Customer Reviews

Alphas

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is totally embarrassing, but The Clique series is one of my guilty pleasures. It's not embarrassing to like Gossip Girl because those girls are older. However the characters in The Clique are 12-13, so I try to conceal that I read those books. When I heard that there was going to be a spin off series (because that's always the trend in YA series), I was interested but at the same time a bit wary. This is because while even though I enjoy the series, the girls and the slang in the books drive me absolutely nuts. Honestly, I don't know who on earth speaks the way those girls do.

Therefore I was more than pleasantly surprised with this first book in the Alphas series. The story was really fun to read. I found myself really drawn into the story. The characters are mostly dimensional. I found myself intrigued with the campus and the entire setting and premise of the school. While I did find myself questioning some of the tactics used, I took the story to be a fantasy YA lit type book so I let my imagination just flow along with the story. I think if, by some miracle, I had been offered a position at the school, I would take it. I'm not quite sure what it would do to my ego, but all the technology and opportunities offered at the school might just be worth it.

Even though Skye is touted as the cross over from The Clique series, I didn't feel as if she had a huge main role in these books. Compared to Jenny, who made the transition from Gossip Girl to The It Girl, I felt that Skye's role seemed almost background compared to Allie and Charlie. In fact I found their stories to be much more interesting than hers. I honestly have no idea how in the world Allie thought she was going to be able to pull off her facade for that long. Charlie's story is extremely fascinating as she is smarter than almost everyone at the school but is inwardly suffering due to a stupid rule. The chemistry between the girls is fun to watch, but they aren't catty which is greatly appreciated. The story is way out there and totally futuristic. There are objects in this book that are really sci-fi and totally unbelievable. Money apparently has no boundaries and can create anything that you could possible want. There's a lot of name and label dropping in the books which sometimes feels like blatant advertising.

I'm actually really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I think that the writing, so far, is much better than the Clique. The biggest plus is the absence of Massie -speak which I totally applaud. Keep in mind, these books are not to be taken as serious, life changing reads. Overall it was a fun read, light escapism for YA chick lit readers. Fans of The Clique will gobble this one up.

Shira Brazille, the rags-to-riches self-proclaimed billionaire from Australia, has a plan "...to advance the female genome for future generations." She has invited 100 of the most promising teenage girls from across the world, who have the ability to be tops in their field, to a secret island to hone their craft. Shira has spared no expense. Each girl has at her fingertips a muse, the latest technology, world-class facilities and personal tutors, among other exclusive amenities. Shira has just a few rules for the girls on their quest to becoming Alphas: embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by putting forth your best effort and, oh yeah, stay away from her five gorgeous teenage sons.

Perfection has been expected from Skye Hamilton ever since she set foot inside a dance studio. Her former Russian ballerina mother and mogul father have financed her every move, and it all has been leading up to her exclusive invitation to be part of Shira Brazille's Alpha Academy. Skye has never lacked confidence on the dance floor, willing her body to obey her every command. But how will she stack up to the new fierce competition?

Allie J. Abbot, the brilliant singer-songwriter, is tearing up the charts with her infectious lyrics and eco-friendly messages. Allie Abbot, on the other hand, is reeling from a horrible breakup as her ex hooked up with her "best friend." Allie Abbot saw the golden invitation mistakenly mailed to her as a chance to get away from her latest teenage drama. A little hair dye and one perfectly drawn-in mole and Allie Abbot, I mean Allie J., is ready to take over Alpha Academy. Now if only she can hold it together until someone realizes she's a fraud.

Charlotte "Charlie" Deery has spent the last 12 years with her mother designing Alpha Academy. During that time, Charlie created much of the technology outfitted on the hidden island and fell in love with the last person Shira expected --- her oldest son Darwin. Now Shira has given Charlie a choice: leave or break up with Darwin and become an Alpha. Charlie is reluctant to leave her creation, so she breaks it off with Darwin with the hope of reuniting with him once things settle down.

At first, life in the academy runs smoothly. Girls try and establish friendships --- and dominance --- in classes and their suites. Midnight excursions to meet the Brazille boys are light and fun. The weather is perfect, and the nighttime entertainment is first-class. Then Shira drops a bomb. She kicks out a girl for secretly seeing her sons (how did she know?) and reveals that Alphas was designed to find her heir. One down, 98 to go, and everyone wants to be the last one standing.

Lisi Harrison seems to have her fingers on the pulse of teenage girls. Her books are chock full of expressions and pop culture references that appeal to any girl. The storyline and setting may seem out of reach for most, but Harrison casually invites the reader to become part of the ultra-exclusive world she has created and succeeds every time. Her characters also seem real. Each of them is filled with the usual teenage angst, but also the slight ADD that accompanies any kid not always under the watchful eye of an authority figure. Anyone who has enjoyed the bestselling Clique series will want to snatch up this new series in a heartbeat.

--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche

I finished Alphas last night and I LOVED it. It follows the past eigth grade Alpha at OCD named Skye Hamilton, who has graduated to high school (from the Clique series). It also follows Allie A. Abbott (sp?) and Charlie Deery. First of all, I was a HUGE Clique fan, but stopped reading in the middle of P.S. I Love You, because I felt Lisi Harrison was rushing the series to get to Alphas. Let me say, Alphas is MUCH more entertaining than Clique! I could NOT keep my hands off of it! Amazing book, great start to a new series! Three cheers for Lisi!

Four girls, all roommates at Alpha Academy, all wanting to be the one Alpha winner selected by Shira, the most famous Alpha of all.

Skye Hamilton is a dancer who longs to impress Shira, her idol and role model.

Allie J. Abbott is a girl pretending to be the famous singer/songwriter/eco-friendly Allie A. Abbott, a person's mail she keeps getting by mistake, including her acceptance letter to the Academy. Having the hots for Shira's son, Devlin, she'll do anything to keep him, including ostracizing and being cruel to his ex.

Triple Threat is a model/dancer/actress who thinks she already is better than everyone else and will do anything to prove it, no matter who it hurts.

Charlie Deery is a girl who's been beta all her life and is a last-minute selection for Alpha Academy, but the price she must pay is that she has to dump Shira's son, Devlin. Constantly in tears from her roommates that ridicule her, she'll do whatever it takes to survive. Spying for Shira, however, was not what she had in mind.

With petty fights, mean girl tactics, and backstabbing, this book will at first seem like other books about junior high girls. However, when you take into account the friendships that end up forming, the cool technology each girl gets at the academy, and crazy midnight meetings with boys, readers will enjoy the adventure, the romance, and the humor that sets this book apart.

Readers who have liked the CLIQUE novels by this same author as well as romance, adventure, and realistic fiction will enjoy reading ALPHAS and will be excited for the sequel.

Reviewed by: Kira M

The plot is fine, but the author is VERY confusing at points. Until the very end I didn't understand who Allie was. I thought that she was trying to recreate herself after the breakup, that she WAS the singer, but she didn't want to show it. Other parts were confusing too, with all of the technology described. I think I like The Clique better so far, but we'll see. I do think that The Clique is going downhill.

I don't like the character very much either. Sky does NOT seem like the cool alpha she was in The Clique. Allie doesn't have a personality, except that she has a broken heart. Charlie is just obsessed with her ex boyfriend. None of them stood out to me as someone I wanted to read more about.

All in all, I will have to wait for the second book to decide.

"What happens when the country's best, brightest and 'hawtest' [girls] begin clawing and scratching their way to the top?" Chaos, backstabbing, and the risk of losing everything is what happens in Alphas by Lisi Harrison. This novel is set around Skye Hamilton, who appeared in a few of The Clique series books. She is a tall blonde teenager from New York and who was the most popular girl (/alpha) at her old school. Now she has landed a spot to a "ultra-exclusive alphas-only boarding school" that helps "alphas" acheive their goals and reach their dreams. The school provides many challenges for Skye to overcome, and makes her consider if all of her sacrifices to get there were really worth it.

I loved this book, and finished it in a day! It is the first book in the four-part Alphas series. The books are not only interesting and realistic, but are very descriptive and have significant themes and conflicts.

Teenage and tween girls will love this book because it is current, with many pop culture references. The characters are very real and relatable, too. It is an amazing book, and I recommend it to anyone with big dreams!

As far as my Gran daughter is concerned Lisi Harrison is GOLD! She started buying Alpha books at her school book fair.... These two that I ordered for her were to 'fill in the gaps' between titles. I personally can not vouch for the books and their content - however being a teacher... if a child is reading ENCOURAGE IT!!
They are NY Times best seller, so I took a chance. The Grand daughter was thrilled and that made me happy too.
It was a win - win situation. The books were shipped and arrived as promised in excellent condition. Yes, when she need another book, I will be a returning customer. Gran Daughters ROCK!
Dealer is highly recommended.

Three ordinary girls, Skye Hamilton (from The Clique), Allie A. Abbott, and Charlie Deery, are invited to enroll in Alpha Academy where 97 other girls are waiting for their chance to become the next alpha and following Shira's footsteps. Although entertaining, the students are kinda...well...troublemakers. All they want to do is kiss the Brazille boys' lips and being the best. And Skye's dancing teacher is a terrible, bossy nonsense instructor. But the friendship is a choice between trusting and...is that the only choice? I thought that all the girls wanted to give others a slap in the face. And where's Candace? (Ha, ha) But being the best you can be doesn't necessarily need to be about being bossy and a fighter and slapping other people. It's about being yourself, no matter the consequences. Not the best of Lisi Harrison, but still a good book.

I couldn't keep my hands of this book. It was totally addicting. I had only read 2 Clique books before I started Alphas and I wouldn't much say that I like Alphas better then Clique. I don't want to give a bad review incase needed so...... The desription in this book is truly amazing. I was totally shocked. And then the ending! OMG THE ENDING!!! The ending left you hanging filled with anger (because you want to know what happens next) and suspense. I am reading the 2nd book in the series now and I won't give anything away about Allie A. Abbots suspension.

After reading (and loving) The Clique series, I decided to start this book, in prep for the next Clique novel. After I started it, I honestly could NOT put it down! The book follows Westchester alpha Skye, singer-songwriter Allie J, and average Charlie. I absolutely LOVED it, and I cannot wait for the next story in the series, Movers and Fakers. Great work on another successful series, Lisi!