Who knew pottery could get you hot and bothered?! This book was such a great read. The dual POV enhanced the longing between Michelle and Audrey, whilst allowing us to see more depth from each of the characters. I loved the pace of the book, i couldn’t put it down! The book was also incredibly informative of women in art and I really appreciate the level of research the author must’ve done to accurately portray this.
The characters were loveable and Michelle should be protected at all costs! The open and honest communication between Audrey and Michelle was refreshing to read and proved the strength of their budding relationship. This was an excellent book that I would highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book! This was my second Rachel Lacey novel and I definitely plan on reading everything else she’s ever written because I love her writing style. I loved so many things about this book. I read it in 2 days! Michelle and Audrey were great together, but individually too. Lacey did an amazing job when it came to addressing the two women’s age difference and their past as teacher-student. They communicated a lot, which was really refreshing (too much miscommunication kills the vibe for me). The spice was VERY hot, no complains about it. Overall I loved how quickly I felt “immersed” in the story, and how much we knew about the characters. And the “Ghost” reference was PERFECT. The book version was way better than the original. So so so hot, I was giggling, kicking my feet and blushing the whole time! I really recommend this book, especially if you’re into former student/professor dynamics, age gaps, HOT ENGLISH WOMEN (!!!!) and sweet love stories <3

I fleeeewwww through this book! I thought both Audrey & Michelle were very well written characters and I so appreciated how mature they were. They didn’t fall for the miscommunication trope bc they recognized the importance of open communication even when it was uncomfortable, which I LOVED. Also, sometimes age gap romances can feel a little icky to me (just not always my cup of tea😉), so I really enjoyed how their age gap was written! I thought it was so great that they addressed their former student/teacher relationship while building something new as two adults outside of a decade old power imbalance.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and will definitely be reading more Rachel Lacey books in the future!

When Audrey Lind returns to Northshire University to teach, she’s drawn back into the orbit of Dr. Michelle Thompson—the brilliant, enigmatic mentor who once sparked both her love of art and her first female crush. But time has weathered Michelle into someone harder and their reunion is marked by wary distance. As their professional paths entangle and Michelle’s sharp edges clash with Audrey’s warmth an unspoken tension builds. Until a tipsy night together at Audrey’s pottery wheel threatens their careful boundaries and both women must choose between the safety of friendship and the transformative risk of love.

This book really took me by surprise in the best way, I was struggling to get absorbed into Audrey and Michelle’s story to begin with and thought this book might be a bit of a slog. Needless to say I was very wrong! This book had absolutely everything I could possibly want from a romance. Beautiful character development, such romantic tender moments and of course some sizzling spice.

I really enjoyed the way that the age gap was portrayed where Michelle of course had more life experience but both of them were bringing such different things to the table that age didn’t really matter in the end. I loved that Audrey was more confident in a lot of ways despite being younger and her confidence brought out Michelle’s confidence and joy. It was just a really lovely, heart warming, yummy soul nourishing book.

Rachel Lacey has been a tried and true author for me for a while now! I love the stories she writes and the characters in them! Learning Curves is added to the list now! I love getting a peep into the pottery world and I might have a new hobby! 😂 I appreciate that there was no third act break up because those are always unnecessarily stressful. Can’t wait to listen to the audiobook when it comes out! Highly recommend this one!

ARC REVIEW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this one! The plot was sweet and had me genuinely rooting for both characters throughout. While I'm usually not a fan of the whole "crushing on your college professor" trope, it can definitely veer into uncomfortable territory, it was handled well here and didn’t feel overly weird or uncomfortable.

This is my third (maybe fourth?) book by Rachel Lacey, and every time I finish one, I’m left smiling. Us sapphics truly don’t get enough happy endings, so it’s always refreshing to read a story that delivers one. 🥰🌈

Huge thanks to Rachel Lacey for sending me this ARC, and to NetGalley for hosting it!

i have a thing for academia, fall, and british women, so i obviously knew i was going to love this. i thoroughly enjoyed this book and will read anything rachel lacey writes. this was a slow-burn, steamy romance. at first, i was worried about how i would feel about the age-gap/backstory between the characters, but rachel lacey executed it well. i related to audrey’s love for academia, learning, and approval, as well as michelle’s discontent with her job, her reserved nature, and insecurities. i enjoyed reading about the college and the day-to-day of the department. mercy was such a great friend to audrey, and their friendship was a delight to read about. muse the cat was also so cute!! all in all, another hit from rachel lacey that i would recommend to anyone interested in a sapphic romance.

thank you to rachel lacey and montlake for a free digital arc in exchange for an honest review! all opinions are my own.

Another 5 star read from Rachel Lacey. Learning Curves has a little bit of everything you'd hope for from a Rachel Lacey book. Interesting premise, laugh out loud moments, delicious character growth, spice, and a HEA. What more could you ask for? (Other than your very own Audrey?)
Whether you're a fan of her books already or have yet to read one, do yourself a favor and read this one. Then go read her other ones because they're all awesome.

Rachel Lacey’s *Learning Curves* is a sweet, slow-burn romance that delivers exactly what fans of low-angst love stories (like me!) crave: warmth, tenderness, spice, and a wonderful sapphic pairing.

Audrey Lind is bright, optimistic, and full of passion—for both art and life. She’s thrilled to return to Northshire University, where she once admired (and daydreamed about) Dr. Michelle Thompson from afar. But Michelle, once an inspiring force in Audrey’s academic journey, is now jaded, bruised by divorce and a career that’s lost its spark. Their initial interactions are far from smooth, with Michelle wary of Audrey’s enthusiasm and Audrey determined to rekindle the light she once saw in her mentor.

As their professional relationship evolves into something deeper, Lacey crafts a beautifully paced romance. The slow burn works wonders here, allowing Audrey’s kindness to chip away at Michelle’s armor until the chemistry between them is undeniable.

What truly sets *Learning Curves* apart is its balance of emotional depth and comfort. While Michelle’s struggles feel real and relatable, the book never becomes weighed down by angst. Instead, it offers readers a gentle, hopeful journey that proves love can reignite even the dimmest of flames.

If you loved watching a guarded heart slowly thaw in the presence of pure sunshine energy, *Learning Curves* is a must-read. it's a romance that radiates warmth and I highly recommend it!

A huge shouty of thanks out to Rachel Lacey and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review the book early!

I loved this book. I loved it so much I finished it and immediately started it over. If you like workplace romances, age gaps, academic settings, women in art, seductive pottery wheel scenes, or ever had a giant crush on your professor, chances are you will also love this book. I read almost exclusively sapphic romances and this was one of the most woman-centered books l've ever read. If their boss weren't a man, this book would not pass whatever the opposite of the Bechdel test is.
Rachel Lacey clearly put an immense amount of time into researching women in art for this book (or just has an encyclopedic knowledge), so be prepared to google a lot of gorgeous art by incredible women. Michelle and Audrey were lovely, had a lot in common, communicated, and learned and grew as a result of their connection.
Their relationship felt real, I absolutely believe they'd last after the end of the book. They made my heart happy.
10/10

I love Rachel Lacey and Learning Curves to give me the sweet and swoony romance I typically expect from her. Unfortunately, this did not.

Cuteeee! Crushing on your professor but you’re their former student. Ahhh! I love the FMC landing a job as a professor and getting the chance to explore what she wished for.
This is F/F done right. Need more from this author since she was new to me

I am so grateful to have had the chance to experience this story early. It’s a perfect fall cozy romance book. I love that both main characters are 30+. It’s so nice to have a romance closer to my own age. The vibes are cozy, the romance is steamy, and the incorporation of the art is perfection. I loved this!

I'm always on the edge of my seat when Rachel has a new book coming out and I am so happy I got to read an ARC for it (patience is not my virtue)!

Audrey gets the job of her dreams as a professor at the university she used to study at. She's excited about this for several reasons. For one thing it is a dream come true. For another she gets the chance to be a collegue to the hot professor who inspired her to become one!

Michelle has turned closed off and guarded after her horrible divorce. When Audrey walks in she is the exact opposite of Michelle's broodiness. I love how Michelle is mature enough to look at herself and find the root of her issues. Granted with a little bit of help of Audrey but still she does the hard work.

I was very drawn to Michelle's feelings and thoughts and I totally get where she is coming from although at times it was a little bit confronting. I loved Audrey's perseverance for her career but also willing to think about the bigger picture of life.

An ARC was given to me via the author and Netgalley in return of an honest review.

This book is an absolute gem. It’s layered, tender, and brimming with the kind of chemistry that makes you feel every stolen glance and hesitant touch. I loved Audrey’s warmth and spark, and how her joy seeps into every scene and slowly melts Michelle’s guarded, hardened edges. The age gap is handled with such sensitivity, never leaning into cliché, but instead offering space for vulnerability, growth, and rediscovery. The writing is smart and intimate, rich with tension and softness in equal measure. I adored it.

This is a typical contemporary romance, if that’s your thing then it’s definitely for you. I enjoyed the read, found it a little hard to get through but overall it is well written and a great love story.

RACHEL LACEY!!!! I cannot believe how amazingly written, thought out and heart driven this book was. I can tell a lot of research went into this book. I absolutely devoured this book. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to have an ARC for an honest review and to Rachel Lacey for emailing me that my copy was available to read.

5 stars all around. Learning Curves is nothing like Rachel Lacey has written before. I learned so much about women in art and the fact that she had two main characters that were professors of art but took a liking and favoritism to women in art history is amazing! Not only were Michelle and Audrey very likable characters, there was an intellectual connection between the both of them from the start with their love of art.

Michelle, recently divorced and untrustworthy of others since her ex-wife just up and left her, has been denied many times by the head of the department to teach a women in art history class. But, when a former student of Michelle's, now professor and co-worker, Audrey, is offered her class. Nothing sits well with Michelle. Especially the future of education. Her drive to teach young minds about art history is gone. She doesn't feel that urge to teach, especially since everything is being taken away from Michelle, like she's being forced out of the university.

Audrey, positive, perky, passionate and driven to teach her classes, finds out that she is co-workers with her past professor and college crush. Michelle wants anything but to be friends with Audrey, but Audrey and her insistent behavior won't let Michelle shut her out. Instead they bond over tea and their love of women in art history.

When Michelle starts to open up to Audrey, she realizes that maybe Audrey is the future of education because of her passion and maybe she should let people in. When one thing turns to another, Michelle and Audrey have to decide is their careers really worth losing over the true love they both aspire.

This is absolutely a must read book by Rachel Lacey.

First of all, can I just say how much of a fantastic writer Rachel Lacey is? She could write about eskimos and the intricate art of building igloos and I'd be invested. I loved the dual POV of Learning Curves and found myself drawn to Michelle more than Audrey. I think her reclusive personality is me to a tee. Audrey was so fun and refreshing though. Overall, the story was beautiful and cozy with loads of LGBTQIA+ rep that was well written and inclusive. I'm a sucker for a student and professor romance but this one was done so eloquently without skimping out on any of the spicy stuff.
I'm looking forward to reading more from Rachel.

As someone who works for a university it is always a pleasure to discover a new sapphic romance set in an academic setting. In Learning Curves we meet two very different academics, Audrey who is a newly minted professor who has been given a 12-month contract at her alma mater, Northshire University, and Michelle, a tenured professor in the same department. Michelle was one of Audrey's favourite lecturers when she was a student 8 years earlier and Audrey had a massive crush on her at the time. On her return to the university as a new staff member she is excited to discover that Dr Thompson is still there and looks forward to meeting her again on a professional footing. She is over her crush, honestly! However, she is stunned and disappointed to discover that Dr Thompson is no longer the engaging teacher that she remembered and that, instead, she is grumpy, and standoffish and definitely not the woman Audrey remembers. After a rough start she sets her mind on winning the jaded woman over and convincing her to be friends.

I loved reading the journey of these two women, wary of age gaps, and workplace politics and Michelle's frustration at losing the Women in Art class she'd been asking to teach for several years to the younger woman and finding more about the reasons why Michelle had lost her self-confidence and dynamic teaching presence. With so much in common in terms of their shared interests, particularly the place of women in the art world, it was almost inevitable that they would spend more time together. However, it takes a wine-filled night including a steamy encounter at the pottery wheel to really get things heating up. The question is whether they can overcome their fears of impacting their careers to give the attraction a chance to develop further.

There are so many layers to this story, and I enjoyed watching them unfold. I also loved immersing myself in the world of art and am very tempted to do more reading about some of the women artists mentioned throughout the book.

I loved it. Grumpy sunshine that could’ve easily fallen into annoying miscommunication, but didn’t. The characters were mature and they talked through their issues and it ends up in a sweet romance. Love this author and will definitely read more of her books!