I really, really wanted to love this book, as I am always trying to find new books to shout about with plus sized representation, but unfortunately I ended up DNFing about 20% in. I just truly couldn’t get into the story, or connect with either character. I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back to it at a later date and it just wasn’t the right time for me to read it, or if it just isn’t the right fit for me, but I hope other people love and resonate with it! And I will definitely be trying future titles by this author.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the grad school representation as I feel like that is something that is not portrayed often, or as least is not portrayed accurately, it is often just used as a trope. I loved the chemistry between Allison and Colin! I was slightly apprehensive going in as second chance romances are not my favorite, but this one worked for me.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, it was an interesting read.

Unfortunately there was a little something missing from this book. While I love the idea the execution was a bit lacking.

The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe was so cute, witty, and heartfelt. I really loved both the main characters and how smart they were. Books set in academia might be my new favourite thing, and The Make-Up Test was *chef's kiss*

DNF. Unfortunately, this was a book I started multiple times but could just not get into. I appreciate having the opportunity to read this book, it was just not a good fit for me as a reader. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted review copy.

This was a sweet, cute book that had me captured the entire time. I really enjoyed the characters from the first few pages, lots of great representation, and very heartfelt.

The entire book was quite... Eh. 🤷 Dull? Nothing too inspired.

But the ending, without getting into spoilers: not my jam. Not my cup of tea. Hard pass. 😩

Unfortunately wouldn't recommend it. Even if you like academia based romances, I'd skip this one.

Book received for free through NetGalley

Read 15% of the way into this book but kept starting and stopping and ultimately forgot about it. Figured it was better to review as is. It was written well just not my cup of tea.

I loved the main character in this book!! I found that the characters were less traditional, and it made me love them more. There are two different tropes in this book because it combines enemies to lovers and a second chance romance. Overall, the book was enjoyable to read and I would read more novels by this author in the future!

I've been reading more romance than ever these days, and I absolutely adored The Make-Up Test! It's perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood, and anyone who loves a good rivals to lovers, or nerdy romance. Also, the fat positivity in TMUT was a real breath of fresh air. I can't wait to see what Jenny Howe has in store next!

I saw this explained as One to Watch (loved) and Beach Reads (loved) had a baby. I was excited to read this book but it didn't hit the mark for me. I didn't feel connected to the main character Allison.

This book was a big no for me. I know so many people who raved about it, but for me, no. Very little character arc or development. It just happened. I didnt find myself caring about it.

This book was just okay for me. However, I don't see myself readily recommending it unfortunately.

Although, it wasn't anywhere near a DNF and I never felt forced to finish it, I just didn't particularly care for the story or the characters. It was heavy on the medieval literature and read like we should be knowledgable about the subject. I skimmed over those parts. I also found myself not overly attached to the characters enough to care about their story, and, quite frankly, Colin was not likeable at all. The rage I felt during the "breakup" phase and what took place was very off-putting. I don't feel like he deserved the first chance and definitely didn't deserve the second chance. In fact, alot of these characters are unlikeable and off-putting. Allison deserved better from every main person in her life (mother, father and best friend).

I will say I did enjoy the author's writing and I feel this book, despite the issues stated above, is well written. I wouldn't be opposed to reading what the author writes in the future, especially since this is her debut book.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe drops us straight into the middle of Allison entering her long sought after Ph.D. program. Sounds like an absolute dream until she finds out her ex and academic rival is not only in the program with her but they're both TAs to the same professor! As her dream becomes a nightmare, it also turns into the academic rivalry they had once had all over again.

Jenny L. Howe succeeds in writing a modern rom-com that is settled right in academia. The writing and dialogue is smart and funny, and the characters are charming.

This book was written for you if:
1) You're into second chance romance or rivals to lovers
2) You enjoy books set in an academic setting
3) You're looking to read a book with great curvy girl rep

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to St. Martins Press for providing me this arc via Netgalley!
I'm actually kind of embarassed to only be reviewing this now and I would like to apologize for taking so long, but this was a tough read for me.
I requested this arc because the premisses sounded really interesting and, as a grad student myself, I was particularly curious about the setting. When I did it, I was going through a huge reading slump I though an arc would help, as it always gives me some kind of purpose.
Unfortunately, this book didn't exactly help and only today I was able to completely finish it. There was nothing really wrong about it, but it wasn't a good book either. I could not get immersed into the story or the characters and I feel like at some point a meteor hit one of them, I just wouldn't care, which isn't ideal when reading a book.
Perhaps if the author had put a bit more care into making the characters likable, this would have been better.
0.5 stars extra for the original context, so overall 2.5 stars.

I wanted to love this book, but it fell a little flat for me. I wasn’t a fan of the characters in this book. Also, the fat shaming really bothered me as well. The writing is good, but it wasn’t for me.

Here's the trope - two academics fighting for a position only one of them can fill. They start out as sworn enemies and slowly fall in love. Who will win the job/position/etc? Will one of them give up the position to prove their love? Throw in body positivity and a lot of knowledge about an oddly specific academic area and you have a novel. This book meant for fans of Olivia Dade or Talia Hibbard. For me it was a miss, not sure if it was the self-hating protagonist, the fact that I have no interest in medieval literature or just a general dislike of the characters.

A cute rom-com about how grades (and competitiveness) can get in the way of relationships. A fun, easy read that I read during a stressful time, it was a good little escape.

The Make-Up Test takes us to a university where two graduate students (and exes) find themselves competing for a spot with the top professor in the field. This book really covers a lot of fun tropes, with a second chance romance and Enemies-to-Rivals-to-Lovers in a university setting. The competition between the characters is so relatable, but there’s plenty of miscommunication thrown in throughout the plot to further complicate things.

This book was an enjoyable read, with fun moments, an entertaining rivalry between the characters, and some serious topics with Allison’s complicated relationship with her father and his health issues.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.