Julie Buxbaum is back with another great novel that while on the surface seems simple, but has a lot of underlying complexity. This book fictionalizes people involved in the college admissions scandal, and brings forth the underlying issues associated with priviledge. Jumping from present to past alternating chapters, we see the story unfold for Chloe Wynn Berringer and her family including her mom, a B-list actress. While the arrest of her mother is the main plot point, Buxbaum weaves intricate subplots and helps create an interesting family dynamic while progressing the main story. She also provides insight to the feelings of becoming "woke" and understanding new perspectives in life.

"Money makes you weak because it tricks you into thinking you're strong"

A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of “Admission” for my review.

I had mixed feelings about this story. The premise had me hooked, about how a rich family gets into trouble and their lives fall apart from cheating on the college admissions process. It is based off the recent 2019 college admission scandal and had the potential to be a great read. As much as I wanted to enjoy reading it, I just felt disappointed.

What I liked: I liked the overall plot of the story and the way it highlighted the scandal. It was nice to see the story told between alternating chapters of “Then” and “Now”. One chapter would focus on the past which leads to the events of the scandal. The following chapter would move to the present situation post the fallout. Moreover, I liked how it highlighted the impact on the mother and how she would be struggling. I also liked Shola as the supporting character. In fact I pretty much liked her and Iris more than anyone else. They are strong, dynamic characters and their interactions with Chloe was intense.

What I disliked: I really did not like Chloe as the main character. There was nothing really wrong with her. But she just felt like a weak, spoiled and dumb character. In fact, I really did not like many of the characters, like Levi, and Hudson. Also, the author tells the story from Chloe’s perspective, which made it bland and repetitive. It would have been better if we got a point of view perspective from all the other characters, like the mom, dad, Iris etc. Also, I felt like the author dragged the story with unnecessary details. For example, I did not see the point of Hudson’s scenes in the hospital. It felt like reading one of those books where the author adds random information to fill the pages. I would have liked if it focused on what happened to Wilson instead.

Overall, I thought this was a good concept. Unfortunately, it was not my cup of tea.

Sadly this one just hit differently for me. I absolutely love Julie’s writing and I loved “Tell Me Three Things” and “What To Say Next” , however this one just left me feeling.... meh. This is based on the college admissions scandal and I can say the only people I actually liked in this book were Isla and Shola. Claire, our protagonist, just infuriated me to no end. The story itself is interesting and a good take on the scandal. It’s a quick read and wraps up okay.

This is my record time of reading: My hands were glued to my e-reader and my mind is already conquered with the family scandal. I was truly book thirsty wild literature animal and I was invested from the beginning.

When I read the plot about: college admissions bribery scandal and B- lister Hollywood celebrity Joy Field’s arrestment: I think I’m reading a story about Lori Loughlin’s trial case. There are too many things in the book are similar with the actress’ real life story including being B minus Hollywood star but after her sitcom’s remaking on Netflix, she got a chance to be B plus lister. And just like Lori Loughlin: Joy gets sacked from Netflix and Hallmark. She has two daughters just like Lori and but is she going to plead not guilty and need to prepare for “trial of her life” as the news mentioned.

I’m not gonna tell you if Joy follow the same path: You gotta read this impressively intense, perfectly developed family drama going between now and then to tell how their life changed and how they face the consequences of the mistakes they’ve made.

First of all: this book is not written to judge a wealthy family who cheat their way to reach their goals and using their white privilege notoriously to get what they never deserve. I’m one of the people who got really mad after reading the stories about the real scandal, 33 parents’ accusation of paying more than $25 million between 2011 and 2018 to William Rick Singer.

As like the real scandal; our heroine Chloe Wynn Berringer’s college application essay was rewritten and her
photographs were photoshopped and doctored and of course her score was inflated. So many young people work too hard to reach their dreams to get a proper education at elite colleges with little financial resources and push too hard to get a scholarship including Chloe’s best friend Shola’s story who is coming from immigrated Nigerian middle class family.

The author chose a real provocative and thought-provoking subject. It’s so challenging to tell a story about one of the most unlikable family (when you consider there are so many similarities with the real life characters) but interestingly you find yourself root for the characters of the book and you start to see the events from their perspective.

Chloe is mediocre, privileged girl who still doesn’t find her passion or her goal for her life surrounded by A-grader, high achiever friend Shola, intelligent and ambitious, perfectionist sister Isla and golden boy of the school Levi. When everyone around her shines with their highly impressive achievements and big life purposes, detailed future plans, she starts getting more lost and insecure. And of course she doesn’t want her family to be embarrassed by her lack of competitive skills but even though she’s working harder and do everything to get a better SAT score, she gets more panicked and her score is getting lower at her each try.

When her mother finds a special consultant called himself: “doctor” and arranged some other place in West Hollywood for taking the test, she doesn’t question her motives. She knows her mother is competitive, ambitious and hard-worker women who wants best for her kid. And when the test result came showing 200 points higher than her last one she thought there might be some mistake and she tried to tell several people including school consultant but as she sees her mother’s hopeful face and listening to her friends’ motivational speeches, she stops questioning further. She suspects something fishy going around but it was too late to admit her doubts to someone when FBI bangs their door and handcuffs her mom in front of their neighbors and army of paparazzis.

Throughout my reading I mostly liked Isla: one year younger sister of Chloe: the smartest, most mature and practical member of the family even though she is the youngest one and the effects of scandal in her life. Her efforts to bring the family back to face the realities and her harsh but realistic methods to help her sister were well-written. I loved the sisters’ quirky ways of communication and of course I enjoyed the conclusion of the story.

Overall: I had amazing time and I enjoyed the well-developed characterization and intriguing, fast, remarkable pace of the story. I normally give four stars but I’m adding half more and rounding 4.5 to 5 because the brave subject choice and incredible story-telling skills of the author.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing this remarkable ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

I'm still shocked that this is YA--I absolutely devoured this book. I couldn't put it down! It does not read like YA, even though the main character is a senior in high school.

I enjoyed this take on Operation Varsity Blues. It was a nice spin, and there were a few well placed details that lead you to the real life versions of this story (i.e. a reference to the blonde Desperate Housewife married to the shaggy guy from Shameless--Felicity Huffman). I also felt a connection between the mom's character and Lori Loughlin from Full(er) House. Mom is a B list celebrity in Hallmark movies and a loved sit-com about to make a comeback on Netflix. Very well placed details by the author lead you to your connections while also maintaining differences between the characters and real life. Theres enough to make it known that this is not using the real life players, but also enough to connect the dots. A great balance. Well done!


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Since this book had a very relevant and controversial topic as its premise, I was worried about how the author would handle the situation.

I liked that the author didn’t villainize the protagonist but she also didn’t sugarcoat what she did and how she was complicit in the scandal. It was realistic in how Chloe’s sister and her friend handled the situation and Chloe’s involvement in it. Chloe’s sister, Isla, is a very smart and ambitious young woman who deserves getting into a great college but her chances are considerably lessened once the scandal hits. Chloe’s best friend, Shola, who is black and comes from a less privileged family, has to work harder than many of her peers. She is also heavily affected by Chloe’s actions.

What I loved most about this book was the author humanizing the protagonist. I feel like in our society, specifically in the United States, we are only ever given two options in regards to how we view people: to villainize or praise them. Stan and cancel culture, for example, both add to this dichotomy. We should be allowed to criticize someone without villainizing them. We should be able to praise people’s actions without viewing them as perfect and without flaws.

The main character is young and is still learning, that does not mean she shouldn’t be held responsible for her decisions leading up to the scandal, but it should be taken into consideration when judging her. It should be understood that people can grow and develop over time and our anger often keeps us from being objective when examining a situation. Chloe’s insecurities about her intelligence and the high expectations given by her parents definitely factored into her decision making leading up to and throughout the scandal.

In short, I did like this book but it didn’t really make a big impact on me. I believe the main purpose the author was trying to achieve did pull through in the end, but it is not a story that will ultimately stick with me.

3/5

Admission is a fabulous read by Julie Buxbaum. This story checked off all my boxes. The reality that this story is based upon had American consumed, and this story is just as gripping.

Personally, I love that this tale is told from the child's point of view. When we meet her, Chloe's a normal, although privileged teenager, stressed about the SAT and boys.

She never wanted what her parents wanted for her. She is innocent in all of this, although after the fact, she sees the clues. But she is truly an innocent victim of her parent's crimes. Right?

The writing is fabulous. All written from Chloe's point of view, the author alternates between the past and the present. It's a fascinating take of the way the children involved in the college scandal probably, or perhaps reacted.

The author touches upon the lifestyle of the rich and elite, of Hollywood and it's priorities, and the way one never stops pressured to live a certain way.

Admission is a riveting tale, written in a manner that I couldn't put it down. This is a story of greed and it's effects. I love it. It's a wonderful take on the college admission scandal. It's definitely a thought provoking book, leaving the readers with a lot to ponder throughout.

What lengths would you go to to get your kid into the right college?

I have not stayed on top of the college admission scandal, but reading this really peeked my interest in it. I felt for
the kids who were unaware and truly affected.

Julie Buxbaum did an excellent job of character development and by the end of the book, I was completely invested in their lives.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

Julie Buxbaum has a permanent place on the shelves of my classroom library. Hope and Other Punchlines makes a great mentor text for writing exercises, and Tell Me Three Things has been checked out so many times that I've acquired multiple copies of it to meet the demand. Of this collection of work, Admission now ranks as my FAVORITE.

Last year, my students and I really studied the college admissions scandal. We watched many videos about it, including a clip with James Van Der Beek yelling at his dad in "Varsity Blues." We read articles about the metaphorical "side door" to the admissions process, and the students had so much to say, that I know they will love this story just as much as I did.

What I liked the most was that this novel put us into the mind of someone learning the meaning and impact of privilege, and I think it is a lesson that many will benefit from witnessing, even in this fictional way.

I love the recognition and character growth Buxbaum was able to show by shifting between a "then" and "now" timeline. It's so valuable to see that, in a story stressing the role of college and the decision making process that will establish a student's "future," some of the most important lessons come from the school we call "life."

I think. the way humor was integrated into the novel was great, and I loved Chloe's sister Isla and the fall out and question of guilt by association.

I cannot say enough great things about this book. I will be getting a hard copy for my classroom, and I will book talk it frequently.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I must admit a guilty pleasure in learning more about the real life admissions scandal- it was so unbelievable and crazy. I was excited by the idea of a fiction title revolving around this case. It was so fun to read. I had such a good time with this book. I loved the perspective it gave on each of the characters and how and why they got involved in the scandal. Total beach read that was so fun and enjoyable. I never wanted to put it down, but then was disappointed to have it over.

I finished this book and I still am struggling with it. We live in an age where parents will do anything for their kids...and sometimes that looks like doing anything to get them into college...the right college according to them.
This story follows Chloe, who as a senior is dealing with SAT scores, application essays, and of course boys. But with the "Then" and "Now" you already know what has happened...Mom is being accused of tampering with the college admissions. Now you are trying to decide if Chloe is guilty also.
Julie Buxbaum does a fantastic job here of creating a world that most of us know exist, but not being a part of.
Wonderfully written, amazing book. Well done!

Loved this book! Julie Buxbaum's books are always popular with my students, and this will be no exception. I'll definitely be purchasing it for my classroom library when it's released! It's relevant to the college admission scandals that are in the news lately, and I appreciated that - unlike a lot of YA novels - the protagonist had her sights set on more "normal" colleges rather than assuming that of course she'd wind up at an Ivy League or other elite institution.

There’s nothing Julie Buxbaum has written that I haven’t loved, and Admission was no exception. She took a hot topic in the news and examined from a unique perspective. Like many, I had opinions about the college admissions scandal going into this book, but this examination really made me reconsider some of those. I especially loved how the main character had to take a hard look at her own privilege, and, without making everything magically okay, the family and our protagonist came out the other side.

This was a really empathetic, layered exploration of the impact of the college admissions scandal on the oblivious children involved. The exploration of privilege never felt preachy, and I was genuinely rooting for each member of the family (even the most flawed) throughout. Seeing them grow by the end was the most satisfying reward! An important, timely book.

First, props to Julie Buxbaum for getting a novel done so quickly about the admissions scandal. And not only did she get it done, but it's a really enjoyable read. It would've been so easy to rush to get a "ripped from the headlines" type book out there and have it be total garbage, but this is a cohesive, well thought-out book. If it wasn't so blatantly based on the admissions scandal, I would've thought it was something she had had in the works for ages. It doesn't feel haphazard at all.

There's also enough backstory and side stories to keep things interesting for the reader, so it doesn't feel like a complete copy of what actually went down. I really enjoyed seeing it from the student's perspective, and I liked the narrative structure alternating between present day and earlier in the year leading up to the implosion and figuring out who knew what when. Also, I appreciate the very subtle nods that made me lol -- the reboot of a TV show that the woman had been on in the 80s/90s ::cough Full House cough :: and even a reference to Felicity Huffman that would've been easy to miss (something about losing a part to the blonde from Desperate Housewives).

As someone who has done her fair share of admissions work at the collegiate level and works in higher ed, this was a fun read.

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC!

This is inspired by the college admission scandal. It had great dialogue and characters. It was interesting in seeing it from the perspective of one of the girls involved in the scandal. I would have loved it to have different pov than just the main character.

Thank you to the publisher for this arc in exchange of my honest opinion.

Admission by Julie Buxbaum is not a bad book, but it is hard to relate to these characters and the story.
This novel follows Chloe, a high school senior with a rich and famous mother, a great dad, and a great life. She has finally been accepted into the college of her dreams, or so she thought. Chloe soon discovers that her mother bribed and lied her way into her college and Chloe did not get in on her own merit.

On the one hand, the reader has some sympathy for Chloe because she does try to do things the right way. She studies for hours for the SAT, works hard on her college essay, and tries her hardest. That is true, but she is still a mediocre student and does not fight her parents when they try to label her with ADHD.

Quite simply, her parents love her, but they do not believe in her.

Admission is a story ripped from the headlines which is part of what draws the reader in. However, in the end, the reader does not have much empathy for the characters, primarily when a majority of the readers probably worked their stuff off to get into college. This reader sure did.

It is not a poorly written story; it just is not a topic that is captivating. It sucks for Chloe, who was unaware of what was going on, but on some level, she knew something was wrong. Chloe simply chose to ignore everything obvious.

It does have extensive character growth as it goes back and forth from the past to the present. Chloe’s eyes begin to widen as she sees everything her parents did to help her get into college, and it opens her eyes to all the privilege she says.

Admission is an eye-opening story about white privilege and how money and power should be used responsibly. Buxbaum deserves credit for highlighting the unfairness of the system. Furthermore, while it is well-written, it just does not have a relatable plot to capture the reader's empathy.

I loved this book. It is so relevant to what is going on in the area of college admissions and parents wanting to do everything for their children. How far is too far though? I found the story really relatable. Parents wanting what is best for their children and children not wanting to disappoint their parents. In trying to beat the system, it showed that Chloe’s mom didn’t have total faith she would get into a good college on her own merits. The story told how one decision ends up affecting so many people, even characters who were not directly involved.

This review will go live on my blog, The Library Lane, on November 17, 2020!

Admission tells the story of high school senior Chloe. It’s the time of the year when she has to buckle down and start thinking about college. After multiple SAT tests with scores that aren’t as good as she hoped for, Chloe is told that her dream schools aren’t achievable. Her celebrity mother decides to hire an admissions conceder to help make the process easier. When Chloe is accepted to her first choice school, she can’t believe it. Fast forward to when her mother is arrested for bribing her daughter’s way into college. How exactly did this happen? And how much did Chloe actually know??

I have gone back-and-forth with my feelings on this book. For the most part it was an enjoyable read but I never felt like I was fully invested in the story. Admission is told through dual timelines… before the arrest and everything after. I found myself way more interested in the aftermath. Those chapters I couldn’t stop reading. I was so eager to know how things were going to end up for the family.

Admission really explores privilege in all of its forms. Chloe’s family is very well off. With her mom being a popular actor, they have everything they need plus way more. Throughout the story Chloe is put in eye opening situations that make her realize she is very lucky to be where she is. Her character growth, while it takes time, is exactly what I was hoping to read. Taking responsibility is another major part of the story. Chloe’s mom learns the hard way that you have to own up to your mistakes. Even if the consequences are scary, you still have to do the right thing.

I absolutely loved Chloe’s sister Isla. She is such a fierce person. Unlike Chloe, she takes the time to educate herself about the case against her mom. She basically has to tell Chloe what to do in order to protect herself from facing charges. Honestly, Chloe would not make it through this book if it wasn’t for Isla. I also liked Chloe’s best friend Shola. While their friendship is super awkward, I loved that she put Chloe in her place at times. When Chloe would say or do things that were not acceptable, Shola would make sure Chloe checked her privilege and understood what she did was wrong. Isla and Shola played a huge role in Chloe’s growth.

Overall, this story was thought provoking and so timely. I applaud the author for taking on such an infuriating topic. Admission will definitely make you look at the Lori Loughlin & Felicity Huffman cases with a whole different perspective.

I really liked this book but I think I am biased because I love Julie Buxbaum :) I liked how she gripped an issue from the headlines, something that our students are grappling with right now and made it from the perspecive of the students. I also liked the character growth; "sometimes I am an insensitive, overprivileged white-girl idiot" I like that the main character is not very likeable, I found myself NOT rooting for her. It explores white privilege, affirmative action, immigration, wealth and how that gives everyone a leg up and in some cases immunity. This book will appeal to a broad audience. (Tania)