Teaching Hope

Whitebridge #2

by Sienna Waters

It’s time to learn a lesson...

American high school teacher Ava Stanford has been betrayed in the worst way possible. So she takes a temporary job at a village school in England. She’s definitely not running away, but even she admits she’s got nothing to go home to.

School receptionist Hope Perkins is hardly at her peak. She’s a single mum, living with her own mother, and battling her ex for custody of little Alice. It’s not exactly the life she pictured in close-knit Whitebridge. Add in a new neighbor, who hates Hope’s cat, and things couldn’t get much worse.

But when a miscommunication results in child-allergic Ava teaching six-year-olds, it soon becomes clear that the only thing standing between her and disaster is Hope. And as irritating, annoying, and downright rude as Hope finds Ava, she soon starts to develop other feelings too.

Opposites definitely attract, and with cats galore, children running riot, interfering mothers and blue-haired bookstore owners, it’s hard to escape Whitebridge unscathed. Because once a town adopts you, you’re there for good. Providing Ava finally lets down her guard enough to let Hope in, that is.

Teaching Hope is a lesbian romance, part of the Whitebridge series, featuring a very happy ending, from bestselling Sapphic writer Sienna Waters, author of The Wrong Date, Crossing the Pond, and A Quiet Life.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Contemporary, Lesbian Romance, LGBT, Femme Femme, Queer

253 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2023

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read!
A much improved storyline in this 2nd book of the 'Whitebridge' chronicle. The couple (Ava & Hope) even had chemistry: not forced but well-developed.
Also, whoever did the beta/proofreading needs to get knocked upside their head --- the mixing-up of characters names while interacting -- readers might noticed it as just a minor oversight.
Recommended book!

[Lau ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I’m glad I reached the end, it was more about me being stubborn and refusing to dnf another sapphic romance than finally finding what I’ve been craving for months.


It started really hopeful: a romance between teachers that started with the wrong foot and happened to be neighbors and also very attracted to each other? It was *screaming* my name. To be honest, there is nothing bad with the book per se, it’s just that it didn’t gave me the💫feelings💫 I liked the single mom trope and loved that they were teachers in the same school and liked all the characters-the granny and the kid were so cute!-, but I’m so tired of generic romances that make me feel nothing that I couldn't really appreciate it. So, if you vibe with the author’s writing style, don’t mind me.

I’m starting to feel the problem is me. I’m always sure I’m in the mood for a light romance but, when I pick up one, they start good until I reach the 30% and I’m already bored about how superficial they feel. Maybe light romances are just not what I’m looking for after all.

rating: 2.5/5

[Simone11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 - 4 ⭐️

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the little village of Whitebridge, England, big enough for two antagonistic women? Sienna Waters says yes.
Her storyline has Hope Perkins, receptionist at the local school and single mom to young daughter Alice. American Ava Stanford, a high school teacher has crossed the pond to escape from a breakup. A mix-up and the high school teacher ends up with a class of 6 year old pupils. Good neighbors - bah humbug!! A cat, horrid ex, a wonderful side cast, lots of unasked for advice, snark, humor, the spark of attraction between the two leads and little cupid Alice makes this a light, fun read.
Who can resist the nosy charm of an English village in this typical Waters romance with a happy ending.

[Lyn Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyed this. The characters were so very real, as are all Sienna Waters’ characters. I always feel I know them and could call most of them friends. Hope and Ava are beautifully drawn and the scene-stealing kids in the class are hilarious. So… Teaching Hope has all the feel good elements, the very important ingredients of love and laughter.
Sienna Waters’ books never let you down and each book becomes a favourite. An added bonus was revisiting Whitebridge and catching up with some old friends.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical Sienna Waters book which is entertaining and follows the les-rom script almost to the page. And, bite me, I love it!

[Elske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sort-of enemies-to-lovers with a whole lot of palpable tension. Great MC chemistry! Likable supporting characters, cute kids, and a stubborn cat, round out this cast in the cozy little town of Whitebridge. Sienna Waters continues to write what translates to a warm embrace with her feel-good stories that just leave you satisfied. She paints a beautiful picture with the last paragraph before the epilogue and then wraps it all up with a tidy bow for our happily-ever-after enjoyment.
Ms. Waters writes relatable, flawed characters, whose strengths are growth, honesty, and mature communication skills.
This is my third Sienna Waters book this year. I am a fan!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enemies to lovers romance! Ava, an. American high school English teacher crosses the pond to start her life over after finding out her now ex cheated. Not realizing she will be teaching 6 yr olds. Hope is raising her daughter Alice with her mother's help and working as the receptionist at the local primary school. When Ava knocks on her door to complain about her cat pooing in her garden. Then she finds out that Ava is Alice's new teacher. This is such an entertaining book, with laugh out loud moments. 5 stars!

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute cute cute… that’s enough for me

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

What a good read this was. Sienna Waters usually writes good books but this was rather excellent. A relatable portrayal of romance and naughty cats that make things better. Definitely worth a read

[°• Lucy in the sky •° · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all, it just felt a little bit rushed

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice is the best character in this wsweetstory.

[Jessica Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
👩🏻‍🏫🐈👩‍👧☕🇺🇸

Another great sapphic romcom by Sienna Waters. She is an instant read for me because I know she will have an excellent book filled with age-gap, grumpy vs sunshine, forced proximity delight.

Teaching Hope is about an American teacher, Ava, who comes to England for an exchange teaching program. Here she meets Hope, her neighbour after a funny interaction involving Hope's cat and what she left in Ava's garden. What makes it funnier is when they realize that Ava will be a part of Hope's life whether they like it or not. Turns out Ava's teaching job includes teaching Hope's daughter, Alice, and Hope is the receptionist at the school. Life gets even better between the two when Ava needs an assistant in her class because she wasn't used to 6-year-old kids. having reached only high school students in the US. And of course, this person is Hope.

This book is filled with humor, tension, and a group of hilarious children. Alice is a great character on her own. The characters are amazing all around, no toxic characters, only those to help improve our two mains.

The sexual tension is clear from the start, both are attracted to each other even though they irritated each other at the start. It was great.

The writing was fantastic as always, and I will always recommend Sienna to those who read sapphic romances.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great start but lost interest throughout the book. It drawed me in but couldn't keep me hooked.
The way the story developed was not engaging nor anything unique. It was predictable. The plot was mainly the romance and there was nothing else, no other subplots or anything that could build tension or chemistry between the characters at all.
I felt that the romance development was stilted around the middle of the book. There was more running away than developing feelings, so i couldn't get into Jack and Dakota's romance.
Also, the side characters were just there, i guess, mostly just talking about their Jack and Dakota's relationship and nothing else. Which i find quite boring as there was nothing interesting going on.
Jack running away annoyed me. She kept coming back when Dakota called, and she kept pulling away.
The writing was decent enough and the sex scenes were great. But other than that, it wasn't an enjoyable read.
2.5 stars.

[MissAlice · Rating 5 out of 5]

“...life is full of infinite decisions made in the smallest amounts of time.”

Ava, Hope, and Alice are a heartwarming combination that you will fall in love with. Both MC's are scraping together a life after their partners turned their worlds upside down, and anytime two intrepid women meet over cat poop makes for a quintessential meet-cute.

From waking up on the wrong side of the litter box, to learning to wrangle and teach tiny humans, to a cozy village that embraces their eccentric members, and a school with heart that becomes a sanctuary for a restless soul.... it is a wonderful read. The steamy scenes, the silliness, the finding family- it all leaves you with the warm, fuzzy feels all the way through to the epilogue. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicky Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A HEA WlW charming romance with the two MC’s colliding a lot in the beginning, although they are not really enemies, but definitely they end as lovers.

The author has achieved a good balance between different ingredients: real characters, nice banter, credible storyline, dose of humor, sparks & sexual tension, moments of reflection with life metaphors, nice little village location. The result is a pleasant and delicious dish that leaves a good taste in your mouth, combining all the elements without any being left over or in excess.

I have liked that the side characters were well developed and contributed to the story, I specially loved Alice and all her interventions.

This is the first book I read from this author and won’t be the last for sure!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Ava Stanford takes a temporary job in a village school , she’s escaping a bad break up. The village of Whitebridge ,England. Hope Perkins ,a single mum to Alice is the school receptionist . She also loves her cat. Her new neighbour hates her cat…. When a miscommunication sees Ava with six year old children rather than high school to teach she’s in over her head. Her only hope is Hope. Hope can’t figure it but as much as this arrogant American is she can’t help developing deep rooted at her core feelings . Throw in a quirky village and mayhem and you have a fun , hilarious , romantic story . Good chemistry and scenes are great, so immersive and laugh out loud .

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Doug Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based in the little town of Whitebridge England, Teaching Hope brings together American high-school teacher Ava with local mother Hope. Their initial antagonism, fueled by Hope’s cat, soon gives way to more complicated things as their relationship develops. Beyond Hope’s daughter Alice there is a reasonable supporting cast, including a few characters from the first Whitebridge novel. This is an enjoyable tale full of the complications that might be expected when an exchange teacher, faced with teaching a class a decade younger than usual, falls for a single mom. The level of angst is consistent with events and the characters generally behave like adults. Overall, a good read with a satisfying conclusion.

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from England I have to say I appreciated and loved the wit and humour in this book. The phrases and words used were spot on with the characters staying true to the country they were from.
Sienna’s books are a must read for me and that’s because they are like a warm hug on a cold day. This one was no different. It was hilarious, the characters were engaging and the supporting characters were fun. This is up there in my top 10, I can’t narrow it down as the others are all joint numbers ones as is this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book from Ms Waters, who has a canny knack of writing the perfect combination of romance, aghast (not too much) and an interesting storyline.
This book is no different, American teacher Ava comes to England on a teacher exchange, to escape her ex. There is a miss-understanding with the school levels and High School teacher Ava ends up teaching primary school Childers. Totally out of her depth, the headteacher asks the school receptionist Hope, to help out in class. Hope and Ava initially don't get on, but eventually they come to respect each other and feelings develop. A really good read, which I am sure you will all enjoy.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm beginning to wonder if Whitebridge is the Bermuda Triangle for American lesbians. This story, 2nd in the series, also has an American MC who moves to the village, thinking it's a temporary arrangement, but ends up falling in love and staying. LOL!

The novel was an entertaining read with very little angst. Hope and Ava had chemistry and were great at communicating. Two things bugged me though: Hope's ex telling how her she should feel about their divorce because he 'technically' didn't cheat on her, and her acceptance that her unhappiness was self-inflicted; Alice(the daughter)'s voice which felt too mature for a 6 year old.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava comes to the UK on a teacher exchange expecting to teach high school and ends up with ks1. I laughed when she thought the school must be good if it was primary. SW seems to be able to write the humour of US UK misunderstanding so we’ll & without it seeming patronising.
Anyway lovely characters, with clear individuality and personality, cat poop and other fun and a HEA. What more does anyone want from a read? Totally recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Robin Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a slow burn!

Sienna Waters is a slow burn queen. This is no exception. What happens when a reciently divorcee from America quits her job as a high school teacher and takes a one year contract to teach in a small community in England? Well she meets another reciently divorced woman who works at said small town school! It takes a while for the two to trust each other. The American is offered a position at another high school back in America, she really doesn’t want to leave her new love interest but, …. The ending is worth the read!

[Susan Ferrante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Cute Love Story

A broken heart, job insecurity, no home but a best friend to help. Ava is at rock bottom after a breakup and takes a teaching job in England to try and pull herself together. The job is teaching six year olds, not high schoolers and Ava isn’t used to dealing with small children. Hope to the rescue. I thoroughly enjoyed how aggravation can lead to love.

[Emily G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a lovely read with engaging, well-written characters that had you rooting for them. I like it when a book has just enough angst while keeping you smiling and eager to see how the story unfolds - which is what this one did for me.
I definitely recommend this book.

[Kim Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an age gap slow burn that is sweet and funny. Ava and Hope ride the line between wanting to slap the other and to kiss. Alice, Hope's daughter, is so sweet and witty. Mix in the other kiddos and the crazy cat had me smiling all through the book. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carolyn G. Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Return to Whitebridge

Ava Stanford is an American high school teacher leaving for England to teach. Just one problem, they have her teaching six year old children in an elementary school. Her next door neighbour’s cat keeps using her back yard as her potty and is now her teacher’s assistant. Two divorced women trying to grab on to life. Great series.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, it was sweet and in a way, quite realistic. I mean, the characters make assumptions, but nothing that would go too far. But they also talk, they are honest and see the facts and reality of their lives and I really love them for that. The kids were a show apart, the cute little sods got me to crack quite a few laughs. A stress free read.

[Mrs. Jillian Tibble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, didn't won't to put it down.
A well put together story, although there was not a lot of steamy sexual encounters (which I like) it really didn't matter!
I have no negatives, strong characters. The story left me with a warm glow, I am not saying any more, other than I always enjoy this authors books