I requested this one off of the pretty cover! I was happy to find that it was well-written and emotional with realistic, loveable characters. I love a book like this and cannot wait to read more from this author! Thanks for the digital copy!

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⋆ ⭒
This was a good little read for fall - there’s something about a story surrounding a teacher seems fitting for the season.

I liked the tropes surrounding the romance of this one - partly coming-of-age, part first-love, the-one-that-got-away, right-person-wrong-time, and the soul-mate concept. That “fate” kind of love, the inherent knowing of another person, right to their core, really appeals to me as a reader. I liked the story more than I was particularly drawn to the characters themselves, but the characters were generally likeable, even though I wasn’t particularly attached to them.

I did find there to be too many pop culture references - I think it was supposed to appeal to the audience as an age-connection, but after the first couple, I felt like the point was made.

Ultimately, I would pick something up by this author again, and if you want a quick and cute read, this would do the trick.

~ 👩🏻‍🦰

I'm always DOWN for childhood friends to lovers and second chance romance. Those are two of my ultimate fave tropes, so whenever I see a romance that has those, I'm drawn to it like a moth to a flame. And this one did not disappoint. It took me a while to read this but it was worth it. Loved both leads (I mean, Teddy?!?! I've loved MMC named Teddy ever since Little Women!). The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the miscommunication (which admittedly drove me crazy) but the HEA made up for it. Just a warm, lovely romance. <3

This book combined everything I love. Second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, nerds in love, HISTORY?!? Be still my beating heart.

The characters were well-developed and so was the overall plot. Both characters grew a lot as individuals, which readers can see during the flashbacks to their years as friends before their eventual rift.

This was tender, and at times achingly emotional. It was everything I love in a romance, and I’m kicking myself for not reading it sooner!

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this! So cute second chance romance between two awkward homeschooled kids who get another chance as adults to be friends and more when Teddy comes to Clara’s school as a visiting professor

Second-chance romance is my favorite, and “Given Our History” by Kristyn J. Miller totally delivered! This book had it all—tension, pining, regret, and a big helping of hope.

Clara, a university professor, is floored when she finds out her long-lost camp bestie, Teddy, is joining the school as a visiting professor. They haven’t spoken in ten years, so awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it. The story flips between past and present, giving you all the juicy details about their history and how it shaped them.

Watching Clara and Teddy reconnect and realize their old feelings never went away? Pure magic. Their journey back to each other was sweet, satisfying, and full of those "aww" moments. Sometimes, life takes people apart, but if they’re meant to be, they find their way back.

“Given Our History” is the ultimate cozy read with all the feels. It’s heartwarming, charming, and perfect for anyone who loves a good reunion story. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted ebook arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a cute romance! I loved the back and forth between timelines seeing how the character’s relationship evolved over time! I did struggle a bit with the pacing it felt a lot slower than I wanted it to be and the characters had a lot of back and forth miscommunication throughout the book which at time got on my nerves. Overall a great romance read! Definitely recommend giving this one a read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh I absolutely loved this book!🥰

Such a sweet second chance, friends to lovers story. I love any story taking place in the world of academia so this was exactly up my alley!

Teddy and Clara meet in their youth and through a dual timeline we see them reconnecting again as adults. I loved the depth that this format gave to the story.

This was such a beautiful, heartfelt read!

Given Our History is an interesting second chance romance. Clara and Teddy are home-schooled and meet at a camp for home-schooled kids as teens. When Clara is afraid to get more involved with Teddy, their friendship and overall relationship ends up paying the price. After 17 years of knowing each other, Teddy ends up as a visiting professor at the college where Clara is an adjunct, and they try to work through their past issues since they have been in love with each other for years. It's an entertaining romance told through flashbacks interspersed in the present-day telling.

Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller is a cozy fall second-chance romance set against the backdrop of academia. Clara and Teddy are swoony.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Truth be told, I chose this book because of the cover. Clara and Teddy's history dates back to sleepaway camp and trading mixed CDs, which ended ten years ago. In present day, when Clara is up for tenure and is asked to share her office with a visiting professor, she's shocked to find out it's Teddy. Told in a dual timeline, past and present, we get to meet and fall in love with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

This second chance romance was cute. With the fall vibes, cozy feels and a plot forward drive, I would recommend this to anyone interested in:
-second chance romance
-spice
-sprinkles back story that doesn’t water log the pace
-90s nostalgia
-childhood friends to lovers

I couldn’t love this cover more or the book! I really enjoyed this one. I loved how the story unfolded with the dual timelines. As a reader I felt I got the full portrait of their relationship.
Thank you #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this cute second-chance romance, Miller treats us to a dual timeline where the past mirrors the present. I enjoyed the academic setting and how these characters embraced their nerdy history-loving sides. This sentimental book was the perfect lighthearted fall read.

Sometimes I wish I could review books as soon as I finish, but 9 times out of 10, life has other plans. Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller is one I just wrapped up, and let me tell you—it’s perfect for cozying up with during these chilly December days. When I said I wanted a heartfelt, second-chance romance that warms you up, this was exactly what I meant.

Now, I’ll admit, second-chance romances aren’t usually my favorite. Maybe I just hadn’t found one that did it right—until now. From the start, Clara and Teddy’s story had me hooked. Seventeen years of history as childhood best friends gave their relationship a weight and tenderness that’s hard to put into words. You could feel the love and memories in every page, and the alternating past-and-present POVs brought so much depth to their journey. It was like piecing together a beautiful puzzle, seeing where it all began and how it shaped who they are now.

Clara was an absolute standout for me. She’s so relatable, and I couldn’t help but see pieces of myself in her. That connection made me root for her even more as she navigated the messy, bittersweet terrain of love, grief, and rediscovery. Teddy, too, felt genuine and layered, and their chemistry was undeniable—it’s one of those stories that pulls at your heartstrings in the best way.

The autumnal setting, with its cozy and nostalgic vibes, made it even better—even if I was reading it in December. Honestly, the warmth of this book is perfect for any time of year. My only slight critique is that the pacing wasn’t always consistent; some parts felt rushed, while others lingered a bit too long. Still, that didn’t take away from the joy of watching these two find their way back to each other.

If you’re looking for an emotional, heartfelt romance that’s as tender as it is nostalgic, Given Our History is worth picking up. It might just convert even the most skeptical second-chance romance readers—myself included.

I was pleasantly surprised by Miller's book Given Our History. Romances aren't my typical genre, but thanks to books like this I'm quite enjoying myself. The plot felt more original than most. Perfect for fans of Hallmark movies and seasonal reads.

I am absolutely a sucker for a dual timeline romance book, they’re some of my favorite stories! I also enjoyed the academia element of this story too, it really transports you to those nostalgic back to school days. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

As a history major I loved this. It was a very cute romance and I really enjoyed the fall vibes it gave off.

Given Our History was a fun second chance romance. I liked the dual timelines so we got the back story on what happened between Clara and Teddy in the past. I love books set in academia so that was also super fun, along with their shared office *FORCED PROXIMITY!!!*

I wasn't a fan of the fact that their break up was due to a miscommunication - drives me nuts! I also thought that after all their history (haha) they kind of reconnected and picked back up a bit quickly. But then again, it's a book...so....probably my issue.

Overall an enjoyable read and I will read more from this author!

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This book was such a cozy fall second chance romance book. This book is about Clara who 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, along comes her ex best friend/might have been more, 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. Will all the feelings that she thought went away come back or will the past come back to remind her why it isn’t a good idea?

I loved this book so much; it was like a blast from the past. With all the nostalgic vibes, the Walkman, listening to burned CDs, downloading songs from certain sites, call waiting, cordless phones, and so much more. I loved that this book helped me walk down memory lane again and really reminded me of everything that I loved. I love that in this book you will get a glimpse of their past, and then go back to the present time. I wasn’t confused or lost when the book switched around at all, for me it really helped me to understand why they got to the place that they did and to see what they had individually overcame and how they helped each other overcome situations when they were younger. I found that the plot was developed well, and I was a mid-paced book (meaning slow in parts and fast in other parts). I liked the characters, and I thought they did well with their development throughout the book.

I found the characters to be fun and interesting. I was able to relate to the characters with wanting not to give up their own lives to follow their loved ones but at the same time I was like “Just talk about it and don’t shut down”, but I can understand the nerves and the fear of losing someone. I did find a few things that I was like “wait, what?”, it was about a part after a fight and what someone brought with them… Just read the book because other than that part I loved the book so much. I found the character easy to relate with and to connect with as well.

This is a book you will want to read if you like: light cozy fall read, second chances, academia setting, childhood friends to lovers and flashbacks.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.