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Georgetown Academy #1
Georgetown Academy: Book One
It’s the beginning of a new political administration. That might not mean much at most high schools, but at Georgetown Academy, Washington D.C.’s most elite prep school, January 20th means new alliances, new flings, and new places to party.
While freshmen—nicknamed “interns” for their willingness to jump into bed with anyone higher on the D.C. totem pole—navigate the not-so-friendly halls of GA searching for Algebra and Bio classes, the school’s lifers have other things on their minds.
For self-proclaimed D.C. royalty Brinley Madison (of those Madisons), the first day of school is all about establishing the social hierarchy and playing the part of perfect political wife to her boyfriend, the outgoing Vice President’s son. Too bad he has a wandering eye that puts Bill Clinton’s to shame. Can she keep him, and her own secret vice, in check?
Ellie Walker, Brinley’s best friend, floats through the halls on the arm of golden boy Hunter McKnight (the JFK of GA). But when her ex-boyfriend, Gabe, returns to town and her Senator mother’s political nemesis is reelected, Ellie’s life starts to snowball out of control.
Shy, quiet Evan Hartnett is more into books than beer, and her closet is full of t-shirts and jeans instead of Jason Wu and Jimmy Choo. No one’s ever really noticed her—but she’s been noticing them. When her star rises as an intern at D.C.’s most-watched political news show, she soon finds the two worlds colliding in ways that make her question what’s secret and what’s fair game.
New girl Taryn Reyes is all laid-back, California cool; with a father who’s in line to be the first Hispanic president, she’s ready to dive into the D.C. scene with an open mind. But when her fellow students turn out to be more interested in spreading rumors than making friends, she realizes that forging a drama-free path might be a lot harder than she thinks.
With so many new friends and former flames in the mix, things are bound to get a little heated. And while diplomatic immunity might keep the cops away, there’s not much it can do about the press.
In a town where one teenage misstep can turn into a national scandal, the students at Georgetown Academy will have to be on their best behavior—or, at least, they’ll have to make the world believe that they are.
Because there’s only one whatever you do, don’t get caught.
While freshmen—nicknamed “interns” for their willingness to jump into bed with anyone higher on the D.C. totem pole—navigate the not-so-friendly halls of GA searching for Algebra and Bio classes, the school’s lifers have other things on their minds.
For self-proclaimed D.C. royalty Brinley Madison (of those Madisons), the first day of school is all about establishing the social hierarchy and playing the part of perfect political wife to her boyfriend, the outgoing Vice President’s son. Too bad he has a wandering eye that puts Bill Clinton’s to shame. Can she keep him, and her own secret vice, in check?
Ellie Walker, Brinley’s best friend, floats through the halls on the arm of golden boy Hunter McKnight (the JFK of GA). But when her ex-boyfriend, Gabe, returns to town and her Senator mother’s political nemesis is reelected, Ellie’s life starts to snowball out of control.
Shy, quiet Evan Hartnett is more into books than beer, and her closet is full of t-shirts and jeans instead of Jason Wu and Jimmy Choo. No one’s ever really noticed her—but she’s been noticing them. When her star rises as an intern at D.C.’s most-watched political news show, she soon finds the two worlds colliding in ways that make her question what’s secret and what’s fair game.
New girl Taryn Reyes is all laid-back, California cool; with a father who’s in line to be the first Hispanic president, she’s ready to dive into the D.C. scene with an open mind. But when her fellow students turn out to be more interested in spreading rumors than making friends, she realizes that forging a drama-free path might be a lot harder than she thinks.
With so many new friends and former flames in the mix, things are bound to get a little heated. And while diplomatic immunity might keep the cops away, there’s not much it can do about the press.
In a town where one teenage misstep can turn into a national scandal, the students at Georgetown Academy will have to be on their best behavior—or, at least, they’ll have to make the world believe that they are.
Because there’s only one whatever you do, don’t get caught.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2012
12 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Embree Schwartz
10 books76 followersAlyssa Embree Schwartz is one half of a writing team with Jessica Koosed Etting. The two met the first day of freshman year at the University of Southern California and instantly bonded over their obsessions with Brenda Walsh, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Babysitters Club books they read growing up. After spending a full year mourning the end of college, they began writing television and feature scripts together. They have set up pilots at ABC, NBC, Fox and CW, and sold films to The Weinstein Company, Happy Madison, Paramount, New Regency, MGM and Alloy Entertainment. They love writing female-centric stories, especially for teen and tween audiences, mainly because they still think they are the 18-year-old girls they were when they first met at USC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 16, 2013
I don’t think I’ll be able to adequately express how stupendously impressed I am with this book. Once I received my copy of Georgetown Academy, I couldn’t wait to start reading it. It was everything I was hoping it would be and so much more. The story flowed so smoothly, I couldn’t even tell it was written by two – might I say uber talented – authors. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Georgetown Academy is made into the next hit tv series. It is that good! It has more drama and intrigue than Gossip Girl could ever wish to have.
The different stories of Evan, Ellie, Brinley and Taryn were so powerful and emotional at times it had me glued to my seat from the first page to the last. I’m not ashamed to admit I devoured this book in less than a day. This is pretty much four stories in one, and each character brings something different to the story. The reader also has the option to follow only one or two or all four stories at once. The first five chapters are dedicated to getting the reader to know the set-up at GA and the four main characters. From chapter six you can choose which character’s story you want to follow, or, like me, you can follow all four story lines. I didn’t want to miss out on a single thing.
Each main character was neatly rounded out and I even took a liking to some of the secondary characters. I felt one hundred percent at home at Georgetown Academy and it was incredibly easy to place myself in these characters’ shoes. The ending is of course a spectacular cliffhanger. I don’t mind cliffhanger endings, as long as it doesn’t end in the middle of nowhere – which this one doesn’t. I was shocked at Ellie’s discovery, and now I can’t wait to read the second book in this addictive new series. This first book is a terrific start to the Georgetown Academy series which I highly recommend to all who love reading about characters with exciting, and sometimes somewhat scandalous, lives!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
The different stories of Evan, Ellie, Brinley and Taryn were so powerful and emotional at times it had me glued to my seat from the first page to the last. I’m not ashamed to admit I devoured this book in less than a day. This is pretty much four stories in one, and each character brings something different to the story. The reader also has the option to follow only one or two or all four stories at once. The first five chapters are dedicated to getting the reader to know the set-up at GA and the four main characters. From chapter six you can choose which character’s story you want to follow, or, like me, you can follow all four story lines. I didn’t want to miss out on a single thing.
Each main character was neatly rounded out and I even took a liking to some of the secondary characters. I felt one hundred percent at home at Georgetown Academy and it was incredibly easy to place myself in these characters’ shoes. The ending is of course a spectacular cliffhanger. I don’t mind cliffhanger endings, as long as it doesn’t end in the middle of nowhere – which this one doesn’t. I was shocked at Ellie’s discovery, and now I can’t wait to read the second book in this addictive new series. This first book is a terrific start to the Georgetown Academy series which I highly recommend to all who love reading about characters with exciting, and sometimes somewhat scandalous, lives!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2013
MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
Brinley, the queen bee of Georgetown Academy, an elite prep school for Washington's elite, is starting off the school year by getting her classmates in social order with the help of her boyfriend, the son of the Vice-President. Her best friend, Ellie, is the daughter of a powerful senator but her boy friend, Hunter is the son of her mother's political enemy. Taryn, has just transferred in from California, with her father set to be the first Hispanic President and she is about to learn that the stakes are higher in this backstabbing arena of global power. Evan is a bookworm that gets her shot as an intern at a highly political television show.
Much like Gossip Girl, this cast has a lot to lose if the the rumors get out of their social circle and could be devastating on a national level for their parents careers. When Brinley decides to take down newcomer, Taryn by starting a rumor about her trading sex for drugs, she sets off a chain of events that can only end in heartbreak for all involved. Secretly, I have a death wish for Brinley unless she redeems herself in upcoming installments. Taryn is so down to earth and you feel like she has been thrown into the deep end of a pool of sharks but I have high hopes for her coming out on top. There are so many little subplots in this first one, that it could take multiple episodes to resolve.
Remember those cool "Choose your own adventure" novels back in grade school? You had to flip the pages to get to the next section and the story could go in one of many directions depending on the character you chose to follow and what you decide they should do. Well, this takes that to the next level. Taking advantage of technology, you can click on a link to pick your character and action! I admit, I did cheat a bit and read each character's detour. This is such a fun and quick read that anyone will love to get their hands on. Parents: there is kissing, mentions of drug use, and some language.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
Brinley, the queen bee of Georgetown Academy, an elite prep school for Washington's elite, is starting off the school year by getting her classmates in social order with the help of her boyfriend, the son of the Vice-President. Her best friend, Ellie, is the daughter of a powerful senator but her boy friend, Hunter is the son of her mother's political enemy. Taryn, has just transferred in from California, with her father set to be the first Hispanic President and she is about to learn that the stakes are higher in this backstabbing arena of global power. Evan is a bookworm that gets her shot as an intern at a highly political television show.
Much like Gossip Girl, this cast has a lot to lose if the the rumors get out of their social circle and could be devastating on a national level for their parents careers. When Brinley decides to take down newcomer, Taryn by starting a rumor about her trading sex for drugs, she sets off a chain of events that can only end in heartbreak for all involved. Secretly, I have a death wish for Brinley unless she redeems herself in upcoming installments. Taryn is so down to earth and you feel like she has been thrown into the deep end of a pool of sharks but I have high hopes for her coming out on top. There are so many little subplots in this first one, that it could take multiple episodes to resolve.
Remember those cool "Choose your own adventure" novels back in grade school? You had to flip the pages to get to the next section and the story could go in one of many directions depending on the character you chose to follow and what you decide they should do. Well, this takes that to the next level. Taking advantage of technology, you can click on a link to pick your character and action! I admit, I did cheat a bit and read each character's detour. This is such a fun and quick read that anyone will love to get their hands on. Parents: there is kissing, mentions of drug use, and some language.
Read
June 12, 2013Hi guys!
We are super excited about the launch of books 1-4 of Georgetown Academy as a Season One bundle!
If 1000 people add Georgetown Academy Season One to their "To-Read" shelves by June 30, 2013, we'll release a never-seen-before, deleted scene from the series on the Season One Goodreads page!
If 2000 people add it, we'll release a never-seen-before Book One scene from one of the GA guys' perspectives -- finally a chance to get inside their heads!
Add Season One to your shelf now! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...
And join the Ask Alyssa and Jessica Goodreads group! http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...
xx Jessica and Alyssa
June 6, 2013
I enjoyed getting to know the four main characters. The book has a feature I've not seen before where you can choose to follow an individual character for part of the story. I wasn't sure how much this was going to distract me/throw me out of the story. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't at all. I loved that at the end of the section I had the option to go back and follow another character so for a critical scene I got to follow it from each of the 4 characters POV. Because I knew who I was following I didn't feel lost.
So now to the story. This is a YA book so I'm not the target market. It has the usual teenage angst you'd expect from a YA placed in a high school. What was different is how political the students are and how aligned things are with their parents positions. There is high style, romance, food, parties, ignoring teachers, laughter, pain, betrayal, lost friendships, new friendships, gossip, journalism, love and respect for parents.
The characters were relatable. The plot was believable. These are shorts written almost like TV episodes so it ended on a cliffhanger. All and all I'd say it is a good start for a new series. I'm about to start book 2. Look for a review later today or tomorrow.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So now to the story. This is a YA book so I'm not the target market. It has the usual teenage angst you'd expect from a YA placed in a high school. What was different is how political the students are and how aligned things are with their parents positions. There is high style, romance, food, parties, ignoring teachers, laughter, pain, betrayal, lost friendships, new friendships, gossip, journalism, love and respect for parents.
The characters were relatable. The plot was believable. These are shorts written almost like TV episodes so it ended on a cliffhanger. All and all I'd say it is a good start for a new series. I'm about to start book 2. Look for a review later today or tomorrow.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2012
Just downloaded this book after I saw it being talked about by Eva Longoria and others all over twitter. What a wonderful surprise-- I first thought it might be too young for me since it takes place in a high school (the promos says its Gossip girl meets West wing)but I was intrigued since it sounded like it might be somewhat interesting because it was taking place in DC.I have to say I was hooked after the first few pages... I read the book straight through!! Loved the characters, especially Brinley who is so sneaky and out just for herself, yet surprisingly still likable... I don't know how the authors managed that!! There were surprises and twists and turns throughout the book as well as a very interesting interactive section that let you choose a particular character to "follow" during a chapter of the book to see it from their point of view. I actually went back and followed all four characters and thought it was so interesting to see what each character was thinking!!
Anyways book one ended on a cliffhanger so now I am going to buy book two immediately to see what happens!! By the way I am in my 50's and could totally relate to the characters! If you are looking for a fun read buy this book now!!
Anyways book one ended on a cliffhanger so now I am going to buy book two immediately to see what happens!! By the way I am in my 50's and could totally relate to the characters! If you are looking for a fun read buy this book now!!
May 9, 2013
Taken from our book blog: The Three Bookateers
What could possibly be more dramatic than the teen problems of high school? A high school filled with the of drama of politics that is.
Georgetown Academy is an elite private high school located in the city of Politics – Washington DC. The story is told in the perspective of four rich, young girls; Ellie, Evan, Brinley and Taryn.
Ellie Walker the girl who went from a nobody to the girl everyone envies. Her hot new boyfriend, Hunter McKnight (who is described as the “JFK of GA”) is loving, kind and everything a boyfriend could possibly be. Her life couldn’t be filled with less drama until her ex boyfriend steps back into the picture. Not only are their parents political enemies, but their unresolved tension later proves to be a problem.
Brinley Madison is the school Queen Bee, the girl everyone loves to hate. The ultimate IT girl and if anyone steps on her toes, she will make sure they are eliminated. Fashion and manipulation are her middle names and in a society where public image is everything, Brinley will do anything to keep her image squeaky clean and perfect.
Evan Hartnett is a shy, innocent girl who flies under the radar. Her internship at the top-rating politics news show could show some moral decisions on her part – keep the secrets of her friends or tell all to the media to further her own career?
Taryn Reyes is the new girl, the “rookie”, fresh from LA where the sun is always shining and the girls are less bitchy. She has trouble finding her feet within the school so when decides to “make her own rules” she makes a few enemies along the way that could potentially spell trouble for her father’s career.
While all their parents are somehow involved in politics, anything they do could be turned into a national scandal. Their every step watched, alliances formed and broken over rumours and even petty high school rumours can ruin their parent’s political career. They can do whatever they want as long as they don’t get caught.
Even though the story is told in four perspectives, it is almost like four separate stories yet they are all somehow intertwined with each other. Each character is written well and given enough of a back story to give the story some substance. The first few chapters are dedicated to each character individually to allow the reader to get to know each character – which is important to a novel, especially one that is divided into four different perspectives.
The interesting thing about this novel is that once it reaches around the chapter five mark, it separates into a Create-your-own-Adventure style book, where the reader chooses which character to view the party scene from. This was an aspect of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The only problem with this was deciding which girl to read on with!
The authors did well to capture the essence of high school drama with a very Gossip Girl feel. I loved this book! There was not one part I didn’t like. I stayed up all night to finish it and it was well worth my time. Although the only downside, I think, is the cover. But that is minor to the greatness that is Georgetown Academy. This book is perfect for a quick read and really is quite enjoyable.
What could possibly be more dramatic than the teen problems of high school? A high school filled with the of drama of politics that is.
Georgetown Academy is an elite private high school located in the city of Politics – Washington DC. The story is told in the perspective of four rich, young girls; Ellie, Evan, Brinley and Taryn.
Ellie Walker the girl who went from a nobody to the girl everyone envies. Her hot new boyfriend, Hunter McKnight (who is described as the “JFK of GA”) is loving, kind and everything a boyfriend could possibly be. Her life couldn’t be filled with less drama until her ex boyfriend steps back into the picture. Not only are their parents political enemies, but their unresolved tension later proves to be a problem.
Brinley Madison is the school Queen Bee, the girl everyone loves to hate. The ultimate IT girl and if anyone steps on her toes, she will make sure they are eliminated. Fashion and manipulation are her middle names and in a society where public image is everything, Brinley will do anything to keep her image squeaky clean and perfect.
Evan Hartnett is a shy, innocent girl who flies under the radar. Her internship at the top-rating politics news show could show some moral decisions on her part – keep the secrets of her friends or tell all to the media to further her own career?
Taryn Reyes is the new girl, the “rookie”, fresh from LA where the sun is always shining and the girls are less bitchy. She has trouble finding her feet within the school so when decides to “make her own rules” she makes a few enemies along the way that could potentially spell trouble for her father’s career.
While all their parents are somehow involved in politics, anything they do could be turned into a national scandal. Their every step watched, alliances formed and broken over rumours and even petty high school rumours can ruin their parent’s political career. They can do whatever they want as long as they don’t get caught.
Even though the story is told in four perspectives, it is almost like four separate stories yet they are all somehow intertwined with each other. Each character is written well and given enough of a back story to give the story some substance. The first few chapters are dedicated to each character individually to allow the reader to get to know each character – which is important to a novel, especially one that is divided into four different perspectives.
The interesting thing about this novel is that once it reaches around the chapter five mark, it separates into a Create-your-own-Adventure style book, where the reader chooses which character to view the party scene from. This was an aspect of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The only problem with this was deciding which girl to read on with!
The authors did well to capture the essence of high school drama with a very Gossip Girl feel. I loved this book! There was not one part I didn’t like. I stayed up all night to finish it and it was well worth my time. Although the only downside, I think, is the cover. But that is minor to the greatness that is Georgetown Academy. This book is perfect for a quick read and really is quite enjoyable.
January 7, 2017
Are you looking for your next Young Adult Contemporary read? Why don’t you grab your Kindle and read Georgetown Academy by Alyssa Embree Schwartz & Jessica Koosed Etting. Georgetown Academy has been hailed by Gossip Girl producer, Josh Schwartz, as “Smart, sexy and insanely addictive.”
Georgetown Academy, Season One follows the story of Ellie Walker, the DC Sweetheart, Brinley Madison, the DC Princess, Evan Hartnett, the goody two shoes & Taryn Reyes, the new girl in town. They all attend the most exclusive private school, where all fancy parties are being held, where life isn’t actually drama-free and the place where all the spectacle unfolds. Georgetown Academy has a very engaging plot. I finished it in one sitting down. I don’t have any qualms getting into the story. That’s how gripping and fun it is to read. The characters are vivid, real and relatable. Their stories offer a valuable lesson we can always learn. One of the greatest things about reading Georgetown Academy is that politics play a significant part of the plot and even If I have zero interest in politics it certainly piqued my buds. It was perfectly executed. It’s like reading a Scandal slash Gossip Girl episode. Georgetown Academy has been easily one of my favorite reads this year. A highly recommendable series to everyone.
April 2, 2013
* I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!*
Choose Your Own Adventure books work, in print. I don't think the technology is quite there for Kindle books though, and that was a huge detriment to this book. When we got to the "Choose which character to follow" I chose Ellie, and then I had the option afterwards to continue on with the story (which I chose) or go back and read everyone else's stories (which I didn't do), so by the time I finished the book I felt like I had missed out on a lot of the other characters' stories, but at that point, it was too annoying to backpage through my Kindle to try and go back to read their other stuff, so I didn't.
That said, what I did read was decent. I'm not in to politics, but I found the whole private school full of politician's children to be somewhat interesting. The characters are all pretty well fleshed out and compelling, but I think the author's spread themselves too thin for such a short book. We follow I think 4 different "main" characters and don't really get into the meat of any story with any of them. This book just didn't feel like a complete novel. :(
I am curious enough about the characters that I will continue on with the series and see how it goes. This book ends on quite the cliffhanger for Ellie and I'm dying to know how that works out for her!
Choose Your Own Adventure books work, in print. I don't think the technology is quite there for Kindle books though, and that was a huge detriment to this book. When we got to the "Choose which character to follow" I chose Ellie, and then I had the option afterwards to continue on with the story (which I chose) or go back and read everyone else's stories (which I didn't do), so by the time I finished the book I felt like I had missed out on a lot of the other characters' stories, but at that point, it was too annoying to backpage through my Kindle to try and go back to read their other stuff, so I didn't.
That said, what I did read was decent. I'm not in to politics, but I found the whole private school full of politician's children to be somewhat interesting. The characters are all pretty well fleshed out and compelling, but I think the author's spread themselves too thin for such a short book. We follow I think 4 different "main" characters and don't really get into the meat of any story with any of them. This book just didn't feel like a complete novel. :(
I am curious enough about the characters that I will continue on with the series and see how it goes. This book ends on quite the cliffhanger for Ellie and I'm dying to know how that works out for her!
April 15, 2013
*Received copy from Netgalley for honest review*
It has been hailed as "Gossip Girl" meets "West Wing". I can honestly say that is a fair description. Was it the best book I have read, no. An highly entertaining read, yes.
The book is written in the "chose your own adventure" style allowing the reader to decide who's story to follow. To really understand what is going on you must take the journey through all the participant's eyes.
At times you struggle with each girls personality, but like everyone you can find something to like about them. Teens (and let's admit it adults too) are complex people.
If you like "The West Wing" or "Gossip Girl" series you will like this series. Teens who are into "The Clique by Lisi Harrison" will also gravitate to these. My main problem, is at this moment it is only available as an eBook. If it comes out in paper, I will add to my public library collection.
It has been hailed as "Gossip Girl" meets "West Wing". I can honestly say that is a fair description. Was it the best book I have read, no. An highly entertaining read, yes.
The book is written in the "chose your own adventure" style allowing the reader to decide who's story to follow. To really understand what is going on you must take the journey through all the participant's eyes.
At times you struggle with each girls personality, but like everyone you can find something to like about them. Teens (and let's admit it adults too) are complex people.
If you like "The West Wing" or "Gossip Girl" series you will like this series. Teens who are into "The Clique by Lisi Harrison" will also gravitate to these. My main problem, is at this moment it is only available as an eBook. If it comes out in paper, I will add to my public library collection.
November 7, 2012
These authors have great insight into the thoughts and feelings of each and every character. Set in a posh DC prep school, all of the scandals and intrigues among senators, congressmen, politicians and diplomats play out in the lives of their children, in engaging and frequently surprising ways. You will fall in love with the kind, innocent Ellie, and you will root against the scheming Brinley. A unique feature in the book allowed the reader to attend a party through the eyes of four main characters. Fascinating to see how each one had viewed the same events differently. With every page the reader gets pulled deeper and deeper into the drama and the interwoven plots. You'll turn the pages faster and faster to see what happens next. I just downloaded Book Two and can't wait to start reading it. I'm hooked!!
February 6, 2016
a gossip girl-esque book about dc? sign me up!
ooh this book is evil. It pissed me off the entire time but now I just have to read the next one because of that stupid cliffhanger. I think I've learned an important lesson: Don't read books that are set in a city that is important to you because you will end up very angry over what Mexican restaurant the characters go to.
But seriously...Cactus Cantina?? Guapos all day baby.
also i should probably mention that it is kind of a "choose your own adventure" book. Since it is an ebook there is one section where you can choose to read from the 4 characters stories and then move on...but you have to read them all for the story to make any sense.. so it doesn't really work very well. You can just choose what order you read them in. I just picked randomly.
ooh this book is evil. It pissed me off the entire time but now I just have to read the next one because of that stupid cliffhanger. I think I've learned an important lesson: Don't read books that are set in a city that is important to you because you will end up very angry over what Mexican restaurant the characters go to.
But seriously...Cactus Cantina?? Guapos all day baby.
also i should probably mention that it is kind of a "choose your own adventure" book. Since it is an ebook there is one section where you can choose to read from the 4 characters stories and then move on...but you have to read them all for the story to make any sense.. so it doesn't really work very well. You can just choose what order you read them in. I just picked randomly.
November 18, 2012
OMG I loved it!!! I could not put it down!!! Its been a long time since I have been that impressed with a book. Having spent some time in the Sacramento Capitol, this book was extremely realistic and the characters all came to life and I felt like I knew each and every one of them!!!! This surpassed my Twilight obsession and now I want more of this!!!! I am addicted!!!!!
December 3, 2014
Maybe it was because it wasn't what I expected? Maybe.
Because if it doesn't come from Scandal I do not feel interested in politics? Probably.
If this book wasn' t for me but I think someone else might enjoy it? Surely.
Because if it doesn't come from Scandal I do not feel interested in politics? Probably.
If this book wasn' t for me but I think someone else might enjoy it? Surely.
November 26, 2021
Scrolling through my Kindle and read my older books as I have been struggling with connecting to books this past month. I decided to give the first book in Georgetown Academy a go. I had gotten this series as the politics and high school angle had drawn me in. Georgetown Academy is made of students whose families are part of the Politic circle in the US. If you are a student in this school, it means your parents are part of this term's government in one way or another. This book follows four students - Evan, Brinley, Ellie, and Taryn. Four girls who are different in all aspects but have one thing in common - Politics. Evan is one of the few kids at the school whose parents aren't in politics - they are Professors, etc. She is at Georgetown Academy on a scholarship and working this term as an intern at the newspaper in the Political area. She will have to become the eyes and the ears of the school to get ahead of the game and show her political news worth. What happens though when she is torn between exposing her best friend Liam and also falling for someone else's boyfriend Hunter? Brinley has always been the Queen Bee and dating Graeme who is the VP's son. Her family is History Famous and have also starred on the cover of being the best Political family 5 years in a row. What happens though when her family is upstaged by newcomer Taryn? Ellie has the perfect boyfriend in Hunter, but what will happen when her first love Gabe comes back to Georgetown Academy - even worse their parents are political enemies? Taryn, the newcomer is thrust into a whole new playing field, what will happen though when the most popular girl in the school feels threatened by her and starts some dangerous rumors that could affect her family's political reputation?
Find out all this and more in this drama-filled, angsty YA romance/scandals galore tale - Georgetown Academy Book #1 and stay tuned for more adventures from Georgetown Academy with the next book in the series.
January 16, 2026
A good start, but this isn't a complete book. Stops mid-stream without really completing any of the stories she started.
December 14, 2014
NOTE: This review is for Season One, a collection of the first four titles in the Georgetown Academy series. This review is for all four titles, but does not contain spoilers and each title has been given appropriate star rating on it's own merits.
Digital ARC provided by publisher for honest and thoughtful review.
From the start, I loved the idea of these books and jumped at the chance to review them - with their backdrop of Washington DC politics (I'm a political junkie and I love vacationing in DC), the Gossip-Girl-esque drama (I watched the show for several seasons and reveled in the frivolity of it all), and an updated "Choose Your own Adventure" feature (I absolutely loved those books as a kid!) they were right up my alley. And though I went in eagerly with high hopes, I found that the first four books in the Georgetown Academy series just weren't able to give me the substance I look for in a four or five birdie review. But you all know that "man cannot live on bread alone" and these four titles were a decent break from the heavier stuff I'm reading right now - all four books are light reads, filled with enough romance, backstabbing, and excess to rival any soap opera on daytime TV.
Each of the four main characters (Ellie, Brinley, Evan, and Taryn) can be broken down into typical characters you see in YA books and movies - the beta good girl, the alpha bad girl, the pretty brain, and the new girl/DC outsider, and they don't often deviate from those roles. Each girl has a secret they're hiding and I found certain characters (Taryn) more enjoyable than others, though none of them are among my favorites. I just like more substance in my characters, even for "fluff" reads. There was too much time spent establishing the excess, wealth and power these girls (and their parents) had and not enough on THEM. I also like at least one character to have some redeeming qualities, but each girl has moments (some much more frequently than others) where they rationalize their drug use, cheating, libelous behavior, etc. as necessary. I work with teenagers every day and even the most spoiled and inane ones have moments of humanity that didn't often appear for these girls. In this series, the characters who take action based on their consciences are the love interests and I found myself enjoying those characters more than the girls.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the escapism of books like this and am sure girls who live like this do exist, but I just didn't find the scenarios and actions believable as a whole. The authors attempt to insert varying levels of hardship into the girls' lives, but it ultimately isn't successful because the stories focus so much on the luxury and excess, with shopping trips to Paris for school clothes, vacations with the President of the United States, and 24/7 chauffeurs to avoid any DUI's that might befall them. I also found the plot lines too predictable - I predicted every hook-up from Book One on and only one thing in all four books caught me off guard (beginning of Book Four, I won't spoil it for you though :) ).
A final point of contention, which has absolutely nothing to do with the writing, is the "Choose Your Own Adventure" (CYOA) feature and technology; it frustrated me and on more than one occasion it made me put my Kindle down and take a break. If you're like me, you still read every path in the CYOA books even though you aren't supposed to (bad reader, not following directions! ;) ) and part of the reason the CYOA appeals to you is that you can see how things turn out differently when different decisions are made (à la the movie Sliding Doors). The CYOA feature in the Georgetown Academy series is set up so the reader can view a single evening through the lens of a different girl each time. While this is still pretty cool, it didn't really offer any new perspective on the events or motivations for me (à la Midnight Sun) and the technology is frustrating. Each time I wanted to go back to the decision point to start another path, my Kindle took me elsewhere in the story and (I'm assuming here because I haven't had this trouble with any other e-books) because of the CYOA technology, the Kindle locations were all out of whack and made no sense.
Final Word: A drama-filled read with really good clothes. The Choose Your Own Adventure technology needs some work and there aren't a ton of deep, meaningful themes, but it's a decent light, fluffy read.
Digital ARC provided by publisher for honest and thoughtful review.
From the start, I loved the idea of these books and jumped at the chance to review them - with their backdrop of Washington DC politics (I'm a political junkie and I love vacationing in DC), the Gossip-Girl-esque drama (I watched the show for several seasons and reveled in the frivolity of it all), and an updated "Choose Your own Adventure" feature (I absolutely loved those books as a kid!) they were right up my alley. And though I went in eagerly with high hopes, I found that the first four books in the Georgetown Academy series just weren't able to give me the substance I look for in a four or five birdie review. But you all know that "man cannot live on bread alone" and these four titles were a decent break from the heavier stuff I'm reading right now - all four books are light reads, filled with enough romance, backstabbing, and excess to rival any soap opera on daytime TV.
Each of the four main characters (Ellie, Brinley, Evan, and Taryn) can be broken down into typical characters you see in YA books and movies - the beta good girl, the alpha bad girl, the pretty brain, and the new girl/DC outsider, and they don't often deviate from those roles. Each girl has a secret they're hiding and I found certain characters (Taryn) more enjoyable than others, though none of them are among my favorites. I just like more substance in my characters, even for "fluff" reads. There was too much time spent establishing the excess, wealth and power these girls (and their parents) had and not enough on THEM. I also like at least one character to have some redeeming qualities, but each girl has moments (some much more frequently than others) where they rationalize their drug use, cheating, libelous behavior, etc. as necessary. I work with teenagers every day and even the most spoiled and inane ones have moments of humanity that didn't often appear for these girls. In this series, the characters who take action based on their consciences are the love interests and I found myself enjoying those characters more than the girls.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the escapism of books like this and am sure girls who live like this do exist, but I just didn't find the scenarios and actions believable as a whole. The authors attempt to insert varying levels of hardship into the girls' lives, but it ultimately isn't successful because the stories focus so much on the luxury and excess, with shopping trips to Paris for school clothes, vacations with the President of the United States, and 24/7 chauffeurs to avoid any DUI's that might befall them. I also found the plot lines too predictable - I predicted every hook-up from Book One on and only one thing in all four books caught me off guard (beginning of Book Four, I won't spoil it for you though :) ).
A final point of contention, which has absolutely nothing to do with the writing, is the "Choose Your Own Adventure" (CYOA) feature and technology; it frustrated me and on more than one occasion it made me put my Kindle down and take a break. If you're like me, you still read every path in the CYOA books even though you aren't supposed to (bad reader, not following directions! ;) ) and part of the reason the CYOA appeals to you is that you can see how things turn out differently when different decisions are made (à la the movie Sliding Doors). The CYOA feature in the Georgetown Academy series is set up so the reader can view a single evening through the lens of a different girl each time. While this is still pretty cool, it didn't really offer any new perspective on the events or motivations for me (à la Midnight Sun) and the technology is frustrating. Each time I wanted to go back to the decision point to start another path, my Kindle took me elsewhere in the story and (I'm assuming here because I haven't had this trouble with any other e-books) because of the CYOA technology, the Kindle locations were all out of whack and made no sense.
Final Word: A drama-filled read with really good clothes. The Choose Your Own Adventure technology needs some work and there aren't a ton of deep, meaningful themes, but it's a decent light, fluffy read.
July 4, 2013
Blurb
It’s the beginning of a new political administration. That might not mean much at most high schools, but at Georgetown Academy, Washington D.C.’s most elite prep school, January 20th means new alliances, new flings, and new places to party. While freshmen—nicknamed “interns” for their willingness to jump into bed with anyone higher on the D.C. totem pole—navigate the not-so-friendly halls of GA searching for Algebra and Bio classes, the school’s lifers have other things on their minds. For self-proclaimed D.C. royalty Brinley Madison (of those Madisons), the first day of school is all about establishing the social hierarchy and playing the part of perfect political wife to her boyfriend, the outgoing Vice President’s son. Too bad he has a wandering eye that puts Bill Clinton’s to shame. Can she keep him, and her own secret vice, in check? Ellie Walker, Brinley’s best friend, floats through the halls on the arm of golden boy Hunter McKnight (the JFK of GA). But when her ex-boyfriend, Gabe, returns to town and her Senator mother’s political nemesis is reelected, Ellie’s life starts to snowball out of control. Shy, quiet Evan Hartnett is more into books than beer, and her closet is full of t-shirts and jeans instead of Jason Wu and Jimmy Choo. No one’s ever really noticed her—but she’s been noticing them. When her star rises as an intern at D.C.’s most-watched political news show, she soon finds the two worlds colliding in ways that make her question what’s secret and what’s fair game. New girl Taryn Reyes is all laid-back, California cool; with a father who’s in line to be the first Hispanic president, she’s ready to dive into the D.C. scene with an open mind. But when her fellow students turn out to be more interested in spreading rumors than making friends, she realizes that forging a drama-free path might be a lot harder than she thinks. With so many new friends and former flames in the mix, things are bound to get a little heated. And while diplomatic immunity might keep the cops away, there’s not much it can do about the press. In a town where one teenage misstep can turn into a national scandal, the students at Georgetown Academy will have to be on their best behavior—or, at least, they’ll have to make the world believe that they are. Because there’s only one rule: whatever you do, don’t get caught. About the Authors Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz met the first day of freshman year at the University of Southern California and instantly bonded over their obsessions with Brenda Walsh, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Babysitters Club books they read growing up. After spending a full year mourning the end of college, they began writing television and feature scripts together. They have set up pilots at ABC, NBC, Fox and CW, and sold films to The Weinstein Company, Happy Madison, Paramount, New Regency, MGM and Alloy Entertainment. They love writing female-centric stories, especially for teen and tween audiences, mainly because they still think they are the 18-year-old girls they were when they first met at USC.
My thought
Smart, funny and really hard to put down, this book takes you into the lives of the kids of America's most powerful political families. Imagine being a teenager and navigating hormones and peer pressure all the while knowing that if you screw up, the whole nation will be watching! Plus cool new interactive features allow you to choose which main character you want to follow
While this book was quite a bit of fun, it wasn’t without its share of problems. Too many characters, too much detail, and too many story lines to keep track of for such a short book made it pretty frustrating at times. Nevertheless, I do recommend it if you are looking for entertaining over meaningful.I highly recommend this to anyone that likes politics, the Gossip Girl series, and/or fun, funny, serial YAs.
June 29, 2013
I was honestly surprised when I first began the book because I didn't know whether it would capture my attention quite like it did. By the time I finished the book, I was dying to read the next and then the next and so on and so forth. It is truly an addicting read, one that leaves the readers dying for more. Although the short number of pages left for little background or character development, it certainly added to the truly addictive quality of it.
Ellie was by far my favorite character simply because she seemed to try to be a good person, despite all of the pressure of having a politician as a mother. She had a certain amount of undeniable strength that resided just beneath the surface and only appeared when it was clear she needed to use it the most. With everything she faces during the story, she struggles through it with grace and a sense of loyalty to what others would want for her, which often means giving up what she truly wants. She is by far the kindest of the bunch and I adore her for that.
I think Evan reminds me a lot of myself in some ways, except for the lusting after my old best friend's boyfriend and wanting to have him for myself. She is very quiet and into herself but proves to be friends with even the most unlikely of people. I admire a lot of qualities about her, even if some things certainly make me sad. Sure, she may think she belongs with Ellie's boyfriend, yet in the end it only proves that she is not quite as good as I would want her to be. Hopefully she becomes the person I hope she would be.
There is always one character out there in the story that I should like but really don't and in this story it is Taryn. I really don't think she did anything wrong per say but I certainly have determined that she is not my favorite by any stretch of the imagination. I think our personalities clash too much or something. She has endearing qualities (possibly?). However I placed her against Ellie from the moment that Gabe began to play a role in the story. Maybe I will learn to love her as the story progresses.
I feel like if there is anyone who faces the pressure of having influential parents, it is Brinley. Her dirty little habits certainly will come to haunt her as she struggles between being happy with her life and feeling so overwhelmed with obligations that she can't turn to anything else. I find her almost endearing because it truly shows how much she has to face as a daughter to someone like her father with a family like hers. The poor girl really can't be expected to keep her head above water after everything she faces.
Gabe is someone that I can only see one person with and of course, nothing is as simple as it seems. People, especially those involved are constantly trying to ruin a relationship that I can see myself rooting for. I really love him and can't wait to see how much he develops.
Hunter is also a love interest in the story and Ellie's boyfriend. He is described as the perfect guy and yet I struggle to find him as perfect for Ellie. Perhaps for someone else but certainly not for my favorite girl.
Luke should really just come out of the closet and become the character he is meant to be. In some ways, I think it shows how much growth he needs to have because he is so afraid about being himself. Although it may influence the way voters view his father, who has staunch views against gay marriage due to his region, it certainly should never take the backseat to his father's success. I'm all for Luke's happiness and coming out of the closet so that he can be who he wants to be.
I can't wait to read the next books and you shouldn't wait to read this one!
Ellie was by far my favorite character simply because she seemed to try to be a good person, despite all of the pressure of having a politician as a mother. She had a certain amount of undeniable strength that resided just beneath the surface and only appeared when it was clear she needed to use it the most. With everything she faces during the story, she struggles through it with grace and a sense of loyalty to what others would want for her, which often means giving up what she truly wants. She is by far the kindest of the bunch and I adore her for that.
I think Evan reminds me a lot of myself in some ways, except for the lusting after my old best friend's boyfriend and wanting to have him for myself. She is very quiet and into herself but proves to be friends with even the most unlikely of people. I admire a lot of qualities about her, even if some things certainly make me sad. Sure, she may think she belongs with Ellie's boyfriend, yet in the end it only proves that she is not quite as good as I would want her to be. Hopefully she becomes the person I hope she would be.
There is always one character out there in the story that I should like but really don't and in this story it is Taryn. I really don't think she did anything wrong per say but I certainly have determined that she is not my favorite by any stretch of the imagination. I think our personalities clash too much or something. She has endearing qualities (possibly?). However I placed her against Ellie from the moment that Gabe began to play a role in the story. Maybe I will learn to love her as the story progresses.
I feel like if there is anyone who faces the pressure of having influential parents, it is Brinley. Her dirty little habits certainly will come to haunt her as she struggles between being happy with her life and feeling so overwhelmed with obligations that she can't turn to anything else. I find her almost endearing because it truly shows how much she has to face as a daughter to someone like her father with a family like hers. The poor girl really can't be expected to keep her head above water after everything she faces.
Gabe is someone that I can only see one person with and of course, nothing is as simple as it seems. People, especially those involved are constantly trying to ruin a relationship that I can see myself rooting for. I really love him and can't wait to see how much he develops.
Hunter is also a love interest in the story and Ellie's boyfriend. He is described as the perfect guy and yet I struggle to find him as perfect for Ellie. Perhaps for someone else but certainly not for my favorite girl.
Luke should really just come out of the closet and become the character he is meant to be. In some ways, I think it shows how much growth he needs to have because he is so afraid about being himself. Although it may influence the way voters view his father, who has staunch views against gay marriage due to his region, it certainly should never take the backseat to his father's success. I'm all for Luke's happiness and coming out of the closet so that he can be who he wants to be.
I can't wait to read the next books and you shouldn't wait to read this one!
May 7, 2013
In June, I read a new type of interactive novel from the publisher Coliloquy. Coliloquy titles are similar to Choose Your Own Adventure novels, allowing readers to make important decisions in the story for the main characters. I recently had the opportunity to check out one of their newer releases, Georgetown Academy Book One by Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz. After reading a steady stream of books with heavy themes and depressing story lines, I was most definitely in the mood for something fluffy, juicy, and gossipy; Georgetown Academy Book One fulfilled all of those needs for me.
Georgetown Academy Book One follows the lives of teenagers who attend an elite prep school in Washington D.C. All of the attendees are the sons and daughters of men and women with political careers; when the parents' terms end, the teens' careers at Georgetown Academy also end. People like Brinley Madison (yes, she's related to that famous Madison), however, are considered "lifers", and it's her and her kind that makes the lives of the freshman (or "interns", as they are called) and others they deem unworthy miserable.
Brinley's best friend, Ellie, doesn't have it as good as Brinley. Her time at Georgetown Academy might be coming to an end if her mother cannot get her political campaign under control after a scandal breaks out. And if things weren't bad enough for Ellie already, her ex-flame Gabe has just returned to Georgetown Academy. Even though Ellie has the perfect boyfriend, there's still a spark between her and Gabe. But Gabe's father is responsible for Ellie's parents' break up, and aligning herself with Gabe would be a huge mistake.
Lower on the social hierarchy at Georgetown Academy are Evan, a bookish D.C. intern who must decide to what lengths she is willing to go to get the story, and Taryn, the new girl, who becomes the victim of vicious rumors most likely spread by Georgetown Academy royalty Brinley Madison.
Georgetown Academy Book One was much less interactive than I had thought it would be; there was only one decision that I, as the reader, got to make throughout the novel. In my opinion, the decision I got to make on the characters' behalf will not really make a huge impact on the direction of any future installments in the series. I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more decisions for me to make, especially since I saw several places that seemed to set it up so that the reader could make a choice.
Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz seem like a great creative team, but unfortunately it shows that this is their first novel based on the quality of their writing. The entire book is basically a huge information dump; so much unnecessary detail on each and every one of the characters introduced is spewed out in the narration. I would have been more forgiving if this had only occurred at the beginning of the novel as a way to set up the story, but it happens all the way throughout. Additionally, there was far more "telling" than "showing", so the reader doesn't really get the chance to really immerse him- or herself in the story since everything is all spelled out.
While this book was quite a bit of fun, it wasn't without its share of problems. Too many characters, too much detail, and too many story lines to keep track of for such a short book made it pretty frustrating at times. Nevertheless, I do recommend it if you are looking for entertaining over meaningful.
*I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Georgetown Academy Book One follows the lives of teenagers who attend an elite prep school in Washington D.C. All of the attendees are the sons and daughters of men and women with political careers; when the parents' terms end, the teens' careers at Georgetown Academy also end. People like Brinley Madison (yes, she's related to that famous Madison), however, are considered "lifers", and it's her and her kind that makes the lives of the freshman (or "interns", as they are called) and others they deem unworthy miserable.
Brinley's best friend, Ellie, doesn't have it as good as Brinley. Her time at Georgetown Academy might be coming to an end if her mother cannot get her political campaign under control after a scandal breaks out. And if things weren't bad enough for Ellie already, her ex-flame Gabe has just returned to Georgetown Academy. Even though Ellie has the perfect boyfriend, there's still a spark between her and Gabe. But Gabe's father is responsible for Ellie's parents' break up, and aligning herself with Gabe would be a huge mistake.
Lower on the social hierarchy at Georgetown Academy are Evan, a bookish D.C. intern who must decide to what lengths she is willing to go to get the story, and Taryn, the new girl, who becomes the victim of vicious rumors most likely spread by Georgetown Academy royalty Brinley Madison.
Georgetown Academy Book One was much less interactive than I had thought it would be; there was only one decision that I, as the reader, got to make throughout the novel. In my opinion, the decision I got to make on the characters' behalf will not really make a huge impact on the direction of any future installments in the series. I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more decisions for me to make, especially since I saw several places that seemed to set it up so that the reader could make a choice.
Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz seem like a great creative team, but unfortunately it shows that this is their first novel based on the quality of their writing. The entire book is basically a huge information dump; so much unnecessary detail on each and every one of the characters introduced is spewed out in the narration. I would have been more forgiving if this had only occurred at the beginning of the novel as a way to set up the story, but it happens all the way throughout. Additionally, there was far more "telling" than "showing", so the reader doesn't really get the chance to really immerse him- or herself in the story since everything is all spelled out.
While this book was quite a bit of fun, it wasn't without its share of problems. Too many characters, too much detail, and too many story lines to keep track of for such a short book made it pretty frustrating at times. Nevertheless, I do recommend it if you are looking for entertaining over meaningful.
*I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
February 9, 2013
Georgetown Academy by Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz is an addicting look into the lives of the upperclass students at a high school in Washington D.C. Full of political intrigue, petty gossip and star crossed romances, readers are sure to fall in love with the drama that is Georgetown Academy. It's a short, serial-type of book and not a full fledged novel, but even the cliffhanger ending only served to have me desperately craving book two of this series.
Going into Georgetown Academy knowing that their would be alternating POV's from four different girls, I started the book trying to determine which character I would like the best. Especially since Georgetown Academy is an interactive novel and at one point you can decide which girl you want to follow through the story. After two chapters though, it quickly became clear that I was going to have a bit of a problem deciding which girl to follow. I loved them all. I ended up reading all of the girl's stories and loving the way they were all threaded together.
Ellie is the sweetheart of GA. A senator's daughter, girlfriend of the boy considered Most Likely To Become President by the yearbook staff, and best friend to one of the most popular girls in school. Problem is, it's all an act. Ellie is as insecure as any high school girl and she's very sensitive to all of the D.C. gossip surrounding her senator mother. I can't wait to see her finally break out of her comfort zone and become the girl she is deep inside.
Evan, Ellie's ex-best friend and the girl you'd least expect to be involved in any ill natured gossiping is finding it hard to keep her lips sealed because of her new internship at the most watch political show in D.C. She's also got a killer crush on Ellie's boyfriend. But, being honest, Evan was my favorite character because I loved her sweet girl next door personality and her adorable, yet forbidden crush.
Taryn, the rookie from California, is the easy going, naturally sunny one in the bunch. She's new and trying to make friends in a school full of conservative, name droppers. Since she's new, she's the only one who doesn't have a closet full of skeletons waiting to be discovered, but I'm sure she'll get there eventually.
My least favorite girl was Brinley, although once she's at the rookie party she takes a huge 180 in my eyes. This girl is tough! She just doesn't sit back and let things fall apart around her. She takes control and can manipulate with the best of them. Blair Waldorf would be proud!
Oh, the boys! The boys of GA are hot! There's gorgeous, polo wearing Hunter, the golden boy of the student government. Then there's Gabe, the enigmatic, bad boy type who wears ripped jeans instead of dockers. Both boys are instantly swoon worthy and I can't wait to see more of them. I'm also pretty intrigued by Brinley's brother, Brooks. What can I say? I'm always intrigued by the hot jerk who only cares about himself. I feel, with a bigger part, he could turn into my favorite GA boy.
This series has so much potential. I can definitely see myself loving the drama and ever-spinning-relationship-wheel Georgetown Academy has to offer. All of the characters, even the secondary ones, are entertaining to read about. I wouldn't say they're all exactly likable, but in a book like this that's just the type of character I'm looking for! Georgetown Academy is definitely a must read for anyone who loved Gossip Girl (the book or the TV show) or anyone looking for an addictive, guilty pleasure sort of read. I highly recommend it!
Going into Georgetown Academy knowing that their would be alternating POV's from four different girls, I started the book trying to determine which character I would like the best. Especially since Georgetown Academy is an interactive novel and at one point you can decide which girl you want to follow through the story. After two chapters though, it quickly became clear that I was going to have a bit of a problem deciding which girl to follow. I loved them all. I ended up reading all of the girl's stories and loving the way they were all threaded together.
Ellie is the sweetheart of GA. A senator's daughter, girlfriend of the boy considered Most Likely To Become President by the yearbook staff, and best friend to one of the most popular girls in school. Problem is, it's all an act. Ellie is as insecure as any high school girl and she's very sensitive to all of the D.C. gossip surrounding her senator mother. I can't wait to see her finally break out of her comfort zone and become the girl she is deep inside.
Evan, Ellie's ex-best friend and the girl you'd least expect to be involved in any ill natured gossiping is finding it hard to keep her lips sealed because of her new internship at the most watch political show in D.C. She's also got a killer crush on Ellie's boyfriend. But, being honest, Evan was my favorite character because I loved her sweet girl next door personality and her adorable, yet forbidden crush.
Taryn, the rookie from California, is the easy going, naturally sunny one in the bunch. She's new and trying to make friends in a school full of conservative, name droppers. Since she's new, she's the only one who doesn't have a closet full of skeletons waiting to be discovered, but I'm sure she'll get there eventually.
My least favorite girl was Brinley, although once she's at the rookie party she takes a huge 180 in my eyes. This girl is tough! She just doesn't sit back and let things fall apart around her. She takes control and can manipulate with the best of them. Blair Waldorf would be proud!
Oh, the boys! The boys of GA are hot! There's gorgeous, polo wearing Hunter, the golden boy of the student government. Then there's Gabe, the enigmatic, bad boy type who wears ripped jeans instead of dockers. Both boys are instantly swoon worthy and I can't wait to see more of them. I'm also pretty intrigued by Brinley's brother, Brooks. What can I say? I'm always intrigued by the hot jerk who only cares about himself. I feel, with a bigger part, he could turn into my favorite GA boy.
This series has so much potential. I can definitely see myself loving the drama and ever-spinning-relationship-wheel Georgetown Academy has to offer. All of the characters, even the secondary ones, are entertaining to read about. I wouldn't say they're all exactly likable, but in a book like this that's just the type of character I'm looking for! Georgetown Academy is definitely a must read for anyone who loved Gossip Girl (the book or the TV show) or anyone looking for an addictive, guilty pleasure sort of read. I highly recommend it!
April 16, 2013
Georgetown Academy follows the life of four girls who go to G.A – Evan, Taryn, Brinley, & Ellie . These girls are at this academy because their father or mother is a politician and serves in the Senate or House of Representatives. Each girl has encountered each other in some sort of way. G.A. tests these four girls throughout the course of this book and show what they are willing to do and what they are not. Not only does each girl have something to hide, that no one else knows, they all have some boy trouble and that only leads to one thing – drama. Let’s face it who doesn’t like a book with drama!
Like I said before, each character is different! Evan Harnett is your average smart girl, but dreams of becoming a reporter. So in order to fulfill her dream she sits on the sidelines and tries not to be as discrete as possible because while nobody notices her, she notices them and watches every move. Her best friend is the star baseball player and is super awesome! He may just be a little more into rainbows and unicorns than the average guy ;). Everything is going according to her plan until, Hunter starts to notice her and she develops a crush on him, but it will never happen because he is her Ex best friend, Ellie’s, boyfriend.
Evan was definitely my favorite character of all of them because she’s smart and doesn’t care if she doesn’t have any friends besides her one. Then, she and Hunter are like the cutest thing and while I love Ellie there just might be a whole lot more stuff going on in this book that will make you want Ellie and Hunter to be together!
Since there are so many girls I won’t talk about all of them except Ellie, but I do have to talk about plot.
Oh boy! Okay, while this book had a lot of events happening, the plot was just… not that great. I hate having to talk bad about this book, but honestly there was no plot development what so ever. There was just a lot of things happening and a lot of drama. The characters never changed throughout this book and while their background stories were great, the story felt very rushed.
It felt as if the book left off on the climax because the whole book was just introductions and rising action. There are two more books after this one and I feel as if maybe those books should have been combined with this one.
While that was off for me, I still really enjoyed this book and it did leave off on the climax leaving me to want more and find out what happens. This book really brings the element of politics and everyday drama that these politicians may encounter. This book also takes on a unique angle and peaks my interest because it explores the lives of daughters of politicians. If you like drama and politics this is definitely the book for you.
Even with the problem I encountered with the plot, I still loved this book because it was very fast paced and made my interest of politics even more. Don’t miss out on this book!
Like I said before, each character is different! Evan Harnett is your average smart girl, but dreams of becoming a reporter. So in order to fulfill her dream she sits on the sidelines and tries not to be as discrete as possible because while nobody notices her, she notices them and watches every move. Her best friend is the star baseball player and is super awesome! He may just be a little more into rainbows and unicorns than the average guy ;). Everything is going according to her plan until, Hunter starts to notice her and she develops a crush on him, but it will never happen because he is her Ex best friend, Ellie’s, boyfriend.
Evan was definitely my favorite character of all of them because she’s smart and doesn’t care if she doesn’t have any friends besides her one. Then, she and Hunter are like the cutest thing and while I love Ellie there just might be a whole lot more stuff going on in this book that will make you want Ellie and Hunter to be together!
Since there are so many girls I won’t talk about all of them except Ellie, but I do have to talk about plot.
Oh boy! Okay, while this book had a lot of events happening, the plot was just… not that great. I hate having to talk bad about this book, but honestly there was no plot development what so ever. There was just a lot of things happening and a lot of drama. The characters never changed throughout this book and while their background stories were great, the story felt very rushed.
It felt as if the book left off on the climax because the whole book was just introductions and rising action. There are two more books after this one and I feel as if maybe those books should have been combined with this one.
While that was off for me, I still really enjoyed this book and it did leave off on the climax leaving me to want more and find out what happens. This book really brings the element of politics and everyday drama that these politicians may encounter. This book also takes on a unique angle and peaks my interest because it explores the lives of daughters of politicians. If you like drama and politics this is definitely the book for you.
Even with the problem I encountered with the plot, I still loved this book because it was very fast paced and made my interest of politics even more. Don’t miss out on this book!
June 18, 2013
I was sent a copy of this book in return for an honest review by Coliloquy.
This review was first posted on my blog, thisisjustabookblog.tumblr.com
As such, this is not the type of book that I would have picked out for myself , though it does have some very interesting features. Coliloquy is a publishing company that, from what I've read, focuses on interaction and active engagement of the reader. To put this in context - in this book, there was a party, which was kind of the focal point of the book, and you got a choice out of four characters about which one you followed around for the evening. When you'd read that chapter, you could either go back and choose another character, to read their p.o.v, or you could continue with the story. It was your choice.
This is certainly a creative and very much different way to read a book, and I love new things like these, which push the reading experience to the next level. I liked the idea, and I think it worked quite well.
I think the plot of this novel would work extremely well as a TV story. It's set in Georgetown Academy, a high school for the children of the political leaders of America. And as such, there is drama and secrets and romance. The four female protagonists, out of whom you could chose to follow, all had pretty distinct voices and personalities, which made them enjoyable to read. And I felt like the stories were certainly intriguing.
However, I don't think I'm really the intended target audience for this book; it's not really my sort of thing. The writing was good, the characters were fairly well-rounded, but for me, I couldn't really find myself relating to them, because my high school experience wasn't anything like that. The book was also only 120 ish pages, which means you don't spend a lot of time with the characters, especially if you only choose to follow one of them through the party. I feel like the novel could've done with being longer, so that they characters were fully fleshed out, and that more happens. I felt like it cut off too suddenly at the end - much like a TV show would at the end of one episode. For a novel, it didn't have enough build-up to work properly.
Though I think the book should be longer, I didn't really have any problems with the book, as such. I just don't think that it was really my style. If you like secrets and drama (lots of drama) with politics woven in and scandals everywhere, then this is certainly the book for you, and I'd recommend checking it out. Also, if you like the idea of interactive books, then have a look on the coliloquy website for some more information about that.
I think my main problem with this book was that I didn't really create a connection with any of the characters, which meant that I wasn't invested in them or what happens to them.
This review was first posted on my blog, thisisjustabookblog.tumblr.com
As such, this is not the type of book that I would have picked out for myself , though it does have some very interesting features. Coliloquy is a publishing company that, from what I've read, focuses on interaction and active engagement of the reader. To put this in context - in this book, there was a party, which was kind of the focal point of the book, and you got a choice out of four characters about which one you followed around for the evening. When you'd read that chapter, you could either go back and choose another character, to read their p.o.v, or you could continue with the story. It was your choice.
This is certainly a creative and very much different way to read a book, and I love new things like these, which push the reading experience to the next level. I liked the idea, and I think it worked quite well.
I think the plot of this novel would work extremely well as a TV story. It's set in Georgetown Academy, a high school for the children of the political leaders of America. And as such, there is drama and secrets and romance. The four female protagonists, out of whom you could chose to follow, all had pretty distinct voices and personalities, which made them enjoyable to read. And I felt like the stories were certainly intriguing.
However, I don't think I'm really the intended target audience for this book; it's not really my sort of thing. The writing was good, the characters were fairly well-rounded, but for me, I couldn't really find myself relating to them, because my high school experience wasn't anything like that. The book was also only 120 ish pages, which means you don't spend a lot of time with the characters, especially if you only choose to follow one of them through the party. I feel like the novel could've done with being longer, so that they characters were fully fleshed out, and that more happens. I felt like it cut off too suddenly at the end - much like a TV show would at the end of one episode. For a novel, it didn't have enough build-up to work properly.
Though I think the book should be longer, I didn't really have any problems with the book, as such. I just don't think that it was really my style. If you like secrets and drama (lots of drama) with politics woven in and scandals everywhere, then this is certainly the book for you, and I'd recommend checking it out. Also, if you like the idea of interactive books, then have a look on the coliloquy website for some more information about that.
I think my main problem with this book was that I didn't really create a connection with any of the characters, which meant that I wasn't invested in them or what happens to them.
February 12, 2013
When I was first offered the chance to read Georgetown Academy: Book 1, I instantly said yes. I'm always on the lookout for new Gossip Girl/Pretty Little Liars like reads, and this seemed like the perfect fit. Thankfully, even with a somewhat shaky start, Georgetown Academy managed to provide just what I was looking for: scandal, romance, and a twisty enough ending to have me clamoring for the next one.
Georgetown Academy is told through the POVs of Brinley, Ellie, Taryn, and Evan, four Georgetown Academy students who don't know whether to be happy about the new political administration or to go running and screaming away from it. I'm always a little weary about multiple POVS due to characterization. However, it managed to work quite well in this one, as not only was it fun to see what every character was like, but it also allowed for some pretty interesting twists to occur, since I would see a scene through multiple eyes. My favorite out of the crew would have had to be a tie between Ellie and Evan. Ellie was the typical good girl who a secret, but she was still a ton of fun to read about. Plus her romantic tension with Gabriel sizzled! Evan was another girl dealing with secrets and her rising fame on the Georgetown social ladder. What I liked most about her, though, was seeing how a seemingly ordinary girl (someone whose parents weren't in the political seen at all) fit into the academy.
The plot in this had the typical guilty pleasure read aspects: romantic trysts, backstabbing, and secrets. Plus it contained a pretty kick-ass setting: the DC political scene. I don't think I've ever read a book that has to do with that, so it was cool to see how the authors's presented it, especially when it turned out to work quite well. However, I will admit, I found the beginning to be a little shaky. It didn't really have anything that caught my attention, but when I got past the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. I wanted to know all about Ellie and Gabriel's past, Brinley's secret addiction and what it meant for her and her family, and Evan's new internship. Plus I was curious to see whether or not Taryn was as sweet and innocent as she led on. Furthermore, I especially loved how halfway through the book I was allowed to pick which character to follow during the pivotal party scene. It was an awesome little add-on, as it really had my head reeling as I tried to fit all the pieces together for everyone's stories.
In all, Georgetown Academy: Book 1 is a scandalous and twisty read perfect for fans of gossipy contemps. However, word of warning, once you reach the ending, you're going to be dying to read the next one!
Grade: B
Georgetown Academy is told through the POVs of Brinley, Ellie, Taryn, and Evan, four Georgetown Academy students who don't know whether to be happy about the new political administration or to go running and screaming away from it. I'm always a little weary about multiple POVS due to characterization. However, it managed to work quite well in this one, as not only was it fun to see what every character was like, but it also allowed for some pretty interesting twists to occur, since I would see a scene through multiple eyes. My favorite out of the crew would have had to be a tie between Ellie and Evan. Ellie was the typical good girl who a secret, but she was still a ton of fun to read about. Plus her romantic tension with Gabriel sizzled! Evan was another girl dealing with secrets and her rising fame on the Georgetown social ladder. What I liked most about her, though, was seeing how a seemingly ordinary girl (someone whose parents weren't in the political seen at all) fit into the academy.
The plot in this had the typical guilty pleasure read aspects: romantic trysts, backstabbing, and secrets. Plus it contained a pretty kick-ass setting: the DC political scene. I don't think I've ever read a book that has to do with that, so it was cool to see how the authors's presented it, especially when it turned out to work quite well. However, I will admit, I found the beginning to be a little shaky. It didn't really have anything that caught my attention, but when I got past the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. I wanted to know all about Ellie and Gabriel's past, Brinley's secret addiction and what it meant for her and her family, and Evan's new internship. Plus I was curious to see whether or not Taryn was as sweet and innocent as she led on. Furthermore, I especially loved how halfway through the book I was allowed to pick which character to follow during the pivotal party scene. It was an awesome little add-on, as it really had my head reeling as I tried to fit all the pieces together for everyone's stories.
In all, Georgetown Academy: Book 1 is a scandalous and twisty read perfect for fans of gossipy contemps. However, word of warning, once you reach the ending, you're going to be dying to read the next one!
Grade: B
November 23, 2012
This is the second series that I have started reading from Coliloquy and I really enjoyed it! :D I loved that you get to choose which character you follow, too....especially since in the case of the four main characters there were a few I really didn't want to follow as much. :P
I loved that each main character has their own introduction of sorts, and then the story broke off into a narrative where you could choose who you wanted to follow. Personally, I preferred Ellie and Taryn's parts. I just liked the characters more. I wasn't a huge fan of Evan or Brinley...but I did read them all, and I will admit that I liked that I got to see all of their sides to the story. It made it really interesting when you compared all of their versions and could see how everything fit together! :D
Along with the characters, I enjoyed the story itself. Since the US just had their election, I thought that it was a nice fit for the time, and it made me more interested in following politics. Although for me, I'd be focusing more on Canadian politics. ;)
One of the biggest things I enjoyed in Georgetown Academy was the parallel between High School and the political world in this book. You see how scandals get blown out of proportion just like gossip in High School, and how the politicians and their scandals gets talked about in the media, just like it would be talked about by students in school. It's contrasted even more when you think about the fact that the students at Georgetown Academy happen to be the children of politicians (for the most part anyway) themselves, so it's like they have this kind of media and peer pressure coming at them from all sides. It put things in a really interesting perspective for me and I really enjoyed that. :)
I had a blast reading this book, and I'd recommend Georgetown Academy to fans of contemporary YA who are looking for something a little different. Not only is the interactive aspect of the story interesting, but so is the subject matter. I don't know about you all, but this was the first book that I've read where it combined High School drama with actual politics, and I thought that was pretty neat. :D
Stay tuned for an awesome promo post for Georgetown Academy where you get to know a few of the characters better, that I have coming up soon! :D
*I was provided with a reviewers copy by the publisher for an honest review.
*This review is also published on my blog, Burning Impossibly Bright, and on my other social media accounts.
I loved that each main character has their own introduction of sorts, and then the story broke off into a narrative where you could choose who you wanted to follow. Personally, I preferred Ellie and Taryn's parts. I just liked the characters more. I wasn't a huge fan of Evan or Brinley...but I did read them all, and I will admit that I liked that I got to see all of their sides to the story. It made it really interesting when you compared all of their versions and could see how everything fit together! :D
Along with the characters, I enjoyed the story itself. Since the US just had their election, I thought that it was a nice fit for the time, and it made me more interested in following politics. Although for me, I'd be focusing more on Canadian politics. ;)
One of the biggest things I enjoyed in Georgetown Academy was the parallel between High School and the political world in this book. You see how scandals get blown out of proportion just like gossip in High School, and how the politicians and their scandals gets talked about in the media, just like it would be talked about by students in school. It's contrasted even more when you think about the fact that the students at Georgetown Academy happen to be the children of politicians (for the most part anyway) themselves, so it's like they have this kind of media and peer pressure coming at them from all sides. It put things in a really interesting perspective for me and I really enjoyed that. :)
I had a blast reading this book, and I'd recommend Georgetown Academy to fans of contemporary YA who are looking for something a little different. Not only is the interactive aspect of the story interesting, but so is the subject matter. I don't know about you all, but this was the first book that I've read where it combined High School drama with actual politics, and I thought that was pretty neat. :D
Stay tuned for an awesome promo post for Georgetown Academy where you get to know a few of the characters better, that I have coming up soon! :D
*I was provided with a reviewers copy by the publisher for an honest review.
*This review is also published on my blog, Burning Impossibly Bright, and on my other social media accounts.
June 27, 2013
ok i got this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
all i can say is that i am glad that the publisher gave me all 3 books because this book has a huge cliffhanger!!!!
this book is a choose your own adventure. which is amazing!! it made me smile and actually like the book a lot more.
this book follows 3 girls who go to Georgetown academy. this high school is for kids whose parents are in the government in D.C the first girl they talk about is a girl named Taryn Reyes. her father is the first Latino man in the house of senate. she is trying make friends but is standing out. they call all the newbies "interns" well, she befriends a girl named Ellie. Ellie starts to show her the ropes and warns her away from a boy that is has a crush on. Taryn wasn't fast to make friends, but she made one fast enemy. her name is Brinley. Taryn was talking in history class and made some comments about Brinleys family history, and the war started. There is a huge juicy story that fly's around about Taryn, but i will not tell you any more of it will ruin the story.
the next is Ellie, her mother is in the Senate and is getting ready for a big promotion. She works with Hillary Clinton, and her mother has an on going feud with her ex boyfriend. After her ex boyfriend leak a untrue story about her father having an affair with a waitress it has been determined that each family member is trying to get back at each other. Well, her ex is back in the school, and his father is trying to get his seat back in office. His father spreads a story about her mother not using her office money properly and now the whole school is talking about it. Ellie is dating the hottest guy in school named hunter who everyone has a crush on. Ellie loves Hunter and he understands her, but she still has feelings for her ex. well, things get hot in heavy with her ex, and now she is faced with the biggest problem of them all!!!
lastly, Brinley family has been in the presidential spread of the magazine every year. not one family has done it 6 years in a row. She was determined that they would win because the editor of the magazine said they were a shoe in. Brinley has a drug problem. she is buying ADHD medicine, and realizes that she might have a problem when people start to notice. She found her boyfriend cheating on her, and now the new girl in school is the big girl on campus. Feeling jealous she finds out that the new girl's family won the spread. now Brinley is gonna do everything in her power to ruin the new girl so her family can get the spread back .
all i can say is that i am glad that the publisher gave me all 3 books because this book has a huge cliffhanger!!!!
this book is a choose your own adventure. which is amazing!! it made me smile and actually like the book a lot more.
this book follows 3 girls who go to Georgetown academy. this high school is for kids whose parents are in the government in D.C the first girl they talk about is a girl named Taryn Reyes. her father is the first Latino man in the house of senate. she is trying make friends but is standing out. they call all the newbies "interns" well, she befriends a girl named Ellie. Ellie starts to show her the ropes and warns her away from a boy that is has a crush on. Taryn wasn't fast to make friends, but she made one fast enemy. her name is Brinley. Taryn was talking in history class and made some comments about Brinleys family history, and the war started. There is a huge juicy story that fly's around about Taryn, but i will not tell you any more of it will ruin the story.
the next is Ellie, her mother is in the Senate and is getting ready for a big promotion. She works with Hillary Clinton, and her mother has an on going feud with her ex boyfriend. After her ex boyfriend leak a untrue story about her father having an affair with a waitress it has been determined that each family member is trying to get back at each other. Well, her ex is back in the school, and his father is trying to get his seat back in office. His father spreads a story about her mother not using her office money properly and now the whole school is talking about it. Ellie is dating the hottest guy in school named hunter who everyone has a crush on. Ellie loves Hunter and he understands her, but she still has feelings for her ex. well, things get hot in heavy with her ex, and now she is faced with the biggest problem of them all!!!
lastly, Brinley family has been in the presidential spread of the magazine every year. not one family has done it 6 years in a row. She was determined that they would win because the editor of the magazine said they were a shoe in. Brinley has a drug problem. she is buying ADHD medicine, and realizes that she might have a problem when people start to notice. She found her boyfriend cheating on her, and now the new girl in school is the big girl on campus. Feeling jealous she finds out that the new girl's family won the spread. now Brinley is gonna do everything in her power to ruin the new girl so her family can get the spread back .
April 8, 2013
Georgetown Academy follows four of Americas political influences daughters in their time at Georgetown Academy and everything that goes on. Evan, Brinley, Ellie and Taryn are four completely different girls, from different families.
Ellie is Brinley's best friend and boyfriend to Hunter McKnight son of a pretty powerful influence. Ellie has a lot to deal with, her mother is being attacked by her ex-boyfriend's father, who also just happens to be back at Georgetown Academy & her best friend has gone slightly crazy. Her feelings for Gabe resurface as they continuously run into each other at school, her mum is being attacked from the media because of allegations that aren't true and her she has doubts about whether being with her boyfriend is right.
Brinley has a boyfriend who cheats on her, but can't find away to break up with him without ruining her reputation with it. With a lot of stress going on Brinley resorts to different ways to overcome her stress, not necessarily the right way. Brinley's family are the IT family of Washington D.C. until newcomers of political chain come into view. As she deals with a cheating boyfriend and the newcomer of Georgetown Academy, Brinley doesn't make all the right choices in staying Georgetown Academy's IT girl.
Taryn is the new girl of Georgetown Academy, the California girl has no idea what Georgetown has set in store for her. Her father is in for the first Hispanic president, the media is on her family and all the sons & daughters of the political power players are watching what moves she makes and how they can ruin her father's chance of becoming president one day.
Evan is the scholarship girl of Georgetown, intern to one of D.C's most-watched political news shows who also has her eye set on Hunter a.k.a Ellie's boyfriend. But with the fact that Evan goes un-noticed in the social circle at school means that she find out the latest scope on each and everyone apart of Georgetown's elite, which can affect the political events happening at that time.
When a party breaks all the secrets out of the closet each girl has something different to deal with. It is Gossip Girl expect set in D.C and it's America's power players in the spotlight. The story is such a different aspect of it as you can follow a different girl at the party, while I ended up reading all four, each girl undergoes something different which makes the story so different from other YA's around.
Ellie is Brinley's best friend and boyfriend to Hunter McKnight son of a pretty powerful influence. Ellie has a lot to deal with, her mother is being attacked by her ex-boyfriend's father, who also just happens to be back at Georgetown Academy & her best friend has gone slightly crazy. Her feelings for Gabe resurface as they continuously run into each other at school, her mum is being attacked from the media because of allegations that aren't true and her she has doubts about whether being with her boyfriend is right.
Brinley has a boyfriend who cheats on her, but can't find away to break up with him without ruining her reputation with it. With a lot of stress going on Brinley resorts to different ways to overcome her stress, not necessarily the right way. Brinley's family are the IT family of Washington D.C. until newcomers of political chain come into view. As she deals with a cheating boyfriend and the newcomer of Georgetown Academy, Brinley doesn't make all the right choices in staying Georgetown Academy's IT girl.
Taryn is the new girl of Georgetown Academy, the California girl has no idea what Georgetown has set in store for her. Her father is in for the first Hispanic president, the media is on her family and all the sons & daughters of the political power players are watching what moves she makes and how they can ruin her father's chance of becoming president one day.
Evan is the scholarship girl of Georgetown, intern to one of D.C's most-watched political news shows who also has her eye set on Hunter a.k.a Ellie's boyfriend. But with the fact that Evan goes un-noticed in the social circle at school means that she find out the latest scope on each and everyone apart of Georgetown's elite, which can affect the political events happening at that time.
When a party breaks all the secrets out of the closet each girl has something different to deal with. It is Gossip Girl expect set in D.C and it's America's power players in the spotlight. The story is such a different aspect of it as you can follow a different girl at the party, while I ended up reading all four, each girl undergoes something different which makes the story so different from other YA's around.
April 30, 2013
Georgetown Academy: Book One is the combined efforts of two authors that take tag teaming to a higher level with their flawlessly combined talents! After the world of the offspring of the Washington political powerhouses is created, the reader is given the opportunity to follow one main character’s storyline or to read all of them, often seeing the same scenes from different perspectives, with different dramas being played out. And I DO mean dramas, as these teens often seem to be mini-clones of their parents, never able to kick back and be young, although I do admit their attention to politics and the events outside their personal space around them is refreshing. Events revolve around four main characters:
Brinley Madison, descendent of a U. S. President, leader of the pack, social snob
Ellie Walker, Brinley’s best friend, who has been dating the same guy for two years
Evan Hartnett, the shy, studious outcast, once Ellie’s best friend
Taryn Reyes, GA newcomer, with a California style and attitude
These four girls are polar opposites in personality and it often shows in the interactions they have. When one of them faces personal scandal involving an old flame, it doesn’t just involve them, it could be disastrous for their parents in the political arena where one false step can ruin a lifetime of commitment. Will alliances change or will tempers flare as the power struggle to be on top when the smoke clears gets as ugly as any political scandal? Should being the child of a public figure be so scrutinized?
Was this well-written? Most definitely, the characters are frighteningly real. Being in the positions these children are in, life at GA is like any high school, but on steroids! Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz were brilliant by writing GA in episodes so the ongoing story does not become too overwhelming! The spiraling tension and fast pace held me to the end!
A copy was provided by Coliloquy in exchange for my honest review.
Brinley Madison, descendent of a U. S. President, leader of the pack, social snob
Ellie Walker, Brinley’s best friend, who has been dating the same guy for two years
Evan Hartnett, the shy, studious outcast, once Ellie’s best friend
Taryn Reyes, GA newcomer, with a California style and attitude
These four girls are polar opposites in personality and it often shows in the interactions they have. When one of them faces personal scandal involving an old flame, it doesn’t just involve them, it could be disastrous for their parents in the political arena where one false step can ruin a lifetime of commitment. Will alliances change or will tempers flare as the power struggle to be on top when the smoke clears gets as ugly as any political scandal? Should being the child of a public figure be so scrutinized?
Was this well-written? Most definitely, the characters are frighteningly real. Being in the positions these children are in, life at GA is like any high school, but on steroids! Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz were brilliant by writing GA in episodes so the ongoing story does not become too overwhelming! The spiraling tension and fast pace held me to the end!
A copy was provided by Coliloquy in exchange for my honest review.
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January 6, 2013Please check out Electrifying Reviews for more reviews like this, plus giveaways, interviews, and more!
Prior to reading Georgetown Academy, I was very excited to get my hands on it. I'm a nerd, so I love government and politics, plus there were comparisons to Gossip Girl being made which can basically make me want to read any book. What really pushed me over the edge, however, was the media coverage this book from a small publisher, written by two relatively unknown authors, was getting. I saw this book and the authors featured on E! News even!
Something to take note of is that both authors previously wrote T.V. and movie scripts before writing Georgetown Academy. I think that definitely shows in the book; reading it is as enjoyable and entertaining as watching an episode of your favorite show. The way Etting and Schwartz were able to make politics, an important issue that most teens don't seem to care about, so fun to read about is very admirable in my opinion. Even readers who are indifferent when it comes to American politics can easily be swept away by the elite private school drama that accompanies the heavier issues in Georgetown Academy.
Since Georgetown Academy is published by Coliloquy, there is a feature which allows readers to choose different paths while reading the book. In my reading of it, I only saw one option to choose between characters' perspectives but that may have been due to the character I picked. I didn't go back and change paths to get a different experience, mostly because I don't have time in my life right now, but I was able to get the juicy details from the path I chose and I feel completely prepared to read the next book.
Georgetown Academy has a lot of things I really like in a book: politics, private schools, and drama. Lots of drama. I read Georgetown Academy in just a few hours and wasn't bored for even a second. I highly recommend this book to most readers, especially fans of Gossip Girl, because Georgetown Academy is just as addicting.
Prior to reading Georgetown Academy, I was very excited to get my hands on it. I'm a nerd, so I love government and politics, plus there were comparisons to Gossip Girl being made which can basically make me want to read any book. What really pushed me over the edge, however, was the media coverage this book from a small publisher, written by two relatively unknown authors, was getting. I saw this book and the authors featured on E! News even!
Something to take note of is that both authors previously wrote T.V. and movie scripts before writing Georgetown Academy. I think that definitely shows in the book; reading it is as enjoyable and entertaining as watching an episode of your favorite show. The way Etting and Schwartz were able to make politics, an important issue that most teens don't seem to care about, so fun to read about is very admirable in my opinion. Even readers who are indifferent when it comes to American politics can easily be swept away by the elite private school drama that accompanies the heavier issues in Georgetown Academy.
Since Georgetown Academy is published by Coliloquy, there is a feature which allows readers to choose different paths while reading the book. In my reading of it, I only saw one option to choose between characters' perspectives but that may have been due to the character I picked. I didn't go back and change paths to get a different experience, mostly because I don't have time in my life right now, but I was able to get the juicy details from the path I chose and I feel completely prepared to read the next book.
Georgetown Academy has a lot of things I really like in a book: politics, private schools, and drama. Lots of drama. I read Georgetown Academy in just a few hours and wasn't bored for even a second. I highly recommend this book to most readers, especially fans of Gossip Girl, because Georgetown Academy is just as addicting.
June 21, 2013
I received a copy of Georgetown Academy from Coliloquy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much.
When I was approached to read and review Georgetown Academy I was a little hesitant. I don’t know much about politics and I thought that this story could go two ways. The first; I thought that I wouldn’t understand anything happening in the story which would make it difficult to connect with. The second being that it would go something like this, “Oh my gee Sarah, can you believe daddy wouldn’t let me borrow his private jet to go to Cancun this weekend?!” I was really worried about that last part to be honest. Yet, I decided to take a chance and read it. Guys, I was so completely wrong! Georgetown Academy was brilliant! The writing was witty and well-constructed and I found myself highlighting quotes and passages, which if you know me, is something I rarely do. Georgetown Academy is told through four POVs and each voice is well distinguished and has its own personality which shows some serious talent because I know it’s difficult to write two POVs let alone four and have it flow so smoothly. I also enjoyed the fact Georgetown Academy is told through the voices of young girls and the fact that it had a lot to do with women in politics. This is a huge step in the right direction and I think it will inspire young women to go into politics or at least educate them that politics is not just a man’s job. I was half way done with the book when something unique and interesting happened. My kindle asked me which character I would like to continue reading through. That’s pretty much the coolest thing ever!! I felt like I was playing the game of Life or something. That definitely improved my reading experience which was already fun but this just skyrocketed it out of the water. I was wrong guys, so wrong, and honestly feel bad about it. Georgetown Academy was a funny, quick, and well written read and I suggest that you check it out.
When I was approached to read and review Georgetown Academy I was a little hesitant. I don’t know much about politics and I thought that this story could go two ways. The first; I thought that I wouldn’t understand anything happening in the story which would make it difficult to connect with. The second being that it would go something like this, “Oh my gee Sarah, can you believe daddy wouldn’t let me borrow his private jet to go to Cancun this weekend?!” I was really worried about that last part to be honest. Yet, I decided to take a chance and read it. Guys, I was so completely wrong! Georgetown Academy was brilliant! The writing was witty and well-constructed and I found myself highlighting quotes and passages, which if you know me, is something I rarely do. Georgetown Academy is told through four POVs and each voice is well distinguished and has its own personality which shows some serious talent because I know it’s difficult to write two POVs let alone four and have it flow so smoothly. I also enjoyed the fact Georgetown Academy is told through the voices of young girls and the fact that it had a lot to do with women in politics. This is a huge step in the right direction and I think it will inspire young women to go into politics or at least educate them that politics is not just a man’s job. I was half way done with the book when something unique and interesting happened. My kindle asked me which character I would like to continue reading through. That’s pretty much the coolest thing ever!! I felt like I was playing the game of Life or something. That definitely improved my reading experience which was already fun but this just skyrocketed it out of the water. I was wrong guys, so wrong, and honestly feel bad about it. Georgetown Academy was a funny, quick, and well written read and I suggest that you check it out.
April 7, 2013
This series is written by two authors who have written multiple scripts for television and film, and it shows. It reads like a TV show. I could honestly see this book being made into a successful television show, all beautiful people and fancy clothes and cool backdrops. The premise is actually pretty unique- Washington from the perspective of the teenagers caught in the political crossfire of their parents' chosen profession of politics. All of the regular teen drama amped up several notches with the addition of money, politics, and the media.
The book is told from multiple points of view, switching between the female protagonists, which I was fine with but I know is a problem for some. It was a useful way of introducing the reader to the multiple personalities at work and giving some of the pertinent background and motivation for each individual's actions. This is a short book, around a hundred pages, so each girl gets only a small piece of the story to call her own, but since the stories are intertwined, each girl is present throughout the book.
I liked the book. There's nothing quite like high school drama, and these authors know how to do it well. The pacing is quick, and although some scenarios are predictable, there were enough surprises to keep me reading and wondering what would happen next. This is a quick, fun read, perfect for when you want to get through a book in an afternoon, or when you're in the mood for some serious gossip.
Rating: Worth a Look
I enjoyed this book, partly because of the Washington setting, which I found fascinating to see through the eyes of teenagers, and partly because the storytelling is slick and fast-paced. It's like reading a really gossipy magazine, in the best possible way.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley & Coliloquy in return for an honest review.
The book is told from multiple points of view, switching between the female protagonists, which I was fine with but I know is a problem for some. It was a useful way of introducing the reader to the multiple personalities at work and giving some of the pertinent background and motivation for each individual's actions. This is a short book, around a hundred pages, so each girl gets only a small piece of the story to call her own, but since the stories are intertwined, each girl is present throughout the book.
I liked the book. There's nothing quite like high school drama, and these authors know how to do it well. The pacing is quick, and although some scenarios are predictable, there were enough surprises to keep me reading and wondering what would happen next. This is a quick, fun read, perfect for when you want to get through a book in an afternoon, or when you're in the mood for some serious gossip.
Rating: Worth a Look
I enjoyed this book, partly because of the Washington setting, which I found fascinating to see through the eyes of teenagers, and partly because the storytelling is slick and fast-paced. It's like reading a really gossipy magazine, in the best possible way.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley & Coliloquy in return for an honest review.
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