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Private #5
Inner Circle
Reed Brennan arrived at Easton Academy expecting to find an idyllic private school experience -- challenging classes, adorably preppy boys, and a chance to create a new life for herself. Instead, she discovered lies, deception, blackmail, and...murder. But, thankfully, the killers were caught and the nightmare is finally over.
Now, with a new school year ahead of her, Reed steps back on Easton's ivy-covered campus ready to start over. So when the headmaster announces that billings is forbidden from holding their traditional, secretive initiation, Reed is relieved. She champions the new rules and the six new girls the administration has picked to live in Billings Constance, Missy, Lorna, Kiki, Astrid, and newcomer Sabine.
But Reed's fellow Billings resident and new nemesis, Cheyenne Martin, believes the changes are a mockery of Billings history. Despite the new rules, Cheyenne vows to keep the old ways alive, no matter what -- or who -- stands in her way...
Now, with a new school year ahead of her, Reed steps back on Easton's ivy-covered campus ready to start over. So when the headmaster announces that billings is forbidden from holding their traditional, secretive initiation, Reed is relieved. She champions the new rules and the six new girls the administration has picked to live in Billings Constance, Missy, Lorna, Kiki, Astrid, and newcomer Sabine.
But Reed's fellow Billings resident and new nemesis, Cheyenne Martin, believes the changes are a mockery of Billings history. Despite the new rules, Cheyenne vows to keep the old ways alive, no matter what -- or who -- stands in her way...
220 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2007
67 people are currently reading
3009 people want to read
About the author
Kate Brian
86 books2,311 followersKate Brian is the author of the SHADOWLANDS TRILOGY (SHADOWLANDS, HEREAFTER & ENDLESS), as well as the New York Times bestselling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, and the wildly popular MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS. She also writes teen fiction under the name Kieran Scott.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
November 4, 2017
This was a YA contemporary story about students at an elite boarding school.
Reed really stood up for herself in this book and fought for what she believed was right, even when it meant going up against the self-appointed house leader Cheyenne.
The storyline in this book was about a new headmaster starting at Easton, and setting new rules in place, including rules about how the girls in Billings house chose new housemates. Cheyenne was generally being awful towards the new students whilst Reed was sticking up for them, and we also got some drama in the romance department with Cheyenne trying to come between Reed and Josh.
The ending to this was pretty good, and we got another unexpected death!
7 out of 10
Reed really stood up for herself in this book and fought for what she believed was right, even when it meant going up against the self-appointed house leader Cheyenne.
The storyline in this book was about a new headmaster starting at Easton, and setting new rules in place, including rules about how the girls in Billings house chose new housemates. Cheyenne was generally being awful towards the new students whilst Reed was sticking up for them, and we also got some drama in the romance department with Cheyenne trying to come between Reed and Josh.
The ending to this was pretty good, and we got another unexpected death!
7 out of 10
November 30, 2015
These are getting a little too ridiculous, even for me. I might stop with this one to relieve my mind of this crap
July 14, 2020
A solid 3 stars all along until the end! My gosh I'm still reeling from the last 20 pages! I had forgotten how twisty and unputdownable this series is!
October 13, 2016
So intense!
Trying to be in a "sorority" sure doesn't seem worth it to me! The stuff these girls are put through are criminal. I find these books such a guilty pleasure with a mix of Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars it is such a rollercoaster of emotion throughout.
I wasn't sure where they were going to go after the last one ended but Kate Brian did a great job of picking up the drama and ended with a gasp!
Great read!
Trying to be in a "sorority" sure doesn't seem worth it to me! The stuff these girls are put through are criminal. I find these books such a guilty pleasure with a mix of Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars it is such a rollercoaster of emotion throughout.
I wasn't sure where they were going to go after the last one ended but Kate Brian did a great job of picking up the drama and ended with a gasp!
Great read!
February 29, 2020
"A girl who wins first honors for two straight quarters cannot be seen writing all her papers at a library computer, she'd told me. You are not a caveperson".
Inner Circle (Private, #5)
by Kate Brian
Sigh. What can I say? I adore this whole series. The Private series maybe over but that does not mean I don't miss it...because I do.
It is hard to do reviews for every single one of the Private books. But I found my old copy of Inner Circle, book number five in the series and did a fast reread. I love it just as much as the first time I read it.
For readers who read lots of dark stuff this series is a great break. It is dark itself but so much fun in a pretty little liar s way. So much drama. So many murders. So many people out to kill Reed Brennan who somehow keeps surviving. And sooo many psychos. I cannot think of a series with as many young and energetic nutters as this one. Even the Flowers in the Attic series didn't do it though it came close.
Anyway..any YA reader who likes mysteries..do yourself a favor and get lost i n Reid's world. If nothing else, i t will make you glad you are not in school anymore. And if you are reading this and ARE still in school it may have you sleeping with one eye opened. Four deliciously dysfunctional stars.
Inner Circle (Private, #5)
by Kate Brian
Sigh. What can I say? I adore this whole series. The Private series maybe over but that does not mean I don't miss it...because I do.
It is hard to do reviews for every single one of the Private books. But I found my old copy of Inner Circle, book number five in the series and did a fast reread. I love it just as much as the first time I read it.
For readers who read lots of dark stuff this series is a great break. It is dark itself but so much fun in a pretty little liar s way. So much drama. So many murders. So many people out to kill Reed Brennan who somehow keeps surviving. And sooo many psychos. I cannot think of a series with as many young and energetic nutters as this one. Even the Flowers in the Attic series didn't do it though it came close.
Anyway..any YA reader who likes mysteries..do yourself a favor and get lost i n Reid's world. If nothing else, i t will make you glad you are not in school anymore. And if you are reading this and ARE still in school it may have you sleeping with one eye opened. Four deliciously dysfunctional stars.
October 11, 2013
Spoiler Alert!!
This book was awesome. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance made me feel all bubbly inside and the drama? Oh, the drama! I was practically clinging myself to the book. I even snapped (by an accident) at someone for interrupting my focus in the book. I felt I was like Reed, the jealously, the hatred of Cheyenne for being unfair to three of the newcomers and her almost 'Sleeping with my boyfriend!' I was even angry at Josh (Boyfriend) for making me believe he loved me.... I was panicking to my friends about killing Cheyenne in the book. I totally lost my mind! This book made me feel like I was in Reed's shoes.
Near the ending of the book when Cheyenne got expelled, Cheyenne took her life. (In which I regretted saying.I was gonna kill her.... But.... Let's just forget I wrote that...) In the text it states "There were pills on the floor. A small velvet bag with white pills spilling out the top. White pills with a blue-dot design on them. I felt my entire world collapse in on me. My vision grayed." I was shocked to my very core. First off, during the book after Reed yelled at Cheyenne and Josh. Josh came back later and told her that he'd been drugged that he there was a white pill with a blue dot designed on them. In which Reed obviously didn't believe. So now finding out the truth it was heartbreaking. Second off Reed may have hated Cheyenne but she never wanted her dead. She already lost one person and now two? I can't wait for the next book In which I'm reading right now Legacy here I come.
This book was awesome. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance made me feel all bubbly inside and the drama? Oh, the drama! I was practically clinging myself to the book. I even snapped (by an accident) at someone for interrupting my focus in the book. I felt I was like Reed, the jealously, the hatred of Cheyenne for being unfair to three of the newcomers and her almost 'Sleeping with my boyfriend!' I was even angry at Josh (Boyfriend) for making me believe he loved me.... I was panicking to my friends about killing Cheyenne in the book. I totally lost my mind! This book made me feel like I was in Reed's shoes.
Near the ending of the book when Cheyenne got expelled, Cheyenne took her life. (In which I regretted saying.I was gonna kill her.... But.... Let's just forget I wrote that...) In the text it states "There were pills on the floor. A small velvet bag with white pills spilling out the top. White pills with a blue-dot design on them. I felt my entire world collapse in on me. My vision grayed." I was shocked to my very core. First off, during the book after Reed yelled at Cheyenne and Josh. Josh came back later and told her that he'd been drugged that he there was a white pill with a blue dot designed on them. In which Reed obviously didn't believe. So now finding out the truth it was heartbreaking. Second off Reed may have hated Cheyenne but she never wanted her dead. She already lost one person and now two? I can't wait for the next book In which I'm reading right now Legacy here I come.
August 27, 2018
Hoooooooly that book! A whole lot happened in this doozy! I was super confused at the start of the book, when it said that I honestly thought I'd missed a book or something, but I did some research and found out it was normal. So I just took it in stride. I was finally proud of Reed when she And then I'm pleased Reed did what she did. I mean, I wish she'd let At the start of the series it seemed Brian wanted us to and then in this book it was almost as if No idea, I'll just need to read the next ones XD Sooo excited!
October 10, 2018
I accidentally read a major spoiler for an event at the ending of this book by accidantally reading the blurb on the back of a later book of this series prior to reading this book, which lessened my enjoyment of this read and I spent a good portion of this book waiting for this spoiler to happen and wondering how it would come about.
What I did find especially amusing in this book was Reed, who finally seems to be developing a wee bit of back bone, kept getting frustrated at other characters for doing things that she herself did in the first 4 books! It was interesting to see who she would become now that Noelle, Arianna, Taylor and Kiran were gone.
In many ways this was kind of like a book 1 all over again as the book seemed to be setting up threads for the next lot of series ARC and while there was resolutions in this book for some of the questions asked, i get the feeling that future books may indeed trn some of these resolutions on their head.
Still a predictable but somehow addictive read and again I feel myself reaching out to pick up book 6
What I did find especially amusing in this book was Reed, who finally seems to be developing a wee bit of back bone, kept getting frustrated at other characters for doing things that she herself did in the first 4 books! It was interesting to see who she would become now that Noelle, Arianna, Taylor and Kiran were gone.
In many ways this was kind of like a book 1 all over again as the book seemed to be setting up threads for the next lot of series ARC and while there was resolutions in this book for some of the questions asked, i get the feeling that future books may indeed trn some of these resolutions on their head.
Still a predictable but somehow addictive read and again I feel myself reaching out to pick up book 6
August 26, 2018
I don’t have anything witty to say about this book.
This story was pretty good, it wasn’t as interesting to me as the others. I find that . I had guessed a couple of the things in the book so I think that’s why I’m feeling a little nonchalant while writing this review. Another reason is because I tend to get triggered by I’m going to continue with the series. 😊
This story was pretty good, it wasn’t as interesting to me as the others. I find that . I had guessed a couple of the things in the book so I think that’s why I’m feeling a little nonchalant while writing this review. Another reason is because I tend to get triggered by I’m going to continue with the series. 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2018
These books are just so quick and easy to get through! They are packed with drama. And another death :O wow did not see that coming. I am really intrigued who’s behind all of these scandals! Drugging josh so he can look like he is booking up with Cheyanne to get a Reed. Also will Reed now go for Dash?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2015
‘Inner Circle’ is the fifth book in the ‘Private' series. As Noelle, Kiran, Ariana and Taylor are no longer in Easton Academy, Cheyenne takes over as the unofficial leader of Billings. However, she finds herself up against Reed and the new headmaster who has decided that the Billings Girls can’t choose who joins their exclusive circle.
Initially I’d expected to be bored by this book as the ‘fearsome’ foursome wouldn’t be featured. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised as the whole Reed versus Cheyenne element was appropriately over-the-top dramatic and the animosity between them was fantastic. The best thing was the character development – Reed finally grew a bit of a backbone! I liked how she stood up to the highly unlikeable Cheyenne who tried to make life hell for Constance, Lorna and Sabine as they were supposedly not Billings material. I still can’t say I like Reed but she has definitely improved by leaps and bounds.
The author successfully created a mean girl in the form of Cheyenne. She was incredibly manipulative, evil, selfish and snobbish. As for the six new Billings girls, there wasn’t enough focus on them hence most of them came across as lacking personality. Since Missy, Lorna and Constance had been present from the first book itself, they weren’t part of the problem. In contrast, though Kiki had been present as well, she barely had any dialogue. Cheyenne’s friend, Astrid seemed outspoken in the beginning but she was reduced to an uncharacteristically meek character while the newcomer Sabine was a little intriguing and it wouldn't have hurt to give her a more prominent role in the story.
The relationship drama starring Reed and Josh was predictable but the jealousy and anger that Reed experienced were well-written. Her sudden interest in Dash (they communicate via e-mail) was seriously strange though. Plus, Dash’s e-mails didn’t sound like him at all. Anyhow, the ending was dramatic and to an extent unpredictable. Overall, ‘Inner Circle’ went beyond my expectations and I look forward to the next installment.
Initially I’d expected to be bored by this book as the ‘fearsome’ foursome wouldn’t be featured. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised as the whole Reed versus Cheyenne element was appropriately over-the-top dramatic and the animosity between them was fantastic. The best thing was the character development – Reed finally grew a bit of a backbone! I liked how she stood up to the highly unlikeable Cheyenne who tried to make life hell for Constance, Lorna and Sabine as they were supposedly not Billings material. I still can’t say I like Reed but she has definitely improved by leaps and bounds.
The author successfully created a mean girl in the form of Cheyenne. She was incredibly manipulative, evil, selfish and snobbish. As for the six new Billings girls, there wasn’t enough focus on them hence most of them came across as lacking personality. Since Missy, Lorna and Constance had been present from the first book itself, they weren’t part of the problem. In contrast, though Kiki had been present as well, she barely had any dialogue. Cheyenne’s friend, Astrid seemed outspoken in the beginning but she was reduced to an uncharacteristically meek character while the newcomer Sabine was a little intriguing and it wouldn't have hurt to give her a more prominent role in the story.
The relationship drama starring Reed and Josh was predictable but the jealousy and anger that Reed experienced were well-written. Her sudden interest in Dash (they communicate via e-mail) was seriously strange though. Plus, Dash’s e-mails didn’t sound like him at all. Anyhow, the ending was dramatic and to an extent unpredictable. Overall, ‘Inner Circle’ went beyond my expectations and I look forward to the next installment.
April 5, 2010
Oy Vey! A lot is a changin’ at Easton Academy. Noelle and the “Mean Girls” are gone. Inner Circle picks up at the beginning of Reed’s second year at Easton. The last we’d heard from her was winter break of her first year. And as I said, a lot has changed.
There’s a new headmaster, Reed has a new roommate and there’s a new Billings “Queen B”. Not to mention 6 open spots at Billings and 80 years of tradition that are being thrown out the door.
The “Mean Girls” may have treated Reed horribly, killed her beau and tried to kill her, but somehow, this year seems worse. She’s at wits end with a house mate, who seems very cozy with Josh (Yes, Reed and Josh are still together). It’s now up to Reed to put her housemates in their place and show them what it really means to be a Billings Girl, even if she is “blue collar”.
Oh yeah, one of the “Mean Girls” shows back up in Reeds life, but she may not have been too far from the beginning.
This book just didn’t do it for me like the rest of the series has. There was drama, yes, but compared to killing people, it seemed very tame. Now, there is a death in this book, I just didn’t really care about it. Oh Gosh, I’ve become hardened by the likes of Noelle This book was just too catty for me.
I do have high hopes for the rest of the series, especially with a mean one back in the picture and to learn more about this Ivy character who has come back to Easton. But, I am only giving Invitation Only 2 bookmarks.
There’s a new headmaster, Reed has a new roommate and there’s a new Billings “Queen B”. Not to mention 6 open spots at Billings and 80 years of tradition that are being thrown out the door.
The “Mean Girls” may have treated Reed horribly, killed her beau and tried to kill her, but somehow, this year seems worse. She’s at wits end with a house mate, who seems very cozy with Josh (Yes, Reed and Josh are still together). It’s now up to Reed to put her housemates in their place and show them what it really means to be a Billings Girl, even if she is “blue collar”.
Oh yeah, one of the “Mean Girls” shows back up in Reeds life, but she may not have been too far from the beginning.
This book just didn’t do it for me like the rest of the series has. There was drama, yes, but compared to killing people, it seemed very tame. Now, there is a death in this book, I just didn’t really care about it. Oh Gosh, I’ve become hardened by the likes of Noelle This book was just too catty for me.
I do have high hopes for the rest of the series, especially with a mean one back in the picture and to learn more about this Ivy character who has come back to Easton. But, I am only giving Invitation Only 2 bookmarks.
August 23, 2016
***Spoiler Free Summary By Emerald BookWorm***
I didn't know a thing about this series going into it. My boyfriend (now husband) would always go to the library to pick up books for me and he stumbled across this series and brought me the first book, thinking I would enjoy it. /// Well he was right lol. /// I was instantly hooked and reserving the next book within 24 hours. /// This series is definitely not realistic and is pretty dramatic lol , but it's lots of fun and it was the first time I'd ever read anything like this before. /// I know it looks super cheesy, and maybe it is to an extent lol, but the story isn't so bad. /// There are a lot of books in this series but it's so easy to read through and very enjoyable. /// I recommend! Check this series out!
I didn't know a thing about this series going into it. My boyfriend (now husband) would always go to the library to pick up books for me and he stumbled across this series and brought me the first book, thinking I would enjoy it. /// Well he was right lol. /// I was instantly hooked and reserving the next book within 24 hours. /// This series is definitely not realistic and is pretty dramatic lol , but it's lots of fun and it was the first time I'd ever read anything like this before. /// I know it looks super cheesy, and maybe it is to an extent lol, but the story isn't so bad. /// There are a lot of books in this series but it's so easy to read through and very enjoyable. /// I recommend! Check this series out!
May 22, 2020
3.5 stars!
I really thought, during the first 85% of this book, that this would be the first Private book to get a two star rating from me. Without any murder or missing persons mystery, the bitchiness of the Billings dorms was just really annoying to read. Once Josh had a seizure seemingly caused by someone drugging him, I was mildly surprised and intrigued for the rest of the book. But Noelle showing up at the end is what completely saved not only this book but the future of the Private series for me! My favorite character is back and I'm looking forward to what the new strict Billings House will be like with Noelle back.
I really thought, during the first 85% of this book, that this would be the first Private book to get a two star rating from me. Without any murder or missing persons mystery, the bitchiness of the Billings dorms was just really annoying to read. Once Josh had a seizure seemingly caused by someone drugging him, I was mildly surprised and intrigued for the rest of the book. But Noelle showing up at the end is what completely saved not only this book but the future of the Private series for me! My favorite character is back and I'm looking forward to what the new strict Billings House will be like with Noelle back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2019
Love this series, and this one had some crazy twists and turns. Even though this is a reread, I still really enjoyed it. The girls all have different personalities and it’s easy to tell them apart. This one had less of a mystery plot and more of a hazing plot, but it ended with a bang. On to the next one!
June 15, 2017
Took a break from reading the Private series and I'm so glad I've started again. Can't wait to read the next book!! I'm also really happy that Noelle is back. I really missed her character.
Rating: 8/10
Rating: 8/10
December 26, 2023
**3.25 stars**
March 20, 2011
I've complained in previous reviews of the Private series that these books can be terribly boring when they're 90% school drama and 10% murder mystery, but Inner Circle turns that on its head. Inner Circle is 98% school drama and 2% sinister dealings (it's not a murder mystery per se), but manages to be exciting, explosive and entirely unexpected! This is how school drama should be.
After unsatisfactorily resolving the murder mystery in Confessions, I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading this series. It had been recommended to me as a YA murder mystery after I read and loved Pretty Little Liars, and I wasn't sure how much more I could get out of the Private series if the murder mystery ended with book 4. I'm glad I decided to keep reading, because while Inner Circle doesn't have a murder mystery at its heart, it's much more exciting than the books that did.
Cheyenne Martin is a goddamn monster. I thought Noelle Lange was Satan incarnate, but she looks positively jolly next to Cheyenne. Noelle had Reed's back from time to time, but Cheyenne was a bitch out for blood, homing in on Reed, Sabine, Constance and Lorna. I think the author did a wonderful job in transforming Cheyenne's character. Kate Brian took her from being a superficial bitch in Private, to Noelle's victim who exacts her revenge in Confessions, to an evil manipulative tyrant in Inner Circle.
Noelle and the Billings girls were no doubt manipulative and made Reed do awful things to gain their approval, but they never seemed as innately evil as Cheyenne. At times their hazing shocked me and I wished Reed would stand up for herself, but it never disturbed me enough that I wanted to rip their fictional throats out as I did with Cheyenne. >:D
Speaking of Reed standing up for herself, I really liked how she asserted herself in the absence of the Billings girls. I've complained in previous reviews about her being a doormat, and I expected more of the same in Inner Circle - what with finding out that Ariana only got her into Billings to kill her, and no longer having the other girls to stand up for her. It's funny that it took the Billings Girls being gone for her to finally grow a pair. I was really happy that she never backed down from Cheyenne, and she essentially became Noelle 2.0 to defend her friends.
I liked following Cheyenne's gradual change from superficial bitch to full-blown monster, but I'm enjoying following Reed's changes even more. I think she was a doormat for far too long, and it's so exciting to watch her scheming and taking what she learned from Noelle. One of the reasons it's so interesting to watch is because Reed exacts revenge on Cheyenne for her mistreatment of others, so it comes from a really innocent and pure-hearted place. It makes me wish I could see things from Noelle's perspective, whether she thought she was doing the right thing, or she knew she was a bitch and simply embraced it.
Speaking of Noelle, can I say that the ending was ah-fucking-mazing?! Kate Brian introduces these sinister pills that drug Josh and facilitate Cheyenne's suicide, which is interesting enough. Then Noelle shows up at the end, inferring that she's back for good and may may know a little more about Cheyenne's death! I may have been at a crossroads before picking up Inner Circle, but I'm certainly not now. It feels like Kate Brian is really finding her feet, and when her books are good, they're good.
I'm really interested to see if she investigates the pills a bit more in Legacy. The simple explanation is that Cheyenne used the pills to seduce Josh and then used them to take her own life, but it feels like there's more at play. What kind of pills were they? Where did Cheyenne get them? And would she really kill herself just because she got expelled? Cheyenne left an innocuous suicide note and then emailed Reed to say it was really her fault, but again it just feels like something's missing. Like there's something bigger going on.
I'm guessing that the answers lie with the new girl, Ivy. She had a bad history with Cheyenne, mysteriously disappeared for a year, has no friends at Easton and seems like she'd be friends with Noelle. I think that she was doing Noelle's dirty work since she couldn't be on campus herself.
The emails with Dash also raised my suspicions - at first it obviously seems like it's really Dash emailing her, but then Noelle shows up to meet Reed when Reed asks after her. I wonder if it was Noelle emailing her the whole time, if Dash told Noelle everything about their "moment" during the Summer break, or if Dash simply told Noelle that Reed was having trouble and she decided to intervene. There are so many questions and it just feels like there's something bigger going on!
Overall: When the Private books are bad, they're really bad. But when the Private books are good, they're really fucking good. Kate Brian can do 90% school drama and 10% murder mystery and have it be boring as fuck, but she can also do 98% school drama and 2% sinister happenings and have it be the most exciting and explosive book in the series! There may not be a murder mystery per se, but Inner Circle kickstarts some other sinister mysteries and raises questions that I can't wait to answer. Inner Circle is also a great character study of Reed, watching her go from a doormat to Noelle 2.0 and I'm interested to see where she ends up.
After unsatisfactorily resolving the murder mystery in Confessions, I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading this series. It had been recommended to me as a YA murder mystery after I read and loved Pretty Little Liars, and I wasn't sure how much more I could get out of the Private series if the murder mystery ended with book 4. I'm glad I decided to keep reading, because while Inner Circle doesn't have a murder mystery at its heart, it's much more exciting than the books that did.
Cheyenne Martin is a goddamn monster. I thought Noelle Lange was Satan incarnate, but she looks positively jolly next to Cheyenne. Noelle had Reed's back from time to time, but Cheyenne was a bitch out for blood, homing in on Reed, Sabine, Constance and Lorna. I think the author did a wonderful job in transforming Cheyenne's character. Kate Brian took her from being a superficial bitch in Private, to Noelle's victim who exacts her revenge in Confessions, to an evil manipulative tyrant in Inner Circle.
Noelle and the Billings girls were no doubt manipulative and made Reed do awful things to gain their approval, but they never seemed as innately evil as Cheyenne. At times their hazing shocked me and I wished Reed would stand up for herself, but it never disturbed me enough that I wanted to rip their fictional throats out as I did with Cheyenne. >:D
Speaking of Reed standing up for herself, I really liked how she asserted herself in the absence of the Billings girls. I've complained in previous reviews about her being a doormat, and I expected more of the same in Inner Circle - what with finding out that Ariana only got her into Billings to kill her, and no longer having the other girls to stand up for her. It's funny that it took the Billings Girls being gone for her to finally grow a pair. I was really happy that she never backed down from Cheyenne, and she essentially became Noelle 2.0 to defend her friends.
I liked following Cheyenne's gradual change from superficial bitch to full-blown monster, but I'm enjoying following Reed's changes even more. I think she was a doormat for far too long, and it's so exciting to watch her scheming and taking what she learned from Noelle. One of the reasons it's so interesting to watch is because Reed exacts revenge on Cheyenne for her mistreatment of others, so it comes from a really innocent and pure-hearted place. It makes me wish I could see things from Noelle's perspective, whether she thought she was doing the right thing, or she knew she was a bitch and simply embraced it.
Speaking of Noelle, can I say that the ending was ah-fucking-mazing?! Kate Brian introduces these sinister pills that drug Josh and facilitate Cheyenne's suicide, which is interesting enough. Then Noelle shows up at the end, inferring that she's back for good and may may know a little more about Cheyenne's death! I may have been at a crossroads before picking up Inner Circle, but I'm certainly not now. It feels like Kate Brian is really finding her feet, and when her books are good, they're good.
I'm really interested to see if she investigates the pills a bit more in Legacy. The simple explanation is that Cheyenne used the pills to seduce Josh and then used them to take her own life, but it feels like there's more at play. What kind of pills were they? Where did Cheyenne get them? And would she really kill herself just because she got expelled? Cheyenne left an innocuous suicide note and then emailed Reed to say it was really her fault, but again it just feels like something's missing. Like there's something bigger going on.
I'm guessing that the answers lie with the new girl, Ivy. She had a bad history with Cheyenne, mysteriously disappeared for a year, has no friends at Easton and seems like she'd be friends with Noelle. I think that she was doing Noelle's dirty work since she couldn't be on campus herself.
The emails with Dash also raised my suspicions - at first it obviously seems like it's really Dash emailing her, but then Noelle shows up to meet Reed when Reed asks after her. I wonder if it was Noelle emailing her the whole time, if Dash told Noelle everything about their "moment" during the Summer break, or if Dash simply told Noelle that Reed was having trouble and she decided to intervene. There are so many questions and it just feels like there's something bigger going on!
Overall: When the Private books are bad, they're really bad. But when the Private books are good, they're really fucking good. Kate Brian can do 90% school drama and 10% murder mystery and have it be boring as fuck, but she can also do 98% school drama and 2% sinister happenings and have it be the most exciting and explosive book in the series! There may not be a murder mystery per se, but Inner Circle kickstarts some other sinister mysteries and raises questions that I can't wait to answer. Inner Circle is also a great character study of Reed, watching her go from a doormat to Noelle 2.0 and I'm interested to see where she ends up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
June 3, 2025Actually im quitting while im ahead. First four have a clear arc and i dont really care about anything else happening
July 27, 2019
Le di 5 estrellas porque fue un excelente arco nuevo que abrieron y je ne regrette rien
La reseña más larga en El blog del Exprimídor de libros 📚
#readingprivate
La reseña más larga en El blog del Exprimídor de libros 📚
#readingprivate
March 12, 2017
such a guilty pleasure although it took me a while to get through it, the drama was intense and it ended again on a cliff hanger i just need to know what happens next
June 15, 2012
Ariana Osgood was finally arrested for the murder of Thomas Pearson.
Now that everything's back to normal, Reed Brennan can finally enjoy a second new year at Easton Academy.
A new headmaster sets new rules for the Billings, destroying the several decades old tradition. Cheyenne Martin finds this an insult, and she will do anything to maintain the traditions--no matter what. Reed isn't happy with this Cheyenne--backstabbing, and willing to steal Josh Hollis from her --and she will tried to stop her.
If you thought the worst already happened in this little world of rich and privileged people, then Inner Circle will surprise.
Also, it lefts off with a sudden death nobody saw coming. Only the one who killed herself had.
Now that everything's back to normal, Reed Brennan can finally enjoy a second new year at Easton Academy.
A new headmaster sets new rules for the Billings, destroying the several decades old tradition. Cheyenne Martin finds this an insult, and she will do anything to maintain the traditions--no matter what. Reed isn't happy with this Cheyenne--backstabbing, and willing to steal Josh Hollis from her --and she will tried to stop her.
If you thought the worst already happened in this little world of rich and privileged people, then Inner Circle will surprise.
Also, it lefts off with a sudden death nobody saw coming. Only the one who killed herself had.
June 21, 2019
This set of books 4 through 8 - the second arc in the Private series - weave the best mystery plot involving Reed Brennan; it's just so convoluted and elaborate it could be compared to Pretty LIttle Liars. But alas I find Reed Brennan really annoying and a hypocrate. She is all for tradition, but when Cheyenne takes the lead, she doesn't approve. Too bad her dear friends, the "original" Billings Girls, were so very worse than Cheyenne!!
I really like Cheyenne. I love her name and her elegance and sophistication!!
I have yet to read books 9-14, but it's seems over the top to have a protagonist who everyone here and there wants dead. If only this series were told by more than one character, it would be more realistic, I think. But this second arc is very gripping, until the very end, when the big revelation is crazier than an average episode of The Bold and the Beautiful!
I really like Cheyenne. I love her name and her elegance and sophistication!!
I have yet to read books 9-14, but it's seems over the top to have a protagonist who everyone here and there wants dead. If only this series were told by more than one character, it would be more realistic, I think. But this second arc is very gripping, until the very end, when the big revelation is crazier than an average episode of The Bold and the Beautiful!
February 27, 2009
New school year - Brian skipped over spring semester/last two quarters of Reed's first year. Guess there wasn't enough drama, though I would have liked to know what Billings was like then with the girls gone.
So there's a new headmaster and he's putting down the rules pretty hard, particularly on Billings. Or as he says, a "sorority." (Which is pretty much true.)
Some parts of the book seemed rather high-drama and annoying, but I did like the ending. You can always count on this person Reed runs into to make things intriguing or tense. Unfortunately this is the last book by Kate Brian the public library has, so I guess I'll have to haunt the bookstore for a while. :P
So there's a new headmaster and he's putting down the rules pretty hard, particularly on Billings. Or as he says, a "sorority." (Which is pretty much true.)
Some parts of the book seemed rather high-drama and annoying, but I did like the ending. You can always count on this person Reed runs into to make things intriguing or tense. Unfortunately this is the last book by Kate Brian the public library has, so I guess I'll have to haunt the bookstore for a while. :P
October 26, 2011
If we could do halves on this i would.
I would personally rate it 2 and 1/2 stars.
I really disliked how Kate Brian cut out the entire rest of the year from the 4th to 5th book. It's frustrating to start the next book and suddenly a girl has all these new friends she rarely talked to... I guess the series would be too long if she actually made stuff happen but honestly it's like a whole new group of people that we are focusing on... I really did like the Cheyenne/Josh problem though. It was interesting. However, Reed does seem a bit boyfriend obsessed at times.
I would personally rate it 2 and 1/2 stars.
I really disliked how Kate Brian cut out the entire rest of the year from the 4th to 5th book. It's frustrating to start the next book and suddenly a girl has all these new friends she rarely talked to... I guess the series would be too long if she actually made stuff happen but honestly it's like a whole new group of people that we are focusing on... I really did like the Cheyenne/Josh problem though. It was interesting. However, Reed does seem a bit boyfriend obsessed at times.
January 12, 2016
I still don't know why i like these
books as much as i do.
When i started this particular installment
in the series i was aprehensive, i mean there
is going to be a whole new scene going on at
the Billings House.
I got to say i was pleasently surprised, even
without Noelle and the gang, i still love this
series.
Though I did miss Noelle desperately. Not quite
sure why though.
But you can imagine my smile when i read
the last two pages. Hint, hint. =)
books as much as i do.
When i started this particular installment
in the series i was aprehensive, i mean there
is going to be a whole new scene going on at
the Billings House.
I got to say i was pleasently surprised, even
without Noelle and the gang, i still love this
series.
Though I did miss Noelle desperately. Not quite
sure why though.
But you can imagine my smile when i read
the last two pages. Hint, hint. =)
February 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book. I was cheering for Reed all the way through the book. The past couple of books, the "in girls" were way too snobby. They reminded me too much of the girls in my high school. Lol. Now they are gone. So to me even though Cheyenne was the top girl in the Billings house, and on a power trip; I cheered for Reed everytime she put Cheyenne in her place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2018
I used to love this series when I was in middle school, so Im gonna give it 3 stars. The main character wasn’t an interesting character at all. But I guess the mystery, drama & scandal was what kept me reading 😆 However, the prequel (book of spells) was full of shit that I hated it even then.
January 21, 2021
Reed is a much stronger character than I remember.
October 7, 2023
2,5 ou 3
Bon,
que dire ?
j’ai l’impression qu’ils s’est rien passé à part une gueguerre entre deux filles mais c’était rapide à lire donc ca le rajoute un livre de lu mdr
Mais même l’héroïne est insupportable
Je vais lire le dernier tome que j’ai et c’est tt je pense
Bon,
que dire ?
j’ai l’impression qu’ils s’est rien passé à part une gueguerre entre deux filles mais c’était rapide à lire donc ca le rajoute un livre de lu mdr
Mais même l’héroïne est insupportable
Je vais lire le dernier tome que j’ai et c’est tt je pense
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