This was such a great, warm hug of a book featuring two older (at least in romancelandia) characters. I loved Rose and Martin, together as a couple and separately. They were lovely contrasts to each other and paired together nicely. I adored the side characters and REALLY appreciated how explicit consent was incorporated.

Olivia Dade is a new-to-me author and I can't wait to read more!

As a teacher, you rarely read books that honestly portray the daily lives of a teacher including the struggles and hurdles one must face. While ultimately a romance, this book really identified with some of the daily struggles that teachers face.--- one of which can be romantic relationships with colleagues. While ultimately a romanticized version of events, I was able to identify with so much of this novel it made it enjoyable! I will definitely be recommending it to my colleagues looking for a fun summer read!

*scroll to the bottom for content warnings*

Trope: teacher romance, mature/later in life relationship
Cover rating: 5 stars! I love the art style and the fact that the h is represented as curvy, with the H showing off that history teacher physique 🙂
Book description accuracy: Maybe 50% accurate. The way the h is described makes her seem like a total bitch and she doesn’t come off that way at all. She’s closed off but a very accomplished, strong woman who I like more than I expected to after the description.
General review:
This is a 3 star overall because it’s just not my favorite trope. Both parties have been divorced, one has a child- I personally just don’t like a second relationship story. The writing was good and I can see how a lot of people would connect with the storyline and characters; it just wasn’t for me. Dade writes both characters in a realistic way, including the H dealing with back spasms and extending into sexy time with the realism that he would not be able to lift her on the counter without hurting one or both of them. The students and H’s child were written well- not bratty and fleshed out. There were some writing quirks that I started to get frustrated with (pedagogical used every time in place of teaching- while it seemed like it was trying to come off smart the rest of the writing wasn’t like that so it felt out of place) and took away from my enjoyment. Overall, the story is good and the side characters are wonderful. I will be watching Dade’s next releases for sure!
Angst style: fear of commitment
POV: 3rd person, both H & h
Relationship stage reached: ILY exchanged, dating
Epilogue? it’s called an epilogue but it just takes place the next day so not really…

Content warnings: Direct from the publisher! history of emotional and physical abuse; intermittent harassment from a work superior ; my addition: growing up poor

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. #TeachMe #NetGalley

This book was exactly what I was hoping for and exactly what I wanted and needed to read. First, the age of the MCs. I'm always looking for romances with older characters but they've been few and far between until pretty recently. The worst is when I pick one up only to find that the characters' age is just window dressing. The reader is told that they are in their 40's, but they act like they are in their teens or 20's instead of having the wisdom and maturity that comes from owning and learning from the choices they've made in the past. I'm also not talking about "women's fiction". I enjoy that subgenre also, but in a romance, I want and expect a story where the romance is the central focus, not a journey that the (usually female) MC is on that just happens to include a relationship with a new person.

Happily, in this book, we have a true romance featuring characters who are in their 40's and actually act like it. As icing on the cake, the hero is a sweet, gentle, lovely beta, who survived a difficult childhood and grew up to be a man that anyone would be proud to claim as their own, a caring partner and wonderful father who's not ashamed to admit how much he's going to feel adrift when his only daughter goes off to college. We also have a strong, compassionate, plus-size heroine who comes off as closed off to her colleagues, but who doesn't hesitate to open her heart and her soul to her teenage students, who champions them wholeheartedly and bleeds with them when they bleed. I think most of us can remember at least one teacher like this from high school - a true role model, who inspired us to be the very best we could be.

There were a couple of times when I was afraid the book was going to veer just a bit too far into PC territory or preachiness, but instead, I think the author did a great job in raising issues like sexism, fat shaming, and transgender, without in any way being heavy-handed or overshadowing the characters or the romance. Bravo to her for walking a fine line there.

Teach Me is about two divorced, forty-something high school social studies teachers who have to learn to work past their issues. Rose is warm and funny with her students, but puts up walls around herself with all the adults around her; Martin is open and kind, but struggling with his daughter's imminent departure for college and his wife's infidelity. One thing I've noticed in a few of the m/f romance novels I've read this year is that the authors create these wonderful, complex women and then barely create the male character, and I'm left scratching my head as to his appeal. Teach Me was not like that at all! Martin is well rounded and complicated, and he also clearly deserves the prickly Rose - he listens and really works to be what she needs. I also loved the setting - the school students were funny (especially the softball team - I loved them), and the conflicts felt real. I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next Dade novel.

I loved this book!! I loved so many things about this book - but I don’t want to spoil a single one of them for you. I want you to read them and be delighted by them as I was.

Rose has been an AP history teacher at Marysburg High for over 20 years. Just before the start of a new school year, she’s informed Martin is a new teacher who will be starting - and he’s getting her world history classes. While she knows it isn’t his fault, it doesn’t exactly make her feel warm, fuzzy and inviting to the new teacher.

This is not a tale of insta-love. It takes place over the course of a school year. I love the main characters. I love the side characters. I love the feminism. I love all the scenes showing ways great teachers put so much into their jobs.

How much did I really love this book? Enough that by halfway through I bought up all of the author’s backlist and preordered her book coming out in July.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Teach Me is the first in the "There's Something about Marysburg" series. It was an excellent start! I can honestly say it has been one of my favorite books so far! I truly enjoyed this wonderful love story of two adults who are teachers, love their profession, and have lived and survived a troubled life. We see Rose Owen and Martin Krause's love evolve during the school year. They have several bumps that Martin is determined to go over just to show Rose that she is someone who can be loved in return. Martin was a sweetheart and Rose was very strong and independent. They balanced each other very well. The final scenes of the book made me a little teary-eyed. It kind of reminded me of a scene that easily could of come out in a John Hughes movie.
There was just so many great things about Teach Me. Their romance felt so real and it was easy to see how they were perfect for each other. I highly recommend it and look forwards to the rest of the series!

*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review.*

Olivia Dade's Teach Me took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. Things I loved: older main characters (in their 40s), not "conventionally" attractive, their relationship/chemistry progresses naturally and convincingly (no insta-lust), and lots of emphasis on consent and emotional maturity.

In theory, this is a great romance novel, hitting on all the right notes and making me fist-pump with lines such as "She didn't smile. She didn't do anything but give him necessary, job-related information. And that was absolutely, unequivocally her choice. She didn't owe him, a near-stranger, smiles or warmth or personal information or interest."

But in practice, Teach Me is missing some heart. It very rarely made me FEEL. I liked Rose and Martin and I liked their relationship, but I never connected to them. Martin is a perfect feminist. He thinks and says all the right things. He's so emotionally intelligent and mature and aware of sexism and privilege and fat-shaming that I'm always too aware that he's a character. He reads like the ideal of a cishet white "woke" man, instead of a real person.

So while I really enjoyed this book, I enjoyed it mostly because I appreciated everyone's ability to do and say the right thing 99% of the time. It was so relaxing to read about characters who were so truly good; it was a brief respite from all the not-good that we're constantly bombarded with. At the end of the day, I look to romance books to take me away from the day-to-day, and also to inspire me to be better. Teach Me does both, even if it didn't sweep me off my feet.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

One of the reasons I jumped at the opportunity to read this book was because it was a "seasoned" romance, which really means, it was a love story between two older characters. I was recently lamenting the fact, that we have no shortage of heroes in their 40s, but for some reason, there are very few older heroines. So, thank you, Olivia Dade, for showing us that even two middle aged divorcees deserve another shot at an HEA.

But, there were more delightful differences, which set this story apart from other in the genre. Both main characters, Martin and Rose had painful things in their pasts, that were keeping them from taking a chance on each other. The pair had been married to people, who basically did not love them as they were. They wanted to change them into something else, and this left an indelible mark on the both of them. There were also things in their far past such as growing up poor, being the victim of bullying, and growing up in a household rife with toxic masculinity. Despite all these things, they were both really lovely, successful, big hearted, kind, and wonderful people, and I found it really easy to ship them.

This was also a great book for you slow-burn romance lovers. Lots of tension and starts and stops and so, so many sweet and tender moments in-between. There was quite a build up, but I was really excited, when these two finally did get together, and began to move forward in their relationship.

I must confess, that I really liked the way Dade incorporated so much of their teaching profession into the story, because, let's face it - life as a teacher really is a full-time job. I taught high school science for over a decade, and I can attest to the accuracy of so many of the things both Martin and Rose experienced in the story with respect to their profession. They were passionate about their subject matter and their students, and it was great that Dade included that side of them.

Other things I enjoyed so much!
• Positive fat woman rep
• Martin was a wonderful, cinnamon roll of a hero
• Martin's relationship with his daughter, Be a
• Rose's ex-in-laws
• Nerdy banter
• A fantastic and fun grand gesture

Overall: This was a wonderful and heartwarming romance, which definitely brings something new to the table, and I am looking forward to revisiting Marysburg.

I was aware of the name Olivia Dade but had never read one of her books. After coming across a glowing review of Teach Me in one of my book groups, I couldn’t wait to read it. And that review was so right: Teach Me is a delight. It has a diverse cast of characters with both the hero and heroine older than 40. The hero is thoughtful, considerate, listens to others but stands up to what’s important to him when it matters. The heroine is plus-sized but it’s never part of the story. They are both very respectful to each other. Consent is very explicit; something we should see more often in romance (and other genres for that matter). I loved the grand gesture at the end of the book. The supporting characters are just as great as the hero and the heroine, with the heroine’s former in-laws stealing the show. Two things bothered me a tiny bit: money fixed things a little too easily and the students were a little to perfect. But that’s nit-picking: Teach Me is delightful and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
4.5 stars

An adorable slow burn romance , quick easy read and very light hearted. Lovely to read a more mature perspective and such a lovely end. A lovely summer read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This was a refreshingly delightful, slow burning workplace romance between teachers and I devoured it in one sitting. The characters are complex, their dynamic so complicated, the push and pull painstakingly delicious. I enjoyed everything about it... the writing, the storyline, all of it. Loved it!

I enjoyed this mostly light-hearted romance, finding it to be a quick, entertaining read. This is not a terribly deep story although the conflicted backgrounds of the two main characters, Rose and Martin, and their attempts to resolve their issues while developing a new relationship made the story captivating.

Part of what appealed to me when I selected this book was the school setting. As a teacher, I found the school details and descriptions of the teaching occupation to be accurate and believable.

I read this book very quickly as it was exactly what I was looking for - a fun, engaging story with interesting characters.

Olivia Dade is a new-to-me author. I will certainly be investigating her backlist with great thoroughness after this.

What an utterly fabulous book, the only way to properly review it is with a list (and I shall try to be as comprehensive as possible):

1. Rose is a 40 something divorced high school history teacher; she had a very tough upbringing, a difficult marriage and divorce, and as a result, she has sheathed herself emotionally in an icy exterior to keep people from being able to truly reach her and therefore, hurt her. I. ADORED. HER. She’s a curvy, confident AF in her own skin, brilliant heroine who knows full well just how fabulous and awesome she is. She owns exactly who she is, unapologetically so, from her impeccably styled, all-black wardrobe to the pointy toed stilettos she wears, almost as an armor. She has an intense love, both for her chosen profession and her students, and a deep, driven desire to improve her pedagogical skills. Her prickly exterior is simply a defense mechanism because, as this book shows time and again, when she loves, it’s wholly and deeply and unconditionally.

2. Martin is a 40 something divorced high school history teacher about to see his beloved daughter, his Sweet Bea, off to college at the end of the school year. He also had a difficult upbringing, a difficult marriage and divorce, but the way he carries himself, his inner strength and fortitude, makes him, to borrow a term from Rose, a marvel. He sees Rose, truly sees who she is and never once expects or wants her to be anything other than exactly who she is. He’s got his own scars to deal with, his own battles to fight but, and this is what I liked about both of these MC’s, they never attempted to excuse who they were or try to change themselves or each other; they simply were who they were and they accepted each other just as they were.

3. This is a grown up love story, in that these are both 40 something adults and as such, they act accordingly. They have responsibilities, to their jobs, their students, Martin to his daughter, etc. There are love scenes, and even then, it’s beautifully rendered, to show their maturity in a way that doesn’t seem heavy-handed. He attempts to hoist her up on the counter during their first sexual encounter and she reminds him laughingly about his back spasms. They have expectations of each other, but more importantly, they also have expectations from themselves, a personal sense of honor and pride that forces them to ask for what they want, what they need, and ultimately, what they deserve.

4. Supporting characters:
Bea, the aforementioned daughter, is written with delightful humor, a teenager who gently ribs her dad but also understands how lucky she is to have him and to worry about what might happen when she goes off to college and he is left all alone.

Annette and Alfred: Rose’s ex-in-laws; it is a very unusual relationship they have with their former daughter in-law but it really works, authentic and genuine and full of love. Their “acting” bits really made me laugh out loud.

Rose and Martin also have some interesting colleagues and students and even when they are only mentioned briefly, they are written with such depth and dimension that I can’t help but hope they show up to star in future books. Bianca, of the goth-minded softball team with her many vendettas and English teacher Candy Albright with her many literary oriented initiatives (Wuthering Heights is NOT a romance was my personal favorite) were particular highlights.

In the end though, the main characters are really what lies at the center of any romance and Rose and Martin make for an exceptional duo, both resilient and tenacious and full of heart despite their many emotional scars. They made me fall in love with them as individuals and root for them as a couple. That, in my book, is a total 5 star read.

I first saw this book on Twitter. I saw this book being talked about by some authors whose books I love on Twitter and so it was on my TBR. And then I saw in Netgalley and thought ‘why not’ I gave it a shot and requested and I got approved like same day! It was insane and decided to instantly start reading.

All I knew going in was that it involved teachers and this fell into the ‘seasoned romance’ category and we all know it’s rare to have a romance with characters outside of their 30s. And I loved seeing these more mature characters have a second chance at love. Both were divorced and each had their issues, but they each deserved a chance to be happy.

Rose is a wonder. She is a teacher at a high school, practically an institution she’s been there for a long while and her long service means she has gotten to know her students and has a system. She has her very own classroom, she has gotten used to the lessons she gets to teach and she is incredibly happy. And Martin puts a wrinkle in that because he is messing with her system and he doesn’t even know it. He just knows he is at a new school hoping to be closer to his daughter and have a chance to teach history, a subject he loves. He is fresh off of a divorce and romance is the last thing on his mind. He arrives and is sharing Rose’s classroom and views her as a bit of an ice queen, but he sees beyond that. He knows there is more to it and he gets he’s interrupting her routine and soon learns he is stopping her from helping students who she loves.

I don’t want to reveal too much because this book is just so wonderful and I want you guys to experience it for yourselves. Martin was such a sweetheart. He is struggling to move on from a divorce where, towards the end, it was continually drilled home that he was boring and had no sense of humour. It brought up old demons and meeting Rose both brings that all back, but also helps him move forward and learn he is hilarious with his dry sense of humour. He is sharp and witty and he is such a good guy and sometimes in romance that can be boring, but he is anything but. And Rose? She is a woman who has been beaten down a lot. She has been told she isn’t good enough and told to change and she has worked harder than most to make it. She is thrown off by the arrival of Martin and some would hate him, but she can’t when it’s not his fault and he is a genuinely nice guy. They have some excellent banter as they get to know each other and when they hit bumps in the road? They talk and they are (mostly) mature.

My only grumble about this book? I didn’t get the US school system! Like, what are honors and AP classes? What’s the difference? Why was it so important Rose teach one to be able to get students onto the other? I didn’t get it and that almost threw me out of the book. But once the school talk was over, I was totally there for this book

Loved this Story of two middle aged teachers.finding real love and commitment for the first time. Great cast of secondary characters. Martin is smart shy and sensitive . Rose is strong but with a fragile heart. They ending is just precious. Great summer read.

Published on GoodReads on May 20, 2019 and on Amazon (release date)

A quote:
“How he could sit there, by Rosie’s side, holding her hand, full of so much love and kindness, she had no idea. He’d somehow managed to keep his heart open, even as the people he loved proceeded to damage it, one after the other.” (Loc. 2575, quote from ARC)

“Teach Me”, by Olivia Dade, is an excellent novel, a delightful read, featuring a yummy Beta hero in his forties, who is a bit nerd and shy, but not too much, a bit awkward but not exaggeratedly so. With that lean muscles and not obvious strength, a pair of fantastic blue eyes, and his less-than-ideal life and background, Martin is an awesome modern hero.
I just loved this story about two wholesome people, who are committed teachers, both wounded in so many ways, but resilient and fiercely devoted to teaching and to their students. They’re both broken and strong in many aspects but they’re so good (and get even stronger) together. And their connection and chemistry is sizzling.
Martin is such an attractive male, devoid of that stereotypical alphaness that we’re used to see in our fictional heroes. Being kind, compassionate, tender (the relationship with his daughter is beautifully written) makes him so human and realistic; his self-doubts seem so natural and his fascination with Rosie’s ‘magnificence’ is sweet and endearing. And how come this Beta hero is as strong as an alpha in the end?
I loved the secondary characters, too, and hope to read their stories in the future (and have the chance to meet Martin and Rosie again).

I loved everything about this book! Rose is a remarkable woman who has overcome a lot to become the person and teacher she is. Her relationship with the new teacher, Martin, starts out badly but ever the professional Rose is determined to make the best of the situation. Rose and Martin had abusive childhoods and unsatisfactory romantic relationships, but watching them overcome them, learn to trust and love again is magical. Great well- defined characters and an unusual but rewarding storyline kept me reading this book well into the night Excellent.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was definitely not was I expected. The cover tells you a story of a fun rom com that might be like any other book, but this book was much more!
It follows Rose Owens and Martin Krause. He is the new teacher in the history department and the reason why she lost one of her favorite classes. At least it appears like this at first. And that is where the story takes of.
The aspect that suprised me most is how fleshed out the characters are. They have a decent backstory and act relatable. I really felt for both parties, with their own struggles and non of it felt like
artificial, instead it was really organic. Reason for that might be that the protagonists are already in their 40s. At first it suprised me but I actually enjoyed having older characters to follow.

But the best thing about this book was the male protagonist empathy and view on feminism. It was really refreshing to have a "hero" that as not the typical Type-A personality you often see in this genre.

All in all this was a very enjoyable read!

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rose and Martin are in their 40s and both teach history in the same school. Rose has been working in the school for 20 years and is loved by many. Her district supervisor is not one of them. When a new teacher - Martin - is hired, he takes away some of Roses' most beloved classes. Rose wants to hate Martin for it, but she is aware how it is not his fault. Both have had rough lives and ultimately wish for someone to love them. The book explores how two people with scarred pasts find their way to each other.

I had not read Olivia Dade before so I went into this book without any expectations. I was pleasantly surprised about how much I liked this story. I thought the main characters were mature and I encountered a relationship very different from the usual romance's I read. There is no meet cute or insta love. There are real problems, hurt feelings and mature insights into the main character's thought processes.

Martin is a sweet man, he respects Rose a lot and admires her for her professionalism and character. Rose has been hurt and hides her feelings behind an icy veneer. However, she has a big heart and cares a lot about the people around her. Martin's love and support gives her the confidence to love again and trust people.

The plot was engaging and believable. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to read more from Olivia Dade.