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The Love Syllabus
Kerry Kind never expected to start over in her thirties, but after a difficult divorce, she needs a fresh start. When she finally lands a homeschool teaching position, she’s relieved until she realizes her new boss is the man she clashed with days ago.
Victor Grimes, a world-renowned chef and widow, isn’t interested in disrupting his carefully structured life. But his daughters need a change, and Kerry just may be the perfect fit.
Forced to navigate their undeniable chemistry and reluctant partnership, one impulsive fake dating scheme blurs the lines between professional and personal, making their attraction impossible to ignore.
As past wounds resurface and their worlds collide, Kerry and Victor must decide if love is worth rewriting the rules or if some lessons are best left untaught.
The Love Syllabus is a heartfelt small-town Black romance featuring fake dating, a cozy small-town backdrop, all wrapped in a tender love story between a former teacher-turned-nanny and a guarded single father. This fun but emotional read is perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally rich, slow-burn romance that gives you all the feels.
Victor Grimes, a world-renowned chef and widow, isn’t interested in disrupting his carefully structured life. But his daughters need a change, and Kerry just may be the perfect fit.
Forced to navigate their undeniable chemistry and reluctant partnership, one impulsive fake dating scheme blurs the lines between professional and personal, making their attraction impossible to ignore.
As past wounds resurface and their worlds collide, Kerry and Victor must decide if love is worth rewriting the rules or if some lessons are best left untaught.
The Love Syllabus is a heartfelt small-town Black romance featuring fake dating, a cozy small-town backdrop, all wrapped in a tender love story between a former teacher-turned-nanny and a guarded single father. This fun but emotional read is perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally rich, slow-burn romance that gives you all the feels.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2025
239 people are currently reading
936 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Lacey
16 books265 followersI'm a romance author originally from Savannah, Georgia, now living in Atlanta with my husband and children. With a B.A. in English from Armstrong Atlanta State University and an M.A. from Southern New Hampshire University, I transitioned from writing poetry to crafting love stories that mirror my Southern heritage as a woman, wife, and mother. My stories delve into themes of love and commitment, often against a backdrop of personal and societal challenges.
Aside from writing, I am deeply committed to my family. I enjoy coaching my kids’ soccer teams, traveling, and watching movies at home on a Friday night. I credit my close-knit family and supportive readers for inspiring me to continue writing stories that resonate on a personal level. As an indie author, my narratives offer a sincere exploration of human emotions, underscoring the importance of love, resilience, and the beauty found in overcoming adversity.
Book series list:
Love in Beverly Mills
Black Summer Island
Feel free to message me or get to know me better through social media. I do respond! :)
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Aside from writing, I am deeply committed to my family. I enjoy coaching my kids’ soccer teams, traveling, and watching movies at home on a Friday night. I credit my close-knit family and supportive readers for inspiring me to continue writing stories that resonate on a personal level. As an indie author, my narratives offer a sincere exploration of human emotions, underscoring the importance of love, resilience, and the beauty found in overcoming adversity.
Book series list:
Love in Beverly Mills
Black Summer Island
Feel free to message me or get to know me better through social media. I do respond! :)
Tik Tok
Subscribe to my newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
July 21, 2025
3.5/5
- This was such a great read! I truly want to read every single book this author writes! If you love Brittainy cherry’s writing you’ll love this book. It’s so full of drama and is truly giving soap opera vibes in the best way.
- The small town romance was so sweet. The town felt more a character on its own! I really hope this becomes a new series! I really loved how there were little Easter eggs from the other series in this too.
- These characters really felt like soulmates! Made my heart so happy!
- This was such a great read! I truly want to read every single book this author writes! If you love Brittainy cherry’s writing you’ll love this book. It’s so full of drama and is truly giving soap opera vibes in the best way.
- The small town romance was so sweet. The town felt more a character on its own! I really hope this becomes a new series! I really loved how there were little Easter eggs from the other series in this too.
- These characters really felt like soulmates! Made my heart so happy!
May 12, 2025
Lauren did not disappoint with this one. I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning.
This story follows Kerry, who’s a teacher, and Vic, who’s a chef and single father of two. The chemistry between them was undeniable from the first time they laid eyes on each other. I enjoyed getting to know their separate stories and it made sense to why they both were kind of hesitant on love. But I enjoyed them most when they were together. Kerry is hilarious and I smiled throughout their banter. The side characters were a great addition to the story as well. I loved them all, especially Kerry’s parents. I rolled my eyes every time the ex-husband was around lol.
This was a good slow burn kinda romance with some spice sprinkled in. Overall, I enjoyed this one and I’m hoping I get to see more from Kerry & Vic.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this early 🤎
This story follows Kerry, who’s a teacher, and Vic, who’s a chef and single father of two. The chemistry between them was undeniable from the first time they laid eyes on each other. I enjoyed getting to know their separate stories and it made sense to why they both were kind of hesitant on love. But I enjoyed them most when they were together. Kerry is hilarious and I smiled throughout their banter. The side characters were a great addition to the story as well. I loved them all, especially Kerry’s parents. I rolled my eyes every time the ex-husband was around lol.
This was a good slow burn kinda romance with some spice sprinkled in. Overall, I enjoyed this one and I’m hoping I get to see more from Kerry & Vic.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this early 🤎
May 24, 2025
3.5 stars!
Thank you to author Lauren Lacey for the opportunity to read this ARC! The Love Syllabus released yesterday Friday, May 23rd and is now available on KU and in paperback!
Tropes/Themes/motifs: Fake dating, single dad, girl dad, grief/loss, healing from adulthood trauma, second chance at love, rich boyfriend, amputee/disability representation.
Trigger and Content Warnings: Explicit (on page) domestic violence, abuse and manipulation, death of a parent, death of a partner, miscarriage
Kerry Kind, the small town sweetheart who became one of the town’s best teachers, and Victor Grimes, the rich, hot, single dad, and chef are actually two complex characters with very heavy pasts. While they found each other attractive the first night that they met, this is not a fluffy love at first sight or instalove novel by any means because by the end of that first night, they wanted nothing to do with each other. However life, and its circumstances (plus a little medaling from friends), forced them into each other’s lives, and over time, their connection grew stronger.
This is my second read by Lauren Lacey and she does a good job at weaving heavy topics into the plot of her novels. I always know there’s going to be more to the story than what it may first seem. Since I read an advance reader copy, I am interested to see how this version of the book compares to the officially released version. In the ARC I did sometimes find it difficult to keep up with the timeline like when certain events took place in the past and how old Victor’s children were in the present. There was also one scene that I thought was a little tooo risqué due to the location and nature of a particular environment where the characters had a very intimate moment lol but overall I enjoyed the plot of this book!
Thank you to author Lauren Lacey for the opportunity to read this ARC! The Love Syllabus released yesterday Friday, May 23rd and is now available on KU and in paperback!
Tropes/Themes/motifs: Fake dating, single dad, girl dad, grief/loss, healing from adulthood trauma, second chance at love, rich boyfriend, amputee/disability representation.
Trigger and Content Warnings: Explicit (on page) domestic violence, abuse and manipulation, death of a parent, death of a partner, miscarriage
Kerry Kind, the small town sweetheart who became one of the town’s best teachers, and Victor Grimes, the rich, hot, single dad, and chef are actually two complex characters with very heavy pasts. While they found each other attractive the first night that they met, this is not a fluffy love at first sight or instalove novel by any means because by the end of that first night, they wanted nothing to do with each other. However life, and its circumstances (plus a little medaling from friends), forced them into each other’s lives, and over time, their connection grew stronger.
This is my second read by Lauren Lacey and she does a good job at weaving heavy topics into the plot of her novels. I always know there’s going to be more to the story than what it may first seem. Since I read an advance reader copy, I am interested to see how this version of the book compares to the officially released version. In the ARC I did sometimes find it difficult to keep up with the timeline like when certain events took place in the past and how old Victor’s children were in the present. There was also one scene that I thought was a little tooo risqué due to the location and nature of a particular environment where the characters had a very intimate moment lol but overall I enjoyed the plot of this book!
July 19, 2025
3.5 stars ✨ what an emotional beautiful love story between vic and kerry 🥹🥰 the second half/ ending of the story really made up for the first half for me. i found vic to be a bit insufferable sometimes with his up and down personality… I didn’t like how he treated kerry at first but as you continue to read the book you’ll understand him more. This was definitely a grumpy meets sunshine type of romance book and the author did a good job at curating this story. I’m excited to read more of her writing!
July 14, 2025
Whew—this one was a whirlwind romance in the best possible way!
Cast-out teacher. Grieving single father. Nosy small town. Vindictive ex-husband. This story had everything. And I was hooked from page one.
Kerry Kind is barely keeping it together. After being abruptly let go from her teaching job—possibly thanks to her spiteful ex—she’s scrambling to rebuild her life and prove she’s more than just the messy narrative her ex spun. Enter: Victor Grimes. Grumpy, brooding, Michelin-starred chef turned reluctant CEO and single dad.
Their worlds collide under less-than-ideal circumstances, but when the town starts watching Victor like a hawk and Kerry’s trying to avoid small-town gossip, a fake relationship seems like the perfect solution—for his business and her peace of mind.
Victor and Kerry = whiplash (in the best way).
They reminded me of Dracula and Ericka from Hotel Transylvania 3. Kerry is sunshine and sparkles; Victor is rainclouds and steel. From their very first touch, Victor feels the “zing,” and you just know fake dating is about to turn real real fast.
Watching their dynamic evolve is so satisfying. Kerry brings warmth and spontaneity to Victor’s rigid, routine-filled world—not just for him, but for his kids too. And Victor? He gives Kerry the protection, care, and soft strength she’s been missing, especially when her past crashes back into her life.
This was fake dating with real emotions. Real growth. Real chemistry.
And it gave me all the feels. 💘
Cast-out teacher. Grieving single father. Nosy small town. Vindictive ex-husband. This story had everything. And I was hooked from page one.
Kerry Kind is barely keeping it together. After being abruptly let go from her teaching job—possibly thanks to her spiteful ex—she’s scrambling to rebuild her life and prove she’s more than just the messy narrative her ex spun. Enter: Victor Grimes. Grumpy, brooding, Michelin-starred chef turned reluctant CEO and single dad.
Their worlds collide under less-than-ideal circumstances, but when the town starts watching Victor like a hawk and Kerry’s trying to avoid small-town gossip, a fake relationship seems like the perfect solution—for his business and her peace of mind.
Victor and Kerry = whiplash (in the best way).
They reminded me of Dracula and Ericka from Hotel Transylvania 3. Kerry is sunshine and sparkles; Victor is rainclouds and steel. From their very first touch, Victor feels the “zing,” and you just know fake dating is about to turn real real fast.
Watching their dynamic evolve is so satisfying. Kerry brings warmth and spontaneity to Victor’s rigid, routine-filled world—not just for him, but for his kids too. And Victor? He gives Kerry the protection, care, and soft strength she’s been missing, especially when her past crashes back into her life.
This was fake dating with real emotions. Real growth. Real chemistry.
And it gave me all the feels. 💘
September 17, 2025
✨ The Love Syllabus ✨
Lol, this book pissed me off so bad.
I was actually looking for Hot for Teacher and didn’t realize this wasn’t it until I was a few pages in. Still, I decided to give it a try. Big mistake. I only made it to 20% because there were just too many things wrong.
When the two main characters meet, it was a mess. Victor calls her a gold digger, and honestly, based on how she presented herself, I didn’t blame him. Because why would she even say that out loud? Why would he?? The setup could’ve been much stronger.
They were getting too familiar with each other all too soon. Like you just met this woman yesterday and you already "feeling protective", "brushing up against her lips". Why is he rubbing up on your ankle on the ride home? Why you begging him to kiss you? Like, I know I've been out the game a long time, but is this how singles act? Like you want to jump the other person 0.6 seconds after meeting them? Where is the self-control? Because it felt like an excerpt straight out of Animal Planet.
The pacing was completely backwards. The type of feelings they had in the first interview should’ve developed over time, not on day ONE. How can you see how much care she has for your disabled daughters, she's been with them for TWENTY MINUTES SMT.
DNF at 20%. The story just didn’t make sense. absolutely not.
Lol, this book pissed me off so bad.
I was actually looking for Hot for Teacher and didn’t realize this wasn’t it until I was a few pages in. Still, I decided to give it a try. Big mistake. I only made it to 20% because there were just too many things wrong.
When the two main characters meet, it was a mess. Victor calls her a gold digger, and honestly, based on how she presented herself, I didn’t blame him. Because why would she even say that out loud? Why would he?? The setup could’ve been much stronger.
They were getting too familiar with each other all too soon. Like you just met this woman yesterday and you already "feeling protective", "brushing up against her lips". Why is he rubbing up on your ankle on the ride home? Why you begging him to kiss you? Like, I know I've been out the game a long time, but is this how singles act? Like you want to jump the other person 0.6 seconds after meeting them? Where is the self-control? Because it felt like an excerpt straight out of Animal Planet.
The pacing was completely backwards. The type of feelings they had in the first interview should’ve developed over time, not on day ONE. How can you see how much care she has for your disabled daughters, she's been with them for TWENTY MINUTES SMT.
DNF at 20%. The story just didn’t make sense. absolutely not.
May 9, 2025
ARC review
The Love Syllabus follows Vic a renowned chef and Kerry a teacher. In the beginning, I thought this story was going to be a cute, fake dating, rom-com, however, it turned out to be so much more. There were a lot of funny moments, especially from Kerry, but there are also some real deep vulnerable moments between the two as well.
Kerry is in her 30's trying to reclaim her life after a very bad divorce. Her ex-husband is pure trash and evil! I disliked everything about that man. She ends up getting a nanny/homeschool job working for Vic and taking care of his 2 daughters, and everything changes. Vic is a renowned Chef, dealing with his own trauma and guilt. He is very grumpy on the outside, but behind the surface is a real man who takes care of and protects everyone around him. Vic is living with the tragic loss of his kids, Mother, and his father, all while trying to balance work and being there for his 2 girls Ariel and Sydney.
Even though Kerry and Vic got off on the wrong foot, when they met the attraction and connection were undeniable. Now this is a slow burn, but I loved seeing them fall in love and become one big happy family. They both grew so much in the story. I loved seeing Kerry regain her confidence back and was so happy she stood her ground at times with Vic was being too wishy-washy with his feelings for her. I also loved seeing Vic relax more and begin to enjoy his life again.
Lauren Lacey is so good with adding family and friends to her stories and this one didn't disappoint. I loved every single one of them outside of the ex-husband.
This was a great story all around, and I am wondering if we will be getting more from this town and/or friend group.
The Love Syllabus follows Vic a renowned chef and Kerry a teacher. In the beginning, I thought this story was going to be a cute, fake dating, rom-com, however, it turned out to be so much more. There were a lot of funny moments, especially from Kerry, but there are also some real deep vulnerable moments between the two as well.
Kerry is in her 30's trying to reclaim her life after a very bad divorce. Her ex-husband is pure trash and evil! I disliked everything about that man. She ends up getting a nanny/homeschool job working for Vic and taking care of his 2 daughters, and everything changes. Vic is a renowned Chef, dealing with his own trauma and guilt. He is very grumpy on the outside, but behind the surface is a real man who takes care of and protects everyone around him. Vic is living with the tragic loss of his kids, Mother, and his father, all while trying to balance work and being there for his 2 girls Ariel and Sydney.
Even though Kerry and Vic got off on the wrong foot, when they met the attraction and connection were undeniable. Now this is a slow burn, but I loved seeing them fall in love and become one big happy family. They both grew so much in the story. I loved seeing Kerry regain her confidence back and was so happy she stood her ground at times with Vic was being too wishy-washy with his feelings for her. I also loved seeing Vic relax more and begin to enjoy his life again.
Lauren Lacey is so good with adding family and friends to her stories and this one didn't disappoint. I loved every single one of them outside of the ex-husband.
This was a great story all around, and I am wondering if we will be getting more from this town and/or friend group.
January 5, 2026
3.7/5
Okay so, I do think it was messy at first. The beginning was something, it felt like it was written about tropes and not the story. I don’t think I’m fully convinced about them but it was cute. I think the 3 part of the book was actually very good. It gave sense to the characters (check TW).
Okay so, I do think it was messy at first. The beginning was something, it felt like it was written about tropes and not the story. I don’t think I’m fully convinced about them but it was cute. I think the 3 part of the book was actually very good. It gave sense to the characters (check TW).
August 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Don’t let this adorable cover FOOL you—this book was heavy, and I’m so grateful for the TWs 🥺.
Kerry Kind fell for a horrible man with connections that covered up his awful behavior 😠.
She survives, and then crosses paths with Vic—a grumpy, widowed, single father of two, a famous chef with that salt-and-pepper beard 👀 who had her attention from the very first moment.
Their story delivered angst in the best way: enemies-to-lovers with a dash of workplace tension, a sprinkle of fake dating, to forever love. And let me tell you—it wasn’t just sweet, it got spicy 🌶️🔥.
Vic was a man who once prioritized work over family and vowed never to make the same mistake again 💔. Sydney and Ariel completely stole my heart, and the village of friends and family around them made everything richer.
And Kerry’s sister friends —Serena, Kiera, and Izzy? Every woman needs friendship like that 🥰.
Don’t let this adorable cover FOOL you—this book was heavy, and I’m so grateful for the TWs 🥺.
Kerry Kind fell for a horrible man with connections that covered up his awful behavior 😠.
She survives, and then crosses paths with Vic—a grumpy, widowed, single father of two, a famous chef with that salt-and-pepper beard 👀 who had her attention from the very first moment.
Their story delivered angst in the best way: enemies-to-lovers with a dash of workplace tension, a sprinkle of fake dating, to forever love. And let me tell you—it wasn’t just sweet, it got spicy 🌶️🔥.
Vic was a man who once prioritized work over family and vowed never to make the same mistake again 💔. Sydney and Ariel completely stole my heart, and the village of friends and family around them made everything richer.
And Kerry’s sister friends —Serena, Kiera, and Izzy? Every woman needs friendship like that 🥰.
May 22, 2025
Starting from the author's note in the beginning of the book, I just knew I was going to love reading this and I was not disappointed at all!
Victor Grimes and Kerry Kind both have a second chance at romance together that perfectly exemplifies the resurrecting beauty of love. They were not planning on being in relationships again but somehow they ended up together exactly where they needed to be.
This book is the personification of all that is black romance and all of the amazing things that come from it. Kerry had endured some terrible things with her ex-husband but was determined not to let him dim her shine. Victor, however grumpy he was, allowed Kerry's bright light to warm his heart and gain his love. My heart is happy after reading this.
Thank you Lauren Lacy for this advanced copy.
Victor Grimes and Kerry Kind both have a second chance at romance together that perfectly exemplifies the resurrecting beauty of love. They were not planning on being in relationships again but somehow they ended up together exactly where they needed to be.
This book is the personification of all that is black romance and all of the amazing things that come from it. Kerry had endured some terrible things with her ex-husband but was determined not to let him dim her shine. Victor, however grumpy he was, allowed Kerry's bright light to warm his heart and gain his love. My heart is happy after reading this.
Thank you Lauren Lacy for this advanced copy.
May 21, 2025
4.5 💫
This story follows Kerry, a teacher down on her luck due to her ex husband’s influence in their small town. Kerry runs into renowned chef, Vic at her best friends’ grand opening. Sparks start flying as soon as they encounter each other. This is a grumpy sunshine romance, with fake dating, spice and found family.
I really enjoy how this author adds depth to both main characters throughout the story. Starting this story, I never expected the characters’ past to be as shocking as it was. The care that Vic and Kerry had with each other was so refreshing to read about.
Overall, a really funny love story. Hoping to see a spin off between Serena and Hudson.
This story follows Kerry, a teacher down on her luck due to her ex husband’s influence in their small town. Kerry runs into renowned chef, Vic at her best friends’ grand opening. Sparks start flying as soon as they encounter each other. This is a grumpy sunshine romance, with fake dating, spice and found family.
I really enjoy how this author adds depth to both main characters throughout the story. Starting this story, I never expected the characters’ past to be as shocking as it was. The care that Vic and Kerry had with each other was so refreshing to read about.
Overall, a really funny love story. Hoping to see a spin off between Serena and Hudson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars! Thank you to the author for this ARC! This story follows Kerry, a teacher and Vic, a chef, a widow and father to two young girls.
It is a fake-dating, slow burn romance (that has some spice) that is fun, with some funny moments, and some banter, but also deals with some serious topics. I enjoyed learning about each of these characters and seeing their growth throughout this book. The side characters brought some humor to the story as well, and also were there to support Kerry and Vic.
This story had a little bit of everything that I could want in a romance. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
It is a fake-dating, slow burn romance (that has some spice) that is fun, with some funny moments, and some banter, but also deals with some serious topics. I enjoyed learning about each of these characters and seeing their growth throughout this book. The side characters brought some humor to the story as well, and also were there to support Kerry and Vic.
This story had a little bit of everything that I could want in a romance. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
July 6, 2025
Good read
This was such a feel good read… Much slower than I prefer especially with all the angst and Vic was pissing me smooth off for more than half of the book but overall it was well worth it… Kerry had been through so much and I was rooting for her to get her happily ever after plus Ari and Syd was just the cutest how can you not fall in love with them… I have a feeling that Hudson and Serena may be next
This was such a feel good read… Much slower than I prefer especially with all the angst and Vic was pissing me smooth off for more than half of the book but overall it was well worth it… Kerry had been through so much and I was rooting for her to get her happily ever after plus Ari and Syd was just the cutest how can you not fall in love with them… I have a feeling that Hudson and Serena may be next
August 29, 2025
Such a cute romance, little spice, some drama...the whole package. I stayed engaged and invested. It feels good to see black characters portrayed in this way, deserving of happiness, redeemed and joyful.
October 3, 2025
Surprised
I was pleasantly surprised!! I thought was going to be a romcom. The story was beautifully written. Deep topics were touched. This makes me want to dive in this author books. Loved it
I was pleasantly surprised!! I thought was going to be a romcom. The story was beautifully written. Deep topics were touched. This makes me want to dive in this author books. Loved it
August 13, 2025
cute
A cute, whitty romance. Definitely giving dramatic Lifetime movie. Some parts were over dramatic. Cheesy but in a feel good way. Vic was very hot and cold and I was over it by about 40%. A little repetitive. I don’t get why they kept saying Hudson was immature and shouldn’t run the company when he was already doing it. This book definitely had some heavier topics that I didn’t anticipate.
A cute, whitty romance. Definitely giving dramatic Lifetime movie. Some parts were over dramatic. Cheesy but in a feel good way. Vic was very hot and cold and I was over it by about 40%. A little repetitive. I don’t get why they kept saying Hudson was immature and shouldn’t run the company when he was already doing it. This book definitely had some heavier topics that I didn’t anticipate.
May 23, 2025
Thank you so much Author Lauren Lacey for giving me yet another beautiful opportunity to read an ARC of your new upcoming Romance Novel🩷📚💋✨
“The Love Syllabus”
7⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️READ!!!
This book left me completely breathless!
And completely obsessed!!🤩🩷I just knew this was going to be a 7 star read by Lauren Lacey and she didn’t disappoint me once!! She fulfilled every one of my expectations the way I was completely glued to my screen, every second swiping through page after page with laughter & blushes over the two main characters beautiful hot tension to lovers banter moments!! Refusing to put down the book!! I seriously couldn't get enough of it- and now that I've finished it, I'm still grinning from ear to ear with that lovely profound ending!🥹✨Lauren Lacey, is so truly gifted with every novel she publishes, she truly resonates with your emotions on every level, sharing life's voyages and showcasing pure, raw beautiful storytelling with an exquisitely written messages hidden deep between the lines of this amazing book!🥹Her ability to consistently produce outstanding work, and strong hearted elements of life at it’s hardest in this tale is a true shining example of her masterful talent and I don’t think I could ever stop reading anything she puts out!!!🩷
And until the next stunning book she writes is released I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for my next new book boyfriend💋❤️✨
“The Love Syllabus,” Spotlights around two beautiful black characters with souls of golden hearts with every element of passionate love for one another-
(✨🩷Kerry Kind & Victor Grimes❤️✨
Lauren Lacey begins thier journey when-
My absolute favorite FMC-Kerry Kind💕✨ thought she had it all figured out, but boy oh boy life had other plans for her! Especially After a painful divorce, she's back at square one in her thirties. And A new homeschool teaching job seems like the perfect fresh start - until she discovers her new boss is the same man she butted heads with just days before. Victor Grimes💋✨a famous chef and happens to be a beautiful single father, who’s with a life meticulously planned out! However, his lovely daughters need a change, and Kerry💕might be the missing piece to tied it all together, But things start to take an interesting turn when spontaneous fake dating moments begin to erase the boundaries between work and play👀✨rendering their attraction for one another, making it impossible to ignore when old scars resurface and their unique universes clashes my two favorite love birds together even more-Kerry and Victor must choose between redefining the rules for love and leaving some lessons unlearned👀✨🤩
And to figure out how this absolutely stunning slow burn, x hot fiery tension, x single dad x teacher. Story unfolds is by reading this book ASAP!!! That Lauren Lacey poured her all and everything above into🥹And the tale doesn’t just stop with the plot it gets even better with the Author’s main characters-
Kerry my girlie in every universe💕✨She embraces such a beautiful essence of beauty, with refinement and a amazing personality & demeanor that always shines back & forth with warmth, tenderness, and benevolence and compassion💕and despite her past of weathering numerous heart-wrenching emotional/traumatic ordeals throughout her life! She continues to push forward with strength & growth every step of the way! shining through with a touching crafted narrative, that showers her lover-Victor💋✨with a powerful display of unconditional love, compassion, and kindness, that you can feel every single emotional moment they face together with just the power of written words!! and she gets even better the way Kerry is a wonderful woman/mother to Victor’s daughters! Always putting them first and being the best she can for them and showing them endless beautiful love & protection with every turn of the page🥹✨
Victor💋✨ is such a quintessential romantic lover boy whenever he’s near his forever lover Kerry🩷 and his personality may come off rough at first glance but deep down lays a precious heart filled of golden love & Beauty🥹The way Victor looks out for his loved ones is so special & touching and bittersweet plus extremely attractive!👀✨ Every scene the Author writes with him is a cinematic masterpiece the way his character has gone through so many hardships & brutal traumatic experiences of his life that took such a deep toll on him. Now: Every day he fights to be better each & every day for his beautiful two daughters giving them a life they deserve & need and to his forever AKA Kerry💋🩷✨His strong commitment for caring, loving, and protecting Kerry with everything he has and being the lover she always needed & desire! And showing her what true love & happiness truly is and what the meaning of passionate unconditional love is and knowing what it does mean to be someone first person with endless loyalty showcasing peaceful moments of solace to always show her she will never have to face another journey of her life alone again🥹Will forever be a beacon of inspiration and standards truly becoming- A Roman Empire of mine that won’t ever leave my head and I hope it doesn’t!!💋✨
“I love him back, with everything I have, with everything I am. I love him, and I love the beautiful family he’s given me in Ari and Syd, the way they’ve wrapped themselves around my heart, making me theirs just as much as I’ve made them mine.”-Kerry Kind🩷✨
Order
“The Love Syllabus”
Releasing May 23rd 2025
ASAP!!! For a swooning heartfelt black Romance that will have you in tears of love etc🥹🩷And you can do just that by visiting the author’s social media @thelaurenlacey ON IG and get the lovely opportunity to view aesthetics & teasers of the amazing book✨
“The Love Syllabus”
7⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️READ!!!
This book left me completely breathless!
And completely obsessed!!🤩🩷I just knew this was going to be a 7 star read by Lauren Lacey and she didn’t disappoint me once!! She fulfilled every one of my expectations the way I was completely glued to my screen, every second swiping through page after page with laughter & blushes over the two main characters beautiful hot tension to lovers banter moments!! Refusing to put down the book!! I seriously couldn't get enough of it- and now that I've finished it, I'm still grinning from ear to ear with that lovely profound ending!🥹✨Lauren Lacey, is so truly gifted with every novel she publishes, she truly resonates with your emotions on every level, sharing life's voyages and showcasing pure, raw beautiful storytelling with an exquisitely written messages hidden deep between the lines of this amazing book!🥹Her ability to consistently produce outstanding work, and strong hearted elements of life at it’s hardest in this tale is a true shining example of her masterful talent and I don’t think I could ever stop reading anything she puts out!!!🩷
And until the next stunning book she writes is released I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for my next new book boyfriend💋❤️✨
“The Love Syllabus,” Spotlights around two beautiful black characters with souls of golden hearts with every element of passionate love for one another-
(✨🩷Kerry Kind & Victor Grimes❤️✨
Lauren Lacey begins thier journey when-
My absolute favorite FMC-Kerry Kind💕✨ thought she had it all figured out, but boy oh boy life had other plans for her! Especially After a painful divorce, she's back at square one in her thirties. And A new homeschool teaching job seems like the perfect fresh start - until she discovers her new boss is the same man she butted heads with just days before. Victor Grimes💋✨a famous chef and happens to be a beautiful single father, who’s with a life meticulously planned out! However, his lovely daughters need a change, and Kerry💕might be the missing piece to tied it all together, But things start to take an interesting turn when spontaneous fake dating moments begin to erase the boundaries between work and play👀✨rendering their attraction for one another, making it impossible to ignore when old scars resurface and their unique universes clashes my two favorite love birds together even more-Kerry and Victor must choose between redefining the rules for love and leaving some lessons unlearned👀✨🤩
And to figure out how this absolutely stunning slow burn, x hot fiery tension, x single dad x teacher. Story unfolds is by reading this book ASAP!!! That Lauren Lacey poured her all and everything above into🥹And the tale doesn’t just stop with the plot it gets even better with the Author’s main characters-
Kerry my girlie in every universe💕✨She embraces such a beautiful essence of beauty, with refinement and a amazing personality & demeanor that always shines back & forth with warmth, tenderness, and benevolence and compassion💕and despite her past of weathering numerous heart-wrenching emotional/traumatic ordeals throughout her life! She continues to push forward with strength & growth every step of the way! shining through with a touching crafted narrative, that showers her lover-Victor💋✨with a powerful display of unconditional love, compassion, and kindness, that you can feel every single emotional moment they face together with just the power of written words!! and she gets even better the way Kerry is a wonderful woman/mother to Victor’s daughters! Always putting them first and being the best she can for them and showing them endless beautiful love & protection with every turn of the page🥹✨
Victor💋✨ is such a quintessential romantic lover boy whenever he’s near his forever lover Kerry🩷 and his personality may come off rough at first glance but deep down lays a precious heart filled of golden love & Beauty🥹The way Victor looks out for his loved ones is so special & touching and bittersweet plus extremely attractive!👀✨ Every scene the Author writes with him is a cinematic masterpiece the way his character has gone through so many hardships & brutal traumatic experiences of his life that took such a deep toll on him. Now: Every day he fights to be better each & every day for his beautiful two daughters giving them a life they deserve & need and to his forever AKA Kerry💋🩷✨His strong commitment for caring, loving, and protecting Kerry with everything he has and being the lover she always needed & desire! And showing her what true love & happiness truly is and what the meaning of passionate unconditional love is and knowing what it does mean to be someone first person with endless loyalty showcasing peaceful moments of solace to always show her she will never have to face another journey of her life alone again🥹Will forever be a beacon of inspiration and standards truly becoming- A Roman Empire of mine that won’t ever leave my head and I hope it doesn’t!!💋✨
“I love him back, with everything I have, with everything I am. I love him, and I love the beautiful family he’s given me in Ari and Syd, the way they’ve wrapped themselves around my heart, making me theirs just as much as I’ve made them mine.”-Kerry Kind🩷✨
Order
“The Love Syllabus”
Releasing May 23rd 2025
ASAP!!! For a swooning heartfelt black Romance that will have you in tears of love etc🥹🩷And you can do just that by visiting the author’s social media @thelaurenlacey ON IG and get the lovely opportunity to view aesthetics & teasers of the amazing book✨
July 14, 2025
I wanted to love this book but.. I just couldn't. Honestly just couldn't really connect with the story. I forced myself to finish it and yeah, it just wasn't for me. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the plot but I found myself uninterested around 30% in
May 25, 2025
Kerry is THAT GIRL and Vic Grimes can ruin my life.
Lauren Lacey did it AGAIN. Whew. This book was everything I wanted and didn’t even know I needed. It's a beautiful, layered story with depth, charm, tenderness, heat, and characters I’ll ride at dawn for.
First of all, Kerry is my girl. From page one, I was rooting for her like she was my best friend. She’s smart, funny, vulnerable, and not afraid to be soft, even when life’s been rough on her. She felt so relatable and grounded. And let’s talk about how she held her own with Vic from the jump! Their first meeting had me screaming and kicking my feet. The banter was so natural. Every line felt like it revealed something deeper about who they were and what they were afraid of. That kind of writing is rare.
And Victor Grimes… lord. That man.
He's the ultimate grumpy, emotionally repressed, silver fox single dad. But once he gave in to his desire for Kerry? No half-stepping. No games. Just pure, focused, protective energy. And when he finally let himself feel all the things he’d been holding back since his wife passed? I was DONE. He didn’t use his grief as a wall forever. He let it shape him, but he didn’t let it define him.
The fake dating angle was handled so well. It wasn’t just a plot gimmick. It exposed their emotional walls and made them confront what they were avoiding. And the way it slowly shifted into something real without them even realizing was chef’s kiss. I believed every stolen glance, every almost-kiss, every awkward silence, every playful jab, every moment. It was giving intimacy without rushing it within 300 pages! Lol. Like how sway?
If you love well-written slow-burn romance with rich character development and fake dating that makes your heart race with a swoony grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and tender, passionate Black love? This book is for you.
Vic and Kerry forever.
Lauren Lacey did it AGAIN. Whew. This book was everything I wanted and didn’t even know I needed. It's a beautiful, layered story with depth, charm, tenderness, heat, and characters I’ll ride at dawn for.
First of all, Kerry is my girl. From page one, I was rooting for her like she was my best friend. She’s smart, funny, vulnerable, and not afraid to be soft, even when life’s been rough on her. She felt so relatable and grounded. And let’s talk about how she held her own with Vic from the jump! Their first meeting had me screaming and kicking my feet. The banter was so natural. Every line felt like it revealed something deeper about who they were and what they were afraid of. That kind of writing is rare.
And Victor Grimes… lord. That man.
He's the ultimate grumpy, emotionally repressed, silver fox single dad. But once he gave in to his desire for Kerry? No half-stepping. No games. Just pure, focused, protective energy. And when he finally let himself feel all the things he’d been holding back since his wife passed? I was DONE. He didn’t use his grief as a wall forever. He let it shape him, but he didn’t let it define him.
The fake dating angle was handled so well. It wasn’t just a plot gimmick. It exposed their emotional walls and made them confront what they were avoiding. And the way it slowly shifted into something real without them even realizing was chef’s kiss. I believed every stolen glance, every almost-kiss, every awkward silence, every playful jab, every moment. It was giving intimacy without rushing it within 300 pages! Lol. Like how sway?
If you love well-written slow-burn romance with rich character development and fake dating that makes your heart race with a swoony grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and tender, passionate Black love? This book is for you.
Vic and Kerry forever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2025
Mrs. Lauren knows how to write a romance, okay!!!!This book had my emotions doing backflips in the best way.I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and the butterflies? Oh, they were fluttering.
Set in a small town full of charm and community, this one was a slow burn…but baby, the clothes were burning! LET’S BRING THAT ENERGY BACK!!!! Victor is a wealthy chef and single dad, and Kerry’s a teacher who ends up becoming his nanny. It was lust at first sight lololol. But they’re trying to stay professional… even with all that yearning. Until the fake dating kicks in, and whew! The tension skyrockets. So real. I loved their banter and that good ol’ grumpy x sunshine dynamic. Watching their journeys unfold separately and together was beautiful. A match made in heaven lol. But seriously they belonged together.
The book also tackled domestic violence (not between the main characters), and it was handled with such care. Some of those scenes had me crying. Seeing how Kerry navigated her healing, even after leaving was sooooo powerful. The trauma doesn’t disappear, and the way Vic stood by her side, supportive and patient? Whew. I just loved that for her.
And the side characters? Perfection. Her parents, her besties. Vic’s brother and mom and his. adorable daughters — they were funny, warm, and so accepting of Kerry. Those little girls had me cracking up every time they caught their dad making “googly eyes”at her. And the way Kerry loved those girls like they were hers? My heart strings.
All in all, this was a truly beautiful love story. And one thing about me!!! I’m reading whatever Lauren writes next.
Set in a small town full of charm and community, this one was a slow burn…but baby, the clothes were burning! LET’S BRING THAT ENERGY BACK!!!! Victor is a wealthy chef and single dad, and Kerry’s a teacher who ends up becoming his nanny. It was lust at first sight lololol. But they’re trying to stay professional… even with all that yearning. Until the fake dating kicks in, and whew! The tension skyrockets. So real. I loved their banter and that good ol’ grumpy x sunshine dynamic. Watching their journeys unfold separately and together was beautiful. A match made in heaven lol. But seriously they belonged together.
The book also tackled domestic violence (not between the main characters), and it was handled with such care. Some of those scenes had me crying. Seeing how Kerry navigated her healing, even after leaving was sooooo powerful. The trauma doesn’t disappear, and the way Vic stood by her side, supportive and patient? Whew. I just loved that for her.
And the side characters? Perfection. Her parents, her besties. Vic’s brother and mom and his. adorable daughters — they were funny, warm, and so accepting of Kerry. Those little girls had me cracking up every time they caught their dad making “googly eyes”at her. And the way Kerry loved those girls like they were hers? My heart strings.
All in all, this was a truly beautiful love story. And one thing about me!!! I’m reading whatever Lauren writes next.
June 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Slow burn romances usually test my patience (😅 honesty hour!), but The Love Syllabus had me hooked from the very first page—and kept me captivated every step of the way. Vic and Kerry’s journey is emotional, tender, and laced with tension so thick, it’ll have you flipping pages like your life depends on it.
What made this story stand out for me was the incredible chemistry between the leads. Lauren Lacey builds it beautifully and authentically—making the payoff that much more satisfying. Vic’s story of grief and Kerry’s past trauma are handled with so much care, creating not only emotional depth but a strong foundation for their connection. Their individual healing arcs pulled at my heart in all the right ways.
Vic? He’s that man. A total protector with a soft side that shines brightest when it comes to Kerry—and his girls. Seeing how much his daughters adored Kerry from the jump made my heart swell. The way this man loves, supports, and yes, worships Kerry is everything. From emotional tenderness to toe-curling spice, he’s unforgettable. Let’s just say he had me clutching my invisible pearls more than once!
The fake dating trope? Executed flawlessly. The tension? Chef’s kiss. And the spice? Whew.🔥 Balanced perfectly with heartfelt moments and laugh-out-loud scenes—thanks in part to both families and a friend group that added layers of humor and love to the story.
The Love Syllabus is sexy, emotional, and healing all wrapped into one beautifully written package. It’s a reminder that love can be soft, patient, and full of second chances. I loved every minute.
Slow burn romances usually test my patience (😅 honesty hour!), but The Love Syllabus had me hooked from the very first page—and kept me captivated every step of the way. Vic and Kerry’s journey is emotional, tender, and laced with tension so thick, it’ll have you flipping pages like your life depends on it.
What made this story stand out for me was the incredible chemistry between the leads. Lauren Lacey builds it beautifully and authentically—making the payoff that much more satisfying. Vic’s story of grief and Kerry’s past trauma are handled with so much care, creating not only emotional depth but a strong foundation for their connection. Their individual healing arcs pulled at my heart in all the right ways.
Vic? He’s that man. A total protector with a soft side that shines brightest when it comes to Kerry—and his girls. Seeing how much his daughters adored Kerry from the jump made my heart swell. The way this man loves, supports, and yes, worships Kerry is everything. From emotional tenderness to toe-curling spice, he’s unforgettable. Let’s just say he had me clutching my invisible pearls more than once!
The fake dating trope? Executed flawlessly. The tension? Chef’s kiss. And the spice? Whew.🔥 Balanced perfectly with heartfelt moments and laugh-out-loud scenes—thanks in part to both families and a friend group that added layers of humor and love to the story.
The Love Syllabus is sexy, emotional, and healing all wrapped into one beautifully written package. It’s a reminder that love can be soft, patient, and full of second chances. I loved every minute.
April 30, 2025
I LOVED this story!! Ms Kerry Kind had me laughing out loud over here! She was so adorable and I was sometimes reading her dialogue in a dramatic Southern accent.
I love Lauren’s worlds because I always see pop-ins from old characters.
Now on to this story. I was expecting heavy crying per usual but my tears were replaced by laughs with just a bit of crying towards the end. It was a slow burn but so easy to read. I finished in two days, and annotated everywhere.
I love how soft Kerry was despite what she’s been through. There was something so delicate and vulnerable yet strong about her. She didn’t let anything get her down. And Vic?My heart broke for him but I love his grumpiness and I also loved how Kerry slowly broke down his stubborn walls. These two were so much fun together and their chemistry was hottt!
It takes a while to get to the boinking but it’s definitely worth it. Lol. And honestly, I think I appreciate the build up so much. You get to really see them learn one another. Their flirting, dates, and banter were EVERYTHING!
I can’t forget the found family either. Lacey can write a damn friend group! From the families to everyone. Kerry had an amazing support system and so did Vic. And might I add that Syd and Ari stole the whole show.
This is definitely one of my top 2 faves from this author. I’ve already placed my pre-order and can’t wait to get my copy.
I love Lauren’s worlds because I always see pop-ins from old characters.
Now on to this story. I was expecting heavy crying per usual but my tears were replaced by laughs with just a bit of crying towards the end. It was a slow burn but so easy to read. I finished in two days, and annotated everywhere.
I love how soft Kerry was despite what she’s been through. There was something so delicate and vulnerable yet strong about her. She didn’t let anything get her down. And Vic?My heart broke for him but I love his grumpiness and I also loved how Kerry slowly broke down his stubborn walls. These two were so much fun together and their chemistry was hottt!
It takes a while to get to the boinking but it’s definitely worth it. Lol. And honestly, I think I appreciate the build up so much. You get to really see them learn one another. Their flirting, dates, and banter were EVERYTHING!
I can’t forget the found family either. Lacey can write a damn friend group! From the families to everyone. Kerry had an amazing support system and so did Vic. And might I add that Syd and Ari stole the whole show.
This is definitely one of my top 2 faves from this author. I’ve already placed my pre-order and can’t wait to get my copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2025
Tropes : Small town romance , Strangers to Lovers , Fake dating, work place romance , New found Family
General thoughts:
Heartwarming rom com that explore serious themes such as loss, grief, dealing with children with physical disabilities, domestic violence and finding yourself.
I love the depth of the story and the characters development. There is no dull moment in this story
Book overview :
Kerry kind , is passionate about teaching and is an amazing teacher. Her goal is to own her own school or become a principal but her criminal record has derailed this plan. All instigated by her jealousy and possessive ex husband, who is the superintendent of schools in Beverly mills.
To help get her life back on track, Kerry’s friends help her apply for a live in nanny role which is not ideal , but is what she needed .
Before she starts this new job , she goes to her best friend’s floral shop opening party where , she meet her potential employer unconventionally. Vic the hot shot entrepreneur and celebrity chef.
Victor is the traditional grump, who isn’t looking for love. The unconventional meeting with Kerry at the floral shop opening has left him wanting more after feeling the instant pull of protection over Kerry at the opening party.
Now that she is his live in nanny and educator will Vic overcome his grief and give love and life a chance and will Kerry experience what true love is suppose to feel like?
Read the story to find out
General thoughts:
Heartwarming rom com that explore serious themes such as loss, grief, dealing with children with physical disabilities, domestic violence and finding yourself.
I love the depth of the story and the characters development. There is no dull moment in this story
Book overview :
Kerry kind , is passionate about teaching and is an amazing teacher. Her goal is to own her own school or become a principal but her criminal record has derailed this plan. All instigated by her jealousy and possessive ex husband, who is the superintendent of schools in Beverly mills.
To help get her life back on track, Kerry’s friends help her apply for a live in nanny role which is not ideal , but is what she needed .
Before she starts this new job , she goes to her best friend’s floral shop opening party where , she meet her potential employer unconventionally. Vic the hot shot entrepreneur and celebrity chef.
Victor is the traditional grump, who isn’t looking for love. The unconventional meeting with Kerry at the floral shop opening has left him wanting more after feeling the instant pull of protection over Kerry at the opening party.
Now that she is his live in nanny and educator will Vic overcome his grief and give love and life a chance and will Kerry experience what true love is suppose to feel like?
Read the story to find out
June 11, 2025
The Love Syllabus
This was my first read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed this story and plan to look further into her catalog. This story gave me all the feels with Vic and Kerry. Their push and pull kept me intrigued and wanting to see what would happen next between them. This story gave me second chance romance with close proximity and fake dating all in one story. Kerry and Vic went on a rollercoaster to find their happily ever after from their first meeting that started their fake dating journey. While they claimed to be fake dating, they couldn’t hide their chemistry and attraction to one another.
I liked Kerry’s character and loved that she was able to get her happily ever after after going through such an abusive first marriage. She was so strong and didn’t seem to realize how strong she was. She helped Vic and his family become whole again with her love and care for them. She helped Vic see that he could love again after losing his first wife through tragedy and see that he had deserved to be loved in return. I loved the way these two balanced each other out and seemed to make each other better. This kids were adorable in this story and the best friends and family members were supportive and loving to both.
I would highly recommend this story if you like a slow burn, second chance romance with some forced proximity making it harder for the characters to deny their feelings for each other.
This was my first read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed this story and plan to look further into her catalog. This story gave me all the feels with Vic and Kerry. Their push and pull kept me intrigued and wanting to see what would happen next between them. This story gave me second chance romance with close proximity and fake dating all in one story. Kerry and Vic went on a rollercoaster to find their happily ever after from their first meeting that started their fake dating journey. While they claimed to be fake dating, they couldn’t hide their chemistry and attraction to one another.
I liked Kerry’s character and loved that she was able to get her happily ever after after going through such an abusive first marriage. She was so strong and didn’t seem to realize how strong she was. She helped Vic and his family become whole again with her love and care for them. She helped Vic see that he could love again after losing his first wife through tragedy and see that he had deserved to be loved in return. I loved the way these two balanced each other out and seemed to make each other better. This kids were adorable in this story and the best friends and family members were supportive and loving to both.
I would highly recommend this story if you like a slow burn, second chance romance with some forced proximity making it harder for the characters to deny their feelings for each other.
August 27, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by Lauren Lacey, and I liked it. “The Love Syllabus” is first-person, dual-perspective but most of the chapters are Kerry’s POV. I think Vic gets like seven(ish) chapters, if that. “The Love Syllabus” is also a hella slow burn with a fake dating, small town, boss-employee, grumpy-sunshine trope.
I liked the banter between Vic and Kerry in the beginning, and I really liked Kerry’s relationship with Ari and Syd. Ari and Syd were so precious and funny. Vic got on my nerves for most of “The Love Syllabus” because he was so hot and cold with Kerry. On one page, Vic is having a hard time fighting the pull he feels toward Kerry and then on the next page, the 🥷🏾 was building walls taller than Yao Ming. I was ready for him to give into his feelings early on, but I’ll admit that Vic made holding back sexy as hell lol.
There’s a lot of sexual tension on these pages. And Vic is nasty, okay? Although he and Kerry get together way later in ”The Love Syllabus”, Vic had Kerry feigning for the day he finally gives in lol.
Kerry was very funny and felt like a homegirl. I liked how passionate she was about teaching and her determination to make something shake in her life. Kerry’s friends and parents were also a pleasure to read about. But you know who wasn’t a pleasure? Fucking Cory. Kerry didn’t deserve any of the shit that Cory put her through, and that 🥷🏾 can go to hell.
And I don’t remember a trigger warning, so here it is if you decide to read this book: there are mentions of DV, a miscarriage, and deaths of a parent and spouse.
I liked the banter between Vic and Kerry in the beginning, and I really liked Kerry’s relationship with Ari and Syd. Ari and Syd were so precious and funny. Vic got on my nerves for most of “The Love Syllabus” because he was so hot and cold with Kerry. On one page, Vic is having a hard time fighting the pull he feels toward Kerry and then on the next page, the 🥷🏾 was building walls taller than Yao Ming. I was ready for him to give into his feelings early on, but I’ll admit that Vic made holding back sexy as hell lol.
There’s a lot of sexual tension on these pages. And Vic is nasty, okay? Although he and Kerry get together way later in ”The Love Syllabus”, Vic had Kerry feigning for the day he finally gives in lol.
Kerry was very funny and felt like a homegirl. I liked how passionate she was about teaching and her determination to make something shake in her life. Kerry’s friends and parents were also a pleasure to read about. But you know who wasn’t a pleasure? Fucking Cory. Kerry didn’t deserve any of the shit that Cory put her through, and that 🥷🏾 can go to hell.
And I don’t remember a trigger warning, so here it is if you decide to read this book: there are mentions of DV, a miscarriage, and deaths of a parent and spouse.
June 12, 2025
"The Love Syllabus" by Lauren Lacey is nothing short of an emotional masterpiece. The love story between Kerry and Victor is truly one for the ages. It's a journey filled with deep pain and loss, and I found myself shedding tears one moment, then laughing out loud the next, thanks to the clever humor woven throughout the narrative.
Kerry’s journey of overcoming the abuse inflicted by her ex-husband, Corey, was particularly striking for me. Witnessing her rediscover her strength and self-worth was a beautiful transformation. On the flip side, Victor’s tragic experiences added layers of heartbreak to the story. Watching him navigate the challenges of raising his daughters through their shared trauma was nothing short of heroic.
The way Kerry and Victor came together in this story had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. As Kerry found her voice and defined her identity, Victor entered as his own whirlwind of energy, setting the stage for a captivating connection.
This book deserves a solid five stars! The writing is simply wonderful, the romantic elements are perfectly balanced, and the poignant portrayal of abuse is incredibly impactful. Lauren Lacey has delivered a narrative that breathes life into the stories of those affected by marital abuse. Kudos to her for crafting something so powerful. If you’re looking for a phenomenal read, look no further—pick up this book!
Kerry’s journey of overcoming the abuse inflicted by her ex-husband, Corey, was particularly striking for me. Witnessing her rediscover her strength and self-worth was a beautiful transformation. On the flip side, Victor’s tragic experiences added layers of heartbreak to the story. Watching him navigate the challenges of raising his daughters through their shared trauma was nothing short of heroic.
The way Kerry and Victor came together in this story had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. As Kerry found her voice and defined her identity, Victor entered as his own whirlwind of energy, setting the stage for a captivating connection.
This book deserves a solid five stars! The writing is simply wonderful, the romantic elements are perfectly balanced, and the poignant portrayal of abuse is incredibly impactful. Lauren Lacey has delivered a narrative that breathes life into the stories of those affected by marital abuse. Kudos to her for crafting something so powerful. If you’re looking for a phenomenal read, look no further—pick up this book!
July 7, 2025
The Love Syllabus is a fake dating, he falls first book hiding a serious case of domestic abuse. Please read the trigger warnings because while the abuse isn’t described until the end of the book it’s horrific. It made me take a breathe.
Both Kerry and Vic have been deeply traumatized and while Kerry is trying to rebuild her life, Vic is barely living his. They start fake dating because Vic, a well know Chef, is new in the small town and needs help with his image to open his new restaurant.
Kerry has lost her teaching job through a series of events orchestrated by her malicious ex-husband. When she’s offered a job to homeschool Vic’s daughters and fake date him, she leaps at it.
The book is a slow burn back and forth romance because both MCs have to deal with the traumas in the pasts to move forward to love.
A couple of things:
- I love how Kerry uses therapy to move forward
- I love how Vic loved and treasured his daughters
- The friendship and familial support for both Vic and Kerry was everything
- How physical disabilities were treated with grace and respect
-I loved the get back
However in my ebook there were several editing challenges which while they didn’t spoil the story were annoying.
Borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited
Both Kerry and Vic have been deeply traumatized and while Kerry is trying to rebuild her life, Vic is barely living his. They start fake dating because Vic, a well know Chef, is new in the small town and needs help with his image to open his new restaurant.
Kerry has lost her teaching job through a series of events orchestrated by her malicious ex-husband. When she’s offered a job to homeschool Vic’s daughters and fake date him, she leaps at it.
The book is a slow burn back and forth romance because both MCs have to deal with the traumas in the pasts to move forward to love.
A couple of things:
- I love how Kerry uses therapy to move forward
- I love how Vic loved and treasured his daughters
- The friendship and familial support for both Vic and Kerry was everything
- How physical disabilities were treated with grace and respect
-I loved the get back
However in my ebook there were several editing challenges which while they didn’t spoil the story were annoying.
Borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited
November 12, 2025
The Love Syllabus by Lauren Lacey is a tender, emotionally intelligent romance that’s as cozy as a fall afternoon and as heartfelt as a love letter you didn’t expect to receive. Lacey captures that delicate dance between vulnerability and desire with humor, grace, and just the right touch of slow burn magic.
Kerry Kind is instantly relatable rebuilding her life after a painful divorce, she steps into a new job that’s both a blessing and a battlefield. Her reluctant boss, Victor Grimes, is a man wrapped in grief and control, but beneath that precision beats a heart still capable of deep love. When their professional partnership tangles into fake dating (and real feelings), the sparks are both charming and profoundly human.
What makes The Love Syllabus shine is its emotional intelligence. Lacey doesn’t just write romance; she writes growth. Kerry’s resilience and Victor’s journey from guarded to open hearted feel authentic, earned, and deeply satisfying. Their chemistry simmers with witty banter, tender missteps, and quiet moments that say more than words.
Fans of Before We Were Strangers or Seven Days in June will fall hard for this story a beautiful reminder that love, at any age or stage, can be the most transformative lesson of all.
Kerry Kind is instantly relatable rebuilding her life after a painful divorce, she steps into a new job that’s both a blessing and a battlefield. Her reluctant boss, Victor Grimes, is a man wrapped in grief and control, but beneath that precision beats a heart still capable of deep love. When their professional partnership tangles into fake dating (and real feelings), the sparks are both charming and profoundly human.
What makes The Love Syllabus shine is its emotional intelligence. Lacey doesn’t just write romance; she writes growth. Kerry’s resilience and Victor’s journey from guarded to open hearted feel authentic, earned, and deeply satisfying. Their chemistry simmers with witty banter, tender missteps, and quiet moments that say more than words.
Fans of Before We Were Strangers or Seven Days in June will fall hard for this story a beautiful reminder that love, at any age or stage, can be the most transformative lesson of all.
July 26, 2025
The Love Syllabus is a book I almost DNF'd three times. The story was engaging and I wanted to learn more about the FMC Kerry Kind, but the MMC Victor Grimes was largely unlikable for much of the story. Add in the fact that, despite some really good writing, the author relies so heavily on the trope that the story became shockingly boring, and you get a disgruntled reader. I absolutely love slow burns, but what makes them great is that the story progresses without so much "teasing." If you like the single dad, workplace romance, in-home nanny, and/or small town romance tropes, then this slow burn could be worth it for you.
Final rating: 3.25/5
Spice rating: 2/5
Content warnings:
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage, Blood, Pregnancy
Final rating: 3.25/5
Spice rating: 2/5
Content warnings:
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage, Blood, Pregnancy
April 8, 2025
4.5/5
🌶️🌶️
First, thank you to Lauren for the arc of The Love Syllabus.
Y’all this book was such a quick read. I love the relationship between Vic and Kerry. Vic had me side eyeing him a little bit at the beginning. But He got himself together. This is a slow burn but you can feel tension from the beginning. Omg it has the funniest meet cute. I love a good romcom. I was laughing the entire time with the banter and smart remarks from Kerry. The found family trope was strong. Between Kerry parents and Vic mom I was crying laughing. I enjoyed how both families are so supportive and loving. The lesson that I learned was no one can stop you from living. You can always start over. You have to fight for that second chance.
I also Vic daughters are chaotic but necessary for the story. Overall as a daughter of the teacher, I loved this book.
🌶️🌶️
First, thank you to Lauren for the arc of The Love Syllabus.
Y’all this book was such a quick read. I love the relationship between Vic and Kerry. Vic had me side eyeing him a little bit at the beginning. But He got himself together. This is a slow burn but you can feel tension from the beginning. Omg it has the funniest meet cute. I love a good romcom. I was laughing the entire time with the banter and smart remarks from Kerry. The found family trope was strong. Between Kerry parents and Vic mom I was crying laughing. I enjoyed how both families are so supportive and loving. The lesson that I learned was no one can stop you from living. You can always start over. You have to fight for that second chance.
I also Vic daughters are chaotic but necessary for the story. Overall as a daughter of the teacher, I loved this book.
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