Learning Curve

Dickson University #1

by Max Monroe

She’s the virginal cheerleader, and he’s the tortured bad boy. Their worlds are different, but college life at Dickson University brings them together in a passionate, angsty, fiery collision.

Finn Hayes is what girls my age would call “stupid hot.” He’s handsome, has brown eyes that remind me of warm chocolate chip cookies, and a tall, muscular build that makes marble sculptures jealous.

Green flag, right?

Wrong.

He’s also broody, closed off, and so complex that it feels like I need a decoder to crack him.

He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met and fights like he came out of the womb swinging, taking down both my ex-boyfriend and an ex-UFC fighter with ease.

But the underground society at our college known as Double C has nothing on him in the secrets department, and it’s that mysterious edge that keeps me coming back for more.

This is more than the story of how Finn and I fell in love.

This is proof that love has a learning curve. Sometimes you succeed, and sometimes…it destroys you.



Author Note: Learning Curve is a New Adult Romance standalone that is book one in the Dickson University Series. This highly-addictive series will follow the grown-up Billionaire Bad Boy kids and long-lost Winslow siblings as they navigate college life and relationships. Buckle up for all the college drama, romance, spice, angst, and humor. You do not need to have read the Billionaire Bad Boys Series or Winslow Brothers Collection to read Learning Curve. It is a complete standalone.

Genres: Romance, College, New Adult, Sports Romance, College Romance, Sports, Contemporary

466 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2024

About the author

Many moons ago, a dynamic duo of romance authors teamed up under the pseudonym Max Monroe, and, well, the rest is history...

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of more than thirty contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far. ​

​

Reviews

[Jen ♥]

Self note:
 
I read starting from the 80% mark, and the FMC got paralyzed (waist down) at the end, and there's no assurance if she can walk again. I don't want this kind of sadness in my romance, so yeah, tagging this as not for me. 😭

[allana · Rating 2 out of 5]

My brain feels like mush after reading this book. I liked parts of this book, but not enough to ever recommend this to anyone. If the conflict is wrapped up by the middle of the book there is no reason why I should be reading a million more chapters. The ending was so unnecessary.

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars 🌟

Learning Curve took me on a whirlwind of emotions, and I have to say, it was quite the ride! 🌟 Packed with a mix of angst, drama, and college shenanigans, the book kept me hooked, even though a few parts left me scratching my head. But honestly, what’s a good New Adult romance without some chaos, right?

✧ Tortured bad boy meets virginal cheerleader 🖤
✧ College romance 🎓
✧ Push and pull relationship 😤
✧ Found family 💕
✧ Slow burn 🔥
✧ Angst and drama 😢

Okay, let’s dive into Finn and Scottie! Finn, the classic tortured bad boy with hidden depths, and Scottie, our virginal cheerleader heroine trying to survive college life, have insane chemistry! 🔥 Their push-and-pull dynamic had me on the edge of my seat. Every time I thought they were getting closer, something happened to pull them apart again. It was the kind of emotional rollercoaster that made me want to scream but also kept me frantically turning the pages.

What really stood out to me was how Max Monroe portrayed the growth in both characters. Finn isn’t just brooding for the sake of it—his past pains feel real and relatable. Meanwhile, Scottie’s journey, especially dealing with her toxic relationship with her mom and navigating life’s hurdles, added depth to her character. These weren’t just cookie-cutter protagonists; they were fully fleshed-out and easy to root for.

The writing? Chef’s kiss! The vivid, rich details and the perfect balance of humor lightened up the heavy drama when it needed it. But here’s where things got a bit messy: the plot. It had a few wild twists and felt a little over-the-top at times, like when a secret underground society (Double C) was introduced. It added excitement but also made me raise an eyebrow at the outlandishness.

Pacing-wise, Learning Curve wasn’t perfect. The story felt long, with some scenes dragging while others, especially key emotional moments, were cut way too short. It left me feeling like I was missing out on some real magic. But for lovers of a slow burn with satisfying character arcs, there’s a lot to love.

Side characters were a treat! The found family vibes were heartwarming, and the supporting cast added so much charm and depth. I’m already eagerly anticipating where the author will take these characters next! 😍

However, I can’t ignore that the story sometimes felt more like a high school drama than a college one, especially with how characters reacted to situations. And let’s not forget the melodramatic twists that, while entertaining, could be a tad too much.

All in all, Learning Curve is an intense, emotional, and sometimes frustrating ride, but the character growth and Finn and Scottie’s undeniable connection make it all worth it. If you’re in the mood for a New Adult romance filled with drama, secrets, and plenty of heart, you might want to give this one a shot. Just prepare for a few bumps along the way! ✨

Big thanks to NetGalley and Max Monroe LLC for the free copy!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

ACR:
I'll probably read the next book in the series cause I'm intrigued, but if I end up not liking it I won't be continuing.
This is a straight up wattpad book, and I've read good ones....but this yeah, NO.

Scottie (fmc) I could not stand her at all, like her name. She was whiny and pathetic with zero backbone and I get there needs to be character development, when there's a demeaning toxic bf/ex bf in the mix.
But that all happened/ got resolved within the first 20%-30% and that's not enough for me to get connected or sympathise with her as a human. It's like she actually wanted to be in the relationship with him and felt like she deserved it or somthing but knew deep down she didn't love him or cared about him and knew it was bad.
Finn (mmc) he was okay, but was a wet blanket cause he was like 'I don't deserve her' - 'I need you' - 'Stay away from me' - 'I love you, forgive me.' Like PICK A LANE BOI.
He did get better in the last 40% but at that point I checked out.

The plot had so much going on but yet nothing at all. There was family drama that he was being overdramatic about like he wanted his half brother to feel what he felt about his dad not being in his life, like dude he doesn't even know you existed. There was so many miscommunications throughout like just pick when you wanted to finish the book, than stringing it along cause you don't know what else to write about.

[Max Monroe]

Learning Curve is LIVE NOW + FREE in KINDLE UNLIMITED!!!!

ONE-CLICK: https://geni.us/LearningCurve_ebook

Learning Curve is a full-length standalone novel that is available in ebook, paperback, Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. Audio will release sometime in September!



WHAT IS LEARNING CURVE ALL ABOUT?

⬇️⬇️⬇️
TROPES
*New adult standalone romance
*Dual POV
*Intense first love vibes
*Cheerleader virgin meets the tortured bad boy
*He FIGHTS for her. Literally.
*College DRAMAAAA
*FUNNY
*ANGST & loads of tension
*Secrets
*Twists & turns (you will NOT see coming)
*Winslow brothers (Sh*t is about to go down!)
*OG Billionaires (Finn’s roommate Ace is THE Ace Kelly so you def see Thatch and Cassie, and Kline and Georgia, and Wes and Winnie)
⬇️⬇️⬇️

Imagine…being wrapped up in the comfort of visiting a dear friend while simultaneously being lit on fire while season one of Grey’s Anatomy and One Tree Hill (the most addictive seasons of both shows, in our opinion) and every episode of Friends play at full volume at the same time. But, like, you can concentrate?

Never mind. Let’s try a different description…

There’s angst. There’s DRAMAAA. There are emotional twists that will leave you breathless. There’s hilarity and spice and the kinds of friendships that last a lifetime. It’s all-consuming and real and so dang raw we swore we were living it in real time.

This is a story of two people who have every reason in the world not to be together but can’t resist each other no matter how hard they try.

Don’t miss it.

Happy Reading!
XOXO,
Max & Monroe

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this story just a few hours ago and I have to tell you, I am already anxiously waiting for the audio version! This is one of Max Monroe’s best!! I loved this story so much that I am just all kinds of excited right now!

First of all, let’s talk about age-appropriate behavior and how much I normally despise New Adult romances because of it. It used to be I would not come near a book with characters in this age group because *sigh* their decision making drove me bananas and authors loved to hype the stupidity of it all and I just could not handle it. Then, I met a few authors that wrote in this genre, and we chatted, broke bread, and became friends, so I read their books. Some I loved and some I didn’t, but I kept trying and something big happened. I began to see a shift in the overall narrative of “New Adult” stories where they were written with age-appropriate behavior, but not overly dramatized or over the top, and it was a glorious day for me! I’ve seen this growth in the genre for a few years now and they keep getting better over time. THIS STORY IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THIS GROWTH!

Learning Curve was more emotional than dramatic in my opinion. It veers a bit from the usual Max Monroe lighthearted story, but I wouldn’t call it heavy and angsty either. It was well balanced with the usual “shenanigans” this age-group usually brings to life alongside real-life circumstances that are not rainbows and gumdrops. It’s a big story, not just in length but also in overall subject. The relationship growth between Finn & Scottie was realistically portrayed and their growth as individuals added a layer of depth to the story that I wasn’t expecting. I was emotional in one way or another thru just about every single page of this story! I’m excited to see what direction this author duo takes Dickson University and all its students. I feel it’s gonna be an epic ride and I am here for all of it!

Thank you Hambright PR for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Amber Dowty · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love shows like OTH, friends and grey anatomy READ THIS BOOK!

Gumpy sunshine college romance. THE ANGST!!!! The build up?!? The back and fourth?! So good! So emotional, i SOBBED when i least expected. Such a ride. Dont wanna say too much in feat of giving away but the ending is INSANE

[zya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars —

What truly stood out about this book was the incredible writing. Rich with details and imagery, strong word choices—it made the story come alive with its setting, characters, and plot. I don't know if it was because of the font I was reading with (Iowan), or the writing itself, but some of the juvenile aspects of the story weren't so deterring because of how the writing presented itself. It was the reason why the rating of the book stayed as high as it did.

Summary—
Learning Curve followed two characters: Scottie and Finn. Scottie was a virginal cheerleader while Finn was the "bad boy," on their campus of Dickson University. It followed their trials and tribulations as they dealt with their individual demons—Scottie and her detrimental relationship with her alcoholic mother, and threatening texts about her past; Finn with carrying the weight of knowing his father had a whole set of other children, one of which was a professor at Dickson, and the depth of his abused past—while they navigate their love for one another.

Writing, Plot & Pacing—
As I said, the writing was the strongest reason for me to continue reading. It was rich and riveting, and it didn't feel juvenile as a lot of other college romance authors made their stories feel. There was a professional touch to it—not in a way that was off-putting but rather strengthened the way the story carried itself. However, there was a juxtaposition in how strong the writing was, versus how the plot developed. It was weak, nearly non-existent, saved with for a couple of reminders between several chapters.

While I loved the college setting, and how Monroe creatively demonstrated how their New York City campus—as if you were in the city itself!—it bordered a lot of unrealistic tendencies. There was a secret club called Double C where they hosted a bunch of excursions, from a boxing match against an ex-UFC fighter to running through the maze-like catacombs underneath their campus, to a poker night, to a library scavenger hunt for old love letters. It was an odd mix, and with how much they were doing, while it was developing the bond of their friend group, it felt unrealistic and so much. This, in combination with their soap opera-esque of plot twists and turns, felt so unrealistic, that it felt like a Hallmark movie on crack.

Another thing with the writing was it felt slow and fast at the same thing. There would be several chapters dedicated to one scene, which attributed to how long the book was (91 chapters + epilogue). I believe Scottie's and Finn's first time together spanned over three to five chapters. At first, I thought with how short the chapters were, it would be a breeze to read back, but at some point, during the 70s, I thought it was getting ridiculous with how Monroe cut their scenes in half. Sometimes in the middle of important conversations. However, I will admit, before that 70s Mark, I thoroughly enjoyed how short the chapters were and how easy it was to read.

Another thing was how character-driven the story was. Despite the plot, which was loose and flimsy at best, especially with Finn's plots, it was focused primarily on building the relationships between Finn and his friends, Scottie and her friends, their entire friend group as a whole, the side characters that are definitely going to be the MCs for one of the next books in the series, and the cameos of Monroe's previous series. In addition, the development of their romance was slow, but fast at the same time. But I can't necessarily classify them as a medium-burn, it was weird. More on this later.

Lastly, the story felt more high school than college. How they met, how they fell in love, how every little turbulence in their lives caused them to push-pull each other away, and how they felt like it was the end of the world when one bad thing happened to them. It felt like I was reading teenagers, with their reactions to melodramatics, then college students who are navigating their lives as new adults. Especially with Scottie's arc and her mother coming onto her campus. What happened was her mother came to her campus, drunk, and had sex with a college student. It was recorded and posted on social media, but Scottie reacted as if it was the end of her world, especially with the setting around her navigating this traumatic experience. People were gossiping about it weeks after it happened, which does not happen in college, and people were making fun of her when none of it was in her control. It felt very high-school-esque with how it was handled and approached. As a college student right now, I can assure you, people would definitely talk, but it would fade away within a week at most because our lives are not centered around reliving the drama of people's lives.

Characters—
When it came to our main characters, Scottie and Finn, I found that both of them were two-dimensional at best. This wasn't meant as a harsh critique, because I genuinely liked reading in their POVs, and it wasn't annoying nor a complete drag to go through. The issue I had with them was they did not have a personality outside of each other.

Scottie was a cheerleader, but I couldn't see any of the personality traits outside of her being a normal girl. She went to class, did her practices, and hung out with her friends. She didn't have many hobbies outside of that. It wasn't shown if she was truly dedicated to her classes—scenes of studying, or worrying about her tests—but rather it was just mentioned in the passing how she maintained her 4.0 GPA and how she passed her classes. The only true characterization we got from her, I believed, was how she waa a klutz, but that was only shown in the beginning of the story. Afterwards, it was never brought up again.

Finn was the "bad boy," of the story, which was disappointing, to say the least. I did like how there was a new approach to how the bad boy was perceived—rather than being brooding, grumpy, and hotheaded, he was just a reclusive who wanted his own space. It was difficult because he had a social butterfly as a roommate-turned-best friend who dragged him to everything. However, a true disappointment I had was how I assumed, with the synopsis, that Finn would be more stereotypical and was a boxer, or fighter, or some sort that had a stronger purpose. That there would be weight behind his self-proclaimed title. Perhaps he would be a fighter for the Double C events more often. However, that did not happen. Yes, he fought, but it was only because he was defending Scottie. Yes, he fought, but it was mentioned in the passing of how he would defend his siblings from his abusive father. Other than that, the fighter in him came out very whimsically.

But truly, what I think irked me about their characterizations is how the plot moved them as characters, rather than them being characters moving the plot. Every time there was a twist or turn in the story, I could never concretely say "Finn would've never acted like that," or "Scottie would never say that," because I didn't understand them well enough to know exactly what is their morals, or personalities, or hard boundaries. They were vessels for the plot, to move in whatever direction the plot told them to go, and acted accordingly to that. In some ways, Finn and Scottie felt like self-inserts for the readers to put themselves in, because they don't have true strong emotions on anything. They just acted, how any normal person would react, in a given scenario.

Relationships—
I did like their relationship. There was one scene that got me crying, screaming, and kicking my feet, which was where Finn just finished his match with the ex-UFC fighter and Scottie got up to the ring, shoved his chest, and kept scolding him for giving her a heart attack, and he kissed her. That was adorable. I even made a TikTok about them. However, because of their characterization, they did have some faults as a couple.

It was so fast. And so slow. At the exact same time. Let me explain. They kissed, I believe, in the 30s, and they didn't fully get together until the 60s/70s, I believe. It was a tale of first love, because despite Scottie's previous relationship with her ex, she never cared and felt this much emotion for him, and Finn had previous sexual adventures. However, despite the slower side of how they got together, they also slept together for the first time and said "I love yous." Now, pause. Stick with me.

They barely knew each other.

At this point, in the 30s, Finn knew nothing about Scottie outside of her being a cheerleader and someone dedicated to her studies. He didn't know about her family, he didn't know her favorite colors or food (at least, it wasn't demonstrated on-page), and he didn't know anything about her traits, favorite things, hobbies, NOTHING. All he knew was that she was gorgeous, kind (how?), and funny (where?). In the same vein, Scottie knew absolutely nothing about Finn. She knew he fought, knew he was more of the bad-boy type, and a bit about his relationship with the half-brother professor—because she took a note he left on the Professor's desk—but other than that, NOTHING. They knew absolutely nothing about each other, things with real substances, for me to truly believe that they were in love. It truly felt like it was more so out of convenience, their love story, rather than genuine connection. This brings me back to how it was so high school. When you're in high school, your dating pool were the people in your class. You fall in love with a terrible ex because he was conveniently in the same space as you. That's exactly how Scottie fell in love with Finn. He wasn't terrible. Not by any means—he was protective, he cared about her from a distance when she was struggling, and when she pushed him away, he stood his ground to let her know he would stay—but their development of a relationship felt lackluster and unfulfilling.

There were good moments about them, don't get me wrong. Finn was terribly in love with this girl, to the point that he took care of her without getting credit because he wanted to know she was safe and healthy. He was extremely protective, not in a way that didn't leave room for her autonomy, but a silent bodyguard of sorts. He loved her, truly. I believe that from the screen. But I don't believe I can understand why he loved her. What about Scottie was different from the rest? What did Scottie do to you—other than fall in the rain, to which you helped her up—caught your eye? What did Scottie provide for you—as a safe haven, an emotional support, something no one else could give—before you decided you loved her? I didn't believe why they fell in love.

Additionally, let me break down how their romance developed. They met each other; she fell in the rain in the courtyard while he helped her up → He learned she got a boyfriend and iced her out because he, decidedly, didn't want to be involved with someone like her and because he wasn't "good enough for her" → Hot/Cold pushing her away ensues → They make up, especially after the Double C with his fight against the ex-UFC Fighter → He left early in the morning, because of his family, without telling her, making her upset → Hot/Cold ensues again → They're finally at a better place, to which they sleep together on Halloween → He finds out about her taking his journal entry he left on his half-brother Professor → Ignores her, again to which she decided he wanted to leave her alone and she does → They okay, again, but something happened with her mother, to which she isolated herself for a good THIRTY chapters → Finally, after weeks of not talking to anyone, they sleep together again, to which they're finally a couple → Everything was good until something happened to Scottie at her cheerleading nationals → She pushed him away, but he refused to go → They finally get together again.

It was exhaustive. There was so much push-pull without valid reasons, just lackluster communication. I think when they got to the last Hold/Cold, done by Scottie, I was out of it. They always, always confessed/reiterated how much they loved each other every time they caught a bad break—from Finn pushing her away after learning she stole the note from the Professor's desk he left, to after her bad accident during cheerleading nationals—which, to me, was also. Bleh.

Who I Would Recommend This To—
Honestly, everyone. Even the mainstream college romance authors nowadays. This was the standard I'm going to put everyone through when it comes to their writing, in terms of actual writing. The word choices. The dialogues. The pacing. However, to be more specific, I would recommend it to people who can handle a bit of unrealism and like One Tree Hill. You know how that one scene in OTH where Dan needed to get a heart transport, or something like that, and the box of the heart transport dropped and the fucking dog ate it? This book felt similar to that. It was fun, it was short (relatively), and you don't have to think too hard. Also, the side characters are everything.

I would recommend this book, in terms of tropes, for those who liked: bad boy/good girl, family dramas/issues, shenanigans, the MMC is protective of the FMC, and found family.

Conclusion—
Woah. I did not mean to write that much. I just had so many thoughts I wrote in my Notes app, I had to let you all know. I want to let it be known, that I do like this book, despite the things I highlighted, and I do plan on reading the second book, which I believe is a sports romance between two of the side characters in this book, but there were some things I noticed I needed to point out. It was not as bad as it sounded, but because it was aggravated, it sounded way worse than it was. It was little details but it wasn't overwhelming and would deter anyone from reading the story. It was nearly unnoticeable if anything. However, there are some parting notes I didn't know where to fit in, so I'll just bullet-point them here.

• There were attempts to appear contemporary, especially with Gen-Z slang, that I thought were a bit cringy. Most didn't make me outwardly cringe, but one specific one did, which was when Monroe attempted to use the slang, "salty," but in the context it was used, it felt awkward. In the exact words, it was, "Your salty is showing." Hello? What? Also, so were scattered mentions of TikTok, trends, and even the song “Expresso” by Sabrina Carpenter was played in the background of a frat party.

• Throughout the story, it was focused on building Finn's relationships than Scottie's. What I mean, Finn's relationship with his siblings, his new siblings (including the Professor), and his relationship with Ace, were more developed and intimate than Scottie's relationship with her girl friends, Kayla and Julia.

• Their monologues are decent, and not repetitive in a way that made you groan every time you read them, but it was getting to a point where every three chapters between his POVs, he had to remind the readers why he wasn't good for Scottie, simply for his past; how undeserving he was of her; why he was so fucked up. Man, if you were fucked up, SHOW us.

• There were also a lot of assumptions about what the other person would or would not do. Like, Scottie would be like "Finn wouldn't do that," and Finn would be like, "Scottie isn't like that," First and foremost, how do you know? People are unpredictable, even if you're in love with them. You can't read their heads.

• From Chapters 40–67/70, Scottie was just grieving. Grieving the event of what happened to her with her mother was understandable, but it was so teenage melodramatic. It also happened again from Chapters 80-90, where Scottie was grieving again. This girl has been through so much shit, God, please double it and give it to Dane (her ex).

• Their plots ended so nicely with a bowtie. Like, Finn's whole issue with his father went away because his father got arrested for, bear with me, armed fucking robbery and he got life in prison. That was neat.

• However, what I really loved was the ending. It was when Scottie got into a cheerleading accident and got paralyzed, but instead of finishing the story with her regaining back feeling in her legs and walking again, she continued to be paralyzed by the epilogue, exemplifying that your life does not end when you are disabled, which I fucking loved. That was one of my favorite parts of the story.

• Lastly, honestly, the book could've ended in 70% and it would've carried the same depth and satisfaction. It was way too long, and if they just ended on a happy note for Scottie's cheerleading nationals, it would've been as perfect.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[amara_gibsie and claires wife💋✨💍 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book fixed me, broke me then fixed me, then broke me then fixed me again
OMFG finn i love him so much, he never gave up on scottie and ARG i was screaming and giggling.
he is definition of "if you touch her you die"
i wanna give scottie a hug. i love her and could not get enough.
i was screaming at my laptop "just fucking kiss already"
theres no words to describe how perfect it was
the amount of times i cried, laughed, giggled, screamed was crazy

quotes-------------------

just want you to know im here for you, scottie. aways.
-i was crying sooo hard

thinking about you, scottie. hope your okay. im still here if you need me.
- guys he was always there no matter what

i love you, scottie. i chose us. i chose you. do you hear me?
-AHHHH

More quotes to come lmao!!!💋

Thankyou sooo much netgalley for this amazing ARC!!!!!🩷✨💋

[Lori Kays · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man, I'm struggling between a 2 and a 3, but I'm going to go with 2. This book started out strong and I do feel like the MC's relationship progressed very organically. I liked all the side characters, they really did make the book a better overall flavor and humor. That being said, so much could have been cut out of this book, it could have easily been a 400 page book and 200 pages could have been cut out. Where this book really started to go down hill was about 50% of the way through, after they first had sex and Finn broke things off with her because she was nosy and inserted herself into business that wasn't her's, didn't respect his privacy and then hid it from him until immediately AFTER he took her virginity. He was very clear that he got her apology, it just didn't change how he felt. He wasn't mean about it, he just felt about how he felt and the fact she got upset with him for it was really manipulative putting her in the victim spot, which is honestly where she stayed for the rest of the book. It became the "poor Scottie" book, first with the thing with her mom, which was so melodramatic. Yes, it would have sucked, but I don't think it would have had quite the impact it did as in the book and girl really needed to get a grip. Isolating in your room for 2 months? Maybe if it had been her who got drunk and had sex in front of a frat house, but not just her mom. Meanwhile, the guy SHE fucked things up with is bending over backwards for her by running around and getting all her class notes, bringing her food and nearly getting expelled for beating up her terrible ex for what he did to her and yet she wouldn't even talk to him when, again, SHE was the one in need of being forgiven, not him. Idk when the book got it all crossed, but somehow she gaslit her way into being the victim and everyone bought it. Still, overall when she let him back in and they got officially back together it was a good moment...and should have been the end. Full stop. Everything after her meeting his family should have just not happened and should have been the end of the book. Her getting permanently paralyzed in the last 15% of the book was such a ridiculously bad idea. It felt like a whole different story with different characters was talked on to the end. Finn wasn't even the same character at that point and they really never faced the realities of her paralysis. They were on and off again for like 6 months at that point, throwing that curve ball in after everything they went through was just unnecessary and frankly unbelievable and again, changed the whole story into something else. That lowered my whole overall rating for the book because it was just so unnecessary. I guess that's the story the author wanted to tell, but it was not the story I as a reader was told I was going to be reading. It didn't feel like a HEA to me, it seemed like a "Making the best of a shit situation for now" I did really love Finn's family arc and how he got to know and find love in his new half siblings, that part was a great development and probably one of my more favorite parts of the story.

[Jen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, this book!!

This was a solid 5 stars for almost the whole book. I was invested and barely took a break from it for the whole day. I fell in love with these characters, laughed with them, cried with them and was rooting for them from the get-go.

Then, around the 85% point, yet another major thing happened to one of the main characters and I was done. In a story full of trauma and pain, this felt like a completely unnecessary plot point to throw in the mix and just pile on the misery. It ruined what had been a beautiful story of two people overcoming their upbringing to come together despite all odds.

I know I'll be in the minority as everyone seems to be dropping 5 star reviews, but it just felt like such a contrived, pointless addition to a brilliant, captivating journey that pulled me right out of that wonderful place you go when a story inspires your imagination to run wild.

This writer is relatively new to me, and I will go back and read the stories of the other characters mentioned in this book as until the incident towards the end, this was easily one of my favourite books of 2024 so I'm sure I'll enjoy the rest. This one just didn't work for me at the end.

[Teneisha (Teesbookjourney) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for *Learning Curve* by Max Monroe based on the description, but the moment I saw there were 91 chapters, it was a red flag for me. The book quickly proved to be extremely predictable. Scottie is shy, timid, and dating a boyfriend who treats her poorly—until she meets Finn and suddenly finds her backbone. It’s clear she’s going to end up with her rescuer, and of course, she’s being stalked. I wonder who it could be? I managed to get through about 30% of the book, but it was clear we’d be slogging through each day, and the drama felt so predictable and outlandish. The characters and their stories didn’t engage me; the pace was slow, and everything just felt too predictable. I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

[Catbytheseareads ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this story thinking oh no yet another college/university love story because I prefer my romance characters to be older than that But oh man was a wrong.
I'd never not read a story by Max Monroe these authors have a way of pulling me in and grabbing my heart no matter what they write.

This story was incredibly heartbreaking, and aching. It tells a tale of 2 college student along with some pretty amazing friends and their families. You'll fall hard for the friends and families as you feel so much for the MC's. I don't like to give spoilers but this is so worth it to read the story really got me and I didn't want it to end, I cannot wait for book 2.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me on a ride. I had no idea what to expect. Both characters while seemingly come from different worlds find that they end up having a lot in common. The push and pull between the main characters was addicting. I had to keep reading because when you think they're finally getting somewhere something comes in to push them away again.

The side characters? Absolutely loved them! I love found family and this book portrays it wonderfully. Their friends had me giggling and I can't wait to see what this author has in store next.

Thank you hambright pr for the gifted ebook.

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile]

Spoiler and note to self



19 year old h becomes paralyzed in the last 15% of the book.

I have no problems with my mcs being in a wheelchair or otherwise disabled but not at the end of the book when I'm looking forward to a damn HEA and epilogue wtf?

And she's so young too that's so damn unfair

Anyways not for me

Plus I've tried this author before and they always have the most juvenile humour ughhh. Like grown ass people doing some stupid idiotic pranks that are supposed to be amusing but are NOT🙄

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning Curve was the first book I'd read written by Max Monroe and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Their writing was so flawless that I found myself flipping through the pages from the first chapter to the end. The overall storyline was beautifully woven with intense first (and true) love, heartbreaking tragic past, and unforgettable fighting-for-each-other moments. I loved how incredibly smoothly Max Monroe intertwined the main characters', Finn's and Scottie's, lives together and at the same time, how much they'd matured as a college freshman and a grown-up.

"For the longest time, I've feared that I would become just like my dad," he continues, but his voice grows quiet. "But I'm more than him. And you're more than your mom. And together, we're more than all the mistakes we've made in the past."

Undeniably, both Finn and Scottie had so much in common that they might not be aware of when they first met. With the passing of time, they couldn't push their strong feelings towards each other away, but Finn was battling against his personal demon and Scottie was plastering a smile on her face while cheerleading for life.

Finn Hayes is a lover, not a fighter. But boy oh boy, is it obvious he's spent some time moonlighting as the second anyway.

It wasn't easy to see Finn and Scottie stumbled and struggled in life, but somehow, the author made their stories all the more bearable by sharing sweet little moments between them, such as a soft kiss from Finn to Scottie when she was secretly worried about him, or when she lightly squeezed his hand when he was about to lose his cool (but he thought no one noticed).

"I choose us," I whimper. "Because I'm ready to choose me, too."

Honestly, I lived for all the teeny tiny happiness sparkling between Finn and Scottie throughout the book and that was what made their story stand out. Moreover, thanks to the duo POV, I got to experience their journey from different angles and better put myself in their shoes. It truly was a phenomenal feeling to go through what both of them went through in such important part of their lives, particularly when they learnt how to embrace their found family, new siblings, BFFs who didn't make sense, and above all, each other.

There was no exaggerating that they both went through hell but came back stronger, and for a second, I thought the story was going to end right there. Froze in the most perfect moment of their lives and simply let us readers cherish the hard-earned happily ever after. But nope, the author had to once again showcase what life was capable of, throwing another cruel curveball to Finn and Scottie at almost the end of the book, and made me suffer all over again. Sadly, this time, the impact was even stronger than the previous endless college drama and not-so-funny family jokes. My barely-mended heart was shattered once more and I wasn't sure it was pieced back even when the story ended for real this time.

One thing for sure, though, was that Finn and Scottie DID get their HEA. They still got their well-deserved happy ending, albeit quite unconventional. My emotion was all over the place by the time I finished devouring this book and I felt a permanent lump in my throat for all the mixed signals I was getting from Finn and Scottie's story. That said, I'd still HIGHLY RECOMMEND picking up Learning Curve and hopefully, you'd be able to tag along Finn and Scottie's learning curve of dealing with troubled family, ex-friends' betrayal, and earth-shattering rumors.

"We must not allow other people's limited perceptions to define us, Finnley. There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception."

Lastly, aside from Finn and Scottie, had I mentioned how hilarious and lovable the secondary characters in this book were? As far as I knew, the sequel, Playing Games, which would come out in Spring 2025, would be all about the star football player, Blake Boden, and his delusional one-sided obsession with Finn's sister, Lexi Winslow. Stay tuned! *wink*

***Thanks to the author and Hambright PR for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

[Nikisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read if you like: college romance, grumpy x sunshine, first love, he fights for her, angst, secrets, twists and turns, emotional family drama, dual pov

I don’t get why the book was soooo long 😭 I thought it was so unnecessary. It was filled with a billion filler chapters with a ton of side plots that had me distracted. I found myself skimming through a lot of the book just to try keep up with the main story line (the book won because I got lost)

It was giving high school relationship rather than college tbh. I didn’t feel that the characters were mature, their communication was terrible and just the way they were with each other was giving ✨ cringe ✨

I did not like what Scottie did with the letter and I also didn’t get why she hid the texts, it made ZERO sense to me 😭😤 The authors weren’t lying when they said this book was going to be filled with drama though

I’m disappointed because What I Should’ve Said was such an incredible book and this next one was just a let down ☹️

I think you’ll appreciate this book much more than me if you’ve read about the Winslow brothers, seeing familiar faces and names would be so cool to see. This was definitely a miss for me.

Thank you Max Monroe and NetGalley for this ARC, I am voluntarily leaving my honest review

[Jess (GetbookedwithJessica) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one so much! The way Max Monroe writes so beautifully is powerful and fun. I feel like this is the next college campus series obsession!!!

This book reminds me a lot of beautiful disaster where bad boy meets good girl with some underground society! I couldn’t get enough of these two Characters. Fin and Scottie had this deep attraction at first sight but it almost had a forbidden love feel in the beginning. With Fin and his family secrets and Scottie and her secret texts, so many fun side stories to explore in this one.

Let’s not forget to mention all the amazing side characters from Ace and his dad with their hilarious prank wars to all the other great friends of Scottie and Finn, this book had it all. I loved Things I Should’ve Said but this, this definitely is my new favorite.

🩷 New adult standalone romance
✌🏼 Dual POV
🫶 Intense first love vibes
📣 Cheerleader virgin meets the tortured bad boy
☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine, opposites attract
🥊 He FIGHTS for her
🏫 College Drama
😂 FUNNY
🫦 BANTER
🔥 ANGST & loads of tension
🫢 Secrets
🌪️ Twists & turns

[Kayla Hewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute college romance. It reminded me a little of say you swear by Meagan brandy because of the third act gut punch! There is a lot of miscommunication in this one but I don’t always hate that. Finn and Scottie are so cute and I completely believed in their love story! The only downside I felt was the length. I felt like it could have been shorten a little.

[Ana | SheSaidYestoBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was doomed since the beginning for me. I don't enjoy the "we're drawn to each other, but I'm a bad guy, so I must push her away" trope at the best of times. If think when a guy is interested, he is all in! There is nothing that will stop him from get it. End of story. And I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea if Scottie got the hint and left the guy be. A bit of self love is never too much!

I pushed through to see if I would enjoy the story despite my dislike for this trope, but it was only one stupid drama after stupid drama. Seems like the authors were trying to make this a very emotional read and decided to add every dramatic tropes they could think of it. Definitely not a book for me, I should have DNF earlier on.

╰⪼ This is book 1 in the Dickson University Series. Each one can be read as a complete standalone.

TROPES: sports romance: boxing • rich hero •bad boys • virgin heroine • college

[Gigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

whoever is rating this book 5 stars... did we read the same book? & wtf kind of ending was that?

2 stars is me being generous.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: 2

Tropes:
college drama
family issues
cheerleader virgin
grumpy x sunshine
secrets
he fights for her
Dual POV

Learning Curve was my first book by Max Monroe and I really enjoyed it! Following the stories of FMC Scottie, a freshman cheerleader at Dickson University, and MMC Finn, a freshman tortured bad boy, both have family drama, angst, and first love vibes. They may think they're very different, but they couldn't be more similar.

What I loved about Learning Curve was the way it was written. Now here me out.... The main characters of this story are Freshman at Dickson University. They're young, they have trauma, they have hot tempers, they aren't fully mature yet, they're fun, they're wild and crazy, and dramatic... just as 18 year olds should be. It definitely brought me back and made me laugh at the things/attitude I had at that age. But through all that, the story was realistic when it comes to up and down relationships, backstabbing bitches, life long friendships being forged, and the freedom that comes when you enter college.

I loved all the characters in this story... even the 2 that needed the punches to the face. I loved to hate them LOL. Scottie is sweet and innocent and just a good person with family trauma that she's overcoming. Finn is grumpy, out for malice- letting his family trauma rule him, but can't help falling in love with Scottie. Ace is HILARIOUS! His family pranks had me cracking up! He definitely draws you in- I hope we get an Ace book! Julia and Kayla, are the best of friends you can ask for in college. And Blake.... I'm rooting for you to "marry that girl".

Also, I need more underground secret club stuff from Double C! It gave me all 90s movie vibes haha.

[Chris ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️It’s official! I am cursed by all the book fairies in the world. BY ALL OF THEM!! I have no other explanation for my bad luck when it comes to books lately.🤷🏼‍♀️

I like angsty books, ok? In fact I prefer having angst in my books, but when said angst starts to feel fabricated out of thin air, that’s when I can’t enjoy it anymore.

SPOILERS

WHAT DO YOU MEAN a perfectly healthy fmc has an accident in the last 15% of the book and is permanently paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 19!???? WHAT!??? WHAT IN THE ACTUAL WORLD? Why would the author go that route?😭 And so late into the book as well….the whole thing just felt like an afterthought to add more unnecessary drama to the story.

Listen, the disability trope would work in a romance book about adults (with proper development of course), and even they would face difficulties because of that. But a young couple? Forget it!! Realistically, the chances of them staying together after such a tragic event are really low. You can’t change my mind. Their happy ending felt more like a HFN.

Other things that didn’t work for me in this book:

* I couldn’t decide if I should focus on the angst or cringe at the childish, ridiculous pranks going on in this book. I am all for a great found family, in fact it’s one of my favorite trope, but the way Ace and his parents talked and behaved was childish and immature, NOT hilarious like the way the author tried to portray it. Some of the side characters felt very cartoonish to me.

* For a romance, I wasn’t blown away by their supposed intimate connection. I kept waiting for it to get better and nothing. I didn’t understand WHEN exactly they fell in love between her just being broken up from her narcissistic, manipulative ex and them barely spending any time together because Finn kept pushing her away. Then they have sex for the first time and they are suddenly in LOVE? Bitch HOW? WHEN? 🙄

* The way Finn’s other family simply accepted their half siblings and tried to help them out, without seeing any internal conflict on their part, was very unrealistic. What is this, a freaking Disney animation? 😅 In what world would people behave that calmly and be that understanding when finding out something of that magnitude? 😒

[Anso · Rating 2 out of 5]

i want it to be very clear that this is actually a 2.5! i am so freaking relived that this is over. i’m sorry but this book is the typical example of something that is just not for me but might objectively be good for someone else. the writing was horrible, i’m sorry but if i hear one more 2013 tumblr quote about letting someone to go because you love them, i will combust. i love cliché’s but wow this really overdid it for me. the story felt so long but it also felt like nothing significant happened until the end (which i was genuinely surprised with and i’m actually quite impressed they went there). i also HATE insta love and i just feel like they instantly fell in love and never really got to know each other. EVERY OTHER RELATIONSHIP was WAY more interesting. it’s definitely not the worst book i’ve ever read, but i’ve had such high hopes after reading so many positive reviews. but i guess it wasn’t meant for me.

update: i actually hated this so it‘s actually 2 stars

[Krystin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

We are warned in the Author’s Note that this is going to be angsty and it was a fair warning because this book was like a season of Grey’s Anatomy (which is fitting since the show was mentioned a few times). Like how much can one person go through….sheesh 😬 but in true Max Monroe fashion, there was also a bunch of chaos, hilarity and witty banter to make the heaviness more bearable.

[Rebecca Norris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really strong start, and I LOVE all of the cameos by the original BAD boys and the Winslow bros. But this poor girl COULD not catch a break, I felt like it was just too much trauma. ( but I am REALLY excited for the Ace/Julia story that is VERY clearly on its way).

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. These characters come from different worlds but they have a lot in common.


I love Max Monroe, they take to the most wonderful of rides in all of their books. They are always addictive.

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hate being a hater but wtf was this?!!!?!!?! 😭😭 definitely a bad mess

[Jaden · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was insane

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scottie + Finn

Both have just moved in to their NYC dorm to attend Dickson University.
First day of class they 'meet-cute' in the rain. But Scottie has a boyfriend. And Finn has better things to do than flirt with a cute girl. He is here for a reason. To 'surprise' his half-brother. Professor Winslow. Who has no idea that Finn and his four siblings even exist.
But Scottie constantly crosses his path and he kinda has to save her a few times from her soon to be ex!

And that's only the very beginning of the story!

LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN!

══════════════════




ADORABLE!
How can we not love a book with so much Thatch in it?! And we even get mini Thatch - who is just as amazing as his dad - can't wait to read his book next! Well, not next - next up is Blake & Lexi! Yay!
Back to Thatch - you don't have to know the Billionaire series or the Winslows. But why wouldn't you want to read all those amazing books before starting this next generation?! That's my question. So - go read it all!

This book is so ... great. Adorable. Funny. Sweet. Sad. Heartbreaking. Exciting. Sexy. Long! I just loved reading this. We get a new group of besties with Finn and Ace and Julia and Scottie and Blake. And we get all the old besties like Thatch and Kline and Wes and all the Winslows. Ugh. Such an amazing cast in one book! I loved it...and hated it a bit too - you'll see!

LEARNING CURVE was an amazing first book in the new Dickson University series. Sweet + funny + adorable + sexy + mysterious + exciting + sad + heartbreaking ... and THATCH!! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Finn - this one is so mine!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
CLICK >HERE<
TO BUY THE BOOK
if you can’t click on the buy-links below!



💜 💜