Could not finish this book as hard as I tried. The characters were not enjoyable or relatable. The troy was not captivating.

Ahhh I wanted to like this book so much. I did! I have been following Jenny Howe for awhile and love her takes on fat romance and the way that bodies should be represented on page. I think the representation in this book is very solid, I just could not get past how much of an asshole the MMC is in this book and how tbh I didn't want them to get together. Which isn't what you want from your academic rivals to lovers book! I also wish that the characters were a bit older, I thought this was a story about two academics in their thirties who had more time apart, which I think I would have enjoyed more. I genuinely found parts of this book enraging. I sincerely hope I enjoy Jenny Howe's next book because I want the rep out there, but his wasn't it.

Whoo, rating this book is actually really difficult for me because I love love loved the main character. She’s fat (and seems to have accepted her body or is at least body neutral), she’s in grad school, and a million more little similarities that I’m not going to detail here, but trust me, I felt everything she felt so deeply. I also repeatedly asked myself why didn’t I read this damn book sooner!

That said, I hateddddd the love interest. The two of them dated in college, broke up, and are now in a second chance romance but also enemies to lovers situation in graduate school. I found both the recollections of Colin 1.0 to be trash as well as Colin 2.0 to be trash, and while he had a ‘redemption arc’ of sorts, I didn’t think he actually improved and was still hella awful.

All that said, I did like the book, and it gave me a lot to think about. I definitely look forward to more titles from this author. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the copy via NetGalley; this is of course my honest review. This book came out back in September, so you can read it now!

Thanks NetGalley!

Academic rivals to lovers second chance romance novel. That is mostly sweet with a tiny spice. Academical setting was well done. Characters were a little too new adultish despite their age. And everything resolved way too quickly for my liking, it was rushed.
I wanted to give this a try despite not liking second chance romances because of the cover and academic aspect, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. It was a solid read though. I didn’t particularly hate anything about it. If you like these tropes it could be perfect for you.
If authors writes any book with a trope i love i will check it out because it was easy to read and good with reading slump!

This was fun! I liked the academic rivals plotline, but the ending felt a little rushed. I loved the writing and want to read more from Jenny L. Howe, though!

3.5 stars. This was a cute second chance romance. As an academic, I appreciated the academic setting, and found it to be pretty accurate. There was sweetness and a bit of spice. Solid romance novel.

This was a good contemporary romance book, that I would recommend to anyone who thinks it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I thought i would like this book, but it seemed a bit on the more childish side, and not for me.
While i loved the ideas was not grabbed by the actual characters or writing.

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I don’t think this book was the right fit for me, I couldn’t really get into it and it seemed a bit childish so I didn’t leave a star review on Goodreads.

Loved the premise and setting but overall found the book unpolished and a little stilted. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this book.

The Make-Up Test was a great rom-com! The graduate school setting is one I don't see very often, but I loved it. It was smart, romantic, and so relatable.

Working on a PhD is tough; add in an ex-boyfriend and the process becomes even harder. For Alison, first year PhD, student, studying literature and preparing to become a college professor, is her dream come true. At the school she wanted, and studying under the faculty she most admires, her life seems to be coming together. However, her former college boyfriend happens to be in her small cohort (7 students), and even worse, is vying for the same TA position she is.

In addition to juggling school and Colin - her ex - Alison is also trying to manage feelings she has for her estranged father who has become terminally ill. A sub plot too, are references to Alison's weight; a plus size woman, there are references throughout the novel about her body image and her self worth. These are primarily positive and fit into the story, but they don't move the story along like the others do. Ultimately, somewhat against her wishes, Alison is forced to face her past, in order to make her future something to be proud of. The Make-Up Test is a fairly quick read.

(I received a copy of The Make-Up Test from Net Galley and have written an objective review)

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**Please only read this if you're fine with me bashing this book a bit, it was not for me and I have some feelings

Oh how I longed to love this book. PhD rivals that were a couple in undergrad? Sounds amazing. Friends, it was not amazing.

What we got was a YA in adult world. Which is fine. When it's not marketed as that. And if these are adults they need to act like it. They did not.

I loved that Allison was fat and didn't let people walk over her with that. But beyond her owning a corgi that's about all I liked about her. The choices to lie to her mentor on many occasions is what pushed me over to the really don't like side. But don't worry it wasn't a huge push, her whole drive to study medieval literature was interesting (I never really got from this why it was such a big deal to her), every relationship she had with literally everyone around her was super awkward, and then the whole Collin thing.

Oh and Collin. Pretentious dick. I dated one of these in undergrad too. I did not date again. I would say I came ahead better than Allison.

Look am I being bitter, yes. I was hoping for a really good fat heroine with a compelling story and a great second chance romance. Instead I got ??? Warmed up YA in a PhD program? Pompous over important students (which honestly checks out)? A scramble of a plot with mediocre characters with little plot growth?

Do I recommend? No. Don't do this. Heed this warning.

I am curious about her next book, but will not be trying to get an ARC, rather let someone else venture into that unknown first...

This one was a DNF for me. I will not be posting a review of it but thank you for sending I think people would like this one it just wasn't for me. Thank you again for the copy.

I'm sad to say this book wasn't for me. I love Jenny L. Howe on Twitter and I think she's a very skilled writer: she crafts vivid, emotional descriptions and her characters are realistic and relatable. However, I was expecting the characters in THE MAKE-UP TEST to be older (late twenties rather than early twenties) and I struggled to invest in their interpersonal drama. That said, I'm looking forward to seeing what Howe does next!

Missed downloading this, I wish we would receive a notification with the app when something new is added.

Audio is on Scribd so I will be listening and updating my review.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I loved this romance with serious academia vibes!

Allison Avery has finally been accepted into her dream Ph.D. program at the prestigious Claymore University. When Allison walks into her first seminar gathering and finds her ex-boyfriend Colin Benjamin sitting in one of the chairs, she quickly finds herself in a battle of wits for a coveted TA and mentorship position.

But as Colin and Allison are both tapped to TA for the same professor, Allison refuses to let him get the upper hand, even if it means bending the truth. She refuses to let Colin win, especially after he shattered her heart two years ago. When a family emergency finds Colin stepping up for Allison in more ways than one, will Allison need to choose between falling in love with her work or falling in love again with Colin?

The Make Up Test has everything you’re looking for - smart, witty dialogue, a fun enemies-to-lovers second chance at love trope, and a main character who is assertive and proud of who she is. I loved reading about Allison and Colin together hadn’t watching them develop individually as characters but together as a couple. Throw in the fun academia vibes and The Make Up Test is a home run.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin and Jenny Howe for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had high hopes for this book due to the setting, the tropes and the fat MC. It just sort of fell flat. The first 80% drew me in but the last 20% or so left some things to be desired.

"I can't fall in love with you. I'm already there. I never stopped."

Allison Avery loves to succeed in her academics. After finally getting into a ph.D. program at Claymore University, she's made it her focus to accomplish everything she's dreamed of. Despite her non-engaging students that she's TAing for, and her best friend drifting away, Allison is still not letting any barrier get in the way of her success. Especially when she's able to work under her favourite professor for medieval literature. HOWEVER, all hell breaks lose when Colin Benjamin is also accepted into the program, and is also working under the same professor. Once that professor announces a research trip position that only one of them can have, the battles begin. What makes matters worse? Collin and Allison have history. Colin broke Allison's heart two years ago, and Allison still has that anger built in her. There's no way she's letting him get that research position. But what happens when their arguments and banter bring back old chemistry? Can feelings get in the way of what Allison really wants in her life: true love or this one-in-a-lifetime research position? SUCH A GOOD BOOK.

Whip-smart, swoony, and exactly what the doctor ordered. Give me an academic enemies to lovers romance and I will give you a weekend filled with nothing but page-flipping and heart-fluttering. The Make-Up Test was a heartfelt debut from Jenny L. Howe and if this one is any indication, I can't wait to see what she writes next. We got an imperfect heroine, swoon-worthy banter, and character growth you love to see. Colin Benjamin is the book boyfriend dreams are made of. This one is a can't-miss for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Christina Lauren!