It's Elementary is the perfect pool-side suburban mystery read!

Mavis wants nothing to do with the PTA but alas, gets roped in after being cornered in the school parking lot for the DEI committee. She's raising her seven year old daughter, Pearl, while trying to keep up with her dad's "mystery" podcast obsession. But she knows, at least in her brain, that she needs to spear up the DEI (diversity inclusion) group otherwise, no one will take multicultural education/resources seriously. Attending a PTA meeting and hearing strange noises, she can't stop thinking about it. Especially becoming true when hearing that the new principal is missing, she knows she needs to put on her detective cap and solve the case! With the hot school psychologist as her side kick, no mystery will stay unturned.

I couldn't put down "It's Elementary" as I needed to know what exactly happened to the principal. I'm a huge fan of Elise's other works thus, I knew I was in for a treat with this one! I immediately took a fast interest in the side characters and honestly, was not expecting the twists and turns that Bryant wrote in. Classifying this more as a mystery, this read is perfect for those looking for a fast paced, single POV novel to binge read as the summer days fly by.

Oh my gosh I LOVED this book. From the very first chapter to the very last sentence. I did not want to put it down and was disappointed that I actually had to stop to sleep at night. Mavis is flawed, overwhelmed, loving; perfect motherhood representation. I don't think I've ever related so hard to another character, sometimes it was like she was in my head. I laughed a lot and especially at her interactions with her amazing lovable daughter Pearl. She did NOT hold back in her mind and is a mom I would love to hang with if I was ever force to join the PTA. A mystery and splash of romance made the story even better, though I think I would read just about anything that Mavis was up to.
The challenges she faced from balancing work, motherhood, investigating, to trying to bring real change for the elementary school kids through her new role of DEI chair, was so well portrayed in a true and messy way.

There are some shocking revelations, tense moments, people that will enrage you; balanced out with laughter and adorable moments and you cannot help but root for Mavis to find all the answers. Mavis is far from perfect, but she is the perfect amateur sleuth MC.

Please please please let there be more books!

When Mavis gets dragged into being the PTA’s DEI chair, she is not amused but tells herself this is a great opportunity to make real change as one of the few Black parents in the school. But on the night of her first PTA meeting, the school principal goes missing and Mavis suspects the PTA president might have something to do with it. Mavis teams us with the (very attractive) school psychologist to try to find the principal.

Okay this book was SO much fun, and since I go back to work (at an elementary school) in early July, this was the perfect back to school read. A little light mystery, a touch of romance, some chaotic school politics, a lot of humor, and some deeper issues featuring schools and race are all woven together to make a great cozy mystery. I loved this one!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley & Elise Bryant for the arc!

This book is a fast-paced cozy mystery filled with amateur sleuthing, single mom life, some light romance & a whole lotta momma drama! Having been a PTA mom when my daughter was little, I can totally relate to the emotional soup & hierarchy that working with parents of fellow classmates can bring. Laughing but very serious! (our PTA prez embezzled over 10,000 from our fundraising, so ya, that was interesting.)

The writing is fun with witty banter& the characters are diverse, unique & engaging … especially Mavis’ sweet daddy & adorable daughter Pearl. This one will keep you on your toes guessing with some nice twists & turns, ending with a satisfying wrap up! Overall a charming read if you’re in the mood for a light & easy cozy!

Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of It's Elementary.

This is a fun new mystery with a group of PTA moms after the principal goes missing. Mavis is not a PTA mom, but when she's ambushed at drop-off to be the chair of the new DEI committee she gets involved as one of the few Black Parents at her daughter's school.

I loved the author's writing style and witty humor! This Cozy Mystery was enjoyable and loved seeing where this went.

“I feel like I barely scrape by to the end of each day, overwhelmed and exhausted, but when I look back, I can’t even put my finger on exactly what I got done.”

Who can relate?

Premise:
It’s Elementary follows Mavis Miller, who is not a regular mom, or a cool mom, she is a working, single mom trying to make it through each day and parenting her 7-year-old daughter the best she can. Things get complicated when the new principal suddenly disappears, and Mavis witnesses the possible abduction…. she can't let it go until she knows the truth.

My Thoughts:
I related so heavily to Mavis and the challenges of working with young children. Raising my kids is the coolest thing I’ll ever do, and I am grateful everyday to be doing it, but it is also so hard some days. Listening to the inner dialogue of Mavis while she struggles with balancing it all, finding her place within the PTA moms, navigating mom guilt and the constant fear that you are not doing enough and/or messing up your child. I wanted to give her a hug, the hug that I find myself needing some days.

I loved all the moments Mavis shares with her daughter Pearl. My youngest daughter happens to be the same age as Pearl, and they are one in the same. The dialogue was a little bit too familiar! Lol The sass but also the sweetness!

The mystery really worked for me and kept me guessing till the very end! I don’t normally gravitate towards thrillers, but this book was just creepy enough…. No nightmares were had. Elise also scattered lots of random facts throughout the story that had me wondering if they were actual clues or very specific character information. I also did not see the ending coming; Well done, Elise!

The budding romance between Jack and Mavis was a highlight. I would love to see Bryant write a full-length romance because she absolutely nailed the first date butterflies. When they held hands for the first time, I melted.

The was my first cozy mystery and the perfect book to dip my toes into the genre. I plan to read more because I enjoyed the balance between the creepiness of a thriller and a rom-com/ mom-com. (I like to sleep at night)

What to expect:
•A fast-paced, cozy mystery with a little bit of romance
•An FMC facing the relatable challenges of motherhood and being a working mom
•Examples of Racism, in educational settings and in general
•Sharp humor and social commentary

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for pushing me outside of my normal genre and sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a mystery book and I enjoyed it!

I liked the mystery of this book and was consistently eager to keep turning the pages to see if Mavis would crack the case. I think that there is a lot in here that is great about motherhood, racial issues within our school systems, and career burnout to go alongside the mystery. The romance part of the book was very light, and I do not think I would miss it if it was not there to be honest. I was genuinely surprised by our twist at the end, and felt as though I could have kept reading when I was finished with the last page- I feel we may have gotten some ends not quite tied up and maybe that will mean we get more in this universe in books to come! (I would like that!!!).
I think that it was worth our ups and downs to see what was really going on with our missing principal. At times, I did feel a little bit frustrated with Mavis in regards to her career, but I do think her feelings towards her job were really realistic and I can see why she chose to make her decisions that she did. Overall, I think that this is a light mystery that is a page turner and tackles themes that are prevalent and topical right now within our education systems, and being childless myself, it gave me some perspective on motherhood and the struggles and sacrifices people make for their children.

A delightful adult debut novel from Elise Bryant! This is a fun and hilarious cozy mystery that I could not put down. I don’t often pick up this genre but I love it when do. I cannot wait for more from this author in the adult market!

Super quick read, super satisfying and fun! I loved the characters and the conceit of a true crime story featuring terrifying PTA moms.

3.5 stars. This book does standout in the cozy mystery scene. There is no murder by chapter 2 to solve, no clear reason why our sleuth is involved right away, no police to flirt with or to outsmart. In many ways this was a breath of fresh air and memorable but in others it felt a bit unmoored as the plot went on. I liked Mavis a lot, the love interest not so much. A satisfying ending, I will likely return to the series.

I'm not a newbie to cozy mysteries so I was excited for this and it didn't disappoint! This book was actually very funny. I thought this was a fun, cozy mystery. Even though I'm not a mother, Mavis felt realistic and down to earth, which is something I can always appreciate in a character. I truly enjoyed Mavis as a character. The concept of a missing school principle and the main PTA president as a suspect is a great way to make a tale feel like a lighthearted comedy sitcom. The Facebook group dialogue was amusing and I found all of the PTA members to be fantastic side characters. I also loved Mavis' familial dynamic. I hope this will be a continuous series.

Thank you to berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

It's Elementary adds a new sarcastic, smart amateur detective to the book world.

Mavis has an adorable little girl, Pearl, who is in second grade at Knoll Elementary. She gets roped into chairing the PTA's DEI Committee (given that she is one of the few minority parents at the school). She has avoided the meetings so far, and it is all that she feared. Women are trying to prove they are the better mom, the principal and PTA president are fighting, and she just wants to go home and go to bed. While walking her dog after the PTA meeting, she sees the PTA president Trisha doing something suspicious - walking out of the school with giant black trash bags, wearing yellow rubber gloves.

The next day, the school principal is missing, and Mavis is wondering if Trisha was disposing a body last night. She teams up with the cute school psychologist to try to solve the principal's disappearance. Meanwhile, she has to content with changing friendships, bullying, her real job, her ex husband who might be coming back to town for good, and her father, who lives with her and Pearl. It's a lot, and every woman will be able to relate!

This book is a fun read, with some sharp commentary on race, parent culture in affluent schools, and adult friendships. The culprit didn't surprise me, but it still was a satisfying mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

I’ve been getting more and more into cozy mysteries lately and couldn’t resist this one with its focus on how far parents are willing to go when it comes to their children.

Mavis Miller is a single mom who, between raising her 7 year old and trying to work full time, has no time whatsoever for the PTA. Somehow, though, she still finds herself drafted by Trisha, the school’s overbearing PTA President, to lead the school’s new DEI committee. At first Mavis is annoyed since she knows she’s being chosen simply because of the color of her skin, but then she embraces the role as it might be a chance to really make a difference in the mostly white school.

Things quickly go awry, however, when one evening after a contentious PTA meeting, Mavis witnesses Trisha wearing rubber gloves and booties and behaving very suspiciously. When the new Principal doesn’t show up for work the next day and hasn’t been seen since the PTA meeting, Mavis immediately fears something sinister has happened and decides to do some sleuthing to see if she can figure out the truth.

This was such a fun read! I loved the behind the scenes look at the PTA and all of its drama, and I enjoyed watching Mavis play amateur detective, especially when she enlists the school psychologist to help her. This is a fast-paced read, filled with fun banter and engaging side characters. My favorite was Mavis’ daughter, Pearl, who is just the cutest, sassiest little girl. I adored every scene she was in!

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries or have been interested in trying one, I definitely recommend It’s Elementary!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Mavis Miller is a (reluctant) PTA mom when she sees the PTA President with mysterious trash bags and cleaning supplies—right before the principal goes missing—and gets pulled into an investigation.

This one is super original in concept—an elementary school mom investigating a disappearance with the help of the school psychologist—and is a fun mix of romance, cozy mystery, and contemporary fiction. Even though I’m not a parent, I loved the commentary on parenting and school politics, and thought the book handled concepts like race, class, and gentrification really well. It was a great mix of seriousness and humor that kept me entertained throughout.

I also really enjoyed the audio narration (the voice for Pearl COULD NOT HAVE BEEN any cuter), which really amplified the reading experience for me. I did predict the ending, but enjoyed the twists and turns of how we got there. Overall, would recommend, particularly if you’re a parent of young kids or like reading about bonkers suburban drama.

CW: Violence, including domestic abuse; kidnapping; racism/discrimination

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery to fill in your summer reading list, this is a perfect addition!

I love that Bryant took something so relatable with having a child in school and the PTA and made it the stage for a fun mystery. While I’m not a parent, I was once in elementary school and have friends with kids who happily share their PTA horror stories.

The setting opens the stage for our main character, Mavis, to meet an interesting and diverse cast of characters, from people who work at the school to friends to PTA moms that take their job just a little too seriously. All of the secondary characters make this story well-rounded and engaging. There’s a high chance you’ll be reminded of someone in your life with at least one of the PTA moms.

The star of the show is definitely Mavis and her daughter Pearl. I absolutely loved them! They have such realistic personalities and their relationship with each other is hard not to be charmed by.

Cozy mysteries are such wonderful palette cleansers for me between darker or heavier reads. Bryant’s writing was easy to get swept away in and charmed by the story at hand. I highly recommend giving this one a go!

This book was so fun. It reminded me a lot of Arsenic and Adobo, so fans of that series will definitely resonate with this. I love the cozy mystery aspect of it, but with real stakes. I've read Bryant's YA books, so this was really great to see her adult debut! (And I think I like this better than her YA)

Why do I associate this one with Abbott Elementary and why did I take so long to pick it up?

Love love love this one! Fourth Elise Bryant book I read and her writing style really works for me!

4/5 stars

Thank you Berkely Pub for the advanced reading copy!

SYNOPSIS -- Mavis Miller isn't typically a PTA mom. Between managing sassy 7 year-old, Pearl, living with her own Dad, and working at a job that definitely doesn't appreciate her enough, Mavis simply doesn't have the time. But when backed into a corner by overly-perky PTA president, Trisha, to chair the new DEI committee, Mavis feels capable of real change. Not only is she one of the only Black moms at Pearl's elementary school, but she's been known to speak up for what she believes in, and decides to give it a try. Things are derailed, however, when the first PTA meeting goes haywire and, the next day, the brand-new Principal fails to show up for work. Mavis's curiosity gets the best of her and, side-by-side with the handsome school psychologist, Mavis is determined to figure out the truth of what happened to Principal Smith.

This book had great characters and a really enjoyable mystery! Mavis was a fantastic narrator for the story; I loved hearing things from her perspective and definitely appreciated the insight on what it is like to be a Black mother in a mostly white space. While I did predict some of the ending, it was a fun and wild ride to get there, and I really enjoyed it! The addition of some romance really brought this book to the next level, and made it even more unputdownable. The elementary school setting was fun, and definitely gave off cozy mystery vibes! Everyone was brought together nicely, and it was truly a joy to read Mavis's character growth throughout this one, too!

Thank you @BerkleyPub #Berkley #BerkleyPartner for the free book and @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This book captured me from the very first scene, Mavis dropping her daughter off at elementary school and getting roped into DEI work for the PTA. Her inner monologue throughout was absolutely spectacular.

And the book only got better from there. I laughed so hard. I could absolutely imagine similar antics at the local elementary school, and I tried hard to figure out the mystery with Mavis. I found the twists unexpected. But I would have loved it just as much, even if I guessed. The writing was superb, and I never wanted the book to end. I have my fingers crossed for a series. And I will definitely be looking for more cozy romances from Elise Bryant.

Aure Nash was an absolutely fabulous narrator. Her voice for Trisha - chef's kiss. I full on cringed the first time I heard it. And most of the book is first person POV for Mavis, and she brings exactly the right tone to all her narration.

4.5 stars rounded up

Mavis Miller is a single mom. Her ex-husband is a musician out on tour, and while he adores their daughter Pearl and talks to her every night, he’s not around to help with the homework, the nightly dinners, and the school drop-offs. Mavis does her best, but sometimes she runs late. And sometimes she gets caught by the PTA president Trisha Holbrook and her intense pride in Knoll Elementary.

Trisha is looking for someone to head the new DEI committee for the PTA, and as Mavis is one of the few Black parents in the school, she knew that DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. And when Trisha points out how Mavis had emailed her opinions about how the book fair hadn’t included many books that featured kids that looked like Pearl, or how the costumes at the Thanksgiving pageant were insensitive. Mavis feels like Trisha has called her bluff, and now she has no choice but to agree to head the committee. What she didn’t expect was how many of the other mothers weighed in with their ideas almost immediately, flooding Mavis’s phone with alerts.

Mavis has a day job at a small non-profit, where she wanted to make life better for teenagers, but mostly she got stuck doing the tasks no one else wanted to do and rarely getting a pay raise. But she’s up for a big promotion, which will help make her and Pearl’s life a little easier. For now, they’re living with her dad, a retired attorney, who can pick up Pearl after school and help with meals. Which is good, because Mavis has to add PTA meetings to her already busy schedule.

After the first meeting, where Trisha spoke about the school being turned into a magnet school for the gifted students, and the new principal informed her that it was not going to happen. Trisha was clearly surprised by the news, but she didn’t seem swayed. It wasn’t until much later, after the meeting was done and the school closed up, that Mavis has some doubts about Trisha. Mavis is out walking her puppy, trying to tire him out so he’ll sleep, and she found herself back near the school. That’s when she saw Trisha with some cleaning products and large garbage bags, her hands covered in plastic gloves.

It wasn’t until the next day that Mavis learned that principal Smith had been missing since the PTA meeting.

Trisha wouldn’t have killed the school principal just to get her gifted school, would she? Mavis wasn’t sure. But as the day go by, and the principal still didn’t show up, that she started to wonder. Mavis and her friends, including the very handsome school psychologist and a couple of the other school moms, dig into what’s really happening in the PTA, and Mavis shocks everyone with what she uncovers. But the more secrets she finds, the closer she gets to someone who may be a killer. Is she really ready to take on the PTA, or will she find herself trapped somewhere even more dangerous than those long meetings?

It’s Elementary is the first adult novel from Elise Bryant, who has won awards for her children’s and YA books. This novel is fun and smart, with layers of secrets and complex characters. Mavis is a very real mom, with problems and struggles and so much love for her family. She is doing her best in a difficult situation, and she’s doing her best to keep her head above water, to stay sane, and to get Pearl to school on time every once in a while.

I really loved It’s Elementary. I love a light-hearted mystery with a big heart, and Bryant brings it. Mavis is a great character, and I loved hanging out with her while she parented, investigated, and (finally) learned to put on her own mask before putting on anyone else’s. She is a strong, intelligent woman, and I couldn’t help but hope I’d get a chance to hang out with her again, especially since her dad started a true crime podcast, and to me that screams out as the perfect plotline for Mavis book two (hint, hint).

Egalleys for It’s Elementary were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.