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Room and Board
A charming and redemptive novel about unexpected second chances, following a publicist who, after the sudden implosion of her career, takes a job as a dorm mom at a Sonoma boarding school that happens to be her alma mater
Gillian thought she had everything she ever wanted—as a successful publicist running her own Manhattan firm and working with a high-profile-celebrity clientele, she finally made herself at home among the elite who eluded her throughout her youth. That is, until her career implodes, leaving her jobless, friendless, and with a googleable reputation that follows her everywhere. So, when she receives an offer to become a “dorm mom” at Glen Ellen Academy, the prestigious Sonoma boarding school she attended two decades earlier on scholarship, she leaps at the opportunity for a change of scene—at least until she can figure out how to rehabilitate her career.
But Gillian is surprised to find herself enjoying her new life: her role as a mentor is unexpectedly fulfilling, she finds a community, and most surprisingly of all she runs into an old flame from her own time at school, who is just as dashing now as he was then. However, just as she begins to feel comfortable, a scandal surfaces on campus that threatens to derail everything, and Gillian must figure out how to save her job, her students, her friends, and her new romance before it’s too late.
Gillian thought she had everything she ever wanted—as a successful publicist running her own Manhattan firm and working with a high-profile-celebrity clientele, she finally made herself at home among the elite who eluded her throughout her youth. That is, until her career implodes, leaving her jobless, friendless, and with a googleable reputation that follows her everywhere. So, when she receives an offer to become a “dorm mom” at Glen Ellen Academy, the prestigious Sonoma boarding school she attended two decades earlier on scholarship, she leaps at the opportunity for a change of scene—at least until she can figure out how to rehabilitate her career.
But Gillian is surprised to find herself enjoying her new life: her role as a mentor is unexpectedly fulfilling, she finds a community, and most surprisingly of all she runs into an old flame from her own time at school, who is just as dashing now as he was then. However, just as she begins to feel comfortable, a scandal surfaces on campus that threatens to derail everything, and Gillian must figure out how to save her job, her students, her friends, and her new romance before it’s too late.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2022
22 people are currently reading
9875 people want to read
About the author
Miriam Parker
3 books229 followersMiriam Parker has worked in book publishing for more than twenty years and is currently the associate publisher of Ecco. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from UNC Wilmington and a BA in English from Columbia University. Her short stories have been published in The Florida Review and Fourteen Hills. She lives in Brooklyn with her spaniel, Leopold Bloom. The Shortest Way Home is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
June 11, 2022
Well… Once again I hear choo choo sound of disappointment train when I read a book doesn’t fit with my expectations!
The plot truly picked my interest! It seemed promising, engaging story with so much potential!
But as soon as I start reading about disgraced publicist whose reputation has been tarnished with the incident related #metoomovement , I thought this book was reliable second chance story and when Gillian the main character, who is leaving Manhattan to settle for a life to become dorm mom, I didn’t question why she got the job of why she was offered at the first place.
The thing I didn’t understand why a bunch of stereotyped ultra-rich kids who were portrayed worse than the characters at the remake of HBOMax’ s Gossip Girl chose that woman who was two decades older as a mentor or why they got so interested in her.
The plot could be more interesting if Gillian was a reporter, just a few years older from those students who was covering up a story about college girls and accepting this job to hide her identity or she could be disgraced Hollywood star hiding in the dorm to prepare herself for the next role and the dorm life can give her enough sources for the preparation of the character she’ll play! See: those plot lines made more sense than this one! At least the inner screenwriter in me thinks that way!
I patiently kept reading even though I found the incidents a little overrated and unrealistic and the characters are unreliable!
I’m still giving three solid stars for interesting plot line and promising start! But I wish I could enjoy it more!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The plot truly picked my interest! It seemed promising, engaging story with so much potential!
But as soon as I start reading about disgraced publicist whose reputation has been tarnished with the incident related #metoomovement , I thought this book was reliable second chance story and when Gillian the main character, who is leaving Manhattan to settle for a life to become dorm mom, I didn’t question why she got the job of why she was offered at the first place.
The thing I didn’t understand why a bunch of stereotyped ultra-rich kids who were portrayed worse than the characters at the remake of HBOMax’ s Gossip Girl chose that woman who was two decades older as a mentor or why they got so interested in her.
The plot could be more interesting if Gillian was a reporter, just a few years older from those students who was covering up a story about college girls and accepting this job to hide her identity or she could be disgraced Hollywood star hiding in the dorm to prepare herself for the next role and the dorm life can give her enough sources for the preparation of the character she’ll play! See: those plot lines made more sense than this one! At least the inner screenwriter in me thinks that way!
I patiently kept reading even though I found the incidents a little overrated and unrealistic and the characters are unreliable!
I’m still giving three solid stars for interesting plot line and promising start! But I wish I could enjoy it more!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
March 2, 2022
What in the world did I just read? This book was absolutely delusional. I’m just going to do a list of the wtf things I found and noted. Enjoy
1. Gillian is shamed out of her job as a PR #girlboss and somehow is hired immediately with no background check or anything as a dorm mother to a bunch of teens at her Alma mater. Not even a formal interview, apparently she just got a call from a board member who saw her “scandal” and thought “the playboy publicist that’s the woman we need to teach our teens the ways of the world” makes total sense.
2. Here we go. Gillian “splashed some water on her face in the bathroom and then went into her bedroom to apply what she called her ‘express’ evening skin-care routine— toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer. There was another routine that took longer but it was too late for that.” girl if you actually cared about your skin you wouldn’t just splash some water on top of makeup and grime and then add on some La mer. And she’s been traveling all day on a plane in airports etc. Grody to the max
3. Poor Gillian goes the basic um…brat? route and tells us all how she instagrammed a “copy of a bright yellow book with flowers on the cover, that she had gotten in a gift bag at a party, with the hashtag of #selfcare” Gillian you were an English major at Yale. Maybe you could buy your own books or at least read it first? Know the title? It gets worse she also posts pics of a French bulldog in a hat, a glass of rosé (the first of many many mentions of roses in this book ugh), a knitted scarf draped over a chair (stay classy). She notes that her “supporters had commented supportive things and haters had commented hateful things. “ Well I guess that does track. Supporters gonna support.
4. Gillian brags to senior citizen Gloria about her “epic skin care routine” which includes traveling all day and splashing some tap water on your face.
5. The young girls Gillian is entrusted with have a lengthy conversation about mini fridges. Smeg is the preferred brand but poor Julia can’t afford one. Her dad is in jail. You know who else was a snooty snoot who had a jailbird daddy? One of the side characters in Gilmore Girls. Madeline or Louise. Same story different day.
6. Gillian describing one of her new charges, and the daughter of her high school crush “she was wearing Allbirds sneakers. She was a mix of Instagram influenced and Grateful Dead fan” I kind of puked.
7. On the first night, the first night jesus lord, Gillian calls in a babysitter to fill in. This person is supposed to come in one night a week to give the dorm parent the night off. Gillian found it too hard to get to work on her first night so called in a pinch hitter. Was she tired you might ask…but no. She went out socializing.
8. Here’s the Gilmore reference. Someone saying they “always wished they had a mom like Lorelai” Are you nuts? Lorelai did her kid wrong. Rewatch the show, I’ve done it many times. Lorelai is a terrible person.
9. First night still. Gillian is out and orders a vodka martini (since she wasn’t driving since she takes a Lyft everywhere) and she wanted to “celebrate surviving her official first day as a dorm parent” I mean did you? It’s still the first day girl but you are out drinking instead of helping the scared teens settle in.
10. A flashback! Gillian and her bff “grabbed cookies and snapples” from the cafe at school but then end up drinking some vile concoction of “Diet Coke spiked with Mr Pibb” I nearly threw up once again.
11. Help me. Someone asks “Does the existence of Hamilton make teaching history any easier?” Bring the bucket I might need it.
12. For the parents weekend Gillian sets up a table with a sign “Dorm Mother - ask me anything” then gets mad when anyone asks her anything. Since the table is just a ruse to see when Aiden shows up. She even laments that yes she will have to answer parents questions (hello? Gillian? You put up the sign) but that it’s an acceptable trade off for a virtual guarantee that she can gawk at Aiden when he comes to pick up his kid.
13. After a few questions Gillian decides she just can’t take it anymore and throws her sign in the trash. What does she do instead? Runs back to her room to pick out clothes for her date. “She had her own priorities after all” Yes Gillian we see that your priority is always Gillian. Never the kids you are paid for look after.
14. Gillian finds a teen girl at her door. You know asking for help. From the dorm mother. Gillian has to hide her annoyance at the inconvenience of her employment.
15. Emo Gillian arrives to tell us that “sometimes [she’s] the loneliest in the middle of a crowd” well doesn’t that just light up your MySpace page?
16. Gillian tells us she didn’t read in high school (you know when she attended the school she’s working at now) because it was “uncool” to read for pleasure. Ok. Sure. Then she tells us she took back up the pastime of reading in college where she read such literary gems as The Giants House by Elizabeth McCracken, Housekeeping by Marilynn’s Robinson and of course The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. I’m willing to bet she just watched the film on that one.
17. Gillian also mentioned she loved going to the contemporary fiction section and checking out something that nobody else was reading. News flash Gillian: libraries have multiple copies of the same book. It’s entirely possible someone else was reading that book my dear sweet snowflake. But of course she tells us that sure she “loved Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf and even James Joyce” somehow I doubt this.
18. Gillian tells us how after her job meltdown she went and randomly bought all four of the Neapolitan series books. If she was so well read why did it take so long to read Ferrante? And by now she’s only gotten partway through one of them. More reading Gillian, less rosé (which of course she drank while reading the few pages of the book)
19. Gillian owns a Miles Davis album which makes her feel fancy and cultured. You go girl.
20. Oh the date outfit. Black pedal pushers, that “showed off her slim ankles” ( no cankles here!), a black crepe tank top, and a cropped cardigan. The vomit again. What even is this outfit? Gillian calls it sophisticated and casual. I call it CHICOs.
21. Gillian spends an hour moisturizing and contouring her face. An hour. Who does this? How big is your face Gillian?
22. Big face heads off on her date and then keeps pushing Aiden to tell her that he’d like to change the past and date her instead of Miranda. Gillian has read time travel fiction one too many times.
23. A school video goes viral! Never fear Big Fa- I mean Gillian is here! But what’s this? Seventeen missed calls and thirty five texts from parents, kids at the school, her boss, and one from…Aiden. Of course she “clicked on the message from Aiden first, everything else could wait” Next date she should wear her straightjacket.
24. Executives from a record label Gillian has never worked with before are pleased and grateful about her being assigned to their new project. Sure.
25. Gillian tells the girls that accepting freebies makes you beholden to other people. After spending many words telling the reader how much of her own wardrobe is from freebies from clients or brands. Practice what you preach BigFace.
26. Someone from has an interview on live tv and Gillian says she “couldn’t remember such excitement about a television show other than the Oscars or Super Bowl” Gillian do you even watch tv? Last weekend HBO crashed thanks to the popularity of Euphoria and The Righteous Gemstones.
27. Gillian name drops authors a lot. But why? You don’t need to say that someone had a copy of “Siddhartha by Herman Hesse” in her Prada zip tote. We all know who wrote the book.
28. Gloria tells us that she was doing the accounting for the school since the nineties. “There was a finance department that handled everything else” but because she had been there so long they liked having her do the books. Wait what? Just fire the finance dept and give the work to Gloria. Amen
29. Gillian tells us that “the weight of the revelation felt heavy on her head” it must have been huge to be heavier than her big head.
30. Gillian stays up on the phone with Aiden like it’s 1996 again and says she didn’t want to get off then phone but could feel herself fading and she still needed to walk the floors and check the dorm. You know. Her job.
31. Aiden tells Gillian not to wear heels to his winery. Gillian takes fashion advice from her friend amd decides to wear a jeweled flip flop instead. To walk around a winery. Christ girl go to REI. get a decent pair of boots or sneakers.
32. Aiden. Oh Aiden. Gillian tells us that “he smelled like wood and dirt, but clean. Like he bathed in a wood and dirt smell. Maybe Aesop made a cologne like that.” Firstly ew. Wood fine. Fresh soil fine. Dirt no. Unless we are talking 90s flashback Demeter dirt cologne. Maybe that’s what Aiden is wearing? And who still buys Aesop?
33. Aiden gives Gillian a beer from (insert men brewery) that fits perfectly in the chair cup holder. What a guy. But he lives in a winery. Pony up some rosé.
34. Gillian takes 537272 Lyft rides. Do they charge extra for her big head? Who knows.
35. The teens revolt! They call Gillian out for not even doing a hall check the night before and for calling them guys when they are clearly not guys. Gillian is not remorseful. Job? What job?
36. Another Yale hopeful! Did you know Gillian surprisingly got into Yale? (What like it’s so hard? - Elle Woods - yes I know it’s Harvard let’s go with it) and now one of her charges is a Yale early admission hopeful too. Yale is hard. Just because Rory Gilmore got in (let’s be real this was due to her granddad) doesn’t mean anyone can.
37. But wait! Gillian says Yale just wasn’t for her. She was just so different from her classmates and has no friends from her college time. Maybe she blocked the lectures with her big head? Who knows. I mean it’s a mystery for the ages.
38. Gillian and her friend say that if there were ever a gender divide leather sofas are in the middle of it. And Porches. Um ladies have you actually driven a Porsche? No divide there. Absolutely amazing to drive. But I will say a small interior is not good for big heads (or cankles though the wells are roomy)
39. Big head’s friend tells us that she “once dated someone who had a Porsche and the trunk was so small we could barely go for a picnic” Because that’s the priority when buying a sports car. Picnics. And who is having such a big picnic that the blanket and tote of food won’t fit in the back of a Porsche?
40. Gillian deems the high school library “crusty” and remarks that if contemporary fiction and history were available in the library for the few students who might seek it out, that would be nice. Gillian I’m sure they have some crusty old fiction for you to read there. Just go with it.
41. Someone is getting fired! But who cares, the whole parents association just are dying to know what Gillian thinks should happen. Gillian who just started there and can’t even do her own job.
42. Gillian is shocked by a booty call. She leaves the teens alone in the dorm and runs off to his house. Ok she probably took a Lyft. But your kids are alone in the dorm. While she’s getting some.
43. Speaking of that she notices while she’s getting some that there is some nice classical music in the background. #classybooty But since the author doesn’t note the composer I’ll never know who Appalachian Spring is by!
44. We learn that whenever Gillian can slag off and get a babysitter (read: often) they run off for dates. Again, not doing her job.
45. Gillian thinks that maybe what being an adult is is “having a sense of satisfaction about doing the right thing” did I mention this woman is nearly 40?
46. Gillian tells everyone she hasn’t had time to see her own mother since she’s been back (for months) but surely has time for #classybooty
47. Gillian’s mom bites back! She asks Gillian “do you think my life would be better if you were in it? Of course big head tells her “I do, and I think you should think so too” is Gillian really Hannah Swensen in disguise? Hmmmm
48. Gillian wonders if her “love life was more important than defending the rights of the members of the Gem community” Yeah hmmmm I wonder. Tough one. /Paris Geller voice
49. Gillian types a memo that is “vague enough not to implicate anyone yet specific enough to get people to take it seriously” in which she puts words in peoples mouths. You know. Lies.
50. Gillian tells us that “all this time (well, except for when she kissed her friends boyfriend but she was truly sorry about that) she had been in the right. She had acted nobly” when? It wasn’t in this book
51. Gillian’s bff tells her that “If you can’t bear your favorite song from high school, why should you love the same person you loved then?”Such wisdom.
52. This quote from one of the teens (via Step-on-me Tanner) sums up the book “our money was buying her fancy scarves? How rude” How rude indeed.
53. I leave you with this thought from Aiden. That he should leave his job on the pta committee for Gillian because “not being with you is more of a sacrifice”
Honestly nothing here made sense. There was no other way to review the book.
1. Gillian is shamed out of her job as a PR #girlboss and somehow is hired immediately with no background check or anything as a dorm mother to a bunch of teens at her Alma mater. Not even a formal interview, apparently she just got a call from a board member who saw her “scandal” and thought “the playboy publicist that’s the woman we need to teach our teens the ways of the world” makes total sense.
2. Here we go. Gillian “splashed some water on her face in the bathroom and then went into her bedroom to apply what she called her ‘express’ evening skin-care routine— toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer. There was another routine that took longer but it was too late for that.” girl if you actually cared about your skin you wouldn’t just splash some water on top of makeup and grime and then add on some La mer. And she’s been traveling all day on a plane in airports etc. Grody to the max
3. Poor Gillian goes the basic um…brat? route and tells us all how she instagrammed a “copy of a bright yellow book with flowers on the cover, that she had gotten in a gift bag at a party, with the hashtag of #selfcare” Gillian you were an English major at Yale. Maybe you could buy your own books or at least read it first? Know the title? It gets worse she also posts pics of a French bulldog in a hat, a glass of rosé (the first of many many mentions of roses in this book ugh), a knitted scarf draped over a chair (stay classy). She notes that her “supporters had commented supportive things and haters had commented hateful things. “ Well I guess that does track. Supporters gonna support.
4. Gillian brags to senior citizen Gloria about her “epic skin care routine” which includes traveling all day and splashing some tap water on your face.
5. The young girls Gillian is entrusted with have a lengthy conversation about mini fridges. Smeg is the preferred brand but poor Julia can’t afford one. Her dad is in jail. You know who else was a snooty snoot who had a jailbird daddy? One of the side characters in Gilmore Girls. Madeline or Louise. Same story different day.
6. Gillian describing one of her new charges, and the daughter of her high school crush “she was wearing Allbirds sneakers. She was a mix of Instagram influenced and Grateful Dead fan” I kind of puked.
7. On the first night, the first night jesus lord, Gillian calls in a babysitter to fill in. This person is supposed to come in one night a week to give the dorm parent the night off. Gillian found it too hard to get to work on her first night so called in a pinch hitter. Was she tired you might ask…but no. She went out socializing.
8. Here’s the Gilmore reference. Someone saying they “always wished they had a mom like Lorelai” Are you nuts? Lorelai did her kid wrong. Rewatch the show, I’ve done it many times. Lorelai is a terrible person.
9. First night still. Gillian is out and orders a vodka martini (since she wasn’t driving since she takes a Lyft everywhere) and she wanted to “celebrate surviving her official first day as a dorm parent” I mean did you? It’s still the first day girl but you are out drinking instead of helping the scared teens settle in.
10. A flashback! Gillian and her bff “grabbed cookies and snapples” from the cafe at school but then end up drinking some vile concoction of “Diet Coke spiked with Mr Pibb” I nearly threw up once again.
11. Help me. Someone asks “Does the existence of Hamilton make teaching history any easier?” Bring the bucket I might need it.
12. For the parents weekend Gillian sets up a table with a sign “Dorm Mother - ask me anything” then gets mad when anyone asks her anything. Since the table is just a ruse to see when Aiden shows up. She even laments that yes she will have to answer parents questions (hello? Gillian? You put up the sign) but that it’s an acceptable trade off for a virtual guarantee that she can gawk at Aiden when he comes to pick up his kid.
13. After a few questions Gillian decides she just can’t take it anymore and throws her sign in the trash. What does she do instead? Runs back to her room to pick out clothes for her date. “She had her own priorities after all” Yes Gillian we see that your priority is always Gillian. Never the kids you are paid for look after.
14. Gillian finds a teen girl at her door. You know asking for help. From the dorm mother. Gillian has to hide her annoyance at the inconvenience of her employment.
15. Emo Gillian arrives to tell us that “sometimes [she’s] the loneliest in the middle of a crowd” well doesn’t that just light up your MySpace page?
16. Gillian tells us she didn’t read in high school (you know when she attended the school she’s working at now) because it was “uncool” to read for pleasure. Ok. Sure. Then she tells us she took back up the pastime of reading in college where she read such literary gems as The Giants House by Elizabeth McCracken, Housekeeping by Marilynn’s Robinson and of course The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. I’m willing to bet she just watched the film on that one.
17. Gillian also mentioned she loved going to the contemporary fiction section and checking out something that nobody else was reading. News flash Gillian: libraries have multiple copies of the same book. It’s entirely possible someone else was reading that book my dear sweet snowflake. But of course she tells us that sure she “loved Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf and even James Joyce” somehow I doubt this.
18. Gillian tells us how after her job meltdown she went and randomly bought all four of the Neapolitan series books. If she was so well read why did it take so long to read Ferrante? And by now she’s only gotten partway through one of them. More reading Gillian, less rosé (which of course she drank while reading the few pages of the book)
19. Gillian owns a Miles Davis album which makes her feel fancy and cultured. You go girl.
20. Oh the date outfit. Black pedal pushers, that “showed off her slim ankles” ( no cankles here!), a black crepe tank top, and a cropped cardigan. The vomit again. What even is this outfit? Gillian calls it sophisticated and casual. I call it CHICOs.
21. Gillian spends an hour moisturizing and contouring her face. An hour. Who does this? How big is your face Gillian?
22. Big face heads off on her date and then keeps pushing Aiden to tell her that he’d like to change the past and date her instead of Miranda. Gillian has read time travel fiction one too many times.
23. A school video goes viral! Never fear Big Fa- I mean Gillian is here! But what’s this? Seventeen missed calls and thirty five texts from parents, kids at the school, her boss, and one from…Aiden. Of course she “clicked on the message from Aiden first, everything else could wait” Next date she should wear her straightjacket.
24. Executives from a record label Gillian has never worked with before are pleased and grateful about her being assigned to their new project. Sure.
25. Gillian tells the girls that accepting freebies makes you beholden to other people. After spending many words telling the reader how much of her own wardrobe is from freebies from clients or brands. Practice what you preach BigFace.
26. Someone from has an interview on live tv and Gillian says she “couldn’t remember such excitement about a television show other than the Oscars or Super Bowl” Gillian do you even watch tv? Last weekend HBO crashed thanks to the popularity of Euphoria and The Righteous Gemstones.
27. Gillian name drops authors a lot. But why? You don’t need to say that someone had a copy of “Siddhartha by Herman Hesse” in her Prada zip tote. We all know who wrote the book.
28. Gloria tells us that she was doing the accounting for the school since the nineties. “There was a finance department that handled everything else” but because she had been there so long they liked having her do the books. Wait what? Just fire the finance dept and give the work to Gloria. Amen
29. Gillian tells us that “the weight of the revelation felt heavy on her head” it must have been huge to be heavier than her big head.
30. Gillian stays up on the phone with Aiden like it’s 1996 again and says she didn’t want to get off then phone but could feel herself fading and she still needed to walk the floors and check the dorm. You know. Her job.
31. Aiden tells Gillian not to wear heels to his winery. Gillian takes fashion advice from her friend amd decides to wear a jeweled flip flop instead. To walk around a winery. Christ girl go to REI. get a decent pair of boots or sneakers.
32. Aiden. Oh Aiden. Gillian tells us that “he smelled like wood and dirt, but clean. Like he bathed in a wood and dirt smell. Maybe Aesop made a cologne like that.” Firstly ew. Wood fine. Fresh soil fine. Dirt no. Unless we are talking 90s flashback Demeter dirt cologne. Maybe that’s what Aiden is wearing? And who still buys Aesop?
33. Aiden gives Gillian a beer from (insert men brewery) that fits perfectly in the chair cup holder. What a guy. But he lives in a winery. Pony up some rosé.
34. Gillian takes 537272 Lyft rides. Do they charge extra for her big head? Who knows.
35. The teens revolt! They call Gillian out for not even doing a hall check the night before and for calling them guys when they are clearly not guys. Gillian is not remorseful. Job? What job?
36. Another Yale hopeful! Did you know Gillian surprisingly got into Yale? (What like it’s so hard? - Elle Woods - yes I know it’s Harvard let’s go with it) and now one of her charges is a Yale early admission hopeful too. Yale is hard. Just because Rory Gilmore got in (let’s be real this was due to her granddad) doesn’t mean anyone can.
37. But wait! Gillian says Yale just wasn’t for her. She was just so different from her classmates and has no friends from her college time. Maybe she blocked the lectures with her big head? Who knows. I mean it’s a mystery for the ages.
38. Gillian and her friend say that if there were ever a gender divide leather sofas are in the middle of it. And Porches. Um ladies have you actually driven a Porsche? No divide there. Absolutely amazing to drive. But I will say a small interior is not good for big heads (or cankles though the wells are roomy)
39. Big head’s friend tells us that she “once dated someone who had a Porsche and the trunk was so small we could barely go for a picnic” Because that’s the priority when buying a sports car. Picnics. And who is having such a big picnic that the blanket and tote of food won’t fit in the back of a Porsche?
40. Gillian deems the high school library “crusty” and remarks that if contemporary fiction and history were available in the library for the few students who might seek it out, that would be nice. Gillian I’m sure they have some crusty old fiction for you to read there. Just go with it.
41. Someone is getting fired! But who cares, the whole parents association just are dying to know what Gillian thinks should happen. Gillian who just started there and can’t even do her own job.
42. Gillian is shocked by a booty call. She leaves the teens alone in the dorm and runs off to his house. Ok she probably took a Lyft. But your kids are alone in the dorm. While she’s getting some.
43. Speaking of that she notices while she’s getting some that there is some nice classical music in the background. #classybooty But since the author doesn’t note the composer I’ll never know who Appalachian Spring is by!
44. We learn that whenever Gillian can slag off and get a babysitter (read: often) they run off for dates. Again, not doing her job.
45. Gillian thinks that maybe what being an adult is is “having a sense of satisfaction about doing the right thing” did I mention this woman is nearly 40?
46. Gillian tells everyone she hasn’t had time to see her own mother since she’s been back (for months) but surely has time for #classybooty
47. Gillian’s mom bites back! She asks Gillian “do you think my life would be better if you were in it? Of course big head tells her “I do, and I think you should think so too” is Gillian really Hannah Swensen in disguise? Hmmmm
48. Gillian wonders if her “love life was more important than defending the rights of the members of the Gem community” Yeah hmmmm I wonder. Tough one. /Paris Geller voice
49. Gillian types a memo that is “vague enough not to implicate anyone yet specific enough to get people to take it seriously” in which she puts words in peoples mouths. You know. Lies.
50. Gillian tells us that “all this time (well, except for when she kissed her friends boyfriend but she was truly sorry about that) she had been in the right. She had acted nobly” when? It wasn’t in this book
51. Gillian’s bff tells her that “If you can’t bear your favorite song from high school, why should you love the same person you loved then?”Such wisdom.
52. This quote from one of the teens (via Step-on-me Tanner) sums up the book “our money was buying her fancy scarves? How rude” How rude indeed.
53. I leave you with this thought from Aiden. That he should leave his job on the pta committee for Gillian because “not being with you is more of a sacrifice”
Honestly nothing here made sense. There was no other way to review the book.
August 31, 2022
I'll keep this brief. The summary drew me in and I thought about how much I enjoyed stories set at boarding school. I looked forward to this but this wasn't Sittenfeld's
Prep
.
This was all over the place with a main character I didn't find credible. There are so many things the author seemed to want to do here that none came off terribly well. Slice of life, second act upon cusp of 40, going home again, boarding school life, romance, class ascension, pratfalls of social media, parental estrangement and more. Also, far too much brand merch mention. The Sonoma setting was rendered well, that was a saving grace.
Every once in a while I read a book that disappoints me and then I check reviews and ALL THE THINGS are lain out by those who read before me and I just wish I'd read those to save myself the money or time (sometimes both). Such are the perils of trying to be unspoiled.
I think I'd read another by the author with better editing. I think there could have been a great story here if it could get out from under itself.
This was all over the place with a main character I didn't find credible. There are so many things the author seemed to want to do here that none came off terribly well. Slice of life, second act upon cusp of 40, going home again, boarding school life, romance, class ascension, pratfalls of social media, parental estrangement and more. Also, far too much brand merch mention. The Sonoma setting was rendered well, that was a saving grace.
Every once in a while I read a book that disappoints me and then I check reviews and ALL THE THINGS are lain out by those who read before me and I just wish I'd read those to save myself the money or time (sometimes both). Such are the perils of trying to be unspoiled.
I think I'd read another by the author with better editing. I think there could have been a great story here if it could get out from under itself.
August 12, 2022
Review coming soon.
January 21, 2022
I was really excited by the premise of this book, but it feels like the author has never spoken to a high school student. There is no way Gillian's arrival and experience would be nearly as seamless as its made to be; she's instantly loved and trusted and there is not one conflict with a student that causes issues otherwise. The dialogue in this was also very jilted and unrealistic. The "love" story was not something I wanted to root for; I didn't trust Aiden at all and I don't see how Gillian had matured from her high school experience to now. Overall, this was a letdown and I don't think I'd read this author again.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I was entertained, and I always enjoyed themes of second chances. Gillian was returning to the scene of the crime after falling from her pedestal. Being back in this place where she was betrayed by her two closest friends had her reexamining her past. She recognizes some of her hang ups and shortcomings and makes progress in moving forward. She also begins to recognize how she wasn't that scholarship girl any longer. She was older, wiser, and had acquired some skills that set her apart from others. The setting was amazing. As if boarding school wasn't enough. This was a boarding school in Sonoma. Lots of wine and picturesque backdrops. Her trio of fans were sometimes silly, but again, entertaining.
*ARC provided by publisher
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I was entertained, and I always enjoyed themes of second chances. Gillian was returning to the scene of the crime after falling from her pedestal. Being back in this place where she was betrayed by her two closest friends had her reexamining her past. She recognizes some of her hang ups and shortcomings and makes progress in moving forward. She also begins to recognize how she wasn't that scholarship girl any longer. She was older, wiser, and had acquired some skills that set her apart from others. The setting was amazing. As if boarding school wasn't enough. This was a boarding school in Sonoma. Lots of wine and picturesque backdrops. Her trio of fans were sometimes silly, but again, entertaining.
*ARC provided by publisher
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 8, 2022
Room and Board by Miriam Parker is the perfect cure for insomnia. I struggled to finish this book. The disgraced publicist becomes a dorm mom at the boarding school she attended for high school. We are left to wonder how she got this this job for which she is not qualified. The other dorm moms must do double duty by teaching and chaperoning a building full of students. Gillian neglects her job from the beginning. The first night she is too tired to check on her charges and is just shocked when she discovers evidence of partying in the building the next day including the requisite sick teenager from overindulging in alcohol. This will not be the last time Gillian neglects her duties (dating before duties seems to be Gillian’s motto). I was surprised when a pampered princess named Bunny (a senior) befriends Gillian. Bunny and her clique frequently hang out in Gillian’s suite. The students just love Gillian, and they trust her from the beginning (is anyone buying this). Gillian pays more attention to her love life than the students she is responsible for. Gillian’s crush from high school is now the father of Rainbow who happens to live in Gillian’s dorm (what a coincidence). Here is Gillian’s chance for the man she has been unable to get out of her thoughts for twenty years. She is willing to overlook what he did back in high school. The students are your stereotypical pampered rich kids who expect the best and enjoy torturing the scholarship students. I believe the author has spent too much time watching Gossip Girl (both versions) and Gilmore Girls. I can see details from both shows in the book. I had to roll my eyes at some of the scenes in the book. When you put out a sign stating that you can ask me anything, what do you expect. People are going to ask you some ridiculous questions. Gillian gets annoyed when a child shows up at her door asking for help. This means taking time away from getting ready for a date or stalking her crush on social media. The author is detail oriented. I really did not need to know what Gillian wore down to her shoes or that she spends an hour doing her face care routine. There are many contradictions in the book. If the headmaster’s assistant does the accounting for the school, why is there a finance department? Gillian tells the girls that accepting freebies will make you beholden to others, but readers are told in great detail how the majority of Gillian’s wardrobe is from freebies (clients and from companies). The dialogue is awkward and unrealistic (the author should have spent some time talking to teenagers). There were some plot points started in the book that were never revisited while others were left unresolved. I found the ending to be unrealistic. Room and Board is one of those books that left me feeling like I had just wasted a few hours of my time.
February 18, 2022
I received an advanced copy from Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley in return for an honest review.
2.5 stars
This is about a woman, Gillian, whose business as a publicist implodes during the “Me Too” movement. She reluctantly takes a position as firm mom at the boarding school she attended throughout high school.
This is a sweet novel, but I feel there could have been more conflicts. It was really hard to believe that Gillian would go back to Aiden at the end of the story and it was hard to believe that Gillian made a “deep friendship” with Lila so quickly. I’ve never been to a boarding school but it seemed that all the girls were so quick to love Gillian as their dorm mom with few conflicts.
A little too goody-goody for me but I’m sure there are those who will appreciate that.
I think I would have liked to hear more about her getting into the publicist business and what made her close her company.
2.5 stars
This is about a woman, Gillian, whose business as a publicist implodes during the “Me Too” movement. She reluctantly takes a position as firm mom at the boarding school she attended throughout high school.
This is a sweet novel, but I feel there could have been more conflicts. It was really hard to believe that Gillian would go back to Aiden at the end of the story and it was hard to believe that Gillian made a “deep friendship” with Lila so quickly. I’ve never been to a boarding school but it seemed that all the girls were so quick to love Gillian as their dorm mom with few conflicts.
A little too goody-goody for me but I’m sure there are those who will appreciate that.
I think I would have liked to hear more about her getting into the publicist business and what made her close her company.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2022
I was initially drawn to Room and Board because of its premise. There aren’t really a lot of novels that are steeped in the world of boarding schools from an adult perspective. In addition, back to school has always been bittersweet for me, first as a student, now as a teacher.
Room and Board is centered around Gillian, a publicist who is fleeing the industry after a career related faux pas. Then she receives an unexpected (and unearned) offer to work as a dorm mom at her high school alma mater, Glen Ellen Academy. Journeying back to her high school roots unearths unresolved feelings of the friendships she lost and the love that was unrequited. As she works through her complicated feelings from the past, she helps navigate a group of high school girls in the present. Reuniting with her old flame, as well as dealing with the fallout of multiple PR related scandals, leaves Gillian wondering if she finally found where she belongs after all.
Folks, I can’t sugarcoat this. This book was a hot mess. Everything but the kitchen sink was thrown into this one, with no real traction gaining in any one storyline. The pining Gillian was still grieving from years before felt childish and typical of high school drama. Simply put, at 38 years old presently, get over it. Reuniting with “the one that got away” felt hollow as well. Why was I supposed to root for these two? Or better yet, was I?
I would have liked the teenagers to be more fleshed out, too. The impact of social media is touched upon, as well as the pressure to fit in, but all of the student stories felt randomly placed in contrast to Gillian’s self discovery. As if all of this wasn’t haphazard enough, the author throws in a school related scandal a little more than halfway through the book. I guess all of these events are placed to help Gillian become the person she was meant to be, I’m just not so sure I like the person she becomes.
I know authors work very hard and books are like their babies. I don’t want to take away from the effort the author undoubtedly put into this book. I just wish this had more of a focus instead of feeling like three unconnected books in one. As a result, Room and Board just left me feeling bored.
Room and Board is centered around Gillian, a publicist who is fleeing the industry after a career related faux pas. Then she receives an unexpected (and unearned) offer to work as a dorm mom at her high school alma mater, Glen Ellen Academy. Journeying back to her high school roots unearths unresolved feelings of the friendships she lost and the love that was unrequited. As she works through her complicated feelings from the past, she helps navigate a group of high school girls in the present. Reuniting with her old flame, as well as dealing with the fallout of multiple PR related scandals, leaves Gillian wondering if she finally found where she belongs after all.
Folks, I can’t sugarcoat this. This book was a hot mess. Everything but the kitchen sink was thrown into this one, with no real traction gaining in any one storyline. The pining Gillian was still grieving from years before felt childish and typical of high school drama. Simply put, at 38 years old presently, get over it. Reuniting with “the one that got away” felt hollow as well. Why was I supposed to root for these two? Or better yet, was I?
I would have liked the teenagers to be more fleshed out, too. The impact of social media is touched upon, as well as the pressure to fit in, but all of the student stories felt randomly placed in contrast to Gillian’s self discovery. As if all of this wasn’t haphazard enough, the author throws in a school related scandal a little more than halfway through the book. I guess all of these events are placed to help Gillian become the person she was meant to be, I’m just not so sure I like the person she becomes.
I know authors work very hard and books are like their babies. I don’t want to take away from the effort the author undoubtedly put into this book. I just wish this had more of a focus instead of feeling like three unconnected books in one. As a result, Room and Board just left me feeling bored.
January 16, 2022
After a major scandal forces her to leave her life as a NYC publicist behind, Gillian finds herself back at her high school working as a dorm mom 20 years later. Will painful high school memories continue to haunt her? Will she feel at home in a job she’s never done? Can she ever move forward from what happened in New York?
While I found this a really interesting concept, the writing style was just hard to handle. The writing seemed very juvenile, which was fine for the high school students, but it seemed very odd to me that an almost 40 year old would spend that much time reminiscing about high school and pining over high school relationships. I think the author tried to accomplish too much and tried to cram so many plot points in that nothing got the attention it needed and nothing really felt resolved. There was so much going on in the story, and some things were introduced and never revisited, or some conflicts were never resolved, it was just overall chaotic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
While I found this a really interesting concept, the writing style was just hard to handle. The writing seemed very juvenile, which was fine for the high school students, but it seemed very odd to me that an almost 40 year old would spend that much time reminiscing about high school and pining over high school relationships. I think the author tried to accomplish too much and tried to cram so many plot points in that nothing got the attention it needed and nothing really felt resolved. There was so much going on in the story, and some things were introduced and never revisited, or some conflicts were never resolved, it was just overall chaotic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2022
Gillian was a well-known publicist that helped a “playboy” try to redeem himself in the #meToo era (think Harvey Weinstein). When the scandal got to be too much, she summarily shut down her PR company she built. While licking her wounds, she’s offered a Dorm Room Mom job at her high school alma mater, Glen Ellen Academy.
Gillian arrives before the school year officially starts and reminisces about her time as a student. We read throwback snippets about her former friends and her life, including an embarrassing “scandal” that happened to her during senior year. (Spoiler alert: it didn’t seem that bad.)
In high school, she had two best friends, Miranda and Aiden. She was in love with Aiden but it turned out Miranda and Aiden started dating. Cue heartbreak. During the present time, Gillian meets Aiden again - this time as a parent of one of her charges.
This story is marketed as a second chance romance and reset. And maybe it is to an extent. Aiden and Gillian start dating before another scandal starts to present itself. But to this reader, they had little chemistry together.
This fell flat and was pretty boring. I kept waiting for the pinnacle moment and didn’t find it. Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN Group Dutton for this eARC.
Gillian arrives before the school year officially starts and reminisces about her time as a student. We read throwback snippets about her former friends and her life, including an embarrassing “scandal” that happened to her during senior year. (Spoiler alert: it didn’t seem that bad.)
In high school, she had two best friends, Miranda and Aiden. She was in love with Aiden but it turned out Miranda and Aiden started dating. Cue heartbreak. During the present time, Gillian meets Aiden again - this time as a parent of one of her charges.
This story is marketed as a second chance romance and reset. And maybe it is to an extent. Aiden and Gillian start dating before another scandal starts to present itself. But to this reader, they had little chemistry together.
This fell flat and was pretty boring. I kept waiting for the pinnacle moment and didn’t find it. Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN Group Dutton for this eARC.
January 27, 2022
4.25 stars
After her life and career implode, Gillian returns to the boarding school she attended to serve as a dorm mother. She plans to stay there just long enough to get her life in order again. When a scandal threatens the school, Gillian takes charge and realizes just how comfortable she is in her new life.
I thought the characters in this book were terrific, especially Gillian - she’s taken a hard fall and is picking up the pieces and putting her life back together again. I rooted her from the beginning and enjoyed her journey.
I enjoyed the storyline, too - parts were predictable but there were still a few unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy women’s fiction and/or boarding school stories, you’ll want to pick this book up!
After her life and career implode, Gillian returns to the boarding school she attended to serve as a dorm mother. She plans to stay there just long enough to get her life in order again. When a scandal threatens the school, Gillian takes charge and realizes just how comfortable she is in her new life.
I thought the characters in this book were terrific, especially Gillian - she’s taken a hard fall and is picking up the pieces and putting her life back together again. I rooted her from the beginning and enjoyed her journey.
I enjoyed the storyline, too - parts were predictable but there were still a few unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy women’s fiction and/or boarding school stories, you’ll want to pick this book up!
March 3, 2022
I had high hopes for this book as I flew the first 75% of it really loving the main character, Gillian. Gillian is a former publish in NYC. After a sort of vague reason, but because of some sort of scandal, she closes her business and takes a job as a dorm mom at her old high school. One of those that the rich people sent their kids away to. She wasn’t one of the rich kids, but there on a scholarship so there’s that storyline.
Like I said, I enjoyed the first part of the book. I thought they way she connected with the kids was endearing. It’s the kind of relationship that adults want with kids. We want to dole out our life advice and watch them get that enlightened look in their eyes. Doesn’t so much happen in real life but I still liked it in the book.
I also really enjoyed that Gillian was in her Mid-30’s. I don’t read a lot of books with characters in that age range and as I’m in that age range, I was glad to relate to a character on that level. Lastly, I really liked how her old world of PR came into play at her new job. A blend of the old and new is exactly what life is about.
The book missed the mark for me on the male love interest. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was supposed to hate or love Aiden, her high school crush and now adult loverrrrr. There was some scandal in high school with Aiden, Gillian, and their best friend Miranda. Although it was mentioned a few times throughout the story, I needed a solid chapter or two (or three) with flashbacks of what exactly happened and the aftermath, instead of vague references. From what it seemed like, Aiden would have needed to do more than just say “I’m sorry” a few times to make up for it.
There were other storylines that I wanted to hear more about. There was a mention about the strain on Gillian’s relationship with her mother, but I didn’t understand why and when this happened. Another MAJOR gap in the storyline was Miranda. She’s mentioned so many times and was her best fired in high school, but we never get to hear from her in present time. It seemed like a very brushed off subject, even though it was clearly important to Gillian, I would have loved a resolution. I think I would have preferred to story about two friends reconnecting as adults rather than the love story with a boy who made some seriously questionable choices as a teenager.
Again, the first 75% was really great; I had high hopes, but it didn’t quite carry that momentum to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for allowing me to review my first ever ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Like I said, I enjoyed the first part of the book. I thought they way she connected with the kids was endearing. It’s the kind of relationship that adults want with kids. We want to dole out our life advice and watch them get that enlightened look in their eyes. Doesn’t so much happen in real life but I still liked it in the book.
I also really enjoyed that Gillian was in her Mid-30’s. I don’t read a lot of books with characters in that age range and as I’m in that age range, I was glad to relate to a character on that level. Lastly, I really liked how her old world of PR came into play at her new job. A blend of the old and new is exactly what life is about.
The book missed the mark for me on the male love interest. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was supposed to hate or love Aiden, her high school crush and now adult loverrrrr. There was some scandal in high school with Aiden, Gillian, and their best friend Miranda. Although it was mentioned a few times throughout the story, I needed a solid chapter or two (or three) with flashbacks of what exactly happened and the aftermath, instead of vague references. From what it seemed like, Aiden would have needed to do more than just say “I’m sorry” a few times to make up for it.
There were other storylines that I wanted to hear more about. There was a mention about the strain on Gillian’s relationship with her mother, but I didn’t understand why and when this happened. Another MAJOR gap in the storyline was Miranda. She’s mentioned so many times and was her best fired in high school, but we never get to hear from her in present time. It seemed like a very brushed off subject, even though it was clearly important to Gillian, I would have loved a resolution. I think I would have preferred to story about two friends reconnecting as adults rather than the love story with a boy who made some seriously questionable choices as a teenager.
Again, the first 75% was really great; I had high hopes, but it didn’t quite carry that momentum to the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for allowing me to review my first ever ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2023
Starting over is never an easy task. Whether it’s a new city, a new school, or a new job, growing pains abound. For Gillian, all the difficulties from starting over are compounded by her very public fall from grace. After a scandal causes her to shut down the PR company she built from the ground up, she returns to the place where she first encountered the lifestyles of the wealthy: Glen Ellen Academy, a boarding school nestled in California’s wine country.
We meet present day Gillian as she’s pulling up to her old stomping ground, reminiscing about the times she’s had and what brought her back to the school she first attended as a scholarship student. The reason behind Gillian closing her business isn’t revealed to us just yet. The reader is also not privy to a scandal that happened in Gillian’s last year of high school, something she begins to allude to early on. Both of these issues are built up so much in the beginning of the novel, that when they are revealed, the payoff is lukewarm. Gillian goes as far as describing the drama regarding her business as traumatic which is quite possibly one of the most loose uses of the word I’ve ever seen.
In this type of story, where the focus is more on the character rather than the plot, it seems important to create a character that the reader cares about. Unfortunately, I did not find this in Gillian. It would be one thing for her to be a character that I hated because at least that would evoke some kind of feeling. Instead, she was a character I felt indifferent about. Near the end, I got annoyed with her hypocrisy and overdramatics and big ol’ mouth, which at least was an improvement, but still it came a bit late.
Another aspect of Gillian’s character that was frustrating was her inability to move on from high school. It’s difficult to read about an adult woman who is stuck in the past. With all the resources she had, it sounded like she needed therapy. It’s quite awkward for her to pine after a man she knew in high school and didn’t talk to for twenty years. It was very hard to wrap my head around.
While this book and these characters were not very relatable to me, the author does a great job sharing the boarding school world with us. She gives peeks into the culture, and it can be very fun to be introduced to a world that one is not a member of. If you’re at all intrigued into the world of the elites, this could be a great read for you.
We meet present day Gillian as she’s pulling up to her old stomping ground, reminiscing about the times she’s had and what brought her back to the school she first attended as a scholarship student. The reason behind Gillian closing her business isn’t revealed to us just yet. The reader is also not privy to a scandal that happened in Gillian’s last year of high school, something she begins to allude to early on. Both of these issues are built up so much in the beginning of the novel, that when they are revealed, the payoff is lukewarm. Gillian goes as far as describing the drama regarding her business as traumatic which is quite possibly one of the most loose uses of the word I’ve ever seen.
In this type of story, where the focus is more on the character rather than the plot, it seems important to create a character that the reader cares about. Unfortunately, I did not find this in Gillian. It would be one thing for her to be a character that I hated because at least that would evoke some kind of feeling. Instead, she was a character I felt indifferent about. Near the end, I got annoyed with her hypocrisy and overdramatics and big ol’ mouth, which at least was an improvement, but still it came a bit late.
Another aspect of Gillian’s character that was frustrating was her inability to move on from high school. It’s difficult to read about an adult woman who is stuck in the past. With all the resources she had, it sounded like she needed therapy. It’s quite awkward for her to pine after a man she knew in high school and didn’t talk to for twenty years. It was very hard to wrap my head around.
While this book and these characters were not very relatable to me, the author does a great job sharing the boarding school world with us. She gives peeks into the culture, and it can be very fun to be introduced to a world that one is not a member of. If you’re at all intrigued into the world of the elites, this could be a great read for you.
January 16, 2022
Gillian’s career as a celebrity publicist in New York has just been imploded by a #MeToo client. When she gets an offer from her old high school in California to spend the year as a dorm mom, she jumps at the chance. Soon she’s in wine country, handing out cookies and giving advice on homework. Not to mention reconnecting with an old crush. It seems idyllic. But is there something more nefarious going on at Glen Ellen Academy? And will she know the right thing to do when it comes along?
This had such promise, and started out really well. I love a good boarding school novel, not to mention healing old hurts. But I was so frustrated by Gillian’s actions. No spoilers, but one of her end decisions made me want to throw the book across the room (and I was reading it on an ereader). There were unresolved plot lines. I didn’t feel like Gillian grew as much as she should.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
This had such promise, and started out really well. I love a good boarding school novel, not to mention healing old hurts. But I was so frustrated by Gillian’s actions. No spoilers, but one of her end decisions made me want to throw the book across the room (and I was reading it on an ereader). There were unresolved plot lines. I didn’t feel like Gillian grew as much as she should.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2022
Thank you for an advanced copy of this book!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pub Date: August 16, 2022
This was an enjoyable book that was a really quick read. Sometimes, you just need a palate cleanser book, and Room and Board fit that need!
Was the story a little unrealistic? Yes. Were the kids at the school a bit insufferable? Also yes. But, somehow, it worked. The student/mentor aspect of the story gave each character purpose, and I am always a sucker for a good redemption story. I thought the representation for the Me Too movement was fairly well executed, and the story is written in a way that flows nicely.
The story is, ultimately though, fairly forgettable in a sea of really good releases this summer. I don't see myself re-reading this one or reaching for more work by this author honestly. The story was good when I read it, but not something I will likely revisit.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pub Date: August 16, 2022
This was an enjoyable book that was a really quick read. Sometimes, you just need a palate cleanser book, and Room and Board fit that need!
Was the story a little unrealistic? Yes. Were the kids at the school a bit insufferable? Also yes. But, somehow, it worked. The student/mentor aspect of the story gave each character purpose, and I am always a sucker for a good redemption story. I thought the representation for the Me Too movement was fairly well executed, and the story is written in a way that flows nicely.
The story is, ultimately though, fairly forgettable in a sea of really good releases this summer. I don't see myself re-reading this one or reaching for more work by this author honestly. The story was good when I read it, but not something I will likely revisit.
February 28, 2022
I was on Such a roll with Academic Set books....and then this book.
The premise starts off with such a good pull: A young publicist Gillian has to quit her glam lifestyle of the rich an famous because of some scandal (still unsure what exactly that was, the author could have told us but I could have very well fallen asleep during that part, as I did several times while reading this book---like literally I would rather read my AP US history text book before having to read 1 more page of this book---and if you know me, I am a math and science girl....history is not my cup of tea, INCLUDING my APUSH teacher telling me I was more suited for the sciences--wow what a confidence booster for a 17 year old, no harsh feelings, that you Mr M for a B---I think I probably was more of a C student in history--but that is neither here nor there--wow junior year of high school, would I go back? Actually yes! I enjoyed high school except forAP US and English class--it was SO COLD in that room and that was the year I had to read Scarlet Letter--4th worst book now that I started I Have to finish my top worst books because I know you want to know:
1. Portrait of An Artist as A Young Man
2.The Stand--Stephen King (SORRY TED)
3. My Dead Husband-NJ Moss
4.Scarlett Letter-Nathanial Hawtorne
5. The Wrong Family--Taryn Fisher
*Holly Note that KM is NOT on this list!!
But the rest of Junior year was fun: Golf team, clothing design, calculus <3. chemistry <3 , Spanish 2....
Sorry back to the review: I really did not like the "romance" between Gillian and Aiden. The chemistry was a total no. And what did she see in him? I mean he was unwilling to commit to her in high school and then their whole "courtship" in the present time was really off putting. It was all about him and he pretty much just wined and dined her to get her to bed. The thing that drove me CRAZY was he continued to call "Lyft" for her, what kind of man doesn't drive his date home or pick her up??? Excuse me ...No! Major jerk move.
I still am not entirely sure why they "broke things off" because he was on the board of the PTA. Really? Weak.
The whole story was just boring.
I think the two exciting things that were suppose to happen were twins whose names begin with F become popular singers at the school and Gillian becomes their publicist...
The second "twist" involves the misses of funds at the elite private school.
Pretty much 300 pages of nothing happenening and me not really caring about any of the characters. There was no development, all were super shallow. This review really is more of me ranting, because honestly nothing happened in the book. Oh there was a character named Rainbow and Bunny--I almost feel like the author was taunting preppy sorority types-
Sorry but not a good one.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced copy of this book. I was not paid or did not receive anything for this honest review.
The premise starts off with such a good pull: A young publicist Gillian has to quit her glam lifestyle of the rich an famous because of some scandal (still unsure what exactly that was, the author could have told us but I could have very well fallen asleep during that part, as I did several times while reading this book---like literally I would rather read my AP US history text book before having to read 1 more page of this book---and if you know me, I am a math and science girl....history is not my cup of tea, INCLUDING my APUSH teacher telling me I was more suited for the sciences--wow what a confidence booster for a 17 year old, no harsh feelings, that you Mr M for a B---I think I probably was more of a C student in history--but that is neither here nor there--wow junior year of high school, would I go back? Actually yes! I enjoyed high school except forAP US and English class--it was SO COLD in that room and that was the year I had to read Scarlet Letter--4th worst book now that I started I Have to finish my top worst books because I know you want to know:
1. Portrait of An Artist as A Young Man
2.The Stand--Stephen King (SORRY TED)
3. My Dead Husband-NJ Moss
4.Scarlett Letter-Nathanial Hawtorne
5. The Wrong Family--Taryn Fisher
*Holly Note that KM is NOT on this list!!
But the rest of Junior year was fun: Golf team, clothing design, calculus <3. chemistry <3 , Spanish 2....
Sorry back to the review: I really did not like the "romance" between Gillian and Aiden. The chemistry was a total no. And what did she see in him? I mean he was unwilling to commit to her in high school and then their whole "courtship" in the present time was really off putting. It was all about him and he pretty much just wined and dined her to get her to bed. The thing that drove me CRAZY was he continued to call "Lyft" for her, what kind of man doesn't drive his date home or pick her up??? Excuse me ...No! Major jerk move.
I still am not entirely sure why they "broke things off" because he was on the board of the PTA. Really? Weak.
The whole story was just boring.
I think the two exciting things that were suppose to happen were twins whose names begin with F become popular singers at the school and Gillian becomes their publicist...
The second "twist" involves the misses of funds at the elite private school.
Pretty much 300 pages of nothing happenening and me not really caring about any of the characters. There was no development, all were super shallow. This review really is more of me ranting, because honestly nothing happened in the book. Oh there was a character named Rainbow and Bunny--I almost feel like the author was taunting preppy sorority types-
Sorry but not a good one.
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced copy of this book. I was not paid or did not receive anything for this honest review.
August 13, 2022
Parker writes a solid story about a woman having to reinvent herself, sort of. Gillian’s dreams and career combusted in NYC so she moves to California to become a dorm mom at her Alma mater. She enjoys a rapport with her girls and makes news friends. The book also does throw back chapters to acclimate readers to what happened Gillian’s senior year.
A scandal erupts at the school and it’s tossed into Gillian’s lap to deal with.
The one person I didn’t care for was Aiden. I thought he was self absorbed, disingenuous, and ready to dismiss Gillian too readily, I thought Gillian could do much better.
Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the early copy.
A scandal erupts at the school and it’s tossed into Gillian’s lap to deal with.
The one person I didn’t care for was Aiden. I thought he was self absorbed, disingenuous, and ready to dismiss Gillian too readily, I thought Gillian could do much better.
Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the early copy.
October 7, 2022
I grew up in Napa so the Sonoma area is very familiar to me and all the surrounding areas. Loved the mention of smell of the grapes and cows. The smell of grapes I could even smell in the air when I was training at the Napa airport.
I enjoyed this second chance story as Gillians job implodes in NY and she gets a job as a dorm mom at her old boarding school. With it comes memories, new friends, old friends, old flames, and having to find her place in her new life.
Thank you penguinrandomhouse and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
I enjoyed this second chance story as Gillians job implodes in NY and she gets a job as a dorm mom at her old boarding school. With it comes memories, new friends, old friends, old flames, and having to find her place in her new life.
Thank you penguinrandomhouse and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
February 15, 2023
I listened to this book, and honestly it would have been so much more enjoyable without the "romance" plot. I really enjoyed Gillian connecting to the students and the female staff, finding herself etc. Aiden made me angry pretty much every time he was in a scene, and I found the conclusion extremely unsatisfying
August 12, 2022
I started out liking this book and then…..it just didn’t grab my interest enough.
The main character, Gillian, is so immature for such a mature lady…does that make sense??????
Overall, it was a ok read but sorry to say not a favorite for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The main character, Gillian, is so immature for such a mature lady…does that make sense??????
Overall, it was a ok read but sorry to say not a favorite for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 30, 2024
It was a cute story, but throughout the book the main character kept lamenting her life situation but she caused it all? She cries that she lost her job but she chose to shutter her business. I don’t know, it was hard to connect to where she was
March 24, 2022
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
I liked but didn’t love this one. It fell flat and predictable.
I liked but didn’t love this one. It fell flat and predictable.
April 5, 2023
This one was just not for me. The main character was incredibly unlikable. The book, in general, just didn't have enough action for me.
April 16, 2025
it was cute and wholesome. idk if i’d recommend it to all of my friends but it was a quick feel good read.
July 31, 2022
Where to begin?
First of all, I want to say that I hate giving one star reviews. It hurts my heart to say negative things about someone’s hard work. That being said, I truly have nothing good to say about this one. Also, I agreed to give an honest review in exchange for an Advance copy.
•The premise of the book was totally unbelievable. A “well known” NYC publicist quits her job amidst tabloids and rumors of her representing a playboy. She is immediately offered a job as a Dorm Mother at her alma mater. WITH NO INTERVIEW OR APPLICATION. why?? Why did the the board reach out to a publicist of all people??
•Are publicists well known? I for one can not tell you the name of a single publicist, even the ones working in Hollywood, let alone tell you what kind of scandals they’ve been involved with. Yet, every single person on campus was familiar with Gillian Brodie and her fall from ‘fame’. Why do these teenagers care about a publicist quitting their job? I don’t understand.
•The teens are obsessed with her. I don’t know why. They act like she is the most sophisticated, knowledgeable person they’ve ever met, yet they themselves are extremely privileged and from prestigious families. I just don’t think high school seniors would care this much about a 38 year old ex-publicist.
•The romance was sooooo surface level. There was absolutely no chemistry between the characters. It was really just Gillian acting out on her 20 year long crush.
•The dialogue was SO cheesy. The characters speak in paragraphs, explaining their every thought to one another. There was no quick witted comebacks, casual chatter, or really any normal conversations. Just lengthy explanations for their various decisions.
•Why did these twins get so famous? The song sounds super cheesy and a boring Instagram video is not going to prompt Good Morning America to come out to your school for an interview. It’s just not.
•Gillian did not do her job. Maybe this is why she should have been interviewed first?? She reluctantly did hall checks, even though this was the most basic part of her job. She called in a substitute to do most of her work so she could go out with her friend and go on dates with her lukewarm crush. She should have been fired the first week, instead she’s offered a promotion.
•The flashbacks to her high school years were totally unnecessary. The ‘drama’ that unfolded has probably happened to every single teenager in history. Gillian, you’re not special for having a crush on your friend’s boyfriend. That’s pretty standard high school stuff. I was expecting something truly shocking to be revealed and was quite disappointed.
Honestly, I can’t think of one thing I actually enjoyed about the book. I don’t even know why I finished it. Save yourself some time and skip this one.
First of all, I want to say that I hate giving one star reviews. It hurts my heart to say negative things about someone’s hard work. That being said, I truly have nothing good to say about this one. Also, I agreed to give an honest review in exchange for an Advance copy.
•The premise of the book was totally unbelievable. A “well known” NYC publicist quits her job amidst tabloids and rumors of her representing a playboy. She is immediately offered a job as a Dorm Mother at her alma mater. WITH NO INTERVIEW OR APPLICATION. why?? Why did the the board reach out to a publicist of all people??
•Are publicists well known? I for one can not tell you the name of a single publicist, even the ones working in Hollywood, let alone tell you what kind of scandals they’ve been involved with. Yet, every single person on campus was familiar with Gillian Brodie and her fall from ‘fame’. Why do these teenagers care about a publicist quitting their job? I don’t understand.
•The teens are obsessed with her. I don’t know why. They act like she is the most sophisticated, knowledgeable person they’ve ever met, yet they themselves are extremely privileged and from prestigious families. I just don’t think high school seniors would care this much about a 38 year old ex-publicist.
•The romance was sooooo surface level. There was absolutely no chemistry between the characters. It was really just Gillian acting out on her 20 year long crush.
•The dialogue was SO cheesy. The characters speak in paragraphs, explaining their every thought to one another. There was no quick witted comebacks, casual chatter, or really any normal conversations. Just lengthy explanations for their various decisions.
•Why did these twins get so famous? The song sounds super cheesy and a boring Instagram video is not going to prompt Good Morning America to come out to your school for an interview. It’s just not.
•Gillian did not do her job. Maybe this is why she should have been interviewed first?? She reluctantly did hall checks, even though this was the most basic part of her job. She called in a substitute to do most of her work so she could go out with her friend and go on dates with her lukewarm crush. She should have been fired the first week, instead she’s offered a promotion.
•The flashbacks to her high school years were totally unnecessary. The ‘drama’ that unfolded has probably happened to every single teenager in history. Gillian, you’re not special for having a crush on your friend’s boyfriend. That’s pretty standard high school stuff. I was expecting something truly shocking to be revealed and was quite disappointed.
Honestly, I can’t think of one thing I actually enjoyed about the book. I don’t even know why I finished it. Save yourself some time and skip this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2022
I was lucky enough to get an ARC from NetGalley for this book. I think Room and Board is a fun read that gives a little insight into what life at a boarding school might be like. The story itself was well-written and really painted a picture of the characters, campus and surrounding town. Gillian, the main character, comes back to her alma mater as a Dorm mom after her job as a publicist comes to an end. Throughout the first half or so of the book, she's a bit of a mousy character almost. At times she can come across as a touch needy or whiny. When a scandal at the school breaks, she really steps into her former publicist role and its quite a personality shift. Honestly it was almost off-putting at times I think because it seemed very drastic to me. But, overall, I liked the book. I think its a solid 3.5 so I'm rounding up to a 4.
July 21, 2022
Parker’s The Shortest Way Home is one of my favorite books so I was so excited to finally have another book of her’s to read. While I did like Room and Board, I felt like something was missing from the book. Maybe I set my hopes too high for the book, but I felt like I kept waiting for something to happen to blow me away or really make me root for characters who were a little too self-absorbed, but that never happened.
I still will read Parker’s next book, and I’ll still recommend The Shortest Way Home to anyone who has not read it yet. Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I still will read Parker’s next book, and I’ll still recommend The Shortest Way Home to anyone who has not read it yet. Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2022
I liked this novel!
It brought me back to my own days in the college dorm (modern day) not my HS days as portrayed in this story, but many of the feelings were the same. Some things just never, ever change.
The insecurities, going for cool, but not too cool, friends, enemies, and trying to get good grades to move forward towards "real" adult life are all there.
Then throw in a romance that you cannot give up, but do you really want too?
This is just a fun book! You should give it a try!
Thank you to #Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for allowing me to read and provide my own review.
It brought me back to my own days in the college dorm (modern day) not my HS days as portrayed in this story, but many of the feelings were the same. Some things just never, ever change.
The insecurities, going for cool, but not too cool, friends, enemies, and trying to get good grades to move forward towards "real" adult life are all there.
Then throw in a romance that you cannot give up, but do you really want too?
This is just a fun book! You should give it a try!
Thank you to #Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for allowing me to read and provide my own review.
September 2, 2022
This book had a 2.88 rating in Goodreads. As I was reading, I thought it wasn't that bad... until it was.
The writing is very rudimentary and at times extremely repetitive. Gillian is an extremely immature character for someone that had a high level job that she excelled out. Finally, it's almost like the author forgot that the plot should have some sort of direction until halfway through the book. Then it was crammed in. This really is a ⭐️⭐️💫 read.
The writing is very rudimentary and at times extremely repetitive. Gillian is an extremely immature character for someone that had a high level job that she excelled out. Finally, it's almost like the author forgot that the plot should have some sort of direction until halfway through the book. Then it was crammed in. This really is a ⭐️⭐️💫 read.
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