Michael Joseph falls for MA Wardell's Teachers in Love series

Teacher of the Year is a "steamy open-door, friends-to-lovers gay romance novel" that explores friendship, family, careers, relationships, anxiety and trauma. The novel has received a positive response on TikTok – according to the publisher, #teacheroftheyear has received over a million views on the app. "They are books I sought out because I kept being recommended them over and over again by my TikTok algorithm," said Finegan. "When I found out they were self-published, I knew I had to reach out to the author to see if we could bring them to an even wider audience." 

Wardell said: "The Teachers in Love series started as my heartfelt love letter to queer educators, but over time, it has evolved into something more profound. It has grown into a celebration of acceptance, understanding and the power of human connection. Through the diverse experiences of its characters, the series explores not only the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the education system but also the beauty of finding love, support, and solidarity in unexpected places." 

Smith added: "I had long been a fan of the Teachers in Love series before it landed in my inbox, and I couldn’t have been more excited when it did. Each book is such a triumph, representing queer love and bringing us characters that leap off the page and stay with us long after reading. The prospect of working on these titles and with MA Wardell was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss."