Once again, India Holton reigns supreme as the leading facilitator of whimsy in historical fantasy. I adore this series' emphasis on romance, and The Geographer's Map to Romance is a fantastic addition to the whimsical Holton canon. The pining — the silliness — the fun magical adventures — it all comes together in a very satisfying way. One of Holton's specialties is defiant, strong, and maybe a little socially inept heroines who blast through historical social and structural barriers in their scientific fields, operating on sheer will power and gumption. Elodie is a fantastic example of this who was super fun to follow, and her antics and heartwarming connection with the stoic Gabriel were pure swoon. Can't wait for the next one!

I love Anne of Green Gables and I love anything India Holton writes so when I saw this was slightly inspired by Anne I was ecstatic. The grumpy x sunshine of it all and the classmates to marriage of convenience to lovers to estranged to lovers was EVERYTHING. I also loved how Ornithologists had it's own magic system and this book is in the same world being a part of that series (the most standalone that has ever stood alone btw) we got even more magic to explore.

So as a geographer in this magical realism historical romance world experts in the field respond to the natural disaster version of magic gone awry, estimated and calculated by fey lines and scientific equipment. I loved having something wild like magic be something that could be measured in this world and not necessarily targeted or harnessed by an individual. The FMC Elodie accesses both sides of her brain in this by loving the chaos while also being extremely smart. Gabriel on the other hand, our grump, is very scientific minded but of course loves our half wild FMC.

This is a bit of an adventure as they go off together unexpectedly to investigate magical shenanigans happening in a small town. They get thrown together with only one bed (or tree at one point) and other antics all while essentially falling back into love.

I don't know how but India makes me love tropes I normally feel neutral about or dislike and in this one that is the miscommunication trope. I can't explain it further she just makes it work. This has all the witty writing I've come to expect from India. I highlighted so much along my way and I felt so seen by Elodie's unfailing curiosity. This is for the girlies who while out at a Christmas pop up bar have to stop and research in detail how trains work because they simply cannot move on without knowing the answer. And we get to see a man find that absolutely charming and become only soft for her.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC. This will be a top read of 2025 for me.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

A whimsical and tender foray into rediscovering first love for a second time. Elodie and Gabriel were so perfectly matched for each other - his grounding to her flight, and it made the payoff all the more sweet. A beautiful continuation of this charming and quirky historical romantasy series.

This book was so much fun! The chemistry between Elodie and Gabriel is chef’s kiss, the slow burn and pining were perfection 😩💚 I loved Gabriel SOOO much and the romance tropes actually worked here. The magic and plot lost me a little bit but honestly, the romance kept me hooked. If you’re looking for a magical, lighthearted read with great chemistry, this is it

5/5

When the worst thing in the world is actually having feelings for your wife

Two estranged professors of geography reunite after their failed marriage of convenience to confront a scholarly mystery in a Welsh village that could have dire outcomes on their academic worlds and the roles they have retreated into. Despite our hero's emphatic aversion to poetry, India Holton endeavors to suffuse her mixture of whimsy and utter absurdity into her latest historical romantic fantasy that left me far too entertained, swept up in the underlying romantic tension between two misunderstood academics avoiding their feelings as danger ensues. Endearing and entirely bemusing, The Geographers Map to Romance charts out a course rigged with chaos – American tourists turning into cows, waltzing to get out of quicksand, and intensifying versions of the “not enough bed” trope (a superior version dare I say). I just wanted to stay lost with this one, with Gabriel and Elodie proudly soldiering their hurts and their desire to be truly seen by one another adding or subtracting a few near-death experiences. India Holton has struck an emotional chord of belonging with this beautiful love story about meeting people right where they are. Elodie and Gabriel bring on the yearning and the not-so-quiet grumbling and all I want is to trek off on more adventures by their side.

A fun romp through India Holton's world of magical academia! This book is a very chaotic adventure and I had a great time. If you're looking for a character-centric, emotionally mature romance, this is not it. But if you're looking for good vibes and some fun, I recommend this!

The Geographers Map to Romance was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. When I read the first book in this series last summer, The Ornithologists Field Guide to Love I became enamored with the whimsical world Holton had created. I love Victorian academic romances, its a very specific niche but I absolutely adore it so this series is kind of made for me. However I do have a major gripe with this story. I’ll start off with the positives though since there are way more of those than negatives.

First off, the characters, ugh I loved them so much. Elodie was a wonderful, fun, free spirited whimsical protagonist who was easy to root for and to love. Like I want to be her best friend.
Gabriel was a surly, sassy, and witty love interest who had a heart of gold, although he would absolutely deny it if anyone actually accused him of that. The banter between these two was so fun and flirty which is always a great addition to a romance in my book. They were the perfect grumpy/sunshine duo that everyone wants. Apparently they’re at least in part based on Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. However as a Canadian redheaded girl who was CONSTANTLY compared to Anne of Green Gables growing up (ESPECIALLY if I wore my hair in braids) I’ve always had a personal aversion to all things Anne related…much to the dismay of my grandmother. I can however see the Anne Shirley inspiration in Elodie. I don’t recall enough about Gilbert, other than that classic classroom scene iykyk, to really say how much Gabriel compares but since its an enemies to lovers situation in both cases I suppose that makes sense. Either way the actual romance in this book was very swoon worthy!

I loved the location of this book as well. I adore a location when it is set in the UK and getting to travel to the welsh countryside this time was just so much fun! The setting was VERY picturesque…if you ignore all the explosions that take place throughout the book anyways.

Like I said before I adore academic romances whether they are fantasy based or not. This was no different, although I personally preferred the study of Ornithology to Geography it was still a lot of fun to tag along on their adventure. Even if some of the things went completely over my head. Whether that’s because I myself am just not very knowledgeable in the field of geography or if it was a side effect of Holton's whimsical (and at times nonsensical) writing style I don’t know.

Now for the two negatives that I have with this book. As I said, Holton tends to have a very unique writing style that her fanbase loves to describe whimsical and nonsensical (in a good way). I wholeheartedly agree with this, and usually I enjoy it but at times she also uses the same terms and phrases to describe things over and over again and it does get a little repetitive for my taste. This was also something I noticed in TOFGTL but I had taken it as a very tongue in cheek thing she had been doing on purpose. Just a recurring joke for the audience, and that might still be the case but it didn’t land with me as well the second time around.

My final negative for this book, that pains me to say is the reason this book isn't a five star read, is because of one single trope that she used in this book. I am not going to say what it is because spoilers BUT it is the biggest issue our two main characters have in the story. It’s the main reason they aren’t together and in my opinion it was a really weak reason. This trope is my biggest pet peeve of all time. When I am reading an adult romance, especially one written in the 2020s I would hope that this old overused trope wouldn’t be the ONLY obstacle that is keeping two grown adults from being with each other. I understand that if the inciting incident didn't happen then there wouldn't have been a book but it's just a major pet peeve of mine and I wish it wasn't the main problem in the book. Using this trope here and there is totally fine but it was vastly overused for my taste and that is why this book got rounded down to a four star and not a five.

As always thank you to Netgalley and Berkley publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The subgenre of fantastical history is a trend that I love and the academic bent of this series makes it even more appealing. The fun banter between our protagonists really underscores how these unhappily estranged spouses do indeed truly love each other. These are fun if flawed characters who find themselves in a comedy of errors in a world where magic is as real as the rigors and prejudices of academia. The plot keeps the story moving at a steady pace and the worldbuilding is both realistic and quirky in turn. Great for people who enjoy light academia, historical romance, fantasy adventures, and second chance romances.

4.5, rounded down

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, particularly the start and end. I’ve been hit or miss with this author, and the hits come when the romance is developed but the world isn’t too wacky. India Holton tends to write worlds that are Quirky, but I found that it was largely fun in this book, adding some color to the story, rather than detracting from the plot and characters.

I love a good marriage of convenience, as well as second-chance romances with pining and misunderstandings, which this book provided. I think the relationship conflict was pretty believable, giving us some sweet sweet angst as readers. I also think it resolved in a wonderfully romantic way, and I loved seeing our two weirdo characters make their weird4weird work out. However, the in-between dragged. The middle of this book didn’t know where it was going, and neither the relationship nor the magical geographic problem had a solid answer, so the reader was left aimless for a good half of the book. Still, after about 70% through, the plot and relationship picked up and made for a fun and somewhat silly ending.

Excited to see where further books in this series go!

Arc review: 5 ⭐️
Oh my god the YEARNING.
The PINING.
I AM UNWELL MY FRIENDS.
magical whimsy of course, as Holton has mastered.
But the DESPERATION for each other??
GODS

So good.

My first time reading Holton. I very much liked the world in which Elodie and Gabriel inhabit. All the Thaumaturgical chaos was fun to read and have opportunity for some good laughs. I discovered after reading this there are other books in this "world" and I will be checking them out.

Calling lovers of regency novels, magic, whimsy & academia! This cozy second chance/marriage of convenience novel pits the two Drs. Tarrant in a race against time where a dangerous line of magic threatens the pastoral Welsh countryside. Estranged from each other for a year after their haphazard wedding, Elodie and Gabriel are both pining for each other, but too *brainy* to see it. Oh when these stories are done right, they are so good. And thankfully, India Holton is very good at her job! While predictable, Holton's voice is a breath of fresh air.

the geographer's map to romance | india holton

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

_____

I can officially say that India Holton books are the equivalent of a picnic under your favorite tree (sans bugs) with your favorite snack (cheese and pickles, anyone?) with your favorite person (insert here). They just make you feel good, and The Geographer's Map to Romance is no exception!

Just like Ornithologist's Field Guide, it's fast paced, quirky, over the top, hilarious, sweet and gooey, and a little bit magical.

I had a fabulous time.


THINGS TO LOVE:
+ a botched marriage of convenience
+ magical, geographical disasters
+ transportation by hot air balloons and flying bicycles
+ a charming (?) wannabe tourist town
+ bumbling accountants
+ "Baby" the goat
+ only one tree
+ emergency waltzing
+ "my wife"
+ a dash of miscommunication (but, like, it's charming, just trust me okay)

{a gigantic thank you to India Holton, Berkley Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!! Out 4/8/25!}

Today I’m reviewing the latest in the Love’s Academic series by India Holton, The Geographer’s Map to Romance. In this romance we follow estranged couple Professor Elodie Tarrant and Professor Gabriel Tarrant who are forced to work together when a magical explosion in a small Welsh village threatens to devastate the rest of England.

What a fun romp of a book!

Romance readers will thoroughly enjoy this next installment in Holton's Love’s Academic series. Filled with magic, mayhem, and quirky adorable characters, Holton’s writing is not to be missed. There’s buckets of pining, and an epic romance scene that sets into motion a perfect reunion for a second chance romance.

I absolutely LOVED Holton’s first book in this series, The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love, which you should absolutely start reading if you love fantasy romance. Holton’s gift to readers is how she continues to write such memorable characters who leap off the page and will live happily rent free in their long term memory. Holton will delight readers in how each of her characters aren’t just words on paper, but people you’d love to meet in real life.

This book hit all the right notes for me! It’s a perfect mix of grumpy sunshine energy, magic, and the kind of awkward chemistry that makes you swoon and laugh in equal measure. I couldn’t get enough of their interactions, especially as they slowly realize that there’s more than just a professional connection between them. The plot is packed with action, the world-building with magic felt fresh and imaginative without overshadowing the romance, and the tension between the characters had me on edge. If you love a mix of magic, humour, and a couple finding their way back to each other, this one’s for you. I couldn’t stop smiling through every page, and I think most will feel the same.

I love these characters. I enjoyed the first book, but a couple of things did not work entirely for me. I'm so pleasantly surprised with how much the story grew on me in this second installment. I'm a sucker for this type of romance.

Overall rating: 4 stars
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Pub Date Apr 08 2025

Thank you to the author, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the series that keeps on giving and giving.

Holton's writing is snappy, funny and above all, quality. If you enjoy the first one, you'll definitely enjoy this one as well. If the dynamic and tropes offered by this one sound appealing, you can very well start here without fear of missing some overarching through plot.

I will note that this entry is a lot less preoccupied in the actual explanation of the magical geography like how the Ornithologist's guide to love did. That's not a critique, just a heads up that if you liked the worldbuilding there is ironically slightly less of it here.

4.5 stars

This series is just delightful. India Holton is so clever with her tropes - in this one we’ve got marriage of convenience, forced proximity, lovers to enemies who are still married and secretly in love with each other, only one bed (and under one tree), etc.

The slow burn between Elodie and Gabriel was torturously tension filled and I adored getting both of their inner thoughts which were full of pining and convincing themselves that the other hates them. It was so satisfying when they finally admitted their feelings and I appreciated that there was some spice even if it was minimal.

I honestly don’t understand half of the dialogue in these books but I think that’s part of the fun. I love all of the wacky magical disasters and eccentric characters. Highly recommend this series if you’re looking for a lighthearted and unserious yet very romantic and magical read.

I am very grateful to Berkley for sending me the ARC after I basically begged them to. All opinions are my own.

The second entry in Holton's love academic series readers are reintroduced to Gabriel Tarrant (The cousin of Devon from book 1) and his estranged wife Elodie. They are both professors of (magical) geography and despite their apparent dislike of each other end up running in the same circles all too often. The novel starts with both of them being dispatched to the Welsh countryside to deal with a magical disaster and the two find themselves in unfortunately close quarters. What ever will they do? The answer: lots of pining, some make out sessions (or a physiological response to danger and imminent death) and perhaps realize they don't dislike each other as much as they thought.

The book is cute and funny and the romance between Gabriel and Elodie is wonderfully drawn out - they work hard for the HEA together and also learn and grow at the same time. The side characters like: an agitated secretary from the home office, the cheerful innkeepers daughter, an angry goat (perhaps that is repetitive) also add humor to the story.

The novel incorporates one of my favorite microtropes which is where we are in one of the main characters pov and they are hopelessly in love/infatuated with the other main character but thinks that the other main character hates them and then we get the other main character POV and it's exactly the same for them. This book does this very well. I hesitate to call this enemies-to-lovers because Elodie and Gabriel are never exactly enemies.

Overall I absolutely enjoyed this book and will of course be on the lookout for the next book in the series. I highly recommend.

Convinced more than ever that India Holton is incapable of writing a book that I won't immediately fall in love with. I appreciated how ADHD-coded our heroine is, and how her neurodivergence tends to make her better at her job instead of being an obstacle or problem to be fixed. And the magic of this world was so fun to learn about. Another fabulous historical fantasy romcom by one of my favorite authors!