Learning Curves

Lacey (A View from the Top) brings a cozy small-town Vermont vibe to a smart sapphic romance that’s aware of both the challenges facing women in academia and the complications of age-gap relationships but still leans into the playful heat of the “hot for teacher” trope. Audrey Lind’s first job as an assistant professor of ceramics brings her back to her alma mater, meaning that art historian Michelle Thompson—Audrey’s former mentor, crush, and impetus for coming out—is now her colleague. Michelle, who has a reputation for being prickly, is clearly jaded about teaching and furious that Audrey’s been given the “Women in Art” class she wanted. Still, Audrey’s persistent overtures of friendship yield daily afternoon tea chats, inspiration for Michelle to take her writing in a new direction, and a romantic spark that leaves Michelle wondering if settling into a life of post-divorce solitude is the right choice after all. Lacey’s protagonists are cautious and self-aware but not timid, and both obviously respect and enjoy one another as they navigate being together on a more even footing than when they first met. Secondary characters—including Audrey’s enthusiastic deaf pottery student Laya and Michelle’s upbeat older undergrad Nuala—bolster the sense of female solidarity. Fans of slow burns, sexy tweed, and queer sincerity will love this couple. (Sept.)