Privilege by Kate Brian

Summary:

" Most girls would die for a life of privilege....

some would even kill for it"

Ariana Osgood ruled exclusive Easton Academy- until she was arrested for murdering Thomas Pearson. She's spent the past two years plotting her escape and is determined to get a second chance at the life she left behind. And Ariana will do anything to get her way....

Review:

I am seriously starting to think Kate Brian can't write anything but an awesome book.

Privilege was a mysterious and addicting read that I finished in less than a day. In Privilege you really get to see who Ariana is behind the smart and nice girl she presents herself as and it sure isn't nice most of the time. Kate Brian also introduces new characters into Privilege such as Kaitlyn, the suspected killer of her ex-best friend's dad, who Ariana befriends behind bars, Briana Leigh, Kaitlyn's ex best friend who Ariana became friends with after she escapes from prison, and the sweet boy Hudson who Ariana begins to like. Each character is presented in a three dimensional way that allows you to get to know them well even though it's mostly in Ariana's put of view.

Kate Brian's writing is the thing that just makes her books an all around excellent novels. It's to the point but still has a mysterious and scary feeling to it. Plus, it always makes her books fly by which is a characteristic that I look for in a good young adult book.

Also, the plot in this book was cleaver. I always thought I had the whole story figured out: who did what, who was going to die, ex. Though, as the book went on, many twists and turns were thrown in that just threw me right off path.

Overall, Privilege was an great book that I suggest to anyone especially people who love the original Private series. I can't wait to see what happens next in Ariana's life when Beautiful Disaster comes out on June 2nd.

Grade: A+

Last Christmas by Kate Brian

Ariana Osgood has everything an Easten Academy girl could want: straight A's, the perfect boyfriend, and a coveted spot in the exclusive Billings House. But on the first night of Christmas vacation, a blizzard traps her on campus with irresistible bad boy Thomas Person. Alone. Instead of snuggling with her boyfriend next to a cozy fire in Vermont, she's huddling for warmth with Thomas at the Ketlar house.

As the snow transforms Easton into a wonderland, Ariana finds herself falling for Thomas. But someone is watching their destine romance unfold, someone intent on turning their holiday weekend into a nightmare...

Last Christmas revels the secret of what really happened before Private began- and the shocking truth will change everything for fans of Kate Brian's bestselling series.

(from inside cover)

I have always loved the Private series. So, when I heard there would be a Private prequel telling the events of what happened between Ariana and Thomas the Christmas before Read came, I started to have high expectations for this book. Lucky for me they where all meet.

Even with her money and elegance Ariana is screwed up because of her mother, who's always in and out of mental hospitals, and her father who just doesn't care anymore. This being said, In Last Christmas I began to see her as a real person and not the stereotypical perfect girl Kate Brian made her up to be in the Private series. I even felt kind of sorry for her. Though, as Ariana began to get more crazy that sorrow I felt began to drift away.

Another thing I loved about this book was the surprises Kate Brian keep throwing out. I thought I had figured out the mystery several times but each time a new card was dealt that threw my predication right of the track. Also, I loved the new scandals secrets that where introduced. I hope Kate continues on with some of them in the Privilege, her new series about Ariana's life after being arrested for murder.

The only problem that I had with this book was that Kiren and Taylor where missing. I had always thought that they where in the same grade as Noelle and Ariana. I guess they were not living at Billings yet. Or if they where maybe Noelle and Ariana where not friends with them.

In all, reading Last Christmas was like getting an early Christmas present.

5/ 5 stars