Her narrative voice is as funny as ever despite the surprisingly dark story and the story is happening at a mile a minute. I swear, I stayed up until 1 AM to read this, quit then because I knew I was getting too sleepy, and picked it up immediately when I woke up around 9 AM.
We have the ring of alumni who were tied together during their school years by shared secrets and hazing, a dark secret or five that keep them together so many years later when most of them can no longer stand each other, and their own sons poising themselves to become the same men their fathers are. Not to mention dark because Matt is not the only dead body tied to these people. I think what gets me most is Anne being told she is not going to find a happy ending in pursuing this ancient, troubled case where corruption, threats, blackmail, and murder have kept it secret for so long. She wants justice to be served for someone long dead and is willing to do whatever she has to if it means seeing the truth come to light.
Even make her own boyfriend her enemy because he may have some relationship to the whole sorry mess.
In addition to that, despite being sold to us as a smart girl and showing that with how much she is able to figure out about this decades-old mystery, she does not have any idea what she is talking about sometimes. Another time, she makes a reference to the Texas mom that killed a cheerleader because the other girl became captain when the mom thought that position belonged to her own daughter. Having read a lot about that case, I know Anne is referring to the Wanda Holloway case and that is not how things at all.
On a scale of undetectable to killer, research farts like that clear the room for me. Still, am I looking forward to Deadly Little Sins , the third book in the series? If the next book can manage to get its facts right and kicks it up a couple more notches, I see a five-star read in my future. I often receive books for review, but this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Some of my reviews also have links to Amazon. I'm a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program, which means that I get commissions from any products you buy through the Amazon links I post in each of my reviews.
Prep School Confidential 2 Published by St. Martin's Griffin on March 4, Genres: Mystery , YA Contemporary Pages: Secrets someone would kill to keep hidden. Isabella had borrowed a book from the library with a photograph of him and the Wheatley Crew team in it before she died, and on the back it wrote: Those questions wanted an answer even more desperately when Anne meets Brent's father, who looks strangely similar to the boy in the picture who was standing next to Matthew Weaver. Once again, a thrilling premise. I love it even more because it's told by the forever hilarious and logical, Anne.
She's quick to pick up flaws and is a resourceful protagonist. There were times when I think Anne got way to infatuated with the investigation she was conducting and throwing lies at all corners, which was absolutely frustrating. But on whole, a reliable and strong character that I want to see more of--maybe less 'hypocrisy' though. There is a certain more amount of romance in Wicked Little Secrets. Yes, the love triangle continues but it has never really bothered me when it comes to this series.
Both romances are handle realistically and I couldn't help but giggle through some scenes. I'm slightly undecided about which team I'm on right now, but I think I'll be happy as long as it feels right by book 3. We turn back to the movie for a few minutes before Brent says, "Do you want to go to the formal? No one's asked me. And for all the Anthony lovers: I don't want to pretend I don't give a shit what you think of me. I don't want to be the waste product you think I am. It's all I think about lately. His eyes are pleading, begging me to understand what he's really saying.
If you want murder mystery, Kara Taylor is your author. Martin's Griffin for sending me this copy! View all 10 comments. Mar 02, Faye, la Patata rated it really liked it Shelves: First, before we commence, can I please just emphasize how amazingly real and articulate Anne Dowling is? Here's what she has to say regarding the new Latin teacher in town which she completely adores since she's apparently one of those kick-ass teachers: The guys call her a TILF behind her back, and Lee Anderson, the hulking nerdy kid who sits across the aisle from me, now spends the class hunched over like he's constantly trying to hide a Woody Woodpecker.
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I presen First, before we commence, can I please just emphasize how amazingly real and articulate Anne Dowling is? Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present you the ever-so awesome Anne Dowling: While settings set in the world of the rich and the glamorous where kids are sons and daughters of important people aren't really my favorite, I do admit they are highly entertaining if you read it from a detached point of view.
Like hey, let's look and laugh at these self-important teenagers or rather children as they oftentimes have the mindset of an eight year old dealing with first world problems! What a joke, right? He misinterprets my blank stare as me checking him out. Casey smiles and nods to the Brit Lit textbook to my knees.
I return her frosty smile. Such confidence, me likey. She knows she's pretty, she knows she's bad-ass, she knows she's frank NO, she is frank, not Frank, whoever that is , and she's here with one thing in mind: And she'll stop at nothing to get it. She's one of those people who knows her assets and isn't afraid to show it. She's the kind of person who'd be a bitch to you if you really need some ass-whooping, but would defend you and punch a guy in the nose for you if you've been wronged.
She doesn't dilly-dally okay, maybe she does sometimes but more on to that later and she gets the job done once she puts her mind to it. In this installment, you can't help but fall in love with her even more as she tries to go against the big waves, knowing it may land her in deep, deep shit, but also knowing it's the right thing to do because no one else has come clean about some secrets that were not supposed to be buried with justice not yet served. I love her honesty and her no-nonsense motto, and even though she sometimes thinks before she acts, you can tell that she's a smart and clever cookie.
She's very perceptive and is quick to notice little details. She still has that fiery passion within her, that wild and free spirit that yearns to do what her heart tells her, other people be damned. Is it possible to care so much and yet give zero fucks at all? Anne makes that possible with her awesome narration. The mystery here is really well done.
I applaud Kara Taylor for making it so intriguing and unpredictable, for making me keep on guessing and still not have the right answer, or any answer close to it. If it makes it easier to visualize, try imagining Gossip Girl x Sherlock Holmes with stiletto heels. Pretty picture, ain't it? Every chapter ends with you wanting to learn more of the mystery, with you feeling Anne's emotions as she dives into deep, troubled waters, and with you feeling a wee bit of hatred for certain characters because douchebag much???
You simply just can't trust easily here. So many characters seem very innocent, but you realize along with Anne, to her dismay that just because some people carry a smile doesn't mean they don't have demons underneath. And that fact hits you like a pick-up truck. They are minor details but they are complaints just the same. Should I take the Prada or the Gucci?
There is a love triangle here, thanks to Anne's charm that effortlessly reeled two guys in in the previous book Brent and Anthony. I have a love-hate relationship with LTs to be honest. On one hand, I love the tension in the air. On the other hand, I hate the flip-flopping. As long as they're done right, I can forgive and appreciate most LTs.
Here, though, I kind of detested it a little. Yeah, it gets solved later on, but I wished Anne was more in control of her feelings. She would keep thinking about one boy to another, caring for one but ALSO caring for another in possibly a deeper way, but ending up juggling the two as she can't make up her mind. I found myself frowning upon this, because it just didn't feel right. It felt like she was toying with their feelings. I wish she was more honest to herself and to these two boys about who she really, really liked so she didn't have to lie to both of them.
But I don't want to hurt him! I'll never fucking get it. I really hate it when characters take hold of info that is extremely vital but would rather choose not to share it to the appropriate authorities, and I especially hate it when it's used as a tactic for suspense. It just doesn't make any sense to me at all. I mean, someone infiltrated a supposedly well-guarded building by posing as someone else, barged into your room, tried to kill whoever was with you, and when you were asked about it by the cops, you feign innocence?
Anne Dowling is pretty awesome, but I hated the times she didn't share just because 1. Uh, if it concerns me, and especially ME, then yes, I do need to know. Other than that, though, this was an awesome read. I was kept at the edge of my seat from beginning to end, and I cannot get enough of Anne's fiery spirit. I love her so much and I still wish I were her in a different life.
Wicked Little Secrets will surely satisfy anyone looking for a good murder whodunit mystery, and for those people who like digging secrets. If it involves someone else's life, they're not supposed to be buried. View all 7 comments. Boarding school, mystery, scandal, attraction. I absolutely loved the first book, so why I waited so long to read the second I have no idea.
Because it was awesome from the very first sentence. They say only the good die young. Plunged once again into the Wheatley School and all of the associated drama, secrets and scandal, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. In the same tone of the first book, it's one hell of a ride. Anne Dowling, you're a gem. This series is a gem. Sequels are always tricky, especially when I loved the first book to bits, but if anything Wicked Little Secrets cements my opinion that the covers mask really well-written YA boarding school mysteries.
I have to say, Anne really carries these books. She's sensible yet enough of a teenager to relate to. The love triangle gets somewhat stifling here, but again Anne has a good head on her shoulders. She knows each boy's flaws and what she deserves. The mystery of Matt Weaver's death, while somewhat predictable, played itself out well. Kara Taylor's done something extraordinary to the genre: It never felt like Anne or her posse weren't in school.
They have projects, assignments, awkward liaisons in dorm rooms as their friends play Mario Kart outside Hell, I spent some of last night and some of this morning finishing it in my own dorm room!
Jul 14, Stacee rated it it was ok Shelves: I wasn't a fan of what Anne did. She was excessively rude and lied all the time. It seemed to go above and beyond what was necessary. Not to mention the constant thoughts of whichever boy she wasn't around at that moment. They had a great rapport and were fun to read. I didn't understand her fascination with Anthony. So in WLS, when she's spending the entire book waffling between them, it got annoying. The ending, however, has set up something intriguing for book 3. Which I will definitely be reading. I'm hoping this reaction is a mixture of a second book syndrome and a lasting book hangover because I really do enjoy these characters.
Review: Wicked Little Secrets by Kara Taylor
May 02, Stuti Turmeric isn't your friend. It will fly your ship rated it really liked it Shelves: Unless you're Anne Dowling. Actually, stay away from rich Americans. Unless they're like Remy, who is the best thing ever since Suspect X. I absolutely love that her voice doesn't ever try to make up all of these meaningful quotes and lessons that I'd like to quote because what fucking teenager does that? Maybe a 3 t STAY. Maybe a 3 tb one like my sister, but those are rare.
And on the rare occasion that she- Anne- does, it amalgamates with her voice and desperation and emotions so much, it feels true. Maybe we are all bad, and getting by on the moments where we try not to be. This book is what mystery books are supposed to be like. Not always a resolution. Nothing like that book- Nearly Gone, whose mystery might have been okay, but the rest was crap. Feb 15, Maria rated it really liked it. Oct 31, Debbie Narh rated it really liked it Shelves: The excitement and fun never seems to end in this series. Wicked Little Secrets doesn't suffer from second book syndrome, instead it charges forward and demands readers attention.
I loved reading about Anne and all of the trouble she can cause in just a few hours. It's a thriller that isn't all about the planning and clues, it also doesn't have an overbearing romance. It has just the right amounts of almost everything. That being said, there are a few things that are off. As a person with a pret The excitement and fun never seems to end in this series. As a person with a pretty small tolerance for info-dumping I found the beginning to be a little like even dismissing the recaps for the first book. Another problem that I had is with our protagonist, Anne I still adore her though and her friendship with her friend Chelsea.
For someone she calls her best friend, Anne never talks to Chelsea and only mentions her in passing. I wanted more from this friendship because Chelsea is part of the old Anne, the one that I'm sure many people want to know more about and I felt let down by this.
Hopefully her best friend is in the last book. Nonetheless, this book is still great. I loved the writing, it's still as smooth as ever and the romance isn't in your face. It's a lot laid back than I thought, only finding cracks in the story to seep into. Although I'm team Brent, the romances with both guys are really well done.
Another thing that I enjoyed about the story is the action because it isn't boring and there's a constant stream of it with not too much planning. The characters for the most part are great, Anne is a lot wilder and committed than ever she punches a guy in the face to defend her friend! The problems that I had in the first novel are pretty much gone in this one. Remy feels a lot more real, letting her past and emotions through this time. Moreover, the sarcasm is so good! It's not constant that it feels annoying nor is it far between that it feels forced. Wicked little Secrets is pretty intense but in a more fun than dark way.
The ending will keep readers at the edge of their seats and craving for the last one. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a thriller that isn't boring and straightforward. I'm hoping that the last one is just as good. Feb 13, Sarah rated it really liked it Shelves: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis.
Martin's Press and Netgalley. Anne thinks she has the ability to solve the case, but how many feathers will she ruffle in the process? And how will her boyfriend take it when his father becomes one of her suspects? This was an interesting Source: At one point she commented that solving a cold case was more interesting than doing her homework, and while that might be true, she got herself into seriously hot water in this book.
Admittedly she made some poor choices in book 1, but this time she put herself in danger time and time again, took to breaking and entering, and going up against powerful people, who would have thought nothing of squashing her like a bug. The storyline in this was pretty good, and the details of what happened to Matt were certainly convoluted. There were some interesting twists, but I would have preferred if the pace had been a little quicker. There was some romance, and it was once again in the form of a love triangle, with Anne flitting between two guys really. The ending was pretty good, but again, Anne has got herself into serious trouble now, and is never going to get into college at this rate.
We were once again left with a cliff-hanger, so no doubt that Anne will be getting into even more trouble in book 3! Jun 15, Jacob Proffitt rated it really liked it Shelves: If you've read the first you more or less know what you're in for with this book if you haven't then read that one first. Anne is more engaging with this book—possibly Taylor has a better handle on the character. Certainly, she has a better understanding of where the story starts and stops. Indeed, this second in the series is stronger on just about every level than the first, though not in great leaps or bounds.
The interpersonal relationships are fluid in the way teens can be, but in a natu If you've read the first you more or less know what you're in for with this book if you haven't then read that one first. The interpersonal relationships are fluid in the way teens can be, but in a natural way and without compromising the integrity of the characters or the reader's sympathy. The story is well-paced, the mystery tighter and better focused, and the love triangle established before made sense in ways that made it more than tolerable.
Best of all, though, is that Anne comes to explicitly identify what it is that drives her to explore these mysteries that others are content to leave well-enough alone. As she struggles with that drive to know and understand , she also struggles to integrate that understanding with her circumstances and future. She isn't heedless or have a love for risk-taking. And she is never TSTL. I love that she not only accepts that she has this drive to dig into the unknown, but eventually learns to derive some comfort from it as well.
Anyway, if you liked the first, there's a better than good chance you'll like this one at least as much and probably better. Sep 07, Amelia rated it liked it Shelves: Do you know what this book is? The first book was really good - there was the beginning, the middle and the end.
There was a murder, which may have been connected to a cold case. Anne investigated, found out some connections and weird things, investigated some more and solved the case with the help of her colleagues.
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This one was totally different A murder happened which was never solved, but Anne found some new information about it which made her want to investigate and solve it. But then she met new people, questioned them, accidentally found new information, found out about a car accident in which 2 different people died, who may have been connected to the first murder victim, but then another girl disappeared at the same time, and a different girl might have been raped, but also the one that disappeared might've been the girlfriend of the murderer, and yet the person who died in the accident could've also been involved, which then leads to the coach who is kinda responsible, but was actually threatened by someone else, and then there's the third guy who's also suspicious but surely he can't be the murderer because he's Anne's boyfriend's father As I said, hard work.
Wicked Little Secrets (Prep School Confidential, book 2) by Kara Taylor
I also noticed that in this book there were too many convenient discoveries. For example, Anne didn't do as much investigation, most of the stuff was sent to her anonymously or Anthony would suddenly call and give her just enough new information so she can make new assumptions. And there were too many convenient situations where Anne could eavesdrop on conversations including people she suspects or people she thinks are important for solving the mystery.
I just didn't buy it. And then there's the worst part Yes, it's still here and it's gotten worse. How can you be in love with 2 people at the same time? And then easily give up on one person, and then get back with them later? In my opinion, that's just wrong. The author tried to add some depth to a character but to me it was totally unconvincing and didn't feel right. The guy just suddenly has a backstory which makes him interested in the same things Anne is.
I can't say everything was that bad, e. Anne was still a pretty cool person if only she could pick one guy. I really liked all the scenes between her and other girls - the friendship was on point. Maybe if she was a little bit more consistent in her behavior, I'd have liked her more. Some of the secondary characters were interesting as well. And the ending wasn't that bad after I made all the connections and realized what happened.
Aug 11, Tammy rated it liked it Shelves: The downside of putting four years between reading the first and second book in a series is I've lost some love for the characters. I didn't like that this adventure took part almost always away from school because the appeal for me in this series is that the setting is a boarding school. Anne spent a lot of time making enemies out of her so-called friends.
I'm not sure if anyone will still have her back in the last book. Also I'm not dying to pick it up even though it's on my shelf. Feb 23, Tara Rochelle rated it liked it Shelves: Longish review to come. Originally posted on www. The Prep School Con Originally posted on www. Seriously…just go read this series!
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It will not disappoint you. The characters were spot on. I especially love the main character, Anne Dowling. Anne reminds me a lot of Harriet the Spy and Veronica Mars. As for the supporting characters, I thought that everyone played the perfect role. Sometimes I would forget who was who, and I would have to refresh my memory on who exactly was getting the blame at certain points. This was one of those books where I ended up staying up until almost 1: The ending did end up scaring me a little bit, and I had to give myself a lecture to not have nightmares before bed.
It might end up being a little predictable for some people. However, I had no idea what was going on. I loved that not too many clues were being tossed around, but yet I was still intrigued every step of the way. This was just a stellar book all the way around. I could talk about how great this book and series is forever, but I honestly just have nothing negative to say about it.
Everyone needs to go read this book right now! Jul 22, Chelsey Wolford rated it it was amazing. I have to wait for the next book in this series, really? I cannot even contain my excitement for this author, her characters, and this series. I received this book on Friday and I finished it in one day!
I do not want to give anything away in this book, but I was glad that this book focused on the disappearance of Matt Weaver.
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I was so anxious all the way through to find out what happened to him. Both books in this series have I have to wait for the next book in this series, really? Both books in this series have kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. I wanted so badly to get to the bottom of these mysteries, but I dreaded finishing the books and having to say goodbye to the characters for a little while.
I love Anne Dowling, our fearless heroine and detective extraordinaire! I tried to stay away from reviews that discredited her because I, on the other hand, think she gets better and better with time. I can hear her voice, picture her as she hunts for clues, and I can feel her fear and her anticipation as she narrows in on her next target.
Kara Taylor has defined her characters and made them so believable. Anne has flaws, but I still love her and hang on her every word. She knows she is not perfect and never admits to being so. Many bloggers have made comments about the decisions she makes, and all I have to say is, she is a teenage girl what do you expect?!
She is growing and maturing, and I think that will only continue with each installment. I might just be gullible or not reading closely enough but these mysteries have both been a shock to me in the end. And not to mention the way this book ended…OMG! I almost screamed with frustration.
Kara Taylor, you cannot end it like that making me wait for the next book! Kara writes in the style of Pretty Little Liars; every scene makes you anticipate what will come next. Not a single chapter ended in a boring manner. I was anxious to flip the next page and keep going. There were NO parts of this book that I would cut out because I found them unnecessary either. This is a solid series and is slowly climbing the charts as one of my most favorites!
I am hearing rumors that the next book will be out in August of this year!! Jul 04, Pallabi Dutta rated it really liked it. With a ending like that in the previous book, you know you have to get your hand on the sequel. Her recent dead roommate. Matt Weaver has become something of a legend, a myth in Wheatly.