The sequel to Maid, Land outlines her battles with social services and the men she chose as fathers to her girls.

A much anticipated sequel to the House Maid. Class did not disappoint. I loved getting to follow stephanie through college and getting to read more about Emilia as she got older. My only complaint is I feel the story is a little all over the place. I feel as though the first book was better organized. Stephanie portrays the immense love she has for her child and the struggle of trying to get a degree and better herself while fighting against poverty. She shows the true struggle as a single mom. Overall a great read and definitely recommend to those who love memoirs!

I’ve been torn by my reaction to this book and thinking how I want to review it. I thought MAID was so well done and I felt a tremendous amount of empathy for the author and the struggles she faced. Reading CLASS, I find it hard to muster up that same level of empathy. Especially because I think she endured a whole heck of a lot of struggle that maybe wasn’t necessary because she’s already a talented writer and didn’t need a class on Shakespeare to hone her voice. It’s tough to be a single mom. And higher learning does seem more out of reach to some than it should. But I found myself numerous times reading this book and thinking there were instances where she made things tougher for herself and her child than was necessary.

She’s a talented writer so it’s not a bad book. But it evoked some conflicting thoughts for me!

I received this book as an ARC and the opinions are my own.

TW: Language, abortion, classism, graphic sex scenes, child abandonment, abuse, toxic parent relationship, gaslighting, cheating

<b><big>*****SPOILERS*****</b></big>
<b>About the book:</b>Land takes us with her as she finishes college and pursues her writing career. Facing barriers at every turn including a byzantine loan system, not having enough money for food, navigating the judgments of professors and fellow students who didn’t understand the demands of attending college while under the poverty line—Land finds a way to survive once again, finally graduating in her mid-thirties.
<b>Release Date:</b> November 7th, 2023
<b>Genre:</b> Memoir
<b>Pages:</b> 288
<b>Rating:</b> ⭐

<b>What I Liked:</b>
1. The beginning

<b>What I Didn't Like:</b>
1. Graphic sex scene(s)
2. The book from page 50 and on
3. She's acting like the victim

<b>Overall Thoughts:</b>
I <b>loved</b> Maid and it was a 5 - star for me. I related to the story and devoured it.

Ah this book stated off so good. I was tabbing and underlining everything. The author had so much to say and she made me remember how hard life was to deal when going through all of this. Sadly what lost me was around page 48 where the author time and time again mentions how she'll leave her daughter with pretty much anyone that talks to her. She buys underage people beer as payment for watching her kid. She puts her daughter in these questionable circumstances and it made me mad. The book almost turns into this conquest of how many men can the author mention that she is sleeping with. She's very obtuse to the whole thing. I'd be questioning why all these men would want to watch my daughter.

As you continue to read on you pretty quickly lose the essence of what this book was going for, instead giving us a tell all about man after man that that the author is chasing next. At one point her ex is staying with her and she's off with another man who is seeing someone else. I lost all feelings of relatability with the author and my tabbing/highlighting got less and less. It all becames <i>relentless</i> - find random person to babysit, meet a man, ditch daughter - rinse and repeat.

Author writes in a tone where you almost forget we are reading about a woman that is in her mid 30s. I understand that being a single parent is stressful but her ex is a bum so she is stuck picking up the pieces, but there were times when it read like she didn't even want her daughter.

I am perplexed as to how the author says she struggled to even get food. She's going drinking at bars, concerts, and just hanging out doing whatever. I thought she was working all the time. When I read Maid that's how the author made it sound. I am really thinking that the person in that book is not the person in this one.

Timeline was confusing. In one section she mentions Kelly moving back and paying rent for that month, then another section Seth is picking up her daughter, so is Seth still living there when Kelly is?

The she gets mad at her friend for talking to her about the pregnancy. She's worried she can't do it. Author decides she doesn't need that negativity, which just sounded like someone was concerned. Not only that but everyone else is watching her daughter and I'd be worried to if someone pawned two kids off on me. As far as I'm concerned her friend is helping her in so many ways so she should have a say in things.

The author would say things that made me seriously question if she was old enough to understand the world - at 35. There's a part where they've taken away her food stamps and she says;
<blockquote>"My value, it seemed, was entirely based on whether or not I worked at a job that could be verified with a real pay stub." </blockquote>
Well, yeah! How else would they know how much to give you?? People could just lie about how much they make and take from people that need the assistance.

The author is so delusional. She acts like she is the victim of everything and everyone is picking on her. She gets mad at her daughter's teacher because she cares that she isn't in school or is late. The author goes on to say;
<blockquote>"Tardiness three times in one month didn’t seem like a big deal for a new kindergartner and her parent trying to get everyone used to a new routine."</blockquote>
I find it ironic that the author would make a huge deal out how important her own education is while pretty much not giving a shit about her own daughter's - saying what does it matter if she's late or misses days - I'm more important because I want to sleep or can't take the time to care about her.

Everything the author does for her kid just feels like the bare minimum. There are so many times she could get a real part time job that pays more so her and her daughter will have a little more stability but time and time again she would rather her daughter wear clothing that's too small and not even eat properly. There are SO many times where she should swallow her pride and try for her daughter. There's a part where she wants to go to the food bank but in the end says she doesn't deserve to go. What a weird thing to think; if it were for my kid I'd do anything if it meant they got food. Author just sounds like she's always just out to help herself and cares only about herself.

Author spends more time trying to get money off of her ex than actually getting a job that pays. She already get child support but she wants more money. I find it funny that on page 16 this happens;
<blockquote>"“Does he pay child support ?” she asked, and I nodded. “Well, if he has less visitation, then he owes more in support. It’s that simple.” </blockquote>
And then on page 221;
<blockquote>"Emilia had never been to a therapist before, and part of the reason I felt it was so important now was to document what I suspected was emotional abuse that my daughter experienced. Though difficult, I knew the therapy sessions would be necessary if I wanted to modify our parenting plan.">
Its funny because NOW she needs counseling after her child support is lowered and she wanted more - NOW her daughter needs to stop seeing her father and they need proof that the judge would side with. This woman will stop at nothing to get more money and do the less amount possible. Just because you are in college does not mean that other people - your childs parent should pay for you to do that. She also acts like she isn't playing the system working for cash because she knows they'll take her money out of her checks and she wouldn't get things from the government. I'm sure her daughter doesn't need counseling because her mom is always ditching her and leaving her with random people. Author even says her daughter acts out and I have to question if her daughter acts out because she always comes last.

Poor Sylvie is told she is a bad friend because she can't be one of the people on the list to help the author. Well, that's understandable because Sylvie has 4 kids - she can't just drop everything to help the author. That's the problem with the author. She expects everyone to understand her experiences but then when someone else can't do something they are branded a bad friend. The author is the bad friend. No matter what happen do for her she just expects it. She's always needing something. She now has 9 people on that list of people to help but she stops being friends with someone like a child because they can't do it. There is no way this author is 35.

<b>Final Thoughts:</b>
This book started off good. I was enthralled but that died off pretty quickly. Memoirs are always a tricky thing because you either come out loving the person or hating them. While I don't hate

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/One Signal Publishers for this ARC of Class by Stephanie Land.

This is the follow-up to the popular Maid by the author, and I enjoyed continuing on Land’s journey to rise from poverty and dependence to success and independence.

Land consistently has a, “You made your bed now lie in it” reprimand running through her head, the “bed” being efforts to accomplish things that would constitute ambition and self-improvement. Going to college for a Bachelor’s degree and striving for an MBA as a financially-dependent single mother form Land’s central internal struggles.

I did not find the author to seem self-victimized. It is true that in our society the poor are not judged to be as deserving socially and economically as the solvent. For this I felt sympathy for Land. That she was a single mother who decides to have a second child (a right of any young woman regardless of station in life) brings even more challenge and judgment. Social, political, and familial boundaries consistently challenge Land’s plan to do what financially-secure people do everyday to build and life and are taken for granted. For economically poor Land, she is made to feel selfish and foolish for trying to obtain an education while in her insolvent state.

I resonated with many of Land’s circumstance due to my own younger life as a struggling college student, and so I felt great empathy while reading this book.

Stephanie Land leaves out no detail of her shame and struggle while tirelessly trying to build a better life for her and her children’s future. I do not relate to single motherhood but Land’s experience is sympathetic - as a human being.

Initially I was unsure about inclusion of her sexual experiences. I suppose those were included to show that Land had - and again, deserved- the same human experiences as anyone else, wise or not.

Overall I admire the author for her relentless courage and strength to persevere toward her goals despite the many social, familial, political, and personal obstacles she faced as a self-employed, poor, full-time student and single mother.

Four stars.

Since I already read and fell in love with Maid I clearly had to read her next book. Honestly, I feel like people do not give Stephanie enough credit. This is a memoir about her life as a single mother while going to school and her struggles. I loved this book just as much as the first one because in the end SHE MADE IT. She is a New York Times Bestselling Author and is doing a kick butt job at it!

Another great book by Stephanie Land. She tells the story just like it is. Sh never holds back. This book opened my eyes to see how people can be treated despite their class. She shows us what it is like to have no money, home , or food. She digs deep and keeps going to get her degree. We need more people like her with grit and determination. A must read for all ages.

Following Maid, the events of this memoir follow Lands life of motherhood, dreams, and education while fighting to overcome poverty and beg the question who deserves the right to art, education, and what kind of work is valued in our culture as individuals and as mothers.

I was thrilled to see what was next for Land! I had such high hopes after reading Maid (highly recommend). I won’t criticize the story specifically as they are the authors real life events and decisions and I don’t feel it’s right for me to say she should have made different decisions. I couldn’t help but be frustrated as I read as Land spends much time speaking on the trials of motherhood while setting herself as a victim of circumstance. The writing is excellent. It’s compelling and thought provoking. It evoked frustration, anger, compassion, sadness, and hope. All things you would hope to get from a memoir. Her perseverance is admirable in the entirety.

Stephanie Land is no stranger to sharing her story. In the book Maid, Land talked about her experience of over coming domestic violence and moving her family of two to Missoula to follow her dreams of being a writer. Class tells the stories of the challenges she faces as a single mom while juggling cleaning job and a pending bachelors degree. Readers may identify with her struggles, but if not, Stephanie’s stories will make you empathetic. The judgment single mothers face is disgusting and this book is yet another story of flawed government systems that need work. Overall, I very much enjoyed Class. Land’s style of story telling will make you laugh or make your stomach hurt. Class is a raw tale of single motherhood and the challenges they face.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. It was written well and in order of the events that happened which made it easy to follow. It’s hard to criticize the story itself since it is the authors real life experiences and it feels wrong to say she should’ve did things differently when I’ve never been in a similar situation, and it’s how she decided to handle it. It was eye opening to abusive relationships, hardships with money, and trying to survive with the government’s systems.

A couple of years ago, Stephanie Land wrote Maid, which was the story of her struggling to make ends meet as a single mother by working as a housecleaner. It was made into a Netflix series that was very successful, so a lot of readers will be familiar. This is sort of a follow up, in which the author describes her experience of finishing her bachelors degree at the University of Montana, contending with many, many obstacles, mainly poverty, but also abusive relationships, housing and food insecurity, university red tape, and the constant judgement of teachers and peers. Very authentic, compelling memoir by someone who has lived through some very hard times and describes it well.

It's been a couple of weeks since I finished this, and at the time, I would have given it a 3.5 rounded down to 3, but after sitting with it, it warrants rounding up to 4 because of the way the story and themes have stuck with me.

I never read Maid, but I watched the Netflix series and loved it. This picks up where Maid left off, following Land to college in Montana. Class is a title that references not only her college journey but navigating a system and society that judges those below the poverty line.

Many of the negative reviews seem to criticize the choices the author makes. Sometimes I too was frustrated with her choices, from my relative place of privilege. Instead, Class should be appreciated for being a peek into a world that many of us would not otherwise have insight into.

I'm not sure this second memoir by Stephanie Land (follow up to her best seller Maid) was necessary. I didn't find the descriptions of her social life and college experience interesting, and honestly, I don't understand many of the personal choices she made that seemed to make life harder for herself. However, I think it's important to read about the experiences of others even if you can't relate to them or disagree with them. The book does bring up important questions about the necessity of higher education and who has a right to it that causes the reader to think. I'm just not sure the topic needed an entire book.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Atria Books and Stephanie Land as well.

Synopsis- “ Maid was a story about a housecleaner, but it was also a story about a woman with a dream. In Class, Land takes us with her as she finishes college and pursues her writing career. Facing barriers at every turn including a byzantine loan system, not having enough money for food, navigating the judgments of professors and fellow students who didn’t understand the demands of attending college while under the poverty line—Land finds a way to survive once again, finally graduating in her mid-thirties.

Class paints an intimate and heartbreaking portrait of motherhood as it converges and often conflicts with personal desire and professional ambition. Who has the right to create art? Who has the right to go to college? And what kind of work is valued in our culture? In clear, candid, and moving prose, Class grapples with these questions, offering a searing indictment of America’s educational system and an inspiring testimony of a mother’s triumph against all odds.”

Review- I found it difficult, at first, to get into this book which I believe to be a me issue. I don’t typically read memoirs, but I’m happy I stuck with this one. Land shines a spotlight on poverty, single motherhood, abuse and the mental toll that is crippling for millions. Her descriptions of judgment she felt and faced because of her socioeconomic status with being a single mother, the anxiety and shame was palatable. Land does a tremendous job at having her voice heard throughout the novel, when she felt courage… I felt that too.

Stephanie Land is such a brilliant memoirist. I’ve lived an extremely fortunate, privileged life, and I think it’s especially important for people in my shoes to read stories like hers. I felt guilty during so many moments in this book, and that’s important. This sort of book should make you fell uncomfortable if you’ve had an easy life in many ways. I’ve never had to go hungry, owed money on student loans, or seriously worried about my financial standing. I’m so lucky and I did nothing to deserve this. Stephanie Land struggled for decades and did nothing to deserve her fate as well. And yet contrary to what some reviewers say, she does blame herself for her lot in life. There’s a particularly devastating scene in CLASS in which a pregnant Stephanie Land wants to go to a food kitchen after a rough morning with her kid, only to convince herself she’s unworthy. That broke me wide open. Stephanie Land is very hard on herself, and no one should feel the way she did that day.

College is often painted as a ticket to success and financial stability, but going to school is not easy for working class individuals who didn’t come from privilege like I did. The US sets so many people up for failure with its every man for himself mentality, and I appreciate Land for speaking out about this. I cannot even begin to fathom how hard her life has been. Her fatigue and lack of faith in the system and others flies off the pages in this book. But it wasn’t enough to stop her from pursuing writing, and I’m so glad she kept at it.

So much of this book made me sad. I cried of joy and sadness in equal parts - the bond with her older child brought me to tears, and the abuse she faced at the hands of multiple partners is heartbreakingly told throughout the memoir. People are quick to judge her for getting pregnant several times, even though she mentions the now well-known negative side effects of birth control. Stephanie Land had experienced some serious issues with BC over the years, and her accidental pregnancies were the result of gaps in contraception strength. Why should the onus be all on her not to get pregnant?

I was very taken by her first book MAID, which was a long time in the making, and though I’d love for her next book to be about her current husband Tim, who seems like a true gem, I know she unfortunately had even more bad experiences with partners after the birth of her second daughter, covered in this book. I don’t think we are going to hear about Land’s happy relationship for at least another book beyond CLASS, but that will make her happy ending, so to speak, that much more special when she finally shares that story in full.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a free Advanced Reading Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.

One of the best books I've read in a long while!

This is a well written and thought provoking book about the struggles of a single working mom pursuing higher education. Unfortunately. I did not find it as compelling or memorable as her first memoir, Maid.

Big Sky Country is breathtakingly beautiful, with its bright summer days and cold winter nights. But living in Missoula, Montana—with its farmers markets, art scene, musical venues, and university—is challenging for a single mother without family support or a trustworthy vehicle to navigate the road to a better life.

Stephanie Land believes her way out of poverty is through education, and she is determined to get that college degree and become a self-sustaining writer. With staggering student loans and food stamps in her pocket, she depends on flexible but low-paying housecleaning jobs and roommates for childcare. Land manages to bargain for extras, like gymnastics classes during school breaks for her daughter, while subsisting at times on peanut butter herself. She even tackles child support and visitation issues with her abusive-but-absent ex. Still, the joys of learning and the precious moments of motherhood are ever-present even though it’s a hard life, with a few ice cream cones and dates in between.

Land’s experiences are not out of bounds for the rest of us. She grew up in a middle-class family, but a car accident and PTSD sidelined her. The value of education sustained her while hard work didn’t make ends meet.

Class continues Stephanie Land’s personal story, which started in her bestselling debut, Maid (2019). This time, however, she focuses on education instead of work. If you missed the first book (like me), you’ll be greedy to read Maid afterwards because Land is an exceptional writer with compelling, gritty, and accessible experiences.

Prerelease book provided by NetGalley and Atria/One Signal Publishers for review consideration.

I know that everyone has read and loved Stephanie Land’s MAID or watched the Netflix adaptation (and if you haven’t, you need to get on that) — and I’ve got good news! Land’s second memoir, CLASS, a continuation of what happens after MAID ends comes out on November 7 and is an enthralling adventure that continues @stepville’s story as she works towards higher education.

Land is an extraordinary writer and speaks to the challenges of poverty, single parenthood, and more in a way that resonates deeply. Do yourself a favor and add this this one to your TBR right now.

The forthcoming second memoir by Stephanie Land builds on her story told in Maid in a way that shines a light on the struggles that many people in our country face. While this book was mostly set in the mid to late 2010s, it really rings even more true now after a global pandemic and rising costs of living. All readers will walk away from Class with a greater sense of understanding and empathy.

As a fellow resident of Missoula, MT, I appreciated the way that Land describes the town and the challenges she faced here. It is always nice to have a real picture of all the places she writes about and know some of the people in her acknowledgements.

Finally, I really enjoy Land’s style of writing. She comes off as very real and relatable. I’d definitely recommend this book whether you’ve read Maid or not. Class stands on its own.