughout the piece. Josie Jewell is the embodiment of a woman with the reins of the empire but what is that empire? A sex shop called 'The Love Shack' of course! Passed down to her from her parents who have a past in the adult industry, we follow Josie on the path of finding a semblance of normalcy with a family dynamic that many assume may not be normal due to her parents prior career, but under the surface of it all, it's far from anyone's assumed expectations. The heart of the book truly comes from the dynamic of the Jewell family who are all so very fiercely loyal to each other, and though they are in the secondary plot (as the main plot follows Josie and her budding courtship with Cameron Cox, yes that is a name and oh boy did I love the puns), I truly could feel the warmth of each person from the Jewell family. The tagline of this being a romantic comedy you can't put down, it lives up to it in spades. I personally was rooting for Josie to be true to herself even when she had one particular reason why she was ardently afraid to do so, Without spoiling, that reason and the twist that comes with it literally had my mouth agape. There are fuzzy feelings and fuzzy cuffs, innuendos galore and so many heartfelt emotions to explore. You'll love every second of this book, I guarantee it!

The story
Josie is the CEO of the sex toy company started by her parents. The responsible one in the family, she keeps things going for her staff and her family. When she dresses up as a Ghostbusters character for her brother’s Halloween party, she meets Cameron who is also in a Ghostbusters outfit. They connect over their shared interests but Josie keeps her parent’s identify from him for months, and the work that she does.

My thoughts
I love the truly honest way that Kristen Bailey writes her characters. I loved the Callaghan sisters’ stories and Josie and Cameron’s story is just as beautiful. For a story with a sex toy business and ex-p@rn stars as parents, there is so much love and kindness spread around, very little shame and lots of honesty. It’s a happy, entertaining read that I just loved. ❤️

🔹 My take: 4/5

🔸 Meet Josie Jewell, 26, owner of a thriving company ‘The Love Shack’ that deals in sex toys. Her parents were previously porn stars and this profession of theirs did create hindrance in Josie and his brother Sonny’s life during their teens. Josie has isolated herself post she was dumped by her ex Mike and has given her whole and soul to growing her company. Enter Cameron Cox, who is a video games designer and bumps into Josie in a party in funniest circumstances. They both are hiding secrets & telling lies without knowing that slowly they are getting closer and closer with each passing moment. Until one day when the secrets come gushing out in worst of situations and they both are heart broken. And then enters host of people who jump in to make things work for them since they both are so adored among family and friends.

💫 This was a very hilarious read and I chuckled at lots of places when Josie used to have her mind chats or Nan (her granny) used to be verbal about her anger. I was amazed by the storyline and the execution which makes it a standout from other romcoms. The family dynamics of Jewell family was so heart warming and my heart reached out to Cameron for all the lack of support he had from his loved ones. The misunderstandings are actually lovely rather than irritating which makes it more fun to read.

💔 The only thing I found unconvincing was the inability of MCs to clarify their standing or justify their lies in spite of multiple opportunities to do so. But I guess you can ignore that aspect since all is fair in love & war.

💗 I would definitely recommend this to people who like smut free romances with dash of laughter sprinkled on it generously.

Thank you @netgalley @bookouture @kristenbaileywrites for gifting the eARC in exchange of honest review.

This was definitely a quirky read. The first half of the book seemed to be trying a little too hard in my opinion to be trendy and over the top. Josie experienced a betrayal by her ex-fiancé who gave her the reason of not being able to handle her family, her job, her life. Josie’s parents are former porn stars and she works at a super successful sex toy shop. Once she meets a man, totally her type- Cameron, things shift. She lies about who she is and her family and pretty much everything. This frustrated me because although I understand it’s been used against her in the past, it was such a silly thing in my opinion to have dragged out so long in the book. Like it was not a big deal. Overall, I think the book tried to throw in way too many trendy things, to name an additional few - YouTube influencers collabing on a dildo, cos-play conventions, demanding vegans- just for the sake of having it in there. It seemed a little forced. I do have to give it some credit though- some characters were absolutely hilarious, mainly the Nana. Loved her.

sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
Meet Josie Jewell. Her parents met and fell in love when they worked in the adult film industry. They stopped working there to get married and raise a family. They started a business called The Love Shack. You can guess what type of business they own. 😉

As an adult, Josie now runs the business. Josie's ex, Michael, broke up with her because of her job, her family history, etc. This really effected her self esteem.

A few years later she met Cameron at a Halloween party. He thought she worked in catering and she didn't correct him. One lie turned in to many as time went on and she didn't tell Cameron many major details about her life and her family.

When Cameron finds out Josie wasn't truthful the relationship ends. Will they reconnect or is the relationship over for good?

ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
I absolutely adored this book. I laughed so much reading this book. Josie's parents are very open and say what's on their mind. Her nan is the same way. They were a hoot!! The way Josje talks to herself in her head is hilarious 😂. It was such an easy fast read. Seriously, there isn't anything I need to say other you should read this book.

There was an underlying message to just be yourself! Don't be ashamed or embarrassed. Don't try to be someone else. You are the best YOU in the whole wide world!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪғ
💥 you love romcoms
💥 happy endings make you happy
💥 you enjoy books that make you laugh out loud

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a cute romantic comedy set in the UK. I enjoyed the family dynamics that were used to create an interesting plot for the book; it was reminiscent of a liberal/conservative Romeo and Juliet but without the death and a great deal less histrionics. The driving conflict of this story is a lie so if you aren't a fan of the miscommunication trope in books then this is not the book for you. There is also a bit of a twist to the book when a lie of omission is revealed. While I enjoyed this novel I know that I will not be rereading it. That is why I have rated it lower than a 4 star. I enjoyed the character's in this novel and their growth. The character's were my favorite part of this reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of Kristen Bailey's "Great Sexpectations", slated to release on July 28th, 2022!

This novel is about Josie Jewell, who was dumped by her (ex) boyfriend Mike via a note on the refrigerator. Ever since, it's been difficult for her to allow herself to truly get close to any potential new love interests. Josie also has some secrets - her parents are former adult film stars and she herself works at "The Love Shack", a sex-toy shop. Because she has been bullied all throughout her childhood by her peers because of what her parents do, Josie always tries to delay explaining her parents' careers to others, and it usually comes back to blow up in her face.

Josie's brother Sonny also gets married in this book, a large portion of the plot focuses on this. It also focuses on Cameron, whom Josie meets at the beginning of the story during a Halloween party at her brother's house. They both manage to hit it off because they are each accidentally wearing matching Ghostbuster-themed costumes. Also, Josie may have seen Cameron's ex and his best friend/roommate going at it like rabbits in a bedroom.

The tone of this book is absolutely hilarious, and you definitely don't want to miss out on reading this one! Overall, I rated it a 4.5/5 stars!

While cute, there was nothing that really WOWed me about the book. It was fairly predictable and in all honesty, I would have liked it to be longer to go into more detail about what happened during the challenges

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down and read it in almost one sitting. I can't find anything about this book I didn't like. But the best part was the characters. Each of them were truly so lovable, sweet and funny.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc of this book.

Great Sexpectations was hilarious. Josie’s parents used to be porn stars, her brother is a soap star and she’s the manager of a huge online adult toy shop… but then she meets Cameron and he thinks she’s in catering… Josie doesn’t correct him and one lie leads to another that leads to another…

I haven’t read a book in ages that actually had me laughing out loud like this one did. Josie’s family are brilliant. I especially loved her Nana! I loved the quick wit and personalities of all the characters and the close relationship they all had gave me the warm fuzzies.

If you are a romcom fan then this book is a definite must read!

As always, massive thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this early for an honest review.
I am a massive fan of Kristen's writing. She always has me laughing when i read her books so i knew this book was going to be no different. I absolutely love Kristen's writing style, its just so real, definitely a piece of me.
After readimg the series Kristen wrote, i was sad that that series wasnt continuing but this book definitely had all the hilarity of the previous series. All the characters amd relatable, and likeable, accept for one or two, but these are all definitely my sort of people, especially nan, so you can really get into the story because of how likeable to characters are.
Kristen really has a talent with her writing style and i shall continue to read each and every release she brings out.
I really hope there will be a series for the whole jewell family because that would be brilliant.
This book is a massive 5 stars for me, excellent writing, great characters, just the right amount of happy and sad, and lots of laughs along the way. I knew just from the first page that this was going to be a brilliant read.
1000% recommend, read it as soon as you can

Great Sexpectations by Kristen Bailey is a lovely and charming read about a heroine with a conflicting life style and quite an unusual family.

It is a typical love story only different in a fact that main character is working is a entrepreneur with sex toys. Her parents used to work in a porn industry so she is dealing with some insecurities when she meets a new guy that she really likes, after a hurtful breakup she had had.

It is easy to read, there are many funny moments Banter between protagonists is humorous and engaging. There was a certain amount of chemistry between main characters but it wasn't sizzling in any way.

I really liked side characters, they created a homogenous group around our heroine that was so touching and heartwarming. She also has to deal with some personal issues with family members, to overcome her long burried hurts and figure out how to reveal the truth to her beloved.
My main problem was that while I understand why she dragged out some things it went on for too long. On the other hand it created some very funny situations.
I enjoyed reading this book and while it is set at Christmas time I feel that it can be read and relished during any season.

I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would when I started it. The characters are great. Josie is a quirky character I thoroughly enjoyed. The romance was fun. There was plenty of humor. The sex business aspect was both unique and had a great message. This is an author I'd definitely read again.

Great read! If you're looking for a rom com with a h who owns a sex toy company and H is a video game developer with fun shenanigans and hilarious family members, you're in the right place!

Josie owns a sex toy company and her fiance dumps her with a cruel note. To drown her sorrows, she goes to a party where she meets a video game developer and they just hit it off. But, does she tell him what she actually does for a living? No. To top it off, he has super conservative parents but how long is she gonna keep her secrets?

I totally enjoyed reading this book. I giggled and devoured this book. I really liked Josie parents, they made me laugh so hard. Gotta love liberal parents. If you want to wind down after a day of work, this book is perfect!

4.5 Stars - This book was a cute rom com. It is not a slow burn but I wouldn't say it's insta love either. The resolution was at the eleventh hour which stressed me out. I really appreciated how the entirety of the book encompasses how sex shouldn't be some shameful secret thing. And you really see the main character have to struggle with that even though it was something they had gotten past when they were younger. While the story does focus on the relationship, I felt like the larger focus was on that concept of not tying shame to sex and being yourself.

Someone say Kristen Bailey - hell ya! I was devastated when The Callaghan Sisters Series came to an end so it was a no brainier I’d want to get my hands on this one so I was more then delighted to take part in the booktour. Kristen always has a great spin on her storylines that just brings that extra spark to the read. She brings the fun, laughter and she has such a talent for the way she writes her characters and there quirky ways. As you can read this is another one that ticked all the boxes for me. I loved the back story, the loveable characters, the antics and the feel of the characters as a whole. Flew through this one just like her other reads and it wasn’t unusual to hear me laugh out loud. I’ve only ever read her books but I find them so funny in written format so I reckon they would be even better in audio. This ladies books are a must read if you like quirky storylines that brings the humour. 


Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read #GreatSexpectations

This book was interesting and I liked the main character and her whole family. I just wish there was more plot and more depth to their relationship. I feel like we only got glimpses of them together and would have loved more conversations. It was enjoyable.

I absolutely loved Great Sexpectations it’s an empowering and hilarious read that I simply could not put down.
From the first few lines alone, I knew this would be funny and Bailey had me laughing out loud throughout.

Josie Jewell is a hard-working, really kind, and considerate boss who has an absolutely heart of gold – despite having it broken two years ago when her fiancé upped sticks and ran off with her savings.

Since the horrific break-up, she's moved back in with her hilarious parents, who are former adult film stars and founders of a multi-million successful sex toy store, The Love Shack (which Josie currently runs).

When she (literally) bumps into video-game designer Cameron Cox at a Halloween party dressed in the same costume, they quickly bond over their shared love of movie trivia, and soon, sparks fly.
So far so good, so what’s the catch?

Josie's keeping her family business and her job a secret and soon her lies begin to spiral out of control. But she soon learns that Cam is keeping a big secret of his own.

This story is about much more than Josie and Cam and their fledgling romance, it’s about sex positivity and education, strong familial bonds, toxic relationships, friendships, and stamping out archaic views!

The sexual innuendos are left right and centre and absolutely hilarious.

I loved Josie and her entire family actually.

This is a light, fun read that is definitely NSFW.

✨ Netgalley Book Review ✨

🌟 Kristen Bailey - Great Sexpectations

📚 Synopsis 📚

What’s wrong with a little bit of faking it?

After Josie got dumped by her ex through a note on the fridge, she hasn’t let herself get close to anyone. But when she meets Cameron at a Halloween party, who turns up in the same Ghostbusters costume as her, it’s virtually impossible to stay away.

Cameron, a curly haired video-games designer with dazzling blue eyes, the sexiest dimples and the same encyclopedic knowledge of movies as Josie, seems too good to be true.

And maybe he is… Because there’s one teeny tiny problem as Josie falls madly in love. Cameron has no idea that Josie lives at home with her ex-porn star parents and their dog Dave, or about the minor detail that she works for their sex toy empire. After her ex broke up with her because of the family business, Josie decides to tell a little white lie.

But it’s just a matter of time until the truth comes out. When it does, will Cameron end things, leaving Josie with only Dave the dog for company? And what if she’s not the only one who’s keeping secrets?

✨ Book Review ✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5

Thank you @netgallyey for my ARC of Great Sexpectations 🍆

What a cracker of a book!

Oh Kristen I absolutely LOVE your writing style!

If you're ever in a reading slump or feeling a bit down like I have lately, pick up a book by Kristen and you will soon be out of it!

Josie is the MD of "The Love Shack" a sex shop. Her Mum & Dad are ex porn stars and her brother is in a soap. She meets a lad called Cameron and they really hit it off at a party. However, due to her horrible conniving ex Mike, Josie feels she has to lie about her family and their antics.

One of the reasons I love this book is because of Josie's Nan (my favourite character) she is EXACTLY the same as my nan, rude, crude and a proper belter of a Nan 🙂

I really couldn't put this book down, it certainly got me out of my reading slump and I highly recommend any of Kristens books!

Highly recommended read! I'm so sad it's over! Hurry up Kristen and write another!!

With love,

Beckie 💜

@readwith_rjm1988xx

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