"Why don't you, you know, stand up for yourself?"

This was my first Belinda Missen novel, but surely not my last! She had a wonderful way of writing that had me swooning and laughing out loud. Also, the drama !!! had !!! me !!! going !!! crazy !!! The thing I liked the most about this book was the empowerment aspect as well as the plot as it is not really heard of.

Eleanor Manning moved after leaving her husband who cheated on her with her best friend. She moved in with her cousin to get a fresh start. She gets a job as a librarian at her childhood school and is ready to get things done. Here is where we cue *man enters and swooning commences*.

Eleanor and Marcus' connection is unmistakable and the author really made sure of that. Their banter, insults and overall cuteness makes their connection evident. However, when she starts to see her ex-husband in him, she shies away, which is expected.

The only thing I had issues with in this book was how long it took for things to happen. Of course, I love a slow burn and when angsty things happen. However, I felt like I was already closer to the end of the book before things started to resolve itself. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just wish it happened a little bit sooner.

Overall, I definitely will read Belinda's other books. They are cute, fun, and laugh-out-loud funny. This is for sure a winning novel on my list.

Lessons in Love was a pretty average read. Was it a bad read? No. Would i read it again? No.

It wasn't particularly impactful. The characters were pretty mediocre and so's the plot. The chemistry and romance between characters felt pretty abrupt and odd, and it struck me as unnatural.

The characters weren't as impressionable as i would hope they would be, but honestly, this just boils down to preference.

Despite my un-like of it, i can't deny that the book has good enough a writing style that kept me engage. It's pretty fitting for a casual, light read when one's bored.

3 stars.

Wonderful, heartwarming romance. Eleanor is divorced and wants a fresh start until she meets teacher Marcus who reminds her of fear ex. A great slow burn romance, full of emotion, characters you’ll love, funny, sweet and a lovely well written story. Great entertaining read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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.

I am glad to have discovered Belinda Missen and I will be sure to check out her further works.

It’s a tale of Eleanor who after the breakdown of her marriage decide to return to her home town. She ends up living with her cousin Penny.
She gets a job at her ,oval library and one her very first day there she meets the very handsome Marcus- But for her everything is still raw and she is not ready for any sort of relationship.
The more she bumps into Marcus the more she seems to warm to him.
But Eleanor is still unsure and she does give him mixed messages from time to time.
There is so much more to this
I have to admit it is a bit of a slow burner and it does take a while to get into it but it is worth persevering with it.
Good writing and well established characters.
Thank you to both NetGalley and HQ for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Three and a half stars.

Eleanor Manning was married to a successful businessman, Dean, and had an enviable life of luxury in Melbourne until she discovers that her husband was having an affair with her best friend and another 'friend' was effectively aiding and abetting them. She returns to her home town to stay with her cousin Penny and take up the position as librarian in her old school.

On day one Eleanor is introduced to the impossibly handsome Marcus Blair, a fellow teacher, who epitomises everything she hated about her ex: sharp suits; handsome; charming; and a magnet for every female between the ages of five and ninety-five.

After a slow start I really enjoyed this romance as Ellie and Marcus spark off each other while organising the year book and the end of year awards ceremony. This was perfect holiday romance territory. My only quibble(s) were that sometimes I didn't quite understand what had gone on in a conversation which may or may not be related to the fact that I didn't understand some of the Australian cultural references.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a fun read. Enjoyable characters, with engaging writing style and fun story line. Light hearted beach read, thank you!

The was a weird read for me. I like the premise of the story. Penny was a fun character, there were some really funny moments and Marcus seemed quite lovely. I struggled with Eleanor though at various points.. After her experience with her ex her prickliness was understandable but she projected way too many of her issues with her ex on her relationship with Marcus and a lot of the times her irritation with him felt misplaced. She didn’t give him as much of a chance as he gave her and was more than willing to expect the worst at each sign of trouble/conflict. I’m glad about how things ended between them but at points I did wonder why Marcus even tried. Overall an interesting read.

OOOOOOH- Marcus! Eleanor really has had a rough time but she's moving on to happy now that she's left her rotten husband and moved home to Apollo Bay. She's got her BFF Penny, a great apartment, and a job she always wanted in the local school library. Then Marcus. He's hot, yes, but he's also nice. These two do the classic dance back and forth but Missen has done a really nice job not only with their dialogue but also with their personalities. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. You're going to root for Eleanor (and Penny too!). Perfect beach or garden read.

The story of Eleanor, back in her home town after splitting up with her husband. She gets a job in the library of the school she used to attend years ago, and lives with her cousin Penny, who is an interesting character.

First day of the new job, she meets Marcus. At first too much about him reminds her of her ex-husband, but as she gets to know him she begins to realise that he is actually quite nice. Will she give him a chance though?

An entertaining read.

Set In Australia Elanora found her husband was cheating and she went back to her home town this book was very very slow but it gets better if you continue and keep reading I liked it kind of

Very good read. It’s an age old tail but told in a delightful voice that makes you want to keep reading. I really respect that the main character was portrayed as a woman who could pick herself up and move on.

I gave this one a fair try (10 chapters in), but I just couldn't get into it. I think the story has a lot of potential - there are definitely some laugh out loud funny moments - but for some reason a lot of the dialogue felt clunky to me, and I didn't really understand a lot of it. I had to go back and reread it all about three times, and eventually I just gave up.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
It's set in Australia, and the main character Eleanor (and don't you forget it) has moved back to her home town after fleeing her dodgy husband. We don't actually meet him, which is different, and doesn't add any extra drama to the story.
Eleanor and Marcus are both teachers at the school. Marcus is quite lovely actually, however Eleanor blows a bit hot and cold with him, and could sometimes be very frustrating.
The issues with the mother were dealt with a little obscurely too, but I guess everyone deals with emotions differently.
A pleasant read.

Eleanor has decided to return to her hometown after finding her husband was cheating on her. He was smothering her preventing her from being herself and she realises the move is long overdue. She’s returning to her old school but this time instead of being called into the headmaster’s office for a dressing down she is taking over the school library, a long held dream. It’s a shame Marcus the school hunk keeps rubbing her up the wrong way making sparks fly. Detailed story with a lot of colour but perhaps it took a bit too long to get there? Still it was enjoyable. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Lessons In Love by Belinda Missen is the most charming and amusing contemporary tale about second chances and love. I absolutely adored it.
Belinda Missen has created a wonderful set of characters that are likable and realistic. They are not perfect but have character flaws that make them human and easy to empathise with. The characters bounce their dialogue off each other in most amusing verbal volleys.
There is an air of lightness and love over the whole novel. It is a love that encompasses, that cares and that is delightful to watch with its tentative steps.
Much of the novel is set inside a primary school. For me, it was reminiscent of my time at school as a child and also as an adult working in a school. The novel is about bringing out the best in people. We were created to be the best version of ourselves.
Life can be hard. Broken marriages leave broken people behind as confidences are knocked. People need to rediscover just who they are after years of having personalities squashed.
A wonderful community atmosphere pervades the novel. Small town living where people care is contrasted with the anonymity of the big city.
I adored Lessons In Love. It was a really fun read that warmed my heart and left me smiling.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

The book started of very slowly for my taste,so lost my interest from the begining.
However,came back to the book and gradually got better much more interesting.
Won't spoil it for readers,get a copy and read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ digital for the ARC in return for an honest review. This is a not so simple story of boy meets girl. This is the second book I’ve read by Belinda Missen and I have not been disappointed, both books have been a pleasure to read. This is Heart-warming and laugh out loud funny. I would recommend Belinda Missen books.

3.5* This was my first novel by this author. I loved that it was set in Australia. The main character Eleanor was likeable at first but then was just so uncertain with meeting me hot teacher !arcus. It was frustrating at times to hear how she treated him and the mixed signals she sent. She was 36 after all. But overall it was a fun rom com read. Loved Penny her cousin and roommate. I look forward to reading more of Belinda’s novels!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
#netgalley #lessonsinlove