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!

What a lovely addition to sapphic romance series!! I had some issues with one of the FMC but I think it’s just difference in personality kind of issue. I still very much enjoyed reading this and look forward to the next installments

🥹🥹🥹 The story of Michelle and Audrey is touching and sweet. Michelle was Audrey’s professor and inspiration in college. She always had a crush on her. Now Audrey has returned to the same college, in the same department as Michelle, as a professor herself. Audrey is excited to reconnect with the professor that inspired and influenced her degree and career choice. However, Michelle has changed. Her enthusiasm for teaching that Audrey so
Fondly remembers is diminished.

Michelle has walked through some difficult times, a divorce and is burnt out. Her colleagues in the department aren’t fond of her. Her students aren’t excited by her teaching anymore and she has become an ice queen light. She is resentful Audrey has been given a course she proposed and wanted to teach. She is aware enough of herself to know she is projecting her disappointment onto Audrey. She also finds herself becoming attracted to this much younger woman.

Audrey is a fresh breath of air to teaching. She is excited and vibrant, the way Michelle used to be. Her colleagues like her and students are engaged and excited in her classroom. She is passionate about the material she teaches. And still, she is attracted to Michelle and curious about what has happened to leave her jaded.

As the two reconnect and space between them relaxes, will they be able to explore their feelings for each other?

I enjoyed the story and the chemistry between the MC’s. It’s a soothing balm when characters communicate with honesty and can take accountability for their part in dynamics. The spicy scenes were well done and moved the story along. There is queer,trans, bi, and lesbian representation.

I was given an arc through NetGalley and Montlake Publishing. I leave my review voluntarily.

This was a very cute and charming sapphic read! I binged it in one sitting on the train and can imagine it appealing to romcom readers and LGBTQ+ readers! There wasn't quite enough oomf or chemistry enough for me to give it more than 3 stars but I absolutely enjoyed it! It just didn't wow me enough.

this one was cute and quite unique. we need more sapphic romances because they are literally fire. i'll definitely be checking this author more in the future.

Rachel Lacey was the author that really got me into reading again. Her books are always a hit for me and Learning Curves might be one of my favorites.

Learning Curves is an age gap, academia, and workplace story. Audrey Lind is returning to her college roots as an assistant professor, hoping to get on track for tenure. Audrey’s passion is deep in ceramics but her love for academia was ignited by her former professor and now colleague, Dr. Michelle Thompson. However, it seems that the woman Audrey once adored has grown thorns around herself. Now divorced, Michelle feels that her career and life has stalled and to make things worse, the class she has been pitching for years is going to be taught by her former student. Even with her icy exterior and walls built up, Audrey continues to try to worm herself through to find the passionate woman she had crushed on throughout her college career. Their chemistry is palpable but how long can they hold off.

I really enjoyed reading Learning Curves, Rachel truly outdid herself with this one. The chemistry and tension between Michelle and Audrey was outstanding. I loved the way that Audrey handled Michelle’s insecurities and past experiences. I suddenly have the urge to get into pottery after reading this book, especially that pottery wheel scene. Ghost who? Overall, Learning Curves was a great read. The pace was good, some moments felt a little rushed but nothing that takes away from the story.

I highly recommend reading Learning Curves when it comes out. I know I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

Arc review!
What can I say about this book other than I adored it. I love a good student/teacher romance. Audrey a former student of Michelle’s and now coworkers ❤️ I loved the blossoming romance and what became of them. The chemistry was 🔥 and the spice was great too.
The way Audrey and Michelle were with each other made me swoon I absolutely adored it. This is now one of my favourites! Highly recommended 10/10
Thank you to Rachael Lacey for the arc