Given our History by Kristyn J Miller

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review. My opinions are my own.

5/5 stars

I cannot express this enough. I really, really love this book. I have never read anything by Kristyn J Miller before but I’m an instant fan.

I love any books about academia - romance, fantasy, dark academia, thrillers, historical fiction - instant read. When this book was offered to me (I can’t believe I’m being OFFERED books!) it was an instant EFF YES.

This book has dual timelines. It starts with Clara and Teddy meeting at a camp for homeschooling kids and their relationship (or lack of) in present day. The timelines progress as they alternately grow up and how they gradually become friends (cough, cough) again.

Read this if you love romance with the following tropes: second chance, academia, friends first, and strong female leads.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC 💙

A heartwarming story about two parallel souls falling in love, growing apart, and finding their way back to one another. This book was set in alternating timelines of past and present, which I always love because we get to hear about the history of the main characters. Clara and Teddy were very likable characters and came to life on each page. I loved the chemistry between the two. I was rooting for them to get it right all along.

Overall, this was a great story that romance readers will enjoy!

GIVEN OUR HISTORY was such a lovely treat to read!!! I was immediately drawn and invested in Clara and Teddy's story. I absolutely adored their dynamic and genuine love for each other. I have to say how much I appreciated and admired the believability of and depth to the characters. Not once was I ever taken out of the story or questioning. I really like the pacing of how the story unfolded as well, not to mention all the angst!!!!!

Both Clara and Teddy grew up home-schooled and happened to meet at an annual camp. With not growing up with friends and not knowing how to be social, Teddy is forced to be friends with Clara. Their friendship is so genuine and despite living far apart, feelings are caught. With the long distance between them and the focus and pressure of getting into her number one college choice, Clara can't afford the distraction of a relationship, not to mention ever disrupting their beautiful friendship they share. Teddy Between the things that happen to them and choices they make, they start to drift apart until they're no longer apart of each other lives.

Nine years later, they both happen to be at the same college teaching history (Clara's love that then becomes Teddy's). If history repeats itself, will their given history prevent them from ever changing and being together? Clara doesn't ever want Teddy to end up resenting her if he follows her and doesn't put his career first. How long is Teddy willing to be pushed away before he's gone for good? I love both Clara and Teddy dearly, such sweethearts with their own obstacles they must face. I also loved how their reasoning for their decisions are both complex and made out of love. I found Clara to be very relatable (like scary relatable).

So happy to have witnessed Clara and Teddy's love. This was my first time reading work by this author and am off to go read her other book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved every second of this book! As an academic girlie who loves a friends-to-lovers plot, this was a perfect read for me. I found myself relating to Clara so much, like the author saw into my brain lol. I fell in love with Clara and Teddy and their love story. I cant wait to purchase the physical copy of this book!! 5 stars across the board ✨

This is impossible to put down once you’ve started reading. Mingling timeline with past and present until both culminate in a stunning series of revelations that hit all the feels. Readers will become deeply invested in Clara and Teddy, falling in love with them as a couple – not just once but twice – and rooting for them at each step along the way. Can't recommend this one enough!

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This. Was. Excellent. I adored this story. As a fellow history major and nerd myself, I basically immediately connected with Clara and Teddy. I thought the use of the timeline “flashback” was extremely well executed here…the best possible way for the reader to immerse ourselves in Teddy and Clara’s history.

Many parts of this book made me swoon…top 3 for me would be the long distance history club, how Clara describes what falling in love is like, and the pitch perfect ending.

Set against the backdrop of academia, full of pining, growth, maturity, friendship, and family. This love story really has it all. I only wish this title was releasing sooner than August so that I could start selling it to people right now! Will certainly be doing a big pre-order push on this one.

It was fabulously written, emotional and completely stunning. I can’t recommend it highly enough. The characters are both fantastic. They are loveable, realistic and the way their relationship blossoms is simply beautiful