A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

Great idea for a book and really well executed. A thoroughly good read. Highly recommended. .

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. This is the first in the series so there is a lot explanation. Poppy has returned to help her Aunt Ginny out and go to her Class Reunion. At the reunion she meets up with old friends and mean girls. When one of those mean girls is killed and Poppy is the suspect she sets out to solve the crime. Along with the murder she also has to help her Aunt hold onto her house. There is a lot of humor as Poppy tries to juggle both mysteries and bakes Gluten Free Treats for a local bakery. I really liked Aunt Ginny. The author does a good job with the South New Jersey Setting and baking background. The mystery was good and there were a lot of suspects. The solution made sense. The book was a quick light, enjoyable read. The back of the book includes some of Poppy's Gluten Free recipes. I am looking for word to reading more in this series. Enjoy

This is a wonderful start to a new series. I loved the themes in this book. Besides having a mystery, there is high school bullying, healthy living and naturopathic healing as well as self-esteem, acceptance and second chances. All this is wrapped up in fun with a lot of laughs along the way.

Poppy McAllister is dreading the 25th reunion of her high school graduating class, in fact, she doesn't even want to go. Her best friend, Sawyer, talked her into attending along with the other two girls, Kim and Colleen, that were her only friends in high school. Since the death of her husband, Poppy's life has been falling apart. She has gained a lot of weight, her mother in law is driving her crazy, and her only companion is Figaro the cat. Her dreams of becoming a pastry chef and a mother have vanished and at this point, she has no desire to spend an evening with all the bullies who made her life miserable, and will probably make her feel even worse about herself and her life. When the reunion plays out the way Poppy expected, it is understandable to see her snap. She finally lets loose on Barbie, the leader of the mean girls followed by a physical altercation between Barbie and Sawyer. When Barbie is found dead in front of Poppy's old locker, by Poppy, she is the main suspect in her death.

Cape May, New Jersey is a fun town. The characters inhabiting the town, especially the older set, are a hoot. Aunt Ginny is one of the funnest characters I have come across in a long time. I hope I have that much energy and wit when I am in my 70s. Poppy is a smart, sarcastic heroine, who is loyal to her true friends and her family (not her husband's family). She is addicted to food and is a plus-sized woman, which I loved. She ends up with not one, but two males interested in her which is also a nice change, that they do not all go after the skinny women. Even the two women she meets when arrested are wonderfully written and give inspiration to Poppy to make changes to her life. All in all, someone I would love to have as a friend. And of course, the police are out in full force, but with the blinders on so that Poppy has to hand them the evidence to eventually solve the crime. This is a cozy mystery after all. The lead detective is also one of the bullies from high school, so that adds another dimension to the story. I also enjoyed the secondary storyline about the Social Services trying to get Aunt Ginny put in a nursing home because she needed supervision. I did figure out where that plotline was going before the ending and I loved the resolution of it. The story moves quickly and the reveal of the culprit was well done, although not someone I had on my radar. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy cozy mysteries, especially those with humour and quirky characters. I am really looking forward to reading the next one in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions stated are my own.

Poppy McAllister is a definite tragic heroine, life starts on track has a great boyfriend is thinking culinary school then it all goes awry. Fast forward 25 years she is a new widow who runs away to live with her aunt in Cape May New Jersey. While there her best friend manages to convince her attend the dreaded 10 year reunion. Enter the mean girls and bane of Poppy's high school days., naturally there is some friction, words are exchanged and the head cheerleader/head mean girl ends up being the dead mean girl. Of course all fingers are pointing to Poppy who has more than enough on her mind as she gets over heartbreak while managing her gluten intake. Poppy is the best and I love her optimistic outlook. Her life is topsy turvy but with silver linings, like the fact that she is able to reconnect with her high school sweetheart and former fiancé. Oh and there is the exotically handsome Italian coffee shop owner who LOVES her gluten free treats. Poppy has every reason to put her head in the sand or hide under the covers but instead she gets busy solving the crime because the one thing she is absolutely sure of is that sugar is addictive and she isn't a killer.

Class Reunions are Murder is a fantastic first book in the new Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein. Poppy’s character is newly widowed, her husband having passed a few months prior. She is under the oppressive thumb of her mother-in-law. Through her husband’s death and issues with her mother-in-law, Poppy’s main friend has been a dreaded four letter word – Food. So, when she receives an invitation to attend her high school reunion, Poppy has absolutely no intention on attending. Enter Poppy’s friend Sawyer. Her character manages to persuade Poppy to pack up her life and head back to New Jersey for a weekend of catching up and seeing old classmates. When one her little group’s rivals, however, is found dead in the high school hallway in front of Poppy’s old locker, the game changes.

Poppy is considered a suspect and is not allowed to leave New Jersey. Poppy isn’t the only suspect, except, she doesn’t really think that the police are looking in the right directions. It doesn’t help that one of the police officers has it in for Poppy. Now Poppy has to stay in New Jersey, try to clear her name, and find exactly what it is that she did to the police office back in school that causes her to hold a grudge to this day. Who knew that class reunions could be murder!

I cannot believe how delightful this first book is in the series. The author put a lot of thought and research into this book concerning both Poppy’s life but the life of her Aunt Ginny. Poppy is a wonderful main character. She’s not perfect, not supermodel thin, yet has a personality that is awesome. I would totally be her friend. She’s real, sarcastic, kind of a pushover when it comes to her mother-in-law, and funny. This book is full of wit, snark, and humor. Poppy’s Aunt Ginny is a such a quirky character, too. I loved her antics.

The side story concerning Aunt Ginny takes the story on a completely separate storyline but it fits so well in the book. The situation facing Aunt Ginny is, unfortunately, not uncommon. I really liked how the author wrote about this type of thing in her book. I’m deliberately being vague because I don’t want to give away that part of the story.

There is strong character development and world building in Class Reunions are Murder. Even in just the first book I saw Poppy change a little bit. Being accused of murder would most likely do that to someone but she stays strong and despite her own troubles she’s there for her aunt. Poppy and Aunt Ginny face Ginny’s situation head-on, handling it like she’s done it before. The book is written with realism that I could feel.

This book is fun and a must read for all cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Class reunions aren't really my 'thing' but the title was intriguing enough that I had to read this one.

I thought that it was a great mystery with a great cast of characters. I love the relationship between Poppy and Aunt Ginny.

The story caught my attention from the first page and I didn't want to put it down until I finished it.

This is a great start for a new series and I'll be looking for the other books in the series.

Great story but I did not like the fat shaming of Poppy McAllister I did enjoy her character and felt she was a great lead kind of a Bridget Jones character loooooved her aunt such a spunky character and so supportive of Poppy also I am so glad she had really good friends to help her investigate for the type of grocery aisle book section this is a good read !

For fortysomething Poppy McAllister, taking a stroll down memory lane in Cape May, New Jersey, isn’t just awkward—it’s deadly.
Middle-aged Poppy McAllister is a widow, and living on sweets, TV, and conversations with her cat. She's also being bullied by her mother-in-law. But when a letter from her high school tormentor arrives, inviting her to a strange meeting at the high school reunion arrives, Poppy knows she's being bullied by a piece of paper. But that's okay, because she doesn't plan on going to the reunion...until her best friend Sawyer demands that she goes.

So Poppy packs up a suitcase full of clothing that no longer fits and her cat, who is not happy to leave home, and heads to Cape May. She used the time to visit with her eccentric Aunt Ginny, and quickly finds out that social services thinks it's time for Aunt Ginny to be in assisted living.

Then, in a dress that she wouldn't be caught dead wearing, she goes to the reunion and Barbie, her high school tormentor, ends up dead, and Poppy discovers the body. That makes the authorities think Poppy is the murder, since the death followed a fight between Poppy and her friends and Barbie.

It's up to Poppy to clear her name, and to keep her Aunt Ginny out of assisted living while she fights to pull herself out of her middle-age slump.

This book kept me up way past my bedtime, and made me laugh so hard in spots that tears leaked from my eyes. Poppy is a wonderful character who grows from someone who feels sorry for herself and doesn't want to do anything but watch TV, eat and talk to her cat, to someone willing to take on an investigation to clear her name.

I think one of the reasons I liked Poppy so much is she's not the traditional character. She's been through a lot in her life, and it makes her a character that I identified with, and rooted for as the book progressed.

The cast of characters in this book are unique, and I have a special spot for Aunt Ginny. But I also loved seeing Gia on the page, the owner of a local cafe who takes a shine to Poppy. There is a great list of suspects, and I kept going back and forth as to whodunit. I was surprised at the end, which added to my enjoyment.

I was only a few pages into this book when I realized it would be be one of my favorite mystery series. I worried that it would lose its appeal, a mixture of humor, sarcasm, and the fight for self and family. But it didn't. The things that attracted me to the book kept pace throughout, and when I finished the last page I wanted the second book at hand...which means I can't hardly wait until the end of July when it comes out.

Class Reunions are Murder is a great start to a new series. I definitely recommend this one to people who like humor in their mysteries.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Newly widowed and in the depths of junk food despair, Poppy McAllister resists returning to Cape May, New Jersey for a 25th high school reunion. In Class Reunions Are Murder by Libby Klein, Poppy only thinks they figuratively are murder,when they literally are. When the Queen of Mean is killed, all signs point to Poppy as the killer. She has to use her wits to prove she is innocent.

Poppy McAllister's life isn't going exactly as planned. She is only 40 and is a widow and the only person she speaks to is a cat. She doesn't even intend on going to her class reunion when she gets her invite in the mail. Why would she want all those people to know what a mess she is? But her friend convinces her to go, but doubts still fill Poppy. And when Barbie, a cheerleader that made Poppy's life a hell in highschool and hasn't changed since, turns up dead, all eyes are on Poppy.

I liked the pacing in this book. It was a fast read and I didn't get bored. I loved the romantic element that was brought along with the mystery part. It kind of felt like I was reading a chick lit inside a cozy mystery, which is great. I feel like a lot of people can relate to Poppy, because unless you were the cheerleader making someone's life hell, you had a Barbie. And thoughts of her turning up missing probably crossed your mind. It was very funny as well, I loved the humor in it.

The writing was kind of choppy. I know I said it was fast paced and it was, but it was also choppy in some places, but they weren't really too cringe worthy. Other than that, I don't really have any dislikes for this book, which is new to me!

Overall I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It was fun, light, and witty. Poppy was great to follow and I am looking forward to upcoming books.

This is a great new series. Poppy McCallister is a real character and she cracked me up. Poppy starts out the book a depressed widow and under the control of her mother in law. Her only company is her cat. Poppy finds her self roped into attending her high school reunion as a favor to her best friend. But attending your 25th reunion overweight and depressed isn't actually anyone's idea of fun. Once there she meets up with old friends and an old Enemy, Barbie. Barbie is the mean girl we all experienced in High School and if anything she has gotten worse! It's not long before she and her friends get into a public fight with Barbie and later when Poppy finds Barbie's dead body, she becomes the number one suspect. It's up to Poppy and her friends and her hilarious Aunt Ginny to find out who the real killer is because the police woman in charge hates Poppy and is determined to put Poppy in jail for the crime. Added to that is the issue that Aunt Ginny is in danger of losing her home and being put in a home because of rumors that she is going senile. With each chapter we see Poppy come out of her shell. She starts losing weight and even sparks the interest of the cute coffee shop owner and also her first love. Poppy come alive again and its fun to watch her come back to life. I laughed a lot during this book and I can't wait to read more. It's great to read a book about a main character that is human like the rest of us and isn't young and gorgeous. I highly recommend this book if you like cozy mysteries that make you want to laugh.

They say you can't go home again . . . or can you? Poppy McAllister is less than thrilled at the prospects of returning to the town she couldn’t wait to escape and attending her 25th high school reunion. In fact, the only thing she dreads more than being seen by her former classmates as “fat, frumpy, and a failure” is running into her former fiancé after all these years. Both things are about to happen as she makes the trip from her home in Virginia to Cape May, New Jersey. Back on familiar turf, Poppy is happy to catch up with her closest high school pals—a group who were bullied by the mean girls—and they vow to present a united front against any unpleasantness from their former tormentors.

At the reunion, ex-prom queen and mean girls ringleader Barbie Clark proves that she hasn't mellowed with age. Barbie has quite a volatile history with many of her former classmates, and she seizes the opportunity to publicly humiliate and embarrass them and their guests during the reunion. Following several ugly scenes, Barbie is found dead in front of Poppy’s old locker, making Poppy the prime murder suspect. But there is no shortage of others with strong motives for revenge among Barbie’s old flames, rivals, and the other reunion attendees. Was Barbie killed due to a recent slight or because of a grudge that has been stewing for years? Poppy and her friends must work quickly to find out, as local police officer Amber Fenton—another former mean girl from the class of 1989—works diligently to pin the murder on Poppy.

There is plenty to hold readers’ attention in this novel beyond the murder mystery aspect. Several interwoven story lines add depth to the main characters, and Poppy’s attempts at self-improvement give Class Reunions Are Murder plenty of laugh out loud dialog and scenes. Also adding to the enjoyment are the Jersey shore setting; Poppy’s mischievous cat Figaro; eccentric elderly Aunt Ginny; and two love interests—her former fiancé Tim and steamy local barista Gia.

All in all, Poppy McAllister is a very likeable, relatable character with an unpredictable life and lots of possibilities going forward. This series is an entertaining addition to the cozy mystery genre, and I’m eagerly awaiting the second book, Midnight Snacks Are Murder, which will be published in July 2018.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Libby Klein, you had me smiling and laughing the entire time that I was reading this book.
I loved everything about this book-the murder mystery, which I was never even close to solving, the location and all of the main characters, especially Figaro because I have a cat that acts just like he does.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series to see what trouble everyone gets into next.

Wow, this book was freakin hilarious and just fantastic all around!❤📚 I have to admit I pretty much read this book twice even though I have other ARCs I need to finish but in my defense it only took two days! 😀This is one of those stories you can just laugh out loud to and the main character is just freakin awesome! I just needed this story to cheer me up!😊
Poppy is a plus size woman who is trying to get over her grief of becoming a widow and how she learns to break away from her grief is just freaking hilarious and so realistic. Poppy is such a lovable hot mess that is incredibly relatable. I love how honest and humorous she is and even though she is a walking disaster(which I can relate to 😉), she is the kind of girl you would want to hang out with!

"Sure. And maybe I'll get a flying unicorn that eats rainbows and farts cupcakes."
-Poppy talking to her friend, Sawyer.

I loved Aunt Ginny as well. Eccentric old ladies are the bee's knees! When I become a senior citizen I am going tho be eccentric plus more! I mean, why not? You can totally get away with it. You might as well give people the 'Wtf face'*cough, cough* I already do that and of course I wouldn't have a filter like Aunt Ginny doesn't.

"You girls will be the belles of the ball." Then added under her breath, Or the talk of the town." She gave another look at my dress and shuddered. "I need a drink."
-Aunt Ginny when looking at Poppy's new dress

Sighs, one day my dream will come true. I dream of partying like a rockstar and then racing my wheel chair. Anyways back to the book, this book even shares the message that we should not be afraid to be who we are and the main character's personalities are a testament to that and I loved every bit of it.
The plot was at a great pace and it made you want to flip pages like a ninja. The supporting characters were great too and this book was definitely worth the hype! I just can't wait until the sequel comes out! I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who loves a great cozy mystery that will make you laugh out loud! Hands down, a 5 star must read!😊❤📚💯

I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity and all views and opinions expressed are my own.❤📚💯

Fun new series. Took me little bit to like Poppy but she's a loving character. Really like Aunt Ginny, wonderful character

I loved this book!!!! It was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. Poppy McAllister was a breath of fresh air and totally relatable as a protagonist. I could understand the urge to dive into something sweet when the going gets tough. Being able to face down her past and close the book on a painful chapter of her life was inspiring. I loved her Aunt Ginny in all her lovable uniqueness. The two ladies together are a force to be reckoned with, and God bless anyone who tries to get in their way. The mystery was well written and the characters, both lead and supporting, were never one note. Their complex human frailties were fleshed out brilliantly without hitting the reader over the head repeatedly with endless repetitive details. I am eager to read the next in the series.

Class Reunions are Murder has been racking up positive reviews across the board and I’m here to add one more.

The characters are great. Poppy, Aunt Ginny and Sawyer are well-described in this debut novel. Poppy is introduced to us while still suffering from depression over her husband’s passing. She feels as if life has simply happened to her as opposed to her living it, and perhaps this is true. Poppy begins a transformation, however, to embrace her life and determine her own destiny. This transformation is hilariously shown as she meets jail bench warmers, interacts with a holistic therapist, starts paleo and stands up for herself against former bullies, all the while fighting to prove her innocence.

Aunt Ginny is the intrepid octogenarian whose eccentricities rear themselves at the most opportune times… well, opportune for the reader’s benefit, even if not for Poppy’s.

The mystery is interesting. Many different angles are explored. Several viable suspects are introduced. Motives and opportunities for each suspect are cleverly revealed. I had a very strong suspicion as to who the real killer was but didn’t figure out the motive until nearer the end. I was very happy to keep guessing. There is a secondary mystery about who is trying to get Aunt Ginny committed to a home for the elderly. This mystery is well-delivered and separate from the main story.

The love interest: Poppy reunites with a former fiancé and sparks are still flying. However, sparks are flying between her and the town’s handsome, eligible coffee barista as well. How that story will play out will be revealed in future books.

This book is funny and entertaining. An excellent cozy mystery to curl up with.

Book Review: Class Reunions are Murder by Libby Klein ~ Great Escapes Book Tour
February 11, 2018





For forty-something Poppy McAllister, taking a stroll down memory lane in Cape May, New Jersey, isn’t just awkward—it’s deadly.



Newly widowed and stuck in a middle-aged funk, Poppy has been running on cookies, infomercials, and one-sided chats with her cat for months. There’s no way on earth she’s attending her twenty-five-year class reunion—especially after receiving a very bizarre letter from Barbie, the popular cheerleader who taunted her all through high school. At least, not until Poppy’s best friend practically drags her to the event . . .



Using the dreaded homecoming as an excuse to visit her eccentric Aunt Ginny, Poppy vows to leave Cape May with pride and Spanx intact. Too bad Barbie is still the queen of mean at the reunion. And worse, that her dead body is lying right in front of Poppy’s old locker. Singled out as the killer, it’s up to Poppy to confront her past and clear her name. But between protecting her aunt from disaster and tackling a gluten-free diet, can Poppy crack the case before she’s voted “Most Likely to Die” by the murderer?



Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!



Class Reunions are Murder by Libby Klein

Series: Poppy McAllister Mystery, #1

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: 1/30/18

Page Count: 304



Review

WOW, this book was awesome! Really, well done Libby Klein, on writing an outstanding book right out of the gate and knocking it out of the park with the first book in a new series! Seriously, this book is that good! The characters are so well developed and well written. I loved Poppy and how relatable she is. She is dealing with some major life changes, as well as fighting major self doubt and self discovery that everyone can relate to in some way. And let's hear it for writing not only writing the lead character well, but writing all of the supporting characters extremely well too! Aunt Ginny is a hoot and so much fun to read. And don't get me started on Fig. This is one spunky cat that has stolen my heart. The interactions of these three characters alone made me laugh out loud so many times throughout this book, it was truly so much fun to read.



But that's not all, Libby Klein has given Poppy an amazing set of girlfriends as well as two tempting love interests in the form of a yummy coffee house owner, Gia, and young love renewed, Tim. I can't wait to see these relationships develop further and see exactly where they go! And the mystery, oh the mystery. Seriously, I was left guessing right until the end. Everything about this book has me singing its' praises, especially that you will be able to get your hands on Book 2, Midnight Snacks are Murder on July 31, 2018! How awesome is that? Pre-Order your copy now!!

A charming start to a new series! This had all the makings of a great cozy, lovable characters, a solid mystery, and just enough humor to keep it light and fun. The author did a great job introducing us to characters and inviting us in to their stories. This story is definitely a good time.