I was drawn into Given Our History by the cute cover and intriguing title. Clara is an assistant professor who is not exactly working her dream job, but is content that it will eventually help her achieve her goals. When tenure becomes a possibility, she starts to feel the pressure. To her horror, the new visiting professor is her former best friend (who she no longer talks to). Will they be able to work together or will the awkwardness be too much?  

Given Our History is a lighthearted second-chance romance. Clara and Teddy first meet as homeschoolers. There is a dual timeline approach with alternating scenes from the present to past. While I enjoyed the additional backstory, I wish there had been a little more focus on the present and them falling in love again. The tenure and portrayal of academia was interesting and I felt satisfied with the choice Clara made in the end. 

Readers who enjoy dual timelines and second-chance romance will appreciate Give Our History. 

Thank you to Kristyn J. Miller, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.