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Georgetown Academy #2

Georgetown Academy: Book Two

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In the halls of Georgetown Academy, gossip and rumor abound. But when photographic proof shows up on the front page of The Huffington Post? Then it’s a national scandal.

While Ellie tries to put her life back together, Evan just might get everything she’s ever wanted—the perfect boyfriend and her dream career. But her loyalties will be put to the test when it turns out to be the very people she’s closest to who are standing in her way.

Brinley is determined to find out who is behind the photo leak, all while her own dirty secret spirals out of control. And California girl Taryn is sick of being walked all over and ready to start playing by the rules of D.C., for better or for worse.

In a world where reputation and appearances are everything, knowledge is power. But you’ll have to learn how to use it if you want to come out on top.


About the Author
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 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.

142 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2012

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About the author

Alyssa Embree Schwartz

10 books77 followers
Alyssa 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 46 reviews
Profile Image for Rachael.
3 reviews5 followers
November 2, 2012
Write faster; I need my GT Academy fix!
Profile Image for Praniti.
60 reviews11 followers
December 6, 2017
There's not much actual plot to this book and I keep wondering this book is heading. As I read through the series I expect what is coming next but can't predict how the book is going to end. The books are quite short and simply not interesting at all. Though Georgetown Academy is the first book which I have come across that concerns politics and the drama that follows it, in the end the book is all about high school gossip that I think has been inspired by the tv show Gossip Girl. I did not like the book and won't recommend or read it again.
Profile Image for Julie (Let's Read Good Books).
1,725 reviews486 followers
April 16, 2013
This is a fun series so far, and better yet, I think they are new-reader friendly. There is enough background given during the narrative for new readers to feel comfortable jumping on at any point, but if you don't want to miss any of the melodramatic fun, start with book one.

Full review

Review:

I am a sap for over the top melodrama, and Georgetown Academy has that in spades. Everyone is having trouble dealing with living life under a microscope, where poor decisions and lapses in judgment have painful, negative consequences on their high-powered parents, as well as themselves. Growing up the child of movers and shakers has its drawbacks, and Ellie is learning first hand that everything she does is scrutinized. When an illicit kiss with Gabe makes the news, casting mother in a bad light and jeopardizing her career, Ellie has to deal with not only the blowback from Hunter, her boyfriend, but also the bitter disappointment from her mother. Gabe’s father and Ellie’s mother have been at odds for years, and Ellie’s behavior comes across as a betrayal to her mother. So, it seems that even the kids of the high and mighty are not immune to the pressures and stresses of life, where even rumors and the most innocent action can cause the scandal of the century.

I think I enjoy this series so much because it is so readable. Events tick along at a frantic pace, jumping from one of the four main protagonists to the next in rapid succession. I have mixed feelings about some of them; Brinley is my least favorite. She is such a smug, pompous hag that she’s hard to like. When bad things happen to her, I’m usually not too upset about it. I want to see her hit rock bottom, just to see if she has the mettle to drag herself back up again. Evan is my favorite of the four, because her humble background is closer to mine. She is caught up in a charade, pretending to be the girlfriend of Luke, her best friend, who is terrified that his big secret will crawl out of the closet and destroy his father’s career. Luke needs to grow a backbone and be honest about his sexuality, instead of lassoing Evan into a masquerade that is destroying any chance of her catching the boy of her dreams. It’s unfair of Luke, and it’s unfair of his family to expect her blindly go along with their plans for their political security. Ugh.

I like Taryn, too. After feeling sorry for herself for becoming a social outcast, thanks to a rumor that Brinley started, she pulls herself together and gets back at her rival. How? By being herself and not letting the stifling confines of G.A. hem her in. She’s not going to let anyone squeeze her into a mold, and she’s going to blaze a trail for herself in her new school. Fitting in is no longer a goal. Striking back and making an impression is. Taryn is like a shooting star; she’s bright and she’s burning a path for herself, because she doesn’t want to be like anyone else. I love how important being herself is to her, and how being true to herself has given her back the confidence she had lost. I’m so curious to see if anything happens between her and Brooks, Brinley’s brother, because that would be the ultimate f you to Brin. lol

I don’t know if I should feel sorry for Ellie, or tell her to get a life. She dumped her best friend for Brinley, for goodness sake! Brinley! After the unpleasant revelation about Brinley’s father, something that she can never share with Ellie, I wonder how much longer they will be friends. And her back and forth between Hunter and Gabe? Ugh! She’s jerking both of them around, though it seems like some of that is going to come back around to bite her in the behind. Ouch!

Another thing I like about this series – it’s immediately accessible, even to new readers. Enough background information is peppered throughout the narrative so that you understand all of the relationships between the characters. I don’t think someone picking this up without reading the first book in the series would be confused. They would miss out on the all the fun drama, but they could easily get up to speed with the story. One thing I don’t like? The inability to add bookmarks or make notes. It drives me nuts, in fact, because I’m so used to a regular Kindle book. Tapping the middle of the screen propels you to the next page, and going in any direction but forward is a tedious, frustrating process. And you can’t tell how much further you have until the end, or even what page you are on. Sigh.

Georgetown Academy is turning out to be a very fun series!
Profile Image for Mary  BookHounds .
1,303 reviews1,966 followers
June 10, 2013
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Let's start with Brinley since she is the mean girl with a heart. The story picks right up where the first one ended and Brinley is quickly loosing control of her dark, deep secret. I am not going to divulge that since it would ruin the plot. She does try to help her bestie, Ellie, track down who leaked a picture of her with her mother's worst enemy's son. The backstory to that relationship will have you reeling. Evan, the good girl is trying really hard to get in good with supervisor at her internship, but at the same time, she doesn't want to ruin her friends' lives by further her career with their secrets. Taryn, in a stroke of brilliance, commands all of the attention by accident, and becomes the new *it* girl of Washington DC.

These books are like potato chips, you better have a bunch on hand since you will want to continue reading them well into the night. I took books two, three and four on a five hour flight and had to go back and read each character's thread because I didn't want to miss a word or viewpoint. The writing in this series is amazing, full of details without being overly wordy. Reading this series is much like watching a television episode since each installment, everything is paced perfectly. Now, that I have read everything out so far, it is going to be a long summer until I can get my hands on the next one.
Profile Image for Tasha Turner.
Author 2 books102 followers
June 10, 2013
This book is grittier. We have betrayal, drugs, new friendships, lost friendships, family drama, more politics, a party, ending on a cliffhanger. I think Taryn is becoming my favorite character. She seems to be staying truest to herself although sometimes by luck. Ellie I can't decide what I think. Brinley is too political. Evan keeps hurting herself and others. Each of them are very like kids I knew in school. I probably would have hung out with Evan as I was a bit of a wallflower/loser in school. I would have wanted to be more like Taryn, confident in myself, and not needing to put others down in order to find/keep my place.

Received eArc from netgalley in exchange for honest review
Profile Image for Julie.
142 reviews4 followers
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.
Profile Image for Amy H.
593 reviews22 followers
August 28, 2013
I got this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review...

this series does keep getting better and better. i still love the fact that i get to choose my own adventure..(yes, i am a nerd)

in this book, Elle's scandal is more than what she thought was going to happen with Gabe. Her mother totally stopped talking to her and her boyfriend of two years, hunter also called it quits. She has to spend the rest of the week trying to do damage control at the school. Everyone stopped talking to her and make up horrible names for her as well. Elle's mother will go thru even more issues by the time this book is over and will have Elle feeling even more bad about the whole situation. She also has to choose who she wants to be with. Gabe wants her back, and doesn't care what everyone else thing, and she wants to get back with hunter and now has to come up with a plan get him back.

Mean while Evan is still working at the press and she loving her job. Except for her boss wants her to look into gossip about a guy named Luke. His father is big in congress and word is that he is gay. His father is totally against gay marriage so it would get great press. The problem is Evan knows the truth and refuses to let her boss know. Luke is her best friend. She has to find a way to tell Luke what is going on without hurting his feelings and come up with a plan of attack. She ends up telling Luke so he tells his dad. Evan is paired up with Hunter for a history assignment and she is head over heels for this guy. She knows that her ex friend just broke up with him, but she thinks she might have a shot. Evan and Hunter exchange some text messages and end up flirting. She ends up kissing him on their study date at the library. The only problem is that Evan is going out with Luke as a cover up so the press wont find out that he is gay. Now Hunter is not longer interested in Evan because Luke is his friend. Evan is crushed and has to figure out a way to save this starting relationship while saving her best friend Luke.

Brinley finally pulled of the rumor that she started. Her family won the photo shoot and will be the only family to be published for 5 years straight. She is still addicted to ADHD medicine. She is trying to fix her best friend Elle's image when the whole picture thing happened. She is using her sources to figure out who sent the press the photo. Meanwhile, the person she spread the rumor about found out that she is buying drugs and is going to use it to try to get her family out of the photo shoot. She does the one thing that she never wants to do. She goes to her father. Her father ends up pulling some strings and makes up this whole idea for the news paper that she has ADHD and it is hard being a teenager with an issue. The press is eating it alive and she loves the attention. except with the worse thing happens to her.

Taryn had to go to the office because of the stupid rumor that Brinley accused her off. Prostitution. the head master wasn't pleased with the rumors, but called her father. Since her father was making huge news over his win he was please with the way her father talked about her. Taryn was not happy when she found out her father was fought her battle, but was ready for revenge. Taryn was paired up with Brinley for the history assignment. She has to go over to her house. when she was leaving she realized that she left her phone and went back in the house. That is when she heard the best bit of gossip. Brinley's brother tried to convince her not to spread the word about his sister, but he understood why she was going to do it. Taryn finally got to confront Gabe about him kissing Elle right when they were suppose to go on a date. She was no longer friends with Elle and lost a potential boyfriend all in one week. She was starting to hate this school.
She decided to go to the dance because she realized she was going to be herself and didn't care what others thought. That was until she got the theme wrong for the dance and all eyes were on her.

Profile Image for Literally Jen.
233 reviews66 followers
May 7, 2013
Ellie Walker, the daughter of a single mom and senator, is the subject of media scrutiny after a photo of her kissing the son of her political arch nemesis makes the rounds. Even though she has feelings for Gabe, she can't be with him because of what his father did to her mother's marriage and career several years earlier. Ellie has also just been dumped by her boyfriend of two years, Hunter, and she has little hope he'll accept her apologies and take her back.

Brinley Madison has her own set of problems, including an addiction to Adderall. Her brother, Brooks, has caught on to her habit, and Brinley's new enemy Taryn has overheard everything. If Brooks can't convince Taryn not to tell the press, Brinley could become caught up in her own media scandal. Luckily for Brinley, her father is very resourceful-perhaps even more so than Brinley has ever realized.

Taryn, the new girl, has a rising star of a father; it's possible he might become the United States' first Hispanic president. Taryn is learning quickly D.C. is nothing like L.A., and that just to survive, she might have to play dirty just like everyone else.

Evan, Ellie's ex-friend, has a promising future in journalism, but in order to go places she's going to have to betray the trust of her friend Luke. Evan, a generally nice girl, tells Luke she's supposed to break the story that he's gay (quite scandalous since Luke is the son of a Utah representative who speaks out fiercely against gays). When they get Luke's father involved, Evan finds herself caught up in their lies. If Evan didn't have pesky feelings for Hunter, she might not mind masquerading as Evan's faux girlfriend.

Ellie, Brinley, Taryn, and Evan are the main characters of Georgetown Academy Book Two, and each of them has an equal amount of page time in the book. I'm generally not a fan of mean girls, so I am happiest when Brinley's section are over. Even though she's pretty awful, I actually enjoyed her brother, Brooks, and am interested in seeing how his flirtation with Taryn might progress.

If you haven't already read Georgetown Academy Book One, it's a must-read before starting this one. Though it might be pretty easy to follow along if you were to just jump in with this one, the first book offers plenty of back story and introduction to characters that you're either going to love or love to hate.

Since this is interactive fiction, you'll also have decisions to make as you read. I've been pretty bummed out with the level of interaction with the Georgetown Academy books; I didn't get to make any choices in this one until the 74% mark, and it only involved deciding which character to follow while she got ready for a school dance. As with the first book, I saw plenty of places where it would have been fun to make decisions on characters' behalf, especially with Evan's and Taryn's story line.

As with the first book, I noticed some minor editing issues, but they were nothing too distracting. I had way more concerns about the first book, and breathed a huge sigh of relief that I had a more enjoyable experience with the writing and editing overall in Georgetown Academy Book Two. I'm looking forward to book three, and hope that Coliloquy will offer more exciting interactive decisions for the readers to make.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for Pretty in Fiction.
138 reviews57 followers
February 9, 2013
Georgetown Academy: Book Two by Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz picks up just a few minutes after Book One ends. With the new bombshell dropped into Ellie's lap, or more precisely onto her phone, the world of GA is shifting for all of the characters. Love, loyalty, friendship. They're all on the line in the second book of this amazingly addictive series.

Everything's starting to develop more in this second book. The relationships, the drama, and the characters. You can feel the natural chemistry between Evan and Hunter. They're so cute, but so heart wrenching at the same time. It's in this aspect that you really get to see just how self-sacrificing a character Evan is. She might be crushing on her friend's ex-boyfriend, but she's willing to forgo that crush for everyone's well being. And by that I mean, she's willing to give up what she wants so her friends parents don't end up as the focus of various scandals. Quite unfair, right? I think so, but Evan's got a little bit of venom in her too and I really want to see if she stays her sweet, self-sacrificing self or becomes more like the other girls at GA.

Even though Brinley has an addiction to prescription medication and she can manipulate and spin PR better than almost anyone in DC, she's still a fiercely loyal friend to Ellie which is one of the things that completely changed my opinion about Brinley's character. On the surface she seems like a selfish brat, but that was how she was raised to be. And really, her and her brother Brooks' banter cracks me up every time. They're snobby and self-righteous, but that's what makes them lovable!

Taryn, despite the gossip going on about her at the end of Book One, really managed to stay true to herself as a kind and fair person. It made me love her character even more. And then there's the edition of Brooks to Taryn's story line. I said in my review of Georgetown Academy: Book One that, even though I only got a brief glimpse of Brooks, I knew he had the potential to be one of my favorites and boy was I right! I adore Brooks and he actually made the connection between growing enemies Brinley and Taryn that much more fun to read about.

There's a stark difference between the family lives of Taryn and Ellie and you really start to see that in Book Two. Where Taryn's dad's career takes a backseat to his family life, Ellie's world revolves around catering to her mother's career and Ellie either can't or won't see how wrong her relationship with her mother has become. Ellie took her turn as my least favorite character in this book. She was stubborn and refused to see the truth and acknowledge that what she wanted was just as important as what her mother wanted. She definitely redeemed herself at the very end though. And she also left me dying for Book Three!

It's so easy to get sucked into the world of Georgetown Academy. Each book is short, sweet, and leaves you yearning for more. The characters are flawed, yet lovable. The plot is teeming with social drama and political twists and turns. If you told me I had to pick out one thing about these books that I didn't enjoy, it would be that they're too short! (I need more Brooks!!)
Profile Image for Keely.
171 reviews38 followers
April 9, 2013
Book two continues where book one left off, Ellie dealing with the photo of her and Gabe, her mother ignoring her and Hunter who is completely avoiding her. Taryn dealing with the rumor that Brinley started & Gabe who had asked her out days after making out with Ellie. Brinley is struggling the her addiction to Adderall and the truth about who leaked the photo of Ellie. Evan is keeping secrets from her boss about her best friend Luke who is gay but no-one can know because of his father's political career playing girlfriend with him while she is crushing hard on Hunter whom she is partnered with.

The Follow the Stars party is the main function where everything major happens. Ellie is dealing with the issue with Gabe and strongly believes that he is behind the photo scandal and refuses to talk to him. Ellie is content on not going or showing her face at the event, but when Hunter turns up asking her to the dance & getting back together, something that she had wanted since they broke up. However, of course secrets come into play and Ellie's night is turned into shreds.

Someone knows Brinley's secret, her brother Brooks whom wants her to end it before someone finds out. Taryn who is Brinley's history partner hears this, threatening to tell the press. But Brinley's father being who he is releases a story to cover up truth about her addiction and Brinley's escapes free of everything that could have been released. The Follow the Stars event see's Brinley unravel everything that she has kept a secret for a long time, expect the one she is hiding from Ellie.

Taryn has the juiciest piece of information on Brinley but cannot bring herself to release the information not wanting to stoop to her level. Gabe is still on her mind and for some reason she cannot get rid of him. Wanting to be with him Taryn lets the Follow the Stars event to allow her to be herself, unlike so many others who just pretend.

Evan is in the middle of one the most covered up secrets in Georgetown Academy. Luke is gay, only she and Gabe knows the truth about it. Wanting to keep it that way her and Luke pretend to be together. She helps Ellie and Brinley to get Hunter to at least to consider to get back with Ellie, even though she likes him. However, when her and Hunter kiss it makes everything worse, especially with what she is told by Hunter at the Follow the Stars event.

Secrets come out, relationships bloom and fade, and everyone is hiding something big. The series just keeps on getting better, at the end you just want to know what will happen next.

Thanks Coliloquy and netgalley for the review copy!
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews631 followers
May 2, 2013
I took the plunge into teen angst on steroids with Georgetown Academy: Book One and it ended with a cliff hanger to die for! Enter book two-aptly named: Georgetown Academy: Book Two, picking up immediately for poor Ellie, caught in a photo gone viral of her passionately kissing Gabe. Oops, her boyfriend’s name is Hunter, so instantly we have a national scandal! Why? Gabe is the son of Ellie’s mother’s worst nightmare in the political arena and it could cost her a coveted position of power, not to mention what it does to Ellie’s social standing among the elite offspring of Washington’s powerful movers and shakers. What she learns in a very painful way, is the cost of her spur of the moment actions. Will Brinley, Academy royalty and its biggest snob stand by her friend? How does Evan play into this? She one held the title of Ellie’s Besty, but was dropped like a hot potato in the past. Rising star, Californian transplant, Taryn has a role in this Ellie/Gabe/Hunter triangle, too! Guess this makes it a double triangle with all the other players, huh? Actually, it makes a mess, a huge, ugly mess that only another hot and juicy social gaff can replace in the limelight. Count on there being one for sure!

I admit, Book One had me playing the Mom Card-full of doubt as to the value in creating mini-monsters of politics, kids who couldn’t be kids, couldn’t make mistakes, etc., but, I have to say, Mom Card or not, this is a fascinating series! The pace flies by at the speed of sound, the drama of the moment changes minute by minute for our four main characters! With their distinct personalities, I can definitely say, I do NOT like all of them, but I see redeeming qualities that I hope are exercised! (Again with the Mom Card) Next, I worry about the nice ones who may get swallowed up in the constant avalanches of slime that seem to be followed by teen piranhas looking for their next meal. Okay, Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz have done it again! Teen melodrama at its nastiest, an acquired taste, that becomes addictive!

This edition was provided by NetGalley and Coliloquy in exchange for my honest review!

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Profile Image for Angie.
1,394 reviews284 followers
April 24, 2013
I can honestly say this series just keeps getting better and better. The further I read, the more entangled I became in Ellie, Brinley, Evan and Taryn’s lives. These are four spectacular young women who each with their own complex personalities bring intrigue and excitement to a gripping story with heaps of twists and surprises.

The story picks up exactly where it left off in the previous book. New alliances are formed, secrets are spilled, and a couple of interesting discoveries change the course of a few lives. One of the many things I’m enjoying about this series is that the relationships between the characters in their friendships, their love lives, and between them and their parents, are hugely realistic. These characters came to life for me because everything about them and their interactions with others are very real and true to life. Ellie’s unwavering loyalty to her mom, the close relationship between Brinley and her brother Brooks, Evan’s friendship with Luke and the sacrifice she’s willing to make to protect his status, gave a very authentic feel to these characters and the overall story. The trials Ellie and Taryn had to endure and the choices they had to make, speaks of two strong characters and I’m all about independant female leads. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the authors are going with Ellie and Taryn’s storylines, but I’m just as curious to find out whether Brinley is going to kick her addiction and whether Evan can keep up the ruse with her fake boyfriend.

If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll enjoy this one even more. I’d suggest you read the first book to really get to know and adore these characters and to catch up on all the drama, but book two can also be read as a stand-alone as enough background is given from the previous book to enjoy this story on its own. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this awesome read. Now it’s on to book three and hopefully the authors will hurry up and write a fourth instalment to this breathtaking and fun series. Georgetown Academy is without a doubt a hard-to-put-down reading experience.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Andrea Ika.
423 reviews24 followers
July 4, 2013
Georgetown Academy book two

Jessica Koosed Etting




Rating


A copy was provided by NetGalley and Coliloquy in exchange for my honest review!

Blurb
In the halls of Georgetown Academy, gossip and rumor abound. But when photographic proof shows up on the front page of The Huffington Post? Then it’s a national scandal.

While Ellie tries to put her life back together, Evan just might get everything she’s ever wanted—the perfect boyfriend and her dream career. But her loyalties will be put to the test when it turns out to be the very people she’s closest to who are standing in her way.

Brinley is determined to find out who is behind the photo leak, all while her own dirty secret spirals out of control. And California girl Taryn is sick of being walked all over and ready to start playing by the rules of D.C., for better or for worse.

In a world where reputation and appearances are everything, knowledge is power. But you’ll have to learn how to use it if you want to come out on top.


My thought
The writing in this series is amazing, full of details without being overly wordy. I have mixed feelings about some of the characters ; Brinley is my least favorite. She is such a smug, pompous hag that she’s hard to like. When bad things happen to her, I’m usually not too upset about it. I want to see her hit rock bottom, just to see if she has the mettle to drag herself back up again. Evan is my favorite of the four, because her humble background is closer to mine. She is caught up in a charade, pretending to be the girlfriend of Luke, her best friend, who is terrified that his big secret will crawl out of the closet and destroy his father’s career. Luke needs to grow a backbone and be honest about his sexuality, instead of lassoing Evan into a masquerade that is destroying any chance of her catching the boy of her dreams. It’s unfair of Luke, and it’s unfair of his family to expect her blindly go along with their plans for their political security.
Reading this series is much like watching a television episode since each installment, everything is paced perfectly.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
135 reviews
August 13, 2014
My Thoughts:

The Cover: The cover to Book 2 was similar to Book 1. Only it's daytime, the Lincoln Memorial is used and we see a white dress, not red. Can't decide which cover I like the best, but the way these books are going, the covers are really starting to fit.

The Plot: Wow, things are really starting to heat up at Georgetown Academy! The plot really does get better and better. I was a bit worried going into Book 2 as Book 1 took so long to really get going, but without a doubt, I am hooked now. Things flowed very nicely, there were no holes or distractions, nothing seemed overdone. I really enjoyed the surprises along the way, and holy @#$%#, I can't believe she did that!! (Read it, you will understand!!)

The Characters: The characters in this series keep surprising me. Yes, they continue to be well written and full of personality, but just when I thought I had gotten a handle on who was the sweet one, who was most likely to stab you in the back, and who was the conniving bitch.....oh wait, that one didn't change lol Point is, you never know how far these girls are willing to go to get what they want.....or help their friends get what they want.

Is it Worth Reading?: Yes, I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed this book. Things were really just getting started when Book 1 suddenly ended. Book 2 gives even more and then stops abruptly again. Luckily, Book 3 is right beside me so I can start reading. My only complaint throughout this series is the lack of choices. There is only 1 per book so far. Otherwise, I definitely recommend this series and give it 4 out of 5 crossbows.
Profile Image for Sue.
767 reviews1,541 followers
March 21, 2015


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.

Profile Image for Ambur.
848 reviews512 followers
December 28, 2012
Wow...after the dramatic ending of the first book I should have been expecting the drama in this one...but it was even more intense than I expected!!!

This one was full of scandal, and showed the behind-the-scenes aspects of politics where various stories are leaked to the press...either by political opponents or by individuals themselves to save face. I'll admit, that little dirty secret aspect was really interesting and was one of my favourite parts. I liked seeing how different individuals spun stories in their favour...makes you wonder about what you hear on TV about real-life politics. :P

Along with the scandal, I enjoyed getting to know the characters better. Ellie is still my favourite, but she had a hard time in this one, and I'm hoping Book 3 will turn out better for her! I really liked getting to know a bit more about Brinley and Taryn's background in this one though. I really liked getting to see the different sides to the story.

All in all, I'm really enjoying this series. :D They're quick reads that keep you hooked, and the way that the different perspectives weave together keeps you interested until the very last page. Also, since the four characters are pretty different, there's bound to be at least one that you like the most and are rooting for. ;) I'd recommend this series to anyone who likes drama, especially if you like to get different sides of every story...and if you like seeing it all happen behind the scenes. ;D
Profile Image for Heidi.
194 reviews7 followers
January 16, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this sequel. I thought Georgetown Academy Book 1 was very good but in my opinion Book 2 is even better.

Book 2 starts immediately at the point Book 1 ended, leaving Ellie to deal with an extremely “sticky” situation. In fact, all four main characters (Ellie, Brinley, Evan and Taryn) are involved in more scandal, drama and love triangles I ever thought possible. Ellie needs to decide between two boys (Hunter and Gabe), Brinley is battling with her pill addiction, Evan helps out a friend in need and Taryn is still trying to understand the Georgetown Academy way of life. Similar to Book 1, the storyline in Book 2 is also heavily evolved around the decisions and consequences the politician parents make.

Just like Book 1, Book 2 contains an interactive section which lets the reader decide which of the four main characters they want to follow to the annual Georgetown Academy charity event Follow The Stars. I love these interactive contents. In my opinion, it gives the reader the feel as if they are involved in the storyline.

I enjoy Jessica’s and Alyssa’s writing style very much. They are very descriptive in the way they portray the characters. I have exact pictures in my mind of what these characters and their houses could look like (especially their walk-in wardrobes – oh I wish I had one of those :-)).

I can highly recommend this book. It is a quick, captivating and entertaining read which leaves the reader wanting more.
Profile Image for  Lianne Mei.
706 reviews
August 31, 2013
Originally posted on Book Reviews: http://pandabooklover1995.weebly.com/...

It is really interesting how Georgetown Academy doesn't have any clubs or anything because if they did the students club choice could be used against them in the future ( for example say your involved with animal activists club and then you become a senator and don't care about animal's). That would certainty hurt your voters if they discovered that you weren't pro animal or something like that. Also at Georgetown Academy if you don't wear the right designer preppy clothes you can labeled as an outcast and freak ( normal at every school). This kind of reminds me of the movie The Clique since everyone mostly sticks to their own group and they dress so nicely.


So far out of all of the girls like Ellie the best because she is really nice to everyone and doesn't judge people by their clothing. I am not a fan of Evan because I think that she is just trying to climb the social ladder and doesn't care who she ruins in the process ( Evan is a journalist who interns at Paul Nelson, he is a super popular and famous person who interviews senators etc.). Taryn is nice and she seems like she isn't out to gain any social status but she is becoming really popular. It also seems like Evan is trying to steal Ellie's boyfriend Hunter and Taryn is in love with Gabe ( Ellie's ex boyfriend). If she loses both boy's I won't be surprised.
Profile Image for Kate (VerbVixen).
363 reviews
January 21, 2013
There is something about Georgetown Academy that is immersive. When I’m in the fast paced world of politics and high school with Ellie, Taryn, Brinley and Evan, nothing else matters out in “real life.” I consumed this book in record time, and who could blame me? We have relationship drama, potential romance, secrets, alliances, politics, parental problems, forbidden loves, and frenemies. There’s something for everyone!

Book Two picks up right where Book One left off—-namely in the midst of a massive scandal! And things just get more complicated and entangled here as we lead up to the Follow the Stars benefit. I am still LOVING the choose your own adventure style of Coliloquy especially because at the end point of that chapter I can with one click go back and read all the other story lines as well. Honestly, it’s the order that I chose to read those in that revealed to me who I like best (Elle) and who I find most interesting (Brinley). And frankly having to choose between Hunter and Gabe is no easy matter—-so I’m glad I don’t have to. Georgetown Academy is my new guilty pleasure! And thanks to the generous folks at Coliloquy it can be yours too!

ENTER TO WIN A SET OF DIGITAL BOOKS (Book 1 and Book 2) USING THE RAFFLECOPTER HERE https://www.facebook.com/pages/Verb-V...

Overall: A
Profile Image for Sara.
1,037 reviews18 followers
June 24, 2017
***3.5 stars

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I must admit this series has not been my favorite. I should know better than to read books about politics. But I did enjoy book two a little more than book one, and I think that certain readers would enjoy this series much more than I am. It is just not my style.

I still do not like any of the characters. They all just seem so fake to me. I had nothing like this in high school. None of the drama, none of the trying to ruin other peoples lives and careers, and none of the love catastrophes that no one can be honest about. It seems no one is with who they want to be with everything is for show. If this is how it really is for teenagers of politicians, I am grateful I am no where near involved.

In the end Ellie, who is the only girl I may like but not by much, may have finally figured some things out. But it also looks like she has lost everything. I think she should go with her dad. I think I like Gabe, but there hasn't been much about him to form much of an opinion. Evan is still up in the air about how I feel about her. She may be the only one that tries to do what's right, but she is caught in the middle of trying to help out Luke.

If you like high school DRAMA, and a ton of political scandal, then this book is for you.
Profile Image for Mariah.
124 reviews49 followers
January 15, 2013
The second Georgetown Academy is very similar to the first. There are lies, backstabbing, and politics. But in this installment Ellie is left reeling after what happened at the end of book one.

Ellie's scandal is the main issue that is present in the book. I liked seeing ho different people manipulated the situation, and I have to say I was surprised to find out who took the picture. The way Brinley's situation screamed Gossip Girl to me. So if you are a fan of that type of drama this is the series for you.

I really liked that we got to know the boys of Georgetown Academy a little more. Learning more about Hunter, Luke, Gabe, and Brooks helped to flesh out the story and made it more believable.

Overall I feel the same about this book that I did the first one, it is a great short read, especially for fans of Gossip Girl. Again I wish there had been more than one interactive part but I felt like this one was better than in the previous book.
Profile Image for L.S. Murphy.
Author 12 books155 followers
June 20, 2013
These books are fun reads.
Book two picks up right where book one left off. Love, scandal, hatred, politics, everything you expect from the world of Washington D.C. fills these books.
Each character is unique and has a distinctive voice. Ellie is my favorite, but I do enjoy the other points of view. One of the hardest things about writing in multiple POV is keeping the voices fresh and distinct. These books don’t have that issue.
The plot is fast paced and intertwining. Even though it doesn’t appear that Ellie’s story will cross with Evan’s, they inevitably do in a unique, yet believable way.
Honestly, it’s hard to write a review of these, because I don’t want to give anything away. If you like soap operas or Gossip Girl, give the Georgetown Academy books a shot.
Profile Image for Becca ~BS BOOK REVIEWERS~.
470 reviews8 followers
June 24, 2013
Georgetown Academy Book Two by Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz

Georgetown Academy Book Two is the second book in this teenage drama series. I was not impressed with the first book but I stuck with this series and I am so glad that I did. The second book redeemed this series for me.
As I stated in the previous book’s review I think that the choosing the character to follow idea is a little weird, I think that this idea is growing me. This book follows the drama that the GA crowd and their parents are currently going through. From the scandals and back-stabbing to loving and leaving the action is not only for the students in this book but the parents too. I absolutely loved this book.
To see the rest of this review go to www.bsreviewers.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Jessica Etting.
Author 10 books61 followers
Read
June 12, 2013

Hi 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
6 reviews3 followers
November 7, 2012
Georgetown Academy Book Two did not disappoint! This book had even more fun, more scandal and more surprises than the first book. LOVE the characters and love all the DC references.
I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read... download this today!
I also started following them on twitter @GTownacademy and have loved all the funny comments they have put out especially during the presidential debates - hilarious. This series is a truly interactive experience!

I hope these authors can write fast...can't wait for book 3:)

BTW Does anyone know when this is coming out?
2 reviews
November 18, 2012
And the hits just go on and on!!!!! Book 2 was as exciting as Book 1 and now I have to hope there will be a Book 3...4...5...and on and on!!! I love when I can get that lost in a book and feel like I am a part of it. You have to read this book and I guarantee you that you will agree with me that this is top of the line and will be begging for more!! Now, I can only hope some movie or TV person will smell SUCCESS and start thinking about a series or movie about this!!!! It would, in my opinion blow anything currently on TV right out of the water!!! Please MORE and MORE!!!!!
Profile Image for Aimee.
10 reviews32 followers
April 1, 2013
I read Book One and completely fell in love with this series, and I fell in LOVE all over again with Book Two. I enjoyed getting to know the characters all a bit better, especially Evan who is really coming out of her shell. As the drama heats up and several scandals rock the students at GTA there was no way I was putting this book down until I finished it! If you are looking for a FUN, quick read Georgetown Academy is a must have. I already have Book 3 downloaded on my Kindle and can't wait to find out what happens next!
2 reviews
December 3, 2012
My daughter, who has never really enjoyed reading, read Book One cover to cover in just a week and begged me to get her this one as well. After reading it myself, I’m happy to report that Book two is as smart, sassy, witty, topical, and fun as the first one! So glad to have discovered these new writers and hope they keep the series going strong…..seems like a natural for a tv series or movie as well!
Profile Image for LiLi.
116 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2013
These books are completely targeted at the wrong population. I think they are better suited for pre-teens -- minus the teenage drinking, drugs, and sex. Not to mention, they are completely unrealistic. I watch the news all the time, and NEVER have I seen a scandal between politicians' teenage children become such a big career-changing news story. Also, I did not get the impression the author did much research in writing this book.
Profile Image for Laura.
75 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a fun sequel that was a short, quick, fast-paced read. Filled with drama, Georgetown Academy is full of scandals, and this book focuses on the aftermath of a scandal that occurred in book one. I definitely recommended this book is you are interested in a young adult political novels!

For a more in-depth review, check out my book blog, A Nook of Blankets and Books!
http://anookofblanketsandbooks.blogsp...
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