The Ivy Review

Title: The Ivy

Author: Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur

Released: August 2010 by  Greenwillow Books

Synopsis:  Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

Get admitted to The Ivy, the first book in a provocative new series about the world of the Ivy League.

How do I explain this book...? It's a guilty pleasure read.  It's not the best book, it's not a life changing reflection book, it's a fun, makes you wish you were in college book. It's a little different from most YAs, since it’s told from the point of view of a college freshman instead of someone in high school. What I really enjoy about The Ivy, is that I can look at the authors, and picture them as the characters in the book. The Ivy isn't all fun and games, it does teach a few life lessons.

I hate comparing books to things, but it's the easiest way to describe The Ivy - think, Legally Blond meets Gossip Girl (the show); but Callie is no Elle, she is a soccer playing tomboy from California.  So basically, if you like those shows, you are going to enjoy the book, if not - probably not so much.

The Ivy is told from Callie’s point of view; Callie is usually a “jock” but during her senior year in high school she blew out her knee and has to take a year off.  Good thing, she has the brains to go to Harvard, she is going to need them.  The book starts out with Callie moving into her dorm, right away she feels out of place. She is dressed for a day of moving, not the fashion show that is going on around her. 

Callie's roommates are a unique group, I did find them to be very stereotypical but that made the interaction between them comical. Callie soon realizes that college is more of a social party than educational institution. Her roommates are willing to help her fit in, letting her borrow clothes, helping her get into all the cool parties. Before long the strong minded California girl is second guessing herself and everything around her.

Although the Ivy does mention all the “fun” stuff about college,  it will show you what can happen when you trust the wrong people and how some stupid "in the moment" act from high school can come back to haunt you. Callie will experience a lot of "first" during the first few weeks of college, I can't wait to see what happens in the second half of her freshman year!