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.

This. Is . What. I'm Talking. About. When. I. Say. We. Need. More. Black. stories. I ate this up. Give me more more more more more more more.

It’s Elementary is a charming romantic mystery that captures the vibe of a school and a PTA perfectly. As a teacher, I found the Facebook PTA group snippets to be woefully accurate, and I loved the storytelling including issues relevant to educational communities. I also really loved the mystery here; like all fantastically woven who-dun-its, I was truly unsure which suspect was actually responsible for the disappearing principal. This was a satisfying and beautifully told story!

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley, and Elise Bryant for this eARC. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'd love to interview Elise Bryant on my podcast, Raise Your Words. I loved it's elementary especially because I'm going into teaching. It's Elementary is a fun book every teacher would love.

So fun and exciting--lots of red herrings, a fun romance, and plenty of drama. Fun and insightful and wise.

Hilarious, suspenseful, swoony and more! Elise Bryant's adult debut is a show stopper! It's no wonder this was chosen for Target's book club.

✨Book Review✨
It's Elementary by Elise Bryant
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Elise Bryant is an auto-buy author for me, and her first venture into adult literature did not disappoint. While her YA is still my favorite, this book was such a sweet cozy mystery.
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If you like the vibes of trying to take down Karen-y PTA moms, a sweet mother-daughter relationship with a sassy 7-year-old, and a mom/school psychologist detective duo romance, this one is for you! The ending even held its own in the mystery world which is hard to do! I highly recommend this read!

3.5 stars

This story was part comedy, part mystery and part romance. Mavis is a single mom who is actually doing just fine, although sometimes she doesn't feel like it. She and her daughter live with her dad, who is a big help and has no serious health issues. She has a non-profit job, although she puts out way too much effort for an employer who overlooks her contributions and continually passes her over for promotion. Her daughter's dad is an engaged parent, even though his job keeps him traveling.

Mavis is wary of getting sucked into the PTA world at her daughter's school, commanded by an absurdly entitled White, overbearing, passive aggressive bully. So when the principal disappears one night and Mavis just happens to be walking her dog and witnesses the PTA bully in highly suspicious activity, she starts investigating. Mavis is a strong articulate Black woman and the game playing that the White moms dance around with is hilarious processed through Mavis's eyes. She recognizes instantly after complaining about the lack of juvenile book diversity what might happen, and sure enough, pretty soon she is tapped for DEI committee chair -- because, she's Black.

Her partner in crime solving is the hot young school psychologist. Mavis doesn't think she wants to get romantically involved, but she recognizes in her attraction to him that she is lonely. She does meet a couple of like-minded moms and has a supportive best friend.

The plot is a bit over the top, but fun. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've read Elise Bryant's YA novels, which I really like, and this first go at an adult mystery was really fun! The mystery itself was great - I did not see that ending coming! The book was both funny and poignant - the life of a single African-American mother navigating all the stresses and challenges felt very real. The supporting cast was well-developed and interesting.
I will recommend this to readers of cozy mysteries and books with diverse representation.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a comfort read for me. I enjoyed Mavis. I found her chat to be very relatable. The plot was entertaining. I love me a good cozy read and this one did not disappoint!

It's Elementary is a delightful trip through the wild world of elementary school politics!
Mavis Miller might not be a PTA mom, but she's about to dive headfirst into the chaos of school committees, mysterious disappearances, and yellow rubber gloves. With a feisty daughter, a demanding job, and a multigenerational household to manage, Mavis has her hands full. But when she finds herself in charge of the school's DEI committee, she's determined to make a difference—even if it means uncovering some unexpected mysteries along the way.
The author's quick wit and sharp humor shine in this fast-paced read that will keep you guessing until the very end. With twists and turns aplenty, It's Elementary is a must-read for anyone who's ever navigated the treacherous waters of parent-teacher meetings and PTA drama. So grab your detective hat and get ready for a rollicking good time!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It’s Elementary, a fun and twisty mystery, proves that Bryant not only excels at YA stories but can also write for the adult audience. Mavis, a single working mom with a sassy daughter, living with her retired lawyer dad (who just discovered True Crime podcasts), and a brand new puppy is not a PTA mom! When Mavis, as one of the only moms of color, is asked to run the DEI committee- her first thought is No Thanks. Bullied into accepting the position by the Trisha, the fierce PTA president- but at the first meeting- the school principal vanishes under suspicious circumstances . Mavis is determined to get to the bottom of his disappearance. But with the hot school psychologist helping her, and her ex back on the scene, Mavis’ world is about to get very interesting. Filled with snappy dialogue, laugh out loud scenes, quirky characters, a solid mystery, and a dash of romance, let’s hope we get more stories about Mavis and her gang.

This book was so much fun! It was like watching a comfort movie and just rooting for the MC who you feel like you’ve known forever.

The plot of this moves pretty fast and the mystery element is fun to keep up with. Where I think this book shines though is in those small moments where Mavis (the MC) is wondering if she’s a good parent, or is angered by her job passing her up for a promotion, or being confused about her coparenting situation, or feeling defeated by being a fully grown adult living with her dad, and of course fully knowing that her 7 year old would still be asking her for snacks even if she was on her death bed. Those small, and so very realistic moments, show some of the thoughts others of us have had in our lives.

One of the stars on the book is definitely the PTA Facebook group. Why is it so accurate??

Yea. Read this book.

Any book that has multiple law and order references is a book that will forever be on my recommended list! So yes, I loved all of the Stabler & Benson references in this.

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery that I liked! I really liked Mavis as a character, though I’m not a mother, she still felt relatable and down to earth, which I can always appreciate. The whole idea of a missing school principal missing and having the lead PTA president as a suspect feels like a fun comedic sitcom, it works so well in a story. I thought all of the PTA were great side characters and the facebook group dialogue was killing me, it was hilarious.

I was a little disappointed that there ended up not being a morder, but that’s more of. personal preference.

Absolutely loved this one! It was a good thriller with well thought out characters! I appreciated the layout and setup of the story, as well as the whodunit aspect.

I knew I'd love this book from the title—Elise Bryant's jump into adult mystery is a total joy, with the signature warmth, community, and slow-burn romance that I've come to love and expect! The on-point commentary on PTA politics and current crucial school board debates kept it fresh and biting, and the hijinks and mystery did not disappoint. Can't wait for more—that ending makes me very intrigued by the possibility of a book two love triangle! 👀

What a fun read! I loved the drama, the inflated drama of the PTA, the stereotypical characters that are just one notch extra. This book was such a great cleanser for me after reading a few really heavy novels. I think any teacher, parent of an elementary schooler, or single mom can relate to this book. It’s cute, laugh out loud funny (I definitely did!) and a quick read. Perfect for beaches and airports!