This story took me back to my elementary school days, which is probably why I cried so much throughout the latter half. My family, namely my wonderful mother, immigrated to America believing that I would have a better life. She didn't speak a lick of english but made sure to attend every PTA meeting, volunteer to chaperone trips, and build relationships with my teachers so that I wouldn't ever feel alienated. Was it easy for her? Absolutely not. Did she still clamp down on her fears and do everything anyway? Yes.

Reading Vivian's struggle with shame and insecurity really hit close to home, especially as she tried her best to integrate into a society that othered her. She was far from perfect, but her love for her daughter was unmistakable; it was more than enough to help her persevere. Her inner dialogue felt extremely raw that sometimes, it even made me a little bit uncomfortable.

My only gripe was with the conflict she had with Daniel, as I personally believed he had more faults that contributed to later arguments. But at the end of the day, they were two parents just trying their best to hold their family together, making the most of Aria's unexpected werewolf transition and assimilating to a magical world—not to mention juggling a possible apocalypse that put her in the center of an ominous prophecy.

Overall, wonderful book with a fun, unique plot. I'd be hesitant to call this a cozy fantasy only because of the intense emotions and circumstances that didn't feel low-stakes, but I know the definition of the genre is broad!

As a teacher myself, I knew I wanted to read this one and it was so fun!
This was an easy little magical read with some mom humor mixed in and I had a great time. Viv's best friends were sorry as heck and PMO to be honest lol but there were other fantastic supporting characters. The fact that my daughter is going into kindergarten this fall made this a more enjoyable read overall as well. This was honestly unlike anything I have ever read and I loved the combination of adult struggles, mom life, and trying to navigate the magical community as a human.

Very, very funny, and surprisingly very touching too! I absolutely loved the concept of this from the blurb, and it's a pitch-perfect skewering of the cliques of parenthood while also being a really nicely built paranormal-but-not-farfetched world. Vivian is a very believable mother, with all the flaws and issues that comes with, and while she isn't always likeable you always end up rooting for her. I so enjoyed the way the world was crafted to be just a couple of degrees off from ours, and the characters are all so wonderfully written, even the smallest ones. I would have liked a warning for the relived trauma of Aria's change (I totally get WHY it was there, but "recently-bitten" does not cover the depth of the attack and Vivian's first-hand experience of what is, effectively, her daughter's violent death); as a parent of a similarly aged kid, this was hard to read in a book that had, to that point, been firmly tongue-in-cheek. Apart from that one shocking chapter, this is a fantastically funny, savagely witty, and deeply kind book that deserves to become a star in paranormal circles. I'll definitely be reading more from this author - any chance of a sequel with an older Aria getting into high school??

This book deserves a solid 3.5 stars for being silly, enjoyable with a surprising number of touching parenthood moments. I thoroughly enjoyed the magical setting at a kindergarten, and appreciated that the story didn't take itself too seriously. There are moments where Vivian and Daniel frustrated me. I really think Vivian's people-pleasing wen ton far too long, and Daniel received too easy a reprieve for his absence and lack of understanding. Aria was an adorable werewolf child, and the story wrapped itself up as adorably as it began. It is not a highly intellectual read, or very deep emotionally, but if you're looking for something to get you out of a reading slump, this will do it.

Okay, The Grimoire Grammar School is EVERYTHING. Dark academia vibes? Check. Magic and secrets lurking in every corner? Double check. The atmosphere is so rich and eerie, and the characters? Absolutely compelling.

Very fun read! It touches a lot on real life problems with a fantasy touch. It feels extremely realistic and something you can personally relate to, even if you don’t have a child yet. It makes you feel like that all problems can be solved so therefore it’s a great escape from in real life problems.

I liked The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis! It's a cozy fantasy about a human mom, Vivian, trying to fit in into the magical community. They moved to a magical town after Vivian's daughter, Aria, was bitten by a werewolf and therefore turned into a werewolf.

I have never read a book about a human mom exploring the magical community, and I thought this was quite a refreshing take on the genre.

I liked reading from Vivian's perspective. Even though she made a lot of mistakes, she always tried to do what was best for her daughter. Speaking of her daughter, I loved that Aria was described as a wolf puppy when she was in her wolf form. So adorable!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read!

I really loved Caitlin Rozakis' debut, Dreadful, last year, so I've been really looking forward to THE GRIMOIRE GRAMMAR SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (say that five times fast!).

This second book (also a standalone) is very different, but equally enjoyable. Rozakis has a great sense of dry humour and a really on-the-nose why of using magical metaphors to really pierce through modern society's issues.

I loved Vivian as a character--she's beautifully messy and struggling to cope with day-to-day trials which some readers, society at large, and her husband Daniel in particular, may see as mundane, but to Viv are very much world-consuming. Rozakis does a great job of showing each side of the situation--ways Viv could or couldn't react differently--without ever making me feel like we were judging her for her slip-ups.

Perhaps it's a fitting touch that this second novel is very much about growing up. It's about the disappointments and challenges that so many of us deal with in adult life, and finding magic in the moments of joy.

Family issues are at the forefront--Viv's guilt and worry over keeping her daughter physically safe, her worry over doing and being enough (whether as a mother or a wife), while also desperately trying to cling to a sense of self instead of becoming 'only' Mrs Aria's Mommy. It also tackles issues I think we can all appreciate parent or note--being the newcomer, or the outsider, and the awkwardness and loneliness of carving out a place for yourself in a pre-existing group.

THE GRIMOIRE GRAMMAR SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION is perhaps a slower-paced, less bombastic story than Dreadful was, but one I thoroughly enjoyed and full cements Caitlin Rozakis as an auto-buy author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. There are parts I liked about this, including the cozy mum out of her depth trying to get to grips with magical society vibe, however I did find it hard going at times due to some of the subject matter. The ending / villian reveal did not quite hit home for me, I didn't really understand their motives and it just felt a bit flat. I would still recommend this for fans of cozy fantasy.

Several days after finishing, I still don't really know how to feel about this one. On the one hand I did like it and didn't DNF and on the other hand, something fell a little flat for me.

I loved the premise, a magical slice of school mum life, but I found the main characters to be quite annoying, Vivian was constantly contradicting herself, her husband was a bit of a drip and her "best friends" were just plain awful people. Having said that, some of the lesser, supporting characters were absolutely wonderful and made the book for me! In the end I began to appreciate Vivian and I realise that a lot of her contradictions and people pleasing were actually quite relatable, maybe that's why it annoyed me so much 😅

I'm still very much sitting with my feelings, but I think it was a pretty fun read

After reading the book description, I was intrigued—even though this is nothing like what I usually read—and I was not disappointed!

This was a cozy, fantastically whimsical story about the anxiety that comes with wanting to do everything right when raising children and the personal sacrifices so many parents make in their best interest. I really enjoyed the blend of satirical humor and surprisingly relatable (magical) characters. It was also refreshing to experience a magical school system from the parents’ perspective! A doomsday prophecy and the supposed apocalypse don’t sound like an exciting adventure when you consider the feelings of the parents involved.

My only criticism is that the villain’s reveal felt anticlimactic. Their motivations didn’t entirely make sense to me, and the resolution lacked weight, making the consequences feel somewhat insignificant.

Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable and refreshing read that I’d recommend to anyone who likes lower-stakes magical academia stories!

Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
(Review will be posted on Goodreads & StoryGraph during the publication month, as requested by the publisher)

This was actually such a cute, fun cozy read! As a mom, I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis - and I really enjoyed the overlap of real world/magical elements with the mystical creatures. This is a quick and fun read, and I would definitely recommend to cozy fantasy readers who have children!

Fun and frivolous fantasy. Definitely American school based, but I could see some similarities to Scottish Primary schools. On that note Parents want the best for their child, to settle into a new school, and many parents get involved in the school life including the PTA. Probably most don’t have to deal with a new school and magic and vampires and werewolves! And a newly werewolf turned daughter of five. The parts I enjoyed most were Aria as this five year old girl/pupil and as a very young puppy depending on, well excitement and annoyance. But she is a smart cookie. (Note: don’t give Aria chocolate cookies, no definitely not chocolate!) Vivian, her mother, is finding her feet in a totally new hierarchy of parental involvement, school curriculum and policy. And then there is a prophecy. One thing for sure, she’s going to protect her daughter. As Vivian tries to settle in I found the story got a bit bogged down, but I kept reading and the ending made it worth it. As we are only in kindergarten with Aria and her family, I think Caitlin Rozakis will have a lot more fun to reveal for us in the future. At least I hope so. Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Loved this innovative look at a magical school from the perspective of a student's mum who is human. Super entertaining, very cozy and very funny!

Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Titan!

We don’t get many Mums of five year old werewolves as the main character, but I think we should if they’re as well-written as Viv. Greatly enjoyed the combination of the horrors of PCA and being in a magical world, and the realism in Viv’s anxieties and self-discovery journey. The time skips were a bit sudden but helped carry the story along

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis is a hilarious and heart-warming urban fantasy that blends the chaos of parenting with the absurdities of a magical New England aristocracy. With its sharp wit, quirky characters, and laugh-out-loud moments, this book is perfect for fans of The Addams Family meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid—but with more spells, werewolves, and PTA drama.

The story follows Vivian, a mother thrust into the bizarre and bewildering world of magical society after her kindergartner, Aria, is bitten by a werewolf. Suddenly, Vivian finds herself navigating a hidden community of magical schools, where she must juggle everything from picking the right sacrificial dagger for her daughter to surviving the cutthroat politics of the PTA, populated by sirens, chthonic nymphs, and parents who can literally set her hair on fire.

As Vivian tries to keep up with the arcane rules of her new life—hellhounds in the school corridors, demons at the talent show, and an eternal inferno of a parents’ WhatsApp group—she stumbles upon an ancient prophecy of doom that seems to point directly at Aria. Now, Vivian must unravel the secrets of this magical world while keeping her daughter safe, all without losing her sanity (or her sense of humour).

One of the standout features of The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association is its razor-sharp humour. Rozakis’ writing is witty and irreverent, with a knack for turning everyday parenting struggles into magical mayhem. The juxtaposition of mundane tasks (like packing lunches and attending bake sales) with fantastical elements (like portals and prophecies) creates a delightful and absurd tone that keeps readers laughing from start to finish.

Vivian is a relatable and endearing protagonist, whose determination to protect her daughter and her exasperation with the magical elite make her a character readers will root for. Aria, the recently-bitten werewolf, is equally charming, with her childlike innocence and occasional wolfish antics adding heart to the story. The supporting cast, from the over-the-top magical parents to the eccentric school staff, is a riot, each character bringing their own brand of chaos to the narrative.

The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, with plenty of action, humour, and heart-warming moments to keep readers engaged. The stakes are high, with the prophecy of doom looming over everything, but the story never loses its sense of fun. The blend of magical adventure and parenting chaos creates a unique and entertaining reading experience.

Thematically, The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association explores the challenges of parenthood, the importance of community, and the lengths to which parents will go to protect their children. The novel also delves into the idea of fitting in and finding one’s place in a world that feels alien and overwhelming. These themes are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story.

If there is a minor critique, it is that some readers may find the sheer volume of magical elements and quirky characters a bit overwhelming at times. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise masterfully crafted novel.

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association is a must-read for fans of urban fantasy and comedic fiction. Caitlin Rozakis has created a story that is as heart-warming as it is hilarious, offering readers a chance to lose themselves in a world of magic, mayhem, and motherhood.

A laugh-out-loud and heart-warming urban fantasy, The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of magical chaos and parenting adventures.

A common theme I see between Grimoire Grammar and Dreadful, Rozakis’ previous book, is how a fun and whimsical premise for a story is underpinned with a lot of depth to go with your light entertainment. There was a lot more depth to the story than I expected - the story was cosy and warm, but the lead characters (especially Vivian) had a lot of character development underneath. Quite a few moments of this story feel realistic, with Aria’s parents facing issues fitting in and moving to a new school that are common in our own mundane world! I found I could really sympathise with Vivian and Daniel and the struggles they face - the anxiety and stress they face hit a little too close to home for me at times, but a well handled conclusion to the story maintains its light feel overall.

If you’re here just for the magical grammar school though, don’t worry - there’s plenty to go around! Grimoire Grammar is a funny story, with a good chunk of the humour coming from powerful mages and eldritch monsters bickering over mundane things like playdates and bake sales. There’s definitely as much unruly behaviour amongst the parents as the children, from the gossipy WhatsApp groups to the dumpster-fire PTA meetings. I really love the start-of-chapter school announcements too, for a bit of added humour and world-building in the wider world of the school. Thank you to Titan Books and to NetGalley for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed reading this witty dive into the literal hell of parenting politics so much I ended up finishing it on the walk back from the train station and despite nearly tripping over several times didn't stop reading. We might not all have werewolf offspring and find ourselves moving to new towns where our lack of magic marks us out as outsiders but any parent has dealt with Queen Bees and Alpha Dads, playground politics and feeling like we don't fit in but, for the sake of our beloved offspring tried to fake it. Rozakis takes this clever conceit and runs with it in this delighfully funny book with moments of real tension and peril.
When Vivian and Daniel's small daughter Aria is bitten by a werewolf they find themselves driven out of their home and moving across the country to a quintessentially middle class New England town with a difference, Stars Hollow meets Sunnydale. The local prestigous school caters for mages in training. the offspring of fae and sirens and shapeshifters. Desperate for some stability for Aria, Vivien battles her own growing insecurities and does her best to fit in, joining the PTA and the school Whatsapp group. But when throwing herself into the school world creates cracks in her marriage and rumours start to fly about a prophecy which might just have put a target on Aria's back, Vivien realises that the stakes are higher than she could have guessed and her family are in very real danger.
A delightful Motherland/Buffy mash up.

Absolutely my type of read. I loved this whole book with my whole heart. Highly recommend if you enjoy cosy fantasy. I just adored this and had so much fun reading it. I cannot remember the last time I instantly clicked with a book and I would very much love more in this world. A 2025 favourite for sure

I was eager to get my hands on this because I adored her last book- Dreadful (title- not an opinion!)
The Grimoire Grammar school PTA was a fun, bittersweet read about what happens when a child is different and their parents have to decided how far they'll go to make that child feel normal- all done through the lens of the magical. world.
When their daughter is bitten and becomes a werewolf, it puts a strain on the normal life that her parents thought they were going to have. Trying to join the magical world as "normal" mortals is hard enough, especially when its every bit as prejudicial, social class orientated and elitist as the regular world but with world-ending prophecies and children's parties that hire actual unicorns.
Vivian is trying desperately to get Aria to fit in with others while trying to battle feelings of guilt over how the incident happened and the frictions her decisions cause between her and her husband.
It felt like Jodi Picoult meets T J Kingfisher and it was wonderful. Intense, thoughtful and with enough hints of comedy to not make it depressing. Highly recommended. Caitlin Rozakis is fast becoming one author to look out for.