Holly Banks is not having the best first week in her new home of Primm Village. She is just trying to survive sending her only daughter to her first week of Kindergarten. Then total chaos erupts and throws Holly into a world of perfectly put together Pinterest type moms and some over the top (but sort of loveable) women... Especially PTA president Mary Margaret St. James.

I laughed out loud so many times in the book! I think most will love this. Holly is sure to worm her way into your heart!

Welcome to the Village of Primm! Holly moves her family into the affluent community of Primm, where everything is perfect and Pinterest worthy. Holly’s daughter is starting kindergarten and that day brings so many emotions along with some school drama when Holly has to drop off her daughter at school. Let’s just say, she doesn’t make a good first impression. Throughout the book more things go wrong than right, and it’s often over the top hilarious! As a mom, I definitely related to Holly on some of the situations. I’m not going to go into the whole PTA president situation because some of it was spot on and also because you just have to read it! If you are into comedies or are looking for a light book to read, be sure to pick this one up, I laughed out loud way too many times and it was a fun read after so many heavy books!

I ended up DNF’ing this book a few chapters in as I noticed it wasn’t a right fit for me. Even though I’m not a mom and can’t relate, the humor wasn’t to my taste. With that said, I know I’m in the minority and don’t want to to leave a negative review on other sites. Other people I’ve spoken with loved this novel and wish the author the best of luck with her release.

Thank you to Julie Valerie and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced electronic copy of this amazing debut book that gave me so much joy and happiness the entire time I was reading.

I felt like Julie Valerie entered my brain and knew exactly what all my hidden insecurities were about taking on the most important job in the entire universe, and that is becoming a mother. Holly Banks Full of Angst is a definite must read. You will enjoy the story line, and the many laugh out loud moments that Holly finds herself in. I am certain you will be able to relate. I guarantee it.

Holly is everyone of us trying to navigate our multiple hats every day - a mother, a wife, a daughter, a member of our school community and a neighbor in an upscale community. For Holly, that would be the community of Primm –perfectly lined homes with Pinterest worthy porches, manicured lawns and topiaries, and of course, every family’s dream is the amazing school system where everyone is dying to get their child into. Julie Valerie was able to connect and creatively write all these pressures we put on ourselves in such a glorious and hilarious way.

Julie Valerie wrote such an amazing cast of characters too that surround Holly’s life. There is Mary-Margaret St. James, the PTA president, who is someone you will love to hate. Greta, Holly’s mother, who needs some rescuing from time to time, but the love for her daughter and grand-daughter is some of the sweetest parts of this book. And let us not forget about the psychic reader, and their out of this world email exchanges. There are so many more like the peahen, the apple brigade, the realtor, and others you will enjoy getting to know.

This book was an absolute delight of a read and was truly an escape for me. It was fun and funny, it was light-hearted, and heart-warming too. I loved the pacing – it read very quickly and you will not want to put this book down. The dialogue was so creative including the non-curse words, the dash lines for when you are talking and no one hears you situation for example, and the different scenarios Holly ends up in. How can you not root for Holly who is trying her best to keep it all together?

Pick this book up when it releases Dec. 1st and be ready to have a great time with Holly and her posy. I look forward to the next book in this series.

(3.5) Who hasn't experienced the pressure of trying to be a "perfect mom" and make a good impression with the other school moms? I can certainly relate to those times and found myself wanting to jump into the book and tell Holly Banks to RUN!! Ha! While there were some funny, relatable moments in the book, there were a few that were a bit over the top but it is satire and a comedy so, crazy as it was, it was a fun read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

Holly Banks was truly a great read. Personally, I loved how Valerie combined laugh out loud funny moments with serious things we’ve all felt - feeling like an outsider, like we can’t do anything right, that our loved ones might be hiding something. Through hyperbole and satire this book delivers the perfect setting to explore all of these issues.

For fans of the movie Bridesmaids, I was feeling serious Helen-vibes with Mary Margaret St. James. She’s that exact same ridiculous sort of evil but you almost feel bad for her but you still hate her.

Of course, there were some mom-specific things that I probably didn’t fully “get” as much as people who have actually gone through them (aka I have no kids if you didn’t know). BUT even so I still enjoyed the read. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a laugh out loud satire on so-called perfect suburbia.

As a first time mom to a 4-month old, I have quickly learned that being a mommy is HARD! This book helped keep me in good-spirits and had me laughing the entire time.
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Holly Banks and her family have just moved to the pristine Village of Primm which is full of Pinterest-worthy porches and high-energy PTA moms. To say Holly is a fish out of water is an understatement. This satirical story follows Holly as she adjusts to a new home, a new town, her daughters first week of Kindergarten, and a very judgmental and pushy PTA president.
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I LOVED this book! Put it on your TBR now! (It’s an Amazon First Read this month and out everywhere on Dec. 1)

I appreciate the author Julie Valerie, the publisher Amazon Publishing, and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a lot of pressure on women these days—be the perfect mom, wife, friend, career woman—add to that a move to a brand new town which seems perfect in every way, and you have Holly Banks! This book was startling honest and laugh out loud funny! I couldn’t stop turning pages, needing to know if Holly was ever going to get her daughter on the bus, decorate her front porch, hang curtains, all while worried about her husband’s job and her mother’s needs. Cleverly written with colorful, multi-layered characters, Holly Banks Full of Angst will delight readers!

Holly Banks was a funny, smart read and Rom-Com is not my number one genre. Author Julie Valerie does an amazing job of creating the perfect little Village of Primm, that I could have sworn I've been there before or maybe even lived there! Then add Holly, who's family has newly relocated to Primm. She is desperately trying to fit into the mold of "perfect mom" as her daughter enters kindergarten. Of course her first day is a hilarious mess. To add more "angst" to Holly's life she is dealing with the seemingly perfect mother and PTA president who will stop at nothing to add Holly to the list of volunteers. and embarrass her along the way. Although the story is laugh out loud funny, any mom will relate to the feelings of doubt and stress we put ourselves through. And just as with Holly, we usually find that those "perfect" moms are not quite as they appear. The author also adds some mystery and family drama to the story. Hard to believe this is a first novel. I am definitely looking forward to more adventures of Holly Banks.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was very unsure when I started reading Holly Banks Full of Angst because I don’t typically read contemporary with a splash of comedy.

I was also worried that I wouldn’t connect to the story because I’m not a mom and I don’t have a kindergartner.

BUT I LOVED IT!! And Holly is so relatable even to me, a 24-year-old hot mess.

Holly Banks is delightful and hilariously relatable! Holly just wants the best for her family and herself and I can appreciate that so so much.

Besides Holly, the other characters are extremely entertaining.

Mary-Margaret can be a lot to swallow when you begin reading. But, she found her own special place in my heart.

My favorite moments (that had me belly laughing):

• Cookie fight

• the scrapbooking fiasco

• school drop off OTD (outfit of the day)

Moments that made me sad:

• dead topiaries

• Plume’s fate

Nothing can compare to this book. I am so happy that I picked it up and was able to review it for Julie!

Holly Banks Full of Angst comes out December 1 BUT if you have Amazon Prime you can select it as your Amazon First Reads choice! Which I highly recommend 😉

Thank you to NetGalley and Julie Valerie for my review copy!! But, all opinions are my own!

This book is absolutely adorable. Holly Banks and her husband Jack and daughter Ella move to the village of Primm for Jack's new job. It happens to be the picturesque perfect town, with an outstanding elementary school, beautiful homes, and a brag-worthy PTA.

Between Holly not being able to get it together and have Ella catch the school bus, to hitting a school bus while wearing pajamas and a sports bra, to being bullied by the PTA president Mary Margaret St. James, this was LAUGH OUT LOUD funny. The banter between Holly and some of the town residents is hysterical and really made the book.

So excited to see a 2nd book in this series was already announced.

This is one of the best, funniest books I have read in a long time. The characters are fun, vivid, and relatable- I have BEEN Holly in occaision! I am telling everyone about this fun, light-hearted book!

Thank you Julie + Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holly Banks was one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time. Holly moves into a new home in a new town, and desperately wants to fit in. She chooses this house because it is in one of the best school districts, as her daughter is starting Kindergarten the next day!

Mary Margaret Saint James is the head of the PTA, and makes it her mission to have all the parents volunteer! Holly just wants to settle into her new home and start unpacking her house. But, that is not an option in Mary Margaret’s world.

I am not a mother, but I could easily see how relatable this book would be to other mothers. Holly try’s to be the perfect baker, crafter, and have the most Pinterest worthy home. The author does a wonderful job of showing how there’s more to life than being perfect. I highly recommend this book. It is super funny, so relatable, and just overall a great book!

Holly Banks Full of Angst by Julie Valerie

So when I first started this book, I didn’t know what to think of it. I absolutely disliked the president of the PTA, which I know I was supposed to, but it bothered me so much that it was making me not enjoy the book as much as I wanted to. And I also wanted to shake Holly and tell her to stick up for herself.

Then I kept reading, I tried to ignore the b*tchy PTA president and focus on Holly and what she was going through. It has to be hard for any mom who is in a new place meeting new people, all while your 5 year old starts kindergarten for the first time in a new school. That’s a lot on your plate. I laughed, I got angry, and I was happy with how Holly handled sooooo many obstacles throughout the story. The last 25% of the book was my favourite. Also, I don’t like cherries but even I wanted some cherry pie! Holly and her quirky mom’s relationship turned out sweet and I am looking forward to reading the second instalment of Holly Banks and the Village of Primm! Hip! Hip!

I’m glad I took my time to think of the book before rating right away. I was going to give 3 1/2 stars, but I changed my mind to 4/5!! Hip! Hip!

Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Julie Valerie for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Hip hip! Welcome to Primm! Population: one giant peahen, an overbearing, narcissistic head of the PTA and her merry band of pink shirted volunteers, a judgy cable guy and one email psychic Betty. Think Pleasantville crossed with the Stepford Wives, and you have something close to the village of Primm, filled with immaculately put together families, topiary and PTA committees. (Or is that PITA committees??)

Holly Banks feels she’s finally ‘made it’ in her new place. Completely Pinterest - worthy, yet lacking in storage, it just needs some time (and porch ornaments) to feel like home. Except Holly can’t seem to get unpacked. Or get her daughter Ella on the bus on time. Or make herself sign on the dotted line for the PTA groups. Or bake enough pies to satisfy the pie mums. And what is up with her husband who seems rather jittery and absent all of a sudden? Can Holly fit in and finally get Ella on the bus on time?

The book had so many laugh out loud moments with Holly first trying to blend in, stay afloat and then slowly start to reclaim her own identity and put herself maybe not first, but certainly not last.

It’s such a relatable book that shines light on the mental load and the ridiculous pressures we often place on ourselves to be ‘perfect’ mums. Interestingly, when we see it in others, we’re quick to recognise it as unrealistic, but we don’t seem to show the same level of kindness to ourselves! The book really questions this idea of perfection, and the lengths people go to to feel like they’re achieving it. After all, you don’t have to be perfect to be a loving wife, daughter and mother to your loved ones!

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Holly Banks and her family relocates to a new town where Holly gets thrown into the PTA to work alongside Mary-Margaret St. James, who is like the equivalent of Regina from Mean Girls. Their strife with each other will have you rolling in the aisles. I literally picture this book as a film the entire time as I reading it. .
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Holly Banks Full of Angst had me laughing beginning to end. I am so sad to leave the Village of Primm. I have grown to love this community and everyone in it (including the plants). I'm not a parent, but I found Holly to be so relatable and wanted to sit on the porch and just drink coffee with her and Struggle.
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I absolutely adored this hilarious, witty, and genuine debut from Julie Valerie. This "quirky, woebegone, and prim" novel comes out December 1st, and I cannot wait to get everyone I know a copy (yes, including myself)! It's a definite favorite of the year! Hip, hip!
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Thank you @netgalley, @lakeunionauthors , and of course sweet @julievalerieauthor for giving me the chance to read this book first! What a lovely gem!

I have never read a book with such a relatable MC. While I may not be a parent, I can appreciate the struggle. I can already tell you, I will be the mom in my PJs dropping off my child. This book was laugh-out-loud funny, with some uncomfortable situations. It not only tells of the ups and downs of surviving parenthood and overbearing PTA presidents, it also shows the imperfections of everyday life in a family.
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This charming and witty book is set to release on December 1st and I would recommend it to pretty much anybody and everybody. Especially to the moms out there that are feeling like they can’t keep up. Just know that no one is perfect and we are all just trying to survive. Hip Hip!
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Thank you to @julievalerieauthor and @netgalley for providing me with an eARC in return for my honest review.

I wanted to love this book but it just wasn't for me. That being said I know many people who have read it and loved it so please give it a read and judge it for yourself

Ok, I'm just gonna be honest and say this book wasn't for me.

The story centers on Holly Banks who recently moved to the upscale Village of Primm right before her daughter starts kindergarten. Holly is basically a hot mess compared to the picture perfect mothers of Primm, and she has a heck of a time making a good impression and fitting in. But as she gets to know the families around her, she realizes that everything inside the house is not as manicured and perfect as their front lawn's landscaping. This is pretty obviously a satire of sorts, with the ultimate lesson being there is no such thing as a perfect mom.

The vibe of the book reminded me a bit of Gilmore Girls and American Housewife, but more crazy. If I were not in the anxiety-ridden trenches of first-time motherhood, I could see this being really funny. But right now, it just wasn't my jam. I had to read it in incredibly small doses because it stressed me out so much!

However, so many of my bookish friends LOVE this book and I am wholly recognizing that my dissatisfaction is in the minority. So take my review with a grain of salt.

This book,y'all. It's so good and it gave me so many feelings. It made me laugh out loud multiple times which is always a big thing for me when reading. It's more than that though, it's relatable. I felt like I could have been the main character in different stages of my life. One of the characters of the story is the Umbridge of their world. If you can write a story that makes me feel that strongly towards a character than you're doing something right! I also really enjoyed the pop culture references. Read this book. You won't be disappointed