4.5 stars! This novel was perfectly paced -I could not stop reading. I raced through the entire second half of the book yesterday. For me (since so many other reviewers are making comparisons), this book was The Gifted School mixed with Big Little Lies (with a touch of the Varsity Blues scandal - we see you, Aunt Becky). While I reconize this book is fiction, and the actions of some of the characters a bit over-the-top, it nevertheless has its basis in fact. Let's just say that after reading this book, I'm glad that the magnet high school application process for my 8th grader took place during a pandemic = I was not around any other parents during the process!

"Three women. Three daughters. And a promise that they'll each get what they deserve.

College admissions season at Seattle's Elliott Bay Academy is marked by glowing acceptances from top-tier institutions, and students as impressive as their parents are ambitious. But when Stanford alerts the school it's allotting only one spot to EBA for their incoming class, three mothers discover the competition is more cutthroat than they could have imagined.

Tech giant Alicia turns to her fortune and status to fight for her reluctant daughter's place at the top. Kelly, a Stanford alum, leverages her PTA influence and insider knowledge to bulldoze the path for her high-strung daughter. And Maren makes three: single, broke, and ill-equipped to battle the elite school community aligning to bring her superstar daughter down.

That's when, days before applications are due, one of the girls suffers a near-fatal accident, one that doesn't appear to be an accident at all.

As the community spirals out of control, three women will have to decide what lines they're willing to cross to secure their daughters' futures...and keep buried the secrets that threaten to destroy far more than just college dreams."

You will most likely end up rooting for one particular mother/daughter team, but as the mothers actions spin further out of control, you do get insight into the WHY of their behavior, and you can ALMOST feel sympathy for all. The ending is PITCH PERFECT! I don't have any problems imagining real-life mothers doing the same.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this novel, three ambitious teenage girls, driven by their mothers, are each vying for a coveted spot at Stanford University. The problem is their parents have recently been informed that only one slot will be available. The novel begins with a terrible accident in which one of the girls, Winnie, has suffered a crash that reeks of foul play. How low are these high strung, competitive moms willing to go to secure their daughters’ collegiate futures? This book was fast-paced and high energy and felt like a mash up between Big Little Lies ten years down the road meets modern day college scandal news. At times, the women in this novel were so caught up focusing on college admissions that I felt like it made them lose their three-dimensionality. But maybe this was the point? In any case, I did crave a break from the myopic focus of the Stanford slot. All and all, a fun and entertaining read, full of twists and secrets that made me thankful to be anything like these moms. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced review copy of this novel.

I picked up this book to read a few chapters and I could not put it down! I read it in one day, was hooked from start to finish and loved every minute of it. I felt like it was a mash up of Big Little Lies and Gossip Girl, and absolutely could see it as a movie/tv show.

Given the recent college admissions scandals, this book had a ripped from the headlines feel. The story is told from three very different women’s perspectives. The three moms have daughters who are all competing to get accepted to the one Stanford early admission spot that is available to Elliot Bay Academy students. I thought the multiple POVs worked really well in this book. The plot flowed smoothly between each person and all three had a very unique voice and tone to their chapters. The story itself takes an in-depth look at the extremes that a parent at this prestigious private high school will go to get their child into an Ivy League Plus school and also touches on class, privilege and greed.

Girls With Bright Futures is an addicting super fun read and I’d highly recommend it. 5/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with this e-ARC to read and review.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman in exchange for my honest review.***

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

If the moms in Big Little Lies had high school seniors, they would be GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES.

Stanford, the first choice university for three ambitious high school seniors, well, actually their mothers, is only offering one place to a student at the exclusive private school EBA. Although the least qualified, wealthy business mogul Alicia Stone believes her daughter Brooke deserves that spot and Alicia is willing to buy her way in. Scholarship student Winnie, first in her class has earned the spot, but her mom Maren discourages Winnie from applying for fear of upsetting her boss, Alicia. Kelly’s daughter Krissie doesn’t want Stanford as much as her mom withers with anxiety under the pressure. Then Winnie is almost killed in a hit and run, threatened to withdraw her Stanford application.

GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES needs to be an HBO miniseries. Though primarily a story from the moms’ points of view, I fell in love with Winnie and her fierce moral compass. Initially I didn’t like Maren, but her character was steeped in nuance by the end I was cheering out loud for her.

I don’t want to give too much away, except to say that GIRLD WITH BRIGHT FUTURES is a deeply satisfying story that I also hope to listen to on audiobook once it’s released.

I was really excited to get this ARC as I had heard great things about this book. I enjoyed it for the most part but felt the rape description was unnecessary and really upsetting. The rest of the story was fun and ridiculous but the rape was too dark and true to fit with the rest.

College applications can be brutal, but it's even worse when it feels like the world is actively plotting against you. Told in flashbacks and a present-day story that merges as the book progresses, Girls With Bright Futures primarily focuses on moms who will seemingly do anything to ensure their daughters get into Stanford. Unfortunately, there's only one spot left on the early admissions list for the students at Elliott Bay Academy, and all three moms are ready to make sure their daughter's name is on that list, even if it means someone ends up in the hospital, or dead.

I really loved the premise of this story, and the characters were all interesting and unique. The book should come with a lot of trigger warnings though. I skimmed through almost an entire chapter because of really graphic descriptions of sexual assault. I'm still processing some of the storyline around the sexual assault because it was really heavy. Other than that storyline I really enjoyed the rest of the book. I loved how dedicated the mothers were and the different family dynamics.

4/5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining book. My only complain is that Maren's storyline gets a bit convoluted towards the end, which was not necessary and makes the book a bit cheesy for me.

It’s senior year at the elite school, Elliot Bay Academy in Seattle. While students prepare to submit their college applications, the parents begin schemes and scandals that rock the community.

I could not put this book down. Since I binge read all day, I usually alternate reading two books at once. I could not do that with this one, so I read it straight through. This is the exact type of drama I love to read about: wealthy, helicopter moms, with both their priorities and boundaries completely out of wack. It reminded me a bit of the Gifted School, but even more drama! It had hints of the recent college admission scandals that have been in the news. I found myself wondering if that was what inspired the authors! A main take away as a parent from this book.... if you care more about the college admission process than your child, you may want to rethink the plan!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are looking for tons of petty, gossipy fun without the guilt, look no further! This book is the definition of Moms Behaving Badly, and I loved every second. With the ultra-competitive and cutthroat world of Ivyplus college admissions season on full display, you’ll be blown away by the gall of these all too real mothers and the lines they are willing to cross.
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Girls With Bright Futures follows three moms with senior daughters (who are all Stanford hopefuls) at Seattle’s elite Elliott Bay Academy. Alicia is the CEO of a tech giant, a Stanford alum, and mother to average student Brooke. Maren is Winnie’s mother, longtime personal assistant to Alicia, and a single mom who just wants the best for her extremely bright daughter. Kelly is the overzealous PTA president and the mom of “always second best” Krissie. When the news comes out that Stanford will only be accepting one student from EBA for early admission, the heat is on, and these ruthless moms will let nothing stand in their way to get their daughters the sole spot.
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From the first chapter, I knew this book was going to be addicting, and I was absolutely right. Early in the book, someone is involved in an accident and then we flash back to learn how we got there. I got serious Big Little Lies vibes, because although in this book we do know who has the accident, everything else is a total mystery. This was definitely ripped from the headlines from the Felicity Huffman/Lori Loughlin college admissions scandal, but with its own twists and turns I didn’t see coming. While there are some very dark parts, I had so much fun reading about the outrageous lengths these women were willing to go to. My jaw quite literally dropped several times while reading. The writing was extremely engaging, and the plot was constantly in motion, holding my interest from beginning to end. Grab a fluffy blanket and a glass (or a bottle?) of wine, and settle in for this deliciously scandalous novel!

I really wanted to enjoy this book but the lack of initial dialogue, which is normally how my attention is captured, just didn't do it for me. I definitely think this storyline was incredible and I enjoyed the drama but it felt a lot like another book I had read about something similar. I think this book will do well and I would love to read more from the authors but I don't think this book was for me.

This book expertly exposes the underbelly of the competitive nature of college admissions and how it can swiftly lead to obsession amongst parents and children to the point that personal value is created only by what school he/she attends. Kelly knows no bounds when it comes to Stanford accepting only one student and it leads to emotional disintegration. Alicia solves all problems with money and turns a blind eye to her family and what her husband is capable of. Winnie and Maren are just trying to be good people in this system and unfortunately were subject to a horrific incident. This book is captivating and very well written.

Every mother dreams of a bright future of their children but what if they go too far, expecting their children succeed their unresolved dreams by putting extra pressure, playing dirty, being power thirsty, crossing the lines, getting definitely out of control!

When three moms turn into mom-azillas to do whatever it takes for their children’s filling the last empty space at Stanford, the cutthroat competition between them raises the stakes, increasing the tension!

Their actions remind us of great definition of insanity! We can call this “tiger parenting”, these mothers definitely love putting pressure for their daughters to attain high levels of academic achievements. Things get too far and one of their’s daughter injures herself at the accident just a few days before application deadline.

Wow! This is jaw dropping, thrilling but also so much entertaining, fast, gripping, riveting reading! We already saw the real life examples during the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal. Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman became the faces of those mothers who want brilliant future of their children, violating the rules, playing dirty and facing the consequences !

This book is a great mashup of Desperate Housewives meets Big Little Lies ( by the way the real college scandal series are in the works)! I thought some parts include some cliches and exaggeration but now I think maybe it’s not. After seeing real life examples and reading so many stories about tiger parenting stories I started to think, the things I’ve read in this book can be definitely real!

So I enjoyed the gripping writing style keep me in my toes and I never get bored or lost my interest during my read.

I’m giving my shiny four, scandalous, momazilla stars!

So many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I loved this book! Totally recommend it to anyone who needs Big Little Lies meets the housewives. This book sells the stories of perfectly normal mothers and their quest to get their daughters into a prestigious college.I was reading this and thinking how far will a mother go to get her daughter what she deserves even if it destroys another child's dream. This book also touched on privilege ,daringness and greed. I stayed up all night reading this book and I don't regret it at all. Highly recommend it ! Thank you sourcebooks for my copy

Wow, I'm obsessed with Girls with Bright Futures. The story focuses on three mothers of high school seniors at an exclusive private school. Although each of their girls is applying early decision to Stanford, they come from different backgrounds, including the daughter of a famous woman CEO of a major company, the daughter of an over-involved stay-at-home mother, and the daughter of a single mother who has struggled to get her daughter in this position. When one of the girls is in a near-fatal accident, her mother starts to wonder what lengths her fellow parents would go to in order to ensure their daughters get accepted to Stanford.

I couldn't put this book down, and I loved every bit of it. It fits right into the current conversation following the college admissions scandal, as well as other cultural touchpoints that I won't reveal. I recommend it for fans of Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes and those who love books about helicopter parents and the chaos of college admissions.

Holy crap. I stayed up half the night to finish this book! It’s not due out until February 2021, but everyone should add this book to their TBR right now!

This book centers around three vastly different women. But each is determined to get her daughter what she deserves – even if it means destroying someone else’s dream in the process.

It’s college admissions season at the most exclusive private academy in Seattle, where the students are as impressive as their parents are ambitious.

But when Stanford alerts the school that its allotting only one spot to the school for their incoming class, three mothers discover the competition is more cutthroat than they could have imagined.
Tech giant Alicia aims to buy a place for her average (and reluctant) daughter. Kelly, a Stanford alum, leverages her PTA influence and insider knowledge of the school’s secrets. And Maren has the most promising candidate of all: a daughter at the top of her academic class. But Maren is single, broke, and ill-equipped to battle the elite school community.

Just when you think there’s a line that can’t be crossed, prepare for your jaw to drop as these moms cross it again and again. It’s delightfully dishy and dark as each mom goes to ridiculous lengths in order to get ahead, taking inspiration from today’s headlines and exposing the dark underbelly of parental competition fueled by early admissions, student rankings, resume padding, social status, and gobs of money, fueled by plenty of backstabbing and rumormongering. Think “Big Little Lies” but for the teenage set.

Thank you #netgalley for the #arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
@jills_bookish_life

This is clever, taken straight from a real-life headline.

I enjoyed this more than I expected to.

It’s fun and intense. Cliched, but an easy read for a quick escape.

Intense drama about two mothers' ruthless campaigns to get their reluctant daughters into Stanford university, with only one place open to students of their private high school. A third, less affluent single mom, whose brilliant daughter also has a shot at Stanford, takes the high road in all things as Machiavellian plots, deliberately planted rumors, unethical mom moves, and endless speculation swirl around her. The final quarter of the book leaves the college-admissions drama briefly to focus on the single mother's teenage pregnancy and retribution for past wrongs. This section almost seems to belong in a different book. Nonetheless the novel overall is an entertaining dive into the particular subculture of high-level college admissions.

This is a wild story. It’s definitely going to be a hit or miss with readers. It took me three tries to get into it. It did get confusing at times trying to keep the mom/daughters straight. I thought this was going to be a fun look into the intense mommy world of teenagers, but it does get dark. My heart broke for Maren when she was telling Winnie about her rape, and then explaining to her rapist’s father everything she did in order to provide for her daughter. I did find the ending a little lacking.

I received an advance readers copy exchange for an honest review.
Woof this book was brutal. Now I live in New York City and I used to do SAT prep so I absolutely understand that there are parents that psycho, if anything this book is probably under exaggerating. A little freaky to read as a parent, and the book itself is a bit clichéd and plotting, but it’s definitely escapist fun for the beach if you’re looking for some chick lit with a twist. A bit of a stretch to call it a thriller. 3.5 rounded up

Girls With Bright Futures is a cautionary tale on the dangers of elitism. It’s also a timely one that could have easily been ripped from today’s headlines.

This story focuses on three women and their desire to give their daughters the brightest future, no matter the cost. Each woman has different motives and a different story to tell, but the underlying message is the same.

While gripping, this story was also disturbing. The levels of obsession and desperation people can go to to buy a perceived happiness are staggering. It also often leaves them ironically miserable in their journey to get there.

The only thing I might tweak about this book would be to add the point of view of the daughters themselves. Occasionally you’d get a glimpse of this, but it was mostly told through the eyes of their mothers instead.

***Thank you Net Galley, for the advanced copy for review.***