I did it! I’m all caught up on the Class Mom series. And Max has caught up to my daughter – they are both in seventh grade now. Unlike my daughter, Max is on the wrestling team so Jen has a whole new group of moms to deal with – the Mat Moms. They all seem to take wrestling way more seriously than she does. Most of the moms are welcoming but one is downright mean.

In the meantime, Jen’s aging parents are becoming more of a handful and her adult daughters are trying to start a business. And Jen is still teaching spinning classes. One of her students is getting a little demanding. So as usual, Jen’s plate is full but it’s with all new problems so it feels fresh. There is a little bit of sadness in this book and also a point at which I wanted to shake Jen because she was being very unreasonable. I wasn’t expecting a Class Mom book to get me worked up!

Smells Like Tween Spirit was very satisfying but I hope that Laurie will write another one – I’d love to see what Jen gets up to when Max is in high school.

Jen Dixon is back at it! This time she returns as a Mat Mom, as in wrestling mat mom. Her kids are aging and so is she. She still has her sass and quick wit that makes her so funny. If you’ve read the Class Mom series, you won’t want to miss this one. I didn’t find it quite as entertaining as the first couple but maybe because I’m couldn’t relate as well to the wrestling mom thing. It was still funny but will likely be funnier when my kids are in middle school. I would still recommend it if you’ve read the others and found them enjoyable.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone else here a Jen Dixon and Laurie Gelman fangirl for life?!?

I’ve adored this series since Class Mom, and Smells Like Tween Spirit did not disappoint! I laughed, I cackled, I cried, I smiled. Laurie’s writing always gets me in the feels, and I’m convinced we’d be best friends! My boys may not quite be tweens yet, but Jen’s humor and perspective were comforting and convinced me I’ll get through that age when we come to it.

Keep on writing, Laurie, because I’ll always read your books!

I have enjoyed this series to no end!
When I first started Smells Like Tween Spirit, I wasn't sure I was in the right mood for Jen's snarkiness, but after just one chapter I was all in.
I love the characters and like the new group of volunteers and spin class members.
Looking forward to hopefully another installment in the series.

Laurie Gelman has returned with the fourth installment of the Class Mom series and nothing feels quite as apropos for this season of crazy then to read her take on parenting. Jen Dixon returns in Smells Like Tween Spirit, this time celebrating her 7th grade son’s new interest in team wrestling and her new role as Mat Mom. As always, Gelman is hilarious and makes me fall in love with the Dixon family antics from the first chapter. This one did deal with some heavier topics as well, most notably dementia and aging parents, but Gelman still managed to handle those with a certain level of appropriate levity that kept the book from becoming overly heavy. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of both the Kindle and audiobook from Netgalley, and it was great to toggle back and forth on the formats - Gelman herself is the audiobook narrator and brought a fun spirit to the character of Jen. If you love Jen Dixon, this one will certainly not disappoint. And if you’re a mom of school-aged kids, start at the beginning of the series and revel in all that is the Dixon family.

Just in time for the start of the school year, Laurie Gelman takes readers back to Jen Dixon's life as mom of a now tween-aged Max in Overland, Park. The cast of supporting characters is in full force with Jen's adult daughters Vivs and Laura vying for attention, her granddaughter Maude, delightful husband Ron, her aging parents and colorful friends. Max decides to try wrestling in 7th grade and this next installment explores Jen's experience as a mat mom, preschool grandma and perfectly captures the sandwich generation many of us feel-caring for children while caring for aging parents. With her trademark wit and humor, Jen's antics will keep readers engaged and cheering. I hope this series never ends-Gelman's humor is what the world needs now.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Company and Laurie Gelman for an advanced reading copy of Smells Like Tween Spirit, receipt of which does not impact my review.

I am a huge fan of the Class Mom series and Smells Like Tween Spirit is the perfect addition. Max is now in middle school and (much to Ron's delight) has found a sport he is interested in - wrestling. And with wrestling comes a whole new set of mom-group dynamics and politics for Jen to reluctantly figure out.

Jen Dixon remains true to herself, and the book was another hilarious joy to read. Sprinkled in are some very real-life topics that many deal with in their 40s and 50s. One of my very favorite series to read!

Smells like Tween Spirit is the delightful fourth installment in the Class Mom series. I absolutely love these books and could not wait to get my hands on a copy of the fourth book!

Jen Dixon’s son Max decides to join the wrestling team of his school and she is now a mat mom! The book has updates of the cast of characters and a new group of ladies - the mat moms!

I love the author’s writing, it is laugh out loud funny and relatable! If you need a light hearted laugh out loud series this is it!

I remember purchasing the first class mom book and wondering if I’d like it since I am not a mom but I loved it and have read every book since I read the first one a few years ago! They are great!

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the digital advanced readers copy!! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love this series and hope it never ends. Highly recommend the audio read by the author. This series is so funny and relatable as a mom.

Smells Like Tween Spirit returns us to the wacky world of the hilarious, Jen Dixon. This time around Jen finds herself navigating a new crop of helicopter moms, as well as taking on the role of “Mat Mom” as her son enters the competitive world of middle school wrestling.

In addition to dealing with the backstabbing life of suburban sports, Jen also juggles another school fundraiser, teaching spin classes, and the drama of her fully grown children. Although Laurie Gelman always manages to crack me up, this time she managed to make me tear up, too. This is because a significant portion of the story is devoted to her father’s dementia. I’ve (luckily) never dealt with dementia first hand, but it is decidedly one of the most heartbreaking things for an individual and their loved ones to go through.

Smells Like Tween Spirit is the fourth installment in the underrated, Class Mom series. While the books don’t have to be read in order, it helps to do so to pick up on the nuanced continuity that occurs in each book. You don’t need to be a mom either to appreciate the humor in this series. So if you enjoy suburban snark with a touch of Generation X, I’d consider signing up for this master class.

This is the fourth novel in the Class Mom series by Laurie Gelman. Being a mom of two boys, one in elementary school and one in middle school, I can relate to everything she writes about in this series. I adore this series and the characters. Jen Dixon may be my spirit animal.

In this installment of the Class Mom series we follow Jen and her family as her youngest child Max ventures into the sport of wrestling. Moving away from PTO mom, Jen finds she is now a "mat mom", different, but very much the same. As we follow the families journey into wrestling, we watch Jen face some difficult life events, with her daughters and her parents. The balance of child-rearing and eldercare is evident and something that hits home to a lot of moms like me.

I found this book to be a delight to read, It was quick and easy and let me escape my own life and step into the Dixon families trials and tribulations for a bit. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves humor and sarcasm and finds themselves in a season of life where you not only worry about your children, but also your parents.

Smells Like Tween Spirit by Laurie Gelman is the 4th installment in this series. Loved catching up with Jen and the gang! I love following these characters and hope there are many more in this series to come!

This book was Soo good I just couldn’t put it down! It’s a must read and don’t forget to get the others like I did!

I'm so glad this series didn't end after "Yoga Pants Nation" - this one was delightful even though Max is growing up and the role of Mat Mom takes the place of being Class Mom. While I am not familiar with the wrestling lingo and am not yet a sports mom, I still enjoyed this one - it has familiar themes and is still just as funny as previous books. Yet I missed the emails Jen would write as Class Mom, there just aren't as many of them in this book. I personally couldn't relate yet to some of the topics - I'm just not at that age yet and neither are my children. But I enjoyed it, loved revisiting these familiar characters and finding out what's up with them, and appreciated the realness of it. There was some deep emotion that wasn't in the other book, and I even shed a tear or two. If you're looking for a funny lighter read about parenthood, pick up this series (don't pick this one up unless you've read the other books in the series).

Oh how I love this author and this series of books. Funny and yet heart felt. They bring back so many memories of being a Room Parent, Team Mom, etc. Laurie Gelman just knows how to bring on the laughs, but yet get to the real heart of being a Mom, wife, daughter. Can't wait for more!

Absolutely loved! Another home run from Laurie Gelman. She could write about our favorite Class Mom for as many more books as she wanted and I think I would love them all! It’s the perfect blend of laugh out loud with a little heart and moments that you feel truly seen and understood as a mom because they feel so familiar. Highly recommend!

Smells Like Tween Spirit continues the story of Jen Dixon and family. Max is a wrestler now, and that opens up a whole new hilarious avenue to explore, from wrestling matches to Christmas parties to moms wrestling. Jen also has the added stress of helping her parents and supporting her daughters in their new business venture.

This all comes together to create a laugh out loud enjoyable comedy. I liked the novel and felt myself relaxing while I read. I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you #Netgalley!

I have enjoyed the the Class Mom series and was so happy when I heard about #4. This book is just as funny as the others. We follow Jen Dixon, the master of witty emails, and her adventure into teen wrestling. Her son joins the school wrestling team where she is thrown into a whole new crowd all while still navigating her exercise classes and daughters. So many laugh out loud moments due particularly around the wrestling topic and smells. I also loved reading about the competitive moms and that they wrestle each other! Highly recommend this series and hope there will be more!

Hahaha! Laurie Gelman does it again. I'm not sure I'll ever get sick of Jennifer Dixon and her smart mouth and quick sass! She's hilarious!

I loved reading about Jen's new endeavor as not class mom, but her life is far from boring without that added on! I'm not at all surprised to find Jen finds herself set right in the sight of Mimi Melon a fellow "all in" mom from a rival team. Getting those two together will be a for sure way to create a great story to tell!

Did I detect a bit of foreshadowing for a possible 5th book in this series at the end? A girl can always hope!

Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt & Company and of course Laurie Gelman for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review!

Smells Like Tween Spirit is the fourth installment in the Class Mom series authored by Laurie Gelman. Jen Dixon now finds herself the mother of a middle schooler who is just discovering the world of school wrestling. Luckily there are team fundraisers and wrestling matches to provide us with lots of laughter due to Jen's antics. I love this series and frequently recommend it to my friends who are looking for laugh-out-loud stories. Read and enjoy!