What’s great sister read. What a great mother read. Whether it’s 5th Avenue or Paradise moms make mistakes as big ones at that.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the character development of all 3 main female characters: Peyton, Skye, and Max, and the story told in alternating perspectives made the story very interesting and fast-paced. I liked how everyone's story was interconnected and it was nice hearing the story unfold from the different characters. I enjoyed reading about the topic of college tuition scandals and liked that Weisberger referred in the story to one of the more recent, actual cases of tuition scandal in the news. I didn't really like Peyton's character though. To me, she was pretty unlikeable and even when she tries to undo her past wrongdoings, it doesn't seem like she's truly sincere and remorseful. But ultimately, this was a 4 (probably more like 4.5) star book for me and I will continue to read Lauren Weisberger's books in the future!

Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger is the kind of book that's going to be on all of the beach read lists the closer we get to the summer. This book felt like a combination between Admission by Julie Buxbaum and The Morning Show with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. If you enjoyed either of those, you'll likely enjoy this book as well.

Weisberger has an uncanny ability to capture a certain high-functioning, highly-polished, Type A over-achieving woman in a way that sweeps you up so completely that you find yourself laying out your most expensive "look" the night before (Devil Wears Prada), buying a new designer athleisure tennis skirt (The Singles Game), and now setting your alarm an hour early to mainline morning shows while peddling on your Peloton. She gets inside your head in the most distracting way, and a distraction is pretty much what we all need right now.

This book focuses on three women: a Kelly Rippa-esque morning show host named Peyton who is embroiled in a college admissions scandal, her daughter Max whose application to Princeton inspired the higher-education hijinks, and her sister who left a fulfilling career to run carpool and lead Girl Scouts in the suburbs. Peyton's actions cause ripples through all the women's lives and it seems unlikely any of them will return to the lives with which they began. Wiesberger has increasingly nailed affluent suburbs and professional parent culture the way she once skewered Manhattan's high fashion clique.

Lauren Weisberger is a little hit and miss for me, but this book featuring a college admissions scandal was more of a miss.

I enjoyed getting to know the two sisters and their families and children, but the "star" sister, Peyton, seemed too sympathetic to be truly believable. Overall, this is a pretty entertaining read. Much prefer her books that skewer with a little bit sharper wit.

This book was not what I was expecting in the very best way possible. I have enjoyed all of Lauren Weisberger's past books and I was expecting something along those lines (which is not a bad thing), but instead she took a story ripped from the headlines (parents cheating to get their kids into ivy league schools) and humanized it in the best way possible. I loved the excitement of the story of Peyton a privileged NYC mom who is also a famous TV anchor, but then when you pepper in the story and relationship with her sister, Skye, the upper class suburban, granola mom it gets even better. I love the character development and relationship between the sisters just as much as I loved it between Peyton and her daughter, Max. Based on one decision to somewhat innocently get her daughter into Princeton University, Peyton put the lives of her family and her sister's family into limbo. Overall this book was a page turner for me. I enjoyed the pop culture references and could not wait to see how everything worked out for Peyton, Skye, and Max. This book was the perfect way to get an inside look into the college admissions scandal while also exploring the dynamics of two families and how it has affected them and their relationships. This will be the perfect beach read this summer! Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Pros: The author has a talent for satirical social commentary (in this book, on a college admissions scandal similar to recent headlines). For readers who like family stories and tidy endings, this book will likely be a good fit.

Cons: I (unfairly) measure all of the author’s books based off of The Devil Wears Prada, which remains my favorite of her books. Also, sometimes when a book’s plot is taken from the headlines, that makes the reading experience less enjoyable because I’m already fatigued on the subject from reading the news. I felt that with this book regarding the ongoing college admissions scandal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book!

3 stars = I liked it!

I really enjoyed this book! I've been craving a summer read like this, and this book just hit the spot. I liked how the story covered some recent themes. It also showed how one mistake can change so many people's lives. I would definitely recommend this book! Thank you, Netgalley!

I really enjoyed this book! I appreciated the way she humanized characters living out one of the top stories from the past two years. Lauren Weisberger can also weave trending aspects of current times like no other. Loved the ending and keep reading to the acknowledgements as she pays beautiful credit for her career to editor Susan Kamil.

Lauren Weisberger, the author of “When life gives you lululemon’s” and the Devil Wears Prada saga, brings another showstopper in her newest novel. “Where the Grass is Green and The Girls Are Pretty” takes place in a little suburb of Paradise, outside of New York City. The college admissions scandal of the moment is being reported on by everyone’s favorite news anchor, Peyton Marcus, until the story hits way too close to home and she is forced to resign. The story tells us how much a mother would do for her child to succeed in life, unaware of how it will effect everyone around them. I loved the celebrity-like characters, the fashion references, and the real-life American “first world” problems the story tells. It was refreshing, light hearted, and overall I recommend!

Lauren Weisberger has crafted a familiar story of privilege ripped out of the headlines as a high-profile parent is accused of paying for her daughter's admittance to an Ivy League school. Peyton and Skye are polar opposites of sisters. Peyton anchors a morning show similar to Good Morning America and I pictured Jennifer Aniston as Alex on The Morning Show for many reasons like how appearances matter so much and she is incredibly driven. Skye is more of a natural beauty and content staying home with her 6yo daughter and micromanaging her playdates and music classes. Skye and Peyton's close relationship is beautifully written and probably the strongest thing about this story, in my opinion. What follows is the impact on Max (Peyton's daughter) as she tries to determine how to move forward now that college seems to no longer be an option. The novel even takes a sort of coming of age turn as Max takes a job at an ice cream shop for the summer, meets new friends, and figures out how to cope with the scandal fallout. Peyton’s career as an anchorwoman is hanging in the balance and she must take some time away against her ambitious wishes. The story explores the impact of their decisions, how they navigate their identities in light of the choices they’ve made. I really enjoyed this and as I mentioned, I especially liked the dialogue between and the relationship of the two sisters. I loved The Devil Wears Prada and I haven't been able to even get through some of her other books. This one is now my favorite.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Lauren Weisberger for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Lauren Weisberger takes a story ripped from the headlines and creates her own fantastic spin on it!

Peyton and Skye are sisters but couldn't be more different from each other. Peyton anchors a morning show similar to Good Morning America or the Today Show. She is driven and appearances matter more than anything else. Skye is a natural beauty, somewhat content staying home with her 6yo daughter and micromanaging her playdates and music classes. Skye and Peyton's close relationship is one of the wonderful things about this book.

When Peyton writes a check to secure her daughter Max's entry into Princeton on her Husband's account, the last things she expects are to have their lives turned upside down. Isaac, Peyton's husband, is arrested for trying to get Max into Princeton illegally. their only child's entry into a prestigious university, Not only does Peyton get put on leave, her daughter's admission to Princeton is rescinded. Skye, having worked on a residence for girls from Harlem, also loses her funding to continue her project. Peyton lets Isaac take the fall and wrestles with this throughout the entire book.

As their personal crises each come to a head, Peyton and Skye must evaluate their relationships not just with each other but with themselves.

One of the best characters in this book is Max. Having always wanted to go to film school, she is against Princeton from the start. But when they go visit, she decided she can take advantage of all of their programs and is excited for the opportunity. Not knowing her Mom wrote the check, Max stops speaking to her Father entirely. Max is extremely relatable as a teen who has had her future ripped away.

The author has done an incredible job portraying a family who has been torn apart by one minute of selfishness. I wish she had done a point of view from Isaac, as he was as much a victim as Max. I gave this 4 stars as some chapters were repetitive, but Lauren Weisberger did a magnificent job of telling their story.

The books by this author are so easy to get lost in, and this latest novel is no different. Characters you don’t know whether to love or hate, envy, humor, and resentments are what make this story so immersive. One might think you can’t relate to the characters but the author does not make them over the top, the humanity shines through. A wonderful story from beginning to end.

I Love Lauren Weisberger so I jumped at a chance to read her new book early. I was hesitant at first, as the topic of the admissions scandals seemed like a ripped from the headlines when it was already over and done with story, however I really enjoyed it. It gives a new take on it, and it acknowledges it in the post scandal world so it felt relevant and not dated. As for the story, I was totally into it. Well developed, flawed and interesting female characters that made it interesting to read. I enjoyed how real the family relationships were. The intricacy of wanting to kill someone you share blood with but also how the links and bonds make a break hard and forgiveness, or whatever happens in the in between, a path to take. Her books usually have a great take on class structures, especially the pressures of fitting in and keeping up with the Jones of the 1% in NY and here she handles it beautifully. This is a highly recommended summer read after it comes out in May! On a lighter, but very important topic, how fabulous is the book name? As a G&R fan I absolutely love it!

I love how Lauren Weisberger builds up her characters throughout her novels. We continue learning about them which keeps the books fresh and constantly moving forward.. This book is very relevant to recent college admission scandals and comes at a time that it is all freshly in our minds so we can relate to the issues well. Poor high school student and daughter Max. As her dad and mom think they are doing her a favor by spending almost 18 years donating to Princeton to “ensure” her a spot there when she graduates high school, they are actually hurting her. She did not want this kind of help and now look what has happened. Her father is arrested for it. Her mother is a popular new anchor and tv personality. This has made the news!

We follow the family through this nightmare and the book is very intriguing and juicy. As with all books, there are a few slow areas through the middle but Lauren Weisberger never lets that last very long. We see how Max, her mom and dad, Peyton and Isaac, and her Aunt Skye (her mom’s very opposite twin sister) interact and navigate their way through this. It offers a satisfying ending. I enjoyed this book and recommend it for a great beach read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC as I feel honored to be able to give an honest review.

I really appreciate how the author took a recent high-profile news event and aligned that with the pressure so many women feel to be all the things they are told they should be, to in a word, be perfect. I think the critiques others may have of this book, is that some of the events portrayed were very of the moment, and they just do not feel as relevant or as important these days (one year into the COVID-19 pandemic). I think this is a case of a great book, hit with unfortunate timing, which is not the author's fault since it takes time to write. I hope this book gets more appreciation as the world balances out into some sense of a new normal.

As a big fan of Lauren Weisberger, I was a bit disappointed with this one (hate to say it!).
Despite the start of the book where the admission scandal of a high profile news anchor was unveiled, the book fell flat for me. The story was so slow to develop that by the time I was half way done with the book, it felt like nothing new happened from the initial scandal.

I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I did appreciate that the story was told from multiple view points. The flashbacks to previous point in their lives helped explain the dynamic and depth of their relationships. The ending of the book (spoiler alert) felt incredibly predictable and a little too happily ever after-- all the characters had endings that were a little too good to be true.

That being said, I was entertained at the humor of suburban upper class life and the hilarious pop culture references. Lauren never fails there!

It would make a decent fluffy beach read.

Thanks NetGallery for the advanced copy. (Also posted on goodreads)

Ripped from the headlines and the college admission scandal, Lauren Weisberger nails this deliciously, snarky story of two sisters.
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Peyton is an anchor at the most watched morning show, with a perfect husband, Princeton bound daughter and carefully calculated life.
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Her sister Skye is a stay at home mom in a very involved New York community but she has more dreams then the PTA and being introduced to other moms not by your name but by your child’s name and what grade they are in. Skye is a professional volunteer.
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In case you were curious I guess I’m Skye, a professional volunteer. I have worked the cafeteria at school, school library, served as PTA chairperson, literally ran the slide at field day and worked scholastic book fair.
If you think Weisberger overexaggerated these school moms and dads, I can assure you she does not!
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Max, Peyton’s daughter must deal with the fallout of her mom’s decision to pay to get her into Princeton, a school she never wanted to go to anyway.
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Just like in #TheDevilWearsPrada she writes a wild page turner that sucks you in from page one and keeps you engrossed until the last page. This book is beyond fun and pure entertainment packed with humor and a touch of forgiveness.
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Get this on your radar now for May 18th!
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Thank you #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

📚:Where the Grass is Green and The Girls are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: A college admissions scandal threatens to topple the lives of two sisters navigating the suburban jungle in this sharply observed novel
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Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the digital ARC of Where the Grass is Green and The Girls are Pretty, which is scheduled for publication on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
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First, how awesome is the title of this book?! Second, I was so excited to get the email that this was my first ARC from #netgalley ! I mean, its @laurenweisberger!!! 🤗
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This was a good and easy read. I felt like it was a mix of Gossip Girl meets The Today Show/Good Morning America. The whole college scandal thing wasn't really my cup of tea. However, I really did enjoyed the storyline between sisters Peyton and Skye.

Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty is an easy, summertime read about two middle aged sisters with somewhat different lives who make poor choices and deal (somewhat) with the consequences. Both are wealthy white women living in Manhattan & Connecticut (or maybe New Jersey?) It could provide escapism from our current times for some readers, but I found myself judging their superficial lives and self-induced problems harshly.

This story may be most enjoyed by fans of Emma Straub or Jennifer Weiner.