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Brightwater #1
Lessons in Love
She wants a fresh start. He wants to hide from the world. Love has a lesson for both of them.
Kelsey wants a fresh start. And what place could be better than Brightwater, a picturesque town in Oregon, over a thousand miles away from her toxic ex? No money, no high school diploma, and a scorned ex-husband hot on her heels, but Kelsey is determined to make it.
The burn scars on his face have turned Quentin into a recluse. He has his job as a high school teacher, a sick mother to care for, and no interest in letting a woman into his life again.
When Kelsey shows up in Brightwater with nothing but her backpack at the apartment next door to Quentin, they immediately get off on the wrong foot.
He thinks she’s rude; she finds him stuck up.
Sure, he’s damn handsome in his quiet, reserved way, but Kelsey just knows Quentin’s only playing classical music to show off—no one listens to Bach that loud.
But when Kelsey’s new boss demands that she gets her GED by the end of the year and Quentin falls behind in rent, their kindhearted landlady orchestrates an arrangement: Quentin will tutor Kelsey and help her pass her exam.
Now Kelsey must deal with this obnoxious know-it-all once a week. If only she could focus more on the study material and less on his intense amber eyes and the way her heart skips a beat every time their hands touch.
Kelsey wants a fresh start. And what place could be better than Brightwater, a picturesque town in Oregon, over a thousand miles away from her toxic ex? No money, no high school diploma, and a scorned ex-husband hot on her heels, but Kelsey is determined to make it.
The burn scars on his face have turned Quentin into a recluse. He has his job as a high school teacher, a sick mother to care for, and no interest in letting a woman into his life again.
When Kelsey shows up in Brightwater with nothing but her backpack at the apartment next door to Quentin, they immediately get off on the wrong foot.
He thinks she’s rude; she finds him stuck up.
Sure, he’s damn handsome in his quiet, reserved way, but Kelsey just knows Quentin’s only playing classical music to show off—no one listens to Bach that loud.
But when Kelsey’s new boss demands that she gets her GED by the end of the year and Quentin falls behind in rent, their kindhearted landlady orchestrates an arrangement: Quentin will tutor Kelsey and help her pass her exam.
Now Kelsey must deal with this obnoxious know-it-all once a week. If only she could focus more on the study material and less on his intense amber eyes and the way her heart skips a beat every time their hands touch.
- GenresRomance
286 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2024
10 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
October 7, 2024
This was a 2.5⭐️ for me.
I received an advanced copy and these are my thoughts:
This story had a lot of potential but I didn’t love it as much as I would have liked.
The story revolves around Kelsey, a woman who runs away from an abusive relationship and ends up becoming the neighbour of a war veteran, who was injured in combat and severely scarred. Their initial animosity turns to friendship and eventually, they fall in love.
The premises was promising but the characters - especially Kelsey, could have done with a little more development. She felt immature and made some regrettable decisions - what she said to Quentin was just not nice. She might not have liked the truth he was telling her, but there was no need to be cruel.
Quentin was the best character in this story. He had a hard time trusting people and I felt so sorry for him when Kelsey hurt him. At least he made her wait a while before he decided to forgive her.
I feel the story could have done with some more editing. Since this is the author’s debut, I would be curious to see how her writing evolves in her coming books.
I received an advanced copy and these are my thoughts:
This story had a lot of potential but I didn’t love it as much as I would have liked.
The story revolves around Kelsey, a woman who runs away from an abusive relationship and ends up becoming the neighbour of a war veteran, who was injured in combat and severely scarred. Their initial animosity turns to friendship and eventually, they fall in love.
The premises was promising but the characters - especially Kelsey, could have done with a little more development. She felt immature and made some regrettable decisions - what she said to Quentin was just not nice. She might not have liked the truth he was telling her, but there was no need to be cruel.
Quentin was the best character in this story. He had a hard time trusting people and I felt so sorry for him when Kelsey hurt him. At least he made her wait a while before he decided to forgive her.
I feel the story could have done with some more editing. Since this is the author’s debut, I would be curious to see how her writing evolves in her coming books.
October 8, 2024
#Review: *Lessons in Love* - ARC - Sybil Kelton [16+]
4.6/5✨
1/5🌶️
Another book I've randomly found on Instagram🤭. I was lucky to be accepted by Sybil Kelton to receive an e-ARC and I need to thank her for this awesome opportunity!
Kelsey has concluded that her glass was full of her husband's continuous criticism and mockery. He never believed in her and always treated her like a slave, always to be available for everything he wishes. That's why Kelsey is now on her way to an unknown destination, where she can rebuild her life without having that constant reminder that she isn't enough.
She ends up far away from home, in Brightwater, Oregon where she meets the right people to help her settle in. A big part in this story will be played by the old lady, Arlene, who will rent her an apartment. She had the greatest personality and always got her way with things, even with Kelsey 🤭- she considered herself the best matchmaker.
Quentin is one of Kesley's neighbors and also a teacher. He will help Kelsey with something very important to her and this will bring them closer. But Quentin had so many struggles with his own body, because he had many burning scars, which weren't the most eye pleasing parts of him. In spite of this, Kesley was still very attracted to this grumpy, mysterious, scared man. But would he be confident enough to make her his and keep her close to him, especially when her past is constantly lurking in? This is something you'll find out by reading this book.
Overall, it was a beautiful book, from which you can definitely learn some things and see how bad one life can be, if you're not choosing the right man and friends with whom to spend the life with. It's about discovering yourself and how strong one person can be if they spread their wings.
✨Tropes:
#StrangersToLovers
#TorturedLead
#CloseProximity
#Neighbors
#HeFallsFirst
#SoulMates
4.6/5✨
1/5🌶️
Another book I've randomly found on Instagram🤭. I was lucky to be accepted by Sybil Kelton to receive an e-ARC and I need to thank her for this awesome opportunity!
Kelsey has concluded that her glass was full of her husband's continuous criticism and mockery. He never believed in her and always treated her like a slave, always to be available for everything he wishes. That's why Kelsey is now on her way to an unknown destination, where she can rebuild her life without having that constant reminder that she isn't enough.
She ends up far away from home, in Brightwater, Oregon where she meets the right people to help her settle in. A big part in this story will be played by the old lady, Arlene, who will rent her an apartment. She had the greatest personality and always got her way with things, even with Kelsey 🤭- she considered herself the best matchmaker.
Quentin is one of Kesley's neighbors and also a teacher. He will help Kelsey with something very important to her and this will bring them closer. But Quentin had so many struggles with his own body, because he had many burning scars, which weren't the most eye pleasing parts of him. In spite of this, Kesley was still very attracted to this grumpy, mysterious, scared man. But would he be confident enough to make her his and keep her close to him, especially when her past is constantly lurking in? This is something you'll find out by reading this book.
Overall, it was a beautiful book, from which you can definitely learn some things and see how bad one life can be, if you're not choosing the right man and friends with whom to spend the life with. It's about discovering yourself and how strong one person can be if they spread their wings.
✨Tropes:
#StrangersToLovers
#TorturedLead
#CloseProximity
#Neighbors
#HeFallsFirst
#SoulMates
September 28, 2024
Kelsey is running away from her old life as a housewife to an abusive husband. In need of a fresh start, she decides to settle in the small Oregon town of Brightwater. Kelsey finds housing in the town and moves in next to Quentin, her high-school teacher neighbour whose very guarded and has had a past he keeps to himself. Kelsey finds herself in need of work however, without her diploma, she is unwanted. When the owner at the local diner gives her a shot, it comes with the condition of completing her GED. It's been over a decade Kelsey has been in school, where does she even start? She decides to ask Quentin for his help in this new challenge in her life. Will the teaching agenda stay in school lessons or will they discover Lessons in Love?
.
Kelsey's character growth was truly a saviour for this read. When we first start reading this novel, we see a woman who has never known anything in her life expect for a forced agenda from an abusive husband. She comes from a past where it wasn't an easy upbringing and she truly is lost in her life. Due to this, she's incredibly impulsive and no-filter but in the worse possible ways. As she learns more about herself and how to stand-up for herself, she grows and is more confident in herself. Quentin is extremely reserved, for all the right reasons and him finding Kelsey brings out the best in him. These two work so well as a couple because they help each other grow. Great and easy read from Sybil Kelton and can't wait for the next novel!
Favourite Chapter: n/a
Favourite Quote: "I thought I had loved Ryan when I married him, but in hindsight, I realized that was mere infatuation - with him and with the promises he'd made. Loving Quentin was entirely different. He was my safe haven. My home. My lover, my biggest supporter, and my best friend."
.
Kelsey's character growth was truly a saviour for this read. When we first start reading this novel, we see a woman who has never known anything in her life expect for a forced agenda from an abusive husband. She comes from a past where it wasn't an easy upbringing and she truly is lost in her life. Due to this, she's incredibly impulsive and no-filter but in the worse possible ways. As she learns more about herself and how to stand-up for herself, she grows and is more confident in herself. Quentin is extremely reserved, for all the right reasons and him finding Kelsey brings out the best in him. These two work so well as a couple because they help each other grow. Great and easy read from Sybil Kelton and can't wait for the next novel!
Favourite Chapter: n/a
Favourite Quote: "I thought I had loved Ryan when I married him, but in hindsight, I realized that was mere infatuation - with him and with the promises he'd made. Loving Quentin was entirely different. He was my safe haven. My home. My lover, my biggest supporter, and my best friend."
October 12, 2024
What does one do when you strike two awkward couples that you know are meant to be together?
So what am I on about?
We have the classic enemies to friends to lovers, as Quentin (nice guy) has low self esteem due to something that has happened and then we have Kelsey who puts her foot in it every single time. So will they get the timing right once and for all?
.
I so so enjoyed this ebook, it was fun, slightly irritating at times, it clung to me begging to be read every day and the author wrote an interesting plot line to a classic life style situation.
This author liked to tease and made a top notch job of keeping me interested.
.
Who am I recommending this book to?
For readers who like the backdrop of America, although we don't get to stroll through country/town scenes we do get caught up in school situations, club sports, baseball, a local eating bar and since this is a romance contemporary fiction, the female protagonist (Kelsey) leaves a bully husband to start a fresh, finding new love elsewhere, and finding herself at the same time.
Therefore my decision is to give this a 5 star review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Although read as an ARC, this is now published. Thanking the author, much appreciated.
So what am I on about?
We have the classic enemies to friends to lovers, as Quentin (nice guy) has low self esteem due to something that has happened and then we have Kelsey who puts her foot in it every single time. So will they get the timing right once and for all?
.
I so so enjoyed this ebook, it was fun, slightly irritating at times, it clung to me begging to be read every day and the author wrote an interesting plot line to a classic life style situation.
This author liked to tease and made a top notch job of keeping me interested.
.
Who am I recommending this book to?
For readers who like the backdrop of America, although we don't get to stroll through country/town scenes we do get caught up in school situations, club sports, baseball, a local eating bar and since this is a romance contemporary fiction, the female protagonist (Kelsey) leaves a bully husband to start a fresh, finding new love elsewhere, and finding herself at the same time.
Therefore my decision is to give this a 5 star review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Although read as an ARC, this is now published. Thanking the author, much appreciated.
Read
October 11, 2024official DNF at like 78%
I tried to get through this one. I realllly like Quentin, but Kelsey’s choices at this point in the book blew my mind. I couldn’t get behind it. Aside from these actions that I’m not quite sure how you come back from with 20% left but the grammar and errors were astounding.
I truly believe if this was edited better, I could finish it and possibly enjoy it. But until then I just couldn’t do it.
I tried to get through this one. I realllly like Quentin, but Kelsey’s choices at this point in the book blew my mind. I couldn’t get behind it. Aside from these actions that I’m not quite sure how you come back from with 20% left but the grammar and errors were astounding.
I truly believe if this was edited better, I could finish it and possibly enjoy it. But until then I just couldn’t do it.
September 26, 2024
I requested this expecting to love it. The cover is gorgeous and the premise had tons of potential. But unfortunately I had some issues with this book.
The FMC Kelsey is extremely rude to the eventual MMC Quentin in a way that is hard to forgive and not challenged enough in my opinion (I am okay with unlikeable heroines that have some things to learn but she says some of these things about his appearance wayyy too late in the game). Honestly I found everyone’s reactions to Quentin not accurate to real life.
This FMC is 34 but I really think should have been aged way down. Her voice is extremely young and not just in a sheltered naive way from how her husband treated her she just really doesn’t seem to me like someone who has 10 years of married life experience.
This has quite a bit of insta-love. I was honestly so shocked because a lot of the relationship building is off page which is so sad because that’s what I read romance for.
And yet with all that supposed love the 3rd act conflict went a bit too far in my opinion. I didn’t feel the portrayal of DV was given the gravity it deserved. I felt that some side characters in those moments were just chess pieces to move around and not acting like how actual real people would. Plus again the FMC said some unforgivable things.
There were also some plot holes that if that was all and I otherwise enjoyed the story I could overlook but all these added up for this rating. Some plot holes included her wanting to go to college before having kids (which would take over 5 years because she’s on the part time track, you can of course have children nearing 40 but she’s been wanting kids and multiple since like age 20 so why would she wait that long?), non-US phrasing used like sports “match” and multiple “knackered”s, and the FMC is somewhere for 2 days but later it’s referenced as a week. Again, these are things I can ignore but I also had the above characterization and plot issues as well.
Thank you to the author for this eARC. I appreciate the opportunity.
The FMC Kelsey is extremely rude to the eventual MMC Quentin in a way that is hard to forgive and not challenged enough in my opinion (I am okay with unlikeable heroines that have some things to learn but she says some of these things about his appearance wayyy too late in the game). Honestly I found everyone’s reactions to Quentin not accurate to real life.
This FMC is 34 but I really think should have been aged way down. Her voice is extremely young and not just in a sheltered naive way from how her husband treated her she just really doesn’t seem to me like someone who has 10 years of married life experience.
This has quite a bit of insta-love. I was honestly so shocked because a lot of the relationship building is off page which is so sad because that’s what I read romance for.
And yet with all that supposed love the 3rd act conflict went a bit too far in my opinion. I didn’t feel the portrayal of DV was given the gravity it deserved. I felt that some side characters in those moments were just chess pieces to move around and not acting like how actual real people would. Plus again the FMC said some unforgivable things.
There were also some plot holes that if that was all and I otherwise enjoyed the story I could overlook but all these added up for this rating. Some plot holes included her wanting to go to college before having kids (which would take over 5 years because she’s on the part time track, you can of course have children nearing 40 but she’s been wanting kids and multiple since like age 20 so why would she wait that long?), non-US phrasing used like sports “match” and multiple “knackered”s, and the FMC is somewhere for 2 days but later it’s referenced as a week. Again, these are things I can ignore but I also had the above characterization and plot issues as well.
Thank you to the author for this eARC. I appreciate the opportunity.
October 7, 2024
Kelsey runs away from her abusive husband and tries to start over in a new town. She gets a job at the local diner but in order to keep it, she needs to get her GED because she never finished high school. She gets set up with her next door neighbor & local high school teacher, Quentin, for tutoring sessions. Quentin is a war veteran, who sustained burns to his face & body, and keeps to himself.
This was a sweet story of Kelsey and Quentin each helping each other to lower their guards, be vulnerable and find real love. They dislike each other at first but with each interaction, the coldness between them slowly starts to melt away. Kelsey doesn't think Quentin is attracted to her because she has little to offer & Quentin thinks there's no way a beautiful girl like her would go for him. Little do they know, they're each falling head over heels for each other. I think this story was beautifully written. There were so many sweet interactions between Kelsey and Quentin & I couldn't wait for them to finally get together. It made me chuckle at times, and it was also super swoony, which I love in a book! If you like small towns, drama, slow burns & a HEA, I highly recommend picking this up. Thank you to Sybil for sending me an advanced reader copy for review.
This was a sweet story of Kelsey and Quentin each helping each other to lower their guards, be vulnerable and find real love. They dislike each other at first but with each interaction, the coldness between them slowly starts to melt away. Kelsey doesn't think Quentin is attracted to her because she has little to offer & Quentin thinks there's no way a beautiful girl like her would go for him. Little do they know, they're each falling head over heels for each other. I think this story was beautifully written. There were so many sweet interactions between Kelsey and Quentin & I couldn't wait for them to finally get together. It made me chuckle at times, and it was also super swoony, which I love in a book! If you like small towns, drama, slow burns & a HEA, I highly recommend picking this up. Thank you to Sybil for sending me an advanced reader copy for review.
September 25, 2024
ARC review: This was such a lovely story of personal growth, overcoming insecurities, and finding the love we deserve. I really enjoyed the tenderness and strength of the main characters, as well as the connection they had with the minor characters in the town. Overall a very sweet and touching story!
September 27, 2024
Kelsey decides to leave her abusive husband and settle in the small town of Brightwater. There she meets her handsome and annoying neighbor, Quentin, who is also the local high school teacher. She starts working as a waitress, but her boss finds out she doesn't have a GED diploma and her only solution is to ask Quentin for help. They start as enemies, but spending time together turns them into friends...and, after a while, into lovers.
Kelsey's development as a character within the story was perfect. After so many years under her husband's abuse, she finally decided to take her life in her own hands. She deserves to be happy and to be loved. With the help of Quentin, she blooms like a flower. Even though he was annoying to her in the beginning, with time she saw how gentle Quentin was. Under all those layers, there was a good and caring man, capable of love and being loved. His scars weren't only on the outside, they were deep within him. Kelsey coming into his life was the best thing that happened to him.
There were some things that I didn't agree with when it comes to Kelsey's decision-making, but thankfully she fixed those mistakes on time.
I love small town stories and I really enjoyed reading "Lessons in Love".
***I received an ARC from the author and my review is given voluntarily***.
Kelsey's development as a character within the story was perfect. After so many years under her husband's abuse, she finally decided to take her life in her own hands. She deserves to be happy and to be loved. With the help of Quentin, she blooms like a flower. Even though he was annoying to her in the beginning, with time she saw how gentle Quentin was. Under all those layers, there was a good and caring man, capable of love and being loved. His scars weren't only on the outside, they were deep within him. Kelsey coming into his life was the best thing that happened to him.
There were some things that I didn't agree with when it comes to Kelsey's decision-making, but thankfully she fixed those mistakes on time.
I love small town stories and I really enjoyed reading "Lessons in Love".
***I received an ARC from the author and my review is given voluntarily***.
September 28, 2024
Thank you to the author, Sybil Kelton, for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
It’s clear that Sybil has a talent for writing and has a lot of potential, but this story just felt a little unpolished. The premise was good and the overall cast of characters was rounded out fairly well, but I think this book tried to do a lot in not a lot of pages. I would have liked to see this story split into 2 books spending more time on the protagonists character development to give the story more depth. Our FMC, Kelsey, just came across as flaky and she was honestly just downright mean to Quentin for a good portion of this book, which was a hard pill to swallow.
The book itself is entertaining, but I just wish we lingered for a little longer in the different phases of the relationship between Kelsey and Quentin - it would have been more satisfying to spend more time as enemies then have them slowly come to realize their feelings for each other rather than shoving them together with insta love.
I’m interested in seeing how this author grows her skills and what she produces next as I think she laid a solid foundation with this book.
It’s clear that Sybil has a talent for writing and has a lot of potential, but this story just felt a little unpolished. The premise was good and the overall cast of characters was rounded out fairly well, but I think this book tried to do a lot in not a lot of pages. I would have liked to see this story split into 2 books spending more time on the protagonists character development to give the story more depth. Our FMC, Kelsey, just came across as flaky and she was honestly just downright mean to Quentin for a good portion of this book, which was a hard pill to swallow.
The book itself is entertaining, but I just wish we lingered for a little longer in the different phases of the relationship between Kelsey and Quentin - it would have been more satisfying to spend more time as enemies then have them slowly come to realize their feelings for each other rather than shoving them together with insta love.
I’m interested in seeing how this author grows her skills and what she produces next as I think she laid a solid foundation with this book.
November 6, 2024
A story about overcoming the past and finding love in unexpected ways.
Kelsey moves to Brightwater to escape the shadows of a toxic marriage. Without a high school diploma, she soon realizes just how challenging life can be—especially when her boss insists she get her GED. Feeling she’s hit rock bottom, Kelsey reluctantly turns to her new neighbor, Quentin, for help. Their first encounter is anything but friendly, yet he becomes her only solution. Quentin, a veteran of Afghanistan, is scarred inside and out. Forced into tutoring his new neighbor by his lovely landlord, he finds his patience tested in unexpected ways.
Rating: 💜• 🫦
🌟 This debut novel was beautifully crafted, focusing not only on romance but also on the powerful journeys of self-love and self-discovery for both Kelsey and Quentin. The dual POV allowed each character’s growth and struggles to unfold in a genuine way before they finally came together. Despite a few minor typos, Lessons in Love wrapped me in the charm of its small-town setting. Kelsey’s actions sometimes frustrated me, but the groveling and the hard-earned lessons made up for it beautifully. Her backstory and relationship with a narcissist were portrayed with authenticity. And Quentin? His resilience and gentle nature were truly moving—he’s the type of character you want to protect! (As for Ryan—no comment; let’s just say, I hate him!)
🪷 And yes, true to form, I cried! The rawness and emotional intensity of Sybil’s writing created a deep, realistic connection between Kelsey and Quentin. Their relationship developed with patience and understanding, along with a few missteps, making it all feel incredibly genuine. Kelsey’s harsh words to Quentin stung real bad, and I still want to protect him (still mad at her to be honest). There were moments that made me swoon and others that had me reaching for tissues!
🍃 Heartfelt, reflective, inspiring
📖 “Why do you have this?” “I like looking at it.” I raised an eyebrow. “You like looking at us at a baseball game?” “Not us. You.” “You do?” “Of course. You’re beautiful.”
Kelsey moves to Brightwater to escape the shadows of a toxic marriage. Without a high school diploma, she soon realizes just how challenging life can be—especially when her boss insists she get her GED. Feeling she’s hit rock bottom, Kelsey reluctantly turns to her new neighbor, Quentin, for help. Their first encounter is anything but friendly, yet he becomes her only solution. Quentin, a veteran of Afghanistan, is scarred inside and out. Forced into tutoring his new neighbor by his lovely landlord, he finds his patience tested in unexpected ways.
Rating: 💜• 🫦
🌟 This debut novel was beautifully crafted, focusing not only on romance but also on the powerful journeys of self-love and self-discovery for both Kelsey and Quentin. The dual POV allowed each character’s growth and struggles to unfold in a genuine way before they finally came together. Despite a few minor typos, Lessons in Love wrapped me in the charm of its small-town setting. Kelsey’s actions sometimes frustrated me, but the groveling and the hard-earned lessons made up for it beautifully. Her backstory and relationship with a narcissist were portrayed with authenticity. And Quentin? His resilience and gentle nature were truly moving—he’s the type of character you want to protect! (As for Ryan—no comment; let’s just say, I hate him!)
🪷 And yes, true to form, I cried! The rawness and emotional intensity of Sybil’s writing created a deep, realistic connection between Kelsey and Quentin. Their relationship developed with patience and understanding, along with a few missteps, making it all feel incredibly genuine. Kelsey’s harsh words to Quentin stung real bad, and I still want to protect him (still mad at her to be honest). There were moments that made me swoon and others that had me reaching for tissues!
🍃 Heartfelt, reflective, inspiring
📖 “Why do you have this?” “I like looking at it.” I raised an eyebrow. “You like looking at us at a baseball game?” “Not us. You.” “You do?” “Of course. You’re beautiful.”
September 26, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
I usually enjoy a fast-paced story, but sadly, in this case, it had the characters and storyline all over the place. At times, it also felt that it focused more on other stuff rather than the main characters and their relationship, which I still don’t know how I feel about…
There's so much the story had to work with in regards to angst. I mean a scarred, ex war veteran mmc whose life only revolves around work and helping his mother, and a fmc that’s starting over in her 30's after leaving her toxic (soon to be) ex husband. It had a lot going for it but fell flat in most aspects.
I adored Quentin. I think he deserved a lot better than Kelsey because her uncalled for and mean outbursts made her a very unlikeable character. Her actions gave me a bit of whiplash, especially with the drama nearing the end; it was completely unnecessary and just made her seem like the biggest bit*h. What she said to Quentin was just so out of pocket that I was sitting there in total disbelief at how easily she gave up as well when there was no indication of doubt about how she felt about her husband.
I just feel that the things that needed to be focused on more were entirely neglected.
The beauty and heartache behind the story were there. It was just completely lost between the rushed writing, one dimensional characters, and surface level writing. I understand where the author was going, but the structuring needed a lot more attention for this to tickle my fancy. It's not the worst by any means for a debut! I did want to know how it will all play out in the end, I just think there needs to be a lot more editing regarding the character context and a not so rushed direction could've added much more depth to the story.
what you can expect:
• small town
• slow burn
• scarred hero
• forced proximity
• next-door neighbors
• fund family
• tutoring
*𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸*
I usually enjoy a fast-paced story, but sadly, in this case, it had the characters and storyline all over the place. At times, it also felt that it focused more on other stuff rather than the main characters and their relationship, which I still don’t know how I feel about…
There's so much the story had to work with in regards to angst. I mean a scarred, ex war veteran mmc whose life only revolves around work and helping his mother, and a fmc that’s starting over in her 30's after leaving her toxic (soon to be) ex husband. It had a lot going for it but fell flat in most aspects.
I adored Quentin. I think he deserved a lot better than Kelsey because her uncalled for and mean outbursts made her a very unlikeable character. Her actions gave me a bit of whiplash, especially with the drama nearing the end; it was completely unnecessary and just made her seem like the biggest bit*h. What she said to Quentin was just so out of pocket that I was sitting there in total disbelief at how easily she gave up as well when there was no indication of doubt about how she felt about her husband.
I just feel that the things that needed to be focused on more were entirely neglected.
The beauty and heartache behind the story were there. It was just completely lost between the rushed writing, one dimensional characters, and surface level writing. I understand where the author was going, but the structuring needed a lot more attention for this to tickle my fancy. It's not the worst by any means for a debut! I did want to know how it will all play out in the end, I just think there needs to be a lot more editing regarding the character context and a not so rushed direction could've added much more depth to the story.
what you can expect:
• small town
• slow burn
• scarred hero
• forced proximity
• next-door neighbors
• fund family
• tutoring
*𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸*
October 12, 2024
The story line is great and the characters are lovable and relatable. Some moments of humor. The story deals with emotional abuse and post traumatic issues.
I found myself confused a little. The timeline was a little jumpy, talking about the stress of fireworks on Memorial Day and end of summer then jumping to back to school and then talking about March like it was just a few months ago.
I found myself confused a little. The timeline was a little jumpy, talking about the stress of fireworks on Memorial Day and end of summer then jumping to back to school and then talking about March like it was just a few months ago.
October 5, 2024
Such a cute story! I am always a sucker for a good small town romance. Kelsey's character development in the story was great. After being tied down to man who was very unappreciative of her and tried to downgrade everything she did, Kelsey finally decided to leave her abusive husband and start over. That takes courage and bravery! After she decides to take control of her own life, things really begin to turn around for her! I loved seeing how her personality really developed and began to show throughout the book. Then there's Quentin, the veteran high school teacher in the small town of Bridgewater Oregon. He helped her in the best way he knew how, by listening and allowing her to be herself. He helped her get her GED and showed her what it's like to be loved and cared for by someone. These two had chemistry from the start and They were what each other needed.
October 7, 2024
ARC review
I liked this book so much, it was so good.
Kelsey was finally free after 15 years of being with her husband and she needed that freedom. She finally could do and be what she wanted. She was genuinely happy and I was so glad for her.
Quentin had a rough time because of his burns, and it was hard letting people in. But he let Kelsey and so glad he did.
I adored them together, they brought out sides of the other and it was fantastic. They could be themselves and just be loved by it
I liked this book so much, it was so good.
Kelsey was finally free after 15 years of being with her husband and she needed that freedom. She finally could do and be what she wanted. She was genuinely happy and I was so glad for her.
Quentin had a rough time because of his burns, and it was hard letting people in. But he let Kelsey and so glad he did.
I adored them together, they brought out sides of the other and it was fantastic. They could be themselves and just be loved by it
September 28, 2024
Lessons in Love
By Sybil Kelton
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶
💜 Second Chance small town Romance
💜 He falls first and harder
💜 She is running from her past
💜 Slow Burn
💜 Scarred hero
This beautifully written slow burn story introduces Kelsey, the female lead, who is fleeing from her emotionally abusive husband, Ryan. With only a backpack and a dream of a fresh start, she impulsively chooses a destination on a map and embarks on a journey to Brightwater, a small, close-knit town.
In Brightwater, Kelsey encounters Quentin, a reclusive war veteran known for his kind and gentle nature. As Kelsey begins to build a new life for herself, the question arises: will her past resurface and threaten the peace she has found?
This is a great book for people into I would say contemporary/second chance romances, and also want to say the author Sybil is also a neurologist, and as someone who has to see a neurologist constantly, it makes a nice change to actually be able to understand something coming from a neurologist 😉😆 no big medical words in here! AND IT'S IN ENGLISH 🤣🤣 If you know you know 🖤🖤🖤
Lessons in Love is available on Amazon now in Paperback form 😘💜
By Sybil Kelton
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶
💜 Second Chance small town Romance
💜 He falls first and harder
💜 She is running from her past
💜 Slow Burn
💜 Scarred hero
This beautifully written slow burn story introduces Kelsey, the female lead, who is fleeing from her emotionally abusive husband, Ryan. With only a backpack and a dream of a fresh start, she impulsively chooses a destination on a map and embarks on a journey to Brightwater, a small, close-knit town.
In Brightwater, Kelsey encounters Quentin, a reclusive war veteran known for his kind and gentle nature. As Kelsey begins to build a new life for herself, the question arises: will her past resurface and threaten the peace she has found?
This is a great book for people into I would say contemporary/second chance romances, and also want to say the author Sybil is also a neurologist, and as someone who has to see a neurologist constantly, it makes a nice change to actually be able to understand something coming from a neurologist 😉😆 no big medical words in here! AND IT'S IN ENGLISH 🤣🤣 If you know you know 🖤🖤🖤
Lessons in Love is available on Amazon now in Paperback form 😘💜
October 6, 2024
Two broken people, believed they were not good enough for each other or the good that could come from happiness. Quentin had to break down his strongly built walls and Kelsey had to own her life and understand that she is smart and strong. Such a good story and such good truths to see how people misunderstand wanting for their own insecurities. So so good.
October 7, 2024
This was an arc giving to me by the author. It was a beautiful read, the story was powerful and it shown personal growth and strength. If you love small town romance and a personal connection in some ways this is for you
September 29, 2024
3.5⭐️
This was a pretty quick read.
Kelsey was out to disappear from her controlling husband. No plans exactly where, she left that to fate.
A little close our eyes and see where we land on the map.
She really did her best to make a new life for herself.
I'll admit a few things she did/said I wasn't fond of, but overall I was proud of her character for eventually doing things for herself.
Quentin, a war veteran, lives most of his life in solitude. Knowing how people react to his scars hurts more than he let's on.
I felt for his character.
He was also so sweet doing all he could for his mom.
Both these characters had a lot of character growth at the end.
And the ending wrapped fairly quickly, but it was a good one.
Thank you Sybil for the arc.
Enjoyed this.
This was a pretty quick read.
Kelsey was out to disappear from her controlling husband. No plans exactly where, she left that to fate.
A little close our eyes and see where we land on the map.
She really did her best to make a new life for herself.
I'll admit a few things she did/said I wasn't fond of, but overall I was proud of her character for eventually doing things for herself.
Quentin, a war veteran, lives most of his life in solitude. Knowing how people react to his scars hurts more than he let's on.
I felt for his character.
He was also so sweet doing all he could for his mom.
Both these characters had a lot of character growth at the end.
And the ending wrapped fairly quickly, but it was a good one.
Thank you Sybil for the arc.
Enjoyed this.
September 26, 2024
Okay, okay, it gave me a whole Rollercoaster of emotions with this book. When I fell , I laughed, giggled, got mad, sad, and well even furious. I even had to pause it to take a break because of 2 of the side characters in this book. But otherwise I need Quentin to become real and come knock at my door. I have found my new book boyfriend. Sorry Kelsey, but he is irresistible. Lol
I'm definitely diving into the other book in this series. Her writing, her characters are on point, and I loved it so much.
I'm definitely diving into the other book in this series. Her writing, her characters are on point, and I loved it so much.
October 8, 2024
I received this book as an ARC for my honest review.
2.5/5⭐️
The premise of this book was one of the reasons I chose to apply for the ARC - I love a small town romance. But I feel as if it just fell flat.
Kelsey, the FMC, was an a-hole. The whole book. When she first encountered Quentin, the night of the fireworks and his too loud music - she was actually a whole jerk when talking to him. I was soured immediately from even caring. The redeeming qualities? None. She was unkind most of the book.
Quentin was a great MMC and I liked his backstory. His character development was great. He’s a great character. Arlene was also one of my favorites.
The story was good and had a lot of potential. The holes in the plot were pretty easy to look over but it nagged in the back of my mind. It was a bumpy ride, but not necessarily a miserable one. We just need to smooth out the roads a bit.
Overall the premise was there, the story was ripe, and then the execution wasn’t what I expected. I can see this author excelling in the future once she gets the kinks out.
2.5/5⭐️
The premise of this book was one of the reasons I chose to apply for the ARC - I love a small town romance. But I feel as if it just fell flat.
Kelsey, the FMC, was an a-hole. The whole book. When she first encountered Quentin, the night of the fireworks and his too loud music - she was actually a whole jerk when talking to him. I was soured immediately from even caring. The redeeming qualities? None. She was unkind most of the book.
Quentin was a great MMC and I liked his backstory. His character development was great. He’s a great character. Arlene was also one of my favorites.
The story was good and had a lot of potential. The holes in the plot were pretty easy to look over but it nagged in the back of my mind. It was a bumpy ride, but not necessarily a miserable one. We just need to smooth out the roads a bit.
Overall the premise was there, the story was ripe, and then the execution wasn’t what I expected. I can see this author excelling in the future once she gets the kinks out.
October 10, 2024
Unfortunately, this book was just not it for me. There could have been so much done right and it just went left due to one thing: the fmc. There was a lot of immature characteristic she had for a woman who was 34/35 years old. I tried to have some grace thinking "she just got out of an abusive relationship" but even that abusive relationship becomes semi null & void in her brain and it's just her character flaws that show. The even bigger kicker was, that as time went on, her was zero growth. Her language and verbiage stayed juvenile and rude at times to the point where I could not believe I was reading a grown woman speaking to a grown man. Quentin growing his back bone was great but I also wish he stuck to his word in regards to his feelings/his reaction to Kelsey's disrespect. He just seemed to settle for her.
I was really anticipating this to be a beautiful romance but it was just ..... not.
I was really anticipating this to be a beautiful romance but it was just ..... not.
October 7, 2024
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I was really excited to read this after checking out Sybil Kelton's novella. Plus, the cover art is absolutely stunning!
Favorite Quote - "I recently came to the conclusion that being scared and happy is better than being safe and unhappy."
This book follows Quentin and Kelsey on a story of finding themselves and true love. I loved the amount of growth that the characters had - I just wish there was more of it. I felt happy, sad, and I got REALLY angry at her mom, Ryan (her soon to be ex-husband), and his friends. I needed more of Quentin and Kelsey as a lot of their relationship development seemed to happen off-page.
Kelsey definitely seems like she should be mid-20s with the way she treats Quentin at times. It makes me question at times if she really had 10 years of marriage experience, especially in a DV relationship, when she treats Quentin the way she does. However, I do love that she stands up for herself with her mother and Ryan!
I enjoyed the work overall and I think there is a lot of potential for Sybil in her future works, but there were just some things that distracted me from the story that made it difficult for me to follow.
-Throughout the book there were many typos, and even one author note it seems like. The paragraph had said, "Fine, if he decided to be an ass Most Americans would use "ass." about this, I would take my complaints to..." which makes it seem like there is a note for editing included in the book.
-Sometimes there were "w's" in place of "a's"
-The author refers to a social media platform called ConnectBook, but then switches to Facebook and then back to ConnectBook all within the same paragraph.
-Another paragraph there was a discrepancy of how many children there were - "For a while, I was a dirt-poor single mother of three. You have to learn to become self-sufficient fast if four little ones depend on you..."
-Another time that I noticed was when the author refers to the color of the dress Kelsey is wearing, from dark green to light blue? I didn't know if that was the same date or different one...
Even though it seems like I had more problems than good things with the story, I did like it overall!
I was really excited to read this after checking out Sybil Kelton's novella. Plus, the cover art is absolutely stunning!
Favorite Quote - "I recently came to the conclusion that being scared and happy is better than being safe and unhappy."
This book follows Quentin and Kelsey on a story of finding themselves and true love. I loved the amount of growth that the characters had - I just wish there was more of it. I felt happy, sad, and I got REALLY angry at her mom, Ryan (her soon to be ex-husband), and his friends. I needed more of Quentin and Kelsey as a lot of their relationship development seemed to happen off-page.
Kelsey definitely seems like she should be mid-20s with the way she treats Quentin at times. It makes me question at times if she really had 10 years of marriage experience, especially in a DV relationship, when she treats Quentin the way she does. However, I do love that she stands up for herself with her mother and Ryan!
I enjoyed the work overall and I think there is a lot of potential for Sybil in her future works, but there were just some things that distracted me from the story that made it difficult for me to follow.
-Throughout the book there were many typos, and even one author note it seems like. The paragraph had said, "Fine, if he decided to be an ass Most Americans would use "ass." about this, I would take my complaints to..." which makes it seem like there is a note for editing included in the book.
-Sometimes there were "w's" in place of "a's"
-The author refers to a social media platform called ConnectBook, but then switches to Facebook and then back to ConnectBook all within the same paragraph.
-Another paragraph there was a discrepancy of how many children there were - "For a while, I was a dirt-poor single mother of three. You have to learn to become self-sufficient fast if four little ones depend on you..."
-Another time that I noticed was when the author refers to the color of the dress Kelsey is wearing, from dark green to light blue? I didn't know if that was the same date or different one...
Even though it seems like I had more problems than good things with the story, I did like it overall!
October 7, 2024
Quentin and Kelsey 😫😫 These two are my literal heart! They made my heart skip a beat and healed it all at once 😌❤ They were absolutely sweet, charming, caring, and protective of each other. They were each other's strength and bravery and that's THE most important! This was the slowest burn I have ever read, and it was perfect! The angst, the longing and their undeniable chemistry was everything 😌❤🔥
Quentin ❤ Where do I even start 😫🔥This man! Handsome, kind, protective, sweet, caring, charming, possesive, intelligent and successful. He is such a frickin golden retriever, I wanted to hug him and keep him safe from the world. He has the kindest and purest heart I have ever seen and I'm not even lying about that. He is a high school teacher, absolutely intelligent and is brilliant at his job. He has severe scarring on his face and side of his body from being a war veteran and thus has accepted the life of a recluse and the stares. That all changes when red haired Kelsey knocks on his door asking him to turn the music down and he says no 😂❤ His banter with her was hilarious and his flirting skills were sizzling 😏
Kelsey 😂😫❤ Where do I start? Beautiful, intelligent, protective, possesive, brave, kind, caring and feisty. She was the "touch him and dìe character" 😏😌 This woman was a mess when she first arrived in Brightwater, and worked really hard to build a life for herself. Quentin, Leah and Mrs Arlene rightfully became her pillars of strength. The first time she sees Quentin, she's awestruck by how beautiful his eyes are and how handsome he is 😏🤭 and I don't blame her because Dayum he is gorgeous. The scarring could never take that away 😫🔥
She escaped an abusive marriage and randomly picked a town on a map, God am I so happy she chose Brightwater 😫❤ She was always meant to be there. She made me angry at times but I'm glad she made up for those moments. Her flirting with Quentin made me giggle, cackle and take notes 😏 I love that she owned up to her mistakes and did her best to make up for them especially with Quentin.
This couple deserved all the love they had to give each other. Their journey to become the strong couple that they are was absolutely beautiful and heart warming to see. The writing was stunning, easy and captivating to read. It just drew me in from the first page and I finished this book in one sitting. Thank you so much Sybil Kelton for letting me witness this 😫❤
Quentin ❤ Where do I even start 😫🔥This man! Handsome, kind, protective, sweet, caring, charming, possesive, intelligent and successful. He is such a frickin golden retriever, I wanted to hug him and keep him safe from the world. He has the kindest and purest heart I have ever seen and I'm not even lying about that. He is a high school teacher, absolutely intelligent and is brilliant at his job. He has severe scarring on his face and side of his body from being a war veteran and thus has accepted the life of a recluse and the stares. That all changes when red haired Kelsey knocks on his door asking him to turn the music down and he says no 😂❤ His banter with her was hilarious and his flirting skills were sizzling 😏
Kelsey 😂😫❤ Where do I start? Beautiful, intelligent, protective, possesive, brave, kind, caring and feisty. She was the "touch him and dìe character" 😏😌 This woman was a mess when she first arrived in Brightwater, and worked really hard to build a life for herself. Quentin, Leah and Mrs Arlene rightfully became her pillars of strength. The first time she sees Quentin, she's awestruck by how beautiful his eyes are and how handsome he is 😏🤭 and I don't blame her because Dayum he is gorgeous. The scarring could never take that away 😫🔥
She escaped an abusive marriage and randomly picked a town on a map, God am I so happy she chose Brightwater 😫❤ She was always meant to be there. She made me angry at times but I'm glad she made up for those moments. Her flirting with Quentin made me giggle, cackle and take notes 😏 I love that she owned up to her mistakes and did her best to make up for them especially with Quentin.
This couple deserved all the love they had to give each other. Their journey to become the strong couple that they are was absolutely beautiful and heart warming to see. The writing was stunning, easy and captivating to read. It just drew me in from the first page and I finished this book in one sitting. Thank you so much Sybil Kelton for letting me witness this 😫❤
September 29, 2024
Lessons in Love follows Kelsey, a woman trying to rebuild her life in the quiet town of Bridgewater, Oregon, after escaping a toxic marriage. Her new neighbour, Quentin, is a reclusive teacher bearing emotional and physical scars from a traumatic past. Their initial tension gradually softens into something deeper as the two are forced together by circumstance, leading them to confront their vulnerabilities—and ultimately, the possibility of healing through love.
At first glance, I expected this to be a heartwarming small-town romance, rich in emotion and personal growth. While the premise is solid and the story itself an easy, pleasant read, it didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.
Quentin, as the male lead, is a standout character. He's kind, thoughtful, and layered with complexities. His struggles with PTSD and his reclusive nature provided some powerful moments, and I appreciated how the author gently peeled back the layers of his trauma. That said, I wish his past had been explored more thoroughly. Quentin’s emotional scars deserved more depth, and delving further into his PTSD would have made his healing journey feel more impactful. Still, I found myself rooting for him from start to finish.
On the other hand, Kelsey’s character was difficult to connect with. She’s introduced as a woman escaping an abusive relationship, which offered so much potential for growth and empowerment. However, her behaviour often felt immature and unnecessarily harsh, especially in the third act. While it’s clear the author intended to showcase her flaws, her actions toward Quentin—particularly during a pivotal, hurtful moment—were hard to sympathize with and left me feeling disconnected from her journey.
One element I truly enjoyed was the setting of Bridgewater. The small-town charm, the close-knit community, and the local diner felt vividly real and added warmth to the story. The side characters and the town’s atmosphere were lovely touches, giving me that quintessential small-town romance vibe I was craving.
Overall, Lessons in Love is a light, easy read with some sweet moments, but it lacks the depth I was hoping for in both character development and emotional payoff.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish reviews and content:
https://www.instagram.com/bookish_kat...
At first glance, I expected this to be a heartwarming small-town romance, rich in emotion and personal growth. While the premise is solid and the story itself an easy, pleasant read, it didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.
Quentin, as the male lead, is a standout character. He's kind, thoughtful, and layered with complexities. His struggles with PTSD and his reclusive nature provided some powerful moments, and I appreciated how the author gently peeled back the layers of his trauma. That said, I wish his past had been explored more thoroughly. Quentin’s emotional scars deserved more depth, and delving further into his PTSD would have made his healing journey feel more impactful. Still, I found myself rooting for him from start to finish.
On the other hand, Kelsey’s character was difficult to connect with. She’s introduced as a woman escaping an abusive relationship, which offered so much potential for growth and empowerment. However, her behaviour often felt immature and unnecessarily harsh, especially in the third act. While it’s clear the author intended to showcase her flaws, her actions toward Quentin—particularly during a pivotal, hurtful moment—were hard to sympathize with and left me feeling disconnected from her journey.
One element I truly enjoyed was the setting of Bridgewater. The small-town charm, the close-knit community, and the local diner felt vividly real and added warmth to the story. The side characters and the town’s atmosphere were lovely touches, giving me that quintessential small-town romance vibe I was craving.
Overall, Lessons in Love is a light, easy read with some sweet moments, but it lacks the depth I was hoping for in both character development and emotional payoff.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish reviews and content:
https://www.instagram.com/bookish_kat...
October 12, 2024
⭐️ 3.5 /5
🌶️ 0.5 /3
Thank you to the author, Sybil Kelton for this advanced copy.
"Lessons in Love” had me at the edge of my seat from the start. It is honestly a heartwarming story about finding your inner strength, standing up for yourself, and believing in yourself. The slow burn romance was done beautifully—it didn’t rush into intimacy, which felt right for the story’s pacing and emotional depth. FMC was quite mean to the MMC at times, she explained herself but I wasn’t very convinced. I wish there had been more effort on her part to reassure him that he could trust her again. The MMC deserved that much more. The antagonists made me seethe though, so that’s an effective writing.
While I found some of the word choices a bit odd, as they didn’t seem to add much to the story or pertinent to a character, (but mind you I received an advanced readers copy, so it could’ve been amended at publishing), it didn’t take away from the overall message and warmth of the book, still making it a solid read. And I would pick up her next book!
ɱყ 5 🌟 ωเรɦ ℓเรƭ:
* More grovelling from FMC and display of earning MMC’s trust
* Using a more thoughtful language/word choice
* More memorable, enlightening quotes
🌶️ 0.5 /3
Thank you to the author, Sybil Kelton for this advanced copy.
"Lessons in Love” had me at the edge of my seat from the start. It is honestly a heartwarming story about finding your inner strength, standing up for yourself, and believing in yourself. The slow burn romance was done beautifully—it didn’t rush into intimacy, which felt right for the story’s pacing and emotional depth. FMC was quite mean to the MMC at times, she explained herself but I wasn’t very convinced. I wish there had been more effort on her part to reassure him that he could trust her again. The MMC deserved that much more. The antagonists made me seethe though, so that’s an effective writing.
While I found some of the word choices a bit odd, as they didn’t seem to add much to the story or pertinent to a character, (but mind you I received an advanced readers copy, so it could’ve been amended at publishing), it didn’t take away from the overall message and warmth of the book, still making it a solid read. And I would pick up her next book!
ɱყ 5 🌟 ωเรɦ ℓเรƭ:
* More grovelling from FMC and display of earning MMC’s trust
* Using a more thoughtful language/word choice
* More memorable, enlightening quotes
October 15, 2024
✨A R C R E V I E W✨
Title: Lessons in Love
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I want to start off by saying thank you to Sybil Kelton for the wonderful chance to read this ARC! It has been such a pleasure and experience! My review is made of entirely my own thoughts and opinions!
What a journey this book was! It truly felt like I was on a rollercoaster with so many emotions I had along the way! I loved watching the progression of Kelsey and Quentin budding friendship and relationship. It was definitely more slow burn with some obstacles they had to face to finally be able to have their happy ending!
While there was a journey you could see between Kelsey and Quentin along with her being in a new place and making new friends, she is such a strong character with a growth of self discovery and belief in herself that she had lost from her husband who I really didn’t like!
Escaping that relationship to find herself I loved the deep connection between her and Quentin especially with the deeper emotions and physical scars he bares. They were the perfect person for each other to grow together and show that love is more deeper than just what you see!
When I say it was a rollercoaster I mean quite literally the emotions were all over the place sometimes! I did feel some annoyance to Kelsey later on in the book that made me want to shake her but she needed that time to really understand the importance of her budding relationship with Quentin and essentially find her way back to him herself because she loves him and wants to be with him!
This is a perfect read to get though quite quickly with so much packed into it, the plot was really engaging and I loved watching the friendships and romance form! I managed to read this book in one day so I’d say it’s quite an easy read!
I really liked this one, this had the small town vibes with some angst sprinkled in for these dislike to lovers pair!
Lessons in Love is available to read now!💜
You can also find my review on my bookstagram: _romanticallybookish_ ☺️
Title: Lessons in Love
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I want to start off by saying thank you to Sybil Kelton for the wonderful chance to read this ARC! It has been such a pleasure and experience! My review is made of entirely my own thoughts and opinions!
What a journey this book was! It truly felt like I was on a rollercoaster with so many emotions I had along the way! I loved watching the progression of Kelsey and Quentin budding friendship and relationship. It was definitely more slow burn with some obstacles they had to face to finally be able to have their happy ending!
While there was a journey you could see between Kelsey and Quentin along with her being in a new place and making new friends, she is such a strong character with a growth of self discovery and belief in herself that she had lost from her husband who I really didn’t like!
Escaping that relationship to find herself I loved the deep connection between her and Quentin especially with the deeper emotions and physical scars he bares. They were the perfect person for each other to grow together and show that love is more deeper than just what you see!
When I say it was a rollercoaster I mean quite literally the emotions were all over the place sometimes! I did feel some annoyance to Kelsey later on in the book that made me want to shake her but she needed that time to really understand the importance of her budding relationship with Quentin and essentially find her way back to him herself because she loves him and wants to be with him!
This is a perfect read to get though quite quickly with so much packed into it, the plot was really engaging and I loved watching the friendships and romance form! I managed to read this book in one day so I’d say it’s quite an easy read!
I really liked this one, this had the small town vibes with some angst sprinkled in for these dislike to lovers pair!
Lessons in Love is available to read now!💜
You can also find my review on my bookstagram: _romanticallybookish_ ☺️
October 15, 2024
I read Lessons in Love by Sybil Kelton as an ARC ebook from the author, so let’s talk about it. This contemporary romance is told from dual POVs through our main characters, Kelsey and Quentin.
Kelsey is running away from an abusive marriage and ends up in a small town in Oregon. It doesn’t seem like she’s had much love and support throughout her life, so she has a lot to work through. Not having finished high school due to her circumstances makes it even harder for her to start over, especially when trying to find a job. Kelsey’s struggle between her old life and her new challenges feels real and relatable. Her immaturity shows at times, but given her background, it makes sense that she’s still growing and has a lot to learn.
Kelsey’s new neighbors provide the support system she never had, and then she meets Quentin, her next-door neighbor and a teacher at the local high school. Quentin, a war veteran with burn scars and PTSD, is dealing with his own trauma. Their first encounter is awkward—both find the other off-putting—but circumstances force them together when Quentin helps Kelsey prepare for her GED in exchange for money off his rent, thanks to their matchmaking landlady.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is Quentin himself. His self-consciousness about his body and the need to take things slow when their relationship becomes physical are rarely explored with male characters, and it was done thoughtfully by the author.
I definitely enjoyed this book and am giving it 4 stars. While there were some plot holes and inconsistencies, they weren’t too distracting. For a debut indie author, Kelton did a great job overall. At just under 300 pages, if you’re looking for a quick romance, I recommend checking this out!
Check out my full video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP88r5C1M/
Kelsey is running away from an abusive marriage and ends up in a small town in Oregon. It doesn’t seem like she’s had much love and support throughout her life, so she has a lot to work through. Not having finished high school due to her circumstances makes it even harder for her to start over, especially when trying to find a job. Kelsey’s struggle between her old life and her new challenges feels real and relatable. Her immaturity shows at times, but given her background, it makes sense that she’s still growing and has a lot to learn.
Kelsey’s new neighbors provide the support system she never had, and then she meets Quentin, her next-door neighbor and a teacher at the local high school. Quentin, a war veteran with burn scars and PTSD, is dealing with his own trauma. Their first encounter is awkward—both find the other off-putting—but circumstances force them together when Quentin helps Kelsey prepare for her GED in exchange for money off his rent, thanks to their matchmaking landlady.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is Quentin himself. His self-consciousness about his body and the need to take things slow when their relationship becomes physical are rarely explored with male characters, and it was done thoughtfully by the author.
I definitely enjoyed this book and am giving it 4 stars. While there were some plot holes and inconsistencies, they weren’t too distracting. For a debut indie author, Kelton did a great job overall. At just under 300 pages, if you’re looking for a quick romance, I recommend checking this out!
Check out my full video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP88r5C1M/
October 8, 2024
✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨
Lessons in Love by @sybil.kelton.author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Happy release Day! I’m so excited to share my ARC Review for Lessons in Love. I know I’ve been giving a lot of 5 star reviews lately but I’ve been really vibing with these ARC’s, including this one!
I absolutely adored the two main characters and how they helped one another overcome their insecurities. I absolutely adored Quentin. He has been through so much and has the physical scares to prove it. He considers himself damaged and unloveable but is one of the kindest and most genuine people out there. I know he’s a fictional character but my heart really goes out to him.
Kelsey carries emotional scares in her lack of confidence in herself. All due to a past she’s trying to escape. Quentin & Kelsey have a bumpy start but I love how their story unfolds and the way they come together. These two bring out the best in each other and I’m all for it. I can’t help it, I’m just a sucker for a good love story! This book checked all the boxes for me. 😊
There were a few parts that were a little difficult to read due to grammar. It’s to be expected with ARC copies and did not affect my rating. I’m actually quite excited to read the edited version of this book and add it to my collection!
A quick thank you to @sybil.kelton.author for allowing me to read an ARC copy of your book. It was truly wonderful and I hope you have an amazing release day!!
Lessons in Love by @sybil.kelton.author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Happy release Day! I’m so excited to share my ARC Review for Lessons in Love. I know I’ve been giving a lot of 5 star reviews lately but I’ve been really vibing with these ARC’s, including this one!
I absolutely adored the two main characters and how they helped one another overcome their insecurities. I absolutely adored Quentin. He has been through so much and has the physical scares to prove it. He considers himself damaged and unloveable but is one of the kindest and most genuine people out there. I know he’s a fictional character but my heart really goes out to him.
Kelsey carries emotional scares in her lack of confidence in herself. All due to a past she’s trying to escape. Quentin & Kelsey have a bumpy start but I love how their story unfolds and the way they come together. These two bring out the best in each other and I’m all for it. I can’t help it, I’m just a sucker for a good love story! This book checked all the boxes for me. 😊
There were a few parts that were a little difficult to read due to grammar. It’s to be expected with ARC copies and did not affect my rating. I’m actually quite excited to read the edited version of this book and add it to my collection!
A quick thank you to @sybil.kelton.author for allowing me to read an ARC copy of your book. It was truly wonderful and I hope you have an amazing release day!!
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