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tinky47's review
5.0
Chloe Fields is the ordinary daughter of B list actress, Joy Fields. She's had a privileged life where she always wanted to live up to her brainy little sister and her glamorous mother. Her biggest problem is coming up with a challenge she has dealt with for her college application.
When she is face with a set of armed FBI agents who arrest her mom on charges of "college acceptance fraud," the whole family's life is shattered. Their friends abandon them, the media trashes them, and each person in the family is trying to cope with facing the punishment for a crime.
This novel addresses choices people make, why they do it, and how they justify behavior.
When she is face with a set of armed FBI agents who arrest her mom on charges of "college acceptance fraud," the whole family's life is shattered. Their friends abandon them, the media trashes them, and each person in the family is trying to cope with facing the punishment for a crime.
This novel addresses choices people make, why they do it, and how they justify behavior.
mmc0402's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
maggiesasha's review
1.0
I really wanted to like this book, but after 100 pages or so I just couldn't get into it, and found myself skipping pages before the epilogue. I did like that this was based on a recent news story, but I just couldn't really separate it from Lori Loughlin and Olivia Jade.
I also felt the time shifted back and forth way too frequently (every five pages or so). I think maybe part of the reason i didn't enjoy this book is because it's really written for teens still in high school. I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it at fifteen or sixteen.
I did like the characters Isla and Shola though. Chloe's romance with Levi didn't really grab my attention.
Overall, I give this book 1.5 stars.
I also felt the time shifted back and forth way too frequently (every five pages or so). I think maybe part of the reason i didn't enjoy this book is because it's really written for teens still in high school. I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it at fifteen or sixteen.
I did like the characters Isla and Shola though. Chloe's romance with Levi didn't really grab my attention.
Overall, I give this book 1.5 stars.
mgagnon25's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mm_bookclub's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mbenzz's review
4.0
If you're looking for pure junk-food-for-the-brain, then this is the book for you! I normally despise the term 'beach-read', as I feel it cheapens a book and writes it off as frivolous, but this book is 100% a frivolous beach-read.
While the Authors' Note at the end says the characters in this book are complete fiction and not based on real people, the Berringer family is absolutely based on Lori Loughlin and her family.
I have not been following the college scandal with any real interest. I've read snippets here and there on the Daily Mail, and I think she's just the WORST type of person, but I've always felt a smidgen bad for her daughters. I have no idea how much they knew or didn't know, but to have their lives ruined at such a young age has got to be tough. Sure, they're spoiled, entitled, vapid Hollywood children, but that's hardly THEIR fault. That's how they were raised, and that's all they've ever known!
This book, while fiction, does shine a realistic light into that world. These celebrities become so obsessed with keeping up with each other that they start to lose sight of the real world around them. They're so secluded in these private enclaves of wealth and privilege that I honestly believe it doesn't even occur to them how out-of-touch they are.
Lori Loughlin is the very definition of a B-List actress. Wealthy enough to be able to afford the house, cars, private schools, and designer clothes, but not wealthy enough to donate a new building to the college of her daughter's dreams. The only option for people like her is to go in through the shady 'side door', and tell themselves it's not illegal if they're only trying to do what's best for their children (>>eyeroll<<).
Overall, I found this an interesting read. No, this book isn't going to make you smarter, nor will you learn anything new from reading it, but it's not a bad way to pass a few afternoons. Take it to the beach, read it by the pool, or just read it to think about something (ANYTHING) other than f-ing Covid! .'
While the Authors' Note at the end says the characters in this book are complete fiction and not based on real people, the Berringer family is absolutely based on Lori Loughlin and her family.
I have not been following the college scandal with any real interest. I've read snippets here and there on the Daily Mail, and I think she's just the WORST type of person, but I've always felt a smidgen bad for her daughters. I have no idea how much they knew or didn't know, but to have their lives ruined at such a young age has got to be tough. Sure, they're spoiled, entitled, vapid Hollywood children, but that's hardly THEIR fault. That's how they were raised, and that's all they've ever known!
This book, while fiction, does shine a realistic light into that world. These celebrities become so obsessed with keeping up with each other that they start to lose sight of the real world around them. They're so secluded in these private enclaves of wealth and privilege that I honestly believe it doesn't even occur to them how out-of-touch they are.
Lori Loughlin is the very definition of a B-List actress. Wealthy enough to be able to afford the house, cars, private schools, and designer clothes, but not wealthy enough to donate a new building to the college of her daughter's dreams. The only option for people like her is to go in through the shady 'side door', and tell themselves it's not illegal if they're only trying to do what's best for their children (>>eyeroll<<).
Overall, I found this an interesting read. No, this book isn't going to make you smarter, nor will you learn anything new from reading it, but it's not a bad way to pass a few afternoons. Take it to the beach, read it by the pool, or just read it to think about something (ANYTHING) other than f-ing Covid! .'
nanzi38's review
3.0
Took me so long to finish this book. I wasn’t very interested in the story or the characters, was kind of just meh, but I wanted to finish the book. It was an okay read.
aschmitttyy's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I absolutely loved reading this book. Coming from someone who didn't know much about/didn't look too much into the Lori Loughlin college admissions scandal, I found myself really empathizing with each main character for various reasons: Chloe, for feeling like she isn't smart enough for her friends, boyfriend, or family; her mother, Joy, for just wanting to do right by her daughter; her sister, Isla, for being unwillingly dragged into the family scandal; her friend, Shola, for feeling betrayed and cheated by her already privileged best friend. Isla and Shola definitely take the cake for best characters, two strong, independent young women who have no trouble standing up for themselves or others. In the author's note, Julie Buxbaum explains that she was midway through writing another novel when she became obsessed with the drama of the 2019 college admissions scandal, and decided to fictionalize it. If the way I devoured this book is any indication of whether or not I will like her others, I can't wait to read them!
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
4.0
4/5
When I first heard about this book I was pretty excited, because strangely enough a couple years ago similar events to this book happened to Lori Loughlin. A person who I enjoyed watching on tv. When I first started reading this book I was aggravated when the chapters ended because it would go back a few months instead of continuing on with the story. As it got to the end I was happy on how it made more sense. I really enjoyed getting a sort of “behind the scenes” look at what went on during all the chaos and how the main character was contemplating her feelings.
When I first heard about this book I was pretty excited, because strangely enough a couple years ago similar events to this book happened to Lori Loughlin. A person who I enjoyed watching on tv. When I first started reading this book I was aggravated when the chapters ended because it would go back a few months instead of continuing on with the story. As it got to the end I was happy on how it made more sense. I really enjoyed getting a sort of “behind the scenes” look at what went on during all the chaos and how the main character was contemplating her feelings.