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Welcome to my stop on the blog tour celebrating the release of Minor Dramas and Other Catastophes by Kathleen West. Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the invitation! Stay tuned for information on how to win a copy at the bottom of this post!

About the Book:

Perfect for fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Small Admissions, a wry and cleverly observed debut novel about the privileged bubble that is Liston Heights High–the micro-managing parents, the overworked teachers, and the students caught in the middle–and the fallout for each of them when the bubble finally bursts.

Isobel Johnson knows helicopter parents like Julia Abbott–a stage mom whose world revolves around interfering in her children’s lives–come with the territory. Julia resents teachers like Isobel, who effortlessly bond with students, including Julia’s own teenagers, who have started pulling further away from her.

Isobel has spent her teaching career in Liston Heights side-stepping the community’s high-powered families. But when she receives a threatening voicemail accusing her of Anti-Americanism and a “blatant liberal agenda,” she realizes she’s squarely in the fray. Rather than cowering, Isobel doubles down on her social-justice ideals. Meanwhile, Julia, obsessed with the casting of the high school’s winter musical, inadvertently shoves the female student lead after sneaking onto the school campus. The damning video footage goes viral and has far-reaching consequences for Julia and her entire family.

With nothing to unite them beyond the sting of humiliation from public meltdowns, Isobel and Julia will find common ground where they least expect it, confronting a secret Facebook gossip site that’s stirring up more trouble for this tumultuous, fractured school community.

My Thoughts:

Liston Heights High is a privileged place, except maybe for the teachers. The parents tend to hover around and add pressure as needed.

Isabel is a teacher students easily love, and for whatever reason, Julia Abbott, a parent of students at the school, resents that. Well, actually, she resents it because her teenagers are pulling away from her as they become closer to Isabel.

Things come to a head when Isabel receives a threatening voicemail, and she knows she can no longer lay low.

At the same time, Julia is caught on video pushing a student who was named lead of the winter musical. The video goes viral.

Believe it or not, Julia and Isabel form a bond through these experiences that toss them to the fringes.

Minor Dramas is an easy read, meaning it’s so well-written you can breeze right through it. It confronts several timely topics head-on, but in a way that doesn’t overwhelm. I found the whole book full of sheer entertainment, and it surprised me in the best of ways.

Overall, Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes is an addictive, easy breezy visit back to high school!

I received a complimentary copy.

About the Author:

Kathleen West is a veteran middle and high-school teacher. She graduated with a degree in English from Macalester College and holds a Master’s degree in literacy education from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Minneapolis with her hilarious husband, two sporty sons, and very bad goldendoodle. For more information, please visit:https://www.kathleenwestbooks.com/ | Instagram: @kathleenwestwrites | Facebook: @KathleenWestAuthor | Twitter: @kwestbooks

***Book Giveaway***

For a chance to win a paperback copy of Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes, please visit my instagram page!  Giveaway generously sponsored by the publisher. 

Have you read Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR