This book has a lot of tropes I am interested in. Like academic rivals, second chance romance, etc. It took me a couple of chapters to get into this book, which was not an issue at all because when I got into it, I was not able to get out. The tropes were perfectly explored by the author and I loved how you can actually see the growth of the love interest in this book as you go along because, Of course, pobodys nerfect. It has a twist at the end which I kind of saw coming but not really it was also written and executed perfectly by the author. But I would really want you to give this book a chance. It's amazing.
I Spoilers ahead €
I gave it 4's because the reason for the first break up between the characters kind of pissed me off. It was kind of "I broke up with you because I knew what was better for you' which I don't really prefer but it's really subjective.

The Make-Up Test was innocuously just-ok for about 85%, and the final 15% reduced me to a pile of incandescent rage. My reviews of other ARCs here speak, I hope, to the fact that I really do try to review books - especially ARCs from debut authors - with an even hand and an open mind. I came to The Make-Up Test with enthusiasm and excitement for the premise. But the conclusion hit really, really close to home by holding up some of academia's most pernicious ideas, in particular glorifying and upholding women's burden to blunt their ambition to stroke the ego of their male colleagues.

The basic premise of this book is that Allison and Colin were academic rivals as undergraduates at Brown. They broke up (for reasons left unnecessarily mysterious to the reader for half the book) only to find themselves, two years later, academic rivals once again in grad school. They are both Medievalists vying for the same position working with a superstar advisor who has (rather unprofessionally, I think) turned her one mentorship slot into a semester-long academic Hunger Games. Colin and Allison both want the slot, and in the course of fighting over it, fall back in love.

Things started out with some winsome characterization. Allison has a lot of very-relatable grad-school anxieties and insecurities, Colin has a few character details (a loud squawky laugh, a penchant for cardigans) that felt unique. However, the treatment of the primary romantic conflict between them quickly lost me. Colin and Allison swung back and forth between hating each other and getting along with very little external or internal motivation for their attitude changes. In the flashback scenes and in the present ones, Colin vacillated between being a pompous self-important jerk, and being so demonstratively soft and vulnerable it felt, in comparison, like an act he put on to seem like a "nice guy." Allison would change her mind about him with little prompting, and neither of them explored at any point where exactly their obsession with academic competition was coming from.

But what started to sneak up on me as I was reading was that... the book was silently omitting a major consideration about Allison and Colin's Competitive Hijinks. Colin is repeatedly presented to the reader as less motivated, less prepared, and less knowledgeable than Allison. Many of his academic ideas are shown, quite rightly, to be under-considered and underbaked. In the past storyline, we learn that he broke up with her in an incredibly immature way because of his own intellectual insecurities. (He at one point whines that he didn't get into grad school initially because he wasn't able to stand out against all the other straight white male applicants, which sounds like a rather pernicious repetition of the bogus idea that it's "harder" for cishet white men to succeed in academia???). Allison's work, by comparison, is presented to readers as careful and incisive, based on nearly a decade of study in a field that Colin has just casually dropped into within the last two years.

And it started to occur to me that.... well, it's a bit odd that we are never asked to consider whether Colin's ability to constantly outcompete Allison - in her own field - for institutional accolades might be based on how others react to him as a conventionally attractive cishet white man? And to her as a young, plus-sized woman? This dynamic particularly comes through in the teaching scenes. Allison's recitation students often act openly dismissive of her, talk over her, and generally ignore her expertise. The students all, in contrast, think Colin is a genius intellectual rockstar. If the text had given us an example of their differing teaching styles, I might be able to buy this dynamic. But their actual skills don't factor into the narrative at all. And... I just... there is extensive research into gender bias in the classroom and how it affects student reception of teachers. But the book never presents that as a possible explanation?

Still, I was ready to chalk this up to a plotting omission. Maybe the book had just forgotten to show me whether Colin was, in fact, earning his superstar reputation?

And then the ending happened. And I... dissolved into a pile of rage.

(I'm going to get a bit spoilery here, so look away if you don't want to be spoiled.)

Essentially, Colin and Allison have to give a big presentation that is going to help determine which one of them gets the coveted graduate mentorship. Allison has been working on her presentation - about beauty as beastliness - for the better part of a year. She enthusiastically shares her ideas with Colin, and then asks him to share his. He has approximately 2.5 unoriginal and underdeveloped ideas, and she (very patiently, and with extreme care for his feelings) explains based on her expertise that most of those have already been done, encourages him to explore the least awful idea. He instead rocks up the day of his presentation (which takes place before hers) and opens his PowerPoint to reveal that he has stolen the TITLE AND TOPIC OF ALLISON'S PRESENTATION. At which point she storms out. Understandably.

We then go through a series of narrative contortions where it's suggested that this blatant plagiarism is actually a good thing for Allison, because it will force her to think of new and even BETTER ideas. Ideas that she has to stay up all night preparing while at her father's funeral. Hands up, women in academia, if you've ever had to take on additional labor because some dude couldn't be bothered to do his own work!

Later it comes to light that Colin actually analyzed a slightly different text than Allison planned to analyze. And the book actually, sincerely, suggests we blame HER for jumping to conclusions and storming out of his presentation before she could realize the slight differences in their approach. I mean, come on. He stole her title. And her topic. And she texted him multiple times as he was preparing, to ask why he had been distant. (His only explanation is that his grandfather was sick, and that... I kid you not... he knew building off her original idea was the only way to "level the playing field" and have a chance against her). And with very little discussion, she not only takes him back, but spends a long time beating herself up for not giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Anyway, this, right here, is the sentence that sealed it for me. This is what Allison says to Colin after he stole her idea, and then failed to tell her about it, and then harassed her to get back together with him:

"Colin. You're every bit as smart as me. And a hundred times more charismatic." She sighed. "It's my fault you don't feel that way."


Yes, that's right. It's Allison's fault. For not sufficiently stroking this man's ego while he stole her ideas. I could probably write a thousand more words about how absolutely toxic this is. How this book glamorizes the emotional labor of reassuring cishet white men of their genius. But honestly, this book doesn't deserve that much of my time.

I will mention a couple different things in passing that readers might want to be aware of if they pick up this book: it's set in a "post-COVID" future, though that really only shows up in 2-3 parentheticals where Allison looks back and thinks about the pandemic, glad that it's over (*sob*). There is a subplot with Allison's emotionally abusive father, who constantly criticizes her weight and her career choices. While Allison does finally set some boundaries, the narrative mostly undermines them by having his secretary show up at the funeral to tell Allison he actually said nice things about her. At his office. Where she couldn't hear them. "Your abusive parent was secretly nice about you behind your back" is not a plot point I have any time for.

Anyway, maybe I went in too hard on this book. I will fully admit to it hitting some personal areas of sensitivity. But, you know, those of you reading this might share some of those! So, if you've ever been a woman in academia, as I am, and felt like you had to work two times as hard for half the recognition, if you've ever watched a male colleague rake in teaching accolades while you're dinged for being too "moody" or not "cool" enough, don't worry: this book is here to tell you it's your fault, actually, for not encouraging his mediocre ideas enough.

*sigh*

This book surprised me quite a bit. I chose it for the romance and the promise of a plus size MC that actually loved herself and was confident. While this story had all of these things, it had so much more depth to it than I expected.

The academic side of it made my teacher heart happy, especially all of the references to literature in their classes. But the thing I appreciated the most was the complexity of the two MCs and their love story. It wasn’t perfect or tropey, it was very realistic and very engaging. It felt natural and made me feel so much more for the characters than a typical romance novel.

I definitely look forward to reading other books from this author.

DNF at 36%

I was really looking forward to reading this one, but sadly it just didn’t work for me at all. I tried to get into it, but after 36%, I found that I still didn’t care about or particularly like Colin or Allison (or any of the characters really). This is supposed to be a second chance romance, but this is one of the rare times when I don’t want the main characters to reconcile at all. Colin really was so horrible.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Allison Avery loves the academic medieval world of literature like nothing else in her life so starting the Ph.D. program at Claymore University is the beginning of her dreams coming true. Allison once felt the same about Colin Benjamin until he broke her heart sophomore year after stealing an important college prize out from under her. In a tale worthy of her heroes such as Chaucer and Shakespeare, Allison is stunned to see Colin not only in her program, but that they are once again in competition as TAs for the same professor who can only keep one of them at the semester’s end to be her advisee.

Allison has several other life challenges including her roommate and best friend drifting away to a different life as well as her relationship with a very difficult and seemingly uncaring father whose health is precarious. Allison’s determination to best Colin not only to prove herself academically and secure the coveted position has not a small element of payback for the heartache Colin caused her. Although he tries to explain what happened she is not interested in raking up the past, or least that is what Allison tells herself…repeatedly. The two years they have been apart have helped Allison and Colin mature; however, they both have that competitive spark that can sometimes be hurtful and cruel.

Anyone who has ever been a literature major or in graduate school will recognize and appreciate the obsessive nature of inhabitants in the hallowed halls and rarified atmosphere of those striving for the Ph.D. prize. The stress of competing for their ultimate goals certainly puts extreme pressure on Allision and Colin who both have family issues weighing them down. As they spend forced time together, Allison and Colin both realize mistakes they made and begin to see that perhaps, they can find their way back to each other but at what cost?

One thing I do not understand about these graduate students is how people who are so cerebral and determined to shine in their fields can spend so much time imbibing to the point of being drunk. Do they not care about the effects on those precious brain cells? Other than that aspect of the story, as someone who has read most of the medieval literature works that frame this book, I appreciated being back in that world. Readers who struggled with said works or who are unfamiliar, will get a glimpse and begin to understand why people still are enamored centuries later. There is indeed nothing new under the sun including the themes of life, loss, and love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶🌶 (light details)

✅ second chance
✅ enemies to lovers
✅ academic rivals

👉🏻 swipe for synopsis

The competitiveness between Allison and Colin 100% drove this book and the tension was just *chefs kiss*. While the book isn't divided into past and present, Jenny Howe gives us some great looks into Allison and Colin's first try at romance. My favorite part of this book is the character development of Colin that doesn't happen on page but is still so prevalent! While he did some bad things in the past, I just wanted to hug him when he was trying to make amends with Allison and she was having NONE of it - which I respect. In addition to the romance, a big part of this story is about Allison coming to terms with different aspects of her life and learning to move forward and believe in herself.

I can acknowledge that this was well-written, but this story just wasn’t for me. I found it to be too slow for my tastes, and the relationship between Colin and Allison left something to be desired. Maybe if I knew a bit about medieval literature, I would’ve liked it more? I’m anti-DNF but I did scan quickly through the last half of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Thanks to St. Martins Griffin for the free book.
I have so many mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the story to read the whole thing. On the other hand, I have complaints. I liked how this book featured a fat positive main character. Allison stands up for herself and her image against those that bully her for it. I liked her confidence with this and with her being sure that she knows her stuff when it comes to her PhD program. She worked hard to get where she was and deserved her place. I do wish she would've explored some of her thoughts in therapy because sometimes she did need a confidence boost. My biggest complaint is that this was a second chance romance instead of just enemies to lovers. I didn't mind Allison and Colin together, I'm just not sure that Colin was worthy of a second chance. They felt immature when it came to this relationship, which I expect from a first time, but not a second. I think that this will be a fan for those that like academic romance. I know it's getting lots of love, so if it sounds interesting, I do recommend giving it a try.

Allison is a PhD student at a prestigious university, something she's dreamed of since she was a kid. Unfortunately, she finds herself in the program with her ex-boyfriend, Colin - who not only broke her heart but also copied her course of study where he previously had no interest in medieval lit. This is kind of a hybrid of enemies-to-lovers and second-chance, but what I found most interesting was the glimpse into grad school life, which I knew nothing about before reading. I appreciated that COVID was touched upon in a vague way (this is some kind of post-COVID world, though a year isn't specified, but there are references to still carrying masks just in case), as I've wondered how authors will handle this as we get more and more past March 2020 and it seems outdated to ignore it, but this certainly didn't dwell on it. Overall, a cute read, though Allison's stubborn competitiveness (to the point of being fake) was a bit tiresome at times.

I really wanted to love this book but that was not the case.

This is the story of Allison's journey trying to get her PhD only to find herself in the uncomfortable situation of sharing classes with her ex.

Honestly, the story has potential but I felt that in many parts the story became repetitive and boring, and at times I felt that Allison and Colin's relationship lacked "spark".

I must also admit that on several occasions I simply didn't like Colin at all, his behavior was extremely questionable 80% of the book.

In the end, it is a book that has its sweet and funny moments but it lacks so much more.

(Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review)

You know, I really liked this book! It was fun to read, great characters, had a great pace and plenty of fun medieval literary references. Oh my goodness, Allison Avery is my kind of gal. I loved everything about her and related to so many of her characteristics. I loved how the focus wasn’t on her feelings towards her plus sized body and accepting herself, but more about standing her ground and enforcing boundaries with the toxic behavior of her dad. I loved the reinforcement that just because someone is family doesn’t mean we owe them anything if they don’t earn it. Colin was a really good look at vulnerability and insecurity. I thought he was written so well, even when he did things that infuriated me. I liked how he and Allison both acknowledged their faults and worked on them. The ending was well done, but just a little too abrupt. I think an epilogue would have been great here to really wrap things up. Very glad I was able to read this one and definitely can’t wait to see what Howe writes next!
TW: fatphobia, death, emotional abuse

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!

This book I had a struggle reading. I normally love second chance romance and this is set in my home state!

Being unfamiliar with medieval literature much of the school plot was lost on me. The characters weren’t all that likable. The MC showed growth through the story but all the side friends and family characters were not good to her. I wound up skimming through the last quarter.

I"m a sucker for books set in academia and I really liked the premise of this, but it didn't quite work for me. The title is a bit misleading as there is no "test" - I think they could've gotten much more clever with it. I liked Allison but wow did I hate Colin; he was immature in college and seems just as immature now. I find the reason they broke up to be pretty unforgivable given how Allison is written to have all this drive and he was acting supportive just to go behind her back. I really enjoyed the first 40% or so of the book, but once they got back together, it dwindled for me. I didn't feel chemistry, and perhaps it's because I felt they were better off apart. The climax further proved to me Colin learned nothing; I'm all for flawed characters, but he's a mess. I'd try this author again because I think it was written well and I enjoyed the nod to literature, but I hope for more lovable characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a super fun rom-com. I particularly appreciated how the grad school experience of the protagonists felt realistic. I've read some other books where something about the language or the scenario just was off. In addition to a well done second chance romance trope, the book really delved into the complex relationships that can occur between parents and children. Particularly when there's a disconnect between life trajectories. The steam level is on the milder side, but that's not an inherently bad thing.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Former lovers turned academic rivals square off to compete for a prestigious opportunity and end up getting more than they bargained for in this wonderful second-chance romance!

If you like:
- academic rivalry
- unapologetic nerdiness
- puppies
- second-chance romance

then you will definitely enjoy this book! Both characters had so much dimension, and were surrounded by a host of secondary characters that all felt fresh and unique. I loved the character of Wendy, she almost had a fairy-godmother feel to her. And the way this book ended wrapped up everything so neatly.

TW: This book does contain topics such as body shaming, illness, and death of a parent.

The Make-Up Test is a multifaceted look at relationships, family, self worth, and the bustling demands of higher education. Highly recommended for readers with a soft spot for dogs, cardigans, and plus sized representation.

I’d wanted to read this book for months and was so excited to receive an arc via the publisher and NetGalley. Howe’s debut was completely worth the wait, as this book was a unique delight! I sincerely look forward to reading her future works.

Thank you @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the ARC of The Make-Up Test in exchange for my honest review.

I did enjoy this read of exes to enemies to lovers. The subplot of literature was a definite win in my book, especially some of the nuances of medieval language. I thought parts of this book read a little dry. It did include some spice. I thought the major upset between the MCs was a bit weak.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I didn't have the urge to finish it in one sitting, stay up late reading. I do look forward to reading more from Jenny L. Howe.

A cute story about academic rivals who become lovers. This book would be great for romance fans of books such as Beach Read and One to Watch. Allison is going through some life changes, student woes, best friend drifting, then she meets up with an ex-boyfriend and the challenge is on! Thank you Net galley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

Allison Avery has always loved being an academic. Her dream in life is to become a professor so she can share her love of medieval literature with others. When Allison is admitted to a Ph.D. program at Claymore University, studying under a professor she's admired for years, she believes she's one step closer to achieving her goals. But then she learns her ex-boyfriend, Colin Benjamin, has been accepted to the same program and is now competing with her for a TA position with the same professor. At first, the pair can't help butting heads after their rocky relationship, but with every passing day and a last-minute road trip, neither can deny the spark of attraction that still simmers between them. Allison refuses to let anything come between her and her goals, but is it possible to have both the dream career and dream guy?

I was keen on picking this up once I heard about it, but I found it disappointing. Let's talk about the things I did enjoy first. Mostly, the setting. I love anything set in a school or academic environment. I found the discussions around medieval literature fascinating. It's not something I know much about, so it was fun seeing Allison talk about it with such passion. It almost made me want to reread Beowulf, and that was something high school me never thought she'd say. My main problem with this was Colin. For me to enjoy a romance, I have to like the love interest, and I couldn't stand Colin. He treated Allison so poorly, both in the present and in the snippets we get from their past relationship. He had a few sweet moments, but for the most part, I thought he was whiny and took all his insecurities out on Allison. Due to this, I didn't care about their relationship at all. It's a second-chance romance, but for me, Colin deserved none of the chances he got. I also wasn't a fan of Allison's family and how they treated her. Sadly, I had high hopes for this one, but it turned out to be a bit of a letdown.

This was a cute romcom with great plus size rep. The main character is so strong and determined and I just love her. She goes after what she wants and doesn't let anything stand in her way. Her relationship with her father is my favorite part of this book. Not because of how good it is but because of how honest it is.

The way the author has the character stand her ground and show that bad things happening to someone does not erase all of the horrible things they have said and done to you in the past. To be honest, I preferred that side storyline to the romantic one.

Nothing against the romance, mind you. I loved both characters and their chemistry was amazing. But there were some moments when I wanted to just yell at the characters for doing the things they were doing. Whereas with the father storyline I was so proud of her the entire time.

All in all, a great romcom with an even greater subplot. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romcoms.