It Started With a List

Pacific Grove University #1

by Tinia Montford

Time’s up for Vassa Blackwell. With her college graduation looming, Vassa reflects on the past four years. Man, she is mega disappointed. No wacky misadventures, no drunken nights, and no regrettable mistakes you can NEVER tell your parents. Work and class, Class and work. That’s it. College is suppose to be the best years of one’s life… Right? Vassa feels as though she's cheated herself out of a full college experience. Notably with romance and boys and stuff. So, she makes a college bucket list. Then the worse thing ever happens. Her list falls into the hands of Lazarus Gilbert. King of the baseball team, sworn enemy (in her opinion), and her annoying upstairs neighbor. He thinks he’s found something fun to do. She thinks she’s in trouble. With the pressures of post-college decisions and failing classes looming, can they complete the bucket list before the semester runs out? Are Vassa and Lazarus just too different to get along? Or will Vassa learn to live and let live, and let love enter her heart? It Started with a List is a steamy opposites attract romance. Perfect for readers who love drunk karaoke, Spring Breaks to Las Vegas, and Karl the fog.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Sports, Contemporary Romance, College, Contemporary, College Romance

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2022

About the author

Tinia (TUH-NEE-YAH) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design.

She is a world traveler having climbed a volcano in Nicaragua, scaled Angkor Wat in the blistering sun, and roamed the Acropolis of Athens. Oh, she also dabbles in short stories occasionally.

If you can’t catch her writing, you can bet she’s overindulging on poke bowls, listening to the same four songs, or chilling with her adorbs doggie.

Reviews

[Nerdread]

DNF at 60%

I really tried with this book but in the end I just couldn't get through it. This book has a perfect set up for a cute college romance:

✅ Nerdy and awkward girl
✅ A goofy male love interest
✅ Grumpy/sunshine trope (the girl is the grumpy one!)
✅ Hate to love trope
✅ Diverse MC

So what went wrong!? Well, the MC is highly unlikable, which makes the story extra annoying to get through. The one thing I actually appreciated and loved was the male love interest who was super sweet. Beautiful cover but the story was lacking.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vassa is in her final year at Pacific Grove University and hopes to continue on to graduate school. However, after a blowout with her best friend, Alexa the previous year, Vassa is left looking like the villain in the friendship. Vassa looks back at her college years realizing that she didn't have much fun and makes herself a bucket list to finish before graduation. Enter Lazarus Gilbert, Vassa's gorgeous, happy-go-lucky, popular, jock upstairs neighbor who she has always tried to avoid. Lazarus is failing an English class and needs Vassa's help to pass so he can play baseball and fulfill family obligations. Vassa is reluctant to agree but decides on a deal: she will tutor Lazarus if he helps her complete her bucket list.


It Started With a List is a super-sweet new adult contemporary romance. Vassa's character is easily relatable, and I was a lot like her in college, academically focused, always has a plan and felt like she missed out on a lot of fun. I loved the idea of a graduation bucket list and what Vassa put on it. Some of the items on the list were simply things that she missed out on, and some were to get her out of her comfort zone and do something out of character and a little crazy. This allowed Vassa to grow as a person without losing who she is. Vassa and Lazarus' relationship was a slow build, realistic and very cute. The writing switched between both Vassa and Lazarus' points of view, so they were both fully formed characters whose motivations and backstories made them complex. With the slower build, Vassa and Lazarus could really take the time to get to know one another and work out some of the other issues in their lives. By the time Vassa and Lazarus were ready to be in a real relationship, the sparks flew. In addition to the romance, Vassa's character also worked on rebuilding friendships after her betrayal by her former best friends. I was glad that the book also focused on her friendship with her roommate Dara and cousin Kiki as well as some of her other literature classmates so Dara learned that she could rebuild trust in people once again. Overall, a fun, college romance with great representation.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out really good! It had great characters and a great storyline. There were a few moments that did not make sense to me as I read though and it was a little longer than maybe was needed? But there really was a lot of things going on this story. And I mean that in a mostly good way. Both characters had their issues. And I enjoyed both of their sides of the story. Although I did totally connect with Vassa's introvert side, there was a few things she did that I didn't. Like saying dogs were bad because they "rolled around in feces". Um, yeah, once in awhile if you let them get out in a yard and they find something, but it rarely happens. So not sure wtf that came from. Then they went on a bunch of errands and went to the grocery store first? That's not realistic, anything cold, especially after you go to a bookstore AFTER the grocery store? And then there was a bit of slut shaming from her, although I think maybe she did kind of take it back a little later. But I don't think someone can say they are modern or an up to date person and say that people who "hook up" are crazy. It was around this point that my enjoyment of the book took a little dip. However I didn't give up, and a little bit further, about two-thirds of the way through, I got reinvested in the story. I do love the line I hear people say that really makes sense to me, "I feel some kind of way." Towards the end I didn't feel she was overreacting at all about a certain situation, especially when one part seemed to come out of nowhere and not really have been introduced at all as a part of the story before. And of course the Young and the Restless fan in me loved the mention of Genoa City.

Overall a good story with some dips in the middle, but if you keep going past those, you'll be glad you read this one!

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐️s

I really loved the premise of this book: A buttoned-down college student decides to make a bucket list of fun things to do before she graduates, but when the guy she can’t stand finds the list, he convinces her to let him help her finish every task.

Should’ve been cute! It had a reverse grumpy/sunshine and plenty of opportunities for cute moments. The first third of the book mostly lived up to that promise. The rest of the book really fell flat for me. The characters weren’t extremely likable (at one point, they actually dine and dash…), and the dialogue felt flat throughout the big “angsty” moments. I think a little more editing would’ve gone a long way to fixing these mistakes.

Overall, this was just okay. I don’t feel the need to continue with this series in the future, but I think there are other readers who could definitely enjoy it.

Spice: 2/5 🌶

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 opposites attract ⭐
Star pitcher, Lazarus is in danger of being benched for his last season and needs a tutor for his literature class ASAP. Lit major, Vassa realizes she hasn't really done much but study, so she makes a bucket list to do all the normal college student things. Can these two opposites work together to each reach their common goal?
This is a coming of age, slow burn, opposites attract story.
I like how sometimes the chapter followed Lazarus and sometimes Vassa, which really showed us the following; how Lazarus feels misunderstood and wants to follow his own dreams instead of what his brother, Harvey (who is a douche) wants for him. And how Vassa feels insecure and finds it hard to trust again after her fall out with her BFF, Alexa.
I did enjoy how Lazarus really went all out to check everything off the bucket list and make it special for her.
Honestly, I wasn't a big fan of Vassa and didn't really connect with her, however I did appreciate her efforts to step out of her comfort zone to enjoy basic college life, and life in general, experiences.
At times I didn't feel like the characters acted their age. Do college students really drink wine?
Overall, the story was just okay for me and a bit on the long side.

Trigger warnings: suicidal thoughts and depression

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Souhaila · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25⭐

I picked It Started with a List because I was feeling like reading a college romance, something funny and light-hearted. Now, did it deliver? Not really.

It Started with a List follows Vassa( the lonely, sad girl) and Lazarus( the typical popular athlete with all the girls falling for him) in which Vassa tutors him in some subject he was failing in exchange for his help to complete her bucket list. Does it ring a bell? Bingo! The Deal.

I didn't like Vassa. She was being rude to all the people around her with the excuse of trust problems. I didn't connect or sympathize with her. I felt like her "trauma" was a bit over reacted.

I liked Lazarus( I don't know why everytime I read his name an image of the old Roman gladiators pops in my head) more than Vassa, he could be sweet and attentive and even funny at times.

What I learnt? this is the last time I buy a book because of the cover( maybe).

[♡Meme♡Reads love♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started with a list read in February
Another one down for my Valentines reads this was a slow burn but so worth the slowness. A lovely romcom with a bit of angs and drama but full of some cotton candy sweetness to put you in the mood for Love month or any month.

Happy Reading Friends 😘📚

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This particular book had captured my attention by the brightly colored cover and when I started it, I didn't necessarily have high expectations and I am glad I didn't as in this case, it made me enjoy this book more. There were quite a handful of things that just made this book such a good read for me. The first thing which due to the cover, I will point out is that nowhere in this book did I feel like the issue of race was being shoved down my throat. Yes, the main character was black and the guy was white but throughout the story, the race of the characters wasn't the main point and it was nice for a change as I find sometimes when they focus on race the book can become a tad political. The other thing I loved was that this book was set in San Francisco as the characters visited the sights and this brought back good memories as I was there in December 2013. The other thing I loved was that the main character Vassa was flawed, she wasn't perfect and she reminded me quite a lot of myself including the fact that she was a first-generation academic as neither of my parents or grandparents went to university - my dad did decide to about 5 years ago which was awesome to see. The other thing is Vassa dreams of becoming a writer and studying writing which I love and if I could, I would have gone down that route as I did end up getting a BA in Communications and Humanities. It Started with a List is Vassa's way of coming out of her shell as she aims to complete a bucket list by Graduation and who better to help her than the fun-loving dorm neighbor - a floor down - Lazarus who in return gets the help he needs to not only pass his classes but get the courage to also discover his dreams and go after what he wants - event management and Vassa. It Started with a List by Tinia Montford is a fun NA college fiction read about pushing your boundaries and stepping out of those comfort zones as if you do, you may surprise yourself.

[Kerry - Readkerryread · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Virgo type-A person I am obsessed with making lists, so when I saw this cover and read the excerpt I was excited to read this one!

Vassa is in her final year of college, and while she has been playing it safe after a betrayal from her best friend, she is ready to get the full college experience.

What she wasn’t expecting is Lazarus to read the list. He is her upstairs neighbor and he’s annoyingly everywhere.

Lazarus is failing a class and won’t be able to play baseball without a tutor. He can’t use the tutor center and Vassa is his only hope.

Lazarus will help her with her list if she helps him pass his class. I really adored him and his personality, he was the sunshine to Vassa’s grump.

This had representation for anxiety and depression, with some mentions of bullying and self-harm. Vassa is a virgin so that is a star deduction for me but overall a great debut!

I received an arc from the author for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.

[Briana Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

An endearing slowburn ☑ A diverse cast ☑ enemies to lovers ☑

Check mark’s the spot in this new adult romance from debut author Tinia Montford. More than just a pretty cover, It Started with a List quickly reveals itself to be so much more beneath this brightly coloured mask.

At the heart of this story lies the timeless reminder that a person is more than the sum of the masks they wear. Beneath the fronts both Vassa and Lazarus shelter behind you find their vulnerabilities, passions and dreams, hopes and fears, and their developments are to be admired. Montford has taken care with the cultural representation and diversity of their characters, and presented a tale that is fitting for todays market which will resonate with many college grads as they too prepare to step out and challenge their comfort zones in pursuit of their dreams.

Vassa and Lazarus’ love story was sweet and fun (and I’m not going to lie, I’ve had many a dreams of climbing down a fire escape to visit my crush at his window lol), and the vulnerability and trust that both exhibited as the story progressed was admiring. I also commend Montford on showing these characters grow apart, just as much as they did together.

Unfortunately I did find that the editing let this story down, and at times the dialogue felt a little disconnected from the surrounding conversation, almost as though some parts were edited out that perhaps shouldn’t have been.

Overall, this was a sweet read and I enjoyed the friendship turned relationship built between Vassa and Lazarus as they embarked on this journey that saw them chasing more than just the thrills of each bucket list item.

I received an advance copy for free (thanks to booksirens), and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a bucket list is involved, things are bound to get interesting! I thought Vassa and Lazarus's love story was precious and believable. Watching Vassa grow more comfortable around Laz and explore outside her comfort zone was touching. I found myself cracking up at Laz's antics; he indeed was a great friend to Vassa. One of my favorite chapters was the dance at the party. I'm a sucker for dancing!
I appreciated the author's approach to mental health while in college because it is something that many students struggle with.
I didn't care for the third-act "break up." I thought it was a bit over the top, considering the circumstances. But, other than that, I enjoyed the story.
I'm looking forward to picking up the second book.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I Liked: All the fun tropes, interesting cast of characters and engaging format (the bucket list appears throughout the book). I had a rough friendship breakup so I definitely felt for Vassa.

I felt that the main premise was very high school and was confusing as this is a college set book. I guess this is just really different from my college experience. Like I’m definitely not a partier but I would never call certain people “popular” or “unpopular” in college. Like that reeks of high school drama to me.

ONE SMALL SPOILER:
I have questions. Like when did Dara tell Vassa about Jayden? I swear it seemed like Vassa knew that Dara and Jayden were dating in the epilogue but I don’t remember reading about Vassa finding out.

Overall, it was a solid read but went a bit off the rails at the end.

[paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of this book, i read it in about a day and it was absolutely AMAZING, I loved and adored all the characters.


Vassa after experiencing a heartbreaking friendship breakup and betrayal shuts everyone out, she keeps her heart close to her and she’s closed off with everyone she’s around studying and working is all she knows.

Vassa decides since it’s her senior year she wants to go out with a BANG and creates a list of fun things she wants to try, Lazarus her dorm neighbor gets ahold of the list and decides to help her, what follows a fun field four weeks and a love story.

This books gives you your typical enemies to lovers, popular guy nerdy girl trope but in a way where it comes at such an ease and you can’t help but be absolutely enthralled by each character. Not only is this story following vassa and lazarus love it’s also following 4 college students who are trying to figure out how to adult properly and honestly it’s just super relatable.

definitely think tinia is a author to watch out for.

[Regine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much because I saw so much of myself in both Vassa and Lazarus. Vassa could be a bit much at times (I know I can be too lol) but I understood why. It's hard when someone you love breaks your trust. Lazarus is your ideal romantic partner. He was funny, had a great personality and wasn't your typical jock. I hope Tinia continues this story because I want to read about more adventures from this group. Btw Kiki was great!

[Aline · Rating 3 out of 5]

com certeza vou reler depois. muito fofo.

[Maria]

DNF at 41% I love the setup and the concept, but almost nothing had happened so far and I'm bored.

[ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/🌶

Tropes: opposites attract, neighbors to lovers, reverse grumpy sunshine, sport romance, enemies to lovers

TW/CW: depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide (taken directly from authors website)

Representation: interracial romance

Favorite quote: “That’s not long. I know who you are, Vee. You’re an amazing, talented, and lovable grump who’s gonna do amazing things.”

Thoughts: Recieved this book as an Arc for an honest review! i thought this story and book was really cute, but i found myself not connecting to the characters very much! I will say i loved how much these two truly helped each other out, and you could tell that they really needed each other! I thought that the whole bucket list idea was so cute, and the whole tutor thing had me SCREAMING! Also i now want to go to vegas with my friends and live my best life like they did!

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Romance isn’t my preferred genre, although I have been trying to read it more and thought this would be a fun read, especially given the San Francisco setting that the author and I both experienced.

It was fun. And cute with parts that genuinely made me smile or chuckle. And I don’t want to be too negative because it is so impressive to write your own novel at a young age.

That said, this book was painfully in need of an editor; for example, multiple times, words were clumped “likethis.” I try to not be too nitpicky because I know errors can slip through the cracks but my patience did run out. Just in general, my impression is that this felt like a solid early draft and while there is enough talent in this first work that I could imagine something much better later on, I wouldn’t pick up one of her books again.

But if you’re less detail-oriented than I am and regularly read romance, especially ones with college settings and enemies-to-lovers tropes, it’s worth looking into

[Debbie Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars
I did somewhat enjoy this one, and I'm going to try to be gentle but, yikes there were so many inconsistencies, grammatical and punctuation errors that it was sometimes really difficult to read. I would be flipping back to try to see where I missed something, but ... no, I didn't, it just wasn't there.
I felt like maybe the storyline changed a bit during the writing process (totally makes sense) but then the author didn't go back to make sure everything was consistent with the change.
I truly hope this gets edited better before full publication as it really was a cute book. I did feel that maybe the whole "Alexa" storyline could have used more meat though. It was so important to the mc but the details and aftermath were a little glossed over imo.

I won a digital copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

[lynette desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ARC was received (Thanks to BookSirens) for a honest review.

This is a really good debut Romantic Comedy for this author. It was more of an enemies-to-lovers/nerd & jock love story. Vassa and Lazarus are completely different people in the beginning. Their personalities clashed, the were presenting themselves as one way to the world when underneath it all, they were more alike than they knew. I love when two characters grow separately as well as together and that’s defines this relationship. I would have liked more closure with Alexa, but as we all know in the real world we don’t always get closure. Really great read.

[Tierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Debut!

I really enjoyed the characters and storyline! I appreciate how the Vassa and Lazarus seemed to genuinely connect and grow throughout their relationship. The grammar mistakes took me out of the story at times but not enough to make me put the book down. I can't wait to read what the author has planned next!

[sammiimarriiee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won a digital copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. DNF because the writing was super jumpy and I couldn’t visualize half of what was happening.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like a book I would have viewed as very romantic and great in like middle school or high school but pretty weak

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to like about this amazing debut novel? It's an addictive page-turner about the joy and apprehension of college graduation and the fear of the unknown afterward. Throw in a young woman afraid to trust again and a young man trying to please everyone but himself.

Vassa Blackwell keeps to herself after her best friend's betrayal. No socializing, no parties, no dating. She's counting on her acceptance to graduate school to fulfill her dream of becoming a professor. But during her senior year, she feels she's missed out on the fun part of college life and makes a bucket list. All she needs is someone to show her. Enter Lazarus Gilbert. The captain of the baseball team and the popular guy on campus. Who better to show her a good time, but at what cost?

Lazarus is just trying to pass his English Lit class so he can graduate. Too much partying in his earlier years has caused a rift between him and his older brother Harvey who is keeping a tight rein on Lazarus by manipulating him into working for his company. Lazarus just wants his successful family to be proud of him so he makes a deal with Vassa. He will help her with her bucket list and she will tutor him for his class. 

There is so much to like about this coming-of-age romance. Vassa's clutziness is priceless from her attempt at baseball and rollerskating to her drunken singing at the karoake bar with Lazarus. She finally lets loose which opens up a whole new dynamic to her and Lazarus's relationship. Vassa grows under Lazarus's unabashed positivity and patience while Lazarus grows more confident about his future with Vassa's encouragement and support. There are so many LOL moments in this book that had me roaring with laughter. Case in point, the pimp brawl and surprise drag party in Vegas during spring break. Hilarious!  There are also some poignant moments with Lazarus's vulnerable side about his volatile family dynamics and the pressure that comes with it and Vassa's mistrust caused by a shitty ex-best friend who screwed her over. Most of all I adored watching Lazarus and Vassa slowly fall in love and become the mature and trusting adults they were meant to be.

Overall, I am delighted to recommend this entertaining new adult romance filled with compelling and funny characters in a beautiful San Francisco setting. The one thing that bothered me in the book was that Iowa State does not have one of the best writing programs in the country. That would be the University of Iowa.

Thank you to Ms. Montford for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[Shareca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I requested this ARC from Tinia directly, so these are my honest opinions about Tinia's debut novel, "It Started With a List." I was not compensated for my review, aside from the ebook so I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of the book. :)

It Started With a List
Tinia Montford ✨
★★★★½ (a ★★★★★ anywhere without halves)

I would like to celebrate the debut novel of another POC author; let us celebrate @tiniawritesbooks 's 'It Started With a List,' releasing January 25th, 2022!

Vassa is trying to break free of her self-induced secluded existence. To this end, she compiles a bucket list. Fortunately, Lazurus, her cute neighbor and 'sort of' friend, decides to lend a hand to her in exchange for tutoring. Over time, they develop a strong relationship and eventually fall in love.

I thoroughly enjoyed the prose in this novel. The dual perspective was a perfect complement for a plot about how people are perceived at a superficial level. There were so many relatable issues they dealt with in terms of their identities that it made for a wonderful novel. One of the most delightful aspects of this story is how Vassa and Lazarus develop their relationship; it is so cute to see how they hold hands and kiss subtly. It is one of my favorites. There is a great deal of realism in the way they become familiar with each other's routines before it becomes clear that they are partners. It is very engaging. There was a good balance between their friends and the issues they experienced felt realistic, but one of the best elements was the depiction of a warm relationship that was not toxic. It was refreshing to read about such a comforting and communicative relationship.

+ Lazarus' character development is excellent.
++ He is the most romantic and rugged protagonist.
+ Vassa's personality is so charming.
+ Enjoyed the more college and adult setting; I felt more related to the struggle.

There was only one aspect of the story that did not resonate with me, which had to do with her trust issues and why she no longer wished to be friends with her former best friend. (The ½ point mentioned.) However, this is subjective to my experience in college (and who I am), so I was content with that plot point as it tied nicely into the epilogue and how Vassa came to be the woman she was in the end. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book which rounded it up to a five. It may have led me to form a crush on Lazarus 🥺

[CLorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working through a list is always a fun trope for a romantic novel. It Started with a List by Tinia Montford is an incredibly, sweet, angsty and fun filled story. For the last four years, Vassa Blackwell has viewed Lazarus Gilbert as a nuisance at best. He is a jokester and the life of every party he attends; more often than not, his jokes are at the expense of her dignity. Vassa is just trying to finish college on a high note and perhaps have just a little fun before she must enter the world of work. With this goal in mind, Vassa concocts a list of things she would like to accomplish before the end of the semester. Lazarus, on the other hand, needs to really step up his academic game in order to even graduate. He is a star baseball player but not a star student. As the youngest in his family, he is under pressure (some self-inflicted) to act more like an adult ready for the real world. When he gets wind of Vassa’s list he proposes that she help him with his failing class, and he will help her with her list; an added bonus will be the time he gets to spend in her company, since he has been crushing on her since freshmen year. Win, win!! As the unlikely and polar opposite pair start to spend time together, Vassa comes to realize that Lazarus has hidden depths and he shows her how to become more spontaneous. Ms. Montford has written a wonderfully balanced book; for all the times I laughed (Vassa is clumsy as all get out) there were just as many that I felt emotional resonance. In addition, her secondary characters were entertaining, especially Kiki. I highly recommend this book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a title & cover like that, of course, I wanted to read this book. And I’m so glad I did.

We meet Vassa who, after a devastating fall out with her then best friend, Alexa, has closed herself off becoming somewhat of a loner, focusing on her studies. Along comes Lazarus, your typical college jock and Vassa’s nemesis. Ok, might not be as bad as that, but she doesn't like him. Wanting to make her last semester one to remember, Vassa makes a list and no thanks to her friend, Kiki, it gets into the hands of Lazarus and so the drama and fun begins.

The first couple of chapters felt a little choppy and didn't flow quite right, but once you get through those, it is a smooth (ish) ride as there were a couple of times I didn't quite understand certain conversations, but it didn't stop me from really enjoying this book.
Vassa and Lazarus are fantastic and well developed. Very likable and infuriating in equal measures. The way their relationship changes and blossoms is beautiful, hilarious, and, at times, heartbreaking. I loved the 2 POVs allowing us to follow their journey together as well as individually. I love the mayhem, adventure, miscommunication, and romance that fill the pages. And the little bit of spice was just as awkward and tender as their whole relationship. The other characters, although not as developed (understandable as they aren't the focus of the story) are fun, quirky, and very interesting. So much so, I want to know more about their backstories. Who knows, maybe they'll feature in future PGU books?!

An adorable college romance with all the fun, misunderstandings, and love you could ask for.

Thank you to BookSirens for sending me an ARC ebook. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Asha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in literally a day and it was SO good. I had the best time reading this and enjoyed the sweet romance that developed between Vassa and Lazarus.

Vassa is a shy, smart, and diligent student but has an extremely hard time letting people close to her especially since a long time friendship broke her trust for others. BUT she still has this list she wants to complete which includes stuff like sneak into a party and act like someone else to going on a first date.

And the perfect person to help her complete that list is a guy she's been trying to avoid since freshman year, Lazarus. A guy who's a star athlete, really popular and handsome, but struggling to make sure her graduates on time.

And perhaps they do end up helping each other with their problems.

I love me a good dual pov and this definitely had it! Also just the things they did together was so entertaining and parts were so funny that I accidentally smacked my head on my headboard.

There is spice (on page sex scenes) and the tension between these 2 is so good. I ate it up!!

There were parts of the book where there would be together and you could feel the awkwardness and clunkiness of them trying to express their feelings or figure each other out AND of course just dealing with being in college and not knowing what's in store for their future. There's definitely some angst but it's not anything that should make a reader cry. There were still heartfelt moments.

This debut new adult contemporary romance was so fun to read, especially with a main character who's trying to complete a bucket list before she graduates college!

*I received an ARC from the author for my honest review!

[Beth (what.beth.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Booksprout for the advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

✅ Cute, college-aged romance
✅ Revere Grumpy/sunshine

Vassa dealt with a big blow with a former best friend spreading vicious lies (timeline isn’t exact on when this happens - early on, it seemed fairly recent but later chapters make it seem like it was longer ago) and has issues with trusting others. While applying to grad school, she is also having a lot of feelings of not being good enough.

Vassa has a bucket list for senior year because all she’s done is study. Liked Lazarus when they were freshmen, but doesn’t anymore.

Lazarus is on baseball team but doing poorly in class and is on academic probation. He convinces Vassa to agree to tutor him and he will help with her bucket list. Laz is also with a lot of family pressure to succeed - and has had a big crush on Vassa for years.

As time goes on, they become friends and start to give in to their mutual attraction. There was one situation I didn’t like (they both gave into peer pressure in a way that made me mad). I liked getting the dual POV and learning both of their struggles and insecurities, and seeing how they brought out the best in each other. I still remember the stress of senior year in college and the worry about being accepted or denied at your dream school/internship. Very accurate depictions!

Lazarus and Vassa were great together! I also enjoyed meeting their friends, too - maybe more stories there in the future?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

3.5 stars rounding up to 4 for goodreads

[Be · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings: Depression, Anxiety, References to Self Harm, and Suicide.

It Started With A List is a debut contemporary romance written by Tinia Montford. The book is set to be published on January 25, 2022 as a new standalone. It follows Vassa and Lazarus' relationship in a college setting as graduation approaches that really works for the intended storyline.

I think the premise of It Started With A List relies almost entirely on the concept of opposites attract and damn does it do it well. Specifically, it takes the sometimes predictable aspects of the new adult romance niche and breathes life into them. The book shines amongst what could be considered the most 'basic' of genre tropes. There's no better example of the reverse grumpy-sunshine trope than you'll find in this book along with, my personal favorite, is the slowburn romance that spans the course of the narrative.

Aside from the trope laden reliance of the plot that outshines it’s fictional competitors, two words that immediately come to mind while reading are fun and adorable in many respects. The entertaining story holds its own and manages to standout even for those who are veterans to these kind of genre-specific stories. But, keeping that in mind, to suggest It Started With A Lie is only these things is a massive over simplification of what is an overall great book.

At its heart, It Started With A List is a modern-day inclusive telling. With its diverse cast of characters, the book is exactly what the genre needs more of in this day and age.

Tinia Montfort is definitely an author to keep your eyes on in the future.