Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book it’s elementary. It was just OK. I felt like the plot was a little boring, especially for the length of the book and the ending was very unsatisfying.

Mavis Miller is cornered into joining the PTA when she sees the PTA president acting suspiciously right before the school's principal goes missing. Mavis partners up with the school psychologist to uncover what happened to the principal. Overall, while there is a mystery and investigating, it was more about Mavis as she is balancing parenting, societal expectations, her job, and her relationships.

Elise Bryant explores PTA politics and just how far parents will go for their children in It’s Elementary, her engaging cozy mystery debut.

Mavis Miller is juggling a lot: She’s a single mom, raising her 7-year-old daughter, Pearl, with long-distance support from her ex; she’s overworked and underappreciated at her nonprofit job; and she’s navigating living with her retired dad again after many years on her own. So when PTA President Trisha Holbrook asks Mavis to head up a new diversity, equity and inclusion committee for Knoll Elementary School, Mavis declines—repeatedly. But Trisha is tenacious and eventually convinces Mavis to join the PTA to effect real change, especially for the few children of color at the school, like Pearl.

The first meeting Mavis attends is surprisingly charged: Trisha and Thomas Smith, the new principal, butt heads over whether Knoll Elementary should become a school for “gifted students” and turn away children with lower test scores. That night, Mavis spots Trisha lugging suspiciously heavy trash bags and cleaning supplies to her minivan. When Principal Smith fails to show up to school the next day, Mavis wonders if Trisha snapped and took her position as PTA president as a license to kill. With the help of Jack, the school psychologist, Mavis sets out to find the missing principal.

Genre fans may deduce many of It’s Elementary’s twists, but it’s an ambitious and delightful read nonetheless. Bryant tackles big issues—racism, the complexities of co-parenting, gentrification, bullying and even the difficulties of making friends as an adult—with humor and heart, expertly threading these topics through an entertaining story full of genuinely funny observations.

Mavis is our relatable guide through it all: She’s generous, funny, devoted to Pearl and stretched far too thin. She’s also surrounded by a stellar cast of supporting characters, led by Jack, Pearl, and Jasmine, Mavis’ best friend. Readers will enjoy navigating PTA politics with Mavis and crew in this hilarious and energetic mystery.

- IT’S ELEMENTARY is just how I like my cozy mysteries - smart, sharp, funny and fast paced.
- I adored Mavis and her inner monologue as she tried to keep up with everything on her plate as a single Black mom in a wealthy neighborhood.
- I do think there was a lot of time spent spinning wheels in the middle of the book, when nothing new was really being discovered. And even though I figured out whodunnit before Mavis, I still very much enjoyed my time spent with these characters and would absolutely read more mysteries by Bryant.

I loved this read! It was fun and funny, a quick read, and a great cozy mystery! I hope there might be a series starting here!

It’s a mystery, a light romance, the struggles of parenting and even a little where is my place in life. But mostly it’s a fun, enjoyable caper.

Set in the midst of an elementary school PTA, Mavis is trying to do her part and balance one more thing in her life.

With an array of genres and lots of antics, this gives me feels of the early Stephanie Plum series. While totally different, but Mavis stumbling into the murder and then bumbling along as an amateur sleuth gave me those same vibes. Of course with an updated feel and POC main character.

I felt for Mavis as she balances life and her determination to make a difference at the school. But mostly I just sat back and enjoyed an escapist read that had me both laughing and shaking my head.

It’s the perfect read on relieve the back to school stress.

This wasn't quite what I was expecting and I found myself too annoyed by some of the side characters to enjoy myself.

This was such a fun take on a murder mystery! It was light and fluffy at times but still suspenseful at the same time. I love the concept of the suspects being PTA moms! Overall definitely one I will be recommending for anyone looking to dip their toes into the mystery genre or someone looking for a unique spin on a classic genre!

Thank you @prhaudio for the free audiobook, and Berkley & Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

What a delightful debut! (In my Stefan from SNL voice) This book has everything: PTA drama, a missing person, flirting with the school psychologist, and commentary on DEI curricula in the schools. I loved the mystery element - I was definitely on the edge of my seat listening to the story. It was also extremely hilarious at times and super relatable, especially with the mom-drama and facebook community page posts. I can’t wait to see what else Elise Bryant writes because I am here for it!

Insightful and snarky look at being a mom today as well as the impact of gentrification on an area all mixed up in an excellently plotted mystery.

Thank you to Berkley for the free book. This was so entertaining and funny but also deep and suspenseful at all the right times. I feel this book can appeal across different readers. As a mom I felt so seen about mom guilt but also the dang mom facebook groups and mom group politics. But I don't think you need to be a mom to enjoy this book because of the mystery plot and the splash of romance.

So when the FMC is coerced into joining the PTA she sees the PTA President late one night acting very suspiciously and the next day the principal (who the prez hates) goes missing. Along with the school psychologist they attempt to uncover the truth, all while she has to manage single mom life and her full time job,

I want to spare spoilers but I personally thought the pacing of the mystery was really engaging and I did not see a major twist coming. This is definitely on the side of cozy "fun" mystery. The romance is definitely a side plot and is slow going, just a kiss at the end for inquiring minds (one of the reasons I think this could easily cross demos).

So I ended up getting this book blind and was not sure what kind of book I was getting, but I was very happy with what I ended up with. This is a cute, fun, cozy mystery that couldn't get enough of. Hoping this is a series

Mavis has been spread thin for a long time when she's asked by Trisha, the PTA leader (also a PITA) to head a diversity committee. She ends up doing it--because white people often ask women of color to do the work, and her friend Jasmin confirms it. Trisha aside, Mavis is going to work with Divya, who has some great ideas.
When the principal disappears and another principal is brought in, Mavis finds the time to start investigating the disappearance, as well as balancing time for her daughter, her ex, her dad and about 1,000,000 more things.
I loved the way Elise Bryant wrote this book. And despite Mavis not needing anything else added to her plate, I really hope that there are more novels in this series... because I want to read them. I loved this book so much! Solid 4.
I will say, I figured out the mystery way too soon, but the reason why was a bit different than I expected, and that was a plus.

A very cute cozy mystery ✨️

This was a very good first book for hopefully a series of cozies. It didn't get too deep and had more of a perfect ending than other cozies but also kept to the genre.

I love the new Era of cozies we are getting that have strong mom rep as well as poc mcs because much of the older cozies all followed the same formula and I'm so happy to see it branching out into characters more people can relate to.

Who knew PTA meetings could be so interesting haha.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy!

i went into this book blind, not knowing what to expect and i wasn’t disappointed. truthfully, this would have been five stars if not for the romance. it wasn’t really needed. this was already a great book without it.

Starting positive: the premise is excellent. And there are parts of the story that I liked! The characters were great — funny, relatable, varied. Pearl, Papa, and Jasmine cracked me up, and Trisha is a villain you love to hate. Mavis was a great narrator and central character, though I did question her choices sometimes (but she usually questioned them too!). The mystery(ies) were fun and twisty and I didn’t fully figure them out (but I kinda did). But other parts were kind of all over the place. I think it tried to do too much, with the love interest and the job issues and the parenting stuff… I appreciate a complex character back story in a book like this, but this verged on convoluted with all the things to keep track of. I love a cozy mystery, and I know they have some dark themes sometimes, but I really couldn’t get a grasp on the tone of this one. I honestly couldn’t ever tell if there was going to be an actual nefarious event or if it would all be a misunderstanding. I also thought the stakes didn’t feel high enough when the big conflict came about (though that may have been intentional). Idk, overall it was cute, but not my favorite.

I absolutely loved this book! As a mom of two small kids I definitely get the politics of being a mom with school aged kids and dealing with other parents. I thought the cozy mystery part was so fun but mostly I just loved Mavis:

A humorous mystery, comedic thriller… this book introduced me to the genre of cozy mystery, and I am grateful. The details Bryant is known for translate well to adult topics of mom guilt, parent propaganda, finances, and mental health… to name a few! I was glued to the page until the end. As a teacher-mom, I loved how Bryant used her former education career and motherhood experiences to craft such realistic scenarios and dialogue. All of the characters are so easy to place, it's as if Bryant checked the ring cameras across from the school to spy on MY behavior 🫠

I recommend this for all moms to indulge in before the sprint for Back-To-School ✨

P.S. 🫣 Okay, so I actually can't wait until this is a show 🤞🏾

This was a fun cozy mystery, set in the chaotic life of a single mother who has to juggle work, motherhood, and the PTA of her daughter’s school.
Mavis is one of the few black parents the school has, so the head of the PTA (Trisha) practically forced her to join the DEI committee. She tries to say no because she is already having a hard time keeping up with her job and the rest of her responsibilities as a single mom. Unfortunately, her reluctance is nothing compared to Trisha’s strong will.
As if that wasn’t enough, she has just met this handsome guy who appears to be interested in her. Oh, and the school principal has just disappeared. And apparently, Trisha is behind the disappearance. Also, Trisha may know that Mavis knows, and is covertly threatening her in order to make sure she stays silent.

Mavis is a flawed main character who is just trying to do her best, and I found that very refreshing. I really enjoyed reading this fun cozy mystery. So many twists and turns! 4,5 stars!

It's Elementary by Elise Bryant is a well-written and engaging story that blends humour, mystery, and the challenges of modern parenting. Mavis Miller, juggling a demanding job, a spirited daughter, and the pressures of a multigenerational household, finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the chaos of PTA politics. The book's strength lies in its witty dialogue and sharp observations about elementary school dynamics.

However, one aspect of the story that was frustrating was Mavis's lack of assertiveness in her professional life. While she navigates her personal life confidently, her inability to stand up for herself at work felt incongruent and left me wanting more growth in her character. The situation begged for a turning point, some resolution where she would finally push back, but it never materialized. This left a lingering dissatisfaction as the story wrapped up without addressing this significant aspect of her character. Despite this, the book offers a quick, entertaining read with plenty of twists to keep you engaged.