Reading Buddies

by Penny Pentley

Danielle finally landed her first real teaching job...
...but it's at a Catholic school. No big deal, she just has to hide the fact she is no longer practicing, keep her swearing to a minimum, and never ever mention her live-in boyfriend. It's that easy.

Or not. When she spends time with her new coworker, they bond over books they never got a chance to read in their teenage years. As Dani grapples with what she really wants in life, will she be able to leave the love triangles to the YA novels?

More
No; Yes
40,000 words with an HEA
Light content warnings (minor spoilers): religion, closeted homosexuality, and violation of boundaries/assault.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Rom Com

145 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2023

Reviews

[Andrea Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this entire ARC in a single day!

This story tugs some personal heartstrings as I am a teacher.
This book begins as a teacher gets her first official full-time teaching job. Did I mention it is as a Catholic school and she must uphold specific expectations to be there.

She lives with her boyfriend who is all sorts of red flags (but I guess love is blind and all that). Upon starting her adventure with her own classroom she becomes a part of the school community while making some amazing (non-traditional) friends. She hits some awkward speed bumps with some not great parents of students, and some awkward situations with her friends and boyfriend.

The absolute best part of this story is that it is centered around books and connecting with others through literature. Her 1st grade class is paired with the 7th graders for reading buddies. These reading buddies help to build connections with students and with another teacher friend too, making her feel not so isolated.
I found it hilarious that she and her reading buddy read some great titles including Hunger Games and Twilight.

[Catarina Águas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet book. Danielle was stuck in a relationship that wouldn't bring her anywhere. I was so glad when she finally dumped her boyfriend, I hated him. Adam was such a sweetheart, that man was perfect, he liked her from the beggining and was always awesome with her. I loved them, they made such a cute couple

[Sanjasbestshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Clean, fun, fast paced. My only critique is that it was too short. I wanted more of this story!

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle is a first year teacher at a private Catholic school, where her class is paired up with the handsome & single Adam Johnson’s seventh grade for Friday reading buddies. Their friendship blooms, while Danielle’s relationship with lackluster leech of a boyfriend Charlie’s relationship is becoming more and more intolerable. Add in some delightful side characters who are refreshingly open-minded and fabulous given the setting, and you have a brisk-paced romance you’ll happily get lost in for the day.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a sweet romance, so I didn't know what to expect, but I freakin' loved every minute of this book! It was fun, engaging, so well-written - just everything a good book should be. Can't wait to read more from this author!!

[Kourtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy, sweet and charming read for a rainy afternoon. Also, it should be known that if a book is about books/reading/writing/bookstore/libraries or anything of the sort, I am going to read it :)

[Teagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun and super sweet. I had a blast listening to the audiobook. A nice quick read.

[frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was funny

[Vicki (vicsenreadsandreviews) Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Buddies is so adorable! I love it so much. The way the two characters; Adam and Danielle come together to read books they missed as teenagers was great! The slow build up but yet instant attraction between them was chefs kiss! Finding out that the author also lent her voice for the audio made me squeal. Penny Bentley did a wonderful job writing and voicing this book!

[Fallon Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC of this book by the author but all opinions are my own!

I absolute love this sweet romance. The fact that it's main character is a teacher, which I can highly relate to, and the reading buddy thing? It's just great.

The author does a wonderful job of building tension (of all kinds), of establishing the relationship, of giving the main character some flaws, and carrying all of this through the story. She also gives us a fun best friend who will have you laughing.

It's LGBTQ friendly too!

[Megan Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute! I love the premise and thought the author did a really amazing job! I connected with the FMC on a deeply relatable level. Danielle is my spirit animal. I loved listening to the author narrate this book as well!

[Neelam Babul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reluctant to read this book initially. I usually can't resist reading a book with the word book in the title. I was scared of not liking the book or not having it love up to my expectations. However, once I started reading the book I couldn't stop until I had read the last page.

I'm not shy to admit that instead of working I ended up reading the book the whole day at work.

Danielle has just commenced her job as a teacher at a catholic school. She is at a standstill in her realtionahip with her longtime boyfriend, Charlie. At the Catholic school she meets Amanda who becomes her best friend.

An additional attraction to the school comes in the name of Adam, a fellow teacher and also her reading buddy. Danielle and Adam decide to read books they have always wanted to read, books they didn't read because they watched the movie and books they didn't read in high school.

From the time their classes start reading buddies, they also start. From them on thy continually keep on reading different books.

While reading, Danielle is also discover herself and find out what she wa ta from life. The romance in the story is sweet and loving. It touched my heart to read about a male character who read books like Adam.

I loved reading about the children and the way the teachers taught them and carried out different activities with them.

A perfect read for the weekend.

[Kary Bobbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and funny, perfect for a wholesome weekend.
I found this as a freebie on amazon, I picked it without expectations and turns out, it was a gem, I completely loved it... I would love to read an extended version with more juicy details XD

A classic "Damn, this guy is the best, I would love to love him, but I'm already in a relationship, even if it isn't an ideal one", without cheating, just slowly removing the rose colored glasses.
And Adam is the sweetest guy (literally XD).

Non religious people, don't let the word catholic scare you, they just happen to work in a catholic school, it doesn't focus on that.
Religious people, don't let what I just wrote scare you XD this is a clean romance, and I would said, more focused in friendship and self-love.

[Literature_leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Buddies was absolutely adorable! This was completely written with those who love to read in mind. The references to other books as well as movies had me laughing out loud. A sweet love story with a “villain” you love to hate. Danielle, the main character, grew so much, it was wonderful to see the changes in her. The side characters were totally lovable as well. I was so happy to see queer and disability representation included in this novel. I’m not generally a romcom type of girl, but this one roped me in and I read it in one sitting. The author did a great job at narrating the story and has a lovely reading voice. I highly recommend this to those who are suckers for romcoms. I hope the ending will leave you squealing and bouncing around like it did for me.

[Lena Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was unlike any I had read before and I loved the reading buddies aspect of it.

Danielle is embarking on her first full year as a teacher in a Catholic school and doesn't quite know if she'll be able to handle it. You'll go along with her as she meets parents who aren't the nicest, runs into trouble with the kids, and tries to find her footing.

Adam is another teacher as her school and their classes buddy up to read together. His 7th graders and her 1st graders read together and grow personal bonds through books.

Adam and Danielle also buddy up and read books together and their discussion of Twilight made me want to immediately watch all of the movies. So that is on my list of things to do asap!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun weekend read!

This was the perfect book for a cozy Saturday on the couch. It’ll make you go “awww!” and then maybe “ack!!” — but only because you might want to pick up the Twilight series to see if it was as good/bad as you remembered it. As a former Catholic school teacher myself I “got” this on a whole other level.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, cute, HEA

Cute read. Danielle is stuck in her relationship and believes it's the good for her. She sees her grass is green now, so why look elsewhere. Starting her new job she meets great people and gains friends. Danielle realizes maybe what she is accepting isn't really what she wants.

[Sarah Havener · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book. Wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was still good. The author narrated and did a good job!
The story revolved around teachers at a catholic school and the 2 mcs met during a reading period for their classes.

[jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved it. i would’ve liked to see more chemistry between them and see their relationship evolve in more details

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute. More to come.

[Tina Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fast pace cute story! It feels real, has good strong friendships and can help show you what others see and you don’t!

[Amber-Rose Siordia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this book so much. I had just finished a horrible book, and needed a quick palette cleanser, little did I know it would be the cutest book I’ve read.
Danielle gets her first teaching job at a Catholic school, and is nervous because she’s no longer practicing, and she also lives with her (terrible) boyfriend, Charlie. Danielle meets an amazing second grade teacher, Amanda who quickly becomes a best friend. While discussing how her first all school mass went, Amanda tells her about, “reading buddies” and how Dani is paired with the 7th graders to help with her 1st graders, and in comes 7th grade teacher, Adam.
Adam gives me immediate golden retriever vibes, quirky and kind. They bond over books they never got to read as kids. Their love/hate relationship over the Twilight series had me laughing.
There are parts that make you mad, and parts that make you so happy, and overall you’re rooting for Dani, and see her character grow in such a short time. Absolutely love this book.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and fast read! Loved all of the characters (well, except Charlie). Only wish that Dani left Charlie earlier in the book so we could see her and Adam's relationship more.

[Stephanie Abelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

This was a really cute story about 2 new teachers put together as reading buddy classes. I loved it. There was a little suspense and drama too.

[Denise Figueroa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this book on Friday, August 15, 2025 at 2:20 p.m. It was a cute story.

[Tina Sreniawski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, quick read (no spice). If Jim and Pam from The Office were teachers in a Catholic school.