Jen Dixon is back! Smells Like Tween Spirit is the 4th book in the Class Mom series and with a mix of laugh-out-loud humor and family drama, this would make for a great summer read!

Jen has sworn off the class mom role when Max starts 7th grade but when he joins the wrestling team, Jen decides to help out and becomes a “mat mom” at Pioneer Middle School, or PMS as it says on the sweatshirts! At the same time, she’s trying to get to know her spin class participants, care for her aging parents, support her daughters’ new business, and find time for her husband.

What I love about Gelman’s writing is that through all the humor and sharp wit, we see real life with all its complications. People argue and make mistakes but through it all there is love and laughter. I find these books highly relatable and find myself nodding in agreement multiple times throughout (when I wasn’t laughing of course)!

I have read all of the Class Mom books and they are great! Do they have to be read in order? Nope! This can definitely be read as a stand-alone but I would highly recommend them all!

I will read Laurie Gelman and this series for as long as she will write. I adore the wit and the insanity (yet reality) of being a school-aged mom. I have followed this series from the beginning and I always laugh- its light, its funny but it has purpose and meaning. I wish "Jen" could have been one of my fellow room moms. Her emails though... crack up every time! I can relate to all of this! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Hilarious and so relatable! This is the 4th in the Class Mom series. You don't have to read the other 3, but you really should. We moms need to stick together!

I just LOVE the snark and witty writing in this series! The authors ability to poke fun at the ridiculousness of modern motherhood in a light and breezy way just makes me happy. Reuniting with the characters is an added bonus! I have loved the character development throughout this series and loved this addition. It was witty, emotional, and oh so FUN!

Back in Jen Dixon's world and I have to say - didn't need this book! I thought it was just ok and enjoyed parts but it didn't have the same biting humor or developing storylines from the original. The moms seemed extra catty and It was just so much wrestling talk! Thanks for my gifted copy!

This book is a fourth in a series and could be read as a stand alone. I would suggest though that you read the others first because you will fall in love with this humor-filled book and want to read the first three anyway. Jen is a 55 year old mom with three children, two adult girls out of the house and a son in seventh grade. This year Jen is a “mat mom” which is the name given to mothers of wrestlers. She also teaches spin class, babysits her granddaughter and helps take care of her dad. Jen and hubby stay embroiled in the family happenings by hosting weekly dinners, and we all know what family dinners can be like. The dialogue is tongue in cheek, sassy and often very funny. She’s the kind of outspoken woman that I aspire to be. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jen Dixon is back! Her son Max is now in middle school and on the wrestling team. Of course she can't hold herself back from not just getting involved with the wrestling moms but also with various members of the spin class that she teaches. This book has a similar feeling to"Yoga Pant Nation" - not as snarky as her first two books and includes the serious issue of an aging father with dementia. Overall a very easy read that's a lot of fun to read.

For all of us who thought the wonderfully funny Class Mom series by Laurie Gelman had ended with book 3, oh boy were we happily wrong! In the latest installment, Smells Like Tween Spirit, Jen Dixon is back and as hysterical as ever!

In book 4 we find Jen has left her Class Mom days behind as her young son Max heads off to Middle School, only to find out he has decided to join the wrestling team! Jen decides to join the Mat Moms, a group of women whose sons are on the team and do fundraisers and their stinky laundry. So, as she becomes acquainted with the Pioneer Middle School wrestling moms, (PMS for short) and yes, they DO have t-shirts! she must begin the old get to know their personalities routine feeling out the other moms to find out who the fun ones are and who are the villains.

As if she needs anymore to do now that she is teaching spin classes with a cult following, babysitting her granddaughter, taking care of her aging parents, with her father sinking deeper into dementia, trying to mediate her two daughters’ drama with each other as they try and open a business together and a low libido which has her making excuses to her kind of understanding husband. She even develops a stalker! Well, sort of.

Jen takes us through her holiday seasons which begins with a Halloween party at their house for the wrestlers. Nothing could go wrong there! And a quiet Christmas as her two daughters go elsewhere. It’s then that Jen realizes her life might begin to get much quieter than she really wants!

But Jen is also faced with a sadness she and her readers hoped would never come. But in the real world, this sub-plot is all too painful and is written with perfection causing the reader perhaps a few tears.

With that said, all I can say is Jen Dixon is alive and well and continues to make the readers who love her laugh through her emails and snarky foot in mouth dialogue! Welcome back Jen and thank you Laurie Gelman!

Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHolt&Co. #LaurieGelman #SmellsLikeTweenSpirit for the advanced copy.

Jen Dixon, the delightfully snarky protagonist of the Class Mom series makes her fourth appearance, this time in “Smells Like Tween Spirit.” Jen’s son Max has now finished elementary school and has, of all things, joined the wrestling team at Pioneer Middle School.

Jen is asked to become a “Mat Mom,” the squad of mothers who do fundraising, provide healthy snacks for the team, arrange car pools to their kids’ matches, do the team’s laundry, and any other odd jobs that may need to be done for the team.

This comes as a surprise to Jen because Max has never previously displayed interest in wrestling. Her response to the news? “I couldn’t be more shocked if I were posing nude in Playboy.” Jen’s involvement with the Mat Moms will keep you laughing, especially her interactions with Mimi, the nasty and overbearing Mat Mom from a rival team who delights in torturing Jen and who Jen will be required to wrestle at an event to raise money for the school wrestling organization.

Yes, that’s right, Jen and Mimi literally “go to the mat” in public. It’s worth buying “Smells Like Tween Spirit” just to read the part about Jen’s training for her match with Mimi because it’s hilarious.

Like the other most recent Class Mom books, there are some serious subplots woven through the story. Jen’s father’s dementia is worsening. Vivs and Laura are still at odds over Coach Dana and how their new food service business should be run. Because the book is written in the first person with the normally irreverent Jen as the narrator, it might seem that it would be difficult to imagine her tackling such serious matters. However that is not the case. Jen’s trademark is her humor but she is actually a well-developed and multi-dimensional character.

The only thing that disappointed me about the book is that as the series progresses, the focus on more on issues involving Jen’s mother and her adult daughters, but not specifically involving Jen, seems to increase with each new book. While I believe that these subplots do add something to the books, I wish that there was the same focus on Jen and her relationships with her friends, fellow Moms, her son,, her husband,,etc. that there was in the first two books and less on the lives and problems of her adult daughters and mother in which Jen is only indirectly involved, at best, are not related to Jen’s role as a Class Mom or, now, a Mat Mom.

Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed “Nothing Like Tween Spirit” and recommend reading it.

Another great book about Jen Dixon from Laurie Gelman. This is such a fun series to read and Jen is such a great character to follow on her journey as class mom, team mom or just mom in general. I flew through this one enjoying every bit of it. I hope there are more stories still to come for Jen and her family!

Jen Dixon has come a long way since her Kindergarten Class Mom days, with Max now a tween is she ready to enter the world of wrestling and become a Pioneer Middle School (PMS) Mat Mom? In this latest installment Jen is helping her daughters venture into entrepreneurship, becoming a mat mom, sparring with a new rival of her own, and assisting her aging parents...basically she is still juggling it all while coming across relatable and I love that about her.

I both listened and read this one. Laurie Gelman really nails Jen's snarky attitude in her narration and I would totally encourage anyone to listen to the audiobooks in the series but be sure to start with Book 1 Class Mom to really have the full appreciation!

Rating: 4 stars

Special thanks to netgalley, macmillan.audio, and henry holt books for providing me with a complimentary ARC and ALC for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of Smells Like Tween Spirit by Laurie Gelman from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This is the 4th book in this series and you can absolutely read as a stand alone and understand what is going on but I recommend reading the prior 3 as you will laugh even more knowing all the prior characters. I love her writing style and this book will not disappoint. So funny and right now I think all of us could use a good laugh. Thanks for keeping us laughing!

Jen Dixon is BACK for another dive into the wacky world of motherhood. This time, her son is in middle school, and has taken up wrestling! Jen has to learn the ways of the mat moms the hard way, and navigate the politics of a new bunch of moms that range from the laid back to the super helicopter mom who makes her son go through a whole ceremony every time he pins another wrestler. The book follows Jen through a particularly trying year, punctuated as always with the email stylings we've come to know and love.

This series speaks to my soul. I so appreciate these books because they don't hold back. Moms sometimes get roped into things they have no interest in because their kids get into it. They don't always like their kids, especially when one of them is acting out. And dealing with aging parents through all of it is no picnic either. I can honestly say that I laughed, and even shed a tear or two. I love this series, and feel so lucky to have scored an advance copy! I hope Gelman keeps on going with the series!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

Jen Dixion is my spirit animal. Whether it is dealing with her parents or her children, Jen is always there to pick up the slack with grace and humor. Sometimes when I am writing an email, I will ask myself WWJW, "What Would Jen Write"! This is the 4th in a series, and if you haven't already picked this one up, run, don't walk, to your nearest library or independent bookseller and get this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy for an honest review.

Jen Dixon has moved on from being an elementary school class mom, but when her son Max decides he wants to try wrestling, she finds out that she is now a mat mom. As a mat mom, she is responsible for a few snacks, some new equipment for Max, and laundry. Lots of laundry. So much laundry.

Along with that, she has the spin classes that she teaches, occasionally babysitting her granddaughter or her father, trying to keep her marriage interesting despite her waning interest in physical intimacy, and her adult daughters, who have decided to go into business together. Jen has a lot going on. But she’s also smart and organized and knows how to take on a busy schedule.

What she doesn’t know is how to watch Max in his early wrestling matches. This is his first season he’s had any interest in any sport, and while Ron is more than willing to jump in and help teach their son what he can, Max is small and not used to competitions. And when he gets pinned his first match, Jen’s heart breaks for him. She has to learn how to deal with her feelings, especially for the mat mom from a rival school named Mimi Melon. She is a legend, a mat mom for all four of her boys. And when one of them wins and is awarded a pin, she makes a big spectacle about having him pin it to the back of her coat. Jen hates this immediately.

And when one of Jen’s riders in spin class stops showing up and she finds out that he had actually died, she is stunned and realizes that she doesn’t know all that much about the people taking her classes and is determined to get to know them better. A series of juices after classes with some of her riders leads to some misunderstandings, some friendships, a new commercial real estate agent, a way to help her sluggish libido, and a mild stalker.

The upcoming end of the wrestling season gives Jen something to look forward to, until her fellow mat moms let her know that there is a city league that they all join, so the middle schoolers who were wrestling against each other will all be wrestling together against other leagues. So her laundry journey is not yet over, and that thing she smells is not going away just yet. But as a fundraiser for the City League, the mat moms wrestle each other, and when Jen is challenged by none other than Mimi Melon herself, she feels like she has to accept.

But when a family tragedy stops her cold, Jen lets her emotions get the best of her and she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to undo the damage she does in a vulnerable moment. Will her family be able to forgive her? Will she be able to forgive herself? And will Jen be able to get her groove back in time to wrestle, or will she have to forfeit and let all the mat moms down?

Smells Like Tween Spirit is the fourth book about Jen Dixon, her family, and her hard work writing snarky emails about her kids. Author Laurie Gelman brings her understanding of family life and her good spirited humor back in this new adventure of getting older and finding yourself of caring for kids and parents. As usual, Jen gets some things right and other things wrong, but at the end of the day, it’s always about her family.

I have been a big fan of these books since Class Mom first introduced Jen and her family to the world, and I was so on board for Smells Like Tween Spirit. And once again, Gelman brought it. This book is filled with so much heart and humor, so much family love, that it warms my Midwestern heart to read it. There is also plenty of conflict and drama, and all of it comes together in the perfect ending. I love this part of Jen’s journey in parenting, and I can’t wait for what’s next for her.

Egalleys for Smells Like Tween Spirit were provided by Henry Holt & Company through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I enjoy this series SO much! Smells Like Tween Spirit (which I instantly smell gym socks under a 12 year old boys bed when I hear the title, lol) is filled with laugh out loud humor and moment that will hit you in the feels.

Jen Dixon, which if you've followed along on her journey this far, you know she's unfiltered and delightfully funny. She's still enjoying teaching spin class, but now she's embarking on life as a MAT mom (her son is in 7th grade wrestling.)

It's a whole new world of snarky emails and chaos. There's a ton of other events that occur throughout this book, but I don't want to risk any spoilers. Many of them hit so close to home for me, especially Jen's dad, so my heart was pulled in all directions with this one.

Anyone that needs a little snarky humor in their life needs to check out the Class Mom series, and they're definitely more enjoyable if you read them in order, so grab the first one and tell me what you think!

I have loved this series from the very first book and this one was no exception. I love how easily we can relate to Jen and I love all of her snarky ways. It's so well written that you can breeze through it quickly but you also want to take the time to savor it.

Our favorite class mom is back! Like the previous 3 books in this series, this book is fantastic. Jen Dixon is the mom most of us would like to be - brutally honest, sarcastically funny, and always in charge. She’s a mom to 3, grandma to 1, spin instructor, and she’s now entering the world of wrestling via her tween son. I’ve told my kids they could play any sport of their choosing - just NOT wrestling. Jen’s hysterical rants about the stench of uniforms, stinky boys after practice, gnarly skin rashes and cauliflower ear - my decision is confirmed. While these books are definitely laugh out loud funny, they are also incredibly heartwarming. She loves her family fiercely. Even when they drive her crazy.

I’m loyal to my Peloton but I wouldn’t mind a spot in one of Jen’s spin classes. Her playlists sound like perfection! What do you think Lau? Can we get one of Jen’s class playlists on spotify?

One of the biggest challenges with sequels is how to deal with the passage of time. Even our favorite characters have to change and mature. More importantly, the times around them must change. Good literature is, after all, a reflection of the times.

Jen Dixon, the protagonist of the Class Mom series, now has a middle-schooler. Max is now also hitting puberty, complete with all the smells and insecurity. Max has also decided to join an Organized Sport. He has joined the wrestling team! Ron, Jen’s husband, is extremely happy about this. Jen, not so much. I missed Book #3, Yoga Pant Nation (for now - I got greedy and wanted to jump ahead), so there are a few things I have missed. But the blanks are quickly filled (and look forward to the missing gossip).

What has delighted Jen, however, is being a grandmother to her oldest daughter’s daughter - Maude. She calls Jen “Gee Gee” for reasons I either do not understand or do not yet know. Vivs and Laura are trying to start a health food business. Jen has a whole new set of moms to deal with, and a new nemesis with the hysterical name of Mimi Melon. ( I have no idea if that’s a play of Lululemon, but it certainly is in my head.)

Jen has a new sense of being a fish out of water. She doesn’t understand Millenials at all. She also has (shockingly!) issues with boundaries with other people. As someone also in her fifties, I can definitely relate. Even her spin class centers around the 1980s.

It is no secret that I love books like this. However, what I found most refreshing is that Jen and family seem just comfortably normal. But there’s just enough extra material to make them entertaining. This book deals with Jen also facing middle age - she is now 55 and also has to worry about the health of her parents as well as her children.

My favorite thing about the book is the dialogue. I won’t lie, it does make the book fly by faster. But it also makes the reader seem more like an active listener as opposed to just an eavesdropper. It adds to the believability of the characters. There is also a maturity not present in the first books. Real life topics are discussed.

I will go back and catch up as soon as my schedule allows. I can also see this going next generation - how Vivs will deal with Maude being in school. Just keep the stories coming and let’s all go off to high school!

I’ve never been much of a book series girl until I met Jen Dixon in the first class mom book. She’s back in the fourth book now and she’s just as funny as ever. Max is a middle school tween on the wrestling team and Jen has become a full fledged Mat Mom.

She’s still a spin instructor and meeting up with all her regular clients in this next book and they are quite the cast of characters. I listened to the first three of these books narrated by the author. I do really enjoy them as audiobooks because they are just so fun and Laurie makes for an amazing Jen. This one I read and I could hear Jen’s voice in my head the whole time.

I recently sent a work email and after reading it, I couldn’t help but think that Jen Dixon had inspired my snarky sense of humor. 😆 Thanks Jen- I’m pretty sure Jen and I would spin together, laugh together, and sip iced coffee together. The only thing we might not do together is read. 😉 IYKYK