Wanting that same vibe of the Emily Wilde books? The same chemistry between the two leads? Look no further, because this is the book for you! Truly enjoyed this. Elodie and Gabriel are characters you cannot help but love (even though my god, did I so want to bang their heads together at times!), and their romance something to root for. Enjoyed the will they push and pull. Somebody described them as mutually pining idiots on Goodreads and I feel that is the best description I've read. Can't help but love them! And can't wait for the next in the series.

Thank you to Penguin Audio and NetGalley for a free advanced reader’s copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m going to be honest, India Holton is an autobuy author for me so of course I enjoyed this book. It was whimsical and silly and fun but…I’m afraid this one had one main flaw: with the characters already being married, India Holton’s usual ‘will they won’t they in victorian flavor’ felt more contrived and not in a way that I could overlook with my usual suspension of disbelief. This was truly a book where, if you hate miscommunication, the excuses for why they aren’t talking to each other is especially weak and I feel like the twelfth time the POV character ‘excuses’ why they’re actually in love with their spouse but insists their spouse doesn’t love them is a bit exhausting. I feel like there was much more plot than this contrived relationship could handle and it made the book drag heavily in the middle third for sure. I ate up through the last third of the book easily but I needed help from the audiobook to get there in the first place.

If you’re looking through another whimsical academic romp then be prepared for a lot of brilliant people refusing to talk about feelings (which, on it’s own, can be laughable but frustratingly so).

I loved Elodie and Gabriel as ou main characters, and the tension between them was truly palpable, making me believe their romance and root for it. I also really enjoyed the premise of a couple in a marriage of convenience in which both parties are absolutely smitten with the other but will not admit it for some reason. It led to a lot of funny moments that had me chuckling out loud.

However, the plot in this installment of the series was nowhere near as strong or interesting as the plot in the previous one. When it took center stage in the middle of the book, I got quite bored and, in the end, not even Elodie and Gabriel's fun banter could fully save the story for me.

This series has three things I typically run from in most books: science, history and fantasy. India Holton must have some of that magic she writes so well about!

In this second entry of the Love’s Academic historical romance series, we have two wildly different geography professors, Elodie and Gabriel, who are experts in the mayhem caused when thaumaturgical (magical) elements found in nature begin to misbehave.

Another fun fact about them? They’re married! Though it began as a marriage of convenience for the two Professors Tarrant (or at least that’s what they tell themselves), the feelings have been simmering for years. Unfortunately, they aren’t as good at communication as they are at their jobs, so we first meet them after a year of separation when events awkwardly throw them back together.

When a small coastal town in Wales called Dolylleaud experiences weird blue lights, flying cattle and other bizarre happenings, Elodie and Gabriel are summoned to find and repair the cause before the powerful misbehaving magic travels along fey lines all the way to London destroying everything in its path.

There’s a lot to love in this book and series.

The characters. Elodie is quirky, fun, free-spirited and the perfect sunshine for Gabriel’s more stoic, grumpy man-of-few-words nature. Her unspoken fantasizing about him throughout the book is hilarious!

Historical representation. It’s nice to see successful women in the sciences (ornithology in the last book, geography in this one) in the spotlight. Their intelligence and expertise is lauded, yet you also see the difficulties they experience in being recognized as equals at that time in history.

The setting. The Welsh countryside setting and the village ambiance, including a goat named “Baby” were a nice escape!

The narration. I listened along with reading on my Kindle, and Elizabeth Knowelden’s voicing for every single character, including the aforementioned goat, is sheer perfection. Her Welsh pronunciations were beautiful. I hope she stays with the series to the end!

The romance. At its heart this is still a romance first, and Holton writes pairings that I can’t help but fall in love with. Elodie and Gabriel shouldn’t work, but they do, and their path to each other charmed me.

The one thing that kept this from being a five-star read was simply that the plot about the magical peril didn’t draw me in quite as much and the resolution was drawn out more than I prefer, but they were minor issues. All in all, another very fun, magical read, and I can’t wait for the next book: The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire which will feature Gabriel’s sister Amelia Tarrant, who we meet in this book!

★★★★ ½

I loved so much about this book - from the language and the way magic is nonchalantly woven into the world India Holton has created to the humor and sly Shakespeare references. All of that and then we get Elodie and Gabriel too. Oh, the longing. There was so much love and also miscommunication between them and then, finally, complete understanding. I enjoyed it so much.

“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚.”

I really really loved this one! Ellie and Gabriel were absolutely adorable. Miscommunication is not normally something I enjoy but in this case I felt like it worked for the characters. Ellie is trying not to be a burden and Gabriel doesn’t understand… well people. These two were so cute as they discover that the other person is absolutely into them. It felt more like a failed marriage of convenience 😂

I’d recommend this for fans of whimsical fantasy, quirky characters and semi-historical romance!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleyromance for a copy!

Elodie Tarrant is a professor in the Geography department of Oxford university. A year ago she married Gabriel Tarrant who is also a fellow professor for reasons of convenience, but they have both been secretly pining after each other even though they are not living a true marriage. They are both experts on magical disasters and disturbances.

When an anomaly appears in the Welsh countryside they are both called to investigate and stop further damage. So begins a wild journey to figuring out what is going on magically and romantically between them.

This book was so fun and campy. The author does a very good job and writing such outrageous scenarios but making it believable and fun. I loved seeing them pinning over the other and thinking the feelings could not be reciprocated. This series are the most unserious things but make me smile so much and I had a wonderful time reading it.

Again another delightful book in the series, I can't wait for the next one.

Usually I hate plots that could be solved with one 3 minute conversation but I loved all of the <i> yearning. </i> And the characters and plot are so delightful I didn't feel like smacking them every time they didn't kiss. This book is slightly less silly than the last, which didn't make me like it any more or any less, it was just something I noticed although it still had the trademark levity that I have come to love in India Holton's writing.
The magic of the world is a mystery as ever, learning what different academics do in this world is a wonderful surprise every time, and I can't wait to learn what an antiquarian means in the next one.

4.5 Stars

Another laugh out loud whimsical adventure full of wit and romance.

I didn’t think I could love this series more after the first book, but Geographer’s guilt was just a fun of a read as the first, and I might actually like the couple even more!

Two professors, who also happen to be estranged spouses, have to team up to save their country from geographic mayhem and the sparks are sparking. After getting married out of convenience, and then having one of the best and most ground shaking wedding nights possible, the two competitive, yet reserved geologists realize that maybe they didn’t need the marriage and instead of talking it out, classically they decide to just avoid each other for a year. So when they are thrust back into each other’s orbit, let’s just say…..the electrical current of their passion is ready to reignite.

It was such a fun story and I just adore how India’s writing (and brain) work. There are so many subtle jokes and one liners that I often found myself truly laughing out loud. The audiobook was amazing too and I honestly cannot recommend these books enough!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of The Geographer’s Map to Romance. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was truly a fun and laugh out loud read.
The best review is the one that contains the least amount of words.

So here are mine: This book is a delightful, magical, romantic romp through the English countryside. BOOM

It has everything to brighten up your reading day:

Romance
Humor
Sarcasm
Miscommunication (but in the best way)
Magic

My new favorite genre: Historical Fantasy Romance. This is book 2 in the series, but can be read as a standalone.

I really wanted to love this, but was really struggling with the characters. I guess you could say it's a little bit of a slow burn because there's a ton of will they or not for at least half the book. I'm marking this one as not quite working for the current state of my mood reading. I will definitely try this author again at a later time.

Thanks to @berkleyromance for the free copy of India Holton’s The Geographer’s Map to Romance which hits shelves today, April 8th. This is the second volume in her Love’s Academic series and boy is it fun! I feel like her books are tailor made for me and this one was another fantastic time!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@india.holton is a master at writing romances in historical fantasy settings with just the right mix of humor, mayhem and deep longing. Elodie and Gabriel are probably my favorite of her couples to date.

I’m usually not a fan of miscommunication tropes, but make the couple socially awkward academics who just keep getting it messed up and I am 100% on board!

This story features:
Second chance
Grumpy Sunshine
Marriage of Convenience
He falls first
Edwardian setting
Magical storm chasing
One bed
Academic rivals

I am already looking forward to the third volume. Next up is The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire. I’m hoping for a matching purple or blue cover. Inquiring minds need a cover reveal soon!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

this was lovely and humorous and delightful. I enjoyed the marriage of convenience and one bed tropes and "they've been in love with each other the entire time" aspects

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!

When I received a copy of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 from Berkley, I couldn’t wait to continue on with the 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲’𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 series! The marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity in this series continuation was amazing. The same vibes from the first novel continued, with even a nod to the first book and its characters! You wouldn’t need to read them both to understand the plot, but frankly, you’d miss out if you didn’t! It’s just so swooning, loveable, and fun! Definitely recommend this one!

This is the second India Holton book that I've read and I decided to pick this one up because one of my friends absolutely loves India Holton's books.

This was a fun, quirky fantasy historical romance book with sunshine/grumpy main characters who enter a marriage of convenience despite the fact that they have both liked each other for years - secretly, of course! They quickly separate ways after the wedding due to a misunderstanding. A year later, they are partnered up to investigate some rogue magic together and all the fun ensues.

Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert at handling magical disasters, but the personal mess she’s caught in throughout this book is bound to blow you away. We start with Professor Tarrant running into her husband, Professor Gabriel Tarrant—a man she married for convenience a year ago and has avoided ever since. The problem? She’s still in love with him. Was it just a convenience for him too, or are they both just hiding their feelings?

The best part of this book is their witty and clever dialogue. I loved their banter, and the author’s writing perfectly suits their personalities. If this rating were based on the writing alone, it would be a five-star review.

I really liked this book, but I had some difficulty picking it up at times. I didn’t care much for the backdrop of magical disasters, and most of the geological talk went over my head. That said, the romance was delightful! I loved how sweet and respectful Gabriel is. He not only loves Elodie, but he truly sees how incredibly brilliant she is too. Still, I found myself just waiting for one of them to finally say what they were thinking instead of keeping it bottled up until the very end.

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

Love the romance that started as a marriage of convenience and ended in courtship. It’s not as theatrical as its predecessor, it has exciting adventures in common though.

I like this type of Academia story, funny, exciting, and somewhat spicy. India Hilton knows her way around hot nerds, and I’m excited for the next one.

At its heart this is a story about two geographers who marry for convenience but have real feelings for each other. Before they can focus on one another, they need to save England from a magical phenomenon that is exploding from the ground and destroying everything in its path.
I really liked the love story, but a lot of the book was detailed descriptions of the magic consequences which I didn’t enjoy as much.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When a sudden eruption of magic threatens not only a small Welsh village, but is also heading straight for England (& utter catastrophe), geography professor Elodie Tarrant is bound for the first train out of Oxford.

Unfortunately, she realizes, so is Gabriel — also Professor Tarrant, Elodie’s husband after a marriage-of-convenience turned out to be anything but. Now reconnected, and with the fate of the country in their hands, they must work together (and avoid falling in love in the process.) Utter catastrophe might be the better option.

The first book in this series, THE ORNITHOLOGIST’S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE, was a 5-star, top read of 2024 for me. I was giggling and giddy right from the start — and THE GEOGRAPHER’S MAP TO ROMANCE is no different. This was a delight right out the gate.

The secret (& not so secret) yearning! Only one bed and a rambunctious goat! “My wife”!! Gabriel’s poetry!!! The tensions were high, the glances were longing, the pining was mutual, the romance was so perfect and swoony.

Strangely, the element that suffered was the magic itself. Thaumatugy was mentioned in the previous book as well, but in this one my eyes glazed over. Even having read the book I didn’t quite get the magic storm chasing-meets-magic artifact finding quest??

While I didn’t love this book as much as the first, it was still a wildly fun read — India writes with a wink, letting her readers in on the joke. This isn’t a series that needs to be read in order (each book follows a different couple), but I do recommend reading the first, well, *first* before picking up this one. That said, with India Holton, you really can’t go wrong!

Historical Rom-Com/Romantasy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️


✨The Highlights✨

. Marriage of Convenience 💍
. Grumpy x Sunshine ☀️
. Only one bed 🛏️
. Earth Magic 🌎
. Neurodivergence Rep 💚
. Dual POV

✨The Feels✨

This book was an absolute delight! Whimsy and chaos collide in the best possible way. I completely adored both main characters—Elodie was endlessly endearing, and clearly lacking in what she believed to be a geographer’s dignity (same, girl, same). She was the perfect mix of sunshine, wit, and wonderfully awkward clumsiness (is there any other kind?).

Her klutziness gave strong Susan-from-Desperate Housewives vibes, while her inner monologue had all the charm of Bridget Jones—if, of course, both characters were brilliant geographers in the 1800s. And I have to talk about Gabriel: the quintessential grumpy, stoic lead. I could easily imagine him muttering “bah humbug,” all scowls and silent acts of service—my favorite kind! The chemistry between them was deliciously charged, full of secret longing and magnetic pull. I LOVED it.

I also really enjoyed the portrayal of magic and how it intertwined with science. I was a little lost in the terminology at first, but soon found myself nodding along like, “Ah yes, the thermatalogic activity is quite intense,” as if I, too, were here to help patch up a magical catastrophe. Fans of historical romcoms, light Romantasy elements, and British humor will enjoy this one!


✨The Spoiler-Free Details✨

Professor Elodie Tarrant has a talent for handling magical catastrophes—just not the emotional kind, like her estranged husband Gabriel, the gruff academic she married for convenience and accidentally fell for. Gabriel’s just as brilliant and just as emotionally repressed. When a magical emergency strikes a quiet Welsh village, the two are reluctantly reunited on the same assignment. With the fate of Britain at stake—and only one bed between them—they’ll have to survive chaotic magic, troublesome livestock, and the awkward tension of unresolved feelings.