Elite by Rachel Van Dyken Review

Synopsis:
For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy -- until it was too late.

Review:
It is so funny looking back at the original review I made for this book 5 years ago in 2013. 5 years is a long time. In a world that is constantly moving and changing it is no wonder that my views on this book have changed during this re-read. 

So, lets get started.

I loved the start of the book. How can you not enjoy a prologue that starts off 

         

           " Whoever told me life was easy, lied." 

            " Everyone has a story that needs to be told."

So, as we begin to understand our main character, Trace ( Who I for some reason always called Trace-y in my head despite it just being Trace) it starts off with her pulling up to large gates that will lead into her new boarding school for the rich and privileged. 

For those of you reading, if you have ever come across the manga or K-drama Hana Yori Dango, and enjoyed it, then this book is gonna be a win for you. This book gives such a Hana Yori Dango vibe it is not even funny. Considering I thoroughly enjoyed both the manga and show, it is no wonder that I enjoyed the book. 

5 years and I had actually forgotten just about everything that there was when it came to this book, so it was like I had decided to read it for the first time all over again. That is what I love about a good re-read, you rediscover books you love and get fresh insights into them.

I loved the nerdy references they made in this book, from Harry Potter to Batman, it made my little nerd girl heart happy. 

I also loved one saying that I will probably end up stealing and incorporating into my every day life whenever I can. And that saying comes from after Trace has had a run in with some school bullies, she is bruised, she is broken and Nixon makes her take a bath on the promise that she won't fall asleep and drown. Her response, she won't be 'mermaiding it." 
I am gonna be honest, I snickered over that because the amount of sass in such a statement is one I can see me giving my husband without missing a beat. 

Also, I know this is completely superficial but I love tattoo's and piercings.. who doesn't right? I  mean we all harbor secret ( or not so secret) fantasies for a bad boy in our love lives. 

So now here comes the hard part of any review, no matter how much good there is, there is gonna be some bad.


I don't know why I didn't notice this when I first read the book but Trace's moods are up and down to the point I have no clue what is going on in her head. She gives the term teenage hormones a run for it's money. One minute she is happy, the next she is sassy and won't back down, then she is weepy, then she is weak, then she is swooning over Nixon. It made it hard to relate to her because I didn't understand how she could be so tough one minute and the next just be the complete opposite.

It also confused me how Nixon went from hating being touched to straight up mauling Trace in the elevator...it briefly explains later on in the book that he is ok with it only because he is in control but it was such a weird characteristic trait to focus on when it didn't follow through.

Overall I still enjoyed the book, not as much as I did when I was younger but it is still one that is worth the read. 


Rating: 
4 out of 5 Stars!