I LOVED Where the Grass is Green and the Girls Are Pretty. Perfect way to take on the pay for play in college admissions and you see so much growth within all of the characters. My fingers are crossed for a side book dealing with the girls home and adoption. It was like that was left dangling and I WANT MORE! This was a first Lauren Weisberger read for me but it won't be my last!

When a college admissions scandal turns national morning show anchor Peyton Marcus’ perfect life upside down, she and her daughter Max seek refuge from NYC reporters and head to the suburbs to spend the summer with her sister and mother. What follows is the unleashing of secrets, truths, and how their lives are all changed forever.

Like other books by @LauraWeisberger, this new release is another great beach read about women who are living their lives for better or worse and are suddenly thrown a curveball so you can read about how they get themselves together and come back stronger, braver, smarter, and more grateful for all they have. The characters are stubborn and a little bit manic but their female relationships are fun and quirky and make you wish you they were your friends, too.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the advance copy of this book. I loved it!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Where the Grass Is Green & the Girls Are Pretty by Laura Weisberger / Pages: 368 / Genre: Fiction

The title of the book and the author are what made me gravitate toward this. I have read the Devil wears Prada literally one of my favorite books yeah can't go wrong. But this book just fell flat for me either for the life of me just could not get into it. I think mostly because you've seen it all over your TV screens and newspapers in it was literally just everywhere and then reading a different version of it play out in a book I just didn't feel connected to it since I already knew how it was going to go basically.
This book is basically about two sisters that are completely polar opposite from each other living their lives but still somewhat remaining connected and how they are twins in this. You have the very rich sister that lives in the spotlight and has the doting family, and then you have the sister that could really give two craps about things that are going on. Until the biggest headline of them all and one of the sisters is in a huge scandal of College bribery which as you know unless you were living under a rock was all over the actual news last summer. While I'm all for retellings of stories this one just wasn't it for me. I love Lauren Weisberger I love her storytelling but this one was just a mess and I hate that. But I love the title of the book I love the music that is put throughout this book because you can literally hear it in your mind as you're reading, it's super clever to have these song names as your chapter titles brilliant on that part. Would I recommend this book to my friends I actually would not. And I may just be the wrong type of person reading this one as I don't live in that type of world in this and that but I'm just sad I'm sad about this one

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I’m really conflicted about this book. Although I really enjoyed parts of it, I felt like the ending was missing some information on loose ends and it was weak.
I enjoyed Lauren’s writing and the humor between Peyton and Skye and their Mom. I also gave her a little bonus credit because she referred to a line from The Devil Wears Prada, and there’s nothing more that I love than when a creator makes a nod to their previous works.
I was very invested to see how each story was going to end up but in the end one of the characters story was just completely dropped. Her story line was a major part of this book and we just got to a point where we never heard from her again.
I also didn’t feel like the politics needed to be in this book. The author herself describes what a horrible, terrible, stressful year she had due to loss and Covid 19. Yet she felt the need to stick political points in throughout much of the book. In my opinion in these times people are also going through difficult times and look to stories like these to escape the madness of everyday life. At a time when the subject of politics is so heated, it just should have been left out.
Overall there were parts that I really enjoyed, laughed at the character banter and felt really invested in. There were also parts that dragged on and felt very repetitive. It was an average read for me, nothing that I would go out of my way to recommend.

As a big fan of The Devil Wears Prada, I was really excited to read Weisberger's latest, WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY. This novel covers a wide range of themes and topics - college admissions scandals, friendship, family, and parenthood. This was a great summer read and took an interesting pop culture news story and fictionalized a similar situation. I enjoyed reading about Peyton and Skye, their relationship, and the scandal they find themselves in. Would recommend for Weisberger's fans and for fans of beach reads!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I heard that Lauren Weisberger had a new novel out, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Thankfully, this one did not disappoint. It was well-written and interesting throughout, even with covering a current event that some other books have also covered. However, it was hard to find Peyton as a sympathetic character, given the circumstances, and I wish she wasn't one of the narrators. (I get why she was though.) I liked Skye and Max's perspectives a lot, so that balanced things out. The story wrapped up a bit too neatly, but I also wanted to see Skye and Max win at something. Overall, it makes me thankful that I have a good relationship with my kids.

Movie casting ideas:
Peyton: Abbie Cornish
Skye: Hannah Simone
Max: Megan Charpentier
Isaac: John Krasinski
Gabe: Matt Passmore
Nisha: Nazanin Boniadi
Oliver: Milo Manheim
Marcia: Jean Smart

Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty is a novel about a college admission scandal. The story opens with us meeting Peyton, a well known news anchor in NYC. Within the first chapter we learn of her husband's apparent involvement in donating money to Princeton, his alma mater, and where their daughter has been accepted.
From there we meet several different characters, one being Peyton's sister Skye. As the book progresses we learn different angles of the scandal from different character perspectives, (Peyton, Skye and Max). We follow the family through the summer and early fall, as things progress, fall apart and challenge their relationships. This book has a little bit of everything, young love, heartbreak, betrayal and lies. I was hooked from the beginning and never lost interest. I would have loved to have a more concrete ending, I did like the ending, I just wanted it to be more final.

Taking inspiration from recent headlines about the college admission scandal's condemned celebrities, "Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty" is a great book to relax into for a beach weekend this summer.

Sisters Peyton -celebrity news anchor- and Skye -high achieving mom looking for fulfillment- are each hiding something from the people in their families, something they're ashamed of and not sure they'll be forgiven for. Ultimately, the truth has to come out and the journey to that and forgiveness from their families is a fun read.

I absolutely fell in love with The Devil Wears Prada, and I have loved every book written by Lauren Weisberger since then. I was THRILLED when I saw that she wrote a new book, and what made it even more exciting for me was the title! Paradise City by GNR was a favorite song of mine back in the day and I knew that I just had to read this book to see how the catchy popular line fit into her newest novel. I still can’t help but sing the lyrics every time I see the title.

Beyond Weisberger’s extreme talent of writing novels that flow easily and enticingly; she has an extraordinary ability to create characters that are captivating, intriguing, and colorful. I love how she explores and uncovers topics that are real, touchy, and current, creating deliciously entertaining novels for her fans.

While reading WTGIGATGAP, I couldn’t help but think about the recent college scandal that Lori Laughlin was recently a part of. I was captivated by that when it happened and I was definitely intrigued and curious to read about Max’, Peyton’s, and Isaac’s similar predicament. How deliciously entertaining!

The side stories of the family drama, secrets, and lies tied in seamlessly and added such fun and vitality to this already brimming masterpiece. There was so much going on, but NOT too much, it added even more flavor and spice.

You can’t go wrong with any novels written by Lauren Weisberger, and you will love this one, too!

Where the Grass is Green and the Gurls are pretty, by Lauren Weisberger, is a story about two sisters.. seemingly completely different but are brought together by a scandal that affects both ladies and their families. Taken from recent headlines, Weisberger , tells the story of affluent parents paying for their kids to get into Ivy League Colleges. Peyton and her husband Isaac have it all, she is famous news anchor , they have an amazing apartment in Manhattan and their daughter is in her way to Princeton.. Sky her sister is living the suburban dream, wealthy community, hard working husband and a beautiful adopted daughter. It all falls apart when Isaac gets caught for helping his daughter get into Princeton. The news is everywhere and Peyton is forced to spend time off the air and she spends the summer in her sisters town. I had a hard time connecting with the characters in this story. They were so unlike anyone I knew and as the story progressed I felt that the to main characters were a bit whiny. They both had their secrets but weren’t going to own up to them. The story is about one summer and how they hide their problems until the end, when you guessed things went their way.. I loved The Devil Wears Prada and When Life Gives you Lululemmons.. they were an escape from reality. This one just seems to close to reality and I just didn’t feel it.. As always the writing is great, and I can’t wait to read Lauren’s next book. I want to thank Netgalley & Lauren Weisberger for my chance to read this story for an honest review.. I could be in the minority with this review and that is ok.. you can’t win them all.. This was a three star read for me. I have shared my thoughts on my Instagram page and shared my review on Barnes & Noble.

‘WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY’ BY LAUREN WEISBERGER


I must confess that I’m mad for Lauren Weisberger. Everything she writes makes me smile—from her all-time classic THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA to its endearing sequels, not to mention her non- Prada outings (especially 2006 EVERYONE WORTH KNOWING which I really need to discuss soon). Nothing she gets out passes me by and her latest, WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY (now out from Random House Publishing Group), is no different. As the others, I devoured this one in no time. The story is set in the world of morning shows. Well some of it is, the rest focuses on suburbia and its many ups and downs, especially when it involves the sister of the famed protagonist, who is caught in a scandal. I won’t go too far, but let’s just say that the author borrowed somewhat from a true to life event that has made headlines all over the world not too long ago (think Lori Loughlin, et al.).

Indeed, WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY relies on that scandal but it’s the after the fact situations that really sells the novel. I couldn’t wait to find out the outcome for these strong-willed but flawed women. WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY is fast-paced, narratively stimulating, and a joy from start to finish. Sure, I had a pretty good idea of where it was all going, but it barely mattered, for the main characters were sympathetic enough for me to enjoy the ride despite the obvious. So, of course, I give this novel the highest praise and I look forward to Lauren Weisberger’s next addictive offering which will probably see the light of day in a couple of years—if based on the cycle of release from her backlist. But hey, take your time, talented lady. You know we’ll be waiting.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

What price would you pay to guarantee a top-notch college education for your child?

There isn’t a price tag for some parents in Lauren Weisberger's latest novel WHERE THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY.

If you like "ripped from the headlines" stories, this one is for you! It is reminiscent of the celebrity college admission scandals over the last couple of years...filled with dripping-rich families, high-stakes colleges and a little $$$ to make those educational dreams come true. Full synopsis in comments.

The story is fast-paced, humorous, and the perfect mix of scandalous fiction meets reality. Lying, deception, parents going way to far, a ton of secrets and a teenager caught in the middle. A fun, fast read and perfect for summer!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

A story very reminiscent of the Varisty Blues school scandal, I was not a huge fan of this book. And it has nothing to do with the quality of the writing! I'm just kind of done with reading stories about rich people who have so much in life, wanting more, and doing whatever they have to to get it. I just don't have any sort of empathy for the characters, and it makes it an annoying read, if anything.

But I'm not giving it a bad rating, because I think it is written well, and that others will enjoy it. I just won't be recommending it to anyone I know.

Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger is another take on the college admissions scandal, a topic I find to be quite interesting. While the book did grab my attention from the start, I had trouble staying invested throughout. The story revolves around two sisters, Peyton and Skye, both of whom seem to have it all. But, as we know, things are not always as they seem and circumstances can bring on opportunities that are not necessarily in people's best interests. Peyton is a top morning talk show host with a loving husband and 17-year-old daughter that has just graduated from high school and is about to begin college at Princeton. Skye is a bored housewife, 'wasting' her college education, living in a very upscale neighborhood with her devoted husband and adopted 8-year-old daughter. My issue with this book is that I never connected with the characters and for the most part, I really did not care what happened in their lives. Having said all of that, there were some truly funny parts and also moments of pure ridiculousness that were quite amusing.

The title has me singing the song in my head right now as I'm writing this! Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty deals with a college admissions scandal. You have two sisters Peyton who is a well known news anchor and Skye who does charity work for a non-profit. A book about having it all on the surface but feeling pretty empty inside. Trying to keep up with others until it becomes all you think about. This is my first book by this author and I would love to check out more!

The story opens with Skye meeting her sister for lunch in a fancy restaurant. This scene gives an idea of how different Skye and Peyton are and got my attention right away. Peyton Marcus is the morning news anchor on ANN. Skye lives in the suburbs with her husband, Gabe, and their daughter, Aurora. Skye gave up her teaching job to raise her daughter and she is also raising money to build a home for underprivileged girls. Peyton was the screw up in high school who made good, now everything is high end and approximately half her income goes to keeping up her appearance. Peyton has always wanted her daughter, Max, to go to Princeton, her husband Isaac's alma mater. Max is accepted and she is learning to love the idea and then her dad is arrested for bribing the admissions board.

At first it felt like just another take on the admissions scandal cases, especially with Max not wanting to even go to Princeton, instead she wants to work on her vlog but then it evolved into a story of the love the sisters have for each other and how the repercussions of that one check to Princeton has rippled through the rest of the family, especially Max. I liked the characters. I felt like I understood Peyton's motivations and while she could schmooze with the best of them she knew deep down how superficial it all was. Skye did too and she remained her genuine self but I couldn't understand why she thought it was a good idea to raise her daughter in that environment where mom's were so concerned about getting sugar out of their children's diets and setting them up to go to good schools starting in preschool. Max was an amazing kid. She suffered through the exclusive school her mother chose that would look good on her application to Princeton. She was looking forward to college and learning more about things she was passionate about.

I didn't get a strong sense of place. Paradise appears to be a small town but then there were a lot of wealthy families living there and there were no mom and pop stores in town, most carried brands like Louboutin. It might have been quieter than New York City but the players were the same.

At times I felt that the book could have been shorter, it seemed to drag a bit in the middle. I just wanted to find out how it was all going to end. I did enjoy it. The characters were interesting and I would go ahead and recommend this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of this delightful summer read.

Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty was a pretty boring novel. It's another book about rich, white people in New York City dealing with problems that they solely bring upon themselves. I am over reading literature with this kind of storyline (I have read three or four titles within the last year with similar themes) because the characters are completely unrelatable. I do not recommend this title and am positive that it would not have been published if not for the success of the author's previous books.

While overall I liked the plot and the characters, I found that this book really was missing substance and heart. The dialogue was unrealistic at times and I found it hard to stay involved with the characters.

While the premise of the book was good, the execution for me missed the mark.

This book had a lot of current hot topics in the story line. The sisters Skye and Peyton were total opposites but that was part of what made them so close. When something big goes down in Peyton's world she ends up going to stay in the suburbs for the summer near her sister. Her whole life is turned upside down, as well as her teenage daughter Max's. Her marriage is balanced on a thread and her decision even ends up effecting her sisters life. I enjoyed the story and how all of the relationships intertwined within the girls lives and their families. Great beach read!

A thoroughly enjoyable read that follows some timely current events. Strong fsmily bonds and relatable characters. While some situations may seem highly unlikely and over the top, the author's more mature writing is wonderful for fans who have aged along with her books. An excellent summer read..