i try not to compare authors, but the faculty lounge gave me the same feeling as it does when i read a fredrik backman novel in that yes the characters are flawed, but there's a strong undercurrent of all the systems that are at play. in a public school setting, some may say the issues discussed here like abortion, book banning, and racism are political, but it's not; it's just called being a decent human being to be in community with people from all walks of life. i loved reading about all the characters in this novel from the teachers to the principals to the nurse and the janitor and although not every person is in education for a truly noble, self-serving cause, there is value in each perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Penguin Group Dutton for allowing me an early release of this novel to review. All opinions below are solely and genuinely my own.

I *really* wanted to give this book higher stars. The story and it's characters were deserving of such.
Overall, it was an ok read. Easy palate cleanser. I enjoyed how I was surprised because I didn't expect this book to be so sad at times. I think that that was commendable, especially because it wasn't unnecessary sadness and melancholy, it was just "life happens," kind of sad.

Starting with the positives, because there are a good amount, and they hit harder than the negatives!

-I loved the realness I felt reading this book. I am not a teacher myself, but I liked to consider myself a more empathetic student. I never forgot that my teachers were real people, with real human needs and goals for life. Sure, it was still weird to see them shopping on the weekends here and there, but I would always feel so bad for my teachers when they were getting screamed at by problematic kids, or even by other staff. I always wished to have been older for a lot of the younger teachers, because it felt like we could have been friends in another life. I think a lot of people should read this book, especially those kids who never stopped to see these people who most of the time, genuinely did care so, so much about their potential, and their futures, as real humans deserving of grace and respect. I felt like I was walking the halls of my old high school again.

-The modern problems presented through the eyes of the people that have to deal with it the most. Unfortunately, in the year of 2024, we as a nation, are still dealing with book bans, curriculum bans, and human rights being stripped away,(Roe V Wade), and racism to immigrants who just want a better life. You will find all of these themes in this book, while also wanting to cry due to these characters dealing with grief over the loss of one of their own, as well as the want to swoon over a cute workplace romance. There was only 1 character that I did not care for, but luckily, she did not get a lot of pagetime, but she was still written in a way that made you sympathize with her. Well done.

-It wasn't too short, and it wasn't too long. Perfect pacing. Everything was said and done in a timely manner. I really, really appreciate that. We were given present and past events of most of these characters, and I felt like I had known them for a long time. Exceptional, in that department of writing. Bravo.

Now, onto the brief cons that failed to win me over.

-That last chapter? It was so weird! Broke up the vibe completely! I won't spoil anything, but I have a feeling you'll know what I'm talking about. There's a specific...thing that a student finds and the name of it is used so often because it's a pun and it just got old super quick. Felt gimmicky. Like a skit from SNL. Then what the student does with the thing, followed by the conclusion he draws from finding the thing? So bothersome. It just felt like a last hurrah, and for me, it felt completely flat. We had exposition and dialogue that explained everything the student's dealings and involvement in the awkward situation provided. We didn't need the student to be involved in such a way to conclude what the main character involved with the last chapter was going through. For that to be the last chapter too(there is an epilogue, that is not what I am talking about), just really bummed me out. Really questionable way to end a story.

-Some of the thoughts that some male characters have were just cringey. I don't know if that was the intention, but it just didn't hit with me. For example, one of the staff is remembering how and when he first met his wife, and how often they would have relations with one another, and the way he thinks about her body was just so meh. It wasn't hot or steamy, just very cringe. I would've found a better way to write those thoughts, but that's just my little nitpick. I understand that he is now a 50 year old man, and once was a 20 something year old man, but make it a little more romantic! I'm not saying he has to be thinking of her in a Shakespeare-esque mindset, but something better than describing her butt as a "tight a**." He, a member of administration, gets aroused, I get it. We're all human, I get it. Just...idk, it's hard having the backdrop of a chapter be about a moral dilemma, and then seeing the words "tight a**."
It's more so a disappointment because I found it to break up the entertaining, fun, and immersive writing that most of this book has.


A solid, often very gripping, often lacking, 3 star read. I would still recommend it, as I like to recommend all books that made me feel something, even if at times the writing was off. I liked the surrealness and modernity of this story the most. Teachers really are the backbone of this country, and they often deal with the political oppressiveness the most. If not personally, or through the attack on their beloved lessons of historical importance, through their students. I think this book nailed a lot of important angles of what is wrong in our country today, through the environmental lens of walking through the halls of a busy, middle city high school.

Who doesn't love a book that starts with a dead body?! The absurdists beginning sets the tone for this book that uses humor to talk about difficult and sometimes dark topics. The story of an average public school in Texas takes on lots of issues (social and political) in today's world.
SHe touches on book banning, abortion, critical race theory, alcoholism and more. The characters are all portrayed as real humans with good and bad sides. It's a clever conceit that works remarkably well. The humorous touch helps it from becoming too preachy but it is a lot to grapple with in one book. Some of the issues are particular to the teaching of high schoolers but most are much more universal and can be understood by anyone.

Funny and heartfelt. I liked how the author was able to weave what were essentially short stories about the various characters who work at a high school into a cohesive novel. All of the characters felt real and were well-developed. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC ebook.

Jennifer Mathieu's "The Faculty Lounge" was a delightful read that will, to the best of my (non-educator) estimation, resonate deeply with anyone connected to the realm of public education, particularly high school teachers. As someone whose family is largely comprised of public school educators (though mostly elementary school), I will be recommending this book to quite a few people.

I love a character-driven book, which is exactly what I got in reading this! Mathieu paints such a nuanced and realistic portrait of the modern educator, that you would know without her telling you that she must have experience in the field. I especially appreciated her acknowledging that, like any other profession, teaching has varying degrees of enthusiasm.

Above all the book asks us to appreciate the deeply human side of those who educate.

This book was funny and easy to read. I enjoyed it a lot and it definitely appealed to me because I’ve thought about being a high school teacher. It was a very different novel than I usually pick. I’m glad I got to read it!

With its ensemble of warm and unforgettable characters, The Faculty Lounge shows readers a different side of school life. It all starts when an elderly substitute teacher at Baldwin High School is found dead in the faculty lounge. After a bit of a stir, life quickly returns to normal—it’s not like it’s the worst (or even most interesting) thing that has happened within the building’s walls. But when, a week later, the spontaneous scattering of his ashes on the school grounds catches the attention of some busybody parents, it sets in motion a year that can only be described as wild, bizarre, tragic, mundane, beautiful, and humorous all at once.

In the midst of the ensuing hysteria and threats of disciplinary action, the novel peeks into the lives of the implicated adults who, it turns out, actually have first names and continue to exist when the school day is done. We meet: a former punk band front man, now a middle-aged principal who must battle it out with the schoolboard to keep his job; a no-nonsense school nurse willing to break the rules, despite the close watch on their campus, when a student arrives at her office with a dilemma; and a disgruntled English instructor who finds himself embroiled in even more controversy when he misfires a snarky email. Oh, and there’s also a teacher make-out session in a supply closet during a lockdown.

As these people continue to manage the messiness of this school year, there is the looming threat of what will become of their beloved Baldwin High. Ultimately, at the heart of this unconventional workplace novel is a story of the power of human connection and of the joy of finding purpose in what it is we do every day.

An authentic, truly entertaining treat! Brilliant adventure into a different side of the public school system that most of us don't get to see! I loved every single character. There's so many funny moments, poignant and beautiful interactions. The writing was excellent. Superb, and highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Jennifer Mathieu's THE FACULTY LOUNGE (publishes July 23, 2024), as I've never read one of the author's novels. It turns out that I was quite taken with this novel. At the opening, the reader learns that the former teacher and now substitute teacher Mr. Lehrer passed away in the faculty lounge at the age of 82. It might seem a little odd that they let the body languish there for the rest of the day, but after all the students would see if he was taken out of the third-floor faculty lounge while school was in session.

As the centerpiece of the story, we learn about Mr. Lehrer, the teacher who found him, and the other educators, including the current principal, who crossed paths with him over the years. I was happy to see that the custodian who had a friendship with Mr. Lehrer was also included in a chapter. Mr. Lehrer sounded like a great man and teacher. I have a fondness for novels that span decades, and in the vignettes/character studies, we do get the opportunity to go back in time to see Mr. Lehrer's first year teaching in the 1960s as well as other educators' first years.

This novel has a lot of heart, tenderness, and apt descriptions of being an educator with a mix of contemporary and enduring education issues: lockdowns, book banning, mandatory meetings, emails being replied to instead of forwarded, state testing, work romances, and more. While this novel lacks a bit on the plot front (sometimes a bit too zany - the ashes incident, for instance), the characters have a lot of depth, and you hope for the best for each of them.

I truly enjoyed this gem of a novel, and I need to check out Jennifer Mathieu's backlist.

One of the most accurate portrayals of life in a modern public high school I've read in a long time. In the first chapter, an 80+ year old substitute teacher dies in the staff lounge. The succeeding chapters explore the reactions to the death and the life history of various members of the staff. By the end of the book, the author has created a realistic (and sometimes hilarious!) picture of various staff members and their relationships to each other. Every character has a tale -- some funny, some sad, but all believable.

I really enjoyed this book. I think anyone that works in a school will relate to these stories. Anyone who reads this will get a realistic picture of the lives of teachers, administrators, school nurses, and custodians. There are moments when the author gets overly detailed explaining the intricacies of state mandates and district policies, but (again) everything is accurate. Some may find the narrative a bit confusing since each chapter focuses on an individual member of the staff, and the timeline jumps back and forth in time. The strength, though, of this book is in the stories of the people. Every character is engaging and relatable. I found it deeply touching and, at times, hilarious. Highly recommended for teachers, of course, but I think even those not involved in public education will find it highly entertaining as well.

NOTE: The focus is on the adults in the school. Although there is one storyline that includes a student, this is really about the adults, so I'm not sure it would appeal to teens.

4 ⭐️

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley!

This is a simply written piece of fiction, set in a high school. It is humorous at times, but is primarily focused on the human behind the title of “Teacher.” It starts with the elderly substitute teacher found dead in the faculty lounge and spirals from there. A very easy, yet somehow profound read.

I was expecting a lighter tale here, with some humorous behind-the-scenes peeks at teacher life. What I found instead was a rather surprisingly in-depth and intense adult drama, told in a series of vignettes tied together by the simple fact that each individual is a teacher at the school where an elderly sub has just died unexpectedly in the eponymous faculty lounge. The book is thoughtful and serious - and not what I expected from something described as "funny, bighearted". It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it so much as that I felt like I had wandered into something I wasn't expecting. The cover and blurb led me to look for a fluffier story, and so I kept waiting for the mood to lighten and the humor to kick in. It never really did for me. This wasn't a great fit - although it was an interesting peek behind the curtain, which largely revealed what I expected it would: that teachers are people, just like everyone else, with the same foibles, weaknesses, quirks, and irritations as all the rest of us!

This novel follows the lives of teachers and principals at Baldwin High School. When retired teacher and current substitute Mr. Leher passes away in the faculty lounge, all of the remaining teachers are given the opportunity to evaluate their lives and legacy. This book is a work of fiction, but knowing several teachers this book exemplifies the everyday thoughts that they have. The struggle of being drawn to work in a field where you enter full of hope for the next generation only to be beaten down year after year is a common one amongst educators. I wish the book had talked more about the challenges that face todays teachers, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this ebook!

I couldn't put this down, and devoured it across every free moment I had over the weekend. Great characterization throughout, and the tone reminds me of Tom Perrotta's works. Enjoyed the Lost-esque flashbacks & flashforwards as well. Highly entertaining and warm-hearted.

Wow. That’s all I can say after reading this beautiful book. As an Elementary School teacher, there were (thankfully) some issues that I don’t have to deal with, but this author obviously knows the beauty and the horrific that goes into being an educator now and forever. This is truly a masterpiece, and I can’t wait to make all of my.coworkers read it so we can talk about it. I laughed and cried in equal measure. I really loved this book.

This book is extremely well written. I enjoyed the characters and thought they were developed in a way that made them feel real and relatable. While there are some very heavy topics and themes in the story I felt that there were all handled with respect and grace.

My only complaint with this book is that at times it became highly political and while I understand that there are lots of politics involved in the school system and that these topics should absolutely be talked about for me reading is an escape from real life.

Overall I think this was an enjoyable read that I would gladly recommend, I was just not the targeted audience for this story.

Thank you to Netgally, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and Jennifer Mathieu for the ARC and for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu was an enjoyable read the kept me interested throughout the novel. I loved how each chapter followed a new character and let the reader onto new information about the school and what was going on. Each staff member had great character development even though they mostly only had one chapter each. I look forward to seeing what Jennifer Mathieu writes next.

While this book was a little slow, once I realized the pacing was more slice of life rather than waiting for a big event to happen, I was able to enjoy it more. I liked all of the individual character developments while bringing their stories back together in small ways. This story felt authentic to the educator experience and was a nice casual read. Thank you for the ARC! :)

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The cover art gave me light-hearted vibes…but…I quickly discovered it is much more. The book opens with an 82 year old former teacher, now substituting at a Texas high school dying in the teacher’s lounge. What follows is a story of the lives and trials of the high school’s staff, students and parents as they all try to navigate the current educational climate. As a former educator I found all the scenarios totally believable. It is a darkly funny ode to educators.

As a teacher for 21 years this book really hit close to home. Following the lives of different school employees and weaving one specific teacher throughout, it was engaging and heart touching. I have never read a book that so accurately described the inside workings of a school, and I could immediately tell that the author was a teacher as well. Definitely grab this one and give it a read. If you’re a teacher, it may just remind you why you went into it. It’s well worth your time!

A quick, usually-fun read, but with little substance behind it. Those who have been classroom teachers will likely appreciate this but for general readership there’s little of note here. Still, the author has a sharp, quick style that makes this an easy, fast read.