Small Admissions: A Novel

Small Admissions was a fun, funny, and entertaining read. Kate is a likable character and has you rooting for her from the start, just like her friends. I took the book on holiday and it felt like the vacation from my vacation every time I got a chance to read it.

I loved this book. It was funny, kept my interest throughout and easy to follow when the story switched to another person speaking. The characters were developed so well that I felt i knew them. I didn't get them mixed up when I had to pause my reading for a while and begin again.
I found it intriguing to discover how the admission process to a private school works. Sounds simple but in this school there is much drama with some romance thrown in for good measure. Our heroin ,Kate , is fresh out of college and and assistant admissions director is her first job. She is faced with the complications of the admissions process that her degree in anthropology has not prepared her for. That being quirky, demanding,,psychotic parents and needy,self absorbed and darling children. On top of it all she has dire romantic issues which not only blend into her client counseling interviews but become a topic for her sister to obsess about and attempt to control.
There are a host of other characters that make this story endearing.

This novel has an excellent premise, but I feel that there is some editing needed. I bought this because of the high reviews, but I have to admit that I am puzzled by them. Yes, this novel is about the crazy admissions process at an elite New York City school; but this narrative seemed almost secondary to the real story, which is the main character's struggle with depression and identity. This novel seems very disjointed to me. I read a lot of novels that center on similar plot lines, and there are much better ones out there.

A disclaimer: I've only managed to get through part of the first chapter. In general, I read extensively, and I love different authors, styles, and subjects. It's a rare occurrence for me to not be able to finish a book.
The writing seems juvenile and not very skilled. The characters lack depth, and there isn't much development that makes me want to continue to read to see what happens to them.
I'm truly mystified by the high ratings and reviews for this novel.
I may try to pick it up again in the future and see if I can make it past the first chapter. And, if it gets better, I'll eat my words.

Fun book. Perfect light read for a vacation. Hilarious portrayal of wealthy and ridiculous Manhattanites. But doesn't shy away from dwelving into matters more consequential like listening to our true calling and accepting our differences. Enjoyed it very much. Can't wait to see what Poeppel comes up with next.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, I loved Kate's hilarious interview and found the interviews with the parents and kids amusing frustrating and sad all at the same time. Kate and her family were likable and annoying - and realistic all in all a great read!

With humor that ranges from dark to knee-slapping, Poeppel takes us through events and experiences that are part of everyone's life in a delightfully incisive and observant way. One need not know the universe of New York private schools to understand how it feels to get dumped by an "almost fianace," challenged by a sister, or backstabbed by a "friend," and Poeppel's characters spur on the reader to find out how it all turns out. In the vein of "The Devil Wears Prada" with similarities to "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?," "Small Admissions" certainly represents a wonderful addition to the genre of women's literature. Focusing ultimately on themes of empowerment and finding one's own way, Poeppel weaves an engaging narrative that keeps the readers turning pages like mad.

Really did not enjoy this book, hard to follow. Struggled to finish it. Main character was decent but the side characters were annoying and irrelevant. Hated the italics and didn't see why they were even used. Do not recommend

I received an advance reader’s copy of this darkly amusing novel from Net Galley and Atria Books. It’s funny as hell, and even more amusing to teachers, school counselors, and others that have dealt with high maintenance parents and the aura of entitlement they carry with them. I rate this title 4.5 stars and round upward. It comes out December 27, 2016, just in time to chase away your post-holiday depression.

I sat on this book for more than three months, which is a rare thing for me. I kept starting it, not liking it, and deciding to set it aside and look again with fresh eyes later. Finally November came, and I realized the book was not going to change; I’d given my word to the publisher I’d review it; it was time to suck it up and get the job done. And this is a little ironic all by itself, since that’s the position in which our protagonist found herself, but more on that in a minute.

The issue with the first part of the book is that it reads like a very lengthy introduction, steeped in character introduction and overlong inner narrative. After I had read—and loved—the rest of the book, I went back and reread that 15%. Was it just me? What was wrong with it? And once I had read the book and become familiar with all of the characters, it seemed perfectly fine. In fact, it seemed a lot like the voice-over at the beginning of a movie. Then I read the author’s biography, and discovered that this novel was first written as a play.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

Our protagonist is Kate, and she’s come undone. Her French boyfriend has dumped her:

“When he’d encouraged Kate to follow her heart, he hadn’t meant she should follow it to Paris.”

Meanwhile, upon departure she’s left her position at NYU. She was studying anthropology, and now she isn’t, and her family doesn’t know what to do about it. Enter Angela, her sister, who moves heaven and Earth in order to get Kate’s life going again; once Kate’s out of the woods, Angela can’t stop maneuvering and controlling. She’s good at being a white knight, and she can’t give it up. We have Vicki and Chloe, her friends from college, and the old boyfriend from France lurking offstage.

The fun commences when Kate gets a job in the admissions department of a small, private secondary school. She’s misrepresented her skill set to get it, but she’s determined to give it a try:

“Kate viewed Hudson Day as an unknown culture that required her exploration.”

It’s time to start interviewing and selecting students, managing interviews with demanding, sometimes aggressive parents. I’ve taught honors students in a public secondary school, and I thought my experience took fortitude; Kate’s experience was similar to my own, but on steroids.

There are hilariously dysfunctional parents, kids whose folks don’t have a clue what they can do and what they can’t, and in the midst of it all, relationships among Kate’s nearest and dearest become unstuck and reconfigured in ways that mirror those Kate works with, and even Kate herself. I can’t tell you anymore, because it would ruin it for you, but this snarky romp is not to be missed. It’s cunning, wickedly bold humor at its finest.

Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel
Source: Overdrive Audio/Public Library
My Rating: 5/5 stars

The Bottom Line: Holy Hannah!! Some people are just bat-sh*t crazy and that is especially true when it comes to getting their kids into the best schools! Kate Pearson has NO idea what she’s getting into when she accepts a job in the Admissions office of the prestigious Hudson Day School. To be fair, her new job is a far, far cry better than what she’s been doing over the past year, and her family and friends are thrilled to see her finally moving on with her life. Over the course of the admissions season, Kate not only gets back on her feet, but learns some valuable lessons about life, finds her confidence again, and discovers the value of true friendship. This book takes one on a roller coaster of ride of emotions from the seriously sad, to the utterly unbelievable, to the absolute in ridiculous, to sheer hilarity. I often found myself laughing aloud and, by the end of the read, wishing for a sequel!

When I started reading this book I was really confused. After reading the description I thought the main focus would be on Kate and getting her life back on track but that wasn't the story line we were following in the beginning. It took maybe halfway through the first chapter to fully understand what was going on. I struggled a little to get into the story, partially because of this and partially because it was told in 3rd person (it's not my favorite) but I'm glad I stuck with it because I really ended up enjoying the story.

I don't know anything about the setting personally but it seems realistic. I had some personal issues with some of the characters, mainly their personalities, but I think that shows how strong Amy Poeppel's writing is. The characters I disliked/had problems with were true to themselves while trying to move forward and grow as time passed.

This was my first time exploring this genre and I would definitely be willing to try more. I really enjoyed the humor and there were times where I actually laughed out loud. I think Amy Poeppel did an amazing job showing just how much life can change in a year. Small Admissions is a strong debut and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Small Admissons is so clever and at times side-splittingly hysterical. As I read it and even now several weeks later, I remain amazed that this is Amy Poeppel’s debut novel. The book is that good. While I obviously loved every bit of the book, my two favorite things about it were the characters and the format. Kate, her co-workers and those she encounters on the job, and her friends and family are well-developed and highly entertaining. Having just survived the private school application process myself, I really enjoyed reading about the various parents applying to the school where Kate works, particularly the more over the top families. The format Poeppel chose works very well for her plot; in addition to the standard storytelling method, the book unfolds in memos, emails, and other correspondence which really added to the story. I highly recommend this novel and cannot wait for her next book!

Many stories have been recounted of elite prep schools, but none as irreverent as this wonderful, witty prose from the viewpoint of 25 year old, admissions assistant Kate Pearson. She, the daughter of two, free-spirited, anthropology academics, abandons her own academic path after being unceremoniously dismissed from her PhD program in Anthropology at NYU by a malevolent, self-serving boss, for being a less-than-stellar researcher. Then being unceremoniously dumped by her French boyfriend Robert, she proceeds to spend a year having herself a huge pity-party.
Along comes well-meaning, loving, 31 year old, big sister Angela ...... she sees Kate's epic bad judgement, financial irresponsibility and refusal to make plans or even talk about the future as time for an intervention! Despite her husband Doug's advice to leave it alone, she can't because their bohemian, mad-cap, unconventional parents are off in Helsinki doing who knows what, with whom and somebody's got to do it! Doug, by the way is pants-splittingly funny and continues to delivers his never-heeded advice in dead-pan seriousness. He begs Angela to stop forcing her fantasies on little sister Kate and subliminally wishes she would direct her attention to hubby and adorable daughter Emily.
So, while keeping her eyes and ears open, Angela meets overwhelmed admissions director Henry, from Hudson Day School. Hudson is a progressive New York private school, started in 1888 with 12 boys and founder Ebeneezer. Henry desperately needs to hire an assistant, and would take almost anybody, so that's when Kate comes to mind and big sis arranges for an interview.
Kate is not sure how, but she aces the interview is offered the job and is pretty sure that things will fall apart with astonishing speed once she is seen for the impostor, failure and fraud that she is. No longer struggling to fill up her days with her cat Stella, stomping around her sublet apartment annoying her downstairs neighbor Jonathan and being a terrible dog walker (the dog walking stories are funny), her life now has purpose.
She knows that no one will die, no matter how incompetent she is. She just has to figure out how to relate to angry, psychotic, sometimes-crazy parents, some entitled, some bright and deserving, others dumber than drywall children, not-so expert placement counselors and faculty members that all have a not-so-hidden agendas.
First there's Hudson, whose mission, methods and philosophy is single-minded, for $44,000 you get to go there.
Then there's Henry, a good, approachable, supportive, invested boss.
After that, there's the dry, wry humor of Maureen, fellow admissions person, she sees through all of the bullshi# before each doting parent utters a word about their special, spirited, imaginative child. And reassures Kate that she can't be much worst than her predecessor Nathan.
The manicured, pedicured batshi# for-real-crazy parents (not all of them), who won't take no for an answer when their precious progeny does not get an invite to Hudson. Way more in need of acting lessons than expert placement counselling.
The lovable insightful Pat, Henry's love interest, who told Henry to hire Kate.
College friend Chloe, Robert's cousin, who feels responsible for the break-up and unbeknownst to Kate is making the rounds of coffee shops to find a new man for her friend.
The glamorous, pretentious and completely lacking in substance, college frenemy Vickie, who now wants to be known as Victoria, who should have a disclaimer over her head that says,"pretend friend, maybe harboring feelings of resentment, rivalry and jealousy".
The delicious psychiatrist downstairs who thinks he just wants Kate to stop stumbling about upstairs.
Big sis Angela who nearly missed seeing the person Kate started out pretending to be, become the Summa Cum Laude smart, astute, reliable, perceptive, full of confidence enough to stand on her own two feet sister she really is.
Her Aunte Mame and Beauregard type parents, when not off on a rather zany adventure halfway around the world, do see her and are willing to allow her to see herself as highly effervescent vs flat.
The totally original, mischievous miscreants Gus Smith, Dylan Blake and Claudia Gutierrez and all the other Hudson hopeful children.
I know, that's a lot to deal with, right? But Kate Pearson whose life was once a mess is no longer hijacked by a fictional version of herself. She, who was once a catatonic loser on the sofa now has a life with purpose and meaning. Admittedly this is a job she may have bumbled into, but who's to know that?! Thought she thinks herself totally unqualified for the position, she can't seem to convince anyone else of that!
Less you think this is just a book about the admissions process at your average, posh, prep school, read on. This is laugh-out-loud hilarious entertainment and very relateable. It will have you thinking deep thoughts about know-it-all siblings, missing-in-action parents, narcissistic, insensitive friends and batshi#crazy prep school wanna-be parents . Though sharply satirical on many levels, you won't have to dig deep to feel the love. Accompanied by a dialogue that is lively, engrossing, original and realistic and with e-mail, text and chats, the story moves along at just the right pace.
This is a must-read for every parent who has ever run the gauntlet of the posh, private school and a definite must-read for those anticipating that run. This book just might change your mind about a few things ..... your outlook on life, your job, your boss and the people you call friends.
What it will most definitely do is kick off your summer of enjoyable reading. I absolutely loved this book and the audio version is priceless, I highly recommend it.
Maybe book two will be the autobiography of Kate's eccentric parent and their life philosophy of recognizing their water as highly effervescent vs flat!

“Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.”

----Steve Maraboli

Amy Poeppel, an American author, has penned a terrific and extremely entertaining debut contemporary fiction novel, Small Admissions that revolves around a fresh young graduate, who after a messy breakup goes into the caveman zone on her couch and with her sweatpants, bags a job offer to work as an admission administrator in a posh private school, but little did this young and intelligent graduate knew that the parents and the students who come for the admission procedure would go at any lengths to just to get a mere admission in such a posh school.

Synopsis:

For fans of The Nanny Diaries and Sophie Kinsella comes a whip-smart and deliciously funny debut novel about Kate, a young woman unexpectedly thrust into the cutthroat world of New York City private school admissions as she attempts to understand city life, human nature, and falling in love.

Despite her innate ambition and Summa Cum Laude smarts, Kate Pearson has turned into a major slacker. After being unceremoniously dumped by her handsome, French “almost fiancé,” she abandons her grad school plans and instead spends her days lolling on the couch, watching reruns of Sex and the City, and leaving her apartment only when a dog-walking gig demands it. Her friends don’t know what to do other than pass tissues and hope for a comeback, while her practical sister, Angela, pushes every remedy she can think of, from trapeze class to therapy to job interviews.

Miraculously, and for reasons no one (least of all Kate) understands, she manages to land a job in the admissions department at the prestigious Hudson Day School. In her new position, Kate learns there’s no time for self-pity or nonsense during the height of the admissions season, or what her colleagues refer to as “the dark time.” As the process revs up, Kate meets smart kids who are unlikable, likeable kids who aren’t very smart, and Park Avenue parents who refuse to take no for an answer.

Meanwhile, Kate’s sister and her closest friends find themselves keeping secrets, hiding boyfriends, dropping bombshells, and fighting each other on how to keep Kate on her feet. On top of it all, her cranky, oddly charming, and irritatingly handsome downstairs neighbor is more than he seems. Through every dishy, page-turning twist, it seems that one person’s happiness leads to another’s misfortune, and suddenly everyone, including Kate, is looking for a way to turn rejection on its head, using any means necessary—including the truly unexpected.

Kate is the prodigy child of her parents who have excelled in their field of research and are highly intellects, unfortunately she fails to follow into the footsteps of her parents, when a messy break up with a tattered heart leaves her clueless, jobless and purposeless on her couch with some sweaty pants. A worried elder sister, Angela with a perfect Manhattan lifestyle, devises a plan to get her sister, Kate up from the couch and to push her to face the reality that her sister can't forever take care of her, neither her two on-off best friends, Chloe and Vicki and that she needs to get a job to support herself financially as well as mentally. Angela's dream comes true, when Kate bags a job at an upscale New York elite private school, where Kate is appointments as the assistant director for admissions who is responsible to handle the admission procedure during its season for the middle graders. But little did Kate had any idea about the world of admissions and how much crazy the NewYorkite parents could be and how pretentious and snobbish their spoilt brats could be, and eventually Kate actually gets tangles up into the messy world of admission process that finally become fatal for her existence.

This book penned by a first time author tool me by surprise, as the story is so delectable and uproariously funny. And it would be a crime to give this book a miss, especially by those who fancy the genre of contemporary fiction. The book is so much more than just a love story or a story about three girlfriends, it is full of life, laughter and love, after all everything in this book happened for love. So love kind of played a supporting role in this book and never once losing its prime focus from the crazy drama of admissions into a private school. It is obvious that the author, who has prior experience of working in the admissions department of a private school, has depicted this unknown universe with thorough insight and vividness that the readers will be instantly drawn into its depth and will find themselves turning the pages of this book frantically.

The author's writing style is polished and laced well with humor that holds the power to crack up even a serious and no-nonsense reader. The narrative is amusing to the very core, even though the book deals with some heavy issues like abandonment and heart break, yet the dialogues never once lost it sassy charm, thereby making the story one hell of an absorbing read for its readers. The pacing is fast, with an articulate prose. As for me, the only disappointment lies in the fact that the good ol' New Yorkite charm and aura is missing from the story line, thus I failed to capture the back drop of the story that paints a faint and dull portrait of the city of the Big Apple.

The characters are well developed, but there are few handful of characters who actually stole the show, namely Kate and her colleagues and the quirky and the weird lot of money-minded parents and their equally haughty kids. Kate is charming, initially she comes across as a loser and stupid with a big fat brain that she is wasting recklessly over her heartbreak. Gradually Kate matures as well as grows up quickly while adapting in the relentless universe of admissions. Kate has a laid back demeanor but her dedication towards her job makes her an inspiring character, who is bit challenging to handle yet very thoughtful.

Unfortunately her friends, Chloe, who is secretive about her love life yet protective about Kate and Vicki, who is extremely ambitious and hates Kate from her very core, aren't well portrayed through their differences and the readers might feel a bit dissapointed as they could have made the story one notch sassier. Angela comes across as someone bossy yet emotional and loving towards her younger sister, but then again her life story could have been developed with more depth.

In a nutshell, the story is brilliantly hilarious and a must read for all those who enjoy a light hearted chick lit drama with lots of edge, unpredictable plot twists yet full of cliches.

Small Admissions is a delightful read. Granted you're delighting in someone's world gone bizzaro while her friends circle around her looking for ways to lift her spirits.

Even though the story is about Kate and her drastic meltdown, you don't get to meet her immediately. Instead, her two closest friends (Vicki and Chloe) and her sister (Angela) speak in cryptic terms about the circumstances surrounding her downward spiral. You'd think the sky had fallen and there was panic in the streets the way they're reacting but you have to be patient enough for the details to fall into place. Truthfully, I didn't find Kate all that appealing until she began to climb out of her funk. She's more of an academic and not quite adept at interacting with people. Her mind just functions differently - a wee bit eccentric though not as bad as her parents. No joke, wait until you meet them! Kate's essentially an adult-sized child. Through working in the admissions office at the prestigious school, her quirky personality appears. Her reactions to the snobby, entitled and often dysfunctional parents are entertaining. Add to that the fact that she's unqualified for the job and out of her depth means that you never know what's going to happen. You also get to meet the parents of the kids trying to enroll at Hudson Day School. Some of them are seriously so weird that you'll be shaking your head.

Admittedly, several POVs in one story is not my thing. This time though I was impressed because it felt they served a different function than I've experienced with other stories that employ the same tactic. In Small Admissions, I saw Kate differently depending on whose POV it was. To Angela, she seems incompetent and a burden; to Vicki she seems privileged and irritating, and to Chloe, she seems like a charity case. I definitely appreciated how Poeppel made Kate's character so multifaceted that way.

As I read along, I kept thinking that I'd like it to see it as an indie a movie because I wanted to witness these characters live and in action. Small Admissions is all about off-the-wall humour and wacky personalities, and is sure to strike the right chord with any reader looking for just that!

Angry, unfunny roman a clef about a loser who gets a job she is utterly unqualified for in a private school admissions office and "finds her confidence." Since the author had this job, it's obvious she wants to settle scores with the applicants' parents she had to endure but making them for the most part grotesque isn't exaggerating for humor, it's just immature. The main character has two cartoon cut out friends, cliched academics for parents, and, what's the difference? Not a single person rings true except Maureen the admin at the private school who has seen it all -- she's terrific. There isn't a recognizable human being in the rest of the characters. This must have seemed like a can't miss as a two paged pitch but it's truly impressive how flat it falls.

Kate Pearson quits graduate school to live in Paris with her French boyfriend, Robert. She is blindsided by Robert as he quickly breaks off the relationship and she ends up moving back to New York City. Kate spends a good part of the year living on her sister’s couch, watching television and barely functioning. Her two friends from college and her sister were doing everything they could to get Kate back on her feet. They eventually find her an apartment to sublet and a dog walking job, in the hopes that she can pull herself together.

She eventually lands a job interview at an admissions office for a small
Manhattan private school. Kate leaves the interview feeling that she botched it the because of her inappropriate answers to questions and her profuse sweating. Surprising herself, Kate gets the job and enters into the competitive world of admissions. Although feeling unqualified, she slowly begins to settle into her job and with her two co-workers. She interviews a multitude of children, deciphers essays and meets with stressed out parents.

While Kate seems to be progressing with her newfound career, her sister is still greatly concerned. She micromanages her with unsolicited advice amid worries that she will regress back into depression. Her friends continue to stay in contact with her but have ulterior motives.

The dialogue during parent and student interviews was very humorous and I laughed out loud a few times. This book was fun and entertaining and I look forward to future works from Amy Poeppel.

Small Admissions is the story of a woman dealing with heartbreak when a job at a admissions office will change everything! After being dumped in Paris by her almost fiance, Kate Pearson has abandoned her grad school plans to just laying around while dealing with her broken heart. While her practical sister, Angela try to get her out of the house, it takes a job in a admissions office for a private school for things to change with Kate.

At this prestigious private school, Kate learns that there is no time for self pity while learning to live again as a normal person. As she navigates the private school scene, it takes a incident at the school for Kate to realize what she has been missing in her life. With the story ending one year in the future, Kate is finally to that place where she, her family and friends can all be happy once again!

This was a really good book and for me, it really gets good when she gets the job and everything that entails with it! The way this book was writing, with emails and having little snippets of what her sister and friends was doing behind her back just to make sure that Kate won't go back to being unhappy was perfect for the story being told! I so want to see a movie being made from this book just to see everything play out on the big screen including the incident at the school!

Thank You to Amy Poeppel for writing a book that makes me excited to see what is to come from you in the future!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from BookSparks : FRC 2016!

The premise of Amy Poeppel's Small Admissions grabbed me, however, the story itself did little for me. I found the start of the book confusing disjointed, so "we" got off on the wrong foot.

Small Admissions features yet another recent college graduate who is disenfranchised when she isn't handed the life she wants on a silver platter. Instead of moving forward with a plan B and harder work, Kate Pearson wallows in self pity until her sister, Amy, finds her a job.

The characters are rather one dimensional and mostly dislikable. When they aren't busy complaining, they're busily stabbing one another in the back. Clearly, main character Kate can add "judge of character" to her self-improvement list. I did enjoy the fabulously dysfunctional and highly over-achieving parents whom Kate interviews as part of the admissions process to the coveted Hudson Day School. Juxtapose their very normal progeny with the parents' descriptions of their the achievements and attributes of their 12-year-olds-who-could-rule-the-world, and you've got some entertainment.

I'm still enamored with the premise of the story, but I couldn't relate to any characters or their behavior/life choices. I was hoping for a laugh-out-loud comedic tale, but it was too filled with negativity for me. I didn't find the snark funny or pithy. Overall, Small Admissions was not a spectacularly good read that I could highly recommend.

Small Admissions is the story of a woman dealing with heartbreak when a job at a admissions office will change everything! After being dumped in Paris by her almost fiance, Kate Pearson has abandoned her grad school plans to just laying around while dealing with her broken heart. While her practical sister, Angela try to get her out of the house, it takes a job in a admissions office for a private school for things to change with Kate.

At this prestigious private school, Kate learns that there is no time for self pity while learning to live again as a normal person. As she navigates the private school scene, it takes a incident at the school for Kate to realize what she has been missing in her life. With the story ending one year in the future, Kate is finally to that place where she, her family and friends can all be happy once again!

This was a really good book and for me, it really gets good when she gets the job and everything that entails with it! The way this book was writing, with emails and having little snippets of what her sister and friends was doing behind her back just to make sure that Kate won't go back to being unhappy was perfect for the story being told! I so want to see a movie being made from this book just to see everything play out on the big screen including the incident at the school!

Thank You to Amy Poeppel for writing a book that makes me excited to see what is to come from you in the future!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from BookSparks : FRC 2016!

The premise of Amy Poeppel's Small Admissions grabbed me, however, the story itself did little for me. I found the start of the book confusing disjointed, so "we" got off on the wrong foot.

Small Admissions features yet another recent college graduate who is disenfranchised when she isn't handed the life she wants on a silver platter. Instead of moving forward with a plan B and harder work, Kate Pearson wallows in self pity until her sister, Amy, finds her a job.

The characters are rather one dimensional and mostly dislikable. When they aren't busy complaining, they're busily stabbing one another in the back. Clearly, main character Kate can add "judge of character" to her self-improvement list. I did enjoy the fabulously dysfunctional and highly over-achieving parents whom Kate interviews as part of the admissions process to the coveted Hudson Day School. Juxtapose their very normal progeny with the parents' descriptions of their the achievements and attributes of their 12-year-olds-who-could-rule-the-world, and you've got some entertainment.

I'm still enamored with the premise of the story, but I couldn't relate to any characters or their behavior/life choices. I was hoping for a laugh-out-loud comedic tale, but it was too filled with negativity for me. I didn't find the snark funny or pithy. Overall, Small Admissions was not a spectacularly good read that I could highly recommend.

I really liked this story about three college friends and one very overbearing sister. One of the college friends, Kate, has a complete breakdown when her boyfriend breaks up with her at the airport in France in which she has just flown there to live with him. You realize later in the book there is more involved. However, she spends months on the couch, in her sweatpants, watching TV and holding her landlord's cat. I know that sounds depressing, but this only goes on for a short while in the book.

Her overbearing sister, Angela, finds a job for Kate and it's a new beginning for her. Then, of course, Angela still harps on her sister, especially when she finds out she's going to dinner with her boss, she doesn't see her, etc.

Then there is the case of her two college friends. I won't go into detail about them. However, I can tell you the book is about friends, growing up and just life itself. I enjoyed my journey reading about these women and their coming into their own. I really became attached to them. The author did a great job with character development, especially with Kate. The story definitely held my attention and I was certainly entertained. Chloe interviewing internet dates for Kate was actually quite funny.

Thanks to Atria Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

Kate graduated top of her class and was headed to graduate school when something happens and sends her in a tail spin - this something is spoilerie so lets keep it vague! With the help of her sister, she finds a job that just may get her out of the funk. At the same time, her sister is pregnant with baby #2 and their parents have been galavanting around the world. And there are two other best friends who's love lives take center stage.

I love the job that took Kate out of the funk! She became the head of admissions at a private high school and she is out of her league! With her job, she interviews possible students and their parents and makes suggestions on whether to admit them or not. Not only does this book have typical chapters, within the chapters are fun emails, notes and interview logs - I love a book that seems like it has extras to add to the story.

They say every author’s first book is an autobiography, so it should come as no surprise that Amy Poeppel, former admissions rep at a prestigious independent school, has written a novel about Kate, an admissions rep at a prestigious independent school. The wonderful surprise is that the “write what you know” bromide really must have something, because Poeppel’s book is full of warmth, humor, and piercing observations about the cutthroat world of prep school admission season.
Small Admissions is told from several viewpoints: Kate; her two college friends, Vicki and Chloe; and her helicoptering sister, Angela. Managing so many narrative voices can be a challenge: sometimes the voices tend to sound overly similar or bland. Not here. Poeppel’s characters have enough funny idiosyncrasies and personality quirks that it’s easy to follow their various stories. Even her unlikeable characters draw you in and make you wonder what will happen next.
The pacing of Poeppel’s book is quick and smart. I personally hate the expression “unputdownable,” but I will say that I zipped through this book in a day and a half. It’s extremely funny, and there are enough surprises to make the ending fulfilling. Also, as a former employee at a “prestigious independent school” myself, I know that Poeppel’s descriptions of Kate’s eager applicants and their anxious parents are spot on. The publisher promises comparisons to JoJo Moyes and Sophie Kinsella, and I find those to be on the money. Small Admissions is the book that Sophie Kinsella would have written if her American boyfriend had broken up with her at LaGuardia, and she went home to get a job at Eton. It’s the rare combination of a breezy, fun read that won’t make you feel that you had to check your brain at the door.

Note: Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for ARC in exchange for honest review.

Kate has been in a slump since her boyfriend unceremoniously dumped her at the airport in Paris. Instead a new life in a new country, she returns to New York and becomes one with her couch and her sweatpants.

With the encouragement of her sister, Angela, Kate manages to get a job in the admissions office of a private elementary school.

This story is told in part from her friend Chloe’s point of view, and in part through letters and emails from parents who are going out of their minds trying to get their kid placed in a prestigious school. It’s also told in part in Kate’s write-ups after meeting the potential students and their parents. The innovative story telling is part of what makes this such a fun book. The dialogue is hilarious and the characters are well-drawn, even the minor characters are given depth and believability.

This book highlighted the admissions process for children getting into school. After reading about the admissions process it made me think that each child and individual must find what their strong suits are, especially if they are not good at taking test and performing exceptionally well in those standardized tests.

I think it was George Bush junior who said, "When a C student can become president."

This book also highlighted the high life of college and the things that happens after one graduates.

The author did a great job developing the main characters and giving them life.

If you love Tina Fey and everything she produces and/or enjoyed reading Meg Cabot's novels about Heather Wells, ex-popstar turned Resident Director at a college in New York City, add Amy Poeppel's Small Admissions to your "To Read" list immediately! While Kate is a former biological anthropologist rather than a musician, she finds herself in a rewarding new school job she never would've pictured herself in. These jobs and the people they meet along the way redeem them from the rejection that sent their lives in a downward spiral. Surrounded by crazy parents, siblings, and friends who try to help -- but end up further complicating things -- this novel shouldn't be missed!

Author Amy Poeppel is definitely talented. For a first novel, Small Admissions is impressive.
Her writing style is confident and flows naturally. She captures the personality of most of her many characters.
I was not surprised to read that Poeppel first workshopped a theatrical version of the book.

Personally I thought the story should have focused on fewer characters. Just as I was connecting up with one, blammo,
the next chapter would take off on another story line. Also, the rich, entitled parents came across as
charactertures. totally predictable. "I'm rich. I deserve this; my child deserves this."
Ok, got it. The applicants are also kinda boring. (Good thing I'm not an admissions person!)

The characters were strange at times, but I really enjoyed the plot and the flow of the writing. This book was refreshingly different from a stereotypical chick-lit read (the category I mentally placed it in), and the shifting perspectives and inclusion of correspondence between characters made the pages go by quickly. Overall, this was a really fun read, and I can't wait to dive into Poeppel's other novel!

Having been in the field of education for 40 years and having lived in NYC for 15, I felt connected to this book in multiple ways. I LOVED the way the author portrayed the NYC private school admissions scene with all its intricate and crazy-making moving parts. Also loved the characters who were so vividly and humorously drawn (humorously? um, more like chortle-worthy) that I found myself reading certain delicious descriptors over and over again, picturing various families with whom I have worked. But what I loved most were all the OMG surprises - clever turns of phrase, brilliant turns of plot, LOL details - that just kept coming. Having finished the book, I am now going back to the beginning to connect all the dots (as other reviewers noted, the first 20 pages or so took some getting used to - now that I know the characters, I think I will feel very differently) - Already looking forward to the freshness that Ms. Poeppel will bring to her next book!

I loved this whip smart, funny, and engrossing story. It caught my interest right away and I never got bored or sidetracked. Had trouble putting it down and anticipated the pleasure of getting back to it as soon as I had time to read again. I loved the protagonist, Kate, and the way she pulled herself out of her depression and put her life back together again. A couple of the other characters got a little annoying but that was just a part of the story line. I highly recommend this light entertaining read and look forward to more from Ms. Poeppel.

Loved this witty, entertaining book. Absolutely loved the harebrained characters and the things they come up with, the things that drive people can be surprising to some and totally familiar to others. The main character, Kate, interviews prospects for admission to private school and these prospects along with their parents can be outrageous and hilarious. Definitely a lighthearted read I would recommend for all ages.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

​Small Admissions, by Amy Poeppel, is a quirky and humorous story about friendship, love, and rejection. When Kate's French boyfriend breaks up with her suddenly, she falls apart, succumbing to a year-long depression on her couch in sweatpants. When she gets a job working in the admissions department of an elite private school, things finally seem to be looking up for her. Yet those closest to her remain unable to see how well she is doing, too focused on their own version of Kate. Told through a mix of traditional narration and letters, emails, student essays and other forms of amusing correspondence, Small Admissions is a fun and fast-paced read.

Amy Poeppel lets readers into the elite world of private schools with this entertaining novel. Kate Pearson is adrift after being dumped by a boyfriend and the world of academia. With the help of two good friends and a busybody sister, Kate steps off the beaten path and right into the doors of a snobbish private school. It's a school where parents start conniving for admittance as soon as their little Einsteins can hold a crayon. With wit and humor, Poeppel shows that rejection isn't always a bad thing.