Learning to Love

by Ellis Worth

Danielle "Dani" Constantine is a plus-size, pear-shaped girl. She's socially awkward and doesn't like big crowds. Dani has been a good girl her entire life. She plays by the rules and never gets into trouble. She's content living life in the shadows, or so she thought...Her first week at college, in walks first-string quarterback The Jake Ryan (man-whore extraordinaire), with all his sexy bad boy charm. He's got her second-guessing everything she thinks about herself. Jake tells her that she's beautiful, but can she believe him? He tells her he wants to see where this goes but doesn't breathe a word about it, leading to commitment. Dani is a timid spitfire, and she will not be just another notch on his bedpost. Jake's had a rough year. He's had trouble at school and with his parents. He wants to focus solely on football this semester, then sees a challenge in Dani. He has to have her. She's his. Dani makes a mistake one night. It's a mistake that will haunt her forever. Will the unlikely couple have a future together, or will her stalker take it away? Jake must protect her at all costs!*Adult Content-Over 18 Only-We like it steamy here!If you
Steamy
Sports
Romance
First love
Self Love
Curvy Heroine
Alpha Hero
New Adult
College Romance
Then this book is for you!
Trigger
Stalking
Kidnapping
Violence
Fat shaming

Genres: Sports Romance, College, Sports

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2023

Reviews

[Rachel McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet yet spicy college sports romance with a twist. As cheesy as some of of the moments are between Dani and Jake they are really sweet and I love how much he loves her and doesn’t hide it. The spice is top notch too.

Finally another plus size FMC. We don’t have nearly enough of these. Dani is so awesomely awkward and introverted and just trying to figure out who she is, what she wants and where she belongs, and I could relate to her so so much, I love her.

I really liked the addition of the thriller elements. I went into this book kind of blind so I didn’t see those events coming at all, and it added just the perfect balance to the romance side of the story.

*Do check your triggers there are some dark elements in this book that might not be for everyone

[Christina Rybka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani comes to college and has a new attitude and her cousin Toby are having breakfast and she meets 3 of the fearless five. Jake is the quarterback who is attracted to her. She meets her roommate Sasha and they become instant friends. Jake pursues Dani but she tells him she won’t be a one night stand. The fearless five and Dani and Sasha becomes friends. Dani and Jake grow closer but Dani is full figured and doesn’t think Jake can really be into her. There is also people and situations trying to keep them apart. Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing Book. Love Dani and Jake. The supporting characters are awesome and I love the action and suspense.

[Michelle Wolff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute college romance with some kidnapping and drug deals thrown in.

If you enjoy reading books on college romance then this is for you. The main characters Dani and Jake meet each other in a cafe in a meet cute that turns into full blown romance.

The bad man of this book becomes obsessed with our FMC and will do anything to get her.

It’s not something I would typically read but it was good I’m the fact it kept you wondering what would happen next.

[Natalie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a debut 💜

Dani constantine has always been the socially awkward girl who blends into the background, so when she moves away to college, she wants to change that! But little did she know that the first people she would meet would be the fearless five! The star football players, which includes THE JAKE RYAN!!

Dani just wants to be friends with Jake as she thinks he would never want someone like her, but Jake has other ideas. He has never met someone like Dani before, and he wants her, and not just for a little bit, he wants forever. But what they dont realise is that theres someone else at their school who wants Dani, and he will do everything he has to to get what he wants

Jake and Dani are so good together. I loved their relationship. Jake is such a sweet talker he loves Dani exactly how she is, and he is not afraid to show her just how much. Dani is so funny, she isn't afraid to say what she is feeling and i loved all of her one-liners that she picked up from her Granny!!
This book was action-packed and kept me hooked from the first page. It was sweet but also spicy!!

This is such a good debut from Ellis, and i can't wait to read about the other fearless men and the woman who steal their hearts.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute college romance with some suspense thrown in! I loved that the plus-size independent woman gets the quarterback - this needs to happen more often! The dialogue was a little cutesy at times but the storyline and characters kept me reading to the end. If you love college romances with plus-size representation then this book is definitely for you!!

[Sarah | Retro Girl Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started “Learning to Love,” it was my first time reading something by Ellis Worth, and I can honestly say right from the start that I really, truly enjoyed it!!! Dani’s story was absolutely amazing, and I loved every second of it. As a fellow curvy girl, I can appreciate the fact that Dani was always unapologetically herself, even when people tried to tear her down. Jake, her love interest, was the absolute swooniest, and I loved how devoted he was to Dani. This book was so freaking funny as well, I found myself constantly laughing out loud as I was reading it, and the plot twists had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!!! This book was complete and utter perfection, and most definitely a 5 star read!!!

[naheezy]

I tried yall 😭 felt like i was reading about a bunch of middle schoolers

[theshadyivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

General: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🫦🫦🫦

✨✨✨ Learning to Love by Ellis Worth (@ellisworthwrites), is The Fearless series book 1 and is narrated by Wesley Lynch (@wesleyvoice.ca). ✨✨✨

Tropes:
🏈 Steamy
🏈 Sports Romance
🏈 First love
🏈 Self Love
🏈 Curvy Heroine
🏈 Alpha Hero
🏈 New Adult
🏈 College Romance
🏈 Crime Mystery
🏈 Kidnapping
🏈 Strong FMC
🏈 Stalker

This story took me by surprise—it was so much more than just a typical college romance. Packed with emotions, it blends passion with an intense crime mystery that adds layers of suspense and drama I absolutely loved.

We follow Dani, our confident and curvy heroine, as she navigates her first week at a new college. There, she crosses paths with the Fearless Five—the star-studded football dream team. Her sharp wit and bratty attitude immediately catch the attention of their leader and quarterback, Jack. At first, it’s just his ego craving another conquest, but soon, he realizes there’s something different about Dani—something real.

But this isn’t just a love story. Ellis takes us deeper with an unexpected twist: when Dani accidentally witnesses a drug deal, she becomes the target of a dangerous stalker. Now, Jack must walk a fine line between protecting her and respecting her fierce independence.

This thrilling subplot adds an edge of suspense that pulls you in even further. And to top it off, Wesley Lynch’s narration was phenomenal—his ability to bring the characters to life made them distinct and engaging. His storytelling truly enhanced the experience.

Highly recommended if you love a gripping mix of sports romance, college drama, and a touch of mafia intrigue!

#indieauthor #booklover #bookgirl #books #reader #spicybooks #booksta #books #bookrecs #bookstagramer #bookboyfriends #steamyromance #spicyromance #criminalmystery #stalker #alc #sportsromance #collegeromance #curvyfmc #review #currentlylistening #kindleunlimited #oleelawdigiart #theshadyivy

[Claire Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning To Love is book one in the new series The Fearless by this talented new author.
A sports college romance with so much more.
Wow what a great start.
It's also so nice to see something different and football player who fully wants someone that doesn't think she stands a chance. But he likes her just the way she is.
This book has multiple things going on but you won't want to put it down.
Dani moves to college and she intent on a whole new look and wants to get out there a bit more. Jake is exactly what she needs and shows her how much she means to him.
Sweetness with lots of spice. Unfortunately Dani also has a stalker that will go to all kind of lengths to get her.
This book gave me all the feels and lots of intrigue that kept me hooked from the start.
All in all a must read and can't wait to see what comes next.

[Spiffie Tiffie · Rating 5 out of 5]

College romance...BUT so much more!

First off, I absolutely love that the FMC is plus size. I'm plus size, and the world we live in sometimes looks down on that. I'm built how I'm built, but it was so refreshing to read a book where the girl was not only heavy, but so confident. The male character is a total hotty. I initially did not like him. Only because I thought he would be judemental towards Dani. That was not the case! The chemistry between the two MC is fire, and the spicy scenes are even better! They have so many quirky moments. It will make you swoon.

As you read the story it starts as College romance, but the ups and downs are nuts! I don't want to spoil anything. But I'll just say, it's more than just a college romance. I loved the book! I read it digitally, but I'm ordering a copy, and its definitely going on my bookshelf!

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani Constantine, is going off to college in, Texas because they offered the biggest scholarship. She didn't want to burden her mom financially more than she needed to. Considering her sperm donor has never contributed to her well-being. Dani’s mama and Granny Betsy Jean have made her into the woman she is today. Her mama was not happy, so she chose to take summer classes. Her granny understood she was itching to get out independently and become independent. Dani was hoping that the fact that there would be fewer people would help with her social anxiety.

This will also enable her to finish her degree earlier than anticipated. Dani’s only three credits short of being a sophomore before even becoming a freshman. She’s proud of being a nerd. She’s always been a straight “A” student. Dani loved learning, but being socially awkward made it difficult to be around people. The sooner she went off to school, the sooner she’d finish. The number of people she surrounded herself with was small. With Toby her cousin at the top. At 6’5” nobody was willing to take him on to tease her about her weight. She loves people and being around them more is her goal, but she’s just never been that girl.

She’s never even been to a party. The very thought makes her want to break out in hives right now. Dani’s looking forward to hopefully making a few new friends in Austin. Hopefully doing so will help loosen some of her anxiety and she’ll feel less lonely. She’s a foodie, and she loves trying out new eating places. Dani also loves shopping at the mall and going to the movies sometimes. She would do it, but wouldn’t want to go to those places all by herself. Being an introvert really has worked against her, but she truly is hoping this change in scenery will help her.

Toby will be sticking around for another week until her roommate moves in. She worried that her roommate could be a Mean Girl, and she just couldn’t handle that right now. Add being plus-size in the mix, and they have even more ammunition against you. It would be nice to have a friend instantly being so new. Sasha Maria Hernandez is her new roomy and turns out to be one of the good ones. She didn’t want to look her up to find out differently. So, once they decided on a place they left to eat because they were both starving. It was a diner open 24/7 with all its greasy goodness.

Looking at her watch it was a little past midnight, and not too many people were out at night. She wonders if it will be quiet like this all summer. Her mouth was watering for those buttermilk pancakes. "Whatcha thinking, cuz?" Toby always takes forever to order his food. There could be only two items on a menu, and he would still take twenty minutes to decide. Considering that's the only thing about him that gets on her nerves, Dani lets it slide. "The pancakes, duh!” Dani rolls her eyes at him. As if she would ever order anything else.

"I like what I like." she shrugs. "You're so boring!" "Your Mama is boring." she throws up her hands in the air. "Boom!" "Bitch please!" He's like her brother from another mother. Both ravenous, they eat in silence. The dingy bell sound on the door of the diner goes off, alerting that new customers are walking in. She looks over in that general vicinity and her mouth involuntarily pops open. The hottest guy she’s ever seen walks in like he owns the place. He exudes sex appeal, dressed head to toe in Longhorn gear -shirt, shorts, and slides.

She’s almost positive he's on the football team because in Texas, football is life for most of these guys. Both his friends are cute, but neither can hold a candle to the Sex King. She knows she’ll never talk to him, so it’ll always be her secret. Toby looks starstruck, too. "My man card is about to be revoked, Dani. I'm totally "fangirling" over here. That's 3 out of the 5 of the Fearless Five. The Jake Ryan, Dallas Kincaid, and Jaxon Williams. They are only Sophomores and already being looked at by the NFL."

Toby lives and breathes football. She has no doubt he knows exactly what he’s talking about. Dani only knows Georgia football. "Who's the one with the shaggy brown hair?" she whispers. That's the Quarterback, "The Jake Ryan" and he’s been first string since his freshman year. Somebody got a crush, Dani?" He laughs, wagging his eyebrows at her. "I do NOT!" Dani says a little too loudly. Jake raises his right eyebrow at them, but the other two are smiling. She mouths "sorry" and directs her eyes to her last uneaten pancake. She can feel his eyes still on her.

It's almost like an invisible electric current is running between them. She’s wearing her favorite Georgia Bulldog tee. That's probably why he's boring a hole through her soul. She doesn't have to look to know he's still staring. Toby whispers, "He might be the one with a crush! He's still staring at you, girl. You have to date him, and I'll get all the sex I want then." "You are the grossest of men whores. Ewe. I don't wanna know about you and all the sex you can get." "Hey, Georgia!" The redhead yells out. She turns around quickly, surprised he's talking to her.

"Yes," is the only word she can muster. "You know this is Longhorn territory, yeah?" The guy with dreads demands. His tone is playful, so she doesn't feel like he's being a jackass. Dani smiles an all-tooth kind of grin. "Prove it!" All three laugh. The Sex King aka Jake Ryan responds. "Challenge accepted." Welcome to their meet-cute. But put your seatbelts on because the books take you on some wildly crazy rides that you know are far-fetched, but you have so much fun reading anyway. Like a Scooby and friends adventure you’re loving being a part of.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! What an amazing and beautiful love story this was. It was sweet, adorable, and spicy but with some twisted and dark moments woven in. I was instantly riveted to my seat, laughing so hard my stomach ached, and then completely and hopelessly falling in love with these amazing characters in this story.

Dani is such a sweet, funny (and a bit sassy), young woman with a heart of gold. I loved this girl right from the get-go and could totally relate to her 100%. She may have some self-confidence and weight issues but with the amazing family she has behind her, Dani is sure to grow into a confident and well-loved woman.

I loved Toby. He made me laugh so hard I couldn’t catch my breath. My favorite was when he said…“My man card is about to be revoked, Dani. I’m totally “fangirling” over here.” I could just picture that in my head the exact way he said it and how he would fling his arms about while saying it.

Jake is so swoon worthy with his sweet talk and the way he just melts Dani’s heart. He may come off as a bit of a player, but deep down he has a heart of gold and would do anything for that special someone. When he gets his first look at Dani, I could instantly see a connection forging. They have this pull towards one another no matter how hard Dani tries to deny it. With the way Jake talks to her sweetly and the way he respects her decisions on going slowly, you just knew these two were meant for one another.

This was such a fantastic and well written debut story that I ended up devouring in one sitting and didn’t want it to ever end. It was filled with emotions, angst, drama, sweetness, passion and love, but there was also some very dark and twisted moments that had me on the edge of my seat biting my nails over what was continually happening to Dani.

It was the perfect young love romance that just melted my heart. I can’t wait to see what this amazing new author writes next.

[ChristinaStanton76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet and spicy college romance. This follows Dani “Georgia” Constantine on her journey from Georgia to Texas as she starts college.

Dani meets “The Jake Ryan” and doesn’t know what to expect. He tries his charm on her but she sees right through it and gives him back her full force southern sassy wit. He in turn can’t stop thinking about her as he’s never been one to commit. Will these two be able to overcome obstacles that would be able to break any normal couple apart or will they endure it and be able to learn to love?

I went into this book kind of blind but it also is more than a college romance. It had some thriller, OMG moments. That aspect of the book took me completely by surprise but it made it all make sense as you keep reading.

This was a very good read and had great characters and I highly recommend reading this if you like College football, romance, feisty southern wit, with a splash of suspense.

[Lou Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was book was wonderful. The plus size, awkward, independent young lady gets her man. As much as I love Jake, Dani was my favorite. Jake loves her almost instantly and she can’t believe he loves her the way that he does, because of the way she looks. The cast of supporting characters help her see the truth that we have seen all along, that she is beautiful just the way she is.
I love how Jake loves her, and they can be a little cheesy in some parts, but I loved that it was different. She knew where she stood with him, and that was like a breath of fresh air.
There is some suspense thrown in, that I was not expecting. It kept me on my toes in certain scenes. Great debut for a new author. Hopefully, book two in the series will be even better, and the momentum will continue.

[Devons book corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet and cute college sports romance story. One of my favorite parts about this book was that the FMC was plus size. As a curvy girl myself, it's always a nice change to see that in a character. Dani is that socially awkward girl who blends into the background. She's decided she is going to change that now that she is off to college. Little does she know, the fearless five will be her first encounter, and that means Jake Ryan. Dani has decided that she will never stand a chance with him, but Jake doesn't feel that way. He's drawn to her and really seems to like her. Dani and Jake were really sweet together and I loved that. This book is full of spice and steam, not to mention action. Make sure you check this one out.

[Jessica Houseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummmmm, excuse me??? What? First off, you think awe this is a cute college romance with a possessive man, and everyone is out to try to test the waters to see if their relationship can withstand it.

Then BAM plot twist after freaking plot twist!!! How did this author come up with this stuff. One minute, it is cute. The next it goes, Grey!!!

If you are seeking a book with a Virginia FMC, well, she is from Georgia, but if you don't know what I mean, then sorry. If you want a very possessive MMC who will steal your heart with his words. If you want a cozy romance with a dark twist. Maybe even a Mafia background noise. Maybe a book that will make you about cry and rip out your heart only to heal it in the end. Then this book here is all of that!!

[Jennifer Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Oh my, this book was fabulous. Danielle “Dani” is from Georgia. She headed to college . Texas university is where she’s headed. She a shy thicker woman who gets anxiety about what people think. Her momma and her granny raised her.

So her and her cousin Toby headed to Texas because she’s taking some summer courses to get ahead of schedule. While at a little diner she catches eyes with three hot guys . But Jake Ryan has the eyes for her. The banter between the two of them is great.

At her first party she dances with Benji whom ends up being a a**. A lot of trauma and kidnapping happens towards Dani.

I highly recommend this book and her second one.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect college romance story with tons of southern charm. Personally, I am from the South, and this book felt like siding on your favorite pair of blue jeans. I was right at home with all the southern snarkiness and humor. Though this is a romance story, I felt like it was a bit coming of age kind of story too. So many memories of my time in college and learning to accept myself coincided with Dani's journey. Now, I will say if you are one of those individuals that do not appreciate a southern drawl, the narration might get on your nerves. I recommend listening to the sample. I personally think Wesley did a great job with the narration. It was fun sweet romance!

[Jessica Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did I wait so long to read this book?
In this book you meet Dani and Jake. Oh boy did Ellis have me laughing in the beginning of this book. I love Dani’s cousin Toby, he was funny. I also love Jaxon, he made me laugh getting Jake upset.
This book was good!! I love the relationship between Dani and Jake. Jake loves her for who she is, he loves everything about her and her curves.
I love her roommate/friend Sasha. The Fearless five are funny. I love how on each chapter Ellis does an article, it’s such a fun thing to read at the beginning of each chapter.

[Ainsley Mckenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a HOOT! It has drama, spice, self-love, football, and is hella funny. I love danny she is such a fun-loving southern girl who is hilarious. The story is great and holds alot of love and drama 🌶🌶🌶🌶 I audiobooked this book and found the narration was done by a man from a woman's point of view, which I usually don't like. In saying that, I have never enjoyed a multi narration like I enjoyed this one, to the point I screeching in laughter at the souther drawl. LOVED the audio book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Shelby Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

I read this book because of a tiktok the author did… I judge books by the cover & title and at first glance it wasn’t for me. However I still wanted to support the author so I downloaded it on KU and started reading.
It turns out it’s a cute hallmark-ish slightly steamy story. I liked it.
A small town girl heads off to college, befriends her on campus roommate, they befriend the most popular boys in college who are also on the football team…

[Chante · Rating 2 out of 5]

great story but I did not enjoy the writing

The characters and the story had me hooked but the writing was a bit cringe. The punctuation was distracting and at times it felt like the characters were talking directly to me rather than part of a scene. The characters were well developed and funny. The author has a ton of potential. I can’t wait to see where her career takes her and what she writes next.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing debut romance from Ellis. As much as I loved the romance part, there are some dark elements here. Check your triggers. Dani goes through a lot, and Jake will never stop ensuring her safety.
I love the in-depth characters and how they support the MCs. They fill like a family, and I loved that.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lot of good parts

I think there was a lot of really good parts here and I enjoyed some of the twists but it often seemed like too much was going on at times to make it really believable. There was good chemistry and banter and.I loved the supporting friends for both main characters.

[Izze Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 49%. It was painful, y’all. The story sounded adorable, but the characters were flat and writing unbearable. I rolled my eyes harder than a preteen at the language. My favorite was "a barrier of bad news" Seriously, was this an AI glitch or just immaturity? Now I have to go find this premise written by an adult human. Bygones

[Karen Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

Hmmm what can i say story was alright i felt like by the middle ending of the story everything was going so fast not the best i have read , feel like this is more for like begginers readers like young kids type of book

[Alonna Irizarry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sports/ college/ reformed playboy/ virgin FMC/ possessive MMC/ OM/OW drama

Trigger warning: stalking/ kidnapping/ drugs/ mafia

This was a decent read. It was annoying that the antagonist kept evading police

[Longer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one is hard because I genuinely want to know what happens in this story and I like the general premise, but I can’t keep reading. It’s written like middle school diary entries and is too painful to read at times.

If anyone wants to spoil it for me, I’d be grateful!

[Hbender · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book drug on a little to much with Benji and Jeffrey. Many parts are written in a juvenile way.
Definitely it one of my favorite. A little too hokey.
The audiobook narrator completely ruins this story. He is horrible and it's almost a joke to listen to him. It makes want to DNF the book. Save your money. Don't recommend.

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes)]

DNF

The writing style just isn't for me. It's super clunky and I'm not connecting with the heroine.