As a two-day Jeopardy! champion, I was so excited to read this book! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jen Comfort for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not a fan of insta-love, so I wasn’t all in on this story after the first couple of chapters, but I really enjoyed the way the relationship developed over time and the characters’ feelings deepened past the initial infatuation. I loved the portrayal of the trivia world - it felt real, not parodied. I loved the exploration of how different characters felt about the pursuit of knowledge.

I’ve gone back and forth a few times between 4 stars and 5. There are some plot contrivances that weren’t fully sold, but the ending genuinely surprised me, I believed in the relationship, and there were some fantastic lines. Recommended!

I wanted to love this book, the idea is great, but I just couldn't get into it. As a real life Jeopardy! Champion, I understand the need to change the fictional show enough for trademark issues, etc., but it is distracting for me. Also, there is just too much going on outside of the main storyline and it is distracting and sometimes unneeded. For instance, an emotional support snake is making fun of people with real service animals.

Humorous and quippy. I enjoyed the setting of a gameshow and trivia to add another layer of drama as well as a consistent, unique theme. But for the most part this is a plot about two people resolutely insisting ‘We can not become sexually involved,’ and then immediately starting to have sex - rinse and repeat several times. As a preferer of slow-burn rather than smut, the tension evaporated for me (but that’s all down to personal preference).

The book is at its best (plot, character, and writing wise) in the final third, when the drama and gameshow politics return in full force and the romance becomes somewhat angsty again.

I do think I would have gotten greater enjoyment out of it had I liked the characters a lot more at the start. While I grew fond of them beyond the halfway point, in certain moments I actively disliked their behavior - which can stop you from connecting with the story and its stakes. I could see why they were attracted to each other (in the whole enemies-to-lovers, both physically arousing, and oh-we’re-more-alike-than-we-think ways) but I had very little investment in either one of them personally as individual characters for a huge chunk of the book. Which I think is somewhat necessary in a romance; you should want the people to get together and experience happiness. You should be rooting for them.

But, despite all that, there’s humour and fun facts and I thought the story itself was cute enough that I kept on reading - I really wanted to know who would win the gameshow and the last few chapters of the book did provide some redemption. Given a different set of characters (input your OTP here) I think it would have made for a very enjoyable read throughout. Mostly, I think this is just a case of Maxine and Theo not being my cup of tea.

5.5/10

ALLLLLL THE STARRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. READ THIS RIGHT NOW. GAMESHOW. GRUMPYSUNSHINE. I gobbled up this book like it was my last supper, and all I can do is scream from the rooftops that YOU need this IN YOUR life. Jen Comfort is the queen and we all shall just bow down to her. THIS TAKES THE CAKE ON FRESH FUN STEAMY ROMANCES. MORE LIKE THIS PLEASEEE.

Thank you so much for the ARC Jen, I have pre-ordered this book.

I was super hype for this book and was really excited to get the ARC for it. I am a big jeopardy girlie and I've been on a big rom com kick for the past year, so I figured this was made for me. But I was only meh throughout the whole book. Max is all over the place all the time, she's probably a good representation of ADHD or I assume that is what she is supposed to be, but it was hard for me to follow. I viscerally hated Teddy at the beginning of the book, but he did improve throughout the book. I don't exactly know what it is about the book that just didn't grab me like I expected, but it just didn't work for me at the time I read it. This was my first time reading a book by this author, so I will definitely give her another chance though and read a second book by her. This would probably be more like a 2.5 if Goodreads allowed half stars

This book was absolute perfection, from the delightfully steamy scenes to the hilarious side characters! I had no idea I could enjoy a book about trivia competitors so thoroughly. The ADHD representation was so great, especially since it reflected so much of my own experience in the neurotypical education system. I loved Teddy and Maxine, the enemies-to-lovers was giving everything and more, like we loveee a man in suspenders that can teach AND reward in a satisfying way hehe. I was sad when it was over, but also so happy to see their story end in the sweetest twist! This made me want to try out for some kind of trivia game show, despite having zero knowledge to brag about.

4.5 stars rounded down.

OH NO I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS BOOK.

okay so i am a superfan of the following thing: jeopardy!, romance novels, bisexuals, taking down cocky men. this book, then, is unbelievably targeted at me. it is technically not about jeopardy!--it is about a remarkably similar game show called answers!--but let's be real. this book is chaotic and mutual and definitely has the hottest geography study tactics you have ever read. i was on a netgalley no-request self-ban when i heard about this book and i knew i needed to break my own rules to get it and i was correct.

also BEST FACT is that i got a j! question right yesterday based on something i learned in this book (jeopardy!--sorry, answers!--treats the caspian sea as a lake, and it technically counts as both).

i'm going to be absolutely annoying about this book until everyone i know who would love it has read it. i really hope it comes out on audio!

I read three chapters and texted two friends to tell them that they must read this. Jen writes books that are clever and smart and almost a little unlikeable, but in the BEST way. She seems to love a heroine with lots of space to grow and that growth on page is so rewarding.

Maxine and Teddy are archenemies. They competed in a game show together and severely disagreed with each other's methods. When they are asked to compete in a giant tournament of champions, they team up to learn more and also to defeat a common enemy. Proximity combined with instant but secret lust create a romance that is page turning and addicting. I think comfort is growing into her writing because every single book she writes is a little bit better.

Now this is romance.

It is catered to me, specifically. Hot professor love interest. Rivalry between two intellectuals on a trivia game show. He's head over heels from the jump. Trivia-based smut PLEASE!!!! Maps have never been this hot. I genuinely love how Maxine just moved into Teddy's house I love them so much he's so whipped.

The plot is essentially two trivia junkies go head to head on a jeopardy-like game show. Maxine beats Teddy, Teddy beats Maxine. The two, both from very different backgrounds (he's the adopted son into a wealthy English family and who went to Princeton and Oxford, and she's the daughter of a gambling addict with ADHD who grew up poor in Brooklyn and never went to college) get the opportunity to go head to head again and determine who is really the best when the show decides to have a tournament of champions. Maxine and Teddy agree to help each other improve on their respective trivia weaknesses and chaos and love! ensue. I need a Teddy in my life fr fr.

WOW. Jen hits it out of the park with this steamy rivals-to-lovers romcom. I LOVE the way our main characters have been built and their chemistry is unmatched. The last 2 chapters had be swooning!!! No third act break up is a HUGE plus. I can't wait to read more from this author. 5/5
Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of content.

I tried to read this one several times and I decided to DNF. Unfortunately, the writing style and the characters were not my cup of tea. I am probably in the minority here, though. It just didn't vibe with me.

This book hooks you from the beginning and you can't stop reading it! This was absolutely amazing and I loved every word of it!! One of my top 10 romances of the year so far! I loved Maxine and Teddy's romance. I will definitely be rereading this again!!
I just reviewed What is Love? by Jen Comfort. #WhatisLove #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I attempted to read this several times and just could not get into it. Clearly I'm in the minority considering the many rave reviews. DNF'd at 40% and that was after skimming a lot. I couldn't stand Maxine - she was all over the place and I didn't find her at all humorous. Actually, I didn't like any of the rest of them, either. Unfortunately, this one was not for me.

Having not read anything previously from this author, and also not being a fan of book descriptions, I had no idea what to expect. To say I was pleasantly surprised and riveted by the story would be an understatement. The TV gameshow backdrop, the FMC with pretty significant ADHD, and the MMC determined to find a way to fit into her life however he could, really worked for me. And also, the MMC was a lower-case dom who understood the FMCs praise kink?! Bonus points for YUM! I started off not sure where this was gonna go, and by the twist at the end (and my new appreciation for the study of rivers around the world #IYKYK!!), this was a great time with a wonderful love story. Highly recommend!

Freaking PERFECTION. 10/10. This was just so so good. I couldn’t get enough of it and wanted a thousand more pages of this.

Format - Paperback and E ARC (Netgalley)

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶 🌶

Series- N/A

Troupes- insta attraction, enemies to lovers, forced proximity,

Representation- Diagnosed ADHD

CW- Parent with a dementia

A book that has heart, banter and is a trivia nerds wet dream? What is, What is Love by Jen comfort?

I am not even a trivia nerd and this book had me in stitches, misty eyed and made my glasses fog up! Jen Comforts story telling is always a good time, with her sassy black cat herons and her sweet and spicy golden retriever hero’s and this book is no different.

Maxine and Teddy could not be more opposite but its is lust at first sight the night before they compete against each other on a national trivia show. Less happens then you think but its changes the course of their lives and nothing will ever be the same for either of them.

Jen gives us more banter and sexual tension then you can cut with a knife all while we fall in love with these two dummies. Things come to a head, literally after they jump out of a plane, and I don’t know that I will ever look at those kids primary colored parachutes again without my brain going directly into the gutter.

Sweet, Sexy, Low angst with a lots of Heart this book is a wonderfully cozy read that will also teach you some things!

Thank you Jen and Monet Lake and Netgalley for the advanced copies!

DNF @ 10%. I very quickly determined that the writing in this book is not going to work for me personally.

This is a super fun book about two rival game show contestants turned lovers. Maxine and Teddy are both endearing and vulnerable in opposite ways: Maxine has ADHD and some severe self doubt because of how it has shaped her and her family's chaotic life, Teddy thrives on careful control in his routine to feel secure and compensate for his own sense of shaky self worth. While Teddy falls in insta-love with Maxine, and sometimes the book veers a bit little too much "opposites attract/s/he's everything I am not and therefore I am in love" as a basis of their relationship, Comfort still pulls off an utterly charming romp of a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It's also extremely extremely sexy, ahem *blushes.*

This book was a blast to read! The characters were smart and believable; the heat was hot and the game show setting was a joy. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

📣 lusty rivals to lovers contemporary that’s steamy, funny, & doesn’t have a third act break-up! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC and the author & the publisher for the complimentary hard-copy. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 if you were on a Jeopardy-like show & the final category was ROMANCE, would you wager 0, just enough to squeak by in victory, or all of it? I’m torn between the last two.

Jen Comfort’s books take you on a ride in the best way. My experience with What is Love? felt a bit like what the hero Teddy feels in heroine Maxine’s presence: dazzled, awed, entertained, 🔥ed…🤣

This contemporary has—

🐍 two super hot nerds battling it out in trivia. They’re both very smart, curious, & determined but have totally different styles when it comes to studying & making decisions.

🐍 fantastic steam. Whew!

🐍 so many funny moments, seriously, & some of them are in your face, can’t miss it, & others are more subtle. The way I must have been smiling reading this book!

🐍 no third-act break up!

🐍 an uptight & the chaotic one dynamic that’s a bit true, a bit of a mask, & throughout the book these leads see what’s deeper in themselves & in the other.

🐍 queer rep!

🐍 the hero falls first!

🐍 really great portrayal of ADHD & how that affects learning & experiences in education. I love how it becomes part of their trivia journey & their relationship.

🐍 romantic moments that had me swooning & laughing at the end.

If you like your romance to feel free, wild, fresh, & very romantic in a bold kind of way, check out Jen Comfort’s books! I’m *such* a fan & have the feeling I will love everything she writes.

5 ⭐️. 04/01.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: Jess, a white woman wearing a blue peacoat & a multicolored crocheted scarf, holds the book while standing outside in the snow.]