Using a back-and-forth narrative that worked wonderfully with the story, ADMISSION gives us a glimpse behind the privileged curtain of the elite while still making Chloe a sympathetic character. While her character could have come off as entitled or snobbish, instead we see a deeply relatable—though certainly, hugely privileged—girl who is often squashed beneath parental and societal expectations. The character development is staggeringly well done, and I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world and participate in all the discussions it will surely spark.

5 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 14 November 2020.


Chloe Berringer has it all. Famous mom, devoted dad, annoying sister. She lives in a big house in Beverly Hills and attends an elite private school. The only thing Chloe doesn’t have is great grades and a shoe-in to her college of choice, SCC. Her best friend Shola and her friend Levi are both eyeing Harvard. Chloe can’t even dream of a school like Harvard. Not with her slacker attitude about school work.

TV star mom to the rescue. Mom is going to hire every support specialist known to get Chloe into SCC. While Chloe reasons that it’s okay if she goes elsewhere, mom and dad are going to make sure that what Chloe wants, Chloe gets. So when Chloe opens the front door expecting a delivery from Sephora, but instead finds the FBI with guns pointed at her, the reality of what her parents have done to achieve those dreams sets in.

Julie Buxbaum has taken the stories ripped from the headlines about the college admissions scandal and created a YA novel about what it’s like to be the kid in this scandal. Admission isn’t just about getting admitted to college, it’s also an admission of guilt. How much did Chloe know before the fact? How much did she know while breaking all the rules and stepping over others to achieve her dream?

While this novel addresses the main issue of how these parents played the game to get their kids into their schools of choice, it also addresses the more pressing issue of those it affects in the periphery. Chloe is forced to face up to the fact that she pretty much lives a life of white privilege, while her parents are forced to face up to the fact that they’ve provided this cushy little world for their kids, where little is expected of them other than to be happy.

Five stars for this one. The writing is impeccable. The story of two siblings with the same privileges but different outlooks on life is fabulous. Set in my own hometown, this story rang all too true for me. Yes, white privilege exists, and yes there are some who game the system. But there are also those who work really hard to get where they are and to get those college admissions. Buxbaum highlights all of those in a fabulous YA read.

This book was a novel based on the scandal in 2019 about parents who padded their kids' college admission applications and fudged their SAT scores. All in all it was good. It went back and forth in time, to before and after Chloe's life was drastically changed by her parents' actions. I think overall she recovered from it quite well; it was a challenge that not many other young women would be able to handle, and she navigated it the best way possible. 4 stars

I didn't love this book and I really didn't LOVE many of the characters, but I'm not sure I was supposed to love them. The only character I liked at all was Shola, but I think that was by the author's design.

This seemed a little too ripped straight from the headlines. The TV show the mom was best known for was a little too similar to Full House - like it was just way to similar. I would have liked there to have been many a bit more of a diversion from the REAL story.

That said, I had to finish reading the book. It really is a good book, but not the author's best work. I think it will resonate with teens and be easy to recommend to teen readers.

Actual stars: 3.5.

*Spoiler free*

I was interested in this book because it sounded fascinating. A book about the college admissions scandal; a girl caught up in the whirlwind that is her mom bribing her way way into college. It didn't sound like something I'd normally read, but it sounded interesting enough that wanted to give it a shot!

I've found it hard to articulate my feelings about it this book. It was good; the author is a very good writer and a great storyteller, but I felt like there were deeper things that could have been highlighted or different POVs that could have been given more attention.

Before I get into that, I want to talk about the things I did like! Because I did enjoy parts of this book. One of them is how this book doesn't try to paint this situation, or the people caught up in it, in any light other than the one the cast their self in. They did terrible things, they ignored things they shouldn't have, the lied about things, and they need to take accountability for it and that's not something that's easy to do.

I also really liked the writing. Buxbaum is talented at what she does. The writing fit the story really well. It flows easily and built a tension that pulls you through the story smoothly.

One of the things I wasn't sure about was the POV. Yes, I liked seeing Chloe wrestle with what happened and her own role in it. It made for an interesting story. But I can't help but wondering if there were better POVs for this story. Isla, Chloe's sister, has an interesting perspective. It wasn't her that the bribes were for, but she is apart of the family that did the bribes. It effected her life, even though she had no part in it. I would've been cool to see her pain and really see how she struggled and developed throughout.

I also think this would have been a great story if Chloe's best friend, Shola, was the narrator, though I think a different author would've been best for that story. Shola is a POC, struggling with the admissions process. She's successful and a good student, but there are so many barriers in her way. I think it would've been a great story to see her grapple with the fact that her best friend's family had did something so awful. I think it would've really exposed (more so than already done) the privilege in what happened and how it affects other people.

While this book didn't insert a deep love inside me, it wasn't terrible. I feel like there's so much about it that I can't comment on, because I've never been through something like that. This tries it's best to comment on the privilege of the college admissions process. It's hard for me to say if it succeeded or not, but I can definitely say that it's there. My thoughts on this book are a bit all over the place, but I wouldn't say it was terrible. If you think it sounds interesting, I'd say it's worth it to give it a shot!

I really enjoy Julie Buxbaum's writing. Even though I am not a young adult and not the intended audience for her books, I always find them to be engaging and interesting!

Admission is inspired by a real life college admissions scandal, where several celebrities cheated and bribed college admissions offices in order to get their children into the college of their choice. I found the real life story to be both intriguging and outraging, and the book (which is totally fictional) maintains similar levels of intrigue and outrage.

This story is told from the perspective of Chloe. Chloe is not the best student and doesn't have a realistic chance to get into a top college. So her parents find a way to cheat the system, pay a lot of money and ensure that Chloe gets into her dream school. But when her parents get caught, Chloe is stuck in the middle. How much did she know? Is she complicit in this scheme as well?

It's an interesting portrayal of privilege and the lengths parents will go to make sure their children have the best. There is a tricky line that Buxbaum had to walk in this book. On the one hand, the book does give you some sympathy for Chloe and her parents and the reasoning behind the choices they make. But on the other hand, the book also strongly reminds readers that this behavior is not okay and that white/wealthy privilege is the cuplrit. At times the message felt a little "in your face," but overall, I think there was a good balance of showing all the sides in this situation.

What I really missed in this novel is the cute romance that is present in most of Buxbaum's novels. I'm not even much of a romance readers, but I think it is something that Buxbuam writes really well. I understand the direction that was taken in this story, but the story was lacking the sweetness and charm that I enjoyed so much in previous books by this author. I did not love any of the characters in this story, and I didn't feel emotionally connected to any of them. So while the topic was interesting, I just wanted more connection with these characters and a bit more romance! Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm torn on this one. I typically LOVE books by Julie Buxbaum, but this one didn't feel quite the same. I was very intrigued by the college admission scandal plot, but it still didn't hold my attention like her books usually do. I guess I missed her typical swoony heroes and fun banter and just the fun romance she would usually write about.

Chloe Berringer has it all, or so it seems. The daughter of a B-list actress and a financial manager, Chloe and her sister are living a stereotypical life of privilege in Beverly Hills, complete with a swimming pool. The problem? Chloe's parents are eager for her to get accepted into a prestigious college and Chloe's SAT scores are abysmal. When Chloe's parents are caught up in a scandal involving the shady practices of a college admissions "counselor", Chloe's life falls apart. Did her parents not think she was smart enough to get into college on her own? Loosely based on the real-life college admissions scandal, the story is told from Chloe's point of view. Is she as innocent as she seems? With her mom facing possible prison time, Chloe takes a hard look at her life, her attitudes, and realizes it's not pretty. Did her parents go too far in their quest for bragging rights? Will Chloe and her sister ever be able to put this behind them? There are no easy answers in this honest look at a family in a crisis of their own making. Interesting, thoughtful, and introspective, this book would be an excellent addition to any YA fiction collection.

Admission by Julie Buxbaum is a quick, enjoyable read about the college admissions scandal. If you are interested in hearing what Lori Loughlin and her family might have been dealing with throughout the scandal, this is the book for you. My issue with this book, though, is the author expressly states at the beginning of the book: "This book is 100 percent a work of fiction, and the characters are all born from my imagination, not from real people in the real world." Why not just say that she was inspired by the actual events? This bothered me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for a scandalous YA read about college admission, lying, bribing, and navigating growing up then this is the book for you. Each character felt uniquely real. The protagonist Chloe, who is caught in the middle of the allegations thanks to her parents. is one that you love and hate all at the same time. You will be rooting for her but also want to shake sense into her. The family dynamics and friendships made for a very intriguing read, even more so as you see the details of the scandal unfold. If you have read any of the other works by Judy Buxbaum you will appreciate the references that are tied into this book. The theme of privilege is addressed on multiple levels, and I appreciated that it was without restraint.

Genre: Realistic
Grade appropriate: High School

RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5-- As always Julie Buxbaum writes a fantastic story. This is the inside look at the admissions scandal that we all wanted. It’s completely fictional but so satisfying to see it from the inside.
Creativity: 5/5-- It’s such a riveting story. I’m so glad Julie abandoned what she was working on to write this story when it grabbed her.
Characters: 5/5-- Chloe is so likable and real. She sees herself as a villain in the story but as she says “even villains deserve nuance. She’s every woman.
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to kids: 5/5-- I know lots of seventh and eighth grade girls who would love this book but I do feel like it’s more appropriate for High School. Chloe is 17 in the story and that’s the target audience.
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5

CONTENT:
Language: mild— goddamn (1) shitty (2), probably a few more that I missed.
Sexuality: medium—The main character is looking forward to losing her virginity in college, heavy kissing, talk of her boyfriend’s hand being up her shirt
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: mild—overuse of Xanax by parents

I liked Buxbaum’s previous book, Tell Me Three Things, so I was looking forward to this release. The ripped-from-the-headlines plot could have been trite, but it wasn’t. As a high school teacher, it was really interesting for me to see how the admission process works for some people. Good story!

Chloe Bellinger is three weeks into her senior year at LA’s prestigious Wood Valley High School and already over it. The academically disinterested daughter of a B-list Hollywood celebrity, Chloe is rich (although, as she sees it, not rich-rich), with hired assistants orchestrating every element of their performative family life. When her parents arrange testing accommodations at the suggestion of the private college application advisor, Chloe never questions a string of “weird” steps in her submission process, relieved by her eventual admission at what was by all accounts a ‘reach’ school. Only when the FBI arrives, arresting her mother with a threat of charges against Chloe, too, must Chloe confront her complicity in a bribery scheme that set her up for college success.

A nod to the recent college admission scandal that rocked schools across the country, Admission deftly explores moral culpability and willful obliviousness to the privileges of affluence. In a story that unfolds alternately between the “Then” and “Now,” the ripped-from-the-headlines tone propels this immersive and timely read. While readers may not relate to Chloe’s personal chef, her heedless sense of entitlement serves as a cautionary tale for some while others will connect with the fact that Chloe’s mediocrity bothers her less than her parents’ unwillingness to accept it. In all, Admission is a delightful distraction from the anxiety-driven narratives of its college-bound peers with solid moral heft to ground it.

(Included in Booklist for VOYA, publication pending)

Julie Buxbaum's Admission takes a real life national scandal and gives it a human touch. Everyone has heard about the college admission scandal from a year ago. Celebrities and other wealthy, powerful families cheated and bought their kid's admission into college. The country was outraged and it sparked conversations about wealth and privilege in America.

Buxbaum takes this story and fictionalizes it, focusing on the teen and her family who are at the center of the scandal. Chloe isn't a good student. She does't play sports. She really only has a passion for her volunteer job reading with a young kid. Her mom is famous, though, so Chloe doesn't have a completely normal teen life.

As Chloe's senior year moves along, her parents get more and more focused on her college admission. While they hire counselors, tutors, and more to help Chloe, Chloe starts to feel like something is off. Still, she goes along with the decisions her parents make until the day the FBI show up at her house and arrest her mom.

The book moves back and forth between the current events after Chloe's mom is arrested and the previous months as the events unfold. Buxbaum shows Chloe's relationship with her best friend who is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and not rich like Chloe, and her crush turned boyfriend, both of whom are smart, determined, and focused. The contrast between Chloe and them shows her ignorance and unrecognized privilege in small, insightful ways.

Buxbaum has taken what became a sensationalized scandal and examined privilege, wealth, and social status in America. This was a great read for teens to see how even small actions can affect and hurt those around you, even when you think you are doing what is best.

**I received an eARC from Netgalley**

Chloe Berringer’s life seems perfect: she lives a privileged life in Beverly Hills with her actress mother, father, and sister, and she was recently accepted into her first choice school, Southern California College. Everything comes crashing down one morning, however, when the FBI arrive to arrest her mother, who’s been accused of bribing and cheating Chloe’s way into SCC.⁣
•⁣
This juicy yet heartwarming book was just the escape that I needed last week! The real-life college admissions scandal, on which “Admission’s” plot is based, is fascinating to me, and Buxbaum did a wonderful job of navigating issues of privilege for both teen and adult readers. This book’s characters are not always likeable, and it definitely falls under the “wealthy people behaving badly” sub-genre, if that’s a pet peeve for you. I enjoyed the high-stakes drama, as well as Chloe’s character development and inevitable growing pains in this well-written story. I love when a book is both a light read and thought-provoking, and “Admission” definitely fit this bill!⁣ I'm looking forward to reading more of Buxbaum's books in the future!

This was an insightful and compassionate look at a ripped-from-the-headlines plot; the mostly-innocent teen caught in the middle of a huge college admissions scandal and its consequences for her and her family. Julie Buxbaum is one of my current favorites writing for YA; her books are intelligent and moving.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't tend to gravitate toward YA contemporary fiction, to be honest, though I previously read and enjoyed Busbaum's earlier novel also set at Wood Valley High School. But, I couldn't resist the Sweet Valley vibes oozing off this cover! It just struck the right nostalgic chord in me! And though Wood Valley High School does remind me a bit of Sweet Valley High School in a lot of ways, the plot here is pulled right from the headlines of the celebrity college admission scandal. Chloe Berringer, high school senior, narrates her family's story in "then" and "now" segments detailing both the scandal and the events leading up to it. Chloe's mother, Missy, is a pretty easy comparison to Lori Loughlin, with her backstory of being a celebrity popular from an older sitcom being rebooted. and Lifetime movies The details of the crimes here are similar, too, but Buxbaum does a good job of humanizing the family in the midst of the turmoil that they have brought upon themselves.

Chloe makes for an often frustrating protagonist as she neglects her real homework (although she does make enough references to the required reading that it seems like she should have just read them since they are clearly occupying her thoughts!) and purposefully buries her head in the sand. Her relationships do all feel authentic - and for all that Chloe can be unlikable, this is a quick and compelling read. I could have easily stayed upon a bit later to read this all in one sitting, had my Kindle not needed to charge! I like Buxbaum's writing style - her characters are all fully developed and the dialogue is fun. I would definitely read more from her in the future! I think that this one will be a popular read with both adults and young adults. It's engaging from the start and while the story is certainly familiar, since I didn't actually follow this news story, it all made it seem fresh and very behind=the-scenes to me! Altogether an authentic and addictive read!

In light of the recent news with celebrities families trying to "buy" their way into college, this novel comes out at the perfect time. Chloe shows great development as the plot progresses and I would recommend this novel to any high school student questioning his or her place in the world right now.

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard about the big College Admission Scandal. Many wealthy parents, including a couple celebrities, used a “consultant” to cheat their kids into prestigious colleges. Admission is an account of a fictional family facing the fall out. However, if you’re hoping for more emotional insight than you’ve seen on the news – or that Lifetime Channel movie – then you’re going to be a little disappointed.

The crimes of Chloe’s parents are taken directly out of the headlines and seems to be a combination of both Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, though I definitely felt more of a tilt towards Loughlin. The story read a lot like the Lifetime movie of the scandal, except the movie was a little more interesting. The slow pace and unlikable characters made the book a chore to get through. There is even a part early on where Chloe is in English class discussing a book and is reminded that readers don’t need to like characters in literature, which feels like a cop out for not making the characters of this book more developed or empathetic.

The chapters alternate between Now and Then, with the Now chapters starting with the FBI showing up and the Then chapters starting with Chloe struggling to study for the SATs. I have to say I found the Now chapters much more interesting. Most of the Then chapters felt a little like filler that basically just highlighted all the ways that Chloe was unaware of her rich, white privilege. There are snippets of Chloe ignoring the weird things her parents were doing – telling her she has ADHD to get accommodations on the SAT, going through her phone to find a picture where she has a good tan that someone might be able to confuse for some Argentinian heritage, etc. The past chapters also chronicled her relationship with her best friend and friend-turned-boyfriend, who were both pretty underdeveloped caricatures.

I think the story would have benefited by adding some other POVs. Or even making at least one of the characters a little more calculating. Here everyone knows what they’re doing isn’t on the up and up exactly, but they also don’t think it’s really that bad. The whole point of the story seems to be to cast a light on how privileged people don’t fully grasp their privilege and it’s effect on others. All explained to us by a privileged white lady…

Overall, I found Admission pretty disappointing. The main character was whiny and unrelatable, there wasn’t really anything in the story that you haven’t already read in the news, and the overall moral of the story about wealthy, white privilege came across as kind of trite. Also, the cute romance I expect from a Buxbaum book was almost completely missing here. The one bright spot in the book was Chloe’s sister, Isla, who was the only character who didn’t feel like a complete cliche, even if she was a little unrealistic.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2 Stars

This book BLEW ME AWAY. First of all who isn't intrigued with what is going on with the whole college admissions scandal? This is definitely an inside scoop to what is going on, sort of. Absolutely not based on any specific person this still follows the lives of privileged kids and how they get a leg up on others, and how their actions affect others. Such a page turner. I could not put it down, literally. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.