Cute and quick read. Love the romcom vibes in this. Pretty typical romance story. Love the cover on this. Full review on goodreads

I had so much fun with this book! Hannah is a vet who recently moved back to her hometown to leave her cheating ex. Teddy is an architect and lives next door. After a brief “fling” in high school, these two have not kept in touch and now find themselves together all the time.

Teddy is clearly smitten with Hannah from the start but Hannah has things going on she needs to work on to be in a space to be with Teddy. Heartbroken, she has been told all her life she needs to be nicer and smile more. Teddy and Hannah enter into a mutually beneficial relationship where Hannah help Teddy renovate his house and Teddy teaches Hannah the “fundamentals of flirting” so she doesn’t get fired. Naturally, antics ensue, romance grows, and tension builds. This book has plenty of animals and a fun elderly neighbor!

There were times this book was eh for me but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the characters! I felt like Teddy accepted and loved Hannah for who she was, even all of her prickly bit that so many people have tried to change about her. Where I wish we could have delved into further is Teddy's character arc. I felt that we were making progress with him opening up to Hannah about his struggles and insecurities, but we didn’t see how he was working on that or how he grew from that very much. I would have also loved some resolution with Agnes’ storyline as well. I thought her ending was cute but would have loved a little more.

This is definitely worth a read if you’ve read the previous book or love a good slow burn grumpy x sunshine romance!

I absolutely loved Lucy’s debut, The Hot Henry Effect and so Foundations of Flirting went on my wish list as soon as I found out it was releasing.

Fundamentals in Flirting follows Hannah, a veterinary researcher who moves back to her small hometown (ahem village) in the Cotswolds to escape her cheating ex who tried to ruin her career. Of course her crush from school has just bought the house next door to renovate and we’re set up for a small town, grumpy (her) x sunshine (him), second chance romance.

This book is a lot of fun, with a main character who ends up in mortifying situations and a slow burn romance. I love the humour and found myself laughing out loud regularly. The interweaving of romance and serious topics (bullying, power imbalances in work/romantic relationships, self esteem, aging) is well done, taking you on multiple journeys during the course of the book.

Highlights include: the absolute joy of Agnes and her goats (I cried okay), a mischievous cat, the party and the banter between Hannah and Teddy.

A lot of the conflict comes from miscommunication which gets more frustrating as the book continues and I wish we could have had more than a couple of chapters of them being happy together. Hannah is a clumsy, not immediately-likeable character who goes from 0-60 in 5 seconds but it’s realistic and you can really see the character progression as the story continues. The ex-boyfriend seems like a caricature but he really isn’t. I was confused about the characters Clara and Henry and couldn’t get my head around why they were so present but hardly described but eventually realised (at the very end) that they were the two lead characters The Hot Henry Effect. All of a sudden everything made a LOT more sense.

Overall, I really enjoyed Fundamentals in Flirting. I really love having a STEM romance set in England and the novelty of it being so British. It was funny, flirty and spicy (in more ways than one). I’d certainly recommend it, there are so many cute animals

I really enjoyed this as a romance comedy novel, it had that concept that I was looking for from the description. The characters had that overall feel that I was looking for and were written well and enjoyed the feel of this. Lucy Chalice has a strong writing style and thought it was realistic and was glad I got to read this.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for allowing me access to this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion! Fundamentals in Flirting will be released on Nov 1st, it's a cute romcom where Dr. Hannah Havens, successful but prickly, returns to her hometown and crosses paths with Teddy Fraser, an irresistible flirt she once kissed when she was younger. Despite wanting to avoid him, he keeps appearing, testing her patience. As her boss pressures her to improve her people skills, Hannah struggles to resist Teddy's undeniable charm. It was super cute, I loved Teddy, he's such a sweetheart, the perfect golden retriever boyfriend!

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.

I just couldn't connect with the characters for some reason. I was trying really hard to enjoy this book but I just couldn't.
The premise sounded really fun and like something I would enjoy reading (had tropes that I usually love) but I just didn't find the characters likable, especially the FMC Hannah. I understand that she's supposed to be an “ice queen” but she just comes off as rude; no to mention she never really “changes”, there's no character development. And Ted, the MMC, just felt a little too childish for me, didn't feel like a man in his 30s.
Hopefully other people will get to enjoy this one more than I did!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC.

I had to DNF this one at 50%.

I tried so hard to get into the book and like the main characters more but it was just not for me.

I hated both the MMC and FMC from the beginning. Hannah was always described as prickly when it reality she was just a bitch (sorry not sorry). I was waiting holding my breath for her character development that never came. She was always thinking the worst of people and such a negative nancy. Ted was bubbly and fun but not in an enjoyable way. I felt like I was reading about a 15 year old boy discovering his first crush not someone in their 30s. His constant dirty comments were just too much.

I really loved the authors first book, The Hot Henry Effect, and was SO excited when this was put on NetGalley but it really just fell so flat for me. The only saving grace was the neighbor and her cute little funny comments.

This was a cozy romance set in a charming small English town. Hannah, a brilliant and attractive veterinarian, returns to her hometown after a rough breakup with her jerk of an ex. Now working at the local animal surgical center, she’s known for her more clinical, no-nonsense approach which doesn’t exactly fit the warm vibes of a small town. Enter her old grade school crush/“nemesis,” Teddy, whose flirty personality drives her nuts (or maybe not?). He’s there to help her shed her social pariah status 🤣.

This was such a cute, cozy read, but man, I really couldn’t stand Hannah’s mom, haha. There’s also a bit of a miscommunication trope, but nothing so intense that it ruined the story. It’s definitely a slow burn, but totally worth the wait!

This is my second Lucy Chalice book and I loved it as much if not more than her first. We are back with Henry's twin Brother Teddy and the 'prickly' Hannah in the Cotswolds.

What to expect
Small town romance
He falls first
Grumpy x Sunshine
Slow Burn

Honestly these two, so in love and they didn't know it. Or Teddy did but Hannah struggled a lot reading and dealing with human emotions after having difficult parents and, even more tragic an ex who cheated on her and made her feel inadequate and like it was her fault.
I really felt for Hannah, having been bullied most of her school life she has zero self confidence. She shoves anyone away and is seen as 'prickly' but underneath it all she has a warm heart. And I loved reading about Teddy give her lessons in flirting and other people person skills. Their relationship and banter from the get go was great.

The story was rom com gold, as well as being heartwarming, I was laughing aloud at this book. There's a older lady and her lost cat, and a wiley blind goat that also gets up to some mischief that will have you chuckling away like I was. I also love a book that's set in England so extra points for this.

Highly worth picking up, as well as Lucy's first book The Hot Henry Effect.

Thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

4.5 ⭐️

the fundamentals in flirting was such a cute and easy read with a slow burn romance and some loveable side characters

plot ―୨୧⋆ ˚ the plot felt really well paced and i was easily hooked right from the beginning ! it was easy to read and it never felt too much of a burden to pick and read ( evidence of the fact i read it in a day)
despite the plot doing it for me - i can see why others may not love it.. the slow burn was slowww and sometimes painful due to some miscommunication and just general anxiety from both characters but it was part of their flaws and i loved seeing some of the angst!

ted and hannah ―୨୧⋆ ˚ the absolute cutest and the banter between them was so so enjoyable .. their flaws were mentioned enough that you could see it as a personality trait but not too much it put you of their character completely!
overall, i really enjoyed reading about them as they finally got over some of their flaws to find each other.

all in all, i loved this book quite a lot but i felt towards the end it seemed the bantering and funny aspect of their relationship was lost to their insecurities which was such shame but it really didn’t take away much from how much i loved this book!

When Hannah Havens finds her no-good boyfriend cheating on her with a grad school student, she flees back to her hometown to work in a veterinary office. Unfortunately, Teddy Fraser lives in the home next door, and besides her ex, he's the last person she wants to see. However, the fact that he's charming and outgoing may work in Hannah's favor: she needs help proving to her new boss that she can be nice to clients, and Teddy is just the person to teach her.

The Hot Henry Effect was a fantastic opener to the series, so Fundamentals in Flirting had a lot to live up to. Lucy Chalice did an admirable job delivering a fun follow-up to The Hot Henry Effect, and it was great to get another glimpse of Henry and Clara. Fundamentals in Flirting had a new cast of lovable characters - Teddy was charming and sweet, Hannah was prickly and sarcastic and fun, and Agnes' story was an interesting subplot. Hannah's dry humor and teasing were a fun counterpart to Teddy's over-the-top flirtations. I had a fun time reading this, and I eagerly anticipate any other novels Lucy Chalice releases in the future.

Hannah and Teddy are likeable characters and I enjoyed the second chance trope. I loved that it was set in the UK and it felt so local and authentic. Teddy was charming and flirtatious and Hannah was a little rough around the edges making them the perfect pair. My only problem is I felt that Teddy was slightly childish and immature at times, specifically at the end of the novel but this did not take away from how much I enjoyed the story and the characters.

Hannah is a prickly, quirky research veterinarian who needs help harnessing her people-side. Despite her insistent disdain, she enlists her high school crush to teach her how to flirt.

What I loved: the characters were mostly super charming (though occasionally infuriating), everyone has insecurities as well as strengths, side characters help complete the rounded package and add a sweet element to the story. The story flow was nice and it was very readable.

What I disliked: there's a lot of miscommunication, so be warned if that annoys you.

3.75 Stars
Open door spice

This was my first book by this author and while you can tell there was another book in the series first, it really stood in its own as well. I will be searching out the first book to continue enjoying this world and this author.

Thanks to Lucy Chalice, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for this eARC.

this was so much fun and a great follow up to Lucy Chalice's first novel. I read this one first, having received it as an ARC, and found the writing to be lots of fun with good side characters. Ted is a masterclass of pining, and I do feel this book represented already a good deal of improvement from the first- also I loved how we kept characterizing our FMC as a porcupine, I just found that so cute!

I will say there is a third act breakup/plot point that some might find mildly annoying, thought it was resolved incredibly quickly - I didn't mind it honestly, and felt like the author was building up to it anyway, so - giving this book a strong 4 stars and will read her future novels. I could see these books being for lovers of Ali Hazelwood!

Fundamentals in Flirting is a witty English romcom about Teddy and Hannah. They had a fleeting moment back in high school and all these years later they get a second chance.

Hannah is a vet with a less than desirable bedside manner and Teddy is a master flirt. What happens when they run into each other (literally) and reconnect? Was their moment all those years ago more than just lust? Teddy offers to teach Hannah how to be better at dealing with people in exchange for her help renovating his old house… did I mention it’s next door to hers?

This is an easy read, but the miscommunication between the two main characters had me frustrated for them.

Read if you like :
Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
One Bed

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you adore a good "grumpy sunshine" trope, this book will charm you, especially with the refreshing twist of a grumpy female lead. Set against the backdrop of the UK, this romance is both endearing and engaging.

The characters’ dynamics are captivating, making it impossible to put down. Highly recommended for anyone looking to be completely absorbed by a charming British love story.

Unfortunately, this hurt my brain to read. Hannah wasn’t ‘prickly’, she was straight up rude. I found her incredibly immature and genuinely cannot imagine what Ted saw in her. On the other hand, Ted wasn’t great either. Both characters were incredibly surface level and not fleshed out. There was no chemistry. I did not enjoy this at all.

The Fundamentals in Flirting is a reverse grumpy x susnhine where fmc Hannah is resevered and not great at "peopling" and mmc Teddy is the lighthearted and flirty one. These two have such fun banter and humor between them.

As much as you grow to love this couple you know from the flashbacks scene of Ted's 18th birthday party that communication will not be there for them. They eventually work through their problems as they build their relationship but at a frustratingly slow rate (my only complaint about this book is simply how frustrating it was reading these two and the will they won't they theme)

English countryside setting and scenery details really draws you into this book. The side characters (and their pets) add so much fun and depth the the mcs as you see them interact. I loved seeing Henry and Cara again and can't wait to see what comes next.

3.5/5 ⭐️ARC read - thank you NetGalley! Always a pleasure to get a sneak peek. This is a reverse grumpy sunshine trope with a prickly heroine and a charming and bubbly hero. Hannah is a vet, starting over in her hometown in a small practice after her previous relationship and job fell apart. Who does she run into but a childhood crush that fumbled their kiss years before. Teddy is flirt. Charming, good looking and kind. When Hannah's prickly attitude puts her new job at risk, she hires Teddy to give her lessons on "peopling". Slowly their tentative friendship leads to flirtation, but can Hannah believe he is genuine? Or that she is good enough to be with someone like him? I connected a lot with Hannah's character - the doubt, the spiralling, the social anxiety. Also being a blunt kind of personality and having people tell you - you should smile more. I enjoyed the growth and depth of the characters. The writing was good. A nice enjoyable easy read.

Easily a 4.5 ⭐️ read for me! An adorable story!

I feel like Hannah is me on some days. So obliviously blunt with no filter. Ted is her complete opposite, but you know what they say- opposites attract!

I need an Agnes in my life with an Aphrodite… and let’s not forget a devil sheep named Deidre!

I was giggling and kicking my feet- I couldn’t stop reading!