Beyond the Bell: A Grumpy Boss Workplace Romance

Lessons in Love #1

by Ana Kirk Shaw

My boss is the stiff, surly, suited city bureaucrat… and I’m the new teacher of his nightmares.

I’m desperate for a fresh start at a new school. Lucky for me, Oliver Flores, the infuriatingly hot principal of PS 2, is desperate for a new teacher.

He’s forced to hire the Sweaty Albeit Beautiful Trash Siren he found amongst the dumpsters (I had a morning, okay?). I’m forced to take the job.

He’s all label makers and lists. I’m all creativity and chaos.

He needs to loosen up. I need to tighten up.

He demands control. I need freedom.

For right now, I have no choice but to follow my boss’s every explicit directive and not make any waves. No drama llamas. Because he needs his promotion. And I need to keep this job.

But what happens when Mr. Flores’s orders go from “send me your lesson plans” to “see me after school”? What happens when they go from “take it out” to “let me in”?

For the sake of both of our jobs, we’ll need to keep this a secret. It’s a terrible idea…

…but I might just love it when Oliver orders me around.

Beyond the Bell is the first book in the Lessons in Love series and can be read as a total standalone. It’s for fans of high heat romantic comedies, and features a grumpy boss and his sunshine employee, a fresh start, a secret relationship, BIPOC representation, found family, and tons of spice.

Genres: Romance, Workplace Romance, Workplace, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Forbidden Romance

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2025

About the author

Ana Kirk Shaw wrote her first romance at eight years old. It was a shifter romance starring Scar from The Lion King and Amelia Bedelia. It was weird.

She is now a teacher by day and romance author by night (plus weekends and summer break). She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, kids, and cats.

Reviews

[Ayanna S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow just wow .. This book was absolutely amazing , life changing , everything about it .

Tropes: Found family , Workplace, principal x teacher , mental health rep , grumpy x sunshine , BIPOC rep

I absolutely loved this story through and through, not only was it something I personally could relate to , it was beautiful written , I especially loved the mental health aspects of it , the different showcasings of OCD , ADHD and anxiety , also the humor ? Absolutely amazing , the banter was perfect , the laughs , the gasps I took throughout? Just amazing . Only thing I'd say is the spelling errors but that can easily be solved. the spice was also top tier ! I mean whew Mr Flores ?? Yes please .

All in all I don't want to give too much away but I am so pleased and thankful my first arc read was so amazing , also something I hadn't even tried before (principal x teacher ) I loved this book and I can't wait to read again in the future 🫶🏾 well done Ana ! Well done.

[Shannon Briede · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beyond the Bell by Ana Kirk Shaw was a difficult read, one I powered through solely out of respect for being granted an ARC. Unfortunately, this book fell flat on many levels, leaving me wishing I had put it down earlier.

The FMC, Georgia, is one of the most frustrating protagonists I’ve encountered. Her personality oscillates between being flighty and scatterbrained to insufferably entitled. Georgia’s constant need to “test” those around her was not only exhausting but came off as toxic and “pick me” behavior, making it hard to root for her.

The MMC, Oliver, was more tolerable, though he had his cringe-worthy moments. His family dynamic was refreshing and one of the few bright spots in the story. However, the conflict between Georgia and Oliver was grating, particularly her insistence on playing the victim. Georgia’s accusations of Oliver trying to control her and “holding power” over her were baffling—he’s her boss! She entered the relationship fully aware of the dynamic and then conveniently ignored that fact when it suited her narrative.

Ultimately, Georgia’s destructive behavior and complete lack of accountability turned this book into a chore. While Oliver’s character and his family provided brief reprieves, they weren’t enough to salvage the story. Beyond the Bell had potential, but it’s weighed down by an unlikeable protagonist and clunky character dynamics.

[Jazz .☘︎ ݁˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, this was off to a promising start, but the further I got, the more I disliked it.
 
Now I’m not saying I didn’t like it at all, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wished I could’ve. I found it to be lacking in many things.
 
I didn’t feel the chemistry between Georgia and Oliver in any way, which made the romance extremely poor. Not only together but also individually, these characters were super unlikable, which didn’t give me much to work with. The secondhand embarrassment I got after most of their interactions was not… ideal. Oliver has this whole “I’m better than you” attitude that I could not stand!!! Justice for Georgia, even if I could barely tolerate her.
 
Overall, even if this didn’t have the desired effect, the humor and the side characters were amazing, and I laughed a ton!

✎ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀/𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Workplace romance
Grumpy sunshine
He’s obsessed
Forbidden
Found family
Open door
Neurodivergent FMC
Mental health rep

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙎𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!

[Lizzy L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review | 4 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️

This was such a fun and quick read, I had a really good time reading this!
I enjoyed the comedy, the BIPOC + mental health representation as well as the spice!

The characters felt so relatable, I fell in love with every single one of them but I specially loved Oliver’s family the best, it reminded me so much of my Hispanic family!

If you are into:

◽️Principal x Teacher
◽️Grumpy x Sunshine
◽️Fresh Start
◽️Secret Relationship
◽️ BICOP Rep
◽️Found Family
◽️Dual POV

Then this book is for you!

[andrea.el · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️


* This was an ARC read for me, this was quick, fun and spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️

however, the ending knocked the rating down because it was really upsetting with the way the main characters were treating each other and it felt like she was being mean…?

[nicklein · Rating 4 out of 5]

guess who went in because i share a last name with the mmc? 🙋‍♀️ but then i find out that he’s also filipino??? 🫠 obsessed, i tell you, obsessed. the plot and spice are chefs kiss. highly recommend!!

[jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

- 4/5 stars -

A big thank you to Ana and team for allowing me the opportunity to have an ARC! 💕

Tropes included:
📖 principal x teacher
📖 grumpy x sunshine
📖 poc rep
📖 mental health rep
📖 age gap
📖 he falls first and harder
📖 nicknames along the lines of “sir” and “good girl”

This book is EVERYTHING. Georgia and Oliver, individually and together, are such amazing characters. Their chemistry, their banter, their tension is *chef’s kiss*! Their love story is so genuine, the side characters are so lovable, and ✨ the spice ✨ is top-tier (y’all will love ch. 27).

I cannot recommend this book enough! Such a fun, but beautiful read! Once again, a huge thank you to Ana and team for letting me be involved in the ARC process! I look forward to your next books in the series and beyond, Ana! :)

[Jaqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I enjoyed this book a lot it had very sweet moments that just made my heart melt. But I definitely struggled to get into it at the beginning.

Georgia was a great character but I found her irritating whenever she “tested” people. That just irked me so much because they had to pass her test to be just amazing people. Idk I feel like people make mistakes and the constant need to “test” people just feels wrong.

Oliver was low key annoying sometimes too especially towards the end when he it felt like he mostly thought about himself. But he definitely tried to correct his mistakes. Georgia on the other hand would take accountability in a way that was needed.

The side character were entertaining the story overall was good.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I get it, you're a teacher, but I read to escape and I really don't need the nitty gritty of education policy in NYC whilst trying to get to the smut. the guy was mean, and the girl was entirely unprofessional and a fucking idiot for acting the way she does 10/10 times. utterly insufferable, but the side characters were good, if a little caricature-y.

also, who in the actual fuck sees their boss at the farmers market, then goes up to talk to them, then goes to an open together, pretending to be a couple and using fake accents. that is not normal behaviour and was in fact the most forced interactions I have ever experienced.

[❅ Karen ❅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The place look at me going because I've never read any school Romance that had to do it with the teachers and administration.
You can't go wrong with the grumpy/sunshine romance because it's always interesting to see how the two characters will connect. Here you follow Georgia, who's a teacher, that loves to allow her children I have expressive freedom. And then you have a liver, the principal, who is very set in his ways and does not like to be out of control.
They're hoping for one -time of thing and they grow very attached to each other. I really enjoyed seeing the character development between the two because they do focus a lot on bettering themselves. This author did a great job allowing the characters to have the breaking points but also them realizing their own personal weaknesses.
Don't get me started on their chemistry!! I absolutely love them together. Age gap is not my favorite but I like that the author didn't focus much on that. And with the found family, it was the cherry on top!

🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Bell by Ana Kirk Shaw completely stole my heart! I was so blessed to receive this as an ARC for my unbiased, honest review, and I really really enjoyed this. I think I found it so much more funny and relatable because I’m also in education, so it just pulled at my heart strings how loving, thoughtful, and open both Georgia & Oliver are towards their students. It’s really hard to find some administration in public schools that seem to really want to make positive changes and better their student’s lives, so finding that in Oliver is a dream!
‌
Outside of that one aspect, this book is smutty as hell! I was not expecting the amount of open door spicy scenes and to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. So if you love spice and smut, this is definitely for you!
‌
I also laughed out loud from this book MULTIPLE times, so much so that my husband would look at me like I’m crazy because I was in tears laughing. Not many books can give me that reaction, so this is a 10/10. Literally all the quotes I saved on my kindle are funny scenes that I just loved!
‌
If you love:
-boss & employee
-enemies-to-lovers
-open door, on page explicit scenes
-diverse characters
-a book to touch on real life problems
-mental health reps
Then you will DEVOUR this!

[Hailee Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always up for a fun spicy and feisty forbidden romance. And to add it to being a love story that happens in the chaos of a school just trust me I know your going to love it so go get it and read it now what are you waiting for.... now I'm going to go wait impatiently for book #2. I received a digital ARC of this adorable book for free and am voluntarily leaving my feedback!

[Meghan Lamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so relatable. I loved the characters and was rooting for them since the beginning. The polar opposites truly do attract and they work it out. The FMC goes to therapy and is constantly working on herself which makes me hope for the same. The writing is just amazing. The romance is romancing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan ;༊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★★
Spice: ♡♡♡

"You're far too much, but turns out that you're my just right."

Thank you, BookSirens and Ana, for the e-ARC. I had an amazing time reading this book. The forbidden/taboo trope was written very well, and the smut *fanning myself* was fantastic! I also appreciated the representation of BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and mental health issues.
However, I believe the conflict between them could have been avoided if they had taken a moment to step back and think about it. Georgia was aware of the power imbalance between them from the very beginning, while Oliver was too focused on his own goals to see the situation clearly. Nonetheless, by the end, they worked through these challenges, and I am happy for them.

So, the moral of the story is, DO YOUR THERAPY HOMEWORK lol

TROPES:
Workplace romance
Principal x Teacher
Forbidden
Age gap (10 yrs)
Interracial couple
Banter
Opposites attract (chaos x order)
LGBTQIA rep
BIPOC rep
Mental health rep
Lots of nicknames
"Good girl" "Yes, sir"

[Samari · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the author for graciously providing me with an ARC of this book. Diving into Beyond the Bell was a refreshing departure from my usual reads this year, and I found the experience interesting.

One of the highlights for me was the dynamic between Georgia and Oliver. Their interactions were engaging and filled with chemistry. That said, my only minor critique is that I wish their romantic relationship had blossomed a bit sooner. The buildup was enjoyable, but a slightly earlier shift might have allowed for even more exploration of their connection and it would have made the early "I love yous" make sense.

Beyond the central romance, the book excels in several areas. The character development is exceptional—each character felt authentic and multi-dimensional. Shaw’s writing style is smooth, drawing readers into the story with ease. Additionally, the format of the book was thoughtfully structured, enhancing the flow and overall reading experience.

Overall, Beyond the Bell is a gem of a book that I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s a compelling read that strikes a perfect balance between heartfelt moments and engaging storytelling.

[Coco’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was sent an ARC copy of this book*

Where should I start? I really enjoyed this book for what it was. It had dynamic characters that weren’t just your regular yt male and woman frolicking in New York. It had a great family aspect that I loved SO much. As someone from a big crazy family I felt right at home with Oliver’s huge ass family.

Georgia’s first impression had me DYING. She was fun and quirky but not in the “ugh I’m so different” way. She had a way about her that was entirely her own and she stuck to it every time. The Grumpy-Sunshine was grumpy sunshining so much so that I almost lost my fucking mind and beat Oliver over the head. I had to put my book down at one point!!! I loved the therapy aspects and how they both had things they needed to address and work on and it wasn’t just something forgotten or left behind and used as a random plot point!

It definitely read like I was watching a show and I felt like I could picture all the scenes really clearly in my head. I really enjoyed the romance and the smut! 10/10 and I can’t wait to read more from this author and I hope she continues and makes them a series! I’d love to read more in this world she built!

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will forever be grateful that I stumbled on a post asking for ARC readers for Beyond the Bell.

This book was absolutely everything. Georgia and Oliver’s character development throughout the story was perfect. I fell in love with them separately and together as a couple. There’s the perfect amount of humor and spice and a perfect happy ending. Ana Kirk Shaw has made her way on my list of favorite authors. I can’t wait to read the next installment of Lessons In Love!

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating breakdown
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Enjoyment: 5/5
Perspective Addition: 4.5/5

Final rating: 4.7/5 ⭐️

This review is a little chaotic because I’m channeling my inner Georgia.

First things first, I might be biased because I work in the field of education. It’s trite, but teachers are overworked and underappreciated. Teaching in the U.S. public school system is also one of those jobs you do because you actually love it and appreciate the heck out of it. Because 1) they don’t get paid nearly enough for the things they do both inside and outside the classroom, and 2) in the current political climate, teaching is not that stable of a career. Yet, despite the difficulty and the enormous pressure of the system—the long hours of prepping and working—there are still people like the characters in Beyond the Bell who dedicate their lives to teaching and standing up so fearlessly for their students.

Okay, out with my positionality. Let’s talk about the book.

This story follows Georgia, a NYC public school teacher with innovative teaching methods, who is desperately looking for a new job that suits her better than the current military-industrial-complex shitshow of her school. Then there’s Oliver, a principal of a public school he just turned around, but now he’s in hot water because they are missing a permanent teacher for their classroom. After their not-so-meet-cute (Oliver thought Georgia—who showed up for an interview—was doing drugs behind his school’s dumpster, and he even so kindly pointed her to the methadone clinic), the two of them could not be more different, down to the Takis flavor. Georgia is fun, creative, flighty, chaotic. Oliver is calm, collected, in need of control at all times. But they must work through their differences because, well, Oliver needs a teacher and Georgia needs the job. Will they be able to make it work?

After reading this book, I’m convinced that the type of book you shouldn’t read in public isn’t smut, but one that can bring out all the emotions in you. I was reading this at the airport (rookie mistake). At one point, I was hunched over laughing out loud, which terrified the old lady sitting next to me at the gate. She legit stood up and moved. The next moment, I had tears in my eyes from the tender moments between Georgia and Oliver as they traded secrets in his office or told each other countless couch stories. And then, I had to close my Kindle and look up at the ceiling of the plane, contemplating jumping off because—whoosh!—it got so hot in there, and they haven’t even violated any DOE code of conduct (yet!)

Georgia and Oliver quarrel like children. They fought so intensely until emotions grew so big they couldn’t ignore anymore. They’re so different, but they fit together like a perfect puzzle. The chemistry between them is practically unmatched. I’m in love with the Flores and all their chaos. I’m in love with the Penthouse. Who could’ve known that the arc I deliriously signed up for at 3 in the morning would turn out to be this great?

I totally read this for perspective-taking, as Ana is a public school teacher in the great state of NY (hi NYC, another NY education person here!). And I fell in love. I fell so hard I think I need at least five more books like this.

Once again, thank you so, so much for gifting me this ARC for an honest review. I’m eternally grateful!!

[Jordan S · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, what I liked. I loved the setting. The author is a teacher in Brooklyn in real life and she did an incredible job of situating the reader in PS 2 and describing New York City. I enjoyed the ensemble cast of characters, mainly the children. They were so cute and funny! They were true to form except for a few odd things here and there. Wish we could’ve gotten even more from them. I liked Georgia. She was funny, and very, very quirky. (Sometimes bordering on too much, but I still liked her.) I loved Oliver. Might be a new addition in the book boyfriend's masterlist. He was sexy and cute at the same time. He had a label maker and was terrified of scary movies, but also said things that I cannot repeat here. Also is there anything better than a man that seems like a stoic jerk, but has a soft spot for children?? He’s ostensibly perfect and I need him. Now for my absolute favorite part of the book. They actually start out not liking each other. A lot of times, in workplace “enemies-to-lover” romances, the two love interests don’t really actively dislike each other. It’s either she thinks he hates her (he does not) or it’s solely based on miscommunication (he rolled his eyes and yawned during my presentation; he is now my mortal enemy). The minute Oliver sees Georgia’s glitter pens and excel spreadsheets typed in Comic Sans, he decides he does not like her. He is just the right amount of mean to her and she does not take any of his shit. I think the back and forth between them is delicious, and I don’t know what that says about me.

Now, for the only majorly glaring problem I had with the book. The way that race is handled. Stick with me. The reason Georgia left her previous school is because all they cared about was accreditation and test scores and she wanted the kids to learn more about culture and heritage—basically she wants a more diverse curriculum. Which is super valid, and it’s a huge part of the book as we see her teaching lessons about culture/diversity and dealing with her student’s bigoted father, but there’s a point where Oliver imitates her and calls himself a white savior and Georgia agrees…but she’s white and he’s Filipino… And his Filipino heritage is a huge part of the book especially when his family is introduced. I don’t know…it just rubbed me the wrong way. Then toward the end of the book, she confronts the student’s homophobic, racist father again and tells him that the reason he was in the area was because he was at a sex shop to buy a “big, black dildo to fuck [himself] with.” Surely, Georgia—feminist, anti-racist extraordinaire—understands the implications of big, black, and dildo in that order. Also if she was so scared of him (it’s mentioned several times that he’s bigger than her and implied that he is violent) why the hell would she provoke him like this???? It didn’t sit right with me.

TL;DR: overall a very enjoyable read and solid debut, with slightly questionable things here and there. More romances between teachers please!

This review is based on an Advance Reader Copy provided by Ana Kirk Shaw.

[Kenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC READER REVIEW
** this is my personal and honest review SPOILERS AHEAD read at your own risk **

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5


First and foremost I would like to thank Ana Kirk Shaw for this ARC!

May I say, I am OBSESSED with Beyond the Bell, and the entire PS2 third grade staff!!! I love, love, LOVED this book! The sheer representation, the accuracy of what school politics and dynamics can be like, was so refreshing.

I loved Georgia from the get-go, Oliver took some time to grow on me. His family helped, and partially because my own Asian-American family like they are. His surliness, and desire for structure, were a stark contrasts to Georgia’s more fluid, and bright personality. Their grumpy sunshine, and off-limits relationship was one that left no crumbs. They started on uneven ground, at odds with each other through miscommunications and misunderstandings that lead to them learning to communicate with each other in a healthy and productive way. Mind you there was a lot of ✨other communication✨ had along the way to get there.

Both Georgia and Oliver had a lot of personal growth throughout this book, all while navigating a new (lightly forbidden) relationship, nosy family and co-workers, and challenging relationships with students and their families. Watching Max and Dorothy grow ro become friends, and Georgia face off (albeit not handled in the best way) with a bigot (my patience wouldn’t have lasted as long), and having her community stand behind her was gratifying. I also loved watching Oliver and Georgia’s relationship grow and develop.

The only true qualm I had which knocked Beyond the Bell from a 5 to a 4.5 was that Georgia’s ADHD was mentioned until 70% of the way through the book. As a person living with ADHD it is a (sometimes regretfully) integral part of my life and how my brain functions and how my emotions are regulated (or lack thereof), and it would’ve explained a lot more of her quirks earlier on rather than me assuming that she was neuro-divergently coded. Oliver was also ND coded which I would’ve loved the rep, but enjoyed nonetheless!

I can’t wait to read more from Ana Kirk Shaw, and the rest of the Lessons in Love series!!

[ash ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

kindle: 3.75⭐️ I was wary of this one at first but it did ultimately turn itself around and ended with a resolution that I appreciated, so I will round up to four for the rating.

I wish the power imbalance was addressed more throughout the book and that the issues/flaws of their relationship were being worked out throughout the whole story, rather than having a third act breakup and superfast total resolution to all their problems

i know this author is actually an educator but i’m SO curious about that tbh bc there were certain aspects that gave major “this person has never set foot in a school” vibes (but also some things that were spot on). the biggest thing that pulled me out of the story was the descriptions of what was supposedly third grade curriculum but was literally a high school level project rubric lol. also my personal pet peeve as a school social worker was the representation of the school social worker, who absolutely would’ve been looped in waaaay earlier and also absolutely would be qualified to do the things they said they weren’t qualified to do

[Rachelle LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Bell is the debut novel for @anakirkshaw.author

I did struggle to get into the story at first but once I reached the 15% mark, I couldn’t put it down.

This was a quick easy work place romance. Oliver is the principal at PS 2 and Georgia is his newly hired teacher.

I really liked Oliver’s family especially his mom. I laughed every time she was in a scene.

Oliver and Georgia worked well as a couple. They had a strong connection and the chemistry was believable.

This will not be a book for everyone but there will be a lot of people that absolutely love Beyond the Bell.

Thank you Ana Kirk Shaw for the ARC.

[Mariah Sativa · Rating 4 out of 5]

**SPOILER FREE ARC REVIEW**

This was a great read! Firstly i want to say the names? Love. I’m so tired of seeing the same names overused in books! Such a breath of fresh air with some new names.

This book is filled with Filipino, mental health, and LGBTQIA+ representation off of main and side characters. Pace was a bit slow for my normal liking, but so worth it. Oliver and Georgia have tension and banter that I’ve been LONGING for.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even know where to start with this one. After my last read, I could feel I was about to hit a reading slump. Then, I received my arc of Beyond the Bell. The cover is cute, and according to the blurb, it has Abbott Elementary vibes-I love that show! This books definitely has that vibes with with! But I'll get more into that later ;)

Georgia Baker is in search of a fresh start at a new school. Oliver Flores is in desperate need of a teacher. He is forced to hire Georgia, and take her under his wing. Georgia has no choice but to follow his directives. No dramas! Because Oliver is up for a promotion, and she needs to keep her job. But when the bell rings, meetings turn into other activities.

Georgia is chaotic, feisty, and fierce. Oliver is demanding, organized, and straight-laced. They are opposites, and they banter sooo much! Then, the banter turns into some kind of foreplay for them. All I'm saying is that hot principal Oliver may look very professional (and he totally is) but that man has a way with words if you know what I mean. I was left wide-eyed at the steamy scenes.

Of course, this book is not just about the romance. There are different layers such as the tough situations educators often find themselves in and mental well-being. Those who work in the educational field (not just teachers) will find this relatable. I also really appreciated the Filipino representation in this one!

>> Boss & underling
>> Enemies to lovers
>> Secret relationship
>> BIPOC representation
>> Mental health representation

[Shia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The angst, tension, chemistry, humor, sarcasm and wit were all such a perfect combination for this romance! I loved the diverse representation especially one of the Filipino race being Filipina myself! The cultural references were on point and had me laughing so hard as it reminded me of my own family.

Now the steamy parts were done sooooooo deliciously well. I swear that slow burn, antagonistic relationship between these two would have killed me slowly and I would have died happily.

Definitely recommend!

[Gen Bautista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall the story line was good. It was fun, cute, spice was good.

As a fellow educator, I appreciated the fact that she kept the spice and romance outside of the work space making it more realistic. I also appreciated the accuracy of a school setting and everything that goes along with it.

It’s a quick and funny romance read. Enjoyed it!

[Jennifer Kingsborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Bell
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 🌶️🌶️ .5 - ARC review

I’m all about being honest with my reviews, so I’m not going to lie, this was a slow start for me. I’m glad I kept reading because I did end up enjoying the book. Nice quick read!
All the characters were very relatable, and my favorite has to be Oliver’s Mom!

Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Secret Relationship
Dual POV
Principal x Teacher

[Alex (HEABookNerd)]

DNF @ 15%

The writing for BEYOND THE BELL is pretty good and the character "voices" are definitely unique but I don't particularly like either MC and I especially don't like the power dynamic that's being set up between them (outside the expected boss/employee one).

[Christel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first ARC review and I’m so happy with my first finished read of 2025!

My favorite part about this book had to be the Flores family. They reminded me so much of my own ginormous filipino family and the feeling of bringing my boyfriend into the loving chaos 🥰

I also loved the found family aspect with the 3rd grade team and the different character development arcs we see through Oliver, Georgia, and Max.

I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

[Ana Filipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.50⭐️

It was actually super cute 🥰