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Jet Set
I'm Lucy Peterson, and let me tell you—I don't fit in at my new boarding school in Switzerland at all. Caviar at every meal, white-tie affairs (because black-tie is so last season), trips to Geneva to pick up the latest couture, and real live royals lurking around every corner? None of that is really my speed. I'm just your average American teen, here on scholarship, ready to kick some academic and tennis butt so I can have my pick of Ivy League colleges. Only now I'm falling all over myself to impress my crush, who just happens to be a prince , I've gotten myself tangled up in a tabloid disaster—literally—and the "It" clique on campus has decided that I am worthy of their evil scorn. What have I gotten myself into?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
10 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Doyle Karasyov
6 books122 followersBest-selling author Carrie Doyle (Karasyov) is also the author of The Hamptons Murder Mystery Series (as Carrie Doyle.) Her Young Adult mystery, The Murder Game was nominated as the best YA book of 2021 by Suspense Magazine.
Please follow her at Carrie Doyle on Goodreads.
Her latest series is Trouble In Paradise and book two, Something's Guava Give, comes out January 25, 2022!!
Please follow her at Carrie Doyle on Goodreads.
Her latest series is Trouble In Paradise and book two, Something's Guava Give, comes out January 25, 2022!!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 9, 2011
I know I read this book...I just can't remember much about it except that it wasn't horrible and I have no inclination to re-read it. Oh yeah, and the prince/ending was cute.
Your typical story of an "average" *cough yeah right* person at an elite boarding school....mmhmmmmhhmmm.....stuff most people like to daydream about.
Your typical story of an "average" *cough yeah right* person at an elite boarding school....mmhmmmmhhmmm.....stuff most people like to daydream about.
September 24, 2023
Mimo, że momentami infantylna to była spoko
November 30, 2014
Lucy is a scholarship student -- based on good grades and a killer serve on the tennis court -- at a Swiss boarding school teeming with the children of the world's movers and shakers. The children of kings and queens, magnates and billionaires...and somehow Lucy's found her way in.
This is fluff. This is meant to be fluff, so that's not a problem in and of itself -- except it's nasty, catty fluff, full of slut-shaming and irrational wish-fulfillment.
The kids at this school are jaw-droppingly wealthy. Designers are flown in before the start of the school year to decorate rooms (Lucy just inherits the decorations left by her wealthy predecessor); the students don't go to parties so much as to white-tie balls; classes are dumbed down enough to let the very wealthy but not academically inclined excel anyway. Lucy's reasoning for having applied here is thin -- apparently it's the only European boarding school she could find that isn't single-sex -- and details of her scholarship are even sketchier.
One of the parts of her scholarship is a...paltry...stipend of...wait for it...£3,000 a month. Lucy's American, so let's convert that into dollars -- that's almost $4,700 dollars. Per month. Assuming that's a nine-month stipend, Lucy's pulling in about $42,000 a year on top of her scholarship.
...what was that about Lucy desperately needing a tennis scholarship to go to college? Because the way I see it, if she just saved her money, she'd have three years of college (at a private university) or more than her entire tuition (at a public university) covered. (The only thing we ever see her spend money on, by the way, is new tennis equipment -- so I'm not sure where the rest of her autumn money went.)
I wouldn't mind the over-the-top-ness of the book -- which is kind of the point, right? -- except that the characters are...well. Princesses and daughters of magnates (the book can't always keep straight who has money why) and so catty that a mere whiff of a secondary character is a catfight waiting to happen. When somebody has sex, she's a slut. When somebody likes more than one guy, she's a slut. When a male teenager is rumoured to have slept with a married thirty-two-year-old, it's juicy gossip, not anything, say, wildly inappropriate or potential sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, Lucy immediately gets pulled into a wannabe-tabloid reporter's shenanigans, which cause minor furor but which nobody at the school seems to actually care about. Umm. So much for confidentiality contracts and the like. (Said wannabe-tabloid reporter films people having sex, by the way, and wants to sell the footage. This book was published before Tyler Clementi's suicide, but come on.) And when she makes nice with the mean girls, it's just like Mia Thermopolis and Lana Weinberger -- what? You've been horrible to me for all this time, but now you want to make nice? Well...I dunno...but you're popular, so okay!
Lucy. Have some self-respect.
Last thing: I know the authors likely had nothing to do with the cover...but can I just note the irony of these being students with obscene amounts of money at their disposal, wearing, on the cover, what appear to be cheap polyester tops?
This is fluff. This is meant to be fluff, so that's not a problem in and of itself -- except it's nasty, catty fluff, full of slut-shaming and irrational wish-fulfillment.
The kids at this school are jaw-droppingly wealthy. Designers are flown in before the start of the school year to decorate rooms (Lucy just inherits the decorations left by her wealthy predecessor); the students don't go to parties so much as to white-tie balls; classes are dumbed down enough to let the very wealthy but not academically inclined excel anyway. Lucy's reasoning for having applied here is thin -- apparently it's the only European boarding school she could find that isn't single-sex -- and details of her scholarship are even sketchier.
One of the parts of her scholarship is a...paltry...stipend of...wait for it...£3,000 a month. Lucy's American, so let's convert that into dollars -- that's almost $4,700 dollars. Per month. Assuming that's a nine-month stipend, Lucy's pulling in about $42,000 a year on top of her scholarship.
...what was that about Lucy desperately needing a tennis scholarship to go to college? Because the way I see it, if she just saved her money, she'd have three years of college (at a private university) or more than her entire tuition (at a public university) covered. (The only thing we ever see her spend money on, by the way, is new tennis equipment -- so I'm not sure where the rest of her autumn money went.)
I wouldn't mind the over-the-top-ness of the book -- which is kind of the point, right? -- except that the characters are...well. Princesses and daughters of magnates (the book can't always keep straight who has money why) and so catty that a mere whiff of a secondary character is a catfight waiting to happen. When somebody has sex, she's a slut. When somebody likes more than one guy, she's a slut. When a male teenager is rumoured to have slept with a married thirty-two-year-old, it's juicy gossip, not anything, say, wildly inappropriate or potential sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, Lucy immediately gets pulled into a wannabe-tabloid reporter's shenanigans, which cause minor furor but which nobody at the school seems to actually care about. Umm. So much for confidentiality contracts and the like. (Said wannabe-tabloid reporter films people having sex, by the way, and wants to sell the footage. This book was published before Tyler Clementi's suicide, but come on.) And when she makes nice with the mean girls, it's just like Mia Thermopolis and Lana Weinberger -- what? You've been horrible to me for all this time, but now you want to make nice? Well...I dunno...but you're popular, so okay!
Lucy. Have some self-respect.
Last thing: I know the authors likely had nothing to do with the cover...but can I just note the irony of these being students with obscene amounts of money at their disposal, wearing, on the cover, what appear to be cheap polyester tops?
December 20, 2012
I pretty much enjoyed this book over the summer. It was in between corny and really good.
March 25, 2021
This book is written by authors who have also written adult erotica, and it shows. The level of nonchalance and indifference to topics about sex was appalling. Other YA authors have tackled these topics much better, and this book just handles it all wrong. If you want to hear a full review of this book, plus a better book/series to read (Gallagher Girls books) check out our episode of "From the Archives": https://anchor.fm/anthropologyarchive....
May 4, 2020
Książka typowa dla nastolatek. Jest bardzo przewidywalna, ale falnie i lekko się czyta.
May 17, 2022
2,5-3⭐️
December 6, 2023
Read for nostalgic purposes. I remember it being juicier and less slut shaming welp
August 4, 2010
Original post at One More Page
Whenever I read more than one book at a time, I always make sure that one of the books is fluffier than the other one. I tried reading two fantasy novels at the same time and my brain almost felt like it wanted to explode from all the information that got muddled in my mind as I switch between two books. I seem to be reading a lot of dystopian novels nowadays, so something light and fluffy to read in between and cleanse the palate is always appreciated.
Such is Jet Set by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman. My friend Grace told me about this book and I thought it was just the right thing I needed to read while I go through The Hunger Games and Catching Fire to review for Pinoy Pop. Jet Set is the story of Lucy Peterson, who gets a scholarship to Van Pelt in Switzerland, the most exclusive and posh boarding school in Europe. Lucy's dad is in the US Army, which means they get transferred a lot, so Lucy has never gained roots or made friends anywhere else. After scoring a tennis scholarship to the school, Lucy is ready to settle into her new life in one place for the rest of high school. However, being a scholar girl in a posh school is not easy, especially when Lucy is classmates with people who are royalty, or as good as royalty, and when the it crowd has it in for her, and her crush only thinks of her as a friend and the only person Lucy thinks she can trust has an even bigger secret than she does.
It's a fluffy book alright, and it almost reminds me a bit of the Sweet Valley Twins books that I used to love, only with more Lila Fowlers. Van Pelt reminds me of Spencer Academy from Shelley Adina's It's All About Us series, but with less of the academic rigor that the latter had. Strangely, even if there were a ton of name-dropping, and I can hardly believe that a school like that exists, Van Pelt didn't feel fake or forced. The authors wrote it in such a way that I didn't have a hard time accepting that there is a school like Van Pelt. I don't think I'd survive in that setting, but I wanted Lucy to fit in and have a good time in that school, even if I thought the concerns of the other students were kind of ludicrous.
I liked the secondary cast in the story, though. It's easy to fall into the trap of popular people being just mean and have no other depth in their characters, but the authors managed to veer away from those stereotypes nicely. It seemed a bit mature for all of them to act that way (come on, they were in high school), but it's nice to read rich, "mean girl" characters who end up having a heart.
This isn't a particularly deep read. In fact, the overall story is kind of shallow and typical, and you won't learn any life lessons here that I don't think people of my age already know. However, Jet Set is still a fun read, and it entertained me enough that it kept me grounded to the real world even while the other half of me is buried in all the dystopia. :)
Whenever I read more than one book at a time, I always make sure that one of the books is fluffier than the other one. I tried reading two fantasy novels at the same time and my brain almost felt like it wanted to explode from all the information that got muddled in my mind as I switch between two books. I seem to be reading a lot of dystopian novels nowadays, so something light and fluffy to read in between and cleanse the palate is always appreciated.
Such is Jet Set by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman. My friend Grace told me about this book and I thought it was just the right thing I needed to read while I go through The Hunger Games and Catching Fire to review for Pinoy Pop. Jet Set is the story of Lucy Peterson, who gets a scholarship to Van Pelt in Switzerland, the most exclusive and posh boarding school in Europe. Lucy's dad is in the US Army, which means they get transferred a lot, so Lucy has never gained roots or made friends anywhere else. After scoring a tennis scholarship to the school, Lucy is ready to settle into her new life in one place for the rest of high school. However, being a scholar girl in a posh school is not easy, especially when Lucy is classmates with people who are royalty, or as good as royalty, and when the it crowd has it in for her, and her crush only thinks of her as a friend and the only person Lucy thinks she can trust has an even bigger secret than she does.
It's a fluffy book alright, and it almost reminds me a bit of the Sweet Valley Twins books that I used to love, only with more Lila Fowlers. Van Pelt reminds me of Spencer Academy from Shelley Adina's It's All About Us series, but with less of the academic rigor that the latter had. Strangely, even if there were a ton of name-dropping, and I can hardly believe that a school like that exists, Van Pelt didn't feel fake or forced. The authors wrote it in such a way that I didn't have a hard time accepting that there is a school like Van Pelt. I don't think I'd survive in that setting, but I wanted Lucy to fit in and have a good time in that school, even if I thought the concerns of the other students were kind of ludicrous.
I liked the secondary cast in the story, though. It's easy to fall into the trap of popular people being just mean and have no other depth in their characters, but the authors managed to veer away from those stereotypes nicely. It seemed a bit mature for all of them to act that way (come on, they were in high school), but it's nice to read rich, "mean girl" characters who end up having a heart.
This isn't a particularly deep read. In fact, the overall story is kind of shallow and typical, and you won't learn any life lessons here that I don't think people of my age already know. However, Jet Set is still a fun read, and it entertained me enough that it kept me grounded to the real world even while the other half of me is buried in all the dystopia. :)
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by JodiG. for TeensReadToo.com
Imagine a school filled with the wealthiest, most privileged students in the world. I can assure you that your imagination doesn't match up to the Van Pelt Academy, a private boarding school in Switzerland. The gilded hallways, chandeliers, maid service, and a school store that sells Chanel, Gucci, and Tiffany are just a few of the amenities at this ultra-posh school.
During the winter, the entire population of the school moves to the Gstaad campus, so students can ski in the afternoon. The student body is made up of the children of business magnates, royalty, and one American girl, who is attending Van Pelt on scholarship.
Lucy Peterson isn't rich. Her dad is in the military and her family has moved throughout the world, most recently setting up house in Munich. After a chance encounter, Lucy learns about Van Pelt and takes a chance to apply for admission. Lucy is actually a promising tennis player, and Van Pelt Academy is looking to strengthen its team. Lucy is awarded a scholarship and enters a world that few people can imagine. Lucy now finds herself surrounded by luxury and privilege.
Of course, there are always downfalls to every good situation. There are The Diamonds, an elite group of the three most popular girls in school. And it isn't long before Lucy ends up on the wrong side of them. The one person who is friendly towards her is actually a plant for a tabloid magazine and is intent on involving Lucy in an exposé of the students and life at Van Pelt Academy. Oh, and there is Oliver. Prince Oliver, actually. One of the best-looking and most down-to-earth boys Lucy has ever met. But really, what are her chances with a Prince? Especially with The Diamonds so attached to him.
Before long, Lucy's new life develops more complications than she could have ever imagined. Will she lose her opportunity at Van Pelt Academy or can she adapt to her new surroundings and become one of the group?
JET SET is a fun and entertaining story that introduces you to a lifestyle that so many people dream about. It is definitely worth the read.
Imagine a school filled with the wealthiest, most privileged students in the world. I can assure you that your imagination doesn't match up to the Van Pelt Academy, a private boarding school in Switzerland. The gilded hallways, chandeliers, maid service, and a school store that sells Chanel, Gucci, and Tiffany are just a few of the amenities at this ultra-posh school.
During the winter, the entire population of the school moves to the Gstaad campus, so students can ski in the afternoon. The student body is made up of the children of business magnates, royalty, and one American girl, who is attending Van Pelt on scholarship.
Lucy Peterson isn't rich. Her dad is in the military and her family has moved throughout the world, most recently setting up house in Munich. After a chance encounter, Lucy learns about Van Pelt and takes a chance to apply for admission. Lucy is actually a promising tennis player, and Van Pelt Academy is looking to strengthen its team. Lucy is awarded a scholarship and enters a world that few people can imagine. Lucy now finds herself surrounded by luxury and privilege.
Of course, there are always downfalls to every good situation. There are The Diamonds, an elite group of the three most popular girls in school. And it isn't long before Lucy ends up on the wrong side of them. The one person who is friendly towards her is actually a plant for a tabloid magazine and is intent on involving Lucy in an exposé of the students and life at Van Pelt Academy. Oh, and there is Oliver. Prince Oliver, actually. One of the best-looking and most down-to-earth boys Lucy has ever met. But really, what are her chances with a Prince? Especially with The Diamonds so attached to him.
Before long, Lucy's new life develops more complications than she could have ever imagined. Will she lose her opportunity at Van Pelt Academy or can she adapt to her new surroundings and become one of the group?
JET SET is a fun and entertaining story that introduces you to a lifestyle that so many people dream about. It is definitely worth the read.
November 17, 2009
I wasn't really sure what I was expecting when I got this book, however, it definitely kept me well entertained for a few hours.
Van Pelt Academy is truly the school for rich kids. I mean, it's got maids for your rooms, balls, school stores that sell only brand name items, free spa and the best cooks from all over the world. And, it's basically a place that's overloaded with celebrities and royalties. Which, I imagine, for a commoner is much too much to handle. And that's exactly what happens to Lucy, our main protagonist. For some reason, she stumbles upon the Van Pelt Academy brochure and with the help of her innate tennis ability, she manages to score a scholarship which lands her in the land of privilege and wealth.
Lucy is the average girl. One who tries to fit in with her new surroundings, scouting out for the cute guys, trying to find friends in every corner. I didn't really think there were anything all that special about her since she's basically the type of person you'll find anywhere. However, after reading most of the book, I realized that Lucy is really forgiving and she has an actual conscience. Even though she gets mad, initially, at people and wants to get revenge, ultimately, she forgives them and when she actually goes out and seeks revenge, she regrets it right after. I mean, I know some people who most definitely won't hesitate to get back at you if you wrong him or her and will most definitely not feel any regret. However, Lucy did and that's what made me respect her more.
The other characters weren't that in-depth. There weren't that many mention about them and, if there were, it was pretty brief. I wish that Carrie could have added some more personality to the rest of the characters.
Overall, Jet Set is a quick read that will allow you to pass your time slowly. It's great for a slow afternoon.
Van Pelt Academy is truly the school for rich kids. I mean, it's got maids for your rooms, balls, school stores that sell only brand name items, free spa and the best cooks from all over the world. And, it's basically a place that's overloaded with celebrities and royalties. Which, I imagine, for a commoner is much too much to handle. And that's exactly what happens to Lucy, our main protagonist. For some reason, she stumbles upon the Van Pelt Academy brochure and with the help of her innate tennis ability, she manages to score a scholarship which lands her in the land of privilege and wealth.
Lucy is the average girl. One who tries to fit in with her new surroundings, scouting out for the cute guys, trying to find friends in every corner. I didn't really think there were anything all that special about her since she's basically the type of person you'll find anywhere. However, after reading most of the book, I realized that Lucy is really forgiving and she has an actual conscience. Even though she gets mad, initially, at people and wants to get revenge, ultimately, she forgives them and when she actually goes out and seeks revenge, she regrets it right after. I mean, I know some people who most definitely won't hesitate to get back at you if you wrong him or her and will most definitely not feel any regret. However, Lucy did and that's what made me respect her more.
The other characters weren't that in-depth. There weren't that many mention about them and, if there were, it was pretty brief. I wish that Carrie could have added some more personality to the rest of the characters.
Overall, Jet Set is a quick read that will allow you to pass your time slowly. It's great for a slow afternoon.
April 19, 2014
Personally, the cover scared me on this book. It truly, awfully did. I was scared out of my mind I had picked out a terrible read with terrible grammar and terrible word choice and all around terrible-ness. (I have read the inside cover and thought it was right up my ally so I got it without looking at the cover.)
I guess it's true you can't judge a book by it's cover.
This book was pretty hard for myself to get into. It was WAY too much like every other book with the popular girls and the non-popular ones. They all have the same 'debates' (since classy girls don't fight. Obv.) all the same character types. I did enjoy the way this one was written though.
Author wins worst cover of the century award, though. It's just ... so not attractive by any means.
I guess it's true you can't judge a book by it's cover.
This book was pretty hard for myself to get into. It was WAY too much like every other book with the popular girls and the non-popular ones. They all have the same 'debates' (since classy girls don't fight. Obv.) all the same character types. I did enjoy the way this one was written though.
Author wins worst cover of the century award, though. It's just ... so not attractive by any means.
April 24, 2009
I really just didn't find it very intersting. Or, um, worth while. It was just another book about bratty rich kids (Super rich kids. They all are kids of multi-million airs and roylty)and with a main charater who of course, isn't rich. I suppose that was suppose to make us normal people relate to the book better.. but no.
Oh, and of course non-rich-kid falls for the only nice, modest rich guy in the entire school.
All the negatives being said, I was actualy pretty suprised about one thing that happens (don't want to spoiler). And, I also really liked one or two characters, although I don't think the author meant for the readers to like them. Anyways...
Oh, and of course non-rich-kid falls for the only nice, modest rich guy in the entire school.
All the negatives being said, I was actualy pretty suprised about one thing that happens (don't want to spoiler). And, I also really liked one or two characters, although I don't think the author meant for the readers to like them. Anyways...
December 13, 2009
better than expected very entertaining but it is a teen book so there were some things i didn't like in the overall content but the main character is a pretty nice character i loved the winter ball part reading about the decorations was amazing! I read it in two days :) recommended for older teen girls
March 17, 2014
I was quite surprised by "Jet Set". I was expecting a classic boarding school "mean rich girls" story, but I was quite surprised.
The plot twists were interesting and unexpected. You felt like you knew what was going to happen, and then everything would change. You didn't get too bored during the story.
The plot twists were interesting and unexpected. You felt like you knew what was going to happen, and then everything would change. You didn't get too bored during the story.
June 7, 2009
This book is pure fluff and the perfect quick summer read. Even though it is directed at teen girls, this is a good distraction for the beach that any adult who enjoys chick lit will love. I enjoy being drawn into that fantasy world of the super rich and the details here won't disappoint.
November 3, 2008
Pure brainless chick lit lite in the fine tradition of "The Clique" and "Gossip Girls". Girls who want endless citations of brand names, perfect perfect people and the tiniest of plots will eat this up. Personally I regret that trees are cut down to turn out pap like this.
February 23, 2010
I love love love this book :)
i really want it to have a sequel. There's not much of a romance with oliver/lucy. I love the whole setting of the place (even if it was too good to be true).
over all, it was a cute book :)
i really want it to have a sequel. There's not much of a romance with oliver/lucy. I love the whole setting of the place (even if it was too good to be true).
over all, it was a cute book :)
July 5, 2012
Too much cursing. And kinda unrealistic. That's what I hate about most young adult books nowadays. Add a bunch of cursing and make little problems big, you've explained the teenage world! Totally typical story about rags with riches. Not my kind of book at all.
June 30, 2014
Glamour, gossip, tennis and friendships put to the tests! If you like Gossip Girl (Cecily Von Zeigster), The Academy (Monica Seles), and The A Circuit (Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka) this is the book for you!
January 25, 2009
this book to me was the most girliest book! it was funny and i got to learn some brandname product in this book like CD is Christain Dior and D&G is Dolce and Gabana
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2009
this was an amazing book an easy read that i read in one or two days. I might seem like one of those clicky books, and i guess it is but it's so much better then anyother clicky book i ever read
April 7, 2009
bad book
June 21, 2009
A fun, fast-paced, and glittering read. Light but 100% enjoyable, I strongly recommend Jet Set as summer reading for older girls!
Currently reading
July 12, 2009I love this book because it describes a wealthy environment from a middle class point of view!
June 22, 2010
I loved this book from the beggining to the end. Im not usually a girly, romantic book type but Oh my god...left me speechless. Highly recommended! Prince oliver is so charming i swear..
February 2, 2011
Cute story that is easy to relate to and a fun romantic read.
March 6, 2011
i like the way the authors write the story..i still have to enjoy the story...
February 9, 2012
A funny, sweet, feel-good read that deserves a sequel
August 22, 2012
meh. it was ok
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews