This was fun. I wish it was more somehow. I'm worried it won't stick out in a crowd as someone who reads romances all of the time.

"The Makeup Test" by Jenny L. Howe arrived in my life at the perfect moment, offering a welcome escape from the demands of graduate school. Howe's novel not only served as a delightful distraction but also stood out for its well-thought-out representation of a plus-size main character.

What struck me most was the refreshing and genuine portrayal of the protagonist's body size. Unlike some narratives that tend to either overexplain or awkwardly emphasize a character's weight, Howe navigates this aspect with finesse. The main character's body size is seamlessly integrated into the story, providing a realistic and relatable representation without unnecessary emphasis or peculiar explanations.

The novel serves as a breath of fresh air in its ability to create a character who is authentically portrayed, free from stereotypes or clichés related to size. It's a testament to Howe's skill as an author that she effortlessly weaves a narrative where the main character's body is just one facet of their identity, rather than a defining characteristic.

As a reader juggling the demands of academia, "The Makeup Test" became my much-needed respite. The engaging storyline, combined with the thoughtful representation of a plus-size character, made for a perfect escape. Howe manages to strike a balance between addressing the realities of life and providing a feel-good escape, making this novel a well-rounded and enjoyable read.

"The Makeup Test" stands out as a charming and well-crafted novel, offering readers a much-needed break from the challenges of daily life, particularly for those immersed in the world of academia. Jenny L. Howe's adept storytelling and nuanced representation make this book a standout in contemporary fiction, providing a narrative that is both entertaining and socially relevant.

First off, I loved the cover of this book and the curvy girl representation! However, I was not able to connect with the characters. They are very immature and not very likeable. I found myself bored during this read.. After trying to skim through some of it, I ended up putting it down at about 25%.

This story follows previous lovers Allison and Colin, who by some sort of fate, have come back into each other's orbit, even if it is just becoming TAs and vying for the top spot in their grad program. I could not get enough of this will they/won't they love story for the ages. I couldn't help but see this becoming a Hallmark or Lifetime RomCom someday!

This book was enjoyable. By the end, I personally didn’t feel connections to the characters but I enjoyed their story! I liked the FMC and the MMC pretty equally and I left rooting for their love throughout the book

i thought it was a cute and easy read something u might bring along tot the airport or the beach, overall i liked it! 3.5

The chemistry between Allison and Colin is palpable, and their battle of wits adds an exciting layer to the narrative. As they navigate their shared responsibilities and rediscover their feelings for each other, readers will find themselves rooting for their rekindled love. The author seamlessly weaves in themes of personal growth and the importance of choosing love over professional ambitions. The complexities of Allison's relationships, including her drifting friendship with her best friend, add depth to her character and make her relatable.

"The Make-Up Test" is a satisfying read that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance, academic fiction, and stories about self-discovery. Howe's characters are relatable and engaging and the themes of second chances and personal growth are universal and heartwarming.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me.

A great romcom! I love this book that had me smiling while reading. I love these characters and their world.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

My favorite character wasn't even a real character. The grandfather was really the only character that I found relatable. The story was fine overall. No strong emotions in any direction.

This wasn’t my book. I got lost in the literature discussions and talks of the classics. It felt over my head and I wasn’t invested in the relationship. The miscommunication trope is my least favorite.. but this also felt like she was choosing to stay angry and misunderstood. Idk.

Good book. I normally read histogram romance but found this book to be good! I liked the banter between Alison and Colin. Definitely worth reading.

A sweet, funny and healing read. A lovely journey of two people finding their way through past entanglements and misunderstandings and growing back together. A fun and lovely read.

Grateful for the opportunity to review this one. Loved the academia setting, the competition aspect between our two main characters, and just the story overall. A few quirks that could have been left out (the COVID references, for example - stating it happened in high school and now she’s in grad school, which would mean the story would have had to have been happening in the future). I struggled to find the chemistry between the two main characters and I don’t know why - was it me? Were they just so immature, I couldn’t deal? I’m not sure! But the writing style has to be the best part of this book - it flowed so easily and was well written grammatically and it just made sense. But it just wasn’t fully it for me! Can’t get past the immaturity! Maybe others will be able to deal with it - overall, grateful for the opportunity!

this book started out really well and had so much promise. the last section of the book didn't do it for me at all though. I will never have patience for a man who steals, lies, and isn't empathetic to a woman (in general) but ESPECIALLY when dealing with the death of a parent. I assume we are supposed to be outraged by his actions, but I was fuming. I admit that this hit some personal areas of sensitivity. I lost a parent while I was in a toxic relationship and wasn't able to see how damaging that dynamic was. I'd like to think I would bully Colin, not fall in love with him.

Loved the rep, tropes and romance in this book. Give this book a chance and enjoy the story as it unfolds.

I didn’t love this one. I thought both main characters were for the most part unlikable. I wasn’t rooting for either of them. The writing was good but the story wasn’t my favorite.

"The Make-Up Test" by Jenny L. Howe is a heartfelt second chance romance that had me completely invested in the characters' journey. This novel is a touching blend of love, forgiveness, and the power of giving relationships a second shot.

Howe's writing style is emotionally resonant and relatable, immersing readers in the characters' struggles and desires. The main characters' interactions are filled with genuine emotion, creating a dynamic that is both heartwarming and engaging.

At the core of the narrative is a poignant exploration of personal growth and the challenges that come with healing old wounds. The author skillfully portrays the characters' vulnerabilities and the gradual rebuilding of trust between them.

"The Make-Up Test" successfully balances the heartache of the past with the hope of a brighter future, resulting in a narrative that is both moving and uplifting. The themes of self-discovery and the power of forgiveness add depth to the story.

In conclusion, "The Make-Up Test" is a touching and beautifully written novel that captures the essence of second chances and the beauty of rekindled love. If you're seeking a book that combines emotion, romance, and the journey toward healing, this novel offers a compelling and heartwarming narrative that will leave you with a smile on your face.

"There is no crying in sportsball. Or teaching."

I guess I've never read a book where the protagonist is also Allison? Between that and some other overlaps, it kind of feels like writing a review about myself in the third person, but let's do this thing, anyway.

This single POV romance leans into grad school vibes AND teacher vibes, which are both areas I'm familiar with. This is one of those romances where a single POV works well. We get a strong sense of Allison as a person, and only knowing her side of things makes it more interesting when we start to understand where her love interest, Colin, is coming from in both the past and present.

Allison is starting her first year of a Ph.D. program, where she is focusing on her passion for medieval literature. Expect nerdiness in the best way. Allison's feelings of being thrown into the deep end unprepared as she tries to mold the minds of unenthusiastic undergrads resonate with my first-year teacher self as much as the pressure to succeed does with my grad school self. I hardcore related to Allison's perfectionist and people-pleasing tendencies as I watched her build up every professional interaction into an opportunity to either prove herself or be crushed under criticism and shame. She's adrift and overwhelmed with all the newness and high stakes of her new reality. If ever there's been a case study to show the benefits of a growth mindset over a fixed one, this is it. Allison is so terrified of seeming less than perfect that she doesn't seek help or advice that would actually help her. And school isn't all that's on her plate. Allison is a fat woman, but that's just one facet of her being. Her eyes are wide open to the structural discrimination that works against her, but it doesn't define her or her journey in this book. However, she has long suffered from her father's fatphobic comments and lack of support for her dreams of being an academic. We see her decide to remove him from her life, which is made more complicated by her mother's constant insistence that Allison will regret it. Though Allison has a strong bond with her mother, this adds the weight of guilt to an already tense situation. Also, Allison is living with her best friend, but she starts to despair as she feels their lives are about to diverge. She has to reckon with the fact that both their lives are changing in ways that mean their bond won't be the same, either.

And if you're not already convinced that Allison has more than enough going on what with grad school existing, her family collapsing, and her friendship cracking-- enter her ex. Allison and Colin dated in college, but a betrayal and a breakup on its heels mean that Colin is Enemy #1 in Allison's book. When he shows up in the same grad program, Allison is all the more appalled when he's friendly and doesn't act like their past is a painful quagmire to be avoided. It's a second-chance romance where we get flashback scenes to build context into how they were before-- the good, the bad, and the ugly. I like that Colin's grown and changed on his own terms in the two years since Allison last saw him. It's not her job to teach him how to be better or midwife him through the painful process of learning to be less of a self-serving know-it-all. They still love the academic debate of their college-days relationship, but he's able to show some vulnerability he wouldn't have before. Allison starts chalking up these small differences even as she still harbors hurt and anger over their breakup. She quashes her still active attraction for him, anticipating that nothing good would come of acting on it. But when one of Allison's many stressors goes nuclear, Colin is ideally and uniquely situated to help, so she can't avoid what they could have together any longer. It's a good take on second chance because all stages of the story make sense. You feel involved in the characters' past relationship and its dramatic dissolution, but you understand why a fledgling hope for reconciliation might start to grow for Allison in the present. Honestly, the only particularly annoying thing to me about their relationship was the final act miscommunication/misunderstanding breakup. This all could have been easily avoided if we used our words, etc.

The other thing that bothered me is that lying stresses me out in a big way, and Allison is desperate for no one to know how bad (in her view) teaching is going so far. This goes double for Colin-- both her ex and her competition for the same advisor. She creates more and more elaborate tales of how spectacular things are going to spin for both Colin and their professor as if no one could verify the information in multiple ways. And every time a small voice in the back of Allison's mind hints that the situation is getting increasingly out of control, I freaked out a little.

My favorite thing about the book beyond the poignant emotions was the author's wielding of many witty turns of phrase and existential crises. For example, menstruation is described as an "amusement park of misery" (same). Allison and Colin trade snappy, combative banter, and Allison puts many people in their place with the perfect weaponized words. That made it a fun read even when things are going decidedly not well for our protagonist in the moment.

This is a romance that manages to hit many non-romantic emotional beats well even while offering a thoughtful take on the second chance trope. A lot is going on, but it doesn't feel rushed. With the single POV, readers can focus on connecting with Allison and her messy life, probably relating to the level of catastrophe at least a bit. Thanks to SMP Romance for my copy to read and review!

What a delightful rivals-to-lovers rom-com! Howe's debut is delightful. I always enjoy when the rivalry is an academic one, and the fact that these two had a complicated history helped make the rival aspect more exciting. I also think she showed, in the case of the love interest, how at the core, people are inherently the same, even if they do change in some ways. I enjoyed this one very much!