Admission is a fabulous read by Julie Buxbaum. This story checked off all my boxes. The reality that this story is based upon had American consumed, and this story is just as gripping.

Personally, I love that this tale is told from the child's point of view. When we meet her, Chloe's a normal, although privileged teenager, stressed about the SAT and boys.

She never wanted what her parents wanted for her. She is innocent in all of this, although after the fact, she sees the clues. But she is truly an innocent victim of her parent's crimes. Right?

The writing is fabulous. All written from Chloe's point of view, the author alternates between the past and the present. It's a fascinating take of the way the children involved in the college scandal probably, or perhaps reacted.

The author touches upon the lifestyle of the rich and elite, of Hollywood and it's priorities, and the way one never stops pressured to live a certain way.

Admission is a riveting tale, written in a manner that I couldn't put it down. This is a story of greed and it's effects. I love it. It's a wonderful take on the college admission scandal. It's definitely a thought provoking book, leaving the readers with a lot to ponder throughout.

What lengths would you go to to get your kid into the right college?

I have not stayed on top of the college admission scandal, but reading this really peeked my interest in it. I felt for
the kids who were unaware and truly affected.

Julie Buxbaum did an excellent job of character development and by the end of the book, I was completely invested in their lives.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

Julie Buxbaum has a permanent place on the shelves of my classroom library. Hope and Other Punchlines makes a great mentor text for writing exercises, and Tell Me Three Things has been checked out so many times that I've acquired multiple copies of it to meet the demand. Of this collection of work, Admission now ranks as my FAVORITE.

Last year, my students and I really studied the college admissions scandal. We watched many videos about it, including a clip with James Van Der Beek yelling at his dad in "Varsity Blues." We read articles about the metaphorical "side door" to the admissions process, and the students had so much to say, that I know they will love this story just as much as I did.

What I liked the most was that this novel put us into the mind of someone learning the meaning and impact of privilege, and I think it is a lesson that many will benefit from witnessing, even in this fictional way.

I love the recognition and character growth Buxbaum was able to show by shifting between a "then" and "now" timeline. It's so valuable to see that, in a story stressing the role of college and the decision making process that will establish a student's "future," some of the most important lessons come from the school we call "life."

I think. the way humor was integrated into the novel was great, and I loved Chloe's sister Isla and the fall out and question of guilt by association.

I cannot say enough great things about this book. I will be getting a hard copy for my classroom, and I will book talk it frequently.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I must admit a guilty pleasure in learning more about the real life admissions scandal- it was so unbelievable and crazy. I was excited by the idea of a fiction title revolving around this case. It was so fun to read. I had such a good time with this book. I loved the perspective it gave on each of the characters and how and why they got involved in the scandal. Total beach read that was so fun and enjoyable. I never wanted to put it down, but then was disappointed to have it over.

I finished this book and I still am struggling with it. We live in an age where parents will do anything for their kids...and sometimes that looks like doing anything to get them into college...the right college according to them.
This story follows Chloe, who as a senior is dealing with SAT scores, application essays, and of course boys. But with the "Then" and "Now" you already know what has happened...Mom is being accused of tampering with the college admissions. Now you are trying to decide if Chloe is guilty also.
Julie Buxbaum does a fantastic job here of creating a world that most of us know exist, but not being a part of.
Wonderfully written, amazing book. Well done!

Loved this book! Julie Buxbaum's books are always popular with my students, and this will be no exception. I'll definitely be purchasing it for my classroom library when it's released! It's relevant to the college admission scandals that are in the news lately, and I appreciated that - unlike a lot of YA novels - the protagonist had her sights set on more "normal" colleges rather than assuming that of course she'd wind up at an Ivy League or other elite institution.

There’s nothing Julie Buxbaum has written that I haven’t loved, and Admission was no exception. She took a hot topic in the news and examined from a unique perspective. Like many, I had opinions about the college admissions scandal going into this book, but this examination really made me reconsider some of those. I especially loved how the main character had to take a hard look at her own privilege, and, without making everything magically okay, the family and our protagonist came out the other side.

This was a really empathetic, layered exploration of the impact of the college admissions scandal on the oblivious children involved. The exploration of privilege never felt preachy, and I was genuinely rooting for each member of the family (even the most flawed) throughout. Seeing them grow by the end was the most satisfying reward! An important, timely book.

First, props to Julie Buxbaum for getting a novel done so quickly about the admissions scandal. And not only did she get it done, but it's a really enjoyable read. It would've been so easy to rush to get a "ripped from the headlines" type book out there and have it be total garbage, but this is a cohesive, well thought-out book. If it wasn't so blatantly based on the admissions scandal, I would've thought it was something she had had in the works for ages. It doesn't feel haphazard at all.

There's also enough backstory and side stories to keep things interesting for the reader, so it doesn't feel like a complete copy of what actually went down. I really enjoyed seeing it from the student's perspective, and I liked the narrative structure alternating between present day and earlier in the year leading up to the implosion and figuring out who knew what when. Also, I appreciate the very subtle nods that made me lol -- the reboot of a TV show that the woman had been on in the 80s/90s ::cough Full House cough :: and even a reference to Felicity Huffman that would've been easy to miss (something about losing a part to the blonde from Desperate Housewives).

As someone who has done her fair share of admissions work at the collegiate level and works in higher ed, this was a fun read.

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC!

This is inspired by the college admission scandal. It had great dialogue and characters. It was interesting in seeing it from the perspective of one of the girls involved in the scandal. I would have loved it to have different pov than just the main character.

Thank you to the publisher for this arc in exchange of my honest opinion.

Admission by Julie Buxbaum is not a bad book, but it is hard to relate to these characters and the story.
This novel follows Chloe, a high school senior with a rich and famous mother, a great dad, and a great life. She has finally been accepted into the college of her dreams, or so she thought. Chloe soon discovers that her mother bribed and lied her way into her college and Chloe did not get in on her own merit.

On the one hand, the reader has some sympathy for Chloe because she does try to do things the right way. She studies for hours for the SAT, works hard on her college essay, and tries her hardest. That is true, but she is still a mediocre student and does not fight her parents when they try to label her with ADHD.

Quite simply, her parents love her, but they do not believe in her.

Admission is a story ripped from the headlines which is part of what draws the reader in. However, in the end, the reader does not have much empathy for the characters, primarily when a majority of the readers probably worked their stuff off to get into college. This reader sure did.

It is not a poorly written story; it just is not a topic that is captivating. It sucks for Chloe, who was unaware of what was going on, but on some level, she knew something was wrong. Chloe simply chose to ignore everything obvious.

It does have extensive character growth as it goes back and forth from the past to the present. Chloe’s eyes begin to widen as she sees everything her parents did to help her get into college, and it opens her eyes to all the privilege she says.

Admission is an eye-opening story about white privilege and how money and power should be used responsibly. Buxbaum deserves credit for highlighting the unfairness of the system. Furthermore, while it is well-written, it just does not have a relatable plot to capture the reader's empathy.

I loved this book. It is so relevant to what is going on in the area of college admissions and parents wanting to do everything for their children. How far is too far though? I found the story really relatable. Parents wanting what is best for their children and children not wanting to disappoint their parents. In trying to beat the system, it showed that Chloe’s mom didn’t have total faith she would get into a good college on her own merits. The story told how one decision ends up affecting so many people, even characters who were not directly involved.

This review will go live on my blog, The Library Lane, on November 17, 2020!

Admission tells the story of high school senior Chloe. It’s the time of the year when she has to buckle down and start thinking about college. After multiple SAT tests with scores that aren’t as good as she hoped for, Chloe is told that her dream schools aren’t achievable. Her celebrity mother decides to hire an admissions conceder to help make the process easier. When Chloe is accepted to her first choice school, she can’t believe it. Fast forward to when her mother is arrested for bribing her daughter’s way into college. How exactly did this happen? And how much did Chloe actually know??

I have gone back-and-forth with my feelings on this book. For the most part it was an enjoyable read but I never felt like I was fully invested in the story. Admission is told through dual timelines… before the arrest and everything after. I found myself way more interested in the aftermath. Those chapters I couldn’t stop reading. I was so eager to know how things were going to end up for the family.

Admission really explores privilege in all of its forms. Chloe’s family is very well off. With her mom being a popular actor, they have everything they need plus way more. Throughout the story Chloe is put in eye opening situations that make her realize she is very lucky to be where she is. Her character growth, while it takes time, is exactly what I was hoping to read. Taking responsibility is another major part of the story. Chloe’s mom learns the hard way that you have to own up to your mistakes. Even if the consequences are scary, you still have to do the right thing.

I absolutely loved Chloe’s sister Isla. She is such a fierce person. Unlike Chloe, she takes the time to educate herself about the case against her mom. She basically has to tell Chloe what to do in order to protect herself from facing charges. Honestly, Chloe would not make it through this book if it wasn’t for Isla. I also liked Chloe’s best friend Shola. While their friendship is super awkward, I loved that she put Chloe in her place at times. When Chloe would say or do things that were not acceptable, Shola would make sure Chloe checked her privilege and understood what she did was wrong. Isla and Shola played a huge role in Chloe’s growth.

Overall, this story was thought provoking and so timely. I applaud the author for taking on such an infuriating topic. Admission will definitely make you look at the Lori Loughlin & Felicity Huffman cases with a whole different perspective.

I really liked this book but I think I am biased because I love Julie Buxbaum :) I liked how she gripped an issue from the headlines, something that our students are grappling with right now and made it from the perspecive of the students. I also liked the character growth; "sometimes I am an insensitive, overprivileged white-girl idiot" I like that the main character is not very likeable, I found myself NOT rooting for her. It explores white privilege, affirmative action, immigration, wealth and how that gives everyone a leg up and in some cases immunity. This book will appeal to a broad audience. (Tania)

Using a back-and-forth narrative that worked wonderfully with the story, ADMISSION gives us a glimpse behind the privileged curtain of the elite while still making Chloe a sympathetic character. While her character could have come off as entitled or snobbish, instead we see a deeply relatable—though certainly, hugely privileged—girl who is often squashed beneath parental and societal expectations. The character development is staggeringly well done, and I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world and participate in all the discussions it will surely spark.

5 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 14 November 2020.


Chloe Berringer has it all. Famous mom, devoted dad, annoying sister. She lives in a big house in Beverly Hills and attends an elite private school. The only thing Chloe doesn’t have is great grades and a shoe-in to her college of choice, SCC. Her best friend Shola and her friend Levi are both eyeing Harvard. Chloe can’t even dream of a school like Harvard. Not with her slacker attitude about school work.

TV star mom to the rescue. Mom is going to hire every support specialist known to get Chloe into SCC. While Chloe reasons that it’s okay if she goes elsewhere, mom and dad are going to make sure that what Chloe wants, Chloe gets. So when Chloe opens the front door expecting a delivery from Sephora, but instead finds the FBI with guns pointed at her, the reality of what her parents have done to achieve those dreams sets in.

Julie Buxbaum has taken the stories ripped from the headlines about the college admissions scandal and created a YA novel about what it’s like to be the kid in this scandal. Admission isn’t just about getting admitted to college, it’s also an admission of guilt. How much did Chloe know before the fact? How much did she know while breaking all the rules and stepping over others to achieve her dream?

While this novel addresses the main issue of how these parents played the game to get their kids into their schools of choice, it also addresses the more pressing issue of those it affects in the periphery. Chloe is forced to face up to the fact that she pretty much lives a life of white privilege, while her parents are forced to face up to the fact that they’ve provided this cushy little world for their kids, where little is expected of them other than to be happy.

Five stars for this one. The writing is impeccable. The story of two siblings with the same privileges but different outlooks on life is fabulous. Set in my own hometown, this story rang all too true for me. Yes, white privilege exists, and yes there are some who game the system. But there are also those who work really hard to get where they are and to get those college admissions. Buxbaum highlights all of those in a fabulous YA read.

This book was a novel based on the scandal in 2019 about parents who padded their kids' college admission applications and fudged their SAT scores. All in all it was good. It went back and forth in time, to before and after Chloe's life was drastically changed by her parents' actions. I think overall she recovered from it quite well; it was a challenge that not many other young women would be able to handle, and she navigated it the best way possible. 4 stars

I didn't love this book and I really didn't LOVE many of the characters, but I'm not sure I was supposed to love them. The only character I liked at all was Shola, but I think that was by the author's design.

This seemed a little too ripped straight from the headlines. The TV show the mom was best known for was a little too similar to Full House - like it was just way to similar. I would have liked there to have been many a bit more of a diversion from the REAL story.

That said, I had to finish reading the book. It really is a good book, but not the author's best work. I think it will resonate with teens and be easy to recommend to teen readers.

Actual stars: 3.5.

*Spoiler free*

I was interested in this book because it sounded fascinating. A book about the college admissions scandal; a girl caught up in the whirlwind that is her mom bribing her way way into college. It didn't sound like something I'd normally read, but it sounded interesting enough that wanted to give it a shot!

I've found it hard to articulate my feelings about it this book. It was good; the author is a very good writer and a great storyteller, but I felt like there were deeper things that could have been highlighted or different POVs that could have been given more attention.

Before I get into that, I want to talk about the things I did like! Because I did enjoy parts of this book. One of them is how this book doesn't try to paint this situation, or the people caught up in it, in any light other than the one the cast their self in. They did terrible things, they ignored things they shouldn't have, the lied about things, and they need to take accountability for it and that's not something that's easy to do.

I also really liked the writing. Buxbaum is talented at what she does. The writing fit the story really well. It flows easily and built a tension that pulls you through the story smoothly.

One of the things I wasn't sure about was the POV. Yes, I liked seeing Chloe wrestle with what happened and her own role in it. It made for an interesting story. But I can't help but wondering if there were better POVs for this story. Isla, Chloe's sister, has an interesting perspective. It wasn't her that the bribes were for, but she is apart of the family that did the bribes. It effected her life, even though she had no part in it. I would've been cool to see her pain and really see how she struggled and developed throughout.

I also think this would have been a great story if Chloe's best friend, Shola, was the narrator, though I think a different author would've been best for that story. Shola is a POC, struggling with the admissions process. She's successful and a good student, but there are so many barriers in her way. I think it would've been a great story to see her grapple with the fact that her best friend's family had did something so awful. I think it would've really exposed (more so than already done) the privilege in what happened and how it affects other people.

While this book didn't insert a deep love inside me, it wasn't terrible. I feel like there's so much about it that I can't comment on, because I've never been through something like that. This tries it's best to comment on the privilege of the college admissions process. It's hard for me to say if it succeeded or not, but I can definitely say that it's there. My thoughts on this book are a bit all over the place, but I wouldn't say it was terrible. If you think it sounds interesting, I'd say it's worth it to give it a shot!

I really enjoy Julie Buxbaum's writing. Even though I am not a young adult and not the intended audience for her books, I always find them to be engaging and interesting!

Admission is inspired by a real life college admissions scandal, where several celebrities cheated and bribed college admissions offices in order to get their children into the college of their choice. I found the real life story to be both intriguging and outraging, and the book (which is totally fictional) maintains similar levels of intrigue and outrage.

This story is told from the perspective of Chloe. Chloe is not the best student and doesn't have a realistic chance to get into a top college. So her parents find a way to cheat the system, pay a lot of money and ensure that Chloe gets into her dream school. But when her parents get caught, Chloe is stuck in the middle. How much did she know? Is she complicit in this scheme as well?

It's an interesting portrayal of privilege and the lengths parents will go to make sure their children have the best. There is a tricky line that Buxbaum had to walk in this book. On the one hand, the book does give you some sympathy for Chloe and her parents and the reasoning behind the choices they make. But on the other hand, the book also strongly reminds readers that this behavior is not okay and that white/wealthy privilege is the cuplrit. At times the message felt a little "in your face," but overall, I think there was a good balance of showing all the sides in this situation.

What I really missed in this novel is the cute romance that is present in most of Buxbaum's novels. I'm not even much of a romance readers, but I think it is something that Buxbuam writes really well. I understand the direction that was taken in this story, but the story was lacking the sweetness and charm that I enjoyed so much in previous books by this author. I did not love any of the characters in this story, and I didn't feel emotionally connected to any of them. So while the topic was interesting, I just wanted more connection with these characters and a bit more romance! Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.