This book arrived at a perfect time for all the drama surrounding members of Hollywood buying their way into school. I just had to read this!
Thank you Berkley for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis: Isobel Johnson knows helicopter parents like Julia Abbott–a stage mom whose world revolves around interfering in her children’s lives–come with the territory. Julia resents teachers like Isobel, who effortlessly bond with students, including Julia’s own teenagers, who have started pulling further away from her. Isobel has spent her teaching career in Liston Heights side-stepping the community’s high-powered families. But when she receives a threatening voicemail accusing her of Anti-Americanism and a “blatant liberal agenda,” she realizes she’s squarely in the fray. Rather than cowering, Isobel doubles down on her social-justice ideals. Meanwhile, Julia, obsessed with the casting of the high school’s winter musical, inadvertently shoves the female student lead after sneaking onto the school campus. The damning video footage goes viral and has far-reaching consequences for Julia and her entire family. With nothing to unite them beyond the sting of humiliation from public meltdowns, Isobel and Julia will find common ground where they least expect it, confronting a secret Facebook gossip site that’s stirring up more trouble for this tumultuous, fractured school community.
I think reading this as a high school teacher myself, I had a whole new perspective on this novel. I’ve seen all kinds of parents and teachers, but this takes the cake! It’s an easy read with lots of drama which makes for a fun afternoon binge. I’m not one for stories told in multiple perspectives, but this story really needed to be said this way. The author really painted a great picture of all the drama surrounding parents, teachers, and students in a high school setting with all the aspects of social media and the arts. A fun read!
4/5 Stars
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