Competition is always fierce at Seattle's Elliott Bay Academy. but never more so than senior year at admissions time. This year, Stanford alerts the school it's allotting only one spot to EBA, and there are 3 seniors (or mothers) who desperately want that coveted spot. It turns out, there is very litte that an EBA mother won't do for her kid, when an Ivy League admission is on the line.....
I loved this book. I coudn't put it down. The book is told in alternating chapters between the 3 moms: Alicia, Kelly and Maren. I really felt like I got a front-row seat to each of their lives, and it was crazy! This book will make you laugh, shake your head, and be thankful you don't have a senior in high school. Oh, if you do, then this is a manual for all the things NOT to do! I highly recommend this entertaing book!

“...as long as you had the money and status to back you up, every line was made to be crossed.”

When Stanford alerts the elite Elliot Bay Academy it only has only one early offer place for its graduating students, the competition for the slot quickly spirals out of control. Tech mogul Alicia is determined that her daughter, Brooke, will attend Stanford no matter the cost, Kelly will do anything to ensure her daughter Krissie will be the chosen one, while Maren, with none of the advantages of her wealthy rivals, and her job as Alicia’s PA on the line, doesn’t know how to tell her daughter, Winnie, that her Stanford dream is over.

With excellent pacing Girls With Bright Futures unfolds over two timelines and from three perspectives. It begins with a prologue which reveals one of the three Stanford hopefuls has been the victim of a hit and run, and then moves to a few weeks prior as Maren and Winnie are being informed by the school’s college counselor that Winnie needs to rethink her application to Stanford. It’s immediately clear to them both that while Winnie is the strongest academic candidate, Brooke has the edge because of her mother’s wealth and status. While Winnie isn’t willing to back down, Alicia has made it clear to Maren that should Winnie compete with Brooke for the spot, Maren will be fired, and renege on a secret deal that provides financial support for Winnie’s schooling. Meanwhile Kelly, PTA President and Stanford alum, whose daughter is perpetually in 2nd place to Winnie, and is not quite wealthy or powerful enough to compete with Alicia, attempts to topple Krissie’s rivals with gossip and innuendo.

With my own daughter having graduated highschool last year, I am so glad for the far more egalitarian higher education system in place here. While the authors insist that the events in this novel are an exaggerated, they seem all too plausible given recent, and past events in the US news. Some parents have already proved they are willing to do anything to ensure their precious offspring has every advantage, and when they can’t earn it, they are willing to pay, manipulate, or even kill (hello Texas Cheerleader Mom) to ensure it.

Alicia Stone is a character you love to hate, selfish and entitled she wields her privilege without mercy. Her behaviour is repetitively appalling, there is more than one instance in which she takes advantage of Winnie, and as Maren’s employer she is endlessly demanding. Brooke is an extension of her ego, rather than a person in her own right.
As for Kelly, her whole self is invested in her children’s achievements and while she definitely crosses the line, at least she recognises there is one.
Naturally it’s Maren that attracts the most sympathy, a single mom doing everything she can to support her bright daughter but caught in a difficult situation, given her reliance on her employer. And is if that’s not enough, she is totally blindsided when her rivals machinations dig up a painful secret from her past.

For me, the authors struck just the right note with Girls With Bright Futures. I found the pace to be addictive, the drama wickedly entertaining, and the epilogue hugely satisfying.

Girls With Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman

Brief Summary: “Our girls have such bright futures ahead of them.” Smart, talented, passionate, determined; this is story of three high school seniors competing for one spot to Stanford and the mothers who would do anything to see their children achieve their dreams.

Highlights: I’m not typically one for rich people’s drama but this novel totally sucked me in. I was totally engrossed. I was rooting for Maren and Winnie the entire novel. I was not expecting the plot twists and found them unique and brilliant. This novel also gave me flashbacks to the stress and triumphs of my own college application process at a competitive Catholic High School.

Explanation of Rating: 5/5; this novel didn’t get the press it deserved. Reese Withersponn this would have been right up your alley!

Psychology Factors: As a result of the stress, Krissie resorts to pulling her hair out and is diagnosed with trichotillomania. This was realistically portrayed and fit perfectly in the high pressure storyline.

I literally finished this book in two days. This is the perfect vacation or weekend read! This would also be a great book club pick.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Getting into College is hard, but these women make getting into College quite scandalous. This book focuses on the desire that 3 women have to give their daughters the brightest future (aka get into the best college possible).⁣
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Bribery, money, blackmail, and even a hit and run 🥴 these mothers will stop at nothing to get their daughters to the top.⁣
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They were constantly crossing the line over of what is morally and ethically right and each time I was shocked there was even a line to still cross. They were ruthless & not in a way that I admired. All the while damaging other peoples reputations along the way. I was truly embarrassed for these women & I hated how some them never even thought to care about what would make their daughters happy. But there is a silver lining to all this and it’s the mother daughter relationship between Maren & Winnie. They were strong, outspoken, and most of all, compassionate towards one another.⁣
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Aside from all the gossipy, backstabbing, and ruthless women in this book, it was masterfully written and oh so entertaining. I was able to get through it in less than 2 days and enjoyed every minute.

Girls With Bright Futures – WOW. This thriller-lite novel follows three seniors in high school and their mothers as they all compete for a coveted spot on the Stanford admissions list. Alicia’s daughter Brooke should be a shoo-in, since Alicia has spent a ton of time and resources (ahem) to secure her spot. But, she’s up against Maren’s daughter Winnie, who grew up idolizing Alicia and her Stanford education and has the test scores and grades to get in. Meanwhile, Kelly and her daughter Krissie will do just about anything to secure that spot.

Y’all, this is like the darker adult version of The Gifted School and I am here for it. These parents went over-the-top outrageous over college admissions, but the writing was so good that it all seemed totally believable. By far, Winnie and Maren are my favorite characters and I was rooting for them the whole way through, even through some truly heartbreaking twists and turns. However, all of the other characters deserve an honorable mention, even the ones you’ll hate to love. Dobmeier & Katzman have created an excellent novel for anyone looking for their next prep-school-parent-drama fix. Girls With Bright Futures is an excellent novel and kept me in suspense until the very end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Girls With Bright Futures is available today! Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebooks for sharing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of Girls With Bright Futures on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!

⚠️ CW: rape, car accident

Going into this one, I thought this may be a story similar to what transpired last year on the news with the college admission scandal. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

In a recent interview, I learned the authors wrote this one prior to that scandal, and once I read it I learned how different the stories are. To me this one was literary fiction with a hint of mystery. And lots and lots of layers!

This story follows three mothers and three daughters attending an elite school and vying for a remaining spot at Stanford.

I haven’t seen this one around much, but I highly recommend to those who enjoy Big Little Lies type books full of drama and secrets.

Special thanks to @booksparks and @bookmarked and Netgalley for sending my way.

Three moms. Three daughters. Each with a dream to attend Stanford. With one spot left at Stanford from their elusive private school, these moms do whatever it takes for their daughters to be the chosen ones. But how far will they go to ensure their daughter is admitted?

G𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 is an addicting, propulsive, and jaw-droppong debut novel that tells the story of three very different families all with girls applying to Stanford. This book is fast-paced and devilishly clever. It is also the ultimate story of moms behaving badly. I could not put it down!

I was quickly pulled into the story and invested in Maren and Winnie's lives, in particular. (This is likely because I identified most with them.) While the pressure these students were put under to attend a top school is not something I could relate to, I could easily relate to being in an elite and high pressure academic institution and coming from a meger background while everyone else seemed to have the privilege of wealth.

I really appreciated 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴's focus on and inclusion of different socioeconomic backgrounds. It added an additional compelling layer to the story. I do not want to give any of the plot away, but I have to say that the authors perfectly handled other big issues that are presented in the narrative. It was refreshing and allowed me to connect with the characters' experiences in an emotional manner.

I do not know why this book is not getting more attention! 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 is a deeply satisfying novel that will stay with me for some time. I loved it and hope you will pick up a copy soon!

Are some mothers THIS crazy when it comes to getting their children into college? I swear this is such a fast paced book that really captures attention. Both authors did a great job with the flow of the story and not letting it get boring. The three mothers that they have come up with are great. I actually do have a favorite when it comes to them mostly because the mother is strong and not psycho like the other two. Definitely recommend this book because it has a good mix of contemporary and thriller. How the book is written really makes you want to slap some of the characters too. I get that all of us mothers want the best for our children and want them to get into a good college, but there is seriously no point in putting yourself along with your kids in so much stress like the mothers did in this book.
Such a good book!!

I enjoyed Girls with Bright Futures, however I struggled to personally connect with the characters in the book.

Elliott Bay Academy is an elite private school in Seattle. Wealthy and ambitious families are impressed with the impressive college and university acceptances, until Stanford announces that they will only accept 1 student early. Three mothers (and their daughters) are in competition for this coveted spot, until one of the girls is in a near-fatal accident days before the application deadline. But was it an accident and can these mothers keep their families safe and their secrets buried?

I spent a lot of the book questioning the decisions that these women made. I completely understand the willingness of a parent to do anything for their child’s future and dreams, however at what cost? In my opinion the mother’s in the book were putting themselves, their dreams and insecurities before those of their children. Part of being a parent, no matter how privileged one may be, is to let your kids learn to spread their wings and fly… even when you don’t agree with the choices that they are making. You need to guide them and help them, but also need to accept that at some point, they need to learn what they want and how to get it.

The writing and plot in this story were great. The main characters were so well developed that I actually disliked most of them. They made me angry and frustrated, however that is also why I didn’t love the book. At times I became so emotionally drained by the terrible decisions that they were making, that I had to put the book down!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tracy Dobmeier and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy!

Three dreams to get into Stanford. Three Daughters. Three Mothers. Three Motivations

It is college admissions time at EBA (Elliot Bay Academy) in Seattle. Applications have been submitted, fingers have been crossed and lines have been crossed. Everyone is upset when Stanford announces that they are only allotting one slot to the school to non-athletes, students and parents alike are scrambling.

Alicia is a tech giant who is determined that her daughter, Brooke is going to attend Stanford. Alicia went there and wants her daughter to get in so bad she can taste it. It consumes her. Her daughter, on the other hand is ambivalent and at best, an average student. Alicia is willing and ready to what it takes for her daughter to attend Stanford.

Maren is Alicia's assistant and her daughter; Winnie is the top of her class. She is intelligent, articulate and wants to go to Stanford so bad that she can taste it. Things get sticky as Alicia is Maren's boss and has been paying Winnie's tuition to EBA and has promised to also pay her college tuition as well. Maren cannot afford the tuition and hopes Alicia keeps her promise of paying for Winnie's college education.

Kelly, a Stanford alum, has three children attending EBA and uses her influence with the PTA and insider knowledge to try to get her fragile daughter, Krissie, into Stanford. She wants her daughter to go to Stanford so bad that she can taste it. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure her daughter in the student from EBA who attends Stanford.

But with only one spot left, who will get in? Who will Stanford select? Will big buck donations help a student get admitted? Will underhanded actions be what it takes to get your child an acceptance letter? Will brains and hard work win Stanford over?

With just one slot available, who will come out on top?

Days before final applications are due, a student has a near fatal accident. But is it an accident? It does not appear to be. But who would do such a thing? Is it a coincidence? Was it an accident? Is it related to the admission process?

Talk about a timely read with the college admissions bribery scandal in 2019 which involved celebrities and wealthy parents getting caught cheating, bribing and scheming to get their children into top universities. Jeepers, just what will parents do to see their children get ahead. Plus, what message are you sending your children? In this book, the antics of some parents are quite dastardly, produce eye rolls and comical at times.

Who knew college admissions were so cutthroat! Every parent wants the best for their child, but what if your dreams for your child do not coincide with their wants and dreams? What if you wanted something so badly for them that you lose all sense of right and wrong? What if you do not care? What if you are willing to do ANYTHING to make things happen for your child?

This was a fun and gripping look at power, greed, privilege, losing sight of the important things, college admissions, and being supportive of your child. It was fun to watch as the story unraveled, and we get a glimpse into the mothers’ thoughts and motivations through their POV chapters. The book is also told in parts and each one shines.

Thought provoking, captivating and entertaining!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wishes really do come true, thank you to @bookmarked @katzndobs and @netgalley for granting mine!

Girls With Bright Futures chronicles the modern day odyssey of three different sets of parents and their trials and tribulations as they all set their sights on a much coveted admission to Stanford University. The paths they take and obstacles they must overcome in their helter-skelter race to insure that each of their daughters is the "chosen one" resurrects and reprises well hewn themes as ancient as mythology itself. As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that even the legendary cyclops had more insight into what leads to true happiness than the Elliot Bay Academy parents - all of whom are one way or the other blinded by ambition, false pride, and an appalling lack of self-esteem, not to mention self-control. Girls With Bright Futures is a cautionary tale about flawed people who are consumed by the fires of arrogance and drowned in the waters of self-seeking.

This is such a fun and timely book! It’s been referred to as Big Little Lies meets Housewives and I can easily see why. I would love to watch this as a mini-series! Girls With Bright Futures published Febrary 2nd, I highly recommend it!

Girls with Bright Futures: A Novel by @katzndobz is a story about three mothers and the lengths they will go to to get their daughters into their University of choice.

Now I have to admit that I work in academia and I have done so for the past 19 years. Even though I don't have anything to do with admission into school, I am familiar with all manner of parents; or at least I thought I had. I have never experienced the type of parents you will find in this book.

Maren, Alicia, and Kelly are three very different women from very different backgrounds and circumstances. Likewise, their daughters Winnie, Brooke, and Krissie are as different from one another as the day is long. The thing that binds all of these characters together is the quest to obtain early admission to Stanford University.

Even with the college admission scandal that happened a few years ago, I still read Girls with Bright Futures: A Novel with my mouth wide open in shock. The things that are said, the things that are done...I really want to believe that this is just fiction, but I think what is described in the book is much more common than we think.

This was a great book, and it's one I highly recommend you pick up and read for yourself. It's well thought out, thoroughly intriguing, and a great way to spend an afternoon. I give this one a solid rating of 3.5/5!

*Note* will be posted to my Instagram on February 2, 2021 at 12:00 pm. est.

Whoa! what an amazing read! As a parent, I am willing to go all out to ensure that my children will have a better future than I am, but the mothers on this story went horribly too far that they have failed to step-back and rethink how these actions will affect the children. OMG, I can never believe such unethical behaviors. Anyway, 1 million stars for the author's incredible writing, they gave us characters to love so much and also those we want to slap. lol. the story is so realistic and relatable, it showcases many things in life, like morals, ethics, love and passion. I highly recommend this book!

If this book doesn't prove the cutthroat world of applying to colleges, I don't think anything else would.
This book centers around three sets of mothers and daughters, all of whom attend a prestigious private school that prides itself on getting students into the Ivy League Plus schools and these mothers will stop at nothing to make sure that happens. The problem is that they all want their daughters to go to Stanford, and Stanford has announced they are only taking one more student from the school and none of them will stop until those results are announced. However, there are secrets abounding and of course they are about to come out.

This book was so interesting. I found that I was immediately intrigued by the concept and how all of the relationships between the mothers went both with each other and with their daughters. The book is full of drama, secrets, sabotage, and makes me so glad that this wasn't my experience.

A bunch of crappy people treat each other in a crappy way to get into college on the outdated idea that you HAVE to go to a big name school to get a good education. Lots of backstabbing, lots of violence, and lots of class warfare. It could have been pulled off with witty dialogue or biting satire, but it just came off as mean.

A late night knock at a mother's door sets off a series of life changing events. What happened and why? Over the course of the book we meet 3 very different mothers, with different lives and 3 very different daughters. But when it is time for the girls to choose a college, the lives of these 6 people will never be the same. This is a story about motherhood, peer pressure, and excess; and what can happened when wanting the best for your child and wanting bragging rights turn people in monsters. I feel like this was an inside look into what could have lead to the college admissions scandal of 2020. I enjoyed this story would love more from these authors together.

As a reader, I love the drama of parents behaving badly and the high stakes world of college admissions for elite high schoolers (as a parent, this sort of thing terrifies me and makes me dread the process). Told from varying perspectives of three moms deep in the college admissions process, each of whom either has her heart set on her child attending Stanford, or has a child who is set on it, and have varying amounts of access and money to throw at the process. This was gossipy, juicy, and since right away we learn that someone has been seriously hurt in the process, high stakes and deeply absorbing.

Very timely on the heels of the 'Varsity Blues' (Aunt Becky) college scandal, Girls with Bright Futures dramatizes the lives of three private school mothers all competing for the same spot at an elite university on behalf of their daughters. Full of unpredictable twists, 'Girls' held my attention from the first page to the last despite being quite lengthy. The amount of conniving each mother was capable of, and capable of roping others into, made for excellent reading.

The main story and supplemental email exchanges and Facebook pages were done very effectively. I honestly would have trouble coming up with constructive criticism for 'Girls', as I found both the twists to be exciting and the ending to be satisfying. Sometimes Winnie's dialog was only 70% believable for how someone her age might talk, but honestly that is the only fault I could potentially find. I truly hope these authors team up for more books in the future!

I really enjoyed this take on how far parents will go to get their children into the "right" college. Especially in the wake of the recent celebrity admissions scandals, I think it's important for us as a society to examine out priorities, and there's nothing like a good book to allow us to take a step back and find ourselves in the characters. This was one of those rare books that makes you laugh, keeps your eyes glued to the page, and leaves you thinking.

This story about what mothers will do for their children (the dark side) was such an amazing read. I liked Admission last year, but YA isn't my thing, so this REALLY hit the spot.