First, this is my first Laurie Gelman book. I didn't realize this was a series till the note at the end of the book. I loved this book so much. My kids are still young. My oldest is 8. But I feel this book so much. Trying to find 'mom friends' is a different kind of beast, and trying to find a place in kids sports is another thing all together. I laughed out loud so many times with this book, I felt for her, I loved along with her.

I honestly can't wait to go back to book 1 and read the whole series. This is not 'chick-lit' this is mom-lit. This is the kind of book that makes moms feel seen and less alone. Thank everything for books like this!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook copy
A million thanks to Laurie Gelman for this book and also the narration!! I always love when an author narrates their book. they always have a unique voice to their characters and you can tell they have a real passion for the words!

Smells Like Tween Spirit is the fourth installment of the Class Mom series. I hadn't read any of the other books prior to picking this one up, and while I could certainly follow along and enjoy the story well enough, I think the background knowledge of the characters and their stories probably would have been helpful.

In this latest book, Jen is tackling her father's advancing dementia, Max's new hobby - the sport of wrestling, and her daughter's new business venture opening a healthy sandwich shop. With Max's new wrestling endeavor, Jen also becomes a mat mom which is a seemingly huge responsibility with weekly pancake breakfasts, other fundraisers, and endless laundry.

I did the audio for this novel and it was a lot of fun. The novel is read by the author herself which I always think is a huge plus because you really get the story the way it's meant to be told.

Because I haven't read the other novels, I wasn't overly invested in the characters and definitely missed out some subplots where the history wasn't shared.

All in all, this was a cute, quick read and if you've read and enjoyed the other books in the series, I have no doubt you'll love this one too!

Thank you to Henry Holt, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an ALC of Smells Like Tween Spirit by Laurie Gelman. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

Wow, was it nice to be back in the company of Jen Dixon, my favorite Class Mom. If you’re not familiar with Laurie Gelman’s fun series you may want to start with book one, although Smells Like Tween Spirit which is the newest book can certainly be read as a standalone. In this latest offering from German, who pleasantly narrates the audiobook, Jen has found herself as a “mat mom” - part of a core group of women who help support their kid’s wrestling team. This involves organizing fundraisers and volunteering to shuttle & assist with other team activities. Anyone whose child has ever participated in a team sport can relate to the absurdity and time commitment being a team mom or dad demands & Gelman captures this thankless job with humor and snark. This story which is mostly light and fun, does cover seem heavier ground - aging parents, dementia, adult children, parenting, career expectations, middle age reinvention, friendship and relationships.
A really great summer read which left me excited to see what’s next for Jen and her family.

Smells Like Tween Spirit publishes August 2, 2022!
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I’ve been a long time fan of Jen Dixon and her fun and crazy Class Mom antics so I was looking forward to the latest installment. This story felt true to Jen but perhaps Im ready to move on. Her humor didn’t quite pack the punch that it has in the past and while the story definitely resonates with many I found it a tad boring. I think fans need a new character from the author but I still recommend the first few books to fellow pta voluntold friends.

I have never felt more in tune with a book than I have with this one! it was absolutely laugh out loud fantastic! I adored the mat mom Jen and her quirky comments and actions. Apparently I truly have been missing out by this book being the first of the series that I have read, but I will fix that very soon. Jen Dixon is such an amazing character that I wish she was a real person I could become friends with. The author did a great job narrating this book as well, giving the right edge and tones throughout the story. I highly recommend this story.

Special thanks to netgalley and McMillan audio for providing this audio arc in return for an honest review.

Another hysterical and heartfelt edition to the Class Mom series! I love these books because they put a lighthearted, sarcastic, funny spin on the day to day struggles of being a parent and a woman.

Such great fun to dive right back into the latest in Laurie Gekman’s Class Mom series with Smells Like Tween Spirit to find more mishaps of class mom - now Mat mom to the son Max’s middle school wrestling team.
New to the series, I found the main character to be bright and witty with the right hints of sarcasm and snark! Jen Dixon is running ragged as newly crowned “mat mom “ to the middle school wrestling team, dealing with her own father’s recent dementia diagnosis, , helping her daughter open up a sandwich shop, and babysitting her granddaughter!
I adored the main character and found myself laughing out loud. It's a quick read with great snark and I am looking forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Co and Macmillan Audio for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is my favorite one so far I love this series but I wish more time I’ve been given to her son storyline

Jen Dixon is back in the hilarious class mom series. This time however; she'd taken a step back from being a full time class mom and is now a "mat mom."

Smells like Tween Spirit brings back the beloved Dixon family and all the quirky side characters. Jen is still texting cycling, Ron is managing yoga studios and the daughters are up to their schemes. Oh, and Max is now in middle school wrestling, a sport that Jen makes clear she loathes. Hop on in and journey through a year of tweenhood and laughs.

As a teacher, I have throughly enjoyed listening and laughing through Jen's triumphs and losses. This series is a book I recommend to all my teacher friends and those who just want a laugh in general. Having the author, Laurie Gelman, narrate the story on audiobook was the perfect icing on the cake.

I had heard this was hilarious but honestly the narration was so cringe that I just couldn’t get past that. I believe that this story has good bones but it just was not for me.

Maybe because I am not a mother I just couldn’t relate on the same magnitude as others.

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, and while it think it may have helped with some of the backstory of some of the characters, I wasn’t really left feeling like I couldn’t keep up with who was who, so this can be read as a stand alone.
In this installment, Jen is dealing with her father’s advanced dementia, her daughters tackling opening a healthy sandwich shop and her son taking up wrestling which leads her to become a “mat mom” which is kind of like a PTA only for the moms of the wrestlers and it involves way more than I would ever want to get myself sucked into. There’s lots of laughs and loads of sarcasm (which is my language lol) but there’s also a good view into family dynamics and growing up & maturing even as an adult- I mean if you’re willing to wear a shirt with PMS (the school’s initials) on it and wrestle one of the other Mat Moms as a fundraiser, you’ve really come a long way.
I listened to the audiobook and I loved having the author tell the story. She was fun and added so much to the story and loved her snark.
Thanks to Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.

This is the 4th book in the series and my first of this series. I’ve heard great things about the other three books are hilarious and fun as well so I will be going back and reading those! It was actually a main reason I wanted to read this one! 🥰

Jen becomes a “Mat Mom” when her son joins the wrestling team. The emails and goings on with Jen’s life and middle school sports is just hilarious. I really enjoyed teaching this one. I laughed out loud so many times and I could picture these things happening.

If your a mom with kids in school I would definitely recommend this one. It’s a great MomCom. With both hilarious and touching moments.

The audio for this is amazing! Laurie Gelman narrates and I really enjoyed it, she did a great job! 🤍

I loved returning to Pioneer Middle School in this new installment of the Class Mom series! I thought Yoga Pant Nation was the final book in the series and was delighted to see that I was wrong.

As with the previous books, I love Jen's snark and wit. She is exactly the type of character I would love to be friends with in real life.

Smells Like Tween Spirit takes a somewhat more serious turn that some of the previous books in the series, when Jen experiences an unexpected family death. I appreciate that in addition to Jen's humor, she is also able to admit when she is wrong and set a good example for her children.

I can't wait to see what else this series brings us in the future. The Class Mom books are always a fun, lighthearted read that is guaranteed to make me laugh, and it is nice to have a comfort read that I know will make me feel good.

Audio Reivew: This audiobook production was great. As with the previous Class Mom books, I was able to turn up the speed and enjoy Jen's hilarity!

This book was the perfect summer read! I love this author- she somehow makes the lightest, easiest to read books substantial enough to be highly enjoyable and surprisingly relatable.

Everything is just enough of an exaggeration to be funny but not far enough of from the reality of modern motherhood to be totally imaginable. I found myself laughing out loud many times throughout the book.

The audiobook narration was was so well done and really brought this story to life. Smells Like Tween Spirit ended up being my favorite of the series so far and I’m definitely looking forward to the author’s hint at her next book!

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and Macmillan Audio for my gifted review copies.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was absolutely ecstatic to dove back into Jen Dixon’s world for the 4th instalment of this series. I love Gelman’s writing style, so it was no surprise I found myself snorting with laughter through the next chapter in Jen’s life.

I just love this series, it’s hilarious and also surprises you with the heartwarming moments that sneak in. It was so well written, and I would highly recommend it. I’m just waiting for the moment this series turns into a TV show, CBC get on it!

Multiple times I have professed my love to the Class Mom series and this 4th book is fantastic as well. I laughed out lout multiple times and love that the middle school is called PMS and of course the son is participating in wrestling! Tons of laundry, frustrating fundraisers and many other things made this book fantastic. This audiobook is narrated by the author and I absolutely love her voice and she makes the audiobook even better. If you are looking for lighthearted (and slightly over the top) mom humor and a fun cast of characters I recommend this book!

Another hilarious story by Laurie Gelman. Once again Jen Dixon takes on another project. This time it is Mat Mom for her son’s wrestling team at Pioneer Middle School (PMS). Jen’s comical reactions – especially her emails that she sends out – are amazing. Her sarcastic sense of humor is lovely as I tend to do the same. As Jen learns to navigate the “perfect” mothers of the team while she also is dealing with many different things at home. There were many laugh out loud moments. I loved how Jen parents and her wit while doing so. There are some serious parts as well. One piece that really got to me is how Jen’s mother and Jen deal with her father’s dementia. We have started dealing with some of that in our own family. Some of it was eerily similar. If you are looking for a quick fun read, this one is for you!

I loved this new addition to the Class Mom series. The humor and sarcasm in Laurie Gelman's writing is so relatable and on point. I have absolutely loved getting to see how Jen's life has adapted through each book in the series and I can't wait for more!

I listened to the audiobook version.

I adored Class Mom, so was interested in seeing where Jen was a few years down the line.

However, I just did not connect with the Mat Moms as much as I hoped. Just an okay read.

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Smells Like Tween Spirit by Lori Gelman
Jen Dixon is back! The always snarky mom of 3 has enter the world of middle school wrestling with her youngest Max. She has so much to learn in the wrestling world but is up for the challenge. No matter where Jen is though she always finds a new nemesis to battle with. Staying busy, still teaching spin classes and playing Mimi to Maude she’s always on the run.
The class mom series is always laugh out loud funny! Light hearted and realistic at the same time keep you turning page after page.
Thanks to McMillan audio and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.