Scandal by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

Scandal by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: Bought
Goodreads Stars: 2
Rating: Bland

Buy the Book: Amazon UK

You know you're not the author of the "Ivy Insider" articles.

But how are you going to prove it?

Callie Andrews returns from spring break to find herself facing expulsion. Someone has framed her as the author of a series of anonymous articles vilifying an elite social club and now, unless she can prove her innocence, she can kiss her college education good-bye. So who is the Ivy Insider?

ALEXIS
the girl who has had it out for Callie since day one

GREGORY
the guy who told her he loved her (at least she thought she heard that) but then he vanished in the middle of the night

MATT
his friendship supersedes his hatred for social clubs—right?

or VANESSA
Callie's best frenemy

. . . or is it someone else entirely? Callie's made more than a few enemies during her freshman year, but can she count on her true friends—and the (missing, just-maybe-meant-to-be) love of her life—to pull through? - Goodreads

As a huge fan of the previous books in this series - especially the first one - I was both excited and disappointed to read Scandal. It had been an entertaining ride, and I wasn't really sure if I was ready to let these characters go. They aren't the best characters ever, not by any means, but they provided enough entertainment to keep me reading well into the night. The Ivy series - prior to Scandal - is a fun and light contemporary that I'd definitely recommend to anyone who wants a break from a heavier read.

While I enjoyed Scandal to an extent, it wasn't as great as I was expecting it to be. Since it's the last book in the series, I was hoping for something that would blow me away, but unfortunately this felt like a filler. And it's the final book!

Rivals by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

Rivals by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
The Ivy #3
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Rating: Essential

Callie Andrews returns for her second semester at Harvard determined to do better than the previous fall, where those Bs on her report card seemed pretty good compared to the state of her extracurriculars (F, as in if at first you don’t succeed, you should probably stop trying), friendships (C-minus, since she and former BFF Vanessa are still on thin ice), and love life (D, as in don’t even go there). But various campus rivalries soon threaten to thwart Callie’s resolve. Will Callie ever be a match for Grace Lee, the take-no-prisoners managing editor; Alessandra, the gorgeous transfer student; Clint, the guy who might just be too perfect and Gregory, the guy who may never be perfect enough.

Callie will face some of the toughest choices imaginable: in friendships, in loyalties, and in love. The pressure to pick a side—and a suitor—has never been higher. But will she and her friends choose well? - Goodreads

I'm not sure where this book rates in the series so far, because I absolutely love every single one of them. I'm not sure if I ever want this series to end.

I love Callie and her character growth since the first book has been amazing. I can't wait to see where she goes in the future.

I won't spoil you on what happens between the characters, but I love what happened with several of the relationships in this book. The characters that I hated turned out to be the bad guys, which was awesome because it kind of gave me an excuse to want to kill them. I absolutely love Gregory, and I am dying to know what happens with him in the next book.

As always, I love the little sections from the magazines that were at the beginning of each chapter. They were hilarious, and I really like trivia like this.

This is a great spring and summer read, especially as all the characters went away for Spring Break and we got to see what they got up to then. After the ending of this, I am now SO BLOODY EXCITED for the next book. Is it the final one? I don't know, but I certainly hope not.

The Ivy series: 

1. The Ivy

2. Secrets

3. Rivals

4. Scandal

Secrets by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

Secrets by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
The Ivy #2
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Rating: Essential

Callie Andrews triumphed during her first semester at Harvard: she made incomparable friends, found the perfect boyfriend, and received invitations to the most exclusive secret societies. But she may have ruined every-thing with one ill-fated night. Now she's keeping secrets from everyone, including Clint, the upperclassman who's too good to be true; Vanessa, the best friend turned backstabber; Gregory, the guy who's a total(ly hot) mistake, and Lexi, the social queen who wants to bring Callie down.

But Callie didn't get into Harvard by giving up, and she isn't about to now. Besides, she's not the only one with something to hide. . . .- Goodreads

This review will likely contain spoilers from the first book in the trilogy, so if you haven't read it then please stop reading now. Unless, of course, you don't mind spoilers. You can read my review of the first book, The Ivy, here.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this sequel! There was none of the typical sequel slump that so many second books go through. Everything kept progressing at an equal pace with the first book.

Secrets is the theme of this book, and it shows just how dangerous and destructive secrets can be. I'm also really pleased with Callie's 'revenge'. I won't say any more, because I don't want to spoil you guys. But Callie is AWESOME in this book. She's really maturing and becoming an even more lovable character.

The characters definitely run the show in this book. There are so many awesome characters, who are either awesome because they're evil, because they're hot or just because they are made of awesome.

Alexis is an even bigger cow in this book, and I'm so surprised that Callie put up with all her crap.

Vanessa is even more annoying. She's set on being a bitch to Callie, even though Callie tries to sort things out betwween them. I also think Vanessa is a hypocrite who thinks she can do things to Callie but Callie is not allowed to retaliate in any way.

GREGORY! *HEARTS AND FLOWERS* Say no more.

The side characters are hilarious as well, especially Mimi and OK, who are amazing.

I'm not pleased with how Clint and Callie's relationship turned out. Again, I shan't spoil you, but bah.

The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger - for me, at least - and I'm DYING to find out how it all turns out in the next book which was released this month!

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
The Ivy #1
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Rating: Essential

Callie Andrews may not have money or connections or the right clothes, and she may have way too many complications in her love life, what with Gregory, the guy she loves to hate; Evan, the guy she'd love to forget; Clint, the guy she'd love to love and Matt, the guy she really should love, all vying for her attention.

But she has three fantastic roommates (best friends or her worst nightmare?) and a wholesome California-girl reputation (oops) and brains and beauty and big, big dreams.

Will it be enough to help her survive freshman year at Harvard? - Goodreads

Let me start out by saying that the characters in this book are a bit older than what is the norm in YA. Callie is a freshman at Harvard, so she's just that little bit older, but the story definitely still fits the typical age range for YA.

The Ivy is an excellent contemporary book, with so much drama! I love books like this, and this really reminded me of that TV show, Greek, just without the sororities.

Callie is a great MC. She's flawed in ways that are to be expected with a teenager who's just moving into adulthood, and she has a lot to learn about friendships.

Her roommates provided a lot of humour, which I adored. I was laughing out loud throughout most of the book because these characters are hilarious and crazy! I loved them all apart from Vanessa.

Vanessa was a complete cow. She had the audacity to call Callie a bad friend, when in reality she was just as awful, if not worse. There was a scene at the beginning when Callie embarrassed herself in front of the entire cafeteria, and Vanessa pretended not to know her. Yeah, great friend.

This book does contain a love triangle, and while I normally abhor those, I actually really enjoyed this one! Gold star for the authors for doing it right!

Gregory! *hearts* I'm in love. Callie was so oblivious, but he obviously likes her. Open your eyes, woman! I love Gregory so much, he's a wonderful character.

Clint is the other side of the love triangle, and while I liked him - mostly - I felt he was too mature of Callie and they didn't have much chemistry. I think it's pretty obvious as to which side of this triangle I prefer!

Matt was another character I loved. He's such a nerd.

Overall I LOVED this book and I think it's definitely underrated. More people need to read The Ivy, because I think it's one of the best contemporaries I've read. And it is set in college which means no parents. Which means craziness ensues.