I started this one months ago, got side tracked, and then…totally forgot about it. It’s not that the subject matter isn’t good. I do enjoy second chance romances and academic settings. But I really did not like the main character Allison (or her mother) and I just did not care enough where the story was going.

I tried again to restart it but it just wasn’t holding my interest.

Thank you to Netgalley, St Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, it was so smart, so sweet, so quirky, it was not in any way the perfect love story, so if you are looking for that then this is not it, but it was so real. This is the perfect feel-good grad school entertaining read.

I really enjoyed this geeky twist on a rom-com that focuses on two people in a college grads competing for a spot in a Ph.D. program.

Not only is there the usual rom-com fun and tropes, but add in the geek factor and a plus-sized, body positive heroine, and I was sold. This debut novel had everything I look for in a rom-com and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

If rom-coms and smart, funny heroes and heroines are your jam, pick this up and get ready to relax and enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

A cute and quirky rom com from a new to me author. I really enjoyed it.
I look forward to more from Jenny L Howe

If you like books set in an academic setting with plus-size characters and second chances, this book is for you.

I wasn’t a fan of the MC, Allison, and felt like the book just wasn’t for me. Give it a chance if you like the tropes mentioned above.. you might love it!

The Make-Up Test has all the makings of a great romance - second chance trope, plus size rep, literature! - but, somehow, it fell flat for me.

I'm very a much a mood reader and The Make-Up Test just wasn't doing it for me this time around. But, it's definitely one that I will be giving a second chance later on.

This was a really fun second chance/enemies to lovers romance. I liked the competing students aspect as both characters were in the same program for Medieval Literature. I liked how they were able to overcome their arguments and I enjoyed their banter.

There was so much potential in this book, but I couldn’t get into it like I wished I could. I am happy I read it, but it’s not one I’ll remember much of.

As far as plus-size romances go, this one is fine.

I didn't love all the hate the MC received from her family about her weight, but that's par for the course with books with plus-size MCs sometimes. As a plus-size person, I'd much rather read about a plus-size MC whose size isn't the main focus/issue. Just a little insider tip there.

The plot outside the MC being plus-size was good. We had some academic rivalry going on. I thought it was an interesting take that her rival was her ex-boyfriend. Buttttttt I didn't like him. And how can you write a romance where the MMC isn't likable? I mean... maybe he is likable. But I didn't like him. His reasons for being her rival were so ridiculous and also RUDE. Like it's HER dream?! But because she made it sound like an amazing focus when you were dating, you decided to go for it TOO?! Ridiculous. Horrendous. Awful behavior.

I liked the FMC's personality though and would look for more from this author in the future. The writing overall was engaging.

I lovedddddd this book! This is one of my most anticipated reads of the whole year and it was partly because it's a plus-sized romance. I absolutely devoured this story. I loved the fact that this was a second-chance romance. Those aren't usually super high on my list of favorite tropes, but I love when the romance is just so good between two people you can't deny the chemistry.

Avery was someone who I just ached for. As a plus-sized woman myself, I related to many of her struggles and found her to be so well-written. I also love when a plus-size romance book doesn't feature a female main character whose job is in fashion. I loved that the setting for this was grad school and that it really focused on the confidence level that comes with many of these careers. I am a sucker for academic rivals to lovers. The fact that Colin's groveling was some of the best of all time really just made this book for me. At many points, early on in the story, I found myself trying to figure out how I was going to deal with Colin because he was a little annoying and I was desperate for Avery to knock him down a few pegs, but he really did win me over in the end.

Overall, I'm so thrilled with how this book turned out. It met all of my expectations and then some. I will definitely be watching out for more of Jenny's books.

I adored the main character of Allison-- she's smart, funny, confident, and I just want to be her best friend.
But her love interest didn't pass the vibe check for me, and that really affected my ability to enjoy this book.
I love the academic setting, the gorgeous setting descriptions, and the ALL the positive representations, from body positivity to mental health awareness.
I just love seeing smart women doing great things, and Allison is an intellectual superstar following her dreams.

What a fantastic message! I loved how the book started with the author's note!

This read a liiiiitle bit more like a new adult genre book, which I don't usually read. It was fresh and I loved the competitive nature and the forced proximity.

Would definitely read her next book.

I thought this was an interesting debut novel. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the medieval literature graduate studies. It brought back a lot of memories of AP English memories and college memories too.  Although I enjoyed elements within the story and the writing, I had a hard time with the main characters in the novel.  I didn't find either Allison or Colin characters I wanted to root for as a couple.  Jenny Howe kept pointing out reasons they shouldn't be a couple throughout their writing.  Allison sounded like a much better character without Colin.  I couldn't wrap my head around why she would be with Colin. I did really enjoy that she was a plus-size woman, which is still rarer to see in romance novels.  As a plus-size woman myself I love seeing that representation.

I thought The Make-Up Test was a good debut, I would love to see what Jenny Howe writes in the future.  I love the secondary characters in her novel.  I think Jenny has a lot of potential as a writer.  My only real problem with this novel was with the characters of Allison and Colin and the situations she ended up putting them in, which is just my opinion as a reader.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

A huge thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
.
I enjoyed Allison and her journey into graduate school, trying to land a coveted spot on a research trip with the professor she is assisting. If the book was just about her, then I would be in it to win it. But along with her on this journey is Colin Benjamin, who broke up with her during undergrad, and now is back at her same school, suddenly in the same program, and vying for the same research opportunity despite having never shown any interest in the topic before. I’ll be honest, I basically hated him through the book and he continued to be a jerk throughout.
.
For awhile, I thought Howe was going to redeem his character arc, but in the last twenty percent of the book he just nosedived completely and I couldn’t like any part of him. I wish we had gotten to know the rest of their grad school cohort and Allison’s best friend, as they had potential to brighten the storyline. The premise had promise, but it didn’t reach the goal for me.

The Make-Up Test is a second chance romance story between Allison and Colin. There are academia vibes, lots of bantering, some spice but I felt like the story had too much going on. I was being pulled in so many directions but wasn't sure where the story was headed. I did appreciate the growth in both Allison and Colin and their happy ending at the end!

This was a cute second chance romance. I loved the grad school/medieval literature aspect of this book and how it wove into the story. I always love and academic background to a romance story, it adds a swoony aspect to the story. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This book is so cute! I really can't get over it. I LOVE me some second chance romances. Even better when they are rivals! Enter an intelligent heroine who is determined to get what she wants and an ex who is MAYBE more determined than she is. But what do they win at the end? Could it be each others hearts? Win win, if you ask me!

I was excited to start this book as I loved the premise of the story when I read the blurb but it fell flat for me in many ways.

I like to read as an escape and after three years in a pandemic I'm not excited to read about a book that makes mention of it, especially when the book is about a post pandemic world we in the real world have not achieved. This added no value to the book and could have been left out.

The last bit of the book seemed rush and everything was conveniently wrapped up in a very odd setting which made it seem unrealistic.

One aspect I really loved was the way Colin groveled and tried to redeem himself. He wanted a second chance with Avery and he knew he made a mistake in the past so he was all in to prove to her that he could be better and would be if she just have him another chance. I love a second chance romance so this portion of the plot directly hit myy romance loving heart.

I tried really hard to get into this one, but just couldn’t. I even tried the audio and that didn’t work either. I didn’t like any of the characters and the plot wasn’t grabbing me.

DNF @ 30%

The Make-Up Test was a fun read for sure! I enjoyed the characters, and it was a nice break from the thrillers I usually read!