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The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association
Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them – ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale.
When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.
As Vivian careens from hellhounds in the school corridors and demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with all the arcane secrets of her new society – shops only accessible by magic portal, the brutal Trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents’ WhatsApp group.
And looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it’s about Aria. Vivian might be facing the end of days, just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out of the door…
When Vivian’s kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.
As Vivian careens from hellhounds in the school corridors and demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with all the arcane secrets of her new society – shops only accessible by magic portal, the brutal Trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents’ WhatsApp group.
And looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it’s about Aria. Vivian might be facing the end of days, just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out of the door…
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2025
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19073 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,254 reviews
May 2, 2025
What do you do when your kindergartner gets turned into a werewolf? Well, if you're Vivian and Daniel, you move to a hidden magical town in Connecticut and send your kid to a grammar school for preternatural beings. Which, I mean, sounds awesome, right? Ha. Turns out that mages can be kind of stuck up, and apparently not flunking out of magical kindergarten is harder than you'd think. Also, there's a centuries-old doomsday prophecy hanging over the town, which is especially vexing when your new neighbors think you and your child are responsible for setting said prophecy into motion.
This book is basically Harry Potter meets Pink Glass Houses meets a cozy novel, and it's a whole lot of fun. There are mages and werewolves and selkies and sirens and vampires and chthonic nymphs and all sorts of other extraordinary creatures, and apparently they can manufacture just as much drama as “mundane” folk when it comes to serving on the PTA and getting their kids into the best schools. It gets a little repetitive in the middle – there's so much bickering and mean-girling amongst the parents, you guys – but Rozakis's worldbuilding is top-notch and I really enjoyed learning about the town of Veilport and its magical inhabitants. And there are hellhounds and chupacabras. Chupacabras!
I have to admit that I didn't adore this book quite as much as Dreadful, Rozakis's previous novel, however. It has the same lighthearted, cozy, heartwarming feel to it, but the plotline for this one is much more … mundane. Sure, the characters are (mostly) all magical and otherworldly, but at its core, it's basically a story about a bunch of wealthy private school parents doing wealthy private school parent things. It's still an entertaining, humorous story in its own right, though, and it'll likely resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they don't quite fit in with the other perfectly-perfect moms at the school PTA meetings. But definitely go read Dreadful too, if you haven't already. There are no chupacabras in it, unfortunately, but it's otherwise delightful.
My overall rating: 3.85 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is May 27, 2025.
This book is basically Harry Potter meets Pink Glass Houses meets a cozy novel, and it's a whole lot of fun. There are mages and werewolves and selkies and sirens and vampires and chthonic nymphs and all sorts of other extraordinary creatures, and apparently they can manufacture just as much drama as “mundane” folk when it comes to serving on the PTA and getting their kids into the best schools. It gets a little repetitive in the middle – there's so much bickering and mean-girling amongst the parents, you guys – but Rozakis's worldbuilding is top-notch and I really enjoyed learning about the town of Veilport and its magical inhabitants. And there are hellhounds and chupacabras. Chupacabras!
I have to admit that I didn't adore this book quite as much as Dreadful, Rozakis's previous novel, however. It has the same lighthearted, cozy, heartwarming feel to it, but the plotline for this one is much more … mundane. Sure, the characters are (mostly) all magical and otherworldly, but at its core, it's basically a story about a bunch of wealthy private school parents doing wealthy private school parent things. It's still an entertaining, humorous story in its own right, though, and it'll likely resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they don't quite fit in with the other perfectly-perfect moms at the school PTA meetings. But definitely go read Dreadful too, if you haven't already. There are no chupacabras in it, unfortunately, but it's otherwise delightful.
My overall rating: 3.85 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is May 27, 2025.
February 21, 2026
In a Nutshell: A cozy fantasy garnishing a parent-school drama with cryptids and competitions and prophecies. Great concept, average execution, annoying adult characters. Think ‘Big Little Lies’ (PTA politics) plus ‘Gilmore Girls’ (mother-child drama) plus ‘Wednesday’ (cryptid magic), but without the charm. Might work better if you expect a parenting drama with mild fantastical vibes than a cozy fantasy featuring parents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Of the seven words in the title, the three words with the smallest font size on the cover are actually the most important to remember if you want to go into this book with the right expectations: ‘Parent Teacher Association’. Sadly for me, I looked more at the “Grimoire Grammar School” part and anticipated an entertaining novel with plenty of magical mayhem at school. Magic is also present in the book, but the main focus of the plot is not on the school or its students but on the parents, which creates a somewhat lacklustre plotline.
If you are a parent, you already know how crazy school WhatsApp groups can get. The politics, the bitching about homework and teachers, the comparisons with other students, the competition with other parents, the snide remarks about anything that’s not considered up to par – it is challenging to keep your calm while dealing with such alpha parents. Sadly, this book is full of such specimens!
In a story full of so many characters, the only main variety present in the parents’ background is not in wealth or race or religion but in species. We have werewolves, selkies, mermaids (in siren form), vampires, ghosts, and of course, ordinary mortals. This amazing worldbuilding should have led to entertaining proceedings. However, the behaviour of all the parent characters is almost exactly the same, and this monotony gets on the nerves after a point.
Vivian as the lead could have been a saving grace, but she has no sense of self-respect. She is dogmatic about being the only one who knows what’s best for her child, and even if her husband tries to get her to think rationally, she doesn’t. That said, her will is strong mainly in front of Daniel. She allows the other characters to walk all over her, making her seem whiny in private and spineless in public. Her dominant feeling is always of anxiety and she is also really poor at communicating her true feelings verbally. Her mom guilt plus helicopter-parenting approach ensured my disconnect. But the reason I disliked her the most and found it impossible to support her is her excessively judgemental behaviour in her inner monologues. She gauges everyone based on appearance and doesn’t even spare her own daughter’s looks from her critical eye. Daniel could have been a sensible counterbalance, but he too indulges in gaslighting. Anyway, his role is too meagre to make that much of a difference. It is Vivian’s show all the way.
The child characters are better in comparison, but as the focus is more on the parents, the children are barely used to their full potential. Aria is especially sweet and I’d have loved to see her getting a more active role in the story. After all, she was the reason the family shifted to the new magical town. Of course, her werewolf side is incorporated well in the plot. I especially loved the canine-connected allergies – really clever.
The school setting was used decently. All the usual education pressures and unrealistic school requirements that we see in human schools seem to be a feature of mage schools as well. Many chapters begin with a message sent by the school and containing a pedantic instruction or update – these were hilariously accurate! There is also a running joke whereby several Potter-esque phenomena are alluded to without using the terms from the Harry Potter series and any comparison with HP is vehemently denied by the residents.
Most of the story can be tagged as a serious parenting drama, despite the magical undertone and despite the promise of humour. The basic plot is quite simplistic, which makes the middle section a bit repetitive and boring. The proceedings get somewhat dark at times thanks to a dire prophecy. One tense scene that comes out of nowhere was the “active shooter” alert at the school. That was almost panic-inducing, and certainly not something I expected to see in a cozy fantasy. I think school shooting scenes need to come with a trigger warning; it’s the biggest nightmare for parents.
The ending is a damp squib, with the villain reveal creating a pull-the-rug kind of finale. I am not a huge fan of the ‘Chosen One’ trope, but I did like it here to some extent, especially because it didn’t go the way I expected it to.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 41 min, is narrated by Megan Tusing. This is my first time listening a book narrated by her, and I liked her voice and performance. If you are interested in the book, the audio is definitely a good way to go, as long as you don’t get bogged down by numerous characters.
Overall, I am slightly disappointed at how this went; there was some solid potential here to create a memorable and slightly comical PTA fantasy. But it ended up being a mostly typical PTA drama with some added magic. I would have enjoyed it more had the children received more focus, but the title was spot on about the PTA being the focal point. I might still have liked the book better had I been able to connect more with Vivian, but her behaviour simply didn’t endear her to me.
Recommended to those who will enjoy PTA stories with a dash of fantasy. It offers decent entertainment, as long as you stop overthinking.
2.75 stars.
My thanks to Tantor Audio for providing the ALC of “The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
When five-year-old Aria was bitten by a werewolf, her parents Vivian and Daniel had no choice but to move to a hidden magical community in New England that has a special school for such children. Living in a new neighbourhood filled with mages and cryptids isn't easy, especially when you are a mere human. But Vivian is determined that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Aria gets the future she deserves, even if it means learning ancient magic and interacting with cranky ghosts and facing a dire prophecy that no one wants to speak about.
The story comes to us from Vivian’s third-person perspective.
Of the seven words in the title, the three words with the smallest font size on the cover are actually the most important to remember if you want to go into this book with the right expectations: ‘Parent Teacher Association’. Sadly for me, I looked more at the “Grimoire Grammar School” part and anticipated an entertaining novel with plenty of magical mayhem at school. Magic is also present in the book, but the main focus of the plot is not on the school or its students but on the parents, which creates a somewhat lacklustre plotline.
If you are a parent, you already know how crazy school WhatsApp groups can get. The politics, the bitching about homework and teachers, the comparisons with other students, the competition with other parents, the snide remarks about anything that’s not considered up to par – it is challenging to keep your calm while dealing with such alpha parents. Sadly, this book is full of such specimens!
In a story full of so many characters, the only main variety present in the parents’ background is not in wealth or race or religion but in species. We have werewolves, selkies, mermaids (in siren form), vampires, ghosts, and of course, ordinary mortals. This amazing worldbuilding should have led to entertaining proceedings. However, the behaviour of all the parent characters is almost exactly the same, and this monotony gets on the nerves after a point.
Vivian as the lead could have been a saving grace, but she has no sense of self-respect. She is dogmatic about being the only one who knows what’s best for her child, and even if her husband tries to get her to think rationally, she doesn’t. That said, her will is strong mainly in front of Daniel. She allows the other characters to walk all over her, making her seem whiny in private and spineless in public. Her dominant feeling is always of anxiety and she is also really poor at communicating her true feelings verbally. Her mom guilt plus helicopter-parenting approach ensured my disconnect. But the reason I disliked her the most and found it impossible to support her is her excessively judgemental behaviour in her inner monologues. She gauges everyone based on appearance and doesn’t even spare her own daughter’s looks from her critical eye. Daniel could have been a sensible counterbalance, but he too indulges in gaslighting. Anyway, his role is too meagre to make that much of a difference. It is Vivian’s show all the way.
The child characters are better in comparison, but as the focus is more on the parents, the children are barely used to their full potential. Aria is especially sweet and I’d have loved to see her getting a more active role in the story. After all, she was the reason the family shifted to the new magical town. Of course, her werewolf side is incorporated well in the plot. I especially loved the canine-connected allergies – really clever.
The school setting was used decently. All the usual education pressures and unrealistic school requirements that we see in human schools seem to be a feature of mage schools as well. Many chapters begin with a message sent by the school and containing a pedantic instruction or update – these were hilariously accurate! There is also a running joke whereby several Potter-esque phenomena are alluded to without using the terms from the Harry Potter series and any comparison with HP is vehemently denied by the residents.
Most of the story can be tagged as a serious parenting drama, despite the magical undertone and despite the promise of humour. The basic plot is quite simplistic, which makes the middle section a bit repetitive and boring. The proceedings get somewhat dark at times thanks to a dire prophecy. One tense scene that comes out of nowhere was the “active shooter” alert at the school. That was almost panic-inducing, and certainly not something I expected to see in a cozy fantasy. I think school shooting scenes need to come with a trigger warning; it’s the biggest nightmare for parents.
The ending is a damp squib, with the villain reveal creating a pull-the-rug kind of finale. I am not a huge fan of the ‘Chosen One’ trope, but I did like it here to some extent, especially because it didn’t go the way I expected it to.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 41 min, is narrated by Megan Tusing. This is my first time listening a book narrated by her, and I liked her voice and performance. If you are interested in the book, the audio is definitely a good way to go, as long as you don’t get bogged down by numerous characters.
Overall, I am slightly disappointed at how this went; there was some solid potential here to create a memorable and slightly comical PTA fantasy. But it ended up being a mostly typical PTA drama with some added magic. I would have enjoyed it more had the children received more focus, but the title was spot on about the PTA being the focal point. I might still have liked the book better had I been able to connect more with Vivian, but her behaviour simply didn’t endear her to me.
Recommended to those who will enjoy PTA stories with a dash of fantasy. It offers decent entertainment, as long as you stop overthinking.
2.75 stars.
My thanks to Tantor Audio for providing the ALC of “The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
August 6, 2025
Vivian just had to make a good impression. In a town where she was by definition an outsider, in a culture she couldn’t hope to join, with nothing less than her daughter’s entire future riding on her success. She swallowed, her mouth gone dry.
Vivian and Daniel have to move to a new town with their kindergarten daughter Aria for school when she gets bitten by a werewolf and join The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, which seems to have as many pitfalls for mundane reasons as for ignorance of magic culture. They all scramble with additional responsibilities, each dealing with the move in their own way, to try and fit in here as they don't think they'll get a chance like this in any other place.
Caitlin Rozakis writes a biting satire (sometimes too sharply), of the pressures the education system places on students and their parents, with a clarity that probably arose from some degree of familiarity but also a lot of wit to help them tide over their growing pains. And the characters do grow a lot, even the parents, as they realise they weren't as alone in this fight as they had originally thought - they just have to look for true friends.
Though primarily meant to be a cozy fantasy, the novel also takes a long look at how difficult it is to adjust to a new community with new rules, and how anxiety inducing it can be. While magical prophecies and doomsday proclamations can overset any event, the parents learn that sometimes it is the more mundane things like greed, ambition and fiduciary deception that can really hurt a community. The plot and narration tries to achieve a good balance of the fantastic new magics and cute kindergartener antics with the darker aspects of being the new-comers in over their heads, and sometimes the difficulties overweigh the fantastic but it was good to see therapy sessions having a positive effect through the book.
On the whole, recommended for anyone looking for cozy school fantasy with witty writing and a dash of reality mirrored in it.
She’d read her share of fantasy novels. Like most kids, she’d pictured herself in the role of the Chosen One plenty of times. She hadn’t given much thought to what it might be like to realize your kid wasn’t the Chosen One. Worse, was the Unchosen One, the bad guy in the prophecy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan publishers for the advanced reader copy, all opinions are honest.
🌟🌟🌟1/2🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the story and themes; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 1/2 stars in total.]
Vivian and Daniel have to move to a new town with their kindergarten daughter Aria for school when she gets bitten by a werewolf and join The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, which seems to have as many pitfalls for mundane reasons as for ignorance of magic culture. They all scramble with additional responsibilities, each dealing with the move in their own way, to try and fit in here as they don't think they'll get a chance like this in any other place.
Caitlin Rozakis writes a biting satire (sometimes too sharply), of the pressures the education system places on students and their parents, with a clarity that probably arose from some degree of familiarity but also a lot of wit to help them tide over their growing pains. And the characters do grow a lot, even the parents, as they realise they weren't as alone in this fight as they had originally thought - they just have to look for true friends.
Though primarily meant to be a cozy fantasy, the novel also takes a long look at how difficult it is to adjust to a new community with new rules, and how anxiety inducing it can be. While magical prophecies and doomsday proclamations can overset any event, the parents learn that sometimes it is the more mundane things like greed, ambition and fiduciary deception that can really hurt a community. The plot and narration tries to achieve a good balance of the fantastic new magics and cute kindergartener antics with the darker aspects of being the new-comers in over their heads, and sometimes the difficulties overweigh the fantastic but it was good to see therapy sessions having a positive effect through the book.
On the whole, recommended for anyone looking for cozy school fantasy with witty writing and a dash of reality mirrored in it.
She’d read her share of fantasy novels. Like most kids, she’d pictured herself in the role of the Chosen One plenty of times. She hadn’t given much thought to what it might be like to realize your kid wasn’t the Chosen One. Worse, was the Unchosen One, the bad guy in the prophecy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan publishers for the advanced reader copy, all opinions are honest.
🌟🌟🌟1/2🌟
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the world-building; 3/4 star for the story and themes; 3/4 star for the writing - 3 1/2 stars in total.]
May 20, 2025
Was this bad? Probably not, but it differed quite a lot from my expectations, and ultimately was not for me. I genuinely empathize with parents' struggles to raise their kids and navigate school politics, but it doesn't typically interest me to read about. I hoped the focus would be more on the fantasy element, which did intrigue me and I thought the world building was fun. I also hoped this book would be funnier, as I found it pretty tense for the most part. Maybe the humour just didn't really land for me.
December 29, 2024
This book knows that our kids deserve better, even if our kids are werewolves. An adorable and hilarious journey through the anxieties of parenting a magical kid enrolled in a questionable schooling system. A little apocalyptic humor reminds us that a fight at school isn't the end of the world--unless it literally is.
August 1, 2025
I'm sad I didn't like this one very much. It was much less fun and funny than I was hoping it would be, with that premise. (That premise: a young couple's five year old daughter is bitten by a werewolf and then becomes a werewolf herself, upon which they discover there is a secret magical world among the mundane one. Then there is a PTA, but at a mAgiC sChOoL.)
Where I wish this had been more lighthearted and focused on the school and magic aspects, this was much more focused on the difficulties the MC has learning how to navigate her five year old werewolf, and other things I'm generally not very interested in in books about parents and married couples. I know this will work much better for other people, but I am in mourning for that very silly magical PTA book.
I did very much enjoy the werewolves in this book. They were by far the best part of the book, and the way that Rozakis took the MC's story arc was surprising, because I had been dreading it going a certain way that it thankfully did not.
All in all, this magical school book felt way more mundane and serious than I wanted it to be, and that's not the book's fault, but I'm still sad about it.
Where I wish this had been more lighthearted and focused on the school and magic aspects, this was much more focused on the difficulties the MC has learning how to navigate her five year old werewolf, and other things I'm generally not very interested in in books about parents and married couples. I know this will work much better for other people, but I am in mourning for that very silly magical PTA book.
I did very much enjoy the werewolves in this book. They were by far the best part of the book, and the way that Rozakis took the MC's story arc was surprising, because I had been dreading it going a certain way that it thankfully did not.
All in all, this magical school book felt way more mundane and serious than I wanted it to be, and that's not the book's fault, but I'm still sad about it.
December 11, 2025
But, just as one should not bring a knife to a gunfight, one should not bring brownies to a magic school picnic.
I didn't know what to expect when I first picked this book up, but it wasn't the surprisingly emotional story that I got. The cover and synopsis give cute and cozy, but just as much as this is a laugh-out-loud funny book full of an overzealous child werewolf's antics and a frustrated stay-at-home mother's snark... it's also a remarkable tale of finding where you belong, fighting back against bullies (both kids AND adults), learning to forgive yourself, and getting through the tough times with the people who matter most to you.
I can understand why Grimoire didn't work for everyone. Viv, our protagonist, is frustratingly dense at times and struggles to speak up when she needs to—but as someone who has grown up terrified of conflict (and is only recently beginning to overcome that fear), I related a lot to her struggles. Couple that with the tendency to blame ourselves for every little thing that happens to our kids, which I know a lot of my fellow parents will empathize with, and let's just say that I spent a great deal of this book wanting to shake Viv AND seeing myself in her at the same time.
But there is so much growth within these pages, especially when it comes to Viv and her husband Daniel (who I didn't expect to love in the end, but I'm a sucker for a clueless dad's redemption arc!). And there are so many lovable side characters that we get to know! I would happily read a series of vignettes about many of the other families at the school.
All in all, Grimoire is a solidly character-driven, mostly slice-of-life tale that won't work for everyone, but I'm so happy to say that it worked for me.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
✨ Representation: queer side characters, BIPOC side characters, depression, anxiety, ADHD
✨ Content warnings for:
June 5, 2025
Just a palate cleanser, nothing more.
This was a good book to read in only a few sittings. I know by now that cosy fantasy will never be rated highly by me. The satire tone was fun, and the obvious nods to some pop culture icons had its charm. I think you will like this if you liked the school structure in Wednesday (the Netflix series), it has a very similar setting of all kinds of magical creatures being at a school. Only in this book we follow a mom of one of the kids, instead of following a student. The mom was too insecure for my liking, the conflict that happened because of her insecurities dragged out too long.
I struggled to picture some of the scenes, especially during action-heavy moments. The descriptions felt too minimal, and I couldn’t quite grasp how things were meant to look or where characters were in the space. It needed more grounding detail. While some scenes were meant to be very serious, the contrast with the almost cartoonish parts were somewhat jarring. This book tries to not take itself very seriously, while at the same time it tries to get a serious message across in the mom's conflict with her family, and that just didn't mesh nicely.
Maybe it's a coincidence, but this is the second time in a book published in the first half of 2025 by Titan that has mistakes in its finished work. We have a character called Daniel who twice was referred to as David, and I made sure, that's not his nickname. The other book that had mistakes was Anji Kills A King, there were multiple typos in the book (for example, the second sentence in chapter 8). I think the Titan editing team needs to have a look at the work they are releasing, because I would expect a traditional publishing house to be more on top of their precision.
This would be a great book to read on holiday, it's simple, quick-paced and easy entertainment. But does it do anything special? No.
This was a good book to read in only a few sittings. I know by now that cosy fantasy will never be rated highly by me. The satire tone was fun, and the obvious nods to some pop culture icons had its charm. I think you will like this if you liked the school structure in Wednesday (the Netflix series), it has a very similar setting of all kinds of magical creatures being at a school. Only in this book we follow a mom of one of the kids, instead of following a student. The mom was too insecure for my liking, the conflict that happened because of her insecurities dragged out too long.
I struggled to picture some of the scenes, especially during action-heavy moments. The descriptions felt too minimal, and I couldn’t quite grasp how things were meant to look or where characters were in the space. It needed more grounding detail. While some scenes were meant to be very serious, the contrast with the almost cartoonish parts were somewhat jarring. This book tries to not take itself very seriously, while at the same time it tries to get a serious message across in the mom's conflict with her family, and that just didn't mesh nicely.
Maybe it's a coincidence, but this is the second time in a book published in the first half of 2025 by Titan that has mistakes in its finished work. We have a character called Daniel who twice was referred to as David, and I made sure, that's not his nickname. The other book that had mistakes was Anji Kills A King, there were multiple typos in the book (for example, the second sentence in chapter 8). I think the Titan editing team needs to have a look at the work they are releasing, because I would expect a traditional publishing house to be more on top of their precision.
This would be a great book to read on holiday, it's simple, quick-paced and easy entertainment. But does it do anything special? No.
June 4, 2025
2 stars
I almost dnf this one a couple of times mostly because of the husband and the way he gaslighted every single feeling Vivian had, and how awful he was generally... I just can't deal with that.
I expected cute and fun, but I didn't get that. Maybe I'm just not in the mood, I don't know. I just know it didn't work for me.
thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I almost dnf this one a couple of times mostly because of the husband and the way he gaslighted every single feeling Vivian had, and how awful he was generally... I just can't deal with that.
I expected cute and fun, but I didn't get that. Maybe I'm just not in the mood, I don't know. I just know it didn't work for me.
thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Did not finish
February 24, 2026I got to page 197 and just couldn’t do it anymore! Bored out of my mind and Vivian was giving me anxiety because she cared way too much what other parents think of her. While I have had similar feeling and issues when my kids were younger, I did not however cater to their needs in order to fit in within their societal standards.
April 11, 2025
Being a mother to a kindergarten is hard. It is even worse when your daughter is bitten by a werewolf and must attend a magical school within a hidden community.
Just because they have magic, it doesn’t mean that there is a fairy godmother to help out (even then, you have to pay and they can’t really do that much except babysit).
I liked that Rozakis leaned into the Harry Potter comparison. Of course, with a magical school, this will always be the stats quo (unfortunately). However, she never names the franchise and instead cleverly alludes to it.
“Lucius isn’t from, uh,” Vivian stuttered to a halt, realizing exactly how odd it would be to name a Black mage’s kid after the racist villain in a series about child wizards.
This had a focus on adulting. On how to be a mother, a wife, a friend, an individual all at the same time. How do you balance everything?
Vivian finds she can’t and finds herself directing all her energy into Aria fitting in to this new environment.
I think parents would probably appreciate this more than other readers, however I am a single 21 year old university student and I still found many moments to laugh at and empathise with.
It is a magical world with unicorns, spells, elixirs, sirens, and much more… Yet, Vivian as a main character is very rooted in reality and her observations are bubbling on accepted hysteria - a running monologue that kept me entertained.
This semester, we’re pleased to offer a new hot lunch option for families who wish to purchase lunch for their child. We can support a number of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, raw meat only, liquid only, kosher, blood-based, gluten-free, and bottled emotions captured from living human souls.
I have to shout out the Class WhatsApp’s group chat because it was funnily realistic - even if their problems tended more magical. Also, the school notices.
There is also representation of therapy and medication - yay!
I think the pacing was slightly uneven and I just kept wishing Vivian would talk to others - which I guess is kind of the point of the book.
I admit to seeing the reveal coming quite early on and I do wish we got more of the magic and the hidden town and the classes.
But I would argue this is less plot focused and more close character development.
Arc gifted by Titan.
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Just because they have magic, it doesn’t mean that there is a fairy godmother to help out (even then, you have to pay and they can’t really do that much except babysit).
I liked that Rozakis leaned into the Harry Potter comparison. Of course, with a magical school, this will always be the stats quo (unfortunately). However, she never names the franchise and instead cleverly alludes to it.
“Lucius isn’t from, uh,” Vivian stuttered to a halt, realizing exactly how odd it would be to name a Black mage’s kid after the racist villain in a series about child wizards.
This had a focus on adulting. On how to be a mother, a wife, a friend, an individual all at the same time. How do you balance everything?
Vivian finds she can’t and finds herself directing all her energy into Aria fitting in to this new environment.
I think parents would probably appreciate this more than other readers, however I am a single 21 year old university student and I still found many moments to laugh at and empathise with.
It is a magical world with unicorns, spells, elixirs, sirens, and much more… Yet, Vivian as a main character is very rooted in reality and her observations are bubbling on accepted hysteria - a running monologue that kept me entertained.
This semester, we’re pleased to offer a new hot lunch option for families who wish to purchase lunch for their child. We can support a number of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, raw meat only, liquid only, kosher, blood-based, gluten-free, and bottled emotions captured from living human souls.
I have to shout out the Class WhatsApp’s group chat because it was funnily realistic - even if their problems tended more magical. Also, the school notices.
There is also representation of therapy and medication - yay!
I think the pacing was slightly uneven and I just kept wishing Vivian would talk to others - which I guess is kind of the point of the book.
I admit to seeing the reveal coming quite early on and I do wish we got more of the magic and the hidden town and the classes.
But I would argue this is less plot focused and more close character development.
Arc gifted by Titan.
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Did not finish
October 25, 2025Just to point out I thought this would be way more YA or cozy than it turned out to be. I was expecting a bit more like Dreadful but fair play, the blurb hints really strongly at its real vibe I just did not read it carefully enough (I actually avoid reading blurbs or reviews for things I already made my mind up that I want to read in order to avoid spoilers).
The real genre of this book is that it's a mom fiction book. Upper middle class mom with a supernatural, newly bitten werewolf 5 year old daughter goes to a posh school, and a lot of mom group dynamics. Think Big Little Lies done as Harry Potter fanfic (HP is not namecalled but there is reference that totally hinted at and it seems very similar) but in New England and in an expensive american private school setting
It was not what I was expecting but I might have liked it just the same - I did love Big Little Lies after all. But somehow our PoV mom, Vivian, is so neurotic, so much thought and self consciousness about which is the most optimal choice ever for her daughter, the social climbing so intensive and obsessive, the humor not funny enough, it's suffocating and I am just putting this aside. (Aria is very cute as a puppy, admittedly, but not enough..)
The real genre of this book is that it's a mom fiction book. Upper middle class mom with a supernatural, newly bitten werewolf 5 year old daughter goes to a posh school, and a lot of mom group dynamics. Think Big Little Lies done as Harry Potter fanfic (HP is not namecalled but there is reference that totally hinted at and it seems very similar) but in New England and in an expensive american private school setting
It was not what I was expecting but I might have liked it just the same - I did love Big Little Lies after all. But somehow our PoV mom, Vivian, is so neurotic, so much thought and self consciousness about which is the most optimal choice ever for her daughter, the social climbing so intensive and obsessive, the humor not funny enough, it's suffocating and I am just putting this aside. (Aria is very cute as a puppy, admittedly, but not enough..)
April 30, 2025
DNF @ 65%.
I tried to like this, I really did. Got pretty far, but then the elements I was struggling with really exploded and I just couldn’t take it anymore.
From the beginning I thought Daniel was a typical fictional husband, and by that I mean self-absorbed and more or less fucking useless. As usual his wife, our protagonist, is juggling fifteen different things, most of them really mentally and emotionally difficult, and he does nothing but make it worse. The big argument at the gala pissed me the fuck off because here’s Vivian with all her valid criticism and Daniel makes himself the victim and guilts her for everything while taking absolutely no accountability. Typical loser husband shit. I fucking despised him.
Vivian does not stand up for herself, her daughter, or anything she stands for up until this point in the novel. If she does at a later point, well….I consider that way too fucking late in the story to grow a backbone.
No, nope, no. The idea of a protagonist having a Chosen One as their child, and entering a magical supernatural community really abruptly seemed fun and unique, but the characters and all the disconnected scenes of this story just didn’t work for me.
I tried to like this, I really did. Got pretty far, but then the elements I was struggling with really exploded and I just couldn’t take it anymore.
From the beginning I thought Daniel was a typical fictional husband, and by that I mean self-absorbed and more or less fucking useless. As usual his wife, our protagonist, is juggling fifteen different things, most of them really mentally and emotionally difficult, and he does nothing but make it worse. The big argument at the gala pissed me the fuck off because here’s Vivian with all her valid criticism and Daniel makes himself the victim and guilts her for everything while taking absolutely no accountability. Typical loser husband shit. I fucking despised him.
Vivian does not stand up for herself, her daughter, or anything she stands for up until this point in the novel. If she does at a later point, well….I consider that way too fucking late in the story to grow a backbone.
No, nope, no. The idea of a protagonist having a Chosen One as their child, and entering a magical supernatural community really abruptly seemed fun and unique, but the characters and all the disconnected scenes of this story just didn’t work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2026
I loved this book. It also gave me some serious anxiety but overall, I had a really good time and I’m already looking forward to the next book.
This is exactly how I’d imagine things going if my child was suddenly supernatural tomorrow and we’d have to enroll her in a new school and join a magical community. It has the struggles of fitting in, raising kids, how hard all that can be on a marriage… I love how realistic and relatable it felt.
At some points, I was so nervous and on edge because I knew exactly how the MC was feeling about certain situations. Those scenes were just on point. The emotions, both positive and negative, came through the page really well.
Would this book be boring to some readers that like epic adventures? Maybe. But to me, someone with toddler that’s very headstrong and emotional right now, this kept me anchored in the now while also letting me escape to another reality at the same time. It just felt like the right book for me.
This is exactly how I’d imagine things going if my child was suddenly supernatural tomorrow and we’d have to enroll her in a new school and join a magical community. It has the struggles of fitting in, raising kids, how hard all that can be on a marriage… I love how realistic and relatable it felt.
At some points, I was so nervous and on edge because I knew exactly how the MC was feeling about certain situations. Those scenes were just on point. The emotions, both positive and negative, came through the page really well.
Would this book be boring to some readers that like epic adventures? Maybe. But to me, someone with toddler that’s very headstrong and emotional right now, this kept me anchored in the now while also letting me escape to another reality at the same time. It just felt like the right book for me.
June 29, 2025
Light and fizzy, delivering exactly as promised.
Anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t fit in but needed to in order to support their kids, support their partner, or support a friend will recognize the challenges of navigating an unfamiliar social dynamic. Apparently it’s the same whether you are magical, cryptid, or mundane, because people can’t help but be people.
This is nicely written and doesn’t get too bogged down or taken itself too seriously. It’s a fun read with some serious things to say, but also light enough that you can just read and enjoy.
Anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t fit in but needed to in order to support their kids, support their partner, or support a friend will recognize the challenges of navigating an unfamiliar social dynamic. Apparently it’s the same whether you are magical, cryptid, or mundane, because people can’t help but be people.
This is nicely written and doesn’t get too bogged down or taken itself too seriously. It’s a fun read with some serious things to say, but also light enough that you can just read and enjoy.
September 17, 2025
Funny as all heck, especially if you've ever even dipped a toe into school politics, as a parent or educator! I was laughing throughout, when I wasn't absolutely filled with outrage. The beginning was a little rocky, in my opinion, but then once it got going?! LOVE. A lot to say about self worth, marriage, how you (and your relationships) change after having a baby, neighborhood politics, there's a lot going on! And the magic is also fun and whimsical and fascinating!
October 4, 2025
DNFing at 80% in. I'm really sad to have to DNF this as I liked Rozakis' other book, but this has not been an enjoyable ride for me. The magical creature aspect of it is cute, but the political nuances throughout the book and bringing in social issues of today along with highly focusing on parental issues of today to someone who is childless, is just not an enjoyable read. I thought maybe the book would focus more on the magical aspects of the story, but this is PTA drama in a nutshell. Pick it up if you are interested, it's a pass for me.
June 26, 2025
This was not a fun magical satire but a sad mom drama. If you’re looking for another Dreadful, pass on this.
November 6, 2025
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it but I had such a great time. It was really refreshing to read a fantasy book focused on a married couple and young family dynamics. This was definitely cosy and fun as advertised but it was also wholesome and surprisingly heart breaking at times. This was such a pleasant surprise and I’d very happily read more stories set in this world in the future.
May 20, 2025
4.5 stars
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis is a funny, raw and incredibly heartfelt read.
Vivian Tanaka, our main protagonist, is dealing with a lot. Having recently moved house she’s not only coping with trying to fit into an entirely new town but also a magical one. You see Vivian’s daughter, Aria, is no ordinary five year old, she’s also a werewolf. We see Vivian struggle to make friends with other parents from Aria’s school, to understand her daughter’s werewolf abilities and needs, and we see her struggle to openly communicate with her husband, Daniel. Then there’s a prophecy that Vivian must uncover before it destroys her family.
Although this book is cosy and believe me there’s plenty of werewolf fun too, fundamentally this is also about Viv’s journey. This was an aspect I wasn’t expecting, to see the emotional turmoil of a mother just trying to do her best but having no idea what that was, well it was so poignant. Viv is essentially lonely, she can’t see that she deserves happiness and she desperately clings to people who are of high social status thinking they will help her belong. How many times have we ourselves been blinded to our own flaws or wrapped up in doubt? Rozakis shows that yes, even adults have their social clique’s and struggle to find their place, but with a little help, we can get there.
If you put a prophecy in a book then I’m one happy reader because I love them. Rozakis uses the Reckoning prophecy here as the main narrative arc and as a way to show the history surrounding Veilport, the magical town where they live. Viv’s research into the prophecy uncovers a lot and it was so much fun discovering which parts of the prophecy was being played out and then trying to predict which part would happen next and which characters it hinted at being involved.
Grimoire Grammar School is a book I’m sure parents, carers and teachers will easily relate to and feel seen. Yet it’s also a tale about werewolves, sorcerers, cloud boats, grumbling ghosts and a prophecy of doom. Rozakis’ juxtaposition here of a very raw representation of a contemporary new mother and the array of bizarre magical elements was just fantastic!
ARC Provided by Kabriya at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis is a funny, raw and incredibly heartfelt read.
Vivian Tanaka, our main protagonist, is dealing with a lot. Having recently moved house she’s not only coping with trying to fit into an entirely new town but also a magical one. You see Vivian’s daughter, Aria, is no ordinary five year old, she’s also a werewolf. We see Vivian struggle to make friends with other parents from Aria’s school, to understand her daughter’s werewolf abilities and needs, and we see her struggle to openly communicate with her husband, Daniel. Then there’s a prophecy that Vivian must uncover before it destroys her family.
Although this book is cosy and believe me there’s plenty of werewolf fun too, fundamentally this is also about Viv’s journey. This was an aspect I wasn’t expecting, to see the emotional turmoil of a mother just trying to do her best but having no idea what that was, well it was so poignant. Viv is essentially lonely, she can’t see that she deserves happiness and she desperately clings to people who are of high social status thinking they will help her belong. How many times have we ourselves been blinded to our own flaws or wrapped up in doubt? Rozakis shows that yes, even adults have their social clique’s and struggle to find their place, but with a little help, we can get there.
If you put a prophecy in a book then I’m one happy reader because I love them. Rozakis uses the Reckoning prophecy here as the main narrative arc and as a way to show the history surrounding Veilport, the magical town where they live. Viv’s research into the prophecy uncovers a lot and it was so much fun discovering which parts of the prophecy was being played out and then trying to predict which part would happen next and which characters it hinted at being involved.
Grimoire Grammar School is a book I’m sure parents, carers and teachers will easily relate to and feel seen. Yet it’s also a tale about werewolves, sorcerers, cloud boats, grumbling ghosts and a prophecy of doom. Rozakis’ juxtaposition here of a very raw representation of a contemporary new mother and the array of bizarre magical elements was just fantastic!
ARC Provided by Kabriya at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
October 20, 2025
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
What wouldn't you do for your kid, especially if that child is "special". I don't mean they need a little help with reading or have to carry an EpiPen everywhere they go, I mean they turn furry unexpectedly when stressed or excited and raw meat is their new favorite treat or choice. Add to that the parental guilt that it is all your fault your child is now a werewolf and you would probably do exactly what Vivian and Daniel did. Pick up your entire life and move to a town with a school for special children in hopes that you can give your daughter the special types of learning she needs.
It is the first day of school and Vivian is desperate to fit in and make a good impression. If she can make the right mom friends at this school she can help her daughter fit in. Desperate to atone for what she thinks is her fault, Vivian is going to do anything needed to make sure her daughter succeeds in this school. So she will practice doing magic herself, figure out where to get the unusual ingredients needed for general supplies, buy a five year old the required ritual dagger, make mom friends and join The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association.
I liked the premise of this story, two non-magical parents just trying to get their five year old , Aria, through the first year or school. Which would be hard enough but then they find out Aria also has to pass some trials or else they will not be able to continue on in the school. Add the pressure of all of this onto a marriage with a few communication issues and shake, at some point it is bound to explode.
Some of this was difficult to read, because I really felt for Vivian as she tried to do right by Aria but had so many feelings of doubts and internalized the troubles Aria was having fitting in. Her daughter is at the center of some wild speculation as there is a town prophecy that appears to be coming true and if so, Aria is considered the bad seed or harbinger of doom which really cuts down on play dates.
The world building was interesting as well. How would a grammar school for mages, fae, vampires and shifters be different than your normal school and what would those functions look like? I thought the author did a great job of exploring that and making it a bit funning in the school missives sent out and the group chat for the Parent Teacher Association. Like what is an acceptable sacrifice to bring for Sowen and how are you coming on the comprehensive family history for your child.
If you have/had kids in school and you remember "helping" them with their last minute projects and trying to navigate some of the social politics at school I think parts of this will resonate with you. It is more about that and finding a new set of friends in a new town, then the actual magic school. But I liked that the journey Vivian took had plenty of bumps along the way and questions about is she doing right by her child. Because most parents know you spend a lot of time trying to assess if you are screwing up your kid for life or helping them with their journey in it.
The prophecy portion and the mystery behind it was something I caught onto fairly early but it was still interesting to see how the author had it all play out. The resolution was actually more fun than I thought it was going to be and I liked seeing Vivian's growth through the entire book while dealing with it.
Narration:
Megan Tusing is a new to me narrator. I think she captured Vivian's struggles so well and made her voice so vulnerable as she struggles with her marriage and her daughter. All of the voices in the book were distinct and that was a feat as there ended up being quite a few characters at various ages between parents and kids. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
What wouldn't you do for your kid, especially if that child is "special". I don't mean they need a little help with reading or have to carry an EpiPen everywhere they go, I mean they turn furry unexpectedly when stressed or excited and raw meat is their new favorite treat or choice. Add to that the parental guilt that it is all your fault your child is now a werewolf and you would probably do exactly what Vivian and Daniel did. Pick up your entire life and move to a town with a school for special children in hopes that you can give your daughter the special types of learning she needs.
It is the first day of school and Vivian is desperate to fit in and make a good impression. If she can make the right mom friends at this school she can help her daughter fit in. Desperate to atone for what she thinks is her fault, Vivian is going to do anything needed to make sure her daughter succeeds in this school. So she will practice doing magic herself, figure out where to get the unusual ingredients needed for general supplies, buy a five year old the required ritual dagger, make mom friends and join The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association.
I liked the premise of this story, two non-magical parents just trying to get their five year old , Aria, through the first year or school. Which would be hard enough but then they find out Aria also has to pass some trials or else they will not be able to continue on in the school. Add the pressure of all of this onto a marriage with a few communication issues and shake, at some point it is bound to explode.
Some of this was difficult to read, because I really felt for Vivian as she tried to do right by Aria but had so many feelings of doubts and internalized the troubles Aria was having fitting in. Her daughter is at the center of some wild speculation as there is a town prophecy that appears to be coming true and if so, Aria is considered the bad seed or harbinger of doom which really cuts down on play dates.
The world building was interesting as well. How would a grammar school for mages, fae, vampires and shifters be different than your normal school and what would those functions look like? I thought the author did a great job of exploring that and making it a bit funning in the school missives sent out and the group chat for the Parent Teacher Association. Like what is an acceptable sacrifice to bring for Sowen and how are you coming on the comprehensive family history for your child.
If you have/had kids in school and you remember "helping" them with their last minute projects and trying to navigate some of the social politics at school I think parts of this will resonate with you. It is more about that and finding a new set of friends in a new town, then the actual magic school. But I liked that the journey Vivian took had plenty of bumps along the way and questions about is she doing right by her child. Because most parents know you spend a lot of time trying to assess if you are screwing up your kid for life or helping them with their journey in it.
The prophecy portion and the mystery behind it was something I caught onto fairly early but it was still interesting to see how the author had it all play out. The resolution was actually more fun than I thought it was going to be and I liked seeing Vivian's growth through the entire book while dealing with it.
Vivian just had to make a good impression. In a town where she was by definition an outsider, in a culture she couldn’t hope to join, with nothing less than her daughter’s entire future riding on her success.
Narration:
Megan Tusing is a new to me narrator. I think she captured Vivian's struggles so well and made her voice so vulnerable as she struggles with her marriage and her daughter. All of the voices in the book were distinct and that was a feat as there ended up being quite a few characters at various ages between parents and kids. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
November 10, 2025
This book was advertised as being humorous... it was definitely not humorous. In fact, it was mostly just sad and frustrating. Much disappointment!
October 12, 2025
Recommend-O-Meter: HUGE yes for anyone who ever wondered how fantasy school parents kept their heads in gear
The moment I heard of a book about a magical school Parent-Teacher Association, I was sold. I’m obsessed with the uniqueness of the concept and how it dares to explore something so underrepresented in fantasy fiction: stressed parents. Because when a kid has fur and wolf ears, you can bet it comes with its own set of parenting challenges.
This story is told from the perspective of Vivian, a perfectly normal woman with a perfectly normal husband, who happens to to have a werewolf daughter. Fun times. In the wake of this lifestyle change, the family moves to a magical community and grapples with all the stress of regular preschool life plus some decidedly irregular, very new, very non-human stresses.
Let the record state that I fucking love Vivian. She’s a new werewolf mom and also definitely mentally ill (said with love, from a fellow mentally ill woman), which doesn’t bode well for her attempts to embed herself in PTA politics. I could feel her love for her daughter Aria in every word, but—and very importantly to me—also how much of her own self she’s had to restrain as a result of being a parent. It was deliciously heartbreaking to experience everything right alongside her, and I was thoroughly invested in it all. And also there’s Aria herself, a lovely little child whom I kind of want to swaddle in bubble wrap, for all the antics she gets into.
As for other characters, well. There are some good ones for sure (and I very much enjoyed the representation of LGBT and POC couples too!), but uh. They were kind of sort of overshadowed by my hatred for Vivian’s husband. As in, I wanted to swat him like a fly and then put him in a bug zapper, for what it’s worth. Both parents definitely had their issues, but my fucking god did I feel like his were way worse than the story made them out to be. I don’t want to say too much, but just know I would be giving this book a perfect score if it weren’t for the way he was handled.
But still! I love love loved the story and the setting and just the whole idea of magical parents to offset all the books already written about magical schools. While it’s definitely a strong standalone, I deeply hope Rozakis maybe considers doing a little something more with this beautiful world they’ve created.
Audio Assessment: Perfect narration, in my humble opinion. With such a large cast of characters of varying ages, it was probably difficult to make everyone sound distinct enough, but I think it was a marvelous job. I was certainly fully immersed!
[I received an ALC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]
The moment I heard of a book about a magical school Parent-Teacher Association, I was sold. I’m obsessed with the uniqueness of the concept and how it dares to explore something so underrepresented in fantasy fiction: stressed parents. Because when a kid has fur and wolf ears, you can bet it comes with its own set of parenting challenges.
This story is told from the perspective of Vivian, a perfectly normal woman with a perfectly normal husband, who happens to to have a werewolf daughter. Fun times. In the wake of this lifestyle change, the family moves to a magical community and grapples with all the stress of regular preschool life plus some decidedly irregular, very new, very non-human stresses.
Let the record state that I fucking love Vivian. She’s a new werewolf mom and also definitely mentally ill (said with love, from a fellow mentally ill woman), which doesn’t bode well for her attempts to embed herself in PTA politics. I could feel her love for her daughter Aria in every word, but—and very importantly to me—also how much of her own self she’s had to restrain as a result of being a parent. It was deliciously heartbreaking to experience everything right alongside her, and I was thoroughly invested in it all. And also there’s Aria herself, a lovely little child whom I kind of want to swaddle in bubble wrap, for all the antics she gets into.
As for other characters, well. There are some good ones for sure (and I very much enjoyed the representation of LGBT and POC couples too!), but uh. They were kind of sort of overshadowed by my hatred for Vivian’s husband. As in, I wanted to swat him like a fly and then put him in a bug zapper, for what it’s worth. Both parents definitely had their issues, but my fucking god did I feel like his were way worse than the story made them out to be. I don’t want to say too much, but just know I would be giving this book a perfect score if it weren’t for the way he was handled.
But still! I love love loved the story and the setting and just the whole idea of magical parents to offset all the books already written about magical schools. While it’s definitely a strong standalone, I deeply hope Rozakis maybe considers doing a little something more with this beautiful world they’ve created.
Audio Assessment: Perfect narration, in my humble opinion. With such a large cast of characters of varying ages, it was probably difficult to make everyone sound distinct enough, but I think it was a marvelous job. I was certainly fully immersed!
[I received an ALC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]
January 27, 2026
book was a lil long winded and things wrapped up too quickly with no real repercussions as the end. nobody is just gonna solve problems with the power of friendship and then just go on living. either way, it was still a good book, just a bit average.
May 16, 2025
3.5 star
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I will come back later with a more cohesive review, I think, but at the moment I just have to write some things down. I have mixed feelings toward this book. It's not that I think that this is bad, because it is not. It is brilliant, it is fascinating, and it is also relatable. But still, while reading it, I wasn't always so happy with it. I never thought about DNFing it, and I was always invested in the story and the characters, but I wasn't really enjoying myself. (And I know that this is not making a ton of sense, but still... it is what it is).
The idea is brilliant, and the mix of magical and mundane is wonderfully done. I loved to see the email at the beginning of each chapter, and I enjoyed the messages that we read here and there. I love this mix of styles, and they nail the magic/mundane mix perfectly.
And I find that Viv's struggles are so relatable, even if I am not a mother. But following her around felt so exhausting. And I think that the author did a great job, because the portrait she made is quite accurate. The struggle to be a good parent, to choose what is best for your children, the loneliness, and the sense of isolation, the problems between Viv and Daniel, all felt real, and it was just so easy to relate.
But at the same time, we get to explore a fascinating world, full of magical creatures, and it was nice. This is a world I would love to visit, that's for sure!
We also have a good balance between a plot that moves along nicely, relatable characters, and some really cool magic. And to be honest, I can't really say what didn't work so well for me. Sure, some things didn't make a lot of sense to me . And sometimes I wasn't Daniel's biggest fan, but I think that this has more to do with the fact that we follow Viv's POV than anything else, so this wasn't really a big thing. And yet, even if I think that the book has a brilliant idea and even if I was invested in the story and the characters, still, something didn't work perfectly well.
I don't think this book will stay with me for a long time, and even if all the characters are relatable and real, I was invested in them and all that, I didn't love them. Not one of them has taken a piece of my heart, if I can say so.
But if you are curious about this one, I still recommend it, because even if I didn't fall in love with it, I think that is a solid book, and the idea is brilliant!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I will come back later with a more cohesive review, I think, but at the moment I just have to write some things down. I have mixed feelings toward this book. It's not that I think that this is bad, because it is not. It is brilliant, it is fascinating, and it is also relatable. But still, while reading it, I wasn't always so happy with it. I never thought about DNFing it, and I was always invested in the story and the characters, but I wasn't really enjoying myself. (And I know that this is not making a ton of sense, but still... it is what it is).
The idea is brilliant, and the mix of magical and mundane is wonderfully done. I loved to see the email at the beginning of each chapter, and I enjoyed the messages that we read here and there. I love this mix of styles, and they nail the magic/mundane mix perfectly.
And I find that Viv's struggles are so relatable, even if I am not a mother. But following her around felt so exhausting. And I think that the author did a great job, because the portrait she made is quite accurate. The struggle to be a good parent, to choose what is best for your children, the loneliness, and the sense of isolation, the problems between Viv and Daniel, all felt real, and it was just so easy to relate.
But at the same time, we get to explore a fascinating world, full of magical creatures, and it was nice. This is a world I would love to visit, that's for sure!
We also have a good balance between a plot that moves along nicely, relatable characters, and some really cool magic. And to be honest, I can't really say what didn't work so well for me. Sure, some things didn't make a lot of sense to me . And sometimes I wasn't Daniel's biggest fan, but I think that this has more to do with the fact that we follow Viv's POV than anything else, so this wasn't really a big thing. And yet, even if I think that the book has a brilliant idea and even if I was invested in the story and the characters, still, something didn't work perfectly well.
I don't think this book will stay with me for a long time, and even if all the characters are relatable and real, I was invested in them and all that, I didn't love them. Not one of them has taken a piece of my heart, if I can say so.
But if you are curious about this one, I still recommend it, because even if I didn't fall in love with it, I think that is a solid book, and the idea is brilliant!
May 16, 2025
You may recognize Caitlin Rozakis as the author of Dreadful, which I had such a good time with last year. While this upcoming new release isn't as overtly funny, it does still bring the humor and is relatively lighthearted, while being more emotionally resonant and grounded in reality. It's told from the third person POV of Vivian, who moves with her husband Daniel and 5-year-old daughter Aria to a hidden magical town after Aria is turned by a werewolf. Prior to this, the family was "mundane" with no knowledge that a magical world existed, but they are now sending their daughter to an elite primary school to learn magic.
This move is a big adjustment. Vivian wants Aria to fit in and be liked, and Vivian wants that for herself, too. These aspects are some of the most affecting parts of the novel. As the anxiety-prone parent of a child who is only about a year away from starting kindergarten, this really resonated with me. Vivian's fears are so real, and the various dynamics between all of the parents felt so authentic that it was easy to empathize with Vivian. While this did bring up some anxiety in me, I also loved how much I could emotionally connect with her as a character.
The stress of dealing with a newly-turned werewolf child while adapting to a new world and some "mean girl" parent dynamics also . This was handled realistically, as was the therapy that Vivian receives for current and past issues. As a therapist, I'm sensitive to how therapy is presented in all forms of media, and this was really well done. It's important for readers to see therapy (and medication, which also comes up in the book) treated positively.
I knew after reading Dreadful that Rozakis is a good writer, but I was really impressed with this. The author portrays Vivian realistically but tenderly, never with any judgment or stigma even as readers may disagree with her behavior. Having read and enjoyed both of the books that she has penned under this name, I suspect she may become an auto-read author for me.
I read an e-ARC provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This move is a big adjustment. Vivian wants Aria to fit in and be liked, and Vivian wants that for herself, too. These aspects are some of the most affecting parts of the novel. As the anxiety-prone parent of a child who is only about a year away from starting kindergarten, this really resonated with me. Vivian's fears are so real, and the various dynamics between all of the parents felt so authentic that it was easy to empathize with Vivian. While this did bring up some anxiety in me, I also loved how much I could emotionally connect with her as a character.
The stress of dealing with a newly-turned werewolf child while adapting to a new world and some "mean girl" parent dynamics also . This was handled realistically, as was the therapy that Vivian receives for current and past issues. As a therapist, I'm sensitive to how therapy is presented in all forms of media, and this was really well done. It's important for readers to see therapy (and medication, which also comes up in the book) treated positively.
I knew after reading Dreadful that Rozakis is a good writer, but I was really impressed with this. The author portrays Vivian realistically but tenderly, never with any judgment or stigma even as readers may disagree with her behavior. Having read and enjoyed both of the books that she has penned under this name, I suspect she may become an auto-read author for me.
I read an e-ARC provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2025
Also, last chance to contribute to the Teachers Appreciation Fund! (Last year's blood donations were accepted in the spirit in which they were given, but we respectfully request that contributions be in a currency this year.)
This book just precisely hit some of the little things I do love in a fantasy book and i had so much fun with this. I'm not sure it's a perfect book, but I am giving it five stars nevertheless and can't wait for the next thing Caitlin Rozakis puts out! (At this point I checked and she has another book coming out next year and it looks amazing!)
Anyway, I loved the worldbuilding in this one. I love the little mundane-magical details, it's one of the reason I fallen in love with a certain other wizarding series that can't be named and for a standalone, I think this book manages that side even better. I actually felt this was in conversation with HP quite a lot - the different school system (I mean, we do have a kindergartener!), the criticism of the non-sensical exams. Sometimes the references were direct - as with Lucius - and I kind of wished the book didn't include it, because that felt like giving it too much credit, but... I mean, it does help that all the references are scathing.
I also loved the casual inclusivity in this one - we have some same sex couples raising kids, we have a solid amount of BIPOC characters, we have mental health discussions, we have intersectionality discussions, I was very into that and it definitely made me feel safer in Rozakis's hands!
I wished the book would lean even harder into some aspects, especially the found family vibes with , but I do understand that Viv had to go through self-accepting journey before being open to that at all.
I could continue nitpicking because there are some details that bother me a little - like mentally ill werewolf being the cause of Aria being turned - but there is a lot of great stuff that balances that out and ultimately I just had so much fun with this. I'm getting a copy for myself if I can!
January 17, 2025
*4,5/5*
I loved this book more than I thought I would originally. Just from the plot itself I knew it would be up my alley, but it took me by surprise how witty and whimsical this story was.
In this book we follow Viv as she’s struggling with adapting to her daughter’s new abilities. After an accident that turned Aria into a werewolf, her and her parents move closer to the grimoire grammar school to help her settle with kids that are similar to her. Immediately there is conflict and between accepting Aria’s new powers and family dynamics, Viv will have to figure out how to keep her family but most importantly herself safe and happy.
I loved Viv as a main character, I was able to relate to her and empathise with her daily struggles. Aria was a complete gem, she was always creating chaos and I loved every second of it. The school was such a cool setting and I enjoyed exploring the relationship between parents of different species and backgrounds interacting with each other. The drama was always on point.
I also loved the dive into the marital problems between the main couple following the accident and them having to move and restart their life. I thought it was important to show how much lack of communication and empathy for each other can deteriorate even the strongest of bonds.
I really loved the little messages at the beginning of each chapter, I thought they were a great touch and extremely funny. If you enjoyed books like “the house int he cerulean sea” or “the very secret society of irregular witches”, I think you’re going to love this one!
Thank you NetGalley and Titan books for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book more than I thought I would originally. Just from the plot itself I knew it would be up my alley, but it took me by surprise how witty and whimsical this story was.
In this book we follow Viv as she’s struggling with adapting to her daughter’s new abilities. After an accident that turned Aria into a werewolf, her and her parents move closer to the grimoire grammar school to help her settle with kids that are similar to her. Immediately there is conflict and between accepting Aria’s new powers and family dynamics, Viv will have to figure out how to keep her family but most importantly herself safe and happy.
I loved Viv as a main character, I was able to relate to her and empathise with her daily struggles. Aria was a complete gem, she was always creating chaos and I loved every second of it. The school was such a cool setting and I enjoyed exploring the relationship between parents of different species and backgrounds interacting with each other. The drama was always on point.
I also loved the dive into the marital problems between the main couple following the accident and them having to move and restart their life. I thought it was important to show how much lack of communication and empathy for each other can deteriorate even the strongest of bonds.
I really loved the little messages at the beginning of each chapter, I thought they were a great touch and extremely funny. If you enjoyed books like “the house int he cerulean sea” or “the very secret society of irregular witches”, I think you’re going to love this one!
Thank you NetGalley and Titan books for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2025
When Vivian's daughter, Aria is bitten by a werewolf she finds herself thrust into the world of elite supernatural elementary schools. She has to handle their politics, navigating snobberies, prophecies, prejudices and getting unruly kindergartener Aria through three trials to stay in the school- all while adjusting to the fact that raw meat is the new preferred reward to ice cream. Vivian and her husband Daniel find themselves struggling as a family in this new world, but will they be able to pull through together?
This took me awhile to get into because the plot moved slow at the start. However, I really liked small details and little moments with Aria. That kept me going to a point where I was invested, then the story began to move and I was fully immersed and glad I stayed because the details and story all came together to make a rich world and fulfilling read.
The world created was so much fun- so many different creatures and elements. I loved the various parent worries too,both natural and supernatural. Aria was always on the side of every moment, but such a big piece to each chapter, she kept things interesting.
I will definitely check out the other books written by this author, although I might give it time, because slogging through the beginning took awhile, even if it was worthwhile.
This took me awhile to get into because the plot moved slow at the start. However, I really liked small details and little moments with Aria. That kept me going to a point where I was invested, then the story began to move and I was fully immersed and glad I stayed because the details and story all came together to make a rich world and fulfilling read.
The world created was so much fun- so many different creatures and elements. I loved the various parent worries too,both natural and supernatural. Aria was always on the side of every moment, but such a big piece to each chapter, she kept things interesting.
I will definitely check out the other books written by this author, although I might give it time, because slogging through the beginning took awhile, even if it was worthwhile.
August 22, 2025
This book was very fun! Also what’s with all the magical stuff in modern media being on the East Coast?
Aria, my sweet little werewolf kindergartener, i love you so dearly. A tiny little wolf with a dress on? yeah i’m obsessed!
While I did have a hard time with our MC, i did understand the spiral she was going through, and as much as it made me angry, i more so wanted to see her grow, which she did.
Some of this book felt a little clunky? Some sentences that didn’t fully make sense, and sometimes we’d be in a place and i didn’t know that we got there, or one more person was there than i thought, so that did sometimes take me out of it, but overall it was very fun, and I think it was the perfect time to read it with school season starting :)
Aria, my sweet little werewolf kindergartener, i love you so dearly. A tiny little wolf with a dress on? yeah i’m obsessed!
While I did have a hard time with our MC, i did understand the spiral she was going through, and as much as it made me angry, i more so wanted to see her grow, which she did.
Some of this book felt a little clunky? Some sentences that didn’t fully make sense, and sometimes we’d be in a place and i didn’t know that we got there, or one more person was there than i thought, so that did sometimes take me out of it, but overall it was very fun, and I think it was the perfect time to read it with school season starting :)
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