Not my typical genre but i enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I received Lessons in Love by Belinda Missen as an ARC from NetGalley. Lessons in Love is a funny romantic comedy. Eleanor has divorced her husband and moved from Melbourne back to her hometown of Apollo Bay. She moves in with her cousin Penny and takes the position of librarian at her elementary school. She meets a gorgeous teacher named Marcus and hijinks ensue. I enjoyed their romance and I look forward to reading more from Belinda Missen.

Lessons in Love follows Eleanor Manning post divorce, moving back to her hometown and in with her cousin. She’s taking up a job in her old school library, she just wants a fresh start and to excel in her new job. Everything is looking promising until she meets Marcus, fellow teacher. Marcus is well dressed, handsome, all the females at school fall over him and he reminds Eleanor of her cheating ex husband so it is no surprise to find that they don’t get on.

We watch Eleanor and Marcus banter, connect and try to navigate working together. Without spoiling too much, as it is romance novel, but clearly they end up connecting. I found this to be quite a slow burn romance so if that is something you enjoy, look no further.

There was also complicated family dynamics weaved into the story. Eleanor’s Mum left when she was little and for the majority of the book her Dad is off travelling.

I think with some of the family aspects and with her past relationship, Eleanor struggles to let someone new in. The classic “will they, won’t they” obviously ensues and it’s lovely to see her walls broken down.

Lessons in Love was the perfect summer read with a sweet and heart warming romance that I would recommend.

This was my second read of a book by this author and I really enjoyed it.

Ellie finds herself living with her cousin Penny, in the village where she went to school herself, several decades earlier. The end of her relationship with her husband makes her understandably wary when it comes to putting her heart on the line again, and some of the things that Marcus says remind her a little too much of her ex. However, there is something about Marcus and when they are forced to work together, they discover they have a few things in common after all.

Eleanor also has to adjust to running into people she hasn't seen in a while, and seeing them happily married when she is single again, isn't easy at times.

I found this story to be a well-crafted one. It is a familiar story in this day and age of a person starting again, when she thought she had her life pretty well mapped out. It doesn't focus too much on her ex or their split (although I wanted to know more about the piano thing), it is more about her life now. Her cousin Penny stars in a big way, she is so much fun and adds lots of laughter to the story.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and TBC for the read.

I thought this was a great summer read, full of drama, fun, laughter and friendships, and of course falling in love. Eleanor is in the process of divorcing her husband and has decided to move back to her childhood home, Apollo Bay. Best friend, with a bubbly personality Penny is her new housemate and she has a new job lined up too, her only rule is not to fall in love again. This is easier said than done when handsome teacher Marcus appears on the scene, Eleanor is happy to keep it strictly ‘no strings attached’ but how long can she keep to her own rules?
I loved all the characters in this book, they were very realistic and likable, it was a fun read, I laughed along with the friends adventures and was cheering Eleanor on for a happy ending. Another great book by Belinda Missen.

I loved this one! I couldn't put it down. Such a fun, sweet chick-lit style read. Great book!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is book #3 for me from Belinda Missen. I have become a fan! In this book, we follow our heroine, Eleanor, as she starts a new life after the worst kind of betrayal (dirty-dog-hubby-sleeps-with-worlds-worst-best-friend-and-hey-everyone-knew-about-it-and-ran-interference-grrrrr). So, I am rooting for her from page 1. She does have some baggage though and has trust issues... understandably. She works through them, sometimes painfully slowly, as she becomes involved/uninvolved/involved with Marcus. Some scenes are so hard to "watch." Really, at some points, I wanted to shout at her and tell her "stop messing around and give him a chance." Some of her behavior makes you just want to shake her BUT she is so wonderfully and realistically written. It is difficult to trust anyone after a situation like hers. I love her and all of the characters in the book, and am so happy to have read it!

This author has the unique ability to write fast paced dialogue. This book is funny at times but also has some heart warming moments. Can’t wait to read the next one

A great light read. This author is new to me, but I'll definitely read more of her books. I really warmed to the characters and they were believable.
Moving back home after her marriage break up, Ellie moves in with her cousin Pamela and starts a new job..where she meets faces new and old. She knows she has to face her demons before she can move forward.

Like everyone else I loved this sweet, funny read. Likeable characters and laugh out loud sections made this the perfect summer read. So cute!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A lighthearted read with plenty of very funny moments and an ultimately very satisfying ending.
The book follows Eleanor as she returns to her childhood home (and school) following the dissolution of her marriage. We follow her into her first day at school, working in the library and running into all sorts of wonderfully described teachers, many of whom resonate with my memories of my school teachers with all their quirks and dodgy dress sense and the very occasional dishy chap!
I loved the fact that despite being in positions of responsibility the teachers remained completely human (turning up to work hungover, messing around and generally behaving much like the kids in their charge on many occasions) and every character adds to the story in their own way, which can be rare in this genre where often people appear almost as chapter padding.
I was rooting for Eleanor from the offset, for success in her job, her house share, her new start at life and of course her romantic liaisons.
Buy it, pack it and enjoy it on a beach with a rum based cocktail!

Testing testing - lurking author - checking to see if the netGalley works. Ignore me. Have a great day!

I normally don't like those 'from enemy to lovers' stories. And didn't know that Marcus is supposed to be this cocky heart-throb who thinks a great deal about himself. But luckily this attitude doesn't last long, and soon he is just a kind-hearted guy who really seems to like Ella. She does too, very much indeed, but actually doesn't want a relationship with someone that every female under the age of 60 in Apollo Bay lusts after. Too much competition for her liking. So she vows to only stay friends with him and keep her distance. Easier said than done...

The book is full of funny one-liners and unusual analogies (it is Australian English after all, not British or American English that I'm more used to) - which made a very nice change from the usual chick-lit books. But it made it also a bit harder for me to read and follow the story and the dialogues, I needed to get used to the style. But it was definitely worth it and I very much enjoyed reading about Ellie and Marcus. Plus, I learned that in Australia a 'library teacher' not only reigns over the school library but actually also gives lessons to the kids, whatever this may include.

In the beginning I struggled with the characters, but I slowly started to warm to them mainly because of the setting, it reminded me of my school days both as a pupil and as staff. Ellie and Marcus’ relationship took a while to evolve each sending mixed messages. A gentle story of love after a shattering marriage and proving second time round can be better.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

It started out well but it quickly went down. I found the main character unrelatable, no, irritating. The romance was unbelievable and around 30% into the book, I quickly lost any interest.


DNF at 45%

The first question that crept into my mind after picking up this book: why do a rebound love tale need 384 pages? The book answered itself after a few pages. When you have just lost your husband to your best friend for no fault of yours, it is hard to fall in love again and that also with someone who shares many qualities with your soon to be ex-husband. There is no guarantee about the way some people change, and that is a risk hard to take (though most of us do).
This is my third Belinda Missen work, so I am kind of familiar with her style. There is the occasional tinge of humour, slow development of the story and lucid writing that takes you along with the pages. And this is no different. Being set in a school background, the story gave me a much-needed boost to concentrate on the work after a long lazy vacation. The enthusiasm and competitiveness of Marcus and Ellie are infectious. Much to my delight, the author has also included some references to our main characters from 'A Recipe for Disaster'. We don't really meet them (sigh!) but I am so glad to hear that Lucy and Oliver are doing extremely well.
An emotional and inspiring read that takes you back to your school days and if you are a teacher like me, then this is a definite jump in.

This is a slow burn romance; full of humour, sparks and a lot of romance that will keep you wanting to know more about the Lessons in Love! 😉 Eleanor Manning is starting a new life, after leaving her soon to be ex-husband has decided to return to her natal city; things have to improve yes or yes!
Eleanor will be staying with her friend Penny, with a new job at the school library she went when she was a child; yes it will be different from the big places she had been working, but she needs a new start and that will fit perfectly. But at the new job there will be Marcus, who she will clash since the first moment, there will be fire since the first moment. But Eleanor is too hurt to see Marcus clearly and he will be compared all the time to Eleanor ex-husband… Will they overcome their differences or they will suffer? They will have to learn the Lessons in Love to have their final ending!
This had been a funny read, sometimes it felt a little too slow the progress of the story, but the story is addictive and funny, so you’ll not be able to put it down!
This is the first book I’ve read of the author Belinda Missen but I will search for the next one, I loved her writing!

What a brilliant book. This book has a fantastic story line, excellent characters and is just wonderful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and I enjoyed it immensely.

Well that was a sweet contemporary romance read that included BOOKS! Guys the main female character WAS A LIBRARIAN! She worked with books so to me this was an automatic win!


Ok on with the serious stuff! The book was engaging from start to finish. There was humour between not only the main character and her love interest... I'll get to it! But also between Eleanor and her cousin Penny. I mean it reminded me of how my sister and I talk to one another so I immediately felt and instant like for these two characters.


This book is all about self discovery and being able to love yourself and all your faults as well. It also shows the message that relationships are hard! Especially when you have been downtrodden by a cheating ex! I mean the trust has been broken and you are unable to move on. So as I said you had to go through a road of self discovery before you can fully grasp your happiness.


This is my first book by Belinda Missen and I wasn't disappointed. I loved chemistry that was written between Eleanor and Marcus. I loved that they were able to joke with one another and this at times made me chuckle out loud.


It wasn't all immediately fall in love, you got to see the attraction grow throughout. Even if they did fall into bed together quite quickly but hey we are human! There is also jealously, anger, hurt and misunderstandings but this makes the book what it is AN ENJOYABLE ONE!


This book had me staying up late to read and I adore a book that does it. It had all the elements that I love about a romance book. There was chemistry between the main characters. It wasn't all Love at first sight lust maybe but the love grew over the book. There was HUMOUR people if you add humour to books I will read it, this was done so well that it had me cackling to myself. (I'm a witch I cackle)


So if you want a feel good book contemporary romance read then look no further as for me this was a winner.

I really wanted to love this - on paper it should have been my perfect book. Unfortunately I was slightly underwhelmed - not much seemed to happen and I couldn’t bring myself to care about any of the characters. A real shame as I was expecting so much more.