Small Admissions: A Novel

by Amy Poeppel Narrated by Carly Robins

Overview

Despite her innate ambition and Summa Cum Laude smarts, Kate Pearson has turned into a major slacker. After being dumped by her handsome, French "almost fiancé," she abandons her grad school plans and spends her days lolling on the couch, leaving her apartment only when a dog-walking gig demands it. Her friends don't know what to do other than pass tissues and hope for a comeback, while her practical sister, Angela, pushes every remedy she can think of, from trapeze class to therapy to job interviews.


For reasons no one (least of all Kate) understands, she manages to land a job in the admissions department at the prestigious Hudson Day School. In her new position, Kate learns there's no time for self-pity during the height of the admissions season. Meanwhile, Kate's sister and friends find themselves keeping secrets, hiding boyfriends, dropping bombshells, and fighting each other on how to keep Kate on her feet. On top of it all, her cranky, oddly charming, and irritatingly handsome neighbor is more than he seems.


Through every dishy, page-turning twist, it seems that one person's happiness leads to another's misfortune, and suddenly everyone, including Kate, is looking for a way to turn rejection on its head, using any means necessary-including the truly unexpected.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

09/12/2016
The focus in Poeppel’s quick-witted debut novel is on elite private school admissions. Kate Pearson is a sharp yet aimless young woman a couple of years out of Wellesley, struggling to recover from a disastrous breakup. Her helicopter sister, Angela, gets her a job interview, which is a comical nightmare for Kate and her prospective boss. Surprisingly—to both of them—he hires her to be in charge of admissions at Manhattan’s prestigious Hudson Day School. Poeppel’s novel follows Kate’s journey from hot mess to self-actualizing grown-up, while detailing the campaigns for admission of a small group of students and their families. Some rise to the challenge, but one fails miserably. The novel is also about friendship and family, and the author gently satirizes hippie academics through Kate’s parents, whose nontraditional take on child rearing contributed in no small part to Angela’s tightly wound demeanor. Rounding out the cast are Kate’s two best friends: Chloe, who goes to extreme, humorous lengths to find Kate a boyfriend, and Vicki, who tries to manipulate the situation to her advantage. With so many strong personalities and disparate threads, Kate and her story might easily have gotten lost, but the author, like a circus ringmaster, points attention here and there, always bringing it back to the center. An excellent debut. (Dec.)

Brit + Co.

"This book perfectly captures the spirit of modern adulting—and yes, we're completely obsessed."

The Washington Post

"Both witty and wise, Small Admissions is a big-hearted, charming novel."

Katie Fforde

This was quirky, funny and completely original. I loved it!

Bustle

"Now that Small Admissions has hit shelves everywhere, you can treat yourself to its hilarity and charm . . . Filled with honesty, authenticity, and true laugh-out-loud moments."

The Dallas Morning News

"A riotous, overcrowded, entertaining blowout of a novel."

Booklist

"Poeppel gives an in-depth look at the admissions process, with a side of secrets, bombshells, heartbreak, and hope . . . perfect for fans of Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep."

WorkingMother.com

"This witty and charming debut stole our hearts this year, and we can't wait to see what Amy Poeppel gifts the literary world with next."

USA Today

"A smart take on private-school 'Admissions' . . . Amy Poeppel's debut novel is a book about rejection, acceptance and our ability to maneuver between the two."

Bloggers Recommend: Best Reads of November 201 Heroes and Heartbreakers

"Every once in a while, you just come across a book that is so good you want to shout it out to other readers . . . . Poeppel has found the perfect balance between humorous and insightful in the scenarios she writes about. In addition, the characters are wonderful—so multi-faceted and varied."

Seattle Book Mama

"There are hilariously dysfunctional parents, kids whose folks don't have a clue what they can do and what they can't, and in the midst of it all, relationships among Kate's nearest and dearest become unstuck and reconfigured in ways that mirror those Kate works with, and even Kate herself. I can't tell you any more, because it would ruin it for you, but this snarky romp is not to be missed. It's cunning, wickedly bold humor at its finest."

Diane Meier

"In this absorbing story, Amy Poeppel brings her razor-sharp observations of the postures and pretenses found in our culture, in our cities,and especially in the world of admissions. Amy’s gift for dialogue, shown through the sidesplitting banter between our appealing, young heroine and the parents and children she interviews, will delight readers. Amy Poeppel displays a well of insight, forgiveness and wit that not only marks a talented writer, but the launch of what promises to be a marvelous career.

the author of THE YEAR OF THE GADFLY - Jennifer Miller

"Small Admissions is a hilarious romp through absurdities of Manhattan prep school life. It's characters are larger than life, it's point of view delightfully farcical. You'll read it in a snap and then wish for more."

Cosmopolitan

"A dishy, LOL delight."

BookPage

"Deliciously smart . . . A laugh-out-loud funny look at status and rejection in all its forms, from the classroom to the bedroom."

Charity Shumway

A rare book that actually makes you laugh out loud. Small Admissions offers a peek into the world of New York City private school admissions, but the deadly insights hardly stop there. Family, friendships,meetings(!)—Poeppel tells gleaming, hilarious truths about them all.

Amy Shearn

Funny and incisive… Amy Poeppel's rollicking debut skewers the crazy world of Manhattan private schools, the extreme sport of contemporary parenting, and the ridiculous seriousness with which we embark on our adult lives. There's more here too: a thoughtful excavation of how we deal with rejections, big and small. I loved reading this book.

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Small Admissions is quick-witted and razor-sharp. With a chorus of varied and absurd voices, you'll laugh at everyone involved while secretly fearing that you see yourself in the mix. Amy Poeppel manages to tell a story both poignant and hilarious, hinting that this wry and absorbing debut is the beginning of an exciting career.

RT Book Reviews

"Delightful."

Plan to Happy

"We've got a school, in New York City, with quirky kids and Park Avenue parents. That description rings a whole lot of bells for me!"

Elizabeth Brundage

"Charming, refreshing, and brilliantly funny, Amy Poeppel's novel is a delightful surprise."

Hilton Als

Trenchant, funny, and observant...as a prose artist Ms. Poeppel leaves nothing to be desired, except this desire: that she write more and more, and as well as she does in this, her assured debut.

David Harman

As Jean Hanff Korelitz did for college in her novel Admission, Amy Poeppel artfully and hilariously describes the gamesmanship in the high-stakes, high-anxiety world of New York City’s private school admissions offices with spot-on dialogue and genuine insight. As the novel unfolds, the reader finds that Small Admissions lead to bigger, more important truths in the lives of the characters populating this hilarious book; I couldn’t put it down.

Top Reads Out in December Refinery 29

"Fans of Primates of Park Avenue and Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep will get a kick out of this novel, which is also a story about how women help one another get back on their feet."

Heroes and Heartbreakers Blog

"Charming, appealing, and delightful."

Cosmopolitan

"A dishy, LOL delight."

Bloggers Recommend: Best Reads of November 2016 Heroes and Heartbreakers

"Every once in a while, you just come across a book that is so good you want to shout it out to other readers . . . . Poeppel has found the perfect balance between humorous and insightful in the scenarios she writes about. In addition, the characters are wonderful--so multi-faceted and varied."

USA Today

"A smart take on private-school 'Admissions' . . . Amy Poeppel's debut novel is a book about rejection, acceptance and our ability to maneuver between the two."

Booklist

"Poeppel gives an in-depth look at the admissions process, with a side of secrets, bombshells, heartbreak, and hope . . . perfect for fans of Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep."

Library Journal - Audio

04/01/2017
Kate Pearson has got to snap out of her funk, get over her broken-hearted disappointment, and get on with her life. So say her best friends, her sister, her parents, the lady at the liquor store, and even her downstairs neighbor. Everyone has a suggestion, but it isn't until Kate stumbles into an assistant admissions job at a prestigious New York private school that her balance, self-confidence, and humor return. The title refers to both the small children applying to the school and the small insights into human behavior that enlighten and instruct Kate. Performer Carly Robins has a large cast of characters to represent and does best with the secondary ones. She has a light touch and enthusiastic approach in her overall reading; however, she is less successful in differentiating between Kate and her best friend Chloe, which is unfortunate, given the device of having both of them be the primary voice at different points in the book. VERDICT In general, a humorous chick lit, coming-of-age at 25 to 30-ish in Manhattan type novel with a fair amount of mature language. ["A witty and captivating page-turner punctuated with quirky characters and laugh-out-loud moments that are sure to appeal to chick lit lovers of the Marian Keyes/Jennifer Weiner/Susan Isaacs variety": LJ 11/1/16 review of the Atria hc.]—J. Sara Paulk, Houston Cty. P.L., Perry, GA

Library Journal

11/01/2016
Bright, ambitious Wellesley grad Kate Pearson is a woman whose life has gone off the rails. Following a disastrous breakup that annihilated both her relationship and planned move to Paris, she is back in New York filling her days (and nights) with bon-bons, sweatpants, and reruns of Sex and the City. Despite the best efforts of her sister Angela and BFFs Chloe and Vicki, Kate can't get off the couch until, against all odds, she lands a job in admissions at the prestigious Hudson Day School. There's no time for self-pity in her new position as Kate plunges right into the "dark time," as her colleagues describe the admissions season, and a sea of oddball applicants and their crazy parents. VERDICT Debut author Poeppel, who did a stint as an admissions officer, gives us an inside peek into the selection process at an elite prep school. The result is a witty and captivating page-turner punctuated with quirky characters and laugh-out-loud moments that are sure to appeal to chick lit lovers of the Marian Keyes/Jennifer Weiner/Susan Isaacs variety. [See Prepub Alert, 6/13/16.]—Jeanne Bogino, New Lebanon Lib., NY

APRIL 2017 - AudioFile

Narrator Carly Robins creates Poeppel’s believable and hilarious world of 20-something relationships, set in New York City. Kate has been rejected by her boyfriend and spends months on the couch, unable to be consoled. Her friends try to help, and her sister offers various opportunities to lift her out of her funk, but Kate is stuck in an emotional desert. A turning point occurs when she unwittingly lands a job in admissions at a private school, where students, staff, and parents cause her to engage and move forward, revealing “small admissions” of her own in the failed relationship. As narrator, Robins has a pleasant voice, but the listener will have to work to discern the changes in point of view and identify which character is speaking. L.M.A. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2016-09-20
Kate Pearson is about to discover just how far moneyed Manhattanites will go to get their children into the most prestigious private school.A devastating breakup has left Kates life in a shambles. She finds herself back home in New York with no fiance and no job. By sheer luck, she lands a position as an admissions officer at the elite Hudson Day School, where she evaluates middle school applicants and their parents. Kate meets the typical cast of admit-lit characters: the spoiled underachiever, the too-perfect braggart, the charming scholarship candidate, and, of course, the crazy parents. With one notable exception, they do exactly what readers of this genre have come to expect: pressure, bully, throw tantrums, and threaten to sue when things dont go their way. Debut novelist Poeppel delivers some fun and entertaining moments but fails to offer anything fresh or insightful in her tales from the admissions-committee room. Since the author worked in the admissions office at an elite prep school herself, readers might expect she would have more material on which to base her fictional tale. Aside from one point of high drama at the end, though, this book lacks the punch one hopes for in this genre. Diluting the novel's potency further is a supporting cast of Kates family and friends from outside the admissions world, none of whom is particularly compelling. Passing grade, though not top of the class.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171332884
Publisher:	HighBridge Company
Publication date:	12/27/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Small Admissions
For one whole year, we worried about Kate. We worried to her face and worried behind her back, credited her with being tough, while judging her for being pathetic. Some days we thought she was suicidal; others she seemed homicidal, or as if she had the potential, anyway, not that any of us would blame her. We didn’t know how to help. Her sister, Angela, thought she needed therapy, antidepressants, and time to heal. She prescribed hard work and weekend hobbies, like kayaking or photography. Vicki thought she needed to quit wallowing; why not enjoy life as a single woman, celebrate her independence, go out and get laid? The guy who lived below her thought she should turn her music down and leave the apartment from time to time instead of stomping around over his head all day long. The lady at the liquor store suspected she drank too much. I didn’t know what to think. We all agreed she needed to get her ass off the couch and get a life. She needed to stop wearing sweatpants and put on a little mascara, for Christ’s sake. And would it kill her to go on a date? We were tired of the whole thing. Sure, life had thrown a huge piece of shit in her face, but . . .

Actually, there was no but. Life had thrown an enormous piece of shit in Kate’s face.

Whenever the topic of Kate came up, faces got twitchy; eyes got shifty. Our friends would glance at each other and look at me with a mixture of blame and embarrassment, making it clear what they all thought but couldn’t say, at least not around me. I could imagine them whispering, after I excused myself to go to the ladies’ room:

She must feel like it’s her fault.

It was her fault.

Well, she certainly is partly to blame.

Apart from him, it was all her fault.

I know! I mean, if only she had . . .

I wonder if she feels responsible?

Yes, bitches. I feel responsible.

To me Kate was something like a figure skater, skilled and balanced one second and then, bam, she’s splayed out all over the ice the next. Music still playing, and she can’t even get up to finish the damn routine.

But before her fall, it was a different story. Skilled and balanced. I remember Kate sitting cross-legged on her bed in our dorm room, laptop open, wearing glasses and retainers, reading an assignment she’d written out loud to us:

Day 1. Sundown. I enter a community living structure after the tribe’s evening repast. I am in the midst of seven female natives, and while I believe them to be a peaceful people, I approach them cautiously, watching from a safe distance. I see them communicating with each other, using language and gestures, drinking an amber-colored beverage out of red, plastic cups, and listening to music that causes them to jerk their heads in unison. I come closer to observe their rituals and seat myself on a contraption that hosts a variety of food particles in its fibers. When I insert my hand under the cushion, I discover a handful of blackened popcorn kernels, a pair of unwashed male undergarments, and two small copper medallions. The women in the tribe see the items in my hand and begin shrieking, gesticulating, and backing away from me. I fear I have insulted these gentle humanoids by unearthing their relics from the sofa, but they are forgiving. One offers me a large vessel, into which I respectfully lower the clothing and kernels. When I start to put in the copper medallions, the female makes a gift of them to me. I will bring them home to share with my people.

Kate looked up, ready for our critique.

“I don’t get it,” Vicki said. She was sitting up in her bed with a Town & Country magazine open across her lap.

“What?” Kate asked.

“If they’re pennies,” Vicki asked, “why can’t you just say pennies?”

“I like it,” I said.

“Thank you, Chloe,” Kate answered. She was hunched over, reading through her fictional field notes again.

“I didn’t say I don’t like it,” Vicki said. “I just don’t get the point.”

“Can you tell I’m from another planet?” Kate asked.

“Totally,” I assured her.

“It’s inconsistent, if you want me to be honest,” Vicki answered. “How would an alien know what popcorn is?”

“You’re absolutely right,” Kate said, holding down the delete button. “It’s so stupid.”

“You’re a freshman,” Vicki told her. “You’re supposed to be stupid.”

“She didn’t say she was stupid,” I corrected. “She didn’t mean to say that you’re stupid, Kate.”

“It’s no good; I’m starting over again,” Kate said, closing her laptop and getting ready to go. “I’ll work in the Student Center, so I don’t keep you up.”

“We’ll hear you anyway when you come in at two o’clock,” Vicki said.

“She’ll tiptoe,” I suggested.

We had only been roommates for two months, and we had already fallen into our roles. Kate was the bookiest of us. She spent more time in the library and less time in the shower than anyone I’d ever met. Not that she smelled bad or anything. She just couldn’t be bothered. She was a scholar in the making, bingeing on nineteenth-century novels whenever she had spare time, the more passion, suspense, and drama, the better.

“You know you’re wearing pajamas,” Vicki called after her, as Kate walked out of the room.

Vicki was smart and driven in a different way. She was exceedingly practical, registered for classes only if she found them real-world applicable and down-the-road lucrative. “When would I ever use that?” she asked when I suggested we all take a history class on serfdom in the Middle Ages. She signed up for stats instead. I had to check a map when I first met her to wrap my head around where she came from: a flyover state that she had no intention of returning to. One time I walked into our dorm room to find Vicki looking through Kate’s dresser drawers. Without thinking, I apologized to her.

And who was I? Among other things, my role in our clique was keeper of the peace. I held us together. For four years I bridged the gap, and it wasn’t easy. I was the one who made sure we were always assigned to the same dorm, with rooms on the same hall. I was the one who made plans (Friday-night cocktails and weekend getaways) and posed us in pictures, dressed up or dressed down, with me almost always in the middle. I cleared up misunderstandings and found common ground: in our sophomore year, Kate and Vicki got into a fight about gun control (Vicki’s libertarian principles clashing with Kate’s progressive sensibilities), and I spent an anxiety-filled week negotiating a truce, apologizing to one on behalf of the other, failing a sociology test in the process.

After we graduated from Wellesley, we decided to move to New York as individuals—still as a trio in spirit, but not as roommates. I figured it was for the best, knowing that our friendships would be far less complicated without the petty problems that stem from too much togetherness. I was relieved to move forward into something simple and more adult.

And then Kate had her disastrous triple toe loop ass-on-ice wipeout and suddenly I found myself reentangled, back in the middle of a big mess.

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