Real life scandals can provide some of the best inspiration for novels. Admission by Julie Buxbaum draws from the real-life college admissions scandal in which several wealthy celebrities paid to have their kids’ SAT scores changed and fabricated a web of lies to gain entry into top colleges. Admission was intriguing because we’ve all heard about this scandal and can’t help wondering, “What were they thinking?” Well, Buxbaum attempts to reveal what they might have been thinking as she takes a peek behind the curtain of privilege to examine the lives of the rich and famous.
Admission was a timely read about college-bound Chloe who finds out that her admission was fixed. Her very wealthy parents are involved in a college admissions scandal that rocks their world and the entire country. Chloe’s mom, a famous actress, takes the brunt of the scandal. Yes, this is all inspired by the true college admissions scandal, which is what made it so intriguing! We all found ourselves captivated by the scandal: the fame, the wealth, the privilege, and the audacity to assume they can buy anything they want – hard-working, deserving students be damned.
Overall, I found this story intriguing. It’s told using dual timelines – before the scandal broke and after. It was a good way to tell the story because we go back and learn exactly who knew what and when they knew it. It was a good story, but it dragged a bit about halfway through. I’m not sure if I was supposed to have sympathy for Chloe, but I really didn’t. I found her kind of annoying. She was a typical spoiled rich girl who didn’t put much effort into anything she didn’t have to – everything was always arranged, bought, or taken care of for her. She was a girl who wanted big things for herself but just didn’t care to work for them.
Chloe’s sister, Isla, on the other hand was a character I sympathized with. She was really the innocent in all of this who would have to deal with the repercussions of her family’s scandal like no other. I also loved Shola, Chloe’s BFF. Not only was she a hard-working character of integrity, but she also really helped drive home just how disrespectful the scandal was to everyone who truly worked hard to get into college.
All in all, an interesting read that I would recommend for fans of YA, scandalous reads, and anyone intrigued by the college admissions scandal.
Admission was originally scheduled to be released in May but has been pushed to December, most likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So keep this book in mind when it comes to holiday shopping!
I received an early copy from Random House/ Delacorte Press through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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