Sweet, Spicy, and Utterly Swoon-Worthy!
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed—a feel-good romance that made me laugh out loud, blush like crazy, and hug my Kindle at 2 a.m. The chemistry between Griffin and Ruby is off-the-charts, but what really got me was the heart behind their story.
Griffin is your classic playboy on the surface, but the more we see him through Ruby’s eyes, the more you realize there’s so much more going on under the charming smirk and football pads. And Ruby—I loved how relatable and endearing she was. Her inner monologue is hilarious, and her journey from cautious to courageous felt so real.
The mistaken escort setup? Absolute gold. I was hooked from that moment on. The banter is witty, the tension is slow-burn perfection, and the emotional payoff is so worth the ride.
If you’re in the mood for a flirty, funny, and surprisingly touching romance about second chances, opposites attracting, and learning to risk your heart, this is the book to pick up. Total comfort read with just the right amount of spice and sparkle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5⭐️

Ruby and Griffin were next door neighbors growing up, until Ruby moved away when she was 15. Griffin and his twin brother Barrett were a few years older than our introverted bookworm Ruby. There was a tree that straddled the property line of both homes, and while the boys were outside playing every sport they could, only child Ruby would climb into the tree and read. Hence the nickname Griffin had for her, “Birdy.” (This in’s the reason I took off half a star. I just couldn’t deal with that name.)

They meet again when Griffin, playboy NFL defensive lineman has gone viral for comments made about his (former NFL player turned head coach) now estranged brother. His agent sends him to his home in Welling Springs, CO to keep out of the public eye until he can sign with the Denver team. (This team is the one Liam from The Best of All plays for, so if you liked that book, you get to see Liam and Zoe for a scene.)

I really loved Griffin- golden retriever sweetheart who
was labeled the “fun” brother in high school and made it his mission to live up to the expectation, even though he feels himself maturing and wanting to be more respected for who he’s BECOMING now.

He was AMAZINGLY sweet with Ruby. The hand holding scene while watching Pride and Prejudice 2005 was so filled with sexual tension and I loved it.

Ruby was kind, and practical. I knew I loved her when she said this about shopping:

“There’s a reason we have the internet, and it’s so we never, ever have to set foot in a clothing store ever again.” Preach, Ruby, preach.

She was a librarian who loved her community, but as a college student she had a massive health crisis that leaves her feeling like she will not have a permanent relationship ever in the future. But when she an Griffin reconnect, she wants him to teach her how to be comfortable flirting with a man so she can enjoy dating and casual sex.

It was the sweetest romance and slow burn as she and Griffin spend time together and ultimately fall in love. But what will happen when a young woman with a serious health condition and a former playboy have a “casual fling” that ends when he moves to Denver? Heartbreak- that’s what.

But it made sense to me why these two were scared to be honest with the other one about their true feelings. So, there’s a third act separation, but it was worth it in the end. Sometimes you need space to realize what you really don’t want to live without.

In the end, the two epilogues were happy endings I absolutely believed in, and I could close my Kindle with a smile.

So, it’s another winner from Karla for me. I love how she writes a football player. I loved the scenes with Griffin’s new teammates, and I see the set up for Barrett’s book in the last chapters of this one.

Highly recommend this book if you love a slow burn, friends to lovers that’s filled with kindness, warmth, and a lot of heart.

I really loved this book. It was definitely an emotional story, but not really angsty. The emotional development both characters did was amazing, I really felt how they influenced each other and grew together in their relationship, but also separately, each of them individually with themselves, how they overcome the things that hold them back. It was a little bit slow paced for me and I wanted more plot. Usually, I don’t like what happened through the end, but it did worked out in this book, I think it work well, and it was written really good.

My first dating coach romance and I really enjoyed it. I found the FMC relatable and loved the way her relationship with the MMC developed. A childhood neighbours to lovers romance that I’d defo recommend

Lessons in Heartbreak is a new series about the King brothers. This book starts off the series strong, as we meet Griffin and Ruby. I don’t know what it is about sport romances, but I eat them up! As old childhood neighbors that are reunited by chance, Griffin and Ruby’s story sucked me in and kept me entertained. Like in Sorenson’s other novels, the main character’s friends are equally entertaining and important. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and peek into their lives. I also appreciated the two epilogues because they left me satisfied and with no unanswered questions. I’m excited to read the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

He read a cowboy romance for her, need i say more??? First 50% was a 5 star but i feel like they got together too quickly for my personal taste and then it just turned into smut and then plot. But love the writing style and will definitely read the other books in this series!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

4.5 ⭐️

There isn’t a book Karla Sorensen can write that I so t love and this was not exception! Coming out of her Washington Wolves universe was tough but this was an incredible introduction to a new set of characters. Surprisingly poignant and emotional, but full of so much swoon!

4.5 🌟

I have been waiting for this series to start, hearing about it on socials, and was very excited to dive right in!

This new series is football themed, and has twin brothers who are estranged. The first book is about Griffin, the fun and cheeky twin, who bumps into a childhood friend in the off season. Ruby Tate is a firecracker who won’t take any shenanigans from Griffin and it was fun to watch them interact.

Whether it was me or the book, the first couple of chapters felt rushed but after that I was hooked completely. A few times I had tears and a lot of times I was laughing along with them. For someone who didn’t want to fall in love and had no idea about romance, Griffin did an amazing job. My heart went out to Ruby, I can’t imagine what she went through with her health but I’m so glad she took a chance on Griffin. I adored him a lot and loved his nicknames for her. I am walking away with a huge smile on my face, especially after the two epilogues.

Karla Sorenson is an auto read author for me and will continue to be even though I am lukewarm on this particular book. It was a perfectly fine read but I never got invested in the characters or the plot. They all seemed copied from other books I have read before. There were some lovely moments of humor ( the hand flex discussions alone would be enough to make me recommend this book) that kept me reading and it was easy to pick up after a long day.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Karla Sorensen once again gives her readers what they have come to expect with her writing: beautifully written characters, a storyline that will have them on the edge of their seats and a perfect balance of heart break, angst and love. Ruby and Griffin are an unlikely pair but with their layers open and their walls cut down, they become stronger together. Cannot wait to see where this series takes us.

“There would be a certain poetic justice to you being my first. First boy who teased me about how I was always reading.”

I loved this book from start to finish. This is my first Karla Sorensen book and it won’t be the last, I can’t wait for Barrett’s book.

Ruby’s sense of humor and all the banter between her and Griffen were seriously what had me just flying through this book. All the tension building from it, I love a man who falls for a woman who’s snarky. And the fact that she was so exasperated by him was the icing on the cake with his comments and his ideas. I love them so much.

My love for Jane Austen was definitely brought back to the forefront in this book. The fact that Griffen and Marcus were watching these movies were my most favorite parts. The fact that they were learning what the hand flex was and the subtle ways to woo a woman were priceless. And Griffen telling Ruby what he was reading, gahhhhhh. I cannot right now. I loved that he wanted to tell her and she was so enraptured.

Lauren and Marcus in this book just added to how good this book was. Love a reverse age gap.

But this book with all its building blocks of Ruby being comfortable with a man was also about looking at love in the face and coming to the realization that you would spend whatever time you had with it. These two people were scared for two different reasons but the way they felt was valid. This was such an amazing book.

Librarian asks football star for dating lessons, it's a trope as old as time but Karla Sorensen knocked it out of the park (or I guess, scored a touchdown to not mix metaphors) with this one! Ruby bumps into her childhood neighbor, Griffin, and mistakenly thinks he's the escort she hired to coach her through her dating fears. Except whoops he's not, but now he can't stay away much to Ruby's mortification. I honestly could not find a single fault. The book is funny, sweet, and there's real stakes for Griffin and Ruby falling in love that is often missing in other romances. I couldn't put this book down and I can't wait for the next King brother installation (hopefully with cameos).

Wow, this was so much more than I was expecting 🥹🥹🥹. Every once in a while, I go back to my roots and read a bad-boy x good-girl romance, even better if it has the "I'll teach you" trope, so once I saw this one, I knew I had to pick it up. Here's how it goes: Ruby's tired of being clumsy and inexperienced about flirting and intimacy, so she hires an escort to help her. What she doesn't expect is for her former neighbor (now a super famous pro football player) to appear at the accorded meeting; except he isn't the person she hired, but will offer to give her lessons in whatever she needs.

At first sight, Griffin and Ruby were pretty much the perfect cliche of the playboy MMC and shy FMC, but once I learned more about them, I realized that so many sides of them were often brushed aside or ignored by their peers. Yes, Griffin has a past full of parties, getting drunk, and doing silly and irresponsible stuff immortalized on camera; and yes, Ruby is shy, insecure, and wants a soft and quiet life, but they're so much more than this. There's a reveal halfway through the book that changes everything, and even though this isn't hinted in the synopsis, I do want to mention it because it changed how I felt about some previous actions and lines from one of the characters. Their feelings and restraints indeed made more sense the more they revealed and opened up to each other, but I need you guys to know that if there are any moments or specific lines in the beginning that don't land the way they're supposed to, I promise it'll make sense later.

What can I say about them as a couple other than I loved them so so much? 😭💗 Their chemistry is present from their first interaction. But with all the lessons in confidence, dates, and any other moments Ruby and Griffin spend together, their connection strengthens to the point it makes me teary-eyed to even think about it. The love, care, softness, and trust in and with each other made them one of my favorite couples of the year so far. I adored seeing Ruby open her heart to love and gain the confidence she so needed. I loved seeing Griffin learn how he wanted to live his life and gain control over how he's perceived. They had all these soft, heartfelt, and hot moments, but their conversations flew with such ease that they had me giggling at times. And the secondary characters don't stay behind. Lauren (Ruby's best friend) and Marcus (Griffin's best friend) weren't only the comedic reliefs for lots of scenes but also showed how much of a ride or die they are for Ruby and Griffin.

I'm really in awe of this book, not only because it turned out to be more than I was expecting but also with how easily it grabbed and kept me glued to the story. I stayed up until almost 2 AM reading this and then woke up the next day at 6 AM to continue and finish it. That's how good it was. I can't believe it's only my first Karla Sorensen book, but it definitely won't be my last.

Thank you to Montlake and Netgalley for the ARC ♡

Lessons in Heartbreak is classic Karla Sorenson – loads of feel good moments; slow burn/deeply connected romance; tons of laughter and tears of joy and sorrow. Ruby and Griffin’s story is so well written about two very different characters on the outside but so very much the same on the inside. I loved everything about their journey which is kind of surprising because I’m not a fan of football romances, but being it was Karla Sorenson, I didn’t think twice and I’m so glad I did! This read is so much more than a football “player” falling for the shy librarian. It’s thought provoking and emotional and why did I think it wouldn’t be? That’s the whole reason this author is one of my favorites – she nails it every time and Lessons in Heartbreak is no different. The extended epilogues were the cherry on the top too – couldn’t have been a better way to end this read. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a heartwarming and emotionally intense read. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

The dual-narrative centers around Ruby, who was a reserved and well-intentioned child and carries that reserved energy into adulthood. Her reluctance to venture beyond her comfort zone keeps her from truly experiencing all that life—and romance—has to offer.

A surprising encounter—and a slightly awkward situation—leads Ruby to reconnect with her childhood neighbor, Austin King. Seizing the opportunity, Ruby boldly asks Austin to help her shed her fears and embrace the excitement of building her confidence around men.

What starts as a mutual agreement rooted in shared childhood memories gradually evolves into a deep, affectionate bond laced with desire. The steam scenes are fire. You can almost feel the heat off these two characters.

I find a lot of romance novels are too short and lack plot development but this one was nice and long with a lot of meat to the story. Austin and Ruby were able to support one another which depended their connection. This is the first novel in a series about the King brothers and I definitely want to check out the next one.

Every time I open a Karla Sorensen book, I know I am in for a great time, and that's exactly how it went with Lessons in Heartbreak.
This story has everything that I love: layered characters, angsty and breath-hitching moments, charming secondary characters, and most of all, protagonists who work through their fears and hangups to find their happiness.
Ruby and Griffin's story went in directions that I was not expecting, which made for a great all-the-feels ride. Plus, the author peppered this one with enough crumbs that made me immediately add the next book to my TBR.
Karla Sorensen writes the most wholesome, make-you-believe-in-love, feel-good romances, and I cannot recommend her books enough!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. I was expecting a quick fun read, and this book over delivered. There was depth and side-characters who give actually good advice, and character growth, and unexpected twists.
While I was worried Ruby was going to be an autism caricature, this was very much not the case and I was happy to see how she developed and grew as the story went on. I was sold on Griffin from the get go and loved him even more as we learn more about him. The chemistry and banter between the two was the perfect balance, and crafted a fun book that pulled on the heartstrings.
I will happily be looking into Karla Sorenson's backlog and reading more in the future.

Lessons in Heartbreak by Karla Sorensen was one of those reads where from the start I could picture myself in the main character. Ruby's shy and quiet nature resonated with me. The writing was descriptive, which made it easy to picture the setting and fully visualize the characters in each scene.
I also appreciated the structure of the book - the chapter lengths were nice, making it a comfortable and enjoyable read without it feeling overwhelming. One of my favorite components of the book was the dynamic between the two main characters. On the surface, they seem completely different, yet as we get to know them on a deeper level we see they struggle with similar emotional struggles. I also liked that they book had an actual plot and the characters grow within it. That said, the ending did feel a bit weird with the car accident - I think the ending could've been written differently. Overall, this was a heartfelt read and I would definitely recommend.

Wow… I got this as a net galley arc and was hooked from the start! Normally I have time to sit a binge books but work and life was busy this week and I didn’t have time to sit and read in one sitting. Every time I had to stop reading my mind stayed with this book! So sweet and endearing… The tension and anticipation amazing! Loved this book from start to finish!

I've been a loyal fan of Karla's for years. Logan Ward is one of my top book boyfriends. So I was beyond excited to see that she was writing another sports romance but this time featuring a timid librarian who wants to get out of her shell. This one was pretty slow to start but I did eventually get into it. Their banter was pretty great, I loved that she didn't fall at his feet like he was so used to. But I didn't really feel the chemistry between them? I'm okay with a slow burn as long as I can feel the tension building but in this case I didn't really see it. It was much more emotional than I was anticipating and I thought she handled it well. Just not my favorite from hers. And because I can't help myself - it bothers me when a book is marketed as a sport romance but it's the offseason and we never once see the MMC playing said sport.