Customer Reviews

Simply Irresistible (Elite Novels)

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

 

 

This third installment of The Elite series keeps the drama going! Simply Irresistible is just as entertaining as the first 2 books! Everyone's favorite characters are back, and you learn a thing or two about them all in turn. All the characters and their emotions are portrayed realistically. In Simply Irresistible, I felt like Drew almost was a bit over the top in parts - every girl he touches he lusts after. Those who loved the first 2 books will not be let down!

Aah, this series. It's like a nice, warm bubble bath or a comfy breakfast-in-bed. Each and every character I've become weirdly attached to, and when I open every new book, it's like meeting with friends and catching up over coffee.

Simply Irresistible, the third book in The Elite series, is the beginnings of fame for Casey and Madison, who are about to star in their own reality tv series. Of course, Phoebe, Sophie, and Drew - my other fav MCs - are going through their own drama, but a lot of the focus is on C and M.

When I finished the book, I was horrified. See, I read it thinking the series was going to come to an end. Thinking, as I was told before, that it was a trilogy and this was the very last book. And, honestly, I COULD NOT leave all my characters behind with the ending Banash gave. They had so much more story to be told. But I found out there are going to be MORE BOOKS! Good thing, too, because I would have emailed Jennifer Banash relentlessly until she personally wrote and sent me more of their story directly. It would have been ugly. As it is, I can. not. wait. for another book(s).

As far as the beginning and middle go, though - mmm. I love drama when it doesn't involve me (uuh, sadistic much?) , and S.I. definitely brought it. Not in a my-son-married-my-sister-and-were-stolen-by-pirates Soap Opera-y way, but in a very realistic, teenage-issues kind of way. Banash is the Queen of the dark & light mixed plot.

The writing was deliciously descriptive, and although I've heard complaints of over-labeling, blahblahblah, & I agree that there was some excess, I think it was needed. Madison's kind of a betch. But a fashionable, lovable one. And she thinks fashion. So when it's in her POV, it's only realistic that she talks Gucci. Instead of being the girl everyone loves to hate, for me, she's the girl I hate to love. If I knew her in person, I doubt I'd like her - she has all the characteristics I loathe about people. But, in spite of that, I love Mad. She just has oomph.

And, frankly, oomph is a perfect word for the entirety of Simply Irresistible.

Opening the cover of Simply Irresistible by Jennifer Banash is like opening a door and finding yourself in the middle of Manhattan's upper East Side. The first character you meet, Madison MacCallister seems to be your typical spoiled prep school girl. She doesn't like to lose and is used to being the center of attention in every group in which she finds herself. But Madison or Mad as her close friends call her, finds her perfect life turned upside down when her mother suddenly takes up with a much younger guy. To add to the agony, Mad originally thought of him for herself. If you include the addition of Casey McCloy a girl from a small midwestern town who has moved into Madison's upscale apartment house, The Bram, it is hard not to get sucked into this story.

Not having read the entire series I am not familiar with all of the characters, but reading this book made me want to learn more about each of them. As the story progresses each girl's story is delineated and it's hard not to feel sorry for some of them. Though they wear expensive designer clothing and shoes and go to extravagantly expensive parties and restaurants, it's difficult for any of the characters except maybe Casey, to enjoy this. Their personal lives overshadow everything that they do; yet they seem to hold everything together in public.

Casey's story is different, since she was forced to move to Manhattan to be with her Nanna, who lives in The Bram. But Casey has attracted the attention of Drew, Madison's ex-boyfriend, and the secret heartthrob of every girl in her school. All Casey wants to do is fit in. Could she help it that a TV producer wanted to make a show with her and her so-called friends? Will she be able to hide this from her mom? Or will her mom find out and yank her out of Manhattan? What will happen with Drew? Will the girls ever accept her?

All of these questions are answered and more as the story progresses. Told in the point of view of each character, it feels like an expose of life as a teenager on the upper East Side. The story is woven through the lives of the girls and boys as they navigate the rocky terrain of teenage life with parents who are not great role models.

In conclusion, Simply Irresistible is simply irresistible. Once you start reading it you will find it hard to put down. The writing doesn't disappoint, and that is one thing that makes me urge you to read this book.The editing is excellent and the sentences flow easily and smoothly. This is a book that will appeal to both girls and boys, since there is a large chunk in a male's point of view, and to women and men who are still young in heart. It's fun to wander through the lives of these privileged people and it almost feels like eavesdropping during some of the dialogue. I am looking forward to reading the first two books and hoping that Jennifer Banash will write a fourth book in this series.

Casey McCloy moved from a small town into the city, and she's starting to enjoy her new life and friends.

She's gaining popularity among people she meets and climbing the rickety social ladder quickly, much to the dislike of her nemesis, Madison McAllister. Casey could soon be just as popular, now that the two are in their own reality show called De-Luxe.

But reality is not always what it seems...

Madison is sick and tired of being second tier. She's second to her mother, who is more interested in her young and gorgeous boyfriend. She's second to Drew, who is dating Casey (though they're on-and-off and never really stable). And she is second to Casey, who has become more popular and is considered the new "IT" girl of the Upper East Side.

How can her life be so out of control? The reality show was supposed to catapult Madison to stardom - not Casey!

With lots (and lots) of drama, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE is a great addition to its predecessors in the ELITE series. It's fun, fabulous, and oh-so-scandalous!

Reviewed by: Angela S.

The Elite series is an excellent series, and I really hate to see it end. The Elite was my favorite of the series, because it indulged so much into the characters, and the seemingly perfect lives that couldn't be farther from being perfect. Simply Irresistible, is focused on the De-Luxe, a reality show that Casey and Madison are starring in. That aspect was really great, I actually would have liked to have seen more about it.

I was glad to see that Casey regained some of her original self in this novel. Taking a chance and being herself and actually having it work out for her. Madison might be the biggest b**** ever, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. However, the other characters, needed serious attitude adjustment... I mean Drew, what was that. I wanted to slap the kid silly. Honestly that's why my rating is a three. Sophie and Phoebe were two characters that really made this series stand out for me, and I just thought they were lacking this time around.

The writing was great, as it has been the whole series. I love the alternating perspectives. It's so nice to see into everyone's minds. Had I not known the inner turmoils in the mind of Madison, there is no way I'd have any sympathy for her, and that really makes this book, as well as the series for me.

I'm hoping that JB is just pulling our legs about this being the end of the series. I don't want it to end, there is so much that hasn't been said and done. I need closure!

I read the first two books in the series and LOVED them, but nothing could've prepared me for all the drama in Simply Irresistible once the characters get their own reality TV show, DE-LUXE! I felt so badly for Drew in this book-he's so torn up about his parent's actions, and is clearly acting out in response to their infidelities The characters are all well-developed, as usual, and I found myself racing through the book, dying to know what would happen next. All I can say is that I really HOPE that there will be a fourth Elite book, because I HAVE to know what happens to Casey! Also, I have a serious crush on Drew. If you want a great summer beach read, do yourself a favor and pick up this series. You will NOT be disappointed!

I was apprehensive picking this one up. As far as I know, it's the last book in the Elite series. I enjoyed the first two, and was thus wary of the goodbye. The ending is open, ripe for a fourth book. Some characters do not end the story happily. But others are moving up and moving on. Casey McCloy's arc does come to a kind of conclusion, and I imagine she has a satisfying life, since she has a good personality. I likewise imagine good things for Phoebe and Sophie, and hope Madison one day figures out how to express herself better.

But. oh. my. stars. Drew annoyed me so much in this book. It really is hard to imagine how much distance is between twenty and seventeen, but . . . I know I had a different view of open relationships then. (Still can't imagine one for myself. Just, no.) But there's a much bigger difference between two married adults who know and do nothing about the other having an affair and cheating on your girlfriend. I'm not trying to glorify Drew's father by any means. I'm just trying to point out how much of a douchebox with wings Drew is in SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE.

Of course, this makes me take some issue of the fact Madison and Casey are still girlfighting over him. Both of the girls deserve better. (Luckily, Casey has a totally adorable rocker boy waiting for her to drop Drew.) As for Madison . . . well, she's getting her comeuppance. And ouch. Jennifer Banash has always done a great job of getting in Madison's head and fleshing her out instead of leaving her motivelessly malicious. It makes it painful to see her get hurt even as you know she needs to take a few knocks to facilitate a personality adjustment.

So here's my goodbye to the Elite series. I vote it a member of the "good trash." Yeah, there's brand-dropping and ridiculously rich teens. But there's also a reality: parents, bargain racks, and being too awkward to tell the guy/girl what you're feeling. (Just jumping into SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE might be confusing. I do recommend starting at the beginning, with THE ELITE. Three books won't kill you.)

From In Bed With Books

Ex-small-town girl Casey McCloy finally feels like she's starting to fit in among her neighbors of the Upper East Side. And it's not just the newly straightened hair, the growing designer wardrobe, or a starring role in the hot new reality show De-Luxe, it's the confidence from all that and being a member of the Bram Clan that makes Casey feel like she belongs in the Big Apple--much to the dismay of her rival and reality costar, the reigning queen Madison Macallister. Madison absolutely refuses to give up her lofty position to social climbing Casey, even if--especially if--she has to dig her manicured talons in somewhere to maintain that status. Madison will do anything to ensure that she--and not Casey--is the next reality "It Girl." Since the rest of the rest of her life seems to be falling apart, Madison feels she at least deserves this. But Madison's not the only one trying to keep what's left of her life from further breaking down. There are a lot of people in the Big Apple. How can anyone be sure of anything--friendships, family, trust--when everyone has their own agenda?

Though I absolutely adored the first two installments in this series, The Elite and In Too Deep, I felt Simply Irresistible didn't quite live up to its name. For me, this time around, the Bram Clan and other supporting cast were a little too "he said she said" for my taste. This over load of gossip as well as other annoyances such as the designer name dropping so frequent it became white noise and the fact that women were wearing sunglasses indoors in the dead of winter really distracted me and prevented me from really taking a liking to the story or characters. Yes, Drew caught his dad messing around with another woman, Sophie doesn't know what to make of her real mother, Phoebe just wants to fool around with Jared, Madison is as ruthless as ever, and Casey keeps trying to blend in, but what else is new? This whole novel, the cast just seemed to be talking along the same lines as they had been in the earlier novels. I was looking for something bigger because the same old was getting boring and unfortunately, the reality shows was more in the background than I hoped it would be. The characters are too inwardly conflicted throughout the entire novel; I would've liked to see some progress in at least their conviction in their lives. Maybe it's just me, but Simply Irresistible lacked a certain oomph I know Banash has in her.

I know that's not exactly the most positive review for Simply Irresistible, but dedicated fans of The Elite series and guilty pleasure lovers will most likely want to read this novel. Though I was slightly disappointed in Banash's latest work, I'll probably still read the next installment in this series with high hopes.

This book is packed with so much teen angst that it is surprising that it all fits in 250 pages. It is also the third in a trilogy about spoiled rich teenagers residing in Manhattan, so if you read this one before the others, then you will be forced to bounce over many gaps in your understanding. Casey McCloy is a young girl that arrived in Manhattan from Normal, Illinois in the previous books and this one continues her adventures, largely courtesy of Madison Macallister, spoiled rich girl personified. While the girls are superficial friends, anxiety and insecurity are always a paper-thin distance from the surface in all their actions, no one is happy and there is rivalry over almost everything.
The male characters are no different, even seductive sexual trysts are so loaded with emotional qualifications that the aftermath is almost physically painful. Through it all, the characters manage to keep from ripping each other new ones and somehow navigate their way into occasional positions of tenderness and thoughtfulness towards each other. The story ends with the same tone played throughout the book, a moment of emotional uncertainty with no real resolution.
As a story, this is truly "chick schtick", the uncertain emotional states, lack of resolution and uncertainties are designed to generate sympathy and drama, the classic form to tug at female heartstrings. At times the movement becomes repetitive, yet while I find myself unable to generate sympathy for such stories, I can see where my teenage daughter would find it riveting.