First, I want to say that it took me way too long to figure out that the meaning of the title had nothing to do with makeup (though that's a solidly *me* issue). Second, although I'm not a super huge fan of the cover, I was super excited to see a fat character front and center! Third, it's really weird to read about a character with your name, who is also plus-size, and who is in grad school (albeit in different subjects). Talk about a trip.

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. It has a little bit for everyone. Enemies-/rivals-to-lovers (well, really lovers-to-rivals-to-lovers), second chance romance, intense competition, a cute Corgi doggo, pets named after cheese, many references to medieval literature, and more (since I feel like I might have missed some things)! I really liked the characters - I thought they were well fleshed-out and written really well. Allison and Colin especially were believable, and I understood their motives. The writing style was also really clean and enjoyable, and I felt like I just zipped through the book.

This was a good debut, and I look forward to reading whatever Jenny L. Howe has in store next!

Maybe this is my fault, because this was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year, and I JUMPED when I saw it was up for request. Unfortunately, it took me a week to get through the first 50 pages. I don’t know which character is more insufferable, but I do know I don’t want to read a book about either.

Oh my goodness, this book. I was hooked right away.

Allison and Colin are both such incredibly and lovingly crafted characters. Their growth, together and individually, is so realistic. Their chemistry is captivating.

Allison also has a challenging relationship with her parents that is given a very realistic treatment. I think it deals well with toxic relationships and body image.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable book.

I absolutely loved this book. Second chance is my all-time favorite trope so I knew I would adore this book. I love how along with being exes they were also academic rivals, this added good entertaining conflict to the story and brought a lot of angst to the ship. I also love how well-developed Allison was. I loved learning more about her character and she had a very real arc. As soon as I started this I could not put it down at all, great work!

This book ticked a lot of boxes: second chance romance ✅, academic rivals to lovers✅, fat MC✅, close proximity✅. It’s set in academia and follows a group of PHD lit students, including our MC Allison and her ex-boyfriend Collin. The book is unapologetically smart, and reads like a lit major’s wet dream, and I LOVE it for that.

Allison is a fabulous MC. She’s smart, and sassy and self-assured. I love how comfortable she is in her body and that she won’t let anyone make her feel otherwise, including her father. I did not, however, appreciate Allison and Collin’s relationship. It was problematic from the start and something about Collin didn’t sit well with me, and I couldn’t like him. Collin was secretive and manipulative and I hated how he made Allison feel and that she kept taking him back. I honestly wanted the book to end with her leaving him in the dust. In general I feel like the book left a lot of things unresolved.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

Second chance enemies to lovers romance with workplace romance. A little much happening for one book, but it pulled it off well. I didn't love the relationship and the will they won't they happening so much, but overall it was a cute read

This was a cute romance read that had enemies-to-lovers, competitive coworkers, rekindled ex-love vibes. I loved seeing Allison’s and Colin’s interactions and all the references to medieval literature. I did get frustrated watching Allison go back and forth on her feelings for Colin mainly because she went from hating him to loving him to hating him for the entire book. It made the book feel like it was dragging on at some points. Other than that I enjoyed it! All characters were interesting and fun. Colin did pull some dick moves but I think he redeemed himself by the end. Would recommend to anyone who loves the exes who get back together trope or the academia setting!

I really wanted to like this one but I just could not get behind Colin! Why give the guy another chance? She deserves better!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gold stars to Howe for this great second chance (third chance) romance that will certainly be beloved by bibliophiles! Allison and Colin are grad-level lit students, after all. And Howe includes so many delightful nods to literature of all kinds.

"It was a disaster. A tragedy. A misfortune of Dickensian levels." Dickens has always been the way to my heart. And as a teacher-librarian who reads Beowulf with students each year, this novel just makes sense.

The single point of view was refreshing! And the book's focus on the importance of talking through things, setting boundaries, and overcoming the past by believing in yourself deserves all the gold stars.

"We're made of more than one idea. If you had one great one, you'll have another."

(And do me a favor: keep an eye out for Stick-Figure Lancelot!) 😉

4.5 ⭐️
0.5 🌶 (It’s happening, it’s not closed door but it’s not fully explicity either.)

T R O P E S
- Second chance romance
- Ph.D /university romance
- Lovers to rivals to lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Hate to love
- No cheating or OW

CWs: bodyshaming, fatphobia, loss of family members.

T H O U G H T S
I wasn't sure at first if I would like it, but when I finally warmed up to the characters, I became obsessed with their stories and I needed to know what would happen to them. At some point, I couldn't help but wish Allison would end up with someone who deserves her. I didn't particularly enjoyed Colin's character or personality. I kinda hate know-it-all guys who don't hesitate to make you feel dumb or smaller than them. I gotta say, he kinda grew on. Communication isn't his strongest point and I might have made him grovel a lot more than he did. I believe he had it easy. I also think that Colin should speak more and Allison to listen more. They would have avoided so much hurt. I was hurt by what he did, but sometimes, he made me swoon!

I enjoyed the writing and all the mentions of literature. It reminded me of all the classes I took in University.

I was able to get a sneak peak at this book...so I read it twice.

This story is a feast for the intellect and the heart. I wanted to crawl into the book so I could attend all these college classes and dive into these discussions about classical texts. I also wanted to hug these swoony, academic nerds with my whole heart. There's positive body rep, complicated family dynamics, laughs, tears, and heat.

It is clear Jenny Howe is a new and exciting voice in romance.

Academic rivals to lovers will always be my favorite trope. I read the summary for this book and immediately knew it was for me.

I absolutely loved Allison, the protagonist. She’s a smart, plus-sized girl who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to get it. I loved reading about her and her adventures in graduate school. It was also nice to read about her issues with her parents and how she handled everything.

I think the biggest letdown was Colin Benjamin himself. I like second chance romance but I honestly wasn’t rooting for him to get another chance. It was like when your friend has a toxic ex that they keep going back to and you’re like “babe why.”

Overall, I really wanted to like the book more than I did. The pacing is a bit slow and there just wasn’t enough redeeming qualities in the love interest to root for the main couple.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of those books where I liked the premise, enjoyed the writing style, and just could not stand the main characters. The female protagonist was annoying and I just couldn't enjoy the book because of her.

Love seeing a plus size MC! I thought this was a very solid debut and enjoyable. I didn't connect with any of the characters but did enjoy seeing their story play out.

Thank you, St. Martin's Griffin, for allowing me to read The Make-Up Test early!

I really liked this one. I love seeing more fat characters on covers and this rom-com really did what it set out to do. Great debut for Howe.

Thoroughly enjoyed The Make up Test by Jenny Howe! Took me a minute to get into it but once I did- couldn’t put it down. The characters are flawed and realistic, making you root for them and empathize with their struggles. The author’s use of a plus size main character is a change and watching her develop was a treat.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e arc of The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe.
This is a rom-com novel. 3.5-4**.
Synopsis: " two college exes find themselves battling against each other—and their unresolved feelings—for a spot in a prestigious literature Ph.D. program."
3 things I liked:
1. Plus sized MC
2. Ph.D. program- bookish themes
3. Underlying message of judgment/misunderstanding that happens in relationships
3 things I disliked:
1. Pace, at times to heavy and less rom-com-ish
2. Didn't always feel fast positive, even with a plus sized MC
3. Story didn't pull me in, could skip ahead and not miss much; rom-coms are not my first choice genre and I think I was hoping for more of something, maybe I did not love either MC enough to feel fully vested ... give it a try and see what you think... fast easy read. I was glad to read this one overall.

Allison is starting her PhD at her dream school after overcoming many obstacles, including her father’s fatphobia and abandonment, financial hardship, and a lack of closure from a breakup with Colin. Grad school is obviously tough, but made even more so by Colin’s acceptance to the same program and their competition for an advisor.

I had really high expectations for this book given that it involves most of my favourite romance tropes- enemies to lovers, second chance romances, and academic rivals. I did enjoy this book overall but will say that the offhand remarks about the pandemic really threw me off. I didn’t understand what they were adding to the story and think that the references actually took away from the book.

As always, I love reading about diverse bodies so I appreciated the representation there and the discussion around Allison’s relationship with her father.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced reading copy!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were all very well fleshed out and it was fun to see how they changed over the course of the book. I love learning more about different types of occupations, so the setting was really interesting. I loved how accepting Allison is of her body. I really liked the ending. I didn’t think I would be able to like Colin again after what he did, so I was happy how everything turned out. I would definitely recommend this book.