Thank you to Montlake for an early review copy.

Rachel Lacey’s newest book follows Audrey, a new college professor, who returns to her undergraduate school and starts a friendship with Michelle, her former teacher and bisexual awakening. This book does a good job at building a slow burn relationship and showcasing how Audrey and Michelle face misogyny in academia.

Unfortunately, I was unable to read this book. I have a kobo, and it is the only way that I can read books, as I get migraines when I read books on my phone. I did reach out to the author, and the publisher as well as Netgalley, but no one was able to provide a send to kobo option and when I requested it through the authors' instagram arc sign up, I was not aware I would not be able to read it. I would suggest for accessibility to have this available in the future for other books, as I really would have like to read this book as it does sound really good.

This book was made for anyone who has ever watched another person at a pottery wheel and felt it was insanely sensual 😏

ARC review - I really enjoyed this! It was a nice, easy, yet captivating read that was perfect for the start of the fall season. I really loved the academia setting and the deeper look into art history, a subject I didn’t think would interest me too much but that I actually really enjoyed!

it is important to note that i am an absolute FEIN for academia set stories! this slow burn, age gap story was so steamy and yet so cozy. rachel lacey i truly thank you so much for feeding me with more academia sapphic stories. the slow burn between audrey and michelle had me clutching my pearls but my god was it worth it. AND THE POTTERY SCENE MY GOD!

rachel lacey and quinn riley are such a power duo. quinn riley did an absolute perfect job with audrey and michelle :')

Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey is an age gap romance involving a college professor and her former professor and mentor. Audrey Lind, a college art professor, has been hired at her alma mater where she is happy to discover her favorite professor and mentor Dr. Michelle Thompson is still teaching. While Audrey is just beginning her career and excited to prove herself for a permanent position, Michelle is tenured and has grown somewhat jaded with teaching and office politics. Audrey is surprised to find Michelle is no longer the vibrant teacher she remembered and decides to befriend her. Michelle can’t help but be drawn to Audrey’s enthusiasm and welcoming personality.

I am not always a fan of age gap romances, but I felt like this one was well done. I appreciated that the characters were equals so there wasn’t a power dynamic issue. Audrey was years out of school so it didn’t feel like her former crush on her teacher was still a big factor.

I felt both characters were strongly written but really resonated with Michelle. There was a lot of backstory that provided understanding of how she became the way she was. Audrey was very likeable and determined. It was nice how they both seemed to complement each other.

This was a good book, with a decent level of spice. I would recommend it to anyone who like emotional depth and lower drama.

Thank you Rachel Lacey, Montlake, and NetGalley for the ARC.

2.75⭐️

This book was ok, I didnt love it but I also didnt hate it,
I found it extremely slow and at times found myself getting bored and skimming the book,
But overall it was an ok read

Cute, interesting and I do not know what else to say about this. LIke I did like this story and the couple, I just wasn't blown away by it.

Ahhh, this was beautiful 🥹! Once again, Rachel Lacey has written a comforting, heartfelt, HOT sapphic romance. I’ll definitely need to reread this one sometime in the near future.

Audrey and Michelle were a wonderful pair. Audrey’s enthusiasm -- regarding both pottery and women in art — was absolutely enchanting. Plus, I loved how confident and forward she was. Honestly, how can I become Audrey?? And Michelle…well, no one who reads my reviews will be surprised when I say I have a crush on Michelle. Prickly (at first) and competent, with an underlying sadness due to wanting more out of life…yep, she’s basically my dream woman. And god, I am SO here for the crushing-on-your-hot-British-former-professor vibes.

The romance was equal parts wholesome and sizzling. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that pottery scene, because WHEW! If I ever needed a reason to take a pottery class, now I have it. I loved how Audrey and Michelle encouraged each other to reach their full potential, and I adored how they were so clearly intellectual equals. Also, I found the discussions of women in art fascinating. I like when I end up learning fun facts from romance novels — it’s such an unexpected treat.

Thank you so much to Rachel Lacey and Montlake Press for the ARC! As always, I will be looking forward to Rachel Lacey’s next book!

3.75 stars

There was a lot to love in this book. I really liked both characters from the start even though Michelle was a bit grumpy. You could tell she didn't want to be grumpy when we got her inner thoughts and I found that to be relatable. I also loved Audrey's enthusiasm for her job but also her seeing something behind Michelle's new mood. I think the age gap helped in that way too because yeah after all that time at one place and nothing getting better? I'd be grumpy too. I really appreciated seeing a "oh I don't like that" in the middle of an intimate scene and the immediate change without it killing the mood. I also think the spice was spicing plus we got a bit of a Ghost scene recreation. What wasn't feeling right to me was the dialogue in much of the book. It often times felt unrealistic, formal, and scripted. Much of the dialogue just didn't feel in rhythm with how most people talk.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC!

This one’s a slow-burn sapphic romance with pottery, academia, and just the right amount of emotional mess.

Very cute, heartwarming story. I loved how smitten Audrey and Michelle were with each other, and how slow it took to build up. It was fun to see Audrey’s old crush grow into so much more and Michelle’s struggling at first with her interest in Audrey, which made a lot of sense given her divorce, their age gap and working together. It felt very natural how their feelings grow, and how they easily fall into their relationship despite all the things that could theoretically work against them. Once they were together, I really enjoy how open and communicative they both were, and how they worked together towards their shared goals.

They were both nice characters but Michelle more than Audrey for me. I did find Audrey sometimes almost too enthusiastic about her vocation - I’m sorry but being a teacher sounds exhausting, Michelle’s attitude was a lot more realistic 🤣 and her finding back her passion and what she wanted to do in her life after having lost it was really more interesting to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Learning Curves follows Audrey and Michelle as they navigate a blossoming romance at a the university they both worked at... and where Audrey used to study, mentored specifically by Michelle (Dr Thompson), who was back then at the start of her own academic career. About a decade later, the are both quite different, Michelle in particular having grown quite jaded towards life in academia and teaching... but their shared passion for female artists overlooked by history seems to ignite new feelings between them. As their connection deepens, they must confront personal challenges and past experiences.

I loved the sizzling, tangible chemistry between the two women, and the obvious pleasure they derive from simply being in each other’s company. Their conversations were riveting for both characters, and I adored how well they matched intellectually, especially in their shared love for art and the female artists history has often ignored in favour of renowned male artists.

As someone who’s not usually a big fan of age-gap romance (and didn’t realise this trope applied here until I started reading!), Learning Curves pleasantly surprised me. The significant age difference felt well-handled and never uncomfortable, particularly because the younger woman is clearly an adult in her late-twenties (at least?) with her own experiences and independence.

While the writing might not be revolutionary or my all-time favourite, I enjoyed it overall, especially the character development and the strong presence of fun secondary characters.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy smart, character-driven romances with great chemistry, thoughtful exploration of shared passions, and a slow-burn, age-gap dynamic done right.

Learning Curves
*ARC review* Release date: September 2nd
2/5⭐️

Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey is a professor-former student, workplace romance. The book was not bad- it just was boring to me. I felt like the plot was really slow and not keeping my interest. I had to force myself to finish this. I’ll admit I’m not really into art so maybe that hindered my ability to connect to the FMCs. I also felt like there was nothing else happening in the book besides their developing relationship and would’ve liked more meat to the plot. At times, the dialogue felt really unrealistic and awkward to me. I did really enjoy the pottery scene. I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. Recommend: No

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

Rachel Lacey is definitely in my top 10 of favorite authors and this book is just another reason why. “Learning Curves” is definitely one of her best! “Learning Curves” works so well as a dual POV romance. The dual POV enhanced the longing and chemistry between Michelle and Audrey, while allowing us to see more depth from each of the characters. The open and honest communication between Audrey and Michelle was refreshing to read and proved the strength of their budding relationship. I loved the way Audrey and Michelle’s relationship developed, from sort of work place rivals to friends to lovers was done with so much build up and as soon as we got to the pottery wheel scene I was so ready for them to get together. Lacey knows how to deliver on slow burns. The build was well done, and the payoff was strong. The spice was sizzling in this book and I will never look at pottery or a pottery wheel the same way again! I loved the pace of the book, I couldn’t put it down! It was also incredibly informative of women in art and I really appreciate the level of research the author must’ve done to accurately portray this. I also really enjoyed how there was no third act break up or unnecessary drama. It was great to get a little “Cover Story” and “Star Collide” references. I would highly recommend! Thanks to Rachel Lacey, Netgalley and Montlake for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I absolutely can’t wait for Rachel’s next book!

This was phenomenal! The perfect sapphic romance for the Fall season!

Audrey ends up teaching at the university she attended and the professor she had a crush on, Michelle, is now her peer. They have to navigate this new dynamic while realizing there’s some unresolved feelings between them. These ladies have such a sweet (and spicy 🤭) relationship that grows throughout the story. I promise, the shenanigans they get up to at the pottery wheel and in Michelle’s office make this book absolutely worth the read!

The way that Rachel wrote this story pulled me in immediately and had me hooked! Michelle’s grumpy, black cat energy and Audrey’s sunshiny, golden retriever energy were so fun to read. The back and forth, and the tension, I spent the whole first half of the book wondering when they were going to cave to it! Once they do, we get the best spice. They just work so well together despite being opposites.

I also loved how passionate both Audrey and Michelle are about women in art. I enjoy reading stories about people who are deeply interested in a special topic and want to share it with the world. It’s so refreshing to see these women working together and sharing their love of art with the world.

Thank you so much to Rachel for the early copies, I loved this so much!

4.5 stars rounded up

✨ Sapphic Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ Third Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: bisexual MC, lesbian MC, extensive additional rep (adoptee, divorcee, Black SCs, trans SC, Deaf SC)

I recommend if you enjoy…
- academia romance
- ethical age gaps
- professor x former student/current assistant professor
- mature romance
- no third act break-up
- no miscommunication trope

Content warnings after review.

Initial Thoughts
Yeah… to say I was looking forward to this one is an understatement. The tropes drew me in, and I’ve read other books by Rachel Lacey before. I’d also seen a lot of positive reviews prior to digging in myself, so my expectations were a bit on the higher side.

Plot
I thought the plot (behind the romance) was a great compliment to the romance. Honestly, this book sparked some interest in me to learn more about women in art from a historical perspective. There are references to people and books throughout the story that give a great jumping off point if the reader feels so inclined. I really could feel the characters passion beyond the romance which made the characters feel more fleshed out and the story genuine. Perhaps my one complaint is that one of the main characters is adopted, and I thought the topic of adoption was kind of glossed over/portrayed as purely positive when there are some deep ethical conversations to be had around adoption.

Characters
I loved Audrey. I loved how bubbly and enthusiastic she is. She would be the kind of person I’d admire in real life. Michelle… I honestly wasn’t sure about at first, which felt intentional. It was really great to see her blossom through the story and come back into her own. It’s never too late to reinvent oneself and find something new to be passionate about, and I think Michelle’s character really embodied this. Within the side characters, there is a lot of diversity in a way that felt reminiscent of my own time in college.

Romance
The romance between Michelle and Audrey is a slow burn, which really fits their story. I loved that this book didn’t gloss over the potential ethical implications of their relationship. The conversations they had felt realistic and appropriate making this romance feel mature. That being said, despite being a slow burn once it sparks they are on fire… I really enjoyed the spice, and I liked how well they communicated. Once again, the scenes of them together felt so genuine and loving.

Final Thoughts
This romance had so many things that I often find missing from other romance books (particularly age gap). I’m around the same age as Audrey would be in the book, so I think the romance and characters really resonated well with me. My favorite Rachel Lacey book thus far. I highly recommend.

Sapphic romance, college professors, and an age gap!?!? Sign me up EVERY time!

I really loved these characters and the premise. I was invested in the story and how it was going to come together. I will always read a Rachel Lacey book. They are great for an easy and entertaining read. Also, can we talk about this cover art!??! PERFECTION

Thank you to Rachel Lacey for my advance copy!

Really thoughtful age gap romance! I appreciated too, the draws of nostalgia for a place where you found yourself. I had two central questions regarding the older FMC though: 1) if she'd been such a magical teacher for the younger FMC, surely she would have had more folks in the department willing to grant her grace? Or was it that she'd always been sort of a terrible colleague and just good with students, and 2) what homophobic UK church were her parents going to? I'm definitely not trying to say that culture doesn't exist (see UK based TERFs) but it read very US evangelical christian to me which was an odd choice for a British character. But despite these niggles, really liked this!

I received this as an ARC and ALC, below is my own honest review.

I adore Rachel Lacey’s books and I adore Quinn Riley’s narration. Put those two together and what do you get? Another amazing book!!

Former student/University Professor! What a great combination. I really do enjoy Rachel’s writing, it’s such an easy, cosy vibe but also is packed full of plot and character development. She has such a gift for story telling and is 100% an auto-buy author for me, as much as Quinn is an auto-listen narrator. I just know I’ll never be let down by these two, they make you feel safe!

That goddam pottery scene!! Holy hell!! So much longing and yearning and lust!! I loved every second of it! Slow burns never feel like a slow burn with Rachel Lacey.

Also loved that Eden Sands and Natalie Keane got a shoutouts!

As this was also an ALC I wanted to take a moment for Quinn Riley, if you’ve listened to anything she’s narrated you know how amazing she is. She did a phenomenal job at being Rachel’s characters to life, the emotions she portrays in her performance are on point and done perfectly! She has such a beautiful way of fully submerging you into the story and making you feel all the feelings along side the characters. 👏🏻

Written in Third Person with 2x POV’s. Slow Burn, Age Gap (15 years), Grumpy x Sunshine, Former Crush, Workplace Romance, Starting Over. 4x Spicy Scenes (there is another two but it’s non descriptive/F2B).

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Bisexual FMC & Lesbian FMCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Age Gap, Slow Burn, Grumpy/Sunshine, Academia, Workplace Romance, Women in Art, Sapphic Pining, Femme/Femme, Healthy Communication

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK! Did I read the ARC and then immediately listen to the ALC? I did. No regrets. I am not at all good with picking “favorites” of anything, especially number one favorites. But I can tell you without a doubt that this is one of my favorite reads this year and one of my top fav Rachel Lacey books! What Rachel did with this story was nothing short of incredible. Especially after reading the acknowledgements and understanding just how much research and thought went into this story. Phenomenal! And now I have this aching desire to go learn all the things I can about women in art.

To start - these characters! Audrey and Michelle were an utter delight to get to know. First you have Audrey who is bubbly and full of excitement and basically the physical embodiment of sunshine. And then there is Michelle who is the complete opposite. She’s grumpy and jaded and disillusioned, and also just doesn’t know how to “people” sometimes. She’s also the complete opposite of the professor that Audrey once knew as an underground, who was her biggest inspiration and focus of many fantasies. The professor she couldn’t wait to be colleagues with. Saying they got off to a bumpy start would be putting it lightly lol. But Audrey wasn’t going to let that deter her.

The slow burn in this book was sooo good! You know..the kind of slow burn where the characters have been fighting it for so long that eventually all that built up longing just explodes and nothing else exists in that moment. Yeah…🥵And there was a lot of building sexual tension between these two, especially after Michelle’s lesson on the pottery wheel! What a scene!! I’m just sayin…Audrey isn’t the only one who’s hot for teacher. 😜 But sexual chemistry aside, these two were truly perfect for each other. Their passion for art, particularly women in art, was just one small piece of it. Even though in some ways they couldn't have been more different, they were extremely alike in others. And they just understood each other in ways it was clear that neither of them had experienced before. The kind of understanding that makes you feel seen and alive in ways you can't explain.

I absolutely love that all of their “firsts” were these perfectly imperfect moments - the event that sparked the beginning of their friendship, their first kiss, their first time, and even the first I love you’s. Everything with them was different and unexpected and perfect because of the fact that all these moments between them felt so organic and pure. Also, a huge shout out for the healthy communication between these two! It was so refreshing to see and I loved watching them navigate the dynamics of their relationship as it progressed. It was beautiful. I also appreciated that there was no third act breakup because I’m pretty sure it would have crushed me.

Also - YAY for the Stars Collide easter egg!! And the diverse cast of characters - including a deaf/HOH student and the use of transcription aids in classrooms! So cool!

I truly can’t say enough good things about this book. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would! I don’t even know what else to say so I’m just going to scream. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!

I received an ARC and ALC from the author/NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

⚠️TW/CW: sexual content, divorce, minor misogyny, mentions of racism/microaggressions, strained parental relationship, conversations about a toxic ex