The Make-Up Test
A Novel
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4.1 • 10 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
In this smart, swoony, rom-com debut from Jenny L. Howe, 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.
In this charmingly bookish debut, The Make-Up Test embraces the truth that people can sometimes change and grow, even when you least expect it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Howe debuts with a cute but underwhelming second-chance romance between rival teachers' assistants. Medievalist Allison Avery is ready to start fresh in her dream PhD program at Claymore University—until Colin Benjamin, the ex-boyfriend who stole a prestigious award out from under her during undergrad, ends up in the same cohort. Their competitive sides come out when they both become TAs for the same professor—who can only accept one of them as her advisee. Allison refuses to let Colin get in the way of her dream again—but as Allison's relationships with her busy best friend and unsupportive father fall apart, she spends more time with Colin, realizing that, while he's just as attractive as ever, his personality has changed a lot in the last two years. Howe flubs the second-chance romance staple of slowly revealing what went wrong in the past; Colin was unequivocally a jerk during his first relationship with Allison, and his abrupt about-face in the present feels unmotivated and unearned. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic is good fun, however, and their present-day romance entertains. It's not perfect, but it has its charms.
Customer Reviews
RomCom in an academic setting
The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe is a delightful enemies-to-lovers story set in the academic world of medieval literature.
Allison Avery is starting her dream Ph.D. program at Claymore University, and she’s excited to start an in-depth dive into medieval literature. She’s worked her whole life to get into this program so she can become a Medieval Literature professor one day. Allison is driven and very goal oriented and she can’t believe her luck when she gets her favorite professor as a mentor.
Allison’s luck runs out when she finds out that her ex-boyfriend was also accepted to the program and later they find out they both will be competing for a career-defining research trip to Wales. Colin is just as competitive as Allison is, and their competition heats up. But will their competition and working together dig up old wounds, or old feelings?
I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies to lovers story. Allison and Colin are exactly the kind of dorky grad students you’d expect to find studying medieval literature. I really enjoyed their banter even when they were fighting. Allison is a very confident plus-sized person, but she grew up with a horrible father who constantly belittled her size and her academic achievements. Colin has some family issues as well and he has something to prove and that’s what is motivating him.
The book bogged down just a bit in the middle, there was a lot of academic medieval literature discussion that went over my head. I think anyone who enjoys that genre will really enjoy those parts. It was just a bit too much for me.
I did enjoy the academic setting and the second chance romance. You could tell these two were meant to be early on. Their banter and the way they took care of each other were adorable.
I highly recommend The Make-Up Test to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Make-Up Test Review ❤️
This book was so good! I like how they included literature and medieval romances! When I was in High English class, we used to read Beowulf, and the Chaucers so it was nice to see her mention them in this book. Allison’s and Colin’s love story was romantic, funny, and a heartfelt ending! I love second chance romance, so this was an enjoyable read!!!
-Kierra Brice❤️