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The Ivy #2
Secrets
Gregory or Clint? Clint or Gregory? Matt, anyone? And what is Lexi up to . . . exactly? When we last saw Callie Andrews, she was caught on the horns of a dilemma. Lexi was threatening to expose all of her safely guarded, deeply buried secrets from high school, and Callie had just hooked up with bad-boy Gregory--despite the fact that she had a perfect (sort of) boyfriend and her BFF Vanessa had claimed (sort of) Gregory as her own. Yow. Entertaining, hilarious, addictive, scandalous, sexy, and smart, The Ivy series is an insider's look at freshman life at Harvard University. This isn't high school anymore!
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2011
23 people are currently reading
1500 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Kunze
4 books273 followersLauren Kunze grew up in Piedmont, California and attended Harvard University where she majored in English literature and minored in neurobiology. After graduation, she deferred a masters program at the University of Oxford in order to finish her first novel, The Ivy, which was conceptualized in collaboration with best friend and former college roommate Rina Onur. Now Lauren writes full-time, and is currently working on subsequent novels in The Ivy Series. She is twenty-five years old.
For news and updates, follow Lauren on twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenkunze
For more about The Ivy Series, visit www.ivybookseries.com
For news and updates, follow Lauren on twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenkunze
For more about The Ivy Series, visit www.ivybookseries.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
October 31, 2012
Ah! why don't you just leave me on this cliff to dangle for another year!
I loved this book. I cant say i loved it more than the first, but only because i dont think that possible. I loved this one an equally monumental amount as The Ivy. But for different reasons. Where numero uno was all about the rush of starting college, this one began with a sort of reality check and (pardon if this sounds lame or sappy) a search for what was real.
All of the different dynamics of the story were balanced and every new twist kept you engaged. The story flowed to a point where it was impossible to find a good spot to close the book for the night. Which is why I didn't.
I love everyone in this story to bits (ya know, except The Devil Wears Prada, You-Know-Who, Alexis Thorndike) Especially a certain squash playing charmer by the name of GREGORY!
Clint's a sweetie, sure, but Gregory... well, he's Gregory Bolton. Need I say more??
Aren't you so impressed? I just typed all this up while hanging off a cliff! yeah its that one located at the end of this book. good news is the ground should temporarily be returned under my feet when the next book comes out.
I loved this book. I cant say i loved it more than the first, but only because i dont think that possible. I loved this one an equally monumental amount as The Ivy. But for different reasons. Where numero uno was all about the rush of starting college, this one began with a sort of reality check and (pardon if this sounds lame or sappy) a search for what was real.
All of the different dynamics of the story were balanced and every new twist kept you engaged. The story flowed to a point where it was impossible to find a good spot to close the book for the night. Which is why I didn't.
I love everyone in this story to bits (ya know, except The Devil Wears Prada, You-Know-Who, Alexis Thorndike) Especially a certain squash playing charmer by the name of GREGORY!
Clint's a sweetie, sure, but Gregory... well, he's Gregory Bolton. Need I say more??
Aren't you so impressed? I just typed all this up while hanging off a cliff! yeah its that one located at the end of this book. good news is the ground should temporarily be returned under my feet when the next book comes out.
January 17, 2013
I have read the The Ivy and didn’t think very highly of it. In fact, I didn’t even bother to review it…well that’s about to change now. Wait, wait, wait…just hold on a second…do not be under the impression that I loved this book…because well I didn’t (clearly---look at my rating).
The Upside (which there is very few of):
It’s fast, quick, and keeps you wanting more. The dishy story of Callie Andrews is best served on a dull Sunday afternoon, preferably when it is raining and you are bored silly. This addictive tale will keep you cozy, guessing, and gossiping. It is that variety of chick lit that fans of Gossip Girl (…so basically everybody…even some boys) will love. It is fairly lighthearted, no mess, and pain free. It is sure to liven up your dreary Sunday!
The main character, Callie Andrews, made a huge improvement in this book of the series. I will admit, when I first met Callie in the first book…I kind of hated her. I thought she was a shallow beeeyyyaaaaaaccccHHH to be clear. But somehow (probably through black magic…I smell Slytherin Shenanigans!) in this story, she actually managed to get sympathy out of me. I actually felt bad for her…when all the other Big, Snooty, Harvard children were beating up on her. However, for the most part I retain my preliminary judgment (see The Downside).
Also like Gossip Girl, this book features snippets of magazine articles, or twitter/facebook feeds, or text messages etc. in between chapters. I enjoyed these extras very much…they broke up the monotony and livened the flow up a lot. These pieces also add to the story, characters and give the reader a feeling of actually being part of the Harvard world.
The Downside
This book bounces around between different POVs…and all of them are written in third person so … it’s just weird. Sometime Kunze will mark the page when a new POV in third person is about to start with like an ivy leaf or something…but since it doesn’t happen every time you are playing the guessing game a lot.
If this is what Harvard is actually like…it kind of burst my hopes and dreams. Whatever happened to education and knowledge…not to mention widening one’s mind and imbibing all that Harvard-ness! This story makes Harvard seem like a cake walk when it came to academics. The students are way too occupied with all the people they are sleeping with or not sleeping with, taking revenge on, or just simply being a conniving twat. I’m sure that there is more to Harvard than just petty he-said/she-said battles.
What’s wrong with Callie Andrews? Why is she so incapable of picking one man and sticking to him? It is either Gregory or Clint…not both. I understand why Callie is attracted to both male leads. Clint is the perfect gentleman who has oodles of $$$ and can guide Callie to her future of ritzy-tude (plus he isn’t half bad to look at either). Then you have Gregory who is the bad boy womanizer that every chick wants in her life. I can even see Callie imagining herself as the one to rid Gregory of his old man-whore ways. So, both boys are tempting but that doesn’t mean you can have them both Callie! Lord, just pick one.
Now that you have read the Ups and Downs to this book, I encourage you to pick it up and form your own opinions. It’s definitely not meant for everybody but it is most definitely a fun read. If you are a chick lit lover especially a fan of Gossip Girl, this series is a must for you! With that I will end my review.
Happy Books!!!!
BTW this review is also available at Rainbows and Books
The Upside (which there is very few of):
It’s fast, quick, and keeps you wanting more. The dishy story of Callie Andrews is best served on a dull Sunday afternoon, preferably when it is raining and you are bored silly. This addictive tale will keep you cozy, guessing, and gossiping. It is that variety of chick lit that fans of Gossip Girl (…so basically everybody…even some boys) will love. It is fairly lighthearted, no mess, and pain free. It is sure to liven up your dreary Sunday!
The main character, Callie Andrews, made a huge improvement in this book of the series. I will admit, when I first met Callie in the first book…I kind of hated her. I thought she was a shallow beeeyyyaaaaaaccccHHH to be clear. But somehow (probably through black magic…I smell Slytherin Shenanigans!) in this story, she actually managed to get sympathy out of me. I actually felt bad for her…when all the other Big, Snooty, Harvard children were beating up on her. However, for the most part I retain my preliminary judgment (see The Downside).
Also like Gossip Girl, this book features snippets of magazine articles, or twitter/facebook feeds, or text messages etc. in between chapters. I enjoyed these extras very much…they broke up the monotony and livened the flow up a lot. These pieces also add to the story, characters and give the reader a feeling of actually being part of the Harvard world.
The Downside
This book bounces around between different POVs…and all of them are written in third person so … it’s just weird. Sometime Kunze will mark the page when a new POV in third person is about to start with like an ivy leaf or something…but since it doesn’t happen every time you are playing the guessing game a lot.
If this is what Harvard is actually like…it kind of burst my hopes and dreams. Whatever happened to education and knowledge…not to mention widening one’s mind and imbibing all that Harvard-ness! This story makes Harvard seem like a cake walk when it came to academics. The students are way too occupied with all the people they are sleeping with or not sleeping with, taking revenge on, or just simply being a conniving twat. I’m sure that there is more to Harvard than just petty he-said/she-said battles.
What’s wrong with Callie Andrews? Why is she so incapable of picking one man and sticking to him? It is either Gregory or Clint…not both. I understand why Callie is attracted to both male leads. Clint is the perfect gentleman who has oodles of $$$ and can guide Callie to her future of ritzy-tude (plus he isn’t half bad to look at either). Then you have Gregory who is the bad boy womanizer that every chick wants in her life. I can even see Callie imagining herself as the one to rid Gregory of his old man-whore ways. So, both boys are tempting but that doesn’t mean you can have them both Callie! Lord, just pick one.
Now that you have read the Ups and Downs to this book, I encourage you to pick it up and form your own opinions. It’s definitely not meant for everybody but it is most definitely a fun read. If you are a chick lit lover especially a fan of Gossip Girl, this series is a must for you! With that I will end my review.
Happy Books!!!!
BTW this review is also available at Rainbows and Books
August 14, 2011
Witty and scandalous, Secrets is a fun mix of drama, lies, romance, and secrets that will charm readers until the very end. Kunze and Onur has created a great prestigious college atmosphere along with the issues of friendship, relationships, drinking, and scandals.
Kunze and Onur has yet again created a thrilling plot built with secrets. The secrets in the story had a lot to do with love, initiating more disputes. Even though the suspense did not build up, the suspense was there all throughout the story. I couldn't help stop myself from flipping the pages!
The characters were definitely the most entertaining part of the story. Each character had their own personality, had their flaws, and was unique in ther own way. They basically were either the ones you loved, or the ones you hate. Callie, even though smart and appealing, struggled to stand up for herself for this one secrets of hers that would may destroy her friendships and relationship. Although, Callie was still very likable and relatable. Her love life added onto her drama, as two boys were always vying for her attention.
Secondary characters, Mimi and Dana, were very amusing and enjoyable. Mimi's French chinwags always made me smile and Dana's levelheaded attitude and overall smartness were great traits. Also, Vanessa, Callie's ex-bestfriend due to betrayal, was a fun character that always stirred up the drama, causing the story to get more suspenseful.
Gregory or Clint? I am absolutely torn between those two! Being 'perfect', Clint was such a sweet and charming guy. Through his actions, it was obvious that he did care a lot about Callie. Though, with Gregory, it was obvious that both Callie and him were attracted to each other. It was a complicated friendship because there was a lot of misunderstandings and a lot of 'avoiding' with the both of them.
Just like The Ivy, Secrets has left at another cliffhanger. Secrets is a novel you won't want to miss. The atmosphere packed with boys, drinking, secrets, and lies is the definite high school experience.
Kunze and Onur has yet again created a thrilling plot built with secrets. The secrets in the story had a lot to do with love, initiating more disputes. Even though the suspense did not build up, the suspense was there all throughout the story. I couldn't help stop myself from flipping the pages!
The characters were definitely the most entertaining part of the story. Each character had their own personality, had their flaws, and was unique in ther own way. They basically were either the ones you loved, or the ones you hate. Callie, even though smart and appealing, struggled to stand up for herself for this one secrets of hers that would may destroy her friendships and relationship. Although, Callie was still very likable and relatable. Her love life added onto her drama, as two boys were always vying for her attention.
Secondary characters, Mimi and Dana, were very amusing and enjoyable. Mimi's French chinwags always made me smile and Dana's levelheaded attitude and overall smartness were great traits. Also, Vanessa, Callie's ex-bestfriend due to betrayal, was a fun character that always stirred up the drama, causing the story to get more suspenseful.
Gregory or Clint? I am absolutely torn between those two! Being 'perfect', Clint was such a sweet and charming guy. Through his actions, it was obvious that he did care a lot about Callie. Though, with Gregory, it was obvious that both Callie and him were attracted to each other. It was a complicated friendship because there was a lot of misunderstandings and a lot of 'avoiding' with the both of them.
Just like The Ivy, Secrets has left at another cliffhanger. Secrets is a novel you won't want to miss. The atmosphere packed with boys, drinking, secrets, and lies is the definite high school experience.
April 9, 2017
Oh, I cannot wait to read SECRETS!!! The Ivy was an excellent, fun read.
Updated: What a cliffhanger! Need to read next book immediately.
Updated: What a cliffhanger! Need to read next book immediately.
March 9, 2022
It's been years since I read the first book, so I was completely lost as to what happened. My fault. Based on that, not sure I liked this one.
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March 15, 2014Please check out Electrifying Reviews for more reviews like this, plus giveaways, interviews, and more!
I could not help but to be sucked back into the world of The Ivy soon after finishing the first book in the series. Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur surely understand what it takes to make readers addicted, because even though I have recently read two books in this series I am vying for the rest!
Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur are basically experts when it comes to the complexities of Harvard and its social scene, considering the two attended the school for four years. They are able to write in a way that pulls readers right onto campus and feel as though they're getting the Harvard experience along with the Callie and the crew. The Ivy series is a bit juvenile in writing style, but the details and scandal included by the authors more than make up for it. This book would not be nearly as entertaining had it not been written by real alumni.
My main issue with Secrets is that not much happened. The main conflict in the story was foreshadowed at the end of the first book, but that's really the only major dilemma. I preferred the first novel in the Ivy series because it revolved around Callie having to adapt to her changing environment as a freshman at Harvard, and there was a lot to adapt to. In Secrets, the characters have a firm grasp on how things operate at the university, so there is less conflict in the plot. Do not get me wrong, Callie and her acquaintances still had to deal with some issues, but I didn't think the severity of the problems in Secrets matched the first book's.
In Secrets, Callie is very isolated. She is, of course, the protagonist so I expected to be spending a lot of time with her as a reader. However, the lack of interaction she had with the other characters over the course of this novel was disappointing. Of course she spends time with the people she knows, but there is a lot of self-pity and wallowing that she does. It wasn't always fun to read. I found myself missing the other characters in the series as I was reading Secrets. I'm sure that the other books in this series will be different, and I'm looking forward to reading them in part because of that.
Despite their location, the Ivy novels are by no means academic reads. But they're fun and I really enjoy reading them. I'm currently in the process of figuring out where I'll be spending my college years and I can only hope that my higher education experience is as exciting as the one the characters in the Ivy series have. But maybe without all the drama.
I could not help but to be sucked back into the world of The Ivy soon after finishing the first book in the series. Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur surely understand what it takes to make readers addicted, because even though I have recently read two books in this series I am vying for the rest!
Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur are basically experts when it comes to the complexities of Harvard and its social scene, considering the two attended the school for four years. They are able to write in a way that pulls readers right onto campus and feel as though they're getting the Harvard experience along with the Callie and the crew. The Ivy series is a bit juvenile in writing style, but the details and scandal included by the authors more than make up for it. This book would not be nearly as entertaining had it not been written by real alumni.
My main issue with Secrets is that not much happened. The main conflict in the story was foreshadowed at the end of the first book, but that's really the only major dilemma. I preferred the first novel in the Ivy series because it revolved around Callie having to adapt to her changing environment as a freshman at Harvard, and there was a lot to adapt to. In Secrets, the characters have a firm grasp on how things operate at the university, so there is less conflict in the plot. Do not get me wrong, Callie and her acquaintances still had to deal with some issues, but I didn't think the severity of the problems in Secrets matched the first book's.
In Secrets, Callie is very isolated. She is, of course, the protagonist so I expected to be spending a lot of time with her as a reader. However, the lack of interaction she had with the other characters over the course of this novel was disappointing. Of course she spends time with the people she knows, but there is a lot of self-pity and wallowing that she does. It wasn't always fun to read. I found myself missing the other characters in the series as I was reading Secrets. I'm sure that the other books in this series will be different, and I'm looking forward to reading them in part because of that.
Despite their location, the Ivy novels are by no means academic reads. But they're fun and I really enjoy reading them. I'm currently in the process of figuring out where I'll be spending my college years and I can only hope that my higher education experience is as exciting as the one the characters in the Ivy series have. But maybe without all the drama.
August 5, 2011
Do you have guilty pleasure books? Ones you hate to admit that you enjoy because it embody everything you hate. Well, this one is mine. I didn’t exactly hate the first book, I just don’t like it. Period. Yes, it was an immature and unfair to say you dislike it without a solid reason. I just don’t. And yet, shamefully I still devoured this book from the moment I open it and until I close the book. Yes, please throw me a bone here, I don’t know how to save my face right now, lmao.
No, in all seriousness this book is not my cup of tea. I just interested how college life works in States (and I tell you, it’s so different from my experience. And I’m not exactly a good student. I fail a class (just one class tho) *hides in embarrassment*). That aside, I find it interesting, if high school was brutal, wait until college because Alexis Thorndike is no mean girl. She is a walking bitch personified. In the truest sense of the word. And she’s smart, a very formidable opponent.
What I hate the most was Callie and Gregory’s relationship. Ugh, why didn’t Ok told him himself and why the hell Gregory assumed and concluded things so fast without confronting Callie personally the real score. But then again, that will end the story and that’s no fun. But still. (once again throw me something, for my sanity sake). And the cliffhanger? I swear that’s the icing on the cake! What the hell? And yes, people I like Callie and Gregory together.
It’s better than the first book. I don’t know how this one engaged me in something I’m not used to. But I commend it for trying breaking my standards (half successfully). While I did say I enjoyed it (which is a big thing because I read for enjoyment) I still can say without losing my face that it isn’t a book that blew me away. But that said, it was fun, so yeah, in short I like it.
No, in all seriousness this book is not my cup of tea. I just interested how college life works in States (and I tell you, it’s so different from my experience. And I’m not exactly a good student. I fail a class (just one class tho) *hides in embarrassment*). That aside, I find it interesting, if high school was brutal, wait until college because Alexis Thorndike is no mean girl. She is a walking bitch personified. In the truest sense of the word. And she’s smart, a very formidable opponent.
What I hate the most was Callie and Gregory’s relationship. Ugh, why didn’t Ok told him himself and why the hell Gregory assumed and concluded things so fast without confronting Callie personally the real score. But then again, that will end the story and that’s no fun. But still. (once again throw me something, for my sanity sake). And the cliffhanger? I swear that’s the icing on the cake! What the hell? And yes, people I like Callie and Gregory together.
It’s better than the first book. I don’t know how this one engaged me in something I’m not used to. But I commend it for trying breaking my standards (half successfully). While I did say I enjoyed it (which is a big thing because I read for enjoyment) I still can say without losing my face that it isn’t a book that blew me away. But that said, it was fun, so yeah, in short I like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2011
ahhhh! I'm not gonna (not an Ivy approved word, I'm sure) lie! I eat these books up! Secrets is cleverly crafted and you relate to the experiences of all the characters. Even when you see the stage set for a misunderstanding, it all seems believable and well contrived when it is executed. You love Callie even when you are screaming that she should just man errr... woman up. She may be brighter - come on, she is at Harvard! And she may play soccer better but you honestly think that you could be her friend, hope to help her and be able to set her straight. Although you can't feel too sorry for her, she has two gorgeous and interesting men vying for her attention although it doesn't, thank goodness, take center stage in the book.
Things that had me rolling in fits of laughter:
1. Alexis Thorndike's Fifteen Minutes Magazine advice columns. Can you say pure genius?
2. Mimi. Enough said.
I loved The Ivy so much I was worried how its sequel, Secrets, could compare. It's just as good, just as smart, and just as honest that one has to wonder if some of this is true. If these characters are not characters at all but real people that went through this. If so, THANK YOU!
Th ending had me holding my breath and thinking the next book better come out soon. I CAN NOT WAIT!
I give The Ivy: Secrets 5 STACKS!
Love, STACKGirl Shannan who wishes she went to Harvard so I could do watch Primal Scream
Things that had me rolling in fits of laughter:
1. Alexis Thorndike's Fifteen Minutes Magazine advice columns. Can you say pure genius?
2. Mimi. Enough said.
I loved The Ivy so much I was worried how its sequel, Secrets, could compare. It's just as good, just as smart, and just as honest that one has to wonder if some of this is true. If these characters are not characters at all but real people that went through this. If so, THANK YOU!
Th ending had me holding my breath and thinking the next book better come out soon. I CAN NOT WAIT!
I give The Ivy: Secrets 5 STACKS!
Love, STACKGirl Shannan who wishes she went to Harvard so I could do watch Primal Scream
January 18, 2013
I'm thinking somewhere around 3.5.
Let me start by saying, this series should have wrapped up with 2 books. NO reason whatsoever to drag it to 3, not to mention four books.
I like the flow, I like the characters, even though 70% of the time they ALL piss me the hell off. And I like the story, in general.
What pisses me off are a few things:
1) When there's a comedy of errors, it's cute and fun and funny. It helps induce angst and normally helps the story progress. But there's a limit to the number of errors and the ridiculous sequence of those errors.
2) The "articles" at the beginning of every chapter - *yawn*
3) Callie Andrews is a world class idiot and her "secret" was the dumbest ever. That's not something to ruin her life. She's not a fucking celebrity. Who gives a shit if she was video taped having sex in high school. She made it an issue just be her actions and reactions.
If it weren't for the 3 above points, this story would have received a 5 star rating for being a nicely written, cool idea, and fun story to read.
Onto book 3. Sigh.
Let me start by saying, this series should have wrapped up with 2 books. NO reason whatsoever to drag it to 3, not to mention four books.
I like the flow, I like the characters, even though 70% of the time they ALL piss me the hell off. And I like the story, in general.
What pisses me off are a few things:
1) When there's a comedy of errors, it's cute and fun and funny. It helps induce angst and normally helps the story progress. But there's a limit to the number of errors and the ridiculous sequence of those errors.
2) The "articles" at the beginning of every chapter - *yawn*
3) Callie Andrews is a world class idiot and her "secret" was the dumbest ever. That's not something to ruin her life. She's not a fucking celebrity. Who gives a shit if she was video taped having sex in high school. She made it an issue just be her actions and reactions.
If it weren't for the 3 above points, this story would have received a 5 star rating for being a nicely written, cool idea, and fun story to read.
Onto book 3. Sigh.
March 31, 2011
This book reminded me of Gossip Girl. I'm a huge fan of the show and the books because there's just something about scandalous people that hook me every time. The drama kept me turning the pages. I just had to know what was going on, plus book one left off with a huge cliff hanger, so I was immediately hooked into book two. I think if you liked book one, you'll love the second one in this series. I think I liked it even better than the first one. I'm seriously chomping at the bit for book three, because yes this one left me wanting to know what happens next!
Read this series if you like Gossip Girl, Clique and those types of books. This one will hook you!
More YA Reviews: Reading, Writing and Waiting
Read this series if you like Gossip Girl, Clique and those types of books. This one will hook you!
More YA Reviews: Reading, Writing and Waiting
September 12, 2013
i am now convinced, that this series, like The Immortals by Alison Noel, is like a train-wreck just waiting to happen.
Callie is an awful heroin. she's selfish, conceited and arrogant. she looks down on her best friend and lands herself in impossibly humiliating circumstances which makes me wish death upon her again and again throughout the book. she's an awful person and i just want her to go away. there are very few books in which i root for the villian to actually win and this is one of them. Honestly, the only highlights in this book were the Economics exam scene and when she finally decided on the newspaper article. for a moment there, i actually felt some character growth, but nay, my friend. sigh. what a waste of my life.
Callie is an awful heroin. she's selfish, conceited and arrogant. she looks down on her best friend and lands herself in impossibly humiliating circumstances which makes me wish death upon her again and again throughout the book. she's an awful person and i just want her to go away. there are very few books in which i root for the villian to actually win and this is one of them. Honestly, the only highlights in this book were the Economics exam scene and when she finally decided on the newspaper article. for a moment there, i actually felt some character growth, but nay, my friend. sigh. what a waste of my life.
November 23, 2013
3 1/2 stars. Girls can be so evil lol. Especially here at Harvard! This book was a little slow in the middle and I kept wanting to scream that Callie get a backbone! The ending was very good though and ended in kind of a small cliffhanger. Enough for me to want to read the next one.
July 11, 2012
Read review of "The Ivy" for my full opinion.
May 1, 2020
I did not just read this in a day. Nope, not at all, not me. I guess I was pretty hooked but these aren't like super thought-provoking, profound, books anyway. I officially love Clint but still suspicious of him, like what's his ulterior motive. I gotta know because constantly being suspicious of everyone is not good for me. I will blame my science grade on this book because this was literally all that I was doing. I also blame it for my currently-trying-to-do-history-homework. I mean, I have to say that I do like Gregory. Alsoooooo, miscommunication, sighhhh. I don't know; I was pretty annoyed. Excited to read the next book for the boyyyssss. Okay, that doesn't sound right. But I'm all in for the juicy drama that I hopefully don't ever experience in real life. Life, not that my stress levels aren't high enough, but these books aren't helping. My goal? hahaha, finish them allllll, unless I don't wanna.
May 16, 2017
Loving the characters in theses books..Although it feels like a cheesy college drama it has great points in which to learn lessons on..I love the FX magazine and the news letters that go out to all freshmen I would like to see that done at high schools too..overall I have enjoyed reading this series I don't know what you call them these days but there's 4 books... Lauren and Rina thank you for making me laugh even if this one was not as funny as the first y'all must have had a fun time at Harvard..Recommend to 14yrs and above...Gina Clabo..
November 5, 2020
Okay in my first review of the first book, I described it as a trashy book you love it and even though I still agree. The writing is that complex and the story is very cliche but god do I love it. I can’t believe how much I love this story and these character. Also the ending was a power move.
Gregory is my fav.
Gregory is my fav.
December 15, 2020
3.5 stars
This was an easy read, but Callie really needs to stop leaving her email/computer open and lying around! She had all that trouble with the sex tape and Alexis, and now she may have lost her BFF Vanessa forever! The love triangle is still going strong too.
This was an easy read, but Callie really needs to stop leaving her email/computer open and lying around! She had all that trouble with the sex tape and Alexis, and now she may have lost her BFF Vanessa forever! The love triangle is still going strong too.
January 23, 2021
Quite good fun - melodramatic and compelling writing. I feel like too many YA novels are too plodding and serious; this series is vapid just like most others but revels in it in a rather snarky way.
January 5, 2017
Resumen del libro:
Parte uno: No por favooooooor!!!! *llora*
Parte intermedia: meh, mas vueltas a lo mismo #drama
Parte final: asdfghklñññññ QUÉ!!!!!???? asdfhhklñññññññññññññññ
Parte uno: No por favooooooor!!!! *llora*
Parte intermedia: meh, mas vueltas a lo mismo #drama
Parte final: asdfghklñññññ QUÉ!!!!!???? asdfhhklñññññññññññññññ
May 5, 2018
I wanted to strangle Callie so many times during this book. But still a interesting and breezy read.
March 24, 2020
This was good! I loved that it took place in a real college and it was just a lot of fun!
August 4, 2022
Callie continues to make frustrating and stupid choices. But is it entertaining? Sure.
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December 5, 2023summer before 7th or 8th grade - edison public library book mobile :)
February 15, 2019
1st re-read
Gregory, you are the best, you are amazing, you're awesome. No room for improvement because you're perfect.
Callie....OMG. I must have been more patient when I was younger because this time I had zero tolerance for her endless shenanigans. I mean, she acted, for fear of saying something even more offensive, completely moronic. She thinks she's all mature and makes fun of the shallow, rich girls (so not cool by the way) but she is so stupid. What she put poor Clint through, I mean I would dumb her ass in a heartbeat if I was him. But I guess that's what happens when you have the two sexiest students on campus drooling over you. Ugh.
Alexis, you might be mean, conniving and manipulative but you do it perfectly. Alexis all the way woot woot!
1st read
This is an overall review of both The Ivy and Secrets.
Could I be any more in love with the Ivy series?
The answer is: hells no!!!!!
After a series of OK books, I finally found something I was completely obsessed about and loved with all my heart. And that is the Ivy series.
My friend M. and I have had endless conversations about books that we read and them being either too YA or too adult. We had yet to find the much coveted in-between book, the one that has good parts of each of the genres.
In other words: college.
First came Beautiful Disaster by Jamie MacGuire which I absolutely adored. Unlike BD though, Ivy doesn't only focus on two college students' unrequited love, which is by no means bad, but rather on describing college life and in this case, life at Harvard University. Both authors attended Harvard, and though they don't admit to the books being biographical, they acknowledge that "..they are realistic". The places, the dorms, the parties, classes, professors, all of it is real. Personally, Harvard college life took me by surprise. I had no idea things like that happened at such a prominent, Ivy league university. I thought Harvard students were with their heads inside a book all day.
Yeah, right!
As it is very well known, partying and debauchery in general, always lead to epic romances.
Or epic mistakes.
This series had both in excess. Each time you felt happy and relieved, something would happen to make it all bad and chaotic again.
There's no question books are written around Callie and how she, a poor california girl, is adjusting to a new life in the East coast and how she struggles to hang in there and not crumble under the pressure of exams, initiations, mean girls and of course love!
I liked all the characters in the series equally. Yes, even Alexis! She was something all right, but I liked her. There are a lot of characters in Ivy and Secrets and no one falls under the radar, goes unnoticed. Every one has a distinct voice and is memorable.
In all honesty though, I cannot decide who is best for Callie. I like Clint and Greg both! I loved Greg right from the start because he is hot(duh!)and snarky, but Clint…I mean, what's there not to like? The guy is perfect. And I don't mean, boring perfect, I mean the right amount of perfect. I'm telling you, I did not want to be on Callie's shoes at the end of Secrets. Seriously.
Speaking of, Secrets's ending? Huge, mind-blowing cliff hanger!!!
If you read contemporary fiction there is NO way you won't like the Ivy series. I got through both of the books so quickly, I kinda regret it now. I wish I would have taken my sweet time and savor them :(
Ivy and Secrets made me wish I was back in college. Yes. With all the studying and everything. That's how much I loved these books!
Gregory, you are the best, you are amazing, you're awesome. No room for improvement because you're perfect.
Callie....OMG. I must have been more patient when I was younger because this time I had zero tolerance for her endless shenanigans. I mean, she acted, for fear of saying something even more offensive, completely moronic. She thinks she's all mature and makes fun of the shallow, rich girls (so not cool by the way) but she is so stupid. What she put poor Clint through, I mean I would dumb her ass in a heartbeat if I was him. But I guess that's what happens when you have the two sexiest students on campus drooling over you. Ugh.
Alexis, you might be mean, conniving and manipulative but you do it perfectly. Alexis all the way woot woot!
1st read
This is an overall review of both The Ivy and Secrets.
Could I be any more in love with the Ivy series?
The answer is: hells no!!!!!
After a series of OK books, I finally found something I was completely obsessed about and loved with all my heart. And that is the Ivy series.
My friend M. and I have had endless conversations about books that we read and them being either too YA or too adult. We had yet to find the much coveted in-between book, the one that has good parts of each of the genres.
In other words: college.
First came Beautiful Disaster by Jamie MacGuire which I absolutely adored. Unlike BD though, Ivy doesn't only focus on two college students' unrequited love, which is by no means bad, but rather on describing college life and in this case, life at Harvard University. Both authors attended Harvard, and though they don't admit to the books being biographical, they acknowledge that "..they are realistic". The places, the dorms, the parties, classes, professors, all of it is real. Personally, Harvard college life took me by surprise. I had no idea things like that happened at such a prominent, Ivy league university. I thought Harvard students were with their heads inside a book all day.
Yeah, right!
As it is very well known, partying and debauchery in general, always lead to epic romances.
Or epic mistakes.
This series had both in excess. Each time you felt happy and relieved, something would happen to make it all bad and chaotic again.
There's no question books are written around Callie and how she, a poor california girl, is adjusting to a new life in the East coast and how she struggles to hang in there and not crumble under the pressure of exams, initiations, mean girls and of course love!
I liked all the characters in the series equally. Yes, even Alexis! She was something all right, but I liked her. There are a lot of characters in Ivy and Secrets and no one falls under the radar, goes unnoticed. Every one has a distinct voice and is memorable.
In all honesty though, I cannot decide who is best for Callie. I like Clint and Greg both! I loved Greg right from the start because he is hot(duh!)and snarky, but Clint…I mean, what's there not to like? The guy is perfect. And I don't mean, boring perfect, I mean the right amount of perfect. I'm telling you, I did not want to be on Callie's shoes at the end of Secrets. Seriously.
Speaking of, Secrets's ending? Huge, mind-blowing cliff hanger!!!
If you read contemporary fiction there is NO way you won't like the Ivy series. I got through both of the books so quickly, I kinda regret it now. I wish I would have taken my sweet time and savor them :(
Ivy and Secrets made me wish I was back in college. Yes. With all the studying and everything. That's how much I loved these books!
April 30, 2014
First, I'd like to say, do not even try to read this book if you haven't read the first one, and not only that but don't do that with any series. That is just not right.
So, it took me a while to really come up with a rating system that works for me because I tend to give every book five stars since I'm terrible at thinking about rating something, but I finally have. By three stars, I think this book is in the middle. With all the issues I could think about though, I couldn't actually negate them from the rating because they also added a sort of - oh, how does Mimi say it? - je ne sais qui. Let me dive a little deeper now:
1. Gregory Bolton +/-0
Positives: Oh, how I do adore you. Gregory Bolton is one of love interests of Callie, as we all know. He's hot, he's rich, and - even better - he has that good side of him that only Callie sees. Awwwwww
Negatives: First, THIS IS NOT REAL. For all my girls out there, a guy will never be like this. This perfect, rich, good-looking, smart badboy that has that "side" to him. No. Secondly, we all know that whole plot drags on throughout all of the books (which I'll touch on later) but making this whole one up about a NOTE that OK was supposed to deliver. It just wasn't enough to create the complete plot for me.
2. The Tape +.5
Positives: I absolutely love how Callie crushes Lexi here. Team Callie all the way!
Negatives: None. Lexi totally deserved that.
3. Mimi's Français -.5
Positives: We all have to admit, Mimi is like 100x cooler because she spits out French words that we don't know, and we all feel like we're reading French and we're sooo cool and everything.
Negatives: We don't know anything Mimi spits out because we can't speak French. NOW, I know some people know French and have taken it, obviously (even though that wasn't my language in high school), but sometimes the lines she has are so long, I find myself a little lost and just jumping ahead a bit. Anyone else?
4. Plot and Story-line/Pace +/-0
Positives: It moved the book on. The writers, although dragging freshman year out for an entire series, gave us an ENTIRE story. I feel like I've read every day of Callie's life after just reading about her freshman year. After a while, I don't even think they began to skip days.
Negatives: Eh. We all know that dragging a plot out through a series is hard, but the actual hard part is to hold the readers in until the end. Nothing will be resolved until the last book, and no I am not spoiling anything because obviously it has to be resolved or else this book would be crap, and I know for a fact that it's not. This might be my least favorite out of the series right now though. It always seems that way for me for any series, the second book is always the least favorite, but before I start ranting, I do have a good reason for not liking this one, and now I will conclude.
I hate mix-ups. Absolutely despise them, especially when they write the book so that the reader KNOWS it happening. It kills me through the entire book, not that it makes the book terrible, but I find myself pulling hair out screaming at the characters to "FIGURE IT OUT ALREADY". After calling them idiots a million times, I realize it actually makes sense for what happened to happen. So by driving me mad until they figured it out, I kept reading until the end which is a good thing for the authors. Kunze and Onur, I must say, to keep me reading into a story like that is hard, but you did it. And for whichever one of you two took French, bien fait et continuer à écrire!
So, it took me a while to really come up with a rating system that works for me because I tend to give every book five stars since I'm terrible at thinking about rating something, but I finally have. By three stars, I think this book is in the middle. With all the issues I could think about though, I couldn't actually negate them from the rating because they also added a sort of - oh, how does Mimi say it? - je ne sais qui. Let me dive a little deeper now:
1. Gregory Bolton +/-0
Positives: Oh, how I do adore you. Gregory Bolton is one of love interests of Callie, as we all know. He's hot, he's rich, and - even better - he has that good side of him that only Callie sees. Awwwwww
Negatives: First, THIS IS NOT REAL. For all my girls out there, a guy will never be like this. This perfect, rich, good-looking, smart badboy that has that "side" to him. No. Secondly, we all know that whole plot drags on throughout all of the books (which I'll touch on later) but making this whole one up about a NOTE that OK was supposed to deliver. It just wasn't enough to create the complete plot for me.
2. The Tape +.5
Positives: I absolutely love how Callie crushes Lexi here. Team Callie all the way!
Negatives: None. Lexi totally deserved that.
3. Mimi's Français -.5
Positives: We all have to admit, Mimi is like 100x cooler because she spits out French words that we don't know, and we all feel like we're reading French and we're sooo cool and everything.
Negatives: We don't know anything Mimi spits out because we can't speak French. NOW, I know some people know French and have taken it, obviously (even though that wasn't my language in high school), but sometimes the lines she has are so long, I find myself a little lost and just jumping ahead a bit. Anyone else?
4. Plot and Story-line/Pace +/-0
Positives: It moved the book on. The writers, although dragging freshman year out for an entire series, gave us an ENTIRE story. I feel like I've read every day of Callie's life after just reading about her freshman year. After a while, I don't even think they began to skip days.
Negatives: Eh. We all know that dragging a plot out through a series is hard, but the actual hard part is to hold the readers in until the end. Nothing will be resolved until the last book, and no I am not spoiling anything because obviously it has to be resolved or else this book would be crap, and I know for a fact that it's not. This might be my least favorite out of the series right now though. It always seems that way for me for any series, the second book is always the least favorite, but before I start ranting, I do have a good reason for not liking this one, and now I will conclude.
I hate mix-ups. Absolutely despise them, especially when they write the book so that the reader KNOWS it happening. It kills me through the entire book, not that it makes the book terrible, but I find myself pulling hair out screaming at the characters to "FIGURE IT OUT ALREADY". After calling them idiots a million times, I realize it actually makes sense for what happened to happen. So by driving me mad until they figured it out, I kept reading until the end which is a good thing for the authors. Kunze and Onur, I must say, to keep me reading into a story like that is hard, but you did it. And for whichever one of you two took French, bien fait et continuer à écrire!
April 2, 2011
Initial Thoughts after Reading:
If you thought The Ivy was scandalous and full of secrets, just wait until you read Secrets, the latest addition to the series! It's even better than the first, and while the ending is evil in a cliffhanger sort of a way, it makes me love the series even more. Though, can I have the third one now, pretty please? I need to know what happens next! :)
Official Review:
Just when I thought the world of The Ivy could not get any more scandalous, dramatic, or suspenseful, Secrets, the newest addition in The Ivy series, comes along and blows my expectations right out of the water.
Quite simply, Callie is not looking forward to returning to the drama and deceit she left back at Harvard. However, not going back is not an option so there she is back in her freshman year after an uneventful Thanksgiving break. As usual, nothing is going her way. For one, Lexi is still threatening to unleash the secret Callie would do anything to hide, and because of it, Callie’s now doing all of Lexi’s dirty work, even if means letting go of the things she loves the most. Next, her BFF Vanessa is not talking to her, which is causing major chaos in their dorm. Most importantly, Gregory, the boy she hates to love, is acting weird around her, leaving her to wonder once again whom she will end up with… Gregory, Matt, or Clint? Better yet, will she ever get out of Lexi’s hold on her? Moreover, will her and Vanessa every call a truce and make up? Only time and more pages will tell in this unforgettable sequel to what started it all- The Ivy.
Just like in The Ivy, the characters in this were one of the best parts of the novel. For one, there was some much-needed development into them and their relationships, and for two, they became just all around three-dimensional for the most part. My favorite would still have to Callie, as not only is she very much likable and root-able, but parts of her story are very much ones that any girl can relate to, no matter how young or how old. The only aspect I didn’t like about her character in this was the fact that it took her quite a bit of time to stand up for herself involving that one secret, but it did cause for some great suspense to occur in the long run as well as nail-biting type scenes, so I suppose it was worth it in the end.
I also enjoyed the focus on Callie’s love life, because if anything, it is very eventful, and best of all, it moves in some great directions. For instance, Gregory steps it up a bit in this novel, as does Clint, which made me forever indecisive when it came to picking whom Callie would end up with.
Furthermore, I once again think the Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur did a great job with the plot in this. Full of drama, secrets, lies, and romance, there wasn’t a time when I wasn’t dying to flip the page, so I could finally find out what would occur next. Better yet, I also loved that while a big portion of Secrets has to do with love, there still is a focus on friendship and day-to-day college life, as I feel it give this series an edge to most YA books out there. Most importantly, I also liked how they faced a particularly heavy issue in this, though I will not say much more about that, since I don’t want to spill any spoilers.
Even better than the prequel, Secrets once again has the ability to win over fans, as they become fully involved in Callie’s story. I can only hope the third one will be as amazing, if not more.
Grade: A+
If you thought The Ivy was scandalous and full of secrets, just wait until you read Secrets, the latest addition to the series! It's even better than the first, and while the ending is evil in a cliffhanger sort of a way, it makes me love the series even more. Though, can I have the third one now, pretty please? I need to know what happens next! :)
Official Review:
Just when I thought the world of The Ivy could not get any more scandalous, dramatic, or suspenseful, Secrets, the newest addition in The Ivy series, comes along and blows my expectations right out of the water.
Quite simply, Callie is not looking forward to returning to the drama and deceit she left back at Harvard. However, not going back is not an option so there she is back in her freshman year after an uneventful Thanksgiving break. As usual, nothing is going her way. For one, Lexi is still threatening to unleash the secret Callie would do anything to hide, and because of it, Callie’s now doing all of Lexi’s dirty work, even if means letting go of the things she loves the most. Next, her BFF Vanessa is not talking to her, which is causing major chaos in their dorm. Most importantly, Gregory, the boy she hates to love, is acting weird around her, leaving her to wonder once again whom she will end up with… Gregory, Matt, or Clint? Better yet, will she ever get out of Lexi’s hold on her? Moreover, will her and Vanessa every call a truce and make up? Only time and more pages will tell in this unforgettable sequel to what started it all- The Ivy.
Just like in The Ivy, the characters in this were one of the best parts of the novel. For one, there was some much-needed development into them and their relationships, and for two, they became just all around three-dimensional for the most part. My favorite would still have to Callie, as not only is she very much likable and root-able, but parts of her story are very much ones that any girl can relate to, no matter how young or how old. The only aspect I didn’t like about her character in this was the fact that it took her quite a bit of time to stand up for herself involving that one secret, but it did cause for some great suspense to occur in the long run as well as nail-biting type scenes, so I suppose it was worth it in the end.
I also enjoyed the focus on Callie’s love life, because if anything, it is very eventful, and best of all, it moves in some great directions. For instance, Gregory steps it up a bit in this novel, as does Clint, which made me forever indecisive when it came to picking whom Callie would end up with.
Furthermore, I once again think the Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur did a great job with the plot in this. Full of drama, secrets, lies, and romance, there wasn’t a time when I wasn’t dying to flip the page, so I could finally find out what would occur next. Better yet, I also loved that while a big portion of Secrets has to do with love, there still is a focus on friendship and day-to-day college life, as I feel it give this series an edge to most YA books out there. Most importantly, I also liked how they faced a particularly heavy issue in this, though I will not say much more about that, since I don’t want to spill any spoilers.
Even better than the prequel, Secrets once again has the ability to win over fans, as they become fully involved in Callie’s story. I can only hope the third one will be as amazing, if not more.
Grade: A+
March 6, 2012
So, SECRETS definitely picked up exactly where the last one left off, with our friend Callie caught in the middle of an Ivy League style scandal that rocks her academic and social worlds. Now, if you haven't read the first book, of course, you'll probably want to go ahead and do that before going further into this review. It's inevitable, in reviewing book 2, that I'll spoil parts of book 1, hence the reason why I typically don't really love reviewing series. But, I digress.
Callie's ex-boyfriend created a sex tape that he released to his fraternity in order to score points in a hazing event. Queen Bee Lexi, Callie's arch enemy at Harvard and the one person creating a road block before her goals of making onto the school magazine staff, has managed to secure a copy of the sex tape in question. So, of course, Lexi is blackmailing Callie, forcing her to run errands and fulfill menial tasks in order to avoid the threat of having her video leaked and having herself eliminated from the possibility of the magazine.
And, of course, Lexi's number one demand is that Callie breaks up with Clint, the Ivy League stud who has taken a definite interest in Callie -- and who happens (of course) to be Lexi's ex-boyfriend. In the mean time, Callie also has issues with former best-friend-turned-backstabber Vanessa and then there's Gregory, the bad boy who was almost Callie's boyfriend, until a communication mix-up made things crazy -- except now Gregory wants Callie back (and Vanessa wants Gregory).
I really enjoyed the first book more, I think, because it didn't focus so heavily on the insta-love and the dreaded love triangle. I liked seeing Callie's struggles in trying to get on the magazine staff and her reactions to adapting to life in an Ivy League school, but I'm just not as drawn-in by the romantic aspect of things. It just felt cliche at times. Of COURSE everyone wants Callie. Of COURSE she's going to have to choose between two seemingly-wonderful options. Does this ever happen in real life? Puhlease.
I'm not asking for totally realistic fiction, though. It'd be boring to read about my own life. I still think this is a fun series, and I do plan on reading the third installment once it's released. The author really knows how to end on a cliff-hanger, although this one has me slightly less intrigued since it's more centered on Callie's love life than her academic mishaps. Even so, I'd recommend SECRETS to anyone who likes a fun chick lit, especially fans of series like Gossip Girls.
Callie's ex-boyfriend created a sex tape that he released to his fraternity in order to score points in a hazing event. Queen Bee Lexi, Callie's arch enemy at Harvard and the one person creating a road block before her goals of making onto the school magazine staff, has managed to secure a copy of the sex tape in question. So, of course, Lexi is blackmailing Callie, forcing her to run errands and fulfill menial tasks in order to avoid the threat of having her video leaked and having herself eliminated from the possibility of the magazine.
And, of course, Lexi's number one demand is that Callie breaks up with Clint, the Ivy League stud who has taken a definite interest in Callie -- and who happens (of course) to be Lexi's ex-boyfriend. In the mean time, Callie also has issues with former best-friend-turned-backstabber Vanessa and then there's Gregory, the bad boy who was almost Callie's boyfriend, until a communication mix-up made things crazy -- except now Gregory wants Callie back (and Vanessa wants Gregory).
I really enjoyed the first book more, I think, because it didn't focus so heavily on the insta-love and the dreaded love triangle. I liked seeing Callie's struggles in trying to get on the magazine staff and her reactions to adapting to life in an Ivy League school, but I'm just not as drawn-in by the romantic aspect of things. It just felt cliche at times. Of COURSE everyone wants Callie. Of COURSE she's going to have to choose between two seemingly-wonderful options. Does this ever happen in real life? Puhlease.
I'm not asking for totally realistic fiction, though. It'd be boring to read about my own life. I still think this is a fun series, and I do plan on reading the third installment once it's released. The author really knows how to end on a cliff-hanger, although this one has me slightly less intrigued since it's more centered on Callie's love life than her academic mishaps. Even so, I'd recommend SECRETS to anyone who likes a fun chick lit, especially fans of series like Gossip Girls.
December 19, 2015
Review copy provided by publisher
Why I Read this Book: The previous book, The Ivy, left off with quite the scandal. I’ve been waiting to read Secrets for almost a year now!
What I Liked: Confession: I was in a bit of a panic when I was about to start reading Secrets because while I could remember some of what happened in The Ivy, there were certain details that I couldn’t remember – like the how things went down. Lucky for me, the authors did a great job of recapping most of the I had questions right in the beginning of Secrets. There was one thing (regarding Callie’s secret) that wasn’t recapped on until late in the book.
Secrets was even more scandalous and delicious than its predecessor. You like drama? Well, you’ll get drama in Secrets. Alexis, head chick for Fifteen Minutes magazine Callie is COMPing (trying out) for, totally makes Callie’s life miserable. And even though I’m on Callie’s side, it’s kind of fun to watch her squirm a bit. There’s more drama, more romances. And the authors keep things interesting with there being more than one romantic interest for Callie. Ah, the possibilities…
There are a couple of Harvard-related websites mentioned in the book (nonofficial sites) that are real sites! And yes, I checked them out and they are funny!
One of my favorite scenes in the book was The Hasty Pudding Social Club Limerick party. Each attendee picked a name out of a hat and had to write a limerick about that person. All the Limericks mentioned in the book were very entertaining! Including the one Clint wrote just for Callie’s to read.
And with all the drama going on in Secrets, there were plenty of laughs.
What I Didn’t Like: Poor Callie, she just can’t seem to get a break! Just when things look to be going her way – WHAM! – there’s a problem. But then it wouldn’t have been as to fun if everything went her way. So many mishaps; things getting into the wrong hands seems to be the reoccurring theme in this series.
Overall Impression: Secrets was pure entertainment. Great fun afternoon read or beach read. With the helluva cliffhanger at the end of Secrets, I can’t wait to read the next book in this 4-book series!
Why I Read this Book: The previous book, The Ivy, left off with quite the scandal. I’ve been waiting to read Secrets for almost a year now!
What I Liked: Confession: I was in a bit of a panic when I was about to start reading Secrets because while I could remember some of what happened in The Ivy, there were certain details that I couldn’t remember – like the how things went down. Lucky for me, the authors did a great job of recapping most of the I had questions right in the beginning of Secrets. There was one thing (regarding Callie’s secret) that wasn’t recapped on until late in the book.
Secrets was even more scandalous and delicious than its predecessor. You like drama? Well, you’ll get drama in Secrets. Alexis, head chick for Fifteen Minutes magazine Callie is COMPing (trying out) for, totally makes Callie’s life miserable. And even though I’m on Callie’s side, it’s kind of fun to watch her squirm a bit. There’s more drama, more romances. And the authors keep things interesting with there being more than one romantic interest for Callie. Ah, the possibilities…
There are a couple of Harvard-related websites mentioned in the book (nonofficial sites) that are real sites! And yes, I checked them out and they are funny!
One of my favorite scenes in the book was The Hasty Pudding Social Club Limerick party. Each attendee picked a name out of a hat and had to write a limerick about that person. All the Limericks mentioned in the book were very entertaining! Including the one Clint wrote just for Callie’s to read.
And with all the drama going on in Secrets, there were plenty of laughs.
“Ohmygosh, look at that guy,” she cried, pointing at a boy wearing only a tube sock – and not on either of his feet.*
What I Didn’t Like: Poor Callie, she just can’t seem to get a break! Just when things look to be going her way – WHAM! – there’s a problem. But then it wouldn’t have been as to fun if everything went her way. So many mishaps; things getting into the wrong hands seems to be the reoccurring theme in this series.
Overall Impression: Secrets was pure entertainment. Great fun afternoon read or beach read. With the helluva cliffhanger at the end of Secrets, I can’t wait to read the next book in this 4-book series!
April 29, 2011
I absolutely loved The Ivy. Oh, the scandals, the frenemies, the boys, the binge drinking, and the occasional classes. How utterly wonderful. Secrets starts up right where The Ivy left off and continued the drama-filled prestigious college experience I loved. The story progressed nicely in The Ivy, but it was clearly a middle of the series sequel. The plot continued as expected, but nothing shockingly huge occurred.
Misunderstandings, both accidental and those caused with malicious intent, were definitely the theme of Secrets. Callie's relationships with both Gregory and Vanessa in this book were one constant misunderstanding after another. While it kept Callie constantly unsure of herself and where she stood with each of them, it often times caused me to wonder why no one ever seemed to talk to each other. Not just Callie and Gregory or Callie and Vanessa, but all the other characters as well. Does no one at this school gossip about their friends behind their backs in the normal curious manner? It seemed as though the only time anyone spoke of anyone else's situation it was usually mean-spirited, such as Vanessa purposely giving Gregory false information about Callie's feelings. It worked for the plot, but I can't imagine it playing out this way in real life.
Callie's incessant need to keep things from Clint became grating in Secrets. Seriously, just tell him about the video already. It really isn't a big deal. And why would she possibly continue to hide what Lexie's doing to her? Where is the benefit in that? I understood the motivation in The Ivy, as Callie was flustered having just had all of these things happen, but by Secrets, she really should have come to terms with events and gotten over whatever misplaced embarrassment she was holding on to.
I wished more new things were infused into Secrets. As I said earlier, the story progressed well, but there was nothing that made this book stand out from The Ivy. It felt as though it was missing the big, main event that would have made the novel outstanding. As it is, it's fun and entertaining, but can't compare to The Ivy.
As I understand it, there are two more books planned for this series. I can't imagine where the story will go from here. While nothing is completely wrapped up by the end of Secrets, it doesn't really hint at what's to come. While I liked Secrets, I'm hoping the future book will be scandalous, shocking, and able to stand alone.
Misunderstandings, both accidental and those caused with malicious intent, were definitely the theme of Secrets. Callie's relationships with both Gregory and Vanessa in this book were one constant misunderstanding after another. While it kept Callie constantly unsure of herself and where she stood with each of them, it often times caused me to wonder why no one ever seemed to talk to each other. Not just Callie and Gregory or Callie and Vanessa, but all the other characters as well. Does no one at this school gossip about their friends behind their backs in the normal curious manner? It seemed as though the only time anyone spoke of anyone else's situation it was usually mean-spirited, such as Vanessa purposely giving Gregory false information about Callie's feelings. It worked for the plot, but I can't imagine it playing out this way in real life.
Callie's incessant need to keep things from Clint became grating in Secrets. Seriously, just tell him about the video already. It really isn't a big deal. And why would she possibly continue to hide what Lexie's doing to her? Where is the benefit in that? I understood the motivation in The Ivy, as Callie was flustered having just had all of these things happen, but by Secrets, she really should have come to terms with events and gotten over whatever misplaced embarrassment she was holding on to.
I wished more new things were infused into Secrets. As I said earlier, the story progressed well, but there was nothing that made this book stand out from The Ivy. It felt as though it was missing the big, main event that would have made the novel outstanding. As it is, it's fun and entertaining, but can't compare to The Ivy.
As I understand it, there are two more books planned for this series. I can't imagine where the story will go from here. While nothing is completely wrapped up by the end of Secrets, it doesn't really hint at what's to come. While I liked Secrets, I'm hoping the future book will be scandalous, shocking, and able to stand alone.
January 18, 2012
There are so many reasons I cannot wait for the book The Ivy: Rivals by Lauren Kunze, coming out this year on March 6.
The Ivy series tells the story of a Californian named Callie first year at college.
The second book in this series, The Ivy: Secrets tells the story freshman Callie Andrews during the second half of her first semester in college. As she struggles with exams, her love life, black mail and a ruin friendship with her old best friend, Vanessa, she learns many life lessons. I read it more than ten times and I am still enhanced with the writing and story.
This book contains non-stop action, hilarious one-liners, memorable scenes- no matter how many times I read it the Limerick’s dinner remains amazing- and characters that each have an amazing role to play. This story is unique in its usage of literary techniques and providing glimpses on what realistically goes on at college, in this case Harvard.
There are two characters with the initial M are amazing friends to Callie: Mimi and Matt. I love how Mimi always there to mediate peace, her carefree nature and occasional use of her native French language. Matt was a perfect friend for Callie to choose to, finally, tell her secret too. Though he is sadly a bad tutor.
I love how it flawlessly transitions throughout third person point of view and incorporates allusions that relate to events learned in school. My favorite lesson the prisoner dilemma game theory that reminds me more of detective stories then economics.
The Casablanca quotes during the last chapter fitted perfectly with the plot’s dilemmas of love and how it is a series of miscommunication and rivalry.
If you have not read this unforgettable book yet, READ IT!
A Bit of Creative Writing
The last line is amazing and I created a trillion scenarios for the beginning of the third book. My favorite of my ideas is the following:
“Gregory!” a shrill voice cried loudly across the room.
Callie couldn’t stop looking in those beautiful blue eyes. That look like, for the first time in a long time, friendly. Ungrudging.
“Gregory” Alessandra came into to view. She hurriedly hugged Gregory and said “I so glad you’re finally back.” noticing Callie and Clint, she smiled warmly at Callie. ”Oh, Hi Callie, looks like you’re dreams came true!”
You can read more of my reviews at my new blog:
http://unforgetablebooks.blogspot.com/
The Ivy series tells the story of a Californian named Callie first year at college.
The second book in this series, The Ivy: Secrets tells the story freshman Callie Andrews during the second half of her first semester in college. As she struggles with exams, her love life, black mail and a ruin friendship with her old best friend, Vanessa, she learns many life lessons. I read it more than ten times and I am still enhanced with the writing and story.
This book contains non-stop action, hilarious one-liners, memorable scenes- no matter how many times I read it the Limerick’s dinner remains amazing- and characters that each have an amazing role to play. This story is unique in its usage of literary techniques and providing glimpses on what realistically goes on at college, in this case Harvard.
There are two characters with the initial M are amazing friends to Callie: Mimi and Matt. I love how Mimi always there to mediate peace, her carefree nature and occasional use of her native French language. Matt was a perfect friend for Callie to choose to, finally, tell her secret too. Though he is sadly a bad tutor.
I love how it flawlessly transitions throughout third person point of view and incorporates allusions that relate to events learned in school. My favorite lesson the prisoner dilemma game theory that reminds me more of detective stories then economics.
The Casablanca quotes during the last chapter fitted perfectly with the plot’s dilemmas of love and how it is a series of miscommunication and rivalry.
If you have not read this unforgettable book yet, READ IT!
A Bit of Creative Writing
The last line is amazing and I created a trillion scenarios for the beginning of the third book. My favorite of my ideas is the following:
“Gregory!” a shrill voice cried loudly across the room.
Callie couldn’t stop looking in those beautiful blue eyes. That look like, for the first time in a long time, friendly. Ungrudging.
“Gregory” Alessandra came into to view. She hurriedly hugged Gregory and said “I so glad you’re finally back.” noticing Callie and Clint, she smiled warmly at Callie. ”Oh, Hi Callie, looks like you’re dreams came true!”
You can read more of my reviews at my new blog:
http://unforgetablebooks.blogspot.com/
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