Review GEORGETOWN ACADEMY by Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz @GTownAcademy @coliloquy

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Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2012

It’s the beginning of a new political administration. That might not mean much at most high schools, but at Georgetown Academy, Washington D.C.’s most elite prep school, January 20th means new alliances, new flings, and new places to party.

While freshmen—nicknamed “interns” for their willingness to jump into bed with anyone higher on the D.C. totem pole—navigate the not-so-friendly halls of GA searching for Algebra and Bio classes, the school’s lifers have other things on their minds.

For self-proclaimed D.C. royalty Brinley Madison (of those Madisons), the first day of school is all about establishing the social hierarchy and playing the part of perfect political wife to her boyfriend, the outgoing Vice President’s son. Too bad he has a wandering eye that puts Bill Clinton’s to shame. Can she keep him, and her own secret vice, in check?

Ellie Walker, Brinley’s best friend, floats through the halls on the arm of golden boy Hunter McKnight (the JFK of GA). But when her ex-boyfriend, Gabe, returns to town and her Senator mother’s political nemesis is reelected, Ellie’s life starts to snowball out of control.

Shy, quiet Evan Hartnett is more into books than beer, and her closet is full of t-shirts and jeans instead of Jason Wu and Jimmy Choo. No one’s ever really noticed her—but she’s been noticing them. When her star rises as an intern at D.C.’s most-watched political news show, she soon finds the two worlds colliding in ways that make her question what’s secret and what’s fair game.

New girl Taryn Reyes is all laid-back, California cool; with a father who’s in line to be the first Hispanic president, she’s ready to dive into the D.C. scene with an open mind. But when her fellow students turn out to be more interested in spreading rumors than making friends, she realizes that forging a drama-free path might be a lot harder than she thinks.

With so many new friends and former flames in the mix, things are bound to get a little heated. And while diplomatic immunity might keep the cops away, there’s not much it can do about the press.

In a town where one teenage misstep can turn into a national scandal, the students at Georgetown Academy will have to be on their best behavior—or, at least, they’ll have to make the world believe that they are.

Because there’s only one rule: whatever you do, don’t get caught.

About the Authors
Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz met the first day of freshman year at the University of Southern California and instantly bonded over their obsessions with Brenda Walsh, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Babysitters Club books they read growing up. After spending a full year mourning the end of college, they began writing television and feature scripts together. They have set up pilots at ABC, NBC, Fox and CW, and sold films to The Weinstein Company, Happy Madison, Paramount, New Regency, MGM and Alloy Entertainment. They love writing female-centric stories, especially for teen and tween audiences, mainly because they still think they are the 18-year-old girls they were when they first met at USC.

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Brinley, the queen bee of Georgetown Academy, an elite prep school for Washington's elite, is starting off the school year by getting her classmates in social order with the help of her boyfriend, the son of the Vice-President.  Her best friend, Ellie, is the daughter of a powerful senator but her boy friend, Hunter is the son of her mother's political enemy.  Taryn, has just transferred in from California, with her father set to be the first Hispanic President and she is about to learn that the stakes are higher in this backstabbing arena of global power.  Evan is a bookworm that gets her shot as an intern at a highly political television show.

Much like Gossip Girl, this cast has a lot to lose if the the rumors get out of their social circle and could be devastating on a national level for their parents careers.  When Brinley decides to take down newcomer, Taryn by starting a rumor about her trading sex for drugs, she sets off a chain of events that can only end in heartbreak for all involved.  Secretly, I have a death wish for Brinley unless she redeems herself in upcoming installments.  Taryn is so down to earth and you feel like she has been thrown into the deep end of a pool of sharks but I have high hopes for her coming out on top. There are so many little subplots in this first one, that it could take multiple episodes to resolve.

Remember those cool "Choose your own adventure" novels back in grade school?  You had to flip the pages to get to the next section and the story could go in one of many directions depending on the character you chose to follow and what you decide they should do.  Well, this takes that to the next level.  Taking advantage of technology, you can click on a link to pick your character and action!  I admit, I did cheat a bit and read each character's detour.  This is such a fun and quick read that anyone will love to get their hands on. Parents:  there is kissing, mentions of drug use, and some language.