“This is beyond soap opera, it’s Jerry Springer level”
Three High School seniors attending the same exclusive Seattle private school are informed that Stanford University will only be accepting one of them. Let the drama begin. It’s not just the students who bring out the claws, it’s the moms!!!! I see this book as an HBO miniseries ala Big Little Lies. Hmmm, maybe Felicity Huffman & Lori Loughlin can star.

I found this book completely believable and unputdownable. Very current and shines a spotlight on the college admissions scandal, the extreme lengths parents will go to and the inflated privilege & ego associated with certain colleges and universities. Major props to authors Wendy Katzman and Tracy Dobmeier for nailing the helicopter-moms craziness and unchecked competitiveness. I can’t wait to see what these friends write next.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for gifting me with an Audio ARC. Narration was wonderful, as was the writing and storytelling. I highly recommended this timely tale.

OM to the G, this book. It made me lol, sigh, roll my eyes, teary-eyed, cringe, wide-eyed like “Seriously?” and I love it!

College admission season and most of the seniors at Seattle’s Elliot Bay Academy covet for the single spot at Stanford with the three mothers leading the pack - tech giant Alicia, who uses her power and money to secure her daughter’s spot, Kelly a Standford alum and uses her PTA status to get as much information from her competitors, and Maren, single, struggling and assistant to Alicia who will fight for what her daughter’s deserves. The story centers on these three women, their daughters, families and the school community as to how much everybody is willing to do to cross the line to get what everybody thinks they deserve.

My daughter is a senior now and I can so relate with these moms (but not to their level which is way too much). I can relate how stressful to the kids the first semester of senior year. Though my daughter is taking IB program and not AP courses, I know the demand of the exams, submissions, IAs, EE, TOK, and all those university applications and deadlines. And I’m heading up the HS PTA too so I know all the stresses and the pressures!

I know of some parents who would go out of their way to hire tutors and paying enormous amount of money for consultants for their kids to get into these Ivy League schools and what have you. I was only expose to these kinds of scenarios in the recent years. I have no idea what they are talking about when I sat down for an orientation about IB and AP pathway. I came out of that orientation more confused than ever. And the parents are a bit competitive with grades and Uni applications and where they apply and accepted. I also know kids get major stressed out during these months. Of course we as parents always have the best intentions and wanting them to have bright futures. If we can just allow them to be and pursue what they want and be happy with their achievements, not adding more pressures to their plate. What they need is space from us knowing that we will understand and support them all the way.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook in exchange for an honest view.

This book sparked my interest after the recent media attention on university admission scandals. When it’s no longer about academics and more about working the system with your wealth. Many fun developed characters and an interesting storyline. I enjoyed the book. Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebook Landmarks for this audiobook.

Reminiscent of Big Little Lies, this is the story of a wealthy private school and the lengths the parents will go to get their children into the top colleges. Girls with Bright Futures revolves around three families and the competition to claim the one last spot to Stanford. If you were interested in the college admissions scandal or love rich people behaving badly (a favorite trope of mine), then this one is for you. The story starts with a near-fatal accident and then goes back in time to the events leading up to the early admissions deadline and the accident. There is also a parallel plot line centered around the main character, Maren, and the secret she is keeping from her daughter. This part of the story may be triggering to some readers, and one of the scenes in particular was hard to read. Thought provoking and entertaining, this book had me hooked from the beginning and kept me guessing throughout. I think this will make a great read for book clubs!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for the advanced copy to review. I really enjoyed listening to the audio version!

I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book, I thought it was going to be a big drama, and there was so much more in this story; it was unputdownable and addictive, twisty, suspenseful and fascinating. A gripping and fantastic story that you need to read.

Thank you Netgally and Recorded Books for this ALC.

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Such a timely story to tell! I love the upper-class drama between these mamas trying to get their daughters into college.

Thank you Net Galley for an Arizo copy of Girls With Bright Futures. This novel is unique as I've never read anything like it before. Bravo! This novel was fresh, exciting, character driven, Artfully woven story. The narrator was great!

This book is so timely! I enjoyed reading this book and found it very thought provoking and interesting. I will say I didn't really find the format to be all that original or groundbreaking but that didn't change my enjoyment of this book. This was a solid read but for me I think it was just okay.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early review copy.

Loved this book. Perfect for fans of "Big Little Lies" and "Little Fires Everywhere". Elite school mom drama intensified by college admissions scandals.

There were so many layers to this story to unfold that it kept me entertained until the last page. There was also so much emotion that I truely felt for many of the characters. At least twice it had me in tears. I can definitely see myself re-reading this again.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an advanced audiobook for review. In addition the narrator, Mia Barron, was fantastic.

This is what happens when mean girls grow up and their kids are applying to college. What an incredible read; I stayed up late, I took all my breaks at work to read it and put life on hold to finish this.(take out for dinner)

Well written and the characters are so real, I knew moms like this from PTA meetings.

I hope these ladies write more books.

This is like a “lite” version of “Prep” by Curtis Sittenfeld. It’s a quick read with a fun, fast-paced storyline. The characters (even the unlikeable ones) are fun to read about and the story has enough twists and mysteries to keep the reader engaged. I did NOT like the narrator. She was monotonous at times and over-exaggerated at others. I found some of her “voices” exceptionally annoying ... the writing should make you like or dislike a character, not the narrator’s choice of voice.
I’d definitely love my students to read this in order to show the ridiculous levels that kids and parents can reach during the college admissions process - as a caricature and warning. I hope to help keep them sane and calm, and think I could use this novel as a funhouse mirror for them to peek into.

Ever wonder what was going on in the minds of the parents of the college admission scandal? This book was a rollercoaster with so many twists and turns that it felt like a soap opera. The story follows three mothers of three girls competing for the same spot at Stanford from an affluent private high school. The actions that some of these parents took to give their own child a leg up was somewhat sickening and provided enough jaw dropping moments to keep me glued to the book. The most ruthless mom, Alicia, is a tech mogul who NEEDS to get her daughter into Stanford because Alicia went there for school. She acts as if her daughter’s life is at stake with the amount of money, secrets, and lies she spins to get her kid into a school she does not even want to go to. Next, Kelly is a stay-at-home mom who overcompensates for her family’s lack of status with volunteering and getting in everyone’s business. Her daughter struggles with anxiety and puts an insane amount of pressure on her to get in. Lastly, Marin is a single mother who works as Alicia’s personal assistant and her daughter is the most talented student at this school who has dreamed of being a Stanford student since being a child. The relationship between Marin and her daughter Winnie was a highlight of the book. They gave me major Gilmore Girls vibes with a similar mother/daughter bond as Lorelai and Rory. As the early admission process ends, one of the girls is hurt in a serious accident and the mystery of who was involved is a threat that keeps you guessing throughout the book. This story is perfect for those who love some serious drama like fans of Big Little Lies and Desperate Housewives. The conclusion was extremely satisfying after the number of laws broken and people hurt over the course of the story. However, I would have loved even just a chapter from the viewpoints of each of the girls and what they thought of the behaviors of the parents.
I will say that there should be a trigger warning about the discussion of rape and sexual assault incident in the second half of the book. It could be upsetting to some readers.

4.5 stars

Is it too early to have a favorite of the month? Because I absolutely enjoyed this story . The story was fast paced , drama filled , heart breaking, tear inducing, slow clap at the end , ripped from the headlines , can’t put down worthy. If you love moms behaving badly then this is for you !
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This story is told in 3 parts through the POV of of three moms who have bugs dreams of getting their daughter that one spot for early admission into Stanford. They will do everything and stop at nothing, but when one of the daughter is mowed down on the road , the stakes get even highlight because now the spotlight is on the moms and their evil ways are catching up to them.
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Y’all this is so much more that a college scandal story. It takes a look inside their lives and how the praise and backstabbing can destroy a family. Y’all, Maren story had me in tears , we just never know what burden others are carrying .

Elliott Bay Academy is one of the top private schools in the Seattle area and the school prides itself on the fact that it's students get into top-tier colleges. When Stanford University lets the school leadership know that since they've already accepted several student athletes from EBA for the next year, that only one more student from EBA will be accepted at Standford. This sets off a fierce competitions between 3 senior girls and their moms. The narrative shifts between the 3 moms: Maren, Alicia and Kelly. Alicia is the CEO of a large tech company and is definitely cut throat. Her daughter is not so cut throat. Maren is a younger, single mom who works as Alicia's personal assistant. Her daughter is the top of her class and has dreamed of going to Stanford since she was young. Kelly is a Stanford alum, head of the PTA and a bit of a gossip. Her daughter is super anxioys about the whole deal.

The book starts out with Maren rushing to the ER after she learns that her daughter was injured in a hit & run accident. The story then flashes back to earlier in the school year when all this intense competition started. There's lots of backstabbing, sneaky maneuvers, rumor mills, people digging up secrets etc. The book reminded me of both Big Little Lies and The Gifted School. It also, for me, brought to mind the college admissions scandal that has been on the news that past couple of years. Oh, what lengths some parents will go to in order to get their kids into college!! It was one of those books that I had to work hard to put down. I split my time between the eBook and the audiobook and enjoyed it in both formats.

Overall I enjoyed this book. The author did a really good job weaving the different elements of the story together and the 3 POVs were used well to do this. I was especially impressed that the author was able to craft so many horrible characters and even have some of them as POVs yet I didn't find it annoying or frustrating to be in their heads so much of the time. The pacing and suspense were good and kept the story moving in a way that felt organic.
There were a few times that I had guessed the plot twist/reveal way before it happened but there enough surprises that it didn't bother me too much. I also wish that there was more a difference between the voices of the different POVs. The only way I could really tell them apart was subtle differences in how the narrator of the audiobook read them. Had I not been listening to the audiobook, I think they would have been really hard to differentiate. Lastly, I was a bit disappointed with the reveal of who got the spot in Stanford. It felt a bit like a cop out and was made worse after reading the epilogue. I get that this might have been on purpose to show, once again, how insane everyone was getting about this but to me it felt.like author created a situation where no one could win so this was an easy way out.

Girls with Bright Futures unputdownable!! I’m giving you a heads up to clear your calendar for this book!! From the beginning I was hooked and finished it in 24 hours!! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s!! Thank you so much to NetGalley for this audiobook!!

It is college season for three girls at the prestigious school of Elliott Bay Academy (EBA). All three girls want to go to Stanford. But EBA was informed that Stanford was only accepting one more student for their school. Three mothers were prepared to do anything it took to get their daughter into Stanford. Then one of the girls suffered a new fatal accident that doesn’t appear to be an accident. What will a mother do for her daughter?

BFF authors Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman tackle the competitive college-admissions process in their new book, “Girls with Bright Futures.” They describe it as a “suspenseful read with a side of satire.”

The premise is that three ambitious teens find out that their favorite university—Stanford— only has one opening. At least to freshmen from EVB, their elite prep school, because of athletic scholarships. And that’s when the girls and their “Tiger moms” go bananas, trying to be the one EVB student invited.

All of a sudden, there’s a major scandal and attempted murder incident on Maren’s daughter, Winnie. Could one of the mom’s be responsible? Likely so!

We soon learn about the lies, a non-disclosure agreement and totally questionable behavior. If this book becomes a movie, the producers can pull from the cast of Big Little Lies. Reese Witherspoon will no doubt be cast as “Kelly” the stay-at-home mom and Stanford alum. Laura Dern will be “Alicia,” a super wealthy Stanford trustee and F-bomb-dropping tech CEO. Then Shailene Woodley will play “Maren,” the single, broke mom who doesn’t fit in among the rich and elite.

In addition to the back-stabbing, this book keeps the tension thick. It’s an exaggerated depiction of the anxiety, uncertainty and fear surrounding the admissions process. I’m grateful that I don’t have to worry about my kid getting into college for another 9 or 10 years!

The narrator of the audio book, Mia Barron, did an excellent job. I love her voice and inflection. She does a great job creating a sense of drama. And at 2X speed, the book is extremely fast-paced (which I love!). For me, it’s an easy, enjoyable listen. The plotline isn’t too complicated so you can easily multi-task while listening and not get lost. Hooray!

Thanks to NetGalley for this audiobook!

I requested Girls with Bright Futures as it almost reminded me of Lori Loughlins scandal. This book did not disappoint! It filled me with shock and some serious anxiety but kept me guessing!

I loved the audio narration but I think I would have liked the print copy as well. This story was about three moms and their prep school daughters as they tackled the world of getting into college. Besides those characters we learn of other friends and parents which sometimes made it hard to remember which person was which. (Maybe I’m just an exhausted pandemic mom though!)

I had absolutely no idea the world of getting into college was so cut throat. The main character, Marian, is a single mom and also the assistant to Alicia (a tech billionaire) who is also sending her daughter to college. The third mom is sort of the town gossip who is out of her league at the prep school. Their stories all twist into one another and I was more and more shocked as this book went on! Just when I thought things may wrap up another lie or secret is unveiled. This honestly made me not want to put any pressure on my kids in their future endeavors! So much of the girls going to college was about what it meant or how it made their moms look. What a twisted world! This was a page turner & total eye opener!

After finding out that Stanford will only be giving one more student at an elite private school a place, three women are determined that their daughter will be the one who gets it. Insanity ensues.

This book was a fascinating and disturbing look into American society and the lengths the elite will go to in order to ensure that their children are given the maximum advantage in life. Like having millions isn't enough already. The characters were awful, their actions even worse, and the only people I liked were Maren, Winnie and Ted. Maren is the most relatable character, probably because she's the only one who isn't incredibly wealthy and actually has to deal with real world problems.

After Maren's daughter Winnie is injured in a hit and run, Maren is determined to find out who did it. Unfortunately, she suspects it may be someone involved in Winnie's school, as Winnie is competing for the only remaining place at Stanford. Maren's life is further complicated because Alicia, her extremely wealth boss, is determined that her daughter Brooke deserves the place. Likewise, Kelly feels that her daughter is the only worthy candidate. It was fascinating to see the thought processes of all these women and the impact their behaviour had on other people.

This sounds like a book about petty rich women, and it absolutely is. But it's incredible because it deals with so much more than that. Family, love, surviving sexual violence, single parenting, economic inequality. All of these things were handled with skill and sensitivity.

I loved to hate Alicia and Kelly, and I was cheering for Maren.

Highly recommend the audiobook as it's read very well.

"Girls with Bright Futures" is an "OMG!" impossible-to-put-down book about the college admissions process that earned top scores with this reader.

How far will mothers go to secure a coveted spot at a prestigious Ivy League university for their daughters? The answer will surprise you!

This compelling college admissions saga focuses on three families with daughters attending Elliot Bay Academy, an elite private college-preparatory school. All daughters are in the process of applying to college and qualify for an early-decision admission spot at Stanford. THE PROBLEM: There is only one Stanford spot available for Elliot Bay Acadamy students. THE SOLUTION: Since Rick Singer is not an option, what can a family do???

TRUE CONFESSION: I was hesitant to give this book a try. The authors were unknown and I had already "overdosed" on our country's most recent college admissions scandal. Also, how good can a book about three teens applying to college be??? After listening to a short audio clip of the book, however, I decided to give it a try and I am glad that I did because this book truly surpassed my wildest expectations.

This book was very fast-paced with strong character development and a great flow. I listened to the book's audio version (11 hours) and I was unable to stop listening and finished the book in two days. The narrator was superb. The book's beginning/middle was much stronger than the book's ending, but this book still easily earned its 5-stars.

It's difficult to believe that this is the first novel penned by this "author team", and I will definitely be looking forward to reading future titles by these talented authors.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.