The Elite

Synopsis:
It’s the most exclusive luxury apartment building on New York’s Upper East Side. If you don’t live there—you don’t know how to live…

When Casey McCloy steps into The Bramford, she’s overwhelmed by the sophistication and elegance of it all. Fresh from the Midwest, she’s moved to NYC to live with her grandmother and attend the prestigious Meadowlark Academy. Here all that matters is who you know. The designer to know is Zac Posen. The girl to know is Madison Macallister: popular, pretty, platinum-blond. She’s not just Casey’s new classmate and neighbor; she’s an icon. So Casey aims to get in with Madison and her gorgeous gal-pals from the start. As the reigning queen of coolness, Madison is capable of destroying reputations with one well-timed whisper. Better to be on her good side.

But after a city-haute makeover from her new frenemy Madison, Casey is wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people—including Drew, the boy-about-town who Madison thinks belongs to her and her alone…

Review:
First off, can I just I had been waiting to get my hands on this book for the longest time, I had heard so much hype about it and read so many raving reviews. So when I finally won it through her contest, I believe it was, I was ecstatic. But, as you know, life happens and it took me a while to get to actually reading it. Now that I have though...

I AM DYING FOR THE NEXT BOOK!

The characters in this book are so real, everyone has had a Madison Macallister in their lives, and everyone, one time or another, has wanted to knock some sense into her. Right from the beginning I knew she had a hidden agenda and was a backstabber. And then there is Drew...seriously, what more could a girl ask for than a boy who is into the arts and knows how to treat a little to a spectacular night out. So what if he is rich and has remotely famous parents...he is cute and, yet, still such a guy...in every way (you get to see some parts from his viewpoint, hence the italics). Then there is the popular sidekicks, Sophie and Phoebe...two girls who have problems of their own. Sometimes, it felt like they were the center of the book; I loved getting to know so much about their lives and things happening with them, something that you don't really see when it comes to 'sidekicks'. Finally, we have the forefront character, Casey Anne McCloy, or Casey Anne as her grandmother calls her. She is an awkward girl from the Midwest who is thrown into New York high society and just when she barely has her feet dipped into the big apple, the drama ensues and she is caught in a catty, free for all, fight for the boy type triangle. Madison wants Drew back, Drew wanted Madison at first and so he flirted with Casey, who took interest in him, then Drew realized he didn't want Madison anymore, but still didn't know about Casey, and all the while Casey and Madison are becoming Frenemies. See the common factor here? DREW.

When the book finally comes to a close we are left with a great moment and begging for more. If it was possible for me to have a copy of the next installment now, believe me I would have it in my grasp and I would be sitting in my chair reading it, no interruptions. This book, and coming books, are must haves on everyone's shelves who are fans of YA. If you don't have the money to buy it (I know I didn't), then go to the library and claim it off the shelves...if they don't have it tell them to get it!

What it comes down to is this was a fantastic book. I was excited to read it from the beginning and reading through it I became more and more excited because everything good ever said about this book was true! Jennifer Banash took the New York Elite and created a teen based story around that world...and came out with a fantastic piece of work. I don't know about the rest of you, but her next book is definitely high up on my must have list.