This book hit all the right spots for a cozy mystery. There was comedic relief, amateur sleuthing, and a little budding romance. What I think I appreciated the most is Bryant, changed it up Mavis wasn't working with a detective but the school psychologist. And she poked fun at the potential real-life (cough safety) of investigating a crime. I was guessing until the very end. This was an entertaining read and while the reveal was gut-wrenching, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more mystery from this author.

Busy single mom Mavis reluctantly joins her school’s DEI committee. When the principal mysteriously disappears after a heated meeting with the PTA president, Mavis suspects foul play. Investigating alongside the school psychologist, Mavis uncovers a web of secrets—challenging her understanding of community, friendship, and the complexities of elementary school politics.

I love Mavis! This cozy mystery is light-hearted and fun but also explores some more serious themes. The twists kept me guessing until the end.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

It’s Elementary

What happens when you find yourself on the receiving end of a micro-aggression that leads to you becoming the head of a PTA subset diversity group?

You witness a (probable) murder clean up!

Mavis is a Black woman who works a thankless job in the nonprofit world and raises her daughter with the help of her retired father. She has enough on her plate and doesn’t need the added stress of duplicitous over achieving PTA moms.

She definitely doesn’t need to see the president of said group dragging a body sized trash bag into her car late night. After an especially tension filled meeting between said president and principal.

I love a cozy mystery. It’s usually has enough suspense to keep your heart rate at an acceptable level and a decent amount of chuckles to keep you feeling fuzzy about the subject matter.

It’s Elementary had me roaring, muttering a few punctuated “mmhmm”’s and wanting to knock our heroine in the head. Mavis is the embodiment of a Black woman trying to navigate an educational system that is not structured for the betterment of her daughter. And on top of that, she’s gotta figure out if the PTA president’s sharp tongue is the only thing lethal about her!

Elyse Bryant’s pen crafted a relatable and enjoyable mystery. I feel like there’s enough room in Mavis’ story for a series. And I will gladly eat up more of whatever Bryant offers.

Thank you to Berkley for this #gifted copy.

As someone who is a complete newbie to cozy mysteries, this was enjoyable! From the very start, I adored Mavis Miller. Her witty perspective on juggling her career and motherhood added such a fun sense of relatability to the otherwise craziness that falls into her life.

Instead of completely avoiding the PTA committee like she hoped, Mavis is inadvertently thrust into the role of amateur detective when the principal goes missing and a possible murder is witnessed. Along for some lighthearted sleuthing is the handsome school psychologist, Jack.

The flirty romance and social commentary kept things entertaining, but I did lose interest in the murder investigation throughout the middle. The development was a little slow at times, at least for me. That said, it really picked back up towards the end with some unexpected twists and a nice conclusion!

As solid as this premise sounds and as much as I liked this author’s prior work, it being a cozy had me nervous, and I just couldn’t get into it. How can it be “fast paced” and “cozy?” I’m sure it works for some people, but it just wasn’t for me.

This book was fantastic! A little sweet, a little mystery, a little romance, a lot of a super mom doing it all for her little girl!! There were many times I was laughing out loud, a lot of the time because Pearl, but also because it was so honest. There was such a good balance between the humor, and the mystery that Mavis was trying to solve, and the realities of race, the politics of schools, and just being a parent. This was written beautifully and is such a good

I loved Mavis so much. She was doing her absolute best and doing it well. She just got a little caught up in trying to solve a mystery!! And she did it so well she solved a couple! I loved reading her story because there was so much going on and that is LIFE. Between her work, living with her dad, co-parenting with her ex who’s on the road, trying to make friends, dodging the PTA, and finding a little romance! She did it all with so much heart!! It wasn’t easy but she was doing it!!

The romance was very much NOT a main storyline, which is fine. I would have loved to see more of Mavis and Jack.

Thanks so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As an incoming PTA president, I had to read this as soon as I saw the description!

I really enjoyed this book! The romance took a bit of a backseat (I would have liked more!) and the mystery kind of meandered off near the end of the story, but I was thoroughly engaged. The characters are sparkling (Mavis and her daughter are pure joy!) and I only had a tiny, niggling feeling of who did it (I'm typically good at sussing out the mystery and I did in this case - but the author does a great job making us think otherwise!).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

If the mystery part of this novel hadn’t meandered a bit as it headed in for the finish it would have been the absolutely perfect summer read. The rest of the book, though, is so utterly charming, that’s really a nitpick. This is the first adult novel for author Bryant, who up until now has written YA romance, and she seems to be embracing adulting in her first outing. Her heroine, Mavis Miller, is a single mom who lives with her Dad and is late getting her adorable daughter Pearl to school just about every day in the rush of getting ready for work, making Pearl’s lunch, letting the dog out, etc.

But make it they do, and Mavis is usually left chatting with the other parents who aren’t so on it, and it flashed me back to my own kids’ elementary school days when the worst part of raising kids was – other parents, especially the perfectly organized PTA ones. This came back to me in a rush as Mavis is buttonholed by the PTA president who asks her to head up the school’s DEI committee. Mavis is certain she’s been selected because she’s one of only two black moms at the school (the other, her friend Jasmine, is a high powered doctor, who is far to smart to be ensnared by the PTA).

This book is really funny and the characters are wonderful. Mavis meets another mom, Corinne, at her first PTA meeting and the two share a bond of snark as they observe the proceedings. Everything goes wrong that night as the new school principal disappears and Mavis, out walking the dog, sees the PTA prez up to what looks like absolutely no good with a van, rubber gloves, giant trash bags, and booties in the school parking lot. It freaks her out completely.

The next day the school is abuzz with the principal’s disappearance. Mavis cements a friendship begun with the hunky school psychologist in the parking lot the day before. When the principal’s wife offers a reward for any information leading to his return, Mavis and the psychologist decide to team up to see if they can earn it. There’s much more going on between them though, and as they clumsily check alibis together they also become closer to each other.

There’s alot going on in this book, and much of it involves Mavis’ life careening out of control as she feels she’s letting Pearl down and not being a good enough mother; as she misses a promotion at work, to her intense frustration; and as she and Jack, the psychologist, chase down leads in the principal’s disappearance and possible murder. The solution when it comes is quite witty, but much as I really liked Mavis, I often prefer a main character who’s the calm center that all the chaos of the story envelops. That’s a personal preference, however, not really a critique, though I did worry for Mavis as she perseveres through her pretty exhausting sounding life.

What was a true treasure was simply Mavis’ point of view. I read many, many cozy mysteries and I love them, but it’s wonderful to see some diversity and youth being brought to these books, not just here, by Bryant, but by other talented cozy writers like Danielle Arseneault, Gigi Pandian, V.M. Burns, Mia P. Manansala, and Frank Anthony Polito. The cozy genre needs a shake up and these are the writers that are doing it – in an oh so friendly cozy way. The different perspective offered, in my opinion, provides even more snap and sparkle to a well told tale. I hope this novel is the first in a series. Best of all, I was laughing to myself at the gym as I read it.

Was not sure if a mystery centered around a school’s PTA would be something I’d actually like, but I had so much fun reading this! This is my third book by Elise Bryant, and her writing voice is so approachable and immediately pulls me in every time.

I love that she’s stepped into adult books after writing YA for so long, and I think any fan of cozy mysteries will enjoy this. I was way more invested in this plot than I expected, and I couldn’t put this down because I just needed to know what happened!

There are some things I wish were a little different - some of the ending didn’t work work for me and I feel like we only scratched the surface of Jack as a character - but I really liked this overall. I also thought there was some really poignant social commentary about white feminism in here for a book with such a silly (in a good way!) premise.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley for this ARC! I can’t wait to see what Elise writes next.

It’s Elementary starts with our main character Mavis as she’s taking her daughter to school and she’s running late which results in her having a run-in with a guy she assumes to be a parent. She also ends up getting roped into being part of the PTA, a responsibility she’s been able to avoid for most of her daughter’s life.

However, as chair of the DEI committee, Mavis is responsible for ensuring things are diverse and inclusive. Things go awry at the first PTA meeting as the new principal is missing, the PTA president is at school after hours and Mavis sees something she shouldn’t. I don’t want to give too much away but the mystery ends up being more involved than what the synopsis shares.

Without giving too much away, It’s Elementary is a fast-paced, smart, and hilarious entry into the cozy mystery genre. From Mavis playing amateur detective to her budding friendship/romance with the school psychologist, Jack, this book has absolutely everything you can expect from a cozy mystery while also speaking on issues that most of these books don’t touch on.

If this is the writing I’ve been missing out on from Elise Bryant, then I am sorely disappointed in myself. The way she wrote these characters and plotted everything was delightful. Plus as soon as you get into the story, you won’t be able to put it down. If anything, it makes me want to go back and read some of her YA offerings.

Whether you’re someone who has read Elise Bryant before or not, It’s Elementary will have you angry, laughing, and sad all within one page. The other thing I have to mention is how much I enjoy Mavis’ daughter, Pearl, and Mavis’ relationship with her Dad. Both of these relationships play a crucial role in the story and it makes things even more realistic.

I will say that I did not predict the ending and how things played out. Either way, I do think it was odd the kind of conclusions Mavis would jump to but that’s part of the fun of these books. I think that if you’re looking for a beach read, then It’s Elementary is it.

This book is so much fun! A cozy mystery with a dash of romance, centered around an elementary school PTA and a missing principal, with an epilogue that definitely leaves the door open for more - sign me up!

This was a cute cozy mystery! The characters were very entertaining and I enjoyed the overall pacing of the story.

I loved Pearl— she was so funny and added so much to the story and the family dynamic.

This was a hoot. I love a good cozy mystery and this hit everything I could have wanted and more. It was so much fun and it definitely had an ending I was not expecting! Also did love the romance elements. It felt like the perfect amount.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing House and NetGalley for the eARC!

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

What a fabulous cozy mystery! The PTA can be cutthroat, but this one takes it to the next level. Between being a single mom, battling casual racism, and trying to solve the principal's disappearance, Mavis Miller has a LOT going on. Where some mysteries get dull trying to lean too hard into the coziness, we get to focus on Mavis's career and home life. It made for a compelling story where I was just as invested in the mystery as I was with the subplots. Pearl is adorably precocious and I hope we get more books in this world because WHAT is going on with Mackenzie Skinner?? (Also are her dad and Miss Joyce crushing on each other?)

Like seriously, give me a series yesterday.

Thank you to @berkley, the author, as well as @netgalley for e-arc. All thoughts are my own.


Mavis isn’t a PTS mom so when the PTA head flags her down to be the new head of the DEI Committee. Mavis caves to Trish, because she does want more diversity at school and as one of the few black parents, she thinks she can do it. Things go off the rails at the first meeting when the PTA learns some unsettling news.

Later that night, Mavis witnesses the PTA president lugging black bags to her car, and the next day the principal is missing.

She sets out to determine what happened. Thankfully she has a little help along the way.

This is the exact type of cozy mystery I adore. Relatable, and laugh out loud funny with a light mystery. PTA’s play an integral part of the school system, but sometimes people go too far and that is exactly what happened in this case, well along with some casual racism. This book made me feel a lot of emotions, one of them being outrage. There was plenty of that in the book too. However, just as quickly as I was outraged, I was laughing because this book had some truly hilarious moments. The banter was also a lot of fun and left me smiling. One of my favorite parts of this book was how relatable Mavis was as a working mom. Mavis as a character was perpetually in a hurry, running on fumes, sassy, and down-to-earth. I just wanted her to get ahead and figure out what had happened to the principal. She was easy to root for, and her daughter Pearl was a gem.

I didn’t really enjoy the whole romance within this book. It just wasn’t something I needed, and I love romance. This one just didn’t work well for me, and I wish it hadn’t been included. But I did still enjoy the book overall and had a lot of fun with it.

If you loved the Finlay Donovan series, then you need to check this one out, you won’t be disappointed.

I've read all of Elise Bryant's YA novels, and this book is nothing like any of them because it's adult fiction and a mystery. But, it's written with such masterful and compelling language just the same. "It's Elementary" is full of dramatic twists and turns until the very end, like, Oh my God, where did all that come from? Wowza, I was hooked to say the least. Plus, it's always interesting to have a mystery novel MC not be a pro at solving crimes, you know? It's like their amateur status feels so much more authentic and earned when they crack the case. Anyway, yes, I recommend this book. Obviously.

CW: Domestic Abuse

I'm a huge fan of Elise Bryant's Young Adult so I was thrilled to see was venturing into Adult Cozy Mystery territory. This book was wonderfully paced and plotted. Mavis was so relatable as a woman who is juggling too much, feels like she's failing at everything but keeps giving it all her. all nonetheless The PTA and school ;politics were by turns realistic, hilarious and enraging. And I never saw our culprit coming! I think the author is setting us up for future stories and maybe even a love triangle to boot. I will be present and accounted for!!!!

United States Publication: July 9, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Mavis Miller is a single mom to 7-year-old Pearl, works at a non-profit that doesn't see her potential and lives with her Dad in the home she grew up in. So, when she hears one morning at school drop-off, "Mavis! Yoo-hoo!" she looks for a quick escape from the person at the other end of that voice, PTA president Trisha Holbrook. When Trisha asks Mavis to head up the new DEI committee, Mavis can't help but ask Trisha why her? Could it be because of the melanin Mavis has compared to Trisha, who is blonde and blue-eyed? But Trisha doesn't admit that's why, and in a surprising turn of events, Mavis decides to accept the invitation. The night of Mavis' first PTA meeting provides lots of entertainment; all that's missing is the popcorn. But when Mavis spies, literally, Trisha later that night hauling heavy bags out of the school as well as cleaning supplies she has to wonder what other drama has occured. The next morning, it's announced Principal Smith is missing, and Mavis has a sick feeling she knows what was in those bags Trisha was hauling out of the school the night before. Trisha Holbrook has killed Principal Smith! Teaming up with the school psychologist, Mr. Cohen, Mavis sets out to prove Trisha is a murderer... or not. What she learns along the way is PTA and school politics are a killer.

This was a really fun read. I loved that the main character was black; it seems very rare for main characters in this genre to be black, so I loved Mavis for her skin color and personality. She is fun, sassy, and down-to-earth. I love her interactions with her friends, family, and new friends. Bryant's mystery is solid, and how she teams Mavis up with Mr. Cohen and others to figure out what is going on and where President Smith has disappeared is easy to read and really enjoyable to figure out alongside Mavis and her crew. Bryant is a known YA author; this is her first attempt at an adult title. It is highly successful; I hope she continues writing for adults!

Add this to my rotation of cozy mysteries that I will re-read when I seek out comfort. Elise Bryant is such a wonderful writer and I am impressed with her adult debut. I highly recommend this.

It's Elementary is perfect for the cozy-ish/real life ish mystery lovers alike. Mavis is struggling between being a single mom, joining the PTA, and making sure her daughter is happy. While, I am not for mysteries and therefore my rating isn't as high as I would have liked--I think people who enjoy this type of contemporary mysteries would like this story.