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lowkey 2.5. it was alright but honestly the constant pov switches every chapter was too much for me. especially with it being 4+ pov. small twist at the end did get me intrigued to read book 2
The cliff hanger! A surprise change of pace for Ms. Kennedy
So, this is an interesting start to this series.
It's unique in that there are multiple POVs to this story and you get to hear from all of the main characters. It totally helps to build a complete picture of the relationships between all of them.
This story is primarily about RJ. His mother remarries and he is sent to a new school with his new stepbrother Fenn. He is a loner but reluctantly falls in with Fenn's group.
I really enjoyed the suspense, the naughty parts and the fact that there is a storyline that travels through all the books in the series. The epilogue has me dying for the next part!
It's unique in that there are multiple POVs to this story and you get to hear from all of the main characters. It totally helps to build a complete picture of the relationships between all of them.
This story is primarily about RJ. His mother remarries and he is sent to a new school with his new stepbrother Fenn. He is a loner but reluctantly falls in with Fenn's group.
I really enjoyed the suspense, the naughty parts and the fact that there is a storyline that travels through all the books in the series. The epilogue has me dying for the next part!
een classic elle kennedy, oftewel een boek wat je heerlijk weg leest en over een week nauwelijks meer iets van weet (maar blijven geweldige boeken !!)
oh en eerlijk dat mysterie aspect was wel cool, ben zeker benieuwd naar hoe het verder gaat
oh en eerlijk dat mysterie aspect was wel cool, ben zeker benieuwd naar hoe het verder gaat
I think it is pretty clear that I will love anything Elle writes! This was so fun and unexpected and the twist!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel because I had theories, and I was wrong on all of them.
I loved RJ from the jump, but I loved seeing the growth and maturing he went through over his chapters and how he gained his little found family. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book with the revelation at the end!
I loved RJ from the jump, but I loved seeing the growth and maturing he went through over his chapters and how he gained his little found family. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book with the revelation at the end!
Spoiler
I had my doubtful moments about Silas and thought he might have somwthing to do with Casey's accident, even though my biggest suspicion was Duke having caused it trying to get back at Sloane for not going back out with him... but I need yo know who was driving the car!!! Because Fenn wouldn't have left her in there just to come back 20 minites later and drag her out. Which also makes me wonder if he knows who was driving and never said anything??? And somehow that person told him and that's how he knew to go make sure she was okay and possibly even the reason he went to check on her after the accident? To see if she remembered anything? And now the basis for their friendship was a lie/slightly nefarious and it is going to affect them??? I need the explanation right now! I have also wondered if maybe it was Gabe. But I don't know if he was sent off before or after Casey's accident.
I certainly go in for Crazy Rich antics and Elle Kennedy's particular New Adult stories this had the sort of network teen drama fluffiness with broad angsty Euphoria-esque vibes that is definitely a mood read and is not going to be everyone's jam.
The story is also told from multiple POVs (beyond the usual hero/heroine MCs) so while there is some a main story arc resolution this reads clearly as first in a series rather than a standalone. I'll pick up Rogue to see where the story goes, but again - its a mood - so I might let it sit for a bit until I'm feeling it.
The story is also told from multiple POVs (beyond the usual hero/heroine MCs) so while there is some a main story arc resolution this reads clearly as first in a series rather than a standalone. I'll pick up Rogue to see where the story goes, but again - its a mood - so I might let it sit for a bit until I'm feeling it.
if you're curious about this book let's set some facts straight:
* yes, you're too old for this. it's set in a high school sleep away camp where all the seniors are conveniently eighteen to justify the smut scenes. this is fine, you don't try to understand how we're starting fall semester with so many ungraduated eighteen year olds, because the answer is 'it doesn't matter look at their abs'.
* no, this is not realistic and it relies on the logic that rich people can do whatever they want and get away with it so that much of the plot can take place without the intervention of parents/rules/consequences. given that set up, there is a fair amount of consequence doled out across both books for major infractions, however the stuff that gets shoved down our throats as 'typical' - casual assault, a Saturday night fight club, etc. - are a bit of a stretch.
* the multi-pov needs improvement. i'm a personal fan of the approach. i like the criticism of main characters based on varying perspectives. in this book we follow the POVs of five students and it seems to follow the pattern that the main couple with get the most scenes, and the others belong to the rest of the male friend group fill some colour commentary. this doesn't work, and not because it's terrible. if elle kennedy were a worse author every dude would sound exactly the same. lucky she's had some practice so they are least four shades of tortured and self-destructive so you can tell the difference. the problem is that the non lead boys don't add anything tangible. we get glimpses into the fact that there may be more to their secrets, but just because we get some POV chapters on them doesn't mean they'll reveal them. it leaves you questioning why you even need some of these perspectives. didn't hate it/didn't love it, but i'm glad a widely-read author is giving it a try, at least for the future of the genre.
ok onto the spoilery summary to skip a re-read:
* RJ - rags to riches hacker boy, mother impulsively marries rich businessman before he meets the family: results in a new step-bro, fenn, and a ticket to an all boy boarding school for the nearly disinherited sons of billionaire row. tries to be anti-social, but he/others remark on it more than he actually is, really just seems he spends a lot of time of his computer 'hacking' or talking to other hackers on the 'boards'/to the only other hacker at the school, a junior named lucas. it's not just that the author is lazy about this hobby, because honestly it's not explained at all, but apparently he can get police reports, steal money and read your DMs but he can't find seemingly simple information, like where they shipped off fenn's best friend, gabe last semester, through credit card statements, booked flights, etc. RJ tries to get by his senior year without attachments but then instantly meets hot girl Sloane and daughter of the headmaster, so everything is derailed. they get into some arguments, he screws up, she screws up, trust, blah blah blah. but they make it work in the end as they do some sleuthing. oh, RJ is also supposedly fit, muscular and tall but so anti-social he hates sports and never tries out for teams but he joins the swimming team and is naturally gifted because abs. oh, and RJ wins the fight club to rule the school.
* Sloane - tough soft girl with a great ass. she lives at home with her father and sister, Casey who survived mysterious accident where she almost drowned during prom at their former boarding school. billionaire kids have no chill so they've bullied Casey to the point the sisters have transferred to an all girls catholic private school where she is also immediately bullied. their father has forbidden his students from talking to his daughters but makes some exceptions for some of their former friends from the boarding school days and Sloane's ex bf, Duke who is some kind of mob boss over the boys school. Sloane is trying to focus on getting a running scholarship and has sworn off boys but she meets RJ and her best laid plans explode. she shows some growth as she learns to be vulnerable with everyone and it's not really clear how the running thing turns out because this entire book takes place by the end of September.
* Fenn - playboy, golden high school god. he's been secretly texting Casey since her accident and seems to be conflicted over getting close to her because he's vaguely 'not a good guy' so he's hot and cold. he is also quickly concerned with being close with RJ as 'brothers' and looks out for him - first to make sure he looks cool, then because it's kind of obvious he has no one. he hates his dad, who emotionally abandoned him after his mother died. Fenn was also abandoned by his childhood bff/normal roommate before RJ arrived, after he was caught drug dealing and shipped off to an unknown military school. Gabe's parents won't even tell his brother, Lucas where he is, so they kind of hypothesize together. Fenn spends the whole book observing RJ, talking to Casey and finally starts to get on Sloane's good side when RJ hacks into security camera footage of Casey's accident. it shows a driver abandoning the scene, then Fenn coming across it, pulling Casey out of the water, sending a text to Sloane's number before leaving Casey on the shore with a headwound.
* Silas - well-mannered boy who doesn't belong in the school for wayward sons, vying for a swimming scholarship/Olympic medal. he has a girlfriend who he doesn't really hang out with but seems to stay with out of laziness. is good friends with Sloane and one of the only people allowed to visit their house. everyone seems to think he has a crush on Sloane but his POV doesn't implicate him. he is wary of RJ, they never click like the other guys. he is also critical of Sloane dating him because he believes she is using him to get back at her ex-bf, Duke. he tries to set up Sloane by telling RJ to meet her when she ask Silas to cover for her while she talks to Duke. Turns out she was talking to Fenn about how they lied about a meaningless hook up so RJ overhears and it results in their second major fight. spends the whole book protecting Lawson.
* Lawson - good time, very rich, very dysfunctional boy. he's bi, maybe pan and sleeps with everyone doing wonders to the stigma of these sexual identities. obviously self-destructive/undiagnosed with an array of presenting concerns for intervention. he spends the book seducing a pair of married teachers until they catch each other and resign. it adds nothing to the story except taboo smut.
* yes, you're too old for this. it's set in a high school sleep away camp where all the seniors are conveniently eighteen to justify the smut scenes. this is fine, you don't try to understand how we're starting fall semester with so many ungraduated eighteen year olds, because the answer is 'it doesn't matter look at their abs'.
* no, this is not realistic and it relies on the logic that rich people can do whatever they want and get away with it so that much of the plot can take place without the intervention of parents/rules/consequences. given that set up, there is a fair amount of consequence doled out across both books for major infractions, however the stuff that gets shoved down our throats as 'typical' - casual assault, a Saturday night fight club, etc. - are a bit of a stretch.
* the multi-pov needs improvement. i'm a personal fan of the approach. i like the criticism of main characters based on varying perspectives. in this book we follow the POVs of five students and it seems to follow the pattern that the main couple with get the most scenes, and the others belong to the rest of the male friend group fill some colour commentary. this doesn't work, and not because it's terrible. if elle kennedy were a worse author every dude would sound exactly the same. lucky she's had some practice so they are least four shades of tortured and self-destructive so you can tell the difference. the problem is that the non lead boys don't add anything tangible. we get glimpses into the fact that there may be more to their secrets, but just because we get some POV chapters on them doesn't mean they'll reveal them. it leaves you questioning why you even need some of these perspectives. didn't hate it/didn't love it, but i'm glad a widely-read author is giving it a try, at least for the future of the genre.
ok onto the spoilery summary to skip a re-read:
* RJ - rags to riches hacker boy, mother impulsively marries rich businessman before he meets the family: results in a new step-bro, fenn, and a ticket to an all boy boarding school for the nearly disinherited sons of billionaire row. tries to be anti-social, but he/others remark on it more than he actually is, really just seems he spends a lot of time of his computer 'hacking' or talking to other hackers on the 'boards'/to the only other hacker at the school, a junior named lucas. it's not just that the author is lazy about this hobby, because honestly it's not explained at all, but apparently he can get police reports, steal money and read your DMs but he can't find seemingly simple information, like where they shipped off fenn's best friend, gabe last semester, through credit card statements, booked flights, etc. RJ tries to get by his senior year without attachments but then instantly meets hot girl Sloane and daughter of the headmaster, so everything is derailed. they get into some arguments, he screws up, she screws up, trust, blah blah blah. but they make it work in the end as they do some sleuthing. oh, RJ is also supposedly fit, muscular and tall but so anti-social he hates sports and never tries out for teams but he joins the swimming team and is naturally gifted because abs. oh, and RJ wins the fight club to rule the school.
* Sloane - tough soft girl with a great ass. she lives at home with her father and sister, Casey who survived mysterious accident where she almost drowned during prom at their former boarding school. billionaire kids have no chill so they've bullied Casey to the point the sisters have transferred to an all girls catholic private school where she is also immediately bullied. their father has forbidden his students from talking to his daughters but makes some exceptions for some of their former friends from the boarding school days and Sloane's ex bf, Duke who is some kind of mob boss over the boys school. Sloane is trying to focus on getting a running scholarship and has sworn off boys but she meets RJ and her best laid plans explode. she shows some growth as she learns to be vulnerable with everyone and it's not really clear how the running thing turns out because this entire book takes place by the end of September.
* Fenn - playboy, golden high school god. he's been secretly texting Casey since her accident and seems to be conflicted over getting close to her because he's vaguely 'not a good guy' so he's hot and cold. he is also quickly concerned with being close with RJ as 'brothers' and looks out for him - first to make sure he looks cool, then because it's kind of obvious he has no one. he hates his dad, who emotionally abandoned him after his mother died. Fenn was also abandoned by his childhood bff/normal roommate before RJ arrived, after he was caught drug dealing and shipped off to an unknown military school. Gabe's parents won't even tell his brother, Lucas where he is, so they kind of hypothesize together. Fenn spends the whole book observing RJ, talking to Casey and finally starts to get on Sloane's good side when RJ hacks into security camera footage of Casey's accident. it shows a driver abandoning the scene, then Fenn coming across it, pulling Casey out of the water, sending a text to Sloane's number before leaving Casey on the shore with a headwound.
* Silas - well-mannered boy who doesn't belong in the school for wayward sons, vying for a swimming scholarship/Olympic medal. he has a girlfriend who he doesn't really hang out with but seems to stay with out of laziness. is good friends with Sloane and one of the only people allowed to visit their house. everyone seems to think he has a crush on Sloane but his POV doesn't implicate him. he is wary of RJ, they never click like the other guys. he is also critical of Sloane dating him because he believes she is using him to get back at her ex-bf, Duke. he tries to set up Sloane by telling RJ to meet her when she ask Silas to cover for her while she talks to Duke. Turns out she was talking to Fenn about how they lied about a meaningless hook up so RJ overhears and it results in their second major fight. spends the whole book protecting Lawson.
* Lawson - good time, very rich, very dysfunctional boy. he's bi, maybe pan and sleeps with everyone doing wonders to the stigma of these sexual identities. obviously self-destructive/undiagnosed with an array of presenting concerns for intervention. he spends the book seducing a pair of married teachers until they catch each other and resign. it adds nothing to the story except taboo smut.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lawson’s storyline was lowkey what got me finishing this book