Pretty much every time I read a Karla Sorensen book, I think it’s the best one. But, for real this time- this one has a special place in my literary heart. ❤️

From the beginning, there wasn’t any slow parts. I didn’t want to put it down- just more more more. There was love and loss. There were so many emotions, some heartbreak, but we didn’t have to dwell in the sadness too long, and it wasn’t frustrating. I didn’t feel like I wanted to yell at any of the characters. There were heavy themes and it was an emotional read- but it never seemed too heavy or too much.

The main couple and their friends were well developed and I loved getting to know them. I also loved seeing a favorite couple from another one of Karla’s books!

I loved this book and many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was honored to receive a copy of Lessons in Heartbreak by Karla Sorensen. Thank you, Karla, Good Girls PR, and NetGalley for this opportunity. This book was a wonderful surprise and I am now a new fan of Karla Sorensen’s. Her writing is absolutely beautiful and she has a way with words that brings all the emotions to life. I read this one slowly because it is a bit deeper than expected and what I’m used to. I also had to pause my reading for 2 hours because I decided midway to finally watch Pride & Prejudice, which is mentioned several times. This book touched my soul in a way I never expected and in return, it filled with me with feelings of joy, gratitude, and love. Along with the deep feels, this book also made me laugh. The dynamic between Ruby and Griffin is perfect and had me cackling at times. I cannot wait to read more from Karla and look forward to the next book in The Kings series.

This book has a comfortable rhythm about it. It kinda feels like a sitcom from the early millennium. Ruby was prettt lonely and Griffin was the brooding hockey player that loves her for who she is. He also has a twin. Fractured family bonds with both characters are heartbreaking. They learn to love themselves and it was refreshing.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts.

I have tried to finish this book. Normally I love this author. I just didn't get into it. Got to 70% and there simply wasn't anything exciting for me to continue. Maybe I will try to finish it sometimes but now it's not time.

Goodness gracious! This book has my heart. What an emotional romance book that will leave your heart so full. Griffin King was everything we love in books boyfriends. A must read book!

I don’t want to give anything away with my review. This book needs to be read by any and all romance lovers. This story is the reason romance will always be my favorite genre.

Ruby and Griffin meet many years after they were neighbors. Ruby is reserved but when Griffin walks back into her life, things change. Gahh..their friendship turns into so much more. Read this book.

Highly recommended.

A*R*C review from NetGalley and review team.

I was not expecting this tearjerker! Reformed playboy and stiff librarian, classic unlikely pairing that definitely hits you emotionally. Ruby had me hooked from the first page, I just had to read this in one sitting, could not put this down and did not want it to end! So many moments of will they say it, won’t they?! And so many times I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a hug…. I’m glad that Griffin was able to do that and was strong enough to support her. Adored this book, swooned over Griffin, laughed out loud at Marcus and just loved Ruby.

Lessons in Heartbreak is a lovely opposites attract romance with charming characters, football, libraries, and loads of Jane Austen references too. Karla Sorensen’s latest book is delightful, and perfect reading for a warm summer afternoon.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Librarian Ruby is tired of feeling awkward around men and wants to figure out once and for all how to talk to them…and do other things too. Naturally she hires an escort to help her out, who better than a professional? Only when her childhood friend, pro football players Griffin shows up, she mistakes him for the man she hired. Hilarity ensues. But Griffin is intrigued by the sweet, shy woman, and offers to help her out before football season starts. No feelings involved, and they both easily go their separate ways afterwards…right?

I adore a story with lessons in love and I was hooked on this book from the beginning. Ruby is so awkward, and I love how even her initial interactions with Griffin force her out of her comfort zone. And Griffin is worthy of full-on swooniness as he pushes himself to be patient with Ruby even when he doesn’t understand her hesitations. He also loves that she’s completely unimpressed with him and his fame.

And there are So Many Austen references! They are a treat for anyone who’s watched even one movie adaptation. The secondary characters here are wonderful, too, especially Griffin’s teammate Marcus and Ruby’s bestie Lauren. Griffin’s niece and nephew are a hoot, and have me looking forward to seeing more of them in his brother Barrett’s book.

Lessons is Heartbreak is a delight. Karla Sorensen once again writes a sweet and swoony romance with a tough football player with marshmallow insides and the shy woman who truly comes into her own. And if you are a fan of lessons in love and Jane Austen too, this romance is filled with treat after treat.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read almost all of this authors work and have absolutely loved everything. And then there is this book which is no exception. The hidden little easter eggs. The nuances between main characters. As always the background characters are always the icing on the cake. I still cry over the loss of the rookie. The whole book was amazeballs. Shout out to the opening line of Chapter 24. I am still laughing. I really hope this is a book 1 and there is even more to explore in this world.

I loved it. What a beauty of a book, as with all of Karla's, I didn't want it to end.

She just has a way of describing love in less expected places. I love that they weren't seemingly delusional about each other, but the way things were going was so organic and natural, they had me literally sighing with love with their interactions.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read such a beautiful love. I loved Griffin, and the way he cared for her.

This book had the perfect amount of banter, charm and the classic good girl x bad boy vibes. Griffin and Ruby were the perfectly matched couple and I loved watching them grow through all their issues and come together with their hearts.

What an amazing first book to read by this author Karla Sorensen! I had recently bought 2 books of her's and now after reading this arc, I can not wait to dive into them! This book was top notch! It kept me wanting more! It gave me all the feels that I was looking for in this book, and then some! I devoured this book, and I can not wait for the next book!! I did not want to do any adulting, because all I wanted to do was binge this book, and not stop! 5 Stars all the way baby!!

<b>Oh Karla Sorensen did it again. What an absolutely epic swoony heart wrenching love story from the author. Her writing is so incredible in this one and omg no one writes this level of captivating sex scenes. They are equally butterflies in my stomach and daggers in my heart. Ruby and Griffin delivered the full emotions wheel. Witty. Heartbreaking. Angsty. Heartwarming. Humorous. The whole package and you cannot miss it.</b>

🏈 enemies to lovers
🏈 second chance
🏈 opposites attract
🏈 grumpy sunshine ( reverse)
🏈 good girl bad boy
🏈 golden Retriever
🏈 fake relationship/ friends with benefits

Ruby Tate lived a straight and narrow life. Always the responsible and planner and rule follower one. But she is done and she wants some excitement in her life. Love. Passion. When her path collides with one of her childhood neighbor and current NFL star Griffin King, she never thought the sexy c0cky football will end up the person reaching her arts of seduction..only they fall hard.

<b>I am so obsessed with Griffin. He is grossly misunderstood by the media and most importantly, his twin brother. Forever seen as the fun loving, irresponsible, hot headed playboy. But with Ruby, he can see he isn't all that people see. He is so sweet and caring and protective. He is always trying so hard to make everyone see the other side and sometimes he just go with the flow. Obviously he is ridiculously c0cky and sexy as hell and he has such a sharp sense of humor. Who knew a shy librarian will push him to fall. Ruby comes across as so innocent and cute but she definitely has a hidden sass. They tried to keep it like an arrangement but the chemistry and the connection was too hard to ignore. The author poured her heart and soul in the pages and the readers will feel all the after effects. I loved their banter as Ruby was trying to control her heart behind it and Griffin was trying to get inside her heart. Ruby is an incredibly strong character. She carries so much fear and vulnerability silently and Griffin pushed her to leave her shell and to experience the life fully. At the end, they chose each other over every doubt and pain.</b>

PS OMG Lauren and Marcus made me laugh so hard. I love the glimpses of bromance here.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

This book was so good! The dynamic and back and forth between Griffin and Ruby was some of the best back and forth quick witted dialog I have read! This story made me laugh, cry, want to grab the MCs and scream what are you doing, but I wouldn’t want it any other way! The secondary characters in this one were fantastic!

This is a kinda second chance, slow burn with a lot of angst towards the end. I really enjoyed this one, as I usually do with Karla’s books! I’m hoping we get more of Barrett’s story in book 2 pretty please!

Former childhood neighbors, Bad boy football player x good girl librarian, dating coach/spicy lessons

Five stars. No notes. I read this in under 24 hours. The plot twist had my heart in my stomach. Absolutely love this couple and their journey.

What happens when a quiet, bookish librarian throws caution to the wind and makes a deal with a cocky, scandal-ridden football player? Fireworks. Lots of them.

The first book in the Kings series kicks things off with Ruby Tate—sweet, awkward, painfully shy, and absolutely done with being overlooked. Her attempt to hire an escort to “gain confidence with men” flops in spectacular fashion. So what does she do? She turns to Griffin King: notorious player, tabloid favorite, and the last person anyone expects her to vibe with.

Griffin’s lying low after a PR disaster and a team switch. When Ruby, his childhood neighbor asks him to teach her how to flirt, and how to connect with men, how can he say no? There's just one rule: he’s not allowed to fall for her.

Their chemistry is undeniable. Ruby’s inner fire starts burning hotter with every lesson, and Griffin—used to women throwing themselves at him—can’t stop wanting the one woman who’s off-limits. Add a tangled past, a twin brother twist, and a whole lot of steam, and you’ve got a romance that doesn’t just sizzle—it scorches.

This book was addictive. Slow-burn tension, real emotional stakes—it delivers. Ruby’s transformation is empowering, Griffin’s growth is raw and real, and their story? Utterly unputdownable. If this is how the Kings series starts, buckle up. Things are about to get wild.

I absolutely loved this book. So friggen sweet, and funny just everything I needed it to be!

Ruby and Griffin’s story was perfectttt!! I love a good “teach me how to find my confidence (in ALLLLL the ways)” trope and Karla Sorensen DELIVERED! Griffin and Ruby are the epitome of opposites attract. He’s wild and carefree, and she’s so careful. He brings out a more carefree side of Ruby while she tempers his wild. The perfect complement to each other!!

There isn’t a Karla Sorensen book that I don’t love, and ‘Lessons in Heart Break’ has me dying for more of the King Brother’s. I devoured this story, and I can’t wait for what’s next! Also the secondary characters in this one…chefs kiss…love them too much!

Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher fir the chance to read this book.
Thiis book took me awhile to get into, I just was not feeling Ruby's character. I pushed through and I'm glad I did. The last 100 pages was worth it and the characters grew on me. Overall I did like it and I'm open to reading this author again.

Griffin and Ruby knew each other as kids, but a whole lot of life has happened since Ruby moved away at 15. They are not the same people any more, but they find some comfort in spending time with someone who knew them before. They need each other to help get to the next stage in their lives. This story is full of humor and silliness but also big emotions and fears. (I was afraid that Ruby's backstory involved violence. It does not, in case anyone else wants to know.) I really loved these characters, and I had a hard time putting the book down.

4 1/2 stars because it had a slow start for me. And the beginning, I thought, ugh, not my kind of story, but I pressed on because I've enjoyed every other book of hers before. I'm glad I kept an open mind, because once Ruby's history was revealed, it got much more interesting for me. I also loved seeing their friends Marcus and Lauren (and wouldn't hate a novella about them), and the family dynamic each of them had. The bonus epiloge almost got me to shed a tear or two, it was so sweet and beautiful. I can't wait for more in the series now.