Alanna is a gifted TV writer, so I was so pumped when she announced she was writing a book! And let me just say, this book more than delivered! It was a sweeping, coming-of-age romance that also tackled the realities of stardom.

The Education of Kia Greer follows, Kia, a member of a famous reality TV star family --- think the Kardashians. Like the Kardashians, the Greer family's every move is choreographed by their momager, who is determined to keep building on her family's empire. But unlike her sisters who relish in the limelight, Kia hates that her every move is tracked and dissected by the paparazzi and the fandom. Kia feels like an outsider and struggles to find her own path away from her famous family. But when she meets Cass, an up and upcoming singing sensation, she suddenly feels less alone and realizes that she can fight for the life that she wants. What starts off as a PR opportunity, becomes something deeper, something that changes Kia forever.

Alanna wrote such layered characters who you can't help but root for. Kia's arc throughout the book was so satisfying and I love that Cass was such a supportive love interest. Alanna also did such a great job of tackling issues like mental health, celebrity culture, and body image just to name a few. I also loved that she made Kia's relationship complex and really fleshed out the family in a great way.

This book is a MUST READ and hopefully, it will have people thinking about how celebrities are portrayed and maybe as a society we will reevaluate what we expect/the access we think we have to them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC!

The Education of Kia Greer is a heartfelt, drama-filled coming-of-age story that pulls you behind the scenes of reality TV fame. Think Kardashians, but with more depth and a lot more honesty.

Kia is the daughter of a momager obsessed with keeping her girls famous, but she’s over it. Tired of the spotlight and struggling with her mental health, she finds unexpected comfort in Cass, a rising entertainer who sees the real her. Their relationship is sweet, supportive, and full of healthy communication (yes, finally!).

This book explores body image, beauty standards, and the dark side of growing up famous, but also highlights the power of choosing your own path. Kia’s bond with her sisters is chaotic but real, and her journey to self-love is both emotional and inspiring.

A perfect pick for anyone who loves reality TV, YA romance, and stories about finding your voice in a world that wants to silence it. I loved it!

I have nothing but great things to say! I really enjoyed the premise and how empathetic the character of Kia is. She truly grows so much over the course of the book, and learns how to put herself first instead of being just a member of her famous family. This book kept me very engaged and I loved reading about her romance and all the trials and tribulations she was put through. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of this sweet sweet book!

I have been following Alanna Bennett's career for some time, so I really jumped at the chance to read her debut novel, even though I'm reading less YA these days. This book was so meaningful and rich, I feel like I was totally swept away by Kia's world. I felt so compassionate for her as she was experiencing the world on her own terms for the first time, and was rooting for her the entire way through. There's some incredibly striking scenes in this book, I feel like it captured the cult of celebrity so well. I loved the end, and got a little emotional as Kia describes her efforts to find her place in things. Adored.

✨The Education of Kia Greer by Alanna Bennett✨

The Greer family is basically the Kardashians, made famous by a TV show that follows their life. Their dad is in movies, the mom is called the momager, all the sisters have their thing, makeup, fitness, one is an upcoming pop star, and then there’s Kia, who just wants to go to college.

She starts to date Cass, a popular singer, and while their dating starts out as a PR relationship, they eventually fall for each other and it’s all cute.

Kia and Cass go through various things together in dealing with the media, Cass comes out as Bi, Kia’s mom pressures her into lots of diets, and makes her get a lot of face fillers. Kia and Cass start hooking up, then the nausea hits her one evening and I’m like nooooo 🫠 because why did we need to do this in this YA novel.

And like, I did feel like it was handled well, she’s not hiding it or running away with a secret baby. They decide they don’t want the baby, and because they have the money and access, they can take care of it. This novel is pro-choice, we LOVE to see it, but the whole time it’s happening I’m like, did we NEED the pregnancy at all?!

Like there’s SO much else going on. Like
the mom is clearly the villain. Kia tells her mom she has depression (not tied to pregnancy) and immediately her mom wants to send her to rehab. There’s enough here to where the pregnancy felt unnecessary. As quickly as it came, it was taken care of and we were on to the next thing.

Overall, this was a good book, but I personally could have done without the accidental teen pregnancy. I know this is a thing for other readers as well so I’m letting you know it’s there.

The cover of this novel is beautiful, premise was interesting, and I was rooting for Kia the whole time.

Thank you @netgalley and @knopfyoungreaders for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to LOVE this so much––the premise is a dream! I think I may just struggle with like, journalists/culture writers turning to romcoms? The writing felt really journalistic rather than novelistic, and it just wasn't working for me. I feel similarly about Carley Fortune's books sometimes, and definitely Linda Holmes' as well. So this is probably a me-problem. I'll definitely try Bennett again, though––still a huge fan of her TV writing!

The Education of Kia Greer is a YA novel that follows Kia, an 18-year-old reality star in a Kardashian-esque family. Kia's direction is unclear as she decides whether she wants to go to college or develop her brand a bit more, which her mom is really encouraging. Meanwhile, Kia meets and begins dating a new popstar.

There's a lot going on in this novel and I appreciate the depth that Bennett gave to Kia and her sisters, but I ultimately wasn't very drawn to the story.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy this book and read it in less than a week. I thought it was well written and the characters had great growth. I loved having a glimpse in the "famous" class of people. I would definitely recommend this book.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

*The Education of Kia Greer* by Alanna Bennett has a lot of heart and a compelling premise, centering on identity, ambition, and coming of age in a world that doesn't always make room for you. Kia is a likable and layered protagonist, and Bennett's writing shines in emotional moments and cultural observations.

However, the pacing felt uneven, with some plotlines underdeveloped and others dragging longer than necessary. While the novel touches on important themes, they sometimes get lost in the shifting tone and narrative focus.

A solid debut with flashes of brilliance, but ultimately more potential than polish. Worth a read, especially for fans of character-driven YA, but not without its flaws.

Unfortunately this was a DNF. I have really loved this author’s work, but the prose and characters both fell totally flat for me. I think this book will find its audience and it’s definitely one I will recommend to my high school students given the relevance of the subject matter.

This was my first book by the author and I genuinely enjoyed it so much. The cover was everything! Can’t wait to have the physical copy on my shelf!

This was such a beautiful story of becoming. Of learning to speak up. Of choosing yourself. Of figuring out how to hold joy and grief in the same breath. Kia’s journey was full of softness and strength—finding her voice, setting boundaries, and deciding who she wants to be on her own terms.

It touched on body agency, love, loss, and all the awkward in-between moments that come with growing into the fullest version of yourself. I really appreciated how real it felt—messy, tender, and necessary.

A quiet reminder that becoming isn’t always loud, but it’s always powerful.

This book had some moments that pissed me off, and I get it. I get what was the point of this book and it really wanted to tell a story of what can happen when you exploit your kids for TV.

I had a great time, I cried a tiny bit.

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

Thank you Alanna Bennett (@alannabennett), Knopf Books for Young Readers (@knopfyoungreaders), Random House Children's Books Teachers & Librarians (@RHCBEducators) for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to read this silky smooth modern take on young celebrity. This is the celebrity story you don’t always see. While in real life some celebrities decide to disappear from the public eye Kia Greer finds that possibility too far to dream of. This is the girl who recognizes she has so much to offer the world, however, too often she finds the noise full of media gossip and raging online comments drown out her inner voice. Through confronting these issues Kia shows that she is the strong protagonist the next generation should look to in this age and Alanna is the perfect artist to bring her stardom and spirit to life.

Alanna Bennett has crafted a moving exploration of a young girl in the spotlight who finds that excess light dimming her soul and aspirations. The side characters Alanna creates are memorable and not just placeholders. The reader can clearly see how they impact Kia’s life and the decisions she makes. Alanna’s talents as a TV Writer are on full display as she creates some of the most immersive youthful dialogue between Kia, her siblings, and particularly with love interest and rock Cass. I really enjoyed the running thread of Kia as a film fan. Standout references to Roman Holiday as a classic movie Kia can introduce to her friends Cass and Jade, Joe the bodyguard as the voice of reason when Kia is evaluating her safety going to college someday (potentially a nod to Princess Diaries fan favorite bodyguard), and The ‘Rage’ date that took me back to glorious memories of “10 Things I Hate About You”. These homages are creatively implemented to make the story feel lived in but not so heavy to prevent the story from having a life of its own. Kia wrestles with the complications in a realistic way through her perspective that are a benefit to young readers who will experience many of the same things today.

Some of my favorite sequences were the initial birthday party where Kia/Cass meet, the Roman Holiday sequence with Kia/Cass/Jade, and the opening of the novel where Kia and Lark are having a photo shoot and we see her being dismissed for not being ‘pretty enough’ for the first time. This stayed in the back of my mind throughout the story and as she begins to experiment with fillers and seeks to change herself. I think this is a strong way to start out the novel that carries through.

This book was truly outstanding. Celebrity stories are always so intriguing, and this pairs the glamor with the gritty truth in a way that is immensely satisfying. I also loved how this book covers a good scope of time to accompany the personal growth. This book doesn't talk down to its readers but trusts that they will be along for the ride, and it's a really magical one.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Alanna Bennett’s The Education of Kia Greer is a thoughtful, emotionally rich story that truly impressed me. This was my first time reading Bennett’s work, and after finishing this novel, I immediately looked her up—I’m definitely interested in exploring more of her writing.

Kia is a standout protagonist. Her struggle to define herself outside of the performative demands of fame felt refreshingly honest and deeply relatable. Watching her find her voice in a world that thrives on spectacle was powerful.

The story really hit its stride for me in the middle—the pacing picked up, the stakes rose, and I found myself slowing down just to savor each moment. Bennett also made a brilliant structural choice involving Kia’s own writing (no spoilers!) that added a whole new dimension to the narrative.

As someone who doesn’t usually gravitate toward reality TV or stories centered around reality TV, it took me a little time to adjust to the world of the book. But once I found the rhythm, I was fully invested. Bennett’s background as a culture writer and entertainment journalist shines through—her understanding of celebrity culture and identity is woven seamlessly into the narrative, making the story feel both grounded and insightful.

A compelling, layered read that balances pop culture with real emotional weight. I’m so glad I discovered Alanna Bennett and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Sometimes, life is the greatest teacher-and Kia definitely learned the hard way. This modern-day young adult story follows an ultra-famous family of four sisters who star in a reality show while also pursuing their own individual ventures. Kia, the second youngest, seems to have it all as she approaches her 18th birthday— until a series of events shakes up her world and pushes her to reevaluate everything. She decides she wants out of the fame game and begins making choices for herself.

I really admire adult authors who can write teenagers with such authenticity that it feels like a teen penned the story. Kia was portrayed with incredible depth and realism-her voice, emotions, and internal struggles felt genuine.

I especially loved the sisterly bond she shared with both her younger and older sisters; their dynamic was heartfelt and believable. The portrayal of the parents, while out of touch, added an intriguing layer and felt reminiscent of real-life reality TV families.

The only drawback for me was that some of the subplots outside of Kia's story were left unresolved, which made parts of the ending feel like a cliffhanger. Still, overall, this is a well-written and engaging young adult novel that captures the complexity of fame, family, and finding your own path.

I really enjoyed this!! The characters were so likable and well constructed. The writing was fast paced and kept me wanting more. This is absolutely a book I'll buy for my library and encourage kids of all interests to read.