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.

This book was an absolute blast! It's Elementary by Elise Bryant seamlessly blends mystery with PTA mom drama and a sprinkle of romance.

Mavis is single mom to the spunky Pearl. I mean how many 2nd graders have a Nemeses List?? They live with Mavis' father, Pearl's Papa. Mavis works hard at balancing work and parenthood, but there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day for her to do it all. As if she doesn't have enough on her plate, one day Mavis is roped into leading the school's first DEI committee. The next, she's solving the mystery of the missing principal and wondering just how far the PTA president would go to push her agenda!

Mavis' relationship with her father adds a heartwarming touch to the story, keeping family ties strong in the multigenerational household. And we all know a Trisha, that person in an organization that we try to avoid at all costs or we're gonna end up "volunteering" for the job no one else wants. Mavis' friend, Jasmine, is the bestie we all need! I was howling at her responses in the PTA Parents Facebook group! If you're looking for a delightful mystery with a touch of hot guy named Jack, It's Elementary should be at the top of your list!

Read this if you like:
• Amateur sleuths
• Single mom stories
• PTA mama drama
• Mystery with a side of romance

Available now! Many thanks to @berkleypub for the digital ARC!

This was such a fun cozy mystery! As one of the few Black parents at her child's elementary school, she finds herself leading the new DEI committee. It's a chance for her to make some positive change at the school -- but she gets put on the back burner when she is walking her dog one night and witnesses the PTA president committing a possible crime.

There's family dynamics, mommy drama, romance, and more. I wanted a little more from this book on the mystery front, but I thought the end was well-executed and worth the wait.

This was a fantastic adult debut from Elise Bryant!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own. @BerkleyPub @BerkleyRomance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyBookTok

This was a super fun read that gave me vibes of Finlay Donovan and Big Little Lies. Mavis is a super fun and witty FMC and her daughter was adorable. I also liked her dad. Some of the moms were kind of annoying but imagine they were written that way on purpose.
I will definitely on the lookout for more books by Elise Bryant in the future!

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This is such a fun, cozy mystery with an overwhelmed but appealing narrator that you end up truly wanting the best for. There are some romantic sparks and intrigue but those aren't the center of this story, just a little bonus.

Single mom Mavis finds herself caught up in investigating suspicious happenings at her daughter's school, featuring a disappearing principal who may or may not have been murdered, and an overbearing and slightly terrifying PTA president who has placed Mavis in charge of the newly created DEI committee. Does Mavis have time in her crazy schedule to push for any real change at the school? Is it possible that the PTA president seen dragging large plastic bags outside at night might have offed the principal? Should Mavis trust the sexy school psychologist who wants to form a detective team with her?

This is a fast-paced humorous read that might give you anxiety for the narrator as she attempts to keep all her plates spinning while being the best mom she can under the circumstances. I flew through this one devouring the secrets and scandals, very much enjoyed the twists and turns it took.

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for this book to review!

Funny and entertaining with a sprinkling of romance.

I feel like cozy is having its moment. Cozy fantasy is starting to become popular and I feel cozy mystery is next. It’s Elementary has the perfect blend of mystery, humor, and love. The characters are believable and relatable. I’m sure a lot of parents will love this (I still enjoyed this even without being a parent lol).

You can tell the author had a lot of fun writing this which made it an amazing read. Would recommend!

This was a hoot. I laughed out loud multiple times reading this book and kept having to explain to the people around me what was going on. I hope Elise Bryant keeps writing in the adult genre because the insights, sarcasm, tone, and at times shocking but realistic moments in this book were fantastic.

While there's also a lot of serious topics in this book - racism, bias in the school systems, single parenthood, the complexity of "gifted" programs, SAHPs versus working parents, privilege, the constant terror that we are failing our children, and bullying - it is ultimately a comedic novel. A dark comedy with the sweet start of a love story, a mom doing her best, and multiple villains who don't entirely get what they deserve but I hope karma comes for them.

I cannot speak to the experiences of a POC lead and the racism and bias she experiences, and has to worry about her child experiencing, but Mavis so relatable as a working mom, a woman, feeling taken advantage of at work, and seeing the ridiculous lip service paid to DEI without being willing to do any real work on the part of the people asking for "help." I want to be friends with Mavis. She is a great character.

I cannot recommend this enough. A great read.

Title: It's Elementary
Author: Elise Bryant
Publisher: Berkley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"It's Elementary" by Elise Bryant"
My Perception:

'It's Elementary' was a good read full of drama, comedy, romance, entertainment, and a suspenseful mystery.

Be ready for a little bit of PTA moms being taken down, a significant relationship between a mother and a sassy seven-year-old daughter, and a school psychologist romance and ex. Things really steam up with all that will happen sooner or later.

Pick this good read to see how Elise Bryant's African American story will be presented. You will not be disappointed with this read, especially with that ending!

Thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This cozy mystery was an absolutely fun read! I really enjoyed the story of the missing principal and the love story between our FMC and the school psychologist. I had a really great time and the prose was just lovely.

There’s nothing like the competitiveness of an Elementary school PTA to bring out the vulnerability and viciousness of the mom’s who want the best for their children! Single mom Mavis Miller is not one of those moms-she’s got enough on her plate. But because she does want what’s best, not only for her child but all those at Knoll Elementary, she allows herself to get coerced into chairing the new DEI committee. As one of the very few Black parents in the school, she does tell herself that hers is a voice to be heard. However, all that goes to the wayside when PTA President Trisha Holbrook and new Principal Smith butt heads at his very first meeting, and then he mysteriously disappears that very night. Mavis sees Trisha very suspiciously lugging heavy bags and cleaning supplies out of the school very late that night and well….her mind jumps to conclusions! When the very cute…and single school psychologist doesn’t think her conclusions are so crazy, they team up to see if they can figure what happened before they publicly accuse anyone.
This is a cozy, clean romantic mystery with very entertaining characters, (some of whom will be all too familiar to those with school aged children!). PTA politics, a mysterious disappearance, mom guilt, romance and racism are the themes all very naturally intertwined into this story. The serious issues are balanced with exaggerated humor to make it the perfect read! The witty and flirty banter is just the icing on the cake!
The ending has me questioning whether there is more to come???

4.5 stars, rounded up. I am definitely hoping this one becomes a series! This cozy mystery is everything that is good about this new generation of the genre- well developed and multi-dimensional characters and an intriguing crime with a VERY timely offshoot mystery as well. The PTA element of this is so, so good, and while yes, it's exaggerated because fiction, I think any parent of an elementary school student will recognize the politics at play. I've never read Elise Bryant's YA books, but this is a very accomplished adult debut.

So, I knew I was going to read It's Elementary by Elise Bryant as soon as I saw the school psychologist was involved! This is a cute mystery with a little bit of romance.

Mavis is a single mom to a hilarious 7 year old and she gets roped into heading the diversity initiative for the PTA. The PTA president is overbearing, a little racist, and suspicious (at least I thought so). The principal disappears and Mavis ends up trying to solve the mystery. Enter hunky school psychologist!

This was a cute mystery with very enjoyable characters! Mavis is smart and well spoken, her daughter is delightful, and her dad is wonderful. There is a good discussion on racism that doesn't feel like an "added discussion" to the story. It just flows with the story so you feel like you are getting a glimpse into Mavis's every day issues with racism. There is great banter and flirty energy as well. And while it is a mystery, it has a very humorous tone which I loved. I thought the writing was great! Overall, It's Elementary was an enjoyable mystery that even had a few twists.

Mavis has no interest in getting involved with the PTA at her daughter's school. Shortly after she gets very reluctantly roped into serving as the DEI chair, the principal goes missing. Mavis thinks he might have been murdered. This book is a clean, cozy mystery with just a touch of romance. The idea is great, but I never got fully invested in the story.

3.5 rounded up

I quite enjoyed this adult cozy mystery debut by a fav YA author! It was the perfect mix of Finlay Donovan and Class mom but told from the POV of a Black single mother who gets mixed up in her daughter's elementary school PTA politics and finds herself trying to figure out what happened to their mysteriously missing principal. Okay on audio (I didn't love the narrator), this was still an fun read and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What to Expect:
🔍single mom & school psychologist team up to find the missing principal
🍿PTA drama 👀
📱mixed media formatting with social media posts & commentary
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🫶🏽What I enjoyed
This is my new favorite mom-themed cozy mystery!
Mavis is juggling mom life, a job that undervalues her, guilt of not doing enough for her child and judgement from the other moms. She ends up on the PTA and then witnesses a possible crime involving the now missing principal.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The need for suspension of disbelief is still there, but not on the same level as Finlay or Errands & Espionage, which I appreciated. I was laughing out loud from start to finish, but there is also important commentary on social justice, white feminism, gentrification, and DEI initiatives putting more unpaid work on the BIPOC community.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I thought the ending was pretty abrupt, but I’m hoping it was eluding to a series? Elise, please give us more! 🙏🏼

Thank you Berkley Pub for the free book and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of It’s Elementary! #PRHAInfluencer #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyBookstagram #berkleypub #BerkleyIG #berkley

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐭
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

This book was so fun! As a member of our PTA, I was drawn to this book from the start and I thought it was such an interesting premise. I love a cozy mystery so this one checked all the boxes for me! This book also had a hint of romance which was an added bonus! This was a fun ride and one a definitely recommend!

Mavis is anything but a PTA mom, but she somehow finds herself in charge of the school’s new DEI committee, and hopeful to bring about some new changes at the elementary school. After the first PTA meeting doesn’t go as planned, she sees the PTA president acting suspiciously with some cleaning supplies, only to find the principal MIA the next day. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Mavis, along with the school psychologist launch an investigation to find out what actually happened. There were so many fun side characters in this one, including Pearl. I absolutely loved Pearl and thought she stole the show!

🎧I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, narrated by Aure Nash. I loved the audio and felt like Nash did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. If you are looking for a new audiobook to get lost in, this is it!

✏️Cozy Mystery
✏️Single Mom
✏️PTA Mom Drama
✏️A Hint of Romance

Posted on Goodreads on July 7, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around July 8, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on July 9, 2024
**-will post on designated date

It’s Elementary is a cozy mystery made up of all things moms, kid drop offs, PTA, drama, missing teach, and a bit of romance!

I loved the play on the PTA drama with these moms. It was some of the things moms probably go through as parents and school drama, minus the missing teach/possible murder. The drama begins when Mavis is persuaded/forced by one of the moms Tricia, against her better judgement, to be a part of the DEI committee on the PTA. After witnessing suspicious activity at the school Mavis partners up with new friend Jack to sniff out what really happens.

I loved how this one has a lot of different elements within which were placed and worked so well. My favorite character was Mavis’ daughter Pearl! She gave the story a sassy kid flare, but not annoying kid sassy. I also loved how Mavis and her father worked together to care for Pearl and what she needed to succeed as a kid. With Pearl’s sassiness and these crazy mom groups, this one was funny and quirky. It was a refreshing read!