The Kari AnnAlysis

Last year, I took part in a couple of challenges. This year, so far, I’ve only signed up for one. I wanted to get more into Young Adult books this year. I know there’s no age limit on what genre you read, but I figured since I’m still in my early 20′s, I have a few more years to feel not like a creeper reading about teens, so I’m going to read all I can get my hands on.

The challenge I took part in is the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge at Home Girl’s Book Blog. There were four different levels in this challenge. You could sign up to read 12, 25, 50 or 75 books. I chose the 25 book challenge, not too sure if I could even get through it. And guess what? I have and it’s only July.

Here’s my list of books that I read:
1. Petty in Pink
2. LA Candy
3. Private
4. Invitation Only
5. Untouchable
6. Confessions
7. Inner Circle
8. Legacy
9. Ambition
10. Envy
11. The Naughty List
12. Rumors
13. Tangled
14. Revelation
 15. Paradise Lost
16. Suspicion
17. Beautiful Malice
18. Sloppy Firsts
19. Pretty Little Liars
20. Flawless
21. Perfect
22. Unbelievable
23. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
24. Infinite Days
25. The Crepe Makers’ Bond

If you want to check out my reviews, here is the link to my Challenges page, that lists all of the books, authors and has links to the reviews.

I seriously can’t believe I’ve already finished a challenge, 5 months early. I still have a few YA books on my shelf, including more in the Jessica Darling series, as well as the Private series. I have also found some awesome YA books to read this winter.

I do plan on doing one more challenge this year, that will be a Holiday Reading Challenge, and I am already dying for it.

Have you signed up for any challenges yet? How are you doing on them

*This post contains spoilers if you have not read the Private series*

Cheyenne is dead and the Legacy is cancelled. Cheyenne’s family was supposed to be in charge of this year’s Legacy, but they decided against it in the wake of her death. Reed was unanimously voted the new prez of Billings and she will stop at nothing to make sure they get to do something similar to the Legacy (a ridiculous party filled with sex, drugs, alcohol, music that Legacies of the private schools attend each year).

They hear through the grapevine that the Legacy may still be on, but no one from Easton was invited. Now it’s up to Reed to make sure they get there.

She doesn’t have to do it alone though, a former Billings girl is back and they’ve definitely switched roles.

Not only is Reed dealing with all of the Legacy drama, she is also dealing with a bit of boy drama. She is still dating Josh, but a former Billings student, who also dated one of her best friends is interested in Reed. She loves Josh, but the other fella, who can turn him down? He’s gorgeous, smart, rich and an Ivy Leaguer.

I have to admit this was my least favorite book so far out of the Private series. I know that people can’t die in every book, but after so much drama in the rest of the series, this one kind of slacked.

I enjoyed the rituals in this book. Now that Reed is president, she is on top of the world. She has money, access to awesome clothes, contacts and a file with any info possible on her Billings family. I don’t know if this is how life really is for these people, but it’s what I imagine it to be. 

This book set up a little bit of drama for the future. When they finally found out who set up the Legacy, they also find out she has a connection to Cheyenne. I imagine this drama will continue to build.

I give Legacy 2 bookmarks.

Private Series:
1. Private
2. Invitation Only
3. Untouchable
4. Confessions
5. Inner Circle

*This contains spoilers if you haven’t read the rest of the series*

Oy Vey! A lot is a changin’ at Easton Academy. Noelle and the “Mean Girls” are gone. Inner Circle picks up at the beginning of Reed’s second year at Easton. The last we’d heard from her was winter break of her first year. And as I said, a lot has changed.

There’s a new headmaster, Reed has a new roommate and there’s a new Billings “Queen B”. Not to mention 6 open spots at Billings and 80 years of tradition that are being thrown out the door.

The “Mean Girls” may have treated Reed horribly, killed her beau and tried to kill her, but somehow, this year seems worse. She’s at wits end with a house mate, who seems very cozy with Josh (Yes, Reed and Josh are still together). It’s now up to Reed to put her housemates in their place and show them what it really means to be a Billings Girl, even if she is “blue collar”.

Oh yeah, one of the “Mean Girls” shows back up in Reeds life, but she may not have been too far from the beginning.

This book just didn’t do it for me like the rest of the series has. There was drama, yes, but compared to killing people, it seemed very tame. Now, there is a death in this book, I just didn’t really care about it. Oh Gosh, I’ve become hardened by the likes of Noelle This book was just too catty for me.

I do have high hopes for the rest of the series, especially with a mean one back in the picture and to learn more about this Ivy character who has come back to Easton. But, I am only giving Invitation Only 2 bookmarks.

Private Series:
1. Private
2. Invitation Only
3. Untouchable
4. Confessions

Reed’s boyfriend Josh is still in jail for the death of his roommate Thomas. But Reed is bound and determined to prove the police wrong. She finds there are two people who can give an alibi for Josh, but to do so, they must make their affair public knowledge… something neither are willing to do.

It ends up though that this relationship may not be the juiciest drama at Easton when Reed finally learns who killed her fling Thomas.

There’s also drama building in the Billings house after the “popular” girls get the entire house in trouble. They *can’t* stay in this house a week before finals. OMG!

I know that is a VERY short description, but if I say another word, something will be given away.

Until about 50 pages left in this book, I thought it kind of stunk. Yes, Reed was FINALLY standing up for herself against the Billings girls and was the only one not thinking of partying through this crisis.

But boy, let me tell you, the last 50 pages make up for the rest of the book. My mouth dropped about that time and stayed dropped the rest of the book. Before this turning point, I was going to give the book 1 or 2 bookmarks, but Kate Brian does it again and I have to give Confessions 5 bookmarks.

The funny thing about this book is I’ve actually had it for a few years. My husband got it for me when I started reading seriously. He thought it looked like something I’d like. Little did he know it was the forth in the series. I read it before I realized it too. I was a little confused and it definitely didn’t have the same affect as it did now when I know the players and what has happened before in the series.

Private Series:
1. Private
2. Invitation Only
3. Untouchable

In Kate Brian’s Untouchable, it’s time for Thanksgiving break. Things are starting to look up for Reed. The girls have finally accepted her as one of their own, she is getting over Thomas, someone has been arrested in connection with his death, and she’s started to spend some time with a new boy. The new boy, however, is Thomas’ roommate, Josh.

And just as soon as everyone leaves for break, except Reed and Josh, everything starts to go downhill. The two are caught together and are banned from seeing each other the rest of the break. Josh is being questioned AGAIN about Thomas’ death and when the girls come back, they have some startling news. Josh came to Easton after being kicked out of his former school for a scandal. Now he may be involved in another one.

Good news? The real murderer of Thomas is arrested!

Kate Brian is still amazing me with her plots. This book, just like the rest kept me reading. She keeps putting in twists and turns that I would never have imagined. I’m starting to get used to her writing, so by the end of the book, I had a better of idea what to expect around the corner, but it was still a great addition to the series.

I give Untouchable 3 bookmarks. There really wasn’t anything wrong with it, it’s just been a couple of days since I finished it, and I don’t feel as passionate about it as I have the others after a couple of days after.

Private Series:
1. Private
2. Invitation Only