Unfortunately i made the decision to DNF this book after multiple failed attempts to consume. I hope to pick it up again at a later time.

It’s a solid 3.5/5. I was able to put the book down to get stuff down but I kept wanting to return and cuddle up on the sofa to finish it. Honestly it’s a perfect fall read for that reason.

If I was ever curious what a slow burn second chance romance between two introverts that seemed too shy to communicate their needs effectively, this would be it! At first glance that doesn’t seem glowing but honestly it’s wholesome and gives very warm fuzzy vibes.

I group this book into the palette cleanser category. It’s not deep and it won’t cause you to cry, but you still get a cozy read with a tiny dash of spice and the HEA you need to go about your daily life. I liked Teddy a bit more than Clara because of his willingness to live the moment more (her stubbornness towards goals was painful) but also how on earth did he have a really significant relationship with her roommate for what, 5-6 years, and then just pick back up with Clara? That’s my only pause—6 years is real time, make that a year or less and it would have been way more believable and way less unsettling (unsettling because that’s a really long time to lead someone else on when you know it’s not right!). But I loved that Clara and Teddy really did seem written perfectly for each other and there she was too rigid, he could bend until she learned to too. Very sweet.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this ARC of Given Our History in exchange for an honest review. This book was the PERFECT fall book and I am so glad I got the chance to dive into this sweet love story. Teddy and Clara are so sweet together and I love the academia setting and the past and present chapters. I think you see a lot of growth between Clara and Teddy with the way the story was structured and you see how their love ebbed and flowed through the years and when they reconnected, it was just as warm and sweet. Their relationship is so tender and while I did find the story lagging sometimes, it was short and sweet. I think some things, like the end, could have been expanded upon, but overall, I did really enjoy this second chance fall and academia romance!

Living happy in my second-chance romance era! This book was so sweet, deep, and everything about it was adorable: the vibe, the setting, the story. 😍
And please let's all take a minute to appreciate and love this stunning cover—honestly one of the prettiest I've seen.

I love the fact that this book has dual timeline and we get to see how Teddy and Clara met, how they grew close and eventually grew very apart...

Fast forward to now Clara learns that Teddy comes to her school as a visiting professor and this causes all sorts of emotions, specially because they had no contact with each other for almost 10 years. Surely everything will be okay, right?

Their story felt very real, heartfelt and beautifully written. I like these characters so much, and I found myself rooting for their happy ever after from the start.

This was my first book by this author but and I think it won't be my last.

I love a second chance romance, I was entertain the whole book. I loved how we were in suspense for most of the book. Gave me flashes back to my teenage years when I would go to summer camp. Overall a very cute fall book, will recommend to my book besties.

A solid contemporary second-chance romance in an academic setting. The romance was good, but my favourite part was seeing Clara figure out what she wanted from her career, and then make choices that supported that. I really would have liked having Teddy's point of view, but I'm partial to dual POV.

A fantastic example of friends to lovers trope, Given Our History has the perfect mix of underlying feelings simmering under the surface with declarations and the complexities that come with it within a friendship; and Miller’s writing captured this in a superbly. The dual timelines added a beautiful blend of past and present that validated the occurrences and feelings of when the MCs were reunited. The chemistry between Theodre and Clara was flawless and the secondary characters were unmatched. This novel was a book I didn’t know I needed and I can’t give it enough high praise. Give your heart a treat by picking up this book!

This book was more about the politics of universities and growing up homeschooled than romance. I found Teddy’s character to be one-dimensional and serves more as an accessory than having his own character. There is barely any description of him as a professor or what he does when he is not following around Clara in present day.

Clara is another character to which I could not connect. We follow her back and forth in time through flashbacks with her history with Teddy. It also is a pet peeve of mine when a (typically a cis het female character) makes a huge point to not curse even as an adult in their 30’s. Clara is another one of those characters. She curses once towards the end of the book and it is followed by dialogue of the audacity of it.

Lastly, the relationship between Teddy and Clara did not really make sense to me. She keeps pushing him away yet after hooking up once they then immediately make plans to visit her family for Thanksgiving. She loves history so much growing up that somehow means that Teddy also should decide to be a History Professor when he grows up too. Clara considers moving out of the country and Teddy immediately says he would follow her. Clara is upset by this. Teddy is upset that Clara is upset. It could use a little more focus on the development of their relationship rather than focusing on the minute details of academic politics.

I would not recommend this book. Especially not for readers looking for a spicy romance.

I really enjoyed this read! It was cozy, warm, tender… it felt just right for fall! As a Marylander, the setting of this book had me so nostalgic. It felt like growing up again.

I really adored Clara and Teddy. The relationship was fraught but loving, loving, warm, careful, full of growing pains, and was so fleshed out. I really felt like the plot was strong and catered to well to the slow rebuilding of their romance. Also… I was really swooning over these two. It was just so sexy and romantic. I had butterflies!

This felt like the perfect read for folks who loved “Love and Other Words” by Christina Lauren. It gave me that same emotional hangover!

*Given Our History* by Kristyn J. Miller captivated me with its use of a dual timeline, providing deep insight into the characters' evolving relationship. The back-and-forth structure between past and present helped illuminate the complexities and emotional layers of their connection, showing how history shapes the way they interact in the present. It added depth and allowed me to see how their past decisions and experiences influenced their current struggles.

Miller does a wonderful job weaving these two timelines together, creating a story that's both emotionally resonant and thoughtfully constructed. It was a rewarding journey that kept me invested in the characters, though some moments felt slower than others. Overall, the structure enhanced the storytelling and made this a compelling read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC.

Kristyn J. Miller's "Given Our History" is a short, slow-burning, second-chance academic romance story. I appreciate how a dual chronology reflects the past and present. Kristyn had the ideal balance between the two. Theodore Harrison, an assistant professor at Clara Fernsby's private liberal arts institution, has been away from her for ten years. I enjoyed watching them get their second chance, as well as the ups and downs that came with it. I wish to read more writing by this new author that I have discovered.

The strongest element of the book is Clara’s characterization as a fiercely determined academic. Her struggle for tenure, a rarely explored theme in romance novels, adds depth and realism to her character. The tension between Clara and Teddy, rooted in their shared past, starts off strong but begins to feel repetitive as the story progresses.

While the plot holds promise, the pacing falters. The back-and-forth between Clara’s academic ambitions and her unresolved feelings for Teddy drags in places, and their rekindled relationship lacks some of the emotional impact I hoped for. The flashbacks to their summer camp days are nostalgic and sweet, but the contrast between past and present isn’t as nuanced as it could have been.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read with a fresh academic setting, but I found myself wanting more depth in both the romance and the characters' emotional arcs. It’s a solid, if predictable, read—perfect for fans of slow-burn second-chance romances.

I had a feeling this book was going to be a favorite as soon as My Chemical Romance and Twilight were mentioned, and I was definitely not wrong.

It was such a pleasure reading about Clara and Teddy’s love story from their teenage years to adulthood. I loved how the flashbacks mirrored the present and to see how they have both grown and evolved over the years. I love the relationships they both have with other family members and friends. And I loved seeing the two nerds come back together after years apart.

This book was so cute! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for future books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Kristyn J. Miller for the eARC!

3.5 Stars I love books with the second chance trope and that have cozy fall vibes, which is what initially drew me in to this book. I also like reading books about academia since I too work in higher education. This was a fun second chance, friends to lovers story. Slight deduction for a dual timeline, which is just something I personally am not a huge fan of and I wish I had realized that before going in. Either way, it was a great read for fall!

Given Our History by Kristyn J Miller
Contemporary romance, dual timeline. Second chance troupe. NA.
Clara Fernsby and Theodore Harrison became friends when they were at a summer camp. They had a lot in common including home schooling but eventually a falling out caused them to go their own ways.
Clara is now an Assistant Professor at a private liberal arts college on the tenure track. Exactly where she planned to be. She’s shocked when the person she’s to share an office with is none other than Teddy. But he’s not the same person. He’s cold and unemotional and Clara misses her friend. The more they work together, the more Clare believes old feelings are emerging but her life is on track. Will falling for Teddy again just be a repeat or loss?

A lot of reveals and story telling is done by a look back on Clara’s memories.
I’m not a fan of miscommunication or conflict because of not talking to each other. Fortunately they get it right and their childhood friendship is the basis for a new relationship. And while we get to know the sister only a little, she really has an impact on Clara.
Loved the cover. Loved the second chance and Teddy is a dream. I didn’t connect with Clara like I wanted to. I admired her ambition, her dedication to helping her sister but she doesn’t seem to be enjoying her life. Im glad she got a second chance with Teddy.

I received a copy of the from NetGalley.

2.5 stars
It took me a long time to get through this book. I actually wound up waiting for the audio copy from Libby as I wasn’t enjoying it as a read. I think the prelude ran me off and it was hard to connect after that. I also found the constant jumping around the timeline to be difficult to follow at times. If it had been two timelines, that would have been easier but it was back and forth and up and down the whole time. The premise very much appealed to me but the execution didn’t quite match.
*Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ebook copy

A sweet, charming romance perfect for Fall that gives back to school vibes. Lovely writing and lots of chemistry between the two main characters.

Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller is a beautifully layered second-chance - childhood friends to strangers to lovers romance that follows assistant professor Clara Fernsby, a woman driven by her love for history and her larger career goals.

When her old friend—and first love—Theodore Harrison returns as a visiting scholar at her college, Clara is forced to confront the memories of their shared past. Years ago, they spent autumns at a sleepaway camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, bonding over books and music, until Clara’s academic ambitions came between them. Now, as they work on a shared project, Clara finds herself falling for him all over again.

I absolutely loved the alternating timelines, which gave us a glimpse into Clara and Teddy’s friendship as it grew over the years, only to fall apart when their romantic feelings clashed with Clara’s career-focused ambitions. It added depth to their connection, making their reunion even more heartfelt. If you’re looking for a sweet fall romance set in academia with themes of second chances and friends-to-lovers, this book will definitely tug at your heartstrings.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a sweet friends to lovers, second chance, academia novel. It wouldn't say it was one of my favorites, but it was a pleasant enough read except I could've done with a little less miscommunication. That's always been one of my least favorite tropes.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! The love story between Clara and Teddy was incredibly engaging and warm. I can definitely see myself buying the hard copy of this book so I can read it again!
Special thank you to NetGalley, Kristyn J. Miller and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.