3 for neutral, while I’m very interested in this case, I for some reason could not get into this book. I tried a couple times, but admits I’m a very moody reader. Will update review if able to finish at a later date.

“Varsity blues is about the inequities of class, and how it plays out in college admissions. It is a story about the power and entitlement of the rich in a country where the wealth divide is strained to a breaking point.” - Author’s notes

All I can say is that it saddens me to see these parents believing the only way for their kids to get into college is by cheating and how that can affect those kid’s confidence for the rest of their lives.

The book drew information from a variety of sources and gave a thorough description of the college admissions process.

I would recommend this to anyone who has seen the varsity blues documentary or is simply intrigued by college admissions scam.

TWO-CENT TUESDAY

Below are a few (somewhat) brief $.02 opinions about books I've read or listened to recently but don't have the opportunity to review in full. Many of these titles I enjoyed as much or more than those that got the full court press. I hope you'll consider one or two for your own TBR stack if they strike your fancy whether they struck mine or not.

* * *

GUILTY ADMISSIONS, by Nicole LaPorte

A thoroughly researched and detailed account of the college admissions scandal that caught several big Hollywood names in its snare. I found the audio a great way to listen to the tale, and the meat of the story was fascinating. It started with a lot of background detail that seemed a tad superfluous, but overall I enjoyed this account of aholes aholing.

I previously enjoyed the Netflix documentary on this topic. The college admissions scandal was an insight into the lives of the rich and privileged and was gripping to watch it unravel and unfold. I usually like non fiction accounts of frauds and scandals, like that of Bad Blood. However, here I didn’t feel engaged by all the information. It may have been thoroughly researched but for me as a reader, I didn’t find it took hold of the story and presented in a way that allowed me to settle into story and get hooked.

Review to come for Guilty Admissions by Nicole LaPorte

As a development officer in higher education, this story hits home for me. I can't wait to read this entertaining exposé on how the other half gets in and tells the shockingly true story of the Varsity Blues scandal, and all of the crazy parents, privilege, and con men involved.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting book. I had heard about this scandal but enjoyed reading the stuff that was left out of the media and news. It didn't feel like it was too much information but gave enough for you to really know what happened. It's crazy to think about what these parents will do to get their children into the "right" schools or to help get them ahead in life.

This is well written book of the education system and what was done to cheat other hard working individuals of an education

Guilty Admissions provides a frightening and fascinating insight into what extremes some (in this case, predominantly American or US-based) "lawn-mower" parents will go to in order to help their children secure coveted spots at particular universities. Ethics be damned, many participants have been so blinded by what they call love or fear, they have been happy to blame the man at the centre of this particular scandal rather than taking responsibility for their own decisions

If you’re looking for a full overview of the Varsity Blues case, I recommend the Netflix doc. This book does a good job of putting that information into the broader conversation about educational privilege and entitlement. Really gripping (read it in less than 24 hours) and I think should be required reading for parents.

Comprehensive and balanced examination of the college admissions scandal. Lots of fun to read in a schadenfreude sort of way.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

An in-depth recount of the college admissions scandal that rocked Hollywood. It was a wild read and more coverage than I expected. I highly recommend if you want all the details.

This book is a very in depth account of the college admissions scandal. I would recommend it to friends.

A very detailed account of the Varsity Blues college admissions cheating scandal, this book covers the general college admissions craziness in this country, and the lengths to which hypercompetive, privileged helicopter parents will go to try to assure that their children have everything they could ever want.

Though well-written and thoroughly researched, this book is for those who really want every last detail. I have personally preferred exploring this topic through other formats, like essays and podcasts, At times I felt bogged down by all the information.

This was a non-stop read for me. The author takes a story that was in all the news media for months and tells the reader how it all happened. LaPorte gives a very balanced portrait of the parents who acted on behalf of their children's wants (not needs) and the pressure that ambitious parents and children live under. Obviously, innumerable families manage to live meaningful and happy iives without moving heaven and earth (with some hell in the mix) to get the kids into Harvard or Georgetown, USC, Penn, etc. Not to be admitted to a top tier school is equated with a ruined life, and that propelled these families to break federal law, bribe, commit fraud, and, in some cases, end up in prison.
LaPorte does an excellent job of setting the scene, beginning with preschool. Children need to wear Golden Goose sneakers, which are manufactured to look pre-soiled, and other clothing items that leave no room for individuality. Even babies' high chairs are carefully branded. Toddlers receive tutoring at $350 per hour for God knows what...but it may cinch their acceptance to one of the top tier preschools. Going to a top tier preschool is the precursor to acceptance at a top tier elementary school, and on and on, all of which lands the baby-now-teenager at the golden doors of Harvard or the next best college.
To quote Randy Newman, "it's money that matters" and methods that enabled parents to become wealthy are applied to ensuring their offsprings' "success". It's a tough world out there and you do what you've gotta do. Enter Rick Singer, a sociopathic huckster who has gone from aspiring to become a college coach (you name the sport) to making use of the contacts he picked up along the way with high school college counselors, college coaches, and admissions directors. It is very interesting and nauseating. LaPorte draws the people in this book with precise, vivid portraits, and the unfolding of events has a suspense to it...you know what will happen, but the how is gripping.
This is not a vicious attack on anyone. It's even fair to Rick Singer who cannot help but look like a criminal and master manipulator. LaPorte doesn't belabor the obvious questions about who we are as a country and a society. The values and behaviors of the families in this book can be seen all around us.

This was not an easy book to read. It was very well researched and comprehensive but there were just so many people involved. At first I tried keeping track of who was who but then just gave up. For myself it didn't matter who they were but more of what they did and why they did it. My impression of the whole situation as it played out in the news was these were a bunch of privileged people who thought that would just let their kids slack off in high school and pay their way into prestigious colleges. I still think that in some cases but there were others where I could see how they were suckered into it by Rick Singer. The greed of Rick Singer and the coaches he dealt with was just staggering to me.

I want to thank Netgalley and Twelve Books for providing me with a copy of this book.

In Guilty Admissions by Nicole LaPorte, you are given an in depth look into 2019's college admissions scandal. This book reads almost like a novel and is very good at following the lengths entitled parents will go to in order to get their children into the schools they want.
Thank you to NetGalley, Twelve Books and Nicole LaPorte for a copy of this book for review.

Wow, super informative and timely. I loved the way this book was set up and the details were just enough that you got all of the information you needed but didn't feel bogged down. It was an easy read in that most things were in layman's terms and flowed really well. Normally books like this would be choppy but I didn't feel this way at all. Excellent work and very informative. This is your one stop shop for behind the scene information on the college admissions scandals.

Guilty admissions is an excellent in depth account of the rabbit hole parents fell into and the college culture that encourages it. This was such an eye opening read regarding College admissions. I will definitely be reading more.

This books investigations the 2019 college admissions scandal. I was able to read it prior to publication thanks to NetGalley.

I expected extremely entitled behavior from the parents, many of whom are either facing charges or have gone to jail. I expected ridiculous behavior from the con man who orchestrated this scheme, Rick Singer and there was plenty of that. What I didn't expect was to come away from this book feeling livid towards the colleges themselves. Make no mistake, the colleges are guilty parties in this scheme. They've lied to parents and students for years about their admission criteria. They've valued student athletes over all other students. They created a confusing environment that left the door open for bribery and unfair practices. Any parent of a school-aged child should read this. It won't give you a path through the madness but it will let you know what you're up against.

I followed this story in the news and through it truly wondered how Full House mom Lori Loughlin felt she was innocent. One chapter in and I did somewhat of a flip or at least understood the rabbit hole these parents fell into and the culture which feeds it beginning with the birth of their children. If you want to know the how and the why of this story, Nicole LaPorte’s book Guilty Admissions is a must for your 2021 reading list.