About the Book
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.
My Review
There was a lot that drew me to this book – the Sonoma setting, a second chance when it comes to Gillian’s career specifically, and something about the boarding school aspect whispered “read me.” I’m glad I decided to accept the review request but this was a joy to consume. Gillian is struggling to start over after her publicity career publicly implodes, and trades her glamourous and jet setting lifestyle with celebrities for a dorm room at a boarding school. Now dealing with underage drinking, bullying between classmates and what teenagers should really be posting online, Gillian feels off her game – and her former high school crush appearing back in her life doesn’t help matters. When a scandal breaks out at the school and all eyes turn to Gillian for her PR background, she feels confident she can turn things around professionally – but her personal life is a different matter. From making new friends as an adult, still healing past wounds, and wondering if she’ll always sacrifice love for career, Gillian has the ultimate balancing act to figure out.
While there were a few parts that were predictable along the way, I still highly enjoyed Room and Board. Gillian was a likeable character and relatable in a lot of ways, especially to me as an entrepreneur and someone who put a career before motherhood. Hearing about all the wines was a treat sprinkled along the way, and learning about Gillian’s career in PR was fun to learn about it. The writing felt like a nice escape – while we had bits of drama throughout the way, it was really following Gillian’s life as she gets a re-do that kept me so invested. Not all second chances need to be taken, and I was wondering until the end how some of hers would turn out. I felt as though the wrap up to the school scandal was a bit rushed through, but overall a really solid novel about redemption and growth.
4 stars
