I received a reviewer copy of Teach Me by Olivia Dade from the publisher Hussies and Harpies press from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Fat shaming, Abusive Relationships

What It’s About: Rose Owens is the history teacher, who is committed to her students and loves teaching her AP World History class. Unfortunately, the history administrator has taken this class from Rose and awarded it to a new teacher Martin as an incentive to keep him on board. Martin changed schools to be close to his daughter who is a senior, but he finds a frosty greeting from Rose and also some chemistry.

What I Loved: I honestly loved this whole book, I thought the chemistry was spot on and this book was steamy as hell, I loved that the leading lady was curvy and that the man found her attractive because um she is. I loved the school setting and interdepartmental politics especially as an educator. The leads were both so charming and this was just a really sexy romance! This book is just light hearted and celebrates body diversity and just read it.

What I Didn't Like So Much: My biggest issue was that I didn’t fully buy into the main female character’s baggage. I wasn’t sure why she was closed off and had difficulty showing love and I don’t think the explanation was satisfying, but again, that’s fine, different strokes for different folks.

Who Should Read This: People who love romances. People who love the grump and ray of sunshine trope. People who love open door romance. People who want to read about a full figured female finding love.

Quick Summary: Two teachers find a lot of chemistry between them despite a rough start.

Olivia Dade has been on my TBR list for literally years and I even got an ARC of this book back in 2019, before it was first published. The original cover for the book was not the appealing and beautiful one it has now. Hence I forgot about it and my Netgalley completion stats got that little bit worse. Since then, I've seen Dade's books raved about on a number of romance review sites, as well as on our own Cannonball Read. I kept promising myself that I would pick up one of her books, any day now. The lovely MsWas even gifted me Spoiler Alert. So when I was going to choose a book for the "Rec'd" category on this year's CBR Bingo, I was pretty sure it had to be one of Olivia Dade's, and my guilty conscience about never having reviewed my NetGalley ARC reared its head - so Teach Me became the obvious choice. That it's a book about teachers certainly didn't hurt either.

It will come as no surprise to any of the many who have read Dade's books that of course, I loved this. It feels like so much of this year has been one long reading slump, with the occasional exception that lights up my life and where I finish the book in 24-48 hours. Teach Me was absolutely one of those books. I loved both Rose and Martin and while the American school system is rather different from ours (in Norwegian schools, you have exactly the same classes in secondary school no matter what your thoughts on higher education, while you apply for high schools based on your general interest and future plans - either vocational or prep for higher education). School management here prefer one teacher to follow their classes for the three years they go to secondary school, if at all possible (which is why I currently have only classes in tenth grade, all kids I've taught for three years and know really well). So what happens to Rose would be very unlikely to happen to me.

Nor would I have to spend lots of my money on extra classroom resources for the pupils (one more hooray for socialism, making sure the schools provide pretty much everything the teachers and kids need during the school year - sometimes our text books are a bit outdated, but I've never had to buy my own school supplies). Nevertheless, teachers who really care about their students and want what is best for them are the same sort of people no matter where in the world you go, and Rose and Martin are obviously dedicated and hard-working teachers, who just need to work through the awkwardness of the unpleasant school administrator who decided to try to sabotage Rose, so they can fully appreciate their mutual attraction and move towards their HEA.

I love that Rose's ex-parents-in-law basically refused to cut ties with her after her divorce, and were fully aware both why the marriage didn't work out and the flaws of their own son. Rose is clearly a treasure, her ex was clearly a losing proposition, and I'm glad she didn't have to lose her lovely and supportive in-laws in the divorce. Martin's daughter was also a lovely supporting character, as were several of the other staff at school.

Now that I've finally taken the plunge, so to speak, and let myself really experience Ms. Dade's writing, I'm obviously going to seek out everything else she's written. Thankfully I have amassed quite a lot of her books in various e-book sales, so I should be able to catch up with the rest of the Marysburg stories and then the Spoiler Alert books (since the new one is out in October) before the end of the year.

Judging a book by its cover: When I got the ARC from Netgalley, the cover art for Teach Me was very much not the sophisticated and lovely cover created by Leni Kauffman (who it seems does ALL of Dade's cover art now - excellent decision). There's been a lot of debate about the current trend of cartoony covers for both romance and chick-lit recently, but I think we can all agree that based on the rather "I mocked this up on photo-shop in about an hour" cover of the ARC I got, it's not that surprising that I never got round to reading the book. I know now that I shouldn't have judged the book, but I did, and I'm very happy that Olivia Dade now has gorgeous and inviting book covers that hopefully make her sell tons more books. She deserves it.

Rose and Martin are just the perfect couple…at least for each other. I loved how they complemented each other and also brought out the best in each other. Both had so much more to give and be than they realized at first, and I’m glad I got to experience them figuring it all out. A great book!

Lovely exploration of the walls we build around ourselves to withstand prospective hurt and the kindness and love it takes to melt our barriers. Rose and Martin are in their 40s, burned by past love and reticent to let love in again. But a realignment of school assignments finds them sharing office space and a rather tricky schedule. I loved that these two history teachers are passionate about teaching and of student engagement. In fact, Dade's semi-frequent high school canvases as a backdrop for love loans a cerebral intellect to an interesting and vulnerable social setting


Martin and Rose are just wonderful humans full of heart and warmth who need to break down their own insecurities and understand their own value outside of the classroom. I continue to find Dade's stories incredible empowering and she certainly uses her talented pen to uplift readers and encourage them to find the power to live in their own skin and recognize how deserving they are of true love.
Also featured on twitter and instagram

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3581553979

Teach Me is a sweet and lovely book by Olivia Dade. Both Rose and Martin were intriguing and well-fleshed out main characters. It was enjoyable watching them slowly progress from colleagues to more. They are the kind of couple that you root for over and over again.

I admit I was pleasantly surprised by this title. It isn't often you read a romance rooted in mutual respect, kindness, and a large dose of reality. This is a love story that is thoroughly believable. No overly macho men or perfect protagonists. We need more of this in adult romance!

***Thank you to NetGalley, Hussies & Harpies Press and Olivia Dade for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

I adored Teach Me, by author Olivia Dade. This book had a lot going for it, not the least of which was the writing. Rose and Martin are both teachers. Rose is upset because administration has given her favourite class to newly hired Martin, and she’d determined to keep him at arm’s length. If only he weren’t so easy to like.

I loved both Rose and Martin. No, they don’t resemble he model perfect characters we so often read about in romances, but I liked them that much more for it. You can tell from the cover that Rose is plus-sized, but it’s never the focus of the story. I thought her self-acceptance was realistic and fabulous. Martin, a beta hero, was so warm and caring and entirely respectful, and that made him so appealing. This was a story about 2 exceptional people trying to make their way in the world, who fell in love and had to heal some things from their pasts to find a future together.

For me, it was Dade’s writing that shone through. It was elegant and beautiful, showcasing witty, intelligent characters who weren’t afraid to be vulnerable with one another. I was an instant fan and will absolutely be checking out more of her books. I honestly can’t say enough about this book. It’s flown under the radar and I want to shout from the rooftops about it. Read.this.book!!!!!

For my third read of August, I picked up this eARC of Teach Me by Olivia Dade. I would like to start by saying what I disliked about this read: the cover. The story is good enough to warrant a better cover than this. I hope they scrap this design and work on a better one.

Now, for the book. I love that we have a curvy lead, but I did not like all of the depiction of character, especially having her being dressed in black all the time. Basically, she's a great teacher with people who love her. There are many times that the book has highlighted her relatable characteristics, I just don't get why her wearing black is so much of a big deal.

The romance in this book is a bit of a slow burn / mutual pining type. But, the rewards that you'll get when they finally get it right are cute, fluffy, and steamy, too.

Our male lead is a cute geeky beta, with a lovable daughter. He has many redeemable characteristics, so I got a bit swoony there, to be honest.

All in all, I enjoyed the book, especially on the main character's journey to confidence, self-love, and the freedom to love someone else.


☁ THE CRITERIA ☁

🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐☆☆☆☆

☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.18/5 ☁

2.5

This was okay

I love a Kristin Higgins romance where the characters are smart, quirky and there is a little push and pull. Rose and Martin, to me, weren’t real enough, too prickly in one case and too perfect in the other.

The concept was good. I liked that the characters were older, not necessarily above average in looks and employed in jobs they were passionate about. I just wasn’t in love with the actual characters themselves.

I understand they were both getting over past heartache and disappointment but the reasons why they were no longer married were so shallow and ridiculous I say good riddance to those spouses! Based on this heartache, I thought the progression from foes to true love for Rose and Martin was a tad too quick and uneventful.

This wasn’t a bad story at all (many people loved it if you look at the reviews) it just didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Victory Editing for a copy in exchange for a review.

I received a free ebook version of this through Netgalley. Thankyou to both Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this! My review is still honest.

When I first started this, I didn't think I was going to like it. The main characters in this are older, and I've spoken in my reviews before about how romances involving older characters where children and divorce are involved are very hard for me to relate to as a 20 year old university student. As I read on, however, this book took me by surprise.
Teach Me follows Rose, a teacher who cares deeply for the disadvantaged students in her History classes. An administrator with a grudge takes this away from her, and gives her prized classes to the new teacher Martin. Rose tries to hate Martin-but sparks fly and it doesn't quite work.
This book does such a brilliant job capturing the feeling of falling in love. If you love to read romances that give you those fuzzy, elated feelings, this is the one! I loved how Rose and Martin got along so well, and Martin was just the perfect man-respectful, kind, compassionate. They both have suffered hardships but they were dealt with very well and I thought how they opened up to one another was both realistic and very emotional. It's one of the few romances I've read where the characters' personal issues are a barrier to their relationship in a realistic way. I fully understood both of their hesitancy, and appreciated the story all the more because of it. Rose isn't a stereotypically 'perfect' woman either-she's plus size, she's muscly and I loved that this author showed that any body type is sexy.
As much as I did like this, I will say that there were some parts I found difficult to relate to. Martin's daughter Bea and the discussions of divorce specifically, and so I can't give this a 5 stars but I did enjoy the heck out of this book and would definitely read more from this author.

Delightful and fun with great characters. I enjoy reading books that take place in a school setting and I thought these two teachers had great chemistry.

Sweet contemporary romance with more “mature “ main characters. This book was graciously provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very sweet book all about falling in love. Not my usual read but this was a compelling book. I’d definitely recommend it.

What a refreshing change from the typical romance! Not only has Olivia Dade given us a fabulous couple of middle-aged protagonists in Rose and Martin, but Rose is also a plus-sized woman who Martin describes with positive, affirming words like gorgeous, statuesque, curvaceous, “regally tall”. Both of them are carrying a lot of baggage that makes getting to know each other challenging, but, despite their difficult childhoods and divorces, they become friends. A big reason is their respect for each other as dedicated teachers. Rose is determined to be cordial but cold to the new hire who has been assigned her favorite classes and is invading her classroom during her two planning periods to teach them. However, she hadn’t expected him to be so kind, sensitive, and respectful. In fact, Martin is nearly the perfect man: a loving father, champion of women and LGBTQ youth, a sexy nerd, and a phenomenal, caring teacher. His lesson on female Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut, taught while Rose was there to observe, encapsulates his qualities. “She just watched Martin – who knew full well she was observing him that particular period – walk his high school class through a well-considered discussion of gender, power, and the historical erasure of women and the marginalized. Heard him declare with quiet passion that their stories mattered. That, by inference, her story mattered. That she mattered.” It’s no wonder that he makes her she safe and protected even if she is perfectly capable of fighting her own battles. But will she be able to let go of the past to have a future with Martin? An excellent contemporary romance that focuses on issues very pertinent today in a way that doesn’t seem patronizing or tokenish and which pays homage to hard-working, devoted teachers. Book one of Dade’s new There's Something About Marysburg series. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Hussies & Harpies Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I'm a bit sad to only rate this book three stars. This was such a nice story, but it didn't really leave any lingering impression. There were some really cute moments and I loved how independent and fierce Rose was but the love interest Martin fell a bit flat for me.
Still, a lovely and quick read if you're in need of some smiles and easily digestable romance.

I absolutely adored this book. Teach Me follows Rose, who presents herself to the world as a bit of an Ice Queen but in a way where it's very obvious that she's genuinely the kindest person because of how wonderful she is to her students, and Martin, who is divorced and such a great dad and teacher, but is also a little fragile fresh off of his divorce. I loved the way this book spanned a school year and showed that teaching is super important to both Rose and Martin AND used teaching as a tool to further their attraction to one another. I also adored the history lesson we get to see Martin give. Mostly though, I love watching Rose slowly let her walls down and Martin's gentle presence this entire time. Basically, if you liked Rafe because of how soft it is, you absolutely need to pick this book up too!

What a nice find. This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

I cannot express how much I loved this little gem. A set of dream characters that it was an utter pleasure getting to know. Martin and Rose are probably some of my favourite characters I've ever come across in fiction, both likeable, humorous and flawed -real, authentic characters. The relationship that blooms between them is beautiful and had me grinning from ear to ear!

I'm just so happy I gave Teach Me a chance because it was exactly what I needed. A definite must read for anyone who loves the genre!

This was fantastic. Positive representation of a larger heroine, a romance with older protagonists, excellent character development and a romantic, lovely story. Such a great read.

Rose is a high school history teacher, who has just had her favourite class given to the new teacher Martin Krause.. Martin is a divorced father to Bea, who has moved to Maryland to be near her before she goes to college. When he starts work, he is a bit taken aback by Rose’s polite coolness to him, until he realises she has had her classes and her private prep time taken away to accommodate him.

They are both attracted to each other, but Rose is guarded and careful, because of her background, and difficult divorce. Martin has been badly bruised and put down all his life too, and the romance between them is a lovely, nuanced and intelligent unfolding. Martin recognises Rose’s expensively presented armour for what it is, and slowly and patiently works to dismantle it. Rose recognises how Martin has been made to feel less than all his life, and helps him to shrug those unhelpful beliefs off.

They were just lovely to read. As was the relationship between rose and her students and Martin and his daughter. I also loved Rose’s ex in law’s - so funny!

Highly recommended- jus5 get it!

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book read by this author and I truly LOVED it. Rose is smart, dedicated, mature, and worked so hard to get where she is, in the school program she runs where she truly makes a difference in kids' lives. When Martin is hired at her school and given her plum course, she is bound and determined to be cordial to him (it wasn't his fault, after all) but no more. Too bad her heart doesn't get the memo.

Martin was a dream character. Struggling with his divorce and shared custody of his teenaged daughter, having moved to a new city in order to stay in his daughter's life, he somehow still recognises Rose's issues and works hard to earn her respect and her trust.

This story was about two people who had been through some hard knocks in the school of life, but managed to come out on top. I loved the humour, the emotions, the connections...it was all just a really great book. So enjoyable and I was honestly disappointed when the story ended. If I had one criticism it was the cliche bully, but even then Rose managed to turn it around. Reading about her opening her heart up to people who had been silently standing by her for years was heart warming and left me teary-eyed.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author as soon as possible!