Enchanting Review: In Too Deep

IN TOO DEEP

JENNIFER BANASH

Contemporary Young Adult

Berkley Jam

ISBN# 978-0-425-22353-6

256 pages

$9.99

Trade—Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

One of the best new YA series out there, ‘The Elite series’ continues with IN TOO DEEP which picks up a short while after the first book ends. Casey is still struggling to fit in at her new exclusive Upper East Side high school and deal with Madison, Sophie and Phoebe, the ultimate definition of frenemies. Especially dear sweet Madison, who in probably the best example of the term, decides to ‘treat’ Casey to a trip to her hairstylist after a trip to Casey’s grandmother’s salon goes awry. I have to say Madison is great at the whole keep your friends close and your enemies closer line of thought. She’s truly the epitome of the character you love to hate.

There was so much I liked about this book. Madison, Sophie, Phoebe, and Casey all have their own separate intriguing storylines: Madison’s modeling, the upcoming appearance of Sophie’s birth mother, Phoebe’s secret crush and Casey still trying to fit in and deal with her new life and her relationship with Drew. I have to say what surprised me most—other than the ending—was Madison actually really grew on me with this book and you can sorta see why she acts the way she does, especially toward Casey and Drew. But that’s not the only thing going on, the alternating chapters told by the girls all shed light on explosive secrets that once they come out are going to be pretty shocking.

One of my favorite scenes is when Sophie is trying on one of her outfits for her super sweet sixteen party. When the truth comes out, not only about her being adopted, but her real birth mother—and the kicker, that she confided all this in someone not Madison—things get heated between the girls.

With a shocking ending that leaves the reader demanding to know what happens next, IN TOO DEEP is one book that keeps you riveted from start to finish. Look for the third book in this great series, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, due out summer 2009.

Jennifer Banash knows firsthand the life and times of Manhattan teenagers—she was born and raised in New York City. She ghost wrote for a New York Times bestselling YA series; and she is the co-founder of Impetus Press, an independent press dedicated to publishing serious literary fiction with a pop edge. Jennifer now resides in Los Angeles.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

January 2009