For most of her life, Eleanor Bailey has managed her emotions like a pro. Hence becoming a psychologist and helping other people manage theirs. But even the best professionals lose their cool from time to time. And it seems the time for Ellie, is now.
Ellie is experiencing what some might call a mid-life crisis. It seems being left at the altar and having to move back in with your sister can do that to a person. Not to mention having to take a job she considers demeaning to her academic abilities. Becoming Glendale High School’s new guidance counselor sounds less than ideal, especially when she’s just as irrationally grumpy and moody as the teenagers she has to meet with. Her plan? Just do the job and get back to her old life.
The old life where she struggles with anger issues and has no real friends? Seems like a good plan. Except for the fact that Glendale is irresistible. The lovable faculty, the quirky students, and the insanely attractive new boss, Benny. Ellie quickly finds her plans thwarted as they weasel their way into her heart with force. Caring deeply for the school and the people in it becomes inevitable.
As for Benny? He’s just your all-around good guy, with a pretty smile, and a pet cat. And he can’t seem to get enough of Ellie. The chemistry between them is undeniable and the thought of being more than coworkers is an appealing one. But there’s just one problem, it’s against the rules.
So what do they do? Will Ellie and Benny risk everything they've worked for to give love a chance? Or will fear of breaking the rules ruin everything and send Ellie running back to her old life?
THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE is probably the best feel-good book that I have ever read. First off, who hasn’t shipped two teachers?!? It’s like a grade school dream to see that come to life and this book fed that fantasy!
Did I get free therapy from this book? 100% yes. Did I relate to this characters anxiety and anger? 100% yes. It was so unreal how seen this book made me feel and how invested I was in the characters. Their problems and feelings just felt so dang real! It felt like a realistic hallmark movie.
This book didn’t have any spice, but the cuteness level was off the charts! I had such a fun time reading this and screaming over their extremely cute (and a little cheesy) romance!
I never felt uneasy during this book, like when you know they’re going to break up and so you just start wondering how someone is going to mess up. Nope. Not here. Just cute vibes and a fun little plot twist in the end! UGH! I loved this book!
Thank you Grayson for letting me read your work! I had such a great time in Glendale and can’t WAIT to read more from you!
Heartwarming, swoon-worthy, and funny characters, Grayson Long’s debut novel feels like coming home to fresh sheets after a long day. Thinking Out Loud is everything you want for your next read!
THIS BOOK IS MY NEW COMFORT READ! I went in knowing that I would love Benny and Ellie–I finished loving every character and wishing to read more about them. (I still laugh whenever I think about Mr. Geer bringing tomatoes/produce items all the time.) Kate is SO effortlessly funny, and I love her dedication to vegan products. 😂
I love it when the main characters in books are lovable and I love it even more when the people around them are equally as interesting as them! 💞
The book follows Ellie, who temporarily moved in with her sister after her fiancé left her at the altar, and accepted a temporary job as a guidance counselor. (Seeing a theme here? 👀 temporary…) I FREAKING LOVED ELLIE! Her thoughts and narrative hit so close to home I always feel called out 😃 i love the growth she had throughout the book and how much she changed while being a guidance counselor as Glendale. I also loved the growth of her students!
BENNY. HE’S. THE. ULTIMATE. BOOK. BOYFRIEND. I automatically smile whenever he’s around and mentioned! I love his love for his job, his closeness to everyone (especially with the students!), and the things he did for Ellie. It’s probably so nice to be loved by him. And, he’s THE cat dad! One thing is for sure, Frankie is living a better life than me 😌
Thank you Grayson for the arc!
tropes:
💞 workplace + forbidden romance 💞 no third act break up 💞 💞 community that will make it hard to leave 💞 he leans over the refrigerator 😙 💞 filipino rep! 💞 mental health rep! 💞 cat dad
I had so much fun writing this story and creating these characters! Ellie and Benny's story was formed from my own and the love someone gives me unconditionally. I hope those who read it feel seen and valued, because even when our minds run amuck, there is grace! 🤍
Thank you, Grayson, for the ARC copy of this debut novel! She has quickly become an auto buy author for me!!!
Thinking Out Loud was a lighthearted romantic comedy, tackling tough subjects with ease! The relationship between Ellie and Benny was so tender and genuine. Even with the obstacles, they had clear communication and expectations, such a breathe of fresh air these days! I loved the setting, the characters, and everything about this book. Read if you are wanting a quick and easy read, but still one that tugs at your heart and leaves you never wanting to leave Glendale!
Congrats Grayson on a job well done with this debut! I loved your writing style and the little details. Its hard to believe this is your FIRST publication. Can't wait to see what else you write!! :)
This is such a fun, refreshing read. I enjoyed the description and details within the pages. I appreciate the acknowledgment to mental health.. not in a negative light. Sweet encouraging story.
Grayson did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. She makes you feel like you are there with them. That is what I want in a book. To feel like i could be friends with the characters. I can’t wait to find out what happens next at Glendale!
Ellie and Benny’s story was so real and genuine. This book talks about some tough topics but, it is so beautifully written! I felt like I was right there in Glendale!
Thinking Out Loud is a sweet contemporary romance. Definitely will be reading this book again! I highly recommend Grayson’s book! Super excited for what comes next with this amazing Author! :)
Such a sweet book. I loved the mental health rep and the absolutely swoon worthy MMC. I adore a book with no third act breakup and I’m always here for a grumpy FMC.
An excellent debut! This book had so many things that I love.
First of all (as a teacher) the school setting was perfect. I loved the relationships between the teachers and the students, the teacher’s lounge interactions, and the found family that was at this school.
Grayson did an amazing job at addressing mental health in this story. Watching Ellie navigate her own health and the students was incredible!
Benny is so stinking cute. He is a perfect cinnamon roll hero. The Halloween party! Iykyk!
This was my first book set in a school and while it felt too close for comfort at times (being a teacher), I liked that I could relate to the setting! The relationships between all the teachers was super cute, I loved reading about the development of their friendships.
Throughout the whole book were mentions of anxiety, mental health, etc and I loved how it represented real life. Ellie’s relationship with the students was adorable, I love how she grew to acknowledge their individual struggles and how she helped them through their issues. They way they rallied around Ellie and Bennie was so cute 🥰
There were times where it was cheesy but for a contemporary romance, it is expected :) overall a super cute and quick read!
Thank you so much to Grayson Long for this advanced copy of Thinking Out Loud. Ellie and Benny were a really fun book couple to just fall for right from the start. Ellie in all her mental mess glory was such a breath of fresh air, because dang it if we don’t all feel like a mental mess sometimes. I loved the mental health representation in this book and the fact that the struggles she is going through are 1) totally realistic and 2) that she’s a mental health professional and still struggles! Because that’s real life too.
Then there’s freaking Benny! He is such a cinnamon roll, I mean he has a flipping naked cat with diabetes, and knows it’s absurd. He is so sweet and soft and gooey, but is also protective and loyal and kind and just an all around good guy.
The side characters, especially some of the students, were hilarious and fun. Very Stars Hollow Townie-esque and I loved it.
This is a workplace romance, with coworkers, forbidden romance, found family, small town, grumpyish FMC and a super sunshiny MMC!
This is a solid 3.5 stars for me, I really liked it.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 I was blessed enough to be able to beta read this book for Grayson, and what a wonderful first beta read for me it was! This was such a sweet and lighthearted romcom that also touched on some slightly heavier and relatable issues.
The mental health rep in here was very prevalent which I think is so important. Ellie is a mental health professional with her own issues, and I love that that was shown. I loved seeing her journey as she grew to love her students!
Benny is such an adorable, sweet, endearing character. His and Ellie’s love is just so tender and pure that you can’t help but root for it! And with them working together, it’s such an organic growth of getting to know each other and falling love.
As much as I love the romance, I think my absolute favorite parts of the book were the Ellie, Kate and Emma moments!
Speaking of side characters: TOP KNOTCH. The whole school was basically a side character, and the author did such an amazing job giving everyone such unique characteristics and storylines. They give the best found family vibes!
Read this book if you enjoy: A lighthearted romcom Closed-door romance Workplace romance Lovable side characters Small town feels A naked cat in a hoodie Mental health rep
“Thinking Out Loud” by Grayson Long (@authorgrlong) 3.5⭐ Rounded up to 4.
Genre: Closed door Contemporary Romance Format: eARC
Before I go any further, I must say that three stars is not a bad review for me. It's neutral. Not the best book, but not a bad book either. If you like fluffy romance, this is the book for you!
I’m a sucker for supporting a debut author, especially an Indie author and this one had so many great aspects. First of all, Ellie is a very funny character that made me laugh out loud several times. As someone with a BA in Psych, I felt that Grayson did a good job of understanding that when it came to writing Ellie.
Benny was a sweet, cinnamon roll character. I thought that his back story was good but I wish it was more developed.
Now, despite the good stuff, the ending felt rushed to me. It seemed that she didn’t spend as much time working through the details of it. There’s also really like only five locations depicted in the book and I felt that the location of the very last scene felt… off. I was expecting this book to be a little more raw than it was. I was expecting there to be more of a push and pull as Ellie worked through her emotions. A lighter anxiety rep might’ve been what Grayson was going for, and if so, that’s okay!
Ps – this book was gifted to me by the author, but this review is entirely honest and my own opinion.
This was such a great debut for Grayson Long with so many things to love!
First of all, mental health is a huge part of this story. As someone who deals with various mental health issues myself, I always appreciate that representation, especially when done well. This one certainly was that. I loved that Ellie was a mental health professional who knew all the tricks and such, and still found herself struggling... which I think is such a great reminder that mental illness can and does affect anyone. While taking on some heavier topics, it does still have enough comedic moments to balance it out well.
Ellie and Benny were just the sweetest together. Their attraction and chemistry are absolutely evident right away and I couldn't get enough of them together. I loved how Benny saw Ellie at her worst and loved every piece of her regardless. It was such a genuine and sweet romance!
While I loved the romance in the story, I have to say the sense of community really stuck out for me on this one. This is a workplace/teacher-principal romance and I really just loved everything about the school community. The staff had such a fun dynamic, and I loved seeing how Benny and Ellie really cared about the students. The side characters caught my attention nearly as much as the main characters, making the story all that much more enjoyable. I really hope to see more from these characters in future books!
If you love a good workplace romance, this is definitely one worth checking out.
Thinking Out Loud is a closed-door romance with kisses only. There is some minor language throughout the story.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Thanks Grayson for the Advanced Copy of your debut Novel! What a girl boss!!
I really enjoyed this romcom, the humor was right up my alley. Grayson created some really relatable characters and I appreciated the mental health rep in this book. I feel like she shown a light on a different side of MH that I haven’t read about yet.
Also, I love a good golden retriever/cinnamon roll MMC 😍
I also love when an author can write a “villain” character that can make me legit angry while reading. It made me feel things!
Well done on your debut, Grayson! I’m looking forward to reading more of your work 😄
Guys! If you are looking for a fun, cute small town, closed door, work place romance look no further! I absolutely loved this book!
Benny, the MMC is such a sweetheart and made me smile throughout the book! His relationship with the kids at the school was so beautiful, it made me teary on more that one occasion. I also love that his a cat man!!! 🤩
I related to Eleanor so much! And I’m not just referring to our name 😂 I absolutely loved her and witnessing her fall for Benny was everything 🫠 Also how she makes tool in her heart to love the kids she couldn’t stand at the start was so beautiful 🥲
I had such a great experience being on @authorglong beta team. She is a sweetheart and I can’t wait to see what other books you have in store 🩷
Overall I highly recommend this book! It comes out on November 1st!
Loved this debut novel. I think books set in schools are my new favourite read. Grumpy versus sunshine, forbidden workplace romance and a rather strange cat! This is well written and I’m looking forward to the next one from this author.
This book was sweet, heartfelt, and so wholesome. I absolutely loved the romance between our two MCs, Ellie and Benny, and the family they found in their school community.
This book has: •A workplace romance: Ellie is the new guidance counsellor at Glendale High, a school where Benny is the vice principal •Insta-love trope: This book very much had insta-love between the characters. Usually, this isn’t my favourite trope, but Benny was such a cinnamon roll hero that I found it sweet 🍰 •Found family trope: The community that Ellie found among her colleagues and students made my heart full! 💜 •Slow-burn + low angst
If you’re looking for a low-angst, workplace romance set in a small town, look no further! This was a charming debut, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She did great for her first book! She is really good at writing. The story itself is cheesy but it’s cute like a hallmark movie. She should be super proud of herself for this achievement!
I couldn't put it down! What a cute book! I loved Ellie's character development, and truly appreciated the sensitive way Long portrayed anxiety. I hope she writes more.
ARC Review: This was a sweet story with an adorable MMC. I really enjoyed the high school setting and the FMC’s growth as she learned how to care for the students.
If you don’t live in a small town you’ll want to after reading this book! And if you do…you’ll be wishing you were a character in this book! The characters are relatable, multidimensional and so wholesome! Such a great love story!!
This was a sweet story that took a little bit for me to get into, but I came to really love the way Ellie connected with the students. Her relationship with Benny was cute, and drama free.
I wanted to throttle her ex. The resolution to that relationship was abrupt, especially considering what a jerk move he pulled by showing up for the weekend. I wanted something more to happen there, but I’m not sure what.
All in all, a lovely Autumn vibe/small town/ school guidance counselor-vice-principal story.
This was such a fun read. I work in education so I could totally relate to a lot of the humor, especially with some of the quirky students. So fun. Light-hearted and enjoyable, and a great debut novel for Grayson Long. I look forward to her next book.