Under the Rose: An Ivy League Novel

published	May 1st 2007 by Delta
binding	Paperback
isbn	0385340036 (isbn13: 9780385340038)
ebook
pages	368
description	Amy Haskel made it into elite Eli University. Then she made it into the ultraselective Order of Rose & Grave. Now a senior, Amy is looking her fu...more [close] Amy Haskel made it into elite Eli University. Then she made it into the ultraselective Order of Rose & Grave. Now a senior, Amy is looking her future squarely in the eye—until someone starts selling society secrets. When a series of bizarre messages suggests conspiracy within the ranks and a female knight mysteriously disappears, no member of Rose & Grave is safe…or above suspicion. On her side, Amy has a few loyal Diggirls—her fellow female Rose & Grave knights. Against her? Certainly it’s a group of Rose & Grave’s überpowerful patriarchs who want their old boys’ club back. As new developments in her love life threaten to implode, and the case of the vanished Diggirl gets weirder by the moment, Amy will need to use every society trick she’s ever learned in order to set things right. Even if it means turning to old adversaries for help—or discovering that the real foes are closer than she’d thought…. [close]
date added	06-09-07 edit book

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Nian rated it:

12/20/07

Read in December, 2007

recommends it for: if you're really, and I mean REALLY bored

So, there are some people who can write an interesting and thought-out mystery, and there are some who can’t. This author can’t. What a disappointment. The first book was witty and amusing, but the second? A flop. I just wondered why I stuck with it till the end. Maybe that’s why it took me a week and a half to finish the book. That’s like a world record for me. I never take this long with one book, and I can honestly say that when the 3rd installment comes out, I will NOT be reading tha...more So, there are some people who can write an interesting and thought-out mystery, and there are some who can’t. This author can’t. What a disappointment. The first book was witty and amusing, but the second? A flop. I just wondered why I stuck with it till the end. Maybe that’s why it took me a week and a half to finish the book. That’s like a world record for me. I never take this long with one book, and I can honestly say that when the 3rd installment comes out, I will NOT be reading that.

Amy Haskel and her secret society members—more commonly known as the Diggers—are back from their summer (in Amy’s case, interning for a literary agency) and ready to devote themselves to Rose & Grave and their brotherhood. But it seems like last year’s problem continues to remain a problem. There are still members who want the old tradition of an all boys club back, but Amy is adamant that it won’t happen. There’s a traitor among them as well—someone who’s leaking information to outsiders and causing even the press to become interested. Who is doing it, and what’s their motive?

First, I’ll admit that I did not read the blurb. There are two reasons for that: one, because it’s the sequel to Secret Society Girl, a book that I really enjoyed reading. And two, because I was in a hurry to start reading so I could pick up where Amy left off. A couple of chapters in though, I flipped the book over and read it. Okay, that sounds interesting, I thought.

And it was, at first. Amy’s point of view was still as witty and amusing. She’s such a tough character, because despite her ordinary name, she’s fierce, loud-spoken, and a bit too silly at times. The author really developed Amy the character well, unlike other stories where some character traits didn’t even make sense on the particular person. That would irritate me even more. Besides Amy, I do like George. He’s probably one of the most realistic character’s I’ve ever read about. He’s the stereotypical player, and Amy’s infatuated with him. And though they like each other, he makes it perfectly clear that his playboy nature won’t change just because of her. I find that sad, but it’s true. Maybe the readers want to see a change, but I find it not realistic and original enough. I mean, how many bad-boy-reformed stories have I read? Plenty.

And when I got midway, the torture began.

The pace slowed and I felt like I’d been reading just that one chapter for the whole day, and that made me really frustrated. Then, I couldn’t help but become angry with the book. Why was it taking forever to get to the point already? (If you want to read the book, do not read forth because it will contain a whole bunch of spoilers.) Amy already knew it was Jenny, so all she had to do was find her. And when she finally did—what kind of clues were those, anyway?—the reason behind Jenny’s betrayal was just so Unfreaking believable I wanted to cry and/or rip out the pages of the book. I’m not even kidding. What kind of reasoning was that? And while I’m ranting, what kind of mystery is that? Jesus Christ. How did all this betrayal stuff lead to talking about Christians and religion? And even more randomly, about the other secret group within Rose & Grave that are trying to steal money from the brotherhood. Um, totally random, don’t you think? Like, come on, you can do better than that!

To recap, I seriously won’t recommend this to anyone if you’re looking for a good read, something that’s witty and fascinating, because this book will disappoint. Maybe if I got over the whole mystery concept, I would’ve thought this was a good book, but I can’t, so that’s why I gave it a horrible rating. I just can’t believe the sequel turned out so bad. Never, ever, write sequels people, unless you really know what you’re doing, because you’ll just end up ruining interesting characters and a well-like story that was the first book.
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Under the Rose: An Ivy League Novel

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