Review by Booklist Review
Howe's sparkling debut takes contemporary romance to medieval times in this witty rom-com about a pair of former lovers turned academic rivals who get a second chance at happily-ever-after. In her sophomore year at Brown, Allison Avery was crushed when Colin Benjamin dumped her after winning the coveted Rising Star Award (Allison came in second), then graduated and disappeared from her life. Two years later, Allison is starting her doctoral program in medieval literature at Claymore University when she discovers Colin is there too, and they're both competing for the same TA position. Only one will win, but in their determination to be the smartest in the room, they realize they've always been at their best when they're challenging each other--and also that Scrabble is excellent foreplay. Family drama, mistaken intentions, battling impostor syndrome, and a race to the academic finish line ratchets up the romantic tension until the final chapter. Romance readers yearning for brilliant plus-sized heroines will cheer for Allison's deft handling of fatphobic insults from haters trying to steal her shine.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Sept.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Allison Avery is used to winning--a lot. Her lifelong goal of earning a PhD is finally within reach as she attends graduate school and studies medieval literature under a renowned professor. The only problem? Colin Benjamin. Colin is Allison's co-TA in competition for a single academic advisee position, and he's also her ex-boyfriend. With a potentially career-making research opportunity on the line, Allison will do anything to win, even if it means ignoring the conflicting feelings that arise while competing with Colin to prove who's best. When Allison begins to notice how much Colin has changed from the boy who broke her heart, she has to rethink what she wants: a prestigious academic career, or what could be the love of her life. VERDICT Romance readers are sure to enjoy this highly recommended debut's fat-positive, rivals-to-lovers romp through academia. Perfect for fans of Kate Stayman-London's One to Watch and Jen DeLuca's Well Met.--Rachel Alexander
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