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Him Lessons

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Not your typical love story.

Not your neurotypical girl.

Andalise Rhodes Whittenbalm has two goals when her helicopter parents jet off to Europe for the summer. One, land a promotion at ManCave Outfitters. Two, score a date with the man she’s been secretly crushing on. The first should be a walk in the park. The second may take some work. Because her mystery man is the hottest surfer at Pacific Beach, and Andy has a slight aversion to sand. That and her mystery man’s freaky-deaky best a scary-handsome dude with a penchant for stealing towels.

Lucas MacCallum probably shouldn’t have swiped the creeper’s towel, but she left it behind after their awkward meet-cute at the beach, and he was provoked. Provoked and a little intrigued. Okay, a lot intrigued. This girl is different. Luke can’t put his finger on it, but there’s something about her. Something in those shifty blue eyes that’s got him hooked. That’s got him doing crazy things. Crazy things like agreeing to teach her how to seduce his best friend.

Yeah, it’s going to be a really hot summer.

Because the lessons are about to get steamy.

The first book in a sexy new series, Him Lessons is perfect for fans of The Kiss Quotient and Things We Never Got Over .

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2023

1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read

About the author

Dorothy Barrett

5 books9 followers

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Catbytheseareads ♡.
819 reviews80 followers
May 16, 2023
I absolutely loved reading about someone on the spectrum.
I’m not one to read much about a new book so at first I was a bit confused.
After about 5% it got to me where I couldn’t stop reading.

Andy’s story is amazing. It starts with her slightly stalkerish crush which then speeds up to so much fun, laughter and passion.

Imagine learning to surf in San Diego California. Hot Hot Hot surfer dudes, a surf shop, a nightclub and a bird named Petals. You’ll be hooked right into the emotions and stories of each amazing character as they find themselves in new chapters that life takes us through. It’s such a beautiful story, I highly recommend reading it!

Thank you so much to Netgally & Dorothy Barrett I really really enjoyed reading this!
Profile Image for K.J. Sweeney.
Author 1 book47 followers
May 5, 2023
I wasn't sure about this book before I started, in fact, even the first chapter made me wonder if it wasn't going to be for me. But I'm glad I didn't let my fears put me off because this was a great book. Our heroine, Andy, has autism. I was concerned about how it would be handled and how the romance would work. There was no reason for my worries, Andy was a brilliant character and her autism was handled really well. I would put a small caveat on that, I don't have a lot of experience with autism, but it certainly seemed to have been handled well.
Luke was a lovely character, he was so sweet with Andy and they made a lovely couple. The only slight issue I had was the way that the problem was dealt with and the way that Luke reacted. It all seemed a little over the top and I didn't completely buy it. That was a small issue though and didn't detract from the story overall. (Actually, I'm lying my other small gripe was Andy's mum's name; Davis. Who in their right mind would call anyone that, let alone a woman?!)
This was a fun read and one that I really enjoyed. It wasn't too heavy going but still dealt sensitively with some meaty issues.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
Profile Image for Rasa || beviltiska_romantike.
722 reviews17 followers
May 9, 2023
“Well, I can’t decide if that makes this Luke guy sound super sweet or super horny.”
“Oh, he’s both.”


And that's what basically could be said about this book - super sweet and super horny. Andy and Luke are so cute together: she is a girl with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) who hates sand, and he is a hot tatooed surfer, who is also respectful and considerate, and teaches Andy to love the ocean and surfing. Eventually their lessons divert to something more spicier. Therefore, if you have aversion to such vocabulary as "his length", "her little pearl", "a bundle of nerves", "folds", "milking" and so on, don't go there.

Nevertheless, I liked the representation of people with ASD. I won't pretend that I know much about it, therefore, I don't really know how accurately depicted it is. Yet it seemed convincing: Andy's communication, sensory struggles, daily routines and anxiety. I loved how supportive were her parents, and the relationship between Luke and his sister.

And finally, I LOVED the setting of the story - San Diego, the ocean, summertime, the beach, three best friend surfers, who work together in the same business - such a nice, relaxed atmosphere (with some exceptions) and vacation vibes. I'm definitely looking forward to the second book of this series since I have a good idea what it will be about and I'm very intrigued!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Profile Image for Sharley.
568 reviews8 followers
May 13, 2023
This is was not a book that started strong for me and I was thinking I was going to struggle to finish….but at about 20% that changed and the characters settled into their roles and the development of the relationship for Andy and Luke started to form. Ladies man and surfer dude turned out to be protective and considerate. The ASD aspect was not rammed down my throat but tastefully interwoven with the storyline and not just for the sake of the love story but in Andy’s everyday life. I really enjoyed the surfing lessons of it.
Considering how tight Luke is with his “brothers” Kyle and Dylan do not feature much once Andy and Luke have their friendship which is probably what helped the book be less eugh and cringey from when I first started reading.

I received this book for free as an ARC from NetGalley. Exchange for an honest review
222 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2023
Oh my word! This book was amazing!
This is the story of Andy, who is on the autism spectrum and trying to break free of her helicopter parents. She has a secret spot where she watches a Henry Cavill look-a-like surf. She admires him from afar with her binoculars and fantasizes about them being a perfect match.
Then, one of his friends enters the picture. She doesn't like him at all, but is comfortable around him, where she doesn't mask and is just her true self.
Then he agrees to teach her how to get Dylan's (the Henry Cavill doppelganger) attention. This is where things get interesting.
This book hooked me from the beginning. I absolutely adored these two and their story. I truly appreciated that there were no games, no obvious miscommunication causing an issue where there wasn't one. I also appreciated the portrayal of ASD. I cannot recommend this one enough. Get it now!
Profile Image for Brandy.
213 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2023
Beautifully written book - love the lovers!

This romance unfolded in such a wonderful way. At first there was distrust but as Andy and Luke’s relationship unfolded the trust and love for each other grew. They learned from and about each other in a way that felt so natural. Luke was respectful of how she saw and processed the world around her. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for TimetoFangirl.
464 reviews18 followers
May 16, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If he were being honest, he was starting to really dislike the fact that her thoughts were so frequently on his best friend."


Him Lessons is the first book in a series and, while I probably won't read book two, I would pick up book three if it focuses on Dylan (the best character so far).

Despite the atrocious name, Him Lessons is a cute, quick read that probably won't stick with me for long. The story focuses on Andy, a neurodivergent girl with a crush on a Henry-Cavill-Look-Alike-Surfer, and Lucas, a surfer dude and BFF of pseudo-Cavill. I know The Kiss Quotient is a popular romance with a neurodivergent heroine but I haven't read that so this was a novel concept for me (see what I did there?). Both MCs have their own storylines; the hero's was alright but the heroine's was dragged down by cartoonish antagonists.

This sounds mean, but I found parts of this text pretty cringe. Specifically the "big emotional reveal" and the steamy scenes had me grimacing in my seat. The cheeky flirty parts were cute but, once a moment pushed past that, the vibe just didn't land. This is largely down to personal preference, and I didn't factor it into the rating.

There was a ton of exposition that didn't add much to the narrative, the prose was fairly repetitive, there were some narrative inconsistencies, and there were numerous typos, so this probably could've used another round of editing.

Random thought - While I appreciate the female-constipation representation, it was kind of an odd thing to include in a romance novel.
Profile Image for Karolina.
72 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2023
A great contemporary romance read!

The story follows Andalise "Andy" Rhodes Whittenbalm who has a major crush on Kyle, the hottest surfer at Pacific Beach. One day while she watches Kyle surf, definitely with some creeper vibes, she unexpectedly meets his best friend Luke. Another hot surfer covered in tattoos. Eventually she enlists Luke into giving her "Him Lessons" so that she can get to know Kyle. One of the main lessons is to learn how to surf so that she can impress Kyle, even though Andy has a slight aversion to sand. As the lessons with Luke turn steamy, she slowly realizes that maybe Kyle might not be the guy for her.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this story when I first started reading it. I don't know what it was that made me think that but I kept reading and once the "Him Lessons" started I got sucked into the story. There were a few choice words and phrased that made me cringe, but that's up to the reader to decide.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dorothy Barrett for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Bernadette Bloom.
1,268 reviews19 followers
June 21, 2023
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Andy is neurodivergent and works at her family's sports store, "The ManCave." (cringe). When she realizes she's only getting promotions because she's the boss' daughter she decides to find a job on her own merit.

This is where the story should have started for me. The first six chapters were silly - spying on her crush, Kyle, watching his friend, Luke (who she calls Mr. Freaky-deaky, another cringe) have random sex through her binoculars. When Andy lands a job managing a surfer shop and realizes she'll be seeing Kyle, Luke agrees to give her lessons on how to attract his best friend. Andy wants to be independent and is determined to make her own choices. She's been sheltered by her family long enough and I admired that in her character. Honestly, if the story focused more about that, with Luke supporting her choices, this rating would be much higher. But instead it's just another cram-as-many-sex-scenes-as-possible-and-infantilize-the-female storyline.
Profile Image for Amanda Faye.
201 reviews6 followers
July 1, 2023
Okay, let me start by saying that this was my first exposure to Barrett's books so I didn't realize that Kory had her own series before this. Like, I got to that part where it casually mentioned something about her past and I was like, um hold up, why are we just glossing over this? She needs her own book. Oops, too late, she already has one.

Anyway, THIS book was fantastic. I won't lie, it took me a few chapters to get into it and I wasn't sure I was going to stick, but I am SO glad that I did. Everything about it just made my heart melt. Andy was such a wonderful character, so likable and important, and I think her ASD was really well represented. Luke was also amazing, so patient and kind, and the two of them together was always a blast. They were so funny, so sweet, so affirming to each other. The story was really well-paced and I had such a good time following it. I'll be recommending this to so many people.
514 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2023
This book was very unique and different from your typical book. In the beginning I was not sure how the book was going to go, or if I would even like it, but the more I read the more I got invested in the story, and the characters. Andy was likeable. I like how the author went about showing she was autistic, and how she told others, and delt with things in such a subtle way that didn't throw it in your face. It was just a fact of life, not glorified or anything. I loved how sweet and supportive Luke was. He was open, honest, and real. There were some parts where I felt like he did treat her a little childish. The suspense aspect also came out of no where and I liked it but didn't think it was necessary. I love the found family. I really hope we get a book about Dylan, and maybe one with Kyle and Mary? Overall, this was a good book that makes you want to be on the beach with a great group of friends.

Thanks Netgalley and Dorothy Barrett for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy Tippins.
255 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2023
This book started off strong for me. I love reading about the neurodiverse Andy and how she softened the heart of tough guy Lucas. There was A LOT of drama in this story from drugs to harassment to family issues - but for the most part it seems to flow nicely. Andy was portrayed realistically and I could feel the care the author took with her personality and quirks. The problem that stopped me LOVING this book was actually the ending. It all felt very probable and realistic...until the scene with Andy's former co-worker. The bird, the confrontation, the "resolution" just all felt a little too rushed and didn't flow with the rest of the story. It felt very fictionalized and exaggerated. D. Barrett could have wrapped things up earlier and with a more believable arc. Regardless, this is a book that is worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and D. Barrett books for the AR of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Syrai-Tiare Taumihau.
158 reviews12 followers
June 16, 2023
A cutesy, cheesy romcom-like romance book with neurodivergent representation and some spicy scenes in the mix.

Honestly I thought that it was too cheesy for me - I could not stand the bird nickname and references to 'bird' at all (they made me cringe every time sorry). But the characters were super interesting - Andy being neurodivergent and navigating new experiences showed me a different perspective. Luke on the other hand is suuuper confident and brought a bit of spark to the lessons he taught Andy. Their banter was quite fun! The little twist at the end that triggered a lil conflict (not between the MCs) threw me for a loop for a minute there.

Overall the writing and storyline was super easy to follow along - if not also predictable like many other romances.
Profile Image for Born To Read.
810 reviews18 followers
July 21, 2023
I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Andy has a crush on a surfer boy. So she goes to the beach every day so she can look at him.
One of his friends, Luke, offers himself as a surf teacher. He thinks Andy could have a real shot with Kyle, the surfer boy, if she learned how to surf.
But as they spend more time together, things start to change.
Ok, the story was ok. Andy has a uniqueness that makes her fun and lovely.
But this book was too slow and some of the conversations were really dumb. I have to push myself to finish it. Although I must say I liked the ending
Profile Image for Nextbookaroundthecorner.
1,022 reviews14 followers
August 25, 2023
It was the blurb that got my eye on Netgalley. The not your neuro typical girl comment, to be exact. Having a non-neuro typical son, I can relate a lot to Andy. And I was very happy to see, how Luke and Andy grew together, despite all of Andy’s triggers and routines.

And, unfortunately, also very recognizable how she is bullied and called a freak. So yeah, Dorothy definitely knows how to hit the right tone in this story. And yeah, I really hope my son will find his other half, who understands him and let him be him.

Thank you for this wonderful story. Five out of five stars and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.
Profile Image for Delacey.
1,195 reviews8 followers
May 31, 2023
I liked this book and was engrossed the whole way through. I liked the characters, and I liked their romance. A few scenes were a bit off for me, some of the word choices were off and one scene in particular portrayed the heroine Andy like she was very child like. I appreciate a book that explores inclusivity and have unique characters. Overall, a good book. *I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Reading_with_dani93.
317 reviews8 followers
June 30, 2023
I really struggled to get into this book at the very beginning but I am now so glad that I gave it a shot. I thought the characters were great along with the relationships that were formed. I thought that the plot was good and the story flowed along well once I got into it.
Profile Image for Doseofromance.
202 reviews7 followers
May 19, 2023
I'm a bit torn on how to rate this. Overall I liked the storyline and I think Andy and Luke really worked together and communicated their wants and needs super well. But - and this is where the rating drops for me - there were parts of the books and conversations that were just painfully cringey. The way the guys communicated with each other in a sort of forced surfer bro way truly made me consider putting the book down in the first few chapters. It does get better, but mainly because we don't see Luke interacting with his friends as much. Unfortunately after a really good chunk of well written storyline we get to the sex scenes. The first one is great, the second one made me want to cry (as did the following). While I can appreciate Andy's need for very technical and clear communication, there really is no way to make the literal term "penis in vagina" sound sexy. Especially when you're trying to use it as dirty talk. It also didn't really vibe with Andy as a character, because in no other situations is she averse to using slang. And if that wasn't enough, her vagina is referred to in second person. Why?
On a more serious note, I don't know how I feel about the autistic representation here. Generally I am all for it, which is a big reason I picked this book up. But there are several instances where Andy being autistic is used as a "not like other girls" trope, which I truly do not appreciate.
Lastly, the book kind of falls apart at the end. There is a very sudden suspense aspect that felt unnecessary and forced to add drama and conflict to an otherwise well thought out storyline. The whole plot point could have been dropped and I think the story would have benefited from it.
On a more general note, beyond the neurotypical representation there is no diversity. We don't have a single person of color or queer character, which unfortunately kind of makes me feel worse about Andy being autistic. It ultimately felt like a plot device to have her be "not like the other girls" and have a somewhat performative representation. As I'm not autistic I don't really feel able to comment on how accurate the representation itself is, but I do think there have been better as well as worse examples.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for BeaC.
381 reviews4 followers
June 8, 2023
I had a very hard time reading this book, I guess I didn't pay attention to the trigger warning because I never do.

The storyline is intriguing, heartwarming and also so unique and different.

Andy is an extremely smart and brave lady and I love how her relationship unfolds even when it's a slow burn and it takes a while to get hooked, once you get it you can't put this book down.

Thank you for a different story that portrays such a unique and extraordinary FMC.
1,385 reviews3 followers
September 14, 2023
This novel is centered around the developing relationship between Andy and Lucas. I loved that Andy was not the “standard” character. Neurodivergence is not something new, but people accepting it can still be a struggle. The author celebrated Andy’s differences and showed characters that accepted her for who she was. The book was realistic in the situations and reactions of Andy and I loved how Lucas loved her wholly and completely. I would highly recommend this book since it is unique and unforgettable!
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