What do you think?
Rate this book
Private #0.6
Last Christmas: A Private Christmas
Ariana Osgood has everything an Easton Academy girl could want: straight A's, the perfect boyfriend, and a coveted spot in exclusive Billings House. But on the first night of Christmas vacation, a blizzard traps her on campus with irresistible bad-boy Thomas Pearson. Alone. Instead of snuggling with her boyfriend next to a cozy fire in Vermont, she's huddling for warmth with Thomas in Ketlar House.
As the snow transforms Easton into a winter wonderland, Ariana finds herself falling for Thomas. But someone is watching their clandestine romance unfold, someone intent on turning their holiday weekend into a nightmare...
Last Christmas reveals the secret of what really happened before Private began -- and the shocking truth will change everything for fans of Kate Brian's bestselling series.
263 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2008
44 people are currently reading
2316 people want to read
About the author
Kate Brian
86 books2,311 followersKate Brian is the author of the SHADOWLANDS TRILOGY (SHADOWLANDS, HEREAFTER & ENDLESS), as well as the New York Times bestselling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, and the wildly popular MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS. She also writes teen fiction under the name Kieran Scott.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
July 18, 2025
"I'm going to the police. I'm going to tell them everything. I'm coming clean-about you, about me. And maybe while I'm there I'll tell them what you and your little Billings friends did to me tonight too."
Last Christmas (Private, #0.6)
by Kate Brian
Reread! Wonderful YA mystery/stalker book. Prequel to the Private series. Original review below!
Much fun!
Not bad at all. This is the Prequel to the "Privilege" series and I must say I adore that whole series so this book is a good one to read if you like the series. It will tell you how it all began!l
And besides that it is creepy as well. Very creepy. The two lovebirds are alone in the dorms together during winter break but someone..someone..is watching them. Hmm....whatever is going on?
If you have not read this series..and do not want to..do not worry..you can read this one as a stand alone..it is quite fun..and eerie..and creepy..and deceptive..it is also a great one to read in the Autumn or winter.
A YA mystery that actually creeps the reader out! Yay! I will say, as much as I like the series, it was not really all that scary. And I read this prequel AFTER reading the series and found it to be a creeper of a book.
No blood or gore..but I could see how this would scare MORE..especially the ending..wow.
It has a real brisk Non summer feel to it that lends itself perfectly for reading around Halloween or the December Holidays. After all..it is called Last Christmas!
Highly recommended and much fun reading.
Last Christmas (Private, #0.6)
by Kate Brian
Reread! Wonderful YA mystery/stalker book. Prequel to the Private series. Original review below!
Much fun!
Not bad at all. This is the Prequel to the "Privilege" series and I must say I adore that whole series so this book is a good one to read if you like the series. It will tell you how it all began!l
And besides that it is creepy as well. Very creepy. The two lovebirds are alone in the dorms together during winter break but someone..someone..is watching them. Hmm....whatever is going on?
If you have not read this series..and do not want to..do not worry..you can read this one as a stand alone..it is quite fun..and eerie..and creepy..and deceptive..it is also a great one to read in the Autumn or winter.
A YA mystery that actually creeps the reader out! Yay! I will say, as much as I like the series, it was not really all that scary. And I read this prequel AFTER reading the series and found it to be a creeper of a book.
No blood or gore..but I could see how this would scare MORE..especially the ending..wow.
It has a real brisk Non summer feel to it that lends itself perfectly for reading around Halloween or the December Holidays. After all..it is called Last Christmas!
Highly recommended and much fun reading.
December 19, 2010
I bought this book wanting a Christmas theme and some young adult love intrigue. A nice, love triangle with a bit of suspense, and how two young people find each other. Well...yeah. That's not what I got. The is one the darkest and most psychotic young adults books I've ever read. It is the prequel to a bestselling series that I have not read, so I thought what better way to start a series than with the prequel? Yeah, don't do that. I'm guessing, based on other reviews of this book which were mostly glowing, you need to have some emotional involvement into the The Private series in order for Last Christmas to work for you. For me, I am left with a stricken look on my face and no interest in the actual series.
The book starts out with the typical girl who has issues in her private life, sticks to the rules in her daily life, and has a great boyfriend. She begins to rebel a bit and have feelings for the hot 'bad boy' at the private school and becomes torn for who she wants to be with. Leaving her boyfriend would have serious social consequences, not to mention the bad boy is a notorious bad boy. The appeal to the reader is strong and you actually find yourself rooting for the shy girl to break out of her shell and go for the guy that is totally wrong for her, so she can redeem him and make him totally right. Not in this story.
Ariana is the main character torn between her rich, handsome boyfriend Daniel and the rich, handsome bad boy Thomas. Basically, all kinds of things happen when Ariana and Thomas are both stuck at school over Christmas break, give in to their feelings for each other, and the intrigue is someone is spying on them. Since this is also a type of forbidden love, there being steep consequences if they are caught on campus, the book draws you in to their young plight to be together. As things unfold, we realize that Ariana has the makings to be a serious sociopath. Yes, serious sociopath. And Thomas? Let's just say he isn't all he is cracked up to be. These two people I championed, I ended up having deep disgust for each.
By the end of the book, I was completely turned upside down by what I thought of the plot and the turn this book took. For me, not a turn in a good way. Again, this is a prequel to a well established series, so if I had been acquainted with these characters as they are revealed in the main series, I may have a very different view of this book. But, read as is, I do not care for it myself. I just have no desire to see what seem like perfectly fine young people turn into mental cases for a relationship.
I also have no desire to see how sex was handled in this young adult book. It was choppy and not believable to me how certain situations evolve all around. For example, who has sex with the guy they want to be with, then continues a relationship with her current boyfriend sexually to keep up pretenses, and the other guy knows it? And what guy is OK with that? The book just becomes disorienting for me and a complete let down in character and relationship department.
I will give the writer good marks for writing style and plot twists. The writer does tell a story that is easily followed and I admit I NEVER saw where the plot was going to go. There really isn't a whole lot I can say without giving the plot twists away, just keep in mind this not a happy young adult story with some mystery. I will say if you are a fan of The Private series, you may have a whole different perspective and would know to expect a dark book. For those of you not already invested in the series, do not read the prequel first. Reviewing as is, as the prequel to a series, I did not care for it. It does not in any shape or form make me want to see what happens next.
The book starts out with the typical girl who has issues in her private life, sticks to the rules in her daily life, and has a great boyfriend. She begins to rebel a bit and have feelings for the hot 'bad boy' at the private school and becomes torn for who she wants to be with. Leaving her boyfriend would have serious social consequences, not to mention the bad boy is a notorious bad boy. The appeal to the reader is strong and you actually find yourself rooting for the shy girl to break out of her shell and go for the guy that is totally wrong for her, so she can redeem him and make him totally right. Not in this story.
Ariana is the main character torn between her rich, handsome boyfriend Daniel and the rich, handsome bad boy Thomas. Basically, all kinds of things happen when Ariana and Thomas are both stuck at school over Christmas break, give in to their feelings for each other, and the intrigue is someone is spying on them. Since this is also a type of forbidden love, there being steep consequences if they are caught on campus, the book draws you in to their young plight to be together. As things unfold, we realize that Ariana has the makings to be a serious sociopath. Yes, serious sociopath. And Thomas? Let's just say he isn't all he is cracked up to be. These two people I championed, I ended up having deep disgust for each.
By the end of the book, I was completely turned upside down by what I thought of the plot and the turn this book took. For me, not a turn in a good way. Again, this is a prequel to a well established series, so if I had been acquainted with these characters as they are revealed in the main series, I may have a very different view of this book. But, read as is, I do not care for it myself. I just have no desire to see what seem like perfectly fine young people turn into mental cases for a relationship.
I also have no desire to see how sex was handled in this young adult book. It was choppy and not believable to me how certain situations evolve all around. For example, who has sex with the guy they want to be with, then continues a relationship with her current boyfriend sexually to keep up pretenses, and the other guy knows it? And what guy is OK with that? The book just becomes disorienting for me and a complete let down in character and relationship department.
I will give the writer good marks for writing style and plot twists. The writer does tell a story that is easily followed and I admit I NEVER saw where the plot was going to go. There really isn't a whole lot I can say without giving the plot twists away, just keep in mind this not a happy young adult story with some mystery. I will say if you are a fan of The Private series, you may have a whole different perspective and would know to expect a dark book. For those of you not already invested in the series, do not read the prequel first. Reviewing as is, as the prequel to a series, I did not care for it. It does not in any shape or form make me want to see what happens next.
January 17, 2009
I didn’t think I would like Ariana’s story at all, but I ended up getting addicted to the book till the last page. I didn’t think she was a strong character, but I loved Brian’s portrayal of a girl who’s been pushed to her limits and in her way, believing that she was strong through murder. It was actually a pretty perceptive story into the mind of a murderer. Nothing justifies killing, but I could see why she did it. What’s amazing is that I almost liked her—but then she had to go and do those things. What a drag. Also, I was expecting more interaction between Ariana and Reed, but from Ariana’s point of view.
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
****SPOILER ALERT**** For readers who haven't read beyond CONFESSIONS in the PRIVATE series, this book is best left unread. Details in LAST CHRISTMAS will ruin much of the suspense in the first four books of the series.
LAST CHRISTMAS is a great addition to the series by Kate Brian. The story gives much needed background insight into Ariana Osgood, the Billings girl arrested for the murder of Thomas Pearson.
The story begins near Christmas break of Ariana's junior year. When we meet Ariana in the first book of the series, PRIVATE, she is one of the privileged senior girls at Easton Academy. But in LAST CHRISTMAS, she is the naïve, innocent roommate to Noelle Lange. Ariana is the good girl that does what is expected of her. She gets top grades, lives in the most respected dormitory, and has the perfect boyfriend, Daniel Ryan. Her mother couldn't be prouder of her.
Daniel isn't 100% perfect though. He's incredibly jealous and protective of Ariana. At the Winter Ball, he torments Sergei, a Latvian exchange student, because he caught Sergei taking photos of Ariana throughout the dance. Ariana is to spend the two weeks of Christmas break at a ski resort with Daniel and his family. And Daniel is expecting her to have sex with him while they are there. They are both (supposedly) virgins, and Ariana didn't want their first time to be in a dorm bed.
It's the final day before the school break, and Ariana has yet to finish an English paper. If she doesn't turn it in before 6pm, she will fail the assignment. So she has Daniel and his twin sister, Paige, head out without her. She promises to take a later train.
But she gets sidetracked by Thomas Pearson. He has been showing up in unexpected places over the last few days. And he shows up in the deserted classroom building as she turns in her completed paper. In a split second, Ariana gives up fighting the electric attraction she's been feeling for Thomas.
From that moment on, the snowball of her actions grows until innocent people start to get hurt. A snowstorm hits campus and strands Thomas and Ariana. Neither can be caught, because Headmaster Cox made it perfectly clear that anyone caught on campus who was not scheduled to be there will be expelled, no exceptions.
LAST CHRISTMAS is the perfect companion to the PRIVATE series. Ariana's specter hangs over the entire series long after she is carted away for Thomas' murder. This gives an inside look to her growing mental problems after she becomes involved with Thomas. I believe it also gives a good basis for the spin-off series, PRIVILEGE, due out in December 2008.
****SPOILER ALERT**** For readers who haven't read beyond CONFESSIONS in the PRIVATE series, this book is best left unread. Details in LAST CHRISTMAS will ruin much of the suspense in the first four books of the series.
LAST CHRISTMAS is a great addition to the series by Kate Brian. The story gives much needed background insight into Ariana Osgood, the Billings girl arrested for the murder of Thomas Pearson.
The story begins near Christmas break of Ariana's junior year. When we meet Ariana in the first book of the series, PRIVATE, she is one of the privileged senior girls at Easton Academy. But in LAST CHRISTMAS, she is the naïve, innocent roommate to Noelle Lange. Ariana is the good girl that does what is expected of her. She gets top grades, lives in the most respected dormitory, and has the perfect boyfriend, Daniel Ryan. Her mother couldn't be prouder of her.
Daniel isn't 100% perfect though. He's incredibly jealous and protective of Ariana. At the Winter Ball, he torments Sergei, a Latvian exchange student, because he caught Sergei taking photos of Ariana throughout the dance. Ariana is to spend the two weeks of Christmas break at a ski resort with Daniel and his family. And Daniel is expecting her to have sex with him while they are there. They are both (supposedly) virgins, and Ariana didn't want their first time to be in a dorm bed.
It's the final day before the school break, and Ariana has yet to finish an English paper. If she doesn't turn it in before 6pm, she will fail the assignment. So she has Daniel and his twin sister, Paige, head out without her. She promises to take a later train.
But she gets sidetracked by Thomas Pearson. He has been showing up in unexpected places over the last few days. And he shows up in the deserted classroom building as she turns in her completed paper. In a split second, Ariana gives up fighting the electric attraction she's been feeling for Thomas.
From that moment on, the snowball of her actions grows until innocent people start to get hurt. A snowstorm hits campus and strands Thomas and Ariana. Neither can be caught, because Headmaster Cox made it perfectly clear that anyone caught on campus who was not scheduled to be there will be expelled, no exceptions.
LAST CHRISTMAS is the perfect companion to the PRIVATE series. Ariana's specter hangs over the entire series long after she is carted away for Thomas' murder. This gives an inside look to her growing mental problems after she becomes involved with Thomas. I believe it also gives a good basis for the spin-off series, PRIVILEGE, due out in December 2008.
November 21, 2012
Before Reed Brennan arrived at Easton Academy, Ariana Osgood was an ordinary student just like everybody else.
Or was she?
Ariana Osgood seems to have everything an Easton Academy girl could want: straight A's, the perfect boyfriend, and a coveted spot in exclusive Billings House. But, then, again, nothing is perfect. When she meets Thomas Pearson, she realizes what she has been missing, and eventually falls for him after everyone is out for the holidays.
Problem is, someone is watching, and that someone is determined to destroy that relationship and ruin everything.
It was actually very interesting to get inside Ariana's head: Her calculating, obsessive, and crazy head. No wonder she got her own series.
I also noticed this, a statement that Ariana said, which will eventually become into an ironic echo:
Oh, Ariana. What I am going to do with you?
I want to finish this series so I can read Privilege.
I can't wait.
Or was she?
Ariana Osgood seems to have everything an Easton Academy girl could want: straight A's, the perfect boyfriend, and a coveted spot in exclusive Billings House. But, then, again, nothing is perfect. When she meets Thomas Pearson, she realizes what she has been missing, and eventually falls for him after everyone is out for the holidays.
Problem is, someone is watching, and that someone is determined to destroy that relationship and ruin everything.
It was actually very interesting to get inside Ariana's head: Her calculating, obsessive, and crazy head. No wonder she got her own series.
I also noticed this, a statement that Ariana said, which will eventually become into an ironic echo:
She shook her head as she twisted the doorknob slowly. Thomas had left Mel, but she actually believed they could still be together. Believed that they were meant for each other. She refused to accept the fact that it was over. That Thomas loved Ariana, wanted her. He made that clear, but Mel was too blinded by her own obsession to see it. Ariana almost felt sorry for the girl.
Oh, Ariana. What I am going to do with you?
I want to finish this series so I can read Privilege.
I can't wait.
November 29, 2018
A YA Christmas mystery, with plenty of suspense and darkness to it.
I would recommend reading the first 4 books in the Private series (Private, Invitation Only, Untouchable, and Confessions) before this one. (Otherwise, things might be spoiled for you.)
Kate Brian’s characters are great. They are so complex and flawed, but somehow so likable. Thomas Pearson is a great example of this. He’s actually kind of a scumbag, but is somehow also likable.
This isn’t very Christmassy, but I’m rereading the series and it seemed like a good time to read the prequel, since it is set around Christmas.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted Christmas read, then definitely look elsewhere. If you’re looking for character driven suspense that happens to take place at Christmas, then this will be right up your alley.
I would recommend reading the first 4 books in the Private series (Private, Invitation Only, Untouchable, and Confessions) before this one. (Otherwise, things might be spoiled for you.)
Kate Brian’s characters are great. They are so complex and flawed, but somehow so likable. Thomas Pearson is a great example of this. He’s actually kind of a scumbag, but is somehow also likable.
This isn’t very Christmassy, but I’m rereading the series and it seemed like a good time to read the prequel, since it is set around Christmas.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted Christmas read, then definitely look elsewhere. If you’re looking for character driven suspense that happens to take place at Christmas, then this will be right up your alley.
December 13, 2018
This book was just soooo boring I wanted to tear my head out. Brian didn't even try and justify Ariana's actions to us. I couldn't stand Ariana, knowing how crazy she is and her thought cycle and her reasoning. I just couldn't wait for this book to be finished. And that's all I want to say about this book..
January 12, 2009
Ariana Osgood is the perfect cookie-cutter Billings girl—perfect on the outside but not so much behind that exterior. Sure, she’s got the perfect boyfriend who loves her, great grades, not to mention a spot in the most elite House at Easton Academy. But she’s also got some secrets, details about her life she’s too embarrassed to tell her friends for fear it would ruin her reputation. But all of Ariana’s good-girl rules and morals just about go out the window when Ariana finds herself trapped on campus during Christmas vacation with bad-boy Thomas Pearson of all people, instead of vacationing in Vermont with her boyfriend Daniel, the guy she loves, or so she tells herself. This chance blizzard all but snows them in, preventing Ariana’s escape from Easton and Thomas’s seductive clutches. But instead of finding a way back to her boyfriend, Ariana finds herself going against all she knows and falling for Thomas. Unfortunately, Ariana and Thomas aren’t the only ones who know about their romance, and in an attempt to protect the only right thing in her life, Ariana unleashes a mother with the potential of ruining not only the lives of several innocent people—but in the end, her own.
Once again, Brian does not disappoint with this shocking and revealing prequel to the addicting Private series. Last Christmas provides valuable insight into the elusive Ariana’s mind and provides the groundwork for an insanity that culminated in Ariana doing the deed, as revealed in Confessions, the fourth book in the series. Brian has a talent for weaving tales with the spoiled attitudes of elite in combination with scandalous romance and physical danger into an incredibly suspenseful tale. The characterization of Ariana was done such that readers can’t help but feel for her despite knowledge of what she’s done, which, as Last Christmas reveals, is much more horrific that one would’ve thought. My only disappointment was that Thomas remained a mysterious figure and I would’ve liked to learn more about him. Nonetheless, Last Christmas is yet another juicy read to please fans of Private.
Even though it is a prequel, I recommend reading Last Christmas after one has already read the first four volumes in the Private series. Devotees to this series will not be able to resist devouring this new and thrilling tale.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Once again, Brian does not disappoint with this shocking and revealing prequel to the addicting Private series. Last Christmas provides valuable insight into the elusive Ariana’s mind and provides the groundwork for an insanity that culminated in Ariana doing the deed, as revealed in Confessions, the fourth book in the series. Brian has a talent for weaving tales with the spoiled attitudes of elite in combination with scandalous romance and physical danger into an incredibly suspenseful tale. The characterization of Ariana was done such that readers can’t help but feel for her despite knowledge of what she’s done, which, as Last Christmas reveals, is much more horrific that one would’ve thought. My only disappointment was that Thomas remained a mysterious figure and I would’ve liked to learn more about him. Nonetheless, Last Christmas is yet another juicy read to please fans of Private.
Even though it is a prequel, I recommend reading Last Christmas after one has already read the first four volumes in the Private series. Devotees to this series will not be able to resist devouring this new and thrilling tale.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
July 18, 2012
This book was..a little spooky! I mean, towards the end she was just murdering everyone who got in her way of Thomas. It did affect what I thought of Ariana, turns out she had murdered 3 people, not just Thomas! It makes me sad that nobody during the Private series knew she had murdered 3, but I think in Privilege it probably comes up, as those books are centered around Ariana. I'm so happy I read this book AFTER I ready the Private series, as it is a part of it, just a prequel, but it gives a lot of things away.
Besides very few grammar mistakes, nothing really bothered me in the book. I had to rate this 4 stars because it just wasn't that book I was obsessed with. It gave me chills at times which was good, but at the beginning it was a taaad slow. Just a tad. So the story in general was just...4 stars. It was a surprise to learn that Ariana and Daniel had been a couple, and I'm left wondering what happened when she broke up with him as he has anger issues...well now I'm off to read Privilege to read what murderous Ariana is up to next!
Besides very few grammar mistakes, nothing really bothered me in the book. I had to rate this 4 stars because it just wasn't that book I was obsessed with. It gave me chills at times which was good, but at the beginning it was a taaad slow. Just a tad. So the story in general was just...4 stars. It was a surprise to learn that Ariana and Daniel had been a couple, and I'm left wondering what happened when she broke up with him as he has anger issues...well now I'm off to read Privilege to read what murderous Ariana is up to next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2016
5 Words: Lies, manipulation, lust, betrayal, rich-kids.
June 10, 2017
2.5 stars.
The series has definitely lost a little bit of the magic it had when I was first reading them as a teenager, and I almost wish I had have read Last Christmas back when I was originally reading the series, because I know back then I would have loved it a lot more.
Kate Brian's writing is a little basic, and the book relies on character development from the series, rather than being a standalone novel - which is fair, I wouldn't expect many people who haven't read the series to read the prequel. However, I really felt there was something missing in Ariana's personality and development that should have been there. She's a secondary character in the Private series, so it's fine that there are character omissions that aren't picked up by the narrator Reed. However in Last Christmas, there really wasn't an excuse to be missing Ariana's thoughts, her logic, her reasoning, she just does things.
I would have preferred to either learn more about Ariana's past, or to have a more open view of her mind. I don't understand her motivations, she doesn't justify anything she does, and I think the novel is poorer for the lack of understanding. I don't think it was deliberate, I think it was the result of weak writing.
Additionally, though it's a prequel, it wasn't written until after the main series had progressed much farther chronologically, and there are two plot points that I think are completely missing that should have been covered in the first few Private instalments.
Last Christmas just could have been so much more, and it wasn't. A little let down, as for a long time, Private was my favourite series. It all feels a little tainted now.
The series has definitely lost a little bit of the magic it had when I was first reading them as a teenager, and I almost wish I had have read Last Christmas back when I was originally reading the series, because I know back then I would have loved it a lot more.
Kate Brian's writing is a little basic, and the book relies on character development from the series, rather than being a standalone novel - which is fair, I wouldn't expect many people who haven't read the series to read the prequel. However, I really felt there was something missing in Ariana's personality and development that should have been there. She's a secondary character in the Private series, so it's fine that there are character omissions that aren't picked up by the narrator Reed. However in Last Christmas, there really wasn't an excuse to be missing Ariana's thoughts, her logic, her reasoning, she just does things.
I would have preferred to either learn more about Ariana's past, or to have a more open view of her mind. I don't understand her motivations, she doesn't justify anything she does, and I think the novel is poorer for the lack of understanding. I don't think it was deliberate, I think it was the result of weak writing.
Additionally, though it's a prequel, it wasn't written until after the main series had progressed much farther chronologically, and there are two plot points that I think are completely missing that should have been covered in the first few Private instalments.
Last Christmas just could have been so much more, and it wasn't. A little let down, as for a long time, Private was my favourite series. It all feels a little tainted now.
April 20, 2020
4.5 stars!
This was a great start to this series! The blackmail and violence made this book feel like Pretty Little Liars if it was written in more of a Gossip Girl style. I was so immediately hooked on this book that I couldn't put it down, and I'll absolutely be reading the rest of the series. Only thing stopping this from being 5 stars is that there were definitely moments where I felt like Ariana was a bit too naive.
This was a great start to this series! The blackmail and violence made this book feel like Pretty Little Liars if it was written in more of a Gossip Girl style. I was so immediately hooked on this book that I couldn't put it down, and I'll absolutely be reading the rest of the series. Only thing stopping this from being 5 stars is that there were definitely moments where I felt like Ariana was a bit too naive.
December 6, 2017
I really liked the story but I will admit that there were a few times where I was lost because I was trying to recall the stories and the people I have read about thus far. I really love this series, as it is a huge guilty pleasure of mine. I have been having issues getting my hands on the next one in the series so this was a nice reminder of the characters I miss.
Good read!
Good read!
December 9, 2024
I read this series when I was a teen and decided to reread this one since it's seasonally appropriate and now I want to reread the entire thing
March 15, 2018
My biggest problem with Last Christmas is that is labeled #0.6 in the Private series. If you read it as #0.5 in the Private series, you are majorly spoiled for things that will happen in books #1-4. Instead, Last Christmas should be marketed as #4.5. It may seem weird because it is a prequel, but it makes more sense in the arch of the series.
Last Christmas is the prequel story of Ariana Osgood, the blonde, quiet best friend of Noelle Lange . Ariana seems like she has the perfect life. She’s a Billings girl with great grade and the perfect boyfriend. Of course, no one knows her mom is crazy and that her boyfriend is very boring. Okay, they might know her boyfriend is very boring. He’s super obviously boring. Also, he’s a jerk. Anyway, Ariana is supposed to spend Christmas with him and his family, but she has a paper to turn in before she leaves that she hasn’t finished. Also, Daniel will want her to end up having sex with him, which Ariana isn’t sure she wants to. So she stays at Billings, and Thomas Pearson ends up distracting her. They get closer, but then something tragic happens.
Last Christmas is as crazy as any other Private book, but it also gives some much needed insight into Ariana, a character who is not well developed or analyzed in books #1-4. I almost root for her in this one despite what she ends up doing in the other Private books. I actually think Last Christmas does what I think the Privilege series completely fails to: making Ariana Osgood a sympathetic anti-hero. I also really love the last scene of the novel. I think it’s more important than the rest of the book to understanding Ariana.
Recommended only after book 4 of the Private series. DO NOT READ AS A PREQUEL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
Last Christmas is the prequel story of Ariana Osgood, the blonde, quiet best friend of Noelle Lange . Ariana seems like she has the perfect life. She’s a Billings girl with great grade and the perfect boyfriend. Of course, no one knows her mom is crazy and that her boyfriend is very boring. Okay, they might know her boyfriend is very boring. He’s super obviously boring. Also, he’s a jerk. Anyway, Ariana is supposed to spend Christmas with him and his family, but she has a paper to turn in before she leaves that she hasn’t finished. Also, Daniel will want her to end up having sex with him, which Ariana isn’t sure she wants to. So she stays at Billings, and Thomas Pearson ends up distracting her. They get closer, but then something tragic happens.
Last Christmas is as crazy as any other Private book, but it also gives some much needed insight into Ariana, a character who is not well developed or analyzed in books #1-4. I almost root for her in this one despite what she ends up doing in the other Private books. I actually think Last Christmas does what I think the Privilege series completely fails to: making Ariana Osgood a sympathetic anti-hero. I also really love the last scene of the novel. I think it’s more important than the rest of the book to understanding Ariana.
Recommended only after book 4 of the Private series. DO NOT READ AS A PREQUEL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
October 10, 2010
Ever wonder what the Billings girls were like before Reed Brennan arrived on Easton’s campus? Before Easton Academy was rocked by murders and scandal? Last Christmas by Kate Brian tells the story of Ariana Osgood and her secret love affair with Thomas Pearson during her junior year.
Ariana is a junior. She and her best friend Noelle have recently been initiated into Billings House and Ariana is dating Daniel, a popular senior. Even though Ariana appears to have everything and more, there is still something she wants: passion.
When bad boy Thomas Pearson begins flirting with her, Ariana doesn’t know what to do. She is attracted to Thomas, but she is devoted to her boyfriend.
It’s almost winter break and Ariana is supposed to go with Daniel to Vermont. She doesn’t finish a paper for English and needs to stay behind one day to get her work done. When Thomas finds out that Ariana is staying behind, he makes it his mission to find her and capture her heart. Ariana finally gives in to her temptations, but someone else is watching…
I LOVED this book. I don’t think I can say enough good things about Kate Brian, but each of her books excites me more than the one before it. I love prequels simply because I love getting to learn about a character’s life before all the drama began. It was interesting to read about Ariana especially knowing what she is capable of and the kinds of crimes she committed later. This book really gives readers a peek into who Ariana was BEFORE she went crazy.
Last Christmas had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Brian really knows how to make a reader feel as if they are in the story along with the characters. I literally had chills and goosebumps while reading, afraid I was going to get caught along with Ariana.
Can’t wait to read more of Kate Brian’s work!
Ariana is a junior. She and her best friend Noelle have recently been initiated into Billings House and Ariana is dating Daniel, a popular senior. Even though Ariana appears to have everything and more, there is still something she wants: passion.
When bad boy Thomas Pearson begins flirting with her, Ariana doesn’t know what to do. She is attracted to Thomas, but she is devoted to her boyfriend.
It’s almost winter break and Ariana is supposed to go with Daniel to Vermont. She doesn’t finish a paper for English and needs to stay behind one day to get her work done. When Thomas finds out that Ariana is staying behind, he makes it his mission to find her and capture her heart. Ariana finally gives in to her temptations, but someone else is watching…
I LOVED this book. I don’t think I can say enough good things about Kate Brian, but each of her books excites me more than the one before it. I love prequels simply because I love getting to learn about a character’s life before all the drama began. It was interesting to read about Ariana especially knowing what she is capable of and the kinds of crimes she committed later. This book really gives readers a peek into who Ariana was BEFORE she went crazy.
Last Christmas had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Brian really knows how to make a reader feel as if they are in the story along with the characters. I literally had chills and goosebumps while reading, afraid I was going to get caught along with Ariana.
Can’t wait to read more of Kate Brian’s work!
April 4, 2009
Oh snap! How did I manage not to review this one, or mark that I'd read it? Anyway! I burned through the Private prequel in two sittings. While it wasn't quite as awesome as I'd hoped it would be (it peters out a bit toward the end, though it starts off CRAZY), it still momentarily slaked my thirst for more of this series. The only thing that bugged me is there isn't quite enough exposition for my taste -- I know they want to make is so if you were just reading this book, the rest of the series won't be spoiled for you (though okay, the first four books kind of would be), but since it had been a while since I read those, I had trouble recalling some of the events, characters, etc. that they casually refer to here.
It also made me more inclined to read Privilege, the spin-off series that features Ariana Osgood (the narrator here) as the main character. This book also taught me that many of what I'd taken to be the writerly quirks of the Private series (things like constantly mentioning their coiling and uncoiling shoulders, or starting sentences with "girl" as in "Girl could barely see straight") are actually quirks of the main character and narrator of those books, Reed Brennan. I'd always suspected she annoyed me a bit, but now I'm sure.
Long story short, definitely a decent read (and a must-read for fans of the series!). I will be keeping my eye out at my local library for Privilege and also for Paradise Lost (though I think I ruined the latter by reading the first sentence of the back cover -- if you haven't done this, DON'T do it! Totally spoils the cliffhanger ending of the previous book).
It also made me more inclined to read Privilege, the spin-off series that features Ariana Osgood (the narrator here) as the main character. This book also taught me that many of what I'd taken to be the writerly quirks of the Private series (things like constantly mentioning their coiling and uncoiling shoulders, or starting sentences with "girl" as in "Girl could barely see straight") are actually quirks of the main character and narrator of those books, Reed Brennan. I'd always suspected she annoyed me a bit, but now I'm sure.
Long story short, definitely a decent read (and a must-read for fans of the series!). I will be keeping my eye out at my local library for Privilege and also for Paradise Lost (though I think I ruined the latter by reading the first sentence of the back cover -- if you haven't done this, DON'T do it! Totally spoils the cliffhanger ending of the previous book).
August 26, 2009
Before Reed Brennan started dating Thomas Pearson, Ariana had a relationship with him. Last Christmas is the story about their relationship and the aftermath that followed.
Easton Academy is preparing for winter break. Ariana is spending the holidays with her boyfriend’s family in Vermont. She’s fortunate to do so, however it just doesn’t feel quite right. As she struggles with these feelings, her attraction towards bad boy, Thomas, grows. When she’s forced to stay later on campus to finish an English paper, she learns Thomas has stayed as well. He taunts her about her “good girl” image and soon Ariana starts to behave in ways that both shock and excite her.
Last Christmas provides more insight about Ariana and the events that led to Thomas’s death. It’s also a good companion to the Privilege series. I especially like Thomas and now wish Ms. Brian didn’t kill his character so early in the Private series.
Ariana Osgood is a character readers will love to hate. She fears becoming like her mother and has to be in control at all times. It’s shocking to read how extreme she becomes when her perfect world is threatened. She’s delusional, mentally unstable, but so put together it’s quite scary. She knows what she wants, how to get it and won’t allow anything or anyone to stand in her way.
What I liked best about Last Christmas was the focus was primarily on Ariana and Noelle wasn’t as powerful as she is in later books. Last Christmas allows readers an up close and personal look into Ariana’s history and current thoughts. If you’re a fan of the Private and Privilege series, you will not be disappointed with Last Christmas.
Easton Academy is preparing for winter break. Ariana is spending the holidays with her boyfriend’s family in Vermont. She’s fortunate to do so, however it just doesn’t feel quite right. As she struggles with these feelings, her attraction towards bad boy, Thomas, grows. When she’s forced to stay later on campus to finish an English paper, she learns Thomas has stayed as well. He taunts her about her “good girl” image and soon Ariana starts to behave in ways that both shock and excite her.
Last Christmas provides more insight about Ariana and the events that led to Thomas’s death. It’s also a good companion to the Privilege series. I especially like Thomas and now wish Ms. Brian didn’t kill his character so early in the Private series.
Ariana Osgood is a character readers will love to hate. She fears becoming like her mother and has to be in control at all times. It’s shocking to read how extreme she becomes when her perfect world is threatened. She’s delusional, mentally unstable, but so put together it’s quite scary. She knows what she wants, how to get it and won’t allow anything or anyone to stand in her way.
What I liked best about Last Christmas was the focus was primarily on Ariana and Noelle wasn’t as powerful as she is in later books. Last Christmas allows readers an up close and personal look into Ariana’s history and current thoughts. If you’re a fan of the Private and Privilege series, you will not be disappointed with Last Christmas.
December 11, 2012
Private prequel is about a girl named Ariana who is living the good life. But as she gets closer to Thomas, the more she realizes that what she has isn't really all that great. As Ariana and Thomas are trapped at school together for Christmas break they fall hard for each other and start sneaking around together. But they get sinking suspicious that someone is on to them. If Adriana’s boyfriend finds out what she has been doing, it could be the end of her social life at Easton Academy. But Ariana will not let that happen. She goes to extreme lengths and measures to ensure that their secret will be safe, even if she has to hurt or kill to make that happen.
When I first read this book I thought it was just going to be about a rich girl who falls for a boy but I was so wrong. This book had me surprised at every corner. I did not expect certain things to happen that did. Ariana is crazy and you want to keep reading to see how she is going to react to the next event that happens.
I would highly recommend this book because it pulls you in with each clue that Ariana finds to of whom their secret stalker might be. This book will make you want to continue reading to see what extreme thing she is going to do next. This book is not what you will expect at all and the fact that you don’t expect what happens makes the book even better. It will truly shock you at each turn of the page.
When I first read this book I thought it was just going to be about a rich girl who falls for a boy but I was so wrong. This book had me surprised at every corner. I did not expect certain things to happen that did. Ariana is crazy and you want to keep reading to see how she is going to react to the next event that happens.
I would highly recommend this book because it pulls you in with each clue that Ariana finds to of whom their secret stalker might be. This book will make you want to continue reading to see what extreme thing she is going to do next. This book is not what you will expect at all and the fact that you don’t expect what happens makes the book even better. It will truly shock you at each turn of the page.
March 8, 2013
The book I read is called "Last Christmas: The Private Prequel" by Kate Brian. I chose this book because it was recommended by a friend and I thought the summary was fine. The plot of this book is will Ariana Osgood choose her perfect life or her new life. Well, Ariana Osgood didn't choose any of them because she didn't tell her boyfriend that she cheated on him with this guy she met, but she saw her new boyfriend cheating on her. Now, Ariana doesn't know what to choose. My favorite quote is, "Everything was perfect. We loved each other. And then one day, he told me that he still loved me, but that things were complicated between us. And then he found you." I liked this quote because it described the mood of the character and it showed what has happened to this character in the book. I think the author's writing style was ok because there were these scenes that were disturbing and the description was very detailed. The author's point of view is third person because the book uses she, he, them, her, and other things that are used in third person. I would recommend this book to those who like mysteries, murdering, romance, and secrets because it was very detailed. Also I would recommend this book to those who are ages thirteen and up because there are some disturbing scenes in the book and a lot of informal language.
November 4, 2010
Last Christmas, the prequel of Private is totally awesome! Though it is called prequel, I suggest you to read the first four books of Private first before reading this.
Ariana Osgood's life seems perfect. Even her mother says so. But she doesn't feel that being with Daniel Ryan is right. Especially losing her virginity to him. Then Thomas Pearson comes into the picture. He's a bad boy, drug dealer & totally not the picture of a perfect boyfriend. When Ariana falls in love with him, and so does he (or so he says), she'll do anything to keep their reputation & relationship. When she means anything, she totally mean it.
The regular private series are written from Reed's point of view & it's kinda interesting that we've got to see Ariana's point of view here. At first she's okay, but at the story progresses.. WOW. She's totally.. creepy. I mean, the thing with the Latvian is totally heartless. And how she feels afterward? Amazing, huh? However, as the regular Private series continues, I find that somehow Reed has become more and more paranoid, just like Ariana in this book, where she thinks Daniel's at Easton while he's supposed to be in Vermont.
Ariana Osgood's life seems perfect. Even her mother says so. But she doesn't feel that being with Daniel Ryan is right. Especially losing her virginity to him. Then Thomas Pearson comes into the picture. He's a bad boy, drug dealer & totally not the picture of a perfect boyfriend. When Ariana falls in love with him, and so does he (or so he says), she'll do anything to keep their reputation & relationship. When she means anything, she totally mean it.
The regular private series are written from Reed's point of view & it's kinda interesting that we've got to see Ariana's point of view here. At first she's okay, but at the story progresses.. WOW. She's totally.. creepy. I mean, the thing with the Latvian is totally heartless. And how she feels afterward? Amazing, huh? However, as the regular Private series continues, I find that somehow Reed has become more and more paranoid, just like Ariana in this book, where she thinks Daniel's at Easton while he's supposed to be in Vermont.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2011
I was really irritated because at the beginning Arianna seemed to have the exact same personality as Reed. I mean there was great insight into why Arianna became crazy but it could have been done better.
June 28, 2009
very good! it almost made me like arianna!
dnf
February 2, 2017DNF at 50%
I am not finding this book to be enjoyable. So far, there is no mention of Christmas and the plot is rather creepy.
I am not finding this book to be enjoyable. So far, there is no mention of Christmas and the plot is rather creepy.
September 13, 2022
riverdale WHO
December 29, 2023
I thought that being in Ariana’s head would be more interesting than it was, but it did reveal more about her character that I mostly enjoyed
October 25, 2008
So. Effing. AMAZING!!!
December 4, 2023
Ariana Osgood has become one of my favorite characters of all time. Not because she was smart and everything got dark each time something bad happened, it's because she was smart and quick on her feet to do what she needed to do to survive and get through the holidays, even though she was trapped at Easton Academy during a snowstorm with Thomas Pearson. I liked how she tried to be calm even though she was slowly starting to snap at any moment when the time came, which she did.
This book starts at a Winter's Ball with Ariana, Noelle, and their boyfriends. I had a suspicion that Daniel, the guy Ariana was dating, wasn't a good lad, because he snapped at the Lativan Exchange Student, Sergei, because of him taking a photo of Ariana. Then it started to slowly become worse when Ariana realized that she was stuck on campus after turning in her Madame Brovary paper and had to stay there for two whole days with the boy she hates most of all, Thomas Pearson, whom she started to fall for.
In two whole days, while they fall in love, they realize that someone is watching them. Ariana thought that it was her boyfriend, Daniel, who was supposed to be up in Vermont with his family, waiting for her. Even when she explained that she and Daniel were supposed to lose their virginity together, Thomas started laughing and telling her that Daniel was lying to her-straight to her face. Ariana, not believing him, swore up and down that he was lying. So they went up to Daniel's room and started looking around-only for them to find a spreadsheet of all the girls Daniel had slept with-which is very disgusting, frankly, and Ariana was heartbroken.
So what does one do when she comes across this information?
Why, she turns around and sleeps with Thomas right in Daniel's bed as revenge. Then they went to hide when they heard some footsteps, and Daniel, the bastard whom I don't like at this point, texted her. So because they jumped out of the window and Thomas sprained his ankle, they went to hide in a warm building (Ketlar Hall, I believe?) and then Ariana heard-accidentally, by mistake-Mr, Holmes and Isobel Bautista having relations in their hiding spot, and Ariana took Mr. Holmes's cellphone and recorded it for evidence (and to also use since her phone is currently dead at this point).
She and Thomas, once they left and figured out it was Sergei that took the photo, left their hiding spot and went to the Lativan's room, where they found a whole bunch of photos. When they confronted Sergei, Ariana ran after him over a lake of thin ice, only for Ariana to kill him by pushing his head down and letting him drown. Once that was over, they went back and decided to split apart, only to plan how they could sneak around Daniel and wait till September to finally be with each other.
Well, January rolled around and she and Daniel came back from their trip to Vermont. Ariana got her revenge on Mr. Holmes after receiving a C plus on her paper by playing the video and scarring him, then had a little rivalry with one of Thomas's hookups, allegedly killing her in her own home. Once that was over-the girl showed up at the diner and confronted Ariana about her secrets and threatened to expose her to Daniel and the police, Ariana freaked out and wanted her to disappear, allegedly-everything was perfect again in Ariana's world. Nothing bad will happen.
Until the beginning of senior year, when Ariana saw Thomas-her Thomas-talking to Reed Brennan, the new girl. All of a sudden, Ariana started to get worried, until a thought came to her.
She wondered what would happen if Reed Brennan went missing...
I truly enjoyed this book. Would've given it a five star, but I gave it a four because of Daniel and Melissa and the whole Mr. Holmes/Isobel hookup. All in all it was a really good book and I'm so glad that I brought it and read it.
This book starts at a Winter's Ball with Ariana, Noelle, and their boyfriends. I had a suspicion that Daniel, the guy Ariana was dating, wasn't a good lad, because he snapped at the Lativan Exchange Student, Sergei, because of him taking a photo of Ariana. Then it started to slowly become worse when Ariana realized that she was stuck on campus after turning in her Madame Brovary paper and had to stay there for two whole days with the boy she hates most of all, Thomas Pearson, whom she started to fall for.
In two whole days, while they fall in love, they realize that someone is watching them. Ariana thought that it was her boyfriend, Daniel, who was supposed to be up in Vermont with his family, waiting for her. Even when she explained that she and Daniel were supposed to lose their virginity together, Thomas started laughing and telling her that Daniel was lying to her-straight to her face. Ariana, not believing him, swore up and down that he was lying. So they went up to Daniel's room and started looking around-only for them to find a spreadsheet of all the girls Daniel had slept with-which is very disgusting, frankly, and Ariana was heartbroken.
So what does one do when she comes across this information?
Why, she turns around and sleeps with Thomas right in Daniel's bed as revenge. Then they went to hide when they heard some footsteps, and Daniel, the bastard whom I don't like at this point, texted her. So because they jumped out of the window and Thomas sprained his ankle, they went to hide in a warm building (Ketlar Hall, I believe?) and then Ariana heard-accidentally, by mistake-Mr, Holmes and Isobel Bautista having relations in their hiding spot, and Ariana took Mr. Holmes's cellphone and recorded it for evidence (and to also use since her phone is currently dead at this point).
She and Thomas, once they left and figured out it was Sergei that took the photo, left their hiding spot and went to the Lativan's room, where they found a whole bunch of photos. When they confronted Sergei, Ariana ran after him over a lake of thin ice, only for Ariana to kill him by pushing his head down and letting him drown. Once that was over, they went back and decided to split apart, only to plan how they could sneak around Daniel and wait till September to finally be with each other.
Well, January rolled around and she and Daniel came back from their trip to Vermont. Ariana got her revenge on Mr. Holmes after receiving a C plus on her paper by playing the video and scarring him, then had a little rivalry with one of Thomas's hookups, allegedly killing her in her own home. Once that was over-the girl showed up at the diner and confronted Ariana about her secrets and threatened to expose her to Daniel and the police, Ariana freaked out and wanted her to disappear, allegedly-everything was perfect again in Ariana's world. Nothing bad will happen.
Until the beginning of senior year, when Ariana saw Thomas-her Thomas-talking to Reed Brennan, the new girl. All of a sudden, Ariana started to get worried, until a thought came to her.
She wondered what would happen if Reed Brennan went missing...
I truly enjoyed this book. Would've given it a five star, but I gave it a four because of Daniel and Melissa and the whole Mr. Holmes/Isobel hookup. All in all it was a really good book and I'm so glad that I brought it and read it.
October 3, 2021
The moment I saw there was a prequel to my favorite teen-flick series, I knew I had to get my hands on that piece of literature, and quickly because you know I love Ariana. Yeah, there, I admit it, she’s one of the best “villains” in the world with such psychological complexity that still lures me to her like a bloody mermaid to an enchanted sailor. So I knew this was gonna be worthy, and one of the best-written works of Kate Brian. She excels at writing “anti-heroines”.
INCREDIBLY SICK, IN A GOOD WAY.
Going through the mind of Ariana before her killer instinct clicked, giving her a new origin story, was wise. Knowing about her trust issues and her need to comply with everyone’s wishes but hers was heartbreaking. Her abusive boyfriend and “friends” were not really there for her, and those she trusted were clean of any sin, betrayed her trust in nasty ways that shaped her into the cold serial killer we know. Besides that, there were pretty badass adventure scenes with her running with Thomas around a snowy campus and sharing their fears. It was obvious none of them was perfect, but he saw a vulnerable girl desperate to let herself free and got away with it. And it’s hard to believe all it took was a couple of days for her to reclaim her life like the twisted but still somehow admirable feminist icon she is.
ARIANA DESERVED BETTER AS ALWAYS.
She deserved better in the last of the Privilege books, she deserved better here. We saw her start out of desperation, a murder becoming a mechanical act in a moment of mental blindness where she quit listening to her already misguided moral compass and ended Sergei’s life. Then came the passionate murder of Mel, she had practice, and this time she knew what she was doing, it wasn’t mechanical but a planned choice diminishing a broken girl like herself to get her “happy ending”. Only to not realize that the one who hurt her was the men in her life, her absent father, Daniel being a possessive turd, Thomas being a lying piece of shit, and the entire culture that determined that mental health was not important and that worrying about it was not mainstream. I feel, like Ariana would have had time to fix these issues if the times had been different, and with better life counselors, of course.
INCREDIBLY SICK, IN A GOOD WAY.
Going through the mind of Ariana before her killer instinct clicked, giving her a new origin story, was wise. Knowing about her trust issues and her need to comply with everyone’s wishes but hers was heartbreaking. Her abusive boyfriend and “friends” were not really there for her, and those she trusted were clean of any sin, betrayed her trust in nasty ways that shaped her into the cold serial killer we know. Besides that, there were pretty badass adventure scenes with her running with Thomas around a snowy campus and sharing their fears. It was obvious none of them was perfect, but he saw a vulnerable girl desperate to let herself free and got away with it. And it’s hard to believe all it took was a couple of days for her to reclaim her life like the twisted but still somehow admirable feminist icon she is.
ARIANA DESERVED BETTER AS ALWAYS.
She deserved better in the last of the Privilege books, she deserved better here. We saw her start out of desperation, a murder becoming a mechanical act in a moment of mental blindness where she quit listening to her already misguided moral compass and ended Sergei’s life. Then came the passionate murder of Mel, she had practice, and this time she knew what she was doing, it wasn’t mechanical but a planned choice diminishing a broken girl like herself to get her “happy ending”. Only to not realize that the one who hurt her was the men in her life, her absent father, Daniel being a possessive turd, Thomas being a lying piece of shit, and the entire culture that determined that mental health was not important and that worrying about it was not mainstream. I feel, like Ariana would have had time to fix these issues if the times had been different, and with better life counselors, of course.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews