Second chance romance x Rivals to lovers??? Yes please!

I actually really loved this book. I thought Allison and Colin had great banter and chemistry and, given their relationship history, I thought that made their connection feel way deeper. I loved Allison and how academically driven she was. She also had this complicated relationship with her father that I really related to. I think Colin at first is hard to root for given his past actions and the way the breakup left Avery so heartbroken. But he definitely redeemed himself (at least for me). He really showed a lot of growth in his actions and in the way he communicated with Avery was so important and I loved it so much. Honestly, the only problem I had is how rushed the last few chapters feel. I really am looking forward to more work by this author. I thought this was such a solid and original debut.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!!

Ex's & Rivals to lovers, Allison and Colin are both competitive and when they are TA's in the same PHD program it's game on. There were many things going on but it was just okay for me. I did like the plus size MC. 2.5 stars for me

This book has a lot of things I enjoy: women in academia/pursuing their PhDs, academic rivals, and plus size representation. However, it also contains a trope I hate: miscommunication and immature handling of it. I also feel like the book tries to tackle several different plot points and tie it together, and I think it could have been a bit smoother. But overall I did like the book and the spice between the characters.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️

𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙨𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙮, 𝙧𝙤𝙢-𝙘𝙤𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩, 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧―𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨―𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙋𝙝.𝘿. 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢.

Oh no, I’m so sad I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I was so excited when the publisher reached out offering an e-galley, but I, unfortunately, did not enjoy this as much as I wanted to.

I really enjoyed the representation of these characters. I think the author had written them very well, but the romantic feeling towards these two just didn’t vibe with me personally.

I think Allison and Colin had so much potential, but I do think second-chance romances are usually a hit or miss. I feel like they lack the sense of meeting and growing their personalities. Because this was a second chance, I felt like it lacked that connection to the reader and it felt rushed.

One of my biggest problems with books is the miscommunication trope. I just don’t love it whatsoever, in this case, the story felt too rushed and I wish there was a better form of communicating with each other.

I love academic settings, but this one just didn’t live up to my standards. I will say I did enjoy the academic rivalry involved, but I felt like it wasn’t executed well. Also, the ending was very disappointing and lackluster.

Overall, I had such high expectations for this book but was unfortunately disappointed. It just didn’t hit the mark for me on so many levels. I wanted to love the story, and while I like the way the author introduced it, the characters’ romantic feelings just felt meh and rushed. It fell a bit flat, this is my personal opinion so maybe someone else out there will enjoy it a lot more than I did.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy, all thoughts are my own!

3.75 stars

I didn’t love everything about this book, but I did really like much of it. I liked the protagonist and the grad school setting, and I enjoyed how the plot tackled some complex, relevant issues in interesting (and often funny) ways. I have mixed feelings about the resolution of the predominant romantic relationship in the story; I’m glad the characters were able to resolve things for a (mostly) satisfying and happy ending, but I feel like there was a lot of downplaying what is still a serious example of a lack of academic integrity that doubles as a personal betrayal. I don’t know if I’m overreacting…the male love interest maybe didn’t fully steal the protagonist’s ideas the way she initially thought he did, but he certainly wasn’t honest or forthcoming. It doesn’t feel right to me. That being said, I did still largely enjoy most of the book, including its tone, plot line, and representation, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing what the writer creates next.

Can two people who have a past compete for the same opportunity while rebuilding their relationship? This contemporary romance is about two students who broke up after competing for something each of them wanted, only for it to happen again. Does love conquer the heat of competition?
I wanted to love this story more, but I felt it was too one-sided. Both main characters were likeably flawed and very human. The challenge of the heroine to love herself and have confidence despite her father’s deriding and apathetic attitude is something I know happens in reality. I liked how the hero had actually showed the heroine that he had changed and deserved a chance in her life. What I didn’t like was the way the heroine was lying yet felt betrayed when she thought the hero cheated. She never asked him about it, just thought that she was wronged. And then, she didn’t go over and apologize, she waited until he apologized to her. I felt that she needed to step up and take responsibility for what she did. I felt the hero was being too submissive and there was an inequality in the relationship that annoyed me. Overall, this is a good story which should be used in discussions about honesty and trust in relationships. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

I love a scholarly academic work place rivals to lovers. Unfortunately this one fell a little flat on the romance side. The primary focus of the story was Allison and Colin's PhD program in medieval literature. The romance felt like more of a sub plot. I read a number of these texts in college but for those with put background in some of the texts mentioned, it might be a little bit of a reach. I loved the glimpses of Allison and Colin's relationship growth but I wanted so much more. The literature aspects took the forefront rather than highlight the chemistry that I'm sure was there between the two. Overall this was a quick light hearted read with a couple heavy moments but I'd clarify it more as women's fiction rather than a romance read. I'll leave you with this. Ned at the end, had me laughing so hard!!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!

This was a cute, quick read. I love a second chance romance! I liked that Allison stood up for herself with her parents. I think Colin & Allison were good together. I liked the witty banter & FINALLY a plus sized female MC. Loved it!

Second-chance romance between 20-something nerdy grad students Allison and Colin. After college heartbreak, the two find a way back to each other in grad school, propelled by loss and the spark of attraction. Nice plus-sized/curvy rep and realistic attraction: Colin is described as not conventionally attractive, but his looks and quirks appeal to Allison, and really, isn't that all that matters in a relationship? Allison and Colin definitely do some growing up here, like learning to shed childhood patterns and stand up for themselves. They recognize maladaptive behaviors and find forgiveness with each other because they work well as a *team*, and Howe does a good job of describing the hows and whys they did, rather than just saying it. Seeing how well they fit together and getting their HEA for now was super sweet.

Overall feelings? This was ok. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get into this and the thought of having to finish this felt like a chore. That said, it was fine once I started reading again. Unfortunately, I was never motivated to want to keep reading chapter after chapter. The characters were ok, I didn't feel any great attachment to our MCs and tbh, they were both annoying and boring. Even with their backstories.

This review feels a bit conflicting to write.

On one hand this book is full of things I love: books, academic rivals, love, body inclusivity, fuzzy friends, second chance romance, and so on.

But I found the actual love story lacking. I had a hard time believing the love and the reasons for prior breakups. Add in the lack of communication and everything else going on in this story and it was too much of the extra stuff and not enough of the foundational romance things.

The messages surrounding fat shaming and fat phobia were important and something I think will resonate with many people. I appreciated the authors note at the beginning and thought it was all handled so well and with care while still very much giving space to the hurt and emotional damage that those topics can cause. This was so well done.

I just needed more from the MMC, more from the relationship, more from the love overall.

Allison Avery is a grad school student who finally gets to work with one of the most influential professors in her field of medieval literature. The only problem is, her archnemesis and ex-boyfriend Colin Benjamin somehow shows up and tries to steal her spotlight.

There were things that I really liked about this book but also some things that I just didn't care for. I loved the representation in this novel. Allison is very body positive, and shares her struggles as being a plus size gal. It did seem at times that the book was a bit forced in their attempt at being woke. The pandemic references were also a little cringe at times as well. Allison as a character however quite possibly the most immature protagonist I've read in some time. She felt to me like she was in high school instead of participating in a graduate school program. I had a hard time feeling empathy for her. Also, Colin could be the worst love interest that I've read about ever. I didn't feel the passion in their story. Almost felt like it went flat. I thought the concept was interesting, but it felt one note to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I adored this book! I thoroughly recommend it. I love the development between the characters, as well as the character development itself.

1 star

I am all here for books with academic settings as well as enemies to lovers books but this one I just didn't like. The author's writing style was just meh for me. I never really connected with the characters. I honestly don't remember too much about this book. It wasn't what I thought it was. and didn't like the character interactions, and i don't think the main characters belong together. Colin was definitely mediocre and Allison has some self confidence issues.

I don't recommend this book...

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was so sweet! I had so much fun reading this. It is one of those novels you get lost in. I can’t get enough of how Jenny writes. The way she crafted the romance was perfection! I highly recommend this for a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley. St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, and the end result was it was cute. Not the most amazing book I have read recently, but definitely better than some of the others. We have body positivity done in a healthy manner, with plus-size female lead(s) - one of whom is working in fashion - and we have a non-traditional male lead when it comes to attractiveness (nerdy, cardigans, scrawny, etc.). The premise is graduate school, specifically a PhD program, relating to literature, and it is a battle of medieval lit. We have fighting toxic masculinity and learning to forgive (or not forgive) toxic family members. Overall, it has a lot of concepts that would make this a really strong book that is making great statements - it just fell slightly flat for me. I don't know if it was writing style or if it felt a little too rushed or what, but it felt like it just missed the mark slightly on some of the points. Not to say it wasn't good, it just didn't quite make it in my top list of books right now. However, if you liked The Love Hypothesis (or any of Ali Hazelwood's books) you will probably enjoy this too. Solid 3.5/5

This review is going to be a mixed bag! First, the plot: Allison is gunning for her PhD, specifically to work under a certain professor. Surprise! Her ex boyfriend, who dumped her after winning a grant over her, is also going to be working under that professor with her! And Allison hates it. But maybe he's changed? And the more time she spends with him the more she maybe wants to be more than academic rivals again.

And it was fun and cute! Allison has so many realistic issues to work through, including a father who fat-shames her and refuses to acknowledge her accomplishments, a mother who guilts her, a friendship that feels like it's floundering, and overcoming a bout of depression after said ex-bf kinda sorta stole her dreams.

While Colin (the ex/academic rival/love interest) and Allison definitely had that banter-y chemistry, and he showed up for her in some hard times, I could not get past the miscommunication/third act break up. It just seemed like Colin did not learn from his mistakes, and Allison had every right to break it off. I don't enjoy the miscommunication trope in general, and this one really frustrated me. But the rest of the book was fun!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!

My apologies. I am DNFing this at 63%. While as a student of English Lit, I loved reading about the classic works I once studied, I was not deriving much satisfaction from the novel as a whole. Whether deserved or undeserved, Allison has a chip on her children about a mile wide, which didn't make her a very fun character to spend time with. When I reached 63% and realized how much I still had left, I tossed in the towel. The writing and premise were good; this one just wasn't for me.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Allison has gotten into her dream graduate college program and everything is in place to realize her lifelong goal of becoming a college professor. That is until her ex boyfriend, Collin shows up in the same program looking to steal it away from her, just like her did in undergraduate with The Rising Star award. Allison doesn’t know the whole story of the past, and Collin is determined to explain it and win her back.

The Make Up Test is a rom-com filled with smart, witty banter between two lovable, endearing main characters and a brilliant storyline. I loved the depth of the emotions and attraction between Allison and Collin, making their relationship real and jumping off the page at you. The theme of body positivity is current and portrayed well throughout the novel. Great read!

I really tried to get into this one but it just never clicked for me and only made it 12% in when I decided to put it down. This is a second chance romance that follows two rival academics who are vying for the same position. I struggled with the main characters and they way the male lead was described, I know that sounds weird but she made him sound so unlikable that I couldn't figure out why she liked him in the first place. I have also learned lately that I need to stick with what I know and like and that I am just not a fan of second chance romances. I know they can be done well but they very rarely work for me. If you like second chance romance or books set in academia then you might want to check this one out. Thank you St. Martin's Press for my gifted copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.