The months of August and September are filled with back to school. My social media feeds are packed with “First day of school” pictures, teacher gifts, and posts about ridiculously long carpool lines.
As a homeschool mom, fall makes me want to buy school supplies and I keep hoping someone will send a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils (bonus points if you can tell me what movie that’s from).
I was homeschooled all the way from kindergarten through high school, so my first “real” day of school was my first day of college.
The college I attended is a small liberal arts college. It’s so small, in fact, that many people think it’s a private school, even though it’s a state university. It’s known for its beautiful campus with historic buildings, brick walkways, and green lawns. You can walk from one side of campus to the other in about ten minutes.
College was a wonderful experience for me, and I loved everything about it. I loved classes (most of the time), eating in the cafeteria, living in the dorm, playing intramural sports, and being involved on campus. I made wonderful friends during that time and we did everything together.
But there was one thing I didn’t have in college: a boyfriend.
My husband and I went to the same college. We spent four years on the same campus – and like I said, it was a small campus. I was in a sorority and he was in a fraternity and we knew all the same people. We attended many of the same events, and we each knew who the other was. But we never once had a conversation.
We were actually set up by my aunt after we both graduated. When we dated, then got engaged and married, our friends still couldn’t believe that we were together…since we had never once dated each other in college.
Still, we share our college experience and can talk about all the things we did, even though we weren’t actually together. And when we did date, we spent time walking around our old college campus, hand in hand, talking about the past and the future.
Maybe that’s why I love writing stories where characters fall in love in college.
My first series, Faith and Love, has three books that include college romance.
In Dream with Me, Peyton is in her freshman year of college and meets Spencer who is a year older than her. She’s struggling through the transition to college and is overwhelmed with her schedule as a university cheerleader. When she meets Spencer, she’s certain she’s a hot mess in comparison to this guy who’s got it all together.
Stay with Me is the story of Sam and Izzy who are struggling in their marriage. They were high school sweethearts who got engaged while in college. While they work through their problems after ten years of marriage, they’re reminded of when they fell in love and their years together in high school and college.
In Come with Me, Shep is a college senior. He’s got everything going for him: good grades, his position on the baseball team, and a strong faith. But he doesn’t have the one thing he’s always dreamed of: someone to spend his future with. When he meets Bailey he thinks he might have found the one, but God will have to convince him he’s ready for the responsibility that comes with it.
What was your school experience like? Do you have a college love story? Do you read college romance books?
Hannah Jo Abbott is a wife, a mom of four, a homeschool teacher, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. She loves writing stories about life, love, and the grace of God. She finds inspiration and encouragement from reading the stories others share. Hannah lives with her husband and children in Sweet Home Alabama.
I attended a very small public school and went to a local community college for 2 years. Then, I went to a private college to finish out my undergrad. Unfortunately no love story. :(
Never went to college.
I loved my college years. It was such fun taking classes and living in a dorm. I made some really good friends that I stay in touch with now.
I went to two colleges. One was a Junior College and I got my Medical Secretary Diploma there, then I went to a community college and got my AS degree there. No romance at either one, though I did make some good friends at them. I’m not that crazy about college books, probably because I’m so much older than that, and some of the ones I’ve read (not yours, cause I haven’t read yours) the characters have a lot of growing up to do! Most of my friends didn’t meet their spouses til after they were out of college, and most didn’t date much in college, either.
I too was homeshooled all the way through school. I loved it! I can only think of a couple of college stories that I’ve read and college romances seem to be under represented.
College romances are a lot of fun to read, I have read some of the books in your series and it was cute.
Hi, the line is from “You’ve Got Mail” I didn’t go to college, and when I was in school, I was actually pretty shy. A couple of boys did walk me to my locker , but that was as far as that got, I never went our with them. Your books sound like great reads, I do love to read about college romances. Have a great week and stay safe.
That’s such a sweet meet cute you have!
I will have to read the books you mentioned in your post. No stories of my own to tell
I never had a college love story but I enjoy reading about them since they either take me back to my experience during those years or simply introduce me to a new campus (they’re always so much fun to “visit”).
Hey Hannah, I never went to college. I hated school after Kindergarten. From the time I learned someday, I’d graduate and not have to go to school anymore, that was my goal. I did end up going to cosmetology school to be a hairdresser. But that interested me, so it wasn’t really like school. Sometimes, I wish I had a degree. But the process of getting it still doesn’t interest me at all. So I applaud you for going and loving it. And I love the story of your almost romance there.
What a sweet story you have! I didn’t have a college boyfriend but watched from the sidelines as many of my friends went through on-campus romances, some of which resulted in marriage, while others ended.
My own university love life, both as an undergrad and postgrad student, was a tragic tale of crushes on guys who didn’t like me back, ha ha! Despite that, though, I thoroughly enjoyed my college years.
Hi Hannah! Attended community college and dated some guys there. Then transferred to a four year state university an hour from my home town. I attended a church near college and met my husband at the college and career class. He also attended the same university. His friends attended the adjacent private college. We graduated and have been married for 48 years. As an immigrant, I was the first in my family and at our small German speaking church to graduate from college with a degree / mine in teaching. I graduated to prove the choir director wrong – I did not go to college to get my MRS. degree. Even though that also happened, after I taught school a year. Hubby is a year younger than I am. Best wishes.
I had an on & off-again High School romance that was suppose to end in marriage about a year or so after graduation….but unfortunately he ended it. I was devastated to say the least :-( But I know God had other plans for me for the future & I can see it in hind sight now.
I wanted to go to my community college where I grew up to study CAD/CAM. But after my learning how much math I’d have to take after the results of my entrance exam, I got discouraged and never went. Never really regretted that decision, honestly.
I’ve never really read college romance books. I think I enjoy “mature” romance stories because I am older, lol! I can relate more to the characters and life experiences, thus making the story more relevant to me (if that makes sense). If I can’t connect to a story, then it’s less enjoyable & I likely won’t finish it. Now that’s not to say I would NEVER enjoy a college ago romance story because there’s LOTS to choose from! I do like to vary what I read so I don’t become burnt out on too many similar ones. :-)
I like college romance books, in fact there is a genre called “New Adult” that spans that age spectrum. Sadly many of these books are high in sexual content, explicit, drugs, crazy parties: far from how a college christian girl is living the stage at this very moment.
But I like them! I’m looking for Christian books that deal with this or “clean romance” if I can’t and I’ve found some good authors (I’ll add you lol).
My parents had known each other since my mom was 12 and he was 15, they were good friends but they started liking each other in college, they started dating there and they got married two years after graduating, I have not had any love story in college, not because boys avoid me but I want a believing boy who also likes that romantic way and in my country you don’t find Christian boys under all the stones.
A funny fact about Chile is that we don’t have dormitories at the U … many of us live with our parents who even come to pick us up and drop us off at the University and back: a bit like at school.
I only attended for a little over one semester, so no romance during that time.
After high school I went straight into nursing school. Nothing much to tell.
I was too scared to date all through high school and up until my senior year of college. Even the one dating relationship I had in college was one that should not have been. It was another 7 years before I said “I do”. Thirty-two years and I’m still glad “I did”. LOL!
I have read and really enjoyed the entire Faith and Love series. I was sad we didn’t get to hear about the youngest siblings!
I had a very bad experience with a college boyfriend. It has left me cautious of men. It took my husband and long time to get me to trust him. I love to read and know about happy endings. My husband and I have been married for 32 years. God bless you.
It’s not for everyone! As a homeschool mom, I’m still learning more on my own and with my kids than I did in a formal education.
Love that! Keeping up with college friends is wonderful!
I can understand that. Even now college students look like babies to me! It worked out pretty well for us to meet after college :-)
I loved homeschooling too! And am loving homeschooling my own kids! I haven’t found that many Christian college romances either, but I do love them.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed them!
You got it! One of my favorite movies. I hope you enjoy the stories!
Thank you! We’re pretty happy with it :-)
I hope you enjoy them!
I do love college campuses!
I’m so glad you were able to find something you loved! School really isn’t that interested until you find something you love :-)
Aww, yes, college can be full of disappointment too. I have friends who married their college sweetheart and plenty more who didn’t. I’m glad you had a good college experience!
We met because of church! My husband went to church with my aunt. That’s an amazing accomplishment for you to graduate! And congratulations on 48 years of marriage, what a gift!
I can understand that, college kids seem so much younger to me now. Aren’t God’s plans for us the best? Too bad it’s hard to see that in the middle of disappointment. I’m glad you can see it in hindsight.
Yes, I hesitate to call mine “New Adult” because that genre isn’t usually clean or Christian. But I would LOVE for there to be more Christian books in that category! I wanted to meet a believing man too, I had to wait, but God had a plan! Keep trusting the Lord and waiting for HIS best!
Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! I have been thinking about adding more books to the series and writing the other siblings’ stories. This might have just been the push I needed!
Oh no! I’m so sorry for your bad experience. But happy that God gave you a happy ending. Congratulations on 32 years!
You’ve Got Mail
While my husband and I knew each other in college, we didn’t date till almost a year after graduation. We’ve been married almost 29 years and together for 31.
I didn’t have a college romance either, but did meet my husband casually through friends and a mo is try we both volunteered for several years before we got to know each other and dated. Even now sometimes we will start talking about something that happened and realize we were both there and didn’t know each other.
I went to school for work with my husband but we met as children & started a serious relationship when I was in high school.
I only took day courses with work with my wife but we met camping & I love any type of romance.
In Australia the school year starts the end of Jan early Feb and ends in December,
I went to public school primary school (reception – grade 7 (about to change to grade 6)) and High School (year 8 – 12). We gave the teacher a gift at the end of the school year.
In High school I was bullied in year 10 but a teacher stopped it but in year 11 it was a nightmare and I still have emotional scars. I didn’t go to Uni (we don’t say college we say University). So no romance. I did go to Tafe which is like community college in my late 40’s to do business admin in my town so no romance.
I don’t mind reading romances set in college. A friends son met his wife at Uni doing medical studies (both were) They became an item fairly early on and were engaged in year 4 or 5 and married before they started the as residents. My dr actually went to the same Uni and was one of the many who said they would never last I think they have been married 9 or 10 years this year.
I went a small Christian university, and I am happily married to my college sweetheart. Where we attended, the first day of chapel, they tell everyone, “Look to your right, look to your left. One of those people might be your future spouse.” That’s not what happened in my life, but it set the expectation up for it, definitely. And I love reliving those college memories. Maybe why I started writing a college series this year, too. ;-)
I was homeschooled all the way! I graduated last year, I don’t have plans to go to college since I’m working on building my author name and writing, maybe one day a romance will come into play but its not in the plans right now. ;)
I love covers of your books ❤️
I finished university with a hubby and four kiddos 🤓 the youngest was five months when I graduated
I attended university, though became I’ll, so no boyfriend then. When I returned I was older and shocked that some of the younger girls had been sent their to find husbands. Luckily I was able to enjoy my time at uni though it seems a ling time ago now.