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Teachers in Love #1
Michael Joseph Teacher of the Year.
Not as easy as ABC.
They were supposed to keep things casual. Who’d expect they’d be schooled in love?
Those who can, teach. Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there. And despite his anxiety, Marvin’s life is sweet. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is the Teacher of the Year Award. Not just for himself – his school needs him to win.
Returning from break, the New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when Illona walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide.
Sure, his students always come first, but he deserves to have a life outside the classroom, too, right?
As their friendship starts to deepen, Marvin realizes Olan has the potential to teach him things about love he never thought possible. But with the Teacher of the Year award and his school’s future on the line, now’s not the time for anything complicated.
Education has always been Marvin’s world. And he needs to keep a cool head if he wants to win the award and save his school. But will it be worth it if he loses Olan in the process?
With Olan’s past and Marvin’s present colliding, their experiment in love hangs in the balance. Marvin knows what he wants out of life. But now he’s forced to consider what he wants out of love.
Will Marvin chalk the relationship up to experience? Or can they revise their story into a textbook romance?
Teacher of the Year is a steamy open door friends-to-lovers gay romance novel that explores the balance between friends, family, career, and relationships while overcoming trauma and dealing with anxiety.
They were supposed to keep things casual. Who’d expect they’d be schooled in love?
Those who can, teach. Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there. And despite his anxiety, Marvin’s life is sweet. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is the Teacher of the Year Award. Not just for himself – his school needs him to win.
Returning from break, the New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when Illona walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide.
Sure, his students always come first, but he deserves to have a life outside the classroom, too, right?
As their friendship starts to deepen, Marvin realizes Olan has the potential to teach him things about love he never thought possible. But with the Teacher of the Year award and his school’s future on the line, now’s not the time for anything complicated.
Education has always been Marvin’s world. And he needs to keep a cool head if he wants to win the award and save his school. But will it be worth it if he loses Olan in the process?
With Olan’s past and Marvin’s present colliding, their experiment in love hangs in the balance. Marvin knows what he wants out of life. But now he’s forced to consider what he wants out of love.
Will Marvin chalk the relationship up to experience? Or can they revise their story into a textbook romance?
Teacher of the Year is a steamy open door friends-to-lovers gay romance novel that explores the balance between friends, family, career, and relationships while overcoming trauma and dealing with anxiety.
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2023
647 people are currently reading
20415 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Wardell
11 books830 followersI write steamy queer romance and romantic comedies. My goal is to make you laugh and turn you on. Often at the same time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,586 reviews
December 20, 2023
1.5/5
With all due respect, it was pretty terrible.
With all due respect, it was pretty terrible.
July 2, 2023
You know, I think sometimes books can be a little too sugary-sweet. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a good book, but I had a hard time staying interested. It might be because of the fact that I’ve never really had a good relationship with any of my elementary school teachers. I remember one of them used to hum the Jeopardy theme when she asked us questions to answer in front of the class. Why would anyone do that? I don’t know, general sadism, I guess. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I don’t exactly go out of my way to read books in the “this-teacher-saved-my-life” genre. As for the story, normally I’m the biggest fan of books where nothing happens, but man… nothing happens! Even the third-act break-up hardly has any bite! If I had to compare this to other things, I’d say that Teacher of the Year is like an almost nauseating blend between a holiday Hallmark movie and Crazy, Stupid, Love (a movie I don’t really like, but don’t worry, I’m not going to go on my “Crazy, Stupid, Love rant”). Oh, I didn’t even talk about the characters! Um, I never completely felt the connection between Olan and Marvin. They felt like coworkers for a lot of the story. I mean, even when they’re officially going steady, they still text in perfect sentences with perfect punctuation. That’s odd, no? A little familiarity would be nice. Objectively speaking, I do think this is a good book despite my hang-ups. Besides, most of my issues are personal rather than real story critique. I could definitely see how the story could even be important to a lot of people! And if nothing else, that alone makes this 100% worth the read. No regrets here!
"This is normally the place where I put a quote I liked from the book, but literally nothing stood out to me. Oh well."
"This is normally the place where I put a quote I liked from the book, but literally nothing stood out to me. Oh well."
May 7, 2023
I feel like such a grinch when a book everyone else is raving about doesn't work for me. Especially when it's a book about a dedicated teacher with a painful backstory and a Hotty McHottypants single dad with a painful now-story, I mean WHAT KIND OF MONSTER????
This kind. This kind of monster.
Look, this just . . . was not the book for me. The writing style and I did not vibe from the get-go, and I persisted thinking maybe it would mellow after a couple of chapters, but nope. There's a fine line between "earnest" and "twee," and for me this landed on the wrong side of it. Marvin teaches 5-year-olds, but that doesn't mean the character has to read like a walking Hallmark card. I was raised by a first-grade teacher, and let me tell you, they have Seen Things. Immune systems and wills of steel, those people.
Which is to say: I just couldn't with Marvin's POV -- particularly unfortunate in a single POV story -- and the supporting characters hit the wrong way too, and, ok, this last one is on me because it's literally the premise of the book, but I guess I have lingering Lorelei-Max trauma or something because the whole teacher-parent dynamic made me twitchy.
I can 100 percent see how this book works for so many people who are 100 percent not me. There's angst and issues and representation and great messaging. It's all so wholesome, and I'm not saying that in the gross, "wholesome means no smut"-way. Wholesomeness in and of itself isn't a problem, but there needs to be some depth to it. This just read too on-the-surface to me.
My cold, shriveled heart notwithstanding, I feel terrible dumping on a debut author. But a bad review in time saves nine. Sometimes the duty of an ARC reader is to keep my fellow grinch-monsters at bay.
I got an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is (obviously) my honest review I AM SORRY!!!
This kind. This kind of monster.
Look, this just . . . was not the book for me. The writing style and I did not vibe from the get-go, and I persisted thinking maybe it would mellow after a couple of chapters, but nope. There's a fine line between "earnest" and "twee," and for me this landed on the wrong side of it. Marvin teaches 5-year-olds, but that doesn't mean the character has to read like a walking Hallmark card. I was raised by a first-grade teacher, and let me tell you, they have Seen Things. Immune systems and wills of steel, those people.
Which is to say: I just couldn't with Marvin's POV -- particularly unfortunate in a single POV story -- and the supporting characters hit the wrong way too, and, ok, this last one is on me because it's literally the premise of the book, but I guess I have lingering Lorelei-Max trauma or something because the whole teacher-parent dynamic made me twitchy.
I can 100 percent see how this book works for so many people who are 100 percent not me. There's angst and issues and representation and great messaging. It's all so wholesome, and I'm not saying that in the gross, "wholesome means no smut"-way. Wholesomeness in and of itself isn't a problem, but there needs to be some depth to it. This just read too on-the-surface to me.
My cold, shriveled heart notwithstanding, I feel terrible dumping on a debut author. But a bad review in time saves nine. Sometimes the duty of an ARC reader is to keep my fellow grinch-monsters at bay.
I got an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is (obviously) my honest review I AM SORRY!!!
January 5, 2025
Like, it was fine overall.
Worth more than 2 stars, 3 feels generous though.
I don’t overly like children so I didn’t really connect with that element of the story, but I think I’ve read books with children who I loved and enjoyed way more than these kids? They just seemed like boring ass kids :/
I 👏 SAID 👏 WHAT 👏 I 👏 SAID 👏
I believe books create little movies in your head, and there was some sentences that created weird head cinema. Like… Marvin tonguing Olans tooth gap, it’s mentioned like 4 times at least and like… wth is he doing??? Like licking between olans teeth? Why you doing that??? Are you supposed to lick teeth when you kiss? Have I been doing it wrong? I just have this weird image of licking his tooth gap and it’s weird???? 😂😂😂😂
The plot was a lil flat, and even though the book wasn’t long it felt like it was just going on about nothing. The awards felt like 0.01% of the story right at the end.
The spice was written written well, but also, for one of MC’s having a non-chaotic bi awakening, he was way too chill about it all. Like he was just ready to get his ass ate right away…? 😂 there was no real stress or awakening, he was just like… well, men is my personality now 💅🏼 I guess that’s fine, but I just felt cringed at points in this book.
And the peak of the story, just made me wanna punch the MC in the face, we all have trauma, but the MC just acted like a wank about it. Having a hissy panic attack/fit because your not-even-boyfriend broke his sobriety A YEAR AGO, with one drink, boo hoo. He’s a good person and a good dad, and he’s working on himself, moved to start a new life and stay sober? and he’s nice to you and wants to help you heal, and you shit on him for having a drink a year ago???
GTFO OF HERE 🙄 stfu
This book was good if you wanna simple easy read where nothing happens and it has a good enough version of a happy ending
Worth more than 2 stars, 3 feels generous though.
I don’t overly like children so I didn’t really connect with that element of the story, but I think I’ve read books with children who I loved and enjoyed way more than these kids? They just seemed like boring ass kids :/
I 👏 SAID 👏 WHAT 👏 I 👏 SAID 👏
I believe books create little movies in your head, and there was some sentences that created weird head cinema. Like… Marvin tonguing Olans tooth gap, it’s mentioned like 4 times at least and like… wth is he doing??? Like licking between olans teeth? Why you doing that??? Are you supposed to lick teeth when you kiss? Have I been doing it wrong? I just have this weird image of licking his tooth gap and it’s weird???? 😂😂😂😂
The plot was a lil flat, and even though the book wasn’t long it felt like it was just going on about nothing. The awards felt like 0.01% of the story right at the end.
The spice was written written well, but also, for one of MC’s having a non-chaotic bi awakening, he was way too chill about it all. Like he was just ready to get his ass ate right away…? 😂 there was no real stress or awakening, he was just like… well, men is my personality now 💅🏼 I guess that’s fine, but I just felt cringed at points in this book.
And the peak of the story, just made me wanna punch the MC in the face, we all have trauma, but the MC just acted like a wank about it. Having a hissy panic attack/fit because your not-even-boyfriend broke his sobriety A YEAR AGO, with one drink, boo hoo. He’s a good person and a good dad, and he’s working on himself, moved to start a new life and stay sober? and he’s nice to you and wants to help you heal, and you shit on him for having a drink a year ago???
GTFO OF HERE 🙄 stfu
This book was good if you wanna simple easy read where nothing happens and it has a good enough version of a happy ending
June 24, 2023
this is like if jacob from abbott elementary had a romance book
May 20, 2023
Check out my review on Instagram.
Here we have a cute story of a kindergarten teacher (Marvin) and the single dad (Olan) of one of his students. The cover on this book is gorgeous btw!
There are some steamy moments in this book and they show up at interesting times. I really really loved when Marvin shows up at Olan's after the playground incident. There are also quite a few funny moments as well! I enjoyed Marvin's inner dialogue a lot and the cat chat.
Marvin has some difficulty dealing with past issues related to his mothers's alcoholism, which start to affect his relationship with Olan. I would have appreciated a bit more communication after this issue came up in order to reduce the amount of time apart towards the end of the book.
I loved all the side characters in this. Jill and her husband Nick were a favorite. And we cannot forget Gonzo!
*** I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion. ***
Here we have a cute story of a kindergarten teacher (Marvin) and the single dad (Olan) of one of his students. The cover on this book is gorgeous btw!
There are some steamy moments in this book and they show up at interesting times. I really really loved when Marvin shows up at Olan's after the playground incident. There are also quite a few funny moments as well! I enjoyed Marvin's inner dialogue a lot and the cat chat.
Marvin has some difficulty dealing with past issues related to his mothers's alcoholism, which start to affect his relationship with Olan. I would have appreciated a bit more communication after this issue came up in order to reduce the amount of time apart towards the end of the book.
I loved all the side characters in this. Jill and her husband Nick were a favorite. And we cannot forget Gonzo!
*** I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion. ***
May 11, 2023
''He's taught me that teaching is an act of love.''
Once in a while a beautiful story comes into your life and lights you up from the inside. You feel understood, and your heart fills with all kinds of emotions.
You might wonder, what the hell do you have in common with a gay, anxiety-ridden, Jewish kindergarten teacher that's dealing with the repercussions of having a recovering alcoholic parent and a shy, single dad, aerospace nerd that's exploring his sexuality, struggling with his own personal problems? Well, I'm obviously not all those things, but I am SOME of them. 😉
The book is a perfect combination of funny, spicy and sweet. One minute you're laughing, the next you're blushing and squirming, and then your heart is melting.
It takes skill to blend heavy topics such as recovery from emotional trauma, dealing with addiction, handling anxiety, exploring one's sexuality, with more light-hearted things like children shenanigans, silly jokes and let's not forget, sexy times. 😏 But you, Mr. Wardell, did such a marvelous job. Truly.
This review contains mild spoilers, mostly small character descriptions and situations, but no major plot spoilers have passed my fingers.
Oof, let me tell you, when I started reading this, I couldn't stop smiling and laughing, and to my horror, I even snorted a few times (that made me laugh even harder).
Marvin is just too adorable, too sweet and lovely, too damn broken, too relatable. He's dealing with anxiety, insecurities and fears triggered by emotional trauma, but he's trying to get his personal life on track even if his past relationship convinced him that he's better off alone (with his cuddly cat). I see you, Marvin, I know how that feels. Pushing worries away and ignoring them is my thing too. Until everything crashes down on my head and I scramble to survive the aftermath. So yes, Marvin, I'm with you, buddy. I get it. He also puts so much pressure on himself, always trying to do everything perfectly for other people and ignoring his own feelings and needs, it was heartbreaking, to be honest.
And then there's Olan. This beautiful, smart, sensitive, single dad, that's dealing with his fair share of problems, trying to settle in his newly discovered sexual identity. I loved how easily he accepts his sexuality and doesn't really need a label for it, I mean, when you know it's right, you just know.
Also, is there anything more attractive than a loving father taking care of his child? I mean, come on 🥺 those interactions between Olan and Illona were so heartwarming, throw Marvin in the mix and it's an 'ALL THE FEELS' fest in my chest.
Writing kids is such a difficult task, I think. But ah, these five year olds were everything, those classroom scenes turned me into a pile of moosh. Marvin's reactions to those kids and their silly antics were hilarious and so familiar. He is a wonderful teacher, he clearly loves those kids. 🥺 And damn, Illona is the most precious kid ever, how open-minded and open-hearted she is towards Marvin and Olan's relationship.
I loved how natural they were around each other. How tender and in sync. How real and (partly) honest. It's the most wonderful thing in the world when you find your person and everything clicks into place. There are some ups and downs in their relationship, valid concerns that quite honestly gutted me, because, well, I've experienced something similar, and Marvin's fear of going all in is so freaking familiar.
The side characters were wonderful. I particularly loved Jill, she's just the best. That conversation she has with Marvin, prompting him to not fuck things up was just brilliant. She's brilliant. One of my favourite quotes comes from her: 'And anyway, bisexual people exist. Don't be biphobic.'
Also, the conversation Marvin has with his mother at the end of the book kinda broke me, it was so honest and raw, and well, a huge step into Marvin's recovery, I think. He basically gets the closure he desperately needed.
And that ending!! That freaking perfect ending, without being cheesy or cliché, it made me tear up, because god damn it, two adults communicating and solving their problems like mature human beings was very satisfying.
Anyway, I've babbled enough. I just, ah, I loved this. That's the power of books, isn't it? They make you feel happy and giddy, hopeful and emotional af.
Thank you so much to the author for giving me a digital arc.
Once in a while a beautiful story comes into your life and lights you up from the inside. You feel understood, and your heart fills with all kinds of emotions.
You might wonder, what the hell do you have in common with a gay, anxiety-ridden, Jewish kindergarten teacher that's dealing with the repercussions of having a recovering alcoholic parent and a shy, single dad, aerospace nerd that's exploring his sexuality, struggling with his own personal problems? Well, I'm obviously not all those things, but I am SOME of them. 😉
The book is a perfect combination of funny, spicy and sweet. One minute you're laughing, the next you're blushing and squirming, and then your heart is melting.
It takes skill to blend heavy topics such as recovery from emotional trauma, dealing with addiction, handling anxiety, exploring one's sexuality, with more light-hearted things like children shenanigans, silly jokes and let's not forget, sexy times. 😏 But you, Mr. Wardell, did such a marvelous job. Truly.
This review contains mild spoilers, mostly small character descriptions and situations, but no major plot spoilers have passed my fingers.
Oof, let me tell you, when I started reading this, I couldn't stop smiling and laughing, and to my horror, I even snorted a few times (that made me laugh even harder).
Marvin is just too adorable, too sweet and lovely, too damn broken, too relatable. He's dealing with anxiety, insecurities and fears triggered by emotional trauma, but he's trying to get his personal life on track even if his past relationship convinced him that he's better off alone (with his cuddly cat). I see you, Marvin, I know how that feels. Pushing worries away and ignoring them is my thing too. Until everything crashes down on my head and I scramble to survive the aftermath. So yes, Marvin, I'm with you, buddy. I get it. He also puts so much pressure on himself, always trying to do everything perfectly for other people and ignoring his own feelings and needs, it was heartbreaking, to be honest.
And then there's Olan. This beautiful, smart, sensitive, single dad, that's dealing with his fair share of problems, trying to settle in his newly discovered sexual identity. I loved how easily he accepts his sexuality and doesn't really need a label for it, I mean, when you know it's right, you just know.
Also, is there anything more attractive than a loving father taking care of his child? I mean, come on 🥺 those interactions between Olan and Illona were so heartwarming, throw Marvin in the mix and it's an 'ALL THE FEELS' fest in my chest.
Writing kids is such a difficult task, I think. But ah, these five year olds were everything, those classroom scenes turned me into a pile of moosh. Marvin's reactions to those kids and their silly antics were hilarious and so familiar. He is a wonderful teacher, he clearly loves those kids. 🥺 And damn, Illona is the most precious kid ever, how open-minded and open-hearted she is towards Marvin and Olan's relationship.
I loved how natural they were around each other. How tender and in sync. How real and (partly) honest. It's the most wonderful thing in the world when you find your person and everything clicks into place. There are some ups and downs in their relationship, valid concerns that quite honestly gutted me, because, well, I've experienced something similar, and Marvin's fear of going all in is so freaking familiar.
The side characters were wonderful. I particularly loved Jill, she's just the best. That conversation she has with Marvin, prompting him to not fuck things up was just brilliant. She's brilliant. One of my favourite quotes comes from her: 'And anyway, bisexual people exist. Don't be biphobic.'
Also, the conversation Marvin has with his mother at the end of the book kinda broke me, it was so honest and raw, and well, a huge step into Marvin's recovery, I think. He basically gets the closure he desperately needed.
And that ending!! That freaking perfect ending, without being cheesy or cliché, it made me tear up, because god damn it, two adults communicating and solving their problems like mature human beings was very satisfying.
Anyway, I've babbled enough. I just, ah, I loved this. That's the power of books, isn't it? They make you feel happy and giddy, hopeful and emotional af.
Thank you so much to the author for giving me a digital arc.
June 4, 2024
Buckle up because this book was a RIDE and not a good one.
First of all, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THIS BOOK? I was gearing up for a cute, wholesome book but I got none of that. The gorgeous cover lied to me. This thing made me want DNF so bad, the only reason I didn't was: one, my money I spent on this thing and two, I was buddy reading and hating on this book with my book bestie made the experience one I could almost bare.
My problems with this book:(that I can remember cause this entire book was...something else)
1. Marvin. He was so annoying and so selfish.
2. I should've known I'd hate this book when Marvin referred to his hair as a rat's nest constantly. Dude could write entire sonnets about how beautiful Olan and Illona's hair was but he hated his own with a passion? They all got curly hair. What are you trying to say? I'm trying to understand his logic about that. IDK that didn't sit right with me.
3. They spent the entire time telling me how much Marvin and Olan liked/loved each other but they never showed me that. These two barely talked. And when they did it was soooo cringy I couldn't stand it. Every time their relationship progressed further it felt weird and rushed to me.
4. Marvin's weird obsession with the gap between Olan's two front teeth. What was that about? Dude literally flossed Olan with his tongue on multiple occasions. It was so weird and so off-putting.
5. I didn't know that not wanting to play football as a kid was a clear indicator of one's sexuality.
6. The single POV. With the way Olan was handled I got really suspicious as to why we never got a dual POV. Olan was way more interesting than Marvin. Dude was Black, an engineer and a millionaire. He moved from California with his daughter after his divorce because he had a relapse(tw: alcohol) for overworking himself. Then, after being into women his entire life he starts to develop feelings for his daughter's male teacher. And we never got to see any of that through Olan's eyes, WHY? Cause I'd like to know.
7. This book made no sense but what didn't really make sense to me was Olan's daughter trying to set her dad with her male teacher from the start of the book, asking about Marvin's relationship status, making them hold hands. Like, can she see the future? She's never seen her dad with another man before(dude literally just divorced her mom yesterday),and Olan himself figured he liked men a while later in the book. It really made no sense. How did she know?
8. WHY WAS THIS DUDE EATING OLAN'S HAIR? He literally said Olan's hair looks like cotton candy, let me take a bite. And he did.
9. Not Marvin making it all about himself when Jill ended in the hospital? I know she asked what was going on but that was not the time. He could've waited. And after he lied to her? FOR NO REASON? Yeah...we could've had that conversation another time
10. Now these questions are for the author: After all the unresolved trauma and issues Marvin has because his mom was an alcoholic his entire childhood, why did you decide to make Olan one? He's in recovery but still...why? Why after Olan had a relapse we thought it was a great idea to move him and his daughter away from the kid's mom? Why after sharing Jill's struggle with infertility did you decide to scare us into believing she would lose the kid again? WHY?!!!
11.And lastly. WHY did Marvin not go to therapy ON PAGE?!! I'm not saying that Marvin's actions in this book weren't justified but everyone suffered cause of them, even him. I'm not saying: forgive and forget. I'm not saying: move on. Much less: get over it. What I'm saying is: work on it!! Everyone (his mom and Olan) is working on their stuff but he is not and he keeps throwing it in their faces like...why? He was so selfish and toxic I couldn't stand him. Why did it take him so long to realize he needed therapy when his mom has been working on her sobriety for years, as soon as she hit rock bottom, Olan too. Olan really didn't need to suffer for Marvin's childhood like that. Again, I get it but...no.
First of all, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THIS BOOK? I was gearing up for a cute, wholesome book but I got none of that. The gorgeous cover lied to me. This thing made me want DNF so bad, the only reason I didn't was: one, my money I spent on this thing and two, I was buddy reading and hating on this book with my book bestie made the experience one I could almost bare.
My problems with this book:(that I can remember cause this entire book was...something else)
1. Marvin. He was so annoying and so selfish.
2. I should've known I'd hate this book when Marvin referred to his hair as a rat's nest constantly. Dude could write entire sonnets about how beautiful Olan and Illona's hair was but he hated his own with a passion? They all got curly hair. What are you trying to say? I'm trying to understand his logic about that. IDK that didn't sit right with me.
3. They spent the entire time telling me how much Marvin and Olan liked/loved each other but they never showed me that. These two barely talked. And when they did it was soooo cringy I couldn't stand it. Every time their relationship progressed further it felt weird and rushed to me.
4. Marvin's weird obsession with the gap between Olan's two front teeth. What was that about? Dude literally flossed Olan with his tongue on multiple occasions. It was so weird and so off-putting.
5. I didn't know that not wanting to play football as a kid was a clear indicator of one's sexuality.
6. The single POV. With the way Olan was handled I got really suspicious as to why we never got a dual POV. Olan was way more interesting than Marvin. Dude was Black, an engineer and a millionaire. He moved from California with his daughter after his divorce because he had a relapse(tw: alcohol) for overworking himself. Then, after being into women his entire life he starts to develop feelings for his daughter's male teacher. And we never got to see any of that through Olan's eyes, WHY? Cause I'd like to know.
7. This book made no sense but what didn't really make sense to me was Olan's daughter trying to set her dad with her male teacher from the start of the book, asking about Marvin's relationship status, making them hold hands. Like, can she see the future? She's never seen her dad with another man before(dude literally just divorced her mom yesterday),and Olan himself figured he liked men a while later in the book. It really made no sense. How did she know?
8. WHY WAS THIS DUDE EATING OLAN'S HAIR? He literally said Olan's hair looks like cotton candy, let me take a bite. And he did.
9. Not Marvin making it all about himself when Jill ended in the hospital? I know she asked what was going on but that was not the time. He could've waited. And after he lied to her? FOR NO REASON? Yeah...we could've had that conversation another time
10. Now these questions are for the author: After all the unresolved trauma and issues Marvin has because his mom was an alcoholic his entire childhood, why did you decide to make Olan one? He's in recovery but still...why? Why after Olan had a relapse we thought it was a great idea to move him and his daughter away from the kid's mom? Why after sharing Jill's struggle with infertility did you decide to scare us into believing she would lose the kid again? WHY?!!!
11.And lastly. WHY did Marvin not go to therapy ON PAGE?!! I'm not saying that Marvin's actions in this book weren't justified but everyone suffered cause of them, even him. I'm not saying: forgive and forget. I'm not saying: move on. Much less: get over it. What I'm saying is: work on it!! Everyone (his mom and Olan) is working on their stuff but he is not and he keeps throwing it in their faces like...why? He was so selfish and toxic I couldn't stand him. Why did it take him so long to realize he needed therapy when his mom has been working on her sobriety for years, as soon as she hit rock bottom, Olan too. Olan really didn't need to suffer for Marvin's childhood like that. Again, I get it but...no.
November 22, 2025
I hate that I didn't like Teacher of the Year, and it kills me to write a bad review, but I had to force myself to finish this book when all I wanted to do was DNF it.
Backstory: I met this author at a book convention, and he was sooo lovely. I was convinced I would love Teacher of the Year just from talking to him, and I bought a paperback copy, got it signed, and pre-requested the ARC of Husband of the Year (which I got approved for).
Friends, I did not like Teacher of the Year after all.
It isn't that this book is a terrible or offensive book, but you know when you meet someone and you have zero chemistry and you think, "we will never be friends" to yourself? That's how I feel about this book.
I found the attempts at humor to be annoying and didn't land (humor is so subjective), and the chemistry was severely lacking. I truly didn't even get how the two MCs ended up together. Plus, Marvin simply bothered me at times, especially since I felt like he self-sabotaged his relationship with Olan.
Now, I also have something that annoyed me about this book, and I don't know if it annoyed anyone else since no one else mentioned it in their reviews that I saw, but I positively hated how the author kept trying to emphasize that Marvin was Jewish with inserting Yiddish words everywhere in italics. I'm someone that uses a good amount of Yiddish in my casual conversations, but they have made their way into the English lexicon, and making them italics and using way too many of them just seemed like it took me out of whatever I was reading. It would have been more organic to just write the word in normal typeface. Also, some of the phrasing seemed like it was trying way too hard to sound "Jewish," almost to an offensive level. Like saying that someone was the "schmear to my bagel" was something that is almost like making fun of being Jewish, if that makes sense. I have to assume the author is also Jewish, but I kept stopping and mentally groaning as I was reading.
Yes, this book was sweet and well meaning, but I can tell I will have a hard time clicking with this author's writing. I will give the next book a go, but I just don't know if it's a good fit for me and my personal reading tastes.
goodreads|instagram
Backstory: I met this author at a book convention, and he was sooo lovely. I was convinced I would love Teacher of the Year just from talking to him, and I bought a paperback copy, got it signed, and pre-requested the ARC of Husband of the Year (which I got approved for).
Friends, I did not like Teacher of the Year after all.
It isn't that this book is a terrible or offensive book, but you know when you meet someone and you have zero chemistry and you think, "we will never be friends" to yourself? That's how I feel about this book.
I found the attempts at humor to be annoying and didn't land (humor is so subjective), and the chemistry was severely lacking. I truly didn't even get how the two MCs ended up together. Plus, Marvin simply bothered me at times, especially since I felt like he self-sabotaged his relationship with Olan.
Now, I also have something that annoyed me about this book, and I don't know if it annoyed anyone else since no one else mentioned it in their reviews that I saw, but I positively hated how the author kept trying to emphasize that Marvin was Jewish with inserting Yiddish words everywhere in italics. I'm someone that uses a good amount of Yiddish in my casual conversations, but they have made their way into the English lexicon, and making them italics and using way too many of them just seemed like it took me out of whatever I was reading. It would have been more organic to just write the word in normal typeface. Also, some of the phrasing seemed like it was trying way too hard to sound "Jewish," almost to an offensive level. Like saying that someone was the "schmear to my bagel" was something that is almost like making fun of being Jewish, if that makes sense. I have to assume the author is also Jewish, but I kept stopping and mentally groaning as I was reading.
Yes, this book was sweet and well meaning, but I can tell I will have a hard time clicking with this author's writing. I will give the next book a go, but I just don't know if it's a good fit for me and my personal reading tastes.
goodreads|instagram
June 1, 2023
fellas is it gay to not play football?
April 10, 2023
It’s not an overstatement to say this book belongs with favorites like The Charm Offensive and (in my unpopular opinion) does just about everything better than Red, White, and Royal Blue.
Marvin’s passion for teaching, education, and his kids is beautiful. Marvin as a character is flawed, authentic, and admirable. He is easy to love and his experience with anxiety and ADHD was real and poignant.
Olan was a wonderful character, attractive and intriguing and not the overtired “perfect specimen” swooping in to give Marvin purpose or definition as a person.
Marvin and Olan’s chemistry and attraction for each other is magnetic, crackling, and soaring. I loved so much that Marvin and Olan fell in love with each other’s quirks and imperfections. Their flirtation was adorable and their conversations deep and down to earth. It was refreshing to experience their attraction for each other and then seeing them decide to slow down and get to know each other.
The steam and spice was otherworldly and anything but gratuitous, and demonstrated Marvin and Olan’s growing affection and deepening bond for each other and manages to avoid the exhausting need for these scenes to perpetuate stereotypes of a perfect experience. Their physical connection is urgent, passionate, and simmering with tenderness and a deep desire for each other worlds beyond the superficial.
I also loved how Marvin and Olan are committed to each other but resolve to stay committed to themselves, continuing to take care of themselves and work on themselves to be the best for each other and themselves, to not lose themselves in their relationship or give up their individuality. I also loved Marvin’s growth in his relationship with his mom and his supportive friends. This book was also funny and offered a unique perspective from a Jewish main character which I loved getting to see pieces of.
I could go on and on. This book has stunning character development, lovable characters, steam and spice in a league of its own, and is a love letter to individuality, passion, personal growth, and kindness. I’m already looking forward to reading this again and it will have a spot on my favorites shelf as I eagerly anticipate more from this author.
Marvin’s passion for teaching, education, and his kids is beautiful. Marvin as a character is flawed, authentic, and admirable. He is easy to love and his experience with anxiety and ADHD was real and poignant.
Olan was a wonderful character, attractive and intriguing and not the overtired “perfect specimen” swooping in to give Marvin purpose or definition as a person.
Marvin and Olan’s chemistry and attraction for each other is magnetic, crackling, and soaring. I loved so much that Marvin and Olan fell in love with each other’s quirks and imperfections. Their flirtation was adorable and their conversations deep and down to earth. It was refreshing to experience their attraction for each other and then seeing them decide to slow down and get to know each other.
The steam and spice was otherworldly and anything but gratuitous, and demonstrated Marvin and Olan’s growing affection and deepening bond for each other and manages to avoid the exhausting need for these scenes to perpetuate stereotypes of a perfect experience. Their physical connection is urgent, passionate, and simmering with tenderness and a deep desire for each other worlds beyond the superficial.
I also loved how Marvin and Olan are committed to each other but resolve to stay committed to themselves, continuing to take care of themselves and work on themselves to be the best for each other and themselves, to not lose themselves in their relationship or give up their individuality. I also loved Marvin’s growth in his relationship with his mom and his supportive friends. This book was also funny and offered a unique perspective from a Jewish main character which I loved getting to see pieces of.
I could go on and on. This book has stunning character development, lovable characters, steam and spice in a league of its own, and is a love letter to individuality, passion, personal growth, and kindness. I’m already looking forward to reading this again and it will have a spot on my favorites shelf as I eagerly anticipate more from this author.
August 23, 2023
for all my 911 brainrot homies out there, this reads like a buddie au (complimentary)
September 18, 2023
3.5 stars
Teacher of the Year is a low angst romance between a teacher and a parent. It was cute and fun but it left me wanting more.
Marvin is a kindergarten teacher who's been nominated for a teacher of the year award. There's extra pressure as his school needs this win to attract more funding.
Olan is new to the area and his daughter, Illona, has just started in Marvin's class. Olan and Marvin's friendship blossoms over a series of texts. Developing into something more as the two get closer.
Their friends-to-lovers romance was great except for the third act conflict, which was frustrating. But the resolution was super adorable so that made up for it.
Teacher of the Year is a low angst romance between a teacher and a parent. It was cute and fun but it left me wanting more.
Marvin is a kindergarten teacher who's been nominated for a teacher of the year award. There's extra pressure as his school needs this win to attract more funding.
Olan is new to the area and his daughter, Illona, has just started in Marvin's class. Olan and Marvin's friendship blossoms over a series of texts. Developing into something more as the two get closer.
Their friends-to-lovers romance was great except for the third act conflict, which was frustrating. But the resolution was super adorable so that made up for it.
June 3, 2023
i wanted to love this one so bad 😭 i’m going to break down the details of my review because i have a lot to say!
the cover art drew me in and i got the pre-order gifts of all the art which are so cute and well done!! i had never seen a jewish x Black queer romance and was excited for the representation. however, the author unfortunately fell into the stereotype of oversexualizing the Black love interest. gross skin descriptions, too much focus on his hair type (and comparisons between each others curls? not the same thing?), even mention of gnawing on his hair like cotton candy. it made me feel gross, white people shouldn’t write Black love interests if they’re gonna be weird about it.
this book contains a decent amount of smut. however, the smut is hardly enjoyable as it is written with the prose of a wattpad author and the vocabulary of a middle schooler. i know that’s harsh, but that’s the only way i can describe it. things like “holy crap!” and “slurp” and “gorgeous cock” are thrown around, there’s a strange forcefulness behind some of the scenes, some scenes are skipped over entirely while others have way too much detail.
and this leads to my biggest issue with the book: why would you write a book 75% about kindergarteners and then put in graphic sex scenes? the contrast is STARK and mortifying at times. we should not be getting boners in rooms full of children. we should not be fucking in the school. when a little girl says “daddy does it much rougher” we should not be winking seductively.
i hated the children aspect of this book, i guess i should’ve expected it from the title but i just never expected this. i found myself skipping tens of pages because he went on and on about some random child in his classroom that i don’t know or need to know. there were actually a ton of characters in this that i didn’t feel the need to know!! jill?? why was she pregnant?? why did we meet those people on the island why did we flirt with jill’s husband why did i meet those mr ali and whoever who by the way we had to say was Black just to get in another rep card.
the pacing was painful, i almost quit several times, there’s too little plot, too many tropes that don’t even fit into the story (a random hurt-comfort scene where he isn’t even hurt, he just gets bled on by a child and then runs to marvin for sex?), too little actual chemistry between the two characters.
read several comments saying this should’ve been dual pov and i agree. i felt nothing between them and therefore didn’t care when things actually did happen.
finally, the ending. hey man what the fuck 🤩 relying on our MOMMY to save the day?? maybe it’s the estranged child in me but why the fuck is he so obsessed with his mom. idk i hated the ending i hated the artificial fight they had just to cause tension in the last 10 pages. marvin whined and went home to his cat and then didn’t change anything and then called his mom and she said go get him and he got him and then they lived happily ever after and moved to the fucking ocean. cool! so fucking boring such a waste of my time actually lmao the plot is infuriating whyyyyyyyyyy is that the plot
i originally was going to rate this two but am
going down to one because i’m actually so mad this turned out to be a flop.
i think the writer has potential, there’s clearly a passion and a talent for writing but there needs to be more fine tuning in the editing process or something. read some queer classics, work on grammar and vocabulary (the grammar and punctuation of this book was nearly my last straw), and stick to white characters or do better research. and don’t put kids in sex books! do one or the other!
and now: a list of the worst quotes
“blood rushes to my cock like a mighty wind”
“Omigod”
“deep ebony skin” “khaki skin”
“The perfect Goldi-cock — not too big, not too small, but just right.”
“I spread his cheeks wide. My damn huge Jewish nose gets in the way.”
“delectable ass”
“gorgeous hole”
“Gulp.”
“my heart falls through my bootyhole”
okay i feel mean ummmm i’m sure this book would be good for someone who’s looking for a very plot-light contemporary romance read. i’m sure the jewish representation in this is better than the black. and some of the fluff was nice. and the art is beautiful. those are my nice comments :) thank you
the cover art drew me in and i got the pre-order gifts of all the art which are so cute and well done!! i had never seen a jewish x Black queer romance and was excited for the representation. however, the author unfortunately fell into the stereotype of oversexualizing the Black love interest. gross skin descriptions, too much focus on his hair type (and comparisons between each others curls? not the same thing?), even mention of gnawing on his hair like cotton candy. it made me feel gross, white people shouldn’t write Black love interests if they’re gonna be weird about it.
this book contains a decent amount of smut. however, the smut is hardly enjoyable as it is written with the prose of a wattpad author and the vocabulary of a middle schooler. i know that’s harsh, but that’s the only way i can describe it. things like “holy crap!” and “slurp” and “gorgeous cock” are thrown around, there’s a strange forcefulness behind some of the scenes, some scenes are skipped over entirely while others have way too much detail.
and this leads to my biggest issue with the book: why would you write a book 75% about kindergarteners and then put in graphic sex scenes? the contrast is STARK and mortifying at times. we should not be getting boners in rooms full of children. we should not be fucking in the school. when a little girl says “daddy does it much rougher” we should not be winking seductively.
i hated the children aspect of this book, i guess i should’ve expected it from the title but i just never expected this. i found myself skipping tens of pages because he went on and on about some random child in his classroom that i don’t know or need to know. there were actually a ton of characters in this that i didn’t feel the need to know!! jill?? why was she pregnant?? why did we meet those people on the island why did we flirt with jill’s husband why did i meet those mr ali and whoever who by the way we had to say was Black just to get in another rep card.
the pacing was painful, i almost quit several times, there’s too little plot, too many tropes that don’t even fit into the story (a random hurt-comfort scene where he isn’t even hurt, he just gets bled on by a child and then runs to marvin for sex?), too little actual chemistry between the two characters.
read several comments saying this should’ve been dual pov and i agree. i felt nothing between them and therefore didn’t care when things actually did happen.
finally, the ending. hey man what the fuck 🤩 relying on our MOMMY to save the day?? maybe it’s the estranged child in me but why the fuck is he so obsessed with his mom. idk i hated the ending i hated the artificial fight they had just to cause tension in the last 10 pages. marvin whined and went home to his cat and then didn’t change anything and then called his mom and she said go get him and he got him and then they lived happily ever after and moved to the fucking ocean. cool! so fucking boring such a waste of my time actually lmao the plot is infuriating whyyyyyyyyyy is that the plot
i originally was going to rate this two but am
going down to one because i’m actually so mad this turned out to be a flop.
i think the writer has potential, there’s clearly a passion and a talent for writing but there needs to be more fine tuning in the editing process or something. read some queer classics, work on grammar and vocabulary (the grammar and punctuation of this book was nearly my last straw), and stick to white characters or do better research. and don’t put kids in sex books! do one or the other!
and now: a list of the worst quotes
“blood rushes to my cock like a mighty wind”
“Omigod”
“deep ebony skin” “khaki skin”
“The perfect Goldi-cock — not too big, not too small, but just right.”
“I spread his cheeks wide. My damn huge Jewish nose gets in the way.”
“delectable ass”
“gorgeous hole”
“Gulp.”
“my heart falls through my bootyhole”
okay i feel mean ummmm i’m sure this book would be good for someone who’s looking for a very plot-light contemporary romance read. i’m sure the jewish representation in this is better than the black. and some of the fluff was nice. and the art is beautiful. those are my nice comments :) thank you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2023
DNF @ 55%
I really expected to love this.
I found it dry; I didn’t find the relationships between the MMCs or the plot compelling.
It’s also too saccharine for my tastes.
I’ve waited months to call it, hoping that perhaps I’d feel pulled to continue once the mood arose. That ain’t happening 🫤
I really expected to love this.
I found it dry; I didn’t find the relationships between the MMCs or the plot compelling.
It’s also too saccharine for my tastes.
I’ve waited months to call it, hoping that perhaps I’d feel pulled to continue once the mood arose. That ain’t happening 🫤
February 7, 2024
Y’all said
Teacher of the Year
by M.A. Wardell (2023) was great, and you were absolutely right! I just adored everything about this spicy rom-com. ★★★★✬ 4.5/5
Marvin and Olan are hard to resist and undeniably perfect for each other - it was a joy to see them develop, with relatable humor and antidotes about teaching kindergartners. But it’s not all fluff, this story did an amazing job tackling and working through some tough issues with anxiety, addiction, trauma, and recovery. At first I didn’t like some of Marvin’s flight responses to issues but, after thinking on it for a while, it made him feel more human and showed his flaws.
I also appreciate when spice is done right, it adds to the MC’s connection/development and truly enhances the relationship arc. A+
Wardell brings a fresh voice and writing style to queer literature and I can’t wait to read more from him!
I knew early on that I needed this to my shelf, so snagged the pre-order and extra goodies, but put off reading it until now. Don’t be like me and sleep on it for too long! OUT NOW
Marvin and Olan are hard to resist and undeniably perfect for each other - it was a joy to see them develop, with relatable humor and antidotes about teaching kindergartners. But it’s not all fluff, this story did an amazing job tackling and working through some tough issues with anxiety, addiction, trauma, and recovery. At first I didn’t like some of Marvin’s flight responses to issues but, after thinking on it for a while, it made him feel more human and showed his flaws.
I also appreciate when spice is done right, it adds to the MC’s connection/development and truly enhances the relationship arc. A+
Wardell brings a fresh voice and writing style to queer literature and I can’t wait to read more from him!
I knew early on that I needed this to my shelf, so snagged the pre-order and extra goodies, but put off reading it until now. Don’t be like me and sleep on it for too long! OUT NOW
August 24, 2023
❝ Of course, Olan would take care of me. Thatś why I came, right? He´s become a safety net. My heart knew where to go, even if my mind didn´t. Without blinking, he stopped whatever he was doing to help me. ❞
teacher of the year from ma wardell was cute, cozy, and heartwarming. the story tackles about history of alcohol addiction and how our characters´ trauma was rooted from it. my initial thought was just to ´move on´ and to just ´let go´ but i love how the book went deep and informative with this kind of trauma. as for the characters, they were great especially our narrator the kindergarten teacher, mr. marvin block. the way he deals with his students adorably and the unexpected romance with this hot rich single dad while dealing with anxiety and adhd was just chefs kiss. overall, i didn´t loved it but i really liked it. looking forward to the next book!
November 13, 2025
marvin may have got on my nerves a lot towards the end but overall this was super cute and i cant wait to read husband of the year!!!
March 16, 2023
this was so lovely! it screamed queer and Jewish joy, and sometimes (always), it's just what you need!
April 27, 2023
Marvin Block, a kindergarten teacher, prepares to welcome a new student to his class after the holiday break. While he’s used to ensuring smooth transitions for students who transfer mid-year, what he isn’t used to is the cute-as-hell single dad’s frequent messages.
As Marvin and Olan’s friendship begins to deepen, feelings start to surface.
However, Marvin wasn’t looking for anything serious, especially because he is up for the Teacher of the Year award. Olan’s past and Marvin’s present collide and complicate things. How far is this teacher willing to go outside of the classroom to ensure that everyone involved learns how to love?
While Teacher of the Year does deal with some heavy topics (check the content warnings), I feel that M.A. Wardell did a great job of interweaving them with sass, humor, and robust characters that rounded out the book.
Overall, I loved this story. There’s spice, some drama, love, and a perfect variety of details to create a wonderful rom-com. I loved the fact that the author — a gay man himself — was able to accurately represent what it’s like being a gay man, and the relationships/intimate encounters that we have.
Truly can not wait for more Teacher of the Year content!
Thank you to M.A. Wardell for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for me to enjoy. As always, this book was read and reviewed voluntarily and the above opinions are entirely my own.
As Marvin and Olan’s friendship begins to deepen, feelings start to surface.
However, Marvin wasn’t looking for anything serious, especially because he is up for the Teacher of the Year award. Olan’s past and Marvin’s present collide and complicate things. How far is this teacher willing to go outside of the classroom to ensure that everyone involved learns how to love?
While Teacher of the Year does deal with some heavy topics (check the content warnings), I feel that M.A. Wardell did a great job of interweaving them with sass, humor, and robust characters that rounded out the book.
Overall, I loved this story. There’s spice, some drama, love, and a perfect variety of details to create a wonderful rom-com. I loved the fact that the author — a gay man himself — was able to accurately represent what it’s like being a gay man, and the relationships/intimate encounters that we have.
Truly can not wait for more Teacher of the Year content!
Thank you to M.A. Wardell for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for me to enjoy. As always, this book was read and reviewed voluntarily and the above opinions are entirely my own.
November 22, 2024
It started well and then it was meh. There was no chemistry between the MCs and I didn’t understand why one of them was an alcoholic, it was so random. 2 stars for writing a book because it’s still an accomplishment.
March 8, 2025
Did not love it like I thought I would. Marvin frustrated me so much, but still a good book overall.
Pre-read thoughts
Love teacher romances!
March 22, 2023
What an immensely enjoyable read! I’m so impressed with this. The entire cast was fantastic - Marvin and Olan are wonderful, so real and relatable and lovable. Olan’s daughter Illona was such a sweetheart, and I enjoyed *every* side character.
The writing was so easy and enjoyable to read, I didn’t want to put the book down. The story was engaging, and the romance was so sweet - and spicy!! I loved Olan & Marvin’s relationship. The way it evolved felt very natural and I was rooting for them the entire time.
So much of this felt like hanging out with a funny friend. The narrator, Marvin, is hilarious and self-deprecating, and the absolute unvarnished realness of what it’s like to be a kindergarten teacher had me howling. (The Silkwood shower line omg 😂)
After volunteering at my daughter’s elementary school for several years, I have developed a massive appreciation for teachers and teaching. This book is truly a love letter to the profession and those who work so hard to care for and educate our children. Teaching is a hugely under appreciated profession and I thought it made a great background for the story to unfold in and as a way to get to know Marvin. I also thought it made for a unique and interesting setting in which to watch a romance blossom.
I thoroughly loved this delightful book. I laughed out loud, cried actual tears, and smiled so much my face was sore. I’ll definitely be waiting impatiently for Wardell’s next!
The writing was so easy and enjoyable to read, I didn’t want to put the book down. The story was engaging, and the romance was so sweet - and spicy!! I loved Olan & Marvin’s relationship. The way it evolved felt very natural and I was rooting for them the entire time.
So much of this felt like hanging out with a funny friend. The narrator, Marvin, is hilarious and self-deprecating, and the absolute unvarnished realness of what it’s like to be a kindergarten teacher had me howling. (The Silkwood shower line omg 😂)
After volunteering at my daughter’s elementary school for several years, I have developed a massive appreciation for teachers and teaching. This book is truly a love letter to the profession and those who work so hard to care for and educate our children. Teaching is a hugely under appreciated profession and I thought it made a great background for the story to unfold in and as a way to get to know Marvin. I also thought it made for a unique and interesting setting in which to watch a romance blossom.
I thoroughly loved this delightful book. I laughed out loud, cried actual tears, and smiled so much my face was sore. I’ll definitely be waiting impatiently for Wardell’s next!
April 23, 2023
I just finished this ARC and y’all… I loved it.
Marvin Block is an amazing kindergarten teacher whose engaging mind and passion for helping his kiddos has earned him a nomination for Teacher of the Year. Winning this award would be a huge help to his struggling public school and he’s really feeling the pressure as they return from winter break. Enter Illona Stone, a new face joining his classroom. Illona is sweet, friendly, inquisitive, and comes packaged with a hot as hell single dad, Olan.
A romance ensues between Marvin and Olan. But their romance is met with some trials and tribulations related to Marvin’s past trauma as the son of a recovering alcoholic. Marvin tries to manage that part of his past (by essentially ignoring it) and throwing himself into his work. But as Olan starts to open up about his own recovery, Marvin’s mind and body can’t seem to stop going into “panic and flee” mode.
This book is a romance, yes, but it’s also about overcoming adversity, coping with past trauma (in healthy ways), and learning to accept unconditional love. M.A. Wardell does a tremendous job piecing out Marvin’s trauma history and subsequent steps toward healing. And Olan Stone (fervently fans myself)… Olan Stone has never done anything wrong in his entire life and I will die on this hill.
The kiddos were completely adorable, the side characters were absolute perfection (Jill and Nick, Jick, total couples goals) and there were some extra spicy Olavin scenes 🌶️😏. Also… hold onto your seats… we have unlabeled, BIPOC, AND Jewish representation! Who cheered?!
Thank you to M.A. Wardell for the ARC. Look for Teacher of the Year on sale May 9th, or pre-order now and get some fun goodies!
Marvin Block is an amazing kindergarten teacher whose engaging mind and passion for helping his kiddos has earned him a nomination for Teacher of the Year. Winning this award would be a huge help to his struggling public school and he’s really feeling the pressure as they return from winter break. Enter Illona Stone, a new face joining his classroom. Illona is sweet, friendly, inquisitive, and comes packaged with a hot as hell single dad, Olan.
A romance ensues between Marvin and Olan. But their romance is met with some trials and tribulations related to Marvin’s past trauma as the son of a recovering alcoholic. Marvin tries to manage that part of his past (by essentially ignoring it) and throwing himself into his work. But as Olan starts to open up about his own recovery, Marvin’s mind and body can’t seem to stop going into “panic and flee” mode.
This book is a romance, yes, but it’s also about overcoming adversity, coping with past trauma (in healthy ways), and learning to accept unconditional love. M.A. Wardell does a tremendous job piecing out Marvin’s trauma history and subsequent steps toward healing. And Olan Stone (fervently fans myself)… Olan Stone has never done anything wrong in his entire life and I will die on this hill.
The kiddos were completely adorable, the side characters were absolute perfection (Jill and Nick, Jick, total couples goals) and there were some extra spicy Olavin scenes 🌶️😏. Also… hold onto your seats… we have unlabeled, BIPOC, AND Jewish representation! Who cheered?!
Thank you to M.A. Wardell for the ARC. Look for Teacher of the Year on sale May 9th, or pre-order now and get some fun goodies!
June 8, 2023
This was such a delight of a read—I especially loved what a truly loving tribute it was to teaching kindergarten, while simultaneously being very steamy. As an educator who also writes queer open door romance, this acknowledgment that teachers, especially queer ones, especially ones who teach young grades, have the ability and right to excel at their jobs while also leading very adult personal lives is super important to me, *especially* in the environment we’re currently living in. Which is just to say that this book felt very validating, while also simply being a lot of fun! I feel like Wardell also balanced the themes of alcoholism/addiction and the roadblocks it presents to Marvin’s heart very well here.
August 17, 2023
3.5 stars. Although I had some quibbles with some of the writing and handling of the third act conflict, Teacher of the Year was a solid adult romance to spend this afternoon reading.
June 6, 2025
OK, Teacher of the Year was SO FREAKING CUTE. It has the sweetest romance, hilarious banter, and some uncannily accurate (and funny) descriptions of 5 year old behavior (Note: I have an almost 5 year old, so I found this particularly amusing, but it's definitely funny regardless). This one had a ton of my favorite tropes - single dad, friends to lovers, pining - in a relatively low angst book that I'm still chattering on about. The PERFECT back to school season read!
When Marvin, a devoted kindergarten teacher, meets Olan, the single dad of his new student, he is blown away by how attractive he is. Though he's sworn off love (and very hesitant to go after a man he assumes is straight), Marvin is overjoyed when Olan strikes up a friendship with him. They seem to be getting along well - until Olan surprises him by making a pass at him. Is Marvin ready to trust this man with his heart? And will he be able to balance a new and exciting relationship with his obligations at school?
Marvin is so delightfully "adorable." The book is entirely from his POV, and though I usually stick to swoony quotes, I ended up highlighting all kinds of random things he says. Though most of the book is pretty light, there are times when descriptions of his anxiety are hard to read - check TWs for sure. Olan is really the perfect guy for someone so high strung - he's straightforward and communicative with Marvin, though he does have his own issues. Their chemistry is off the charts, and when the spice hits it's REALLY good.
I was so into the fact that Marvin was a kindergarten teacher - it's a big part of the book. You can definitely tell that the M. A. Wardell has a LOT of experience teaching and understanding small children. And oh gosh, Olan as a single dad melted my heart as usual.
If you need a sweet queer romance palate cleanser, definitely check out this book. It's absolutely worth a read, and now I'm super excited to read M.A. Wardell's next book closer to the holidays and meet him at Apollycon next year!
When Marvin, a devoted kindergarten teacher, meets Olan, the single dad of his new student, he is blown away by how attractive he is. Though he's sworn off love (and very hesitant to go after a man he assumes is straight), Marvin is overjoyed when Olan strikes up a friendship with him. They seem to be getting along well - until Olan surprises him by making a pass at him. Is Marvin ready to trust this man with his heart? And will he be able to balance a new and exciting relationship with his obligations at school?
Marvin is so delightfully "adorable." The book is entirely from his POV, and though I usually stick to swoony quotes, I ended up highlighting all kinds of random things he says. Though most of the book is pretty light, there are times when descriptions of his anxiety are hard to read - check TWs for sure. Olan is really the perfect guy for someone so high strung - he's straightforward and communicative with Marvin, though he does have his own issues. Their chemistry is off the charts, and when the spice hits it's REALLY good.
I was so into the fact that Marvin was a kindergarten teacher - it's a big part of the book. You can definitely tell that the M. A. Wardell has a LOT of experience teaching and understanding small children. And oh gosh, Olan as a single dad melted my heart as usual.
If you need a sweet queer romance palate cleanser, definitely check out this book. It's absolutely worth a read, and now I'm super excited to read M.A. Wardell's next book closer to the holidays and meet him at Apollycon next year!
December 7, 2023
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.
Marvin’s struggle with anxiety was incredibly relatable and I found myself agreeing with him on so many points and struggles he faces.
“I’ve mastered overthinking.” SAME MARVIN. SAME.
And the romance?? So f-ing cute. Personally, this is in the same category of ‘Red, White, & Royal Blue’ in the cuteness/swoon worthy category. I giggled like an IDIOT the entire time. It felt a little Insta lovey to me at the beginning, but oddly I didn’t mind it?? I adore Marvin & Olan!
“What are you staring at?”
“You. Just you.”
The spice was incredibly hot as well. Like wtf. I’m impressed.
Marvin’s struggle with anxiety was incredibly relatable and I found myself agreeing with him on so many points and struggles he faces.
“I’ve mastered overthinking.” SAME MARVIN. SAME.
And the romance?? So f-ing cute. Personally, this is in the same category of ‘Red, White, & Royal Blue’ in the cuteness/swoon worthy category. I giggled like an IDIOT the entire time. It felt a little Insta lovey to me at the beginning, but oddly I didn’t mind it?? I adore Marvin & Olan!
“What are you staring at?”
“You. Just you.”
The spice was incredibly hot as well. Like wtf. I’m impressed.
October 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
December 10, 2023
This is such a cute single dad & teacher romance .
Marvin is such a dork and u love to root for him . I do think this is worth a read.
Unfortunately , towards the end he comes off as judgmental & insufferable. He really irritated me.
Luckily Olan is very patient.
The last third of the book dragged and Because of this i knocked off a star.
Also, do u ever feel like a couple probably broke up after the book ends? Yea…
The smut is pretty high for such a cutesy cover
Good audio 🎧
Marvin is such a dork and u love to root for him . I do think this is worth a read.
Unfortunately , towards the end he comes off as judgmental & insufferable. He really irritated me.
Luckily Olan is very patient.
The last third of the book dragged and Because of this i knocked off a star.
Also, do u ever feel like a couple probably broke up after the book ends? Yea…
The smut is pretty high for such a cutesy cover
Good audio 🎧
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