Customer Reviews

Invitation Only (Private)

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

 

 

Sophomore Reed Brennan can't believe her luck. After spending a mere few months at the posh Easton Academy, she has already become one of the illustrious Billings Girls. Her future couldn't be brighter. Sure, she had to break a few rules (lying, stealing, cheating), but it was all worth it, for now she has claimed a prize that every girl dreams of: acceptance. But that's not all, now Reed has first-hand access to the secret parties thrown late at night in the middle of the woods, and, while they sound more exciting with each whisper that passes, Reed is unfortunate enough to encounter her psycho roommate, Natasha, who just happens to be looking for a way to blackmail Reed into doing her bidding (i.e. digging up dirt on some of the most beautiful Billings Girls ever). And when Reed gets drunk at the illicit party, and ends up in a compromising position with someone other than her MIA boyfriend, Thomas, Natasha gets the act on tape, and holds it over Reed's head, insisting that she get evidence of wrongdoings of Kiran, Taylor, Noelle, and Ariana, or get her scholarship taken away and be shipped back to her crazy mother and father. Now, Reed is doing her best to hold her own, and avoid being caught as she snoops the hollowed halls of her dorm, while at the same time attempting to wrangle an invitation to The Legacy, one of the most exclusive Halloween parties in New York City. A party that Thomas is rumored to be making an appearance at, and which Reed knows that she can't miss for the world. A party that could change her life forever, and see just how lucky she is to be...a Billings Girl.

When I read PRIVATE, I felt that Kate Brian wouldn't be able to top the scandalous-ness featured within the pages. However, upon opening INVITATION ONLY, I realized that I was quite wrong. In the tradition of Cecily von Ziegesar's GOSSIP GIRL and IT GIRL series, Brian has created an illustrious group of over-privileged characters. Characters who make you wary, but unable to stop yourself from turning the next page. Reed is an appealing character whose ability to bend over backwards to please the Billings Girls is impressive, while at the same time borderline insane. Her interactions with her so-called friends (Kiran, Taylor, Noelle, and Ariana) are bizarre, yet impossible to resist. And, while Reed may be the star of the series, it is Noelle who steals the show (at least in my mind), as she comes up with various demented plots that make the reader truly realize just how much time she has on her hands, and how evil the inner-workings of her mind really are. A decadent sequel that no reader will be able to resist.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

The Private series returns, with a great sequel with an even greater ending.

But first, the beginning starts out as a school party, where Reed enjoys the activities that most teenagers enjoy: drinking. As a Billings girl, she finally feels that she's part of something. And with Thomas still AWOL, she's single. But not for long.

Upon that party enters Walt Whittaker, the round influential student who talks like Mr. Darcy and acts like him too. He finds a quick interest in Reed, even though she's drunk. Together, they take part in some "compromising" positions in the forest, with roomate Natasha to scrap book it all.

When Reed finds out that Natasha has proof of their actions, she's caught in another dilemma with a Billings girl. Natasha orders Reed to find any dirt on Noelle, Kiran, Ariana, and Taylor to prove that they kicked Leanne out. If she doesn't, those little pictures ensure Reed's expulsion.

If you think that's hard, try being the Cinderella of the Billings house. Reed, being the newbie of the house, is assigned cleaning duty roughly every morning. But there's always a silver lining to every problem, for this becomes an easier way to find out the Billings girls' dirt.

As she tries to find information enough to satisfy Natasha and get Walt off her back, Reed is also introduced to the idea of the Legacy, a mysterious party held only for those of presitgious families from generations back. A new party? Whoo! Except guess what, Reed isn't invited.

The only way she can get an IN is if Walt invites her, because his family dates so far back that he gets an exclusive plus one. But with his obvious infatuation for Reed, this doesn't seem to be a problem.

Or does it? When Reed finds out that her fellow sophmore friend Constance Talbot has been harboring a huge crush on long-time friend Walt, Reed doesn't know what to choose: party or friendship?

Well, with the constant promises of Thomas attending the party, Reed can't help but choose the shallow option. As Walt's guest, it ensures her an invite to the Legacy, as well as the cold shoulder from Constance.

With that in mind, she also deals with her bargain with Natasha. As she digs for information on the Billings girls, Reed finds out that Kiran is a closet-binge eater, Taylor is a psycho, Noelle keeps scarily nude pictures of her boy toy, and that Ariana assisted (with the help of Noelle) in the expulsion of Leanne Shore. Bingo. Information obtained.

But Reed is also stuck with another dilemma: destroy her friends or destroy her Easton career? Her, being the ever good friend, confronts the girls on the information she snooped before the party, expecting an instant kick out from Billings.

Surprisingly, they don't kick her out. Don't even smack her. Instead, they gift her with an amazing gown for the party with no questions asked. As always, Reed is confused. But that's not the only thing that confuses her.

Enter Josh Hollis, the hot blonde roommate/friend of Thomas who becomes a friend to Reed. But within reading, readers know that the bond he seeks out of Reed is NOT friendship, but something more. That much is apparent when Reed gets jittery around him, and he around her.

They both anticipate to see Thomas at the party, but are sadly disappointed when he didn't appear. Instead, Reed finds Natasha making out....with a girl...Leanne Shore, to be precise. In that moment, Natasha reveals that she was blackmailed to blackmail Reed. If she didn't, then the Billings girls would spread all over that Leanne was a lesbian (her being still in-closeted).

Reed then confronts the Billings girls with anger, but they assure her that it was necessary to gain her trust. With Reed being trustworthy, they can now count on her as a real Billings girl and trust her with all secrets. Well, maybe not all of them.

More secrets erupt as the Easton elite return from the party, all drunk and partied out. Reed and Josh are found cozy, napping on top of each other adorably. But this picture is instantly torn when they find out what is awaiting them at Easton.

News...of Thomas, dead.

It was a thrilling ending, yet I sort of had a thing for Thomas. Oh well, fictional men can't live forever (only some). But this opens new opportunities for the next book. More questions need to be resolved and answered, and that's why this book series is so addicting. It always leaves you wanting more.

The sequel was just as good as the first one, and certainly paves a promising path for the third.

Invitation Only
By: Kate Brian

Reed has entered the high-classed, lip-glossed world of the Billings. All of her fairytales are just beginning, but when her boyfriend disappers everything seems to crumble. Will she be strong enough to survive? Could the disappearance of her boyfriend Thomas Pearson be her down fall in the Billings?
Reed is a normal teen who is just beginning her sophisticated life in Billings. Reed's drive and compassion for Thomas makes her investigate farther into his disappearance. But not everybody at Easton is looking for answers to his disappearance. Could they be hiding something? Her search will eventually lead her into another guy's arms over the lonely Thanksgiving Break, but he could be hiding some skeletons in his closet.
I loved this book because while Reed was on her journey for the truth I felt like I was right beside her. It was fascinating and kept me on the edge of my seat. It is a fast pace read with tiny cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. This is a book for people who like to be captured into an alternate reality of someone else's life. Will you join Reed on her journey for the truth?

By: Kim G.

Reed Brennan is now a Billings Girl. She goes to parties and is looked up to and envied by most students on campus. Yet things still aren't perfect. One of the other Billings Girls takes pictures of her at a party with a boy that could easily get her expelled. Then they use it to black mail. To make it all worse, her boyfriend, Thomas, is still missing. No one knows where he is but they do know where he'll be at on Halloween - The Legacy. It's an exclusive party that only the most important legacies are able to attend. Unless you can go as someone's plus-one. Which is what Reed plans to do. Of course, not everyone can take a plus-one and the one person willing to take Reed is the one person she doesn't want to go with. But if Thomas will be there, Reed's willing to do anything possible to be there.


Invitation Only, the second book in the Private series by Kate Brian, is an amazing read. I didn't want to put it down once I started. It was full of drama, some action, and gave you an inside look at the life of private schools. The characters were easy to relate to and they make you wonder what's going to happen next, especially the Billings Girls. The ending was surprising but good. I think the first chapter of the next book should have been the last chapter though. I really enjoyed this and can't wait to get my hands on the third book. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys drama, romance, and the crazy life of rich private school students.

INVITATION ONLY, the second novel in the PRIVATE series, begins where we left off in the first book (Private (Private, Book 1)). Thomas went missing, one of the Billings Girls was expelled, and Reed Brennan finally moved into the dorm she had her eye on when she first came to the private school. But even though Reed was in the Billings house, that didn't exactly mean she was in the clique.

Turns out, the Billings Girls had a little hazing present for Reed that would keep her busy. That's right--Reed has to actually do the girls' beds every morning and clean up the dorm. Who knows exactly how long that will last.

But that's not the only thing on Reed's mind. Her boyfriend, Thomas Pearce, had just went missing during parents' weekend. And the only possible way that she would be able to see him again is at a social event called the Legacy, held in New York City that apparently Thomas is for sure making an appearance at. The only problem is that Reed has no idea what the Legacy is--but all she is worried about is getting there. Oh, and her new roommate took compromising photos of Reed and a certain someone, and is now using it to blackmail Reed.

From finding her boyfriend to overcoming her blackmailer to trying to officially become a Billings Girl, Reed has too much on her plate.

It seemed like it would be hard for Kate Brian to top the first book in the PRIVATE series, which was absolutely amazing, but no worries since she does not disappoint. INVITATION ONLY was even better than the first. With even more obstacles that Reed has to face, the story literally leaves the reader at the edge of their seats. And Kate Brian ends the story with another huge cliffhanger. This series definitely tops all the other series out there.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

All the questions don't get answered, actually a lot more questions are added onto the list. However, one big question does get answered What ever happened to Thomas Pearson? Read and find out you will definately be shocked. O and by the way do you want to know about The Legacy?

Reed Brennan has become something of a celebrity now that she's a Billings girl. She has won the admiration, awe, scorn and jealousy of everyone at the Easton Academy. But they have no idea how things are really like for her at the famous dorm. After all, they don't know that Reed is the servant girl at Billings; making the beds, serving breakfast and doing all sorts of humiliating chores for the fabulous four -- Noelle, Arianna, Kiran and Taylor. It doesn't matter. She'll do whatever it takes to be accepted. Being a Billings girl is a privilege, not a right, especially for a girl with a humble background like her. But things become complicated when Natasha, her new roommate, takes some incriminating photos of her with resident eighteen-year-old hottie Walt Whittaker, and threatens to send them to the dean. The catch? Reed has to snoop around and find proof that the fabulous four were responsible for the removal of Natasha's former roommate. With her position as the dorm's Cinderella, it shouldn't be so hard to search for this evidence, should it? In her search, Reed discovers secrets about her new "friends" that she wishes she'd never known. As if that weren't bad enough, her boyfriend Thomas is still missing. Her only shot of meeting face to face with Thomas is to get an invitation to the Legacy -- an exclusive party that only a selected few get invited. In order to attend the exclusive party, Reed has to become Whittaker's "plus one," which means she has to go out with him, to the dismay of her former roommate Constance, who has a major crush on Whittaker. Will Cinderella make it to the ball with her dignity ever so slightly intact? And will her Prince Charming be there, waiting to whisk her away from all the madness? After all, if she finds the evidence Natasha is looking for, she'll have to rat out her friends, or she'll be out of Easton faster than you can say "busted." Sigh. So much drama. It appears that being a Billings girl isn't as easy or as glamorous as Reed had thought.

This is a great follow-up to the very riveting Private. We get a sense of who the Billings girls are and how far they go just to amuse themselves at someone else's expense. Yet there is also a part of them -- a more human, generous part -- that makes them the most unique, intriguing girls at Easton Academy. The girls are rich, beautiful and have the world kissing their feet, but they also hold a mystique that overrides all of that stuff. I like the way Brian is handling that part of the story. These aren't the typical rich and spoiled boarding school teens that are so common in YA books these days. They truly are an enigma, and it shows throughout the pages of the book. Reed is still somewhat annoying in her desperate quest to fit into their social circle, but it is understandable. She, after all, has never been accepted anywhere before, and getting the attention of the most fascinating girls she's ever set her eyes on, not to mention the admiration of some rather hot guys, would cause any teenage girl to drool in the same way. She has two new love interests in this installment -- Whittaker and Thomas's roommate Josh. I love Josh; dislike Whittaker, who comes across as one of those rich, spoiled high-class twits. Very one-dimensional, and he's meant to be that way, from the looks of things. There is a big twist at the very last chapter, one that leaves me wanting to find out what happens next. I can't wait to pick up Untouchable. In the meantime, I cannot recommend Invitation Only enough. I take away one star because I was able to figure out what was going on with the whole blackmail thing by the time the story gets around to it, but it's still a brilliant read. This series is proving to be very addicting.

This was an excellent book. I loved it so much... somehow I can understand what Reed is going through. I liked how there are new characters, and how the abrupt ending leaves me wanting more. I can't wait to read Untouchable!

I read this book for my eight grade reading class. It was an easy read and also very easy to talk about with your teacher and friends. Everytime i would pick up this book i couldn't even put the book down. Every Chapter it got better and better. It talkes about real life experences from being under pressur to making the right choose about friends. I never wanted to finish the book. I was able to picture myself in this book. Looking forward to reading the rest of these series.

I'm a huge Kate Brian fan and I have to say I wasn't let down by this second in the Private series.
It's filled with black mailing, drama and an ending you just wont believe!
I seriously cannot wait until the next book comes out!