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The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brien appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change all that. She’s book-smart. She’s street-smart. And she’s also a masterful liar. As the scholarship student at the elite Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ranks and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior-class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.
When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration as head of fund-raising, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives, becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. Mark has his own plan for a bright future and never doubts that he can pull it off. How close can Kate and Olivia get to him without having to share their dark pasts?
“Combines a Gossip Girl milieu with the unsettled psychological terrain of Gone Girl.” —PW
“It’s smart, dark, entertaining, and unpredictable.” —Quill & Quire, Starred
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
May 31, 2016 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780399569333
- File size: 259684 KB
- Duration: 09:01:00
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 560
- Text Difficulty: 2-3
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Reviews
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Jorjeana Marie performs two complicated narrative voices that tangle and then harmonize as this audiobook progresses. Kate O'Brien, a senior on scholarship at a wealthy Manhattan school, is determined to go to Harvard, and she'll do anything to get there. That includes befriending popular, wealthy Olivia Sumner, whom she chooses more as a mark than a BFF. Marie delivers Kate's savvy and snark in a way that engages listeners despite her unsavory underside. Snooty Olivia is unequally attractive. So is the gorgeous new administrator, Mr. Redkin, who wants an alliance with both girls--for unclear reasons. Marie conveys all the tension that holds listeners in the grip of this psychological suspense. S.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine -
August 29, 2016
After surviving a horrific and traumatic childhood, Kate went through foster care and has now landed as a scholarship student at the elite Waverly School. Having learned to be cunning and opportunistic in order to survive, she targets Olivia, a rich girl with emotional problems, and becomes her best friend, manipulating Olivia into inviting her to live in her mansion and enjoy the finer things in life. But Kate begins to genuinely care about Olivia, and when a handsome, charming, slick sexual predator named Mark Redkin gets a high-level job at the school and begins to victimize Olivia, Kate is determined to save her friend. Reader Marie creates the perfect voice for each character—a growly, jaded, sardonic tone for Kate (which becomes sweet and polite when sucking up to teachers and counselors); a high-pitched, naïve-sounding voice for Olivia; a deep, smooth, seductive voice for Mark. Marie’s expert narration keeps the tension and suspense high and will have listeners riveted as dark secrets are revealed and the plot takes unexpected twists and turns, leading to a shocking conclusion. Ages 14–up. A Delacorte hardcover. -
February 29, 2016
Kate O’Brian is a good liar when she has to be, and because of her violent past, that’s most of the time. She’s also good at making “demented rich girls” love her, which is how she goes from sleeping in a storeroom under a Chinatown market to sharing Olivia Sumner’s penthouse apartment during the girls’ senior year at New York City’s posh Waverly School. Toten (The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B) switches between Kate’s first-person account and a third-person look at Olivia, who has secrets of her own. The other plot engine is charismatic Waverly fund-raiser Mark Redkin, who is working on bedding most of the staff and some of the seniors. When Olivia’s turn comes, readers realize that he is far worse than just a hound. As the title suggests, the book combines a Gossip Girl milieu with the unsettled psychological terrain of Gone Girl. But while Kate is a strong character and there is no shortage of suspense, Toten’s desire to keep readers guessing results in a confusing and rushed climax. Ages 14–up. Agent: Marie Campbell, Transatlantic Literary Agency.
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