This book follows Zoe, a newly single mother of 2 teenagers, struggling to recover from her ex-husbands betrayal, and Jack, a younger substitute teacher who works with Zoe.

I wasn't a huge fan of this book. It was well written, and I enjoyed the story and characters, it was just missing something for me. The book started a little slowly but it did pick up around halfway through and I enjoyed the second half more. I really struggled to connect with the characters, they were really well written and fleshed out I just couldn't connect with them as much as I wanted to. Single parent tropes have always been very hit and miss for me, sometimes I love them and others I struggle with and this was the latter. I did, however, feel connected to the kids and how they were struggling with the relationship they had with their dad. I was also disappointed with the ending, they didn't really work through the issues and doubts they had and I would have preferred a more clear cut ending that confirmed what happened in the future.

Tropes:
-single parent
-age gap
- slow burn
-dual pov

This book is a great summer read! As a teacher, I always love reading books set in a school!

Zoe is a lovable main character dealing with a recent divorce. It's funny and super relatable.

A little spice but lots of humor!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced e-copy of Textbook Romance in exchange for an honest review.

The story's focuses on Zoe, who is in her forties, as she embarks on a unexpected journey with a man 14 years her junior. This is a refreshing perspective to the romance genre. The reverse age-gap was perfectly written. Zoe's experiences as a mother, teacher, and divorcee bring a depth and authenticity to her character. This book is filled with witty dialogue and laugh-out-loud moments. Zoe's struggles with her cheating ex-husband, her self-esteem issues, and her newfound dating life are all portrayed with a healthy dose of humor.

Zoe's relationship with her children is heartwarming and relatable. The author captures the ups and downs of parenting teenagers with honesty and humor.

'Textbook Romance' is a highly recommended read for fans of heartwarming and humorous romances. Bailey's writing is engaging, her characters are relatable, and the story will leave you feeling both entertained and uplifted. Despite the slightly disappointing ending, this book is a worthy addition to any reader's collection.

A really nice romance, that was heartfelt, had a lot of fun moments, and enjoyable characters.
I was very intrigued in the beginning but when it hit the 80%-90% for me it went a bit downhill
I still enjoyed it do not get me wrong i just felt like towards the ending the story felt inconclusive, i wanted to know more about how the main characters resolved their long distance problems, like really really see how they are solving this issue
But i had a lot of fun reading this nonetheless
Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc🫶🏻🫶🏻

This is the first Kristen Bailey book I have read and it won’t be the last! Absolutely loved it! Laughed out loud so many times and then was literally breaking my heart! Loved the characters , was an easy read but one that I couldn’t put down! Hope we find out more! Highly recommend

This was a good book. Easy to read felt engaged with the readers. The story is cute and very easy to follow along. Would recommend this to friends if they are looking for a quick and easy read.

Nice modern romance, with heart, and fun banter. Great prose too.

The leads had good chemistry, but the realist in me can't see it actually working in the long run, which pulled me from the story.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

At a friend’s wedding Zoe receives a life changing call and Jack, who she just met, helps her navigate the news and get home. They reconnect later when Jack takes a job at the same school Zoe teaches at and with the help of friends explore love and life changes. A romantic comedy with a nice balance of sweet and sassy.

Another great read from Kristen a fantastic totally relatable rom com full of Witt, humour and a beautifully unfolding love story!
Divorce,adultery, teenage children and altered family dynamics all feature but are offset by friendship, kindness and new beginnings giving the book a really uplifting wholesome feel to it!
Zoe recently betrayed by her husband Brian finds solace fun and ultimately love in the form of the much younger charismatic Jack, the path of true love doesn’t run smoothly for them as we follow them on their road to happiness
Lovely to have the link to Ed and Mia and follow their progress through early marriage too!
A great read that I would highly recommend
Thank you netgallley for this early read

This is such a cute love story, perfect for any fans of Beth O'Leary! I loved Zoe's journey of reselfdiscovery after her marriage breakup - the romance between her and Jack are goals.

I was engrossed from the start. This was my first read of Kristen Bailey work, but I definitely can't wait to get stuck into her others.

Zoe meets Jack at a mutual friend's wedding. They click immediately and are enjoying a good time when Zoe's life falls apart. Her husband, allegedly at a work conference in Glasgow, is spotted, by his daughter's friend, out with another woman. the first Zoe knows is when her distraught children phone her as the reception wends on. It is Jack who copes for her, delivering her home to her teenagers and the fall-out.

Four months later Jack and Zoe meet again when he takes on a supply teaching role at the school where Zoe (and the erstwhile bride and groom) is a teacher. Gradually their happy flirty friendship develops into a relationship carefully hidden from Zoe's children. The problem is a fourteen year age-gap causing Zoe to feel she might be holding Jack back from living his best life. Can there be a resolution.

Textbook Romance is funny, engaging and sometimes unexpectedly serious.

I couldn't get into this! The writing was pretty elementary and the characters were hard to connect with. DNF a 35%. Thank you for the ARC!

A little bit of spice but a whooooole lot of sugar.

Zoe and Jack meet at a mutual friends wedding- connections are made and the fizz begins. When Zoe receives devastating news, Jack is there to help. Neither think too much of the interaction until months later when the universe intervenes and they are once again thrust into each others lives.

Delightfully predictable with easy to love and root for characters.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley in providing me an ARC in return for an honest review.

4.0

I loved “Five Gold Rings”, so was excited to read an advanced copy of the new Kristin Bailey book, “Textbook Romance”. This is a much different book. As the author admits in the author’s notes at the end, the “older“ woman is a new type of character for her, though not among books coming out this spring and summer.

I loved the dynamic between Jack, 29, and Zoe, 43, and you could feel the chemistry and simbiosis. It would always be more difficult for the older woman in that type of relationship and I love the way that he stood up for her and was intuitive enough to know when something happened to upset her even if he wasn’t there at the moment. I do feel bad for him that he, more or less, gets put in a corner, or rather tucked behind the shed in the garden.

Zoe’s situation is difficult, but unfortunately not uncommon and it’s sad that she had a hard time standing up to her husband and the former friend/homewrecker. I loved Lottie and Dylan, as well as Mia and Ed. Even more so, I loved Barney and George and Jack’s rapport with Barney and George. He was right about that being the age he should teach.

This is one of those stories where they are a happy perfect couple when they are in their own bubble but that time is few and far between. As the story ramps up, you don’t know how it’s going to end and what solution would be the best best one. After all, it’s not a happy ending if one person is giving up everything.

A fun read and, I believe, more in line with Kristen Bailey’s other books than “Five Gold Rings”.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Instantly loved this book + devoured it in less than a day. Between the perfect MMC (he’s so sweet & charismatic), the funny banter, and overall warm fuzzy vibes, I was kicking my feet and smiling as I read this. Bonus points for the British slang/writing. A great summer rom-com read with a good plot, nice pacing, and really fleshed out characters.

About: After the sudden end to her marriage, Zoe explores her friendship with a man she met at her friend’s wedding. They have instant chemistry 🔥, but are navigating a 14 year age difference, new family dynamics for her kids post-divorce, and the lead learning to love herself and do what makes her happy.

- Slow burn
- Strangers to friends to lovers
- Older woman
- Dual POV
- Fade to black/ closed door with lots of innuendo (not smut but definitely adult)

I can’t believe I stumbled upon this book and will definitely be reading more by this author.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥🔥 (fade to black with lots of innuendo)

Jack and Zoe happen to meet by chance at a friend's wedding. Unfortunately, it's also the night Zoe discovers that her husband is having an affair. Four months later, Zoe is navigating life as a single parent, newly separated from her cheating husband, when Jack crosses paths with her again. As an attraction builds between the two of them, Zoe tries to let go of her grief and embrace this thing that's happening with Jack. But can she really expect something long-term with a younger man who is still figuring out what to do with his life?

After loving Five Gold Rings by this author, requesting an ARC of this one was a no-brainer. While this book focused more on heavy topics like cheating, divorce, and helping your children navigate the new family dynamic, it still had humorous moments and a beautiful romance between Jack and Zoe. I actually loved watching Zoe care for her children and help them still feel loved after what her husband did. It also made sense for her to question if Jack was just being nice to her out of pity or to help her feel good. I can't imagine being in her shoes! And Jack? He was the kindest, most loving man ever! Everything he said and did was so sincere, and he genuinely wanted the best for Zoe. Her age meant nothing to him. All he saw was an amazing woman who deserved the world, and he wanted to give it to her. Now, obviously if you're sensitive to cheating, it's important to note that Zoe isn't actually divorced yet when she is with Jack, but I wasn't bothered by that. I just focused on the beautiful love story. I did learn that this author has another book about Mia and Ed, the mutual friends of Jack and Zoe, so I'll definitely be reading their story at some point and can't wait for more from Kristen Bailey!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This book pulled me in instantly and I finished it all in one sitting. An incredible romance that was elevated so much by exploring both Zoe and Jack’s individual lives. So often, a romance relies heavily on the spice but having this be a closed door romance really allowed us to get to know the characters and fall in love with them as well. I was hooked from the beginning and after finishing it, IMMEDIATELY added this Kristen Bailey’s other works to my TBR. Fantastic

This was a great summer read. As a person working in education it’s always nice to see characters who do as well. I enjoyed this novel but I wouldn’t really sink into the characters as I had hoped I would. I know a few teacher friends I may suggest this book to. I got this book from NetGalley as an arc.

I was unfamiliar with Kristen Bailey until I read Textbook Romance, but I am delighted to say I am a fan! She has a way with contemporary romance, and I will be following her books/added her others to my TBR! I enjoyed the main couple, separate lives and their life together, through friends, etc. My only irritation was the ending - I felt it still had some unanswered questions and I really wanted a more in depth explanation for it :-)

This was a very sweet book - some good banter & I loved the 44 year old lady / 29 year old very hot man situation. The door slightly ajar level of 🌶️ felt just right too. I loved Bailey’s Xmas romcom Five Gold Rings and will definitely be reading more books by her!

(3.5 rounded up)