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Love Between the Lectures: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26Sex positivity has never been hotter than in this steamy rom-com full of wit and humor that will appeal to fans of Christina Lauren and Jessica Joyce.
Sparks fly when a human sexuality professor is paired up with her former childhood crush to organize a sexual health event, until the university’s biggest donors—spearheaded by her conservative parents—oppose.
After growing up shackled in purity culture, June Wells broke out with a bang. She’s now a human sexuality professor on the brink of tenure and nothing is going to get in her way. That is until Alex Cardoso crashes back into her life. She’s managed to avoid her childhood neighbor and former crush for fifteen years, ever since the mortifying moment in high school when he turned her down. Worse? He’s a hot shot PhD candidate appointed to cover his first human sexuality class, and June is assigned as his mentor, linking her tenure to his success—or failure.
While June and Alex struggle to find their footing both in and out of the classroom, they’re tasked with organizing a sexual health event: Sextival. But June has a secret. She’s kept the details of her profession hidden from her ultraconservative parents, who happen to be the university’s largest donors.
When word about Sextival reaches June’s mother and her wealthy friends, they threaten to pull their donations unless the event is canceled. But June isn’t about to let the prudes win, and neither is Alex. Together, amid late-night office hours and an impromptu road trip, they finally find their rhythm at work… and in bed. But Alex has a secret of his own—one that will force June to decide what’s most important to her: her dream job or her dream guy.
Sparks fly when a human sexuality professor is paired up with her former childhood crush to organize a sexual health event, until the university’s biggest donors—spearheaded by her conservative parents—oppose.
After growing up shackled in purity culture, June Wells broke out with a bang. She’s now a human sexuality professor on the brink of tenure and nothing is going to get in her way. That is until Alex Cardoso crashes back into her life. She’s managed to avoid her childhood neighbor and former crush for fifteen years, ever since the mortifying moment in high school when he turned her down. Worse? He’s a hot shot PhD candidate appointed to cover his first human sexuality class, and June is assigned as his mentor, linking her tenure to his success—or failure.
While June and Alex struggle to find their footing both in and out of the classroom, they’re tasked with organizing a sexual health event: Sextival. But June has a secret. She’s kept the details of her profession hidden from her ultraconservative parents, who happen to be the university’s largest donors.
When word about Sextival reaches June’s mother and her wealthy friends, they threaten to pull their donations unless the event is canceled. But June isn’t about to let the prudes win, and neither is Alex. Together, amid late-night office hours and an impromptu road trip, they finally find their rhythm at work… and in bed. But Alex has a secret of his own—one that will force June to decide what’s most important to her: her dream job or her dream guy.
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Christie Curry
1 book38 followersChristie Curry spends her days as a data analyst and her nights writing rom coms, dreaming up characters to bring to life (and hilarious ways to torment them). She has a master’s degree in public health and taught human sexuality for several years, giving her a wealth of inspiration and amusing anecdotes for her novels. A southern California native, she currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and a tiny dictator masquerading as a tuxedo cat.
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July 6, 2026💕 Love Between the Lectures 💕
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Childhood Crush
• Academia Romance
• Workplace Romance
• Forced Collaboration
_ _ __
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Childhood Crush
• Academia Romance
• Workplace Romance
• Forced Collaboration
_ _ __
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️ witty, playful, & fresh!!
love between the lectures follows dr. june wells, a human sexuality professor who is reluctantly paired with her childhood crush (and the man she’s been actively avoiding for years), dr. alex cardoso, a brilliant phd candidate, to organize a high-profile campus-wide sexual health event — only for backlash from the university’s wealthiest donors, including june’s conservative parents, to threaten everything.
this debut from curry definitely had a classic rom-com feel — a fun meet-cute, witty banter, silly shenanigans, & delicious, palpable tension — which i absolutely loved!! the story moved at a pretty quick pace, which kept me engaged. however, i think it was maybe a bit too fast in certain places. the ending in particular felt somewhat rushed in its resolution, making a few developments feel less believable. but what’s a rom-com without some suspended disbelief to ensure that HEA??
i also found the fmc’s internal monologue to read a bit younger than i expected for a woman in her 30s. there were a couple of side characters who felt almost like caricatures. they seemed to be written solely to create conflict, but just came across as a little too over the top for me (one character didn’t even really add anything to the story ?!? they just caused unnecessary, very high school-esque drama between the mcs, which i actually loathed). unfortunately, these things occasionally pulled me out of the story.
regardless, i really enjoyed the academic setting (my fav) and appreciated how the book explored sex positivity and christian purity culture. i recommend this to readers looking for a quick-paced, fun, banter-filled, & lighthearted rom-com!!
thank you so much to netgalley and alcove press for providing me with this arc!
love between the lectures follows dr. june wells, a human sexuality professor who is reluctantly paired with her childhood crush (and the man she’s been actively avoiding for years), dr. alex cardoso, a brilliant phd candidate, to organize a high-profile campus-wide sexual health event — only for backlash from the university’s wealthiest donors, including june’s conservative parents, to threaten everything.
this debut from curry definitely had a classic rom-com feel — a fun meet-cute, witty banter, silly shenanigans, & delicious, palpable tension — which i absolutely loved!! the story moved at a pretty quick pace, which kept me engaged. however, i think it was maybe a bit too fast in certain places. the ending in particular felt somewhat rushed in its resolution, making a few developments feel less believable. but what’s a rom-com without some suspended disbelief to ensure that HEA??
i also found the fmc’s internal monologue to read a bit younger than i expected for a woman in her 30s. there were a couple of side characters who felt almost like caricatures. they seemed to be written solely to create conflict, but just came across as a little too over the top for me (one character didn’t even really add anything to the story ?!? they just caused unnecessary, very high school-esque drama between the mcs, which i actually loathed). unfortunately, these things occasionally pulled me out of the story.
regardless, i really enjoyed the academic setting (my fav) and appreciated how the book explored sex positivity and christian purity culture. i recommend this to readers looking for a quick-paced, fun, banter-filled, & lighthearted rom-com!!
thank you so much to netgalley and alcove press for providing me with this arc!
June 22, 2026
This fast paced spicy romance follows college professor June as she reconnects with her childhood crush Alex when they are forced to work together to present a human sexuality class and festival.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3.5⭐️.
I thought this book was a lot of fun and a good way to handle sex positivity and overcoming the social stigmata’s surrounding sex. I enjoyed both of the main characters and their relationship. This had a bit of angst but not too much. The only issue I had with this book is that it was so fast paced that everything that happened especially the resolution all felt too easy. Everything just fell into place at the appropriate moment so much that it felt like it was following the standard romance playbook down the last detail.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3.5⭐️.
I thought this book was a lot of fun and a good way to handle sex positivity and overcoming the social stigmata’s surrounding sex. I enjoyed both of the main characters and their relationship. This had a bit of angst but not too much. The only issue I had with this book is that it was so fast paced that everything that happened especially the resolution all felt too easy. Everything just fell into place at the appropriate moment so much that it felt like it was following the standard romance playbook down the last detail.
August 11, 2026
3,5 ⭐️
August 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!!
June and Alex are colleagues at a local college but also former neighbors who might have been avoiding one another for 15ish years or so. June had (has) the biggest crush on Alex growing up and after being rejected, she’s made a point of ignoring him completely. Until she can longer and needs to mentor him so he can complete teaching requirements.
I really enjoyed how June finally took control of her life and sexuality. She was shamed so much and felt the need to lie to her family for her entire career. I found it so interesting that someone who was raised in that culture eventually became a human sexuality professor! I loved how Alex called her every month but the one she was named, that was so cute. I think childhood friends to strangers to lovers might be one of my favorite very specific tropes.
The pacing was a bit fast at the end and it seemed like everything was happening all at once and then it was all solved just as quickly. But overall I found this book to be funny and romantic while also having fun side characters.
June 28, 2026
Advanced copy read from NetGalley
This was a fun read! June has had a massive crush on Alex since high school and hasn’t seen him for 15 years. They come crashing back into each other’s lives when they are both accomplished PhDs and professors at the same college. Alex’s specialty is Epidemiology and June’s is Human Sexuality. I love these characters and I love how everything came together in the end. I love Gram’s antics 🤣
Forced proximity, second chance love, yearning, steamy chemistry, horny grandparents, redemption, lots of dildos (mostly for educational purposes) and condoms (not always for educational purposes😉), and love 🥰
🍆🍆🍆🍆💚😷🦠😮🎪
📖 eBook - Advanced copy from NetGalley
This was a fun read! June has had a massive crush on Alex since high school and hasn’t seen him for 15 years. They come crashing back into each other’s lives when they are both accomplished PhDs and professors at the same college. Alex’s specialty is Epidemiology and June’s is Human Sexuality. I love these characters and I love how everything came together in the end. I love Gram’s antics 🤣
Forced proximity, second chance love, yearning, steamy chemistry, horny grandparents, redemption, lots of dildos (mostly for educational purposes) and condoms (not always for educational purposes😉), and love 🥰
🍆🍆🍆🍆💚😷🦠😮🎪
📖 eBook - Advanced copy from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Alex and June were perfect, no notes. Perfection.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An achingly sweet second chance romance that features sex positivity and teaching healthy sex practices in the classroom.
June Wells grew up shackled by purity culture and felt constantly pressured to be a perfect daughter. She's left that life behind her and now teaches as a sexuality professor at an elite college. June may have tricked her family into believing that she is in fact a nutrition professor, but what her family doesn't know can't hurt them. Her past life comes crashing down on her when she encounters her childhood friend and crush, Alex Cardoso. He's just as annoying as she remembered, but what's even more frustrating is that she's been assigned to be his mentor in all things sex related. It's no surprise that the school is understaffed, but why did it have to be Alex she must take under her wing? To make matters worse, the two are paired up to plan a sex positive themed event that they've dubbed Sextival. Despite their rocky past, June and Alex must work together to empower their students and teach them all there is to know about safe sex practices and having a positive viewpoint in the bedroom.
I am one of those people who gets randomly fascinated by the darndest things and then I tend to latch onto them when I come across them in literature. One such topic for me right now is sex positivity, so when one of my good author friends Kerrie Faye recommended this one to me, I signed up to read the ARC immediately. Thank you Alcove Press and the author for the chance to read an eARC of this one! It was so spectacular I'd be blessed if it graced my shelves one day.
This book is so stinking cute! I am a huge fan of childhood friends to lovers as a trope, so I was sold on Alex and June's relationship from the start. It was clear they had some things from their past to work through, but I felt most of them had to do with miscommunication issues brought about by June's meddling family. These two do so many adorable things together such as go on a road trip, plan a campus event, brave only one bed at a hotel, and care for each other when they are at their worst. Everyone needs someone to be there for them like June and Alex are there for each other.
As I said earlier, I am a huge fan of books that show the real sides of sexual relationships and intimacy in the bedroom. I fear most of society's preconceptions and expectations of sex come from Hollywood and the movies/TV shows we consume. This really warps reality, and I loved seeing June empower her students by teaching them about their bodies and how to take care of them properly while still experiencing the benefits of sex and intimacy. The way that this book discusses pleasure is also so well done; Curry truly balances being educational, romantic, and entertaining with such finesse.
June grew up in a toxic household that shamed people for wanting sex, called sex a dirty thing, and literally slut-shames June for so much as exposing her elbows in public. Reading about someone who comes from such a conservative household was very enlightening, especially as she moves on to become a professor of sexuality. I feel many women can relate to June's experiences (though most probably didn't go through the same severity as June's childhood). Her mother viewed speaking of menstruation improper, and June was so clueless about so many things for so long. June was lucky enough to have Alex's mother, who is a nurse, right next door to her, but I fear many young girls aren't that lucky and severely lack the resources to understand their changing bodies and sex as a whole. Darn American school systems for literally hiding sex in a closet like it's an evil thing that shouldn't be discussed. I can be awkward when talking about such things too, but where do you think that stigma comes from?
The romantic and sexual tension in this book is so satisfying! June and Alex are constantly talking about sex with one another all while their feelings for one another are growing more and more intense. It was so fun seeing them try to hide their interest from one another, and it was even more satisfying seeing them finally give in.
When the truth finally comes out about their feelings, it doesn't take long for the electricity between them to turn to red hot heat. We may only get a few spicy chapters this entire book, but they were so immensely satisfying. Alex makes sure that June gets exactly what she needs in the bedroom, even going as far to take things super slow despite their obvious lust towards one another. June certainly knows how to return the favor as a sexuality teacher, and it was so nice seeing them get to be so comfortable with one another. The spicy scenes are super hot and definitely made me feel some things, but they are also informative in their own way. All the messages about consent, pleasure, achieving orgasms after a lifetime without, and trusting one's partner are so beautifully done. June and Alex's time in the bedroom truly displays the vulnerability and trust that should come with sex that all the common media likes to just skip over. I find that most romance books really get into the physical details of the spicy scenes, but I love how Curry focuses so heavily on the emotional details.
I think events like Sextival would really benefit so many students. I know many schools are afraid that hosting events surrounding sex is only encouraging students to have sex, but their having it anyways, so may as well help them out so they aren't as confused or doing unhealthy things to their bodies. The way that June (and eventually Alex) fight to get resources into the hands of these students is so inspiring; I feel many schools could really benefit from seeing how events like this help their students rather than harm them.
I was so emotionally invested in June and Alex's lives that there were many times throughout this book where I groaned in frustration, sighed in admiration, and blinked away tears. There were several events towards the end that I thought would typically make me rage quit a romance novel, but Alex and June actually handle the conflicts that come between them like adults rather than flying off the handle and creating even more pointless conflicts. It actually saddened me to read the final page of this one; I just love these two together so much! I was super happy to see them finally get the happy ending they deserve.
Overall, "Love Between the Lectures" is an amazing college romance between two recently reunited childhood friends who have to work together to teach sexuality to their students. June and Alex had such a sweet relationship, and the romantic tension between them was so good. I am a huge fan of books that center around sex positivity and healthy sex practices, and I must say, this one blew my expectations out of the water! This book balances wit, education, romance, and spice with such finesse; I can't believe this book is a debut! I look forward to seeing what else Curry writes, because this book knocked my socks off in the best way possible.
June Wells grew up shackled by purity culture and felt constantly pressured to be a perfect daughter. She's left that life behind her and now teaches as a sexuality professor at an elite college. June may have tricked her family into believing that she is in fact a nutrition professor, but what her family doesn't know can't hurt them. Her past life comes crashing down on her when she encounters her childhood friend and crush, Alex Cardoso. He's just as annoying as she remembered, but what's even more frustrating is that she's been assigned to be his mentor in all things sex related. It's no surprise that the school is understaffed, but why did it have to be Alex she must take under her wing? To make matters worse, the two are paired up to plan a sex positive themed event that they've dubbed Sextival. Despite their rocky past, June and Alex must work together to empower their students and teach them all there is to know about safe sex practices and having a positive viewpoint in the bedroom.
I am one of those people who gets randomly fascinated by the darndest things and then I tend to latch onto them when I come across them in literature. One such topic for me right now is sex positivity, so when one of my good author friends Kerrie Faye recommended this one to me, I signed up to read the ARC immediately. Thank you Alcove Press and the author for the chance to read an eARC of this one! It was so spectacular I'd be blessed if it graced my shelves one day.
This book is so stinking cute! I am a huge fan of childhood friends to lovers as a trope, so I was sold on Alex and June's relationship from the start. It was clear they had some things from their past to work through, but I felt most of them had to do with miscommunication issues brought about by June's meddling family. These two do so many adorable things together such as go on a road trip, plan a campus event, brave only one bed at a hotel, and care for each other when they are at their worst. Everyone needs someone to be there for them like June and Alex are there for each other.
As I said earlier, I am a huge fan of books that show the real sides of sexual relationships and intimacy in the bedroom. I fear most of society's preconceptions and expectations of sex come from Hollywood and the movies/TV shows we consume. This really warps reality, and I loved seeing June empower her students by teaching them about their bodies and how to take care of them properly while still experiencing the benefits of sex and intimacy. The way that this book discusses pleasure is also so well done; Curry truly balances being educational, romantic, and entertaining with such finesse.
June grew up in a toxic household that shamed people for wanting sex, called sex a dirty thing, and literally slut-shames June for so much as exposing her elbows in public. Reading about someone who comes from such a conservative household was very enlightening, especially as she moves on to become a professor of sexuality. I feel many women can relate to June's experiences (though most probably didn't go through the same severity as June's childhood). Her mother viewed speaking of menstruation improper, and June was so clueless about so many things for so long. June was lucky enough to have Alex's mother, who is a nurse, right next door to her, but I fear many young girls aren't that lucky and severely lack the resources to understand their changing bodies and sex as a whole. Darn American school systems for literally hiding sex in a closet like it's an evil thing that shouldn't be discussed. I can be awkward when talking about such things too, but where do you think that stigma comes from?
The romantic and sexual tension in this book is so satisfying! June and Alex are constantly talking about sex with one another all while their feelings for one another are growing more and more intense. It was so fun seeing them try to hide their interest from one another, and it was even more satisfying seeing them finally give in.
When the truth finally comes out about their feelings, it doesn't take long for the electricity between them to turn to red hot heat. We may only get a few spicy chapters this entire book, but they were so immensely satisfying. Alex makes sure that June gets exactly what she needs in the bedroom, even going as far to take things super slow despite their obvious lust towards one another. June certainly knows how to return the favor as a sexuality teacher, and it was so nice seeing them get to be so comfortable with one another. The spicy scenes are super hot and definitely made me feel some things, but they are also informative in their own way. All the messages about consent, pleasure, achieving orgasms after a lifetime without, and trusting one's partner are so beautifully done. June and Alex's time in the bedroom truly displays the vulnerability and trust that should come with sex that all the common media likes to just skip over. I find that most romance books really get into the physical details of the spicy scenes, but I love how Curry focuses so heavily on the emotional details.
I think events like Sextival would really benefit so many students. I know many schools are afraid that hosting events surrounding sex is only encouraging students to have sex, but their having it anyways, so may as well help them out so they aren't as confused or doing unhealthy things to their bodies. The way that June (and eventually Alex) fight to get resources into the hands of these students is so inspiring; I feel many schools could really benefit from seeing how events like this help their students rather than harm them.
I was so emotionally invested in June and Alex's lives that there were many times throughout this book where I groaned in frustration, sighed in admiration, and blinked away tears. There were several events towards the end that I thought would typically make me rage quit a romance novel, but Alex and June actually handle the conflicts that come between them like adults rather than flying off the handle and creating even more pointless conflicts. It actually saddened me to read the final page of this one; I just love these two together so much! I was super happy to see them finally get the happy ending they deserve.
Overall, "Love Between the Lectures" is an amazing college romance between two recently reunited childhood friends who have to work together to teach sexuality to their students. June and Alex had such a sweet relationship, and the romantic tension between them was so good. I am a huge fan of books that center around sex positivity and healthy sex practices, and I must say, this one blew my expectations out of the water! This book balances wit, education, romance, and spice with such finesse; I can't believe this book is a debut! I look forward to seeing what else Curry writes, because this book knocked my socks off in the best way possible.
July 21, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4 to 4.5 Stars.
✨ The Vibe
A witty academic rom-com filled with chemistry, second chances, hilarious banter, and meaningful conversations about sex positivity, shame, and healing. Come for the romance... stay for Sextival.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
June Wells has worked hard to build a career she's passionate about as a human sexuality professor, and with tenure within reach, she's determined not to let anything stand in her way.
That becomes a little more complicated when she's assigned to mentor Alex Cardoso—her former childhood crush who unknowingly broke her heart years ago.
As they work together to organize a university-wide sexual health event while navigating conservative donors, family expectations, and unresolved feelings, June and Alex quickly discover that some chemistry never really disappears.
🖤 My Reading Experience
I had such a good time reading this book. From the very beginning, it was funny, charming, romantic, and incredibly easy to fly through. The pacing kept me engaged, the banter was genuinely entertaining, and I found myself smiling through so many scenes.
What really surprised me, though, was how much heart this story has. On the surface, it's a steamy academic rom-com, but underneath all the chemistry and humor is a thoughtful story about sex positivity, purity culture, shame, and the beliefs we grow up with. I absolutely loved that.
Rather than simply touching on those topics, the story explores how those beliefs can continue affecting someone well into adulthood and how healing isn't always straightforward. It was handled with a lot of empathy, and I really appreciated that balance between heavier themes and the lighthearted romance.
June and Alex were also incredibly easy to root for. I loved watching their relationship grow, and I'm such a sucker for an it's always been you romance. Seeing them slowly realize that they'd both misunderstood what happened all those years ago was equal parts adorable and frustrating in the best way.
Alex especially completely won me over. His unwavering support for June, her career, and everything she wanted to accomplish made him such a lovable character. He never tried to dim her light, and I loved seeing a romance built on that kind of encouragement and respect.
💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
There honestly wasn't much that didn't work for me, which is exactly why I struggled to rate this book. I had so much fun reading it.
At the same time, I did feel like certain parts could've used a little more room to breathe. The story moves at quite a fast pace, which kept me engaged throughout, but I think it was almost too quick in places. The ending, in particular, felt a little rushed, and I would've loved a bit more time with the resolution.
There were also a few storylines that felt slightly underdeveloped.
The book hints that something happened between June and Alex's mother in the past, but we never really get a satisfying explanation. I also kept hoping we'd get an actual reunion between them rather than just a phone call.
Then there's June's father, who is technically part of the story but is barely present at all. Considering everything happening between June and her mother, I found myself wondering where he was in all of this and why we never really saw his perspective.
Finally, I was surprised by how Alex and Charlie's friendship ended. These two were supposedly incredibly close, yet one painful comment was apparently enough to completely destroy their friendship for years. I understood why feelings were hurt, but I would've liked a little more depth there because it felt like there was more to that story than we were shown.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Second chance romance
- Childhood crush
- It's always been you
- Academic setting
- Forced proximity
- Sex positivity
- Steamy romance
💔 Emotional Impact
Laughter: 10/10.
Emotional damage: 2/10.
Making me want to attend a fictional event called Sextival: surprisingly... yes. 😂
🫶 Final Thoughts
Love Between the Lectures was such a refreshing read. It delivers exactly what you'd hope for in a romantic comedy—humor, chemistry, lovable characters, and plenty of sweet moments—but also isn't afraid to have meaningful conversations about shame, sexuality, and healing from the beliefs we grow up with.
While I do think a few storylines could've been explored in more depth, and the ending felt a little rushed, none of that stopped me from genuinely enjoying every minute I spent with these characters.
This is one of those books that's simply... fun. Heartfelt, funny, thoughtful, and incredibly easy to recommend if you're looking for a romance with plenty of laughs, lots of heart, and two characters you'll be rooting for from beginning to end.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
✨ The Vibe
A witty academic rom-com filled with chemistry, second chances, hilarious banter, and meaningful conversations about sex positivity, shame, and healing. Come for the romance... stay for Sextival.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
June Wells has worked hard to build a career she's passionate about as a human sexuality professor, and with tenure within reach, she's determined not to let anything stand in her way.
That becomes a little more complicated when she's assigned to mentor Alex Cardoso—her former childhood crush who unknowingly broke her heart years ago.
As they work together to organize a university-wide sexual health event while navigating conservative donors, family expectations, and unresolved feelings, June and Alex quickly discover that some chemistry never really disappears.
🖤 My Reading Experience
I had such a good time reading this book. From the very beginning, it was funny, charming, romantic, and incredibly easy to fly through. The pacing kept me engaged, the banter was genuinely entertaining, and I found myself smiling through so many scenes.
What really surprised me, though, was how much heart this story has. On the surface, it's a steamy academic rom-com, but underneath all the chemistry and humor is a thoughtful story about sex positivity, purity culture, shame, and the beliefs we grow up with. I absolutely loved that.
Rather than simply touching on those topics, the story explores how those beliefs can continue affecting someone well into adulthood and how healing isn't always straightforward. It was handled with a lot of empathy, and I really appreciated that balance between heavier themes and the lighthearted romance.
June and Alex were also incredibly easy to root for. I loved watching their relationship grow, and I'm such a sucker for an it's always been you romance. Seeing them slowly realize that they'd both misunderstood what happened all those years ago was equal parts adorable and frustrating in the best way.
Alex especially completely won me over. His unwavering support for June, her career, and everything she wanted to accomplish made him such a lovable character. He never tried to dim her light, and I loved seeing a romance built on that kind of encouragement and respect.
💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
There honestly wasn't much that didn't work for me, which is exactly why I struggled to rate this book. I had so much fun reading it.
At the same time, I did feel like certain parts could've used a little more room to breathe. The story moves at quite a fast pace, which kept me engaged throughout, but I think it was almost too quick in places. The ending, in particular, felt a little rushed, and I would've loved a bit more time with the resolution.
There were also a few storylines that felt slightly underdeveloped.
The book hints that something happened between June and Alex's mother in the past, but we never really get a satisfying explanation. I also kept hoping we'd get an actual reunion between them rather than just a phone call.
Then there's June's father, who is technically part of the story but is barely present at all. Considering everything happening between June and her mother, I found myself wondering where he was in all of this and why we never really saw his perspective.
Finally, I was surprised by how Alex and Charlie's friendship ended. These two were supposedly incredibly close, yet one painful comment was apparently enough to completely destroy their friendship for years. I understood why feelings were hurt, but I would've liked a little more depth there because it felt like there was more to that story than we were shown.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Second chance romance
- Childhood crush
- It's always been you
- Academic setting
- Forced proximity
- Sex positivity
- Steamy romance
💔 Emotional Impact
Laughter: 10/10.
Emotional damage: 2/10.
Making me want to attend a fictional event called Sextival: surprisingly... yes. 😂
🫶 Final Thoughts
Love Between the Lectures was such a refreshing read. It delivers exactly what you'd hope for in a romantic comedy—humor, chemistry, lovable characters, and plenty of sweet moments—but also isn't afraid to have meaningful conversations about shame, sexuality, and healing from the beliefs we grow up with.
While I do think a few storylines could've been explored in more depth, and the ending felt a little rushed, none of that stopped me from genuinely enjoying every minute I spent with these characters.
This is one of those books that's simply... fun. Heartfelt, funny, thoughtful, and incredibly easy to recommend if you're looking for a romance with plenty of laughs, lots of heart, and two characters you'll be rooting for from beginning to end.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
July 27, 2026
4 ⭐️
Tropes: second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, brother’s best friend, workplace romance, forced proximity, only one bed, coworkers, academic romance, slow burn, mutual pining
“We missed our chance all those years ago, yes, but this was supposed to be our shot at a do-over. A real chance to get things right.”
This was such a fun read! I LOVED the mix of humor, heartfelt moments, and adored the second-chance romance that was full of chemistry, banter, and emotion that had me rooting for June and Alex from the very beginning.
June Wells is unexpectedly paired with Alex Cardoso to mentor him after he’s assigned to teach a human sexuality course for the first time. The only problem? Alex is her brother’s childhood best friend, her former neighbor, and the boy she secretly had feelings for growing up. They both harbored feelings for each other but never acted on them, and after more than a decade apart, they’re suddenly spending so much time together creating lesson plans, working on presentations, and planning the university’s sexual health event, Sextival. It doesn’t take long for all those old feelings to come rushing back, and I loved watching them reconnect and finally get the chance they missed all those years ago.
The banter between June and Alex was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their chemistry felt effortless, and I loved how playful they were together. Alex refusing to call June by her actual name and instead calling her every other month of the year never stopped being funny. It was such a small running joke, but I laughed every single time.
I also loved that this wasn’t just a romance. June’s journey of finding her voice after growing up in an incredibly controlling, purity-culture environment added so much emotional depth to the story. Watching her slowly stand up to her mother, stop hiding who she was, and embrace the career she’d worked so hard for was incredibly satisfying. Alex supported her every step of the way, not only as she navigated her career but as she learned to stand up for herself, and I loved how he encouraged her without ever trying to overshadow her journey.
Their romance was incredibly sweet because they were both carrying around years of “what ifs.” They truly felt like the ones that got away for each other, and seeing them finally get the second chance they’d both deserved made it so easy to root for them. I loved watching them reconnect and realize they still fit together just as well as they had all those years ago.
I also appreciated how the conflict surrounding Sextival and the university donors gave the story real stakes beyond the romance. It sparked meaningful conversations about sexual health education, personal autonomy, and breaking free from expectations, and I thought those themes were handled really well throughout the story.
One thing I especially loved about this book was the focus on public health and sexual health education, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever come across in a romance before. As someone who studied public health in college, I loved seeing that incorporated into the story. It made this book feel really unique while still giving me everything I wanted in a romance—great banter, a sweet second-chance love story, and characters that were easy to root for.
I swooned, I cried, and I had such a great time with this one. This was an impressive debut novel, and I really enjoyed the author’s voice and storytelling. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes: second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, brother’s best friend, workplace romance, forced proximity, only one bed, coworkers, academic romance, slow burn, mutual pining
“We missed our chance all those years ago, yes, but this was supposed to be our shot at a do-over. A real chance to get things right.”
This was such a fun read! I LOVED the mix of humor, heartfelt moments, and adored the second-chance romance that was full of chemistry, banter, and emotion that had me rooting for June and Alex from the very beginning.
June Wells is unexpectedly paired with Alex Cardoso to mentor him after he’s assigned to teach a human sexuality course for the first time. The only problem? Alex is her brother’s childhood best friend, her former neighbor, and the boy she secretly had feelings for growing up. They both harbored feelings for each other but never acted on them, and after more than a decade apart, they’re suddenly spending so much time together creating lesson plans, working on presentations, and planning the university’s sexual health event, Sextival. It doesn’t take long for all those old feelings to come rushing back, and I loved watching them reconnect and finally get the chance they missed all those years ago.
The banter between June and Alex was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their chemistry felt effortless, and I loved how playful they were together. Alex refusing to call June by her actual name and instead calling her every other month of the year never stopped being funny. It was such a small running joke, but I laughed every single time.
I also loved that this wasn’t just a romance. June’s journey of finding her voice after growing up in an incredibly controlling, purity-culture environment added so much emotional depth to the story. Watching her slowly stand up to her mother, stop hiding who she was, and embrace the career she’d worked so hard for was incredibly satisfying. Alex supported her every step of the way, not only as she navigated her career but as she learned to stand up for herself, and I loved how he encouraged her without ever trying to overshadow her journey.
Their romance was incredibly sweet because they were both carrying around years of “what ifs.” They truly felt like the ones that got away for each other, and seeing them finally get the second chance they’d both deserved made it so easy to root for them. I loved watching them reconnect and realize they still fit together just as well as they had all those years ago.
I also appreciated how the conflict surrounding Sextival and the university donors gave the story real stakes beyond the romance. It sparked meaningful conversations about sexual health education, personal autonomy, and breaking free from expectations, and I thought those themes were handled really well throughout the story.
One thing I especially loved about this book was the focus on public health and sexual health education, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever come across in a romance before. As someone who studied public health in college, I loved seeing that incorporated into the story. It made this book feel really unique while still giving me everything I wanted in a romance—great banter, a sweet second-chance love story, and characters that were easy to root for.
I swooned, I cried, and I had such a great time with this one. This was an impressive debut novel, and I really enjoyed the author’s voice and storytelling. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After growing up shackled in purity culture, June Wells broke out with a bang. She’s now a human sexuality professor on the brink of tenure, and nothing is going to get in her way. That is, until Alex Cardoso crashes back into her life. She’s managed to avoid her childhood neighbor and former crush for fifteen years, ever since the mortifying moment in high school when he turned her down. Worse? He’s a hotshot PhD candidate appointed to cover his first human sexuality class, and June is assigned as his mentor, linking her tenure to his success—or failure.
While June and Alex struggle to find their footing both in and out of the classroom, they’re tasked with organizing a sexual health event: Sextival. But June has a secret. She’s kept the details of her profession hidden from her ultraconservative parents, who happen to be the university’s largest donors.
When word about Sextival reaches June’s mother and her wealthy friends, they threaten to pull their donations unless the event is canceled. But June isn’t about to let the prudes win, and neither is Alex. Together, amid late-night office hours and an impromptu road trip, they finally find their rhythm at work...and in bed. But Alex has a secret of his own—one that will force June to decide what’s most important to her: her dream job or her dream guy.
I've known Christie for years - since before we both got agented, when we were still trading our books with each other to garner some beta feedback. I actually met her by reading one of her fabulous contemporary romance books, and I knew from reading that book onward that she was destined for great things. Curry is a phenomenal writer, the likes of which the romance genre hasn't seen before.
With dynamic characters, niche occupations, and a memorable message about sex positivity, Curry writes a story worth telling, worth remembering, and worth reading again and again. She has a way with words: her books are easy to consume but don't fall into the stereotypes of romance that are so often associated with the genre. She brings a unique set of characters to a unique situation, and a marvelous story unfolds.
I'm not going to lie, Curry has definitely convinced me, single-handedly, to pursue more of a collection of romance books. Her novels, including Love Between The Lectures, are gems and I will never get tired of reading them. She's a phenomenal author, another Ali Hazelwood or Emily Henry in the making, and I cannot wait to see what she writes and publishes next!
While June and Alex struggle to find their footing both in and out of the classroom, they’re tasked with organizing a sexual health event: Sextival. But June has a secret. She’s kept the details of her profession hidden from her ultraconservative parents, who happen to be the university’s largest donors.
When word about Sextival reaches June’s mother and her wealthy friends, they threaten to pull their donations unless the event is canceled. But June isn’t about to let the prudes win, and neither is Alex. Together, amid late-night office hours and an impromptu road trip, they finally find their rhythm at work...and in bed. But Alex has a secret of his own—one that will force June to decide what’s most important to her: her dream job or her dream guy.
I've known Christie for years - since before we both got agented, when we were still trading our books with each other to garner some beta feedback. I actually met her by reading one of her fabulous contemporary romance books, and I knew from reading that book onward that she was destined for great things. Curry is a phenomenal writer, the likes of which the romance genre hasn't seen before.
With dynamic characters, niche occupations, and a memorable message about sex positivity, Curry writes a story worth telling, worth remembering, and worth reading again and again. She has a way with words: her books are easy to consume but don't fall into the stereotypes of romance that are so often associated with the genre. She brings a unique set of characters to a unique situation, and a marvelous story unfolds.
I'm not going to lie, Curry has definitely convinced me, single-handedly, to pursue more of a collection of romance books. Her novels, including Love Between The Lectures, are gems and I will never get tired of reading them. She's a phenomenal author, another Ali Hazelwood or Emily Henry in the making, and I cannot wait to see what she writes and publishes next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Some romance books are simply fun, some are emotionally comforting, and some manage to be both while quietly making you think about bigger things. This book falls into the latter category for me. On the surface, it is a witty, steamy second-chance romance between a human sexuality professor and the childhood crush she has spent fifteen years trying to forget. But underneath all the chemistry, humor, and romantic tension is a surprisingly meaningful story about breaking free from expectations and having the courage to choose the life that truly belongs to you.
I loved June because of the contrast between where she came from and who she has become. Growing up in purity culture and then becoming a human sexuality professor is such an interesting character journey. June has essentially built an entire life in opposition to the values she was raised with, yet she still carries the emotional weight of those expectations.
And then there is Alex.
The childhood-crush-to-grown-up-romance trope is one I will always have a soft spot for, especially when there is history, awkwardness, and unresolved feelings involved. The fact that June has spent fifteen years avoiding Alex because he once rejected her makes their reunion even more entertaining. Their relationship has that wonderful combination of awkwardness, banter, attraction, and emotional vulnerability that makes it difficult not to keep turning the pages.
I also loved the academic setting. As someone who enjoys stories set around universities and academia, I found the professor/student-facing professional world particularly interesting. June isn't simply a woman falling in love; she is a woman who has worked hard to establish herself professionally and is on the brink of tenure.
And, of course, the romance has plenty of heat. The chemistry between June and Alex is exactly what I want from a steamy rom-com: attraction combined with emotional history. Their relationship doesn't feel like two strangers suddenly falling into bed; there is a sense of unfinished business between them, which makes their adult relationship much more satisfying.
Overall, this was a fun, spicy, witty, and surprisingly thoughtful romance. I went into it expecting a steamy academic rom-com, but what stayed with me was June's journey toward owning her identity. The combination of second-chance romance, academic drama, family conflict, humor, and plenty of chemistry makes this a particularly entertaining read.
I loved June because of the contrast between where she came from and who she has become. Growing up in purity culture and then becoming a human sexuality professor is such an interesting character journey. June has essentially built an entire life in opposition to the values she was raised with, yet she still carries the emotional weight of those expectations.
And then there is Alex.
The childhood-crush-to-grown-up-romance trope is one I will always have a soft spot for, especially when there is history, awkwardness, and unresolved feelings involved. The fact that June has spent fifteen years avoiding Alex because he once rejected her makes their reunion even more entertaining. Their relationship has that wonderful combination of awkwardness, banter, attraction, and emotional vulnerability that makes it difficult not to keep turning the pages.
I also loved the academic setting. As someone who enjoys stories set around universities and academia, I found the professor/student-facing professional world particularly interesting. June isn't simply a woman falling in love; she is a woman who has worked hard to establish herself professionally and is on the brink of tenure.
And, of course, the romance has plenty of heat. The chemistry between June and Alex is exactly what I want from a steamy rom-com: attraction combined with emotional history. Their relationship doesn't feel like two strangers suddenly falling into bed; there is a sense of unfinished business between them, which makes their adult relationship much more satisfying.
Overall, this was a fun, spicy, witty, and surprisingly thoughtful romance. I went into it expecting a steamy academic rom-com, but what stayed with me was June's journey toward owning her identity. The combination of second-chance romance, academic drama, family conflict, humor, and plenty of chemistry makes this a particularly entertaining read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.75⭐
(+) :
- This was short and easy to read.
- I like her being a sexual health professional and being sexually repressed in her own sexual journey. That’s an interesting dichotomy.
- Gram was the best character. We love an old biddy with her own agenda.
- This title is fine. It’s nice.
(-) :
- The writing style wasn’t. It had a lot of jokey moments that just weren’t my sense of humor and felt really forced as well as the tension and pull for the romance itself just feeling missing for me personally.
- This book was cliche as hell. Like oh the sex health prof has Christian uptight rich parents, “Adulting is Hard” (barf), etc. Cliches aren’t always bad and are tantamount to the romance genre from a craft standpoint, but these cliches were just face value with no flair. The tropes were so cliche. She literally wrote "there’s only one bed". The full sentence. Yikes.
- The savannah stuff was exhausting. Why can two sex positive career focused women not just be friends or at the very least cordial? Why must they fight over a man?
- I mean, going off of that, June is just really NOT a girl’s girl. She calls herself out on it at one point, but then she just…keeps doing it? It’s so deeply unpleasant.
- The characters all felt really flat. They each needed another layer. Especially Alex. What flaw did he have? Man? Smart man? Moving away?
- I wish there was more about her mentoring him. That dies IMMEDIATELY. He just knows everything and then he has one struggle in the classroom and then he’s fine again. Also, where did her other friends go? We only ever really see Millie again.
- I don’t like this cover. It is just not a style for me. I think their poses are fun, but the overall design just isn’t one I gravitate towards.
(?) :
- Like. ..Why do they like each other? Obviously theyre both hot but like...what is their shared history?
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : I don’t think so.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : They seem to have been obsessed with each other for decades for whatever reason so they’ll probably stay obsessed for no reason.
*Thank you to Alcove Press & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'This Summer Will Be Different' by Carley Fortune
- 'Let's Kiss and Tell' by Joss Richard
- 'Love, Theoretically' by Ali Hazelwood
- 'In Stormy Weather' by Chelsea Curto
- 'Last Night was Fun' by Holly James
(+) :
- This was short and easy to read.
- I like her being a sexual health professional and being sexually repressed in her own sexual journey. That’s an interesting dichotomy.
- Gram was the best character. We love an old biddy with her own agenda.
- This title is fine. It’s nice.
(-) :
- The writing style wasn’t. It had a lot of jokey moments that just weren’t my sense of humor and felt really forced as well as the tension and pull for the romance itself just feeling missing for me personally.
- This book was cliche as hell. Like oh the sex health prof has Christian uptight rich parents, “Adulting is Hard” (barf), etc. Cliches aren’t always bad and are tantamount to the romance genre from a craft standpoint, but these cliches were just face value with no flair. The tropes were so cliche. She literally wrote "there’s only one bed". The full sentence. Yikes.
- The savannah stuff was exhausting. Why can two sex positive career focused women not just be friends or at the very least cordial? Why must they fight over a man?
- I mean, going off of that, June is just really NOT a girl’s girl. She calls herself out on it at one point, but then she just…keeps doing it? It’s so deeply unpleasant.
- The characters all felt really flat. They each needed another layer. Especially Alex. What flaw did he have? Man? Smart man? Moving away?
- I wish there was more about her mentoring him. That dies IMMEDIATELY. He just knows everything and then he has one struggle in the classroom and then he’s fine again. Also, where did her other friends go? We only ever really see Millie again.
- I don’t like this cover. It is just not a style for me. I think their poses are fun, but the overall design just isn’t one I gravitate towards.
(?) :
- Like. ..Why do they like each other? Obviously theyre both hot but like...what is their shared history?
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : I don’t think so.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : They seem to have been obsessed with each other for decades for whatever reason so they’ll probably stay obsessed for no reason.
*Thank you to Alcove Press & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'This Summer Will Be Different' by Carley Fortune
- 'Let's Kiss and Tell' by Joss Richard
- 'Love, Theoretically' by Ali Hazelwood
- 'In Stormy Weather' by Chelsea Curto
- 'Last Night was Fun' by Holly James
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am SCREAMING!!! I am so incredibly obsessed with this book oh my god and it's a debut? It's INCREDIBLE.
It gives me all the Ali Hazelwood vibes and if you know me, you know I am obsessed with everything she writes. It's always been you will always be my favourite and it was done so well, oh and combine that with childhood friends to lovers and you have me hooked before you can say sex ed. And don't even get me started on the pining, IT IS SO GOOD. I love the little things they do together that slowly pushes them closer to each other, the roadtrip, the festival, everything. The way they show up for each other is absolutely perfect, like oh my god I just love them so much together. And the tension slowly ramping up... FERAL. Like the restaurant scene (and aftermath) had me giggling and kicking my feet so much.
And I love how the book promotes sex positivity and highlights the consequences of a toxic household on someone's view of themself, with certain topics being perpetuated as taboo and stigmatising them, which will only make people internalise those ideas and clueless about health subjects which are important to know. I love how June took back her own power and stood up to her family, because she deserves to be who she is and do what she is passionate about. I think it's such an important topic and it is written incredibly well, combining the informational/educational side of things with fun, banter, and just a lot of romance, love, and intimacy.
The spice scenes were also such a perfect display of this. There was so much intimacy, vulnerability and trust between the two and yes they were hot, but there were just so many added layers to it.
I just need everybody to pick up this book ASAP, because it is the perfect childhood friends to lovers, forced proximity, swoonworthy, sex positive romance with lots of pining and tension.
Also, I want to know where I can find my own Alex Cardoso, because I need me a man like that.
What to expect:
💗 Stem romance
💗 Childhood friends to lovers
💗 Swoonworthy MMC
💗 Sex positivity
💗 It's always been you
💗 Professor x Professor (who are forced to work together)
💗 Only one bed
Thank you Christie Curry and Alcove Press for the ARC!
It gives me all the Ali Hazelwood vibes and if you know me, you know I am obsessed with everything she writes. It's always been you will always be my favourite and it was done so well, oh and combine that with childhood friends to lovers and you have me hooked before you can say sex ed. And don't even get me started on the pining, IT IS SO GOOD. I love the little things they do together that slowly pushes them closer to each other, the roadtrip, the festival, everything. The way they show up for each other is absolutely perfect, like oh my god I just love them so much together. And the tension slowly ramping up... FERAL. Like the restaurant scene (and aftermath) had me giggling and kicking my feet so much.
And I love how the book promotes sex positivity and highlights the consequences of a toxic household on someone's view of themself, with certain topics being perpetuated as taboo and stigmatising them, which will only make people internalise those ideas and clueless about health subjects which are important to know. I love how June took back her own power and stood up to her family, because she deserves to be who she is and do what she is passionate about. I think it's such an important topic and it is written incredibly well, combining the informational/educational side of things with fun, banter, and just a lot of romance, love, and intimacy.
The spice scenes were also such a perfect display of this. There was so much intimacy, vulnerability and trust between the two and yes they were hot, but there were just so many added layers to it.
I just need everybody to pick up this book ASAP, because it is the perfect childhood friends to lovers, forced proximity, swoonworthy, sex positive romance with lots of pining and tension.
Also, I want to know where I can find my own Alex Cardoso, because I need me a man like that.
What to expect:
💗 Stem romance
💗 Childhood friends to lovers
💗 Swoonworthy MMC
💗 Sex positivity
💗 It's always been you
💗 Professor x Professor (who are forced to work together)
💗 Only one bed
Thank you Christie Curry and Alcove Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 ⭐️
What a fun, heartfelt academic romance! Love Between the Lectures was a charming, sex positive rom com that blended humor, emotional growth, and plenty of chemistry. With childhood friends to lovers, forced proximity, witty banter, and meaningful conversations around shame and sexuality, this was an engaging read that I flew through.
Dr. June Wells has worked hard to build her career as a Human Sexuality professor and is determined to earn tenure. The last thing she expects is to be assigned as mentor to Alex Cardoso, the boy she never quite got over. As the two professors work together planning a campus sexual health event, old feelings begin to resurface, forcing them to confront the past while figuring out what they want for their future.
I really enjoyed June's journey throughout this book. Her growth as she worked through the lasting effects of her conservative upbringing felt authentic, and I appreciated how thoughtfully the story explored sex positivity, female empowerment, and the realities of working in academia. These themes added emotional depth without ever overshadowing the romance.
June and Alex had great chemistry, and I loved their playful banter and shared history. The "it's always been you" energy was incredibly sweet, and watching them slowly reconnect had me smiling throughout. The supporting cast, especially Gram, added so much warmth and humor to the story.
My biggest critique is that I wanted a little more emotional development between June and Alex. While their chemistry was undeniable, parts of their romantic progression felt slightly rushed, and I would have loved more time to see certain conversations and emotional moments unfold. A few side plots also felt unnecessary and could have been trimmed to give the romance even more room to breathe.
Love Between the Lectures was a fun, feel good romance with lovable characters, plenty of heart, and an empowering message. I will definitely be picking up whatever Christie Curry writes next.
If you love:
▪️Academia
▪️Childhood friends to lovers
▪️Forced proximity
▪️Spicy
▪️Sex positive
▪️It's always been you
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What a fun, heartfelt academic romance! Love Between the Lectures was a charming, sex positive rom com that blended humor, emotional growth, and plenty of chemistry. With childhood friends to lovers, forced proximity, witty banter, and meaningful conversations around shame and sexuality, this was an engaging read that I flew through.
Dr. June Wells has worked hard to build her career as a Human Sexuality professor and is determined to earn tenure. The last thing she expects is to be assigned as mentor to Alex Cardoso, the boy she never quite got over. As the two professors work together planning a campus sexual health event, old feelings begin to resurface, forcing them to confront the past while figuring out what they want for their future.
I really enjoyed June's journey throughout this book. Her growth as she worked through the lasting effects of her conservative upbringing felt authentic, and I appreciated how thoughtfully the story explored sex positivity, female empowerment, and the realities of working in academia. These themes added emotional depth without ever overshadowing the romance.
June and Alex had great chemistry, and I loved their playful banter and shared history. The "it's always been you" energy was incredibly sweet, and watching them slowly reconnect had me smiling throughout. The supporting cast, especially Gram, added so much warmth and humor to the story.
My biggest critique is that I wanted a little more emotional development between June and Alex. While their chemistry was undeniable, parts of their romantic progression felt slightly rushed, and I would have loved more time to see certain conversations and emotional moments unfold. A few side plots also felt unnecessary and could have been trimmed to give the romance even more room to breathe.
Love Between the Lectures was a fun, feel good romance with lovable characters, plenty of heart, and an empowering message. I will definitely be picking up whatever Christie Curry writes next.
If you love:
▪️Academia
▪️Childhood friends to lovers
▪️Forced proximity
▪️Spicy
▪️Sex positive
▪️It's always been you
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love Between the Lectures was such a fun debut! The humor was easily one of my favorite parts, and Alex completely won me over. I loved how steady he was with June. He was right there, but never bulldozed or tried to swoop in and fix everything for her. He just stood beside her. That made me like him even more.
And I really loved that June’s story wasn’t only about finding Alex. A huge part of it was her finding herself, her voice, and what she was actually willing to stand for. Her relationship with Gram was probably my favorite platonic relationship in the entire book, though. Gram was consistently there for June in a way so many of the other side characters weren’t, and her role in the ending? Absolutely perfect. No notes. 😂
My biggest struggle was the pacing. The first half felt a little drawn out, and then once June and Alex finally got together, I wanted to yell, “Wait! Come back! I just got here!” The ending wrapped up pretty quickly, and I really wish we’d had more time to simply enjoy them as a couple. I also felt like they existed in a bit of a bubble. A lot of the side characters seemed to pop up mainly to create problems, and I would've loved to see June have some more friends standing beside June. There were also a few threads I kept waiting to circle back like where was June’s dad and whatever happened between June and Alex's mothers?
I also spent a surprising amount of time wondering why June was fighting so hard to stay somewhere that repeatedly showed her how little it valued her. The university constantly held tenure over her head to make her comply, even when it went against what she believed, so I wanted a little more exploration of why that specific job still felt worth sacrificing so much for.
That said, the ending was genuinely rewarding despite how quickly we got there, and I finished this one smiling. Funny, lighthearted, easy to fly through, with a romance I enjoyed and a fella I was very happy to root for. A very solid debut from Christie Curry, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
And I really loved that June’s story wasn’t only about finding Alex. A huge part of it was her finding herself, her voice, and what she was actually willing to stand for. Her relationship with Gram was probably my favorite platonic relationship in the entire book, though. Gram was consistently there for June in a way so many of the other side characters weren’t, and her role in the ending? Absolutely perfect. No notes. 😂
My biggest struggle was the pacing. The first half felt a little drawn out, and then once June and Alex finally got together, I wanted to yell, “Wait! Come back! I just got here!” The ending wrapped up pretty quickly, and I really wish we’d had more time to simply enjoy them as a couple. I also felt like they existed in a bit of a bubble. A lot of the side characters seemed to pop up mainly to create problems, and I would've loved to see June have some more friends standing beside June. There were also a few threads I kept waiting to circle back like where was June’s dad and whatever happened between June and Alex's mothers?
I also spent a surprising amount of time wondering why June was fighting so hard to stay somewhere that repeatedly showed her how little it valued her. The university constantly held tenure over her head to make her comply, even when it went against what she believed, so I wanted a little more exploration of why that specific job still felt worth sacrificing so much for.
That said, the ending was genuinely rewarding despite how quickly we got there, and I finished this one smiling. Funny, lighthearted, easy to fly through, with a romance I enjoyed and a fella I was very happy to root for. A very solid debut from Christie Curry, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3.5 stars ♡
Dr. June Wells is a human sexuality professor who's broken out of her family's pearl-clutching purity culture and is now working towards a tenure. She's determined, until her childhood neighbor–and former crush–shows back into her life. She may have managed to avoid him when they were kids, but now that she has been tasked to mentor him as he covers his first human sexuality class, it's inevitable to think about their rocky past... and what ifs. As if that wasn't enough, they've also been tasked to organize a sexual health event together: the Sextival. As old feelings and memories resurface, they must also work together to face the challenge of educating students about sex positivity, even if June's conservative parents along other major donors threaten to pull their funding unless Sextival is cancelled.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
I'm gonna be really honest, I cared more about the scandal than the actual romance HAHAH. This is the first time I read a rom-com that promotes sex positivity, and as someone who grew up in a conservative HISPANIC family, the lack of recognition for June hit home. Also, Grams carried the book lowkey. She had no business being that funny 😭.
June and Alex were cute, yes, I loved when he changed her name to different months. But I don't think I cared that much about the romance during the second half of the book. The spice felt a little sudden for me and every time "he left" for good, surprise! he just showed up again like- 😀 plsss let me mourn you for a little bit! The conflicts were also solved very quickly, so the changes of heart didn't feel that believable to me.
Other than those details and Savannah's NPC behaviour, I really enjoyed reading this. I've been a luckier, but I feel for those women who achieved everything possible but their families don't care, because they're not "settling down" and giving up their dreams for a man. So I hope this book also speaks to them. ♡
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
Slowly, he breaks the kiss and presses his forehead to mine. "I've always seen you, June."
Dr. June Wells is a human sexuality professor who's broken out of her family's pearl-clutching purity culture and is now working towards a tenure. She's determined, until her childhood neighbor–and former crush–shows back into her life. She may have managed to avoid him when they were kids, but now that she has been tasked to mentor him as he covers his first human sexuality class, it's inevitable to think about their rocky past... and what ifs. As if that wasn't enough, they've also been tasked to organize a sexual health event together: the Sextival. As old feelings and memories resurface, they must also work together to face the challenge of educating students about sex positivity, even if June's conservative parents along other major donors threaten to pull their funding unless Sextival is cancelled.
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
I'm gonna be really honest, I cared more about the scandal than the actual romance HAHAH. This is the first time I read a rom-com that promotes sex positivity, and as someone who grew up in a conservative HISPANIC family, the lack of recognition for June hit home. Also, Grams carried the book lowkey. She had no business being that funny 😭.
June and Alex were cute, yes, I loved when he changed her name to different months. But I don't think I cared that much about the romance during the second half of the book. The spice felt a little sudden for me and every time "he left" for good, surprise! he just showed up again like- 😀 plsss let me mourn you for a little bit! The conflicts were also solved very quickly, so the changes of heart didn't feel that believable to me.
Other than those details and Savannah's NPC behaviour, I really enjoyed reading this. I've been a luckier, but I feel for those women who achieved everything possible but their families don't care, because they're not "settling down" and giving up their dreams for a man. So I hope this book also speaks to them. ♡
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
July 24, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💜📚
I really liked the idea behind this book. I think sex positivity is an important topic, and helping young adults learn about it in a healthy, open way is something we need more of. I appreciated how this story tackled those conversations while also wrapping them up in a light, romantic read.
The romance itself was sweet and fun! 💕 It's a mix of a meet-cute and a second-chance romance. June has had a crush on Alex since she was young. He was her older brother's best friend and also her neighbor. Years ago, she awkwardly confessed her feelings to him, only to be turned down. Since then, she's done everything she could to avoid him. But fate has other plans when they end up at the same college, where June becomes Alex's mentor. Being forced back into each other's lives gives them the chance to clear up old misunderstandings and finally explore the feelings they've both been carrying.
I enjoyed the overall story and thought the chemistry between June and Alex was cute. However, the writing style wasn't really for me. I also felt that June's inner thoughts often sounded much younger than I expected from someone in her thirties, which made it harder for me to connect with her character. One thing I did appreciate was how the book challenged the stigma surrounding conversations about sex and encouraged open, honest communication. 🌸 My biggest issue was the pacing. Everything moved so quickly that the emotional moments and the ending didn't have enough time to breathe. The conflicts were resolved a little too neatly, and many plot points fell into place a bit too conveniently. It followed a very familiar romance formula, making the story feel predictable at times.
Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable romance with an important message, even if the execution didn't completely work for me. If you enjoy light contemporary romances with second chances, brother's best friend vibes, and a strong focus on sex positivity, this one is worth checking out. 💖
I really liked the idea behind this book. I think sex positivity is an important topic, and helping young adults learn about it in a healthy, open way is something we need more of. I appreciated how this story tackled those conversations while also wrapping them up in a light, romantic read.
The romance itself was sweet and fun! 💕 It's a mix of a meet-cute and a second-chance romance. June has had a crush on Alex since she was young. He was her older brother's best friend and also her neighbor. Years ago, she awkwardly confessed her feelings to him, only to be turned down. Since then, she's done everything she could to avoid him. But fate has other plans when they end up at the same college, where June becomes Alex's mentor. Being forced back into each other's lives gives them the chance to clear up old misunderstandings and finally explore the feelings they've both been carrying.
I enjoyed the overall story and thought the chemistry between June and Alex was cute. However, the writing style wasn't really for me. I also felt that June's inner thoughts often sounded much younger than I expected from someone in her thirties, which made it harder for me to connect with her character. One thing I did appreciate was how the book challenged the stigma surrounding conversations about sex and encouraged open, honest communication. 🌸 My biggest issue was the pacing. Everything moved so quickly that the emotional moments and the ending didn't have enough time to breathe. The conflicts were resolved a little too neatly, and many plot points fell into place a bit too conveniently. It followed a very familiar romance formula, making the story feel predictable at times.
Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable romance with an important message, even if the execution didn't completely work for me. If you enjoy light contemporary romances with second chances, brother's best friend vibes, and a strong focus on sex positivity, this one is worth checking out. 💖
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love Between the Lectures is Christie Curry's debut novel, and I really enjoyed it!
The story follows June, a sexual health professor, as she reconnects with her childhood crush, Alex. When they're asked to collaborate on a campus event promoting sexual health education, they're suddenly spending a lot more time together. Alex, an epidemiologist, is unexpectedly teaching for the semester, and June is tasked with mentoring him as he takes on a sexuality course.
What surprised me most about this book was how funny it was. It balances humor with some heavier topics exceptionally well, making it both entertaining and emotionally impactful.
The novel explores purity culture and the lasting effects it can have on a person's relationship with sexuality and themselves. June was raised with a great deal of shame surrounding sex, and watching her work through those feelings felt authentic and relatable. The book also dives into family dynamics, particularly June's complicated relationship with her mother, which is shaped by years of expectations, misunderstandings, and dishonesty. At times, those scenes were difficult to read because they felt so real.
I also loved the characters. June and Alex are both well-developed, with rich backstories that make them feel like fully realized people. Their chemistry is charming, and their journey together is filled with memorable moments, humor, and plenty of heart.
One of the book's strongest aspects is its sex-positive approach and willingness to engage in honest conversations about sexuality. The tension created by the campus protesters and June's relationship with her mother added depth to the story and made the conflicts feel realistic.
If you're a fan of second-chance romances with meaningful discussions about sexuality, family, and personal growth, I would definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows June, a sexual health professor, as she reconnects with her childhood crush, Alex. When they're asked to collaborate on a campus event promoting sexual health education, they're suddenly spending a lot more time together. Alex, an epidemiologist, is unexpectedly teaching for the semester, and June is tasked with mentoring him as he takes on a sexuality course.
What surprised me most about this book was how funny it was. It balances humor with some heavier topics exceptionally well, making it both entertaining and emotionally impactful.
The novel explores purity culture and the lasting effects it can have on a person's relationship with sexuality and themselves. June was raised with a great deal of shame surrounding sex, and watching her work through those feelings felt authentic and relatable. The book also dives into family dynamics, particularly June's complicated relationship with her mother, which is shaped by years of expectations, misunderstandings, and dishonesty. At times, those scenes were difficult to read because they felt so real.
I also loved the characters. June and Alex are both well-developed, with rich backstories that make them feel like fully realized people. Their chemistry is charming, and their journey together is filled with memorable moments, humor, and plenty of heart.
One of the book's strongest aspects is its sex-positive approach and willingness to engage in honest conversations about sexuality. The tension created by the campus protesters and June's relationship with her mother added depth to the story and made the conflicts feel realistic.
If you're a fan of second-chance romances with meaningful discussions about sexuality, family, and personal growth, I would definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I AM ACTUALLY LOSING MY MIND OVER THIS BOOK 😭
This book has completely consumed my life and I regret NOTHING. Academic romance? ✔️ Second chance romance? ✔️ Childhood crushes? ✔️ Banter that made me kick my feet like a lunatic? ✔️ SEX POSITIVE PROFESSORS PLANNING A CAMPUS EVENT CALLED SEXTIVAL??? ✔️✔️✔️
June and Alex had me in a chokehold from page one. The chemistry between these two is INSANE. Every conversation felt like foreplay, every little touch had me screaming, and the amount of YEARNING??? CHRISTIE CURRY, YOU DID NOT HAVE TO GO THIS HARD 😭💥
And can we talk about June for a second??? Watching her unlearn all the shame and judgment she grew up with was so emotional. I wanted to hug her, cheer for her, and personally fight everyone who made her feel like she had to hide who she was 😤👊 Meanwhile Alex was out here being supportive, patient, funny, and completely obsessed with her and honestly SAME.
The banter was ELITE. The tension was FERAL. The road trip? The chaos? The family antics? The educational sex-positive conversations mixed with absolutely top-tier romance?? I was laughing one minute and clutching my chest the next.
And when they FINALLY gave in to their feelings??? EXCUSE ME WHILE I ASCEND 🫠🔥 The spicy scenes were not only hot, they were intimate, vulnerable, and full of communication and trust. I loved that the emotional connection was just as important as the physical one.
What makes this even more impressive is that it’s a DEBUT. A DEBUT!!! How am I supposed to go back to normal life after this??? I need Christie Curry to keep writing immediately because I will read every single thing she publishes.
If you love Ali Hazelwood-style academic vibes, second-chance romance, childhood-friends-to-lovers energy, ridiculous chemistry, emotional growth, and a couple that will make you grin like an idiot at 2 a.m., READ THIS BOOK.
Final verdict: 5 stars, no notes, no thoughts, only June & Alex forever ✨😭🔥
This book has completely consumed my life and I regret NOTHING. Academic romance? ✔️ Second chance romance? ✔️ Childhood crushes? ✔️ Banter that made me kick my feet like a lunatic? ✔️ SEX POSITIVE PROFESSORS PLANNING A CAMPUS EVENT CALLED SEXTIVAL??? ✔️✔️✔️
June and Alex had me in a chokehold from page one. The chemistry between these two is INSANE. Every conversation felt like foreplay, every little touch had me screaming, and the amount of YEARNING??? CHRISTIE CURRY, YOU DID NOT HAVE TO GO THIS HARD 😭💥
And can we talk about June for a second??? Watching her unlearn all the shame and judgment she grew up with was so emotional. I wanted to hug her, cheer for her, and personally fight everyone who made her feel like she had to hide who she was 😤👊 Meanwhile Alex was out here being supportive, patient, funny, and completely obsessed with her and honestly SAME.
The banter was ELITE. The tension was FERAL. The road trip? The chaos? The family antics? The educational sex-positive conversations mixed with absolutely top-tier romance?? I was laughing one minute and clutching my chest the next.
And when they FINALLY gave in to their feelings??? EXCUSE ME WHILE I ASCEND 🫠🔥 The spicy scenes were not only hot, they were intimate, vulnerable, and full of communication and trust. I loved that the emotional connection was just as important as the physical one.
What makes this even more impressive is that it’s a DEBUT. A DEBUT!!! How am I supposed to go back to normal life after this??? I need Christie Curry to keep writing immediately because I will read every single thing she publishes.
If you love Ali Hazelwood-style academic vibes, second-chance romance, childhood-friends-to-lovers energy, ridiculous chemistry, emotional growth, and a couple that will make you grin like an idiot at 2 a.m., READ THIS BOOK.
Final verdict: 5 stars, no notes, no thoughts, only June & Alex forever ✨😭🔥
Review of advance copy received from Author
OMG this book??
It is soooo cute! Sorry in advance because I’ll be rambling a little bit. For the record, I got an advance reader copy from the author, but the thoughts expressed here are all mine.
I love a good campus novel, and I love a good romance. This book combines both and adds sex positivity, banter, and the cutest academic couple.
We meet June at a perfect rom-com moment, when the semester starts and she (literally) falls into the perfect second chance meet cute, hauling around a suitcase full of dildos (she has a good reason for it, too!) when she crashes into her childhood neighbor Alex, whom she used to have the biggest crush on.
This scene alone is so funny and cute and full of banter, that you can’t not keep reading, and it only gets better from there.
The author spins a fiery and yet also gentle (re-)developing romance story between June and Alex, two academics that must work together to put up the most epic campus event, Sextival, a festival celebrating sex positivity, while battling their own cases of feelings, June’s hyper-conservative family, a grandma who accidentally gives Alex her edibles right before he needs to teach a class full of college students, a road trip involving pickles and a dress made of condoms (you read that right.)
I don’t know how Christie even does it, but this story is a RIDE. Her banter is delicious and actually funny - but never slapstick hilarious, always with heart and feeling.
And all the little shenanigans that keep the pace and emotions high never once wavers as June and Alex find their way to each other.
These two are adorable and I love them so much. I could literally “see” all these scenes, and their HEA feels so earned and just … swooooon. (Also, they’re incredibly hot!)
Exactly the kind of read that lifts your heart.
I loved it
It is soooo cute! Sorry in advance because I’ll be rambling a little bit. For the record, I got an advance reader copy from the author, but the thoughts expressed here are all mine.
I love a good campus novel, and I love a good romance. This book combines both and adds sex positivity, banter, and the cutest academic couple.
We meet June at a perfect rom-com moment, when the semester starts and she (literally) falls into the perfect second chance meet cute, hauling around a suitcase full of dildos (she has a good reason for it, too!) when she crashes into her childhood neighbor Alex, whom she used to have the biggest crush on.
This scene alone is so funny and cute and full of banter, that you can’t not keep reading, and it only gets better from there.
The author spins a fiery and yet also gentle (re-)developing romance story between June and Alex, two academics that must work together to put up the most epic campus event, Sextival, a festival celebrating sex positivity, while battling their own cases of feelings, June’s hyper-conservative family, a grandma who accidentally gives Alex her edibles right before he needs to teach a class full of college students, a road trip involving pickles and a dress made of condoms (you read that right.)
I don’t know how Christie even does it, but this story is a RIDE. Her banter is delicious and actually funny - but never slapstick hilarious, always with heart and feeling.
And all the little shenanigans that keep the pace and emotions high never once wavers as June and Alex find their way to each other.
These two are adorable and I love them so much. I could literally “see” all these scenes, and their HEA feels so earned and just … swooooon. (Also, they’re incredibly hot!)
Exactly the kind of read that lifts your heart.
I loved it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love on the Lecture was my first ARC through NetGalley, so I was especially excited to read it—and it didn’t disappoint!
This was such a fun, easy read that I finished in one day because I couldn’t stop wanting to know what happened next. It had me rooting for both June and Alex from the very beginning, and I genuinely felt invested in their journey.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was June. I loved that she became a sexual health educator despite growing up in a conservative household where sex was considered shameful, is it a little cliche? Yes but did i care? No! While her career isn’t necessarily relatable, her desire to help others embrace something so natural was inspiring. Her relationship with her mother was also heartbreaking and did a great job showing how a lack of support can shape someone’s confidence and relationships.
The romance itself was sweet, and I completely bought into June and Alex as a couple. They were so cute together, and I found myself waiting for them to finally find their way back to each other. I just wish we’d gotten a little more depth from Alex since the story is told entirely from June’s perspective.
The pacing worked well, the story got into the plot quickly, and there were several moments that had me laughing out loud—the Skittles joke especially had me thinking, “Who says that?” 😂 My only real critique is that the writing occasionally felt a little juvenile.
The ending was a satisfying full-circle moment that wrapped up June and Alex’s story nicely.
Overall, this was a charming, bingeable romance with heart, humor, and a couple worth rooting for. While it isn’t one I’ll be thinking about months from now, I had a great time reading it and would definitely recommend it.
This was such a fun, easy read that I finished in one day because I couldn’t stop wanting to know what happened next. It had me rooting for both June and Alex from the very beginning, and I genuinely felt invested in their journey.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was June. I loved that she became a sexual health educator despite growing up in a conservative household where sex was considered shameful, is it a little cliche? Yes but did i care? No! While her career isn’t necessarily relatable, her desire to help others embrace something so natural was inspiring. Her relationship with her mother was also heartbreaking and did a great job showing how a lack of support can shape someone’s confidence and relationships.
The romance itself was sweet, and I completely bought into June and Alex as a couple. They were so cute together, and I found myself waiting for them to finally find their way back to each other. I just wish we’d gotten a little more depth from Alex since the story is told entirely from June’s perspective.
The pacing worked well, the story got into the plot quickly, and there were several moments that had me laughing out loud—the Skittles joke especially had me thinking, “Who says that?” 😂 My only real critique is that the writing occasionally felt a little juvenile.
The ending was a satisfying full-circle moment that wrapped up June and Alex’s story nicely.
Overall, this was a charming, bingeable romance with heart, humor, and a couple worth rooting for. While it isn’t one I’ll be thinking about months from now, I had a great time reading it and would definitely recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was privileged to read an early copy of Christie Curry’s debut romcom, LOVE BETWEEN THE LECTURES, and I’ll be recommending it to romance readers far and wide! Curry delivers a laugh-out-loud, sexy and swoony love story in which a human sexuality professor is forced to collaborate with her brother’s best friend and former childhood crush—now an infuriatingly brilliant (and yes, hotter than hot 🔥) PhD candidate—on a campus sexual health event.
This book is a must-read for those who like their romance served with laughter and spice in equal measure. It’s full of both classic and fresh tropes including childhood friends to lovers, brother’s best friend, only one bed, a matchmaking grandma, (mini) road trip, and a “dildo meet-cute” that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. But what makes this novel truly shine is Curry’s voice. She delivers razor-sharp banter alongside moments of deep emotional resonance, and her humor is profoundly relatable. She tackles big themes like purity culture and freedom of sexual expression in this novel, and she does it with such a deft hand! I simply loved it, this is a read I will carry close to my heart for a long time.
Sharply funny and poignant, LOVE BETWEEN THE LECTURES is a timely read for the modern romance lover. With a deeply relatable feminist heroine at the helm and a cocksure, striving hero to match her at every turn, these pages sizzle with chemistry. A whip-smart romance filled with love, laughter, and exquisite longing, Christie Curry is the new voice to watch in romcom.
This book is a must-read for those who like their romance served with laughter and spice in equal measure. It’s full of both classic and fresh tropes including childhood friends to lovers, brother’s best friend, only one bed, a matchmaking grandma, (mini) road trip, and a “dildo meet-cute” that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. But what makes this novel truly shine is Curry’s voice. She delivers razor-sharp banter alongside moments of deep emotional resonance, and her humor is profoundly relatable. She tackles big themes like purity culture and freedom of sexual expression in this novel, and she does it with such a deft hand! I simply loved it, this is a read I will carry close to my heart for a long time.
Sharply funny and poignant, LOVE BETWEEN THE LECTURES is a timely read for the modern romance lover. With a deeply relatable feminist heroine at the helm and a cocksure, striving hero to match her at every turn, these pages sizzle with chemistry. A whip-smart romance filled with love, laughter, and exquisite longing, Christie Curry is the new voice to watch in romcom.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
June has been toiling away as an academic in the field of human sexuality for the past six years, lying about her research to her conservative parents, and stealthily steering clear of her former next-door neighbour and teenage crush, now PhD student, Alex. After a mortifying incident in their late teens, June has avoided being around him - but with budget cuts, Alex has been roped in to teaching some human sexuality classes before he can graduate, and June has been designated as his mentor.
This is a very cute book - I zipped right through it, finishing in an afternoon. The romance between June and Alex starts back up from their (re-)meet cute, as they are forced back into each other's orbit. June has been actively avoiding Alex, and it's while it's not clear that he's been doing the same, he definitely hadn't sought her out. Told from a single POV (June's) it can be a little hard at times to get a read on Alex, but the tension between the two builds as they spend more time together, and we find out why they put distance between each other when they were younger.
Both June and Alex are so likeable - and their shared history means simple interactions have more heft to them. Both want each other to shine, and they appreciate the strengths in each other. It's nice to see them re-start their friendship, and get to know each other as adults. Also! It has some of my favourite tropes:
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Only one bed
Highly recommend!
(Longer review closer to publication)
June has been toiling away as an academic in the field of human sexuality for the past six years, lying about her research to her conservative parents, and stealthily steering clear of her former next-door neighbour and teenage crush, now PhD student, Alex. After a mortifying incident in their late teens, June has avoided being around him - but with budget cuts, Alex has been roped in to teaching some human sexuality classes before he can graduate, and June has been designated as his mentor.
This is a very cute book - I zipped right through it, finishing in an afternoon. The romance between June and Alex starts back up from their (re-)meet cute, as they are forced back into each other's orbit. June has been actively avoiding Alex, and it's while it's not clear that he's been doing the same, he definitely hadn't sought her out. Told from a single POV (June's) it can be a little hard at times to get a read on Alex, but the tension between the two builds as they spend more time together, and we find out why they put distance between each other when they were younger.
Both June and Alex are so likeable - and their shared history means simple interactions have more heft to them. Both want each other to shine, and they appreciate the strengths in each other. It's nice to see them re-start their friendship, and get to know each other as adults. Also! It has some of my favourite tropes:
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Only one bed
Highly recommend!
(Longer review closer to publication)
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so lucky to be able to read an early copy of LOVE BETWEEN THE LECTURES by Christie Curry. Let me tell you, this book delivers in SO many delicious ways. Christie’s voice brings humour and wit layered with emotional and sexual tension that will have you grinning like a loon as you read. She tackles some heavier themes, such as the complexities of family dynamics and expectations, expertly highlighting the difficult path of navigating unhealthy relationships with loved ones and the effects of shaming. But the main undercurrent pulling the reader in all along is acceptance and self-love, and this book absolutely shines with an unrelenting focus on sex positivity.
Christie weaves scenes that are rich in situational humour and chalk full of top notch banter. She’ll have you snorting into your coffee and cackling to yourself and the pages. More than once, I caught myself talking out loud to the book. Is that just a me thing? Read and report back.
June is a relatable FMC with as much charm and humour as she has intelligence and moxie. Alex is a MMC to swoon over, with effortless charisma that seeps from the pages, unpretentious academic intellect, and a seemingly non-existent threshold for embarrassment. Not to mention his unwavering dedication to June that shows up as selfless support. And the sexual tension that culminates between these two leads to some seriously steamy pages. 🔥
If you’re a lover of romcoms, you’re going to want to add this to your list.
Christie weaves scenes that are rich in situational humour and chalk full of top notch banter. She’ll have you snorting into your coffee and cackling to yourself and the pages. More than once, I caught myself talking out loud to the book. Is that just a me thing? Read and report back.
June is a relatable FMC with as much charm and humour as she has intelligence and moxie. Alex is a MMC to swoon over, with effortless charisma that seeps from the pages, unpretentious academic intellect, and a seemingly non-existent threshold for embarrassment. Not to mention his unwavering dedication to June that shows up as selfless support. And the sexual tension that culminates between these two leads to some seriously steamy pages. 🔥
If you’re a lover of romcoms, you’re going to want to add this to your list.
June 22, 2026
god i just love romance. when i saw this on netgalley, and as soon as i saw it was a sexual health professor from a traditional / conservative family reconnecting and mentoring her childhood crush, the boy next door… i immediately knew i needed to read it.
i’m not the biggest fan of second-chance romance, but this book hit the trope out of the park. there was not a second of this book i didn’t love, i was truly hooked the entire time. and this being a debut novel!? pat yourself on the back girl.
one of my favorite parts of this book sextival. if my college held an event similar to the one in this book, i would have loved it. i did a persuasive speech in my comm 101 class as a sophomore on sexual health and why it should matter. plus sextival is so clever and funny to me, so im just obsessed.
her gram having edible gummy worms, alex eating all three right before his presentation and then realizing / remembering her gram is enid? diabolical. i need more of gram. the whole scene when june drives him home w the milkshake and his security officer, also hilarious.
his article on the LA times. i’m just obsessed w alex cardoso genuinely. this is how down bad i need my book bfs to be.
and then of course her mom and brother by the end, all three of them healing from their childhood in that house.
i was laughing, smiling, gasping, clutching my pearls, the whole nine yards this whole book. i can’t wait to read more.
i’m not the biggest fan of second-chance romance, but this book hit the trope out of the park. there was not a second of this book i didn’t love, i was truly hooked the entire time. and this being a debut novel!? pat yourself on the back girl.
one of my favorite parts of this book sextival. if my college held an event similar to the one in this book, i would have loved it. i did a persuasive speech in my comm 101 class as a sophomore on sexual health and why it should matter. plus sextival is so clever and funny to me, so im just obsessed.
her gram having edible gummy worms, alex eating all three right before his presentation and then realizing / remembering her gram is enid? diabolical. i need more of gram. the whole scene when june drives him home w the milkshake and his security officer, also hilarious.
his article on the LA times. i’m just obsessed w alex cardoso genuinely. this is how down bad i need my book bfs to be.
and then of course her mom and brother by the end, all three of them healing from their childhood in that house.
i was laughing, smiling, gasping, clutching my pearls, the whole nine yards this whole book. i can’t wait to read more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2026
This was such a sweet rom com debut! I do love a bother’s best friend, “it’s always been you” vibe and I feel like this book really delivered on that front. The set up of June needing to mentor Alex in teaching his sexual health classes was well done, plus the added stakes of the Sexfestival they’re planning for campus. There’s immediate chemistry between the two that’s undeniable, though it takes them a bit to finally admit those feelings. Interestingly enough the burn felt slow until it was fast, and I kind of like that in my romance novels. I was sooo amped for their first kiss and I think Christy did a good job building this initial tension. And then it’s a delicious explosion of Alex worshiping June and giving her the orgasms no one has been able to give her before.
While I do think the conflicts were easily resolved, it felt refreshing to have a couple of adults in their 30s who could actually communicate successfully (sometimes). It felt realistic in a lot of ways, and I didn’t mind this lighthearted break from some more angsty reads. There were plenty of laughs and I enjoyed June’s funny and quippy internal monologues. The commentary on purity culture was an interesting touch, and a great catalyst for June to both stand up to her mother and be loud and proud about her profession. Her complicated family dynamic (and its direct effect to her career) was probably the most interesting and compelling conflict. And felt sufficiently and mostly satisfyingly resolved at the end.
Christy is a good writer, and you can tell she’s a fan of the genre in how she writes such a tropetastic and sexy time. Overall a solid debut, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
4/5
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC.
brothers best friend, she’s been pining, sex professor, road trip, only one bed, “it’s always been you”, escaping purity culture, academic vibes, first person single pov
While I do think the conflicts were easily resolved, it felt refreshing to have a couple of adults in their 30s who could actually communicate successfully (sometimes). It felt realistic in a lot of ways, and I didn’t mind this lighthearted break from some more angsty reads. There were plenty of laughs and I enjoyed June’s funny and quippy internal monologues. The commentary on purity culture was an interesting touch, and a great catalyst for June to both stand up to her mother and be loud and proud about her profession. Her complicated family dynamic (and its direct effect to her career) was probably the most interesting and compelling conflict. And felt sufficiently and mostly satisfyingly resolved at the end.
Christy is a good writer, and you can tell she’s a fan of the genre in how she writes such a tropetastic and sexy time. Overall a solid debut, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
4/5
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC.
brothers best friend, she’s been pining, sex professor, road trip, only one bed, “it’s always been you”, escaping purity culture, academic vibes, first person single pov
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely adored Love Between the Lectures. From the very first chapter, I was completely invested in June and Alex, and I found myself desperately hoping they would find their way to each other.
The characters are so lovable, relatable, and wonderfully written that they felt like real people. I want so badly to be part of the “Gang Bang” friendship group.
June is genuinely one of my favourite female protagonists I've read in a long time. She's strong-willed, sex-positive, intelligent, and unapologetically herself—the kind of woman I wish more books celebrated and the type I want to be when I’m grown up… And Alex? Consider me completely smitten. He has officially earned a place on my ever-growing list of fictional crushes.
The academic setting was the perfect backdrop, and I especially appreciated how the story tackled topics that are often considered taboo while honestly reflecting the realities of being a woman working in academia. It added so much depth without ever losing the warmth and charm of the romance.
This book had me giggling, kicking my feet, and smiling like an idiot more times than I can count. I've been recommending it to anyone who will listen because it was just that good. If you love smart romances with incredible chemistry, fantastic characters, and plenty of heart, don't miss this one.
Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc.
The characters are so lovable, relatable, and wonderfully written that they felt like real people. I want so badly to be part of the “Gang Bang” friendship group.
June is genuinely one of my favourite female protagonists I've read in a long time. She's strong-willed, sex-positive, intelligent, and unapologetically herself—the kind of woman I wish more books celebrated and the type I want to be when I’m grown up… And Alex? Consider me completely smitten. He has officially earned a place on my ever-growing list of fictional crushes.
The academic setting was the perfect backdrop, and I especially appreciated how the story tackled topics that are often considered taboo while honestly reflecting the realities of being a woman working in academia. It added so much depth without ever losing the warmth and charm of the romance.
This book had me giggling, kicking my feet, and smiling like an idiot more times than I can count. I've been recommending it to anyone who will listen because it was just that good. If you love smart romances with incredible chemistry, fantastic characters, and plenty of heart, don't miss this one.
Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Love Between the Lectures” was a cute second chance romance with plenty of banter, and all the awkward little moments between two childhood friends/crushes who reconnected when they are both accomplished PhDs and professors at the same college💜
Both June and Alex were lovely, and easily lovable characters. Their connection develops naturally, through shared moments, while slowly overcoming their own emotional baggage/fears. The tension was just enough to keep turning the pages, and I loved watching how much they supported each other especially in their dream careers 🥰
And wile we’re talking about characters, naughty little grandma 😂😂😂....and that’s all I’m gonna say about her, don’t want to spoil it 😁 I didn’t like much the closure between June and her mom...I’m with Millie on this one😁😂, with all their baggage it would have felt a bit more natural if she was still a bit doubtful something like working on rebuilding their relationship, and maybe went to some therapy together to fix/build things up. Oooh, I would have loved to have Alex’s mom more in the story, from the little we know about her, she sounded like an amazing woman. All other characters totally lovable 😊🥰🥰
The rest of the shenanigans, really cute and fun and entertaining. It was a good way to handle sex positivity and overcoming the social stigmata’s surrounding sex.
Both June and Alex were lovely, and easily lovable characters. Their connection develops naturally, through shared moments, while slowly overcoming their own emotional baggage/fears. The tension was just enough to keep turning the pages, and I loved watching how much they supported each other especially in their dream careers 🥰
And wile we’re talking about characters, naughty little grandma 😂😂😂....and that’s all I’m gonna say about her, don’t want to spoil it 😁 I didn’t like much the closure between June and her mom...I’m with Millie on this one😁😂, with all their baggage it would have felt a bit more natural if she was still a bit doubtful something like working on rebuilding their relationship, and maybe went to some therapy together to fix/build things up. Oooh, I would have loved to have Alex’s mom more in the story, from the little we know about her, she sounded like an amazing woman. All other characters totally lovable 😊🥰🥰
The rest of the shenanigans, really cute and fun and entertaining. It was a good way to handle sex positivity and overcoming the social stigmata’s surrounding sex.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
June is a human sexuality professor and becomes a mentor to her childhood crush/neighbor, Alex, due to staffing issues. They both have to work together to create a sex positive event (sextival), and the fate of her tenure rests on making sure it goes well.
Things I loved:
This book cover is perfect!! So cutie
I loved the entire premise of sex positivity and all their activities on campus. It was inclusive and delightful to read.
Things I didn’t love:
I wasn’t bought into their immediate banter from their meet up after not seeing each other for 15 years - it seemed way too casual for that much time passing.
June’s inner monologue also felt very immature, and I kept having to remind myself that she wasn’t a 19 year old college student.
I honestly didn’t like June or Alex’s personalities, and it made the book almost unbearable to get to. It just felt so childish.
And the constant interruptions right before they would kiss! It’s like the phone would ring every single time. I get building up the tension but my god how many times!?
I also didn’t love the spice scenes. It felt like they were just trying to write key words that sound good in theory.
Overall, a bit of a miss for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Christie Curry for allowing me to ARC read in exchange for an honest review!
Things I loved:
This book cover is perfect!! So cutie
I loved the entire premise of sex positivity and all their activities on campus. It was inclusive and delightful to read.
Things I didn’t love:
I wasn’t bought into their immediate banter from their meet up after not seeing each other for 15 years - it seemed way too casual for that much time passing.
June’s inner monologue also felt very immature, and I kept having to remind myself that she wasn’t a 19 year old college student.
I honestly didn’t like June or Alex’s personalities, and it made the book almost unbearable to get to. It just felt so childish.
And the constant interruptions right before they would kiss! It’s like the phone would ring every single time. I get building up the tension but my god how many times!?
I also didn’t love the spice scenes. It felt like they were just trying to write key words that sound good in theory.
Overall, a bit of a miss for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Christie Curry for allowing me to ARC read in exchange for an honest review!
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