I loved this book! The story follows Zoe, who discovers her spouse has been cheating on her with her best friend. She discovers this while at a wedding and meets Jack there. I love a reverse age gap, and MCs in their late 30s to early 40s.

They re connect later on, and let’s just say the timing is pretty hard while Zoe is learning to navigate being a newly single mom, and is learning how to be herself again. I really loved all the emotions and how her character developed through this story.

This does have a third act, but is done perfectly because of the age gap. In the end this is a HEA. It made me laugh out loud, and get a little teary eyed in moments.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

This was not the book I expected based on the summary. I expected a cute little rom-com style story, but this was a lot sexier than I expected. I don't really care to read - or listen to - that type of scene, so this was a bit tough for me to really get into. Zoe and Jack seemed to be good characters, and Jack really seemed like the world's best dude ever - he was such a good guy, so understanding, he was difficult to believe. Maybe I read too many mysteries, but I expected a really shady past to pop out at some point! But, no, he's just awesome.

For those who like the steamy heat in their books, this is probably a great fit. I felt like too much emphasis was made on the age gap - that's just not important to me.

3 stars for "I liked it".

Zoe and Jack meet at a mutual friends wedding and that’s where their love story begins. Lots of obstacles along the way - divorce, age difference, family- but would it be a romcom without the struggle??? Love the main and supporting characters. I fell in love with the couple and their story. Very well written and a great read. I finished this in one day!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like This book was not for me. Sorry.

Personally found the story a little dragging with no really big events throughout the book.
The characters were lovely, but I was missing a connection with them.

The setting of the school and all the characters contributing to the story was set up well and the book had a great premise.

I'm glad I gave it a go as this was the first book from the author, will try more for sure

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. This is a rare type of trope with divorce and an old sole type romance. Very sweet and so heartwarming. This book was a great representation of that type of relationship. My biggest hiccup with this book was the narration. One narrator trying represent all characters voices seemed too confusing. I wasn’t a fan of that and it cause confusion with who was talking.

I absolutely adored this book about divorce, mothering, second chance love, and an old soul younger man.

Adored it. In the top of books I’ve enjoyed this year.

I’m bothered by the tagline selling it as a comedy- in my opinion, that’s selling this marvel short. It’s described as hilarious and uplifting but I think it should focus more on the uplifting - while there are some cheeky moments, it’s far more (put your coats on, kids) a cerebral romance™️ than anything else.

Zoe Swift, a math teacher in her mid forties, meets Jack Damon at a mutual friend’s wedding, both attending on their own. He’s funny and kind, and when Zoe’s kids call later in the evening, devastated and crying, to break the news that they’ve just found out their dad, her husband, is cheating on her, well, Zoe falls apart.

Jack gently takes the phone, talks to her kids, bundles her up, and gets her home safely.

And then, at the start of the new school term, he shows up, by chance, at the school where Zoe works, as a supply teacher (think building sub). Jack is smitten but cautious. He’s also more than a decade younger.

What Zoe quickly learns is that while Jack might be interested in a physical relationship, he’s far more interested in making sure she’s taking care of herself, that he’s giving her the space she needs, that she finds a voice and uses it to stand for what she wants. He quietly charms her while also showing her how simply lovely she is, what a good mother and teacher and friend she is.

Jack is, honestly, a terrific human.

But Zoe struggles with the age gap, always fearful of denying Jack something he might want if he slots himself into her already existing life, especially when she learns of his past. Jack senses her fear and gives her space, unsure how to ask for what he wants.

When Zoe learns of a job Jack has been offered a continent away, she has to make a choice: free him or love him.

Maybe she can do both.

The audio is lovely (single narrator but so well done).

I simply love this. So much of it is probably due to how it speaks to me, a woman who got divorced when her kids were teenagers, like Zoe, and all of the baggage that comes with it, but I also think it has universal appeal.

There’s a real focus here on the realities of life, and Bailey takes time to develop the two kids, Dylan and Lotty, as well as their relationship with their mom. She’s firm but tender, nurturing and intuitive. She handles divorce and her Flanders husband with such class.

You’ll love Jack, you’ll love Zoe, and you’ll love Zoe’s relationship with her fantastic kids.

I’ll be buying a hard copy of this one. Full stop.

Thanks to @netgalley, @storm and @dreamscape for the early audiobook to read and review. Available July 29.

This was my first book by this author and I loved it so much I need to read her previous works asap! Jack was the perfect romantic lead, so perfect that if I had a Jack in my life I'd be lining up outside their door - really kind, loving and supportive. The chemistry between him and Zoe flew off the pages, and the build up was perfectly paced. The almost fully fade-to-black sex scenes were a little disappointing, the chemistry between the two leads was so palpable that a bit of spice would have added to the development of the romantic storyline and made this book a perfect 5 stars, but I still really enjoyed it. The ending, whilst not as clear cut as I'd hoped, was realistic. A very well written and sweet romance. The narrator's accent didn't really fit the characters and detracted from the story at times, and one person narrating all the characters without changing their voice at all made it confusing to understand who was speaking and to differentiate if someone was speaking out loud or just thinking.

I was lucky enough to receive both the audiobook & and eARC of this story, it is not something I usually do, but I could tell by the blurb that I was going to really enjoy this, and I was right!
I find in some romance books, the relationship between the main characters can feel forced & rushed, but that was not the case here. The dynamic between Zoe & Jack felt genuine, and I adored the banter between them. This story had me laughing and crying throughout.

Audiobook Notes: I thought Abigail Hardiman did a wonderful job narrating. My only criticism is that there were no voice changes, making it difficult to follow at times. Despite this, I would still recommend both versions of the book.

★★★★
———————
I want to thank NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.

“Textbook Romance” by Kristen Bailey is such an emotional, touching, and whimsical romance story!

The blend of heavier topics with the lighthearted banter between Zoe and Jack makes for a very well-rounded and touching story. Both characters grapple with own insecurities and hesitations for the future (especially the nuances of imposter syndrome/feeling behind and the complications of divorce and dating with children) making them and their relationship feel so real.

Listening to the audiobook (narrated by Abigail Hardiman) made this experience even more charming— her voice perfectly captures the tone of the story and really helped bring the characters to life. I do agree with some of the other reviews in that the distinction between characters isn’t always very clear (especially Jack and Zoe)— but I still found the audiobook fairly easy to follow.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




✨ Single Mum
✨ Age Gap
✨ Teachers
✨ Funny




✨ It all started as a reunion with all the mates in university. Zoe in the first chapter is a mum and ‘happily’ married when suddenly saw a photo of her husband cheating on her. She met Jack on that reunion too.
✨ Both of them is in teaching industry, Jack is more like getting to know what kind of job he really like because he is young. They have a 10 years age gap.
Jack falls first when they had a sudden ‘get me out of here’ moment.
Until it develop but of course Zoe’s ex is such an a**.
✨ Story was great at first until it drags a little bit with the sentence sometimes repeated.
✨ There characters are very likeable especially I can feel the connection to Zoe as the age gap was quite interesting to see especially when there is 2 more child in the package.
✨ Funny but not too cheesy comedy.
Great writing and also narration .



Thankyou @dreamscape media and storm publishing for the copy of this arc for a honest review.



🫶🏼shaye.reads

Oh my goodness, this was such a fun, cute, witty read! I really enjoyed the narrator too, it really brought the story to life. This was the perfect romance read!

5⭐️
Update!! I also revived the audio ARC of this title. It’s not something I usually do since I can’t review it separately but I liked this book so much and I didn’t have any other audio books at the time.

Well listening to it made me amend my rating to a 5 Star. I loved listening to thins in a British accent. The narrator did a wonderful job. Clear voice and great pacing. I will seek the narrator Abigail Hardiman other works out I liked her so much.

I loved falling in love with the main characters all over again. It starts with every single gals dream of meeting someone at a wedding and it just gets better from there!

4.5 ⭐️! I may round up my rating after sitting on it as I really enjoyed this one but I’m very picky with my 5⭐️ reviews.

This was a delightful contemporary romance! I am so thankful to have gotten the eARC for free from Netgalley and Storm Publishing so I can leave my voluntary and honest review.

The book was down to earth and while it was an easy Hallmark-esque type of story as far as tropes, it had some meat to it and felt very natural.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Zoe and Jack unfold as while there was definite physical attraction, the author let the audience see why they were such good people rather than falling back on looks or “just because” which happens so frequently in these type of books.

I also loved seeing the features of a great teacher and that Zoe’s students recognized her skills. Lastly, and without spoilers, I liked that it wasn’t tied up in a nice little bow at the end. It left room for a sequel (which I really hope there is) but it could be ended where it was too.

You also get to revisit her characters Ed and Mia from the authors book called Sex Ed published in July 2023.

This book gets published on July 24th 2024 so put it on your TBT for a perfect summer read!


My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Quick Summary: A thank you, next romance

My Review: Textbook Romance by Kristen Bailey is a 2024 release labeled as a "totally hilarious and uplifting romantic comedy."

About the Book: A newly separated mother of two is headed for divorce after twenty years of marriage. Surprisingly, she meets her heart's second chance at love at a wedding.

Sparks fly as a friendship between Zoe Swift and Jack Damon gets a chance to bloom. When they find themselves unexpectedly working together, they take a much needed chance on each other. The OW/YM relationship is everything they both deserve to have and more.

About the Characters:

Zoe -> What a fiercely devoted mother. She was incredibly loving, nurturing, and transparent. I enjoyed watching her come into herself. As she found her voice and gave herself permission to be free from a toxic entanglement, good things came her way. The way she supported her kids after the betrayal by their father spoke volumes.

Jack -> This guy was total book boyfriend material. He was a charmer. I loved the story of his sacrifice. His heart for those he cared about was beautiful. The thing that really stood out about him was his ability to build up those who were, dare I say, broken by their circumstances. He didn't give up on them and he didn't allow them to give up on themselves.

The Ex and the Other: They were awful and unlikable.

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

- The Wedding

- The Setup

- The Airport

- The Final Destination

My Final Day: This story had such a vibe, and I absolutely loved it. Yay for Zoe and for Jack! This couple found something very special together. It was good to see how love and happiness could be found after a devastating, life altering event.

The author did an amazing job with communicating the emotions felt by the characters, particularly with the children. Their emotions were so real, so honest, and so understandable.

Other: Readers who enjoy books about different types of families, books about finding love when you least expect it, and books where age is not placed in a box will adore this novel.

Rating: 4.25/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
Status/Level: 💛
Triggers: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

4 stars
This was a cute romance between teachers. The woman is a mom in her mid 40’s and the man is a mature 29, so there’s a bit of an age gap. I really enjoyed the mature interaction between both parties, neither struggling with communication (for the most part) or behavior. The friends in the storyline were all encouraging and wonderful. Even the teens were likable!

Where it struggled:
I listened to the audiobook of this and could not tell who was talking, ever. There was no voice differentiation and it almost made me stop listening to it. I would highly suggest getting a male narrator for the male parts and keeping the current narrator for the female parts. I honestly thought this was a same sex couple for a while and still couldn’t figure out which character was talking.

I want to thank the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Select for letting me review this ARC. It was a really enjoyable read!

Also as a note- the cover appears to say “Text Book Romance”, but is actually listed as “Textbook Romance” in goodreads. This is just to be aware that you cannot find it listed unless you type “Textbook” wigh no space in the word.

I didn’t love this one the way I loved Sex Ed. This book does contain a continuation of Ed and Mia’s story as a side plot, but it mainly follows Zoe and Jack.

Theirs was a sweet romance with an age gap. I feel like the author wouldn’t let us forget that Zoe was older in the way age gap romances with an older man usually gloss over that fact. The couple seemed really mature and realistic.

I just wasn’t super compelled to keep reading, but I enjoyed the premise.

A very sweet and well written book, an easy read and loveable story.

in her early forties Zoe thinks her life is solid, a husband, a stable career, and two wonderful teenagers however her life drastically changes when during a wedding she finds out her husband has been cheating on her. She is struggling with adapting to her changed life but when the new substitute teacher Jack befriends her sparks soon fly and she begins to learn how to lover herself again.

I received this arc as an audiobook and although I really loved the story and did enjoy the narrator I do think it would have been better improved if there had been dual narrators. There wasn't a lot of vocal differences for the characters which sometimes made it had to differentiate whose perspective of character we were on.

Aside from that I loved the story the reverse age gap was done very well and the way the relationship between the two main characters blossomed was gorgeous I was especially surprised on how spicy the book ended up being but loved it non the less. The character development was incredible for each character and seeing the FMC's confidence flourish throughout was something that stood out to me as well as the scenes of the teenagers and how they individually coped with there dads behaviour and how they supported there mum throughout the book.

The book was sprinkled with relatable humour that made me laugh out loud multiple times and nod along to the commentary - I too rather enjoy the calves of Jack Grealish
Overall a lovely reading experience

In her early forties, Zoe thinks she has a pretty good life. She has a solid marriage, of about twenty years. They have two teenaged kids. She is a math teacher. Life is great. Until her husband cheats on her with one of her friends. This absolutely devastates Zoe. She thought they were happy. She also learned the news at her colleagues' wedding. She had been chatting with a friend of the groom, Jack. Jack makes sure she gets home. Shortly after, he starts working at her school as a substitute. They are flirty. Jack really likes Zoe, but Zoe thinks he is just being nice. But she is attracted to him...

I really liked how Jack built Zoe back up. Her self esteem is so low after her husband cheated on her and left her- and to have a much younger, very attractive man would be hard for anyone to believe in. But he was sincere and showed her over and over again until she believed it.

The audiobook is narrated by Abigail Hardiman. It would have been a lot better had it used dual narrators. Abigail Hardiman doesn't even attempt a male voice in dialogue. So hearing Jack's chapters read in a very feminine way was strange. The book starts with Jack's POV and it took me a second to realize I was listening to a male POV.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Plot and Storyline:
Kristen Bailey’s Textbook Romance is an engaging and heartwarming narrative that deftly combines humor with romance. The plot is well-paced, keeping the reader hooked from beginning to end. The storyline is refreshingly unique, and Bailey’s ability to weave together moments of laughter and poignancy is truly commendable.

Characters:
The characters are vividly drawn and relatable, each bringing their own quirks and charms to the story. The protagonist’s journey is particularly compelling, showcasing significant character development. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, adding depth and richness to the narrative.

Writing Style:
Bailey’s writing style is delightful and accessible. Her use of humor is particularly noteworthy, making the story enjoyable and light-hearted while still addressing deeper emotional themes. The dialogue is sharp and witty, adding to the overall charm of the book.

Themes:
The exploration of themes such as love, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships is handled with sensitivity and insight. The book offers a perfect blend of romance and life lessons, making it not only entertaining but also thought-provoking.

Overall Experience:
Textbook Romance is a delightful read that is both heartwarming and hilarious. Kristen Bailey has crafted a story that resonates with readers, making them laugh, cry, and everything in between. It’s a must-read for fans of contemporary romance who appreciate a good mix of humor and heart.

Textbook Romance starting in a really compelling way. Our MFC finds out that her husband has been cheating with her friend. It all comes out when he is discovered vacationing in Portugal with the mistress. Our MFC is shattered. A mutual acquaintance picks up the pieces, getting her home. Checking in.

When she returns to school for fall term, her marriage is over, she is single parenting two teens, and in walks the new (hot) teacher--you guessed it, the sweet guy from the wedding that cared for her.

Overall this was enjoyable. It was surprisingly vulgar in places. Sometimes it made me laugh out loud. Sometimes it made me cringe so hard!

This book has a fun, light-hearted feel despite Zoe’s devastation over her husband’s betrayal. The plot is largely driven by gossip between the main characters and their friends. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.