Great read! The author draws you in with detail that makes you want to read on. I love when books making you feel like you are part of the story.

The then/now chapter breaks really worked here. Chloe's privilege is called out in small ways by her best friend and boyfriend in the "then", but is DEFINITELY showing in the "now". I found it telling that only the woman was blamed in the end, because we always let men off the hook.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I love a good scandal and was excited about the timeliness of this book. This is the third book I've read by Julie Buxbaum and it was much better than the other two but somehow still just okay. Many of the "Then" chapters really slowed the story down and I think that's what took away from me really enjoying it.

As with Buxbaum's other books, I liked it as an "in between read" or palate cleanser. I didn't feel anything strong while reading it and I don't feel strongly one way or the other after finishing. So it's a nice break between heavy hitting books.

Based off the scandal, this story navigates the ripples of consequences and the whys. I wasn’t a huge fan. But it was a well researched book.

Admission is a well-researched novel, drawing from the 2019 college admissions scandal, a racketeering and fraud scheme helmed by private college counselor Rick Singer. In Admission, Singer is replaced by the mysterious Dr. Wilson. The other key players in the real-life scandal have equivalents here as well, though Chloe’s family doesn’t seem to be drawn too closely from that of either of the highest-profile celebrity defendants. Chloe’s mom, a sitcom actress who may soon be reprising her most famous role in a reboot, is similar to but about 25% more sympathetic than Lori Loughlin—but Chloe is nothing at all like Olivia Jade (whose nearest stand-in, the snotty, unapologetic Penny, appears only through group texts on Signal). The week I read Admission, I also picked up and devoured Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of the College Admissions Scandal by Melissa Korn & Jennifer Levitz. Reading the two simultaneously made it clear that Julie Buxbaum truly understood the scandal, beyond the headlines and celebrity gossip. While she doesn’t go too far into the expository weeds describing details of the scheme to get Chloe into Southern California College (a stand-in for USC), she hits many of the same notes as Korn and Levitz do in their true-crime account, but the novel grounds the story in character in a way that only good fiction can.

This is a compelling novel, featuring great character development and a well-drawn portrait of the reprehensible behavior of rich, entitled people, but the moral complexities are flattened for the sake of the narrative (unavoidable, perhaps). Something about this doesn’t sit quite right with me, which is why my rating falls a smidge short of 4 stars (I'd give it a 3.75 if quarter stars were possible). Regardless, there's a lot to love about this book. Chloe’s growing relationship with her sister Isla, who is just one year younger and dramatically more studious, is one of the best aspects of the novel. Isla pushes Chloe to come to terms with both the crimes committed on her behalf and her own role in them. Isla’s nudges and Chloe’s desire to be seen as a good person by her best friend Shola (a brilliant scholarship student at Chloe’s prep school and the daughter of Nigerian immigrants) are the driving forces behind Chloe’s development and growth as a character. Toward the end of the book, Chloe insists that there’s no version of her story in which she’s anything other than a villain. Buxbaum portrays her as a more complicated hybrid—part villain, part victim, part perplexed bystander. Chloe’s growing self-awareness makes her understand just how unacceptable her parents’ behavior is, and how their actions contribute to putting people like Shola and Cesar (a young boy she volunteers with) at a greater disadvantage. She’s aware that, at least to some extent, she has been complicit in their crime. But Chloe's first person narration makes it difficult to imagine that Buxbaum didn’t intend to paint a mostly-sympathetic portrait—of Chloe and, to a lesser extent, her scheming parents. Still, the final few chapters are satisfying and the epilogue feels true to life, not too tidy. I haven’t read Buxbaum’s work before, but after this experience I will be eager to explore her earlier novels.

I already loved Julie Buxbaum and have followed the admissions scandal so this book was an easy sell for me. It delivered on all counts. While the circumstances differed from the actual people in the scandal, Buxbaum gave me a glimpse into the characters' motivations. It was also highly entertaining.

This book wasn't my cup of tea. It read like an empathy writing exercise that grew into a novel. Probably could have cut some chapters and made this a novella to speed up the pacing. I did enjoy this as a window into the lives of the wealthy; very Schitt's Creek.

A timely look at the college admissions scandal for YA readers. A great way to start conversations about college applications and being your authentic self.

I admit that I do not read a lot of YA but anything by Julie Buxbaum is on my must-read- I thought this book was fabulous. I love that is mirrored a true-life scandal that we all knew about but dove behind the scenes to how things like this could actually happen and the devastation it brings. Fantastic, fast-paced, could not put down read and highly recommend even for those who are not big YA readers! This one is hot! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was intrigued by the premise of the book as it is very timely and many students can relate to the stresses of high school and the college application process. It also invites readers to evaluate our own privilege and to be more mindful of your our place in society. Overall, while it was not my favorite Buxbaum title, I enjoyed the book.

Julie Buxbaum's Admission is certainly a timely novel. The events depicted in this novel are ripped from the headlines and offer an inside, albeit fictional, perspective of the college admissions scandal. While it does show you insight into how a family involved in the scandal might have dealt with the repercussions of their actions, I felt it was a little difficult to sympathize with several of the characters, including the oblivious Chloe and her parents who paid for her to get into college. Over the course of the novel, however, Chloe is able to see how her parents' actions have negatively impacted many people and she is able to realize her privilege...but not before it has destroyed some of the most important relationships in her life. While some of the characters are cringe-worthy, the novel does inspire some important discussions and is a fast-paced roller coaster up to the end.

This book was interesting but it felt a little too derivative of recent newsworthy events. I was intrigued by the characters, class issues, etc. but I felt like it lacked originality and could have done more to bring a fresher perspective. Overall the writing and character development was good, but the rest just wasn't there for me.

Loved this book!! I liked the take on the college admissions process and the main character's relationship with those around her. Definitely recommend reading this book.

Ripped from the headlines! Empathetic characters. Really enjoyed this and hope to read more by this author

When I found out Julie Buxbaum had written a novel that fictionalized the college admissions scandal, I needed to read it immediately. I've loved her previous books (except What To Say Next tbh) and was interested in her take from the perspective of the teen involved in the drama. When I first started reading, I was astounded at how naive and somewhat flagrant Chloe was. It was also infuriating to read about Chloe's parents manipulated and cheated their way through the system to get Chloe a spot at a college she certainly did not earn. Early in the book, there is a scene in Chloe's English class where the teacher mentions that the characters of a novel don't have to be likable, which felt like permission to be frustrated with the choices these characters go on to make.

The novel alternates chapters between 'then,' where Chloe tells her story from her perspective on how the cheating unravelled, and 'now,' where she tells the story of the aftermath.. I really liked how this paced the story and the idea of the past catching up the consequences.

I enjoyed reading this book and the subtle nods to Buxbaum's previous books and would recommend it.

I;m not ordinarily a YA reader. I find teen angst to be way too angsty for me. But I am obsessed with the college admissions scandal. This novel is so timely. I was waiting for something that wold tell the story from the child's side. Chloe is a normal teen who has unremarkable grades, but her parents, and by extension, she, is obsessed with getting into college at SCC. Her parents are Hollywood power players and can afford to do the things that will ensure her entry, regardless of her eligibility.

I loved how Chloe was developed and how that related to her friends and the her family. This was a quick read for me. I'm glad I took the leap.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Author obviously received inspiration from the recent admissions scandal that rocked the USA, like Lori Loughlin and Husband.

I liked the story, just kept bringing me up the true-life scandal characters in this book from fictional writing to what has happened in the most recent Admissions Scandal.

Thank you Net Galley for the free ARC. This book is based on the college admission scandal Of a couple of years ago. It is also a book about how parents can have too much expectations for their children, even if they are doing fine, but maybe are not exceptional. None of this needed to happen and the daughters ended up suffering the most.

I really liked the book. It shows all side of the college admissions scandal and the many levels privilege. It also gives an incredibly human face to the scandal. I have already nominated it for our state teen book award selection list.

This was SO GOOD! I could not put it down and read 85% of the book in one sitting. I loved everything about it and the writing was so good.