Privileged

by Kelly V. Feng

Parker Nevins would rather be alone. When his parents suddenly transfer him out of his Upper Manhattan private school to enroll him in an elite boarding school in upstate New York, he just wants to finish his junior year in peace. No such luck, though.

Classes are straightforward enough but, after the leader of the most popular group inexplicably shows interest in him, Parker finds himself trying to navigate the social hierarchy at Whitman Academy. Between the frequent parties, seemingly bottomless alcohol, and constant attention from the sidelines, being a part of the upper crust comes with a different set of rules.

Only made more complicated by his roommate – who happens to be the school gossip – and a mysterious girl who makes him feel seen for the first time, Parker finds himself at a crossroads of who society expects him to be and who he wants to be.

234 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2026

Reviews

[Kirsten]

"His name is London. He's from Seattle."

Privileged is a delightful romp through the needlessly complicated lives of wealthy teenagers attending an elite boarding school in upstate New York. Entertaining and succinct, it lays out its diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique personality quirks and agenda.

On the surface, Privileged seems like it could be another Gossip Girl clone. However, a readthrough reveals hidden depths and meaning to each choice and action, from what the characters wear to the quippy remarks they snark at one another. Four inch heels belay meaning in Privileged, just as demonstrative of a person's character as pressed designer chinos. The date those other characters went on? Their changing surroundings pay homage to the real dynamic between the two.

But what's Privileged really about?

Parker Nevins' relatively peaceful life has just been shattered by an abrupt move to Whitman Academy, a prestigious boarding school in upstate New York. All he wants is to ride out the rest of his years quietly, but being both good-looking and rich makes him a target for the most popular kids in school.

"I can already tell Parker's different from the other guys I've dated. He has more depth, you know?"

"So, see this as a challenge. It's been, what, a week?"

Privileged plays on your preconceived notions of young adult fiction, relying on your past experience with the same genre to fill in the blanks. The hot new guy attracts the attention of the popular crowd, but chooses instead to abscond with the nerdy girl sitting at the back of the classroom. It’s funny because the popular crowd is always full of shallow people whose judgements of others are determined seconds after meeting them. It’s heartwarming because the nerdy girl is always morally superior to the popular kids.

However, Privileged doesn’t always stick to this script in ways that are both surprising and engaging.

Despite this novel’s many strengths, there were a couple of minor issues I encountered. The cast of characters felt, at times, daunting in its size. It took a few readthroughs of the early chapters before I could remember who everyone was. The switching POV’s were also a point of contention for me, as it felt jarring to go from one person’s interpretation of a scene to another so rapidly.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed Privileged and would recommend it to fellow fans of the young adult genre, especially those that enjoy academic settings, and especially to fans of Gossip Girl. Imagine Gossip Girl, but the main character just wants to be left alone. Oh, if only.

[David Gomez]

Simply could not put it down. When I first picked up the book I expected somewhat of a light read. What I ended up getting was a nail biting affair, I was on edge for each character and their own personal journey. I held my breathe when certain things happen and I cursed at others. The author really put me there in Whitman. All I can say is when is book 2. 5/5

[Chantel]

an easy, lovely read! i'm invested in some of the characters, patiently waits for book 2.