4.5 stars

I´ve enjoyed Kristen Bailey´s writing before (Five Gold Rings - 4 stars), so I was super excited to start this.
Age gap isn´t something I normaly read - and those where the woman is older are rare in generall - so I was blown away with how much joy this gave me.
I loved the budding relationship of the two MC. I loved the friendship that they form in the beginning and the fact that the age gap isn´t really an issue at all.
I just know that Bailey will become an auto-buy author for me.
Highly recommend!

I was hoping to love this book - the age gap, work place romance, a little steamy. All the right things, but the story line moved a little to slow for my liking.

The style of writing just wasn’t my jam. I can see lots of people liking and enjoying this book more then I did, but I was able to read it in one sitting.

I really enjoyed reading this book. There is a lot more to it than initially meets the eye and I loved the characters.

Text Book Romance first comes across like your classic cute, funny and predictable rom com but it deals with a lot of other important themes, a key one focusing on people holding themselves back and not always allowing themselves to take a big leap or pursue an exciting opportunity. Everyone goes through moments like this and we see it in different ways through some of the characters.

I really love Zoe’s relationship with her sister and kids, it might come across as a little too good to be true but it really adds to the story and the overall warmth of the book. And I’m very close to my sisters so could really relate that.

I love the casual ease and banter between each of the friend groups and the different characters. They all bring their own touch to the story and I could so clearly picture being part of the group and part of the story.

The ending is cheesy and predictable but cute and I feel you know to expect that with these kind of stories. But this is a lovely nice read, perfect for the beach or cuddling up on the couch.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I will always be a massive fan of Kristen Bailey I have read all of her books and I can't wait to read more

📚 Book - Textbook Romance

Zoe ❤️ jack 

✨ I picked up Textbook Romance because of its cute title and the adorable cover. 😊

💫 The story follows Zoe, a school teacher with what seems to be a perfect life—two children and a husband. Then there’s Jack, who’s figuring out his career and passions. Their paths first cross at a wedding, where Zoe discovers her husband’s betrayal. Jack helps her through it, and fast forward three months, he’s now working at the same school as Zoe. This is where their story really begins—full of sparks, maturity, and a whole lot of Understanding. ✨

✨ I loved how the little moments, from not so date over chicken dinner to their daily meetings at school, slowly built the connection between them. With some help from their best friends, they begin to understand their feelings for each other.

✨ But it’s not all simple! Zoe is much older than Jack and has two children—how will she navigate these feelings after her husband’s betrayal? And what about Jack? He once gave up his future to help his brother and his family—will he do the same for Zoe? There are so many questions they have to face. This is their journey of love, life, and personal growth. ❤️

📚 Honestly, the first few chapters didn’t really click for me, and I almost put the book down. But after giving it a second chance, I was hooked! I couldn’t stop reading because of how good it got. I loved all the small, heartfelt moments between Zoe and her kids, and between Jack and his nephews. 🥰

✨ Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s sweet, simple, and has just the right touch of spice. The writing is easy to follow, and the story keeps you engaged. I think I should start reading reverse age gap romance now—and let’s not forget the cinnamon roll male lead! 🥐💕

📚 I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys workplace romance, age gap stories, or a good cinnamon roll lead. 🥰📚

I absolutely loved this book. It was such a great story which was split into chapters giving the viewpoint of both Jack and Zoe. I was willing it to go the way I wanted it to. I would definitely recommend this book.

Zoe is forty three, married with two kids and teaches maths at a London comprehensive school. Her life is turned upside down when she gets a call from her daughter Lottie while she is at a colleagues wedding. Earlier on at the wedding she met Jack and they got on really well.

Jack is twenty nine and attending the wedding of his old Uni flatmate Ed. He meets Zoe and her colleagues and has fun with them all but there is something about Zoe that he rally likes.

Such a fab story about Jack and Zoe’s lives and how they are drawn to each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

charming, witty and hilarious! i definitely understood the importance of a well timed chicken emoji and waited every time for one to pop up! an absolute delight to read! 🐥🐥🐥🐥

As a teacher, I loved how the lifestyle was captured. It was also the perfect escapism whilst reminded women that we don’t need a man to define us. In that regard, it was very empowering.

I really loved this book and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I’m more of a thriller girly but I think this author has peeked my interest into looking more at romance books.

What a cute romance story! Zoe and Jack have an unconventional romance, including an age-gap and coparenting struggles. It was so nice to read their story and see how everything worked out for them.

Textbook Romance is a delightful and heartwarming tale that explores love and new beginnings in the wake of betrayal. Zoe, a dedicated maths teacher, meets the charming Jack at a wedding where she also unfortunately learns of her husband’s infidelity. The unexpected twist is that Jack later becomes a sub teacher at her school, leading to a budding romance. The novel effectively balances humor with emotional depth, capturing the complexities of Zoe's transition from a failed marriage to a new relationship with a significant age difference.

The story is enriched by well-developed characters, including Zoe's supportive children and Jack's role as a loving uncle. While the focus on Zoe’s divorce slightly overshadows the romance, the dual perspectives and engaging dialogue make the read enjoyable. The slow pace and some repetitive elements might deter some readers, but the overall charm and nostalgic feel of the book provide a satisfying, uplifting experience for fans of contemporary romance.

*"Textbook Romance" by Kristen Bailey is a hilarious and heartwarming story that explores love, life, and all the chaos in between. Bailey’s witty writing and charming characters make this book an absolute delight. The protagonist’s relatable quest for romance unfolds with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and unexpected twists, making it a page-turner. Beneath the humor, Bailey touches on deeper themes of self-worth, friendship, and personal growth, creating a story that resonates on many levels. *Textbook Romance* is the perfect blend of comedy and heart, offering a refreshing take on modern relationships and the ups and downs of finding love.*

I would just like to say a big thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for very kindly forwarding me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

Oh I do love books from Kristen Bailey and this one was definitely no exception, it was absolutely wonderful and i really loved everything about it.

This was definitely an uplifting romantic comedy and also made for quite an emotional read too, which i really enjoyed.

Both Jack and Zoe were wonderful, down-to-earth, well rounded characters and i thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them both!! And i have to admit that i fell a little bit in love them both too!!

Text Book Romance made me feel all the feels while i was reading it - i laughed, i loved and yes, i ‘may’ of shed a tear or two but overall i thoroughly enjoyed it…..

This will not be a long review,

Reading this book felt like a slice-of-life but not with all the details the genre demands. It felt like a second chance romance in the sense Zoe's learning to love love itself again, but not like she has ever lost her belief in the first place. It was rushed. Some actions make no sense. Some relations should have been more developed so some scenes would make more sense (mainly Zoe/Liz's friendship).

Maybe I'm not part of the book's demographic so it didn't cause an impression on me, a 26-year-old. Almost sure that's what happened, actually. Would recommend it to people who have felt great disappointment in love though.

In this fun modern romance novel, readers follow math teacher Zoe Swift and new temporary teacher Jack Damon from their first meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding to coworkers and then something more a few months later. Zoe, going through a messy separation and divorce, is not ready for a new relationship even if Jack makes her laugh and reignites something in her that her ex-husband’s betrayal broke. As they challenge and support each other (while also having incredible chemistry), their relationship must still negotiate a decent age gap, single parenting, a divorce, and uncertain future plans before love can conquer all. Zoe, Jack, and the rest of the cast of characters are complex, witty, lively, and dynamic, with fully developed and complex personalities that bring this novel to life. Zoe and Jack’s relationship is, of course, the centerpiece of the novel, but the honesty, kindness, and complexity in their relationship makes it shine. Racy and romantic in turns, the novel brings their relationship to life along all of the twists and turns in this novel. A fun modern romance novel with a good heart and lots of fun tropes and complications, fans of the genre are sure to love Kristen Bailey’s latest book and Zoe and Jack’s whirlwind romance.

I’m new to reading Kristen Bailey’s books and Textbook Romance didn’t disappoint! This story was so heartwarming and I thought the dual POV was done well. I thought Jack was such a sweetheart and I loved seeing glimpses of his time with his brother and nephews. Despite some tough subjects, this book was a light, upbeat read with plenty of humor. I appreciated the epilogue but still finished the book wanting more! I’d love to see a follow-up book with a plot about Jack’s brother, Dom. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book so much! It was such a sweet, uplifting story, so well written and so well thought out. It made me laugh, cry, swoon, all at the same time. Zoe and Jack meet at a wedding, and there's an immediate connection.. but then Zoe's life is quite literally turned upside down, right in front of Jake's eyes. When they meet again a few months later, as Jack unexpectedly shows up as a sub teacher at Zoe's school, will they be able to act on their obvious connection or will their past get in the way?
A lovely book I'd recommend to anyone who loves romantic comedies.

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kristen Bailey for access to a copy of Textbook Romance.

Textbook Romance is a dual-point-of-view romance that follows the story of Zoe and Jack. Zoe is an early fourties’ woman who very abruptly, has her life flipped upside-down, leaving her as a newly single mom of two teenagers. Jack is a soon-to-be thirty-year-old, who is a genuinely caring, family-oriented, still trying to figure out what his life looks like. When Jack takes on a substitute teaching job at the school his friends teach at, he is surprised to see the woman he clicked so well with at his friend's wedding. Will the connection be enough to get past some very real and difficult life circumstances?

With an abundance of complicated family dynamics, themes of rediscovering yourself, and imperfect characters that you can’t help but love, it’s hard not to get sucked into a Textbook Romance.

A super fun teacher romance!! This is a new trope for me and I really enjoyed it!! Zoe and Jack's connection and chemistry is great to read and I love their relationship develop.

I normally enjoy Kristen Bailey books but this one moved to slow for me. Plus I didn't really enjoy the ending. I wanted a little more closer for the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. #TextbookRomance #NetGalley