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its_vendetta's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was cute! Not too exciting tho and I found it a little slow sometimes. But the characters are lovable and I was rooting for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Miscarriage, Car accident, and Pregnancy
crazyras101's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
apricothopeful's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Blood, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
alexelli's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
cm02's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This took me a long time to finish. This feels oddly obvious that this was a debut. How? By the heavy amounts of specific word and phrase repetition that was irksome the more we read. The amount of times Olan blushes and calls Marvin adorable was slightly nerve wracking. Also, as a teacher, the way the Teacher of the Year was set up didn’t make any sense. Parents can’t nominate teachers, it’s run by staff at the school. Also… funding is not related to this ? There were just some teacher aspects that took me out of the story. The way Olan and Marvin get together didn’t feel believable. Also Marvin probably should have invested in therapy before getting into a relationship after Adam. He clearly had of internal baggage and it wasn’t fair to blame Olan or use his anxiety as a crutch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
20sidedbi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity
burinoreads's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The main character is frustrating when it comes to his trauma..
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
atlastheninth's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was so lovely, everything about this made me happy.
Sometimes when reading a book I dread reading on because I know something bad will happen, because the story needs it. But not here. It was so cute and you know that everything will be perfect by the end and I am in love. I’m usually not a contemporary reader, let alone contemporary romance but here I am. I loved every second of it. It was so nice and easy to read, I devoured this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Panic attacks/disorders
theskyboi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Up until now, I had never had the pleasure of reading a romance that spoke to my desires and sentiments as a gay man; M.A. Wardell changed that for the better. What can I say that hasn't been said before about this masterpiece?
Marvin Block is a gay, Jewish kindergarten teacher with an immense passion for the work that he does in shaping the minds of tomorrow's world. His journey toward becoming teacher of the year hits a slight bump in the road when his new student, Illona, and her father, Olan Stone, come into his classroom.
I felt so immediately welcomed into every setting in this novel. The author does an impeccable job of laying out the scenery in a way that almost had me checking real estate listings in Maine. Similarly, the dialogue is captivating, realistic, and structured, all of which helped me to sink into Marvin and Olan's world.
Emotions and eroticism are well within Wardell's wheelhouse. I was feeling grief, compassion, frustration, and arousal all throughout this book. The clarity with which I could see myself in these characters' shoes let me feel the weight of their experiences as men, as parents, and as professionals.
A further note on the erotic nature of the book... I loved it! I wouldn't say that it's for everyone, but I didn't realize that the physical intimacy would heighten my reading of a book in the romance genre. For those who feel a certain sense of realism lacking from MM stories, this author is your vindication.
Above all else, Wardell's mission to paint gay men and educators alike in complex, varied hues is a noble effort—and one he has achieved flawlessly. I look forward to seeing what comes in future stories within his growing body of work!
Marvin Block is a gay, Jewish kindergarten teacher with an immense passion for the work that he does in shaping the minds of tomorrow's world. His journey toward becoming teacher of the year hits a slight bump in the road when his new student, Illona, and her father, Olan Stone, come into his classroom.
I felt so immediately welcomed into every setting in this novel. The author does an impeccable job of laying out the scenery in a way that almost had me checking real estate listings in Maine. Similarly, the dialogue is captivating, realistic, and structured, all of which helped me to sink into Marvin and Olan's world.
Emotions and eroticism are well within Wardell's wheelhouse. I was feeling grief, compassion, frustration, and arousal all throughout this book. The clarity with which I could see myself in these characters' shoes let me feel the weight of their experiences as men, as parents, and as professionals.
A further note on the erotic nature of the book... I loved it! I wouldn't say that it's for everyone, but I didn't realize that the physical intimacy would heighten my reading of a book in the romance genre. For those who feel a certain sense of realism lacking from MM stories, this author is your vindication.
Above all else, Wardell's mission to paint gay men and educators alike in complex, varied hues is a noble effort—and one he has achieved flawlessly. I look forward to seeing what comes in future stories within his growing body of work!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content