‘I literally giggle-snorted… Laugh out loud.’ Goodreads reviewer Eleanor Manning is finally leaving behind her glittering but empty life in the city (and her soon-to-be-ex-husband) to return to the comfort of her childhood home in Apollo Bay. She’s landed a lovely new job and a flatshare with her bubbly best friend, Penny. So yes, she’s well and truly learnt her lesson when it comes to love… … when it comes to love…
But then she meets gorgeous teacher Marcus Blair and Eleanor’s self-imposed rules fly out of the window! Surely she can resist him long enough to keep this fling no strings attached?
Fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Lindsey Kelk and Colleen Coleman will love Belinda Missen!
What readers are saying about Lessons in Love:
‘From the very first page I was laughing and giggling as I read… A perfect fun, flirty beach read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘The perfect summer read.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘OOOOOOH – Marcus!… He’s hot, yes, but he’s also nice… You’re going to root for Eleanor (and Penny too!). Perfect beach or garden read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Laugh-out-loud funny… Lessons in Love was a rollicking ride… You can’t help fall in love with them all and wish they were your friends too.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Had me swooning and laughing out loud. Also, the drama !!! had !!! me !!! going !!! crazy !!!… Cute, fun, and laugh-out-loud funny. This is for sure a winning novel.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘I absolutely adored it… A really fun read that warmed my heart and left me smiling.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Heartfelt and laugh-out-loud hilarious… Wonderful.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘Heart-warming and laugh-out-loud funny.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘Exciting and hilarious… You won’t read this story without a smile on your face.’ Goodreads reviewer
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From the very first page I fell in love with Belinda’s writing. I feel like Belinda’s words just pop off the page with so much energy. Every sentence was detailed and entertaining and I found myself easily getting captivated and pulled into the story. I just wanted to keep turning the page like I was entranced.
As for this gorgeous story itself there was so much in this book that I could relate to. Eleanor Manning is currently going through a difficult time. She found out her husband was cheating and has decided to move home and move in with her best friend. Things aren’t all sad as she has scored a job in her old primary school working in the library and she feels better to be getting away from the world of money and emptiness she was in when with her ex. But life isn’t all smooth sailing. Divorce’s aren’t fun and she has to try and let go of her past and insecurities if she wants to really leave her past behind and experience her present to it’s fullest.
I felt like I was with Eleanor, side by side while she was going through her divorce. I could feel her emotions and understood those moments of realization. She pulled at my heartstrings when she finally realized what happened and how her husband chose to go about it wasn’t her fault. I highlighted that bit as a gentle reminder and felt grateful to have someone that I could connect with. Isn’t that such a beautiful thing about books? I love that often books come to us at the right time in our lives and we meet friends that can make us not feel so alone. Eleanor was such a lovely character with a sweetness about her that I really enjoyed. I loved that she was a school teacher and the premise of her going to work in her old primary school, as that is something I could also relate to having just done the same. It was fun getting to go back with her as she got reacquainted with old teachers who used to teach her. I thought it was really cool that she worked in the school library and got to encourage the children to read, but also that she could play piano. There were lots of interesting quirks about her that made her a wonderful leading lady.
Eleanor’s best friend Penny was such a fun and charismatic ball of energy. I liked their easy going banter and how they were both very different but there for each other and honest with each other. They were able to teach each other through their different perspectives and made for a lovely dynamic.
Now, Marcus. I really liked Marcus and have to say that with his teacher status, his way with kids and his cheeky personality, he was certainly swoon worthy. Ellie and Marcus’s banter was cute and playful and will have you wanting more. I loved how their relationship built; how they pushed and challenged each other, but even though I understood that they had both been through divorce so navigating their feelings for each other was difficult at times, I didn’t always like it when they argued. I sometimes thought Eleanor was too hard on him and it made me sad when she compared him to her ex. However, they find their groove and work beautifully together once they let go of the past and focus on what they have in front of them. It’s wonderful to see them open up and relax with each other. They had me giggling and grinning from ear to ear most of the time.
Eleanor’s journey is one of re-discovering yourself and finding what it is that brings joy to your life. Sometimes you have to get back to your roots to do that, stand up for yourself and also take chances.
This was such an awesome read; fun, sexy, emotional and entertaining. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of ‘Lessons in Love’ today!
Leaving behind her cheating husband, her friends, most of her possessions, her job, and the high life she had been living in Melbourne, we follow Eleanor Manning’s journey back home to the beautiful Apollo Bay.
Moving in with her cousin, Eleanor wants to have a fresh start. She’s got her dream job as the Librarian at her old primary school, something she dreamt about doing when she was a student there, and is hoping to find herself again. All appears to be going well, until Marcus Blair walks in.
A fellow teacher at the school, Marcus is professionally dressed in a suit and tie, handsome as all hell, very sure of himself, and the female staff are practically frothing at the mouth from the pure sight of him. Despite knowing nothing at all about him, he just reminds Eleanor of her cheating ex-husband, and that’s someone she does not want to have anything to do with.
We watch them clash, and banter, using witty conversation and insults; both unable to step back and take a breath. A social outing to the pub with the school staff at the end of the week and next thing, it’s a one night stand – or is it the beginning of something much more?
All the emotions are there – hurt, jealousy, anger, relief, joy, love. Throw in a complicated and complex relationship with a mother who abandoned Eleanor as a baby, and Lessons in Love has it all. The push and pull between the two main characters works well and I loved the connection between this story and Belinda’s previous work – namely A Recipe For Disaster.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have with all of Belinda’s books so far. Being able to picture the story as I read along is something that is very important to me as a reader, without it I struggle to finish, but this story delivered in full.
So many fabulous lines in this book, far too many to list, but ‘a stick jammed so far up my own arse I could have beaten the Paddle Pop Lion at his own game’ was one I literally giggle-snorted at while reading along, and is the one that stands out when I look back. It wasn’t often that I didn’t have a smile on my face reading this, with plenty of laugh out loud moments and fun characters.
I can definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a fun mix of romance, friendships, comedy, and complicated family relationships. Definitely a book for those who have loved her previous work.
* I was asked if I would like to read and review this book prior to it’s official release. It was purely my choice to do so, and as a fan of her work, I couldn’t possibly say no to the opportunity. *