Given Our History is a dual timeline friends to lovers romance that takes place in the setting of academia. We learn early on Clara and Teddy met at age 14 but have not spoken since a falling out almost a decade before and I couldn’t put this book down in order to find out why. I fell quickly for both Clara and Teddy and enjoyed seeing their story play out.

Clara is hoping to avoid what she sees as the “mistakes” of her mother has put her career above everything and everyone as she pursues tenure. With Clara, Miller really set this book apart shining light on the difficulty of being a highly educated woman in a male dominated field and the lengths women go to enter the “old boys club.” Through her descriptions of the lengths Clara took to make sure she was checking the correct boxes for career (given up swearing, no romantic life, etc.) Miller reallly brought a unique prospective to the romance genre. Enter Teddy, also an academic but also the one more willing to put his career in perspective and seemingly more wiling to accept his feelings. A refreshing spin where the man has to “save” the woman from herself.

Overall, I really enjoyed both timelines and felt Miller captured both career woman guilt and teenage crushes with equal skill. Would recommend to anyone wanting to see an advanced degree woman achieve success and love!

🎵Soundtrack choice: Love Always Remains - MGMT ( perhaps Teddy could have recommended something by My Chemical Romance but they are just not my style)

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e- ARC)

I put this down around 25% in. I so badly wanted to love this book, the cover is so cozy and the synopsis drew me in, but I couldn't get into it. I didn't feel much chemistry between the characters, and they were a bit too awkward.

I recently received an ARC of Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I couldn’t be happier about it! I have to admit, there was a moment when I nearly stopped reading it. While the Prologue captivated me, the beginning was a bit slow. It’s a slow burn book that only really heats up towards the end. However, it was at that point that I realized I was glad I stuck with it. If I hadn’t, I probably would have given up on the book altogether. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity!

I absolutely adored the cover of the book, from the couple wearing cozy scarfs, to the fall foliage and the university perched in the background. It is charming! I loved the flashbacks in time, from present and past. I thought, how fitting, two history professors, revealing their history to us. It definitely flowed beautifully, and though it was a bit slow for me, it allowed me to savor every detail. I also felt that there was a strong emotional connection between the characters, and it would have been delightful to see more of their evolving relationship. Perhaps by exploring both Teddy and Clara’s perspectives, the story could have offered an even deeper and more engaging experience.

If you’re in the mood for a snugly book that’s all about second chances in love, this one’s got you covered! Just a heads-up though, the beginning is slower than a snail on a coffee break. I’d throw the book a three-star rave review. Keep calm and read on!

Given Our History had the potential to be an easy five star book for me.

I tore through this book in less than a day.

This is a love letter for those of us who have been begging for a well written academia romance, and more soft, romantic, and respectful men as love interests. Teddy is a total heart throb for those of us who love a man in a sweater.

The environment and world building is stellar. The moment the author began to set the scene, I was mentally teleported there, watching the story unfold in front of me. The character development is also stellar. I don’t believe characters need to undergo dramatic and personality changing events in order to have a rich and vibrant arc. These characters are true to themselves throughout the entire story, in the best way possible. Our main character and her old friend are so well developed it felt like they were old friends of my own.

That being said, emotional and tension filled chapters were more often than not punctuated with topical and dated references. I would experience eye rolling frustration and let out an audible groan each time the author resorted to referencing or name dropping something that could’ve easily been described in ways that lended timelessness to the book.

I loved this story, i really did, and that’s why i’m frustrated that the author didn’t give this book a fighting chance at remaining relevant in the next five years, rather than quickly becoming a dated relic of the past that reads like a buzzfeed millennial nostalgia post calling out Ed Hardy, Mall Madness The Game, The Office, Polyvore, Blackboard, and more. A LOT more. This book was definitely written for an audience of relatively suburban millennials, particularly the ones who like to point at things and say “Oh! I remember that!”

Nevertheless, despite the constant distraction of hyper specific references, I enjoyed this story thoroughly. The author wonderfully captured the confusing feelings of yearning in adolescence, and the tender ache of missing someone you no longer know as you grow older. This story is jam packed with soul crushing tension, and a satisfying end.

It’s safe to say, i’ll likely revisit this story again, and I would certainly recommend it to a friend.

I was beyond excited to receive this ARC since I devoured the authors debut novel. This is a sweet second chance romance about two history professors. Clare and Teddy haven’t been friends in almost 10 years. She finds out that Teddy will be a visiting professor at her university after agreeing to share her office with him… yikes. Flashbacks to Clare’s youth show us how the pair met and how their friendship developed. Clare and Teddy are so afraid of repeating their parents mistakes (or history hehe) that they make their own entirely new mistakes. Clare and Teddy have an opportunity try again. Will they make the right choices this time?

This book had an incredible theme and was so cleverly crafted. I really enjoyed tying it all back to history. The flashback scenes did seem a little lengthy to me and wish there had been more present day plot. But all and all a very enjoyable read!

I had no idea that starting 'Given Our History' while walking on the treadmill in the morning would ultimately lead me to stay up until 3AM to finish it. I had things to do that day, but that didn't stop me from reading between my prearranged activities. I was immediately drawn to Clara as the main character because as a 30-something-year-old lady, I found it incredibly refreshing to read a story where the character is in their early 30s and career-driven. I was invested from the start. I felt like I was Clara and Teddy's third wheel of a friend who cheered them on to get together. I would love a follow-up to their story since we just saw the blossoming of the full-fledged relationship at the end. There are some big changes for the main characters at the end and to see them experience it together is something I would read probably as swiftly as I read the beginning of their story.

This is the first book I read of Kristyn J Miller but I look forward to reading more works from her.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin Publication for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really loved the idea of this book and I am a sucker for a second chance romance, but I just struggled a bit with this one. I had trouble really feeling the tension between Clara and Teddy and felt like they got together so quickly with minimal discussion after everything they had gone through and years of not speaking.

I do think this is a cozy, quick read though and enjoyed the premise. I’d give this a 3.5!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was so very sold to the premise of this book, rival academics with a shared sour history forced to be office mates, it’s everything I hope for in a romance book. However I was rather disappointed by this to be very frank. The animosity is never there and while you’d think sharing an office would create awkward situations or tension, once Teddy shows up, they barely really interact for a while because he is technically a stranger to Clara.
I found Clara herself a very dull character and the only time she was somewhat entertaining was when she was around her younger sister. The shared history between Clara and Teddy is really the half of the book with flashback chapters to the main couple’s teenage years where not much really happens apart from teens being teens.
I found myself looking at the page % of my kindle very early on which I usually turn off because I was hoping the book would end soon. The autumn vibes and the small college setting were lovely though.

Thank you for the opportunity for sharing the book.

I really enjoyed the slow burn love story of Clara and Teddy and the flashbacks showcasing their history interspersed with the present story. I am a big fan of love stories that span decades and that’s what we have with these two.

I was given an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book so much! A sweet, cozy second chance romance, GIVEN OUR HISTORY follows Clara and Teddy, who met at sleep-away camp as kids and became fast friends, until a falling-out ruined their relationship. Years later, Clara's thriving as an assistant professor at an idyllic liberal arts college...but then a blast from the past turns her world upside down, when Teddy arrives as a visiting scholar. Will their shared history reignite a spark between them...or are they doomed to repeat their mistakes from the past?

GIVEN OUR HISTORY was such a wonderful read! I haven't read many romcoms set in the world of academia, but now I definitely want to. I loved how Kristyn Miller developed the campus setting and the attention to detail she gave Clara and Teddy's shared interests, from literature to music to—of course—history. Miller also does a great job fleshing out the dual timelines, taking us through the characters' journey over the years as they fall in love, first as teens, and then all over again as adults. I loved both Clara and Teddy, and thought the side characters were so much fun to read about, too! Overall, I would highly recommend GIVEN OUR HISTORY, especially to anyone looking for a cozy fall read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! Cute main characters, a solid friendship base...some steamy scenes...this had all the makings of a fun, romantic, love story. For those people who enjoyed One Day on Netflix recently, I think you'll enjoy this book as it's told past and present and about old flames reuniting. Easy read, perfect as a beach read or after something a bit heavier and more dramatic. Excited to read more of Kristyn Miller's books!

I just reviewed Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller. #NetGalley

Ah, yes, the young professor planning a Halloween/Hot-dog gala to get tenure. Classic. The pacing of the two timelines was a damn chore. The “event” that separated them was a literal non-event. No charm. No tension. Didn’t care.

I had so much fun reading Given Our History. It has been awhile since I read a true second chance romance. Let alone one that spanned over 17 years! As someone with little interest in history, I was worried I would not be the intended audience of this book. I couldn't never have been more wrong! I ended up reading this book in two sittings. When my heart wasn't aching for Teddy or Clara, I was giggling at their small sweet moments. This book also has the perfect balance of "spice" and plot where the "spice" was not distracting. I look forward to reading more of Kristyn Miller's books as they (hopefully) come out!

Thank you to author Kristyn J. Miller and NetGalley for the ARC!

I’m just speechless and need 5 to 10 business days to recover. I’m completely obsessed with both the story and the characters.

Kristyn has a gift for creating characters. They feel so real as if I know them in real life rather than reading about them. Just like her previous book, these are characters that can exist outside of a book’s pages with their flaws and decisions and mindsets.

The story is just so beautiful. I have trouble following storylines with constant flashbacks most of the time with how it keeps cutting it in the middle of it, but it’s not the case with this one. Everything feels perfectly balanced out and not overwhelming. I could feel them fall for each other through every single page, become friends and something more. It was a long and slightly painful of a process, but it was a joy to read about. Even though they had the struggles of early 00s and distance, and their own minds in present, you could still feel the feelings they had for one another.

Clara deserves her own paragraph. She’s everything. I could relate to her in many ways and even the parts I couldn’t, I could reason with her. It’s so easy to get into her head and see things through her eyes, Kristyn had such a nice way of telling it. We all have some bits of Clara in us and she both made me feel seen and also gave me hope. She feels like someone I can meet any day, she’s so easy to feel connected to.

I felt like I was seeing it all happen next to them while reading. Kristyn already had a great writing but it’s an absolute honor to see how much she improved just since her first book. One of the sweetest humans and nicest authors out there.

In her debut novel, Kristyn J. Miller delivers a heartwarming and poignant tale of second chances, love, and the enduring power of history. Given Our History follows the story of Clara Fernsby, an ambitious assistant professor whose life is turned upside down when Theodore Harrison, a blast from her past, arrives as a visiting scholar at her college. Clara and Teddy were inseparable as teenagers, spending idyllic summers at a sleepaway camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They shared a love of literature, music, and each other. But a decade ago, they had a falling out and went their separate ways. Now, as adults, they are forced to confront their shared history and the lingering feelings that still exist between them. As they work on a shared project and spend time together outside of work, Clara realizes that she is falling in love with Teddy all over again. But she is hesitant to pursue a relationship with him, fearing that he is not interested or that they are doomed to repeat the mistakes of their past. Given Our History is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of love, loss, and forgiveness. Miller's characters are well-developed and relatable, and her prose is lyrical and evocative. The novel is also a thoughtful exploration of the role that history plays in our lives, both personal and collective. One of the strengths of Given Our History is Miller's ability to create a strong sense of atmosphere. The novel is set in a small college town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Miller's descriptions of the landscape are both vivid and evocative. The reader can feel the cool mountain air and smell the pine trees. Another strength of the novel is Miller's exploration of the relationship between Clara and Teddy. Their relationship is complex and nuanced, and Miller does an excellent job of capturing the emotional ups and downs of their journey. The reader is rooting for Clara and Teddy to find happiness together, but Miller never makes their path easy. Overall, Given Our History is a well-written and enjoyable novel that is sure to appeal to fans of contemporary romance and women's fiction. Miller is a talented writer with a bright future ahead of her.

I'm a professor and I've read a lot of RomComs that feature academia, and this one is the best one I've read so far. It wasn't perfect in terms of realism, but it was damn close, and moreover, it was extremely entertaining and adorable.

I had the pleasure of reading this book for a blurb, and wow!!! Kristyn made me fall in love with these two, both then and now. If you’re looking for a sweet, romantic, and smart contemporary romance, this is it!

I am loving second chance romances lately and this was a great one! I loved reading this couple’s whole story from when they met until the present day when they reconnected. I was very satisfied by the way things ended up for them. I would love a bonus chapter from the MMC’s POV!

-childhood friends
-forced proximity
-professors
-flashbacks to childhood


Teddy and Clara met at sleep away camp when they were teens. They kept in touch throughout the years and saw each other each summer. Teddy wanted more from Clara but it was the never the right time. Fast forward to when they are in their thirties and they're brought back together again.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

Oh my goodness. I've never been a fan of second chance romance but this book changed my mind.

The main characters were so cute and the story was literally the definition of Right Person Wrong Time.

If you are looking for a wholesome, kinda spicy, romance read. This book is for you.