Snatched from The Headlines

The book’s opening is worthy of this author. Peyton Marcus (that’s her name), a bigshot morning news anchor is married to Isaac Marcus, a real estate professional. They have one child, a daughter Mackenzie Marcus, known as Max. Like most parents, they want the best for their daughter. One of them performs the unscrupulous act of paying off a so-called middle man to ensure their daughter will be offered admission to a specific Ivy League school.

Misery and anguish break loose. Isaac, who is a nice man, is arrested for this act and the plot begins. It is a scandal and one we have read about. It is a crime; the FBI is involved. It is assumed that Isaac is the culprit since the payoff is written from his check.

Of course, the school rescinds Max’s acceptance and life is no longer wonderful. Peyton Marcus is suspended from her coveted job. Tension and stress is at a high level with the threat of prison for Isaac and Max has no options for college. She is angry but has never been the stereotyped upscale rich girl. She has a few friends but she is not in the thick of the Manhattanite lifestyle or society goals.

This is a story about a family but it is also about the surrounding area that is steeped in the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The names of the characters are good examples: there is Peyton, called P, Max, Skye (Peyton’s sister), Aurora (Skye’s daughter) who live in the town of Paradise including people with names like Bryson, Crew, Magnolia and Donatella. Isaac’s name is out of place for sure.

Skye and Peyton have a complicated sister relationship but they do love each other. Expectations are extreme in Paradise in terms of looks, accomplishments, charitable giving, sports, you name it. I felt like I was thrown into The Devil Wears Prada but without the panache and consequential outcomes.

It is entertaining and I am rooting for the Marcus family, particularly Max, who is an excellent vlogger (one who makes videos). There are some serious themes in this book but various chapters were too slow-moving and irrelevant. However, Weisberger tackled a contemporary educational issue providing the reader with many sides to this explosive topic.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Random House for a pre-published copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is now out!

I loved some of Weisberger’s earlier books- “The Devil Wears Prada” is iconic! Longtime fans of hers who appreciate a glimpse into the lives of uber-wealthy in and around New York City will enjoy this book. There’s outfit descriptions, brand-name drops, modern social media references, and witty commentary on a certain type of people.

The plot of college admissions scandal was handled better in Julie Buxbaum’s 2020 novel “Admission.” The world of TV news is better handled in Apple TV+’s show “The Morning Show.” So a reader of this book would probably be more interested in the relationship between sisters Peyton and Skye, and possibly the suburban town of Paradise in which Skye has decided to raise her family. A reader might also enjoy looking for Easter eggs regarding Guns n’ Roses lyrics.

Centered around the admissions scandal, this book is about two polar opposite sisters. Skye is working to open a home for underprivileged girls and Peyton is the morning anchor on a National TV show.

The book is well written and the sorry is well thought out, but I don’t think I’m the target audience. I don’t have a sister or children. And even more so, I can’t relate to the angst of hours long hidden gym sessions and Botox to stay young looking.

I think there is an audience who will appreciate the book, and other than not connecting with the story, I don’t have anything bad to say about the book.

Thanks to @prhinternational #partner for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read most of Lauren Weisberger’s novels (only have left The singles game) and, although Devil wears Prada and Lululemons still remain my favorites, I found Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty a light and enjoyable read. It takes a fictional look into the college admission’s scandal that came to light a few years back, affecting the lives of all those involved even indirectly (am I the only one that imagines the character’s with Lori and Felicity’s faces?)

Peyton is a successful TV anchor, happily married to Isaac and mother to Max, a 17 yo going to college in a few months. Princeton, no less! Skye, Peyton’s older sister, lives in the suburbs and is focused on the creation of a house for underprivileged girls. When Isaac is arrested, accused of having bribed her daughter’s way into college, all their lives will turn upside down, forcing them to take a deep look into themselves.

Max was my favorite character, hands down. It was so disheartening to see how her parents didn’t take her opinions into consideration while trying to force on her what they thought was best. I know every parent wants what’s best for their children, but some of them seem to forget that their kid’s lives are their own and not a second chance for them to live/do how/what they would have liked.

I had a bit of a hard time warming up to Peyton. I could not understand how she could put her career ahead of everything else, even when it was causing so much pain to her family. As the story progressed you could feel her struggle and her final decision surprised me in a really good way.

Skye’s problem was so relatable cause, honestly, online shopping is the devil’s work!

Weisberger’s writing was witty and fun and made of this look into the lives of the privileged a surprisingly relatable one that I absolutely recommend.

This was a breath of fresh air. I am a sucker for some 80s pop culture references, so she had me from the door with the catchy earworm that makes the title, coined from the classic Guns N Roses song “Paradise City”. I appreciated the clever innuendos, from the location being based in Paradise, a suburb of New York City to line by line of the song finding some fitting similarities with the storyline and the lyrics.
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty: referencing the desire of the MC to keep up with the Joneses, and maintain youthful appearances, even at the risk of dramatic skin treatments and beauty rituals.
I’m your charity case, buy me something to eat, I’ll pay you at another time: one of the main characters is working to establish a non-profit for less fortunate girls but incurring major debt in the process.
Rags to Riches, or so they say; ya gotta keep pushin’ for the fortune and fame: Ambitious main character has grit, climbing from humble beginnings and community college education to become a co-anchor on a national morning talk show.
Ya treat it like a Capital crime:one of the characters broke the law by making a questionable donation to an Ivy League school on behalf of their daughter facing prison time as a consequence.
Beyond finding fun parallels to the storyline from the original song lyrics, I had a great time reading this one, probably even more than I expected to. I think part of that was the demographic, as someone who can identify and appreciate the nod to GNR, I felt a simpatico with the struggles of the characters as they fall right into my own age group with shared concerns like the beginning of aging, struggles in relationships. Add to that the web of lies and indiscretions, and I found myself fully invested in the characters wondering how it may (or may not) work its way out in the end.

✨Book Review✨
Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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This book was a quick, easy read. In fact, I read it in a little over a day which is super fast for me. However, I wasn't the biggest fan.
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The two main characters of this story, Peyton and Skye, drove me sort of crazy. It was hard to want the best for them when they continuously made poor decision after poor decision. They both sort of grew on me in the end, but it was a long ride to get there. The saving grace of this story was Max, Peyton's daughter. She was a breath of fresh air and I found myself looking forward to her chapters.
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I don't think I would really recommend this book, which is so disappointing because I am usually a big Lauren Weisberger fan! This one was just sort of ok for me.
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#WhereTheGrassIsGreenAndTheGirlsArePretty #bookreview #books #read #bookstagram #review #librarianbookreview #bookrec

I was provided a free copy of this from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
One decision can have huge, and far reaching effects, as Peyton and her family learn in this story. Peyton is at the top of her career as a national morning show news anchor. Max, her daughter, has just graduated college and is planning her next few years at Princeton. And Skye, Peyton's sister, is about to complete a huge project she's been working on for a few years. However, one seemingly small decision will put all of these things (and more) in jeopardy!
Although the premise was interesting, I felt like the execution could have been better. Some of the decisions made by the characters seemed, out of character. They are portrayed one way, and acted another. I can see how this could have been intentional, we do grow and change over time (and sometimes unintentionally or without realizing it), but still seemed off sometimes to me. The storyline and characters were interesting though, and I did want to find out what was going to happen to them and was happy with the ending! Overall it was good, just not great for me.
I knew I had read a few of Lauren Weisberger's books before, so was excited to get this ARC. But when I was conflicted about what to rate this one I looked back on Goodreads at my previous ratings and realized I'd given all of them three stars. Maybe her books just aren't for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️
This one will be published tomorrow, so check it out!
#WhereTheGrassIsGreenAndTheGirlsArePretty #NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book. I heard, college admissions scandal, and I could not wait to read it. I will admit, some moments felt a bit underwhelming... but overall I enjoyed this scandalous and heartwarming story!

Lauren Weisberger is the queen of shining a satirical spotlight on certain kind of affluent, elite and privileged woman. I love books that revolve these types - having spent decades in New York working in the entertainment industry, the characters she writes often ring true even if others may find them over-the-top or stereotypical. Her latest book centers on one such woman, Peyton Marcus, a beloved morning news anchor who finds herself in the headlines when her husband, Isaac, is arrested as part of a college admissions scandal. Besides Peyton, we also get the POVs of her daughter Max, a wannabe filmmaker who was due to start her freshman year at Princeton, and older sister, Skye, an Amherst-grad whose stay-at-home life in a posh suburb called Paradise is wearing on her. All three of their lives are thrown into chaos due to Isaac's arrest so Peyton and Max move to Paradise to try to ride it out.

The ripped-from-the-headlines topic is an interesting one and I felt for Max throughout the book as she tries to figure out what she wants and take her future into her own hands. I had a harder time with Peyton and Skye. What usually works for me in books like this is an underdog to root for (Andy in The Devil Wears Prada, for example) and in this case, there isn't one. The sisters' stories are interesting but I never really understood their motivations. Despite that, this is a punchily-written, quick and entertaining read that I'm sure we'll see on lots of beaches this summer. It made me laugh out loud more than once and I'm already looking forward to whatever Weisberger writes next.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a copy to review.

I think fans of Lauren Weisberger will enjoy Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty. It’s a quick (like finish it in an afternoon quick) read that doesn’t take much brain power. Not my favorite of hers, but it’s still fine. I don’t feel like we really got to know the characters (other than maybe Peyton) on more than a surface level, so I struggled to connect with them. I also feel like the college admissions scandal plot is kind of overdone; to be honest, I was disappointed that it was the main conflict in the book. Everything also seemed to tie up really neatly in the last chapter or two, which I found a bit unconvincing. Overall, it’s an easy summer read but not one that I’ll be picking up again.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance reader’s copy.

“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and When Life Gives You Lululemons comes a highly entertaining, sharply observed novel about sisters, their perfect lives . . . and their perfect lies.”

I’ve been interested in reading anything in the college admissions scandal realm, and Lauren Weisberger did the perfect job of executing a realistic, but fictional story. I absolutely loved the relationship between Peyton and Skye — two sisters who couldn’t be more different, and who chose different life paths. On the outside, they both seem to have it all, but some people will do whatever it takes to portray the perfect image. Both sisters have secrets that they kept from their families. And it’s only a matter of time before their secrets are revealed. Peyton Skye’s relationship and their lifestyles was highly entertaining. I also loved the dynamic they had with their mother. But my favorite character by far was Max — Peyton’s daughter. She was fiercely independent, had her own unique style, and I loved her creative side.

Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty will grab your attention from the beginning. Lauren Weisberger wrote a quick, witty story that will be the perfect summer read!

A beach read with substance. I enjoyed this book.

Peyton's career as a TV news anchor provides a nice lifestyle for her family. When her daughter Max (McKenzie) applies to colleges Peyton's insecurities have her writing a check her husband Isaac expressly told her not to. The aftermath affects Peyton's job, Isaac and Max's life as well as that of her sister Skye.

Living with the consequences has everyone on a path they never expected to be on, but somehow the new directions aren't all bad.

The ups and downs make for interesting situations.

Another hit from Lauren Weisberger

Aww as a High School Counselor in Southern Californian in a high achieving school with mostly wealthy parents but whose money had never been influential in the college admission process; I certainly followed the “College Admission Scandal’!
I loved other Lauren Weisberger stores and thought this would be a fun read.
Hmmm ~ It was an Okay read; perhaps it was my mood at the time but I just could not get “into it”!
⭐⭐.7 rounded up
However, I will read her next story!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Random House for this ARC granted to me for an honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 18, 2021

I am unable to finish this book. I know writing about current issuses are the thing for contemperary books but this was a little too soon for me to read.

When a book has a title from one of the greatest bands of all time, how can you not pick up the title. However while Guns N’ Roses put out an all-time five star rating song, the same cannot be said for this book.

I have enjoyed Laura Weisenberger’s books in the past, laughing out loud at times during When Life Gives You Lululemons. However I felt like too much was going on or trying to be addressed in this book. The daughter Max is the most likable character in the story. You’re championing and rooting for her as she is caught up in The criminal activities of her parents. Yet she brings a balance of humor and maturity that the adults in the book don’t have. The author does her character well, showcasing how sometimes the youngest person is the smartest and soundest voice in the room.

I will still continue to pick up this author’s books and future publications. Because while the storyline felt really disjointed and forced, the intent of what the author was trying to do is prevalent. This book has potential to call out and address a current event that was almost forgotten about and glossed over during the 2020 pandemic. But The reality is, no parent is innocent for wanting more for their child, but the question is how far will some parents go. So while the grass may be greener, I would check what the fertilizer and water is first.

My thanks to Lauren Weisenberger and Random House Publishing for providing an ARC via NetGalley.
Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty is scheduled for release in the US on May 18,2021.

I will like to start off by saying that I, sadly, hated this book. However, I was 100% NOT it’s intended audience. I am so incredibly grateful to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for giving an opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review, so, respectfullly I will be as honest as possible.

First thing's first: this book had so much potential. It tells the story of two sisters: Skye and Peyton. Peyton is a News Anchor at ANN and Skye is a stay-at-home mom. Each sister is in awe of the other but make it seem like their lives are horrible; even though one makes enough money to spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic procedures and the other has a perfect daughter that attends one the best elementary school in the state. The book is told from different POVs: the two sisters and Peyton's teenage daughter, Max. Both sisters have issues of their own, but in my opinion, this really felt like Peyton's book. Skye is in debt because she can't stop buying thing (poor her) and Peyton's husband is going to jail for bribing Princeton into accepting their daughter for college.

This book felt like a cheap attempt to gather all the juiciness and spiciness from The Morning Show (an awesome Apple TV+ show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon) and the relevance of actual current events, such as the real life college admission scandal involving Felicity Hoffman and Lori Loughlin.

Let me say this before I continue: NO BODY feels bad for the real life actresses that bribed and cheated their ways into college admissions for their children, and the fact that this book tries to victimize Peyton for having done what she did is annoying and trashy. I could have just read the news and keep up with all the new developments on the real scandal. This, as a reader, became an issue because not being able to sympathize with a single character makes it harder to enjoy the book.

HAVING SAID THAT, and keeping in mind that I simply just wasn't the intended audience for this books, and had there not been a specific phrase that made me want to throw my phone across the room out of pure RAGE, (I will mention this later), this book would've gotten maybe a 3.2 star rating, but no higher than that.

WHY? Well, because of this:

- So much botox, obsessive focus on superficial and cosmetic issues. I get that books allow us to escape, but I want to escape to Middle Earth and Ravka, not Beverly Hills. REMINDER THAT I AM NOT THE INTENDED AUDIENCE FOR THESE TYPE OF BOOKS SO ESCAPING TO BEVERLY HILLS MIGHT BE SOMEONE ELSE’S THING WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE AND I COMPLETELY RESPECT.
- The writing: the first chapter started almost each and every paragraph with "Skye". "Skye did this", "Skye did that", "Sky thought that".... SO MUCH REPETITION.
- It felt hollow, dull, flat. I found myself skimming my through this book, just to find out the end.
- The end. Oh my gosh. Somehow, after everything, Peyton still managed to victimize herself and cause mayhem to everyone around her.
- The absolute shallowness of that woman! She would find the dummest thing to wallow over and to victimize herself for. The part where she mentally grilled herself for not standing up on the subway to let an elderly woman sit, IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS, baffled me. The fact that she even attempted at normalcy when the news of the scandal broke out. And the absolute horrible of a mother that she was. Her daughter was SO clearly miserable.

But EVEN THEN , I could've given this a 3.2 stars rating….

…had I not read this:

"Her hands closer around a blister two-pack of green NyQuil tabs, long expired. No matter, she thought, tearing it open, raccoon-like, with her teeth. She washed it down with the remnants of her wine and prayed to some higher power, asking for sleep but pretty please not unintended death, à la Heath Ledger".

I shall repeat: "À LA HEATH LEDGER"

This is not funny. The expression "à la" is used in situations such as: cooking, joking, fashion, messing around, making fun of... The death of an actual human being is not one of them. Not to mention the fact that it's an expression that attempts to romanticize whatever comes afterward, it's FRENCH FOR GOD'S SAKE. There's nothing great, romantic, nor juicy about a real human being that tragically died and left his daughter fatherless.

To make matters worse, this chapter (chapter 8) was called "All Talk, No Ambien". TALK ABOUT TACTLESS. Another one? Chapter 28 is called: "Mommy Needs a Ritalin". I know the author, or at least hope, the she didn't mean any harm by these, but using the names of actual medications used for actual mental health issued and the fact that these are oftentimes involved in addiction and suicide attempts is horrifying. One last awful name. Chapter 14 is called: "Small Cone with a Side of Anorexia".

The absolute disregard for real life issues made this book so utterly hallow, and once I read that Heath Ledger phrase, which was super early in the book, I was done. The only reason I kept reading was because I wanted to give an honest review.

I cannot for the life of me recommend this book but take that with a grain of salt. I am sure some one else might enjoy it so much, and if that's the case then yay! Otherwise, this book? Not it.

“And her body? It was like a switch had been activated that made her stomach paunch out, her boobs sag, and her ass start to spread in all the wrong directions. When she’d shown up, nearly hysterical, at her OB’s office, her doctor nodded knowingly. ‘Perimenopause,’ she said. ‘Normal.’ ’Normal!’ Peyton screeched. ‘Look at me!’” ɪ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ.

Peyton Marcus, a popular morning news anchor, is blindsided when, during her morning broadcast, she is interrupted by a breaking news story. There is a second wave of the college admissions scandal, and her husband is being led out of their building in handcuffs. Certain that her husband would 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 buy their daughter Max’s way into his alumnus, Princeton, Peyton jumps to his defense. But in the powerful world of money and prestige, nothing is ever what it seems.

Ok Lauren Weisberger, I see you bringing me back to middle school with the nostalgic power ballad and hair band references. 🤘🏻 Wow, I am certainly dating myself in this review aren’t I?

I read The Devil Wears Prada over a decade ago and I still remember that scene with Em driving stick being one of the first books to ever make me laugh out loud. This book is not to that level in terms of humor or grit, but it is entertaining none the less. This is basically a peek into the “other” side of the scandal, an inside look at the effect on the families involved if you will. The characters are endearing and it is witty and certainly fun!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where The Grass Is Green And The Girls Are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger is a women’s fiction novel about two sisters and a teenage daughter hitting a huge crisis and then having to pivot over the course of one summer.

Peyton and Skye are two 40-ish New York sisters that find themselves weathering a crisis when Peyton and her husband Isaac are implicated in pay-for-admission college scandal. Immediately Peyton finds herself without her news anchor position, pushed away by both her angry husband and daughter and living in her sister Skye’s posh suburb of Paradise. Skye is working hard on a non-profit project and questioning how an Ivy League educated teacher ended up in a wealthy suburb as a stay-at-home mom. And Max is Peyton’s daughter who never dreamed of going to Princeton but her mother’s actions mean that most of the world knows her name AND that her mother didn’t trust her to get into college on her own. Over the next few months this family will figure out what they really want, what actually matters and finally start being honest.

Typically, the “These Two Sisters Are Complete Opposites!” trope isn’t that intriguing to me. And it can be a struggle to relate to “fancy east coast types” when you are a very non-fancy west coast type that has never summered in the Hamtons or Nantucket or even stepped foot in a building with a doorman. But despite the differences in wealth and geography I found both Peyton and Skye suprisingly relatable. For example, Peyton’s description of an IPL facial (done it) or Skye’s trip to that pastel fever dream of a store called Justice (been there) resonated with me. I also could see how Peyton’s decision to get her daughter’s Princeton application priority or Skye’s choice to get involved with a married man filled them both with shame but were coming from a place of love.

Overall, I enjoyed this peek behind the privileged curtain. Although, there weren’t huge laugh out loud moments I found it both an amusing and thoughtful look at parenting, careers and sisters.
4 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Lauren Weisberger - 4.5 stars rounded up for a ripped from the headlines book about privilege but centering on relationships.

Peyton has it all - a popular morning news anchor, happily married to Isaac, and their daughter Max ready to head off to Princeton. Until it all comes crashing down when she sees her husband being removed from their apartment in handcuffs, charged with bribing Princeton to accept Max. Max never even wanted to go to Princeton - she had hopes of going to a film school. Peyton's sister, Skye, is living in Paradise and is the mom to adopted daughter, Aurora, and married to Gabe. Skye is now an uber-volunteer at Aurora's school but struggles with all the moms set on perfection for themselves and their children. Skye is focused on helping underprivileged girls and has started a charity to open a house in town so they can attend the good schools. But Skye has secrets of her own that she is keeping from everyone that threaten to dismantle her world as well.

I love Weisberger's writing and this book is no exception. I loved the three strong women characters of Peyton, Skye and Max, even when you might be screaming at them to do the right thing. The best part is their relationship - even when things go wrong, at heart they are there for each other. Lots of parenting and life lessons in this one. It was fate too - right after I started reading this, I got in the car and Paradise City was playing - no doubt you'll be singing that song to yourself every time you pick this book up!

Loved this delightful romp through sibling love and rivalry, college admissions scandals, and finding a purposeful life in the suburbs.