DNF @ 43%. There were things I really liked about this, like getting an inside look into the TA life and some amazingly satisfying boundary-setting by the heroine — I was in awe of her strength to put herself first when it came to some fatmisic and neglectful behaviour from her dad, even when she was getting pushback from her mom and attempts to guilt-trap her because of her dad’s failing health. Just wow — that kind of thing is so important to see yet I imagine really hard to do.

I just didn’t really like what happened when the heroine and hero were together… from what I’ve read so far, what the hero did (applying for and then winning an award the heroine was hoping for) doesn’t sound great, but it also seems like he probably had a reason. (It also seems like it would have been hard to tell her he wanted to apply and she might have steamrolled him, though still not an excuse for poor communication.) And I think part of the heroine’s problem is that he didn’t tell her he was applying until she found out he won, but she keeps talking about him stealing it from her and it became hard for me to sympathize — he didn’t bribe anyone or cheat; he applied for it and won.

Another problem was that present-day Colin is competitive but always friendly, while Allison is not, and that’s what we see as a reader. Her (accidentally but then joyfully) drawing on his cardigan with a pen; lying about her tutorials to their advisor; always trying to one-up him in class. (I was cringing at their debate in front of a class they’re supposed to be TA-ing.) And then there were other little things too, like her lie in Two Truths and a Lie being that she’s swum with dolphins twice (she’s only swum with them once!), and a story about how a goat followed them home from the petting zoo and they just ran from the goat without calling the petting zoo and letting them know their goat was running loose and where he was. There was a lot of academic language (maybe too much for me) and I want to see an intelligent woman who is confident and knows her stuff, but you can do that without being performative and trying to show others up.

The Make-Up Test by J. Howe, published by St. Martin's Press is the debut novel by this author. I love giving new author's a try and I was not disappointed. A great read, some length, but has a captivating stotyline, the right pace for me and the writing is great. 4,5 stars.

I'm not saying that Jenny L. Howe's The Make-Up Test single-handedly warmed my frozen cynical heart... but I'm not NOT saying that, either? OKAY FINE I SOBBED OVER MY KINDLE AT 1 AM WHEN [REDACTED] SHOWS UP IN [REDACTED] AT THE END IS THAT WHAT YOU ALL WANT TO HEAR? IS IT?
And this is my attempt at writing a serious, professional review instead of just *keyboard smash* —that was my first review draft.

Jenny Howe's THE MAKE-UP TEST is the warm, witty, laugh-out-loud delight of my dreams. Allison Avery is whip-smart, heart achingly vulnerable, and permanently residing in my heart. Colin Benjamin is the cardigan clad, self-aware love interest with perfectly mussed hair we all deserve. The academic setting is vibrant and fresh at every corner, the cast wields side-splitting one-liners, the fat and mental health representation deserves a standing ovation, and the themes on family and embracing your path in adulthood are timely and poignant. Howe's words will have you hugging this book and rushing to embroider your favorite lines on a throw pillow. A soon-to-be insta-buy author for all.