ACR:
I'll probably read the next book in the series cause I'm intrigued, but if I end up not liking it I won't be continuing.
This is a straight up wattpad book, and I've read good ones....but this yeah, NO.

Scottie (fmc) I could not stand her at all, like her name. She was whiny and pathetic with zero backbone and I get there needs to be character development, when there's a demeaning toxic bf/ex bf in the mix.
But that all happened/ got resolved within the first 20%-30% and that's not enough for me to get connected or sympathise with her as a human. It's like she actually wanted to be in the relationship with him and felt like she deserved it or somthing but knew deep down she didn't love him or cared about him and knew it was bad.
Finn (mmc) he was okay, but was a wet blanket cause he was like 'I don't deserve her' - 'I need you' - 'Stay away from me' - 'I love you, forgive me.' Like PICK A LANE BOI.
He did get better in the last 40% but at that point I checked out.

The plot had so much going on but yet nothing at all. There was family drama that he was being overdramatic about like he wanted his half brother to feel what he felt about his dad not being in his life, like dude he doesn't even know you existed. There was so many miscommunications throughout like just pick when you wanted to finish the book, than stringing it along cause you don't know what else to write about.

Goodreads: "Megan’s review of Learning Curve | Goodreads" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7724118802
Fable: Check out this review of Learning Curve on Fable. https://fable.co/review/3f86f60d-0a8b-409d-be79-da555ff5dec2/share
StoryGraph megan_r1

Learning curve was a fun, fast romance that I couldn't put down. I enjoy Max Monroe books. Her way of writing is fun and draws you in.

3.5 stars- Sweet love story. Parts of it seemed very YA. It was an easy read and entertaining overall.

I've been reading voraciously since I was in grade school. While my adult self liked this book, my high school/college self would have LOVED it. This is a gold start new adult book, lots of angsty romance, lots of drama, fun friends and in my opinion, a meatier plot that others I have read in the genre. I was hooked from the beginning and was thrilled to learn that the second book in the Dickson series was already out.

I enjoyed Scottie and Finn and their friends' group. I'm really looking forward to reading the first gen series next.

Ok…so that ending got very sad like 80% in. This book is quite a ride with angst and drama. It’s a good book and the writing style is great. Finn, the tortured bad boy and Scottie is the virginal cheerleader who is trying to survive college. The characters have a lot of growth throughout the book. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts.

Honestly, I feel like I read a million pages and nothing happened. My head hurts and I can’t even put together a sentence as to what this was.

From the authors note, I expected a ton of angst and drama with mind blowing romance and that’s just not what I got. The characters were all extremely immature, parents included. Everything felt very chaotic and rushed. The conflicts etc were resolved with the greatest of ease, very unrealistically.

I unfortunately really just didn’t enjoy this in the slightest.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC Copy.

When I picked up this book I was a little skeptical because I thought maybe with it being "college aged" characters it would be too young for me. My love for Max Monroe had me picking it up and giving it a try anyway. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!
Yes, it's a bunch of college kids. Yes, there's partying and drinking and all the stuff most college students get into atleast once. However, there's also, trauma, drama, family and relationships. Both MFC and MMC have histories of parental abuse (so take the trigger warning to heart). Both characters struggle with thinking the deserve good things to happen to them. The MFC, Scottie, is the star cheerleader, the MMC, Finn, is grateful he got into college on a scholarship and trying to stay out of trouble so he doesn't lose it. However, when drama is shoved in Scotties face, she doesn't know what to do and Finn does whatever it takes to protect her.
Just when I didn't think I could get enough of this book, Max Monroe throws a curveball and completely nails the ending and gives all the vibes.
Go buy this book. I promise you wont be disappointed.

This is a belated review of an arc provided by NetGalley, thank you for the book!

I’ll be truthful when saying that this book was not for me. When I saw that the main plot followed a good girl and bad boy trope, I was looking forward to it but I felt like although the intention was good, Finn had too much of a chip on his shoulder for me to like him. If you like tortured heroes who stay away from the heroine because it’s what’s best for them and you like a slower burn, you might like this. I finished it and I’ll admit it got better but it did not hook me the way I would have liked it to.

Finn and Scottie didn’t catch my attention as much as Ace and Julia did or Blake and Lexie, I’m looking forward to their books instead.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Funn and Scottie and good story. Their story isn't all rainbows and sunshine though. His life is not easy he went through hardships due to his dad but he is determined and that makes all the difference. She is dating a douche. It was a good story that does have a HEA.

This amazing book is an emotional roller coaster. With a plot twist I definitely didn’t see coming. And it’s mainly about true friendship and love.

Finn is worried about his siblings, he comes from a troubled family, and he doesn’t want to involve Scottie in it. But Scottie doesn’t really understand, because her upbringing is totally different from his, or is it? Because of all that, their relationship is complicated. But gradually the veil is lifted and things become much clearer. And then, when you least expect it, their world is turned upside down again.
Their path to love is a very, very tough one.

~~We’ve already been through it all, and together, we’ve come out the other side—this is love.~~

I loved all secondary characters as well, except Dane and Nadine, they’re nasty people. Finn’s roomie Ace is downright hilarious, and also a really good friend.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Learning Curve kicks off the Dickson University series with a bang, delivering a spicy, angsty, and emotionally charged college romance. The story follows Finn Hayes, a brooding bad boy with a troubled past, and Scottie Bardeaux, a sweet and determined cheerleader. Their worlds collide when they become roommates at Dickson University, leading to a slow-burn romance filled with tension, secrets, and undeniable chemistry.

Max Monroe masterfully blends humor, heartache, and heat, creating a narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The dynamic between Finn and Scottie is electric, with their banter and emotional growth adding depth to the story. The supporting characters, including the returning favorites from the Billionaire Bad Boys series, add richness and humor to the narrative.

While the book is packed with drama and emotional twists, some readers have noted that the pacing can feel uneven at times. However, for fans of New Adult romance with complex characters and steamy tension, Learning Curve is a must-read.

This story took me on an emotional roller coaster! Finn and Scottie have so much more in common than Finn believes. Just because everything looks perfect on the surface doesn’t mean someone isn’t fighting on the inside.

Because of his own personal experiences, Finn is able to be there for and support Scottie in her time of need once he got out of his own way and stopped trying to push her away.

This crew of amazing friends had me laughing, crying, cheering and ready to fight for them! I can’t wait to read more by these amazing authors!

This is a good book. The two main characters are Scottie and Finn. They are freshmen college students. When Finn first meets Scottie she has a boyfriend, that later she breaks up with him. There is an attraction. They start dating. They have breakups, get back together and lots of heart ache. But they love each other and always find a way to get back together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Max Monroe LLC for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Learning Curve is out now.

Max Monroe has somehow become one my favorite authors, and I’m not mad it at all! There’s something about their writing that just captivates you, reels you in- and I eat it up every single time.

When I first saw it was 92 chapters, I almost choked, but as I started reading, I realized most chapters are short, and the story is actually really fast-paced and easy to read, so the chapters fly by without almost even noticing. The development and wittiness of (honestly, all) the characters was so fun and entertaining.

Also, their spicy scenes are always very satisfying (pun intended, hehehe).

Some things I didn’t enjoy/bugged me:
-The trope of “girls with caked on makeup, ew”, “girls using so much makeup is so ugly, could never be me” is so boring already. I’m tiiiired of it. 😩 (Ref: Chapter 4)

-I don’t really understand how two teenagers can “fall in love” after knowing each other for (barely) two months. That part definitely felt rushed and sporadic. 😅

-What happened with Scottie’s mom during the frat party seemed… very excessive and like it was written only for shock value, unfortunately. (Ref: Chapter 48)

Overall, great read, as most (if not all) Max Monroe books are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Max Monroe for the opportunity to ARC read this book.

Dickson University is a captivating start to Max Monroe’s new college romance series, blending drama, tension, and emotional depth in a way that kept me hooked from the first page. The story is fast-paced and engaging, with just the right amount of romance and angst to keep readers invested.

The drama throughout the book was particularly well done—intense but never over the top. The characters felt authentic and relatable, and their interactions carried emotional weight. That said, the ending took me by surprise. I didn’t see it coming at all, and while it was undeniably powerful, it also left me feeling a bit sad.

Despite the unexpected twist, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Max Monroe has a great way of building chemistry and conflict, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next.

Learning Curve is a messy, emotional, and totally addictive college romance. With a broody bad boy, a sweet cheerleader, and a push-and-pull dynamic that kept me on edge, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Finn and Scottie’s chemistry is off the charts, and their growth felt real and heartfelt. Drama, angst, slow burn, found family—it’s got all the tropes we love, done right. A wild ride, but totally worth it!

I'm just going to say it Max Monroe has done it again, except this time it's more angsty and emotional! This was definitely a roller coaster, I went through so many different emotions reading this one as it was filled with angst, family drama and trauma. There's a lot of unexpected twists that I did not expect to happen but that was a good thing since this book is long (600+ Pages long) and they kept me hooked from beginning to the end.

I absolutely loved Finn and Scottie. They were so cute together—seemingly complete opposites, yet they had more in common than they initially realized. Their slow-burn, push-and-pull relationship was everything - they had insane chemistry, I loved their witty banter and all the cute moments. Watching them grow and mature through the story—not just individually, but together—was incredibly rewarding. They faced so many challenges, both alone and as a couple, and it often felt like the odds were stacked against them but they continually showed up for one another. I’m so happy they got their version of a Happily Ever After.

And the friend group? Absolutely perfect. Hilarious, supportive, and full of heart—they were the ideal found family for both Finn and Scottie. I loved every scene they were in and can’t wait to see more of them in future books. Definitely recommend this series.

Thank you, Max Monroe & #NetGalley, for this digital copy.

A promising book that, for some reason, just didn’t quite click with me.

Honestly, I’m not sure what went wrong. The premise caught my attention and the writing itself was solid, but after about 10%, I found it hard to stay engaged. I struggled to connect with both the FMC and MMC and didn’t find their dynamic particularly compelling—I couldn’t quite figure out why they were drawn to each other. I don’t mind insta-attraction, but in this case, I didn’t really feel any tension between them.

The plot didn’t hold my interest enough to keep me turning the pages, so I decided to take a break. After reaching the halfway point, I chose to DNF it for now. I think I just wasn’t in the mood for the “virginal cheerleader meets bad boy” trope at the moment—but I’m not ruling out giving it another try in the future!

this book fixed me, broke me then fixed me, then broke me then fixed me again
OMFG finn i love him so much, he never gave up on scottie and ARG i was screaming and giggling.
he is definition of "if you touch her you die"
i wanna give scottie a hug. i love her and could not get enough.
i was screaming at my laptop "just fucking kiss already"
theres no words to describe how perfect it was
the amount of times i cried, laughed, giggled, screamed was crazy

quotes--------------------------------------------

just want you to know im here for you, scottie. aways.
-i was crying sooo hard

thinking about you, scottie. hope your okay. im still here if you need me.
- guys he was always there no matter what

i love you, scottie. i chose us. i chose you. do you hear me?
-AHHHH

I was interested in checking Max Monroe so I had to grab a copy when I saw it on NetGalley and I am so glad I did! This book was all over the place (in the best way)! It felt like watching a crazy teen drama like Gossip Girl or The OC.

Scottie and Finn went through so much together, it’s a miracle that they got an HEA. Just went you think the book should be wrapping up, they take the biggest hit of all!

Their friends and family also really added a lot to the story and I definitely want to go back and read all the parents’ stories (this book is a spinoff but I didn’t feel confused not having read them.) I’m so glad I gave these authors a shot!