maggies's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of The Make-Up Test in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Plus-size main character and an academia setting? Sign me up! When I discovered this gem on NetGalley, I knew that this was a book I had to read and review firsthand. I was lucky to get this through Read Now as soon as it was listed on NetGalley.
The Make-Up Test tells the story of Allison Avery, a first-year Ph.D. student at Claymore University, who has to compete for the highly coveted medieval literature advisee position under Professor Wendy Frances against her ex-boyfriend, Colin Benjamin.
Fortunately, I fell in love with this book at the first page. You’re immediately drawn into the plot of the book with the dynamics between Allison and Colin. With such a refreshing and unique plot, I found myself easily going through this book and enjoying every page. It’s also an added bonus that this book has great pacing. I never once thought that this book felt too rushed or gone too slow.
Considering that this book was about a confident, plus-sized woman, I felt that this was the main thing I loved about this book. I really saw myself in Allison, trying to be successful in life while also being comfortable in her own skin. Since I don’t always read about plus-sized women being sought after by love interests or as the main character in the books I read, I found myself rooting for Allison throughout this book.
With this, if you’re looking for a fresh perspective in the romance genre, I would highly recommend getting this book when it releases in September.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Dementia
donnicakelsey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
+academic rivals
+second-chance romance
I wanted to love this book. The premise had me hooked. I especially loved this section from the author's note: "The word fat doesn't have to be ugly. But to make that so, we need to disempower it. I believe that stories are such a crucial first step to this. Fat people are more than their bodies. We deserve happily-ever-afters, both romantic and otherwise. I am so thrilled that I get to give Allison one."
After reading that, I was locked in, but this wasn't a happily-ever-after. There is nothing Jenny L. Howe wrote that made me believe, Allison, our leading lady, wasn't settling. Nothing in this book made me think the love interest, Colin, wasn't a complete douchebag. I hated this character, and there's no way he deserved a second-chance-at-love with Allison.
Throughout the book, which I forced myself to complete (though I strongly contemplated DNF'ing around 30%) I was hoping Allison grew a backbone, gave Colin the middle finger and kept it moving, focusing on her academic goals. Realistically, I know women who let men walk over them or easily excuse their behavior because they had a reason, but I didn't want that for this character. So, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated at the relationship and the immaturity of these characters.
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
doublebassgirl's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Death, Body horror, and Body shaming
Moderate: Child abuse and Dementia
Minor: Cancer
alisaurus1892's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Fatphobia, Dementia, and Death of parent
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Cancer, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Medical content
levesc17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Fatphobia and Death of parent
Minor: Medical content and Body shaming
ciscoatthedisco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Dementia, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Vomit and Pandemic/Epidemic
maddysbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i loved how flawed both the main characters were and how we were able to see them grow and develop from things they’ve done in the past. it made the characters seem so much more well thought out and realistic.
i thought the romance between colin and alison was so sweet and i really liked that colin wasn’t described as your typical book boyfriend, he was a lot nerdier than that which was adorable.
i thought that alison’s relationship with her body and the way she viewed herself was really well done as well.
the only thing i wish we saw more of was sophie and alison’s friendship bc i liked the dynamic between the two of them and i wish there was more of it in the story. but other than that i really really enjoyed this book.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia