I absolutely died over this cover!!! All the perfect fall vibes. Unfortunately, the book itself fell short of my expectations. I would have preferred Theo’s POV to the flashback scenes, though I did enjoy the nostalgia. Overall, a very middle of the road read.

3.5 stars.

I liked this book. It was fun to jump into Clara and Teddy's past as they meeting again after so long. I think they were both sweet,

I did, however, not love this book. I found some of it to be repetitive, and it felt a bit long for the story. Some of it could have been cut down, and the story would still be good.

Overall, I did like this book, and I recommend it. I just didn't love it.

This book started so well.

We meet Clara as she embarks on her daily job as a professor, finding out that there will be a new professor coming into the mix, and it’s none other than her ex friend-colleague, best friend Teddy.

Obviously, history muddles up everyone’s minds and such when we meet with someone of our past. So they re-meet and the chemistry is instant. A truth that has always been there. We go through the motions of this relationship and move along as Clara and Teddy reintroduce themselves to each other.

I liked the premise but something fell flat for me. I have read a similar story to this and wish I had a blank slate to fully absorb this one.

I felt similarly about this romance as I did about Happy Place: there was not anything bad about it, but it also didn’t fulfill its potential in multiple ways, going in directions and lacking depth in areas that I would have done differently. I didn’t truly feel either of their passion for history, nor did I get any true grasp on either of the main characters depth in general, the main focus being almost entirely the up and down trajectory of their coming of age friendship, which felt quite shallowly explored itself. None of the characters felt particularly endearing, but not unlikeable per-say either. Overall, this book would’ve benefited from more passion, from the characters, and from the authorial perspective.

This was one of my most anticipated books for the fall, and it absolutely did not disappoint. My hopes were sky high and it was *wonderful*! Not only was the actual romance storyline incredibly swoony, but I also adored all the fall vibes. I highly recommend!

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“... to have some small part of you was better than having none of you at all.”

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this eARC. If you love second chance romances, alternating timelines, and the "right person, wrong time" trope, this is one for you to pick up. Would highly recommend to those who liked Julie Soto's story arc from Forget Me Not.

I myself am not typically a childhood friends to lovers fan, BUT to open that first chapter with them running into each other again because he was dating her old roommate? Sold. Needed it. I had no idea how far their friendship would span but to find out they met at camp as young kids made it so much more special to see their decades long journey.

I loved that this dealt with a slightly older cast. Most contemporary romances I see are casts of earlier twenty-somethings, but with Clara and Teddy being in their late-twenties/early thirties allowed for a larger conversation and more character development development. I feel like so many romance books are surface level--their lives and careers are easily uprooted and sacrificed for their love. With Clara and Teddy, its not a simple leap, hand in hand, off a cliff. It required communication as to what that means to the other person, fears of resentment, and whether or not the timing is right, and how that person would be able to handle finding a job in a new location. And for someone who hates the miscommunication trope, this book did it in a way I loved.

They're adult conversations. They're not sexy, they're complicated and sticky but they are important, and it's not simple.

I read too many contemporary romances. I sit at an office for 8 hours a day at a computer, so throwing a contemporary romance on in the background is easy. I miss a moment? not concerned because I typically can fill in the context. Given Our History was different. I found myself rewinding if I missed a moment. I found talking to myself in the car, yelling at these characters for the stupid things they were doing. I found myself falling in love with them and their story and will forever be angry at Teddy for walking out that day in the dorm. (Like bro, you didn't let her finish what she was saying and then ghosted her.)

When I read the aforementioned Forget Me Not by Julie Soto, I fell in love because it was a different narrative style. The break up was in the past and you are given this mystery of where it all went wrong to begin with. It was a formula I screamed about for an entire summer, forcing everyone to read because it was so different,. Finding a story with a similar arc brought me so much joy, and this is going to be my go-to recommendation for a fall cozy read. So happy to have a new insta-buy author.

I enjoyed the second-chance romance trope in this book, but I found it unengaging over the span of 300 pages. The characters, Clara and Teddy, didn’t appeal to me, and their relationship wasn’t well-developed. I liked Teddy as a character, but I felt that more insight into his relationship with Clara would have strengthened the story. While the plot was interesting, I was disappointed by the lack of depth in their six-year relationship. That said, the dynamic between Clara and Teddy was cute, especially with how they bonded over homeschooling, their parents, and Clara’s love for history. The miscommunication at the end of the book annoyed me, but at least they end up together and happy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the copy for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This book was really sweet. I loved the academia setting and the chemistry between our protagonist and the love interest. I think that’s what really sold me on this book.

I don’t always love a second chance romance or friends to lovers, but this couple oozed so much chemistry that I couldn’t not ship them.

I do think the stakes were pretty low and that made some of the drama not as believable, but it was still fun. And I liked the fact that there’s not really a third act break up. I’m so tired of those.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was the perfect cozy Fall read to jumpstart October! It quite literally felt like I was walking through fallen leaves with a pumpkin spice latte.

Is Fall academia romance a genre?!? If not, make it one! I loved Clara and Teddy! 2nd chance romances are rarely done right in my opinion and this one was cozy and perfect!

Read this melancholy romance if you like:
✨women in STEM/academics
✨second chance romance
✨right person, wrong time
✨friends to lovers
✨dual timeline

TRIGGERS:
✨beware of the MISCOMMUNICATION TROPE

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

My thoughts 💭

👍🏼
•I am always down for an academic romance and love me some nerdy women in STEM!

•Theodore Harrison is the blueprint, baby and a top book boyfriend. I would have LOVED his POV in the book and think it would have really brought more feels.


👎🏼
•When Clara says, "one of our biggest roadblocks has always been communicating-" THAT RIGHT THERE-the miscommunication trope, especially when it last so long, will always bring a story down for me.

1 HYPE UP QUOTE:

"You're always there, Clara. In everything I do. You've always been it, for me."

"...love is the hard road. 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 is a cute romcom, with second chance. It follows Clara and Teddy, who knew each other from before, when Clara had fallen in love with Teddy. Now she won't let that happen again.

I loved this book! It was very academic & intellectual in its writing & presentation! I loved the will they, won’t they aspects of the storyline! Although I felt that the story moved a little slow at times, it was a classic friends to lovers trope that I thoroughly enjoyed! I loved that she added elements of intrigue by making this relationship go through its trials. Ultimately true love always prevails & I enjoyed seeing how her & Teddy were able to find their way back to one another 💖

I had high hopes for this one female history professor who actually loves history sign me up. However Clara didn't act like the 30 something professor she's suppose to be. To me she acted younger than my twenty something sister. It's like she got older but never really matured. And she kept trying to fit in with the older male professors by not being herself. I get it its a male field. But it still felt like she could find a better balance. And holding a grudge for something that happened when they were in college.

This was a big flop for me unfortunately. For the first 30% I was really vibing with it, and then it felt like a sharp right turn off a cliff.

The main character was so robotic, it was difficult to read. I wanted to DNF more than once and regret not doing so!

A cozy fall romance that you'll fall head over heels for! I normally don't love second chance romances but this was handled so well!

This is a second chance romance between two former young lovers, so you get a dual timeline between present day and an exploration of their history and former romance.

Clara and Teddy first met at summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Both were homeschooled and found a connection through a shared love of literature and music. Over the years their friendship grew into love, but they had a falling out ten years ago and haven’t spoken since.

Now Clara a history professor at a private liberal arts college in Maryland — her dream job — and she’s finally up for tenure. Her world is turned upside down when Theodore is brought on for the fall semester as a visiting scholar in her department.

He may have once been her best friend, but Professor Harrison seems like a total stranger to Clara. However, as the two spend evenings working on a shared project over drinks at a college bar, Clara quickly realizes how easily she could fall for him all over again.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance! With second chance romance being a favorite trope, have read a lot of different executions of this plot over the years. Liked but did not love this one, thus the 3.5 (rounded to 3 stars). That being said, would definitely read this author’s works again!

Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller was a heartwarming second chance romance that follows a dual timeline for Clara and Teddy. First as teenagers attending homeschool camp together to teaching at the same university. While there was some angst I felt it was light, this was more cozy romance for me and read like a warm hug. I just adored it, perfect for fall!

Thanks SMP Romance for the gifted copy.

Given Our History
3.5 🌟

This is a sweet autumn hug. Clara and Teddy met as teens in a sleep away camp primarily for home schooled kids. Then they meet again as professors when Teddy is assigned to share Clara’s office as they work on special projects. We get a dual timeline which adds such a depth of history to these two as they grow.

It is a bit of a genre bender with romance of adults who once shared a unique bond as kids. The banter and internal second guessing is so relatable. Both introverted nerds and it’s such a happy book.

There is something poetic about two kids who were home schooled become university professors.

This book took me by surprise. It's a friends to lovers romance, but with the backstory telling the history of the romance. I love the academic setting, as well.

Cute fall vibes. Love the chemistry between the characters. The teacher trope was nice. Would recommend…….