I really enjoy India Holton's books. They have action and adventure but also romance and humor.
This one is about a marriage of convenience between 2 professors, Gabriel (who is hoping to acquire lodgings) and Elodie (who wants others -men - to see her as someone smart and not to be looked down on). After one night and a little bit of miscommunication, the relationship ends, though they are still married. They are then brought together to go on a mission to figure out why magic is erupting in a small Welsh village.
I really liked both Elodie and Gabriel and their inner monologues about hating the other but secretly still being in love. Elodie was the epidemy of a sunshine character and Gabriel was the epidemy of a grumpy one. It was fun to see their relationship grow and how they came to trust one another. There were also some quirky and goofy side characters that made parts of the story other than the relationship really fun.
These characters trying to save England from erupting magic was entertaining. The way magic worked in this world was interesting and the way Elodie and Gabriel dealt with it was sometimes funny. A lot of the book was focused on their relationship, but this was a fun addition.
I really love India Holton's writing style. Since it is a historical era book, the writing is a little "fancy" which I think fits the story and era perfectly.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 is a scholarly, humorous romp through 1880's England - perfect for fans of 𝘌𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦'𝘴 𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. It's a silly, short period escape featuring a pair of highly academia magical cartographers who entered into a marriage of convenience only to avoid all forms of sensical communication for a year. Their lack of discussion, especially for such a length of time, was slightly aggravating, but I kept reading for the vibes. However, I enjoyed Elodie's whimsical chaos in contrast to Gabriel's grumpy realism.

The overly embellished prose can become tiresome, and isn't for everyone, but this story was an appropriate length to support such vocabulary while simultaneously not exhausting readers. This is a unique, eccentric story perfect for fans of cozy fantasy and historical fiction, and it hits shelves April 8.

Coming from someone who read an ARC of The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love and LOVED it, I was excited for another unique mix of academia and fantasy.

I could quickly see why the author described Gabriel as a Mr. Darcy type and Elodie as an Anne Shirley type. I would normally prefer to come to that conclusion myself while reading rather than have it put into my head by the author’s instagram’s posts but I enjoy the characterization nonetheless.

This one is shy of five stars because it’s much of the same as the first book and that was a five star read because it took me by surprise with its uniqueness.

I laughed out loud but just not as much as with The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love. I love Elodie and Gabriel perhaps even more than Beth and Devon though.

I don't think I realized when I requested it that this was the second in a series. I haven't read the first, and it didn't affect the reading in the slightest-- perfectly ok to read this on its own!

This is a fun adventure story with a romance subplot. The heroine is a loveable whirlwind. The hero is set up as a stodgy, brooding, historical alpha, but the story teases this apart and reveals him to be a real person, also very loveable. There's definitely grumpy-sunshine energy, and the characters could be ND-coded-- especially the hero.

The paranormal universe is a little generic-magic with a touch of steampunk. I kept finding myself thinking how much the main characters would love to have been in on any of Rincewind's unwanted adventures.

eARC from NetGalley.

This book was a delightful, entertaining, swoony read!!! Truly top tier wit, banter, angst, tension, and yearning!!!

I often have issues getting invested in cozy romances because it often feels too insta-love, but not at all with this book. I was completely enthralled within the first 10% of this book, and it kept my attention the whole way through. It had me smiling and laughing out loud multiple times and I was just completely enamored with the writing and the story. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes and when I got to the page where we find out THEY'RE MARRIED (it's like 2 pages in hahaha), I was all in. Idiots in love does not always hit for me, but it 100% worked for me (probably because of all the tension and yearning and banter).

This is a rare time where I was like...maybe there was TOO MUCH plot (which was so entertaining, honestly!!!), but I wanted to get back to the incredible romance. Elodie and Gabriel were simply perfect characters that you couldn't help but love and root for. I loved how they accepted and understood eachother so earnestly, and it was such a juicy "opposites not only attract, they thrive!!" vibe. The dual POVs really worked for me, without being repetitive (which is often my complaint about dual POVs).

So yes, I loved it!!!

*3.5

Thank you Berkley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Are you looking for a cozy fantasy with a sweet & angsty romance? This is the book!

Filled with an adventurous case, Professors Elodie and Gabriel Tarrant (who's marriage is solely of convenience ;) work together to save England from a magical and dangerous eruption.

You can't help but root for Elodie and Gabriel as you see them fall in love and save England together.

Truly a treat of a book!

I loved this book! It’s so whimsical and fun and the romance was delightful. The storm chasing stuff was really cool to read. India Holton is great and I really like her books. Definitely pick this one up!

to quite literally no one’s surprise: India Holton HAS DONE IT AGAIN🥲

her writing never fails to make me swoon and giggle and melt and kick my feet through every single chapter! Gabriel and Elodie, and their marriage of a very inconvenient nature, were absolutely no different🤭

the two professors of (magical) geography (who have ignored each other at all cost for a year, after their marriage of convenience was no longer needed for, well, convenient’s sake) are forced to team up to save a town from certain disaster.

and let me tell you from then on out….! the banter? the pining? he puts on her shoes? there’s only ONE TREE? “don’t speak to my wife like that”?!?? i’m going to float away all over again just talking about them!!!

read if you love:
+ marriage of (in)convenience
+ “it’s always been you”😭
+ grumpy sunshine (ultimate)
+ whimsy and magic!!!
+ opposites attract
+ “are you happy to see me or is that a telescope in your pocket?”🤭
+ effing the patriarchy! (girls rule, esp. Elodie!)
+ academic rivals to lovers to enemies to lovers
+ pinkies. brushing. 🫠

i will never (never!) take for granted the absolute joy and honor it is to read these books early. ty forever ever, Berkley.

This was a really fun book that I truly enjoyed. I loved the characters, the setting, all of the tropes, and the romance was just about perfect. The magic system was a bit more prominent than the first book which made this alternate victorian world work a little bit better. But best of all was the humor and the banter between the characters. I had a smile on my face and often laughed out loud while I was reading it. This novel has the perfect mixture of adventure, romance and magic.

Both Elodie and Gabriel will capture your heart, just like they did each others. They have both been in love with each other since they met, but both struggle with telling each other. I loved the marriage of convenience storyline, but even when they spend the wedding night together they can’t admit how much they love each other. I loved Elodie’s carefree attitude and not really caring how others perceive her, except for Gabriel. Gabriel is such a grump and I loved his inner dialogue pining after Elodie. They played off of each other perfectly and it was so fun to watch.

The secondary characters were also quite fun and at times played into the various tropes and shenanigans that were occuring throughout the story. The setting of a small village in Wales was also a nice touch. I loved how the villagers turned living near a magical ley line into a profitable tourist attraction. Some of the tourists were hilarious.

I am not a huge romance reader, but I do enjoy a good romcom. I was frustrated at times that Elodie and Gabriel didn’t figure out what was so plainly obvious about their feelings for each other. But I did enjoy the inner dialogue of both. I also really liked how the author explained some of Gabriel’s issues. You could tell that he was neurodiverse, and all of the struggles he had with that, which of course played into some of his reasons why he didn’t tell Elodie about his feelings. Elodie’s feelings of inadequacy because she was a ‘woman doing a man’s job‘ also was nicely done. I also loved how impulsive she was and how that impulsivity was what saved them from many of the situations they found themselves in.

I loved this author’s writing style and how she writes dialogue. I will definitely be looking into some of her previous series. The pacing of the story was also just right, and the pseudo victorian world was well done. The magical system is a bit hard to get a grasp on, but it isn’t super important to the world and the story, so I can forgive that.

If you loved The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love then this is a must read. It is just as delightful and fun and you will fall in love with the characters. You also don’t have to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one. They both work well as stand alones. If you are at all a romance fan this is a series that you want to have on your TBR.

India Holton is a treasure. With her books you know you are going to get big laughs, cozy vibes, a raucous adventure, excellent feminism, and joy from first page to last. The Geographer’s Map to Romance hit all those points and more. Elodie was marvelous and you just wanted her to get her every wish, even if that included the Grumpy Gabriel. She was way too good for him and he didn’t appreciate what he had! I highly recommend, especially for any vacation and travel. You can never be mad or upset when you have an India Holton book keeping you company. And the jokes in this one were pristine. I always appreciate academic-related humor.

Both Elodie and Gabriel are brilliant, professional geographers, except when it comes to each other. A year ago, they entered a marriage of convenience, but about three days after the wedding, they were no longer speaking. Now they've both been assigned to the same emergency response team set to investigate a catastrophe in a small Welsh town.

It's the second book in the Love Academic series, so it's set in the same world but with a different cast of main characters with some slight overlap. Devon, from the first book, is Gabriel's cousin and Devon is mentioned in passing. You don't need to read the first one to read the sequel, but I enjoyed those quick moments of overlap.

Just as cozy and romantic of an adventure as the first book, but I prefer this couple. I loved Elodie's whimsical inner thoughts and her joyful spirit! Gabriel was less pushy (romantically) which I appreciated. There was less focus on tea in this book, which I missed, but it was still cozy and academic.

I received a free advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley.

It was fine.

I haven't read the first book in this series, so this was my first taste of Holton's writing. Much of it was delightful, with incredible characters and a great idea. It was a fun, quick read. However...

I did feel like there was far too much purple prose. There were times where I was convinced the author wrote this book with a thesaurus open. There were also moments that were a little cheesy and I felt that the author leaned too heavily into the marriage of convenience trope highlighted by them both being absolutely in love with each other while simultaneously refusing to say as much and, therefore, believing that they actually hated each other. For me, all of this detracted from what was already a well-written story. Sometimes less is more.

What was done well was the sunshine woman and grumpy man trope. It wasn't overdone and felt like a realistic amount of difference between them.

Overall, a decent read that I won't hesitate to recommend to the right reader.

An absolute DELIGHT. This book perfectly captures the whimsical & magical aspects of this series with a new batch of love interests.

Grumpy x Sunshine professors that have a completely different style - serious & careful versus carefree & daring.

To make matters more interesting - they got married a year ago to land an upscale apartment that ended up getting rented to someone else. So now their “fake marriage” is legally binding and they avoid each other at all costs!!

As a reader that typically sticks to contemporary & romantasy - this book is the perfect combination of magic, action, & romance. All in a Bridgerton-esque setting.

Absolutely adored this.

3.5⭐️

The definition of a rom-com but based on historical fiction AND with magic!! Elodie and Gabriel are both geographers, experts in magical disasters, and conveniently married (and estranged) to each other. Opposites in every way, they are both called on an emergency mission to stop the magic erupting in a small Welsh village.

I really enjoyed how uniquely fun this book was. I’ve never read a historical fantasy rom-com before. Some of the magical components and world-building went over my head but I didn’t it took away from the romance component of the story. I loved that they were secretly pining for each other and we could get both their perspectives. the story overall was so entertaining!

If you like historical romance, marriage of convenience, fantasy and rom-com elements with scheming antics around every corner, thus is for you!! Thank you Berkley, for the free ARC and PRH Audio for the ALC!! All thoughts are my own. Releases April 8th 💚✨

"Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her - except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience a year ago, whom she secretly loves.

Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either - except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They've been estranged since shortly after their wedding day, but that hasn't stopped him from stoically pining for her.

When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of Britain, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like explosions, domesticated goats, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there's no navigational guide for the geography of the heart."

Does anyone else just want to stroke this book cover or is it just me?

ARC Review: The Geographer's Map to Romance by India Holton
Pub Date: April 8, 2025

Thank you @berkleyromance for the #gifted copy and for allowing me to be a #berkleypartner. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Listen if you're here, you likely know that I am a huge lover of marriage of convenience - I will basically read any book that includes the trope. So when I found out that's what this book is, I was super excited! India's books are some of the most unique historical romance fantasy books - her voice is so incredibly HERS - you really can't understand this until you've read her books. Her books are also SO funny and the supporting characters add so much to her books! Honestly I would absolutely reread this book again just to enjoy the humor again! I do find that I have to be in a specific mood for these books, but when I am? Man do they hit! And I really loved this one! Some of the magic/worldbuilding inevitably goes over my head a bit but I don't find that that distracts me from the relationship in the book.

I loved grumpy starchy Gabriel so freaking much - I'm so glad we got his POV and I loved his interactions with Elodie - their banter was great. Her sunshine-y personality was such a perfect foible to his and man I just ate it up with a spoon! Truly just loved how inevitable their relationship felt and how hard they both tried to fight it.

If you like books with incredibly humor and books that know they're just a bit ridiculous, please check out India's books! For this series in particular, I don't think you need to read them in order (and to be honest, the first book in this series was not my favorite). I do love her first series at well, though I would recommend reading that one in order.

DNF at 40%. I like the whimsy of the India Holton’s writing, but it needs to be paired with an equally charming romance, and it just wasn’t. Marriage of convenience is already not my favorite, and the way the miscommunication was written frustrated me.

Thanks to @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the free ARC/e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

@india.holton describes her newest cozy fantasy romcom as “Anne of Green Gables and Mr Darcy meet Twister.” Which made me laugh. Appropriate because so much of this book made me laugh. The witty put-downs of the humanities, the over-the-top what-else-could-go-wrong scenarios, and the quirky characters were all a ton of fun. The steampunk meets magic meets academia vibes were just delightful.

Elodie and Gabriel are loveable protagonists and their inconvenient marriage of convenience creates so much romantic tension. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. And the cover is gorgeous. The narrator did an excellent job on the audiobook. I didn’t read book one of the series, but this one stood alone just fine.

In a magically infused Victorian England, estranged spouses Elodie and Gabriel Tarrant are abruptly thrust together to contain a supernatural disaster—while awkwardly navigating their unresolved feelings. Together, they must save the English countryside from a terrible fate, all while avoiding the minefields of their failed marriage of convenience. With sparkling wit, whimsical worldbuilding, and a slow-burn romance filled with delightful misunderstandings, this enchanting romp proves that love, like magic, is anything but predictable. Readers of the first in the series will love the continuing adventures in this unique alternate Victorian romance.

**Read If You Like:**

- Historical fantasy romance
- Second-chance love stories
- Academia intertwined with magic
- Witty, character-driven narratives
- Marriage of convenience tropes

Professors Elodie and Gabriel Tarrant are experts in magical disasters—and in avoiding each other. Once bound by a marriage of convenience, their relationship has since crumbled into estrangement, though neither has truly let go of their feelings. When a magical catastrophe threatens a Welsh village, they are unexpectedly forced to work together, confronting not only supernatural chaos but also their unresolved emotions. Between dangerous explosions, mischievous goats, and an unfortunate one-bed situation, their mission becomes as much about saving the town as it is about facing their own past.

This novel delivers a charming mix of adventure, magic, and romance, weaving humor into an emotionally rich second-chance love story. Elodie and Gabriel’s sharp wit and undeniable chemistry make their reluctant partnership both entertaining and heartfelt. Set against a backdrop of academic intrigue and whimsical magical disasters, their journey explores love, regret, and the possibility of new beginnings.

With its clever banter, enchanting world-building, and swoon-worthy tension, this is a story that balances the fantastical with the deeply personal, offering a delightful blend of humor, adventure, and romance.

Thanks to Berkley for my ARC!