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.

So many millennial Easter eggs. I enjoyed the emo culture callbacks. Kristyn promised history teachers with history and she delivered. All the angst. The drama. The assuring people were not together even though we definitely still have feelings. This book is for people looking for duo timelines and friends to lovers to strangers(?) to something really complicated.

Super late on this one. Absolutely loved this book. The characters were well written and the plot was paced perfectly. There aren’t enough books set in autumn and I am so thrilled this one was. Recommend!

I enjoy the occasional romance, especially when there’s great banter and laughter—but this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I can see how fans of slow burns would really enjoy it, but it didn’t hold my attention. I found myself starting and stopping it several times.
That said, I’m still glad I finished it, and I think many readers will love it. For me, though, the back-and-forth felt a bit drawn out, and it took a long time to get to the romance.

3.5 stars! This book started out strong for me. I love seeing the flashbacks so we know how Teddy and Clara got to where they are today. I was definitely rooting for them. I’m not sure where the story lost me exactly. Maybe I just wanted them to forgive each other and get together sooner? I felt disconnected from the time period when their friendship/relationship dissolved. Perhaps it came too far into the story when I was already happy things were working out for them in the present. Overall a good story and would recommend!

This story is set in the cutthroat world of academia. Assistant professor Clara Fernsby has wanted to teach history since she was fourteen. All her hard work has almost paid off - Clara's finally up for a tenure position. When Theodore Harrisson is brought on as a visiting scholar, it's an unwelcome blast from her past. It's been ten years since Teddy and Clara have spoken, following a messy falling out. Their childhood friends-to-lovers relationship, built over summers at camp for homeschooled kids and long-distance phone calls, broke down as they entered college. Now they are spending evenings working on a shared project. Clara knows she's at risk of falling again, but given their history, she knows there is every chance that Teddy is not interested in rekindling their connection. But history all's down to interpretation, and she has no intention of allowing it to repeat itself.

Clara's narration is so engaging, and the way the friend-to-lover relationship unfolds through flashbacks is so sweet. The friends-to-lovers arc unfolds with a quiet sweetness that feels authentic and heartfelt. Both Clara and Teddy are complex characters, and it’s rewarding to see how much they’ve grown from the stubborn, idealistic teens they once were. While the first half of the book was a slow burn that took some time to fully capture my interest, the second half more than made up for it. The tension, romance, and emotional depth all intensified, pulling me in completely. By the final chapters, I was fully invested in Clara and Teddy’s journey.
Given Our History is a thoughtful, tender story about second chances, emotional growth, and the courage to confront the past in order to move forward. If you enjoy slow-burn academic romances with rich character development and a touch of nostalgia, this one’s worth picking up.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

A sweet second chance story that gives you hope in love and all that comes with it! I liked the story and the characters. Even the flashbacks, so we could see how they got to where they were. It was all well done!

Second Chance Romance? Friends to Lovers? ACADEMIA?! Sign me up.

I found this to be totally, totally delightful. My literal only complaint is that the flashbacks to Teddy and Clara's past got excessive after a while. It felt kinda beating a dead horse - we get it! Let's get to the good part! BUT, overall - just a total delight.