This rom com about polar opposite Kindergarten teachers was adorable. Though to be completely honest I don't really know why the hero wanted to be a kindergarten teacher in the first place.

3.5 Stars

This was a fun romance to read, especially as someone who works in a school with plenty of individuals seemingly at odds over their teaching styles. Seeing two polar opposite Kindergarten teachers have to grapple with the reality that hate is really a lot like love while they are not only forced into sharing a class, but sharing a whoopsie of a pregnancy was at times diabolical while still being incredibly endearing and sweet.

The steamy moments in the book were hot and the pining and slow burn of the realization of love was enjoyable! Definitely a good read and one I’d absolutely recommend!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Love Lessons" by Sidney Halston is a captivating contemporary romance that explores the complexities of love, loss, and personal growth. The story revolves around the lives of two well-developed characters whose journeys intersect in unexpected ways, leading to a heartwarming tale that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

One of the standout aspects of Halston's writing is her ability to create relatable characters. The protagonist, with her relatable struggles, insecurities, and aspirations, draws readers in. As she navigates the ups and downs of her romantic life, readers can’t help but root for her, making it an emotional investment. The supporting characters are also well-crafted and add depth to the narrative, contributing to a rich tapestry of relationships that feel authentic and realistic.

The plot is engaging and unfolds at a good pace, balancing romantic tension with character development. Halston skillfully weaves in themes of self-discovery and the impact of past experiences on present relationships. The way she addresses the challenges of vulnerability and trust in love resonates strongly, making the story not just a romance but a reflection on the journey toward emotional intimacy.

The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their interactions are filled with both lighthearted moments and deeper, more poignant exchanges. Halston has a way of writing romantic scenes that feel genuine and emotionally charged, drawing readers into the characters' world.

However, while "Love Lessons" shines in character development and emotional depth, there are moments where the pacing feels uneven, particularly toward the middle of the book. Some readers might find certain plot points a bit predictable, as familiar tropes of the romance genre make an appearance. Despite this, Halston’s engaging writing style and dialogue keep the story flowing and entertaining.

Overall, "Love Lessons" by Sidney Halston is a delightful read that combines the charm of romance with thoughtful character exploration. It’s a book for anyone who enjoys heartfelt stories about love and personal growth, filled with relatable characters and moments of genuine emotional connection. Fans of contemporary romance will likely find this book a satisfying addition to their reading list.

L

This book took me 3 months to read and not necessarily because it dragged on, but I didn't ever find myself excited to read it.

I absolutely adored the premise as an avid Abbott Elementary fan, and someone who works in an elementary school. However, I felt like the banter was forced and the connection just wasn't there. The characters weren't jumping off the page like I know they could if they had been developed in a deeper way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Rating: 3/5

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Love Lessons had its moments, but ultimately, it fell short of its potential for me. At just under 300 pages, the pacing feeling uneven. The narrative alternated between dragging at a snail’s pace and then abruptly leaping forward, especially in the development of the main relationship. Some pivotal themes weren’t introduced until the final chapters, and by the time they appeared, there wasn’t enough room to explore them in depth. The rushed ending felt incomplete, leaving me wanting more closure and emotional payoff.

The relationship between the main characters was an area where I hoped for more—more depth, more chemistry, and more growth. Their dynamic as colleagues was somewhat explored, but their connection as soon-to-be co-parents lacked development. Beyond a handful of casual interactions outside of school, there wasn’t much substance to show how their bond deepened. The story often leaned on telling rather than showing, which made it hard to invest in their journey as a couple.

That said, there were aspects of the book that worked well. The rom-com tone brought plenty of humor, and I appreciated the realistic portrayal of emotions surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. The couple’s distinct personalities and full backgrounds, along with the inclusion of their mothers, added warmth and relatability to the story. The depiction of navigating the overwhelming nature of a surprise pregnancy, especially with someone you’ve clashed with for years, felt authentic and grounded.

Overall, while Love Lessons had cute and heartfelt moments, it missed the opportunity to deliver a more fully realized and emotionally satisfying story. It’s a light, enjoyable read for fans of rom-coms, but I was left wishing for more development, depth, and a stronger conclusion.

I had such high hopes for this book but it fell so flat for me. I did not get rom-com giddy, kicking my feet vibes.

Although they were enemies, it lacked in lovers. The relationship didn’t really go anywhere and it felt like the relationship was forced because they had a kid. I really wanted to root for the characters but ultimately I could not connect to them.

At the start of reading Love Lessons, I was loving so much. As a teacher myself, it's always fun to read about characters in my own profession - helps me feel real connected with the story. Especially one that was done so well. In Love Lessons, we meet Andrew and Valerie, two kindergarten teachers that are always at odds due to their different styles of teaching. I did go into this one kind of blind, so I wasn't aware about the baby trope in the story - one that I usually enjoy in the books I read. However, this one felt forced and quick to me. The relationship progressed so quickly and I would have loved to have some expansion on Andrew and Valerie...more than just the pregnancy. I really loved the beginning of this book, but once the pregnancy happened, I found myself less interested in the story altogether. What was shaping up to be a solid four or five star read for me turned into a three star, unfortunately.

This is um, not a spicy romance novel like it was marketed to be, and I can't say that it's enemies to lovers either. The premise is two kindergarten teachers who have sex and it results in an accidental pregnancy, not a mafioso and his forced bride. It didn't fit, and I can't say I loved it.

As a teacher, I was super excited about this one! Also, I love enemies to lovers, so that aspect was fun! I am not the biggest fan of third-person narration because I don't feel like you get as much of the characters inner monologue, which is my favorite part! I would have loved to have had a first person dual POV in this book!

As a fan of books set in schools, Love Lessons immediately drew me in with its charming classroom setting and entertaining teacher dynamics. Valerie Marquez is the kind of kindergarten teacher I love reading about—quirky, fun-loving, and dedicated to making learning enjoyable for her students. In contrast, Andrew Wexler is all rules and structure, making him the perfect foil (and next-door nightmare) for Valerie’s spirited personality. When their school-year tension culminates in an unexpected night together, they find themselves navigating the new realities of impending parenthood while sharing a classroom. Their journey from reluctant colleagues to unexpected partners is both heartfelt and hilarious. The book captures not just the magic of a school setting but also the warmth of two people growing closer as they navigate co-teaching and co-parenting. It’s a delightful, feel-good romance that highlights love’s unexpected turns and the charm of school-day chaos.

2.5⭐️, i'm estimating?

the line level prose was simply not good (although i think it was worst at the beginning of the book which meant things did get marginally better as i read, an interesting strategy) and the characters were just flat. really wanted to love this for my annual surprise pregnancy read but it just wasn’t doing anything for me. i was interested in some of the seeds of ideas, for example, Valerie’s relationship with her mom, but again they just didn’t have much depth or really get executed in a meaningful way.

rounding up because it’s not like this was truly horrible or offensive it just wasn’t. enough.

This read was cute, seeing two teachers with wildly different styles come together and find love in the process! I felt the character development was rich, the reader really is able to connect and feel like we know each character independently. I do wish their love story was expended on more, it felt like there needed to be more pages to really get a fuller scope of their relationship to wrap up and wish we got more lovers, than primarily the enemies part.

Love Lessons by Sidney Halston is about Andrew and Valarie who both teach kindergarten but disagree about each others teaching styles. They end up being pushed together and end up learning more about each other.

Thank you Net Galley and Avon for this arc.

I’m not a huge fan of the accidental pregnancy trope but as a former teacher, I enjoyed the classroom setting. It was clear to see the care between then growing but I do think if the chapters were in first person instead of third person it would have helped the reader see the love between them a little better.

I absolutely love love love work place romances & Sidney did such a great job on this one! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes & she definitely made the two characters enemies to lovers! I’ve never read a teacher romance but i am definitely going to be looking for more like this one! I was not a huge fan of the 3rd person dialogue & i felt like we should’ve had more depth when it came to the characters relationship. Overall i had a fun time reading this book & recommend it to anyone to try!

Andrew was so unlikable to me in the beginning and then when I started to like him I started to dislike Valerie. I don't know. I don't think the book was that bad but I also don't think it was good. It was just meh, Cute cover though.

good romance and loved how they found love and each other. They survived their trials and found their way back to each other. another great romance.

This was okay, it was promoted as spicy. But I guess everyone’s version of spicy is different! I guess I prefer more than a few scences.

This was a decent romantic read with some enjoyable moments. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and Halston does a good job of developing their relationship. However, the plot feels somewhat predictable at times. While it may not break new ground in the romance genre, it's still an entertaining book for fans of contemporary romance looking for a light, fun read. I just felt like tropes that were promised in the synopsis were not in the actually story, so I really struggled with staying engaged. If I had gone into this blind, I think I would have enjoyed this more, but this felt really disappointing.