Thank you to Net galley and RB Media for this copy.
Overall, this was a really good story. From the first few chapters, instantly I thought of the scandal a few years ago with Lori Loughlin and her college admission upset and thought this was going to play out similarly but I was wrong. Then, as the story went on I noticed some pretty eerie consequences to Michelle Money’s (from the bachelor) story with her daughter last year; when she was injured while riding her skateboard. So, this story definitely could be something you could see happening.
I did find the adult characters to be quite annoying but overall, it made them more real because it is known that this is how many private school parents act. I can’t believe how crazy parents get when it comes to doing anything to one-up other parents when it comes to colleges for their kids. Overall, the narration was really well, and the story had me hooked until the very end. I think if I was physically reading this one, I may have given up, but the audiobook was just what I needed. As I got deeper into the story, I enjoyed it much more, there is so much drama in this! On top of the drama, there’s a mystery where you feel like anyone in the story could be responsible for the hit and run that happens.

This book is a wild ride! The parents in it are completely over the top, doing whatever it takes to get their kids into a prestigious college, even if it means someone gets hurt. From the college admissions scandal that came out a year or two ago, I knew that some parents were doing illegal things, but this ramps up to a whole new level.

In an elite private school that funnels students to the ivy league, multi-millionaire Alicia and stay at home mom Kelly are devoting all their resources to getting their daughters into Stanford. This includes bribes, hiring professionals to write essays, and spreading gossip about the competition. Meanwhile single mom Maren is just trying to get by when her daughter is badly hurt and the recipient of threats if she applies to Stanford. The differences in the moms is interesting and I liked the juxtaposition. They're all doing what they think is best for their kids, but need a reality check.

There are several turns in this and I was on the edge the entire time waiting to see what would happen with all this craziness. I also cried at my desk when a rape is described in graphic detail, I wouldn't wish sexual assault on anyone. It's a difficult moment to listen to, but I was glad it was addressed.

I really enjoyed this audiobook and recommend it if you're looking for an intense thriller.

CW: graphic description of rape, attempted sexual assault

I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thought this was going to be a story about the competitive environment of high school girls and their moms and the lengths they will go to get into the college of their choice.
While that is the fabric of the story, it is much deeper than that. It’s a multilayered, heavy drama that left me crying like a baby at one point.

It explores the ripple effect that actions have on lives. You will feel the whole spectrum of emotions. It’s about awful people doing awful things, but it’s also about strength, integrity and love.

I have seen this listed as a thriller, I feel that’s miscategorization. It’s a drama/ literary fiction with an element of mystery.
Although this book was different than I was expecting, I really enjoyed it

Whoa! Girls with Bright Futures was an addicting listen!

This follows three women who are fighting tooth and nail to get their daughters into Stanford. College admissions at the super fancy Elliot Bay Academy are a huge deal with students going to all the nations top-tier universities. When Stanford alerts the school it’s only admitting one more spot to EBA for their incoming class, the competition is suddenly more intense then ever!

This one has it all:
- Over-the-top drama and deceit.
- Rich people behaving very badly.
- An addicting and fast moving plot.

I loved this book! People can be crazy, y’all and Girls with Bright Futures felt very realistic with some of the recent college admissions scandals that have been in the news!

I’m giving this one four entertaining stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

First off thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this book

This book pulled me in from the moment I turned it on I can only hope that this is not how parents really act so pretty much this book follows 3 different women and their daughters that are all trying to get i to Stanford well 2 of the girls want to go but 1 her mother is really the one that wants her or go Winnie who is lower income then the other girls is also smarter and gets into an accident but who cause it I like how even up until the end I still was guessing who was behind Winnie’s accident this book was funny I laughed and was shocked by different parts I really enjoyed it can’t wait to read more from this Author

This was such a good story. I hated most the characters and the drama but the second half of the book was really good. Alicia is the worst! Maren is a great, hardworking assistant and winnie is the smart goal oriented student. Every other character is horrible.
The life that Maren had to go through and the manipulation from her boss is crazy. I enjoy stories of strong women who make things work no matter how hard things get and this book surely delivers with Maren.
If you enjoy drama filled stories with lots of back stabing and secrets then this may be you next favorite book.
I listened to this via audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Girls with Bright Futures was an addicting book to dive into. Since I've read so many books and watched a ton of movies and shows with backstabbing parents/people - well, it's safe to say that I was all over the place with vibes. It wasn't hard to start thinking of other things once you get sucked into the story. Especially when you have three tiger moms (in a way) that will do whatever it takes to get their kids to follow their dreams.

The competition, twists, and all the turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, I wasn't expecting so many deep dark secrets to come out. Or to meet so many assholes and twatwaffles in this book either. There's one scene that really pisses me off too. I don't want to go into great detail because it would be a huge spoiler.. but just know that I was pissed .

Other than that, this book was pretty damn easy to devour. A lot is happening throughout the book and it might be a bit hard to keep track of it all. Just know that it will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I do wish that I got more of something though - justice, karma, bloodshed. You name it - I wanted it.

This book made me so angry and I hated everyone. I was going to give it 1 or 2 stars, but then again, it was supposed to make me hate these women, so I guess that's a job well done!

It is a story about entitled moms who want to live their daughters' lives no matter what the girls want. It is a lot of scheming and petty moves. I really hated every person here.

It was like a soap opera! All this drama, all the truths that cam out. I don't know, it was just all too much for me. It was way too disturbing to read about some bitches who are ready to mess up with their own kids' lives!

I didn't like the narrator at all. Her reading was too slow for me and it was like her mouth was sticky and full of gum. I listen a good part of it on 1.25 and 1.5 speed to make it more bearable.

Going to College certainly is entering a high stakes world. This focuses on 3 Girls going to an Elite School where they learn there will be only one spot open at Stanford. So, Marion, Kelly, and Alicia will do just about anything to ensure their daughter gets into that University!

This is listed as satire and it is. Parents don’t go this far to get bragging rights to their child’s acceptance to a top school, but it’s close. Parents really do get crazy and start planning their children’s futures when they are four. It is very important everything goes right. So, I was laughing at many of the antics, cheating, underhanded maneuvers, and anything to reach their goal.

I really liked the characters Marion and her daughter Winnie. She does not come from money and teaches Winnie to work hard for her goals. Winnie is determined to go to Stanford. Marrion’s boss, Alicia does not take this well as that would rob her star, Brooke from getting the spot. Much drama ensues over that, but Marion and especially Winnie are grounded. They both seem to understand what is really important in life.

The rest, well it’s going to be a fun ride. This was entertaining to listen to and I really enjoyed the Audio Version.

Thank you NetGalley, Tracy Dobmeier, Wendy Katzman, and RB Media for this audio copy.

This book is so much more than it appears to be in the surface. There’s the obvious scandal and drama, but there is also a lot of heart and a beautiful mother daughter relationship at the center of this. I think alternating perspectives can easily take one away from the overall story if not done well, but it was done well here. The story kept moving and new things were revealed through each change in perspective, which was a wonderful way to have it unfold.

I’ve never listened to anything by this narrator before, but thought that they were excellent & would absolutely listen to more of their work in the future. I love when narrators really create a unique voice for each character that is instantly recognizable when ai hear it, and Mia Barrón definitely did that.

I would like to thank NetGalley, RB Media, and Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman for a free copy in exchange for an honest

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

It’s college admission’s season for three mothers and daughters navigating the college application practice. Ultra rich and ultra privileged families will do anything to make it happen. Everyone is vying for a spot at Stanford, and one almost fatal accident doesn’t seem to be much of an accident after all.

This book is everything! These mothers will do ANYTHING to get ahead no matter who gets left in their wake. This compulsive, twisty, and witty read left me on the edge of my seat! This story will leave you rooting for the underdog and hating the mothers that are clearly more concerned about themselves than their children. The character development was spot on and the audiobook was excellent!

TW: rape, cancer, car accident

Thank you to @netgalley and to RB Media for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! ✨

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. The characters were really stuffy. The book got so much better as I put the pieces together as to why what, and how the characters were reacting to their lives. Life is not what you want it to be, but there is always a silver lining it you look for it. For that reason, I really enjoy this book.

* content: 4 stars
* narration: 4 stars

Girls with Bright Futures is a story about three mothers and three daughters. Three Stanford applications, but just one spot. What will a mother do to get her daughter the education she thinks she deserves?

I'm usually not into woman's fiction books, but this one I enjoyed a lot. It kept me engaged all the time. I liked the narration, it was nice to listen to, and the narrator did well with all the characters in this book.

Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for my complimentary copy of Girls With Bright Futures in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows the lives of three women and their daughters and their struggles around college admissions. Each mother wants their daughter to be accepted into Stanford during early admissions, but this year, there is only one spot available. The women will stop at nothing to secure their daughter’s place at the prestigious college, even if that means blackmail, cheating, bribery and breaking the law.

I absolutely loved this book. If I was reading a physical copy, I probably would have devoured it in a single sitting. I loved the alternating POVs and how the lives of the three women came together. I couldn’t get enough of this one or listen to it fast enough.

The narrator was just perfect for this one! Her reading flows perfectly and is crystal clear. I loved the distinguishing voices to separate characters which made listening that much easier.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loved the series Gossip Girl. On that note, I think this book would make a great TV mini series!

Girls with Bright Futures brings so many headlines and shoves them into an intense and twisty novel. Gripped from the first page I devoured this story as quickly as I could. #GirlswithBrightFutures #NetGalley

Telling the story from the perspective of 3 very different women in one similar situation, they are all vying for one coveted spot at Stanford. Diving deeply into the world of privileged and super wealthy of America with one perspective coming from an outsider of the wealthy world we find ourselves torn between fraud, attempted murder, and college essays. Dobmeier and Katzman brilliantly tell the story without skimming over the hard bits. I could not put this book down.

TW: rape, mental health issues, assault, sexual harassment, workplace abuse.

My only complaint is a fatphobic description of a heavy set woman "waddling" and the sexist (and right out of the rape culture playbook) description of a teenagers cloths as "enhancing beauty without flaunting it". These kinds of descriptions need to be left behind.

What happens when a highly coveted spot to Stanford is only accepting 1 more student from an extremely competitive private Seattle high school? Shenanigans and drama, of course!

Girls with Bright Futures takes place at the, fictitious, Elliott Bay Academy in Seattle, WA. The mom's at the school turn into something akin to The Real Housewives like The Real Tiger Moms of College Admissions, as each is trying their best to secure the best college spot for their daughter.

For our cast of tiger moms we have mega-famous tech CEO Alicia Stone who cannot be embarrassed by her daughter not getting into her school of choice despite her poor scores, not perfect grades and a serious case of apathy about the whole thing. Next up is Maren, Alicia's right hand woman who has worked for her for years and is not willing to do anything to jeopardize her job, including allowing her daughter to pursue her dreams. The third main player is Kelly, a stay at home mom who gave up her career to raise her children. Kelly and her husband are both alumni of Stanford so her daughters spot should have been a lock but with only one spot Kelly becomes obsessive about being a shining star and doing what it takes to get her daughter in.

I enjoyed the ride and the drama in this fast-paced read. It truly felt like I was reading some crazy storyline from a reality TV show highlighting powerful, rich families and the lengths they will go to for their kids. There was some mystery, suspense and intrigue to keep you flipping the pages to find out what would come around the next corner. I kept being amazed by the lengths some of the moms would go to, but I feel like this probably isn't too far from real life especially with the real life college admission scandal of recent memory.

CW: rape, childhood illness

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Well this was amazing - what I am really really into - hints of big little fires and big little lies. The drama that was involved with the parents - thought a primary school PTA was bad.

I love how little nuggets were thrown in - can't say one big spoiler but I knew when it was mentioned it was going to have a substantial impact.

The narration was faultless and just could not help but listen - it is half term now so have just listened to it all day it was that gripping.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is my own.

If you are a parent with a school-going child, you would certainly have encountered "Mom-zillas", mothers who are overinvested in every aspect of their child's life. Girls With Bright Futures has some such interesting monster moms, that can entertain you and open your eyes to how obsessed people become over trivial matters.

We get to meet Maren (a single mother working multiple jobs) and her daughter Winnie (a class topper who dreams of going to Stanford), Alicia (ultra-wealthy president of a tech company, Stanford alumna, dreams of her daughter following her path to Stanford) and her daughter Brooke (doesn't want to go to Stanford and rebels against her mom's pressure), & Kelly (middle class stay at home mom, active in PTA and school activities, Stanford alumna) and her daughter Chrissie (pressures herself to such an extent to go to Stanford that she is suffering from depression.)

A couple of days before the Standard early admissions are supposed to close, one of the girls suffers a near-fatal accident, leading to a nightmarish game of finger-pointing and blackmail. In the process, many more secrets come tumbling out and the mothers soon need to decide to what extent they are willing to go to fulfill their or their children's dreams.

The book is narrated from the point of view of the three mothers. Alicia, Kelly and Maren depict three different types of moms, all of whom are very realistically shown. There are many other characters in the book who make a great impact even if they don't have as many pages dedicated to them.

The obsessiveness over getting into Ivy League colleges is shown to an extreme degree in the book, but from what I've read in the news, there are parents who are willing to do anything to get their children into the elite universities. The book makes a pointed social comment against this kind of craziness.

The audiobook is narrated by Mia Barron, and she does a fantastic job. Her reading is crystal clear, and she uses distinct voices for characters, which help you focus on the narration very easily. I'd love to hear more books narrated by her.

Overall, this was an entertaining and enlightening read. Recommended for those book lovers who look for a light yet thrilling break from intense books.

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media, for the Advanced Audio Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

OMG I loved this book! 2021 Favorites List! The story is so amazing and I can't wait to read more from this author. The book follows three mothers and three daughters as they are getting ready for college early admissions. Alicia needs her daughter to get the one allotted spot at Stanford even though her daughter doesn't want it but Alicia insists because she is the richest of them all. Kelly also wants her daughter to go to Stanford and will start as many rumors as she can to get her daughter accepted. And Maren, the mother who's daughter is hit by a car to knock her out of the running to get into Stanford. Maren also works for Alicia and is the poorest of them all. No spoilers! Just read this book! I highly recommend it and Thanks so much to #Netgalley for the early review copy! I just loved it! I couldn't put it down!

Wowzers! Bring on the popcorn! Or in my case, the milk and Girl Scout cookies! My goodness, this was a wild, crazy, and juicy read. In Girls With Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman, I was introduced to a world that I’ll never belong to, or fully understand. This being the lives of the rich, powerful, and extremely ruthless. Mothers going completely mad, dads making sketchy moves, stress levels running high, and teenagers not giving a damn. Welcome to college admissions season, my friends. Anything goes and nothing will stand in the way to get their children into the school of their dreams. Hefty donations, threats, rumors, and back-stabbing at it’s finest, I tell ya. I was shocked, appalled, and completely addicted to this story. The narrator, Mia Barron was fantastic and it pained me to hit pause while listening! This book is perfect for fans of The Gifted School as it reeks with privilege, elitism, and entitlement. I highly recommend this entertaining read! 4/5 wild and crazy stars for Girls With Bright Futures!