Sometimes you just have to embrace your guilty pleasures and India Holton’s books are one of mine. I adored her Dangerous Damsels series and Love’s Academic is shaping up to be in the same category. Beth is a young ornithologist (studyof birds) and meets Devon out in the field. It’s your typical comfort Rom-Com with a healthy dose of adventure as they try to capture a rare magic bird & save a few other birds along the way. Beth is a capable, very intelligent woman and it’s wonderful to see Devon fall for her because of those things, not in spite of them. He sees her as an equal and is drawn to how knowledgeable she is about the birds he loves as well. I love that Hilton’s characters aren’t always the “normal” romance characters, but the real world versions who feel a little weird or different themselves and find their matches who love them for their weirdness. I love that Holton makes fun of the one bed/horse and fake marriage tropes repeatedly and even has the Victorian version of viral romance gossip following them. It’s just a witty, bantering, fun romp in the magical bird world and I’m all for it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, India Holton & Berkeley Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review!!

This was genuinely the most delightful book I’ve ever read. Everything about it made me happy, and I could not stop smiling the entire way through. Incredibly well-written and thoroughly entertaining, India Holton has crafted another masterpiece. PLEASE add this to your TBR!

A delightful, sunshiney, and swoon-worthy historical fantasy romance, perfect for fans of EMILY WILDE. ORNITHOLOGIST's is a ridiculous, romantic romp of a book, and I enjoyed every second. I can't wait for the next installment of Love's Academic!

Full review to come to my blog, In My Book, soon.

Thank you to Netgalley/Berkley Romance for the early copy!

I read this book because I love India Holton's style in her Dangerous Damsels series. She's over the top, ridiculous in the best way, with a fun intersection of "proper" victorian behavior and adventurous FMCs.

I found The Ornithogogist's Field Guide to Love hard to follow in the beginning. It took me a chapter or two to understand the world building and the magical birds. I also found that the book prioritized fun, ridiculous scenes over developing the romantic relationship. The love story was cute (Who doesn't love rivals-to-lovers?) but I would have liked to see more depth between the main characters. That said, I fully enjoyed the world this was set in. Magic birds, rival professors, victorian england, cutthroat ornithologist's, what isn't to love? I would love to read more about these characters and birds in the future, I feel like theres a ton of potential avenues to explore.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves India Holton, anyone who loves over-the-top, fun stories, and anyone who likes light historical fantasy. It was a cozy read that I will definitely be revisiting.

Thank you to India Holton and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

There are only two books I have ever described as cockamamie perfection, and they book belong to India Holton.

Burn this entire book into my brain. This. was. EVERYTHING?!? I have never read something so ridiculous and over-the-top and utterly me-coded. And yet, for how silly it was, it was so layered and clever and just simply well-written. There was not a single page where I did not laugh at some joke, the best being a running gag that involved speaking French wrong. And then, while I was cackling at the antics, I was also kicking my feet and squealing at every interaction between the love interests.

I literally could not have loved this book more and am begging Berkley for the follow-up book as soon as possible.

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love has quickly become one of my all-time favorite reads. Holton’s effortless blending of charm and whimsy in an original historical fantasy setting is beautifully done. She consistently strikes the perfect balance between longing and laughter that I keep coming back for again and again in her works. The academic world she has built up in The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love is the perfect backdrop for a story ripe with academic tension and romantic interest.

Most specifically, I have fallen in love with the protagonist of this work, Beth Pickering, and her dual character of book smarts and street un-smarts. Unlike a lot of traditionally academic characters, Beth cares for the people around her and wishes them nothing but good manners and kindness, a trait that separates her from her peers in a nearly “angelic” light as Devon would say. She is not hardened by the world of academia, but softened by her studies. She is an academic without cruelty, and her moral standings are of particular interest in the society that Holton has formed. In a literally cut-throat culture of academia, Beth is still kind, and this kindness pushes her in line for my favorite India Holton protagonist to date (though I still adore Celia, Charlotte, and Alice).

Historical “romantasy” is an up and coming genre with a lot of heavy hitters, and I know that Holton’s The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love will quickly become a staple of the genre along with Holton’s Dangerous Damsels series, and I cannot wait for the next installment in her Love’s Academic series.

Who knew a book about magical birds set during the Victorian era would be one of my favorite romance novels ever?

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love is a nearly perfect book for a number of reasons:
1. The dialogue is so quick witted. I found myself highlighting so many lines and laughing out loud through the book.
2. The characters are incredibly lovable. Beth and Devon’s rivalry added so much dynamic to their relationship, and I loved watching them drop their guard and open up to each other throughout the story.
3. Even the bad guys are hilarious and wonderful. Everyone has so much personality, even when you’re rooting against them.
4. Magical birds! I desperately need an encyclopedia full of information about these birds and Beth’s drawing.
5. India Holton writes some of the best neurodivergent representation. I felt so seen by Beth. Her inner monologue and mannerisms felt so familiar, and this is why we need this type of diversity in books.

I will be shouting about this book for the rest of the year. And I cannot wait for the next book in the series because I’m so invested in this magical world.

Great start to a delightful new series from India Holt! I very much enjoyed Holt’s prior series, particularly The Secret Service of Tea and Treason. Ornithologist’s Field Guide has the same rapid fire wit and plotting. I enjoy the anachronistic feminism, steam punk devices and madcap plots. The humor is dry and arch in the best way. I look forward to more in this series.

This was IMPOSSIBLY cute. Two rival ornithologists who compete in a competition to find a rare magical bird in Victorian England and are set up by two publicists to fall in love in order to increase applications to Ornithology programs???? Everything about this was perfect.

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love is the first book in India Holton's new series and feels like a combination of the madcap humor of her Dangerous Damsels series and the STEM love perfection of Ali Hazelwood's The Love Hypothesis.

There's only one bed (in increasingly wild ways)! There's only one horse! He wants to know who hurt her! He demands a man apologize for annoying her! He is obsessed with her! She loves birds and science! There are magic birds and parasols that you can use as mini-helicopters. This was the Indiana Jones style STEM historical fantasy romance I had no idea I needed. I will be recommending this to everyone I know.

✅ MF Historical Romance set in Victorian England
✅ STEM romance with two rival professors who fall in love
✅ Magic birds & steampunk-style gadgets for bird-hunting
✅ One bed/one horse
✅ Who hurt you?
✅ Some spice with a whole lot of tension
✅ Perfection in a book

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 5 stars, I loved it!

🙏🏻 Thank you to India Holton and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

📅 The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love will be out July 23rd, 2024 - and you should preorder it literally right now

I find it almost impossible to describe just how much I enjoyed this absurd and delightful romance.

The humor, wit, and language woven through the plot are so enveloping to the reader, that it feels impossible not to get caught in.

Enemies to lovers, bird nerds, outcasts finding home with one another, and two people who have been hurt find the good in each other and wanting to grasp on to it through the chaos and weirdness of the cut-throat world of magic-bird-academia may catch you off guard, but it is endearing and lovely, and surprisingly steamy.

I love! Authentic autistic rep! In a fantastical setting! I love it even more in a historical setting, and this was the perfect marriage of both. Fantasy of Manners if one of my favourite kind of stories to experience and this one was one of the greats. I'm generally not a Romance reader but even I was enthralled by this love story, and all the tumbles and jaunts it took to get there.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley & India Holton for a digital ARC of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love in exchange for an honest review.

I friend spoke very highly of this book & I knew I needed to read it. I am happy to say that this was a true winner.

Beth & Devon are rivaling ornithologist's who come to know one another after Devon swoops in & takes the rare deathwhistler bird right out form under her. They both have an immediate attraction to one another but cannot act on it because they are rivals. That is, until a competition for Birder of the Year arises and they need to team up together to win & sparks fly.

First, I LOVE that the main characters are ornithologists. I can 100% say that I've never read a story where the this was the occupation of the main characters. I loved all the bird talk and all of the super rare birds. This was just a very original & fun concept & I was completely enamored with it. AND it's the first in a series. I will 100% be back for the sequel & anymore that may come after that.

This was my first read by this author & I'm wondering why I am just now hearing of her. I will definitely be looking into her other work.

The writing was spectacular & all of the characters were likeable - the main characters as well as the supporting characters. The writing was just so clever & the humor was perfectly place. It was just an extremely fun read & I don't think it could have possibly been done any better.

This was the surprise book for me so far this year - the one I didn't even know I needed to read until I heard a rave review from a friend. I am so glad that I read it & I cannot wait to share my thoughts on IG closer to publication.

Full 5/5 Stars - I'd give more if I could!

This read like a Wes Anderson movie where Jane Austen scripted the romance and JK Rowling designed the creatures. At no point did I know what to expect next and I loved every single second of it.

This is my first read from this author and I have been SORELY missing out. On my way to binge read all of her work.

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to love was such a fun read and so magical it is definitely going on my favorites of the 2024 booklist. I really tried to make this novel last as long as possible because I did not want to leave the characters behind but I am excited that this is the first of a new series.

TOFGTL (abbreviated because I cannot keep misspelling Ornithologist) focuses on two academic rivals in search of a mysterious and magical bird. Unfortunately Beth (our heroine, polite to a fault and professor at Cambridge) and Devon (our hero, less polite, and American education) are forced to team up after both of their bosses abandon them. On their journey they are waylaid by angry-yet-helpful sailors, ruthless journalists, the aforementioned bosses and many lodging houses with only one bed. Also to muddle things up further Devon and Beth fall in love with each other.

I love the hilarious absurdity of Holton's novels and Beth and Devon's journey across England with various hijacking of carriages and catching magical birds fits perfectly. Underneath all the humor and hijinks there are also some poignant moments like the real reason Beth is so polite or why Devon attended school in America. The romance between the two also feels very sweet and authentic as they confront their past romantic hang-ups together.

I also always appreciate the autism spectrum rep and supporting an autistic author (especially during April which is autism acceptance month).

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will be recommending to as many people as possible.

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley.

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: romantasy, romantic comedy, light academia, magic

This review has been posted to Goodreads on 2/14, my book blog on 3/21, and to Instagram on 3/29.

My rating for this book sits somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars, though it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly where. My rating is somewhat biased. I didn't see the publisher until after I'd requested the book and so didn't realize how heavily romance-oriented it was going to be (I thought it would be more like Emily Wilde's), and that's not really a genre I tend to read. That being said, once the book got going I began enjoying it, hence the rating still being relatively high.

It took me a while to get used to the narrative style of the book. For one, it's set in the Victorian Era and with that comes a lot of thinking about societal politeness and propriety, which doesn't interest me too much. Then there's quite a bit of emphasis on insta-lust and the feelings associated with that, albeit with a Victorian slant, though as mentioned I should've been more mindful of the drama. However, once things start getting on with the Birder of the Year competition, the pacing speeds up and I stopped noticing/being bothered by those two things. I'd say around the 10-15% mark.

The plot itself was interesting and actually contained more humorous moments than I was expecting. The ornithologists take the competition seriously, and it's clear Beth and Devon do as well, but there's quite a bit of tomfoolery occurring as each ornithologist tries to one up the other, and I found some of the situations to be quite funny. I also think that these moments really go to show how far ornithologists are willing to go in this world, which helps provide some context. There are also some behind-the-scenes machinations going on in the competition, and I did have a hard time trying to figure out the true motivation of the competition. There are really two different things going on, one of them funny and one of them more troublesome, that helped add some tension to the plot.

I like the concept of magical birds and the very extra people who study and trade in them. We have the chance to meet a bunch of different birds over the course of the book, ranging from deadly to pretty. Beth takes her job as an ornithologist seriously and is dedicated to studying and protecting birds from more unscrupulous forces. While he may seem like a scoundrel at first, Devon too is intensely interested in keeping birds safe. Conversely, it's made clear that a large swathe of the ornithologist community are less scrupulous and more interested in the fame and glory than in the birds themselves. It's no wonder the competition ends up being what it is.

Beth herself is the very definition of a Proper Victorian Lady. Beth can be quite shy, though she does her best to get along with people, usually with success (the scenes with the French fishermen might be some of my favorite in the book). Part of her shyness comes from being mocked as a child for being a 'weird know-it-all' who was, and is, obsessed with birds, though another part of it comes from her struggling to find the unspoken social rules others seem to follow (as I was reading I suspected she was autistic, and the author's note confirms that Beth is definitely ND, though Holton doesn't provide specifications). As a result, she's a bit of a people pleaser to start the book, though over the course of the competition she begins to stand up for herself and others more, and by the end is truly a force to be reckoned with.

Devon is both similar to Beth and her opposite. For one, he's much more devil-may-care and rakish, willing to be loud and gregarious when the need arises. However, this also masks someone who spent their later adolescent and early adult years feeling apart from others and lonely. In his own way, Devon can also be fairly shy and at times feels inadequate. That being said, it's clear he feels deeply and has a deep respect from the get-go for Beth. I think Devon's rakishness and sensitivity work well together.

The romance works well between the two main characters. Both of them have a deep love for the same academic subject and few people with whom they can let themselves relax and fully be themselves, both personally and academically. As academic prodigies they've had similar experiences in life and thus understand where each other is coming from and where their needs might be in the relationship. While I'd say the romance is definitely insta-love and insta-lust, Devon and Beth both have a wellspring of admiration and respect for one another, which I think is integral.

Overall, this was a surprisingly funny romantasy and I enjoyed the plot and characters. It isn't really a genre I read a lot, so it did take me some time to get used to the narrative style and the focus on romance vs. action + fantasy elements, but I did have a good time reading it.

This was such a fun read! It was my first by India Holton, and I can't wait to read more from her. The romance was super fun, the plot was very fast-paced, and overall this book was extremely entertaining. I really loved the main character, Beth! She was such a badass fmc. Devon was a great mmc as well, and I loved watching Devon and Beth's relationship develop! All of the side characters were funny and interesting, and all added to the story in some way (the press agents were some of the funniest bits, in my opinion). I thought the idea of this book was so interesting! I honestly didn't think I would ever read a book about rival ornithologists in love, but here we are (and I loved every second of it). Overall, I would completely recommend this book! :)

I am... stunned, amazed, in love, about to become a birder... This was so good, cute, goofy, and wholesome! I just cannot stop smiling. I looked like an absolute idiot at work reading this on my lunch breaks and smiling to myself. Obsessed. So excited for book 2

This delightfully humorous gem of a novel is perfect for fans of the Emily Wilde series. Whimsical and gripping, this novel shows us that ornithology can be quite the dangerous profession. Devon, the main love interest, will be many reader’s newest book boyfriend with his wit and charm. This book grabbed me from the start and was an entertaining and fun read. Many thanks to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for an arc of this novel.

Oh wow this book! It had me in a chokehold. I literally finshed it in one setting!!!

India Holton's writing in this rivals-to-lovers fantasy romcom is rich and delicious. I highly appreciated the author's ability to capture my heart through the infusion of literary references, double entendres, and witty remarks. I absolutely ate them up! Additionally, the book is celebrated for its inclusivity, particularly in providing neurodivergent individuals with a sense of being seen and loved.

The plot revolves around two rival ornithologists who become entangled in an elaborate marketing plan, leading to a series of intense yearnings, birding mishaps, and various iterations of the "there was only one bed" trope. The absurdity of the story is highlighted as a positive aspect, and I particularly enjoy the dynamic and romance between Beth and Devon.

The fast-paced nature of the writing adds to the book's appeal, and I enjoyed the comedic relief provided by the silly side characters a lot. The presence of a love interest with a secret, a strong feminist main character, and magical birds intertwined with lore and mythology also contribute to the book's charm! The tension between the protagonists and the rivals-to-lovers dynamic set in an academic setting are other elements that I absolutely loved. India Holton's humor and cleverness shine through, making the book an excellent choice for fans of screwball comedy!

In terms of characterization, the book excels in developing well-rounded characters with detailed backstories, fears, hopes, and dreams. The romance itself is exquisite, adding an additional layer of enjoyment to the story.

Overall, this book offers a delightful escape into a world of laughter and love. Highly Recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending an arc my way in exchange for an honest review!

"I will always come for you, Beth. You are my sunlight."

I absolutely loved everything about this book. From the beginning, India Holton drew me into her fantasy world of birds, magic, love, and humor. The plot centers on two rival ornithologists who come together to find an elusive magical bird as part of a contest to win "Birder of the Year," but find adventure, mystery, love, and many British witticisms along the way.

Devon Lockley, our resident rogue, is everything a book boyfriend should be; he's handsome (distractingly so), intelligent, witty, and drives our heroine absolutely mad. If you love the "he falls first" trope, you will absolutely adore this book. There's even a "Who did this to you?" moment that had me squealing.

Beth Pickering is doing her best to stay well-mannered - she is an academic, of course, and a proper woman, but Devon makes it very difficult for her to do so. I loved her internal struggle between what she wants and what society tells her she should want.

As they journey through England, the find more than just a prize-winning bird. They also find that neither of them is as flawed or irredeemable as they think they are. It was honestly such a beautiful love story that, even nestled between the scenes of humor and adventure, there was something so pure about the way they fell in love.

There are so many things I want to say, but I truly don't want to spoil the fun for anyone who wants to read this book. I highly recommend this to any romance reader, but also those who love adventure and fantasy, and some good, old-fashioned bird jokes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! See my Goodreads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6353928600 and my Instagram review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C43ULhTLWmV/