First and foremost, thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!

I am happy that I read this book. There is a comfort to it, and a flow to it that allows you to feel as though you're wrapped in a warm blanket while reading it. The Faculty Lounge, at it's core, is just a book about the trials of being a person. Which means it's funny, sad, whimsical, beautiful, and so much more at the same time. All of this provides a feeling of comfort and familiarity as you read.

However, these feelings can be hampered at times by the fact that this book exists in a interesting state of unreality, being close enough to reality but not specific enough to cement it within the world. At times, this works well with the idea of a focus on character, but it also creates some awkward dialogue and writing that feels not quite like the speech and thoughts of real people. This floaty feeling takes a bit away from the stories of the characters in the book, but doesn't always hurt it.

Part of why the unreality is less harmful to the story is the focus on characters, and the vignette format works quite well with this focus. It provides a beautiful analysis of the way that people can be so complex by allowing the characters to exist within their own lives and within the story of this school. I absolutely think this book is worth the read.

I was never able to connect to the characters in this book. I went in without any expectations of where the story would go, but half way through the book I still couldn’t tell what this book wanted to be.

The Faculty Lounge tells the story of several staff members at a Texas high school.

I thought this book was great! I enjoyed the little peeks into teachers, admin and other staff at the high school. I do wish some of the plot points could have gotten more than one chapter, but I understand that wasn't the way the book was written.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 20%

After reading Moxie when it first came out and loving it, I was eager to see that the author put out an adult novel that takes place in a high school and deals with the lives of the teachers. Unfortunately this one wasn't for me. As others have said, this reads like connected short stories instead of a cohesive story. It wasn't keeping my interest, so I put it down. I'm sure those who are teachers will find enjoyment in this as it represents many of the struggles that go along with teaching today-standardized testing, active shooter drills, and dealing with "those" parents.

The Faculty Lounge starts when a retired turned substitute teacher dies in the faculty lounge during an off period, which seemed very fitting for him. Life quickly returns to normal until the principal is notified that the deceased teacher's wishes had been to be cremated and spread around the campus grounds. Deciding to honor his wishes, the principal sends out a memo to the teachers that they will be honoring the deceased after school if they would like to join. Unfortunately, a PTA mom gets involved and the school is suddenly under a microscope of the higher ups.

As I was growing up, my mom was a teacher so the school culture wasn't new to me. The Faculty Lounge was told from multiple teachers'/administrators' POV, making it seem more like a bunch of related short stories. There were some stories that I really enjoyed (the school nurse's stands out for me), but I would have preferred to have fewer faculty members' stories told and done a deeper dive or a revisit to some of the better ones. Based on the book description, I'd also expected there to be more humor. There were a few funny parts, but for the most part I felt frustrated for the teachers who are just trying to do their jobs without a bunch of red tape.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC of The Faculty Lounge, by Jennifer Mathieu.

The Faculty Lounge follows a group of teachers at a Texas high school for a year. We get to know all of the various teachers and staff at the school over the course of the book, and how they interact with each other.
There are a diverse group of educators, some there because it’s their calling and some who seem to have just wound up there, but most are dedicated and caring. This is basically a workplace story, and the politics and all the goings on are fun to follow through these glimpses into the staff’s lives.
It is a fun, pretty easy read, but there are definitely some sad parts over the course of the book, which starts with a former teacher turned substitute who dies in the Faculty Lounge. His memorial turns into a drama as he wants his ashes scattered at the school, which isn’t exactly okay with the parents and head office.
Overall I really enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars.

"Faculty Lounge" by Jennifer Mathieu evoked a range of emotions, making me both laugh and cry, while also bringing back a wave of nostalgia as a retired teacher. The novel delves into the lives of the educators at Baldwin High School, highlighting the challenges faced by today's public education system and its teachers. Through the intricate storytelling and character development, the author portrays the undeniable truth of working in a school district.

As I read, I couldn't help but recall the chaos that exists within public education today, as well as the profound camaraderie among teachers that we had to rely on for support. This book, deserving of a solid four-star rating, is highly recommended to fellow middle and high school educators.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dutton Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

This was my first book by this author and it was so entertaining! The novel opens with a substitute teacher being found dead in the teacher's lounge of a local high school. Chaos and hilarity ensue, and we are met with a diverse cast of quirky characters - the teachers and principals of Baldwin High School in Houston, Texas. I loved this inside glimpse into the world of teaching, especially the headaches of the public education system, and this book had me genuinely chuckling several times. I also loved how relatable the characters were - this novel was a reminder that although we don't choose our coworkers and often wouldn't be friends with them otherwise, being in the trenches together gives us a special bond. A really fun book that I breezed through in a few days!

This was one of the most heartwarming and impressively accurate depictions of teaching that I've read and certainly made me miss the classroom and all of its antics.

This book was a complete delight. Told over the course of a school year, each chapter is told from a different faculty member's point of view. I found it to be both moving and funny, and it gave great insight into what it really means to be a teacher in the 2020's. The format of this book made it such a quick read - I found myself blazing through it because I was enjoying it so much. There is a slight bit of politics behind the scenes, especially with the school being set in Texas, which I personally agreed with but know some other readers may not appreciate as much. This book did a great job of humanizing the school staff and showing how much it takes to do a difficult job. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

"The Faculty Lounge" delves into the lives of the faculty, administrators and staff at Baldwin High over the course of a tumultuous school year, presenting a series of interconnected vignettes rather than a linear novel—a format that resonates with fans of short stories. The central thread is the unexpected passing of a seasoned educator turned substitute, whose demise in the faculty lounge sparks controversy within the community and the Central Office.

Amidst the narrative, readers encounter various episodes: from a contentious book banning debate to the transformation of a former punk rocker into a principal; from the touching bond between a janitor and Mr. Lehrer to a vice principal's journey to recovery from substance abuse, catalyzed by an encounter with an unconventional colleague; and finally, a nurse whose dedication to her students goes beyond standard medical care.

The students remain largely peripheral until the latter part of the book, with the focus primarily on faculty-student relationships outside the classroom. While this may have been deliberate to highlight teachers beyond their professional roles, it felt a little disconnected from the other stories in the novel. Nevertheless, all of the book's interactions shed light on the diverse challenges educators face, such as standardized testing, parental pressure and curriculum disputes.

As a high school teacher herself, Mathieu infused "The Faculty Lounge" with authenticity, passion, and perhaps a hint of frustration towards her subject matter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Group Dutton, for this ARC!

TW: abortion, alcohol, alocholism, cheating, death, forced pregnancy, forced adoption, grief, and mentioned school shooting

A look at what is often the reality of teaching in a public school today told from multiple viewpoints throughout the school year. Written with a great deal of charm and humor. Recommended.

This book was clearly written by a teacher. It did a nice job of bringing all of the issues that teachers deal with (plus some that I've never personally heard of, such as teachers making out during lockdown drills) to light. There are district initiatives and oversight that don't do quite what they were intended to do, there are teachers sticking to old-fashioned teaching practices (but really, doing a solid job with instruction despite their grumpiness), and the teachers are consistently written as well-rounded people. People who are struggling through grief and doubt and loneliness. People figuring out how to give their best to others while still trying to find it within themselves.

Unfortunately, this book was so much like an actual school that I sometimes didn't want to read it (as my own school year is wrapping up, I wasn't always in the mood to leave work only to come home and ready about staff meetings and angry parent emails), but I think that's a matter of personal preference. Solid 3 star book, with potential for more if you have a greater interest in diving in. The characters were the high point.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

** A copy of The Faculty Lounge was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

I was so excited to read this and I'm so glad I was given the chance to read an early copy because it does not disappoint! The Faculty Lounge is series of interconnected vignettes about teachers at Baldwin High School in Houston, Texas. If, like me, you work in academia or education, many of the themes will resonate with you. Warm, heartwarming and poignant!

A pretty realistic look at working in a public school. So many of the experiences were so very relatable.

Our entire EDU team will be reading this title which is an accurate, funny and heartbreaking portrait of a public high school staff in Houston - a must read if you work in or with schools. Educators are heroes and very human. Great book club title!

After having enjoyed Moxie, I was excited to read a book by the same author. I'm not usually big on collections of essays, but this had much more of a sense of flow - an orderly timeline of stories that related to each other and in chronicalogical order. The characters were beautifully and thoughtfully written and I was sorry for the book to be finished. I especially loved the last chapter, as a reflection back in the reason the collection was written.

At Baldwin High School, Houston, Texas, an elderly substitute teacher is lying on a couch in the third floor faculty lounge. First year teacher, Ms Sanderson cannot help but notice that Mr Lehrer is very still and very quiet for a napper. After she gathers the courage to check on him, she discovers that his is, in fact, dead. Unfortunately, this isn't the worst thing that has ever happened in this building. After a couple of weeks the school principal receives word that Mr Lehrer wished to have his ashes spread at the school. The principal brings together teachers and staff after classes end for the day to execute Mr Lehrer's dying wish, but wind and an unexpected group of parents turn the ceremony into an "incident." The administration, teachers, and staff are now bound together by this event, one man's death, and a school year that is littered with difficulty and trouble. This book is a tribute to all those who work in education and the difficult jobs they do. In each chapter we meet one of the characters at the ashes ceremony. We are reminded that teachers are, like us the readers, ordinary people through their common, everyday, life challenges. We also get insight into the unicorn issues of education; the problems of today that frustrate, hinder, and wear down the nation's education corps. If you are or have ever been in education you will recognize each character in someone you know or have known in your career. This book is a cozy hug for all who work in schools. I love this book!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this gem of a story early. 4.25⭐️

There are truly so many different things that I could say about this book. It made me literally laugh out loud three times (I don't remember another time a book did that), while it also made me sad and nostalgic. This school in Texas has captivated me and I could have easily read another 100-200 pages about these characters. This book is light, while also making you think about the true impact teachers leave not only on their students but on their community. This is well worth picking up.

“The Faculty Lounge” is such a hopeful, heartwarming story about the very much underestimated job of being an educator that it made my school traumas look even worse.

From personal issues - such as alcoholism, grief, abortion and abuse - to problems regarding the school system - school shooting drills are the most unimaginable for me as a European, but also the fact that in every school in every country, kids are seen as a number on a score and not actually human beings with difficulties and unique abilities -, our characters are utopian versions of what we hope to find in a teacher: an empathic person who understand their subject and is capable to explain to others.
Seems easy but if you've ever struggled with unbothered, unsatisfied-of-their-lives, uncaring-of-their-students teachers, you know what I mean when I say that not every teacher is qualified to teach.

And even if the core of the book is the amazing people at Baldwin High, this is best described as an ode to what truly means to be an educator, the ups and downs of the profession and the important reminder that if this is not your path, there's nothing wrong with walking away from it.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.