Thank you to Avon and Harper & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a cute and quick read, that actually did the accidental pregnancy trope really well. Their reaction to the news, and their relationship leading up to parenthood felt very organic, and I appreciated that. I also loved the elements of them being teachers at odds, who end up in bed one night, and then stuck together in the classroom and parenthood. It was this very unique plot line, that I enjoyed the most.

Now my issue with the writing is that it was very meh. It felt like there was absolutely no build up to them sleeping together. The book literally starts with them arguing and fighting, and almost getting fired. Then out of nowhere they’re in bed together, it just felt weird. The “spicy” scenes also felt kind of awkward and just uncomfortable, I think because there was just no chemistry or build up to these feelings.

I also really disliked how inaccurate I felt the author portrayed the pregnancy. As someone who delivered early because of pre-eclampsia in an emergency C section I just felt like her writing about this experience felt aggressive, scary, and uneducated.

I mean overall I enjoyed the plot and story, but I felt like the writing was very surface level, it lacked any kind of depth. And even though there is a HEA for them, it just always felt awkward.

It was just okay. I wouldn't exactly call this book enemies to lovers, rather than two people who have different ways of teaching. I also wouldn't consider this book a spicy romance. Yes, there are small explicit scenes, but it would make more sense to call this book a sweet romance with a dash of spice. It was cute and fluffy. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't anything to write home about.

This was such a fun book! I read this in two sittings. As a teacher and young mom, I related to Valerie while I also understood Andrew's concerns. I liked the teacher rivalry as well as the slow realization each character had that the teacher on the other side of the wall is a much more complex and nuanced human than previously assumed.

While the book followed romance tropes and never overly shocked me, I enjoyed the pace and the predictability. I enjoyed the cozy story, the blooming romance, and the ultimate conclusion. The writing was solid, the characters developed enough to be enjoyable and believable, and the ending was perfect. This was just the book I wanted right now, and I'm happy to have had a chance to read it!

I loved this book! A delightful romcom with just the right amount of sugar and spice. Great for a quick cozy read, especially if you've been in a reading slump and want something to pull you out of one.

I really wanted to love this, but didn't.
The idea of two Kindergarten teachers falling in love is adorable!
It isn't a spicy read (as advertised), however I think that's a good thing.

The character development was well thought out and that is huge!
But the execution wasn't there.

This was a cute romance, marketed as similar to Abbott Elementary. Valerie and Andrew are kindergarten teachers with their classrooms right next to each other and they have had an ongoing feud for years. Valerie is quirky and fun, while Andrew is reserved, stoic, and despises how vibrant Valerie is. When their tension leads to a steamy one night stand, Valerie becomes pregnant, and they have to become co-parents at the same time that they are forced to share a classroom at work.

One thing that I didn't love about this book unfortunately was Valerie's character. I think because the setting of the book is in an elementary school, and Valerie is pregnant with a baby and dealing with kindergarteners, it made it obvious at times that Valerie acted very childish and immature for her age. I didn't really connect with her character that well. There was a LOT of spice, right from the start, which is to expected with an accidental pregnancy and enemies to lovers trope. I did think that the romance was cute, in how Andrew and Valerie were forced together in the classroom and in their personal life, and had to get to know each other and grow as humans to become parents. I loved the setting of the elementary school and I do think the book gave off Abbott Elementary vibes. I do wish there was more of an exploration of Andrew and Valerie's relationship and more emotional depth to this book, as at times I feel like we skipped over parts of their relationship evolving to focus on the pregnancy.

Overall, this was a cute book and a very spice/steamy romance!! Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the free book in exchange for my honest review!

I don't really think this is enemies to lovers, its more opposites attract when alcohol is involved? The pacing was a bit off too, sometimes really slow and then when there was a chance to provide depth, the plot moved super fast.

Love Lessons was super predictable and unbearably cliche at times but oddly such an entertaining, enjoyable read! The initial spark of romance between the two characters didn't really make sense to me when they seemingly loathed each other so much (and this book loves to repeat over and over, "there's a thin line between love and hate") but the switch flipped very quickly. And I still don't feel like it was realistic. BUT. Aside from that it was sweet and cute. The main characters were complete opposites and both so genuinely likeable, I couldn't NOT root for them. If you like the accidental pregnancy trope, you'll probably like this. Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc!

I'm giving this book 3.5 stars. I really liked the characters and their banter. Overall, I am not a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, and I didn't really think it was realistic, as a teacher, that a private school would openly welcome a pregnancy between two teachers the way they did in the book. I liked the dialogue with the students and really felt as though it addressed the age level appropriately and humorously.

This was a cute romance book that had a lot of loved tropes and one of the most divided ones. Love Lessons is a workplace, opposites attract, forced proximity, accidental pregnancy romance. There was a lot of different plot elements crammed into the book and they were all carried out okay, but I wish there was a trope or two less to make what was included be carried out better as a whole. I enjoyed Andrew for the most part however in one of the sex scenes there's a comment he makes that made me side eye him for the rest of the book. If you're looking for a trope heavy romance this would fill that spot, however in the category of those there's ones I'd reach towards more than this.

This was a quick cute romance. I however would not label it as a spicy book since there was only 2 sex scenes with minimal spice and I read a lot of smut books. And as for enemies-to-lovers that might be a bit of a stretch, this trope doesn't really fit with the actions in the book, its more like two teachers who are annoyed with the others teaching style.

Love Lessons is a delightful rom-com that perfectly balances humor, heart, and unexpected turns. Sidney Halston has crafted a charming story centered around two kindergarten teachers with clashing personalities.

Valerie and Andrew are a captivating duo, their opposites-attract dynamic providing endless entertainment. The author skillfully develops their characters, allowing readers to connect with their strengths and vulnerabilities. The unexpected pregnancy adds an intriguing layer of complexity to their relationship, keeping the story fresh and engaging.

Halston's writing style is both witty and heartwarming, making it impossible to put the book down. The unique chapter titles are a clever touch that adds a playful element to the story.

Overall, Love Lessons is a refreshing and enjoyable read that will leave readers smiling. It's a perfect escape for fans of romantic comedies and anyone looking for a heartwarming story.

Love Lessons was a quick and fun read. The banter between the FMC and MMC was both hilarious and endearing, while their contrasting personalities created a dynamic that was truly entertaining. Watching the characters evolve and support each other was incredibly satisfying. However, I felt that the connection between them was inconsistent at times, with some forced moments. Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Sidney Halston for the opportunity to read this book.

I enjoyed the story line and the real emotions the two characters have during the pregnancy journey. Wished there was more emotions shown from the FMC.

My new fav from Sidney Halston!! This was a super fun enemies to lovers surprise pregnancy romance between two rival kindergarten teachers. I loved the grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract vibes of this book. The two MCs were great together. Accidental pregnancies can be a hard trope to pull off but I really, really enjoyed this one. It was also good on audio! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: a couple open door scenes

Review:
Abbott Elementary meets Ali Hazelwood??? Ummmm YES PLEASE!

What I liked about the book:
1. I thought their bickering was funny and adorable. You have two complete opposites: the fun-loving, artsy FMC who doesn’t even cuss outside of work and the structured, surly MMC who has the test results to back it up. It was also equally enjoyable to see them come together and make their individual strengths work for their little family unit, changing each other’s minds on some of the things they once thought were annoying or useless about the other.

2. I loved how the author made it known that their initial meeting that set them on the enemies path was really because of how he reacted to something outside their control. I have read other books where one MC is mad at the other MC because they got a job promotion they didn’t think they deserved, funds reserved for something were redirected to that person for some bureaucratic reason, etc. However, what sets this book apart is the fact that Andrew knew day two after meeting her that he had messed up and needed to apologize, but instead was taken by something else that pissed him off in the moment and that apology was never made. He was reasonable in understanding that her getting a job with the funds that were supposed to go to a special project for him was in no way her fault, but he just couldn’t get that apology out before something else irked him. Hence, they became enemies. I actually liked this a lot and felt it could totally happen and I wouldn’t necessarily blame anyone. It just made sense.

3. I rather enjoyed how they were not “together” for most of the book. It was fun to see him know that he couldn’t push her into a relationship, but also he just knew that they would end up together if he waited it out. I also appreciated that she didn’t want him to just be in a relationship with her because he felt responsible given the pregnancy. Her fighting their relationship because she thought his sense of right was the only thing drawing him to her was enjoyable.

4. I loved the take on pregnancy. From the always being tired and nauseous, to the constant horniness once you hit a certain point (get that D, honey!), to heavier topics like having to watch your salt intake because of preeclampsia scares, the book did a great job highlighting the good and the bad of pregnancy.

What I wasn’t a fan of:
1. I assumed there would be a bit more spice given the blurb. It definitely wasn’t non-existent, but I believe there were only two scenes and they weren’t overly descript.

2. I felt the MCs' chemistry was OK. There were definitely times it really shined and I was laughing as well as feeling the sparks, but there were other times I got the feel that this was definitely more of a forced partnership.

3. I felt like the ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste. With them stringing along defining their relationship, I was a little sad to see it summed up in 2 lines in the last 2% of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Sidney Halston for the opportunity to read a copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own

3.5 stars!

This is an enemies to lovers story about 2 kindergarten teachers with neighboring classrooms who have very different teaching styles. Due to a tree falling on their building, they are forced to work together to co-teach their classes. I will say that this book had a bit of a slower start and it took me a minute to really get into it. I think it was due to the bickering between the 2 teachers in the beginning. I think it could have been written better to be a little bit more believable and less juvenile. As the book progressed, I started growing to like the characters more and found their story together to be cute. I'm not the biggest fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, but this story was an exception. In the end, this was a lighthearted love story with a happily ever after ending.

I had to DNF this book, sadly. I gave this a 3-star rating, because I didn’t finish the book, so I wanted the rating to be neutral. I felt the beginning of this book wasn’t realistic. I’m a teacher, and there is no way you can have paint wars or call another teacher a “fart” in front of the kids, without being fired immediately. I liked the idea of the book, but the details in the beginning were just nonsense to me.

It’s not quite back to school time yet, but with her latest novel, Love Lessons, Sidney Halston brings us back to the classroom for a rivals-to-lovers romance between two kindergarten teachers.

Valerie and Andrew both teach kindergarten at the same Miami prep school. The fact that their classrooms share a wall is a source of contention, especially as Valerie has a hands-on, exuberant teaching style, and Andrew is far more by the book - think Janine and Gregory from Abbott Elementary.

At the end of the school year, following a staff party, Valerie and Andrew have a one night stand, one that despite their best efforts, ends in pregnancy. One Val decides to keep, and one Andrew wants to take an active role in. Seems easy enough, but given that they previously hated - or at least strongly disliked - each other, that tension doesn’t dissolve right away, instead remaining throughout and really upping the stakes.

While, granted, I haven’t read every book in existence, I’m struggling to think of any romance novel I’ve read previously that dealt with pregnancy throughout, rather than just in the epilogue. Having a baby so thoroughly changes the nature of any relationship, and I’ve been craving a novel that touches on these things throughout, while never losing the fluffy rom-com touch, and on that front Halston delivers beautifully.

Love Lessons is out now. Special thank you to Avon for the advance copy for review purposes.

As a teacher, this story caught my eye the moment I saw the cover art and read the synopsis, it's a pretty fun story and the characters are witty and charming, would definitely recommend it !