This was an cute read from one of my favourite authors.

I actually enjoyed learning about the "women in art" theme throughout the book, you could tell Lacey had done her research!

It is a slow burn, but I do love a build up. The little moments like sharing tea together, and of course... that pottery scene. :)

I have to say the university setting isn't my favourite, but that's just personal preference.

Well done, looking forward to her next book as always.

Thank you Rachel for the ARC!

I loved the dynamic between Michelle and Audrey. I liked that the author didn’t shy away from the issue Michelle had with Audrey being a former student. I think it was important to see throughout the novel. I haven’t read many academia books before and I really enjoyed the dynamics and inside look at being a professor.

I expected a little more angst. Learning Curves is pretty low angst and there’s no third act break up(which I actually like when there’s not a break up). 15 years is the age gap and that’s usually the maximum gap where I am personally comfortable with, but again that is just me personally.


I love the continued Vermont and hiking themes that I’ve read about in other Rachel Lacey books. My favorite aspect of the novel had to be the inclusion of women artists that I didn’t know about before.

This was such a fun read! The characters were lovable and real from the first page. The dual perspective added fun to the banter and the spice was perfect. Loved it! Just a little on the slow side for me personally but it was a great book! I’d give it 4.7 stars!

This was amazing in almost every way! This is an age-gap romance book that takes place in a workplace setting, at a college. We follow Audrey Lind who was once a student at the college, but is returning as a professor. Well there she meets Dr. Michelle Thompson, her old professor. She was the one that made Audrey fall in love with academia in the first place. But once she returns she realise that her old professor might not be the same person she was all those years ago. She seems to have built a big wall around herself..
Michelle has recently been through a divorce and is struggling with her career, it doesn't feel as fun as it once did. And what is she supposed to do when her former student comes back as a professr to teach that one class she has dreamed of teaching since forever?

I loved every second of this book. Audrey and Michelle are so cute together and something I loved to see is how well they communicated throughout the whole book. The spice was just enough and so beautifully written. I can be quite hesitant to spice in some books but Rachel Lacey really outdid herself with it. It doesn't feel unnecessary, it's happens at the perfect moments and the build up to them are amazing. There is definitely some yearning going on!

My only criticism is that some moments felt a bit rushed to me but it's nothing that makes the story bad.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a fast paced romance book! I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
Thank you so much to Rachel Lacey and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of the book.

This book was a sweet and cozy romance. It was a lovely, light read. I did feel it could have gotten a bit deeper with each character and gone a bit further down the road of their lives. The lack of conflict made the book hard to stay into in parts. But it was a nice, light read - a good palate cleanser between more intense novels.

To be published September 2, 2025

What a cute, queer, age gap story where Audrey returns to her alma matter as an assistant professor, teaching ceramics and women in art classes and also in the department is Dr. Michelle Thompson, Audreys former professor and now colleague. While Audrey admits early to crushing on Michelle while she was a student, Michelle is cold and distant- not the professor she remembers. Audrey is persistent and one queer holiday party later, they're a thing.
There was good chemistry and tension between the two and great growth from Michelle, though I didn't see the same from Audrey. The pottery wheel scene though? perfection.
Learning Curves was well paced and light hearted, a really great read to pick up in early fall.

Thanks to Netgalley for the early ARC!

Age-gap, sunshine-grumpy, teacher-student – Rachel Lacey’s new book, Learning Curves has all that and so much more.

Michelle is a tenured professor who has almost burnt out. She keeps to herself, which is made easier since her colleagues all think she is an ice queen to be avoided at all costs. But it wasn’t always this way. In the beginning, her job was a way to share her ideas and love of women in arts with students who would thrive on her words.

Audrey was one of those students, and when she is offered a job at the university to teach her dream class, she can’t wait to reconnect with her favourite professor. Only the connection isn’t there, and she is disappointed by the snark comments and cold shoulder she gets any time she interacts with Michelle.

Michelle doesn’t mean to snap or be rude, but it has become her shield in a world that has continually let her down. As Audry slowly inserts herself into Michelle’s life, she can’t help but become excited for the time they get to spend together.

Rachel Lacey knows how to lure in the sapphics with words. Her writing is fast and full of promise. Her characters feel relevant and carry baggage that always ends up being lighter when shared. Michelle carries the weight of a narcissistic ex in her memory, which makes Adrey seem like a breath of fresh air. She forces Michelle to remember who she is and who she can still choose to be. I really like that Lacey allowed Audrey’s crush on Michelle when they were teacher and student to be a turn-off for Michelle, allowing her discomfort to stand instead of getting swept under the rug.

Learning Curves is honest and sometimes raw, but always heartfelt. The MCs share a chemistry that ensures plenty of really hot pages to get through, with a storyline full of connection, new beginnings, and plenty of cups of tea.

I received an ARC from the author and am leaving a voluntary review

This was a quick cute read. Had some mild spice starting at about halfway through. I wish there was more to the plot but sometimes simpler is a must to get out of a reading slump.

This was a very competent, run-of-the-mill contemporary romance. I had the same objections as Michelle when it came to her and Audrey's past student/teacher dynamic. I also wasn't entirely convinced by Michelle's British-ness, it in places felt a little too much reliance on stereotype.
That being said, the spicy scenes we hot!

This book was a quick and easy read that I found sweet, spicy and nerdy. Learning Curves doesn’t have much in terms of conflict and everything gets resolved quickly. Definitely one to pick up if you like academia themed novels and would like to diversify your reading.

What a cute (and spicy) book! I really fell in love with Audrey and Michelle as characters. I initially was nervous about the age gap, as this was the first book I read with one, but it was handled perfect! I really appreciated all of the references to women in art, a subject that is criminally overlooked. I learned so much from this book and it made me SO happy. I was rooting for these two so hard and it was truly a wonderful love story.

Thank you so much to the author, Montlake, and Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved this book from page 1! Professor as a sapphic awakening, tweed blazers, British accent, tell me more!!

I read through this book way too quickly, but that means I get to go back and discover new things. This book will be a reread, and I’ll definitely be owning it in multiple versions.

So, let’s get into it, the characters are flawed and layered. They are human in their reactions, whether that be jealousy or lust. The dual POV gives great insight into each of the MC’s inner monologues. They are also witty and intelligent!

The longing and spice is written so well! My heart ached for each of the MCs, and the tension and longing I could feel in my bones.

I will return to this book, and this book will live rent free in my brain.

"Learning Curves" by Rachel Lacey was everything I wanted from this age-gap, academic, sapphic romance and more! It's rare to find a romance that doesn't have a third act break up or some miscommunication between MCs that causes drama and hurt, but "Learning Curves" has all the romance and none of the heartache.

Michelle and Audrey might've had a rocky star to their relationship as colleagues, but there was nothing tumultuous about their romance. With smoldering attraction and incredibly spicy scenes, clear communication and open, honest conversations were truly what stood out to me in this book.

I've loved everything I've read by Rachel Lacey thus far and "Learning Curves" now tops that list! I'd highly HIGHLY recommend this book to any queer romance readers and any who enjoy age-gap or academia romances. FIVE STARS!

I was so excited I received this arc and it did not disappoint! I was rooting for the characters, this was so fun and I loved the school setting a lot. I also enjoyed how there was no third act break up. The characters were so gentle with each other, I felt the chemistry between the both of them. I would highly recommend!

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!