Title: The Make-Up Test
Author: Jenny L. Howe
Genre: Romance
Publishes On: September 13, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Source: digital (Netgalley)
Pages: 332
Synopsis:
ONE TO WATCH meets BEACH READ in this smart, swoony, romantic comedy, in which two college exes find themselves battling against each other—and their unresolved feelings—for a spot in a prestigious literature Ph.D. program.
Allison Avery loves to win. After acing every academic challenge she’s come up against, she’s finally been accepted into her dream Ph.D. program at Claymore University, studying medieval literature under a professor she’s admired for years. Sure, grad school isn’t easy—the classes are intense, her best friend is drifting away, and her students would rather pull all-nighters than discuss The Knight’s Tale—but she’s got this. Until she discovers her ex-boyfriend has also been accepted. Colin Benjamin might be the only person who loves winning more than Allison does, and when they’re both assigned to TA for the same professor, the game is on.
What starts as a personal battle of wits (and lit) turns into all-out war when their professor announces a career-changing research trip opportunity—with one spot to fill. Competing with Colin is as natural as breathing, and after he shattered her heart two years ago, Allison refuses to let him come out on top. But when a family emergency and a late night road trip—plus a very sexy game of Scrabble—throw them together for a weekend, she starts to wonder if they could be stronger on the same team. And if they fall for each other all over again, Allison will have to choose between a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and what could be a twice-in-a-lifetime love.
Charmingly bookish and unequivocally fat positive, The Make-Up Test embraces the truth that people can sometimes change and grow, even when you least expect it.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
The Make-Up Test, a debut book by Jenny L. Howe, about two competing teaching assistants—who also happen to be former lovers—happily fulfilled that fall-ish school setting vibe I enjoy, making me even more ready to transition from summer to autumn.
The Make-Up Test is getting some harsh early reviews, and while it’s not perfect, I found plenty to enjoy in this second-chance romance. It does feature one of the least favorite tropes, the miscommunication trope. If that’s a trope you refuse to read, you should probably skip this one. It seems like that’s where most of the harsher reviews are coming from. It’s not a trope that’s a hard no for me, as long as the story has plenty more to offer.
What I loved about this one:
The curvy woman representation! Allison is strong and confident and is okay with her body, despite her toxic father who has fat shamed her all her life. She’s made the decision not to have a relationship with her father, and is striving to combat the guilt of that decision, which is hard with her mother’s pleas to connect with him.
“Allison had once taken stock of every description she could think of for large bodies, and they were pretty much all food-related: pear-shaped, apple-shaped, juicy bottom, big melons, etc. It was disgusting. So, until everyone started referring to thin people as ‘asparagus-shaped,’ Allison would be curvy or plus-sized, or if she really wanted to watch people have a shock, fat.”
Jenny L. Howe, The Make-Up Test
This story is romantic! While I didn’t always love Allison and Colin, or their relationship, it was steamy and heart-breaking. I felt the connection.
I loved the academic setting! I could tell the author wrote from experience—the setting is realistic, with authentic dialogue between the teachers and students, and believable interaction with the professors.
“She remembered everything, as if their entire history had been carved into her bones.”
Jenny L. Howe, The Make-Up Test
I was impressed with Howe’s writing and would happily read another book by her. Give this one a try if you like an academic setting, body positivity, and second-chance romances!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
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About the Author
A Song For A Book
When I come across a character who is positive despite their difficult experiences, I think of Lenka‘s music. I’ve chosen to highlight “Roll With the Punches”.
That really hurt me
Like a fist to the face
I wasn’t ready
To be knocked out of place
Suddenly everything I was sure of
Sinking below the depths of the surface
It’s unexpected, it usually is
When you’re rejected
Or you take a hit
Suddenly everything’s thrown in a spin
No time to grow a thicker skin
What kind of situation am I in now?
When life tries to knock all the wind out of you
You’ve got to roll, roll, roll with the punches
If all life offers is black and blue
You’ve got to roll, roll, roll with the punches…
Have you read The Make-Up Test? Will you be adding it to your TBR? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
Great review, Dedra. I wasn’t sure about this one, but after reading your review, I am going to add this one. I don’t read a lot of books set in schools, universities etc. because I spent so many years there.
That makes sense! If you decide to read it, I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 🙂
I enjoyed this one too. I agree, it wasn’t perfect, but it was an all around enjoyable book.
Oh good! It’s nice to hear we had a similar take on it.
Funny, I have actually seen favorable reviews for this book, and they made me put the hold at my library. Glad it was good for you. I have no issue with miscommunication – that legit happens in real life, and I love second chance romance.
They’re reviews on Goodreads. Some readers are giving it one and two stars, which seems harsh to me. But there is definitely a lot of higher reviews, as well. I was just really surprised by the lower ones. And I agree, miscommunication happens in real life!