Skip this one unless you like stories about a dysfunctional relationship between two deeply unhealthy young adults. Sorry

enjoyed this one ! it was a 3.5 for me mainly because although i enjoyed the plot it was kind of slow for me. academic rivals to lovers is one that gets me to pick it up but it took a while for me to get into it !

would love to read more from this author tho !

Allison and Colin are exes, who are being put into direct competition during their P.H. D. program. This was a typical Romcom. It was low on heat and high on conflict.
What I liked quite a bit about this book was the body positivity and inclusivity throughout.
What I didn't like so much was that often times Allison and Colin came across as self absorbed.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was not a fan of the love interest and felt certain aspects were drawn out far too long. But a major plot point dropped my rating because it was not necessary.

I really enjoyed the academic rivalry in this book. But as to the romance, chemistry is a big factor for me but unfortunately, I don't feel much of it from the characters.

This book is still a cute read. Other fans of second chance romance and academic rivals might enjoy this.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved Allison but I didn’t care for Colin. Interesting enough this keep me reading. I’m tired of the perfectly match couples I read about lately.

What would you do if your ex was part of your graduate program? What if you were in direct completion with him for the professor research trip with him? Would you see this as completion or a chance to repair things with them and move forward?

So in the synopsis they said this was similar to One to Watch meets Beach Read. I honestly don’t see it. Yes they talk about being bigger but they didn’t really focus on a being body positive they focused on how everyone treats you. For me this was so uncomfortable to read as a plus size woman. The word “fat” is used in such a negative tone in media and in life and to see it used so much in this book was hard to hear / read. I did listen to this book thank you to @prhaudio for the #gifted copy.

This book was cute it just wasn’t for me. I would say it focused on the FMC family dynamics way more than it did the relationship. Also the romance was also a given, I could tell that the characters were still invested in each other from the beginning.

It’s probably a great book for others just not the one for me.

I've made up my mind to not force myself to finish this book in its entirety and to instead skim to the end to see the hea and be done with this.

This book is not for me.
First, the chemistry is totally off between these characters. Literally, no chemistry at all. Which makes sense because all they talk about it history haha. No but really the romance sucks, it's boring and blah.
Anf this guy is a total shit head sleaze. He takes credit for shit he has no right to and is just an overall shitty man child.
Nope, I'm done.

The one positive is the fat rep on the cover and in our MC.

I this book not your typical romcom . It deals with emotional abuse, body images and a lack of confidence due to what is perceived as parental neglect.
Allison and Colin met in college at brown university and dated but it never seemed to be an equal partnership . He always seemed to be competing . He broke up with her and went behind her back for something she work hard for.
Now they are in grad school and Colin is the last person she expects to see . Not only do they go to the same school but they are both chosen to be TAs for the same class and forced to work together . The more time they spend together the more Allison wonders if he has changed for the better . I got this as an

3.5/5 (rounded up)

I have been on a bit of a romcom kick lately, so what better way to keep that streak going than with debut author Jenny L. Howe's The Make-Up Test. She gets the point across that Colin is a gangly specimen of a man, as well as that he REALLY loves his cardigans. I think this story would have benefited from having his viewpoint as well as Allison's, but alas that is not the route Howe decided to take. I did like Allison's character most of the time, and I thought this had a very strong and entertaining start. It also held my attention the entire time, and I was curious as to why Colin ended up in a field of study that he hadn't been interested in prior to being with Allison and their ultimate breakup.

There is very little steam in The Make-Up Test, so if you are a closed-door romance fan like me, this aspect should be perfect for you. I also thought the audiobook was done really well and I loved Stacey Glemboski's narration as well as her voice, so I would highly recommend it. The story is on the lighter side, but there is also plenty of substance, especially when it came to Allison with her dad and something going on in Colin's life. I did become pretty frustrated with Allison at the end of the book and wanted to tell her to stop her mouth and actually listen to what Colin was saying though. The Make-Up Test did not have my favorite 2 characters nor was it the funniest thing I have ever read, but it was an enjoyable debut, and it had an adorable corgi that made me swoon more than the actual storyline. I will be sure to check out whatever this author writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Allison Avery is excited to be starting her dream PhD program. Until she discovers her ex-boyrfriend, Colin, who stole from her a coveted award at Brown University, is also in the program. Just when she thinks things can’t get worse, she learns they are TAing for the same professor and will be competing for a coveted position.

As much as she wants to continue despising Colin, she can’t deny her continued attraction for him, and when he reaches out when she has problems in her personal life, their relationship is rekindled.

But can she ever trust him again?

Jenny Howe perfectly captures what academia is truly like while also adding in likable, vulnerable characters. Allison is hilarious—confident but also conflicted. And Colin is such a nerdy hero. #TheMakeUpTest #NetGalley

DNF at 50%.

I really wanted to enjoy this one because I generally like these tropes of academic rivals and second chance romance. My struggle was that it felt like neither of these characters deserved a second chance or had honestly improved anything about themselves. The hero especially is super unlikeable and I couldn’t get over how he basically stole her life plan and tried to pass it off as how he was so inspired by her passions. Their constant sniping and competitiveness was also really grating outside of a YA/new adult setting. I did appreciate the fat rep in this one but it wasn’t enough to push through.

Thanks to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own

Boy meets girl at college. They date, fall in love, boy dumps girl. Fast forward to grad school and boy is in same classes.

Allison was SO not prepared to ever have Colin back in her life. Except now, they are competing TA's vying for a spot to study with their professor. This is something Allison has been dreaming for and working towards her entire college career.

Except she lets Colin back in when she receives news about her estranged father. Spending time together again reminded them of what they feel for one another. Then Colin, becomes the old Colin and steals ideas from Allison. Fuming, she vows she won't let him ruin her chances of winning the spot.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and it does draw in the reader to find out what happens next. There were many parts that, as a reader, you could have predicted to happen. Didn't take away from the story though. Quick and easy going read.

I enjoyed this debut. It's a second chance romance that pits the MC's against each other in an academic setting. It's smart and witty with a solid cast of characters. There isn't a ton of spice but there is lots of romance. The two main characters (Allison and Colin) can be frustrating and at times immature, especially when the rivalry between them seems to be one sided. But the HEA, complete with a romantic grand gesture that suits both of these characters, brings a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this title.

Loved the academic setting + the Rivals-to-Lovers trope, so I was totally here for this novel’s entire existence. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲…. CORGIS (!!); settings in academia; plus-size representation; the Enemies/Rivals-to-Lovers trope; second-chance romances; and Emily Henry books tbh!

I loved it. I liked that Colin wasn't your typical "hot guy" character and that Alison wasn't afraid to love her size. They made such a strong couple and it was nice to have a different kind of hero/heroine in the story. I hated how her dad treated her, no child should ever have to take that kind of emotional abuse from their parent. Her mom was better but she still tried to force her to have a relationship with her dad and to me that was wrong. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

There was so much potential with this story - academic rivals! - but I was so so disappointed. I wish we had dual POV, especially because I spent most of this book trying to decide if I actually liked Colin as a love interest. Almost nothing from the flashbacks of their previous time together made me want to root for them as a couple. I had a really hard time buying the relationship when at the end it seemed like they still couldn't talk about anything serious (Colin) and always assumed the worst (Allison).

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5 stars

This book was cute, but I am so tired of the lack of communication trope in romcoms... it's old, lets move past it. There was SO much of that in this book and it was hard not to get frustrated. I wanted to lock the main characters in a room together and tell them to talk for an hour. They had a lot to work out and a lot that they just jumped into. Overall, I liked the story, but this was 3 stars.

The Make-Up Test is a really cute rom-com. It packs in a few classic tropes: second chance love, rivals to lovers (well…I guess in this case it’s more like former lovers to rivals back to lovers) , all happening within an academic setting. It’s a really cute story, with plenty of laughs, but I must admit that while I liked Allison from the start, it took a while for Colin to grow on me. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-make-up-test-jenny-l-howe/1140777580?ean=9781250837868&bvnotificationId=a91eea0a-3e29-11ed-942c-0acc4ca92b51&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/218332800

If you're a fan of Ali Hazelwood or Emily Henry's works, I would say this is the read for you! There's elements of second chance romance, rivals/enemies romance, and it's all taking place in a collegiate (PhD, not undergrad) setting. There's body diversity too- which I love! This was a quick, fun read that I can't recommend enough!