Such a sweet, cozy romance! It filled me with all of the warm fuzzies and was a pleasant pallet cleanser!! Looking forward to more from this author! This was my first book of hers and I highly recommend!

I loved a second chance romance. I enjoyed the mix of past/present to get a better look into the story. I would have enjoyed maybe a dual POV to add a little more insight into Teddy. He was kind of meh for me, but then again so was Clara. I didn't overly love her, she was okay. I loathe a miscommunication trope, so that kind of ruined it for me a little.

The cover alone gave me high hopes for this one – the fall setting, the campus, it was all so cozy. And I love a second chance romance. Unfortunately I was bored and didn't feel any chemistry between the love interests.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the above listed for this #gifted copy. I listened as well as read the ebook. This second chance romance (one of my favorite tropes) was sweet but also a bit angsty. Relationships are complicated. This book was entertaining, but I was left wanting more feeling.

I loved getting the history between the two characters, especially since that mirrored them both being so into history! At different points in the story I found myself more invested in the past or in the present, and a part of me did wish there was a little more to the present-day relationship—with so much of the backstory (which I did enjoy having), I felt like I didn't quite get a solid idea of what they were like together now, so I wasn't as invested in the current timeline as I would have liked to be. That being said, I did really love getting to see everything that came before and having it on the page. Overall, I found Given Our History sweet, and I would definitely read more from Kristyn J. Miller.

“The person you're meant to be with is whoever you choose to be with. And you'll have to fight for it and make sacrifices for it every step of the way. You just have to choose someone who's worth all that trouble, and then you have to keep on choosing them, every day.”

This was such a cute and cozy second chance romance - absolutely perfect for autumn weather. This book gives you the story of Clara and Teddy, backwards and forwards. You get to meet the two of them as kids - away for summer camp and trying to make new friends as they are both home-schooled, and just adorably awkward. While we get to learn about their history (wink wink) we also get to see them in the present day, where they are both professors at the same university. Teddy is only there for a semester as a visiting professor, and somehow Clara can’t seem to avoid him.
The story of how these two grew up together paralleled with their current lives and finding their path back to each other was the most wholesome thing to read and I cannot believe that I waited so long to come around to it. This is exactly the kind of book that warms hearts, so if you’re looking for something that will pull at your heartstrings, this is the book for you🧡

This was a sweet, emotionally satisfying second chance romance. I loved the way the story unfolded, switching between past and present in a way that allowed the story's natural progression. The reconnection between the main characters was gentle and the slow reveal of their history kept me invested. I am a sucker for a yearning male lead, and this one delivered. Not overly smutty, open door scenes but no vulgar language. It had just the right amount of emotional intimacy. I was really in my feels with this one!

This book was so sweet and full of romance! I thought it was a quick read! I loved the fall vibes in it too! It’s def worth a read! I highly recommend giving this one a go!

Really cute story! Glad I read it! I really likes how they are teachers, and grown adults! Most books now show the main characters as teenagers, so it was nice to get a different pov!

This had a sweet second-chance romance vibe, and I really liked the idea behind the story. There were some heartfelt moments, but overall it felt a little slow and predictable. I wanted a bit more depth from the characters, but it was still an easy, enjoyable read.

Title: Given Our History
Author: Kristyn J. Miller
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: August 27, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Academic • Inconsequential • Wholesome

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Assistant professor Clara Fernsby is nothing if not driven. She’s wanted to teach history since she was fourteen, and she hasn’t let anything stand in her way—not even the love of her life. And it all paid off in the end, because she landed a well-paid position at a private liberal arts college fresh out of grad school, and this year, she’s finally up for tenure.

When Theodore Harrison is brought on for the fall semester as a visiting scholar, it’s an unexpected blast from Clara’s past. She hasn’t spoken to Teddy since rejecting him over a phone call ten years ago. Now that he’s here, she’s reminded of their time together at every turn: autumns spent at a sleepaway camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, trading battered history books and burned CDs with the quiet, dark-haired boy she once fell in love with.

That boy might’ve been her best friend, but the man teaching HIST-322 is a total stranger—or so she thinks. As they spend evenings working on a shared project and brainstorming over drinks at a college bar, Clara realizes she’s at risk of falling all over again. Given their history, she knows there’s every chance he’s not interested. But history’s all down to interpretation, and this time around, she’s got no intentions of repeating it.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I will openly admit I added Given Our History to my list of 2024 anticipated releases based solely on the stunning cover. After reading the synopsis, I was intrigued by the academic setting and a second chance love story. This is an author I hadn't heard of before, yet it is always interesting to discover new authors.

Told in a dual timeline format, I loved the academic and camp settings. These two elements felt new and refreshing. However, I was much more invested in the past timeline than the present. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into how their friendship came to be and how their love grew over time, whereas in the present everything felt stagnant past the midway point. My biggest issue with this one is how the dreaded miscommunication/lack of communication trope overpowers the plot

For a romance, I thought the writing became overly descriptive where it drew me out of the story. I didn't need 2 pages of the characters getting coffee. If some of detail was edited out it would have given room for more depth of character and plot.

Given Our History is a low stakes, wholesome romance that didn't necessarily offer anything groundbreaking, yet kept me entertained. I enjoyed the characters and the evolution of their relationship, yet it was one of those books that I finished and didn't really get a whole lot out of having read it. Would recommend it to readers who are looking for a lighthearted and academic romance.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• second chance romance
• career driven FMCs
• childhood friends

⚠️ CW: sexual content, cursing, injury/injury detail death, death of parent, vomit, alcohol

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Sometimes people drift apart because the timing’s not right, but if they’re meant to be together, they find their way back to each other in the end."

Second chance romance is not my favorite, but I did enjoy this story. I liked both the characters and found their story enjoyable.

Okay, here’s the real deal on Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller. The concept hooked me—there’s something about diving into family secrets and complicated pasts that pulls me in every time. But honestly? The execution didn’t quite land for me. I found myself struggling to stay engaged, and it dragged in places where I was expecting some serious payoff or drama. The pacing felt slow, and I kept waiting for the story to pick up steam, but it never really did. So yeah, I love the idea behind it, but the overall experience left me pretty bored.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me the wonderful chance to read this book!

An emotional at times yet such an enjoyable cozy read! Amazing for fall!

This was a really cute second chance romance with a bit of spice!
I liked that both main characters were history professors!
I was a history major, so it was cool to read about fellow history lovers!
Both characters did annoy me a little because it took so long to finally decide to be together.
Overall, i really enjoyed this!

I loved the backdrop of them being history professors and how Clara in sharing her love for history with Teddy, made him fall in love with it too. As you all know by now, I loooove a second chance romance, and this one was extra sweet because they were kids the first time - got a chance to grow up and become their best selves before reconnecting and realizing how real those feelings were. It's a bit of a slow burn but is worth the wait. I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for my digital copy!

A light hearted second chance romance, that follows two friends from sleep away camp that happen to reunite years later.

I really enjoyed this book from NetGalley! Given Our History is a sweet, second-chance romance that blends nostalgia with academia. The story follows Clara and Teddy, childhood friends who reconnect as adults at the same university. Their shared history and past misunderstandings add depth to their journey toward rekindling their relationship.

The dual timelines, alternating between their teenage years at summer camp and their present-day interactions, offer a rich backdrop to their evolving connection. The academic setting provides a unique context, highlighting the challenges and dynamics of working closely with someone from your past.

While the pacing is gentle and the conflict is subtle, the book's charm lies in its portrayal of personal growth, forgiveness, and the complexities of love. It's a heartfelt read for those who appreciate slow-burn romances and character-driven stories.

Cute romance between nerdy history buffs. Teddy and Clara are both homeschooled, they meet at camp and develop an instant friendship. Both being very future career driven and not the most socially sophisticated they have serious communication issues. Back and forth over the years they try and deny any chance of romance.
Changing jobs, family and self doubt keep them stuck in what if!
Fun back and forth, quirky friends, colleagues and family.
Have to admit it dragged a bit, but good second chance romance story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own.

I truly don't say this often, but the prologue of this book won my heart. The set-up of the coffee shop, the judgmental professor, the awkward run-in from the past. It was so well done and made me excited to start this book.

Told in dual timelines, Given Our History follows Clara Fernsby, a history professor who is asked to share her office with a visiting professor. Clara is doing almost anything to please her higher-ups as she is being considered for early tenure, so she agrees. The visiting professor ends up being Teddy, Clara's "one that got away". As we explore both their present relationship and the years that led to the dissolution of their younger relationship, Miller does a masterful job of threading a beautiful love story. Interspersed with the rigors of tenure, the politics ofhigher education, and the trials of teaching, Given Our History is a book I would recommend to anyone looking for their next favorite read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.