Textbook Romance is about a teacher going through a divorce who meets a much younger (and pretty much perfect) man. There is a lot to like about this rom-com -first of all, as a teacher myself, I have to say that the parts related to school and teaching were pretty spot on and the type of teacher Zoe was is truly how a "good" teacher would be in the classroom. I really liked Zoe's kids - they weren't rebellious bratty kids who talk back. They loved and protected Zoe and had a wonderful relationship throughout the upheaval they were going through. I also appreciated that Zoe didn't poison the kids against Brian but tried to keep their relationship civil. I really liked Jack although he was almost TOO good to be true. The story has some definite laugh out loud moments and while there are sex scenes, they aren't over the top and they don't take over the book. There were a couple grammar errors that got by the editor but they weren't distracting. There was also a spot in the book where there were 3 or 4 mentions of "flaring nostrils" which kind of made me laugh but maybe they did go around flaring them for a while lol

Jack y Zoe se conocieron en una boda, a él le gustó, pero se dió cuenta que estaba casada entonces dio un pasa otras.

Fue muy fea la manera de como se enteró de la infidelidad, lo único bueno es que estaba con Jack y la ayudo a llegar con sus hijos.



4 meses después se vuelven a ver cuando Jack es contratado en la escuela de Zoe, ella está pasando por muchas cosas, sin embargo, cuando está con Jack se siente feliz. Él es un poco inmaduro, pero era justo lo que ella necesitaba.

Odie al maldito descarado del exesposo y a su amante. Fue un buen padre y esposo por caso 20 años y de repente cambio.

El final lo sentí inconcluso, me hubiera gustado saber como solucionaron lo de la distancia porque ambos estaban felices con sus trabajos, pero vivian en diferentes continentes.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute!! Absolutely loved the characters, the not typical main female lead, and the chemistry of the couple. Lottie may have been my favorite of all. A fun, frothy romance!

After reading books from this author previous I knew I was in for a treat with this latest book. Oh my god it is fantastic! Literally struggled to put this down as I loved it that much. I swear I'd such a smile on my face reading this the characters are so perfect and absolutely lovable. My heart broke for the main character Zoe, I was so gutted for her after she finds out about her husband and I had my fingers crossed that things would get better for her and she would get her happy ending. Oh and Mr Damon... What an absolutely beautiful character he is. I definitely will be recommending this book to all my fellow book lovers as they will be sure to love this book.

Three and a half stars.

When Zoe Swift meets Jack Damon at a colleague's wedding she finds him easy to talk to, and kind of flirty considering she's fifteen years older than him. Then in an instant one phone call overturns her happy family life.

A few months later, Jack turns up as a supply teacher at the school where Zoe teaches maths. He's just as easy to talk to, kind, and flirty as she remembers, but now her circumstances are very different, and with two angry, devastated teenagers at home she doesn't have the bandwidth for romance, until two well-meaning friends set them up.

I always enjoy a Kristen Bailey novel, she truly does write rom-coms, in this case there are some dodgy and ambiguous emojis flying around. However, this one doesn't hit the heights of my all-time favourite Can I Give My Husband Back?.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really liked this story line. It was short read, but long at the same time. The chapters were entirely too long, that’s why I am giving it 4 stars. The character’s story lines were both in one chapter, I feel it could have been broken up into longer chapters for an easier read. Overall I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I’ll start that this book was hard for me to get into, but I’m very happy I stuck it out. It most definitely had something to do with the British dialogue. I don’t know when it got to the point of not wanting to put it down, but it did.

Zoe and Jack meet at a wedding of mutual friends. While having fun at that wedding Zoe finds out her husband, and the father of her two teenage children, is cheating on her with a family friend of theirs (what an ~arse~ and total bitch, am I right?). A few months later Zoe and Jack meet again while Jack takes a temp teaching job when Zoe works full time. With Jack’s help, charm, and good looks, Zoe is put back together again. She is valued and loved the way she always should have been. I loved how Zoe handled everything with grace and maturity. I appreciated the ending, even if it wasn’t the total happily ever after.

ARC Review: *Textbook Romance* by Kristen Bailey

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5 stars)

Kristen Bailey's *Textbook Romance* is a delightful and heartwarming read that expertly blends humor, romance, and the complexities of life after betrayal. This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with a touch of real-life challenges.

Overview:
Zoe Swift, a dedicated maths teacher and single mother of two teenagers, is not looking for love after her husband's recent and shocking betrayal. But when she meets the irresistibly charming and funny Jack Damon at a friend’s wedding, sparks fly. The chemistry between them becomes undeniable when Jack turns up at her school as a supply teacher. Despite their connection, Zoe is hesitant to embrace this unexpected romance due to the age gap, family dynamics, and her own emotional scars.

Themes and Elements:
1. **Second Chances:** The book beautifully explores the theme of second chances, not just in love but in life as well. Zoe's journey towards rediscovering herself and opening up to new possibilities is inspiring.
2. **Family Dynamics:** The portrayal of Zoe's life as a single mother managing her teenage kids and co-parenting with her ex adds depth and authenticity to the story.
3. **Age Gap Romance:** The age difference between Zoe and Jack is handled with sensitivity and realism, making their relationship both believable and relatable.
4. **Humor and Heart:** Kristen Bailey's signature humor shines through, making the book a delightful read while also touching on deeper emotional truths.

Character Development:
- **Zoe Swift:** Zoe is a relatable and strong protagonist. Her vulnerability and resilience make her journey compelling. Watching her navigate the challenges of single motherhood and opening her heart to new love is both heartwarming and empowering.
- **Jack Damon:** Jack is a charming and supportive character. His humor, patience, and genuine affection for Zoe make him an ideal partner. His own uncertainties about his future add an interesting layer to his character.

Writing Style:
Kristen Bailey’s writing is engaging, witty, and full of heart. Her ability to balance humor with poignant moments ensures that the story resonates on multiple levels. The dialogue is sharp, realistic, and often hilarious, keeping the reader entertained from start to finish.

Final Thoughts:
*Textbook Romance* is a charming and uplifting story that will leave readers smiling. Kristen Bailey has crafted a novel that beautifully captures the chaos, joy, and unexpected surprises of life and love. Zoe’s journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and embracing the unexpected.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy contemporary romance with strong family themes, humor, and a realistic portrayal of life's ups and downs. Highly recommended for fans of romantic comedies looking for a feel-good read that tackles real-life issues with grace and laughter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had such fun reading this, and was rooting for Zoe from beginning to end. She and Jack are likeable and funny characters, with warmth and integrity, and despite the age gap, belong together.

This is a feel-good and humorous romcom that also touches on the topics of affairs, divorce and co-parenting after divorce, which are well told (without getting too heavy or making them the "hero" of the story).

Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and the author Kristen Bailey or an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

A funny story with heartfelt emotions. I quite liked both Ed and Jack for being men that can be soft in a good way. The banter was fun between Zoe and Jack or Zoe and her friends.

However, it was rather flat regarding diversity when it comes to skin color, gender identity, religion, history, cultural background, chronics, you name it. It doesn't have to be a theme, but someone being overweight, or with financial struggles, or being non-binary could have been casually mentioned. This was set in London, surely there are those who fit this description? For instance Ed being a Black man, Beth in a wheelchair, Kate in a same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, I am adding that to a lot of reviews on books I've read recently...

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

This was a lovely cookie cut romance with all of the right elements to make it an easy read that had a lot of heart. Jack and Zoe are wonderful together and the romance between them is nicely believable with just the right amount of bumps in the road.

For as extended a list of supporting characters that we got, they were all distinct and had personality and substance which is often lacking in this genre so I was pleasantly surprised!

Thoroughly enjoyed this!!

Could not put this down. Mia and Jack share a love that is classic Kristen Bailey: awkward, funny, and heartbreaking. Mia is reeling from the shocking end to her marriage. Jack’s quite a bit younger and still looking for a permanent career. They collide in a poignant and touching way, on the night Mia’s marriage implodes, only to find out that they work in the same school. One of the many things I loved about this book is the private life versus the public life of this couple. There is the relationship they share versus their work life and Mia’s family, which includes two teenagers also dealing with the break up of their family. This book has much to say about modern love while also providing an utterly charming and engaging read. Loved it!

Textbook Romance is another winner from Kristen Bailey for me. A newly single mom of teenagers meets a man 14 years younger than her on the day her life implodes, and the two navigate a relationship amid the challenges that come with her new situation.
As with her other books, Kristen Bailey manages to add so much humor in this story that I found myself laughing throughout the whole thing. I also liked reading from the perspective of a FMC in her forties, which gave the book a different feeling than most other romances. As a mom and teacher, I related to a lot of Zoe’s life (thankfully I do not relate to the cheating husband part), and it was interested to see her navigate a new divorce, self esteem struggles (thanks to said cheating husband), and a new partner with an age gap. Her relationship with her kids was sweet and made me slightly less nervous to parent teenagers someday.
Without spoiling anything, I was only a little disappointed with the ending. I felt it still had some unanswered questions and I really wanted a second epilogue to just spell it out for me!
All in all, I really enjoyed it and also liked seeing Ed and Mia from her previous book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book had me giggling out loud in several parts and smiling from ear to ear. I think the characters are very well done and I like that it's an age gap where the woman is older. Jack handles Zoe's family dynamics with grace and understanding. This was definitely a feel good rom-com that I couldn't put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Zoe and Jack hit it off instantly when they meet at a mutual friend's wedding. However, Zoe's life takes a sudden turn when a phone call leads to the breakdown of her marriage.

Months later, they cross paths again when Jack takes a job at the same school where Zoe works. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but Zoe is hesitant. Jack is younger, and she’s still dealing with the recent end of her marriage and the needs of her children. Can she handle another major change in her life?

From the first page, I was hooked and found myself rooting for both Zoe and Jack. Each character faces their own challenges, but together, their connection is electric and authentic.

This is a fantastic love story, and I was genuinely sad when I finished it so quickly.

Really sweet story about a middle-aged woman, wronged by her husband, finding love with someone new. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a fun and flirty read with forty something Zoe coming to terms with the end of her marriage after her husband was unfaithful whilst falling in lust with 29 year old Jack who has just started working at the school where she’s a teacher. I loved the dual perspective of this as they both have such differing views about their relationship and their own lives are also very different especially Zoe’s as she tries to support her teen children to adapt to the new family dynamic. This is a really fun and easygoing read with fabulous characters and plenty of laughs in amongst the drama.

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful story, full of emotion and love it definitely made me feel fuzzy inside and I got something in my eye several times, bravo!

I was so excited when I saw that I was approved for this ARC because I adore Kristen Bailey's writing. The first book I read of hers was Sex Ed last summer and I was thrilled to find out we would find out what happened with Mia and Ed as well as learn about new teachers/characters. This book was about a forty something teacher, Zoe, who recently found out her husband was cheating on her with a friend. Ouch! Then enters Jack, a 29 year old dream boat. Jack was simply the best character ever written. He was so delightful and swoon-worthy! It is kind of a insta-love situation which I really do not care for but it was so believable and dealt with with such care. I feel in love right along with the characters. I was worried about how the book would handle Zoe's teenage children but I was so pleased with how they were portrayed. At one point I found myself crying over their heartbreak and how well Zoe comforted them. This book was realistic, heartfelt, sexy, and just such a pleasant read. I loved every single minute. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

What a great book! It was such a humorous romcom. I loved it from page one to the very last page. It was a five star read!!