I love Karla Sorensen’s books. As soon as I saw this was available on NetGalley, I jumped on it and put it on the top of my TBR. I appreciate that the author creates imperfect characters, who continue to surprise you throughout the book. With this book, we see that trend continue with a blend of emotions woven into this story documenting the character growth of both the FMC and MMC.

Ruby and Griffin take their history and grow it into a supportive and deliciously spicy relationship. Ruby is a librarian seeking to learn how to connect with and date men confidently, without experiencing self-doubt and anxiety. To aid with this endeavor, she hires a male escort to walk her through the dating process. Her childhood neighbor Griffin, who she hasn’t seen in years, and now a professional football player, crosses her path and in a comical case of mistaken identity, Ruby assumes Griffin is the man she hired. After assumptions are corrected, Griffin agrees to aid Ruby in her quest.

Ruby is a little bit of a difficult character for me. Despite being a fully fledged adult, she comes across excessively naïve. Her character does evolve throughout the book, but the naivety never makes sense with the history we are given for her. Being a focused student and goody-two shoes as a teen doesn’t align with the level of inexperience and innocence she shows and took me out of the story at times. Griffin, on the other hand, is a delight. The level of depth and emotional intelligence when interacting with Ruby is special and ultra-attractive. The reputation he is described as having does not seem consistent with what is shown. I almost wish there were more flashbacks showing his unruly behavior as an adult to emphasize how different he is with Ruby. Instead, he comes across as being misunderstood with a heart of gold. Though my absolute favorite part of this book is the best friend side characters. Both are a little crass and sassy but full of love and round out the story nicely.

The way this story was presented seemed incomplete. Usually with this author, we have a story that naturally concludes with the end of the book, while leaving enough loose threads to guide us to the next book in the series. Given Griffin and his brother’s strained relationship, there appeared to be a need for further resolution. Additionally, the absence of genuine family interaction seemed unusual compared to other books by this author. I hope we get a resolution between the brothers in the next book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series of standalone, interconnected books. If Karla Sorensen writes it, I will read it.

Thank you to Karla Sorensen, Montlake, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this eBook.

I enjoyed this sports romance. There’s something about lessons that always makes a story fun and sexy. I felt for the FMC with her insecurity about her scar. I loved how caring he was.

My first Karla Sorensen book did not disappoint! Ruby's childhood infatuation with her neighbor twins comes full circle when she meets Griffin again years later believing him to be the escort she hired to help with her intimacy issues. As they reconnect, Griffin becomes determined to support Ruby. This book is a masterclass in balancing steamy romance with meaningful life lessons. I was fully invested in Ruby and Griffin's relationship and I'm hoping to see more of Lauren's story in the future.

Give this book a try if you like sports romance (football), librarians, or are a Jane Austen fan. The Jane Austen references were on point!

Thank you Karla Sorensen, Montlake Publishing and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Overall I struggled a bit to get into this one and didn’t really connect with either character. It was quite slow- the majority of the story takes place over a 2 week period- and I just didn’t believe that they had any chemistry. I was not a fan of the nickname ‘birdy’ either.

That being said, I did love the ending and the epilogues- it was really nice to see the couple further on into the future given the short time period from the main part of the book, and I am very intrigued by Bennett’s story which I think is next and definitely want to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I throughly enjoyed this book and would love to read more from this author. Thanks to Betgalley and the publisher for this ARC

I don’t even know where to begin with this book because I absolutely loved it! Griffin and Ruby are just so good together, and I loved that they were childhood friends who lost contact but run into each other by chance as adults. It added a really unique dynamic to their relationship, especially when it came to learning more about the relationship between Griffin and his twin brother. Ruby’s got a hefty backstory of her own too, and I loved how gentle Griffin was with her heart. There’s so much good chemistry and character growth in this book, plus spice and a bit of humor, especially with some of the side characters like Marcus and Lauren. It’s basically exactly what I want from a romance novel! This was my first Karla Sorenson book and I now need to read her entire backlist!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

I loved how their banter was playful, but there was also real emotional growth between the two of them. They’re both so different in so many ways, yet they balance each other perfectly, making for a compelling, slow-burn romance.

Karla is a must-read author and a favorite of mine. I enjoyed this new title and loved how it paired a librarian (my dream job) with a pro football player! It was full of witty banter and spicy scenes. I was entertained the entire time. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was so freaking good! OMG!

If you love the dating coach trope along with the good girl x bad boy trope, this book is your cup of tea. Sorensen does a fantastic job bringing this story to life. It has romance, angst, some humor and hits emotionally. I am shocked by how I have not heard everyone hyping this book up.

Ruby and Griffin are gold. I loved them from the start. Ruby is a relatable heroine that readers will immediately root for. Griffin is heartthrob material. Their romance isn't rushed creating a wonderful slow burn romance. Their chemistry was off the charts but their friendship and emotional connection is what really stole the show for me. It's just so lovely seeing two people be vulnerable with each other.

It's an amazing romance!

Griffin & Ruby ❤️

💕When bad boy footballer Griffin King gets sent to stay in his agent’s holiday home in Colorado, he’s soon climbing the walls in boredom.

💕A visit to the local bakery ends up with Griffin meeting his childhood neighbour Ruby, who spent hours hanging out in the tree in their garden while watching Griffin and twin brother play.

💕Except Ruby is all grown up, managing the town library and in need of some confidence tricks. When the escort she hires puts her off, she asks Griffin for help.

✏️Karla Sorensen’s latest is another beauty that tugs on the heartstrings. What appears on the surface to be the party guy falling for the dainty but responsible librarian who hasn’t had much experience is really so much more in reality. I adored this couple and how they care for each other. I struggled to put Ruby and Griffin’s story down.

My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

There’s something so addictive about second-chance romances—especially when they come with banter, spice, and emotional depth. Karla Sorensen delivers all that and more in Lessons in Heartache, a story about two very opposite souls who were once neighbors, then strangers, and now… something neither of them can quite control.

Ruby is every bit the grumpy, rule-following control freak who prefers a good book to any kind of chaos. Griffin? Chaos in human form. A charming, reckless football star sent back home to lay low—and who just so happens to run into Ruby again in the most awkward.

Their dynamic is absolute magic. He’s sunshine personified—teasing, warm, and persistent. She’s guarded, blunt, and fighting every pull in her heart. The grumpy x sunshine tension? Off the charts. Their banter had me grinning like an idiot and the “who hurt you?” emotional undercurrent gave the romance a real weight. Oh, and the spice? Balanced perfectly with the slow-burn tension and vulnerability.

What I especially loved is how both characters are healing in different ways. The story isn’t just about falling in love again—it’s about learning to trust, to let go, and to forgive the past.

If you love:
• Second-chance romance
• Grumpy x sunshine (with sunshine being the guy)
• Small town + library vibes
• Emotional depth mixed with laugh-out-loud moments
• And a male lead who’s basically a golden retriever with emotional damage

…Lessons in Heartbreak needs to be on your radar.

Thank you Karla Sorensen and Netgalley for this ARC because I freakin LOVED ITTTTTT. Karla Sorensen is my new fave contemp romance author!! I cannot wait for the rest of The Kings series!!

Lessons in Heartbreak is a fun sports romance centered around a NFL player and a small town librarian. The tropes of dating coach, football romance, small town romance, childhood neighbors, and slow burn come together in a fun and spicy way. There are some serious parts: heart disease, sibling estrangement, and lack of self confidence are all discussed and help bring the MMC and FMC together for a sweet and comedic ride.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, and now I am eager to read the next book in the series.

This book will be released on May 20th, 2025 on Kindle Unlimited and in stores.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC!

Ruby-librarian who wants to be comfortable in her own skin, so she can date. Griffin – football player, who is in a PR nightmare involving his twin brother. When Griffin steps in to help Ruby, overcome her into intimacy issues, he learned after a while, he will have to win her heart! Ruby wants to build confidence so she can date and find love. However, she does not want to get her heartbroken. When the two old neighbors get together… Oh the lessons that Griffin teaches Ruby! Great book and love this author!

This was amazing. At first, it was odd to not be reading about familiar characters after finishing her Wilder family series, but it sucks you in quickly. Another easy 5 star by the author.

This was a really enjoyable easy read from an author who I love. She's torn my heart out recently with some of her series (looking at you Wilder family) but this is relatively angst free which made for a refreshing change. There are some emotional elements in here, but nothing too heavy. As usual with the author the story flowed really well although it did happen in quite a short timeframe. The multiple epilogues at different points helped round things out a bit and gave a nice end to the story. Overall it's a 4 to 4.5 star read for me I think.

I totally fell in love with Griffin and Ruby as a couple. They were adorable and the banter and snark with Griffin's friends/teammates was top notch. Lauren and Marcus as side characters were top tier! And I am definitely looking forward to learning more about Barret - the responsible twin. I'm definitely swooning at the idea of a bunch of football players watching P&P and getting all excited at Mr Darcy's hand clench...

The story between Ruby and Griffin starts with a big misunderstanding, a funny one. She mistakes him for an escort, even though he is a massive star due to his career as a football player. And the even bigger feud with his twin brother. But the main characters have met at some point in the past.
Ruby is a very complex character and once a part of her history is revealed her personality makes sense. Personally I think if that particular thing would have been revealed a bit sooner, maybe just to us the readers, it would have made it easier to understand her struggles and the reason for them.
Griffin on the other hand has been written as close to perfection as you can. His character development has been one of the best k have read in a very long time. Initially he comes across as your usual football player: rich, playboy, not a lot of depth and fairly shallow. It turns out that he is one of the most astute, attentive and dedicated people.
What I liked about this book:
The main characters relationships starts on the premise of friendship and it actually develops into a friendship. While the chemistry between them is obvious, this felt like a friends first, attraction later.
The plot was good, the storyline made sense, their personalities made sense once you learn more about Ruby’s condition.
My absolute favourite bit: Marcus. I want one of them.
What I disliked about the book:
Honestly not a lot. As I previously mentioned, if Ruby’s condition would have been revealed earlier to us readers, I think it would have allowed us to connect with her a lot more on an emotional basis. And her personality would have made a lot more sense, not that people are not allowed to have a different personality, but due to her condition it would have made her a lot more complex.
I would have liked as well to understand a bit more where her hang ups came from her previous relationship, maybe a few more details, that part felt a bit incomplete.
I personally did not like the connection amongst Griffin, his twin brother and his twins ex. I felt that to be a tad unnecessary and a bit uncomfortable.

Overall the book is well written, the storyline concludes without any plot holes or anything left unanswered. The spicy parts are well done, not too graphic, not tame either.
I would recommend this book.

This was a great book! If you love sports romance books then you will love this book! The romance and banter is great and the story is fast paced

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the early chance to read and review “Lessons In Heartbreak.”

I absolutely adored this book. I was hooked from the premise: sports romance + shy librarian, but this book had so much more emotional depth than I was expecting. I really enjoyed Ruby and Griffin together and their journey from friends to lovers. Initially, Ruby came across as a little uptight and rigid but as more of her backstory becomes known, it makes perfect sense and as a reader, I felt very connected to her. I definitely recommend this one to readers of contemporary romance and I cannot wait for the second book in the series. I will be bingeing the authors backlist immediately as well. 5 stars.

Thankyou to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really struggled with this book, it's everything I usually go for sports romance, small town and sprinkle some spicy lessons in there and this should have been the perfect read for me. However, I just didn't connect with the characters or the story fully, this could completely be a me thing as I am definitely a mood reader so I wouldn't say not to read it and there may be a time when I reread it in the future and fall in love thats just unfortunately not the case this time.

Dare I say this is my new favorite Karla Sorensen book?!?!

I absolutely LOVED this one!!!! The dynamic from start to finish was incredible, and the relationship between Ruby and Griffin was so beautiful. The dating coach trope is not something I have read too much, but I was here for it.

Like Karla literally had me high school giddy and in the edge of my seat for HAND HOLDING!!!! Like I cannot explain to you how much this scene affected me and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it.

I truly, truly LOVED this entire book. Ruby and Griffin were incredible, and Karla wrote them so beautifully. As always with her books, the friends and family were written soooo supportive and so fun, and I’m secretly hoping for more Marcus and Lauren (please please please).

I can’t wait to see what’s never for this series!