4 stars

Ruby needs advice on her love/sex life, but lives in a small town without a ton of options. Her friend encourages her to enlist professional help, but she mistakes her hot childhood neighbor Griffin for said professional. Griffin is a professional football player in need of an image improvement. Ruby and Griffin have an instant connection and teach each other a lot about life and love. I really appreciated the characters journeys over the story and getting to see multiple glimpses into the future.

I usually really enjoy the dating coach trope, but feel like the use of a Las Vegas sex worker as the intended coach was unnecessary and didn’t add to the plot. love. There were a few tear inducing moments during the book that had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you Karla Sorenson and Montlake for providing this ARC via NetGalley. Comments and opinions above are my own.

#LessonsinHeartbreak #NetGalley

Another fun read from Karla Sorensen! Fans of her work will enjoy this new title and series filled with witty banter, fun tropes, and steamy scenes.

The second Lessons in Heartbreak hit NetGalley, I immediately requested it. I mean, a dating coach trope (which is criminally underused, by the way)? AND Karla Sorensen writing it? Sign me up.

This book was everything I wanted and then some. Karla’s signature blend of emotional angst, tender moments, and genuine character growth is on full display here, and I felt every bit of it. Ruby and Griffin’s story is heartfelt, sweet, and painfully relatable in the best way.

Ruby is one of the most relatable FMC I’ve ever read. Her struggle with trying new experiences, her anxiety, her determination to push herself outside her comfort zone all hit so close to home. And Griffin? Griffin King is a literal dream. Patient, kind, funny, and devoted in a way that had me melting. He sees Ruby, truly sees her, and loves her wholly.

Their love story isn’t rushed. It grows naturally, built on trust, friendship, and deep emotional connection. There’s tension, vulnerability, and some truly beautiful moments that had me on the verge of tears. (Okay, I might have cried more than once.) Especially the scene where Griffin finds out about Ruby’s secret. He was so kind and patient and loving and I just FELL for him in that moment. The extended epilogue? Absolute perfection. It gave me everything I didn’t even know I needed and cemented this as probably my favorite Karla Sorensen book to date.

Read if you love:
✨ Childhood neighbors to strangers to lovers
✨ A swoony NFL player with a soft side
✨ Mistaken identity
✨ Lessons for dating/flirting
✨ A quietly strong FMC navigating fear and love
✨ Banter, chemistry, and all the feels

Lessons in Heartbreak needs to be on your radar! I adored this book from the first page to the last, and I’m already anxiously waiting for more from this new series of interconnected standalones.

Thank you to NetGalley, Karla Sorensen, and Montlake for the eARC.

I found this to be a very light read! There were certainly some dramatic and emotional elements on both characters' ends, but at the end of the day it was an easy read to get through. Even though it is nearing 350 pages, it sort of felt like a novella to me- mainly because the majority of the book takes place within a 2 week period. While I do appreciate the multiple epilogues that allowed us to see into various points of the future, I think having the book take place in that short of time frame made the love story seem a little less vast than normal to me. The side characters- mainly Lauren and Marcus- positively added to the story! I hope Griffin's relationship with his brother is explored more in his brother's book which is presumably coming next? While I wasn't blown out the water by this, it was still enjoyable enough and I will recommend it to whoever I think may like it. Karla Sorensen is an auto read author for me, no questions asked! Thank you to Montlake, NetGalley, and Karla for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 3.5 Stars

This romcom pumps the heart each breath.

Lessons in Heartbreak is truly one of a kind. Karla created a beautiful dynamic between a playboy, a shy girl and Jimmy the Hooker.

The first three lines of the story had me laughing off my butt so hard that I cried and reread. Are rabbits better than dogs? Ruby decides quickly.

The book interweaves with romance from the 1800s to present day. How intimacy can be light, yet so powerful.

Ruby asked Griffin to “teach me how to make a man want me." He helps her with confidence, banter and heart. Ruby helps Griffin see the man he really is and not what everyone or himself even knows.

There are scenes where your spice seeking eyes go up and down with a comedic sigh..

Ruby finally sees confidence in herself and is brave for what she needs.

New rule, naked Tuesday. I am in!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this early copy for Lessons in Heartbreak. This was a fun, easy read about reconnected childhood neighbors whose lives went in opposite directions. Ruby was relatable with her fear of commitment. I love when a strong man is brought to his knees by a little woman and Griffin did not disappoint.

This was a great time and I would definitely recommend to others!

I loved this book. It wasn't too long that it was intimidating, but I didn't want more when I finished. It was paced incredibly well and I loved the characters! Griffin was especially lovable! Ruby was so sweet and it had my favourite tropes (Childhood neighbors to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, (a little!) slow burns that make you crazy!

Overall, it's a quick easy read and I recommend it to all. Thank you, Netgallery for the arc!

The moment I saw Lessons in Heartbreak on NetGalley, I had to grab it because it automatically checked off two big boxes for me: 1) a dating coach trope? Obsessed. 2) It’s Karla Sorensen—need I say more? And let me tell you, this book was EVERYTHING.

Ruby, our sweet, anxious librarian, and Griffin, the unfairly charming (and currently scandal-ridden) NFL player, were childhood neighbors who reconnect in the most chaotic way possible—Ruby mistakes him for the escort she hired to help her get comfortable around men. (Cue the awkward hilarity.) But what starts as a hilarious mix-up turns into something so tender and real, I nearly cried multiple times.

Ruby’s struggle with fear and self-doubt? Relatable. Griffin’s unwavering patience and love? Swoon-worthy. Their chemistry? Off-the-charts electric. And that extended epilogue? Pure, heartwarming perfection.

Sure, some moments felt a little familiar—but who cares when the emotions hit this hard? Karla has a way of making even the simplest love story feel personal, like you’re right there with the characters, rooting for them.

If you love:
Ꮺ Childhood neighbors-to-lovers
Ꮺ Grumpy/sunshine with a twist (Ruby’s secretly the strong one)
Ꮺ Slow burns that make you ache

…then Lessons in Heartbreak is your next favorite read. Sweet, steamy, and packed with emotion—I’m already counting down to the next book in the series!

Final thought? Read it. Devour it. Fall in love. 💖

(Huge thanks to NetGalley & Montlake for the ARC!)

3.5 star. This was a cute read. I liked the emotional aspect woven into Griffin and Ruby’s relationship. Overall, a fun, quick read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

3.75⭐️
ARC REVIEW!!!

This was a very cute fluffy book I enjoyed it a lot. The characters were all great and very entertaining Ruby and Griffin were so cute I loved them from the beginning the banter straight off was perfect I knew it would be a fun read. There were definitely some cliche moments but it still made for a great book. I hope that we get a Barrett book next I would love to read his story!! Overall very cute and fun I would definitely recommend!!!!!!!

4.5 Stars
A new series from Karla Sorensen? Yes, please! Lessons in Heartbreak was a strong start to it. This contemporary sports romance mixed fun with emotional. It's what I've come to expect and love from Sorensen.

Griffin and Ruby were entertaining and adorable. I loved how they knew each other as kids and were now reconnecting in a memorable way. Ruby, a small-town librarian, was reserved (for reasons) but looking to step out of her comfort zone and live big. Griffin, a well-known NFL player, had lived fast and hard was trying to prove to the NFL and his new team he wasn't a hot mess. Their reconnecting found each of them learning something new from each other and falling in love along the way. I loved their ups and downs and how it made them stronger together in the end. It was such a sweet romance.

One of the great things about Sorensen's romances is the side characters. This time we got to meet a lot of them. Marcus was a true gem. Even if I already know his outcome in a way, I wouldn't mind getting that story. I also found Griffin's relationship with his twin brother and his kids interesting, and I would love more about them. I also loved Lauren, Ruby's best friend. It was also great to see some characters from The Best Men series since Griffin is joining their team.

Overall, this was a fun read and I'm really excited to read more books in this series.

This was a really enjoyable book. I was unsure what I felt about the main female character initially, but ended up getting very attached to both characters. I feel like I'm pretty good at guessing where books will go and this one genuinely surprised me.

Wow! Really loved this book, I was hooked by the first chapter. Loved the chemistry between griffin and ruby! Highly recommend reading

3.25 ⭐

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Montlake and the author for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

Lessons in heartbreak is the first book in Karla Sorensen's new series of interconnected standalones. It follows Ruby and Griffin, childhood neighbours, that meet again after not seeing each other since they were 15.

Ruby is a very anxious, very inexperienced librarian in the small town of Wellington Springs. Griffin, on the other hand, is a very handsome, very charismatic football player that needs to stay away from the spotlight after a pr scandal. The two meet each other casually and after some confusion they end up reconnecting, and also helping each other.

This was a very light read, but there still was an emotional element to it. Both characters had emotional moments and moments of growth. It was nice to see their relationship progress, and their romance bloom.

My issue with this is that the parts that were supposed to be emotional felt too cliché. I felt like I've read this type of storyline a thousand times. It was still enjoyable, but I wasn't crazy about it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC of Lessons in Heartbreak by Karla Sorensen.

Lessons in Heartbreak is another fantastic first book in an interconnected sports romance standalone series from Karla Sorensen. I absolutely loved Ruby and Griffin’s chemistry. Their banter was sharp and fun, and I’m always here for a dating coach trope.

The side characters were so well done, and you definitely get a glimpse at familiar faces from past series—as well as hints at what’s to come in future books. This story does touch on some deeper, emotional topics, and I’ll admit I was a little nervous about how it would all wrap up. But it’s a true romance, and it ends the way a romance should.

Sorensen’s writing style is very intentional and steady, which is something I really appreciate. I know what I’m getting with her books, and there’s something comforting in that consistency. She does a great job of fleshing out not just the main characters but the side characters too, and the world she creates is one you genuinely enjoy spending time in.

The spice was spicing, the banter was bantering, and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, and I’m even more excited to dive deeper into Karla Sorensen’s backlist. I’ve read quite a few already, but I’m ready to read them all!

I really enjoyed this book! Griffin and Ruby were lovable characters with complicated and compelling back stories. I particularly loved the Griffin’s growth throughout the story and his unwavering love and commitment to Ruby.

Griffin’s desire to be taken seriously and be loved as he is and not as everyone expects him to be paired with Ruby’s fears of love and hurting those around her really drew me into the story.

This book felt like a happily ever after “A Walk to Remember”.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc, my thoughts are purely my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance. Old school crush. Duel perspective done well.

*A rare gem and so worth a try. *

Football player plus Dating coach meets sweet Square Librarian.

Reactions: Poignant. It captures life. Very Spicy yet so much more with that hand sweaty teenage angst. The author brings realistic characters that change for themselves and each other.

It brought back memories. 4.7/5 stars.

This is an honest review sponsored through NetGalley.

I’m so happy I found a new (to me) author to binge read! I loved this so much. Griffin & Ruby were childhood neighbors and now he’s a professional football player and she’s a librarian. His stay at his agents house in a small town brings them together again. They didn’t consider ever seeing each other after her family moved away. In fact Ruby didn’t particularly like him much as a kid. They meet again by accident at a coffee shop where there is some confusion about who he is. He is persistent in getting to know her again. He builds her confidence once she lets her guard down. She introduces him to books and movies he wouldn’t otherwise care to read/watch. It’s so sweet! I loved Griffin going shopping for her and I loved her picking out books for him. The character development is very well written. It’s just perfect and a really, really good romance novel ❤️ (also Ruby has a pit bull mix named Bruiser & he’s a terrible guard dog but an awesome listener 🥰 🐾)

Thank you to Netgalley & Montlake for the arc in exchange for my honest review

This is another hit by Karla- i love the tie in to the best men series!

This book suprised me with each character having a unique struggle and backstory that tied into a beautiful story together. Many times I giggled and also cried. This book will get you in the feels!

Griffin has grown up his whole life in a competition. He’s the younger twin and their whole lives they have been competing. But now that they are adults, it’s quite unhealthy. Griffin and his brother are night and day and Griffin gives everyone what they expect from him, a goof, a screwup. His brother will never see any different, so it seems. So after Griffin made some not so great remarks, his agent sent him on a vacation of sorts..away from the spotlight. He didn’t expect to run into an old acquaintance.

Ruby used to be neighbors to the King brothers. She would climb a tree and watch them play together when they were younger. She admired that they were good at everything. Her whole life has been planned, and predicted, and following a certain plan and she was sick of it. She wanted to live. Stepping outside of her box, she runs into her old neighbor Griffin. At first, she wants nothing to do with him but soon finds she feels comfortable around him. She also realizes very quickly, he’s not the guy everyone protrays him to be.

They come to an agreement, to spend time together while he’s in town, but what starts out as something fun turns into something much more meaningful.

This was a cute read. Some parts were really good, fun banter and chemistry, some parts read a bit long, but still entertaining over all. I wish the middle would have shortened a bit to allow for shorter jumps towards the end..some moments would have been fun to read about that were skipped. Thank you NetGalley, appreciate and enjoyed the book.