Oh, to fall in love when you least expect it. Textbook Romance, is a hilarious British rom-com filled with amazing characters and a romance that blooms so sweetly. Zoe's life is thrown completely off track when she discovers her husband's infidelity. Twenty years of marriage, two children and a home they built together, gone in a single night. Now Zoe has to navigate the struggles of co-parenting their quiet, teenage son and mouthy, 13-year old daughter and maintain some semblance of a normal life. Luckily, Zoe isn't alone, with amazing friends and a genius but devious minded older sister, Zoe should manage to find solid ground again.
Into her life walks, Jack. A funny yet empathetic man who has yet to find the right path for himself after making a life-changing decision years prior to their meeting. Their chemistry is off the charts and their humour, especially when it comes to Nando's 🐓, leaves Zoe's emotions in a jumble. Is it too soon? Is this the real deal? And most importantly, what will people think of their age-gap? After all, age is but an arbitrary label... Can Jack manage to show Zoe that she deserves to be loved? That she is worthy of affection, even from a younger man? Join their journey of rediscovery and outrageously funny moments filled with an unlimited supply of innuendo's that will leave you laughing out loud.
Despite all the challenges and upsets, there are comforting and wholesome moments that really linger with the reader throughout the book. I found myself experiencing every emotion with Jack, Zoe and their gang of friends.
For my reading experiences, I typically view rom-coms as palette cleansers, the sorbet of genres.  It's simple, sweet and refreshing and cuts the weight of the heavy books I like to endulge in. Like a sorbet served in-between courses at a restaurant. This book gave me that in pounds. This is why I gave Textbook Romance a 5 out of 5 star rating and I will be adding it to my comfort read list. So put up your "Do not disturb" signs and settle in with snacks and your favorite drink because this a book you will not want to put down.

An Absolute Delight! This romance novel beautifully blends humor, heart, and heat. Zoe and Jack's chemistry is undeniable, making their journey from flirtation to deep connection captivating. Zoe's struggle with her past and Jack's unwavering support create a relatable and heartwarming story. The charming blend of witty dialogue and tender moments makes it a page-turner. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a feel-good romance with depth and sizzle!

This is an entertaining read. Jack and Zoe are interesting, relatable, wounded, intriguing, fun, entertaining, complex, captivating characters. I enjoyed them as individuals and a couple. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. I wanted more from the ending than what we got though. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment – especially Zoe’s kids, and both their friends. I really liked the family dynamics and it felt realistic to me. I also loved the friendships and the roles they played in the story. The story is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Textbook Romance" by Kristen Bailey is a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy that tackles love, betrayal, and second chances. Zoe Swift, a math teacher navigating single motherhood, finds unexpected sparks with charming Jack Damon. Bailey's witty prose and relatable characters make this a delightful read, perfect for fans of feel-good romance and uplifting narratives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This was so funny! I laughed from beginning to end. Jack, in particular, was hilarious. (the chicken emoji made me giggle every singe time) First time reading this author and now I'll have to check out her backlist. The chemistry between Zoe and Jack was immediate, and he was such a sweetheart to her as her marriage was ending right before his eyes. You'll be pulling for them. I loved the writing style, too, it was so different. You've got the quotation marks to show they're speaking, but after the closed mark they keep talking as if we're hearing their thoughts. Very innovative. This book would make a great movie. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Storm
Publishing and Kristen Bailey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about Zoe. She’s a wife, mother of two and teacher who finds her life turning upside down in front of a handsome stranger, Jack. Fast forward a few months and she runs into him again at her work.

Always love the family and found family parts of books, especially when they’re involved in beginning/success of the relationship. Zoe not only stumbles into a relationship but really seems to find her self confidence and begin to stand up for herself throughout the book.

I wished the inner monologue would have been in italics so it didn’t run into the narration. There were several times I was confused only to re-read and realize the inner monologue was done and I was reading narration or vice versa.

Full of wit, charm, compassion and love, Textbook Romance by Kristen Bailey is a book full of magnetism, and undeniable connection.

Zoe, a forty-something year old high school math's teacher is still reeling from the betrayal of her husband’s infidelity, and navigating the complexities of single motherhood. Jack, a 29 year old botanist, who’s life path has had twists and curves throughout it, grapples with hesitations about his future direction. Yet, despite these tribulations, their chemistry is unquestionable, and over sharp banter, school yard rendezvous, Nando’s, and emoji’s a beautiful relationship begins to grow.

Bailey’s writing is refreshing, brimming with humour, and profound insight into human emotions. This is a book that both made me laugh out loud, and ride the emotional roller coaster of trials and tribulations of Zoe and Jake’s romance. Together, they negotiate the terrain of mutual respect, understanding and shared growth, forging a bond that defies societal conventions. My only criticism to the book, was that it ended too soon, I would have loved the resolution to continue on for a couple more chapters.

Overall, I feel that the book offered a well thought out exploration of love's ability to flourish beyond societal norms, it celebrated the beauty of true human connection and acknowledged that whilst love might not always be easy, it can be worth it! I highly enjoyed this novel, and I will definitely be picking up another Kristen Bailey book in the near future. Thanks NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Have very mixed feelings about this. Started really strong, and I was so excited about it. I genuinely really liked most of the side characters, Mia and Ed, Lottie and Dylan, Frank and Ed. But both Zoe and Jack I found a bit cringe, as well as the writing style.

This book was so beautifully written and written with such kindness and thoughtfulness in regards too cheating and divorce with children involved. The humour was brilliant and loveable characters. The romance was good and not cringy, it was just perfect. Thank you for letting me have the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing & Kristen Bailey for an ARC of "Textbook Romance."

"Textbook Romance" starts with Zoe meeting the ever so charming Jack at a mutal friend's wedding, and they clicked immediately. While they meet while looking over the seating chart, Jack is also witness to Zoe finding out her husband has been having an affair. Little does Zoe know that Jack is more than a stranger who watched her world start to crumble, as he will resurface as substitute teacher at her school.

This story fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed the notion of Zoe trying to find herself again after defining herself as a wife and mother for the last decade or so. I had no issues with the age gap between Zoe and Jack, and did find their chemistry intriguing. What fell flat for me what the lack of communication, especially being that Zoe is 14 years old than Jack and should have been able to have a mature conversation with him. The conclusion to their story seemed super abrupt and would have preferred a shorter chapter on how they dealt with their issues before jumping into the epilogue.
If single parent & age gap romantic tropes are your forte, give this novel a shot.

DNF - Sorry not for me. I can see I'm with the minority review here but found the story, the settings and the characters boring and one dimensional. There were sparks of humour in a few lines here and there but they all fizzled out into basic and predictable daily activities... sorry I tried to stick with it but was skim reading most chapters as they were a recount of a pedestrian day-to-day life before giving up on it completely - not the escapism I was looking for in a sidepool summer read. Thanks for the ARC.

Based on other early reviews, I might end up being in the minority on this one, but it just wasn't for me. There were a few things I liked (the biggest being Zoe's relationships with her teenage children), but it was very hard for me to look past the writing style, which felt very basic.

Well where do I begin. This was so not a textbook romance . Told between: the two main characters. Wow Zoe’s x husband was a piece of work over how he treated his children and his x house. It was a beautiful love story and the ending was different but not cliched.. Friends are amazing . I loved how Jack’s friends divided in and rescued Zoe’s son with out question . Children are more aware than we give them credit. I really enjoyed this book. Read it

This was a cute read and with an adorable storyline. Zoe and Jack's relationship felt so real. They both come from different experiences and stages in life and have their own battles to fight. Their relationship build up was perfect, with realistic concerns. There is an age gap in their relationship, and it's Zoe's biggest concern. I absolutely adored how Jack approached her and the situation. He was patient and kind.

I also loved the side characters, especially their friends and Zoe's sister. The story came together really well and will have you rooting for them!

I inhaled this book! I loved the instant chemistry between Zoe and Jack. I really enjoyed reading about a complicated situation and an age gap between the main characters. I also really enjoy reading books set in England - and this one had plenty of tea and biscuits to keep me happy! Will definitely be recommending this one far and wide - thanks for the ARC!

This was another cute story from Kristen Bailey. I loved the summer/winter romance with Zoe, who is in her forties and the new romance of a younger man, Jack, who turns out to be her children's newly recruited teacher. This lead to a few hilarious scenes with snappy, witty dialogue. It also sheds light on a divorced woman's entry into single parenting and healing from a cheating husband while co-parenting. Her relationship with her children is realistic and heartwarming. There's a lot of love here. Although I was a bit disappointed in the ending, I highly recommend it. This is the third Bailey book for me and I will seek out other titles. She's a delight.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC.

This is a nice read.

The older woman and younger man trope is not usually something I love. But this was well done. It is a warm and witty story about growth and life.

I requested the ARC from NetGalley because I though the summary sounded adorable, and I was right. Textbook Romance is adorable.

Zoe is struggling after finding out her husband is cheating on her with her friend, when she meets Jack who is just the most adorable, golden retriever book boyfriend.

Really all I keep thinking about it is, it's adorable and sweet and just a lovely cozy contemporary romance. The age-gap didn't even bother me because Zoe and Jack really had great chemistry and clicked immediately and you also just like them as soon as you meet them as characters. Zoe is fun, really cares for her teenage kids and just exudes a warmth through the pages. Jack, as described above, is 100% golden retriever who has the biggest heart.

Textbook Romance is a fun romantic comedy, brimming with real conversations about the ups and downs we can face in everyday life.

Zoe instantly connects with Jack at a friend's wedding, but the fun banter between the two of them is rooted in friendship because she's married. However, when she finds herself adjusting to life as a single mom to two teenage children and their paths cross again, it becomes clear that there are definite sparks.

While she's mainly concerned about the big age gap between them, he's focused on showing her that she's more than capable of being a desired woman. The way in which Jack approached the relationship, with patience, kindness and understanding, made him a swoon worthy love interest. Walking the journey of Zoe and her children as they traversed this new dynamic of divorce and eventually accepting a new man in her life, was a heartfelt one. The fact that the story was told through the viewpoints of both Zoe and Jack gave us the opportunity to really understand each character's feelings as the plot unfolded.

A fun holiday read, with a serious side to it as well.

This book is the perfect summer read, especially if you're a teacher getting ready for the summer break.

Zoe is at a friends wedding and meets Jack, which is where she receives some life changing news.
Fast forward a few months, and Jack has a job as a supply teacher at the same school as Zoe. The chemistry is instant, but as Zoe is dealing with a cheating husband and 2 teenage children a relationship with a younger man is not on the radar........or is it??

Thank you Kristen and NetGalley for the advanced copy, I just loved this book.