Zoe finding herself unexpectedly a single parent due to her cheating husband Brian, whilst at a friend’s wedding. Here she meets the lovely Jack, who ensures she gets home safely after this shocking reveal, only to then see him at the school she works at as a new teacher. Told by both perspectives, following all of their highs and lows.

A lighthearted read with humour and romance. Whilst a standalone novel, I also like the way Kristen brings in some characters from other novels. If you’ve not read any of these, this will not affect your reading, but you should definitely read others. Another great read, I look forward to the next from Kristen.

This was a cute little rom com to read as a palate cleanser. There wasn't a lot of mental capacity needed to follow the story which was just what I needed. The characters were likable, but with little depth.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristen Bailey, and Storm Publishing for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for the perfect back to school romantic comedy with laugh out loud moments this is the book for you! This is an adult rom com so there is some adult language with a little bit of spice thrown in but it's not over the top. I enjoy this story because the inner monologues for your two main characters, Jack and Zoe, are very relatable with their thoughts and feelings. You can see the turmoil that goes on to make the right decision. It's not just another cheesy rom-com. There is depth, real life struggles and real-life mistakes that make this book stand out. Not only is this a story about a romance but there's also friendship and learning to deal with changes that life threw at us. This is a second chance romance with an age gap that will have you laughing, have you mad, and have you upset at times. But that's what a good book is supposed to do!
Be sure to check this book out when it comes out July 29th, 2024.

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #textbookromance #kristenbailey

I love a good book set in England and right off the bat I knew I would like this one. It was fun, it was cheeky and it also dealt with serious issues, emotions of betrayal and starting over at 40

Zoe is a teacher who attends a colleague's wedding and meets Jack. While they harmlessly flirt the two hit it off but then she gets a text that shows her husband is having an affair. They meet again 4 months later when he becomes a substitute teacher at her school. Zoe entertains the flirty nature of their relationship and as they spend more time (and are sometimes pushed together by meddling friends) they grow closer and flirting turns into a little bit more.

Jack is still trying to find his footing in life. After college he took a break from finding a steady job to help his brother out. Now, he is just trying to find his way and is jumping around from job to job.

The age gap between the characters was nice and refreshing and I could totally relate to both of them. Zoe in the terms of having and raising kids at 40 and balancing a career. On the flip side, being in your late 20s and realizing the good old days are farther away than you thought is also a huge reality check. The thought process of what happens after college is starting to become an actual reality of navigating adulthood. The best line was when Jack laments about parties being more tame and proper but also makes a remark that at least the beer selection gets better as you get older and if that ain’t the truth!

Had funny moments (what does a chicken emoji really mean?!?) but also some serious ones as Zoe had to navigate her life post cheating husband and also steer her children to understand the new family dynamic without being bitter towards their dad.

I really liked this couple and I liked the age gap portion of the story. It gave it some depth but it wasn't focused on so much that you got annoyed by it. Zoe had all the normal processing emotions of someone in her situation but she was such a strong and fierce character. Jack was mature for his age and even though he was directionless in his career he was stable and just a really good guy!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Kristen Bailey
Genre: Romance, RomCom
Troupe: Age Gap

I enjoyed this! While not my favorite from this author, it still really put the rom and com in romcom, like I expected. She manages to write the very funny moments and excellent dialogue between her leads, as well as the heartwarming and even sad or difficult parts all so well. Always tons of innuendo but this time even a little more steam than I was used to from her! Not a lot by any means, it was still sort of "right up to the beginning moments of things and then close the door" but certainly more than she's done before (and she addressed that in her author's note at the end). The one thing I didn't love about this one was all of the internal dialogue the MCs had. Maybe it will be formatted differently in the final version vs this arc, but it sometimes threw me for a loop. Also, this is really dumb to complain about considering I actually really enjoy how real and messy her characters can be, but I didn't like how realistic and considerate the ending was. It made it feel rushed and that I wanted more of their story still, even though it was simply a way things could play out in real life. Aside from those two things, I did enjoy it and will certainly read another from her in the future. Seeing side characters from a past book also made me want to reread that one and see if we met these characters before and I had forgotten. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC! It will be released July 29/24.

Zoe and Jack meet at a mutual friends wedding and find a quick connection. Trouble is Zoe is already married, so they go their separate ways. Until they meet again when Jack gets a new job at the school Zoe teaches at. The connection quickly resumes, and Zoe is now single (Zoe hand found out her husband was cheating, which led to their divorce).

Personally, I ended up finding the book rather dull. It goes into these deep conversations of mundane things that really add nothing to the story and glosses over some of the more important parts.
There is never any reason for any character changes we see. So many issues are brought up with how Zoe is feeling post divorce, with the age gap, and with her own body that we never see a conclusion too. It seems that somewhere along the line, Zoe just forgot all her insecurities.. for no real reason.
I did enjoy the story as a whole, and it was a nice little romance. I loved the little one liners Jack would throw out or how Mia would throw in her dirty questions. Overall, I would say it is a fairly basic romance that leaves you feeling good at the end.

It had been a while since I read a book by an English author, so it was a learning curve for the different slang and word choices. But, with my learning curve, I found the characters and story to be funny, charming, and a cute story of finding love after heartbreak.

Zoe is so focused on her age that it gets pretty repetitive at points. Yet, Jack takes it on like a champ to disrupt her way of thinking about their ages in terms of their relationship. I loved the easy way that Jack got Zoe to step outside of herself and her comfort zone; the laser tag scene was a favorite of mine. But the personal journey that Zoe goes through after facing heartbreak was nice to see - an older, divorced woman who is finding joy in her life again - it was well done and really propelled this book. I think Jack is just what was needed for Zoe, and he has great timing to be in the right place at the right time to change his whole life.

The only real criticism I had while reading was that sometimes it felt slow, like scenes were unnecessary or repetitive in the overall plot.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kristen Bailey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Textbook Romance was my first time reading a book by Kristen Bailey, and it definitely won't be the last! Life is complex when Zoe and Jack meet, and yet they can't deny the easy friendship and electric chemistry between them. I especially love that Zoe is quite a bit older than Jack - it feels rare to read about a woman in her forties with a professional job and children being viewed as desirable and attractive. This was a super fun and poignant read!

I absolutely adored Sex Ed by Kristen Bailey, so I was excited to read Textbook Romance, which takes place at the same school with some of the same characters. But unfortunately, this book just fell flat for me. For one thing, I found the age-gap to be annoying. I don't mind an age gap romance between two consenting adults, but I feel like they were constantly bringing up how young Jack was and how much older Zoe was, which when you bring it up that often, makes it a bit icky in my opinion. Like, we get it!

The dual POV was charming, but a lot of the time, I felt like they had the same voice; there was no real differentiators between the two POVs. And all of the conflicts annoyed me because the stakes felt so incredibly low.

What a lovely story! I personally fell in love with Jack……he is just the perfect, man.

After a lifetime “happily” married, she discovered her husband betrayed her for over a year with somebody she considered her friend, what a cliche. However after some mourning period and emotional support from her love ones, she discovers that change may not be all that bad.

Jack is the most reliable person you can encounter, but putting everyone first made him drift from his dreams after college. Now he found an amazing person, with a lots of baggage, who may inspire him to choose a specific path for his future.

All the characters except the husband and the supposedly “friend” were great. The way it was written made you feel like watching a sweet romcom. I absolutely enjoy the book.

Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for a honest and voluntary review.

Shoutout to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the adorable eARC!

This was a sweet sweet story of second chance love and healing after betrayal, heart break and divorce.

What to generally expect:
⭐ Different POVs of the two main characters
⭐ Second chance at love after divorce
⭐ An overarching story of family + love
⭐ Friends to lovers
⭐ Age Gap

I love that Kristen does such a great job of getting you to fall in love with the characters in the story. You root for them, you want to celebrate with them, laugh and cry with them. At the end you're cheering them on to figure it all out. That was the same for this story. I loved the connection between Jack + Zoe. I was absolutely heartbroken for her and the betrayal that occurred during her divorce. To see her heal through her journey after the divorce but also through meeting jack was so beautiful. Them falling in love through that was just an added bonus. The story of her really connecting with her kids both at school and her own at home was wonderful. I love seeing some teens/pre-teens realize they love their mom and still need her. Also I loved the characters and their development through the story. From Jacks room mates to the other teachers/friends at the school. They add depth, and comedic relief to the story which I loved.

This story was VERY Kristen! The depth, the plot the in between stories are all so beautifully written. I'm never disappointed! This will be a great read for the beach, a cozy rainy day at home or something to read when you're in a slump.

Synopsis:
And 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 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.

Can Zoe accept this gift from the universe and take a chance on a far-from-textbook romance?

I absolutely adored this book! Alllll the emotions - laughs, smiles, second-hand embarrassment, tears. The characters were great, each one. The storyline flowed seamlessly.
I CANNOT WAIT to read more Kristen Bailey!

I downloaded this with anticipation as I've not yet found a Kristen Bailey book that I haven't enjoyed and this did not let me down. Zoe was immediately likeable, as were all the characters really- except for her husband! The whole situation felt very authentic and I felt like I encountered every emotion alongside Zoe as she processed the betrayal but also allowed herself to be free and be loved again. All of Kristen's books are also genuinely funny and there were many times I laughed out loud while reading this and I was so sad that because I raced through it, I had finished it in no time at all. I'll be eagerly awaiting her next release!

Textbook Romance has sexual inuendoes galore! This book was so much fun.

Zoe and Jack meet at a wedding; where Zoe's marriage implodes. But then Jack becomes a substitute teacher at the same school where Zoe works.

Really loved this romance and it had me laughing out loud several times. Absolutely loved what Zoe's daughter gave her dad for Christmas!

There was a 10-14 year age gap (with Zoe being older than Jack); I did hear that age discrepancy mentioned a few too many times.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for approving my request to read Textbook Romance in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is July 29, 2024. Approx 344 pages.

Debating between 4-5 stars.

A slow start and I initially wasn't sure I liked Zoe or Jack, but as their relationship progressed, they became one of my favorite couples I've ever read. It was also really refreshing to read about a strong woman in her 40s finding love after divorce while juggling real life. Her concerns are my concerns so it felt so hopeful reading a character I can actually relate to.

The side characters nearly stole the show. I'm looking forward to going and reading the books that feature Mia, Ed, and Beth, but really it was the kids in this story that stole my heart. Fierce Lottie and quiet Dylan seemed really real. And Dom's twins were utterly adorable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication!

Set in the charming backdrop of England, this beautiful, slow-burn, age-gap romance follows Jack and Zoe on their journey to finding each other. Zoe, learning to trust again after her husband's betrayal, and Jack, with his unwavering support, create a love story that's as touching as it is genuine.

A cute reverse age gap love story. Zoe attends a colleague’s wedding, while there she meets Jack who is by her side when she receives a phone call from her daughter who reveals that her husband is having an affair with a close friend of hers. Months later, after much encouragement from his friends Jack finds himself working at the same school Zoe works at. Throughout the book Zoe is navigating through divorce and learning to be a single mom. No longer feeling confident in who she is and a little lost, she soon feels herself being put back together with Jack by her side. The ending seemed a little rushed with not that much closure but it was a cute read.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fun flirty romance for fans of Women's Fiction style romances.

Very much in the vein of a Sophie Kinsella or a Mhari MacFarlane.

Zoe's life is great. She is married to her husband, and has two wonderful children. One night, she goes to a wedding while her husband is out of town. While she is there, her world gets turned upside down as she is informed of something that she never would have expected, her husband's betrayal. This story follows Zoe as she attempts to move on after the betrayal, and her meeting with Jack, which has sparks flying.

This book was also super authentic when diving into how affairs can affect the whole family, not just the spouse that was betrayed. Lottie and Dylan showed two different initial reactions to the betrayal, anger on Lotties part, and was outwardly expressing it, while Dylan showed more concern for his mother and making sure she was doing well, while not really expressing how he felt.

I LOVED Jack. He was just a funny guy all around, always bantering with everyone that he came across. He was a very likeable MMC, and I feel that he was perfect for Zoe. He was so empathetic as her world was falling apart, and was the perfect gentleman. Making sure she got home safely when she wasn't in the best state of mind? Check. Bringing her her favorite jacket after she forgot it? Check. Doing his best to make her happy after they meet again? Check, check, check. While this was an age gap romance, where Jack is younger than Zoe, it sure didn't feel like that at all. Jack was very emotionally mature and matched Zoe well.

And I'm sorry, the scene with Ed and Mia coming in to the bathroom at the school, and trying to get some alone time.... that had me dying laughing, even though it was short. It was so unexpected, but also something that I could 100% picture happening somewhere in real life.

Unfortunately, as you can see, this review is not 5 stars, so I do have some negative thoughts as well. I do wish there was more build up between Jack and Zoe. It all seemed to happen so fast, time wise. They meet, don't see each other again for 4 months, kiss once, and then shortly after, they have sex because their friends tricked them and had them meet at a hotel. I wish we got to see more of the building of the chemistry that they had.

I was a huge fan of the laser tag scene, it was so much fun. I was a little sad that we didn't get a scene with Zoe rubbing everything in Brian and Liz's faces but, oh well, what can you do. Although I will say, I did find it weird that Zoe came off as really mature throughout the whole book, and then refused to communicate, causing a third act breakup. Not a fan of that.

Thank you to Kristen Bailey, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.

When maths teacher Zoe Swift meets the irresistibly funny and charming Jack Damon at her friends’ wedding, sparks fly. However, when Jack turns up at her school, newly recruited as a supply teacher, she can’t ignore the intense effect he has on her but still reeling from her husband's recent jaw-dropping betrayal, she is uncertain where their future lies. With two teenage kids, she is not sure that she should become involved with a younger man. Despite their connection growing deeper, Zoe is uncertain that she can manage the complicated family dynamics and their age gap as well as Jack's uncertainties about his future.
This is a very realistic take on a romance filled with the pressures of ex-husbands and teenagers. I also enjoyed reading a story about teachers, who for many, are seen as not having a life beyond the classroom. The author’s handling of the age difference was well developed and revealed the angst felt by Zoe. A great read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.