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!

Learning Curves - Rachel Lacey

Wow. Just, wow. THIS BOOK WAS SO HOT, SO ROMANTIC, SO SEXY, JUST WOW. As you can tell, I have strong feelings for this book. As a bisexual woman, I loved seeing a bisexual woman represented in a sapphic relationship - as it’s not super common in LGBTQ+ literature.

Bisexual woman who happens to be an artist, and an art historian? Check. Older lesbian art historian who was her professor 10 years earlier? Check. Absolute smoke show of a romance that’s built up via gradual friendship? Fucking check. I just loved all of this bloody book, the writing is excellent, the relationship between the main characters is excellent, THE SMUT IS EXCELLENT! Also, really appreciated all the mention of various tea blends, as a Brit, I am naturally obsessed with tea and I loved seeing that on paper!

This is yet another book I stayed up until 2am to finish, yes, my sodding sleep schedule has gone out of the window lately. It was just so bloody perfect, it’s queer, it’s quirky, it’s charming, and it gave me all of the fuzzy feelings.

And the ending? OH, MY HEART. Just; wow, I loved it, I fucking love a sapphic romance and this one was absolutely fantastic, blew me away. I thoroughly recommend reading it the minute it’s out! Its publishing date is September the 2nd 2025, and it’s the perfect autumnal sapphic read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I throughly enjoyed this book and would love to read more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC