Rating: 4.25/5

- football romance
- childhood neighbours
- dating lessons
- friends with benefits
- reformed playboy
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov
- dual narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow

Lessons in Heartbreak is a small-town, feel-good romance with just the right mix of swoon and soul. Ruby, a charmingly awkward librarian, is on the hunt for dating lessons. Who better to help than Griffin, her childhood neighbour turned NFL star, who's in town for two weeks?

What starts as a lighthearted agreement quickly turns into something deeper. Between the flirty, tension-filled lessons, Jane Austen movie nights, and quiet moments of vulnerability, Griffin starts to fall hard. And honestly? So did I. Their emotional connection is one of the book's standout parts.

Of course, it's Karla Sorensen, so you know the emotional gut-punch is coming. You'll laugh, you'll melt, and you just might tear up in the middle of your workday (guilty 😅).

The audiobook? Phenomenal. Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow are pitch-perfect. Aiden nails Griffin's mix of deep charm and quiet sensitivity, while Samantha brings Ruby's inner monologue to life with warmth and wit. They're an absolute dream team, especially for dual POVs.

Also, can we talk about Griffin's brother and his chaotic kids? If The Kings is truly a series, I need that next book ASAP.

Big thanks to Karla and Brilliance Publishing for the early copy!

Karla always has such swoony and charming romances, so I was super excited to dive into the first of the Kings series. Ruby, our quiet librarian heroine, is more comfortable living through the pages of her favorite novels than taking risks in real life. But when a bold birthday gift makes her confront just how much she’s missed out on in the realms of dating and intimacy, she decides to take an outrageous leap—by hiring an escort to help her ease into the world of romance and get some real-world confidence. What she doesn’t expect is for Griffin—her former neighbor and childhood nemesis—to walk through the door. Back when they were teens, Griffin was more of a lovable menace than anything else. Now he’s a professional athlete taking a break from fame, and very curious about why Ruby felt the need to hire someone. When he steps in to help instead, things take a turn Ruby never saw coming. As they reconnect, both are surprised by the depth of the bond forming between them.

This was a bit of a slower start for me- and while the premise of the story is great, I struggled to connect with either character. Though both had relatable characteristics that should have drawn me in. Ruby, for reasons revealed later in the story, has been holding herself back from fully engaging in life. Reuniting with Griffin, someone who brings both comfort and challenge, helps her break down those barriers. He may be impulsive and carefree on the surface, but when it comes to Ruby, he’s incredibly steady and respectful. Their connection builds slowly but meaningfully, and there is a good balance of heart and emotion here. But I did feel like it really didn't dig as deep as it could have with the emotional components- both the slower pace and the surface level treatment of the story once we got there made it feel like a bit of a miss for me with chemistry and depth, despite interesting characters, a great world set-up, and fantastic narration.

Samantha Brentmoor is forever a fav, and Aiden Snow really is so delicious. The narration itself was fantastic- and with the caliber of both of these narrators i think if the narrative had just a bit more emotional saturation, it really would have been a knock out audio.

What to expect:
-reverse grumpy sunshine
-enemies to lovers
-football
-second chance
-shy girl x bad boy
-opposites attract
-situationship

Great on audio! Samantha Brentmoor is a top tier narrator, one of my favorites. I haven’t listened to a whole lot of Aiden Snow before, but I find his deep voice to be very soothing. The combination makes for a compelling listen. At 10-11 hours, the runtime of the audiobook makes for a full-day listen, but I wanted to binge the story anyways. Though there are a couple of NSFW elements, the overall spice level is pretty low. The lighthearted vibes are perfect for a workday listen, and ideal for the format. Definitely recommended in audio!

I love a new spin on an old trope, and Karla Sorensen always does it up right. I was smiling from this couple’s introduction, and the story surprised me in the best of ways. Sure, the love lessons aspect is present, but it’s much more a story about a carefree man who finds himself falling for a careful woman, just as she’s decided to be a little bit wild. I loved that our hero was thrown off his axis, and I also loved that the lessons storyline evolved in an unexpected way. I was genuinely surprised by some of the subplots, and the story kept me on my toes. First and foremost, however, the characters were great together, and I was eager to see them find their way towards happily ever after. Another win from Sorensen!

The story follows Ruby, a librarian who usually lives vicariously through books. When a risqué birthday present forces Ruby to confront the reality that she’s never experienced the best parts of sex and dating, she decides to hire an escort to help her feel more comfortable putting herself out there. She’s not planning on hitting the sheets with the guy, she just wants his help. So when her former neighbor shows up at the appointment, Ruby isn’t sure what to think. She hasn’t seen Griffin since they were teenagers, and he was always a bit of a chaotic pest at the time. Now a pro athlete taking a break from the spotlight, Griffin is beyond intrigued to discover all the reasons why Ruby felt the need to hire a professional. As he steps in instead, Griffin grows closer to Ruby in a way neither expected.

The start of a new series, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from these characters, but I really enjoyed what I found. For reasons I will not explain, Ruby hasn’t been living life to the fullest, and she’s looking forward to the opportunity to get out of her comfort zone. Though she hasn’t seen Griffin in years, she’s more comfortable around him than most men, and that allows her to open up more. I loved that Griffin was so patient and supportive. He’s a little wild and carefree, but he’s beyond steady with Ruby. Neither expected to fall during their lessons, so I loved watching them form an emotional connection that runs deeper than anticipated. It was great to see them both learn to love themselves more along the way, and the story goes in some emotional (potentially triggering) directions. It was a refreshing surprise, and an excellent series starter for sure.

Sorensen's "Lessons in Heartbreak" is a delightful and genuinely charming romance that scores big with its witty banter, endearing characters, and a heartwarming take on the "opposites attract" trope. This novel is a fantastic pick for readers looking for a lighthearted yet emotionally satisfying story about taking chances and finding love where you least expect it.
The premise is immediately engaging and laugh-out-loud funny: a shy, rule-abiding small-town librarian, determined to overcome her fear of intimacy, accidentally hires a notorious playboy football player as her "dating coach." The mix-up, when revealed to be her childhood neighbor and now "obscene handsome" Griffin King, is pure comedic gold. This unexpected reunion sets the stage for a romance built on charming misunderstandings and undeniable chemistry.
Sorensen excels at crafting the dynamic between our quiet librarian and the larger-than-life Griffin. He's a professional flirt, but not in an arrogant way; rather, he's playful and genuinely intrigued by her reserved nature. Their initial interactions are filled with sharp, witty dialogue that keeps the pages turning. As Griffin, put in a PR "time-out" by his agent, is constantly in her orbit, the "avoiding him" part of her plan quickly becomes impossible, leading to many amusing encounters.
What makes "Lessons in Heartbreak" particularly strong is the way it peels back the layers of both characters. Griffin isn't just a playboy; he has hidden depths and vulnerabilities that are slowly revealed through their interactions. Similarly, the librarian's journey to overcome her fears and embrace spontaneity is genuinely touching. The "lessons" they impart on each other aren't just about dating; they're about self-discovery and challenging preconceived notions.
While the plot follows a familiar romance arc, Sorensen injects it with enough fresh charm and heartfelt moments to make it feel vibrant and engaging. The "playboy and the good girl aren't supposed to fall in love" rule becomes a delightful obstacle, making their eventual connection all the more rewarding. "Lessons in Heartbreak" is a sweet and satisfying read that will leave you smiling, making it a solid four-star addition to any romance lover's bookshelf.

Lessons in Heartbreak by Karla Sorensen is a must-read friends-to-lovers romance series about the King brothers. With its sharp banter, slow burn, and never-dull moments, it’s a captivating read. The dual narration was great, and Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow delivered superb performances. Highly recommend this book in audio format.

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧

✽ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Samantha Brentmoor & Aiden Snow

You’ll love this book if you like these tropes…♡

ꕤ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ꕤ

❥ Opposites Attract
✿ Second Chance Romance
❥ Fake Relationship
✿ Golden Retriever
❥ Enemies-to-Lovers
✿ Grumpy/Sunshine
❥ Friends With Benefits
✿ Good Girl/Bad Boy

I’m still fairly new to Karla’s books and I did enjoy this one but I won’t lie, I did struggle to connect with the characters a little. I do enjoy her writing style though so I will for sure read her books again. I just feel this story and the characters were just not for me.

The narration was on point. Samantha Brentmoor & Aiden Snow are both in my top 10 narrators and are so easy to listen to. They brought the book to life.


THREE STARS
✰✰✰

Pure fire from start to finish—an instant vibe that hits deep but never drags. The whole good girl vs. bad boy setup gets totally flipped, revealing layers you don’t expect. He’s not really “bad,” just got that misunderstood edge, and their chemistry? Straight-up magnetic. Every time they interact, it’s like watching sparks crackle in the air.

What’s crazy is how real it feels—no forced drama or tired clichés here. Just raw, electric energy that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. I found myself rewinding moments because the connection between them is that addictive. It’s the kind of story that makes you wanna hit play again immediately.

If you’re craving something fresh with a vibe that’s both chill and intense, this nails it. A perfect blend of mood, heart, and unexpected depth—definitely got me seeing stars.

This is a cute romance that starts with Ruby's crush on her twin neighbors Barrett and Griffin, and ends with her falling in love. Since the last time they saw each other she's had a difficult journey with her physical health and is afraid to trust anyone with the potential outcome. Griffin is the perfect match for her and I really enjoyed their love story from start to finish. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a fantastic job voicing these characters.

I love how Karla writes sports romance!’ This one is another amazing football romance. I love her ability to tackle a heavy topic like what Ruby is going through paired with a totally believable love story and some REALLY good spice!!

I highly recommend this for my sports romance girlies and those that love a spicy read!

I am pretty sure this was my first Karla Sorensen book but it defiently wont be my last. This one will pull at your heartstrings, so just know that going in! The audio is narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow, who are two of my favorites! I have listen to a lot of Samantha Brentmoor this year and she just keeps putting out bangers! This is for fans of Football Romance, Spicy Lessons, and Friends to lovers. Thank you so much Briallance Audio and Netgalley for the ALC!

I loved this one so much!!! I was hooked immediately and didn’t want to put it down! Luckily I had the audio so I didn’t have to! This was a one sit read/listen for me! I loved Ruby and Griffin so much!! This book had me laughing and feeling all the feels! It’s one of those books that you find yourself getting attached to all the characters and saying goodbye is so hard. Especially because you don’t know if you’ll get to see them again! I do love that there were two epilogues. If you’re in the mood for a sports, opposites attract romances are your jam make sure to pick this one up!!

Received an arc and alc for a honest review.

the setup…
Ruby Tate has always lived a sheltered life even though she excelled at everything she set her mind to. But she’s now a thirty-year old librarian living alone with her dog Bruiser in Wellsprings, Colorado and has never been in a relationship. Ruby struggles with intimacy and with the urging of her much more liberated friend and colleague Lauren, hires an escort to give her lessons. Who shows up at their first meeting in a café? Griffin King, her childhood taunter who also recognizes her. Little does she know that he’s now a star NFL player.

the heart of the story…
Griffin has a well-earned “player” reputation but always admired Ruby despite his constant teasing. He and his twin brother Barrett were her next door neighbors and competed athletically while she watched from a tree house. He was genuinely interested in Ruby and volunteered to help her with her mission and both agreed to stay in the friend zone. Yeah, right. I loved how their friendship grew, both impacting each other during these lessons, getting the best of what each had to offer.

the narration…
Samantha Brentwood and Aiden Snow are first timers for me and I would happily listen to them again. He’s got a rich, deep and sexy voice and she personified Ruby. They gave wonderful performances and distinctive voices for the secondary characters as well.

the bottom line…
I took a chance on an unknown to me author and it paid off nicely. This was a wonderful love story with hidden depths and lots of fun moments. It was much, much more than I’d expected.

stop it right nowwww, Karla!! 😍 I love when the bookish girlie gets the footballer!! gah I haven’t felt this giddy and the FEEL GOOD in such a long time. the accidental meet cute?? the TEACH ME?! ma’am. throw in the audio with Aiden Snow rumbling about librarian kink and Samantha Brentmoor slaying as the sweetest, awkward FMC?!? perfection. I NEEDED THIS. 😩🥰

t r o p e s :
•bookish FMC, footballer MMC
•opposites attract
•childhood friends to lovers
•TEACH ME
•librarian kink
•swoony and spicy!

This is just personal preference, but I'm really not a fan of the friends-with-benefits trope and didn't quite realize that's what this is. The writing and the audiobook narration was great, but the story really lacked the elements that I love in romance: tension and angst.

I would definitely read more from this author, but this book was just a miss for me.

“I will love you through every sunrise and every sunset because we’ve already missed too many. Do you understand me? I’m not going anywhere.”

And here I thought I was in for a lighthearted romance! Ruby and Griffin’s story was funny yet emotional and definitely had some moments that had my heart aching. All Ruby was looking for was some much needed “experience” in her love life, but she didn’t bargain for her old childhood neighbor, Griffin King, to be the one to show her. His cocky nature was good for her in more ways than one 😉🤣

“One kiss and a little groping, and I was a fucking wreck.”

The banter in this book was top notch, a freaking warm muffin joke almost had me spitting my coffee out in my car while listening! The blatant flirting from Griffin had me grinning and I loved how in turn Ruby got Griffin to watch her favorite Jane Austin movies with her. Their love was sweet yet daring and sexy at times, a fun and flirtatious romance!

I loved the narration on this one - Aiden made for the perfect voice to narrate Griffen, he gave off the cocky sports star vibes so well and Samantha gave spirit to the shy yet brave Ruby living out her sexy dreams. This was a fun listen!

🩵𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭
🩵𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐱 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫
🩵𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧

✨𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈✨
𝐑𝐮𝐛𝐲 has a difficult time letting others get too close. When she decides that enough is enough and that she actually needs help in the intimacy department, little does she know her past is about to collide with her present as Griffin, her childhood neighbor and now a football player, arrives in town during a break from the spotlight.

𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧 offers to assist Ruby, his own reputation in need of repair after a PR disaster. As their lessons in love and lust heat up, their connection deepens and they find themselves unable to resist falling for each other.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 playful banter between Ruby and Griffin is infectious, and as they push each other to confront their fears and insecurities, they grow stronger together. I loved how cute they were and the progression of their relationship.

🎧The dual narration was great. 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 deliver superb performances, bringing each and every character to life.

𝐈𝐟 you enjoy opposites attracting, you’ll love this story! Thanks to the author and Brilliance Audio for this gifted audio copy. All thoughts shared here are entirely my own.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓⭐️ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝟐🔥 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟓🎧

I love a good small town librarian romance but when you throw in a pro football player, sex lessons and disability rep (she has a heart transplant) - I go absolutely bonkers. This was also EXCELLENT on audio narrated by two favs, Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Ilsa Madden-Mills. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

An emotional small town romance with great characters and lots of charm. I really enjoyed Ruby and Griffin’s story. Ruby is a shy librarian who wants to learn how to date and feel more confident. Griffin is her childhood neighbor and now a famous football player. Their reunion is unexpected and leads to some funny and touching moments.
I liked how their relationship grew slowly. The way they helped each other open up and heal felt real and natural. Ruby was easy to relate to with her anxiety and fears, and Griffin was caring and protective behind his playful side. Their chemistry was strong, and I loved the fun banter between them.
This book has a great mix of humor, heart, and romance. I laughed, smiled, and even teared up a little. It is a lovely story about second chances, love, and finding the courage to be yourself.

The audiobook narration was excellent. Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow brought the characters to life with warmth, emotion, and charm.

Very grateful to the publisher @amazonpublushing and @briliance for my copies through NetGalley, opinions are my own

I listened to the audiobook version of this charming romance, and the narration was easy to follow and enjoyable—definitely a great choice for a light listen.

The story follows a shy, rule-following librarian who finds herself in a hilariously awkward situation after accidentally hiring a pro football player, who she once knew as a kid... thinking he's a dating coach. What follows is a fun, flirty, and heartwarming journey as these two opposites reconnect and unexpectedly fall for each other.

The banter was witty, the chemistry was sweet (and spicy!), and the emotional moments added depth without making the story too heavy. It’s a feel-good romance with just the right mix of humor, awkwardness, and genuine connection. My only gripe is the amount of times the FMC's small/tiny size was mentioned, especially in the first 50%. Other that that it was fun!

Overall, I’d give it 4 stars—great for fans of small-town love stories!

Ruby & Griffin knew each other from childhood. Now they end up back in the same town and there's no better person to give her some spicy lessons. They were definitely opposites but there was a comfort to their relationship that I loved. Their flirty banter was so good. It's always a good time watching the "bad boy" fall hard! They honestly were just SO cute together!! I really enjoyed all the secondary characters too.

🎧Audio:🎧
This was a dual narration by Aiden Snow & Samantha Brentmoor. I feel like they embodied these characters so well! I was invested in their story and they easily kept my attention.

What to expect:
🩵Opposites Attract
🏈Football player MMC
🩵Spicy Lessons
🏈Childhood Neighbors


This one releases May 20. Thank you to Good Girls PR & Montlake for the ARC and Netgalley & Brilliance audio for the ALC!