I really liked this romcom. The characters were great and the humor was absolutely delightful. I thought it was well written. Jack & Zoe both left lasting impressions on me. I would definitely highly recommend this one.

This was my first read from Kristen Bailey and it definitely won't be my last. I know romcoms have a bit of a reputation for being shallow or lacking depth, but Kristen Bailey has proven with this novel that her stories can be lighthearted and fun while still providing depth and excellent writing. I'll definitely check out more of her books

This is my second Bailey, really fascinated by sex ed so I was interested in this one, however this was a bit of a let down. The beginning was slow and predictable, I wish I was more motivated in reading it. Still enjoy her writing though and would read her other works!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

SCRUMPTIOUS AS HELLL I LOVE A GOOD ROMANCE AND THIS REALLY HIT THE SPOT FOR ME!! I’LL NEVER TOLERATE ANY HATE ON THIS!

Kristen Bailey never fails to make me laugh out loud! Textbook Romance is a hilarious and uplifting workplace romance is filled with witty banter, relatable characters, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The chemistry between the leads is fantastic, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a feel-good romantic comedy, this one is for you.

Thank you Net Galley, Kristen Bailey, and for an E-ARC copy of this book...way back in the summer

This was a cute British read about two people finding love after marital struggles/ending and discovering the need to adult more in the real world. This is an age gap romance which I don't often read but this book changed my opinions on significantly. Both of the characters were easy to fall in love with and enjoy their building chemistry.

This book is funny, well-written, and, most importantly, extremely relatable. The author writes about the heartbreak and betrayal with a lot of sensitivity, but also humour. This book is built on humour and raw emotion, and trust me, you must read it.

Steamy and page-turning rom-com about Zoe and Jack - when both of their paths cross and Zoe’s life has been turned upside down, they come together and become a perfect match.

A super sweet romance! A bit slow and at times I wanted the pacing to change a bit, but overall I really enjoyed the world building and the characters' perspectives. I loved also getting a teacher main character, because I also am a teacher and can be relating to some of the characters.

If you love a rom-com then you’ll love this one. Almost made it to 5 stars but up against some big books in my 5 star rating. Lovely though. One to pick up when you can and not leave on your TBR.

This book had workplace romance, single parent, age gap (44 & 29), dual POV and divorce. I was really looking forward to the development of the two main characters. I felt like there was a bit too much focus on the divorce. I wish there was more of Jack and Zoe's story together. However, what I did like was that there was a slow-burn and that neither of them just jumped into the relationship.

Many many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc. It was a cute read but honestly I wasn't a fan of the writing style, it took me some time to finally read this finish. Overall, a 3 🌟 read for me.

Textbook Romance had its charming moments, but it didn’t fully hook me. Zoe’s journey of rediscovery and her dynamic with Jack had potential, especially with the refreshing focus on love after heartbreak. The banter between the two could be captivating at times, but the chemistry didn’t quite shine through for me. It’s a slow read with some lovely highlights, but overall, it struggled to keep my attention.

4.25⭐️

I was really surprised with how funny this was, and it was refreshing to see the FMC slightly older and that sense of humor we develop the older we get. I laughed a lot with this book.

Zoe is in her early 40s with 2 teenage kids and having to build her life back up after finding out her husband has been cheating on her with one of her best friends.

Jack is a younger mutual friend (he's 29 turns 30 during the story) and after meeting originally at the wedding of mutual friends, jack ends up getting a substitute teacher job at the school Zoe teaches also due to mutual friends.

Jack & Zoe get wrapped up in this almost whirlwind romance but when it starts to become more, we see Zoe debating if not just the age difference but the fact she has teenage kids, a messy separation from her husband and could Jack really be happy with her.

Thank you NetGalley & Storm Publishing

“Text Book Romance” by Kristen Bailey

“I am not crushing, leave me alone!”

So declares Jack, one of the two central characters in the above titled romcom, in response to the gentle ribbing of his housemates.
I find myself being very much like Jack, except I’m old and grey and he isn’t. Also, we differ because the author describes Jack as having abs and looking good naked. We are, however, similar because we are both crushing on the same woman, Zoe Swift. This sweet, sensuous, sad femme fatale has me absolutely smitten too. However, unlike Jack, I am his Zoe and Zoe is my Jack. Agewise…if you get me?
(That line made sense to me when I thought to write it.)
Why do I love Zoe so?Why has she entirely captured my aged and jaded heart?
Well, that is down purely to the exceptional manner in which Kristen Bailey pens such beautiful characters. Ms. B’s creations rise effortlessly from the page to come alive in the reader’s mind; each one delightfully formed, full of vibrancy, brimming with passion and exuding the same fears and nursing the same doubts that beset us, her readers. Even the minor players in her books – the ones that help to propel the plot and who provide delicious background to the sumptious main course – are similarly well-crafted. Ms. Bailey’s writing seems effortless – although I know it won’t have been, for writing is never easy – and the reader is swept along, content at simply having to turn the page and enjoy the ride.
So, to Zoe Swift, the object of my crush. She is a woman whose confidence and sense of being is shattered when she discovers her husband’s infidelity. Zoe loses a little – actually, a lot – of herself as a result of this betrayal. She feels lost and broken, uncertain of herself and fearful for her children as they face the future as a shattered family unit.
My heart went out to Zoe and I couldn’t help but fall for her. This was made incredibly easy by Ms. Bailey’s portrayal of Zoe as a strikingly beautiful and elegant woman. Zoe is passionate and warm, funny and comic, loyal and fierce, vivacious yet guarded. Sadly, Zoe does not see any of this in herself. She is vulnerable, bruised and hurting, and feels adrift as her world has been sent spinning wildly out of control. The author imbues Zoe with worries and insecurities that I suspect we all feel at some stage in our lives; Can I trust again? Why wasn’t I enough? Am I worthy of love? Do I deserve happiness? How could anyone ever find me attractive?
It will come as very little surprise to anyone who has read my earlier reviews of Ms. B’s works to learn that I utterly adored this book. (If you have not read my reviews, then go take a look…..Go on. Do it now! (My site could really – and I mean, really – do with the traffic.)) This past weekend, I found myself at Bradford Literature Festival and, while munching on a lunchtime plate of gammon, egg and chips at a pub whose chain has cutlery within in their group name, my Kindle was propped in front of me and I was completely lost within the words of “Text Book Romance”. I was oblivious to the noise and clamour of the other diners and drinkers as I enjoyed the tale of Zoe and Jack amid the ever expanding Bailey-verse in which treasured characters from earlier books make cameo appearences. In this case, Ed and Mia from “Sex Ed” make a welcome return, as does Beth from the earlier – and much-loved by this particular reviewer – Callaghan Girls series. It is always a delight when much-loved favourites unexpectedly pop-up.
Then, later that same night, I was up until almost 2am reading to the conclusion of this latest treat from the accomplished pen of Ms. Bailey.
This book is entertaining, romantic and quite lovely. Some of the “bawdyness” of her earlier Callaghan Girls novels is absent – although, thankfully, Ms. B retains her trademark, and really rather excellent, use of fruity language – but this, as explained in her notes at the end of the book, is a result of Kristen’s personal and familial travails in recent months. Quite how she managed to write such comic lines at a low-ebb is astonishing.
This is just one reason why I love her work so much and, I hope, you will too.

Textbook Romance by Kristen Bailey is a delightful and heartfelt romantic comedy that is as witty as it is emotionally satisfying. From the moment Zoe Swift meets Jack Damon at a wedding, their chemistry is undeniable, but this isn’t your typical romance. Bailey skillfully blends humor with raw emotion, creating a story that feels fresh, authentic, and profoundly moving.

Zoe is a math teacher in her 40s, navigating the aftermath of her husband’s shocking betrayal and adjusting to life as a single mother of two teenage children. Enter Jack, a charming, fun-loving, and irresistibly sweet younger man who turns up as a supply teacher at her school. The age gap between them—Zoe is in her 40s, Jack is 29—becomes a central theme, and Bailey tackles this dynamic with such nuance and sensitivity. Zoe is wary, unsure if she's ready to open herself up to a relationship so different from what she envisioned, especially after the heartbreak of her divorce. But as their connection deepens, it’s clear that Jack brings out the best in her—helping her rediscover joy in the little things, from dancing and takeout to the unexpected thrill of a well-timed chicken emoji.

What makes this book shine is Bailey’s unmatched wit. She takes a common romance trope—the age-gap romance—and turns it on its head, making you root for these two very different characters as they navigate their personal struggles and growing attraction. Their chemistry is electric, but it’s the emotional depth that truly elevates this story. Zoe’s journey of healing after her divorce, and the messy dynamics with her ex and children, adds layers of complexity to the romance. The way Bailey addresses family, co-parenting, and the impact of betrayal is both tender and real.

Jack is the epitome of a "golden retriever" hero—kind, caring, and always putting others first. His ability to support Zoe without being overbearing, while also helping her embrace the joys of life again, is beautiful. Their relationship is not without its struggles, particularly with the weight of the age difference and their diverging life goals. But watching them figure out how to make it work is a journey you won’t want to put down.

Kristen Bailey has a remarkable ability to make her characters feel like real, relatable people, with flaws and strengths that make them so easy to love. She masterfully balances humor and heartache, creating a romance that is not only fun but also meaningful. The dynamic between Zoe and Jack, along with the emotional exploration of family, forgiveness, and self-discovery, is what makes this book stand out.

In short, this book is a delightful, funny, and deeply touching read that will have you rooting for Zoe and Jack every step of the way. It’s a perfect mix of heart, humor, and complexity, and I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone who loves romantic comedies with a little more substance.

after multiple attempts at reading- I have decided to DNF. I’m hoping to return to it in the future but right now i’m unable to connect with the author’s writing style.

4 1/2 stars

I think Kristen Bailey is very under-rated. I've read several of her books and have enjoyed them all. She's able to write characters with depth and storylines that haven't been overdone. There is a feeling of originality and freshness to her books.

Textbook Romance was an age gap with a different twist. Zoe and Jack meet at a wedding on a night that is one of Zoe's worst. When she sees him again the next time, it's when he starts working for her school as a supply teacher. From there, their friendship blossoms into more. But their worlds are different. Zoe is a newly single mom who is trying to balance raising her two children in a world that has been turned upside down. Meanwhile, Jack is younger and trying to decide what his next step in life will be. But they have one important thing in common - - they fall in love.

I would have liked a little more solid ending - - although I can also appreciate the way the author chose to end it.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: As always with this author's books, I found the audiobook for Textbook Romance to be quite good. The narration really helped me feel pulled into the story. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook. I voluntarily chose to read/listen to them and review them and the opinions contained within are my own.

Oh i LOVED this book!

Fabulous banter, and not just the MC's, the kids get in on it too! Without any spoilers, its got an act 1 break up, a wedding, a meet cute, and then they MC's meet again at the end of the summer when they end up teaching at the same school.

Its wholesome, fun, and has the ups and downs of navigating the post separation world of Zoe and her ex as they co parent their kids and as Zoe gets to know Jack, who has attracted more than just her attention!

Really fun read,

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!

Unfortunately, this book was quite a disappointment. The plot was stagnant, and the writing was less than enjoyable, with some bad jokes and lines. The characters and their relationships felt underdeveloped, not just the main couple but also the side characters. In terms of plot, it felt like there was no climax or tension. A lot of the book's tension was built on what a certain someone's reaction would be; however, we never get to read their response, and it never happens. It gets abandoned, and instead, we get a 3rd act breakup and a rushed ending.