it's always interesting to see how far a mother (even fictional) will go to push their child forward. this was a thought provoking story that keeps you guessing and leaves you with many thoughts afe

This book annoyed me majorly. I just didn't care about these women, children, or these predicaments. It felt very privileged and just wasn't relatable to me at all. Full of drama - just not for me.

While reading this book, I just felt such a heavy sense of anxiety. Even though the college process was almost 10 years ago for me (ugh wow), I still have dreams about missing an application deadline or not writing my admission essay on time. But this book took any college anxieties to a whole new level.

I did this as a buddy read with @winstonandbooks and @toobusyreadin (swipe to see Ceci's handiwork editing a book into my photo!) and we spent a few hours chatting about the book. This book provoked a lot of conversations between the three of us including classism and privilege. You know it's a good book when it stays with you and promotes a critical examination of the story.

However, there's on character that brought absolutely nothing to the table (I love her lack of energy, go girl give us nothing!) and that was Kelly. I couldn't stand her character's perspective and felt she didn't add to the story. I was also very uncomfortable with the fatphobic language used when describing her character. We tried figuring out the point of her character, but came up empty.

Something I want to harp on for a second: that Pearl Jam would play a private concert for this school. As a major Pearl Jam fan, I feel confident they wouldn't play at a benefit like the one featured in the book unless one of their kids was attending.

If you're looking for a thriller, this book isn't it. But if you're looking for a satirical look at the lengths parents will go for their children, this is it.

sadly, before i could download this title, netgalley took it off their catalog. that means i can’t review this one. HOWEVER, i will be checking in with my library to see if i can get a copy and review it that way

Girls with Bright Futures // by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman

This book really took me by surprise. It sounded exciting and interesting when I first read the synopsis and, of course, true to my style, by the time I actually started this book, I couldn't actually really remember what it was about. But to be honest, I like it that way. I decide I'm interested in something when I request or acquire a book but by the time I actually get to it, I don't really remember what it is about. It makes for fun reads that truly surprise me all the time. Pretty soon after beginning the book, you realize what this is about: the cut-throat, intimidating business of getting your children into the university of their (or their parents') dreams. Different parents have different styles for this process but I quickly realized that I am so, so glad that my personal experience was nothing like this. The struggles of dealing with school, school admissions, and difficult parents made for its own good story but the addition of a couple of other focuses later on really brought a lot more dimension to this book. It helped showcase the kinds of characters this book has in greater detail and what I really liked is that even the people you would consider good in this story aren't perfect and have their own flaws. There was a bit of a slow buildup the first part of the book but the the second half more than made up for it. I could hardly put this down in the end.

Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating and time book given the current college admissions scandal. I remember wanting my kids to get into the college of their choice, and suffered the rejections and celebrated the admissions. It’s a stressful time for parents and their children, but I can’t imagine being as cutthroat as the moms in this book!

To summarize, Stanford notifies a private school in Seattle that they can one take 1 of their students. The moms battle it out on behalf of their daughters, using every advantage and dirty trick they can think of. Eventually, one of the girls has a near fatal accident. How far will these moms go to get their daughters into Stanford, and is it really worth it?

The writing was so good, and the book was very suspenseful and full of tension. I sometimes thought I was reading an episode of Real Housewives! 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Amazing book ideal for teenage girls, and all women to understand the importance of our role in society, and how we have been given brighter possibilities. Inspiring for girls to dream high and not to underestimate their capacity.

Full review to come on Instagram and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This one was so fun and clever! Really enjoyed the darkness and secrets of these mothers trying to get their daughters into Stanford. College admissions are so tough these days and this book really shone a light on the lengths some might go to get their children into certain schools. Definitely recommend this one for those that like stories of moms behaving badly.

With the college admissions scandal just barely in the rearview mirror, this book is a fast=paced, timely delight of a read! Set in a prestigious sect of Seattle, parents and their children converge in this story of achievement - namely, the achievement of getting into the single slot available for Elliot Bay Academy students to attend Stanford. One spot. Several hopeful students. Plenty of crazed parents.

A few days before applications are due, one of the students suffers a a near-fatal accident, that might not have been an accident at all. When fingers start pointing, secrets start unfurling, and the elite community will find out just how far its willing to go to make sure its children excel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for advance access to this title!

I was so excited when the publisher granted my wish to get a chance to read and review “Girls with Bright Futures.”

The things parents will do to get their kids into a high-profile college have been in the headlines for the past few years, and a variety of novels have wrestled with the topic. Here, Elliot Bay Academy, a top-notch prep school in Seattle, is in its admissions cycle. Yet, Stanford announces it will only set aside one slot for a non-athletic student. Three East Bay moms will resort to anything to make sure their daughters get that cherished slot.

We have ruthless CEO Alicia who is used to throwing her money around and whether her daughter actually wants to go to Stanford doesn’t matter. Kelly and her husband are alums and believes their influence will help put their daughter into that single slot. Last, we meet Maren (name not a typo), Alicia’s assistant. She doesn’t have the money Alicia and Kelly do, but does that mean her daughter is any less deserving of the slot.

While this novel could come across as a bad soap, the authors heighten the tension by plenty of surprising twists and turns, yet doesn’t forsake character development. I read this in a handful of sittings, not because I simply wanted to finish it, but because I cared what happened. I can easily see this novel as a HBO/Netflix series.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for granting my wish.

Such a great concept for a story. Loved the fight to get the sour while seeing how each could deserve it. I imagine this happens often in the college admissions world.

An elite academy offering exemplary education is informed there will only be one recipient to a prominent college. Harvard of the West draws the best and brightest. Here three mothers who have daughters of differing skills and drive use every resource to help their respective daughters be that recipient. It is cutthroat with a velvet lining in some cases and classic passive aggressive in others. No one could see the length it appears someone will go to secure a spot. It takes a terrible incident that could or could not be on purpose for each mother to reconsider their actions.

Applying to post secondary school can be stressful and this novel brings it to the ultimate level. When Stanford announces they are only saving one spot for an elite Prep school in Seattle, it sends people into a frenzy. Well, it sends some mothers into a frenzy.

Alicia is married to her slimy husband and she is determined to do anything it takes to make sure their daughter Brooke gets that one spot. Money is no object and Alicia is a public figure and famous in the tech world. There are so many strings for her to pull so there should be no problem. Except that Winnie, Alicia's personal assistant, Maren's daughter is also applying. Brooke grew up with Winnie; they are best friends and Alicia has encouraged Winnie who is a better student academically than Brooke. Plus Alicia has been paying for Winnie's schooling. Now Winnie is competition.

Kelly and her husband are both alumni of Stanford so they have an in for their daughter Krissie. Kelly always knows all the gossip so she can use her knowledge to make sure Krissie has a chance.

The rivalry is fierce for these rich, entitled women who are willing to scheme, manipulate, and lie to get what they obviously deserve. Tensions are already high with rumours and conniving when there's an accident. What happened and is it connected to the admissions?

The writing is good, especially for a novel with two authors. I loved the multiple points of view from the three Mothers. I also loved Maren and Winnie's story. It was well developed and moved along well. It would have been great if the other characters were developed similarly. I felt the first part of the novel dragged a little in creating the tension around the admissions. It was also frustrating because some of the characters were annoying and I just wanted to move on.

If you enjoy books that end with everything tied up in a nice bow then this will work for you. I didn't mind most of it, but a little intrigue at the end with a book like this, I think would have been more fitting.

Overall a great debut novel and I would read more from these authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an e-copy.

Bookworm Rating: 🐛🐛🐛🌱

The characters in 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 care very much about the school they get into. Like way, way too much! This was one of my favorite reads recently. I was in love with the story! It was captivating, and I was drawn to Maren and her daughter. Their underdog story had me rooting for them the whole way through! The terrible actions of some of these parents had me completely disgusted, and yet it was like a train wreck....I couldn't stop reading about them! I loved it! This is the perfect book for readers that enjoy a lot of drama in their thrillers...it's like a competition show!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

College Admissions can be a game, who will get in where and what will people do to get into their dream schools? For parents and students at Seattle's Elite Bay Academy, the race to the top and the win a seat at the top schools will spiral out of control bringing the community with them.

For most people, Varsity Blues was a movie featuring the former star of Dawson’s Creek. But in 2019, “Varsity Blues” became a criminal case, snaring corporate executives and B and C list celebrities in a cheating scheme to ensure their offspring got into colleges that would otherwise pass on them. It was an eye-opening reveal that even the wealthiest parents were convinced that only a top-rated college would guarantee their children’s future, and that they had to cheat to get them in.

If the wealthy have to cheat, what hope do normal people have?

For the rest of the review, click on the link below.

Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier; Wendy Katzman. I didn't think that I would enjoy reading a book filled with ruthless, backstabbing, wealthy elitists, however the story proved to be quite addicting. Spot on characterizations, a bit of a mystery, tons of drama, emotional outbursts, humor, and even a moral to the story even if it is presented in a satirical fashion. If you have an Alicia in your life hopefully there is also a Maren.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Girls With Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier & Wendy Katzman is an adult mystery thriller novel set in Seattle. Three women. Three daughters. And a promise that they'll each get what they deserve.

Tech giant Alicia turns to her fortune and status to fight for her reluctant daughter's place at the top. Kelly, a Stanford alum, leverages her PTA influence and insider knowledge to bulldoze the path for her high-strung daughter.

Maren, Alicia and Winnie, three slots but only one can get to the top. Just when the admissions are due, a student has a fatal accident. well, was is just a coincidence or a conspiracy? The parents are at cutthroats with each other and will do anything to make their child reach the top.

I enjoyed reading this book. This was a fast paced book with a lot of thought provoking scenes and statements that makes the book more fun. The book has power, greed, privilege, and many more things. I liked the mother's point of view as well. The book was gripping and unputdownable once the story picks up.
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Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for sending me eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.

Buckle up for this wild ride!

I am not usually a fan of the 'rich people behaving badly' trope, but this one sucked me in from page 1.

Word is out..only one student from an elite prep school will be accepted to Stanford. Alllll the crazy competitive parents show up! They will do any and everything to give their kid the edge---bribery, stalking, inciting text messages sent from a burner phone, a hit & run ?!?!

This book frightened me and here's why: I wanted to believe this outrageous behavior was, well, fiction. But we have only to look at the headlines to know it's all too real.

The authors may have exaggerated some of these characters and their actions, or not, but they raced us to a satisfying conclusion. Along the way are some wicked smart observations about privilege, power and excess.

Thank you to @netgalley @bookmarked @katzndobs for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.