The Antiquarian's Object of Desire

Love's Academic #3

by India Holton

When two history professors and best friends are forced to fake hate to protect their reputations, chaos ensues, in the next rollicking historical-fantasy rom-com from beloved author India Holton.

Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.

The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.…

Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical, Romantasy, Fiction, Historical Romance

Audible Audio

First published April 21, 2026

About the author

India lives in New Zealand, where she writes fantasy romcoms featuring unconventional women and men who adore them.

India's writing is fuelled by tea and thunderstorms.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who's read India Holton's Love's Academic series will know that wherever her two leads go, magical mischief and romance is sure to follow, and in her third and latest book The Antiquarian's Object of Desire, the chaos is at an all-time high!

Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been besties since they were eight years old in boarding school together. Unfortunately, that close friendship is unacceptable in the Victorian era Oxford University setting where they're both professors. Amelia's position would be in particular peril were the head of their department, Professor Ottersock, to suspect the two unmarried professors were so close. What's the solution?

These two don't fake date ... they fake hate! When anyone's eyes are on them, the barbs fly and petty squabbling ensues, but the more heated their "tempers" get, the more turned on they seem to become, even if only in their minds. Furthermore, the magical objects around them seem to misbehave as well causing a path of destruction wherever they go! Has the genuine and deep affection they've always had for each other become something more or was it there all along?

When the two are sent, along with flighty museum curator Vanity Tunnicliffe, to the estate of Sir Nigel Harroway and his wife Lady Ruperta to examine his extensive private collection of magical antiques, their patience is put to the test as all manner of misbehaving magic follows. As the days drag on and their proximity becomes more tempting, it's not just the antiques Amelia and Caleb want to inspect!

I don't read too many series, and barely any historical romance, but India Holton is an author that always delivers adventure, humor, dynamic characters and crazy magical stories that are so fun to escape in. The inner monologues of her characters are always hilarious, particularly when narrated by the brilliant Elizabeth Knowelden. It's also fascinating to see a strong, intelligent Victorian era FMC wrestle with the constraints and "taboo" desires of women in that time, both professionally and personally.

This was a wonderful immersion read and Amelia and Caleb's story may be my favorite yet. Their story certainly ended on a potentially interesting path for a new book!

★★★★ ½

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author India Holton for this digital ARC to honestly review and to Audible for the audio. It's out now.

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 ★— I can always trust India Holton to give me historical fantasy with enough banter and humorous moments to keep me thoroughly entertained!

Playing with the 'fake enemies that are actually friends' concept, I can confidently say that I have never read a book with this dynamic before, and that I want more of it!

Nothing thing to note is that I’ve only fully read one other book in her Love’s Academic series, but I can confidently say that I had no issues not having finished the series prior to this. All these books are very much standalones that still connect well, with little hints at previous characters that are fun to catch.

Amelia and Caleb have such a warm dynamic, and these two oblivious idiots have been unknowingly into each other forever without properly acknowledging it to themselves, which the book’s plot finally forces them to confront. We get tension, we get yearning, we get some delicious jealousy, and some sexy scenes that really worked because of how much trust and history there already was between them!

The academic parts of the story were interesting and well done, as always, and I thought that Holton did a good job of underlining the struggles Amelia, as a female scientist of her time, goes through.

I also really appreciated that we got an MMC in Caleb who was unapologetically capricious, a little vain, and teasing, which was a nice break from the more typically broody male love interests of the previous books.

This was fun, flirty, and exactly what I wanted from this series!
_____________

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy.

[kylie’s been jinxed ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

❛❛ ᴍʏ sᴏᴜʟ ɪs ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀs. ❜❜

˗ˏˋ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 ˎˊ˗

ᯓ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴᴛɪǫᴜᴀʀɪᴀɴ's ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ ᴏғ ᴅᴇsɪʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 21, 2026!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.25 sᴛᴀʀs!! ★★★★☆
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ʙᴀɴᴛᴇʀ, sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ, ғᴀᴋᴇ ʜᴀᴛɪɴɢ, ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs!!

ᯓ {⚜️} premise:
⤿Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling are two professors teaching at Oxford, both antiquarians - studying antique magical objects (often with a tendency to combust). However, Amelia is a professor in Victorian England and must avoid all romantic scandals to keep her job. This entails fake hating her best-friend and colleague - Caleb.

ᯓ {⚜️} all my thoughts:
⤷ This is a well written fantasy historical fiction novel set in Victorian England, following two professors at Oxford University. The banter and romance in this is incredibly well done.

This is written as a dual pov, so we get to enjoy both perspectives of Amelia and Caleb as they fall in love. The yearning and slow burn romance in this is top tier. I really enjoyed their banter, the insults flown back and forth were incredibly funny. I might have to steal some of them for my own personal use.

The world-building is also well done. I could get a great sense of this fantastical version of Victorian England, bringing all of the stigmas and prejudice with it. I really like how certain objects are imbued with magic. The howling ghosts are also a nice touch.

The pacing is quick and the pages fly by, I was able to finish this in about two sittings - it really captures and keeps your attention. This was my introduction to India Holtons and I really like her writing. The dialogue is perfect and the descriptions are rich. (Quick note: this series does not necessarily need to be read in order, it is set in an interconnected world.)

Finally, the plot. The ending fell a little bit flat and was almost too rushed. However, I do believe that the main appeal of this book is the romance – which is absolutely perfect. The story ends up tied in a nice little bow.

ᯓ {⚜️} characters:

⤷ Amelia Tarrant. Amelia may appear a stern and grumpy professor, but inside she is a caring and sweet woman. She is extremely clever and a leading expert in the field of magic antiques.

⤷ Caleb Sterling. Caleb is the sweetest and most golden retriever professor. He is very much in love with Amelia (though she remains oblivious) and would follow her anywhere she goes. ;)

The banter and yearning between these two is incredible!

ᯓ {⚜️} overall opinions:

I would recommend this book to anybody looking for a fun and entertaining romance to read. This is incredibly well written and I would definitely pick this up for a reread when it gets released!

ᯓ {⚜️} rating:
⤿ 4.25 stars

ᯓ {⚜️} read if you enjoyed:
⤿ Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries (Heather Fawcett)
⤿ Katabasis (RF Kuang)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

India Holton always makes me giggle with her off-beat humour, swoony situations, and absurd premises.

Sadly, this one fell flat. :(

I appreciated that it was friends-to-lovers, but they-have-to-pretend-to-hate-each-other due to historical sensibilities.

The plot was quite repetitive and not very engaging. Normally, it’s her characters that pull through for me, but this time they didn’t carry that usual zing and chemistry. Holton truly excels at rivals and enemies due to that tension.

The romance here relied on lust and a pre-established relationship that didn’t translate well.

This wasn’t awful; it just lacked Holton’s usual flair and over-the-top fun.

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[EveStar91 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to wallpaper every square inch of my home with the pages of this book...

So that I might wholly envelop myself in every morsel of Amelia and Caleb’s love at all times of day and night.

It’s a love that’s both sweet and tender, raw and reverent, innocent and adoring, boundless and enduring. Not to mention mercilessly intimate on an emotional, intellectual, and spiritual level.

Their souls are best friends.

A devotion so deeply rooted that I’d venture you could dig all the way to the Earth’s core and find the tendrils of their intertwined souls reaching deeper still, woven into the very bones of existence.

I am, in fact, insufferably smitten with Amelia and Caleb, and every sentence of this story.

So here are my cliff notes on what made this friends-to-lovers journey feel like a religious experience before my inevitable descent into effusive gushing:

💙 Amelia and Caleb are best friends and soulmates above all else. Their romance becomes a natural expansion of the emotional intimacy and steadfast companionship they've spent 18 years building together. It leaps off every page and never wavers once they embrace their romantic chemistry. This was such a breath of fresh air for me considering the proliferation of friends-to-lovers stories where the friendship feels like some arbitrary and infuriating waiting room that exists purely for tropes-sake, only to be tossed to the wind once physical intimacy enters the chat. Here, their friendship is the entire point, and it remains the focus even after they stop pretending they’re “just friends”.

✨ We’re actively shown how deep their mutual affection and admiration run throughout all 335 heart-melting pages of this book. It's expressed through a seemingly infinite number of tiny acts of care and moments of intimacy, oozing from their every interaction. By the end, their love became so palpable I could practically taste it.

💙  Their romance doesn't burn slowly on account of emotional immaturity, poor communication, or self-preservation. Their hesitation and self-denial stem from the immense value they place on their bond, and a selfless fear that asking for something more could make the other person feel they’ve lost the emotional safety their friendship has always provided—the refuge they’ve always been for one another.

✨ Amelia grows independent of the romance and finds a deeper sense of power and acceptance within herself. The romance doesn’t ‘fix’ her or become the source of her empowerment. She does it on her own, and Caleb admires her even more for it every step of the way.

Beyond the romance, every other aspect of this story also fed me:

🗝️ There are layers of emotional depth to Amelia and Caleb’s individual character arcs that make them compelling in their own right.

🗝️ We’re given just the right amount of satirical commentary on misogyny within academia, and patriarchal societies as a whole, so that it feels sharp and satisfying without ever becoming preachy or beating us over the head with its message.

🗝️ India Holton’s signature kooky chaos is alive and thriving in this installment, complete with levitating sausage rolls, explosive teaspoons, and an umbrella battle with a rogue coat rack.

🗝️ The prose is exactly what I crave: eloquent and refined, with all the scholarly sophistication and Victorian-era elegance a girl could hope for.

🗝️ I was wholly transported into the stormy English countryside and felt like I could smell the dust inside the decaying gothic manor they dwell within. I loved experiencing the sprawling gardens, antique trinkets, and looming spirits (when I wasn’t squealing like a sounder of pigs over the romantic tension).

1890, England—the story in brief

Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling are distinguished historians and antiquarian professors at Oxford who have been two inseparable peas in a pod since meeting as 8-year-olds in boarding school.

“She didn’t just know Caleb. He was deep inside her heart, the truest friend she’d ever had, her most favorite person in all the world.”

But Victorian society has a particular talent for scandalizing absolutely anything a woman does, and as such, Amelia’s close friendship with Caleb becomes yet another excuse for her misogynistic colleagues to try and undermine the prolific career she’s worked tirelessly to build.

So, in an effort to protect her reputation, she and Caleb disguise their friendship beneath a pretense of mutual hatred, convincing Oxford’s faculty they’re the fiercest of foes.

They commit to the bit a little too enthusiastically, however, and one particularly heated exchange erupts into a magical explosion that lands them both in hot water with their department head, Professor Ottersock.

To get them out of his hair (and prevent any further magic-induced destruction), Ottersock ships Amelia and Caleb off to a crumbling estate in the stormy countryside of Cumbria to catalogue magical antiques. Because nothing fosters camaraderie quite like cursed relics and ghoulish spirits.

Naturally, there’s magic afoot at every turn, resulting in one delightfully absurd debacle after another as they attempt to complete their assignment and avert an unexpected national catastrophe.

All the while, they must keep up appearances of mutual enmity under the watchful eyes of their brown-nosing colleagues, who are now impossible to escape in the confines of this remote mansion.

But the impossible task of maintaining their shtick as enemies while working together to overcome sundry magical catastrophes, and instinctively seeking each other’s comfort and shelter through it all, slowly forces Caleb and Amelia to confront what’s been hiding in plain sight: the deep connection they've always understood as “just friendship” may have been something far more extraordinary all along.

You know the romance is going to hit the spot when you adore both the fmc and mmc right out of the gates.

Amelia and Caleb are so easy to root for individually. They also fit together so seamlessly that they feel like two halves of a heart-shaped locket I'll be wearing close to my heart (in spirit) for the rest of my days.

“The pair of them had become inseparable, to the degree that now Amelia was inclined to believe them two halves of the same soul.”

Amelia Tarrant is my dream heroine.

She's a preeminent antiquarian and esteemed professor at Oxford; a remarkable achievement under any circumstances, but especially so during the 19th century.

Amelia embodies the ambition, intelligence, drive, and competence required to reach the heights she has, which naturally makes her positively terrifying to the mediocre men surrounding her in academia.

“She was that most daunting of creatures, a Woman Who Knew What She Was Doing.”

If you've already read The Geographer’s Map to Romance and met Amelia’s brother Gabriel, it'll come as no surprise to learn that she carries the same composed, sensible, fastidious Tarrant energy.

But in Amelia’s case, we’re given a much deeper understanding of how those traits developed out of necessity.

In her youth, Amelia was the wild, expressive, free-spirited soul you'd expect any child to be. Yet those qualities were viewed as flaws by her rigid parents, who shipped her off to boarding school to be “fixed”.

“When Amelia proved incapable of controlling her emotions by eight years old, it was concluded that boarding school would cure her of such instability.”

We bear witness to the ways that wound echos through her adult life, and how she clings to that learned composure as a means of survival.

She's constantly policing herself to appease academia in much the same way she did to earn her parents’ approval. Beneath all that control is a quiet, persistent fear that if she ever lets her guard down, she’ll once again be abandoned for being too emotional, too silly, too much.

The tragic irony of it all is that society still finds reasons to punish her for the very qualities it demanded of her in the first place, labeling Amelia an “antisocial harridan” and a “terror”.

Every instance of prejudice, discrimination, and retaliation she faces initially reinforces the wounded belief that somehow, she’s the problem.

But in time, Amelia begins to understand the hostility she faces has nothing to do with her being fundamentally flawed and everything to do with the toxic patriarchal structures she’s forced to navigate to realize her dreams of being a successful historian.

Watching her dismantle that belief and reclaim her power with renewed clarity was immensely gratifying, and it made her character quite relatable.

And standing beside her every step of the way is the ever-supportive and protective Caleb.

Is there anything more attractive than a gallant golden retriever ready to go to war at any moment to uphold his lady’s honor?

But what happens when that charming golden retriever also happens to be your lifelong best friend?

As Amelia so earnestly reminds herself, “friends do not think about other friends’ stiffened phalluses.”

So she does what any sensible person would do: stuffs her inconvenient romantic feelings for Caleb into the darkest corners of her heart in favor of preserving the friendship that means the world to her.

“Caleb was hers. Platonically speaking, of course. As in Plato’s theory of each person having another half, a soulmate.”

However, this is Caleb Sterling we’re talking about. Resisting his charms is like trying to maintain your composure while standing inside an active volcano.

Let's move onto the man of the hour: Caleb Sterling.

A fellow Oxford professor and esteemed antiquarian. Or more aptly described as the histrionic historian.

“I can’t go to Cumbria. I’m a great indoorsman; too much fresh air upsets my digestive system.”

Caleb is a melodramatic diva with a penchant for the finer things in life. He's effortlessly charming and charismatic. Cheeky and playful. A shameless flirt who moves through the world with a disarming ease and amiability that makes him impossible not to adore.

While he may have a slightly inflated sense of his own magnificence, his theatrical self-praise is less an expression of genuine ego, and more a playful performance meant to amuse and delight everyone around him. Which somehow makes his roguish confidence all the more swoon-inducing.

If Wendell Bambleby (from the Emily Wilde series) or Osric Mordaunt (from the Dearly Beloathed series) light your soul on fire, you simply must meet Caleb Sterling. Expeditiously.

What makes Caleb truly unforgettable is the depth of his devotion to Amelia, and the completely unabashed way he expresses it.

INCESSANTLY.

Amelia: “Why are you not taller?”

Caleb: “I’m tall enough for the important things,” he said, and bent some five inches to kiss her forehead.”

You’d be hard-pressed to find a scene where he’s not quietly praising Amelia, or gazing into her soul like she hung the moon, or lovingly tending to some small part of her person. (My personal weakness: tucking a lock of hair behind her ear when she’s frazzled while reassuring her).

He finds a way to dote over her in every situation. One moment, he’s gently wriggling each of Amelia’s already-gloved fingers into his own gloves so she stays extra warm. The next, he’s draping his coat over her before she even registers that she’s catching a chill and tucking her arms through it himself.

I could write my own novel swooning over all the small but mighty ways Caleb cherishes Amelia.

And while none of these actions may seem earth-shattering in isolation, the sheer consistency of his attentiveness and affection is all-encompassing, all-consuming, and frankly overstimulating in the best way possible.

His character is not all rainbows and butterflies, however.

He brings emotional depth to the storyline, as well.

Through glimpses into Caleb’s upbringing, we learn that his effortless charisma developed as a survival mechanism.

After being raised in the slums and losing his father at a young age, Caleb worked tirelessly to build a better life for himself and his mother. He learned early that geniality and flattery could open doors that might otherwise remain firmly closed to someone of his circumstances.

“He’d spent so long being charming, cheerful, and pretty, hoping that people would like him enough to give him what he needed to survive in the rookery—in boarding school—in adult life with all its perils.”

And throughout all of it, Amelia has always been his constant. His rock. His haven. The one person he can lower his defenses around. She brought endless love and joy into his life even in the darkest of times.

And he’d follow her to the ends of the Earth. Nothing could ever keep him from her side:

“People asked him sometimes why he’d chosen to become a historian specializing in antiques, and he always answered with a crooked smile, “Because of magic.” And it was true. Because of her. She was his magic; she had enchanted his life from the moment he first met her.”

Because she’s been the center of his world for so long, Caleb grapples with acknowledging the truth that his love for Amelia has grown beyond the bounds of friendship. He’d never want to jeopardize their bond. But he can only mask it for so long when that truth is written into every word of praise and every act of tenderness that’s so instinctual to him.

“He’d loved Amelia Victoria Tarrant from the very first moment he made her smile through her tears, all the way back behind the dormitory when they were little. An innocent love, a friendship, a worshipping, a complete consummation of his soul. She was his light, his life, his grave.”

This entire book is an ode to love built atop foundations of unshakable friendships.

It’s the most romantic romance to ever romance me.

The kind of love built on unequivocal trust, deep companionship, mutual respect, and lifelong adoration. It's so certain and consistent, that it’s somehow both instinctual and intentional.

And while their connection feels pure and innocent, it never comes across as childish or naive because they’re both emotionally mature.

“She wished she could have just one quiet, private hour with him, chatting about inconsequential things, knocking their feet together in mock battle the way they sometimes did when they forgot they were grown-ups.”

Their instinctive reliance on one another throughout the assignment, despite the way it threatens to unravel their ruse of mutual hatred, eventually jolts them into the realization that they're not only the best of friends, but also helplessly enamored with one another.

If you've ever thought, “I do declare, I’ve had enough of mediocre men thinking they are so clever!”

Then you will thoroughly enjoy this story and the satirical comedy India Holton has woven through it.

If you love a romance that’s built on emotional intimacy...

This story will nourish your soul in ways that few fantasy romances can.

After a subpar experience with the previous book in this series, I walked into The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire with zero expectations.

Just a stubborn mission to finish the trilogy, lest another series linger unfinished on my shelf.

And then, about 10 pages into the story, I felt that familiar rush that usually arrives just before a story devours my heart and becomes my entire personality. Which this absolutely did.

The pacing was steady.

The lead characters were impossibly lovable, well fleshed-out, and emotionally layered.

The side characters brought intrigue and humor to the storyline.

The magical shenanigans were top-tier.

The flirtatious banter made me scream and giggle until I thought I might start gnawing on my kindle like a lunatic.

The ending made my heart explode like a supernova.

Everything about this reading experience was euphoric, and so naturally, this book has been promoted to my ‘holy grails’ shelf upon conclusion.

And if anyone happens to bump into India Holton, I beg you to beg her for a hardcover version on my behalf.

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the first book in this series (The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love) cannot be topped. Books two and three (this one) were mid. I said what I said.

[Minna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I know you need your sunshine."
↳ " That's what you're for. "

CHILDHOOD BESTFRIENDS TO LOVERS??? WHO PRETEND TO HATE EACH OTHER FOR THE SAKE OF HER REPUTATION??

Yes, yes I am doing a lot of screaming, but what's new. To no one's surprise, I absolutely loved this one 😭 all I want to do now after finishing this is to go run and reread the series from the beginning. India Holton is so talented at creating characters that you cant help but root for. You just want to give them all the biggest hug, and that was no different with this installment. I ADORE Amelia and Caleb so much. Their story is so incredibly sweet and endearing, and this book was everything I could have ever asked for.

Caleb had me SWOOOOONING. This man and his dramatics (very Howl coded in this sense) and with his adorable nicknames for Amelia 😭 (Meely was my favorite, but they all had my giggling). Their dynamic was so, so sweet. I literally can't write this review without tearing up a little bit. The characters felt so incredibly real, and the relationship was executed so well. The little moments between them that could only work when you've been best friends with someone as long as they have been. And of course, the fake hating was always so entertaining to read. We love the silly little ridiculous moments that this author is known for doing so well.

"She didn't just know Caleb. He was deep inside her heart, the truest friend she'd ever had, her most favorite person in all the world."

And while it was heartwarming to watch Caleb and Amelia discover their feelings for one another, I also really enjoyed the self love journey that Amelia went on throughout this story. This book covered topics of misogyny and sexism in academia, and it made me want to just jump into this book and yell at all of these old men. She deserved SO much more, and I love that she had Caleb by her side while realizing how lovely she is.

There is just no one who writes a fantasy historical rom com like India Holton does, they always contain the perfect amount of whimsy magical fun. And this was THE BEST ending anyone could ask for, I actually had tears streaming down my face because I wasn't ready to say goodbye. This world had such lovely characters that will forever have a place in my heart. I can't wait for what she writes next!

Thank you SO much Berkley for this arc! It will be releasing April 21, 2026!
__________________

I AM CRYINNNNNNG 😭😭😭

what an amazing conclusion to such a lovely series 😭😭

[fromthestudyof · Rating 5 out of 5]

cozy & magical historical romcom

this series is soooo cute

the magical aspects of this story are so unique and fun. I feel like these books are the perfect gateway drug for cozy fantasy readers to get into historical romcoms

couldn’t recommend these books enough

charming. a delight. etc etc

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't have quite as much fun with this third volume of Love's Academic. I'm not as fussed about a friends-to-lovers plot as I am about the enemies-to-lovers option. Amelia and Caleb have been besties since they were children, but in their alternate Victorian universe they must pretend to be academic rivals and enemies to maintain their professional reputations. And they are both tired of it.

A magical explosion (a not uncommon hazard of historical research) ends up with the couple being banished to Cumbria to inventory the enormous collection of Sir Nigel Harrow. Just when Amelia and Caleb think that they'll get some distance from their colleagues (and perhaps some privacy), two rather obnoxious men also show up to “assist.” And keep an eye on the young couple.

Holt manages to comment quite scathingly about the old boys club in academia as well as the general misogyny of a society that puts male entitlement well above female happiness. Sir Nigel's wife, who is desperately unhappy in her marriage tells it as she sees it: Sir Nigel's besetting sin is being boring. He acquires his antiques from agents, not via travel, depriving Lady Harrow of the chance to see other places. Worse yet, all his magical items cause problems that he is too dense to appreciate.

I'm not sorry to have read this, but I definitely preferred The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love.

[*ೃnaziba ˘͈ᵕ˘͈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire felt like an alternate universe or something of a prequel to the Harry Potter series, mostly because it was set in Victorian England, and the magical elements the series is based on. The magical teaspoons, ghosts, and potions were also parts that reminded me of the Harry Potter movies. The best friends to fake enemies to lovers arc was fun and different from other stories I’ve read, and was very charming to watch play out.

✧ Amelia is a very capable antiquarian and professor, whose hardened exterior reflects the years of perseverance in a cruel male dominated academic world. At her core, she is a total sweetheart who deserves nothing but the best, and part of her arc is really just her discovering that for herself.

✧ Caleb is a charming, happy go lucky golden retriever. The picture of a gentleman, has been in love with Amelia (who has been oblivious) all along. He really only just wants to be where Amelia is. I really liked him.

This was a very sweet romcom overall! Amelia’s guarded strength was balanced well between Caleb’s unwavering affection for her, even when they were meant to be hating on each other… it anchored the novel in a nice way. It was so easy to read and fun to watch Amelia’s walls crumble, finally allowing herself to indulge in happiness. I enjoyed it but did find the pacing to be a little slow, before realizing durr this is a slow burn. And trust me this was a …..SLOWww…… BURN 🔥 though it was really strong in the butterfly department. The love scenes just felt a little confusing to read because they weren’t very descriptive/written mostly in metaphors 😂

There were also parts of the story that touched on women’s rights in the era, and how our main character Amelia had to overcome the hurdles of being one of the only female professors at the respected university that she was employed by. Some of the scenes felt powerful, while others fell a little flat.

Full disclosure; I haven’t read the other two books, but don’t feel let out at all. I really appreciated that while this book was a story included in an ongoing series, it still stood firm on its own, and wasn’t confusing trying to acclimate to the story or magic systems.

Story- ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★
Spice- ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ★
Overall- 4/5

Thank you so much to NetGalley to sending me a copy to review in exchange for an honest review! 🥄✨

[Stella]

BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS WITH FAKE HATING (to protect their reputation???).

THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

India Holton you will always be famous.

[Wendy Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this is maybe 10% plot and 90% romance. Is that a flaw? NO. Not when this fake-hating story involves two Oxford professors and magical antiquarian experts who have known each other since childhood. The comforting familiarity of their connection is so well done, as are the glimpses of their history, their mutual respect and affection, and the swoon, o.m.g. the swoon. I feel a little faint thinking about it.

It’s also bursting at the seams with India Holton’s dizzyingly clever word play, sly references, and fizzy humor. In a period in books and publishing where more and more predictable, tiresomely rote books are published with shockingly sloppy grammar and barely edited, this author’s smart, diamond-bright writing is dazzling as always.

I giggled throughout the whole thing and listened to the end with both fondness and regret. I suppose it will be another year or so before we get another one.

Audio Notes: There has never been another human who has infused a tsk or psst with such brisk humor. Just three/four letters in these words that are merely sounds (which would be throwaways to most actors), read multiple times, and each time made me laugh. I adore Elizabeth Knowelden and I’m grateful for the inspired pairing of her narration and India Holton’s stories. Absolute perfection.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The FAKE-HATING is too delicious. Genuinely, it’s too good, I need more fake-hating and STAT!

I’m kinda bummed this is the last book in the series! These are SO FUN!

Adventures, humor, tension, and SO MUCH YEARNING!!!!!!!

India Holton 🤝 yearning.

This is the cozy adventure historical romcom + fantasy mashup of my dreams.

Thank goodness she has a decent backlist AND she’s writing more books! I need them all!

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

This was a very difficult book to review. I enjoyed the characters and found myself pulled into the story because I enjoyed them and their banter (and this is despite the fact that this book contains my LEAST favorite trope: best friends to "lovers."). But the plot and storyline was meandering at best, and repetitive, boring, and pointless at worst. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen in the midst of our MCs cataloging antiques and trying to hide not only their friendship but love for each other. But nothing DID happen. And then once it finally did, the characters still drifted from one ridiculous situation to another. It became increasingly frustrating. So, even though I enjoyed the characters, and wanted to enjoy the book..I did not.

[Hniereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5! "My soul is friends with yours," he said. "I want no more limits on expressing that."

[lookmairead · Rating 4 out of 5]

BRB, double checking if any of my teaspoons are magical. 🤭

I don’t officially have a loved-and-couldn’t- care-less category on Goodreads- but if I do create it, this entire series would be in it.

Give me FMC’s fighting the patriarchy (and the feminist men fighting for them) in any world and I just tend to gobble it up. 🤷🏽‍♀️🥰

I requested this ARC from @netgalley not realizing it was book 3- but it was a happy mistake so I could binge read/listen to the series.

I wanted something light and fun for the end of 2025 and Holten absolutely understood the assignment. 101% smirk worthy and delightful to imagine. Like I would be delighted if Hollywood picked this up, even though the plots are a little predictable.

I would say that this is only a fluffy, silly read, but there was some surprising depth and thoughtful nuggets in this, that I could see why Holten would be a “comfort read” author. She gives us the HEA’s we really need in life. I, apparently, need more of her. 🤗 Good thing she has another completed series I need to check out, Dangerous Damsels.

Book 3 is out April 23, 2026-
So it gives you time to catch up on books 1 & 2 before them. IMHO, they would definitely be a Valentine’s month read rec.

Books 1 & 2 I listened to via audio
Book 3 I read with my eyeballs- It’s delightful in any format though!

[tahaslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

can't a guy and girl pretend to be friends-to-enemies while crossing the lines of friendships in peace? must we combat gender warfare while dodging historical ghosts and cleaning up a home that would send the Hoarders hosts to the hospital?

amelia will forever be my best girl. she's full of whimsy in a world that wants to destroy every particle of it. she and caleb have a tender, beautiful relationship with roots growing from childhood. having to pretend hate someone that is essentially a critical part your existence? brutal.

but get you a man like caleb that will always have your back even when you're not in the room.

the pacing of this book wasn't my favourite and neither were some of the side characters. everytime an old misogynistic man shows up, i wish the most cursed death upon him.

still, the magical shenanigans are endless and india holton's unique prose continues to be charming.

i'll miss these characters dearly.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling, experts on magical antiques, have been close friends since they were children, but when an innocent embrace is misinterpreted, their reputations, and their positions suddenly hang in the balance. To avoid scandal, they decide to fake a feud, a plan that spirals wildly out of control. After one too many magical mishaps (including some literal explosions), Professor Otterstock ships them off to Cumbria to catalog Sir Nigel Harroway’s sprawling collection of enchanted antiques, many of which may be more dangerous than advertised.

I really felt for Amelia. Watching her navigate a world where her intelligence is dismissed simply because she’s a woman was infuriating. Throckmorton, Dummersby, and Professor Otterstock were absolute bullies, and their constant digs at her had me seething on her behalf. I kept hoping she’d finally let loose on them, and while she mostly held her tongue, her subtle acts of retaliation were satisfying. The romance, a sweet friends to lovers arc, was a swoony one.

The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire leans more toward romantic comedy than tightly plotted fantasy, and the story does wander a bit before pulling everything together at the end. Still, it’s an entertaining romp, slapsticky, clever, and full of quick humor. Even when the plot zigzags, the charm never really lets up.

I voluntarily read a copy provided by the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.

[zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars

definitely the best book in the series and i wished i skipped book 1 and 2 to immediately read this but alas...

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My soul is friends with yours”

FRIENDS TO LOVERS IS THE BEST TROPE ON THE PLANET IDGAF

[laura ᥫ᭡。 · Rating 4 out of 5]

this series is so interesting, because while the whimsiness of the plot diminishes with every book, the romance gets better with every novel. this was my absolute favorite one (but it was definitely just “fine” in terms of the plot outside the romance of the previous ones)

however, i loved this so so much! it took me a while to get into it, but once i saw the vision i was locked the fuck in. caleb might be my favorite character from a romance book EVER. i need to queen out with him, what a diva. amelia’s character development also felt so well earned, it was so heartwarming to follow

can’t believe this is the end. i’ll be hacking into india holton’s computer to be the first one to read whatever she writes next

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this just enough that I’ll probably read the rest of the series, but not enough to feel any urgency about it.

Romance across all subgenres is suffering from a serious lack of characters who actually seem to like each other. I don’t know why so many authors think it’s impossible to write narrative & romantic tension without bickering/bantering/enemies/rivals etc, but I do get sick of it. So the premise of childhood friends who were forced to fake being enemies really charmed me. It’s fresh! It’s fun! It’s not the same generic dynamic we’ve all read a million times!

That’s the main reason I picked this book up, and the friends to lovers arc is the only thing it really solidly delivers on (although I have to object to “friends to lovers” where they’ve both secretly loved each other all along. What’s the point? 😡)

I genuinely enjoyed Caleb and Amelia both as individual characters and as a pairing, but aside from that, the pacing is terrible, the plot is ridiculous, and several really cartoony moments of humor strained my tolerance. I also found this book’s gender politics clunky and a bit eye roll-inducing.

[Jackie Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

LOVE this series! So excited!

I hope the Cover is a royal blue? And that an ARC shows up in my inbox???

----------- After Reading - Review -------------

Well, I was lucky enough to receive the Netgalley ARC for this book, so thank you.

However, I am really upset because this book did not live up to the fun of the first two. I'm DNF'ing at 25%.

This may totally be a matter of my personal preference when it comes to romance, so please know this is not for me. Others may totally love this 'best friends to lovers' romance between two professors of magical antiques in Victorian Oxford. This was whitty, and included a lot of historical references and fun banter.

The reason I am DNF'ing though is that I did not find this romance believable. We are told these two, Amelia and Caleb are best friends, and have been since they were eight. We meet them for the first time, when they have both shown up at an event, and pretend to hate each other, for the sake of Amelia's reputation. That's on the back of the book, and that feels like as much context we get for their deep friendship before it turns somehow into kissing each other?
I just couldn't get on board with them pretending to hate each other and also being attracted to each other.
The romance didn't work for me from like page 2, so I just needed to DNF before I wasted more time making this book do more work trying to convince me. There's not a lot of fantasy elements, it's just magical candle snuffers and teaspoons. I didn't really care to find out how they fell in love.

Sucks, because the other two were so much fun! The fantasy birds in the first and the rekindling marriage in the second were much more to my taste.

Now to rant:
Meely, WHY the nickname Meely. It is one of the worse shortenings of Amelia for me since it makes me think of creepy crawlies. The pet names and endearments were a bit cringy for me.
Also, personal gripe Caleb is suggested as wearing makeup and having painted nails, and I'm confused about the time period now because Victorian England was very against men wearing makeup, I thought? So is Caleb a bi-sexual or a dandy? maybe I didn't get far enough in the book to get the questions answered, but it was hard to unimagine I guess.

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this one was my favorite.

I loooooved Amelia and Caleb. They are the best of friends and I loved their silent conversations, easy manner between them, and I absolutely LIVED for the mutual pining.

Plot wise, it's good. There's a lot of magical items, a small bit of mystery, and bit of a twist I didn't see coming. Of course Amelia and Caleb are together in nearly every scene and yet I still couldn't get enough of them. The last chapter is the best way to tie up the series.

Overall, this has been the coziest and most fun I've had reading a series and I can't wait to binge them soon.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Eternity's Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love. Utterly enthralled. Lost among the joys of friends to lovers.

The Loves Academic series is one I have adored from book one and now with book three and the end of the series, that has not changed.

India has utterly nailed the friends to lovers trope in this book and done it in such a beautiful way. The way these characters knew every part of each other, comforted each other, raised each other up. It was just such a joy to read.

The stakes are low and the vibes are cosy and fun but India also did a great job capturing misogynistic views in this book and how harmful they can be. It was great to see that blended in with the witty banter and silly moments to add a grounding layer to the story that made you detest some characters and root for others.

As with all of Indias books there is a nice level of neurodivergent representation with the FMC, Amelia. She can find herself overwhelmed by to much loud noise, finds keeping things perfectly placed to be soothing and is uncomfortable with to many people around.

Amelia as a FMC is an utter treat. As mentioned above, her neurodivergent rep is so well written. Beyond that, she is someone who clearly loves so deeply when she finds people worthy of it and the love she had for Caleb was so sweet. You could not help but respect how she weathered the derision she faced from male colleagues and how she didn't let it bring her down, she used it as fire to push ahead.

Caleb was great as a MMC. He's handsome and charming and he knows it and uses it to great effect. But he is clearly very smart and someone who fought hard to get where he was, even if it was in part driven by his desire to stay by Amelia's side. His logical approach to things was a nice off-set to Amelia sometimes getting lost in the magic of...well magic, especially when she sometimes honed in on things to closely.

Overall I was just in love with this book and its romance and it's characters and I really recommend it as a fun and fluffy read when you need an escape from the real world!

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars

This was absolutely a blast to read, perfect for readers who love historical romance sprinkled with magic, so much humor and heart, and a fake un-relationship friends to lovers twist that will have you swooning.

It’s been a minute since I’ve read one of Holton’s books and I forgot how cozy her worlds are and how beautifully sharp the writing is.

Amelia is a delight of an FMC - she’s funny and independent and so confused about her growing feelings for Caleb. The book is told completely from her POV, and inside her head is a great place to be.

Caleb is just as wonderful of an MMC. This is a man who knows what he wants - he wants Amelia, he wants her happy and he wants her safe.

100% recommend.

Thanks so much to Berkley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

[greta ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, as always, I love you Ms Holton

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the three!!!

This was so much fun and I loved everything about this.
I normally don't care for friends to lovers, but India is just too good. I couldn't not love Caleb and Amelia together.

The characters on their own were great, and the romance is full of chemistry. I actually believe that these two people love each other! And the stormy, gothic setting??? Reading an India Holton book always renews my hope in the romance genre.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read of the tropical holiday 🍹 this book was as fun as the setting I read it in