I could not put this down,, I loved loved loved this one, it was incredible. I think it may be one of my favourite Rachel Lacey books and as I have read nearly her entire discography that says a lot. We see Audrey returning to her Alma Mater as a professor and the professor who inspired her is still there. Only now her inspiration is grumpier and a lot less inspiring stuck in a job she no longer loves after bending to be a tenure professor and to keep her wife happy she is now divorced and in a job she hates. Enter her ex student who is now teaching her dream class which shes been turned down from teaching numerous times they do not get off to the best start. After spending more and more time together they cannot help but let it lead to something more, this book has it all the angst the steaminess. Who knew pottery making would have me swooning.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of Learning Curves!

Learning Curves is the story of Audrey who is a young doctor and just got a job at the college where she was an undergraduate! She is now colleagues with some teachers she knew when she was a student, including the woman she used to have a crush on.

I LOVED reading about academics and what is going on logistically! It was also great to have Audrey as the main point of view, but also to know Michelle’s perspective. I enjoyed the development of their relationship and also Michelle’s relationship with Muse.
Their communication level was amazing, which prevented the usual miscommunication trope.

The writing was great and the story flowed very easily. I read it all in one day!

I would highly recommend it! I’m giving it 5⭐️

I didn’t care for the two main characters Audrey and Michelle at all. The only thing I liked was that she made ceramics.

Guess who saw the cover and immediately requested this one because it was too tempting? Me. This was absolutely my bad. I do now know how I didn’t see the school in the back or put the “Learning” part of the title together, but this is a romance that takes place at a university.

I somehow didn’t realize this was a school environment, which I am realizing I genuinely can’t do in books. It brings me immediately back to college and I do not want to be back in school again.

With that being said, if you enjoy:
-Sapphic romances
-Excellent writing
-Giggles
-Wonderful character development
-An indulging story
-A book you want on your shelf because the cover is adorable
-A book that will make you feel warm and fuzzy

And you are ok with school settings, then you will love this one.
I can see myself purchasing this book in some time to add to my shelves, and I am really interested in reading more Rachel Lacey after this, as this writing style is luxurious and wonderful.

For me personally for now, I need to put this one down. I got to about 30% in and my brain was not enjoying the school environment, but I wanted to keep reading so badly. I heavily recommend this one and plan to pick it back up at a later time in a few years.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this eARC! This was such a treat. I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

Just finished Learning Curves by @rachelslacey. This was my very first f/f romance, and I couldn’t have gotten a better book to start. From the electric chemistry between Audrey and Michelle to the heartwarming journey of self-discovery and confidence, this story had me hooked from the first chapter.

Rachel writes in a style that made young teacher Audrey and Proffessor Michelle really come to life. It made me reminding my own schooltime, long long ago.
Learning Curves is a great romance book: flirty, empowering, and full of feel-good vibes. Absolutely loved it!
I liked the carrier option in the book very much. Dont stay in a job you don’t like! When a door closes, a new door Will open somewhere!

Thank you #Montlake and NetGalley for the arc in return of an honest review!

Teacher x student and make it sapphic. HECK YES!

Rachel Lacey brings us an amazing story in Learning Curves. From the first moment we meet both FMCs, I felt like we were going to get a beautiful love story. And that's exactly what we get.

This isn't a high drama piece. More like a gentle story of two women who cross paths again in life, only this time there's a mutual attraction instead of one sided crush. We get to follow along as they face challenges with work, their family, and even each other - because learning someone new can sometimes be hard.

While I loved Audrey's bubbly personality, Michelle's ice queen persona really pulled me in. Especially once we got beneath the layers to learn more about her past and why she acted how she did. Each new fact revealed made me love her more.

Things I loved that might make you want to read:
☺️Tweed jacket appreciation
☺️Vermont setting
☺️Age gap
☺️Love after divorce
☺️An adorably cranky cat
☺️Character development (SO GOOD!)
☺️Spice
☺️Third Person POV

Huge thank you to Montlake and Rachel Lacey for allowing me an eARC via NetGalley. This story is well worth the read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey. This is the story of two professors at a New England College who meet again after prior student Audrey is hired by the school to teach pottery. This is a slow burn open- door romance. The side characters are fully developed and the story line keeps you guessing at how these two will work things out. The dialog is strong and funny - perfect cozy romance to read in the fall.

if you're looking for a cute, contemporary sapphic romance, this one hits all of the marks of a fun and quick read.

professor/professor
age gap
grumpy/sunshine

I loved the dichotomy between being a burnt out professor meets the new professor with shining eyes for her dream job. I loved that Audrey brought out Michelle's love for life again, too.

it wasn't so much an "I can fix her," but more learning by doing, I guess? I thought it was fun to see the ice melt a bit while Michelle found herself again.

The little bit forbidden aspect of Audrey's professor while she was a student felt realistic as well.

Thank you so much to Rachel Lacey, Montlake, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rachel Lacey, lady, gentlemen and non binary people. I love her books so damn much and this one is not exception. Audrey and Michelle are a huge place in my art.
I mean… age gap, teacher x teacher (but once upon a time they were teacher and student, even if nothing happened between them then), grumpy x sunshine and ice queen? IT MUST BE CHRISTMAS!
Their relationship is so good I cannot think anything else. Really. So, so good. And I love Michelle so damn much. She’s so vibrant and full of life under the ice.
I’m so in love with these two I cannot even explain.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC of this e-book.

A fun, cute, sexy story with a couple that communicates well and no third act break up? Yes please!

I really liked the writing style of this book! At times I was unsure of the relationship dynamic but I did overall like this sapphic romance. I also liked learning about their jobs and the classes they taught.

Learning Curves absolutely filled my heart to the brim, and I am so happy! Rachel Lacey has delivered a sapphic academic romance that is as emotionally rich as it is delightfully sexy.

Michelle and Audrey? Adorable. Smitten. Utterly irresistible. Their chemistry leapt off the page, and their communication was refreshingly mature and there was no third act breakup or unnecessary drama, which I loved. In fact, one of the most standout aspects of this story is how much the characters respect each other, personally and professionally.

The spice? So hot. There’s a particular pottery scene that lives rent free in my head and is one of the hottest I’ve read in a while. Let’s just say... I may have blushed and needed to pause to catch my breath.

Plot wise, the story was solid and beautifully descriptive. You see everything from campus life to wardrobe details to the art history woven throughout. I could easily envision everything, and I really appreciated the depth it added to both setting and character development. The dual POVs were balanced and engaging; Michelle’s journey from burnout to rediscovery was especially compelling, and Audrey’s enthusiasm and maturity made her more than just a lovestruck younger woman. She was her own fully realized person with dreams, talent, and backbone.

Was the dialogue slightly clunky in a few spots? Yes, particularly for Audrey, but it didn’t distract from the story or the joy of reading. This was such an easy, enjoyable read that had me smiling, swooning, and rooting hard for these two.

This book is perfect if you’re craving:

F/F sapphic romance

Professor x former student turned colleague

Age gap (30/42)

Grumpy/sunshine dynamic

No third act breakup

Emotional growth and second chances

Steamy, art inspired scenes

Strong communication and mutual respect

A cozy academic setting with heart

This book was like a warm hug with a spicy twist. Highly recommend if you love slow burns, sapphic stories, and emotionally rich romances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Lacey, and Montlake for the eARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange of an honest review!

This was such a cute and easy read. Loved seeing Audrey and Michelle growing into their relationship!!! There were so many cute scenes in this book... but also some fucking hot ones like the pottery one!

Essentially, the story revolves around 3o year old professor Audrey Lind and her mid-forties former professor Michelle Thompson. Audrey has just been hired as a professor at the same college where she took classes taught by Michelle. It was through Michelle's guidance that Audrey was inspired to consider a career in academia in the first place. As a result Audrey is looking forward to working alongside her. Unfortunately, Dr. Thompson no longer appears to be the same passionate professor that she used to be. It doesn't help that Audrey has been given the green light to teach a class that Michelle has been proposing for years.

In terms of the story, I have no complaints. The author did a great job with the descriptions that were used in the book. It was easy to picture the scenery, the layout of the campus, and the clothing the characters wore. The little bits of art history that were included throughout the story were a very nice touch.

In regard to the characters, being able to see into the heads of both Audrey and Michelle worked really well. Plus, it wasn't a slog to get through the POV of either character. I appreciated how even though Audrey is the younger of the two, she shows a great sense of maturity. Essentially, she isn't just some infatuated pushover. She was written as a person with dreams and aspirations of her own. I'd say that between the two main characters, I enjoyed reading Michelle's parts the most. It was interesting to see the growth she makes as her relationship with Audrey progresses.

For the romance story elements, these are my thoughts. Since Audrey makes a big emphasis on the importance of communication in relationships, it makes sense that this story doesn't feature a third act breakup. Plus, the spicy scenes hit the sweet spot of not being to over the top or too dull.

The only real issue I had with the book was that there were some instances in which the dialogue seemed a bit too forced. Audrey in particular had some lines that were a bit too unnatural. However, it didn't take away from the overall story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a sweet romance book that features: character growth, an age gap, f/f pairing, no third act breakup, and an academic setting.

This took a while to really get going and it didn’t captivate as much as I hoped it would. It felt slow to progress at the start and then the last quarter picked up pace and flew through the remaining plot. I did enjoy their relationship by the end which I didn’t expect because I struggled to connect with Michelle and I’m glad it was a definitive HEA, not open ended.

I really enjoyed the information about the women in art and I’ll be looking into more of that going forward.

Please give me all the books about college life with students and professors. I adore that trope! Learning Curves was an excellent portrayal of academic life and the love found there. I loved it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh my goodness! My heart was so full and those tears from earlier? Happy tears. So many emotions while I read this, but most of all, I was happy. Michelle and Audrey were so freaking cute and smitten with each other. I could barely stand it! I’m a big fan of communication and these two excelled at it. Bravo! The spice was so overwhelmingly sexy that I could barely function while I read it. Did I blush? Maybe. Would I read it again? Yes! Anyway, I highly recommend this as a must-read and hope you love it as much as I did. Happy reading!


I’d like to thank NetGalley and Montlake for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is for the gals who watch those oddly sensual pottery making videos on tiktok and think ‘hot’ aka ME! This was my first Rachel Lacey and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved the chemistry between Audrey and Michelle SO much. Michelle especially was so relatable. Her prickliness and guarded nature was so endearing. I loved seeing her walls break down as she begins to trust Audrey. Audrey was such a breath of fresh air with her optimism and steadfast support of those she cares about. I think the two characters worked really well with each other and then progression of their relationship felt really natural. I also loved how the book engaged with queer culture overall and how inclusive it was in all sorts of ways. I read it in one sitting and loved every second!

Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey is a captivating romance that seamlessly intertwines the world of academia with a blossoming love story. The narrative follows Audrey Lind, a bright and enthusiastic young professor who returns to her alma mater, Northshire University, to teach. She finds herself working alongside Dr. Michelle Thompson, her former art history professor, who was once her academic idol and the object of her first female crush.

The chemistry between Audrey and Michelle is palpable, and their dynamic evolves from professional colleagues to something deeper and more personal. Lacey skillfully navigates the complexities of their relationship, exploring themes of age gaps, workplace politics, and the challenges of balancing personal desires with professional aspirations.

The setting of Northshire University adds a charming backdrop to the story, with its academic environment providing a rich context for the characters' interactions. The narrative is engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps readers invested from start to finish.

Overall, Learning Curves is a heartwarming and engaging read that will resonate with anyone who appreciates a well-crafted romance set against the backdrop of academia. Rachel Lacey has once again delivered a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. I definitely
reccomend this book for anyone who loves cozy academia vibes.

My gay heart 🥹💗 The age gap thing does kinda creep me out, especially since there is a former mentor relationship there. If you can get over that, this is such a cute romance!