#the ornithologist's field guide to love

[judgingbooksbycovers]

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

By India Holton.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

"So riotously clever it almost defies description...an alchemy of romantic elements held in perfect harmony."—NPR Rival ornithologists hunt through England for a rare magical bird in this historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, stealing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon. 

For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals. 

When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.

Review:

Rival ornithologist professors hunting down a rare magical bird in a competition find themselves falling in love while trying to beat each other to the prize. Beth Pickering is determined to get tenure, she's only passionate about one thing: birds. So when the ornithologist society offers a huge cash prize and tenure to the winner of the magical bird capturing competition, Beth is determined to win it, the only problem is so is famous handsome professor Devon Lockley. Beth and Devon are constant rivals and Devon loves getting under Beth's skin like nobody else. From the moment Devon met Beth he just couldn't stay away. He's been smitten with her since he met her and despite being professional rivals... this competition is the perfect way for him to team up with her and get to spend time with her... and it definitely doesn't hurt that the news paper have assumed they were lovers and that most of the places they've stayed at only have one bed..... but can he capture Beth's heart or will she fly away like the birds she so loves to chase? This was an absolutely charming and cute rom com read, it's perfect parts cozy fantasy romance and part charming academia. It's the perfect book for fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries!!! I can't even begin to talk about how much I adore Devon and Beth, Devon is so in love with Beth and it's so precious. I can't wait for book 2 to see the next couple fall in love! Please add this book to your tbr because I promise you wont regret it.

Release Date: July 23, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Put That Bird Back Where It Came From or So Help Me...

I picked up the Dangerous Damsels books on a whim, and those books sort of reached into my chest and twined themselves into my heartstrings, so when this book was announced, it pretty much instantly went on my TBR. Reader, I was NOT disappointed. India Holton's mixing of academia (specifically ornithology), media narratives, and competition is funny, sweet, and just a cozy hug of a read. Let's talk The Ornithologist's Filed Guide to Love.

A SPOILER WARNING is probably appropriate here...

Beth and Devon are two early career ornithology scholars, and when the International Ornithological Society (IOS) quietly works with ornithology departments at universities across England to hire a couple of press agents for a competition-cum-recruiting drive and put TENURE and the International Birder of the Year Award on the line, well...What can a good ornithologist do? The academic claws come out on all sides, and VERY DANGEROUS magical birds keep getting unleashed on birders...and the general public.

Beth and Devon's basic competence and refusal to allow collateral damage (to birds or bystanders) get them shoehorned into a media narrative that is trying to shove them into a rivals to lovers storyline. It's kind of hilarious when Beth and Devon realize that's what's happening, because honestly the pair are gone for each other at first sight and they get tired of the media circus constructed around them pretty darn fast. There's a near-meta level of fighting both the diegetic reality of their emergent relationship and the equally diegetic but wholly artificial constructed relationship they're being aggressively shoehorned into.

And the diegetically real emergent relationship is kind of adorable, because both Beth and Devon are deeply lonely, isolated people who do not trust their peers not to hurt and leave them. Which...yeah, yeah that sounds like valid academic and gifted kid trauma to me. So watching these two deeply competent academics deal with a lot of very dangerous birds and equally potentially dangerous feelings to learn to trust themselves AND each other was very fulfilling. I also kind of love that Devon--for all his piratic bravado and nonchalant cover--is allowed to secretly be a ball of insecurity and panic who just slowly falls for Beth. In turn, Beth gets to find her way out of the mannerly armor she built around herself and discover some actual sass and a spine. Like, Devon gets his threatening "Do not point that gun at her" line when out bad guy points a gun at Beth, but when the bad guy then points the gun at Devon, Beth *checks notes* flips a freaking table and browbeats the man over his terrible manners so aggressively that he voluntarily hands her the gun. Devon is, of course, absolutely starry-eyed watching this. It's perfect, I wouldn't change a thing.

They also get to rescue a juvenile caladrius from an extremely toxic tenured academic who should have retired literal decades ago but just. won't. leave. I do adore the loving but pointed critique of academia and its structures and archetypes.

The worldbuilding in the book is really lovely, with lots of magical birds that can so some WILD things imported into Victorian England, with all its manners and etiquette. There is even a dramatic kidnapping and full-on "Wait, I'm supposed to be rescuing YOU" heroine-driven escape that the hero shows up in the middle of. Then there's a marriage proposal. Again, it's perfect and I wouldn't change a thing.

Of course, one cannot talk about an India Holton book without talking about her writing style and authorial voice. These were strong in the Dangerous Damsels books, but here? Holton has refined and strengthened them and I was just enchanted and giggling the entire time. Seriously, it is rare to find an author with THIS CLEAR a voice and who can pair that with a delightfully whimsical and deeply sincere writing style that just perfectly works in fantasy Victorian England. Holton can do everything from delightfully tongue-in-cheek dick jokes to heart-wrenching and soul-baring conversations about who characters are to sheer villainous whimsey in evil monologues. The overall word is delightful and it just gets better from there.

I adore this first instalment in Holton's next set of characters looking for love, and I cannot recommend it enough for anyone who enjoys historical romantasy, cheekily delightful writing, and just damn good love stories.

[elliepassmore]

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love review

4/5 stars Recommended if you like: romantasy, romantic comedy, light academia, magic

Big thanks to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My rating for this book sits somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars, though it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly where. My rating is somewhat biased. I didn't see the publisher until after I'd requested the book and so didn't realize how heavily romance-oriented it was going to be (I thought it would be more like Emily Wilde's), and that's not really a genre I tend to read. That being said, once the book got going I began enjoying it, hence the rating still being relatively high.

It took me a while to get used to the narrative style of the book. For one, it's set in the Victorian Era and with that comes a lot of thinking about societal politeness and propriety, which doesn't interest me too much. Then there's quite a bit of emphasis on insta-lust and the feelings associated with that, albeit with a Victorian slant, though as mentioned I should've been more mindful of the drama. However, once things start getting on with the Birder of the Year competition, the pacing speeds up and I stopped noticing/being bothered by those two things. I'd say around the 10-15% mark.

The plot itself was interesting and actually contained more humorous moments than I was expecting. The ornithologists take the competition seriously, and it's clear Beth and Devon do as well, but there's quite a bit of tomfoolery occurring as each ornithologist tries to one up the other, and I found some of the situations to be quite funny. I also think that these moments really go to show how far ornithologists are willing to go in this world, which helps provide some context. There are also some behind-the-scenes machinations going on in the competition, and I did have a hard time trying to figure out the true motivation of the competition. There are really two different things going on, one of them funny and one of them more troublesome, that helped add some tension to the plot.

I like the concept of magical birds and the very extra people who study and trade in them. We have the chance to meet a bunch of different birds over the course of the book, ranging from deadly to pretty. Beth takes her job as an ornithologist seriously and is dedicated to studying and protecting birds from more unscrupulous forces. While he may seem like a scoundrel at first, Devon too is intensely interested in keeping birds safe. Conversely, it's made clear that a large swathe of the ornithologist community are less scrupulous and more interested in the fame and glory than in the birds themselves. It's no wonder the competition ends up being what it is.

Beth herself is the very definition of a Proper Victorian Lady. Beth can be quite shy, though she does her best to get along with people, usually with success (the scenes with the French fishermen might be some of my favorite in the book). Part of her shyness comes from being mocked as a child for being a 'weird know-it-all' who was, and is, obsessed with birds, though another part of it comes from her struggling to find the unspoken social rules others seem to follow (as I was reading I suspected she was autistic, and the author's note confirms that Beth is definitely ND, though Holton doesn't provide specifications). As a result, she's a bit of a people pleaser to start the book, though over the course of the competition she begins to stand up for herself and others more, and by the end is truly a force to be reckoned with.

Devon is both similar to Beth and her opposite. For one, he's much more devil-may-care and rakish, willing to be loud and gregarious when the need arises. However, this also masks someone who spent their later adolescent and early adult years feeling apart from others and lonely. In his own way, Devon can also be fairly shy and at times feels inadequate. That being said, it's clear he feels deeply and has a deep respect from the get-go for Beth. I think Devon's rakishness and sensitivity work well together.

The romance works well between the two main characters. Both of them have a deep love for the same academic subject and few people with whom they can let themselves relax and fully be themselves, both personally and academically. As academic prodigies they've had similar experiences in life and thus understand where each other is coming from and where their needs might be in the relationship. While I'd say the romance is definitely insta-love and insta-lust, Devon and Beth both have a wellspring of admiration and respect for one another, which I think is integral.

Overall, this was a surprisingly funny romantasy and I enjoyed the plot and characters. It isn't really a genre I read a lot, so it did take me some time to get used to the narrative style and the focus on romance vs. action + fantasy elements, but I did have a good time reading it.

[rheadionne]

Check out my review of The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton 

[annafromuni]

My August Reading Summary

Overall mood: eager. We’re back on the reading train this month! I’ll warn you know, this is a lot summary as I’ve managed to read 18 books (I know!) this month. I am adding a few more books to my regular list of reads each month for the next two months, and if you are familiar with this blog you may be able to guess why. The books I’ve read in August have been eye-opening, incredibly addicting,…

[blogmollylane]

Newly acquired: The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton

[nzbookwyrm]

July 2024

[lonely-in-the-moon]

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton, inspiration board.

[beckysbook5]

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton - Book Review!

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that’s beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance…

[extasiswings]

Currently reading: India Holton’s The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love and 12/10 no notes.

This book has everything—rivals-to-lovers! Magical birds! Whimsy! Smugglers! Academic peers who can’t stand each other! Young professors just trying to get tenure so they can research what they want! Secret shadowy individuals working behind the scenes to rig a competition for the best publicity! A+ all around.

[tangerinequeen19]

Thanks to @allwaswell16 for the tag!

Last song? Stick Season by Noah Kahan (still great btw)

Last book? "Crazy Brave" by Joy Harjo / Just started "The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love" by India Holton (“historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of indiana jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols” = color me intrigued)

Last movie? Hocus Pocus

Last tv show? English Teacher – highly recommend (“I love your daughter…..Stream English Teacher on Hulu" iykyk)

Sweet / spicy / savory: Savory

Last thing googled: “taco cat goat cheese pizza reddit review” bc i have never played this game but might get it for someone as a christmas present (input welcome)

Current obsession: Cozy mood lighting; going to the library; saving recipes that I surely will not make; trying to not go berserk about the election (failing)

Looking forward to: Family being home for the holidays

Tagging if you want to/haven't done it yet: @louisblr @noraincls @itsokson @weareonejazzhand @sweatyfestivaltrash

@goldcrumble @shinylights @larentyouglad2 @fortheloveof-louis @tanktop-lou

@justthinkingaboutlouis

and anyone who wants to, it's fun seeing what everyone's up to 😊

[moonwatchuniverse]

60 years ago… tragic midweek, RIP Ian Fleming On August 12, 1964, British author/officer/journalist/diplomat "Commander" Ian Fleming passed away in Canterbury hospital. The day before, Fleming had played golf at the Royal St George Golf Club in near Sandwich - Kent. Fleming was Captain-elect of the golf club which he named "Royal St Marks" in his 1959 book "Goldfinger". After evening dinner with his wife Ann Rothermere at the Guildford Hotel, Fleming collapsed suffering a haemorrhage (heart attack), rushed to Canterbury hospital where he died at 01:30… He was buried near his home at Sevenhampton near Swindon - Wiltshire. 1964 had been an amazing year, during his last winter vacation at his "Goldeneye" villa in Oracabessa - Jamaica, Fleming meet a lot of friends and even the American ornithologist James Bond, author of the "Field Guide to Birds of the West Indies" of which Fleming owned a 1947 edition. Fleming worked on his 14th & last novel "The Man With The Golden Gun" and looked forward to filming of "Thunderball", having seen the movie "From Russia With Love" in October 1963. Both the novels "The Man With The Golden Gun" & "Octopussy" and both movies "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball" were released after Fleming's death. Aged 56, Fleming left a huge legacy as the movies boosted book sales and merchandise began to appear with a growing public taste for the adventures of his imperial spy hero James Bond. Ian Fleming (1908-1964) will also be remembered for his military career and as profound wearer of the 1961 Rolex Explorer 1016 gentleman's wrist watch. (Photo: AP/GettyImages FairUse)

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Ok, I'm on chapter 10 of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love, and THIS has just happened:

The complete and utter SASS and sheer disrespect for the US Ivy League are on point, A+, no notes.

[elliepassmore]

An Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love release!

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon. 

For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals. 

When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology.

Bookshop.org

Barnes & Noble

If you're into romantasy and the Victorian era, this book is definitely for you. It's a wild chase as two ornithologist's team up to try and catch the same bird, but run into plenty of shenanigans of their own along the way. It's quite a humorous read and it's fairly light to get through.

One thing I enjoyed was the running gag in the story of the "only one bed" trope...except there's only 16 beds! Or only 0 beds! I enjoyed the bit a lot more than I expected and had some giggles over it while reading.

Interested in a more in-depth opinion? Check out my full review!

[mermaidsirennikita]

Hi, any academic rivals to lovers book recs? Thanks!

Hmmmm

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto—Not so much academic as professional, but I would say there's a lot of the academic vibes here because they're classical musicians and that involves a lot of study of their art. A really good rivals to lovers book in general, super hot.

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton—Fantasy romance by way of historical romance, they're rival ornithologists, both massive nerds, and end up roped into the pursuit of a bird together. India is always hilarious, love her tone.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood—The heroine is competing for a job, not with the hero but with his candidate, as it were. They're both scientists!