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The Elite #2
In Too Deep
If you don?t belong here? you just don?t belong? The Bramford building's newest resident and small-town transplant Casey McCloy is adapting to life in the Big Apple and loving it. She's got the look, the attitude, and a delish new boyfriend, Drew Van Allen. But she's starting to have second thoughts as to whether the ?New York? Casey is the real Casey. And she's not so sure she likes herself much anymore. She's not the only one. Madison Macallister has always had her Manolo Blahniks firmly planted on the top rung of the social ladder?until that corn-fed cow Casey stole Drew away from her and made her look the fool. So what if Madison wasn?t exactly dating Drew at the time? She wanted him. And everyone knows that Madison gets what she wants, like Drew?and a little revenge.
256 pages, ebook
First published January 6, 2009
2 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Banash
10 books198 followersJennifer Banash was born and raised in New York City. She now lives in Southern California with her beagle, Sigmund, and her vast collection of designer shoes.
Check out my blog at jenniferbanash.wordpress.com
Check out my blog at jenniferbanash.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 28, 2009
Cross-posted from my blog review.
In my review of The Elite, I said I thought it took way too long for the action to begin. The first hundred pages, give or take a few, were pure setup. When the characters had all been introduced and we moved beyond the initial encounter, it became infinitely more worthwhile to read.
So, in many ways, In Too Deep is a definite step-up from The Elite. The writing has improved. For those worried with label-saturation and product placement in these types of high-end novels, this one is better than the first in keeping with the “less- is more” mentality. And the action…well, it gets going a lot sooner, and lasts a lot longer, than in The Elite.
But. It didn’t work for me.
As ironic as it sounds in light of my problems with The Elite, if anything I thought In Too Deep tried to pack too much into its mere 240-something pages. The story is told in 3rd person limited and follows all five of the main characters—Casey, Madison, Phoebe, Sophie and Drew—in a rotating fashion. While following a linear timeline, each character’s narrative rarely overlaps, and so in addition to being disjointed, there is a very limited amount of room for their worries, fears, and drama to take root, grow, and become substantial.
And then there are some of these plot developments that I wouldn’t even contemplate putting in the realm of vague possibility. Sophie, in the first book, finds out she’s adopted. Here, she finds out her mom is a world famous actress. How those sorts of documents would be available to her and her parents is beyond me because as far as I know, Hollywood types tend to sweep those skeletons well under the rug. When she tells Casey—the only one she feels like talking to—about this, Casey barely blinks and tells her she must email her mom, stat. With everyone Sophie tells this to, the news sinks in like quicksand and doesn’t take any convincing at all. What’s worse, World Famous Actress actually replies—and accepts Sophie’s invitation to come to her Sweet Sixteen party!
Yeah…I don’t know.
Meanwhile, Madison is on the verge of signing a modeling contract. She was scouted while walking around Fifth Avenue or something, and she’s seeing stars. This guy, Antonio, has her going to this one test shoot where she had to wear the world’s skimpiest bathing suit, where she felt über-uncomfortable and basically decided she didn’t want to pursue modeling anymore. But when she’s called back by Antonio to examine the shots, she sees—and he reaffirms her—that she’s a natural and the modeling world needs her. He asks her to please consider signing their contract, as if the industry had worlds to lose if they didn’t acquire her talent, and asks if there’s anything he can do to help convince her.
I really had no idea the fashion industry was this accommodating, and from reading Melissa Walker’s Violet books, I’m over 99.9% sure it’s not.
Now, moving along to the subplots:
Jared, Sophie’s older (not adopted) brother, and Phoebe have a thing going on the side. I was excited when I got to that part because where, when and how would a clandestine courtship not spice things up? However, their scenes, suffering from the hectic nature of this book, weren’t very many, and they weren’t very developed. In one of the scenes, Phoebe’s trying to resist him; in the next, they’re hot for each other; and in the following one, she wants to end things. It’s too quick for me to feel any of the supposed steam.
Drew’s character started making no sense to me. Half of the time he feels like a puppet aiming to please the readership with his philanthropic thoughts of Darfur and how rich girls are so, so shallow; the next, he’s being a typical guy with conflicted feelings for both Madison, the rich bitch, and Casey, the unusual girl from Normal, IL, and acting like an asshole while he’s at it. You can see where one might get confused, can’t you?
Overall, I thought a large portion of the plot was dramatic for the sake of drama and became directionless in doing so. I’m a type of person who likes extreme situations for plots, but I like them to be rooted in reality and above all else be, in spite of everything, believable and convincing. Some people might not find fault with a novel like this, and might even get a thrill from it; me, I was unsatisfied. So, if you like gratuitous drama, liberal use of italics, and a lot of ellipses, this one is for you. C-
In my review of The Elite, I said I thought it took way too long for the action to begin. The first hundred pages, give or take a few, were pure setup. When the characters had all been introduced and we moved beyond the initial encounter, it became infinitely more worthwhile to read.
So, in many ways, In Too Deep is a definite step-up from The Elite. The writing has improved. For those worried with label-saturation and product placement in these types of high-end novels, this one is better than the first in keeping with the “less- is more” mentality. And the action…well, it gets going a lot sooner, and lasts a lot longer, than in The Elite.
But. It didn’t work for me.
As ironic as it sounds in light of my problems with The Elite, if anything I thought In Too Deep tried to pack too much into its mere 240-something pages. The story is told in 3rd person limited and follows all five of the main characters—Casey, Madison, Phoebe, Sophie and Drew—in a rotating fashion. While following a linear timeline, each character’s narrative rarely overlaps, and so in addition to being disjointed, there is a very limited amount of room for their worries, fears, and drama to take root, grow, and become substantial.
And then there are some of these plot developments that I wouldn’t even contemplate putting in the realm of vague possibility. Sophie, in the first book, finds out she’s adopted. Here, she finds out her mom is a world famous actress. How those sorts of documents would be available to her and her parents is beyond me because as far as I know, Hollywood types tend to sweep those skeletons well under the rug. When she tells Casey—the only one she feels like talking to—about this, Casey barely blinks and tells her she must email her mom, stat. With everyone Sophie tells this to, the news sinks in like quicksand and doesn’t take any convincing at all. What’s worse, World Famous Actress actually replies—and accepts Sophie’s invitation to come to her Sweet Sixteen party!
Yeah…I don’t know.
Meanwhile, Madison is on the verge of signing a modeling contract. She was scouted while walking around Fifth Avenue or something, and she’s seeing stars. This guy, Antonio, has her going to this one test shoot where she had to wear the world’s skimpiest bathing suit, where she felt über-uncomfortable and basically decided she didn’t want to pursue modeling anymore. But when she’s called back by Antonio to examine the shots, she sees—and he reaffirms her—that she’s a natural and the modeling world needs her. He asks her to please consider signing their contract, as if the industry had worlds to lose if they didn’t acquire her talent, and asks if there’s anything he can do to help convince her.
I really had no idea the fashion industry was this accommodating, and from reading Melissa Walker’s Violet books, I’m over 99.9% sure it’s not.
Now, moving along to the subplots:
Jared, Sophie’s older (not adopted) brother, and Phoebe have a thing going on the side. I was excited when I got to that part because where, when and how would a clandestine courtship not spice things up? However, their scenes, suffering from the hectic nature of this book, weren’t very many, and they weren’t very developed. In one of the scenes, Phoebe’s trying to resist him; in the next, they’re hot for each other; and in the following one, she wants to end things. It’s too quick for me to feel any of the supposed steam.
Drew’s character started making no sense to me. Half of the time he feels like a puppet aiming to please the readership with his philanthropic thoughts of Darfur and how rich girls are so, so shallow; the next, he’s being a typical guy with conflicted feelings for both Madison, the rich bitch, and Casey, the unusual girl from Normal, IL, and acting like an asshole while he’s at it. You can see where one might get confused, can’t you?
Overall, I thought a large portion of the plot was dramatic for the sake of drama and became directionless in doing so. I’m a type of person who likes extreme situations for plots, but I like them to be rooted in reality and above all else be, in spite of everything, believable and convincing. Some people might not find fault with a novel like this, and might even get a thrill from it; me, I was unsatisfied. So, if you like gratuitous drama, liberal use of italics, and a lot of ellipses, this one is for you. C-
July 2, 2017
I didn't feel the need to be "addicted" to this book. It is nice that the reading was short for how the writing is. This series is worth only one book not 3.
June 13, 2012
IN TOO DEEP picks up not long after where THE ELITE ends. Casey McCloy and Drew Van Allen are an official item, and Madison Macallister is acting friendly(-ish) to her face but preparing to break them up. Sophie and Phoebe try to be friends to both, but they're busy with their own dramas. Even in the glittery world of the exclusive Bram building, they still have to deal with two things that plague every teenager: boys and family. (Well, some teenagers are plagued by girls and family.)
I love how much more grounded THE ELITE series seems than some of the other series of this type I've read. In so many there may be parents present, but they'll have no control over their children. IN TOO DEEP explores many of the characters' relationships with their families as well as the relationship drama.
Madison, like a true queen bee, chafes under the control of her mother. (I'm not saying her mother's the best, but she's far better than Madison makes out.) She feels she's more grown-up than she actually is and it gets her in over her head. She gets scouted for modelling and encounters people who don't care what her last name is. She flirts with a man too old for her without once considering his age.
Phoebe Reynaud also has problems with her mother, but more because she keeps forgetting to pick up her little sister because she's too busy with whoever her boyfriend is. Phoebe cuts her own support lines by getting involved with a boy she can't tell her friends about. He can make her happy when he's physically present, but most of the time he just makes her feel guilty at a time when she needs something to feel positive about.
Sophie St. John loves her mother and father, but she's angry at them for the secret they kept and eager to meet her birth mom. IN TOO DEEP definitely showcases Sophie more than THE ELITE. Her Sweet Sixteen is approaching - and it's going to be on camera, on an MTV-esque show. She finds she can speak to Casey before the cameras start rolling because she can be more objective than the friends who have known her forever. Of course, those friends will eventually find out Casey knew about the adoption first. Sophie sets herself up for all kinds of drama.
On the other hand, Drew adores his father and still gets along with him quite well. He doesn't like his relationship advice about Casey, but he's always felt a strong camadarie with his father since they're rather similar. However, he's about to find out about some of his father's mistakes, which makes him question himself as a person.
This only adds to his relationship drama with Casey. Liking each other isn't enough to sustain a relationship and the two have serious communication problems. Both want to make it work but their actions often convince the other of the opposite. They don't really understand how the other thinks, which makes it hard to know when they've sent the wrong signal. Of course, their problems aren't helped by Madison helping the misunderstandings along.
In the finale Jennifer Banash really ups the ante for SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE. I can't wait to pick up the third book and see how some of the snarls come undone. Banash is fabulous at creating relatable characters in over-the-top situations. Her characters act like real teenagers and really captures that sense of being almost ready to be an adult but not quite and the out of control emotions.
I love how much more grounded THE ELITE series seems than some of the other series of this type I've read. In so many there may be parents present, but they'll have no control over their children. IN TOO DEEP explores many of the characters' relationships with their families as well as the relationship drama.
Madison, like a true queen bee, chafes under the control of her mother. (I'm not saying her mother's the best, but she's far better than Madison makes out.) She feels she's more grown-up than she actually is and it gets her in over her head. She gets scouted for modelling and encounters people who don't care what her last name is. She flirts with a man too old for her without once considering his age.
Phoebe Reynaud also has problems with her mother, but more because she keeps forgetting to pick up her little sister because she's too busy with whoever her boyfriend is. Phoebe cuts her own support lines by getting involved with a boy she can't tell her friends about. He can make her happy when he's physically present, but most of the time he just makes her feel guilty at a time when she needs something to feel positive about.
Sophie St. John loves her mother and father, but she's angry at them for the secret they kept and eager to meet her birth mom. IN TOO DEEP definitely showcases Sophie more than THE ELITE. Her Sweet Sixteen is approaching - and it's going to be on camera, on an MTV-esque show. She finds she can speak to Casey before the cameras start rolling because she can be more objective than the friends who have known her forever. Of course, those friends will eventually find out Casey knew about the adoption first. Sophie sets herself up for all kinds of drama.
On the other hand, Drew adores his father and still gets along with him quite well. He doesn't like his relationship advice about Casey, but he's always felt a strong camadarie with his father since they're rather similar. However, he's about to find out about some of his father's mistakes, which makes him question himself as a person.
This only adds to his relationship drama with Casey. Liking each other isn't enough to sustain a relationship and the two have serious communication problems. Both want to make it work but their actions often convince the other of the opposite. They don't really understand how the other thinks, which makes it hard to know when they've sent the wrong signal. Of course, their problems aren't helped by Madison helping the misunderstandings along.
In the finale Jennifer Banash really ups the ante for SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE. I can't wait to pick up the third book and see how some of the snarls come undone. Banash is fabulous at creating relatable characters in over-the-top situations. Her characters act like real teenagers and really captures that sense of being almost ready to be an adult but not quite and the out of control emotions.
June 16, 2009
Leaving off at from The Elite, Casey and Drew are now officially an "item". Madison is staying low, pretending that she is fine with the their relationship. But inside, she is scheming to get back at them both. No one humiliates Madison Macallister and gets away with it. All she needs is a little sweet revenge. And a modelling gig may be her key to do so...
Sophie discovers that all of her life has been a lie. Accepting the truth is hard. She decides for her sweet sixteen, she will hold a big party. A very big party. One that will be aired on T.V. If she is going to face reality, why not do it in an extravagant way?
Phoebe does not want to end up like her mother, a liar. But Sophie's brother, Jared, is just so... amazing. She can not help but to sneak out and meet with him every other day. As long as Sophie doesn't know, it's okay right? In the meantime, she finds out who her mother has been seeing behind her back. And if it's not already shocking as is, Phoebe receives a big surprise when the mystery man is unveiled.
Drew is over Madison. Completely over her...Right? Not! Drew is now confused with his feelings because he is still attracted to the beautiful model-to-be Madison. But with Casey now in the picture, what should he do?
Unlike The Elite, In Too Deep starts focusing more on the rest of the group instead of just Casey. Which I think is much better anyway because Casey's side of the story is not interesting. For everyone else, it is purely scandalous. I couldn't help but devoured the Gossip Girl-like affairs because everything that was happening made me gasped every other chapter. It made the story quite enjoyable.
The very first thing that surprised me when I started reading was the fact that Casey still hung around with Madison since the last novel. I mean, the last chapter of The Elite gave a concrete thought to any reader that the two would never talk to each other again. It didn't really make sense but I guess it played out. And another surprising thing was Madison's personality toward the modelling shoot. I expected her to be all confident about it and shockingly, she was not at all. In Too Deep shows a different side to your classic bitch.
A little disappointment for me was that the characters' relationships with each other still hadn't gone deeper. I was pretty annoyed because it would have been great to see how much more the characters would have grown then. Then again, I guess it would have been a little difficult to do that considering the story is focusing on so many characters at once.
Overall, In Too Deep is filled with more scandal and more drama than ever. It's a read where you can enjoy in your mind because it's like its own show! If you love Gossip Girl, yes, pick this up! But before then, check out The Elite first!
March 3, 2010
Step back into the super privileged world of The Elite. The infamous girls living in one of New York’s classiest apartment building, the Bramford, are back. While they may look absolutely perfect and dazzling, dark secrets are hiding behind their all too perfect appearance.
Casey McCloy is finally starting to fit in. Her hair’s not as unruly as it used to be, she’s learning the ins and outs of a good fashion sense and she’s dating Drew, one of the hottest guys in all of Manhattan. As she becomes the “New York Casey” though she feels like she’s losing herself.
Then there is Madison Macallister, the reigning queen of the Upper East Side, who just so happens to believe that Casey stole Drew from her. Even though Madison and Drew weren’t officially dating, Madison was majorly crushing on him, and still can’t believe that a Midwestern freak like Casey could steal him away from her. Determined to get Drew back, Madison all but wages a silent war on Casey in order to exact her revenge.
Will the queen bee get what she wants or will the new girl find herself all of a sudden a lot more powerful then she ever thought possible?
These books are splendid! In Too Deep picks up right where The Elite left off, not missing a beat. All the gossip and drama that occurs in Gossip Girl is present in these books, except these girls actually have moral standards.
All of the characters in the book were excellently developed. Each had their own unique story and personality. I really love how Jennifer Banash had two supporting characters who each had their own thing going on. They were separate from Madison and Casey and really had their own lives, dealing with their own problems. What’s also really great about the characters is that even though they are spoiled socialites, any girl could easily relate to them. Even Madison, who appears to be untouchable, has many insecurities that are present in your everyday teenage girl.
The pages were definitely drama filled and I found it hard to tear myself away from the book, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. There were many twists and turns that I would never been able to predict and I found many of the plot aspects to be really creative.
Jennifer Banash has definitely created a great sequel to The Elite, and while she answered many questions from the first book, she has created even more in this one. All the better though as it promises a great third book in the series, ***, which hits shelves in Summer 2009. In the mean time though go out and enjoy yourself as you read this deliciously guilty book!
November 5, 2012
Reviewed by Tasha for TeensReadToo.com
Step back into the super privileged world of THE ELITE. The infamous girls living in one of New York's classiest apartment buildings, the Bramford, are back. While they may look absolutely perfect and dazzling, dark secrets are hiding behind their all-too-perfect appearance.
Casey McCloy is finally starting to fit in. Her hair's not as unruly as it used to be, she's learning the ins and outs of a good fashion sense, and she's dating Drew, one of the hottest guys in all of Manhattan. As she becomes the "New York Casey," though, she feels like she's losing herself.
Then there is Madison MacAllister, the reigning queen of the Upper East Side, who just so happens to believe that Casey stole Drew from her. Even though Madison and Drew weren't officially dating, Madison was majorly crushing on him, and still can't believe that a Midwestern freak like Casey could steal him away from her. Determined to get Drew back, Madison all but wages a silent war on Casey in order to exact her revenge.
Will the Queen Bee get what she wants, or will the new girl suddenly find herself a lot more powerful then she ever thought possible?
These books are splendid! IN TOO DEEP picks up right where THE ELITE left off, not missing a beat. All the gossip and drama that occurs in Gossip Girl is present in these books, except these girls actually have moral standards.
All of the characters in the book were excellently developed. Each had their own unique story and personality. I really love how Jennifer Banash had two supporting characters who each had their own thing going on. They were separate from Madison and Casey and really had their own lives, dealing with their own problems. What's also really great about the characters is that even though they are spoiled socialites, any girl could easily relate to them. Even Madison, who appears to be untouchable, has many insecurities that are present in your everyday teenage girl.
The pages were definitely drama-filled, and I found it hard to tear myself away from the book, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. There were many twists and turns that I would never have been able to guess, and I found many of the plot aspects to be really creative.
Jennifer Banash has definitely created a great sequel to THE ELITE, and while she answered many questions from the first book, she has created even more in this one. All the better, though, as it promises a great third book in the series, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, which hits shelves in Summer 2009.
In the meantime, go out and enjoy yourself as you read this deliciously guilty book!
Step back into the super privileged world of THE ELITE. The infamous girls living in one of New York's classiest apartment buildings, the Bramford, are back. While they may look absolutely perfect and dazzling, dark secrets are hiding behind their all-too-perfect appearance.
Casey McCloy is finally starting to fit in. Her hair's not as unruly as it used to be, she's learning the ins and outs of a good fashion sense, and she's dating Drew, one of the hottest guys in all of Manhattan. As she becomes the "New York Casey," though, she feels like she's losing herself.
Then there is Madison MacAllister, the reigning queen of the Upper East Side, who just so happens to believe that Casey stole Drew from her. Even though Madison and Drew weren't officially dating, Madison was majorly crushing on him, and still can't believe that a Midwestern freak like Casey could steal him away from her. Determined to get Drew back, Madison all but wages a silent war on Casey in order to exact her revenge.
Will the Queen Bee get what she wants, or will the new girl suddenly find herself a lot more powerful then she ever thought possible?
These books are splendid! IN TOO DEEP picks up right where THE ELITE left off, not missing a beat. All the gossip and drama that occurs in Gossip Girl is present in these books, except these girls actually have moral standards.
All of the characters in the book were excellently developed. Each had their own unique story and personality. I really love how Jennifer Banash had two supporting characters who each had their own thing going on. They were separate from Madison and Casey and really had their own lives, dealing with their own problems. What's also really great about the characters is that even though they are spoiled socialites, any girl could easily relate to them. Even Madison, who appears to be untouchable, has many insecurities that are present in your everyday teenage girl.
The pages were definitely drama-filled, and I found it hard to tear myself away from the book, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. There were many twists and turns that I would never have been able to guess, and I found many of the plot aspects to be really creative.
Jennifer Banash has definitely created a great sequel to THE ELITE, and while she answered many questions from the first book, she has created even more in this one. All the better, though, as it promises a great third book in the series, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, which hits shelves in Summer 2009.
In the meantime, go out and enjoy yourself as you read this deliciously guilty book!
October 19, 2008
Welcome back to the ultra-exclusive world of The Elite. The lives of the inhabitants of New York’s Upper East Side are purposely polished to have an impeccably shiny veneer, but behind the stylish clothes and designed appearances is a different story. Casey McCloy is finally getting her act together with a new and improved “New York” look and attitude, and the arm candy to go with it. But looking good doesn’t necessarily mean feeling good, and Casey is feeling insecure about her reluctant acceptance into the Bram Clan—and not without good reason. Madison Macallister is by no means a charitable girl, especially because she believes Casey stole Drew from her. Not the only way she’s tolerate Casey’s presence is to exact her revenge. It’s bound to be a devilish showdown between the outsider and the queen of the Upper East Side’s teen scene; who will be victorious?
I think I must emphasize how great it is that The Elite series is the Gossip Girl series once it’s grown a conscience. Readers will be drawn into the extravagant and high-end lifestyles of New York’s upper class as well as sympathize with these spoiled teens’ issues. The characters are well-developed, and I’m sure most readers will be able to see a little bit of themselves in each character. In some ways, the teens may seem a little stereotypical and clichéd, but it actually works in this story; it’s part of what makes it so easy to understand the characters. My only issues with In Too Deep were that it was a bit all over the place with all the subplots and alternating points-of-view and the minor characters weren’t developed. In Too Deep was just a tad less organized than its prequel, and there were times when I was slightly confused. However, overall, I immensely enjoyed the new developments in this intriguing series.
Readers who enjoyed The Elite will definitely want to check out its sequel, and I know I can’t wait for the third book, Simply Irresistible. Fans of the Gossip Girl, A-List, and Upper Class series will also want to read The Elite series. Even if you’re not interested in those series but love high fashion, scandal, and realistic characters, you’ll love this fantastic series.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
I think I must emphasize how great it is that The Elite series is the Gossip Girl series once it’s grown a conscience. Readers will be drawn into the extravagant and high-end lifestyles of New York’s upper class as well as sympathize with these spoiled teens’ issues. The characters are well-developed, and I’m sure most readers will be able to see a little bit of themselves in each character. In some ways, the teens may seem a little stereotypical and clichéd, but it actually works in this story; it’s part of what makes it so easy to understand the characters. My only issues with In Too Deep were that it was a bit all over the place with all the subplots and alternating points-of-view and the minor characters weren’t developed. In Too Deep was just a tad less organized than its prequel, and there were times when I was slightly confused. However, overall, I immensely enjoyed the new developments in this intriguing series.
Readers who enjoyed The Elite will definitely want to check out its sequel, and I know I can’t wait for the third book, Simply Irresistible. Fans of the Gossip Girl, A-List, and Upper Class series will also want to read The Elite series. Even if you’re not interested in those series but love high fashion, scandal, and realistic characters, you’ll love this fantastic series.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
June 13, 2015
I have to say I liked this book better than the first one. I don’t really know why but it was probably because I felt like I already knew the characters and could share their feelings a little better.
In this sequel to The Elite all the members of the Bram Clan a back with a couple new secrets. Casey has finally managed to snag Drew and even though she is putting on a good front for the public, Madison is not happy. Casey, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier. She has never really had a boyfriend like Drew and she loves spending time with him. Not only do they hang out after school at some of their favorite spots, Casey is helping Drew create a documentary about all the spoiled rich kids of their school. Things seem to be going great until Madison becomes one of the interviewees.
Madison decides to think of a way to make Drew jealous and ruin his relationship with Casey by finding a new boyfriend to rub in his face. She is helped along in her quest when she meets Antonio who is not only a super sexy Italian, but also a manager for Verve Modeling Agency and he thinks that Madison Macallister may just be the perfect new model.
Madison is not the only one that is going to be famous, though. Sophie’s sweet sixteen is coming up and she has decided that it would be the perfect event to meet her biological mom, movie star Melissa Von Norton, at. Also, as it turns out, her adoptive mother has decided to have the party taped and aired on the TV show, My Spoiled Sweet Sixteen. So, now not only does Sophie have to worry about meeting her real mom, she has to worry about doing it on TV.
As it turns out though, Sophie’s adoptive family aren’t the only ones keeping secrets from her. Phoebe is secretly seeing Sophie’s annoying older brother, Jared. Phoebe knows that Sophie would throw a fit if she found out so she decides to break it off but every time she tries she loses her nerve. Finally, she decides that she can’t keep the secret any longer and tries to break it off at Sophie’s party but things don’t exactly go as planned.
New family secrets and relationships are exposed in this book and they are some that I was shocked to find out about. But I won’t spoil all the fun. Read the series for yourself and you will find out all the juicy details.
In this sequel to The Elite all the members of the Bram Clan a back with a couple new secrets. Casey has finally managed to snag Drew and even though she is putting on a good front for the public, Madison is not happy. Casey, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier. She has never really had a boyfriend like Drew and she loves spending time with him. Not only do they hang out after school at some of their favorite spots, Casey is helping Drew create a documentary about all the spoiled rich kids of their school. Things seem to be going great until Madison becomes one of the interviewees.
Madison decides to think of a way to make Drew jealous and ruin his relationship with Casey by finding a new boyfriend to rub in his face. She is helped along in her quest when she meets Antonio who is not only a super sexy Italian, but also a manager for Verve Modeling Agency and he thinks that Madison Macallister may just be the perfect new model.
Madison is not the only one that is going to be famous, though. Sophie’s sweet sixteen is coming up and she has decided that it would be the perfect event to meet her biological mom, movie star Melissa Von Norton, at. Also, as it turns out, her adoptive mother has decided to have the party taped and aired on the TV show, My Spoiled Sweet Sixteen. So, now not only does Sophie have to worry about meeting her real mom, she has to worry about doing it on TV.
As it turns out though, Sophie’s adoptive family aren’t the only ones keeping secrets from her. Phoebe is secretly seeing Sophie’s annoying older brother, Jared. Phoebe knows that Sophie would throw a fit if she found out so she decides to break it off but every time she tries she loses her nerve. Finally, she decides that she can’t keep the secret any longer and tries to break it off at Sophie’s party but things don’t exactly go as planned.
New family secrets and relationships are exposed in this book and they are some that I was shocked to find out about. But I won’t spoil all the fun. Read the series for yourself and you will find out all the juicy details.
June 21, 2013
*Review originally posted February 2009.*
The Simplified Version:
Plot: 18/20
Characters: 18.5/20
Writing: 19/20
Originality: 18/20
Entertainment: 8/10
Recommendation: 8/10
Total: 89.5/100
Rating: B+, or four hearts.
Review:
The Elite is one of my favorite books. It is like Gossip Girl - but so much better. However, I found myself a little disappointed with the second book in this series, In Too Deep. I went in with high hopes, and was a little bit disappointed.
At some parts, I found myself bored with the writing. Some scenes dragged out to seem longer than they should have been, and some of the descriptions seemed really long and overly-descriptive, in my opinion. To me, it also seemed like the name dropping got a little worse in this book.
Second, I feel like this is just turning into another Gossip Girl series. While reading, I had many flashback of my Gossip Girl reading days, and I kept drawing comparisons between the two - sometimes even thinking Madison was Blair (I know, horrible right?).
One last thing -- some of the things just seemed so unattainable that happened. I mean, Madison just stopped on the street while window shopping by a hot Italian guy who wants to her become a model? Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't know anything about the modeling business, but this just seems like it doesn't happen to often.
However, Jennifer Banash still did a good job writing the second book in The Elite series. It wasn't horrible -- I got through it just well. It will have you laughing out loud and even crying at some parts. While the love lives of pretty much all the characters heat up - sometimes with unexpected people - so does the drama when friends start getting in fights with friends and a TV crew is around to catch it all.
I still look forward to reading the next novel in this series, Simply Irresistible.
The Simplified Version:
Plot: 18/20
Characters: 18.5/20
Writing: 19/20
Originality: 18/20
Entertainment: 8/10
Recommendation: 8/10
Total: 89.5/100
Rating: B+, or four hearts.
Review:
The Elite is one of my favorite books. It is like Gossip Girl - but so much better. However, I found myself a little disappointed with the second book in this series, In Too Deep. I went in with high hopes, and was a little bit disappointed.
At some parts, I found myself bored with the writing. Some scenes dragged out to seem longer than they should have been, and some of the descriptions seemed really long and overly-descriptive, in my opinion. To me, it also seemed like the name dropping got a little worse in this book.
Second, I feel like this is just turning into another Gossip Girl series. While reading, I had many flashback of my Gossip Girl reading days, and I kept drawing comparisons between the two - sometimes even thinking Madison was Blair (I know, horrible right?).
One last thing -- some of the things just seemed so unattainable that happened. I mean, Madison just stopped on the street while window shopping by a hot Italian guy who wants to her become a model? Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't know anything about the modeling business, but this just seems like it doesn't happen to often.
However, Jennifer Banash still did a good job writing the second book in The Elite series. It wasn't horrible -- I got through it just well. It will have you laughing out loud and even crying at some parts. While the love lives of pretty much all the characters heat up - sometimes with unexpected people - so does the drama when friends start getting in fights with friends and a TV crew is around to catch it all.
I still look forward to reading the next novel in this series, Simply Irresistible.
January 3, 2009
This series just keeps getting better. I devoured the first novel, The Elite, so to say that I was expecting a lot from it’s sequel is an understatement. I’m happy to announce that Jennifer Banash delivers an invigorating sequel.
This novel is DRAMA-FUL! Let me just throw something out here.... WOW. I couldn’t believe some of the shit that went down! Any predispositions that I’d formed of these characters during my reading of The Elite were thoroughly shattered.
I was delighted that Banash continued to make her supporting characters essential in this series. Forget about Madison and Casey! (Let's not forget about Drew though.) I want more Sophie and Phoebe. It’s rare for me to overlook the key players in a novel, but the supporting characters in the series are kick ass. It’s this factor alone that makes this series stand out. Okay that’s not entirely true, it’s not the only thing that makes this series stand out, but it definitely helps this novel go from monotonous to notable! (Note to Ms. JB, I would like to see more of Phoebes and Jared... pretty please!)
And the ending of the novel perfectly grasps the readers obsession for a continuation! I’m eager to experience the alluring prose of the next novel, Simply Irresistible, featuring a MTV-esque reality show starring The Elite’s very own!
This novel is DRAMA-FUL! Let me just throw something out here.... WOW. I couldn’t believe some of the shit that went down! Any predispositions that I’d formed of these characters during my reading of The Elite were thoroughly shattered.
I was delighted that Banash continued to make her supporting characters essential in this series. Forget about Madison and Casey! (Let's not forget about Drew though.) I want more Sophie and Phoebe. It’s rare for me to overlook the key players in a novel, but the supporting characters in the series are kick ass. It’s this factor alone that makes this series stand out. Okay that’s not entirely true, it’s not the only thing that makes this series stand out, but it definitely helps this novel go from monotonous to notable! (Note to Ms. JB, I would like to see more of Phoebes and Jared... pretty please!)
And the ending of the novel perfectly grasps the readers obsession for a continuation! I’m eager to experience the alluring prose of the next novel, Simply Irresistible, featuring a MTV-esque reality show starring The Elite’s very own!
August 24, 2009
Everyone's favorite characters from The Elite are back with more drama, fun, and lessons of the Upper East Side. Jennifer Banash picks up where The Elite left off and continues writing the fabulous story of Madison and her clan, Casey, and Drew. In Too Deep is once again written in alternating chapters between the characters, and I can never get enough of all the characters. I'm hoping to hear more from Phoebe and Jared in Book 3! In Too Deep reveals so much more of all the characters stories and lives. It's jam packed with drama, drama, and more drama. The end leaves readers begging for book 3!
April 25, 2013
I thougth this was a great book. I like how the author zooms in on each characters' life. It helps me understand why the characters feel a certain way about each other and it lets me know what every character is thinking (third-person omniscent). My favorite character is Casey because she is realistic and I can relate to her in a way. Because I like this book so much, I could read it over and over again and I really want to read the next book.
April 15, 2016
THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH LIKE MEAN GIRLS!!! It was a combination of mess and fashion all rolled up into one. Everyone had their own conflict and they all came together and fit into one book. Also i loved how instead of making me sleep ( like most books do) i was sitting nearly on the edge of my seat while reading this.
August 26, 2011
it was ok the first was better
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