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The Teachers of Hardwood High #5
Q+C: The Teachers of Hardwood High
A love story about going viral, on and off camera.
Quari Giles likes his life loud. He coaches seventh grade girls basketball, keeps Hardwood High laughing, and swears he is not looking for more. Then the Aspire mentor program brings homegrown influencer Ciara Lawson back to campus for a series of filmed visits, and the fun coach with a wandering focus suddenly wants to show up serious.
Ciara built a career on bright humor and clean shots. Off camera she is tired of being reduced to a body and a trend. Her mother calls it shaking her ass online. Brands call it content. Ciara calls it work. What she does not expect is a PE teacher who treats her like she is enough without an audience.
Weekly check-ins turn into inside jokes and late texts. A viral clip puts them under a spotlight. Mom comes for her. The internet piles on. Quari holds the line with steady care, team huddles, and a calm that settles her racing brain. He is chaos at practice and peace when it counts.
She teaches him intention. He teaches her rest. Together, they learn that being seen and being visible are not the same. When the noise rises, they choose each other. Officially.
A fresh, flirty, heartfelt romance set at Hardwood High with kid shenanigans, Ranley-isms, and one coach determined to be better than he was yesterday..or something like that.
Quari Giles likes his life loud. He coaches seventh grade girls basketball, keeps Hardwood High laughing, and swears he is not looking for more. Then the Aspire mentor program brings homegrown influencer Ciara Lawson back to campus for a series of filmed visits, and the fun coach with a wandering focus suddenly wants to show up serious.
Ciara built a career on bright humor and clean shots. Off camera she is tired of being reduced to a body and a trend. Her mother calls it shaking her ass online. Brands call it content. Ciara calls it work. What she does not expect is a PE teacher who treats her like she is enough without an audience.
Weekly check-ins turn into inside jokes and late texts. A viral clip puts them under a spotlight. Mom comes for her. The internet piles on. Quari holds the line with steady care, team huddles, and a calm that settles her racing brain. He is chaos at practice and peace when it counts.
She teaches him intention. He teaches her rest. Together, they learn that being seen and being visible are not the same. When the noise rises, they choose each other. Officially.
A fresh, flirty, heartfelt romance set at Hardwood High with kid shenanigans, Ranley-isms, and one coach determined to be better than he was yesterday..or something like that.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2025
29 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 29, 2025
I Love This Series
Nina High writes such sweet beautiful love stories about regular people falling in love. I usually enjoy the male MCs story and journey of finding love. Ciara finding herself and allowing her heart to guide her was my favorite part of this book. Toxic moms in books always stress me because it’s so far from my reality. But I get why it is important to show how it impacts character development. But I loved the balance created between the way the two MCs mothers showed up for them.
Nina High writes such sweet beautiful love stories about regular people falling in love. I usually enjoy the male MCs story and journey of finding love. Ciara finding herself and allowing her heart to guide her was my favorite part of this book. Toxic moms in books always stress me because it’s so far from my reality. But I get why it is important to show how it impacts character development. But I loved the balance created between the way the two MCs mothers showed up for them.
December 3, 2025
This is a serious meet cute 😍 . Who doesn't fall for a confident guy with a great sense of humor ??? Quari with a Q is the high schools teachers version of a class clown but with layers ready to be revealed . He is given the opportunity to meet the woman of his social media dreams and let's just say the slow burn 🔥 begins .
Ciara is the it girl who everyone thinks has it all but she fakes it to make it until a certain gym coach helps her see her truth. This is a sweet love story ❤️ can't wait for what's up next . keep it up Nina High and loved big brother Andre's infamous appearance.
Ciara is the it girl who everyone thinks has it all but she fakes it to make it until a certain gym coach helps her see her truth. This is a sweet love story ❤️ can't wait for what's up next . keep it up Nina High and loved big brother Andre's infamous appearance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
Q+C
I really enjoyed Quari and Ciara’s story. It was lighthearted and fun. They were so cute together. In previous books, Quari was described as a jokester and never serious, but I didn’t get that vibe from him. I felt he was misunderstood and truly lived us life as simply and drama free as possible. He and Ciara gave each other just what they needed and accepted each other as they were. He was able to be himself without judgment and he allowed her to not have to be “on” around him and just be herself without thought of doing multiple “takes” to make things perfect. Their relationship allowed for them both to be authentic.
The story had very minimal drama. I did want to know what Ciara’s mother’s issue was with her though because that lady was nasty to her for no reason, but I appreciated that Ciara realized she could love her from a distance and didn’t have to endure the way she was being treated.
The sneak peek into Ms. Julie’s story left me intrigued and ready for the next book.
I really enjoyed Quari and Ciara’s story. It was lighthearted and fun. They were so cute together. In previous books, Quari was described as a jokester and never serious, but I didn’t get that vibe from him. I felt he was misunderstood and truly lived us life as simply and drama free as possible. He and Ciara gave each other just what they needed and accepted each other as they were. He was able to be himself without judgment and he allowed her to not have to be “on” around him and just be herself without thought of doing multiple “takes” to make things perfect. Their relationship allowed for them both to be authentic.
The story had very minimal drama. I did want to know what Ciara’s mother’s issue was with her though because that lady was nasty to her for no reason, but I appreciated that Ciara realized she could love her from a distance and didn’t have to endure the way she was being treated.
The sneak peek into Ms. Julie’s story left me intrigued and ready for the next book.
December 1, 2025
Finding Balance
The Aspire Mentor Program at Hardwood High is back at it again bringing unsuspecting single individuals together one story at a time.
Coach Giles is known to be a walking joke and aspiring influencer. Never to volunteer for anything that’s non sports related, he decides to participate in the Aspire program to meet his favorite influencer.
Ciara didn’t know what will transpire after volunteering to host a series of workshops at a mentorship program at her old high school. After meeting Coach Giles, her outlook on life begins to shift. Finding the simplicity of being authentic takes her on an unexpected journey to achieving balance. Lucky for her Coach Giles becomes the safe landing spot she truly needs.
Spice level: 🌶️
Tropes:
Opposites attract
Celebrity romance
Complicated parent dynamics
The Aspire Mentor Program at Hardwood High is back at it again bringing unsuspecting single individuals together one story at a time.
Coach Giles is known to be a walking joke and aspiring influencer. Never to volunteer for anything that’s non sports related, he decides to participate in the Aspire program to meet his favorite influencer.
Ciara didn’t know what will transpire after volunteering to host a series of workshops at a mentorship program at her old high school. After meeting Coach Giles, her outlook on life begins to shift. Finding the simplicity of being authentic takes her on an unexpected journey to achieving balance. Lucky for her Coach Giles becomes the safe landing spot she truly needs.
Spice level: 🌶️
Tropes:
Opposites attract
Celebrity romance
Complicated parent dynamics
November 30, 2025
Love, love, love
I thought book 4 was the cat’s meow, but this story is chef’s kiss! I was smirking from the first chapter and had a full smile, with teeth, by the end. The promise of laughter that is Quari is front and center balanced quite nicely with a deep IQ and EQ. Love the pop ups from past books! If I have a complaint, it is a wish it was longer. If a sequel is ever a thought, this is my candidate! I would love to see where they go next.
I thought book 4 was the cat’s meow, but this story is chef’s kiss! I was smirking from the first chapter and had a full smile, with teeth, by the end. The promise of laughter that is Quari is front and center balanced quite nicely with a deep IQ and EQ. Love the pop ups from past books! If I have a complaint, it is a wish it was longer. If a sequel is ever a thought, this is my candidate! I would love to see where they go next.
November 29, 2025
I was really sad for this to be over!!! It was so worth the wait… i feel like we should of got a lil more closure between her and her mom… I’ve been loving the hardwood high series and I’m excited about the next one… I’m obsessed with Ciara and Quari.
November 29, 2025
Love it.
I can jot wait till the next book come out. The !other in this
book was a piece of work. Everyone need to learn to protect the mental. I like that she realize she want something that was all her own.
I can jot wait till the next book come out. The !other in this
book was a piece of work. Everyone need to learn to protect the mental. I like that she realize she want something that was all her own.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews