Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Beth and Devon are rival ornithologists who get thrown together to find the mythical caladrius and win Birder of the Year in this historical fantasy novel.

The premise of this book was perfect and the execution was nearly flawless. India Holton’s writing is so sharp and hilarious and touching, and I LOVED the relationship between Beth and Devon so much. Watching their love and trust develop was so heartwarming, and I thought the slow burn was handled so nicely here as well.

As a professor myself (not of ornithology, alas), the aspects of this book that dealt with academia were so funny and witty and well-handled. I also really enjoyed the subtle social commentary throughout and the writing style was so engaging and unique. This is my first book from this author, but it absolutely will not be my last!

CW: Animal cruelty; sexism; some minor violence

This author's playful worldbuilding and writing style are so entertaining and fun! I had a great time being swept along on this romantic adventure with these characters.

THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE was such a charming read! Academic rivals to lovers trope always interests me and this one did not miss! The chemistry between Beth and Devon was electric. This book also had a great blend of historical fiction vibes with some fantastical creatures. I think fans of the Emily Wilde's series will absolutely adore this!

this book was SO FUN!!!! the writing was just so fun and a blast to read and I really enjoyed and bought into this blend of historical romance and whimsy and magic. This book somehow takes the most absurd things so seriously in a great way that I've not read before. I also loved the subplot of following ornithology PR people trying to drum up interest in ornithology!!

I love rivals to lovers, but I personally wouldn't have minded a little more time + tension + angst (I am who I am), but this still worked for me and I had a great time with this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f historical fantasy romance
-rivals to lovers
-forced proximity
-roadtrip
-roasting you is my love language
-he falls first and hard
-two nerds in love

This was everything I needed it to be and more.. The banter, the bonkersness of the birding competition that everyone seemed to be in on. How gone on Beth, Devon was from pretty much the beginning even as he tried to deny it. Just original, fun, and unputdownable.

I knew almost immediately that The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love would not be for me. The writing and the characters were far too silly and twee for my taste. I don't mind that kind of humor every once in a while, but it was exhausting in this book. There is some potential with the birding, historical, and adventuring elements of the story. But the book spends too much time trying to outdo itself with twee romance and whimsy that any of that potential is completely wasted.

India Holton's books are rollicking good fun. Her wit is smile therapy. This new series is very caper oriented and involves a quest for a particular magical bird. The romance is fun and her writing is divine.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A rivals-to-lovers historical romantasy about field biologists seemed like the best chance for me to enjoy a romance/rom com, and yet alas… it was not meant to be. While I was a little hesitant because Holton’s debut didn’t work for me, I was hopeful that this one would. I do think Holton’s voice is quite funny and her obvious joy at writing this story is apparent. Her characters are well developed (though maybe they simp for each other a little too quickly for me?) and I thought the setting was fun. I did honestly really enjoy the birding aspect of this and the adventuring aspect and basically all the non-romance aspects, but this is a capital-R Romance novel and I’ve found I don’t do particularly well with romances when I find them to be twee—and as lovely as this one is, it is definitely a bit too twee for me. More than anything, though, this is a mismatch between book and reader and I think for most people this will be a hit.

Huge thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Who even knew this was a thing? I didn’t. Rival ornithologists search for a mythical bird. I didn’t know what ornithology was and I didn’t expect there to be rival ones, but I was into it! This was billed as a historical-fantasy romcom and this fit the bill! This was an enjoyable genre bending novel.

Holton’s books are always such a joy to read. Just pure fun. This one is no different and I’m excited to see what she writes next!

A delightful oddity of a book. It took me nearly halfway through to fully wrap my head around the multiple layers, but once I did, it was a fun ride! Imagine a mash-up of historical fiction, fantasy, and rom-com, with characters that feel like a quirky blend of Veronica Speedwell and Stoker, or Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby.

Takes place in late 19th century England, two rival and celebrated ornithologists, Beth Pickering and Devon Lockley, are on a wild and hilarious quest for a magical bird. Lockley is charming and handsome, sure, but also a total rival. Beth, being the genius she is, decides to keep her distance. Devon, however, is completely smitten by Beth’s brilliance and beauty. But, professional rivals, right? They can’t get too close… or can they?

There is now a new competition to capture the endangered caladrius bird. Beth and Devon are forced to team up, and suddenly, keeping their distance isn’t so easy. One bed or two? Decisions, decisions. But with "fowl" play afoot, they have no choice but to trust each other. And let me tell you, the humor and spice in this enemies-to-lovers tale are just perfect.

I had a real “duh” moment when I finally got the secondary meaning of the book’s title, or at least what I think it is. Sometimes I can be so dense! But once I did, it added a whole new layer to the story, especially with the publicists acting as puppet masters. Despite my initial confusion, I ended up loving this book. And yes, I will continue with the series. We’ll meet new characters in the next installment, one of whom is already introduced in The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love. A crossover series? Count me in!

If India is writing it, I'm reading it.

I love how creative she is with her books, and this one is no different. It's like she played a game of "what if" and just went all in. What if ornithologist's are the rock stars of the world? What if birds can have magical properties? What if, what if, what if.
It's a book filled with intelligent world-building, humour, shenanigans, love, brilliant MCs, and so much fun. Does it require some suspension of belief? no more than any fantasy book does.

Absolutely love this book and I'm so excited to keep reading India's books!

Thanks to Berkley for an early eARC of the book; all opinions are my own.

This one was so whimsical and fun! I honestly had the best time reading this. It literally transports you into a magical, whimsical journey and I loved it!

This book is so fun. Was it a little silly at times? Yes. But did that take away from the enjoyment? Not at all. The main characters are adorable and fun. And as a birder myself, this was such a fun romp through magical (?) Victorian England.

I loved this book SO MUCH! It was funny and exciting and utterly romantic. I need to go read her entire backlist now because i'm OBSESSED

This is a delightful book that left me feeling giddy. It is funny, unique, and delivers exactly what I wanted from it. The promise of the premise was fulfilled in the best way. Holton created an intriguing world that I wanted to get lost in. Her characters were relatable and delightful. I enjoyed how their journey from "enemies" to lovers. This romance is so well paced. The story beats are perfect and it delivers what you want, when you want it. I found myself smiling throughout the whole thing. It is a feel good book that would appeal to historical romance and fantasy romance readers. It would also appeal to readers who are looking for cozy books and/or low steam books. I'm happy I read it, and I am excited for the sequel. I'll also be exploring India Holton's backlist, since this was my first book of hers.

⭐️ 4.5/5
🌶️ 2/5

This book made me smile like an absolute goober! Brava, India Holton! You truly shared the most spectacularly fun story with us!

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love was filled with skirmishes, hijackings, and witty, never-ending banter. If the quirky character names don’t already have you giggling, then the delightfully extravagant vocabulary surely will. I was enthralled by the magical ornithology, which gave me all of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them vibes. I could not get enough!

This rivals-to-lovers historical romance was so much more than I expected. And the added dash of fantasy elements made it all the more delightful.

I am so excited to read the next story in this Love’s Academic series! We got a little taste of Gabriel and Elodie in this story, so color me intrigued for The Geographer's Map to Romance!

Thank you @berkleyromance for the advanced copy!

Do you ever see an author’s name and immediately know the vibes? That’s an India Holton book for me. I knew from the moment I opened to page 1 that I was in and India Holton book-quirky characters, fantastical plot, romantic tension and a good dose of adventure.
FMC Beth Pickering is the youngest professor at Oxford University and a woman (circa the 19th century)! As an ornithologist she actively researches birds and comes to a head with our MMC, Devon Lockley during a hunt across England for a rare bird to earn ornithologist of the year. Of course the birds have magical powers, duh! This is India Holton, people! As the two competitive souls race to win in this cut-throat race they keep getting thrown together.

I really enjoyed this adventure.

I would suggest added this book to your TBR! Thanks to Berkley for the advanced copy.

I like birds as much as the next person, but I never imagined they could be this much fun!

The blurb describes this as a historical-fantasy rom-com set in 1890’s England with shades of Indiana Jones, as it involves a madcap dash by a group of competing ornithologists to be the first to safely deliver their version of the Holy Grail: a rare magical bird called a caladrius while avoiding both human and magical bird peril. The prize offered by the British Tourism Board and the International Ornithological Society? The coveted Birder of the Year title, 5,000 pounds and a tenureship for any professor who wins. However, when it comes to birding … no one plays fair!

Prim and proper Beth Pickering and roguish Devon Lockley are Ornithology professors at Oxford and Cambridge, respectively. They’re also rivals in this new competition, but someone needs to remind them of that, as they seem to spend as much time watching and trying to capture each other’s interest, as they do the magical bird at the center of the competition! When, in the course of events, they find themselves under attack by a succession of less than friendly birds, such as a Rabid Flesh-Eating Lapwing, Frostbird or Whopper Swan, they band together to stay out of harm’s way. Ironically, the birds aren’t their biggest worry, as it’s their fellow ornithologists and those behind the scenes who pose the most danger!

As these two capture the attention of the media and the romantic imaginations of the public, will their relationship take flight or will the wings of their budding relationship be clipped? I can assure you that this story left my heart soaring! Beth and Devon are a couple I won’t soon forget. Beth’s hilarious mistranslations of French and comical politeness regardless of the situation had me giggling throughout, and she and Devon’s chemistry and banter was delightful. Side characters like pretentious Hippolyta Quirm, whose entertaining quotes begin each chapter, press agents Monsieurs Fettick and Flogg, the French fishermen and the sisters Fotheringhman were a hoot as well.

In the first of the Love’s Academic series, new-to-me author India Holton has written a book that’s so full of charm and witty humor that even the villains were fun to spend time with! Her prose is gorgeous, the world she’s created with ordinary humans using some extraordinary tools (example: helicopter parasols … how cool is that?!) and interacting with magical birds is so richly imagined that I would’ve enjoyed staying there even longer. I listened to this on audio while reading along, and the narration by Elizabeth Knowelden was stellar. This is a book that I would HIGHLY recommend listening to!

I don’t typically read historical romance or fantasy, so I give major props to Holton for writing a story that left me eager for the next in the series! Side note:

★★★★ ½

This was such a different book and it was so well written. You felt like you lived within the pages of this novel