Private (Book 1)

Reader reviewed by Erica

This was a great novel, and an outstanding start to this series! The book, I felt, demonstrated some life lessons, all while keeping you totally hooked and intrigued. I didn't want to put this one down, I was reading it whenever I could because it was just that good.

Reader reviewed by Katie

I have always loved books like gossip girl and it girl but when i had finished those series i was looking for another book to read and i just recently piced up Private.

This book is one of my favorites that i have ever read it is just like goosip girl but more captivating and drama that makes you want to keep reading on. you just cant put this book down until you finish it. i cant wait to read the next book in the series and know what happens to reed the rest of the way through her journey at billings

Reader reviewed by Rochelle

I am in love with this series of books. They are literary roller coasters and I've enjoyed the ride. I'm about to finish Revelation. I hope and pray there are more after this one. I've never enjoyed a young adult series more than this one. Kate Brian is one of the best and most entertaining writers I have had the pleasure to find.

Reader reviewed by Allyssa

This book is amazing. The first book really steps out on a good foot. Reed is the main character, and no matter what background the reader has, they can't help but feel somehow connected to Reed, as if understanding her.

The entire series is about an exclusive Eastern boarder school, with tons of rich kids that attend. This is a different form of gossip girl. I even like The Private novels more than I like Gossip Girl.
It's a great book.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Reed Brennans scholarship to Easton Academy is her ticket out of Croton, Pennsylvania, where everything is ordinary and boring, and where her pill-popping mom resides. To outsider Reed, Easton Academy is both sophisticated and intimidating, and its obvious that Reed doesnt fit in, but she refuses admit defeat and go home. And then she meets the Billings Girls, the most powerful, beautiful, smart, and successful girls on campus not to mention elite. These girls are envied by every other girl in the school, especially Reed, who vows to be accepted into their inner sanctum. But her crusade for acceptance isnt going to be easy, and any slipup on Reeds part may put Billings out of her reach forever.

At first glance, the Private series may appear to be just another lame story about over-spoiled girls and their exploits. However, I found Private to be much better than that. The plot is rich with suspense and intrigue as Reed navigates the socially dangerous territory at Easton, but what really separates Private from other Gossip Girl knockoffs, is that Reed actually has a conscience; shes not so ruthless as that she would do anything to get what she wants, and thats very refreshing. The private boarding school setting may seem overused, but its really the perfect place for this story. I really liked how there was always an element of danger to the story, whether it was being caught outside after hours or a secret on the verge of being spilled. Private and the subsequent books its series are sure to thrill readers with their drama, secrets, and peek into the private lives of the young and elite.

Strangely, though Private is the first book in its series, its the last one Ive read due to a bookstore mix-up when I first began reading this series (I started with the second book). I definitely recommend Private as well as the other books in the series as an intriguing and dramatic read.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

Reader reviewed by graceface

Romance, scandal, money, mystery...a chance to live the high society life...
When 15 year old Reed Brennan wins a scholarhip to Easton Academy, an elite boarding school for the nation's most privileged children, she feels a little apprehensive about leaving her old life in the suburbs of Pennsylvania and her dad alone with her drug addict mother. Her first few days of school do not go well-she goes from star pupil and athlete to receiving C's and D's, she met a guy, named Thomas Pearson, but is he really interesed in her, or just fooling around? And some of her roomates are just plain mean and snobby. Reed is starting to regret coming to Easton, that is, until she meets the Billings Girls, the most beautiful, popular, and smartest women on campus. To be a Billings Girl means everything...but how much is Reed willing to sacrifice to become one of them?
This book is so good. And its such a quick, fun and easy read; I finished it in one day and can't wait to read the next book in this series. Kate Brian did another awesome job and I think the Private series have the potential to become the next Gossip Girl.

Reader reviewed by Bookluver-Carol

Tradition, Honor, Excellence...and secrets so dark they're almost invisible

Fifteen-year-old Reed Brennan wins a scholarship to Easton Academy -- the golden ticket away from her pill-popping mother and run-of-the-mill suburban life. But when she arrives on the beautiful, tradition-steeped campus of Easton, everyone is just a bit more sophisticated, a bit more gorgeous, and a lot wealthier than she ever thought possible. Reed realizes that even though she has been accepted to Easton, Easton has not accepted her. She feels like she's on the outside, looking in.

Until she meets the Billings Girls.

They are the most beautiful, intelligent, and intensely confident girls on campus. And they know it. They hold all the power in a world where power is fleeting but means everything. Reed vows to do whatever it takes to be accepted into their inner circle.

Reed uses every part of herself -- the good, the bad, the beautiful -- to get closer to the Billings Girls. She quickly discovers that inside their secret parties and mountains of attitude, hanging in their designer clothing-packed closets the Billings Girls have skeletons. And they'll do anything to keep their secrets private.

I kind of liked this book. Reed's family isn't rich.Of course, Reed feels like she must fit in and she tries to do whatever possible trying to. She is even humiliated in some occasions.I liked the book but I didn't feel like I needed to finish it in one sitting. I didn't like that when Reed loses her virginity she doesn't feel anything, she's emotionless. If you love the Gossip Girl series then you might like this series.I'm not saying it's a must read but if you have nothing better to do then you can pass the time by reading these books.Kate Brian's writing used to be so much better before she started writing this series.

Reader reviewed by Sami

My 1st review! Whoo-hoo! Ok, so Private starts out w/Reed Billings (main character) and her dad on the road to Easton Academy. She desperately wants to get away from her blah-gray town. She comes into the parking lot and is immediately enveloped in Louis Vuitton, limos, and beautiful people of all sorts. She doesn't belong and she knows it. She's a scholarship student from Pennsylvania with a wardrobe from Wal-Mart and a scratched Subaru. However, she wants to fit it and she makes a sort of an effort. That night she is looking out her window homesick and sees the Billings Girls across the quad in their dorm. The four of them are mesmerizing and she can't look away. A couple minutes later, one of them notices her and looks straight at her. Reed looks down, embarrassed, until she can no longer stand the tension. She raises her head and sees the face of that magnificent girl. She smiles and closes the curtains.
The following day, those four girls spot her in the cafeteria. The (obvious) leader, Noelle, calls Reed a glass-licking 'Peeping Tom' and asks her not to spy on them anymore. That doesn't sound that harsh, right? Well, when the person saying it to you has a snotty attitude and everybody is watching, it's pretty much public humiliation. With that embarrassment, the fact that none of the teachers seem to like her, and she still can't figure out this mysteriously dangerous boy who may like her and she might possibly like him, the year isn't really getting off to a terrific start.
Surprisingly, later in the book, the girls don't hate her as much as she thinks, she actually gets the boy, and with a friend's help, she's able to do better in school. The book then turns for her and everything she thought was different. Read the book if you want to figure out where Reed ends up. I thought it was good. She is a strong character if she feels like it, but she's very relatable and you find yourself hoping that she gets ahead. You, yourself, can't decide between the boy and the friends. Read it; you won't be sorry.

Reader reviewed by Jax

As a person who's always wanted to go to boarding school, Private totally rocked! Reed's story, and the suspenseful ending that left me wanting for the next book (which hadn't come out yet, I might add...so I was mad) which is pretty rare with me. Kate Brian created a bunch of believable characters and not so believable situations, like would a boarding school really let their students do such things? I mean, come on!

Great read for anyone who is sick of regular public school drama.

Reader reviewed by Shelby

To start, if you like The Clique, Gossip Girl, It Girl, and The A-List, you'll love this series.

The main character is Reed Brennan, who comes to the notorious Easton Academy on a scholarship. On the first day she attracts the attention of cute senior, Thomas Pearson. Along with his attention comes the Billings Girls, the most powerful girls in the school. Of course, when Thomas accuses her of using him to get to the Billings Girls, he is somewhat right about that. The conclusion leaves plenty of questions including where Thomas has disappeared to.

I loved the mystery and the drama in this book. It's a very short and fast read but FILLED with details.