I love Becky's contemporary romance. In Hearts Overboard she takes you to Alaska and I felt like I was there. Add in the swoony romance and this one is a winner in my book!

I really enjoyed Hearts Overboard!This cute YA romance had the perfect mix of banter, adventure, and sweet moments. What I loved most was how Tanner constantly pushed Savannah to step out of her comfort zone. Whether it was zip-lining or braving a polar plunge, Tanner was always there, nudging her toward new experiences and helping her break free from the "boring" label her ex unfairly stuck her with.

The slow burn between Savannah and Tanner was *so* well done. You could just tell that Tanner had feelings for her the whole time, but both were fighting their emotions, which made their eventual connection even more rewarding. Their chemistry kept me hooked from start to finish, and the backdrop of Alaska was breathtaking—definitely filled me with some serious wanderlust!

This is a great listen if you're looking for a fun, rivals-to-lovers romance full of adventure and heart. The perfect escape for fans of YA romance!

DNF @30%

I was looking forward to this one since I enjoyed the author's previous books, but unfortunately this one is a miss for me. While I love the cruise concept and Alaska setting, I'm finding the characters pretty childish, and the plot doesn't feel overly original to me. It seems like this one will be very predicable, since I feel like I've read many other stories like this before. While I'm not interested enough to continue reading, I'm sure that others, especially those who love a cruise/travel story, will enjoy it more than I did.

Hearts Overboard opens with Savannah Moore being dumped in front of most of the senior class by her boyfriend Caleb, who says she's boring and set in her ways. Headed for an Alaskan cruise with her parents, their best friends, and their son Tanner, Savannah enlists Tanner's help, despite his being her nemesis at school. He volunteers to take photos that they can share on social media of all their risk-taking adventures, including zip-lining, dogsledding, hiking the bear-infested Alaskan wilderness, singing late night karaoke, and taking a polar plunge, showing Caleb what he's missing. Along the way she and Tanner clear the air about their antagonism toward each other, which stems from mistaken perceptions. After spending so much time with Tanner, Savannah wonders if Caleb is the one she really wants.

Cute romance with boy-next-door/opposites attract on an Alaskan cruise. I enjoyed the lesson of learning how to step out of your comfort zone and learn new things. There was some cute banter but Savannah was hard to like; I get being stuck in your ways but she was rude at times and extremely unlikeable. On a side note, how do I get a job with this company?!!! This trip was not cheap. Overall, it was a lighthearted and fun at times but there wasn’t anything that stood out over similar novels.

HEARTS OVERBOARD is Becky Dean's (@beckydeanwrites) latest YA novel, and it's another wonderful summer vacation romance. This time, we have a science-loving heroine, Savannah, on an Alaskan cruise with her mom's company -- and with Tanner Woods, a jock from school and her nemesis, whose mom is Savannah's mom's friend and coworker. Savannah has just been dumped by a guy who said she was boring and set in her ways. Tanner is anything but those things, so he's the perfect person to add a little excitement to Savannah's life. And she is obviously the perfect person to help him choose his college major. Easy peasy - except she's not counting on the fact that they might be perfect for each other in other ways as well.

This book captures teen life so well. I felt for Savannah when she was dumped for being boring, and I related to the uncertain feeling of upheaval that happens when something big changes at the end of the school year. I also found Savannah's struggle to try new things very relatable and believable. I would have loved her character as a teen, and I love her now as an adult too! The dialogue really shines in this book, and Tanner's voice, especially, stuck with me even after I finished the book. They were such a cute couple, and I rooted for them the whole time I was reading.

I had an ARC from @netgalley (thank you, @delacorteromance!), but I ended up listening to the audiobook on Spotify. I love Phoebe Strole's narration style, especially for YA novels, and she did a great job with the voices in this one.

If you're still clinging to summer, this is the perfect beach read to keep the vibes going just a bit longer!

This was a cute YA romance. 2 juniors in HS go on an Alaskan cruise together - their parents are bffs and also work together and this is a work trip. They’ve been rivals since they were kids. This cruise sets something else into motion. We go through the cruise with them shifting slowly from rivals to friends to more. Their escapades are very cute and wholesome. There are parts of the story that left me scratching my head. Example: Tanner’s parents are interesting and why didn’t S’Mores parents have a heart to heart with them at any point in their friendship. I liked moving through Canada and Alaska with their trip. I’ve always wanted to go but haven’t had the chance yet. I’d recommend this to any YA romance reader. It’s very solidly in the YA category so I feel like you have to like YA for it to work for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Becky Dean, and Random House Children’s pub for this eARC.

I LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS BOOK IT WAS A GREAT READ! i enjoyed it so much will read this author again. i adored it so much

I requested this for the Alaskan vibes and boy, it didn't disappoint. It made me miss Alaska even more than I already do! I will definitely be rereading whenever I want the vibes.

5 Stars

omg I loved this so so much and now I MUST GO ON AN ALASKAN CRUISE.

THIS BOOK WAS SO SO GOOD. I'm a sucker for vacation/trip/camping/and apparently stuck on a cruise romances, and if they also involve National Parks or the great outdoors as a setting, I'm HOOKED.

This book starts with a very public and embarrassing breakup for our introverted FMC. The MMC is the class clown who she has been competing against for top grades and presidency in her favorite clubs. He is also her parents' bbff's son, so they both end up spending the beginning of their summer cruising Alaska with their moms' boss.

The forced proximity allows Savannah and Tanner the opportunity to really get to know each other. As they take in new sights, Tanner helps push Savannah out of her comfort zone so she can be "less boring" (why her ex broke up with her because she was too predictable/loved her safe routine) and Savannah gets to help Tanner figure out what he wants to do after their senior year. As they get closer, they realize that there is a lot of heat built up between them and a ton of compatibility.

It's somewhat of a slow burn, but with loads of tension and it's delicious and absolutely rewarding once we get to the end. As these two dog sled, and hike glaciers, and white water raft and sing karaoke, we get to. see their best versions of theirselves flourish and watching how they finally get to see each other for the amazing humans they are was MAGICAL.

Becky gave us a full on vacation guide in here as well, wether she realized it or not. The story was full of amazing location details and fun anecdotes and history of locations, that you absolutely are getting a full armchair vacation out of this book in addition to the coming of age romance. All the major claps for that!

I enjoyed Savannah's journey of branching out and learning her boundaries. Tanner was adorable when he was helping her and I like them together. I wish there was an epilogue of them after the cruise.

I received ana rc through netgalley.

I read this book just before my own Alsaka cruise, and this book made me so excited! The cute YA romance was full of fun banter between Savannah and Tanner. They are rivals to lovers because they are two of the most intelligent kids at their school. Savannah is a STEM-loving girl, and Tanner is a bright high school jock. Their mothers work together, and their families go on an Alaskan cruise together. Just before the trip, Savannah's boyfriend, Caleb, breaks up with her suddenly on the last day of school. Savannah uses their adventures throughout the trip to show Caleb what he's missing. However, this backfires on Savannah because she realizes there could be sparks with Tanner.

I went to many of the same places as these characters, which made me so happy! We explored Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, the Inside Passage, Ketchikan, and Juneau.

Phoebe Strole narrated the audiobook well and made me love these characters even more.

loved this romance and her mom wants her to date this guy she has these amazing friends who are all dealing with different relationship issues . loved that she found her way in the job and found love

Hearts Overboard
By: Becky Dean
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•Savannah and Tanner are amazing.

•This book DEFINITELY made me want to book an Alaskan Cruise.

•This book really highlighted the struggles of being in high school and not being sure of what to do with your future.

•No spoilers, but I loved how this story ended.

————————————————

Hearts Overboard was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Random House Children’s. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: 7/9/24

In Hearts Overboard, we meet Savannah and Tanner, 2 high school students who hate each other (which is hard, because their parents are best friends).

After a very public breakup with her boyfriend Caleb, Savannah is unsure of what her future will bring. Tanner offers to help her get out of her comfort zone. And what better place to do that on an Alaskan cruise?

I LOVED the cruise aspect of it. They did so many fun things in Alaska, that is definitely something I want to do in the future.

While I am no longer in high school, I really felt the uncertainty that Savannah and Tanner were feeling. Dean does an amazing job of relating to what kids go through at that age.

This was a fun read with some depth, and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Oh my goodness. This is such a good YA Romcom. Perfect for summer. It had me kicking my feet and putting a hand over my heart in a "oh my GOD" fashion. I loved how the relationship was developed and was meant to bring Savannah out of her comfort zone post breakup but Tanner also never pushed her too far. It was like....rivals to friends to lovers? Accidental misunderstood rivals? Seriously, it was so cute. SO CUTE.

Becky Dean is back with her trademark coming-of-age story of a daughter who is trying to discover herself and how she fits into her family and her world. Savannah is high-strung and anxious. She loves predictability and routine. But she’s also tired of being boring.

Enter Tanner, her long-time frenemy. They’ve been forced together throughout their childhood, since their mothers are co-workers and best friends. She hates the nickname he gave her—S’Moore (S. Moore…her name…my daughter and I loved it)—and sees him as kind of a doofus. He’s constantly dropping the ball, and his parents have very low expectations of him, and yet his grades and hers are pretty comparable.

Surprisingly, Tanner offers to help her become less boring in a quest to get her boyfriend back. He’s right there with her, coaching her through all the scary things she does, and giving her a glimpse of the depths he keeps hidden from the rest of the family.

Once again, Dean is spot-on in her descriptions of feelings and adventures. She does a great job of peeling back the layers and exposing the characters not only as they are, but as they are on the road to becoming. She has become an auto-request for me!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Kissing. Some potentially dangerous situations, but nothing severe. Some deceiving of parents.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like Alaska travel, cruises, coming of age, characters with anxiety.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/07/different-takes-on-coming-of-age.html

Savannah is heading on an Alaskan cruise with her greatest competitor, Tanner, right after her boyfriend breaks up with her on the last day of school. To get her now ex-boyfriend off her mind, Tanner encourages Savannah to use their vacation as a way become less "boring" and try new things.

This was a cute YA book. The setting and different experiences were fun and I can see many high school students enjoying the adventurous aspects of the setting. I liked Savannah and Tanner's relationship and the individual issues they had with their own identities - it felt real to what many teenagers experience. I think it was a great novel of discovering who they were and trying to get over the idea of disappointing anyone (parents, themselves, etc.).

"His laugh was loud and free and joyful, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. Our gazes met, and his joy was contagious, filling me with light like a star being burned inside my chest."

I love a book set on a cruise. I've only cruised once myself, and the experience was beyond terrible, but that doesn't stop me from loooovingggg cruise settings, especially Alaskan cruises. Something Becky Dean does so well in her newest YA romcom is utilizing her environment and relying on imagery to set the tone for her scenes, and I think the Alaskan cruise was the perfect choice for our main characters in Hearts Overboard, Savannah and Tanner. This novel highlighted Dean's strengths and improved upon the weaker parts of her previous novel, Love and Other Great Expectations; Hearts Overboard has demonstrated that Dean has found her groove as a writer, and I'm thrilled to see where she goes from here!

Synopsis:
Savannah and Tanner have been rivals their entire lives. Whether it was academics, sports, social lives, or even their parents, the two have made it their mission to one-up the other. So when Tanner steals the astronomy club presidency out from under Savannah, a role she's waiting three years to fulfill, and then proceeds to witness her boyfriend break-up with her in front of half the student body, Savannah thinks she can't possibly despite Tanner any more. And she's about to spend two weeks with him on a boat.

Of course, Tanner and Savannah's parents are co-workers and best friends, and the two are joining their parents on a company-wide Alaskan cruise. Newly dumped for being too "boring," Savannah reluctantly agrees to Tanner's outlandish idea to prove her to her ex that she's fun: under Tanner's guidance, Savannah will spend the next two weeks partaking in spontaneous, adventurous activities that will highlight her carefree attitude and show Caleb exactly what he's missing. In return, Savannah will help Tanner figure out a college major that will appease his parents, who see his dedication to football as a waste of time compared to Savannah and his sisters' more academic goals.

Obviously the alliance will be a waste of time, right? There's nothing romantic about the Alaskan wilderness, or a cruise where Savannah and Tanner are the only teens for miles, or even the classic academic rivals, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity tropes. Nothing romantic. *winks*

Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book! After feeling pretty blasé about Love and Other Great Expectations, I had middling hopes for Hearts Overboard, but even from the first chapter I knew that Becky Dean had something special with this newest novel. The characters were fleshed out, with fears and hopes and dreams and insecurities that were all addressed in emotional scenes not just between Tanner and Savannah, but also their friends and families. The true standout for me was the scenery, though. Dean did an amazing job describing the nature and wildlife with such detail that I could picture it perfectly. I longed to be there with them (although not enough to cruise again within the next decade.)

Overall:
This is a great YA romcom for ages 13 and older, and features a female main character in STEM as well as non-traditional families, parental pressure, childhood trauma, strong female friendships, and all your favorite romance tropes! Highly recommend, and can't wait for Becky Dean's next novel!

I buddy read this with my daughter who is in her early teens, and we both thought it was super cute. The romance was adorable without being smutty. My daughter said she can't wait to read more from this author.

*4.5 stars rounded up*
This was a really cute story with an amazing setting and a sense of adventure. At first Savannah struck me as a little self-centered and set in her ways, but as I got to know her, I started to understand her better. Plus, it gave a good opportunity for character growth, which we see a lot of over the course of the story. Despite Savannah's negative feelings about him in the beginning, Tanner was a likable character who had a lot of depth too. It was interesting to watch the characters learn a lot about each other (maybe Savannah didn't know as much about Tanner as she thought she did) while also learning a lot about themselves along the way. There was a lot of introspection about taking risks, trying new things, and facing fears. I enjoyed the romance aspect, even if I sometimes got a little frustrated with Savannah's (admittedly understandable) denials along the way. The book was a quick read and kept me interested the whole time. I was a little sad to reach the ending of this one since I enjoyed it so much. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

Thank you to Random House Children's | Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the advance review copy of Hearts Overboard! All opinions in my review are completely my own.