Girl Meets Class

Girl Meets Class #1

by Karin Gillespie

The unspooling of Toni Lee Wells’ Tiffany and Wild Turkey lifestyle begins with a trip to the Luckett County Jail drunk tank. An earlier wrist injury sidelined her pro tennis career, and now she’s trading her tennis whites for wild nights roaming the streets of Rose Hill, Georgia.

Her wealthy family finally gets fed up with her shenanigans. They cut off her monthly allowance but also make her a sweetheart Get a job, keep it for a year, and you’ll receive an early inheritance. Act the fool or get fired, and you’ll lose it for good.
Toni Lee signs up for a fast-track Teacher Corps program. She hopes for an easy teaching gig, but what she gets is an assignment to Harriet Hall, a high school that churns out more thugs than scholars.

What’s a spoiled Southern belle to do when confronted with a bunch of street smart students who are determined to make her life as difficult as possible? Luckily, Carl, a handsome colleague, is willing to help her negotiate the rough teaching waters and keep her bed warm at night. But when Toni Lee gets involved with some dark dealings in the school system, she fears she might lose her new beau as well as her inheritance.

Related subjects chick lit, women’s fiction, humor, humorous fiction, Southern humor, Southern living, friendship.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Southern, Womens Fiction, Humor

ebook

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

Meet Karin Gillespie, the Rogue Magnolia

I like Lilly clothes but only paired with a black leather jacket.

I don’t have the patience for a mani-ped but I always have time for a conversation about books, the Buddha or the best barbecue ribs below the gnat line.

I’m not a Steel Magnolia because, instead of forbearing within the system, I’m more interested in exploring its flaws and busting up the status quo.

My characters reflect who I am: unconventional, creative and endlessly curious. They also reflect the South: colorful, kooky and sometimes deeply flawed

Keep in touch with me at

http://karingillespieauthor.com

Reviews

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for something funny and decided to pick this book up and it did not disappoint. It's full of humor, fun and yes, heartbreak as there are some serious issues too. From the beginning, the author had me rooting for Toni Lee and the other characters. Great ending. If you're a fan of Chick Lit, I highly recommend it.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

[ I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank them for their generousity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising]

Oh joy! Not only another Henery Press book, but a new Karin Gillespie; one of my favorite authors from them! I was sure when I first opened this ebook that maybe I'd gotten the wrong Galley. That was not the case I found out as I got quickly involved in a much different story than The Bottom Dollar series.

Toni Lee, a spoiled trust fund brat is out of control. Her Aunt Cordelia, holder of the purse strings, has a "come to Jesus" confrontation with her after her latest drunk and disorderly, throwing her out of her champange lifestyle into a Coca Cola© world. The Rose Hill girl finds herself working as a new teacher in an area of town so unknown to "her crowd" as to be (hopefully) non existant. What she finds out not only does Harriet Hall High School need her, she needs it more.

A teacher to the "special needs" program: kids who don't want to be there anymore than she does, really makes her see exactly what's important, and better yet why it is. She rebuilds her integrity on her own terms, not her family's, and finds out that respect for herself empowers change.

A wonderful book that makes you laugh out loud and grab tissues with the next page turn. Yay Karin!

[JG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl Meets Class was a humorous take on a young pampered heiress, down on her luck and is now forced to look for a job to get her inheritance. Sounds simple enough but the humor in the writing and the job she eventually takes evolves into one funny adventure that makes readers smile and laugh out loud. This is one story about a poor little rich girl getting a whole lot of lessons of life on the other side and the other side getting a whole new side of her. This is one entertaining and engaging page turner.

*ARC provide thru NetGalley by the publisher*

[Norlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I was given a copy by Netgalley. All comments are my own.

This is a light and fun read that touches a few issues surrounding equity and racism. Ton-Lee is a fallen tennis star who immersed herself in nightly drunken escapades, after injuring her wrist. It was after that one night where she got booked that her aunt put her foot down and set her an ultimatum. Her mission was to stay sober, get a job and hold it for a year, in order to get her full inheritance.

Thinking that teaching would be plain sailing, Toni-Lee took up the offer to be a special ed teacher in a school set in a "darker" side of town. That was BEFORE she knew what school she was going to be sent to. Thus begins her adventure into teaching kids in a lower socioeconomic area where funding is almost non-existent and her lack of experience will add on to the misfortunes.

At first, I thought it seemed a little odd and unrealistic that someone without any experience would be taken on board to teach students in the special education class. It wasn't until we encounter the principal that things began to make sense a little later on. The book explores Toni-Lee's naivete and corruption that can happen when people are at their wits end.

There's also romance and some eye opening characters that sadly do exist in the world. Overall, it is an entertaining read.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this light "beach read." As an inner-city teacher of seven years, not everything about Harriet Hall or the education system was 100% true, but it was pretty darn close. I think that's what really bumped this book into a four star read for me... It was astonishing just how much the author knew of inner-city schools' politics, administration, and budgeting problems. Between not having enough desks, being stuck in a portable with no air conditioning until school started, and dealing with behavior problems all on your own without any assistance from the principal, this novel was spot on with the issues facing education these days. The story line itself was pretty much what I expected would happen, so there wasn't any real excitement or surprise there. But I found myself rooting for this lovable ditz, so it's definitely more than I can say for other novels with deeper characters.

[Carley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy!

My ratings for chicklit are a bit different than for other genres. If it was lighthearted enough without being silly/ridiculous, then it’s going to get a good rating for me. This book definitely delivered that! I loved the characters and that Southern setting added a really fun element. I did have to “suspend belief” when it came to some of the school and teaching parts. My mom is a teacher and my sister is a special-ed teacher so I have a bit more knowledge than most and parts of it just didn’t seem likely. A fun read for a relaxing weekend.

[Susan Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, empathetic, and wise. Karin Gillespie shines a light into the dark corners we need to examine, but somehow manages to entertain us at the same time. A fantastic read.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a Southern Chick Lit / Women's Fiction story that has a mixture of sass and poignancy, then look no further, Girl Meets Class is the book for you.

Toni Lee Wells is a twenty-one year old Georgia peach from a well-to-do family. Toni Lee was an aspiring tennis professional, whose career was prematurely cut short when she suffered a permanent injury to her wrist. Tennis was her passion and the loss of her career sent her life spiraling out of control with outrageous spending sprees, heavy drinking, and numerous run-ins with the law for public intoxication. After six months of her endless aimlessness and being out of control, Toni Lee's father and Aunt Cornelia have had enough and decide it is time to implement harsh measures, and teach Toni Lee a life lesson from the school of hard knocks. They take away her very generous monthly allowance, her rent free luxurious condo, and credit cards. Aunt Cornelia gives Toni an ultimatum: get a respectable job, keep the job for one year, stay out of trouble, and she will receive an early inheritance in the amount of five million dollars. With a tennis career gone and a college degree in general studies, Toni Lee attends a career fair and applies for The Teaching Corps, an accelerated teacher training program with a goal to secure a teaching job in the local school system while completing the program. She accepts a special education teaching position at Harriet Hall High School, an inner city high school. So what's a spoiled Southern belle to do when she suddenly finds herself on an unexpected adventure with a difficult challenge that could make or break the lifestyle as she has known it?

Author Karin Gillespie weaves a wonderful lighthearted tale set in Rose Hill, Georgia that follows Toni Lee Wells' journey of self-discovery. Told in the first person narrative by Toni Lee, the reader follows the sassy young lady's adventure into a side of life that she wasn't born and raised in, it's a journey that will open her eyes to what is really important, and teach her a lesson that will ultimately change her life.

I really enjoyed the intertwining of humor and poignancy in the storyline, you can't help but get caught up in Toni Lee's journey as this spoiled young lady learns about the world outside the privileged community that she has grown up in. I really was not a fan of Toni Lee in the beginning of the story, but I did grow to like her as she made a transformation when she encountered the challenges and issues at the inner-city school. I really enjoyed how the author utilized her previous experience as a high school special education teacher to weave a story that is realistic and touches upon the challenges of the inner-city school system and social issues, yet also shows how passionate special education teachers really are.

Girl Meets Class is an entertaining feel-good story that will leave a smile on your face.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This is my first Karen Gillespie read but it sure won’t me my last! If was good to stray from the mystery genre for this fantastic story!

Toni Lee Wells is what I would call an adult spoiled brat at the beginning of this story. Her pro tennis career is over due to an injury and her family is rich so she has no worries. Life is easy and free and fun until she gets arrested one to many times for her father and especially her Aunt Cornelia who controls the purse strings. She cuts Toni Lee off without a cent and gives her an ultimatum – get a job, keep it for a year, follow all my other rules and I will give you 5 million dollars. Fail and you are your own.

Toni Lee does have a college degree but no job experience so she hooks up with a Teacher Corps program. She is excited thinking teaching is such an easy job until she arrives for her first day at a school that is underfunded and full of underprivileged kids. The kids are more street smart than book smart and her first days are not easy. But she meets Carl, a teacher with plenty of experience and pretty easy on the eyes. Her life is not smooth sailing though. Being new Toni Lee finds herself in the middle of some shady dealings at the school and not everyone is thrilled as her relationship with Carl escalates. Then there is Aunt Cornelia’s rules hanging over her head.

I have to say I didn’t really like Toni Lee at the start of the story. She really had no concerns, she could do almost anything and her family would bail her out. She was helping a friend pay some bills but I thought she was pretty self centered. I applauded her aunt cutting off but leaving the 5 million dangling didn’t sit well with me. Then the teacher twist happened and Toni started to evolve and I began to like her and wanted to see her succeed.

The part of the story that really grabbed me though was the school and the corruption. In Wisconsin, right now we have a Governor that is a war with teachers and public education. School budgets are cut to the bone and nationwide there is a shortage of teachers. Wisconsin has taken things beyond the Teacher Corps in the story by deregulating teacher licensing standards. So if you think things that happened in this school are far fetched I can tell you they are not. In fact they are worse.

Gillespie also features an interracial couple in Girl Meets Class. This adds a whole under layer to the story. The words of a few characters made my skin crawl but this is still a hot topic in America which is just infuriating.

This is a very fast read with some heavy themes but Gillespie has a way of writing that keeps the importance of the topics but they have a lighter feel while enlightening the reader. She adds Southern charm and humor in exactly the right amounts and places. I love that most of the characters grown throughout the whole story.

A very smart novel. I highly recommend.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest. I loved the idea of this book and have heard praise for the author, but it took me a bit to get pulled into the story. Then I was hooked and put off important things to keep on reading.

Although I can not relate to Toni Lee as a wealthy young woman with endless money to spend, she has so many other traits I connected to. More so as she matured and awakened through the book.

Toni Lee and her best friend, Joelle, come from different backgrounds, different family situations. Their friendship was forged at a young age out of necessity, but grew stronger every year.
Toni Lee's life had been focused on becoming a professional tennis player, until an injury put an end to that dream. She lost her sense of self and her motivation to be or do anything of value with her life.
After too many episodes of acting out and needing to be bailed out, her widowed father knows it is time for tough love. Not being that type of parent, he calls in Aunt Cornelia.

Aunt Cornelia is the source of the family wealth. She runs a tight ship and is a strict disciplinarian with high standards. She lays down the law with a detailed contract for Toni Lee.

When Toni Lee looks for a job I laughed out loud at the line: Weren't there any normal jobs in the world? Ones that required only a warm body, an easy smile and a flair for Pinterest?

Toni Lee signs on for a teaching job with no idea how drastically different the school and students will be from her own experience. She believes it will be FUN to go back to school and enjoy pep rallies and proms. She'll be the beloved "cool, hip" teacher.
Rose Hill, Georgia is populated by great extremes of diversity. The tables are turned when Toni Lee becomes the minority and must adjust her mind to how other people live, and how their experiences make them think.
The dialogue is priceless!
"I half expected the GPS Lady to say 'Get out while you're still breathing."
"Keeping order at all times is like putting socks on an octopus."

As Toni Lee is learning about disadvantages, Joelle is finally experiencing more of the privileged life. How people around you want you not to be yourself but to be like them. Values and judgement are severely tested.
Corruption, prejudice, bigotry and violence don't respect financial boundaries.

Sprinkled throughout the book is marvelous dialogue.
"my father's silence was so loud he might as well be yelling at me."
"I chose wine with funny names; it made alcohol seem tame and friendly."
"...hair cut into a pageboy so sharp-edged it could draw blood."

Will Toni Lee adjust to the "real world?"
Will friendship survive secrets and growing pains?
Will Toni Lee survive Harriett Hall?
How strong and forgiving is love really?

If you like romantic comedy with life lesson worthy drama, read this book!

I was given a copy to review without expectation.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's my review for "Girl Meets Class" by Karen Gillespie:

This book was given to me by NETGALLEY and HENERY PRESS for an honest review. I loved it! The writing was great, I loved the characters, Toni Lee was awesome, she has kept something to herself her entire life, not sharing with anyone. This secret haunts her, and then something terrible happens, it changes the entire direction that Toni thought her life was heading.
This novel is all about a woman that reaches a place in her life where she is not in control. She's been on a downward spiral, she is drinking and running around all night, sleeping all day, spending money like crazy, then her dad has to bail her out of jail, that's the last straw for her family. Her aunt steps in and gives her an ultimatum, and its a BIG one.

This novel is about a woman that hits rock bottom, and then finds out she's been cut off, that she has to finally stand on her own two feet, she has to move out of her plush condo, get a job, pay her own way. I love Toni, she finds out she's a lot stronger than she thought. Life throws all kinds of stuff her way, she has to work it all out on her own. She grows up.

This novel is heartwarming, and endearing, funny, man chasing, tragedy and very entertaining.

Thanks to NETGALLEY and HENERY PRESS for the chance to read and review this great novel.

[Lauri Rottmayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book! I have loved all of Karen Gillespie's books and was excited to read another.

This one is about Toni Lee, who is a former child tennis superstar who's life has come off the rails due to a career ending injury. Toni Lee's dad isn't good at disciplining her because her mother died when she was 4 so he calls in her Aunt Cornelia.

Aunt Cornelia, Toni Lee's mother's sister, is the CEO and founder of a large caned Southern food company. She has basically been funding Toni Lee's party girl existence and she decides it's time to stop, to rein Toni Lee in.

She makes a deal with Toni Lee, telling her that if she gets a job that Aunt Corny approves of, keeps it for a year, and keeps to the other dictates of the contract, that she'll give her a $5 million inheritance at the end of the year.

Toni Lee struggles to find a job. With time running out, she takes a job through Teacher Corps. They are supposed to teach college grads how to become teachers while they are placed in their first teaching jobs. Toni Lee finds out too late that the positions are hard to fill because they are in bad neighborhoods with out of control kids.

The story takes the reader through Toni Lee's trials and tribulations at the school and she is one tough cookie.

Loved it! Two thumbs up. :-)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!
This is a great book by Karin Gillespie. Toni Lee Wells is a spoiled rich girl, ever since she was injured and lost her option to be a pro tennis player she has been out of control. Her wealthy family has had enough of her shenanigans. Her family cuts off her monthly allowance and makes her move out of her luxury apartment. They make a deal with her, she has to get a job and keep it for a year. If she can do it, then she will get her inheritance of five million dollars. She finds a job at Harriet Hall, which is a high school for thugs and special needs students. If you are looking for a great book that has a good story, romance, and humor then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this author.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters were well drawn. There is an evolution in the character of Tony Lee Wells from the beginning of the book to the end. It's a good story. I had a little trouble suspending disbelief over her maxing out her credit card to buy electronic goodies to bribe her class to behave. But, a lot of her other mistakes were reasonable if cringeworthy.

Overall, it's a good book. I gave it 4 stars. It was a quick read for me. I enjoyed the humor. And I liked seeing how Tony Lee changes over the course of the book.

An excerpt is available on the author's website.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed my way through this book. The characters were hilarious. This book reminded me of books written by Fannie Flagg. It is a light read, just what I needed right now!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to listen to a light, humorous, romantic story after some of the heavier ones I had listened to and Girl Meets Class fit the bill nicely. It was a cute story about a pampered young woman, Toni-Lee Wells, whose rich Aunt Cordelia decides that she needs a wake up call. She is told she needs to get and hold a job for one year, pay her own way and follow her aunt's stringent rules about public drunkenness etc. or she will be disinherited. Sounds simple enough but this is one spoiled young lady. After a serious injury takes her off the pro tennis circuit, she wallows in self-pity making a spectacle of herself for the past six months. With nothing but a general degree, where will she find a job that will pay her enough to live? Toni-Lee ends up teaching a Special Education class in a very poor school, where caring for the kids is probably more important than what you teach them.

This was a wonderful story. There was some humour, although not as much as I had anticipated. I enjoyed listening to the story as this young lady learned about how others lived, what it was like to be poor, what is important in life and falling in love with the wrong man, who turns out to be the right one. With a corrupt principal, nasty secretary and backstabbing staff, will Toni-Lee survive the year she needs to put in? Will Toni-Lee sell her integrity for five million dollars or wake up and realize what is really important? This is one story about a poor little rich girl getting a whole lot of lessons on life from the other side and the other side getting a whole new Toni-Lee as a result. This is an entertaining and engaging page turner that I really enjoyed.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://oneblogtwobroads.com/2015/09/0...

After an unfortunate accident ends her promising tennis career, Toni Lee Wells goes on a long bender. When she gets arrested a second time, her aunt and father decide to use some tough love. Toni’s family is wealthy and Toni really hasn’t needed to take any responsibility for anything, not her car, her condo, her spending money but that’s all about to change. They cut her off and she has to get a job and keep it for a year. If she does, she inherits 5 million dollars. Easy, right? Not so much. Toni hasn’t really ever worked. She finds a group that sends teachers to much needed schools and since she does have a general degree, she qualifies. Toni does not expect to be sent to one of the toughest high schools around and does not expect to be teaching the special education class to a group of kids who would rather not be there. She also does not expect to fall in love and to find herself change in a truly profound way.

If you are a fan of Karin Gillespie, you will not be disappointed. The story is peppered with her trademark sassy Southern style but it’s also so much more than that. It tackles the corruption in our school system. It tackles interracial dating and the prejudice involved with that still in many places in our country. But the heart of the story is about finding yourself and letting go of things that might hold you back, especially things of your own doing. I loved the characters of Toni and Carl together. I loved how Toni changed as time went on, though I never thought she was a bad person, just a little naive to the ways of the “real” world. And I learned a new word, bastardy. I had never heard it before but I love it!

I happily received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC Disclosure: I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I work in the world of education. I'm an elementary school librarian, so I see the other end of the spectrum from what Toni Lee sees in Girl Meets Class. The educational aspect was my motivation for signing up for this book tour. To be honest, once I started reading I thought I had made a mistake signing up for this tour. Horror of horrors! I didn't like Toni Lee at all! I find it hard to read a book if I don't like the main character. But as much as I wanted to grab Toni Lee by the shoulders and shake some sense into her, I found I couldn't walk away from her story. And that is what makes Karin such an awesome writer. She has created a story that hooks the reader and doesn't let go. I really liked Carl. He is Toni Lee's saving grace. He makes her want to rise above herself and be a good person. Everyone needs a Carl in their life. While I may not have been Toni Lee's biggest fan when I started the book, I did find myself rooting for her. I couldn't put the book down until I knew how her story ended.

Despite the serious nature of the state of education for the underprivileged Girl Meets Class is a quick read that will keep the reader engaged until the end. This is the first book I've read by Karin Gillespie. I'm looking forward to reading other books by her.

[Teresa Kander · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to have a chance to read this book, due to the education theme. As a former teacher, I was expecting to find characters to whom I could relate. Unfortunately, that never happened for me. I was never able to get deeply involved in the story.

I truly didn't like Toni Lee....and the idea of her agreeing to be a special education teacher for a year just to a several million dollar inheritance grated on my nerves. Special education teachers are a unique breed, and need to have a passion for their career if they are going to be a GOOD teacher.

Having worked in an inner city elementary school, I also didn't find the situation in the school to be realistic. I suppose it could be in some cities, but again, it made the story unrealistic to me.

The author touched on several very complex social issues (racism, PPD, family relationships, educational policy, poverty), but the problem is that she treats them all very lightly, without doing justice to any of them.

I love this author's Bottom Dollar Girls series, but this book left me sorely disappointed.

[Ann Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toni Lee Wells, a spoiled Southern belle, takes a job teaching at an inner-city high school at the insistence of her family who orders her to stop partying and turn her life around. If she does not do this, she will lose her inheritance. Author Karen Gillespie turns "Girl Meets Class" into a modern "To Sir With Love" story that will simultaneously keep you laughing and touch your heart. As you can imagine, the street smart students at Harriet High bring their own sense of drama to the special ed trailer where Toni Lee tries to teach class. A sweet but complicated romance with Carl, a handsome fellow teacher, also brings a new twist to the novel. In addition, this savvy author quietly touches on race relations and class structure as well. I enjoyed "Girl Meets Class" until the very end of the novel! And as she completes her abbreviated Teacher Corps training and learns to cope, I certainly wanted to change the title of the book to "Women Conquers the World". I received this title free from FirstReads in exchange for an honest book review.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toni Lee Wells is out of control and her aunt simply is not going to stand for it. Never one to pull any punches, Aunt Corny gets right to the bottom line: get a job, keep it for a year, and get a five million dollar pay out. Easier said than done for the girl who never worked a day in her privileged life. But money is a powerful motivator and, before she knows it, Toni Lee is a teacher in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods.

Toni Lee's new career is full of comic missteps that made me chuckle more than once. In Girl Meets Class, we get to watch as a somewhat spoiled, selfish, and self-centered socialite turns into a caring and responsible teacher who puts her students and their welfare first. There are a lot of funny, touching, and heart-warming moments along the way - as well as some embarrassing and cringe-worthy ones, as well!

Girl Meets Class is, at times, predictable, but it's a fun and enjoyable story. Along the way, Toni Lee Wells becomes a character you care about, root for, and grow to really like.

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Girl Meets Class, Toni Lee Wells is the typical, life-of-luxury Southern gal until one too many trips to the pokey embarrasses her family and the matriarch, Aunt Cornelia, cut off her unlimited source of funds and force her to grow up and earn her inheritance money a little early: find a job, behave yourself and keep it for a year and inherit $5 million dollars!!!


Out of desperation, Toni Lee lands a teaching job at the local "ghetto school" teaching the Special Needs students Life Skills. Toni Lee is out of league on so many fronts and things do not go smoothly for our beloved protagonist. Her students are wild and disrespectful and her tyrannical principal is involved in a test cheating conspiracy. Good thing Toni Lee has fellow teacher (and lover) Carl Rutherford to help navigate all of this uncharted territory.


Filled with humor and a happy ending, I highly recommend this to anyone looking a humorous read with just a dash of romance!

You can read more of my book reviews at: http://www.thesouthernbookworm.blogsp...

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful read! I have heard of Karin Gillespie's books for a while now, but this is the first one I've read. It will not be the last.

I started with a little trepidation, because I usually don't enjoy books with spoiled, entitled protagonists. That's the thing, though. Toni Lee starts out spoiled, but she changes. And that is the heart of this novel.

This novel has lots to enjoy: southern charm (my home state of Georgia, no less!), a school setting (one of my favorites), and a romantic relationship with sparks and heart. Carl is one of my favorite book boyfriends in recent reads.

And it has Toni Lee. I loved watching this character grow and change, discovering her passion in life and love ... and I only hope this is just the first book about Toni Lee and the other characters in this book.

I really enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to friends. I'm recommending it to you here, too. Read it! You are in for a treat.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! I loved the beginning of this book! "Where's that traveling violin man when you need him?" HA! Then, it started getting into the bulk of the story and started getting onto a more serious note which was still very good for me.

The writing was good, the characters were well developed, sex was implied, and violence was hinted at or basically described.

I would love the opportunity to inherit $5 million dollars if I could hold down a job for a year, but I would not want to teach in an inner city school.

Anyways, this is a lighthearted take on that proposal. It does touch on some of the issues that an inner city school would have but it's only basic and handled in a pc manner.

Thanks Henery Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this delightfully entertaining and enjoyable e-galley. I highly recommend it!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl Meets Class is a very well written and professionally edited contemporary romance/coming of age novel.

The heroine is a spoiled rich girl that must get a challenging job, and keep it for one year, in order to receive her inheritance. She ends up teaching life skills at a school where the students are poor beyond what she can imagine. This is the story of her growth as an adult and the challenges her interracial romance faces in her small southern town.

The characters were well developed, I could empathize with them, and I felt that their actions were realistic. The plot was well balanced and unfolded smoothly. The entire story is told from the heroine's POV.

I recommend Girl Meets Class. It is a full length novel that ends with a HEA.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion I feel that Karen Gillespie should get a lot of attention with this book. Family wealth has produced a young, spoiled girl named Toni Lee Wells. Drinking, partying, several arrests have caused Daddy and Aunt Cornelia to attempt to get Toni Lee back on the straight and narrow before they lose more respect in the community. Toni Lee has her allowance taken away, and is told to get a job, keep it for a year and no screw ups, and Auntie just might give her some of her inheritance. The family never expects Toni Lee to sign up for the Teacher Corps program and get herself assigned to one of the toughest schools in the district. What occurs is proof that mind over money will happen sometimes.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toni Lee Wells got the shock of her life when her aunt and father cut her off from their credit cards and their money. But, her aunt offers her a deal she simply can't refuse. Work for a year and receive her inheritance. Easy, right? She finds out teaching is not easy and is definitely not worth all the "free time." But, the rewards are great!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It made this Saturday enjoyable.

[Diane Perry]

Hilarious! Loveable!

Loved! Karin Gillespie is one of those Southern writers that does it best. You can see it, relate to the characters and even have neighbors that act just them. This was Unputdownable book! I laughed, snorted, cried and cheered. Job well done.

[Karin Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my book so I'm obviously biased. Hope you enjoy!!!

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toni-Lee grew up with one goal in mind and devoted her whole life to that one goal - to become one of the world's best tennis players. Tennis was her whole life, that was until she ended up breaking her wrist and her career ended. As someone who recently has finally gotten over my injury - it has taken nearly 2 years to heal my broken wrist to a reasonable state. For Toni-Lee, as she also had her family's money her life becomes a rollercoaster party train of drinking and acting out. Now six months on, her father has picked her up from the police station once again and has had enough. He can't handle his daughter's destruction anymore. He calls Aunt Cornelia - Toni-Lee's mothers sister, she is where the money comes from and is the tough one. She has devised a plan to get Toni-Lee back on track and find a passion and cuts Toni-Lee's income. Toni-Lee needs a job and ends up getting one teaching the Special Ed Kids at Harriet High. If she can keep her job for a year, she will inherit her trust fund of 5 million dollars. At first, Toni is seen as a spoilt brat but as the book goes along and she falls for Carl, one of the fellow teachers - she starts to enjoy her job and care for the kids. What will happen though when she is blackmailed to keep her job and then her life spirals out of control once more when the guy she loves Carl leaves her? Can Toni-Lee prove to those around her and the ones closest to her that she has changed and that along the way her job became about the kids and not the money. Girl Meets Class was a cozy chick-lit read and reading this reminded me how much I had enjoyed the books that Henery Press published as when this company first started publishing about 2012-2013 I was one of the first reviewers to read/review their books published.