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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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 546 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.
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.
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.
Bookstagram
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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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 :)
July 13, 2025
loved it.
What a splendid balance of mundane and magical. I'm rather hoping we get to follow Aria through school and see Vivian flourish as a mundane among mages.
What a splendid balance of mundane and magical. I'm rather hoping we get to follow Aria through school and see Vivian flourish as a mundane among mages.
June 10, 2025
Orphne bit her lip and gave it serious thought. "I think we need cookies."
"We do not need cookies," Vivian snapped. "We need answers."
"You're right," Orphne sighed. "Cookies won't solve this. We need pizza." (303)
"We do not need cookies," Vivian snapped. "We need answers."
"You're right," Orphne sighed. "Cookies won't solve this. We need pizza." (303)
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.
May 23, 2025
This adorable read is everything I’ve come to love from this author! Set in a charming town with a magical school at its heart, the story wraps you up in warmth and whimsy. The characters are delightful—heartwarming, quirky, and full of personality—and the cozy atmosphere made me want to jump right into the pages.
If you’re looking for a feel-good escape with magical beings, small-town vibes, and a comforting story that feels like a warm cup of tea, this is the one to pick up! Thanks to Titan books for the ARC I loved this one!
If you’re looking for a feel-good escape with magical beings, small-town vibes, and a comforting story that feels like a warm cup of tea, this is the one to pick up! Thanks to Titan books for the ARC I loved this one!
August 27, 2025
It took me a while to read this one, not because of the story or anything like that. With there being different types of cryptids, it just wasn't quite hitting right at the start of summer. Waiting a bit and going into the story closer to fall, I devoured it.
I loved the story and the characters. There are parts of it that are relatable and so real. Then of course there were parts that made me smile and laugh.
I'd definitely recommend this one, it was a fun read.
I loved the story and the characters. There are parts of it that are relatable and so real. Then of course there were parts that made me smile and laugh.
I'd definitely recommend this one, it was a fun read.
May 29, 2025
What a delightful read!
I read Dreadful earlier this year, and loved the whimsy and humor. This book captured all of that, and added in challenges of parenting and new schools for such a fun story!
I read Dreadful earlier this year, and loved the whimsy and humor. This book captured all of that, and added in challenges of parenting and new schools for such a fun story!
could-not-finish
August 6, 2025I set this aside to see if I’d miss it, but then I saw allll the other books in my TBR and I don’t have time to force it if I’m not feeling it. Back to the library it went!
June 22, 2025
Lovely little story! I'd read a sequel! Aria is the GOAT
January 19, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan for the eAR
I knew I would love this book, but I was not expecting to be so invested in it. The summary clearly made it feel like a book I would enjoy, with humour and smaller stakes but great tension. Oh boy. It was even more tension than I thought. Like, a lot.
Following Vivian as she tries to her best for her child, to integrate her family in a new community she knows very little about all the while struggling with her own guilt and rejection was way too personal. I felt so much for her and Daniel, her husband. Both are thrown into the unkown after an accident, with their daughter now a werewolf. They move to a new city, a hidden magical community and a special school, who should be able to help them support their daughter, but is quickly revealed to be... not so helpful.
Vivian, like I said, is very relatable and great main character to follow. She has snark, kindness and a huge tendency to be a people pleaser. She has to navigate a new group dynamic with the parents' of the other kids, she makes mistakes out of good faith, and has to learn to delegate a bit to have a healthy balance. Daniel was so touching too, though he is less present, given his job and his position. Aria, their daughter, is a little bomb of energy and fun, despite the challenges she has to face too.
And let's not forget about the rest of the cast, either lovable or loathsome. I really enjoyed how everything plays out, the inner dynamics, how informations are conveyed throughout the story. There are enough room to have breathing space and emotional management, and yet the plot is relentless.
Very good read, Caitlin Rozakis did a very good job at balancing tension, feelings and humour. Definitely recommend this book for readers looking for a fantastical story.
I knew I would love this book, but I was not expecting to be so invested in it. The summary clearly made it feel like a book I would enjoy, with humour and smaller stakes but great tension. Oh boy. It was even more tension than I thought. Like, a lot.
Following Vivian as she tries to her best for her child, to integrate her family in a new community she knows very little about all the while struggling with her own guilt and rejection was way too personal. I felt so much for her and Daniel, her husband. Both are thrown into the unkown after an accident, with their daughter now a werewolf. They move to a new city, a hidden magical community and a special school, who should be able to help them support their daughter, but is quickly revealed to be... not so helpful.
Vivian, like I said, is very relatable and great main character to follow. She has snark, kindness and a huge tendency to be a people pleaser. She has to navigate a new group dynamic with the parents' of the other kids, she makes mistakes out of good faith, and has to learn to delegate a bit to have a healthy balance. Daniel was so touching too, though he is less present, given his job and his position. Aria, their daughter, is a little bomb of energy and fun, despite the challenges she has to face too.
And let's not forget about the rest of the cast, either lovable or loathsome. I really enjoyed how everything plays out, the inner dynamics, how informations are conveyed throughout the story. There are enough room to have breathing space and emotional management, and yet the plot is relentless.
Very good read, Caitlin Rozakis did a very good job at balancing tension, feelings and humour. Definitely recommend this book for readers looking for a fantastical story.
did-not-finish
May 19, 2025I was actually really looking forward to reading my digital arc that I got through Netgalley. The cover sounds pretty, the story sounded funny and I loved the setting. However, it's quite clear that I'm not the target audience of this book. I'm single, my friends are single and the world of kindergarten is completely foreign to me. Since this book is mainly character driven you really need to feel a connection with these characters to be able to enjoy this book the fullest. I didn't have that connection and was quite sure I was not gonna get it. And maybe it's a good thing I'm not a parent. I'm only 22% in and yet there was so much that actually annoyed me. The lack of communication, the lack of agenda, the entitlement, the snobisme and then there's the supernatural chaos. I love universes where every storybook myth is somehow true, but I can imagine that for these parents things are insanely overwhelming. They also were for me.
I'm pretty sure a lot of people are gonna enjoy this book. I think, despite the supernatural elements, it's very relatable and realistic. There are a lot of funny elements and a lot of experiences straight out of real life. But, not out of my real life. So, I will move on to books fitting me as a person a little better.
I'm pretty sure a lot of people are gonna enjoy this book. I think, despite the supernatural elements, it's very relatable and realistic. There are a lot of funny elements and a lot of experiences straight out of real life. But, not out of my real life. So, I will move on to books fitting me as a person a little better.
June 17, 2025
I LOVED Dreadful, so I had to give this one a chance, hoping this one was just as delightful.
But unfortunately, it wasn't.
The husband was such an ass to Vivian.
Vivian was just a people-pleaser throughout almost the whole book.
There wasn't humor in this at all like in Dreadful.
The character depth was just surface level and nothing more. Aria is the daughter and feels like a side piece the entire read.
Was really bored with this one and did not enjoy it.
But unfortunately, it wasn't.
The husband was such an ass to Vivian.
Vivian was just a people-pleaser throughout almost the whole book.
There wasn't humor in this at all like in Dreadful.
The character depth was just surface level and nothing more. Aria is the daughter and feels like a side piece the entire read.
Was really bored with this one and did not enjoy it.
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.
June 12, 2025
The nitty-gritty: A twist on the magical school trope told from the parents' point of view, Caitlin Rozakis's latest is a fun, heartfelt story with wry humor and a cozy vibe.
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association was not what I expected at all, and I ended up really enjoying this rather low-key magical school story with a twist. I will admit it didn’t pull me in right away, so I struggled in the beginning. But Rozakis’s characters went through so much growth, and the interactions among them were so uplifting and sweet at times, that I was ultimately won over.
Vivian’s five-year-old daughter Aria was bitten by a werewolf (who knew such things existed!) and now she “wolfs out” in the most inconvenient places and at the worst times possible. Now she and her husband Daniel must deal with something way out of their comfort zone. Luckily, it turns out there are special schools for werewolf kids—as well as a host of other supernatural creatures—so Vivian and Daniel have packed up and moved to a new town, just so Aria can attend Grimoire Grammar School.
But fitting in isn’t going to be easy. Not only does Aria have to learn to control her wolfy impulses, but Vivian and Daniel are mundanes and don’t have any magical ability. Vivian joins the PTA and tries to get to know the other moms, but she’s getting the cold shoulder. And when weird and dangerous things start happening at school events, whispers of a prophecy start to circulate. Vivian scrambles to figure out how to keep her daughter safe, all while navigating bake sales, field day and the necessary trials to get Aria into first grade.
One thing to know about this book is that the plot isn’t the main focus, so if you like your stories full of action and plot heavy, this might not be the book for you. In fact, the action doesn’t really kick in until about halfway through, and it’s almost an afterthought. Instead of being riveted by the prophecy storyline and how Aria might be involved, I much preferred reading about Vivian and her family’s struggles to adapt to a completely new environment. Vivian was such a great character. Her cozy life has been completely turned upside down, but she never gives up. I mean, can you imagine if your five-year-old was turned into a werewolf, and you still had to enroll them in Kindergarten?
Rozakis takes traditional school elements and events and pokes fun of them, making the story very relatable to anyone with school-aged children. For example, Grimoire Grammar School is an expensive, private school, and the family is struggling to pay for everything. There’s also pressure on the students to excel, otherwise they might be kicked out. Even Kindergarteners must participate in a “trial” to determine whether or not they move up to first grade! I also loved the WhatsAp parent group, which is full of gossip and complaining. The author sprinkles these texts throughout her story, and they are all laugh-out-loud funny. And I can’t forget my favorite elementary school trauma of all—lice! Rozakis finds a fun way to skewer that right of passage, and I loved how cleverly done it was.
Each chapter is introduced with an email from the Grimoire staff to parents, reminders of upcoming events or new rules, and these emails did a great job at setting a light tone throughout the story, even when things get a little hairy near the end.
Besides the humor though, the book’s main strength is the way the characters interact with each other and the emotional connections they make. Vivian and Daniel both feel as if they’ve made a terrible mistake enrolling Aria in Grimoire Grammar School, but after all three of them are bullied in one way or another, it was heartening to watch other, nicer parents and kids welcome them into the fold. Poor little Aria is probably the worst off (at first)---trying to figure out how to be a werewolf and still follow school rules, and I loved when a werewolf pack ends up welcoming the whole family with open arms. We also see Vivian and Daniel struggling in their marriage, especially late in the school year when things with Aria are at their most stressful. I loved that the author addressed marriage counseling rather than giving them an easy resolution to their problems.
Overall, this was a fun, heartwarming read, and I will be looking forward to Caitlin Rozakis’s next book.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association was not what I expected at all, and I ended up really enjoying this rather low-key magical school story with a twist. I will admit it didn’t pull me in right away, so I struggled in the beginning. But Rozakis’s characters went through so much growth, and the interactions among them were so uplifting and sweet at times, that I was ultimately won over.
Vivian’s five-year-old daughter Aria was bitten by a werewolf (who knew such things existed!) and now she “wolfs out” in the most inconvenient places and at the worst times possible. Now she and her husband Daniel must deal with something way out of their comfort zone. Luckily, it turns out there are special schools for werewolf kids—as well as a host of other supernatural creatures—so Vivian and Daniel have packed up and moved to a new town, just so Aria can attend Grimoire Grammar School.
But fitting in isn’t going to be easy. Not only does Aria have to learn to control her wolfy impulses, but Vivian and Daniel are mundanes and don’t have any magical ability. Vivian joins the PTA and tries to get to know the other moms, but she’s getting the cold shoulder. And when weird and dangerous things start happening at school events, whispers of a prophecy start to circulate. Vivian scrambles to figure out how to keep her daughter safe, all while navigating bake sales, field day and the necessary trials to get Aria into first grade.
One thing to know about this book is that the plot isn’t the main focus, so if you like your stories full of action and plot heavy, this might not be the book for you. In fact, the action doesn’t really kick in until about halfway through, and it’s almost an afterthought. Instead of being riveted by the prophecy storyline and how Aria might be involved, I much preferred reading about Vivian and her family’s struggles to adapt to a completely new environment. Vivian was such a great character. Her cozy life has been completely turned upside down, but she never gives up. I mean, can you imagine if your five-year-old was turned into a werewolf, and you still had to enroll them in Kindergarten?
Rozakis takes traditional school elements and events and pokes fun of them, making the story very relatable to anyone with school-aged children. For example, Grimoire Grammar School is an expensive, private school, and the family is struggling to pay for everything. There’s also pressure on the students to excel, otherwise they might be kicked out. Even Kindergarteners must participate in a “trial” to determine whether or not they move up to first grade! I also loved the WhatsAp parent group, which is full of gossip and complaining. The author sprinkles these texts throughout her story, and they are all laugh-out-loud funny. And I can’t forget my favorite elementary school trauma of all—lice! Rozakis finds a fun way to skewer that right of passage, and I loved how cleverly done it was.
Each chapter is introduced with an email from the Grimoire staff to parents, reminders of upcoming events or new rules, and these emails did a great job at setting a light tone throughout the story, even when things get a little hairy near the end.
Besides the humor though, the book’s main strength is the way the characters interact with each other and the emotional connections they make. Vivian and Daniel both feel as if they’ve made a terrible mistake enrolling Aria in Grimoire Grammar School, but after all three of them are bullied in one way or another, it was heartening to watch other, nicer parents and kids welcome them into the fold. Poor little Aria is probably the worst off (at first)---trying to figure out how to be a werewolf and still follow school rules, and I loved when a werewolf pack ends up welcoming the whole family with open arms. We also see Vivian and Daniel struggling in their marriage, especially late in the school year when things with Aria are at their most stressful. I loved that the author addressed marriage counseling rather than giving them an easy resolution to their problems.
Overall, this was a fun, heartwarming read, and I will be looking forward to Caitlin Rozakis’s next book.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
September 2, 2025
Check out this review and more on The Quill to Live!
After discovering Caitlin Rozakis last year and finding her fantasy satire, Dreadful, utterly delightful, I immediately set my sights on her new book for 2025. In The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, Rozakis takes us into an urban fantasy of sorts to tell a story of a mundane family suddenly thrust into the magical world.
At its heart, GGSPTA is about the difficulties of motherhood and highlights many aspects of this role, from leaving the workforce to dealing with a new identity to navigating the trials of having a young school-aged child. I didn’t walk away from this story feeling that motherhood was deeply explored in this fantasy satire, but it’s ever-present and certainly gives voice to the ongoing worries and triumphs. The plot is centered around the motherhood lifestyle and its minutiae, like making appropriate foods for a potluck, helping with school projects, and managing the personalities of parents. The story and the prophecy unfold between PTA meetings and disastrous scrimmage games, all while Vivian tries to learn how to be a good parent and support a child who is on an unfamiliar journey to her own.
I did not enjoy living through Vivian’s anxious and stressed perspective throughout GGSPTA. Vivian has complete control of the story through her first-person narrative, and she’s going through a difficult time after a traumatic event, getting thrown into a magical community, and losing common ground with her husband. So the reader is enmeshed in her inner monologue, which I did not particularly like, mostly because Vivian’s state of mind feels like a plot device and not a character trait that is contributing to her arc in the story. We get a lot of Vivian stressing about something until it ultimately causes her to act, but there’s no real development with it. Vivian does this over and over again while the supporting characters come in with clunky dialogue and mini therapy sessions. It all feels superficial and left me unsatisfied with Vivian’s development overall.
The humor in GGSPTA also never landed quite right with me. A lot of the funny moments tried to come through by pointing out mundane things that occurred in the magical world. Like why was there a pause for laughter when we’re told that a wizard owns a Roomba? Or that the submarine car with seaweed hanging off of it obviously belongs to a siren? There’s no substance beneath the “jokes” to make it meaningful or funny. Fantasy readers are well accustomed to the fish-out-of-water trope. But where Vivian’s observations are meant to be funny, I took them more as observations to give the reader a sense of the world she is operating in.
The real issue with GGSPTA is that it’s trying to be a cozy fantasy centered around extremely serious and difficult topics, and the light, funny tone just does not work. Vivian and her daughter experience a violent, traumatic event that pushes them into the magical community. Aria is repeatedly bullied for being a werewolf, kids are targeted at the school with dangerous magical attacks, and Vivian’s mental state is degrading under the pressure. None of these are treated with the kid gloves it so desperately needs, and instead act as fodder for Vivian’s internal musings, flippant remarks, and snarky jokes.
I didn’t end up loving The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association as much because it lacked some of the depth and heart that I cherished in Dreadful. This story felt a little out of synch and tone deaf. Did it want to be a cozy read or a serious commentary on motherhood with a special needs child? GGSPTA attempts to do both.
Rating: The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association - 5.5/10
After discovering Caitlin Rozakis last year and finding her fantasy satire, Dreadful, utterly delightful, I immediately set my sights on her new book for 2025. In The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, Rozakis takes us into an urban fantasy of sorts to tell a story of a mundane family suddenly thrust into the magical world.
At its heart, GGSPTA is about the difficulties of motherhood and highlights many aspects of this role, from leaving the workforce to dealing with a new identity to navigating the trials of having a young school-aged child. I didn’t walk away from this story feeling that motherhood was deeply explored in this fantasy satire, but it’s ever-present and certainly gives voice to the ongoing worries and triumphs. The plot is centered around the motherhood lifestyle and its minutiae, like making appropriate foods for a potluck, helping with school projects, and managing the personalities of parents. The story and the prophecy unfold between PTA meetings and disastrous scrimmage games, all while Vivian tries to learn how to be a good parent and support a child who is on an unfamiliar journey to her own.
I did not enjoy living through Vivian’s anxious and stressed perspective throughout GGSPTA. Vivian has complete control of the story through her first-person narrative, and she’s going through a difficult time after a traumatic event, getting thrown into a magical community, and losing common ground with her husband. So the reader is enmeshed in her inner monologue, which I did not particularly like, mostly because Vivian’s state of mind feels like a plot device and not a character trait that is contributing to her arc in the story. We get a lot of Vivian stressing about something until it ultimately causes her to act, but there’s no real development with it. Vivian does this over and over again while the supporting characters come in with clunky dialogue and mini therapy sessions. It all feels superficial and left me unsatisfied with Vivian’s development overall.
The humor in GGSPTA also never landed quite right with me. A lot of the funny moments tried to come through by pointing out mundane things that occurred in the magical world. Like why was there a pause for laughter when we’re told that a wizard owns a Roomba? Or that the submarine car with seaweed hanging off of it obviously belongs to a siren? There’s no substance beneath the “jokes” to make it meaningful or funny. Fantasy readers are well accustomed to the fish-out-of-water trope. But where Vivian’s observations are meant to be funny, I took them more as observations to give the reader a sense of the world she is operating in.
The real issue with GGSPTA is that it’s trying to be a cozy fantasy centered around extremely serious and difficult topics, and the light, funny tone just does not work. Vivian and her daughter experience a violent, traumatic event that pushes them into the magical community. Aria is repeatedly bullied for being a werewolf, kids are targeted at the school with dangerous magical attacks, and Vivian’s mental state is degrading under the pressure. None of these are treated with the kid gloves it so desperately needs, and instead act as fodder for Vivian’s internal musings, flippant remarks, and snarky jokes.
I didn’t end up loving The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association as much because it lacked some of the depth and heart that I cherished in Dreadful. This story felt a little out of synch and tone deaf. Did it want to be a cozy read or a serious commentary on motherhood with a special needs child? GGSPTA attempts to do both.
Rating: The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association - 5.5/10
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!
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