This is the best book that I have read in a very long time and I have read many excellent books in the last several years. . It could be my love of teaching and knowing so many dedicated teachers who touched my life that made this book so personal to me. Jennifer Mathieu captured the way people who were born to teach feel about their profession. Reading her book gave me the fullness in my heart, that I have felt from teaching my own students and seeing them succeed. The characters range from first year teachers to those at the end of their careers. They include teachers from several disciplines, a beloved counselor, assistant principals, the school nurse, a young custodian and of course the principal. Timely topics include book banning, lock down drills, abortion rights, standardized testing, district office interference and other issues.. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like an insight into what it is like inside schools today and how dedicated professionals make a difference.

While there definitely were enjoyable parts to this book, especially since I am a teacher, I found it greatly lacking in plot. I kept wondering when I would get to the main conflict, and I felt like I never did. It was short vignettes about various faculty members with one common thread running through, but no main conflict. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wow! What a lovely and timely book. If you are a teacher or work in education in ANY capacity, this is the book you want to read and the book you want every other person to read just so they get it!! (They still won’t get it, but they’ll be closer.) If you’ve worked in education for 6 months or 40 years, what you will feel while reading is summed up in this quote from the book: “There was a sense of solidarity among them that was built around the noble goal of helping young people learn and thrive in the face of constant bureaucratic absurdity and nefarious external forces.”

Set in a present day public high school in Texas, this novel is perfectly written in a sort of short stories—slice of life—type format that works so brilliantly. I was sucked in immediately from the opening scene. I love that the entire story is framed around this one bizarre but fascinating incident that sets the tone for the rest of the characters school year. The symbolism of that event alone is book club discussion gold. Every character is fully fleshed and believable. I enjoyed every sentence of this book and will be telling many people to add it to their list! Thank you Netgalley and Penguin for the advanced copy.

Ah, this book made me so happy! It does not touch on every issue in education (there is little about student trauma, chronic absenteeism or the out of control behaviors that plague our classroom in 2023), but instead focuses on the adults that occupy schools for far longer than the kids who pass through. Experienced educators will recognize themselves and their colleagues in this novel, and laugh in sympathy with the characters who must do their best by their students while dodging the chaos of standardized testing, over the top teacher evaluations, and ridiculous central office mandates.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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By the acclaimed author of Moxie, a funny, bighearted adult debut that is at once an ode to educators, a timely glimpse at today’s pressing school issues, and a tender character study, following a sprawling cast of teachers, administrators, and staff at a Texas high school

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.

Amid 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 frontman, now a middle-aged principal who must battle it out with the school board 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. During a lockdown, there’s also a teacher make-out session in a supply closet.

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.

Oh, what a delicious book from the view of this (former) school librarian who knew how twisted her former co-workers were and looked forward to comparing them to this book. (Trust me, this is not weird and you should see what I run into at the public library board!!!) The book is well crafted and utterly readable - I have already recommended it to all of my teacher friends to see if they can identify with any of the stories involved...but it comes out NEXT SUMMER so I feel slightly pregnant with a really enjoyable book.

#shortbutsweetreviews

"The Faculty Lounge" by Jennifer Mathieu is a funny and bighearted adult debut that offers readers an insightful glimpse into the lives of educators while addressing pressing issues within the educational system. Set in Baldwin High School in Texas, the novel follows a diverse cast of teachers, administrators, and staff members as they navigate a school year that turns out to be wild, bizarre, tragic, mundane, beautiful, and humorous all at once.

The story kicks off with the death of an elderly substitute teacher, whose ashes are spontaneously scattered on the school grounds. This seemingly innocuous act sparks a chain of events that captures the attention of parents and sets the stage for a year filled with unexpected twists and turns.

The novel explores the lives of the implicated adults beyond the school day, providing a nuanced and humanizing perspective on their personalities and struggles. From a former punk band frontman turned middle-aged principal fighting to keep his job to a no-nonsense school nurse willing to break the rules for a student in need, and a disgruntled English instructor caught in controversy, the characters reveal themselves to be more than just their roles within the educational system.

Amidst the chaos and threats of disciplinary action, "The Faculty Lounge" delves into the messiness of the school year, portraying the interconnected lives of the characters. As they grapple with challenges, the novel emphasizes the power of human connection and finding purpose in the everyday tasks that define their roles in the school community.

With warmth and humor, Jennifer Mathieu crafts a tender character study that sheds light on the realities of the education system, celebrating the dedication and humanity of the individuals working within it.