Customer Reviews

Confessions (Private)

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This is book 4 of the Private series. At the end it's confirmed that there will be a book 5 so even though the ***SPOILER***Thomas mystery is finally resolved Reed's adventures at Billings and Easton will still continue (thankfully!)

I don't want to reveal the ending but I will say regarding the identity/ies of ***SPOILER***Thomas's murder, I kinda saw it coming but was still shocked at the same time. I was pretty set in thinking one person did it, but it turned out to be a twist down a road I never thought the author would take! I won't ruin it for you, you'll have to find out for yourself! You won't be disappointed, I started this book at around midnight planning to read a few chapters before going to sleep and ended up staying up all night to finish it!

Another awesome highlight was Noelle finally getting served by an unlikely minor character who ended up being a major player and rival later on.

if you're a fan of the series, you'll definitely not be disappointed.

However, if you are bothered by plots that involve high school students and murder, this is a book to avoid.

Fifteen-year-old sophomore, Reed Brennan, used to spend her days contemplating how, exactly, she would manage to escape her tiny hometown of Croton, Pennsylvania, along with her highly dysfunctional family. But now, after almost an entire semester of rubbing elbows with the young, beautiful, and elite at the prestigious Easton Academy, Reed has begun to wonder whether her old life was truly as horrible as she originally thought. Since her arrival at Easton not four months ago, Reed has found herself on a tumultuous roller coaster ride full of varying emotions, and a handful of tragedies that have left her perpetually scarred mentally, physically, and emotionally. Her acceptance into the ultra-exclusive Billings Hall dorm gave Reed the feeling of finally being accepted. But after a series of hazing activities, she began to wonder if being friends with the all-powerful Billings Girls was really as crucial as she believed. Of course, the answer to that was quite simple - yes. Once the hazing was complete, Reed found herself fully immersed in the Billings way of life, and loved the envy she saw in people's eyes when she entered the cafeteria surrounded by Noelle, Kiran, Taylor, and Ariana. It didn't hurt matters much that Reed was also the girlfriend of the totally handsome Thomas Pearson. But after a bumpy few weeks with Thomas, Reed was forced to come to terms with the fact that Thomas wasn't who she thought he was. In fact, he was something completely different. But all that doesn't matter anymore, for he turned up dead, leaving her free to do as she pleases. And what she wanted, oddly enough, was Thomas' best friend, Josh Hollis. Josh isn't like the other Easton boys. He's sensitive, kind, caring, and handsome all rolled into one. Reed is only too happy to make Josh her boyfriend. But once the deed is done, things take a turn for the worse, for Josh is hauled into the Easton Police Department, and charged with the murder of Thomas. Reed knows more than anyone that Josh had nothing to do with Thomas' untimely demise, and will do anything to clear his name. Unfortunately, Reed appears to be the only Easton student interested in saving Josh from his current predicament. While everyone else begins planning their Thanksgiving trips to Barcelona or Christmas getaways to London, Reed knows that the most exciting thing she can expect from the holidays is being picked-up in a station wagon and dragged back to Croton to force-feed cranberry sauce to her pill popping mother. Casting her holiday woes aside, Reed throws herself full-force into proving Josh's innocence to everyone around her - including the police. But the more digging she does to clear Josh's name, the more dirt she uncovers about the people she's considered her friends since day one. Dirt that gets Reed closer and closer to the truth that she's been searching for, for so long. But before she has the chance to hear the confessions that have remained hidden since Thomas's body was discovered, Reed will have to protect herself. For if she's not careful, she may just find herself six feet under before the semester is over.

Taylor Bell's departure in the previous PRIVATE installment, UNTOUCHABLE, seemed like a small change in the series; but her absence leaves quite a storm in her wake, and is felt fairly profoundly within the pages of CONFESSIONS. Since her disappearance, a schism has formed between the Billings Girls that only grows larger as the days go by, resulting in a separation of cliques. On one side there's Noelle, Kiran, and Ariana. On the other, there's Reed - who seems to have finally come to realize that the Billings Girls don't have the final say regarding each and every one of her actions - Natasha, and newcomer Cheyenne - an unlikely character whom we meet for the first time in CONFESSIONS. Cheyenne is clever, cunning, and brave enough to face-off against Noelle any time - day or night. While she oft-times sticks out like a sore thumb - in a good way - her quick rivalry with Noelle, sharp tongue, and ability to wrap just about anyone - male, female, student, or teacher - around her finger make her a major player who will certainly step up to the forefront in future installments - or so we can hope. It's refreshing to see that Reed has begun to think for herself, and put some distance between her and the Billings Girls; yet one can't help but feel unsurprised that her newfound bravery and confidence has put her in danger of coming face to face with an early grave. Kate Brian has cast a somber pall over the Easton campus; but her descriptive writing, and beautiful, affluent backdrop work hand in hand to create an intriguing tale that readers can't help but devour word for word. The contrast of murder and mystery, paired with the lifestyles of the rich and the famous work together to weave a juicy story. But it is the wide array of controversial characters - whom you simultaneously love and hate - that keep you coming back for more. The abundance of disappearances, illicit romances, scandals, and blackmail don't hurt much either. While the previous PRIVATE novels lay the groundwork, with CONFESSIONS, Brian begins to show different sides of her cast that spell revelations for the very near future, making the reader question, yet eagerly anticipate her next move. Another amazing piece to the puzzle that won't be easily forgotten. Simply irresistible...

Erika Sorocco

Freelance Reviewer

Confessions continues the intrique at Reed's private school. Now her new boyfriend Josh is under suspicions for murdering her former boyfriend. Reed is determined to find the real killer while her Billings friends are planning their next big trip. Engaging light read for girls, the book is the right length, and this book had me wanting to read the next book.

Reed Brennan has had nothing but endless drama the minute she entered Easton Academy. She had finally left her dysfunctional family in boring Pennsylvanian suburbia and was getting ready for higher learning and a normal social life. The Billings Girls are the most beautiful, enigmatic and popular girls at the academy, and Reed had wanted to be part of their circle at all cost. She could not have imagined all of the stuff that has transpired since then. Her boyfriend Thomas, who wooed her the second she set foot into the school, was a drug dealer and a drunk. Then he turned out dead. His roommate, the adorable Josh, has a thing for Reed, but has some issues of his own. Now he's suspected of murdering Thomas. Reed knows that he did not murder his former roommate, and the only two people who can prove it -- the school's secretary and Thomas's brother, Blake -- are not willing to go to the police. But there are other things that don't make sense. What are the Billings girls hiding? Why is Taylor gone? Christmas is fast approaching, but things seem bleak from where Reed is standing. When will the real killer step forward and make his/her confession so that she and Josh could pick up where they left off?

There are many twists in Confessions, the fourth installment in the Private series. Many of the clues that lead to the flooring ending of this book go back to the first installment, which leaves me thinking just how well-structured this story is. I don't want to write any spoilers, but this will make you think back to the previous installments and say, "Ah, so that is why such and such person behaved that way!" Josh is wonderful, a great romantic interest for Reed. Reed is a great heroine; she actually stands up to Noelle and the others in this installment, but she is still a little too dependent upon them, which annoys me. Noelle is a control freak and a spoiled little biatch who thinks the world revolves around her, but sometimes she does something so surprising that your opinion of her, once decided, wavers a bit. I've begun to really like Natasha and Cheyenne, a small character from Invitation Only, is surprisingly nice in this book. Constance isn't in this book a lot though, which disappointed me. It's nice that Reed has a "normal" friend at Easton. Anyway, fans of this series will love the twists and turns in this installment. I for one can't wait to read Inner Circle. Based on the turns of events in the story, I have a feeling that Reed's position at the Billings Hall is about to change in more ways than one. The one disappointment, like the other Private books, is that it ended too quickly for me. I read it in one day, and it could have ended much sooner. I wish I could read a book in one single sitting, but I do have other things to do! I have no idea how the number one reviewer on this web site is able to read three books or more in one single day (like she says on her profile). I wish I could do that. Chance would be a fine thing. :-)

This is the 4th installment of the Private series and I was not dissappointed at ALL!!! I think this is her best book and that's saying alot because I thought it would be pretty hard to top Untouchable but it was done. It does reveal the killer of Thoamas Pearson I won't say who did it but I was shocked. A lot of peoples secrets are revealed creating alot of twist and turns though out the book. Oh here's a warning DON'T READ THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU'VE READ THE OTHER 3!!!!!!!! Because you'll get so confussed I can geranty it. Once again Kate Brian has out done her self on this book and if you a fan you're are going to want to get you're hands on this book fast. TA!!

By, now Reed Brennan is a Billings girl. She's got quite a lot on her plate. Her ex boyfriend, Thomas, is dead. Her new boyfriend, Josh, was accused of murdering him. And on top of that, she needs to please the Billings girls and keep her grades up. She is a scholarship student, you know.

Her world is spinning, trying to figure out if Josh really did murder Thomas. She's contacted Thomas's brother, Blake, to try and figure it out. Finally, Blakes secret girlfriend fesses up, telling the police that she saw Blake with Thomas the evening Thomas was murdered. Blake and Thomas,unfortunately were fighting. Reed feels like she knows everything now. She's positive that Blake murdered Thomas. Until, one night, Ariana, a billings girl, gets Reed alone and tries to kill her. Ariana also confesses that she killed Thomas. It wasn't Josh. Ariana goes to jail, Reed is safe, and Josh was released. Pretty crazy, huh?

This book was filled with twists and turns. I never knew what was going to happen next. The suspense and drama was really amazing, making this book a definite page-turner. I literally could not put the book down.

If you have read the previous Private series books, I recommend this. It smoothly continues from the previous book Untouchable. This book is REALLY GOOD.

I buy this collection of books for my 13yr daughter. She is not a big reader but when it comes to these books she can't seem to get enough. She can read an entire book over a weekend and then begs to go to the book store to get the next book in the series. She loves them!

This book was great... books like this always are. I thought that I knew how things would turn out, until the ending just twisted and I was shocked. But I know that everyone is making such a big deal out of the ending... well, it was a really good ending. But the whole book was fantastic. Suspenseful and wonderful, especially for fans of the series. I'm going to read Inner Circle as soon as I get my hands on a copy!

this is my best book series ever it has great characters and a interesting storyline.the ending shocked me!!!! i always get shocked towards the ends of this series its var the best series ever!!!! i really cant wait until inner circle and i hope that some characters come back its an interesting read just like all the other books in the series and i recommend it 100 %

I was truly surprised with the outcome and how it all turned out. I knew that Noelle, Kiran, Ariana, and Taylor had some input in Thomas death; however this is not the ending I predicted. This was so much better. I applaud Kate Brian immensly, this series is quite entertaining. Not that I dont enjoy series' like Gossip Girl and The A-list, but I love how this one adds more drama aside from the typical love triangles. Granted this does have a love triangle, but the depth behind it and all the scandal makes this one way better. I think that I can safely say most of the Private readers truly enjoy how the books turn out. I do however think that Confessions should have been the end. I think that it was a perfect ending. On the other hand, I could be wrong. The way Kate Brian writes Inner Circle should be great! I hope things start to look brighter for Reed, but then again I love drama!