4.5 rounded up!

This book totally stole my heart! The chemistry was adorable, the romance felt natural, and I loved how warm and queer-affirming the whole story was. It had just the right mix of flirty, emotional, and empowering.

I flew through it with a big smile on my face—only knocking off half a star because I wanted more! Perfect if you’re after a sapphic rom-com that’s full of heart.

Rachel Lacey writes the sweetest dang books! And wow, wow, wow, the Ghost pottery wheel homage was some fine spice, indeed! Audrey and Michelle make such a good couple. They complement each other beautifully, and sharpen each other in the best ways too. Audrey's full of youthful idealism and vigor, and Michelle is burnt out and worn down from navigating the endlessly sexist and brutal gauntlet that is a career in academia. But in learning to love each other, they learn new ways of thinking about the ways they move through the world, too. They swerve and fall deeper in love with their own art. I think this works so well as a double POV romance. Plus, a second chance love story with a Cat of Divorce? Gay and sexy and adorable too. Another five star novel from Rachel Lacey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

Rachel Lacey did it yet again! I am in love with this book as much as Audrey and Michelle love each other! Every time I read a book of hers I feel every single emotion as it’s described and it kills me, in the best way of course. If you love art AND sapphic books this is for you. The yearning for each other just kept me going I could not stop reading it I’m honestly sad I finished it. I can’t wait to keep reading more of her books! I’d recommend this a million times over and will re-read it atleast 2 more times as it made me so emotional. Thank you for letting me read the Arc I love it so much definitely one of my favorite books and I can’t wait for whatever comes next!

The story wasn’t my favorite but I didn’t hate it. The plot fell flat for me and I caught myself wanting to skim because I was bored. I enjoyed Audrey and how she wore her heart on her sleeve but I struggled to connect with Michelle. I was hoping for a little bit more chemistry and angst between the two. I enjoyed the art part of the book but it was very much focused on that. I will continue to read Rachel’s book! This book just wasn’t for me. Thank you for the advanced copy!

Learning Curves is a lovely, satisfying romance that feels both real and rewarding. Audrey and Michelle’s connection grows through shared passion, honest conversations, and a deep mutual respect that makes their slow-burn relationship really land. It’s a story about finding yourself again—with the help of someone who truly sees you. I finished the book feeling warm, hopeful, and not quite ready to leave their world behind. If you love character-driven stories with slow-burn tension, academic settings, and emotional depth, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Learning Curves releases September 2, 2025

Audrey is a new faculty member and professor at her alma mater, Northshire University. It’s where her love of art flourished, and where she gained the inspiration to pursue academia as an undergrad, thanks to Dr. Thompson’s mentorship.
Now that the dynamics between Audrey and Thompson have shifted from teacher/student to co-workers, Audrey is taken aback by the standoffish disposition that has replaced the passionate woman she once knew.

Lacey excelled in writing an academic setting. I loved the focus on women in art, the navigation of campus politics and committees, and the implementation of the transcription software which made classes more accessible.

I wasn’t expecting this to be such a slow burn romance, but it suited the characters perfectly. With Audrey’s friendship and general enthusiasm, we saw Thompson slowly rediscover her self-confidence after years of being belittled in her marriage and overlooked in a professional setting, which was quite beautiful.
The sensuality of the pottery scene and recreating such a classic moment from <I>Ghost</I> was everything, and I loved how Audrey and Thompson prioritized communication in all aspects of their relationship.

Read this if you like:
- sapphic love (lesbian + bisexual)
- age gap (30/45)
- workplace romance
- grumpy x sunshine
- Vermont setting
- art history + ceramics
- Brits wearing tweed
- having the courage to start over later in life
- love after divorce

Audrey comes back to NU in Vermont now to teach, the university she started her academic career at. At the time she crushed so hard on her professor Michelle Thompson and now coming back as a colleague she is still crushing on her, but Michelle is different these days, she is a big mystery.

It was great to read about how Audrey manages to get Michelle out of her shell and her very sad and lonely existence after her divorce. They get very hot and heavy with time and that is all great. However, in my mind too much focus on art history, teaching and writing and too little on their backstories and romance. It even gets a bit boring at times. An enjoyable read but unfortunately not more than that.

I received a free ARC from the author via NetGalley and leave a review voluntarily.

This book was utterly adorable. Whilst I left University due to PTSD from my brother’s death, before that I was a Fine Arts major for a short time. This book both brought me back to the joy of those days, and introduced me to new female artists I never would have known of, before. Michelle and Audrey’s story is cozy and sweet, and the perfect allegory for those overcoming trauma (mildly referenced in regards to gaslighting and homophobia) still being worthy of love. It had me laughing out loud, and smiling in their big and small moments. Further words just won’t do this book justice, but please go read it. It’s amazing.

I looooved this book. I felt like I could see parts of myself in both Audrey and Michelle. I loved the grumpy/sunshine pairing and the way Audrey and Michelle’s relationship progressed throughout the book. I also was not surprised to learn that the author lives in Vermont from the author description at the back of the book - I’ve never been to Vermont but the descriptions made me want to visit!! I also loved the unapologetic childfree representation in the book as someone who is childfree by choice, and I loved the healthy communication between the two of them!

I did feel like there was a lot of casual drinking in the book which isn’t a bad thing but just something I noticed as someone who just doesn’t really drink anymore. Another thing I didn’t love but I feel like isn’t necessarily a huge deal for a lot of people is the mention of Audrey’s family having a “man cave” in their house - a “man cave” is a personal pet peeve of mine bc what do you mean this family who all loves each other needs a separate space for the men to be away from the women in the family so they can relax..?

There was one thing about the ending that I didn’t love and felt a little like it was done for the sake of convention which I felt didn’t 100% vibe with the way I perceived the characters, but it definitely didn’t take anything away from the overall story though bc overall I still loved this book! This is the first book that I’ve read by this author but it definitely won’t be the last!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy to read!

Thank you Rachel Lacey, Montlake, and Netgalley for providing me an e-arc for exchange for an honest review.

Audrey and Michelle were two really great characters! I liked their dynamic together. A tiny bit grumpy and sunshine. But grumpy isn’t so grumpy. She’s just stuck in a not-so-great job and misogyny running a muck. Definitely fluffy with a decent side of spice.

Definitely can’t wait to pick up a physical copy in September!

Very cute and easy, lighthearted read with one very hot pottery scene. I loved the bi and lesbian representation as well.

Thank you Rachel Lacey and NetGalley for this incredible ARC!!

First off I love Audrey and Michelle! I love the entire premise of this book….. everything was so well put together and the amount of effort and research that Rachel Lacey had to put into this must have been insane! The whole ‘hot for teacher’ vibe is definitely one of my top tropes!! And the ceramics lesson….. definitely had me hot!!!

I’ve been a huge fan of Rachel Lacey for a while now, so Learning Curves was high on my list—and it did not disappoint. This book is everything I love about her writing: heartfelt, inclusive, and full of chemistry that practically leaps off the page.

The romance is sweet, sexy, and so emotionally satisfying. The characters are wonderfully written—flawed, funny, and completely lovable—and their connection feels both authentic and swoon-worthy. Lacey does such a great job balancing lighthearted moments with deeper emotional beats, and the result is a story that feels warm, empowering, and impossible to put down.

If you’re already a fan of Rachel Lacey, this one will absolutely deliver. And if you’re new to her books, Learning Curves is a fantastic place to start. I loved every minute of it.

Arc Review

Truthfully, this was one of the best books I’ve ever read! As someone who is by this book was such a great representation of their relationship as a lesbian and bisexual. I absolutely loved how Audrey corrected Michelle when she got her sexuality wrong. Their connection was truly magical and I loved the writing. The author style was so unique and I truly enjoyed reading her take on art. I truly hated Stuart and spoiler. I was a little sad that Audrey ended up staying at the university. Overall, this is definitely going to be one of my top books of the year! I am beyond grateful for this opportunity! Thank you to Net Gallery for this ARC.

Ps. The Spice was literally so good! Couldn’t put that on good reads because my sister follows me 🤣

Thank you to Rachel Lacey and Montlake for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. ❤️

Oh this is the hot professor and student steamy romance you absolutely must read! Michelle was Audrey's professor in undergrad. Now that Audrey's back at her alma mater as a professor herself, she finds Michelle still teaches there. Only problem is Michelle is burned out. She's tired of teaching. Tired of her not interested students. Just tired. The once amazing professor Audrey remembers has lost her sparkle. Audrey and Michelle's story is beautiful and tender and absolutely on fire spicy! These two were made for each other! Lacey doesn't miss, and this one is no exception! I'm still blushing from the hot and spicy scenes. Will I read it again? You betcha! All the stars to this one!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

Thank you netgalley and Montlake for an advanced copy!

Learning Curves follows Audrey, who is returning to her alma matter to be an art professor, and Michelle, a fellow art professor who was Audrey’s teacher a decade ago and is now coworker. In the sake of all honesty, I probably would’ve dnf’ed if I had not received an advanced copy. The beginning didn’t hook me, and then I felt like nothing happened that made the book stand out to me beyond the premise. The romance was pretty instant for Audrey, whereas I wouldve maybe liked to see some more pining and stress over their situation.

I really wanted to enjoy this. The trope is one of my favorites. But the dialogue was just so forced, and it made the characters kind of unlikable, which in turn made me uninvested in their love story. The spicy parts were relatively good, though, if that’s your primary interest in a romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the eARC!

Learning Curves is an adorable sapphic romance between Audrey and Michelle. Michelle is a tenured professor at NU, and Audrey was her student years ago (who definitely had a massive crush). Now, Audrey just landed a professor position in the very same department at NU, with their offices right across the hall from each other! Thus beginning a new exploration of a friendship dynamic between the two…or will it become more?

I absolutely loved this book, for so many reasons. I found myself particularly drawn to Michelle as a character and her struggles as a teacher (I majored in Education). Her experiencing a loss of passion, especially seeing her students becoming more and more engrossed in their phones than with the teaching materials, felt all too real. In general I feel as if all of the characters were really fleshed out and had distinct personalities which really helped with the immersion in the story. Also I HAVE to sing praises at the amount of love that was put into the Art history and various artists mentioned throughout the book, it’s clear the author has done a lot of research in earnest. Overall this book was such a breath of fresh air!

I don't think I could be more in love with this book if I tried, I read it in two days (unheard of for me) and was very resentful of having to put it down to do other things (like go to work, who needs work!).
Michelle and Audrey felt so real and well rounded to me, their interactions and the maturity of their relationship from (almost) the outset was beautiful and I was rooting for them from the very beginning. I also loved the deep dive into women in art we got throughout the book and stopped often to google pieces or artist so I knew what was being spoken about which made me feel even more immersed in the story. This book had everything I could have asked for in terms of grumpy/sunshine and age gap romance, my only criticism would be that I wanted MORE!