Debut novelists Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman have written a dramatic and captivating narrative on the college admissions process at an elite private school. Seattle’s Elliot Bay Academy has just been notified that Stanford will only be allocating them one more spot in their class. Three girls, each with their own distinct and compelling hooks, are vying for it. Their moms try to intervene, leading to a bloodbath.

Alicia is a notable woman in STEM and a tech tycoon. Despite her daughter’s reluctance about Stanford, she is determined to use any and all of her money, resources and power to grab that spot. For Stanford alum Kelly, her weapon of choice is time and knowledge. As PTA president and gossip extraordinaire, she hopes to use her insider information to gain leverage over the other two and boost her anxiety-ridden daughter to the top. Lastly, we have Maren, Alicia’s personal assistant and mother to the valedictorian and all-around superstar, Winnie. When one of the girls gets into an almost fatal accident, suspicions arise over the true nature of the incident.

"[Dobmeier and Katzman] perfectly capture the toxicity of elite private schools, complete with its pressure cooker vibes, merciless gossip mill and pretentious parents."

Oftentimes, novels that revolve around this subject are quite out of touch with the actual admissions process. Plotlines tend to trivialize the grades, extracurriculars and hooks needed for acceptance into an Ivy Plus school like Stanford. GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES is refreshing in that each of the three applicants has characteristics that would appeal to a college admissions board (whether it be legacy, potential donations or overall well-roundedness). Each one believably has a shot at Stanford, which makes the story that much more engaging.

Dobmeier and Katzman clearly did quality research, as reading the book brought me back to my own experiences getting into college (in a good way). They perfectly capture the toxicity of elite private schools, complete with its pressure cooker vibes, merciless gossip mill and pretentious parents.

Strong female characters populate the book. The mothers and daughters have fascinating personalities, and it was enthralling to learn more about their motivations, histories and desires. The development arc of the mother-daughter relationships also intrigued me. All three evolve in different ways as the all-important application deadlines approach.

GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES is incredibly relevant, especially as our society reels from the Varsity Blues scandal. For those who want to reflect on and laugh about the crazy admissions process, this will be a fun and enjoyable read.