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Prep School Confidential #1
Prep School Confidential
In this breathtaking debut that reads like Gossip Girl crossed with Twin Peaks, a Queen Bee at a blue-blooded New England prep school stumbles into a murder mystery.
Anne Dowling practically runs her exclusive academy on New York’s Upper East Side—that is, until she accidentally burns part of it down and gets sent to a prestigious boarding school outside of Boston. Determined to make it back to New York, Anne couldn't care less about making friends at the preppy Wheatley School. That is, until her roommate Isabella’s body is found in the woods behind the school.
When everyone else is oddly silent, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it. With the help of Isabella’s twin brother Anthony, and a cute classmate named Brent, Anne discovers that Isabella wasn’t quite the innocent nerdy girl she pretended to be. But someone will do anything to stop Anne’s snooping in this fast-paced, unputdownable read—even if it means framing her for Isabella’s murder.
Anne Dowling practically runs her exclusive academy on New York’s Upper East Side—that is, until she accidentally burns part of it down and gets sent to a prestigious boarding school outside of Boston. Determined to make it back to New York, Anne couldn't care less about making friends at the preppy Wheatley School. That is, until her roommate Isabella’s body is found in the woods behind the school.
When everyone else is oddly silent, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it. With the help of Isabella’s twin brother Anthony, and a cute classmate named Brent, Anne discovers that Isabella wasn’t quite the innocent nerdy girl she pretended to be. But someone will do anything to stop Anne’s snooping in this fast-paced, unputdownable read—even if it means framing her for Isabella’s murder.
310 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2013
About the author
Kara Taylor
8 books245 followersKara Taylor wrote PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL in her first semester of graduate school, in between pulling all nighters and listening to her dad say writing isn't a real job. She recently signed a blind script deal with Warner Brothers television and is now the writer and co-executive producer of THE REVENGERS, a dramedy in development at The CW with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER). She lives on Long Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
August 18, 2013
4.5 stars
Take your preconceptions on Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars and check them at the door. Haters to the left. This book was an absolutely blast to read. I want to give this a solid 5, I seriously do. I have no complaints at all about this book, none. But I am still stupid, and my mind cannot wrap itself around the concept of giving such an exalted number for an YA book of this light nature.
I'm not perfect by any means. I judge books: more often than not, my expectations are shot down into a bloody pulp as I am drawn in by an interesting blurb and attractive cover. Not this time. I came in as a skeptic, I was wrong, I loved the hell out of this book.
Let's face it, we've all watched Gossip Girl or heard of it in some form or another, and at first glance, this book sounds like another clone. Bitchy, spoiled, poor-little-rich girls with nothing better to do than spend their daddy's credit cards and wail about the lack of availability of their trust funds as they weep into their fucking Hermès scarves tucked into their Louis Vuitton satchels, right? Wrong.
When entering the category of YA high school fiction, there are bound to be tropes. There are few of that nature within this book, and the few clichéd characters that exist are developed out so well in character that it didn't bother me at all. Besides the main characters, the rest of the large supporting casts are so wonderfully written as well. The characters are complex, their character develop as we get further along in the book, as we learn more about them. There is no black and white; these kids may be rich prep school kids, but they are also smart, ambitious, and so very human. These teens are realistic; they are not complete assholes, they are not perfectly good; they do not fit into the Gossip Girl teen clichés at all. Nobody is perfectly good or bad, not the victims, not the villains; they are such wonderfully written characters.
I was set up by the premise to be contemptuous towards our main character, Anne. I assumed that she would be empty-headed and stupid based on her background, and because of what she did (arson, come on now)...but Anne is so much more than that. I adored her. Yes, she is a spoiled teenager, but she is smart, she is rational, she has common sense, she is a queen bee, but not in the sense that she will destroy people in the process. No. She has the ability to think for herself.
Anne is not a Mary Sue. We get the impression that she is good-looking, and she has beautiful hair, but she never refers to her looks throughout the book. She is smart, she is charismatic; that is how Anne became the most popular girl at her previous school, and that's how she immediately gained that status upon arriving at her new school. Anne is not cruel, she may be popular, but she never uses her status to hurt anyone, she is an egalitarian, and that's why her new school bothers her so much. Wheatley is an extremely prestigious college-prep private school; the school body is small and mostly limited to the children of the extremely wealthy or powerful (read: politicians). It's a big difference from Anne's previous school, and despite her popularity, it really bothers her because of the reason why.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really enjoyed the way romance was handled in this book. There is attraction between Anne and a few characters in the book, but it never overshadows the big picture. Anne has her priorities and her head straight. There is attraction, there is no insta-love, as there should be. Romance is handled in a realistic way within the book; the characters take relationships not too seriously, as rational teenagers should do, and I liked them all the more for it. There is a love triangle, but it is done so well, that again, I have no complaints at all. I found the guys to be clichéd, but they are so well-written and likeable that I don't dislike them at all. I actually prefer one over the other and was rooting for him throughout the book!
The students are a diverse lot, there are a few students who are not white; I do wish there were more, but you can't have everything. I honestly cannot find much to criticize about this book, and you know I love to complain.
Highly recommended, one of the best YA books I have read this year.
Take your preconceptions on Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars and check them at the door. Haters to the left. This book was an absolutely blast to read. I want to give this a solid 5, I seriously do. I have no complaints at all about this book, none. But I am still stupid, and my mind cannot wrap itself around the concept of giving such an exalted number for an YA book of this light nature.
I'm not perfect by any means. I judge books: more often than not, my expectations are shot down into a bloody pulp as I am drawn in by an interesting blurb and attractive cover. Not this time. I came in as a skeptic, I was wrong, I loved the hell out of this book.
Let's face it, we've all watched Gossip Girl or heard of it in some form or another, and at first glance, this book sounds like another clone. Bitchy, spoiled, poor-little-rich girls with nothing better to do than spend their daddy's credit cards and wail about the lack of availability of their trust funds as they weep into their fucking Hermès scarves tucked into their Louis Vuitton satchels, right? Wrong.
When entering the category of YA high school fiction, there are bound to be tropes. There are few of that nature within this book, and the few clichéd characters that exist are developed out so well in character that it didn't bother me at all. Besides the main characters, the rest of the large supporting casts are so wonderfully written as well. The characters are complex, their character develop as we get further along in the book, as we learn more about them. There is no black and white; these kids may be rich prep school kids, but they are also smart, ambitious, and so very human. These teens are realistic; they are not complete assholes, they are not perfectly good; they do not fit into the Gossip Girl teen clichés at all. Nobody is perfectly good or bad, not the victims, not the villains; they are such wonderfully written characters.
I was set up by the premise to be contemptuous towards our main character, Anne. I assumed that she would be empty-headed and stupid based on her background, and because of what she did (arson, come on now)...but Anne is so much more than that. I adored her. Yes, she is a spoiled teenager, but she is smart, she is rational, she has common sense, she is a queen bee, but not in the sense that she will destroy people in the process. No. She has the ability to think for herself.
Anne is not a Mary Sue. We get the impression that she is good-looking, and she has beautiful hair, but she never refers to her looks throughout the book. She is smart, she is charismatic; that is how Anne became the most popular girl at her previous school, and that's how she immediately gained that status upon arriving at her new school. Anne is not cruel, she may be popular, but she never uses her status to hurt anyone, she is an egalitarian, and that's why her new school bothers her so much. Wheatley is an extremely prestigious college-prep private school; the school body is small and mostly limited to the children of the extremely wealthy or powerful (read: politicians). It's a big difference from Anne's previous school, and despite her popularity, it really bothers her because of the reason why.
"At St. Bernadette’s, it didn’t matter where your money came from, since everyone’s parents were attorneys or plastic surgeons or famous rock stars; you had to prove yourself to earn your status. The fact that Remy and Company won’t even wait for me to prove myself makes me distrust them."Anne was set to hate her new school and her new dorky roommate, but to her surprise, both aren't bad, and she finds herself really liking Isabella, despite her status as a scholarship student, and at the bottom of the popularity ladder. Almost right after they start bonding, Isabella is murdered, and nobody at the school seems to care about it. Anne has a very ingrained sense of justice (her father is a lawyer, after all) and she is infuriated and frustrated by the fact that nobody seems to care. Anne sees the injustice in the matter, she sees the hypocrisy in the case, and she's determined to do something about it.
"I should be worried about myself and my future, but I can’t stop thinking about Isabella, and how if she were the daughter of a politician or the attorney general, the police would probably have found her killer by now.It's not only that people don't care about a lowly girl, what's worse is that people seem to be hiding clues to conceal the truth about her case. Anne is determined to uncover the truth, despite all the people who seem to stand in her way...and there are no shortages of suspects. There are a number of blocks in the way, there are powerful people in play, and people also question Anne's credibility. Let's be honest, would you trust a girl who's been kicked out of school for arson? Anne has a lot of obstacles to work through, and she handles them all with grace.
It’s not fair. And it’s not fair for me to sit around and do nothing about it. Not when I got off with a slap on the wrist for almost burning my school down just because of my father. I’ll be such a hypocrite if I don’t at least try to get justice for Isabella."
"I wait until I’m out of the administration building to give in to a few tears. Obviously I can’t go to class now, and I don’t want to go back to my room. I could go to the police, but what would I say? Hey, I have absolutely no evidence, and they didn’t take anything, but someone was in my room.Anne is not TSTL. She investigates the case, but she never intentionally puts herself in so much danger that I find myself face-palming and cringing due to her stupidity; she is intelligent, and it shows through every step of the way. Her investigation progresses in a rational manner, and while some of her observations are a little...questionable (just because someone looks creepy doesn't automatically make them a suspect, my dear), I highly enjoyed reading about her sleuthing as she works the case.
I wipe my eyes with my gloves and take a deep breath. Keep it together, Anne. You can’t go home. You need to get through this."
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really enjoyed the way romance was handled in this book. There is attraction between Anne and a few characters in the book, but it never overshadows the big picture. Anne has her priorities and her head straight. There is attraction, there is no insta-love, as there should be. Romance is handled in a realistic way within the book; the characters take relationships not too seriously, as rational teenagers should do, and I liked them all the more for it. There is a love triangle, but it is done so well, that again, I have no complaints at all. I found the guys to be clichéd, but they are so well-written and likeable that I don't dislike them at all. I actually prefer one over the other and was rooting for him throughout the book!
The students are a diverse lot, there are a few students who are not white; I do wish there were more, but you can't have everything. I honestly cannot find much to criticize about this book, and you know I love to complain.
Highly recommended, one of the best YA books I have read this year.
July 15, 2016
What an intriguing novel! When I fist saw this book, I debated for a couple weeks over if I should get it or not. I can now say that I am glad I did.
Our leading lady, Anne, is sent to a prestigious boarding school after a mishap at her old school. She was expecting a lame, prep-filled year but instead is thrust into a mystery when her roommate is murdered. Determined to find out who did it, Anne begins her search. Let me tell you, almost everyone in this book has a secret. Some dark, some petty and others deadly. Students, staff and town members alike are under Anne's scrutiny. Each step closer she gets to her roommates killer, brings one more secret to light. And they just keep coming...
I though this would be a light, easy read but it had more depth than I thought. At fist Anne annoyed the hell out of me. She was the "queen" at her old school, got away with everything, everyone knew her, and she is seemed a bit vain and materialistic. While true to an extent, I learned there is a lot more to her. She is caring, determined and clever as well. While I have a hard time believing her wanting to investigate so thoroughly (does she hope to be a detective one day or something?) I enjoyed her search for the truth. Nothing deterred her and the scarier things got, the more deeply she had to delve.
While there is a bit of romance of romance in the story, it is a mild part. I liked that the murder and secrets stayed as the primary focus. Although what romantic moments there are had the worst timing ever! The book's ending is a cliffy that leaves you looking forward to the next in the series. I did not expect that. When I got this, I was expecting a one shot read. Looks like Anne's new school has even more is store for everyone and I will have to keep an eye out for the second book when it comes out!
Special Thanks to St Martin's for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
Our leading lady, Anne, is sent to a prestigious boarding school after a mishap at her old school. She was expecting a lame, prep-filled year but instead is thrust into a mystery when her roommate is murdered. Determined to find out who did it, Anne begins her search. Let me tell you, almost everyone in this book has a secret. Some dark, some petty and others deadly. Students, staff and town members alike are under Anne's scrutiny. Each step closer she gets to her roommates killer, brings one more secret to light. And they just keep coming...
I though this would be a light, easy read but it had more depth than I thought. At fist Anne annoyed the hell out of me. She was the "queen" at her old school, got away with everything, everyone knew her, and she is seemed a bit vain and materialistic. While true to an extent, I learned there is a lot more to her. She is caring, determined and clever as well. While I have a hard time believing her wanting to investigate so thoroughly (does she hope to be a detective one day or something?) I enjoyed her search for the truth. Nothing deterred her and the scarier things got, the more deeply she had to delve.
While there is a bit of romance of romance in the story, it is a mild part. I liked that the murder and secrets stayed as the primary focus. Although what romantic moments there are had the worst timing ever! The book's ending is a cliffy that leaves you looking forward to the next in the series. I did not expect that. When I got this, I was expecting a one shot read. Looks like Anne's new school has even more is store for everyone and I will have to keep an eye out for the second book when it comes out!
Special Thanks to St Martin's for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
September 29, 2014
4.5 stars
This book was very very surprising. I did not expect to fall for this book. When I read the first few chapters, I was really pleased with how the narration was going and nothing more and all of sudden - BAM! I'm falling for this book.
This book is a little bit like Gossip Girl. I mean, the main character, Anne Dowling is from Upper East Side and she reminded me so much of Gossip Girl. Well, when I first heard about it I presumed we'd have a very bitchy annoying bratty main character who I will really hate but yipee, that's not the case here.
Sometimes, it is very good to delve into a book without any expectations or hope. I truly had no desire for this book and I have no idea why I picked it up but I just did and I'm so glad I did because this book is effin' awesome.
So, this book is basically about a teen girl investigating a murder that took place in her boarding school. Sounds trite and simple, doesn't it? But believe me, you would have never come across such a kickass protagonist from Upper East Side who has a knack for trouble and also proves to be an excellent investigator by suspecting everyone! I have to say, my suspicions weren't correct which made me love the book even more!
Anne Dowling: I would use two E's and one B to describe her.
Slightly Eccentric, Erratic and Bold.
Now, short explanations for why I chose those three words.
I found her eccentric - sorry, slightly eccentric because I don't think any normal teenage girl would want to get involved in a murder investigation without even knowing the person who got murdered completely. She knew the person only for a week. So, that just felt a little off to me. And she is very strange in a good Sherlock Holmes way. Well, not exactly like Sherlock Holmes (He's a genius! All praise him!) but a little bit similar to him because he loves to investigate and our little Anne here seems to love it too!
Erratic - she's completely unpredictable.
Bold - You'll know why once you start reading this book.
She also reminded me of two things.
One: She reminded me of this quote by Thomas Paine for no reason. "Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society."
This quote has nothing to do with Anne or the book whatsoever and Thomas Paine certainly shouldn't come into my mind since I've only read this one particular quote twice and honestly I don't know much about him.
Two: She reminded me of this song called "Trouble is a friend by Lenka. I think that song would suit her very well. These two lines are made for her!
"Trouble he will find you no matter where you go, oh oh
No matter if you're fast, no matter if you're slow, oh oh."
Okay, now let's get back to the book.
Lets see what we have here -
★ A very promising plot,
★ A very kickass protagonist and
★ Enjoyable characters.
These things sound perfect for a book, don't they?
This book was very very surprising. I did not expect to fall for this book. When I read the first few chapters, I was really pleased with how the narration was going and nothing more and all of sudden - BAM! I'm falling for this book.
This book is a little bit like Gossip Girl. I mean, the main character, Anne Dowling is from Upper East Side and she reminded me so much of Gossip Girl. Well, when I first heard about it I presumed we'd have a very bitchy annoying bratty main character who I will really hate but yipee, that's not the case here.
Sometimes, it is very good to delve into a book without any expectations or hope. I truly had no desire for this book and I have no idea why I picked it up but I just did and I'm so glad I did because this book is effin' awesome.
So, this book is basically about a teen girl investigating a murder that took place in her boarding school. Sounds trite and simple, doesn't it? But believe me, you would have never come across such a kickass protagonist from Upper East Side who has a knack for trouble and also proves to be an excellent investigator by suspecting everyone! I have to say, my suspicions weren't correct which made me love the book even more!
Anne Dowling: I would use two E's and one B to describe her.
Slightly Eccentric, Erratic and Bold.
Now, short explanations for why I chose those three words.
I found her eccentric - sorry, slightly eccentric because I don't think any normal teenage girl would want to get involved in a murder investigation without even knowing the person who got murdered completely. She knew the person only for a week. So, that just felt a little off to me. And she is very strange in a good Sherlock Holmes way. Well, not exactly like Sherlock Holmes (He's a genius! All praise him!) but a little bit similar to him because he loves to investigate and our little Anne here seems to love it too!
Erratic - she's completely unpredictable.
Bold - You'll know why once you start reading this book.
She also reminded me of two things.
One: She reminded me of this quote by Thomas Paine for no reason. "Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society."
This quote has nothing to do with Anne or the book whatsoever and Thomas Paine certainly shouldn't come into my mind since I've only read this one particular quote twice and honestly I don't know much about him.
Two: She reminded me of this song called "Trouble is a friend by Lenka. I think that song would suit her very well. These two lines are made for her!
"Trouble he will find you no matter where you go, oh oh
No matter if you're fast, no matter if you're slow, oh oh."
Okay, now let's get back to the book.
Lets see what we have here -
★ A very promising plot,
★ A very kickass protagonist and
★ Enjoyable characters.
These things sound perfect for a book, don't they?
January 11, 2019
5 Words: Mystery, school, plotting, murder, twists.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I picked this up. In fact, four of those five words at the top wouldn't have applied. So this book was a surprise, a really pleasant surprise.
It was such a fun read.
The plot was engrossing and I got completely caught up in the investigation, the spying, the twists and turns of the mystery. And the school life.
Take Gossip Girl, set it in a boarding school, and add lost of extra danger and intrigue and then you're maybe half way there to this book. It was excellent.
For some reason I'm always surprised when I read a YA crime/mystery/thriller. Every time I read one my mind is blown.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I picked this up. In fact, four of those five words at the top wouldn't have applied. So this book was a surprise, a really pleasant surprise.
It was such a fun read.
The plot was engrossing and I got completely caught up in the investigation, the spying, the twists and turns of the mystery. And the school life.
Take Gossip Girl, set it in a boarding school, and add lost of extra danger and intrigue and then you're maybe half way there to this book. It was excellent.
For some reason I'm always surprised when I read a YA crime/mystery/thriller. Every time I read one my mind is blown.
June 25, 2018
Mini review:
DNF
GR Ultimate Summer Reading Challenge: Beach Bum.
Prep School Confidential sounded right up my alley! When I saw that my library had a copy I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I loved Anne as a heroine! But I didn't like anybody else. Reading about Anne's classmates really frustrated me. And half of them creeped me out. Thus I couldn't bring myself to read any more.
I do still recommend.
DNF
GR Ultimate Summer Reading Challenge: Beach Bum.
Prep School Confidential sounded right up my alley! When I saw that my library had a copy I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I loved Anne as a heroine! But I didn't like anybody else. Reading about Anne's classmates really frustrated me. And half of them creeped me out. Thus I couldn't bring myself to read any more.
I do still recommend.
September 4, 2020
3.5 stars
"The last time I did something like this, I wasn’t scared. Not because I was braver. I was just stupider."
Wish I didn't know Kara Taylor was Kara Thomas's pen name. That way I wouldn't be comparing Prep School Confidential to her other work and probably be more... thrilled than I am now. Because going into this and expecting Little Monsters made the entire experience underwhelming.
On the bright side, I loved the characters - at certain moments I had a feeling I was reading an adorable YA contemporary and the ending caught me by surprise.
Pretty sure I'll be counties with the series.
"The last time I did something like this, I wasn’t scared. Not because I was braver. I was just stupider."
Wish I didn't know Kara Taylor was Kara Thomas's pen name. That way I wouldn't be comparing Prep School Confidential to her other work and probably be more... thrilled than I am now. Because going into this and expecting Little Monsters made the entire experience underwhelming.
On the bright side, I loved the characters - at certain moments I had a feeling I was reading an adorable YA contemporary and the ending caught me by surprise.
Pretty sure I'll be counties with the series.
July 24, 2013
This book surprised me a lot. I can't believe how I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm a little cautious of films, series, or books that are set in a school for rich kids, because, you know, Gossip Girl (which I didn't like very much), but wow! This was a lot of fun.
Prep School Confidential is your usual murder mystery book, except this time you're dealing with really powerful people, and in an environment where everybody has something to hide and where no one's absolutely innocent. Everywhere you go, there are shifty eyes, there are hidden agendas, there are backstories that can blow your mind. I loved how it kept me second-guessing everyone, from thinking "oh, this guy's totally innocent" to "holy shit, I know it's him!" and ultimately to "what the flying fuck is going on?!" And that's not a bad thing, by the way. Bottomline is: this book has a lot of twists, a lot of juicy, sizzling secrets, and a lot of intrigue. It initially looks fun (don't be fooled by that cover!) but it gets darker later on. DON'T TRUST ANYONE.
Even though it was a little predictable, I still thought it managed to hold itself to make it interesting and engaging. I attribute it to its easy writing and voice. It's set in 1st person POV and our narrator is Anne, a young girl from New York who accidentally set her school auditorium on fire and was eventually sent to a rich boarding school in Boston. She's wild, young, and reckless, but when the moment calls for it, she can be so kick-ass. I loved her humor, her wit, her overall personality - she totally carried this novel. Sure, she wasn't that likeable at first... she appeared to be shallow and selfish, but she changes later — from being someone superficial to smart and righteous, willing to stand up and find the truth when everybody else doesn't.
My only complaint is her being wishy-washy. You see, there's a love triangle here, and while I normally don't mind love triangles, it bothered me to no end how she couldn't (or wouldn't) decide which one she likes more. She'd think of Guy A, then wonders about Guy B. She'd blush at Guy A, then feels nauseous with Guy B. I was flabbergasted each time she'd think of these guys in the middle of a murder investigation, how she kept on thinking how cute they were, how attracted she was to both of them, how she felt something for BOTH of them... That really turned me off. Hopefully this will end in the next book and she finally decides who's really for her.
The plot is linear as it's a traditional whodunit book. I just love that there are so many secrets, how the whole thing is a tangled web of lies, deceit, and scandal, that we still have a lot of room for more detective work in the future sequels. It doesn't even end in a cliffhanger! How cool is that?
Overall, I totally recommend this book to those who want to read a fun and dark whodunit mystery in a rich-family setting. The level of intrigue is exponential. I can't wait for Anne to expose everybody's bullshit! Imagine Revenge x Gossip Girl. Something that awesome. With a spunky lead. If that doesn't entice you, I don't know what will!
Final Verdict: 4 / 5 stars
An ARC was given in exchange for a review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.
September 29, 2015
See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads
Thank you St. Martins Press for sending me this copy. No compensation was given of taken to alter this review.
' It's not hard to think like a criminal. But I guess if you want to get technical about it, I am a criminal.'
Turns out, I can't fortune tell.
I really wish I could. However Prep School Confidential cements my childhood dream of becoming some fancy magician as impossible and absurd. You see, Prep School Confidential is exhaustively unpredictable and unexpected. Like many other novels in the murder mystery genre, Kara Taylor's debut is a novel about the attempt to descry the murderer of a dead body. Kara Taylor duplicitously sways readers in unimaginable places where we begin to suspect the closest person of the victim to the creepo stalker next door. In the end, I decided to trust no one. Insanely persuasive, Prep School Confidential could be a apprehensive and suspenseful read if you are like me- who has no possible future career of a fortune teller.
The book opens up with Anne accidentally lighting her school on fire. As far as first impressions go, yeah... Nonetheless, things pick up a faster and more entertaining pace once Anne is thrown to a boarding prep school in Boston. With her bored attitude, Anne has no intention of making friends yet after just one week of her stay, her seemingly nerdy (and might I add crazy) roommate, Isabella, is found dead just outside the school grounds. Anne is determined to seek out the murderer and find who was behind this outrageous crime. And it seems, that the criminal knows what Anne is doing.
The characters have great levels of nuance. I found Anne a difficult character to deal with at the beginning, her witty remarks, rebellious behaviour and arrogance were no help. However Kara Taylor transforms her swiftly into a careful and smart character when she was introduced to a new environment. This character development may have been a little to quick, but commendable all the same. The author manages to utilise Anne's personality craftily into the murder mystery as Anne is a person with a scrutinising eye. This only made the plot more complex and engaging.
In addition to the characters, there are some borderline clichés. The high school hierarchy and bitches are still of present but more muted. I introduce to you, the blonde nemesis! Alexis is the girl with satirical remarks and cruel I'm-out-for-blood attitude throughout the plot line. She also plays a role- significant of not- which adds another layer of complexity. While there were trite elements here, they were not as overpowering and frustrating as I believed so.
What made Prep School Confidential miss the five star mark was the romance. Like the whole bitchy nemesis aforementioned, it had a little corniness to it- in which I mean love triangle and typical love interests. We have one who's all dark and unruly, then there's the cute, thoughtful and humorous guy with a reputation with the ladies. I'm not awfully happy with the love triangle but I'm rooting for the cute guy! Dark and mysterious- Bleh.
Highly unpredictable in my tastes, fabulous plot line and writing, Prep School Confidential redefines murder mysteries. A worthwhile read with a dash of everything: romance, laughter, suspense and tension. Ally Carter fans are bound to fall in love.
Thank you St. Martins Press for sending me this copy. No compensation was given of taken to alter this review.
' It's not hard to think like a criminal. But I guess if you want to get technical about it, I am a criminal.'
Turns out, I can't fortune tell.
I really wish I could. However Prep School Confidential cements my childhood dream of becoming some fancy magician as impossible and absurd. You see, Prep School Confidential is exhaustively unpredictable and unexpected. Like many other novels in the murder mystery genre, Kara Taylor's debut is a novel about the attempt to descry the murderer of a dead body. Kara Taylor duplicitously sways readers in unimaginable places where we begin to suspect the closest person of the victim to the creepo stalker next door. In the end, I decided to trust no one. Insanely persuasive, Prep School Confidential could be a apprehensive and suspenseful read if you are like me- who has no possible future career of a fortune teller.
The book opens up with Anne accidentally lighting her school on fire. As far as first impressions go, yeah... Nonetheless, things pick up a faster and more entertaining pace once Anne is thrown to a boarding prep school in Boston. With her bored attitude, Anne has no intention of making friends yet after just one week of her stay, her seemingly nerdy (and might I add crazy) roommate, Isabella, is found dead just outside the school grounds. Anne is determined to seek out the murderer and find who was behind this outrageous crime. And it seems, that the criminal knows what Anne is doing.
The characters have great levels of nuance. I found Anne a difficult character to deal with at the beginning, her witty remarks, rebellious behaviour and arrogance were no help. However Kara Taylor transforms her swiftly into a careful and smart character when she was introduced to a new environment. This character development may have been a little to quick, but commendable all the same. The author manages to utilise Anne's personality craftily into the murder mystery as Anne is a person with a scrutinising eye. This only made the plot more complex and engaging.
In addition to the characters, there are some borderline clichés. The high school hierarchy and bitches are still of present but more muted. I introduce to you, the blonde nemesis! Alexis is the girl with satirical remarks and cruel I'm-out-for-blood attitude throughout the plot line. She also plays a role- significant of not- which adds another layer of complexity. While there were trite elements here, they were not as overpowering and frustrating as I believed so.
What made Prep School Confidential miss the five star mark was the romance. Like the whole bitchy nemesis aforementioned, it had a little corniness to it- in which I mean love triangle and typical love interests. We have one who's all dark and unruly, then there's the cute, thoughtful and humorous guy with a reputation with the ladies. I'm not awfully happy with the love triangle but I'm rooting for the cute guy! Dark and mysterious- Bleh.
Highly unpredictable in my tastes, fabulous plot line and writing, Prep School Confidential redefines murder mysteries. A worthwhile read with a dash of everything: romance, laughter, suspense and tension. Ally Carter fans are bound to fall in love.
October 3, 2016
It was the perfect book to read after Crooked Kingdom and cure my small depression : light and not heartbreaking.
I do admit that after a while, I was reading it more for the love stories (beware, there is a love triangle) than for the mystery, even if I really liked the ambiance. Not the finest writing, plot or character development but I wasn't looking for depth or intricacy.
I will read the other books of this series anytime I need a break.
I do admit that after a while, I was reading it more for the love stories (beware, there is a love triangle) than for the mystery, even if I really liked the ambiance. Not the finest writing, plot or character development but I wasn't looking for depth or intricacy.
I will read the other books of this series anytime I need a break.
January 5, 2022
very flat 3.000 stars. do i recommend: no. there is definitely better out there. unmemorable already and i just shut the book (that being said, it’s not the worst thing i’ve read).
December 16, 2014
Actual Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Anne was expelled from her old school because she accidentally started a fire. Because of that, she was sent to a boarding school to have a do over. At first, things are really looking good and she was making friends but when something terrible happens to her friend, Anne was shocked. She started looking for answers since no one seems to care for her friend. The problem was when she was nearing to find out who did the deed, she might as well also acquired a target to her back.
Anne was totally a likable character. She have a wicked sense of humor and she doesn't take crap from anyone.
Anne felt so real to me. She's so easy to relate to. And she wasn't too stupid in making decisions unlike other YA heroines nowadays. She's so clever and seriously, you're going to like her. You guys can't help it.
I actually don't have a ship here. And maybe it's Anne's fault. She was like blushing about this guy here and then later she was having butterflies in her stomach because of the other guy. Actually, that's the only complain I have about her. But well, these are teenagers. Okay. I feel weird saying that since I'm a teenager but yeah. You know what I mean. There is a love triangle that didn't bother me as much as others but I did roll my eyes at times because ANNE, choose only one will you?
The mystery department kind of lacked something for me. Maybe I expected more than that? Well, nevertheless, I'll still continue reading Anne's adventures because she's just absolutely cool. And also, I want to see who will she choose between those guys.
Definitely recommended if you're looking for a fun and easy reading.
Anne was expelled from her old school because she accidentally started a fire. Because of that, she was sent to a boarding school to have a do over. At first, things are really looking good and she was making friends but when something terrible happens to her friend, Anne was shocked. She started looking for answers since no one seems to care for her friend. The problem was when she was nearing to find out who did the deed, she might as well also acquired a target to her back.
“Hi,” I say. “I’m Anne. But you already knew that, since you threatened me and everything."
Anne was totally a likable character. She have a wicked sense of humor and she doesn't take crap from anyone.
"I want to yell Something! I would DO SOMETHING, unlike the rest of you, but I can’t. It’s so easy for me to pretend I’m better than all of them, right? But if everything were on the line for me, my life even, would I throw it all away for a girl I barely knew?"
Anne felt so real to me. She's so easy to relate to. And she wasn't too stupid in making decisions unlike other YA heroines nowadays. She's so clever and seriously, you're going to like her. You guys can't help it.
I actually don't have a ship here. And maybe it's Anne's fault. She was like blushing about this guy here and then later she was having butterflies in her stomach because of the other guy. Actually, that's the only complain I have about her. But well, these are teenagers. Okay. I feel weird saying that since I'm a teenager but yeah. You know what I mean. There is a love triangle that didn't bother me as much as others but I did roll my eyes at times because ANNE, choose only one will you?
The mystery department kind of lacked something for me. Maybe I expected more than that? Well, nevertheless, I'll still continue reading Anne's adventures because she's just absolutely cool. And also, I want to see who will she choose between those guys.
Definitely recommended if you're looking for a fun and easy reading.
July 25, 2013
Anne Dowling took me back to school. I walked the halls with my teenage self, only in this reincarnation I had more money and an attitude to match. I may have even been a practicing pyromaniac with a chip on my shoulder, neither of which occurred during my formative years. But both of which helped define Anne’s character, along with the Boston setting. A universe which felt real to me, and which I thoroughly enjoyed, since I spent a couple of years meandering through Boston’s cobblestone streets, soaking in history and culture and seafood and listening to accents much different than my own, accents which had a different cadence and rhythm and appreciation for language.
Anne proved a rather enjoyable character for me, despite her arsonist tendencies and well-defined swagger, even going so far as to meet trouble head-on rather than run from it. Youthful naiveté certainly helped her immensely in these situations, but she took responsibility for her actions, something many adults routinely shy away from faster than an introvert asked to present a speech in front of a football stadium-sized audience.
The mystery proved interesting and intriguing enough to hold my attention, but it was the youthful voice that offered more promise than a charm bracelet. The antagonist proved simpler than I would have liked, but like all high schools, even the preppy and prestigious ones, this world was filled with backpacks and Skechers and dating and social hierarchies and sagas and solutions and dorm rooms and roommates named Isabella, who may not be who they seem to be, and a senator’s daughter who is in serious need of an attitude adjustment.
So, in many ways PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL resembled life, just a simpler, more controlled, and drama filled one. And, in the end, I was perfectly okay with that.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Anne proved a rather enjoyable character for me, despite her arsonist tendencies and well-defined swagger, even going so far as to meet trouble head-on rather than run from it. Youthful naiveté certainly helped her immensely in these situations, but she took responsibility for her actions, something many adults routinely shy away from faster than an introvert asked to present a speech in front of a football stadium-sized audience.
The mystery proved interesting and intriguing enough to hold my attention, but it was the youthful voice that offered more promise than a charm bracelet. The antagonist proved simpler than I would have liked, but like all high schools, even the preppy and prestigious ones, this world was filled with backpacks and Skechers and dating and social hierarchies and sagas and solutions and dorm rooms and roommates named Isabella, who may not be who they seem to be, and a senator’s daughter who is in serious need of an attitude adjustment.
So, in many ways PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL resembled life, just a simpler, more controlled, and drama filled one. And, in the end, I was perfectly okay with that.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
January 1, 2014
Five stars for a YA murder mystery set in a prep school? WHY YES! Look at this as a preppy modern Nancy Drew-esque type. I'm starting the new year off right, that's for sure.
Anne, the MC, is forced to attend the Wheatley School after almost burning down her Manhattan prep school, where she finds a new friend in her seemingly bookish, academic-oriented roommate, Isabella. Tragedy strikes when Isabella is found murdered on campus a week later.
There really isn't much I didn't enjoy. Call it unprecedented, but I just thoroughly liked Anne's voice, the whole mystery in general and the diverse characters. Anne isn't air-headed or a spoiled brat - she makes smart decisions (excepting a few, but hey, she's a teenager) and genuinely wants to solve her friend's murder.
She's just such a breath of fresh air. Can you tell the writing makes me happy!squeal?
Yes, there is a love triangle. Yes, that's the only fault I can find. But even that didn't bug me much. Both guys have their good and bad sides. It's realistic enough, and I just hope the next book ties it up. I know who I'm rooting for...
All in all, a great light-ish read that any fan of YA contemporary should enjoy!
Anne, the MC, is forced to attend the Wheatley School after almost burning down her Manhattan prep school, where she finds a new friend in her seemingly bookish, academic-oriented roommate, Isabella. Tragedy strikes when Isabella is found murdered on campus a week later.
There really isn't much I didn't enjoy. Call it unprecedented, but I just thoroughly liked Anne's voice, the whole mystery in general and the diverse characters. Anne isn't air-headed or a spoiled brat - she makes smart decisions (excepting a few, but hey, she's a teenager) and genuinely wants to solve her friend's murder.
I blink away the tightness at the back of my eyes as I leave the administration building. I should be worried about myself and my future, but I can’t stop thinking about Isabella, and how if she were the daughter of a politician or the attorney general, the police would probably have found her killer by now.
It’s not fair. And it’s not fair for me to sit around and do nothing about it. Not when I got off with a slap on the wrist for almost burning my school down just because of my father. I’ll be such a hypocrite if I don’t at least try to get justice for Isabella.
I’m just going to have to be more careful with how I go about it.
She's just such a breath of fresh air. Can you tell the writing makes me happy!squeal?
Yes, there is a love triangle. Yes, that's the only fault I can find. But even that didn't bug me much. Both guys have their good and bad sides. It's realistic enough, and I just hope the next book ties it up. I know who I'm rooting for...
All in all, a great light-ish read that any fan of YA contemporary should enjoy!
December 19, 2018
Anne Dowling’s tenuous relationship with rules lands her in boarding school after she accidentally sets fire to her prep school. Oops. Now she’s in New England with preppy girls in headbands. Her roommate Isabella seems kind, unlike the others. Too bad Isabelle is murdered. Anne decides the school is covering up evidence and with the help of Isabelle’s brother and a cute guy from school, she sets out to solve the mystery.
PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL is a really fun read. Kara Taylor aka Kara Thomas gave Anne a confident, kickass voice and personality, sometimes too confident for her own good. To Anne, rules are merely suggestions, and not very good ones.
My enjoyment for PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL allowed me to overlook an implausible plot. Because this is the first in a trilogy, some questions were left unanswered. I purchased the other two books in the series, anxious to find out what next for Anne.
PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL is a really fun read. Kara Taylor aka Kara Thomas gave Anne a confident, kickass voice and personality, sometimes too confident for her own good. To Anne, rules are merely suggestions, and not very good ones.
My enjoyment for PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL allowed me to overlook an implausible plot. Because this is the first in a trilogy, some questions were left unanswered. I purchased the other two books in the series, anxious to find out what next for Anne.
July 1, 2016
5 Words: Intrigue, murder, cover-up, school, friendship.
This was a fantastic re-read! This book is one of those ones I could happily read again and again. It's better with every re-read.
This was a fantastic re-read! This book is one of those ones I could happily read again and again. It's better with every re-read.
May 29, 2017
2.5-3.0
Thriller for maybe more younger readers. I was up till 4am reading and thoroughly enjoyed it but the writing and plot is not developed enough for older readers.
Its worth a read though
Thriller for maybe more younger readers. I was up till 4am reading and thoroughly enjoyed it but the writing and plot is not developed enough for older readers.
Its worth a read though
December 31, 2018
Read for The YA Room's Throwback Bingo Challenge!
Challenge Square: Boarding School
I was super surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Prep School Confidential. Up until today, I didn't even know that this story existed! Nevertheless, I am really interested in continuing on with the series! The main character Anne is a troublemaker and after an arson at her high school in Manhatten, her family send her to a prep school near Boston. It's there when strange things start to happen on campus. Most notably, her own roommate being murdered and Anne herself is determined to solve the mystery. With an interesting array of characters, action and a good setting, this is one of my favourite reads for the throwback bingo challenge!
Challenge Square: Boarding School
I was super surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Prep School Confidential. Up until today, I didn't even know that this story existed! Nevertheless, I am really interested in continuing on with the series! The main character Anne is a troublemaker and after an arson at her high school in Manhatten, her family send her to a prep school near Boston. It's there when strange things start to happen on campus. Most notably, her own roommate being murdered and Anne herself is determined to solve the mystery. With an interesting array of characters, action and a good setting, this is one of my favourite reads for the throwback bingo challenge!
February 10, 2017
Don't let the preppy, tame cover fool you; this book was one hell of a ride. Normally I don't find myself very attracted to contemporary mysteries, much less ones with a cast of privileged white characters, but god, this mystery had me guessing from start to finish. I was enamored by a book I hadn't really been expecting to care much for.
To be fair, I didn't read the synopsis--a habit of mine--and honestly I think this really improved my overall reading experience, mostly due to the shock felt upon the death of Isabella. Hey, it was in the summary, so it's not a spoiler.I did tear up a bit because of my soft spot for her that developed immediately after Anne met her. Speaking of the main character, I genuinely loved Anne. She did come off as a speshul snowflake initially, but as the novel wore on I have to admit her overall attitude was warranted. And she's intelligent! If there's one thing I love more than chocolate, it's smart girls who aren't afraid to think for themselves.
Warning: there is a love triangle here and Anne never really made it clear as to who she preferred, so some may find this irksome. I for one wasn't charmed by either of the love interests--Brent was a bit too pretty boy-ish and Anthony had violent tendencies--so I don't care either way. Anne could do so much better. IMO I don't believe the romance was necessary for this book because the plot was pretty sturdy as it was, but oh well. Though, the romance never led the MC to act rashly in regards to solving the mystery, thankfully.
A solid mystery, an admirable protagonist, a story I actually cared for; what more could I want?
To be fair, I didn't read the synopsis--a habit of mine--and honestly I think this really improved my overall reading experience, mostly due to the shock felt upon the death of Isabella. Hey, it was in the summary, so it's not a spoiler.
Warning: there is a love triangle here and Anne never really made it clear as to who she preferred, so some may find this irksome. I for one wasn't charmed by either of the love interests--Brent was a bit too pretty boy-ish and Anthony had violent tendencies--so I don't care either way. Anne could do so much better. IMO I don't believe the romance was necessary for this book because the plot was pretty sturdy as it was, but oh well. Though, the romance never led the MC to act rashly in regards to solving the mystery, thankfully.
A solid mystery, an admirable protagonist, a story I actually cared for; what more could I want?
June 16, 2021
Anne Dowling accidentally burns down the auditorium of her Upper East Side school so her parents send her to a boarding school in Massachusetts. Around a week later, her roommate Isabella is found murdered in the woods behind the school. Since everyone is mysteriously silent about it, Anne decides to uncover the truth herself.
From the first chapter, I was unsure of what kind of character Anne would be, but she ended up surprising me so much and I absolutely love her! She may have been spoiled, but she is not a brat and she easily became friends with Isabella even though she was a scholarship student, and also one of the more disliked students. She’s shocked when she sees how money and power easily helps cover up bad things and she’s furious.
The characters are all well written and we get to see a little more into their lives as Anna is investigating. Is there a love triangle? Yes. Is it extremely well handled? Also yes.
The Mystery: there are so many lies, deceits, and scandals to uncover (which I love) and there are secret tunnels, I was absolutely ecstatic. I can’t say much without spoiling, but I loved every single page of this book.
If you liked:
💫Pretty Little Liars
💫A Good Girls Guide to Murder (or any YA Murder Mystery)
💫Gossip Girl
💫and the likes
I think you will really enjoy this one too!
From the first chapter, I was unsure of what kind of character Anne would be, but she ended up surprising me so much and I absolutely love her! She may have been spoiled, but she is not a brat and she easily became friends with Isabella even though she was a scholarship student, and also one of the more disliked students. She’s shocked when she sees how money and power easily helps cover up bad things and she’s furious.
The characters are all well written and we get to see a little more into their lives as Anna is investigating. Is there a love triangle? Yes. Is it extremely well handled? Also yes.
The Mystery: there are so many lies, deceits, and scandals to uncover (which I love) and there are secret tunnels, I was absolutely ecstatic. I can’t say much without spoiling, but I loved every single page of this book.
If you liked:
💫Pretty Little Liars
💫A Good Girls Guide to Murder (or any YA Murder Mystery)
💫Gossip Girl
💫and the likes
I think you will really enjoy this one too!
December 4, 2012
With a clever and fresh voice, Kara Taylor’s Prep School Confidential had me laughing one moment and on pins and needles the next. The amazing blend of humor and suspense will have you turning pages like crazy. I can’t wait for the next installment!
July 18, 2013
3.5 Stars
This is such a fun novel! I couldn't put it down, it's an easy read with lovely characters and great pacing. Some things are predictable, I knew who the killer was only after reading about Isabella's death but there are a few surprises that kept me at the edge my seat as well. So many things going on in the book that I think Kara Taylor did a fine job organizing.
Prep School Confidential has a few flaws that I couldn't overlook. Throughout the novel, there's quite a few clichés concerning the new girl and the mean girl and quite a bit slut shaming. Some characters like Remy feel really choppy and underdeveloped. Readers are told that she's nice and strong, etc. yet, there are only a few instances that proves this and she doesn't feel as real as I wished she should. Also, Isabella plays a huge part in the novel, both dead and alive. After her death, readers are told that Isabella was actually a completely different person but I didn't feel it. The information given is lacking and albeit there are points given that show that Isabella had a dark side, they could have been elaborated on.
The writing is so fun! It's light and laid back which makes it for a amusing read (even with murder in it). The romance in Prep School Confidential is so laid back and relaxed, nothing felt too contrived or fake to me and I loved it. I could see Anne with either one of them. Most of the characters are well written and beautifully developed, I felt satisfied with Anne and the obstacles she faces.
Overall, this is something I was not expecting. I went in hoping that I didn't want to punch every character and that the clichés were a small amount. Even with the clichés, Kara Taylor managed to entertain me with her tale of murder, mystery, love, and life without getting on my nerves too much. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great summer read to pass the time with some heavy tones but an overall light read. Now, I can't wait for the next book to come out!
February 25, 2014
(Source: I received a copy of this book as a gift – Thanks Abbie!)
It totally wasn’t Anne’s fault that her school nearly burned down; just because she was holding the lighter that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t an accident!
Unfortunately though, the school doesn’t quite see it that way, and Anne goes from ruling the school, to be sent to boarding school in Boston.
When her new roommate ends up dead, and it looks like the school are covering up the identity of the killer, Anne then feels like it’s up to her to make sure justice is served.
Who killed Isabella? And why are the school hiding a killer?
This was a good YA murder/mystery story, and I didn’t guess the identity of the killer.
I liked Anne, although I did think she may be needed to have back up plans in place for when things went wrong. She did take some risks in her investigations, but managed to keep out of trouble most of the time. I liked how much she obviously cared about her roommate, and how she wanted to find out the identity of the killer, even if it wouldn’t benefit her personally.
The storyline in this was pretty good, although once Anne got investigating; it did seem that a lot of people wanted Isabella dead! I couldn’t quite decide who I thought it was that had killed her, and we didn’t find out for certain until really late in the book.
There were quite a few twists and turns, and some of the things that came out where really quite shocking! There are definitely a lot of hidden secrets at this school!
There was some romance, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the love triangle. I could totally see it coming, and I didn’t really think it added that much to the story.
The ending was pretty good, although Anne certainly put herself in danger at that point! There were several things that weren’t resolved though, and we also got a bit of a cliff-hanger.
Overall; good YA murder-mystery,
7.25 out of 10.
It totally wasn’t Anne’s fault that her school nearly burned down; just because she was holding the lighter that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t an accident!
Unfortunately though, the school doesn’t quite see it that way, and Anne goes from ruling the school, to be sent to boarding school in Boston.
When her new roommate ends up dead, and it looks like the school are covering up the identity of the killer, Anne then feels like it’s up to her to make sure justice is served.
Who killed Isabella? And why are the school hiding a killer?
This was a good YA murder/mystery story, and I didn’t guess the identity of the killer.
I liked Anne, although I did think she may be needed to have back up plans in place for when things went wrong. She did take some risks in her investigations, but managed to keep out of trouble most of the time. I liked how much she obviously cared about her roommate, and how she wanted to find out the identity of the killer, even if it wouldn’t benefit her personally.
The storyline in this was pretty good, although once Anne got investigating; it did seem that a lot of people wanted Isabella dead! I couldn’t quite decide who I thought it was that had killed her, and we didn’t find out for certain until really late in the book.
There were quite a few twists and turns, and some of the things that came out where really quite shocking! There are definitely a lot of hidden secrets at this school!
There was some romance, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the love triangle. I could totally see it coming, and I didn’t really think it added that much to the story.
The ending was pretty good, although Anne certainly put herself in danger at that point! There were several things that weren’t resolved though, and we also got a bit of a cliff-hanger.
Overall; good YA murder-mystery,
7.25 out of 10.
June 16, 2021
Funny, soapy trash, aber echt unterhaltsam und mit einer sehr kompetenten und sympathischen Heldin.
September 14, 2015
This was a very fun young adult book that was full of mystery.
This story follows Anne, she is kicked out of her Upper East Side school after accidentally starting a fire and she is forced by her parents to go to Boston and attend a boarding school. Her initial impressions aren't that good until she meets Isabella her room mate and they hit it off pretty well, they spend every moment together for a week until Isabella refuses to attend a party with Anne. The next morning Isabella is missing and there are rumours that her body has been found in the woods. Anne is determined to find out what has happened to Isabella and with her inquisitive and stubborn ways nothing will stop her from finding out the truth.
I liked Anne quite a lot, even though she didn't know Isabella that well she was loyal to her and had faith that she was not totally in the wrong even after rumours were spread that Isabella had got herself into something stupid. She didn't take no for an answer even when she felt way in over her head, standing up to your teachers and even the head teacher takes guts.
I didn't really like the love interests. I think everyone who will read this book just knows that there is something off about Anthony, even though he didn't do anything to bad I know that he was only really looking into his sisters death because he wanted to get to know Anne. I was suspicious of Brent the whole time and was convinced that he had something to do with what happened to Isabella. So, it goes to say I didn't like him that much, I felt like he was a little to obsessed with Anne.
I wish we got to know Isabella better, she was the only likeable character other than Anne. I did like the mystery surrounding her though and the conclusion was pretty satisfying.
This story follows Anne, she is kicked out of her Upper East Side school after accidentally starting a fire and she is forced by her parents to go to Boston and attend a boarding school. Her initial impressions aren't that good until she meets Isabella her room mate and they hit it off pretty well, they spend every moment together for a week until Isabella refuses to attend a party with Anne. The next morning Isabella is missing and there are rumours that her body has been found in the woods. Anne is determined to find out what has happened to Isabella and with her inquisitive and stubborn ways nothing will stop her from finding out the truth.
I liked Anne quite a lot, even though she didn't know Isabella that well she was loyal to her and had faith that she was not totally in the wrong even after rumours were spread that Isabella had got herself into something stupid. She didn't take no for an answer even when she felt way in over her head, standing up to your teachers and even the head teacher takes guts.
I didn't really like the love interests. I think everyone who will read this book just knows that there is something off about Anthony, even though he didn't do anything to bad I know that he was only really looking into his sisters death because he wanted to get to know Anne. I was suspicious of Brent the whole time and was convinced that he had something to do with what happened to Isabella. So, it goes to say I didn't like him that much, I felt like he was a little to obsessed with Anne.
I wish we got to know Isabella better, she was the only likeable character other than Anne. I did like the mystery surrounding her though and the conclusion was pretty satisfying.
April 30, 2014
Ummm, I do think that people with no mental problems indeed arrange their clothes according to color, because it's easier to deal with? because they might be anal? because they have nothing better to do a Saturday afternoon?
But because I loved Anne Dowling so much, I'm willing to ignore a lot of things. And because I loved this book so much, I'm willing to ignore even more things. (No, it's only because I have a poor memory.)
MORE. NOW.
But because I loved Anne Dowling so much, I'm willing to ignore a lot of things. And because I loved this book so much, I'm willing to ignore even more things. (No, it's only because I have a poor memory.)
MORE. NOW.
November 15, 2012
This book is genious!!!
It's the perfect book for teenagers who like thrilling episodes mixed with crime, murder, corruptions, spoiled brats and complicated love.
I loved it and I recomend it to everyone between 12 and 35 :D
It's the perfect book for teenagers who like thrilling episodes mixed with crime, murder, corruptions, spoiled brats and complicated love.
I loved it and I recomend it to everyone between 12 and 35 :D
June 22, 2013
So much fun! It's contemporary YA + boarding school + murder mystery thriller element. What more could you want? Oh wait...there's cute boys.
May 28, 2014
Well, well. This was unexpected. I really didn't think I would like this book this much. Prep School Confidential has everything I want - friendship, romance, an intriguing mystery and character development - with excellent execution in a completely believable setting. Kudos to you, Ms.Taylor.
The Characters:
When I first met Anne Dowling, I disliked everything about her. She is whiny, pretentious, incapable of thinking beyond herself and kind of oblivious. She is also caught making out with a guy who she clearly knows she can do better than.
"“Oh, Martin. Totally not worth this. Why can’t I stay away? I think it’s partly because he wears Burt’s Bees lip balm, and I’m a sucker for a guy with well-conditioned lips.”
And the she sets the curtains of her school's auditorium on fire. Genius.
All hope is not lost, though, especially after Anne is sent to her new school in Boston. She vastly improves as a character once the mystery gets going, showing herself to be open-minded, loyal and determined. Her snark is an added bonus.
“The crew team guys live in suites,” April explains.
“They have their own bathrooms.” Remy sighs.
“Wait, they get special rooms because they play a sport?” I ask. “Why, so their menstrual cycles sync up or something?”
“I like her,” Phil says to Remy, sliding his ID into the door. ”
I like her too.
Anne's room mate Isabella, initially presented as a studious dorm-mouse, turns out be a girl with fingers in many pies. Anne's blind faith in her goodness is one of the rare things that annoyed me towards the end of the book. You said it yourself, you've only known the girl a week.
Characterisation is a strong point of this book, because all the characters are -gasp!- human beings who have lives outside the events surrounding the MC. They go home on weekends, have part-time jobs, work in committees and do other normal stuff. There is even that insidious invention that haunts student life - homework.
Though Anne may not focusing all that much on it:
“When I get back to my room, I make myself a cup of chai tea and attempt to get my homework done. Except after fifteen minutes, I realize I’ve answered the question “What modernist painting movement depicts emotion instead of physical reality?” with “37.”
People are actually friends or enemies for a reason,since they have a past together.There is also, yay for me, cultural diversity. I got so excited when I saw Murali's name, thinking "Oh wow, there's an Indian and South Indian at that," but then I saw his last name (Thakur) and I got slightly deflated. I'm not saying it's impossible, but the probability of that name is so low, it's like saying:
Hmmmm.
But nitpicking aside, I adore Murali and Cole, probably more than the MC's love interests. They're so normal .*Quickly kidnaps them before other fans see*
Female friendship is strong and pretty girls are not vilified, so yay again. The one female queen-bee antagonist (who doesn't exist solely to torture the MC) is motivated more by her need to survive in the complex web of lies Anne unravels rather than personal dislike (though it exists.)
Anne doesn't either, especially when the investigation starts and this, I think, is her best feature. She is a teenager who wants a boyfriend and the usual stuff, but she is a sensible one.
“I need to focus on my schoolwork, on piecing together the information I have about Isabella’s murder, on keeping my latest encounter with the police from my parents. Kissing Anthony is a distraction I can’t afford.”
Which brings us to...
The Romance:
...there will be love triangles.
To be honest, the book would have been perfectly good even without it, but hey, I'm not complaining. It's a 2-for-1 offer. The romance develops beautifully, moving from friendly attraction to a satisfyingly romantic conclusion. There is a love triangle, but not the kind that jabs your eye every time you turn the page. Personally I prefer Anthony over Brent, but Anne's distrust of him is reasonable. I wouldn't want to date him either given what I know about him. Anne also admits, unselfishly, that she can't really have the best of both worlds.
“ I’m not dealing with two awesome pairs of shoes here. I can’t have both of them. Even if I choose one, we’ll all be thinking about the other.”
Learn Bella. Learn. Anne doesn't stand for any nonsense either. She may like Brent and Anthony but that doesn't mean they can do what they please.
Take this example with Anthony:
“Why do you always do that?” I demand.
“Do what?”
“Assume that people are judging you. That I’m judging you.” I put my hands on my hips. “Stop it. Because I actually like being around you. And I’m guessing that’s not something you hear a lot.”
With Brent:
“I allow myself to look at Brent again, briefly, as Cole and I walk back to the table together. I miss him, a lot, but the last thing I need right now is him projecting all of his trust issues onto me.
I’ve got enough issues of my own right now."
Yeah, sometimes in this book, they are. You really shouldn't expect to keep everything to yourself and still have a healthy relationship.
The Mystery and Plot:
It's.....
(You knew I was building up to this, right?)
I generally don't like reading mystery novels that are not Agatha Christie and I haven't liked a mystery anime since Tantei Gakuen, but I found this book's plot very, very compelling. It is a gripping mystery partly because I can totally see this kind of cover-up happening in the real world and partly because Anne uses common sense to solve it. There is nothing more irritating than deductions that have the logical weight of air and clues that appear via the deus ex machina express. Anne goes out to research, she uses simple observations and conversation to find out more and she never rules out possibilities. She also takes precautions to safeguard both her and the information she finds, which is very heartening.
Good for you, girl.
So, PSC is a highly readable, stimulating book that keeps you guessing till the end. There are some minor flaws here and there, but if you can get past the first couple of chapters, this is one read that is truly worth it.
Just like
The Characters:
When I first met Anne Dowling, I disliked everything about her. She is whiny, pretentious, incapable of thinking beyond herself and kind of oblivious. She is also caught making out with a guy who she clearly knows she can do better than.
"“Oh, Martin. Totally not worth this. Why can’t I stay away? I think it’s partly because he wears Burt’s Bees lip balm, and I’m a sucker for a guy with well-conditioned lips.”
And the she sets the curtains of her school's auditorium on fire. Genius.
All hope is not lost, though, especially after Anne is sent to her new school in Boston. She vastly improves as a character once the mystery gets going, showing herself to be open-minded, loyal and determined. Her snark is an added bonus.
“The crew team guys live in suites,” April explains.
“They have their own bathrooms.” Remy sighs.
“Wait, they get special rooms because they play a sport?” I ask. “Why, so their menstrual cycles sync up or something?”
“I like her,” Phil says to Remy, sliding his ID into the door. ”
I like her too.
Anne's room mate Isabella, initially presented as a studious dorm-mouse, turns out be a girl with fingers in many pies. Anne's blind faith in her goodness is one of the rare things that annoyed me towards the end of the book. You said it yourself, you've only known the girl a week.
Characterisation is a strong point of this book, because all the characters are -gasp!- human beings who have lives outside the events surrounding the MC. They go home on weekends, have part-time jobs, work in committees and do other normal stuff. There is even that insidious invention that haunts student life - homework.
Though Anne may not focusing all that much on it:
“When I get back to my room, I make myself a cup of chai tea and attempt to get my homework done. Except after fifteen minutes, I realize I’ve answered the question “What modernist painting movement depicts emotion instead of physical reality?” with “37.”
People are actually friends or enemies for a reason,since they have a past together.There is also, yay for me, cultural diversity. I got so excited when I saw Murali's name, thinking "Oh wow, there's an Indian and South Indian at that," but then I saw his last name (Thakur) and I got slightly deflated. I'm not saying it's impossible, but the probability of that name is so low, it's like saying:
Hmmmm.
But nitpicking aside, I adore Murali and Cole, probably more than the MC's love interests. They're so normal .*Quickly kidnaps them before other fans see*
Female friendship is strong and pretty girls are not vilified, so yay again. The one female queen-bee antagonist (who doesn't exist solely to torture the MC) is motivated more by her need to survive in the complex web of lies Anne unravels rather than personal dislike (though it exists.)
Anne doesn't either, especially when the investigation starts and this, I think, is her best feature. She is a teenager who wants a boyfriend and the usual stuff, but she is a sensible one.
“I need to focus on my schoolwork, on piecing together the information I have about Isabella’s murder, on keeping my latest encounter with the police from my parents. Kissing Anthony is a distraction I can’t afford.”
Which brings us to...
The Romance:
...there will be love triangles.
To be honest, the book would have been perfectly good even without it, but hey, I'm not complaining. It's a 2-for-1 offer. The romance develops beautifully, moving from friendly attraction to a satisfyingly romantic conclusion. There is a love triangle, but not the kind that jabs your eye every time you turn the page. Personally I prefer Anthony over Brent, but Anne's distrust of him is reasonable. I wouldn't want to date him either given what I know about him. Anne also admits, unselfishly, that she can't really have the best of both worlds.
“ I’m not dealing with two awesome pairs of shoes here. I can’t have both of them. Even if I choose one, we’ll all be thinking about the other.”
Learn Bella. Learn. Anne doesn't stand for any nonsense either. She may like Brent and Anthony but that doesn't mean they can do what they please.
Take this example with Anthony:
“Why do you always do that?” I demand.
“Do what?”
“Assume that people are judging you. That I’m judging you.” I put my hands on my hips. “Stop it. Because I actually like being around you. And I’m guessing that’s not something you hear a lot.”
With Brent:
“I allow myself to look at Brent again, briefly, as Cole and I walk back to the table together. I miss him, a lot, but the last thing I need right now is him projecting all of his trust issues onto me.
I’ve got enough issues of my own right now."
Yeah, sometimes in this book, they are. You really shouldn't expect to keep everything to yourself and still have a healthy relationship.
The Mystery and Plot:
It's.....
(You knew I was building up to this, right?)
I generally don't like reading mystery novels that are not Agatha Christie and I haven't liked a mystery anime since Tantei Gakuen, but I found this book's plot very, very compelling. It is a gripping mystery partly because I can totally see this kind of cover-up happening in the real world and partly because Anne uses common sense to solve it. There is nothing more irritating than deductions that have the logical weight of air and clues that appear via the deus ex machina express. Anne goes out to research, she uses simple observations and conversation to find out more and she never rules out possibilities. She also takes precautions to safeguard both her and the information she finds, which is very heartening.
Good for you, girl.
So, PSC is a highly readable, stimulating book that keeps you guessing till the end. There are some minor flaws here and there, but if you can get past the first couple of chapters, this is one read that is truly worth it.
Just like
September 3, 2017
Super fun, awesome cast, especially regarding our protagonist, Anne. I loved her, she may be a bit spoilt but at the same time she is very smart and has common sense. The secondary characters are also well written and complex, nobody is a cliché, instead they are human.
One thing that annoyed me, but luckily not a great deal, was of course the love triangle. But still the romance was handled well, there was no insta-love with both guys. Furthermore, the ending felt rushed but it also left me wanting more, so there's that.
One thing that annoyed me, but luckily not a great deal, was of course the love triangle. But still the romance was handled well, there was no insta-love with both guys. Furthermore, the ending felt rushed but it also left me wanting more, so there's that.
December 13, 2023
The writing wasn’t the best and this girl is NOT inconspicuous AT ALL. 😭😭How’s is she trying to sneak around to get information but then asks NEARLY EVERYONE she meets questions about the murder?!
However it was still somewhat interesting and included the boarding school trope which I’ve been eager to read.
However it was still somewhat interesting and included the boarding school trope which I’ve been eager to read.
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