Under the Rose: An Ivy League Novel, #2 -- Diana Peterfreund
So, it's been a while since I almost got run over while reading Secret Society Girl.
I decided to be safer this time around -- I read it in the bathtub. All went swimmingly. (Har har. Man, I'm hilarious.)
Under the Rose is set during the first semester of Amy Haskel's senior year at Eli University. She'd be a busy lady even if she didn't have Rose & Grave, the secret society that tapped her -- and a few other ladies, the first women ever invited to join the almost 200 year old club -- to worry about. And there's a lot of Digger business to worry about.
There're the patriarchs who are still angry about the decision to admit women. There's attrition among the club members, something that hasn't happen in like, forever. There's conflict among the Diggirls, and between the Diggirls and the male Diggers. Someone is sending the Diggirls creepy (and, even more worrisome to Amy, grammatically incorrect) emails. And there may be a traitor in their ranks.
That's just club business. There's also her complicated love life. And the fact that she still hasn't decided on a thesis topic.
YAY. I'm so happy that the second installment stood up to the first. I like Amy, with her footnotes, editing geekery, conspiracy theories, tenacity (some might say mulishness) and ability to be attracted to lots of guys at the same time without always moaning on about being over-sexed *coughZoeyRedbirdcough*. Brandon irritated me far less this time around, as he wasn't making goo-goo eyes constantly. I actually kind of liked him. Maybe it's the hard to get thing. George, despite being Mr. Hottiepants, was the one I found particularly slappable this time around.
But, yes, not at all surprisingly, it's Poe that I love. He's so cranky! And smart! And... and... cranky! Love him. I say again: although it's set in college and was published as an adult series, I'd highly recommend it to those of you who're looking for chicklitish YA. Way perfect for the upcoming beach weather.
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Previously: