This light second-chance (more like third) romance was sweet and entertaining. I didn’t have many expectations going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Thena returns to her hometown after taking temporary leave from work and runs into the man who broke her heart twice, Thorne. Even worse, she’s now working part-time for him while trying to save her career.

I really enjoyed the banter between Athena and Thorne even though the constant miscommunication did grate on my nerves. I just wanted to shake them both. I love second-chance romance especially with a dual POV because it makes the story so much more emotional for me. The heartache, things left unsaid, mutual pining, ugh!

The chemistry between Athena and Thorne felt authentic, and it flew off the pages. I loved Thorne’s characterization although he did upset me at times. It’s obvious that these two are meant to be, and their journey back to each other was so sweet and captivating.

If you love a light second-chance and small town romance with a little mystery, this book is for you!

Blame It on the Brontes releases May 3, 2022.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

For some reason, I just couldn’t ever fully get into this. I think a lot of that comes from Athena’s professional background being similar to my own, which meant it was also hard for me to ignore the many logical errors in her mission to learn this secret author’s identity. Not for me, but probably for someone else!

I would love to interview the author for my bookstagram account or for pop-culturalist!! Blame it on the Brontes is a title that instantly made me want to read this book. It doesn’t disappoint!! I loved the romance and the chemistry between the protagonists.

3.5 Stars rounded to 3. I really liked this story line and I loved the banter between the main characters. The quirky side characters were also a lot of fun and all the personality made me picture the story as a movie. I do wish there had been more spice written in. Also as a content warning there are several instances of diet culture language in the text (e.g. talking about weight or weight loss) it wasn't part of the plot so I wish those were not included.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this. There were a few points I was confused with. I felt that it was breezed over that Thorne just decided to buy a business and settle down in Athenas hometown. Also I wish there was more of the book where they are together. I could tell they both longed for each other but just felt the end was rushed and left me wanting more. Also didn’t feel like the robin stuff was all tied up. Maybe an epilogue would’ve been good.

This book kept me on the hook because it was so cozy. It has Gilmore Girls vibes with the eccentric townsfolk and family members, the comfy cafe, and the small-town atmosphere. This book is slow-paced and the romance was a slow burn to the point where sometimes it was a little infuriating. But to be honest, the romance was not what I liked about this book, it was the atmosphere that felt like an autumn day, it was the moments in between that were crazy and cute with Athena and the side characters.

Blame it on the Brontes was such a fun book! It has so many elements I loved: a cozy cafe, a quirky cast of characters, a literary mystery and a second chance romance. I’ve never read Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, so I can’t say for sure how fans of those two would enjoy the tie ins, but it’s not necessary to enjoy this book and I actually found myself wanting to pick them up next! Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review of this ARC.

This was such a great, quick read. Exactly the type of Rom Com I love, not too raunchy, but a light/fun read full of lovable characters. Bonus was the fun mystery that kept me guessing up until the very end.

Athena Murphy has been given an ultimatum at her job as a professor in a small college in San Francisco: Publish or Perish. She's been a little too vocal about her dislike for a coworker and now has the task of unmasking the identity of the secretive CL Garland, author of the infamous LitWit series who resuscitates classic romances and reskins them as eroticas. If she figures out who Garland really is, she gets to keep her job. The twist? CL Garland just so happens to live in her hometown, where she soon finds her once fiance, still love of her life, Thorne Kent now resides. And bonus, he's bought the cafe where she's already got a job as a waitress to support her on her unpaid leave.

This book is fantastic. It gives a lot of Sweet Home Alabama vibes in terms of a self re-discovery via going home, and gives up a healthy dose of sass, comedy, and the feels as Athena makes positive impact after impact on the people who live in her home town. There are a wonderful number of sub plots brewing that are nicely wrapped up at the end of the story, and make it interesting to navigate right along with Athena as she figures out what she wants to do with her life. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

second chance, enemies to lovers...
Cute, quick read. I enjoyed their banter. Second chance romance isn’t my usual trope choice, but
I did enjoy the mystery of why things ended the first time. The Seattle Event kept me
intrigued, the hint at something Not Good kept me reading.
I could've done without the references to his "member"... Just my preference
though.

As a former literature student, I was intrigued by the title of this novel. And the author didn’t disappoint, providing a quirky, engaging read.
This is an enemy to lovers/second chances type story where an English professor finds herself back in her hometown on a writing sabbatical, hoping to solve a mystery. She is challenged by family dynamics, her ex-boyfriend, and professional discord, all while trying to search for answers and complete her book.
There are many references and quotes from the Brontë sisters, Shakespeare, etc. Personally, I thought these were distracting and detracted from the narrative. It seemed that the author was trying to create a common theme… but the narrative didn’t need it.
Despite this criticism, this book kept me engaged and I completed it in 24 hours. If you are looking for a lighthearted romance, this may be for you!
Many thanks to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for this electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really only finished this book to find out who CL Garland was (the allusive author of a best selling series that mashes up classics with erotica) and I was left disappointed at almost every turn.

Thena ventures back to her hometown to unearth the identity of a reclusive author and ends up working in her ex’s cafe. She waitresses while snooping very poorly around and attempting to write a book to save her academic career.

The back story on this was just a mess. I’m all for revealing past plot throughout a story, but this felt like a sprinkling of after thoughts and made the story less cohesive overall. For me, the chaos of the plot was due to lack of focus - one minute the story is going one way, we have a suspect, then another, then another, and like 10 other suspects, and suddenly you made about 5 giant circles and ended up right where you started…bored and not sure why you’re still reading.

A charming and witty romance novel that also reads like a love letter to the great historical romance stories. Blame it on the Brontes is a quick and cozy read and Sereno has managed to create characters that are warm, dynamic, and often times admirable in their strength and gumption. Athena and Thorne sizzle as both potential lovers and more often perfect foils like any good Austin or Bronte romance while still reading as very modern and relatable. Although not the spiciest of books this book is very romantic and will have broad appeal to fans of the genre. All around a wonderfully written book.

Loved loved loved! What a fantastic story, one with happy twists and turns and a REALISTOC heroine! Couldn’t put it down! Such a great visuals and lol funny at time! 5 stars!

3.5/5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! Athena Murphy, an English professor, returns to her hometown to research an anonymous romance author with the pen-name C.L. Garland who happens to be from her hometown in order to save her career at a university in San Francisco. What she doesn't expect is to run into her old flame, Thorne Kent, who broke her heart twice. She winds up becoming his employee at the cafe he now owns. Of course, this proximity brings up old feelings, unresolved issues, and the potential to rekindle things with the love of her life.

There was so much angst in this and I loved Athena's character. She's exuberant, outgoing, determined, and I especially appreciated that she is explicitly described as being a curvaceous woman. I am normally not a huge fan of second chance romances but this one was great. It was amusing, and I loved the interactions between Athena and Thorne who have great banter and between their present-day interactions and the reminiscences of these two characters, the relationship comes across as really believable between the two. There is, however, a lot of miscommunication between the two pretty much from beginning to end and I will say by the end of the book it became a little too much (hence the rating). Also, despite the chemistry, we have another sort of fade to black scene which is mindboggling to me since part of the plot is Athena's investigation into an erotica author! Like.....hello? There should be more smut. I also appreciated that we got both Athena's and Thorne's point of view in this.

I loved the characters in this story. Sereno does a great job of making the many wonderful characters in her book relatable and so likeable....except for the main characters. I found them to be two of the most pretentious characters I've ever come across in a romance. And by the end of the book I just couldn't take the Shakespeare and Bronte references anymore.

Cute and witty book, with a dash of creative imaginative detective work. I wish there was a LitWit series to go with it!... cause if so, take my money now
side note - I realize I'm not an english professor or writer, but there were a few words in this book I had to look up.... I learned some new words to say things, but was also like - what? It felt like the author was showing off or either I'm just too southern and say what I mean in plain words?

Athena “Thena” is a professor of literature who after an unfortunate event at work, is forced in the position of publishing a book or lose her career. When she learns that a mysterious erotic author, C.L. Garland, is from her hometown of Laurel, she goes back to her roots to uncover the identity of this mysterious author. When applying for a job, she runs in her ex, Thorn, who becomes her new boss. This story was beautiful and humorous to read. Sereno perfectly captures the awkwardness of an everyone-knows-everyone small town. Thena’s banter with her parents, customers, and most of all her ex Thorn is entertaining and hilarious to read. I loved how the story feed you bits and pieces about her past with Thorn and the drama of the hometown throughout the story. This novel was excellently paced and like the characters said about C.L. Garland’s books, makes me want to go back and read the original classics referenced throughout the story.

As someone who is so interested in the Brontë sisters' books, I was so excited to read this one! Blame It on the Brontës is fun and full of references so it'll cater to lovers of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Professor Murphy is so lovable and just reaffirmed my love for characters (women especially!) thriving in academia. Second chance romances invoke so much joy in my life and this book scratched that inch once more. Thorne and Athena are the perfect rom-com characters and you'll find yourself falling in love with the quirkiness as well as the slight mystery aspect at the end. Would recommend!

Summary: Brontë obsessed English professor Athena Murphy finds herself back in her hometown and is on the hunt to uncover the identity of an author who is writing spicy retellings of classic literature. While embarking on this career saving journey, she runs into her ex-boyfriend who broke her heart. Solution? Figure out who C.L Garland is quickly so she doesn’t have to face old heartache longer than necessary. But it’s not that simple or easy because life never is.

Rating: 3.5 ★

I was instantly drawn in by the title, cover, and summary! However, this book just wasn’t for me which is disappointing because I love the idea of two literature geeks getting a second shot at love. There’s a lot of things I liked about this story, the banter is really good when it flows and has its lit references. But there was some conversations that felt off. I really liked the Gilmore Girls feel of the small town made up of quirky characters! I even found myself liking the personalities of the side characters more than the main ones sometimes. I also found myself giggling at a couple parts in the story, especially when *SPOILER* Athena is spying on Geraldine. The pacing was way too slow for my taste and I’m not a fan of miscommunication which is what the book felt like it was riding off of for its suspense building. The identity of C.L. Garland was predictable for me but there were a lot of other curveballs I didn’t see coming. I liked that there was some representation, the biggest being in the LGBTQIA+ community. Another issue I had is the connection between Athena and Thorne, I’m not sure why it didn’t feel believable to me. Maybe there wasn’t enough backstory? Even when forced in proximity they felt distant again lacking a connection. Which considering how long the chapters are you’d think there’d be more information on the backstory or more connection building between the two lovers but what was given all just felt like unnecessary filler info. All around there was just something missing that I needed from this book for it to be a higher rating. I will say though if you’re a fan of classic literature, lovers to enemies to lovers, and second/third chance tropes then this is the book for you!

Blame it on the Bronte's is a interesting book for sure. It tells the story of Thena, who needs to write a book to get tenure, going back to her hometown and working for her first love Thorne in his fun coffee shop. Of course they have hilarious and witty banter with each other while also keeping the story going.

I enjoyed reading it and would suggest it to friends looking for this certain trope!