When Jack turns up at her school, newly recruited as a supply teacher, she can’t ignore the intense effect he has on her when their paths cross in the corridors. But Zoe is still reeling from her husband's recent jaw-dropping betrayal and adjusting to life as a single mum to two teenage kids. She's not sure if she's ready to open her heart to a fling with a younger man.

As Zoe and Jack's connection grows deeper, their undeniable chemistry and Jack's steadfast support help Zoe rediscover the good things in life: her love of a good dance, the soothing power of takeout, the secret thrill of receiving a well-timed chicken emoji and the wonder of multiple orgasms. But with complicated family dynamics and co-parenting with her ex to manage, a sizeable age gap, and Jack's uncertainties about his future to factor in, she’s about to find out that love isn’t always a simple equation.

Fun, easy read! I loved the chemistry between Zoe and Jack, but the thing that really hit me with these characters was how helpful and supportive Jack was. He's that perfect friend-turned-more. I enjoyed the banter between the two as well. Fun summer read!

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

🌈 Age Gap
🌈 Teachers in Love
🌈 New Friends to Lovers

🌶🌶🌶 (not super spicy but not closed door either)

I really enjoyed the last book I read by this author, Five Gold Rings, so I was excited to read an advance copy of this book.

Zoe, 44, meets Jack, 29, on the night when her marriage implodes. Their friendship helps Zoe to navigate a traumatic time in her life and their relationship evolves into something more. Their relationship is bolstered by their similar sense of humour and develops because they are both hugely empathetic people.

Despite their age difference they quickly find common ground, but Zoe worries if the timing is right. The story is told from dual perspectives so the reader understands that Jack doesn't perceive the same barriers to their relationship and he is all in quite quickly.

This entire book is filled with lovely people. Ed, Mia, Beth, Jack's brother Dom and Zoe's sister Kate are all such a wonderful characters who really bring this story to life. And of course the main characters, Zoe and Jack, are the best. I love seeing characters like this find happiness.

Plus, this book is genuinely hilarious - and I am not just saying it's funny. I couldn't stop myself from guffawing, even while reading this in the quiet compartment on the train (sorry other passengers).

If you feel a little underwhelmed by the human race at the moment, I guarantee this book will provide you with an escape into a world where people really care about each other and make you think that, if you have a little courage, things will work out.

The ending doesn't tie everything up in a nice, neat bow, like you find in other contemporary romances. It's not completely satisfying but it's right for the story.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Many thanks to the author, Kristen Bailey, and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. The publication date is set for July 29, 2024!

I was so excited for this romcom! I was instantly drawn to this one - the cover, title, and the plot. A few pages in and the prologue alone seems promising. This one 100% filled my Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, Tessa Bailey, Lynn Painter, and Sarah Adams loving heart!

‘Get ready to laugh, cry and fall head-over-heels in love with this emotional and uplifting romantic comedy about healing after heartbreak, finding the courage to pursue your dreams, and recognizing true love when it's staring you right in the face.’

Yep! I sure did!!! I laughed, cried, and fell in love right along with these characters.

This one definitely teetered around the 5 star range. I fell in love with these characters. I enjoyed the spacing of the timeline at the end and of course, love that there was an epilogue. Rounding down to four stars because somehow I still was craving more. I couldn’t get enough of Jack and Zoe.

If you like romcoms, this one is definitely for you. 🙌🏻✨🤍

Be sure to add this to your TBRs! I can’t wait for publication day to snag myself a copy for my home library. So good!!

Textbook Romance by Kristen Bailey is another cute romance story with down to earth characters that you can't help, but wanna befriend cause they're so funny & well written. This story has a bit of an age gap between the two main characters, but that doesn't stop then from having undeniable chemistry, passion, & a romance that truly brings out the best in each other.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book on #NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but I highly recommend you read this one or really any story by the talented Kristen Bailey. Just an FYI - Kristen Bailey likes to develop side characters from her stories & give them their own romance story. Textbook Romance has a side character couple that has their own story in Sex Ed. Each of her stories are written as stand alones, but it's so nice to have the back story of certain characters when reading a romance novel.

I’ve never read a book by Kristen Bailey before but I’ll definitely be looking out for them. I loved this book! It’s a light hearted read (although you do spend time being cross at Brian). It’s hard to put it down and I’ve looked forward to picking it back up each night.
It’s about a family that is broken by the dads secret, it’s about how Zoe picks herself back up with the help of Jack and it’s about how family’s move on once a crack has happened - all done in a light hearted but well done manner.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and will look out for more of her books!

Having not heard of Kristen Bailey, I chose this book based on the blurb – and on the fact that I work in a school like the main characters. I am certainly glad I did. There is more to this story than meets the eye, and I was very invested in the characters and willing things to work out for them.

When Zoe finds out that her husband has been cheating on her for a year – with a friend of hers – at a friend’s wedding her life seems to implode. Luckily the lovely Jack – a friend of the groom is there to pick up the pieces and get her home in one piece. When Jack gets a temporary job at the school where Zoe teaches it seems like it’s meant to be – however Zoe is in her early 40s with teenage children and a scumbag ex husband, and Jack is 14 years younger (29) with no children or any ties, and hasn’t mapped out his career yet. Whilst Zoe and Jack’s friends are trying to matchmake and the couple have an undeniable chemistry, Zoe doesn’t want her children to find out as she feels they have been through enough change in their lives.

I really enjoyed this story, and especially the descriptions of relationships inside a school. A great story for a summer holiday. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6629352118
https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2024/07/textbook-romance-by-kristen-bailey.html

The story begins when zoe meets Jack fot the first time months ago, at a wedding and they immediately hit it off..., but zoe's night end devastatingly when she finds out about her husband's infidelity the same night. After four months, now as Zoe is learning to get her life back together, going through divorce and helping her kids navigate the new dynamics, she meet jack again when he joins her school as a teacher and their sparks fly again.

The story is really enjoyable. I Loved how Zoe was with her kids and also how her kids are so loyal to her no matter what. Also jack is such an amazing mmc, the way he supports Zoe, get the joy back in her Life was beautiful.
Overall its a great story of finding yourself and love again in Life ❤️

Thank you netgallery for providing me the copy of this book in exchange of my honest review

This book really exceeded my expectations
I thought it would a good read but actually it was more than good!!!
it was an awesome read

Textbook Romance is another brilliant romantic comedy by author Kristen Bailey!
This book is as much a story of the resilience of the human spirit as it is a romance, with the importance of the support systems of family and friends clearly on display throughout. But front and centre is a delightful, entertaining, and heartwarming story of two people who find each other and fall in love, skillfully told through both of their points of view. As a result, the reader feels like a fly on the wall, watching the budding relationship grow as it faces unique challenges with humour and grace.
Bailey sweeps you away with her well-written tale; the book is in fact difficult to put down, so engaging are the characters and the situations in which they find themselves. I highly recommend this book!
I'm so glad to have received an ARC of #TextbookRomance from #NetGalley.

Cute, quintessential rom-com. I enjoyed the age difference between the main characters, specifically that the woman was older! I loved the bond the FMC had with her children. While this definitely wasn’t a “B.R.A.D.”, it was an easy read with a few mentions of spice!

This romance novel tells the story of Zoe Swift, a math teacher and single mom who meets the charming and witty Jack Damon at a wedding. Sparks fly between them, and their paths cross again when Jack becomes a supply teacher at Zoe’s school.

The story does a great job of portraying Zoe’s internal struggle as she deals with the fallout from her husband’s betrayal while raising two teenage kids. Her hesitation to start a relationship with a younger man adds depth and realism to her character. Jack’s presence helps Zoe rediscover the joys of life, from dancing and takeout to the thrill of romance and intimacy.

The chemistry between Zoe and Jack is palpable, and their interactions are filled with humor and warmth. Jack’s unwavering support and their growing connection are heartwarming, making their romance feel both genuine and compelling. The novel also delves into the complexities of family dynamics, co-parenting, and the challenges of a significant age gap in a relationship.

Overall, the book is a delightful, heartwarming read that explores love, resilience, and the courage to embrace unexpected opportunities. It’s a perfect choice for readers who enjoy contemporary romance with well-developed characters and a relatable storyline.

So charming! I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Yes, I could've done without some of the language, but the story was excellent and filled with such real emotions. There were times I felt for Zoe, other times I felt for her kids, and still others I felt for Jack. That is the mark of great character development. Some parts were hilarious and others were heart breaking. The entire story unfolded like a movie in my mind. I thought it was a great read.

I thoroughly enjoyed Textbook Romance, by Kristen Bailey. Thanks to Storm Publishing for the advance reader's copy. The main characters are not traditional - a mid-40s woman navigating a messy divorce and a young botanist who randomly meet at a mutual friend's wedding. As someone who has a lot in common with Zoe, the main character, I loved her story and the writing about her situation was so realistic and authentic. Jack, her "man friend", is really funny and his character was also well-developed in an authentic way. Their story was refreshing with nontraditional characters and plot. Their banter and the dialogue between all the characters was full of humor. The ending resolves everything beautifully, but doesn't default to their romance as the ending to everything. This was my first Kristen Bailey book, and it was fantastic! I will definitely read all of her work in the future. Add this book to your TBR list and enjoy!

The story was just okay. I didn’t really enjoy the main character but I did enjoy the story overall. I did appreciate that the main character was older and I found the fmc being older than the mmc quite refreshing.

Textbook Romance by Kristen Bailey comes out at the end of July and I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC. This story is about Zoe and Jack. Zoe is a math teacher and Jack is a substitute teacher. They meet at a wedding where Zoe discovers her husband is cheating on her. Fast forward several months later and Zoe is in the midst of a divorce and trying to examine who she is now. Zoe and Jack form a relationship but they both are questioning if their feelings are real and if they are holding each other back from moving forward with their lives. This book was okay. I went into it thinking it would be a cute teacher romance. It missed the mark a bit. It came across as very juvenile. After about the tenth male intimate parts joke, I was over it. I also didn’t realize there was an age gap by 14 years! Jack was the younger one and was way more mature than Zoe. In fact, his character is what upheld the book. He is a natural giver and helper and I really appreciated that in the MMC. I did love the bond between Zoe and her two children. They go to bat for each other in some emotionally charged situations with the ex husband and I found that to be very uplifting. Overall this is a quick, breezy read. Check it out later this month.

DNF @ 35%
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ebook ARC!

I don't know what it is about the writing style of this book. I think I may find it to be trying too hard and coming across as forced? The story itself seems fine but at 35% I felt like very little had happened and I was bored.

This is such a freaking adorable book 🥰

We follow Jack and Zoe who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding which soon goes sideways when Zoe finds out that her husband is having an affair with someone close to her. Zoe is left juggling her job as a secondary school teacher, comforting her two teenage children, and restarting in her 40s after a couple of decades of marriage.

Jack re-enters the picture as a supply teacher at Zoe’s school. Jack is a bit younger than Zoe (29) and is figuring out what he wants out of life and his career after taking some time out to help his brother raise his two children. There’s an instant connection between the two of them, but Zoe has concerns over what to expect from Jack with them being in such different places in life.

I’m an absolute sucker for a romance book set in the UK - especially when it’s written so well. If you enjoy workplace romance, with mature dimensional characters that have aaalllll the chemistry, then you’ll love this book ❤

Another smash hit from Kristen bailey. I loved this story. I instantly loved the characters from the first page. Go buy it!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Textbook Romance by Kristen Bailey unfortunately did not meet my expectations. While the premise had potential, the execution fell short in several areas, leading to a less-than-engaging reading experience.
One of the main issues I encountered was the lack of interesting events throughout the book. The plot seemed stagnant, with little to no development happening to keep the reader invested. This is a crucial element in any romance novel, as readers often look for compelling storylines that evoke emotions and keep them turning the pages.
Additionally, the characters felt quite bland and underdeveloped. Strong, relatable characters are essential in romance novels, as they drive the narrative and create a connection with the reader. In Textbook Romance, the characters lacked depth and complexity, making it difficult to care about their journey or root for their happiness.
Another point of concern was the excessive use of dialogue. While dialogue is an important tool in storytelling, it should be balanced with descriptive writing and inner thoughts to create a well-rounded narrative. In this book, the constant back-and-forth conversations between characters overshadowed other crucial aspects of storytelling, leading to a monotonous reading experience. This trend of relying heavily on dialogue seems to be prevalent in recent romance novels, but it’s important to remember that readers need more than just conversations to stay engaged.
By the 20% mark, I found the writing too boring and uninteresting to continue. I appreciate the effort that goes into writing a book, but Textbook Romance did not manage to capture my interest or provide the entertainment I was hoping for.
In conclusion, Textbook Romance was a disappointing read for me. It lacked the engaging plot, well-developed characters, and balanced writing style that are essential in a compelling romance novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Zoe meets Jack at a wedding & although there's an attraction, Zoe is married. Fast forward a few moths, Zoeis no longer married & Jack is working as a supply teacher at the same school where Zoe works. It's the coming together of two lost souls; Zoe who has been married for many years and is rediscovering herself & Jack who kept his life on hold due to other circumstances. The only irritant throughout the novel was Zoe's constant reference to the age difference between herself and Jack & she needed to be reminded that age gap romances do work sometimes. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy