⭐⭐⭐★
Learning Curves is an age-gap romance that is involving enough to complete. I
mention this, because, sadly, more and more books by established authors are
not particularly satisfying.
Audrey Lind, 30 is a fresh recruit to teach
in her alma mater, Northshire University. She’s excited positive and eager to
make an impression so that her temporary position is converted to a permanent
one. It’s also the place where she had experience her first female crush on…
Dr. Michelle Thompson, mid-forties and
Audrey’s first female crush. She’s no longer the passionate teacher who had
made Audrey want to pursue a career in academics. Generally disliked by both
colleagues and student, she seems to be just living in countdown mode.
Audrey’s excited to have a new dynamic with
Dr. Michelle Thompson, but the latter is, if not an ice-queen, at least a frigid
water queen. The unrelenting rudeness could’ve made Michelle an easily
dislikeable person — the type that usually makes me wonder why the other MC is
making all that effort. However, Lacey develops Michelle with enough care, that
she’d not really all that bad. Both the MCs are well-enough characterized, but
Michelle is drawn with much more sympathy.
The growth or their relationship and
chemistry is very nicely handled.
That said, there are some utterly banal
scenes and conversations between the leads, with side characters and even some random
cameos that do nothing for plot development, character development or to even
add texture to their world. They just exist — most likely to make word count.
What stands out most is the open and constant
communication between the leads. There’s a refreshing lack of angst or
unnecessary conflict; instead, the focus is on two women finding the courage to
pursue what they want and deserve, both in love and in life — together.
A gripe about the cover, though: it doesn’t
capture either of the characters. At all.
It’s a story of new beginnings, the joy of embracing who you are and courage to rock the boat enough to make scary changes. It’s not a book that tries to reinvent the wheel, but it delivers a nice easy-read romance.
⭐⭐⭐★
