Lessons of the Heart

by Roxie Holland

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Roxie Holland grew up in the UK. As a quiet child from a busy family, she spent a lot of time reading anything she could get her hands on, and then started writing her own stories.

Now, she lives in the Midlands with her husband, two loud children and two even louder dogs.

Roxie likes to create and write about characters who are slightly flawed, perhaps a little broken, and endeavouring to create them all a wonderful 'happily ever after'.

When she isn't writing, she's either plotting stories, imagining new story lines, or reading.

Reviews

[Sareadforyou]

ARC REVIEW!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

This book follows Delilah Adler, who unexpectedly crosses paths with Joseph Wakefield, the man who was once her teacher and the person who broke her heart years ago. Twelve years later, old feelings, secrets, and unresolved emotions come back to the surface, forcing them to face their past and everything they tried to leave behind.

Man… what a book. 🥹

When I first started reading, I felt like everything was moving so quickly. By around 30%, so many things had already been revealed that I genuinely started wondering what was going to happen during the remaining 70% of the book.

Well… I was not prepared. 😭

From chapter 13 onwards, I stopped trying to predict anything because the story kept surprising me. The twists, the emotional moments, the unexpected pregnancy, and the reveal about the father completely caught me off guard. 👀

I also absolutely loved Roxie Holland’s writing style. Her writing made the emotions feel so real, and I loved the way she built the relationships between the characters. Every moment felt meaningful, and it made it so easy to get attached to this story.

What I loved the most was how everything came together by the end. The conclusion felt so satisfying and perfectly wrapped up. Nothing felt random, and every part of the story had its place.

The found family aspect was also one of my favorite things about this book. I truly felt the bond between the characters and how much they cared for each other. And honestly… I need a Felix in my life because he was everything. 😭🤍

I went into this book not knowing what to expect, and I ended up absolutely loving the journey. A beautiful romance with heart, surprises, and characters you don’t want to leave behind. 📖✨

Thank you lovenotes for the arc 🫶🏼

[Ivy Olivia]

✨ ARC Review ✨

This is actually a book that I never thought would be this heavy to digest with all the family drama and everything. It took me quite a long time to finish, but in a good way! It’s a goooood book! 😭🖤

First of all, this is NOT a forbidden romance just because it’s a teacher-student story. They also have a lot of flashback timelines, so I really had to read it carefully to keep myself from getting confused. Plus, their on-and-off, on-and-off relationship was SO frustrating to read (in a good way because everything made sense 😭) that I was genuinely scared there wouldn’t be an HEA. Like, HOW are they this unlucky?! Why is it so freaking hard for them to stay together?! 😭

Btw, the thing I really want to mention is how sad I felt reading about Delilah’s childhood :,) The things she had to do :,) Not all mothers deserve to be mothers. That’s really the only way I can put it. And I was also so touched by what a good man Joseph is during all of this.

BUT I DID NOT LIKE JOSEPH’S DECISION AT ALL when their relationship suddenly fell apart!!!!! 😭 And can we ALL give Felix a round of applause?! 👏🏻 Because we all need someone like Felix in our lives!!!!!!

And when the conflict was finally revealed and I found out why their relationship turned so sour… I GASPPPPP. WHAT A TWIST…… 😭 And then there was MORE PLOT TWISTING!!! The biggest plot twist had me GASPINGGGGGG. GODDDD, I kept going “OMG” until the very end. 😂😭

This book definitely made me dizzy hahaha @.@ You got me there!!!! And you definitely kept me seated. 👀

Thank you for the ARC, Roxie Holland & Love Notes PR! 💛

[Heidi]

🗓 Releases: October 2026

A huge shout out to the author and publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve been giving contemporary romance a try this year, and I am definitely not disappointed! This story is heartbreaking, beautiful, and at times, incredibly funny.

Now, I do LOVE a good age gap romance! The student/teacher trope isn't usually my absolute favorite, though to be clear, he is a student teacher here, she is 18, and nothing inappropriate (sexual) happens before she finishes school. While that specific dynamic isn't normally my top pick, it didn't take away from the beauty of this story for even a second.💞

Our FMC is a young woman who has had to grow up far faster than any child ever should. She’s beyond blessed with the absolute BEST friend anyone could ask for to lean on during the absolute worst times. But when her final year of school rolls around, her best friend (who is a year ahead) is off traveling, leaving her feeling so very alone... until a chance encounter leads her to the only other truly safe person in her life.

In between the deep care, love, and compassion that fills these pages, there is of course a heartbreak (or two!)
But you do get your HEA, and the connection between the main characters is just so raw and beautifully written.

Verdict: A emotional, raw, and comforting read. Highly recommend keeping an eye out for this release! 📖

[Jenna Carlton]

🌸 ARC REVIEW 🌸
Delilah and Joseph’s connection is undeniable, but they both have so much baggage to work through. Watching them slowly confront their past while trying to figure out what they mean to each other kept me gripped.

There were so many moments where my heart hurt for both of them, especially as the truth began to unravel and the consequences of their history became impossible to ignore.

Overall, this was an emotional, angsty romance filled with complicated feelings, secrets and a connection that clearly never really went away.

Definitely one for anyone who loves a messy, emotional romance with plenty of history, tension, and feelings that refuse to stay buried.

[Siv Tufte]

“Two simple facts. I was his student. And he was my teacher.”

Starting this book, I was skeptical, because teacher/student isn’t a trope I usually read, but this took me by surprise, and i really liked it!

Delilah and Joseph's story made me feel all the feels, and surprised me more then once❤️

The story jumps between now and then, but it's done in a clever way, so it has a good flow to it. Actually I was so drawn into the story and had trouble putting it down.

This was my first Roxie Holland book, but I'm definitely gonna read more!

[Ashley Hobson]

I say this every time I read a Roxie Holland book but I fall more and more in love with her writing with each book she releases. They’re always heart-wrenching in different ways with a HEA at the end. Pulls on every single heart string. The relationship between Delilah and Joseph is so full of angst and love and passion. I simply couldn’t put this down and would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to try a contemporary romance between a 6th form student and a student teacher.

[Jessica]

Age gap romances are one of my favourites and tend to gravitate to these more. I loved the “forbidden” aspect of student/teacher (though to be clear nothing happens until Delilah is 18+. She has been through a lot in her life and love the support she had from her best friend. I’m glad Joseph was there to be that person to be in her corner when she needed it.
There are moments in this where your heart will break but it’s worth it for the HEA.

[Daniela Mikheal-Meek]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh my god, did I love this book! It checked basically every box when it comes to what I love in a romance.

One of my favorite things was seeing a troubled FMC who was actually honest and open about her struggles with someone instead of holding everything inside and suffering completely alone. It made her feel so much more real, and I loved watching that vulnerability become part of the relationship.

And Joseph. Joseph. He was perfect... until he wasn't. And that's all I'm going to say because I refuse to spoil anything.

The love between these two felt so genuine that when things fell apart, I genuinely had a hard time accepting it. Then the story just kept throwing surprises at me. There were so many moments I didn't see coming, and every new reveal made me even more invested.

I actually got annoyed when I looked down and realized I was at 95% because I didn't want it to be over. I kept hoping I'd get to the end and somehow there would still be room for a sequel because I wasn't ready to let these characters go.

But honestly, the epilogue was perfect. It was so heartfelt and gave me exactly the kind of closure I needed after everything these characters went through.

As much as this is a romance, it's also an incredible found family story. It's about love in so many different forms, being chosen, letting people in, and finding the kind of family you deserve. I absolutely loved it.

[EMILIE]

There were so many parts of their story that tugged at my heartstrings, especially as buried truths came to light and the weight of their past started catching up with them. Watching them navigate all the hurt, unresolved emotions and lingering feelings made their journey even more impactful. This was such a heartfelt, angst-filled romance, layered with secrets, emotional turmoil and a bond that time and circumstances could never truly break. 📚💕

[mariah miles]

This book put me on an emotional roller coaster in all the right ways! What I appreciate most about this book is the story behind Delilah. Our sweet, sweet Delilah 🥹 And I love the alternating timelines! I wish I knew a little more about Joseph’s upbringing. Otherwise, this was a great read!