Thank you for letting me read this! I looooovee the dual POV that was in this book. It was so well done. The cover is so pretty and it made me so excited to open it.

Second chance romance is hit or miss for me. By the end, I'd say this was a hit, but getting there was a test in endurance. You get a lot of Clara and Teddy's history in flashbacks, and I wasn't expecting so many. While I get it, it's there to establish things, it was a bit too much back and forth along the way. Ultimately, it works. But getting there, it's a bit tiring. However, if you're a masssssive fan of second chance romance, I think you will enjoy this.

The cover? Immaculate. The play on words in the title? Fantastic (they're history professors & have a past where they were *almost* in a relationship). The beginning? Really fun and intriguing.

However, there were too many flashbacks, which messed with the flow of the current story. I wasn't expecting so many flashbacks, and I wanted more growth from the characters as they were now. Basically, I became bored. The story was sweet overall,

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Solid 3 star romance. Second chance isn't my favorite romance trope, but I did enjoy this one. I liked the academia backdrop and the shifting timeline.

I love an academic setting, second-chance romance, and nostalgia - which were all present in this book. It felt low stakes and lighthearted, and I enjoyed this book and thought it was sweet, and a fun read. I would recommend reading this in the fall for ultimate vibes! 3.5/5

This cozy, star-crossed lovers tale was entertaining from beginning to end! I resonated with Clara, the main character who dives head-first into her career as an academic historian in search of safety and security. While many moments were light-hearted and fun, it was nice to explore the depths of a relationship that starts when both of the main characters were in their teens. Clara and Teddy know each other inside and out - and that made for an excellent and realistic tension. An extremely satisfying read!

what a solid debut!
the flashback chapters were SO fun and chockfull of nostalgia - mentions of My Chemical Romance, jelly bracelets, Twilight, chatting on MSN, etc etc.
it was such a realistic romance which I appreciated, but I think I would have liked a littttle bit more fun, fantasy, unrealistic expectations, super witty banter, etc.

As someone who is not the biggest of second chance romances if a book uses second chance as its main trope I need it to be phenomenal.
This book had so much potential but was unfortunately just ok and not for me.

What I think a lot of people will enjoy about this book-
Second chance romance
Miscommunication
Academic setting
Then and now alternating chapters
Wrong time right person
Friends to lovers to strangers

If you’re a fan of second chance then this one might be for you!

I cannot believe it took me this long to get around to reading this book. I am a mood reader so I wanted to wait until I was in my "second chance" romance phase and it did not disappoint.
We follow Clara and Teddy throughout the years with a focus on the present story mixed with flashbacks. We get to watch their story from the first introduction to the ending and I wish the book was a bit longer just to get more flashbacks.
I enjoyed the history talk and the little inside jokes they kept throughout the years. Without any spoilers, beginning of chapter 2 was my favorite because it feels like the exact point where their past and present intertwine into the people they have become and what they represent to each other in a bitter sweet manner.

Given Our History
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Author: Kristyn Miller

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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 unwelcome blast from Clara’s past. She hasn’t spoken to Teddy since a falling out ten years ago. Now that he’s here, she’s reminded of their shared history at every autumns spent at a sleepaway camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she traded battered books and burned CDs with a quiet, dark-haired boy—and fell in love with him.

That boy might’ve been her best friend, but the man teaching HIST-322 is a total stranger. But 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.

My Thoughts: What drew me initially was the beautiful cover art to this story. Clara Fernsby has always had a soft spot for history. She loves to research it and loves to instill it into the young minds of tomorrow, as a college history professor. She fought and clawed to get here, even giving up the love of her life, Theodore Harrison. She is up for tenure after blood, sweat and tears. She hasn’t thought of Teddy in a decade until he shows up as a visiting scholar teaching a history class. She is reminded of their time from over a decade ago, how much they were in love. Now having to work on a special project together, will the feelings resurface and they begin to fall in love again? Or will he hurt be too much to bear? This follows the tropes of second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, miscommunication, and right person, wrong time.

The chapters are intertwined with past and present. The story is narrated by Clara, in her POV only. Clara gives all to her career but did not want to try with Teddy again. She even seemed immature for being her age, almost reading as a YA. When they split, they were kids, they grew up, things change. Teddy’s character could have been explored deeper, such as why did his long term relationship of 6 years end; how has his feelings evolved for Clara? I loved how their relationship was explored initially but finding the reason for the fallout was way too deep in, that should have been revealed right after they realized they were teaching at the same college. Now I love academia romance and normally it is not boring for me, but this one just fell a little flat here too. The characters just fell a little flat for me, they were not fleshed out as much as they could have been. Now I loved the witty banter, the chemistry, and there were intriguing to a point. The author’s writing style was contemporary, closed door, swoony, and flowed mostly well. There is some that could be cut, or even exchange for further character arc.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think some of the pages/chapters could be removed, there are chapters where the story is not really moving along and is just stagnant. I personally prefer dual narration romance novels, this one from her POV only. I think adding his would have really elevated this story from 3 ⭐️ to 4 ⭐️ for me. Having said that, I would still recommend this story to other readers a good contemporary romance read. I have read other Miller books and loved them so I will not give up on this author. 😊

This book was sooo cute. I’m all for second chance romance book. It’s one of my favorites and this one was definitely chefs kiss.

I fell in love with Clara. The present and past POV’s are something that I am not a fan but with this book it made me enjoy it because I was able to understand the main characters more. Teddy and Clara being childhood best friends you can only feel the love they had each other and how it brewed up to the ending.

It was such a heartwarming book. I enjoyed it so much. Fall is my favorite season and the fact that this book is set in the fall is the perfect for those Fall TBR’s . Fall read 100%🧡

Perfect for the fall this cozy romance will warm your heart. Clara is an assistant professor, and her life isn’t where she thought it would be and when she is trying to make sure that she gets her tenure. A distraction comes in the form of her ex best friend/friends with benefits, Theo. They haven’t spoken in years and now all the feelings that she thought she got over are coming back and she doesn’t know what to do with them. When she finds out that he will be working at her school too, and that they will be sharing an office, she doesn’t know what will happen. The characters were believable and likable as the friendship grows as well as feelings. The way families make speed bumps in life is well reflected. Definitely would recommend would be perfect with a mug of apple cider and donuts. Thank you to Netgalley. the author and publisher for the opportunity.

This was just ok for me. There was nothing wrong with it, I just didn’t find myself interested. I liked the main characters long history, but didn’t feel much chemistry between them.

I loved this book. Kristyn Miller knows what she doing with these romances!!! The history aspect threw me off but it ended up working out perfectly. She’s an auto buy author for me at this point!

Second chance romance and dual timeline are two of my favorite parts of a romance book, and this book contained both! I liked the academic setting and the summer camp setting when they were younger. I found their story so enjoyable.

DNF @ 37% - ch 11. I’m honestly so bored. Forced proximity, miscommunication tropes. Blegh. It just doesn’t feel like it will get any better and I’m not in the mood to deal with mediocre at best.

I just finished Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller, and it was such a beautiful, emotional ride! 💫 This second-chance romance follows Clara Fernsby, a history professor, and her past love, Teddy Harrison, as they navigate their complicated relationship after years apart. Told through a dual timeline, the book seamlessly weaves their history at summer camp with their present-day reunion as colleagues.

The chemistry between Clara and Teddy is undeniable, and their journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and rekindling their bond was so touching. What I loved most was how the book explored themes of ambition, career, and how our pasts shape who we are—and what happens when we confront them.

If you enjoy heartfelt romance, complex characters, and a bit of academic backdrop, Given Our History is a must-read! 📚💕

Given Our History was such a cool read! It’s a mix of romance, drama, and just enough twists to keep you hooked. The main characters have such an interesting dynamic – they’ve got this complicated past, and watching them try to navigate their feelings and figure things out was so relatable. The pacing is great, and I really loved the way the author built up the tension between them. Some of the emotional moments hit hard, and I was totally invested in how it all turned out.

thank you to NetGalley for this arc!!

i was so excited to read this novel!! it was giving cozy fall vibes + academia + second chance romance (the BEST trope imo). unfortunately, i was a little disappointed & let down by the book overall. it wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it also just didn’t do anything for me??? in the end, it was solid but not memorable - just a nice palate cleanser for me.

3.25 stars from me!!

This is my first time reading something by this author. It is a captivating journey through love, ambition, and the power of second chances.

Assistant Professor Clara Fernsby is a driven, passionate woman whose lifelong devotion to history is mirrored by the twists and turns of her own past. When Theodore Harrison, a former flame, unexpectedly reappears in her life as a visiting scholar, the pain and buried feelings from the past all begin to make an unwelcome appearance. As Clara navigates the professional milestones of her career and the personal crossroads of rekindled love, the stage is set for an intellectually engaging and heartwarming story.

The chemistry between Clara and Theodore is palpable, built on layers of shared memories and unspoken regrets. Overall, this is a thoughtfully crafted romance that will resonates with anyone who believes in the transformative power of love and the enduring influence of one’s past.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.