Scandal

Private #11

by Kate Brian

After her harrowing kidnapping, Reed returns to Easton to find the worst thing she can think of—Billings has been torn
down. Finally, after years of controversy, the school’s wealthiest female alumni have been overruled, and the historical dorm is gone from Easton Academy.

How will Reed and the rest of the Billings Girls handle it? Will they still be as powerful, as popular, and as wicked—with literally no ground to stand on?

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Boarding School, Contemporary

228 pages, Paperback

Published March 9, 2010

About the author

Kate 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.

Reviews

[Clementine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now that Billings has been torn down by the new headmaster, Reed and her friends are a nation without a state. Or something. Things look pretty bleak until Reed gets a mysterious book from someone associated with Billings, and she decides to re-found the Billings Literary Society. Will the BLS bring her friends closer than ever or drive them apart?

Initially a fun, mindless read, Kate Brian's Private series is stretching the limits of even the most open mind. How many times can a reader expect Reed to be stalked, kidnapped, or nearly murdered? What was fun about these books for me has fizzled to a mild irritation with all the characters, along with a searing hatred for a select few. It is hard to believe that Reed is so fiercely protective of the shallow one-dimensional Billings girls when we are not given any reason to understand why.

Meh.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh this one was just totally average. Nothing happened at all. This was just a whole book leading up to her and Josh getting back together. And what was that note at the end. I think I'm ready for this series to just be finished. I'm over it, everything's just annoying me. I mean, yeah I'm happy for her and Josh, but still, she managed to cheat on Ivy AGAIN! And she didn't even ask Josh to make sure that he was okay with her telling Ivy! She just told. She's so self-centered!

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon AKA NixieNut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't the biggest fan of the last two books of this series but now that the Billings girls are back at Easton, it is getting interesting again. I even liked Reed a little in this book. Of course, as per usual, she still makes really poor decisions but i liked where the story line went this time and I am interested to what will happen next

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I just finished reading the book and thought I would share my opinions.

First, I hate Reed. I hated her throughout most of this book (which sucks because I normally like her).
I hated how she would never take anything Noelle said seriously just because she likes to prove to Noelle that she can be the leader. It gets on my freakin' nerves.
I also hated Reed's obsession with Josh throughout this whole book. And how she rationalized it all in her mind. What she and Josh did was not okay and it made me hate both characters. And then how Ivy came back like it was all okay at the end of the book bothered me too. That was a way out of character move for Ivy. Yelling that she should have never trusted a Billings Girl, that was spot on, but the whole "oh, it was really my fault" is bullshit.

I did like the idea of the Billings Literary Society. I want to know who sent Reed the book. But Reeds adherence to every little detail got annoying. I don't understand how she can stand up to Noelle, even when Noelle is right (like about the meeting place and not posting the logo around campus when they are so close to getting caught and expelled) but she couldn't stand up to Ivy on this issue. Reed is like the worst friend on the planet.

Also, wondering what you guys think about the kidnapping. That sounds like a good book. I can't believe it. That scene was a little confusing. I don't understand how someone found Noelle and was able to kidnap her in the dark. But still, it looks like a great book. Any guesses on who did it? Maybe Ivy? History shows that it is Reeds closest friends who do this stuff to her. Maybe that is why Ivy uncharacteristically forgave Reed...

I will definitely buy the next book and read it right away, but I am disappointed with many of the turns Kate Brian took in this novel. Reed and Noelle had just made up at the end of the last book and I was looking forward to them being BFFs again... I didn't want to see the Reed/Ivy union.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade: B

I've been reading the Private series for the past year or so now. These novels are definitely not realistic and are highly over dramatic, but it's lots of fun and a guilty pleasure. Think of it as a daytime soap opera in YA book form.

I don't remember when it happened, but sometime during the series, I stopped liking Reed Brennan, the protagonist. In Vanished, I freaking despised her. I hated the character she had become, and I found myself finding Noelle Lange (the resident bitch), much more likable. I'm not sure if Kate Brian intentionally wanted her readers to distance themselves from Reed, but I hate it when I start to find the protagonist annoying.

The novels in the Private series are all about cliffhangers. In fact, I'm pretty sure she could combine three separate novels and make it into one larger novel, but alas, that would mean they would make less money on the books ;). I love cliffhangers and I love suspense, but I hate how the novels are so short, and when something really interesting finally starts to happen, the book is over and you have to go out and buy the next one! I just didn't feel like there was anything substantial in this particular book and everything was buildup for the cliffhanger-but nothing actually happens in this novel, at least not enough for it to be a standalone book.

Besides those pet peeves of mine, I have to admit I still enjoy the series and Kate Brian is wonderful at writing dark, snarky, mean girls. And while the series is completely unbelievable, I still like the drama and suspense she creates.

I have Vanished (Private #12) on hold at the library, and I can't wait to get my hands on it and find out what happens next!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the series as a whole, but this one is not my favorite. I felt bad about what happened to Constance, and then there was the whole cheating thing...

Reed has two hot guys that like her (Upton AND Sawyer,
who are two of my favorite characters in the series) but she’s still hung up on Josh. I didn’t like how that whole thing happened, especially the cheating aspect (with one of Reed’s best friends no less!). I don’t get how she could like Josh after he was so judgmental of her in previous books. I also don’t like that she leads Sawyer on, even letting him kiss her, even though she likes Josh.

I really enjoyed getting to know Ivy better, and as always, I love Noelle. I totally picture Astrid to look like Chloë from the Uncharted series - they have similar personalities.

This series is just so READABLE. The characters are realistic, and while the plots are not (thank goodness!), they are action packed and intense. Yet another crazy cliffhanger!

[Merary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great improvement from the last book, with a much better storyline than the St. Barts arc, but it still suffers from sloppy writing and lazy characterization. This is such a shame because before the vacation plot started, the story was kind of good.

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are apparently 515 days until graduation. That's about 10 more books. I think I need to stop reading this series now...

[ara · Rating 4 out of 5]

why dont they do psych evals before admissions instead of tearing down billings..

[✨ Ljubica ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

the whole billing society thingy was annoying as heck like really?
reed breaking it off with upton was stupid on her part and her leading on sawyer like common

[Cristina Pitts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Childish drama book.

[Wyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can I just say that yah Reed broke up with Upton (mistake) but she didn't really like Sawyer but felt bad so she let him kiss her, thinking it might just change how she feels about him. But it didn't.

Josh is all of the sudden really jealous of Reed and Sawyer. But why wasn't he before? I mean Sawyers not the first guy Reed has dated since they broke up. So Josh comes over in the middle of the night because he's so jealous (when's he's the one who's had a girlfriend since basicallythe day they broke up). So Reed and Josh kiss.

In the next chapter, Reed talks all about her self loathe and how shes a hypocrite for kissing Josh--- I think it is good that she doesn't feel happy that it happened even though she really wanted it to happen the past few months--- and betraying Ivy.


Okay so that part was really good cause I love Reed and Josh, but the Billings Girls Literary Club thing just seemed like a week part of the story. It was a liitle strange and a lot boring.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, so I spent $3.00 on this book from a bargain table so a one-star rating isn't so bad. Still on some level I would say that it wasn't worth the $3.00. That said, I knew what I was getting into when I saw the cover and read the back of the book, I knew it would be ridiculous and mindless, and I was not disappointed. In a world of truly excellent YA literature I don't know that books like this need exist.
I might have even given this book 2 stars if Kate Brian had actually known that Anne Shirley was NOT adopted by Marilla and "sweet old Thomas" (pg. 58). Thomas Lynde was Rachel Lynde's husband. Matthew Cuthbert was the sweet old gentleman who adopted and adored Anne, bestowing upon her those infamous puffed sleeves. Really an author should know that anyway but I feel this is information a quick Google search could have procured. And for that reason and the others I mentioned this book is worth no more than 1 star. There is simply much better out there!

[Lady Entropy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has a problem, and that problem is that characters are plot slaves.

They change and mutate into unrecognisable forms just to make sure the drama happens, or the plot goes forward. People that were kind nice became harpies, friends who were open-minded suddenly become overly prudish, smart and wise people suddenly make pants-on-head-stupid decisions -- seriously, it becomes annoying to the point I can't give more than 2 stars.

And the same thing here. Later in the book, we find out that the school is in dire need of money. And yet, here is the headmaster RAZING AN ENTIRE BUILDING. Wow, if you hate billings so much, I don't know, rename it, and turn it into a boy's dorm to ensure no girls can go there?

But noooo, we had to have proper drama, so lets have the entire building be brought to the ground. Just cause.

[emerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Spoiler Free Summary By Emerald BookWorm***

I didn't know a thing about this series going into it. My boyfriend (now husband) would always go to the library to pick up books for me and he stumbled across this series and brought me the first book, thinking I would enjoy it. /// Well he was right lol. /// I was instantly hooked and reserving the next book within 24 hours. /// This series is definitely not realistic and is pretty dramatic lol , but it's lots of fun and it was the first time I'd ever read anything like this before. /// It went places I would of never thought. /// I know it looks super cheesy, and maybe it is to an extent lol, but the story is pretty good actually and kept me interested. /// There are a lot of books in this series but it's so easy to read through and very enjoyable. /// I recommend! Check this series out!

Until Next Time,
Emerald BookWorm

[Court · Rating 3 out of 5]

i dont feel like writing my review
now that i think back, it wasn't that great. I mean, seriously, Billings Literature Society? Dude, that's horrible, and come one, the guys? Reed is kinda acting like a female dog in this book. And as a friend said, Ivy is awesome and Josh is okay, but most of the other characters are getting kinda ick. Also as she said, this series is too much, too long. Reed is getting tiring and annoying and 11 books in a series is just too much.
i would also like to add that from what i can tell, none of the billings girls really deserve to BE in billings (except for maybe taylor and ivy)

[Jasminemonday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg i rlly cant wait for this book to come out i have read almost all the series am reading beautiful disaster now, and then perfect mistake. I can say that scandal is going to be the best and MOST SHOCKING ONE OF ALL. I cannot wait for this book to come out i have been addicted to the series ever since a friend referred it to me. I HIGHLY RECOMENDED THIS SERIES TO EVERYONE YOU WOULD ENJOY IT TRUST ME :)

[Steph · Rating 1 out of 5]

It just keeps getting weirder and weirder. How does all this happen to one girl in a year?!

[Kelsey van Dillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a massive cliffhanger does this book have! More scandals and more crime, must read further!!

[Sera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guilty pleasure and fun way to start the new year.

[Pravina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the cliffhanger was good, I feel like Reed’s character is just becoming dumb. It’s understandable to be clueless and lost in the first few books because she was new but after everything she’s been through, you’d think she’d be much more responsible and smart instead of making mistakes such as continuing to held the BLS meeting at the same place as well as kissing Josh behind Ivy’s back. Also, when Constance got mad, she just brushed it off instead of feeling genuinely sorry. I remember how crazy she was about Upton and then now he is just a “FRIEND”. I feel like the author just rushed everything and does not properly explain her feelings instead just write a few sentence or paragraph about it and moving on. I don’t feel the depth in the main lead like how you usually feel in the other books. Tbh, at this point, i’m just reading through to get it done and over with. Just hoping it’ll get better.

Rating: 4/10

[HeyItsMorgane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Même après 11 tomes j’adore toujours autant cette saga et je suis contente de retrouver cette même ambiance que dans les premiers tomes.

Ont est enfin de retour sur le campus avec un nouveau directeur et un livre mystérieux en lien avec Billings, j’admet que Reed était un peu agaçante dans ce tome, elle à pris certaines décision qui lui ont coûté un peu chère. Je suis assez suspicieuse du changement de personnalité de Noëlle et contente qu’il se passe enfin quelque chose entre Reed et Josh après nous avoir fait poiroter pendant au moins 4-5 tomes.

Ce tome 11 m'a vraiment donné une vibe Pretty Little Liars surtout le dernier chapitre qui s’arrête sur un gros cliffhanger comme je les aime. J’ai tellement hâte de lire le tome 12 mais aussi un peu triste de savoir que Campus arrive bientôt à sa fin.

[Rylee Emmick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandal, is book #11of the Private series. Reed comes back from her Caribbean vacation to find shocking information. She expects to come home to her normal life of shopping trips with her friends and her regular classes but that's not what happened she returned home. The administration was separating the Billings girls. All the girls were outraged by this and decided to take action. Reed puts together her own club and only certain people are allowed to join. This causes lots of drama between others. To find out what happens with the girls friendships and with the school, you need to read this to find out. I recommend this book to teenage girls because of the drama it has of high school girls.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, though I wasn't impressed with Reed's decisions. To keep the BLS meetings in the same place when the Billings alumni found them is an idiotic decision. She acted very stubborn, and to betray Ivy is despicable. The book ends on an exciting cliffhanger though, so looking forward to the next book.

[Deborah Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much happened in this book except for Reed trying to start BLS. I really don't understand why she keeps trying to start and restart Billings and to keep it together. Does she only have that one interest in life? Also she is portrayed as some seemingly better person/character, but I kinda disagree in the way she acts most of the time. But maybe it's because she's just a kid idk

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first four of these books in middle school/high school and I always thought about if they had somehow influenced my decision to join a sorority later in life. Frontal lobe is fully formed now and it’s funny to read this and think back to old memories. Billings house definitely made me who I am today and this book was a fun beach read.

[Farahin Zulkifli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love this series when I was in middle school, so Im gonna give it 3 stars. The main character wasn’t an interesting character at all. But I guess the mystery, drama & scandal was what kept me reading 😆 However, the prequel (book of spells) was full of shit that I hated it even then.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the worst book from the series so far. Boring annoying and stupid. Reed is so dumb and does so much to try to prove herself. She could have made herself the baddest b*tch on campus without BLS. I do like the idea of the literary society thought.

[Jimena Patiño · Rating 4 out of 5]

La verdad me habían aburrido los dos libros del arco de St Barths pero este arco parece bueno y por una vez se enfoca en otra cosa que asesinar el trasero de Reed. Está serie fue mi vicio del 2019

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, Reed's obsession with Billings is getting super annoying. Though it is helping with her obsession with Noelle? I kind of feel like this series should have ended with book 8.