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Briarcliff Prep #1
Briarcliff Prep
Fourteen-year-old Avielle LeBeau is starting her freshman year at Briarcliff Preparatory School for Girls, one of the few remaining Historically Black Boarding Schools. She has dreams of fitting in with kids who look like her, continuing her family legacy and joining the school newspaper — and she desperately wants to catch the eye of a certain sophomore math whiz who attends Preston Academy across the street. But all of these wants become obsolete when Avi discovers a devastating secret about her big sister’s boyfriend.
Avi has two choices: she can keep this secret and pray it doesn’t blow up in their faces, or she can tell the truth, risking her sister’s reputation and possibly destroying the foundation of their relationship.
BRIARCLIFF PREP is a coming-of-age story set in a space where the expectations of gender and race collide, familial responsibilities are tested, and sisterhood may be a saving grace.
Avi has two choices: she can keep this secret and pray it doesn’t blow up in their faces, or she can tell the truth, risking her sister’s reputation and possibly destroying the foundation of their relationship.
BRIARCLIFF PREP is a coming-of-age story set in a space where the expectations of gender and race collide, familial responsibilities are tested, and sisterhood may be a saving grace.
Hardcover
First published November 5, 2022
About the author
Brianna Peppins
3 books105 followersBrianna Peppins is the author of young adult contemporary books, including Briarcliff Prep and As Long as We're Together. She was raised in PG County, Maryland and graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in Psychology. When not writing, Brianna takes special interest in spending time with her loved ones, social justice issues and is a self-proclaimed movie aficionado.
Briannapeppins.com
Twitter: @Lexi_pep
Instagram: @Lexi_pep
Briannapeppins.com
Twitter: @Lexi_pep
Instagram: @Lexi_pep
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February 2, 2023Hi! I’m the author of BRIARCLIFF PREP & would just like to wish you a joyful reading and tell you how appreciative I am that you chose my book :) BRIARCLIFF PREP is like A Different World for high schoolers with all of the drama, fun and sister/siblinghood of attending an HBCU. Please feel free to leave a review & Pre-Orders are available now!
TW: Teen Domestic Violence
TW: Teen Domestic Violence
April 29, 2023
Parts of this book definitely felt like choices™ were being made, and sometimes I liked them and sometimes I was a little confused.
Ultimately what sold me on enjoying this book as much as I did and why I'd round up to a four and not down to a three, is the friend group. The little hint of a romance Avi had. But really the family being the core of the story did make me appreciate parts of the story I might not have otherwise. On paper telling a story of domestic abuse between teenagers through the eyes of the victims sister feels like an odd one... I definitely had that thought a lot as I read the book. I do think it was woven in just enough to make it a compelling aspect of the narrative without completely taking over. i also think that it stayed true to being appropriate for readers who are the same age as the protagonist.
It was a book I spent an afternoon with and had a solid time reading. With the way the girlies are always going on about loving boarding school books it's a crime that I don't see this being added to their rotation of favorites.
Ultimately what sold me on enjoying this book as much as I did and why I'd round up to a four and not down to a three, is the friend group. The little hint of a romance Avi had. But really the family being the core of the story did make me appreciate parts of the story I might not have otherwise. On paper telling a story of domestic abuse between teenagers through the eyes of the victims sister feels like an odd one... I definitely had that thought a lot as I read the book. I do think it was woven in just enough to make it a compelling aspect of the narrative without completely taking over. i also think that it stayed true to being appropriate for readers who are the same age as the protagonist.
It was a book I spent an afternoon with and had a solid time reading. With the way the girlies are always going on about loving boarding school books it's a crime that I don't see this being added to their rotation of favorites.
November 18, 2022
This book was very good, I just don’t think it was for me, which is too bad because I thought this was going to be amazing. I’m a sucker for any book involving boarding schools, but I felt that this one dragged at the beginning. By the time the story got to the stuff about sisterhood and protecting Avi’s sister I’d kind of lost interest….which sounds bad. I liked Avi as a character, she had a lot of growth through the story, from being nervous to standing up for things she believed in. I don’t know what it was the quite turned me off, but it didn’t fully work for me.
August 14, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
tw: domestic abuse
Fourteen year old Avielle (Avi) Lebeau leaves to follow in her family’s footsteps and attend a historically black boarding school called Briarcliff Prep. There she meets new friends, settles into her classes, meets a cute TA (that might just find her cute as well), and tries to win her spot in the school newspaper (making an enemy along the way). Her older sister Belle, youtube star and popular as always, also attends the school with her well loved boyfriend Logan. However, when Avi meets Logan she can feel something’s off about him while Belle assures her he’s nothing but sweet. When Avi’s gut feeling is proved right, her and Belle’s relationship becomes strained as Avi tries to protect her older sister before it’s too late.
‘Briarcliff Prep’ starts off as more of a boarding school romance and slowly transitions into a hard hitting story about sisterhood and domestic abuse. I found it incredibly impactful and really loved the bond between Avi and her siblings, especially Belle. I think the messages in this story were so important and I’m very happy I got a chance to read this book!!
All the different class assignments in Avi’s school that were focused on Black empowerment or analyzing racism made me really yearn to go to a school that prioritizes POC voices like this one. I’m so tired of writing essays on another random (probably racist) white man that made a minor accomplishment in history, why can’t we write about actually important stuff like this?!
Also, one of my personal favorite things about this book was how multiple books by Black authors were mentioned inside the story! The way I knew this book was gonna be good the minute they mentioned Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (aka one of my most favorite books ever) 🫶🏻
tw: domestic abuse
Fourteen year old Avielle (Avi) Lebeau leaves to follow in her family’s footsteps and attend a historically black boarding school called Briarcliff Prep. There she meets new friends, settles into her classes, meets a cute TA (that might just find her cute as well), and tries to win her spot in the school newspaper (making an enemy along the way). Her older sister Belle, youtube star and popular as always, also attends the school with her well loved boyfriend Logan. However, when Avi meets Logan she can feel something’s off about him while Belle assures her he’s nothing but sweet. When Avi’s gut feeling is proved right, her and Belle’s relationship becomes strained as Avi tries to protect her older sister before it’s too late.
‘Briarcliff Prep’ starts off as more of a boarding school romance and slowly transitions into a hard hitting story about sisterhood and domestic abuse. I found it incredibly impactful and really loved the bond between Avi and her siblings, especially Belle. I think the messages in this story were so important and I’m very happy I got a chance to read this book!!
All the different class assignments in Avi’s school that were focused on Black empowerment or analyzing racism made me really yearn to go to a school that prioritizes POC voices like this one. I’m so tired of writing essays on another random (probably racist) white man that made a minor accomplishment in history, why can’t we write about actually important stuff like this?!
Also, one of my personal favorite things about this book was how multiple books by Black authors were mentioned inside the story! The way I knew this book was gonna be good the minute they mentioned Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (aka one of my most favorite books ever) 🫶🏻
November 23, 2022
This book was so amazing and I loved seeing an HBBC! As someone who went to a PWI, I didn’t really have that experience of being among my own people…BP gave me that.
Full review can be found here: http://sltrbooks.home.blog/2022/11/16...
Full review can be found here: http://sltrbooks.home.blog/2022/11/16...
April 4, 2023
3.75
Good but not amazing
Good but not amazing
April 28, 2022
Thank You SO Much Brianna Peppins for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-
This may have become a new favorite.
First of all, I love the cover, it's adorable. I may have gotten an incomplete edition, but I see the cover on GoodReads and I can confirm that it is a steal. PLUS, it got me out of my reading slump, so that may tug on a few of you guys' bait a bit. :)
Now continue to on with the review.
-
- The character development is amazing.
While it is in 3rd person, and I don't enjoy 3rd person in particular, I have been giving genres and POVs I don't necessarily like. To go back in time with that book How We Fall (PSSST, I never continued to read it, yuck!) But I enjoy the character development. We got a nice introduction of our main character, Avielle (Avi). We learn that she's attentive and loves writing (ATTENTIVE, HINT HINTT!!)
Not only did Brianna do an amazing job with describing Avi, but she did amazing with describing her siblings, friends and ugh, Logan.
-More than One topic/plot.
See, a few authors who write about domestic abuse and violence tend to have that be the ONLY thing going on. They make it where the main (or side or whatever character) is the only thing going on. But Brianna, my dear, you did perfect! Avi has more than just Logan to worry about. She has her writing goals, Relationship problems (Quincy...), and her grades to worry about. That's one of the main things I like about this book, not too many things are going on, and not too less of things are going on. Like, I could FEEL her pain when she didn't get in the newspaper, all that hard work for nothing? MHM! I would've just screamed at everybody by that point. Cancel the study date and just lock myself in my dorm to recover.
But to get off topic, can we talk about Chapters 17, 18, and 19 Quincy?! Like his whole vibe and attitude was out of tone! Calling her out in class like that. Literally I was reading Chapter 18 right after a test in my Algebra class right, and when he acted the way he did, I physically had to profane myself from just:
Yea. He made me that mad with the way he was treating Avielle.
-BELLEEEEE!!!!
I literally felt so bad for Avi when Belle refused to listen to her. She was literally all like "Oh, mind your buisness, you don't know what you're talking about." Blah Blah Blah. In which, domestic abuse victims DO do! They tell themselves that their significant other loves them, even if they hurt them. Which is partially why I think we shouldnt have that "IF a guy is mean to you, he likes you." Kind of thing going on, because then girls will grow up thinking and believing that that kind of BS is okay, when really, IT ISN'T. Same for guys, too!
EMOTIONS. FLEW. EVERYWHERE.
No, cause read this quote with me:
"And then the scariest of all, there she was- Belle, lying motionless on the floor, her white carpet stained with blood." - Page 335
DON'T. DO. THIS. LITERALLY I CANNOT RN!
Avielle warned Belle, and she refused to listen, and I'm not saying it's her fault, it is not AT ALL. Abusers trick a victim. They do something bad and then convice them that what they did was okay, whether it was through a gift, "Sincere" apology, or even through just what the victim thinks is "Love".
But I really enjoyed this book, and once again, thank you SO much, Brianna Peppins for accepting my request of an ARC.
-
This may have become a new favorite.
First of all, I love the cover, it's adorable. I may have gotten an incomplete edition, but I see the cover on GoodReads and I can confirm that it is a steal. PLUS, it got me out of my reading slump, so that may tug on a few of you guys' bait a bit. :)
Now continue to on with the review.
-
- The character development is amazing.
While it is in 3rd person, and I don't enjoy 3rd person in particular, I have been giving genres and POVs I don't necessarily like. To go back in time with that book How We Fall (PSSST, I never continued to read it, yuck!) But I enjoy the character development. We got a nice introduction of our main character, Avielle (Avi). We learn that she's attentive and loves writing (ATTENTIVE, HINT HINTT!!)
Not only did Brianna do an amazing job with describing Avi, but she did amazing with describing her siblings, friends and ugh, Logan.
-More than One topic/plot.
See, a few authors who write about domestic abuse and violence tend to have that be the ONLY thing going on. They make it where the main (or side or whatever character) is the only thing going on. But Brianna, my dear, you did perfect! Avi has more than just Logan to worry about. She has her writing goals, Relationship problems (Quincy...), and her grades to worry about. That's one of the main things I like about this book, not too many things are going on, and not too less of things are going on. Like, I could FEEL her pain when she didn't get in the newspaper, all that hard work for nothing? MHM! I would've just screamed at everybody by that point. Cancel the study date and just lock myself in my dorm to recover.
But to get off topic, can we talk about Chapters 17, 18, and 19 Quincy?! Like his whole vibe and attitude was out of tone! Calling her out in class like that. Literally I was reading Chapter 18 right after a test in my Algebra class right, and when he acted the way he did, I physically had to profane myself from just:
Yea. He made me that mad with the way he was treating Avielle.
-BELLEEEEE!!!!
I literally felt so bad for Avi when Belle refused to listen to her. She was literally all like "Oh, mind your buisness, you don't know what you're talking about." Blah Blah Blah. In which, domestic abuse victims DO do! They tell themselves that their significant other loves them, even if they hurt them. Which is partially why I think we shouldnt have that "IF a guy is mean to you, he likes you." Kind of thing going on, because then girls will grow up thinking and believing that that kind of BS is okay, when really, IT ISN'T. Same for guys, too!
EMOTIONS. FLEW. EVERYWHERE.
No, cause read this quote with me:
"And then the scariest of all, there she was- Belle, lying motionless on the floor, her white carpet stained with blood." - Page 335
DON'T. DO. THIS. LITERALLY I CANNOT RN!
Avielle warned Belle, and she refused to listen, and I'm not saying it's her fault, it is not AT ALL. Abusers trick a victim. They do something bad and then convice them that what they did was okay, whether it was through a gift, "Sincere" apology, or even through just what the victim thinks is "Love".
But I really enjoyed this book, and once again, thank you SO much, Brianna Peppins for accepting my request of an ARC.
May 10, 2023
Excellent Y.A. fiction, with great themes about family ties and friendships.
There are some incidents of a teen being abused by her boyfriend. Some teen boys make comments on female anatomy.
Boarding school books have always been fascinating to me. I think it began when I read “A Little Princess” for the first time when I was eight.
There are some incidents of a teen being abused by her boyfriend. Some teen boys make comments on female anatomy.
Boarding school books have always been fascinating to me. I think it began when I read “A Little Princess” for the first time when I was eight.
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February 11, 2023
Meh… 2.5 stars.
August 8, 2023
❤️I Loved❤️
❤️how this book deals with some very heavy topics (black maternal mortality, black sisterhood, dealing w/ failure, domestic violence, how to deal with rivalry, the deceptiveness of public persona & social media, the importance of having a supportive family, the pressures of black excellence, etc.) Don't let the cute cover fool you! The heavy topics aren’t just inconveniently & lightly sprinkled throughout the story as an afterthought, they’re intimately & intricately interwoven into the characters' stories, which I really enjoyed!
❤️the setting of this book, a HBBS. I’m a 34-year-old black woman & I’ve never even heard of an HBBS. I found the setting to be fantastic! I loved how Brianna described the boarding school in detail (the school crest, uniforms, professors, etc.) I really felt like I was there & it made me wish I had the opportunity to attend an HBBS or an HBCU. There is such cultural value in going to a school filled with professors & students who look like you. I appreciate the time the author took to familiarize me with Briarcliff Prep.
❤️how the the main character Avi, although not perfect & only 14, was very empathetic, insightful, observant, & smart.
❤️that even though there’s romance in the book, it wasn’t the main concern of the teenage girls. They didn’t just get together and talk about the boys they liked. They also encouraged one another. The sisterhood (biological & non-biological) in this book was beautiful!
❤️how this book really made me take a good, long, hard look at myself because after Avi found out that Logan was abusing Belle, she was so angered by what she perceived to be her sister’s stupidity in choosing to stay with him. And I found myself agreeing with Avi & being hard on Belle. Although I’ve never (thank God) found myself in a situation like this, I would imagine that an abused girl would need compassion, empathy, kindness, & love, especially from the one person who knows her shameful secret. It just reminds me of how easy it can be to criticize or judge someone whose shoes you’ve never walked a mile in.
❤️how merciless & unforgiving social media & the public are concerning domestic violence, especially when it’s someone who is famous & popular. To be physically abused is already a traumatic experience. On top of that, to have to worry about people minimizing your trauma to a joke or meme, peoples opinions (with or without entire or partial knowledge of facts), pictures, polls, posts, & trolls complicates the situation even further.
❤️how this book made me ask, how far is the black community willing to go to excuse black boys & men in favor of protecting black girls and women? What are we willing to ignore? Who are we willing to believe? Who are we willing to cancel? How are we willing to support black girls and women who are survivors? Who are we willing to hold accountable?
💔I Would’ve Loved💔
💔if Avi was a better communicator, less whiny, & more consistent (Who is at 14?!). When it came to communicating to Q, she was shy, timid, & unsure. Yet, when it came to physical intimacy with him, she was very confident, dominant, & straightforward. I wondered if she should’ve been a little older, maybe in her 2nd or 3rd year at Briarcliff…
💔if it wasn’t as predictable at some points.
💔if Belle & Moe didn’t blame Avi for what happened. Bella blames her for the fallout & Moe blames her for allowing the actual abuse! As her older siblings, they were wrong to put that burden on their younger sister. Again, she’s only 14 & already felt guilty.
💔Avi & Moe’s ending felt rushed & unresolved. After he’d accused her of allowing Belle to be abused, their dad says that he’s going to apologize to her. We aren’t given that conversation. All we get is him ‘roughly bumping her shoulder, reminding her ‘to not let anyone punk her.’
💔Avi & Q’s ending also felt like a rushed, unresolved afterthought in the epilogue! She tells him that the therapist told her she may have been projecting bad feelings about Logan & relationships in general onto him, but it felt like ‘too little, too late.’ She has already been dodging his phone calls & text messages for weeks! They didn’t get the opportunity nor time to talk things out. She didn’t share her poem. There wasn’t even a date set for seeing each other over the summer! I was completely & utterly unsatisfied with the way their romance ended. I felt slighted. Q was her first kiss, first boyfriend, & gifted her her first piece of jewelry. He was so sweet & emotionally vulnerable with her. I just don’t understand how she couldn’t open up to him about how she was feeling. Why would she shut him out when she needed him the most, especially when he’d proven himself to be so caring?! Not only that, but after this entire situation, her dad tells her that she ‘didn’t trust her gut.’ Q noticed the exact same thing in her when he started tutoring her & he encouraged her to ‘trust her gut.’ How could she not make that connection that Q knew her as well as her own father & saw in her what she had yet to see in herself?!
💔1st person POV from Avi’s & Belle’s perspectives, although the 3rd person writing was good.
💔if less time would’ve been spent in the beginning of the story building up the Briarcliff Prep world, so that more time was spent at the ending tying up loose ends, relationally. The ending felt rushed, unresolved, & a lot of the relational reconciliation was unaddressed. I was invested in these characters. I cared about what happened to them. I wanted a front row seat to what their relational reconciliation may have looked like before ending the story. Here are a few examples:
1. It’s mentioned that Belle & Nevaeh are back cool, but we aren’t provided w/ what that conversation actually was.
2. Avi’s conversation with her Mom after the entire incident goes unaddressed.
3. Avi & Q’s romantic reconciliation is barely addressed & unsatisfactory.
4. Avi & Moe deserved a big brother, little sister moment & that goes unaddressed.
5. Fallon writes letters to both Avi & Bella, that go unshared w/ the reader.
❤️how this book deals with some very heavy topics (black maternal mortality, black sisterhood, dealing w/ failure, domestic violence, how to deal with rivalry, the deceptiveness of public persona & social media, the importance of having a supportive family, the pressures of black excellence, etc.) Don't let the cute cover fool you! The heavy topics aren’t just inconveniently & lightly sprinkled throughout the story as an afterthought, they’re intimately & intricately interwoven into the characters' stories, which I really enjoyed!
❤️the setting of this book, a HBBS. I’m a 34-year-old black woman & I’ve never even heard of an HBBS. I found the setting to be fantastic! I loved how Brianna described the boarding school in detail (the school crest, uniforms, professors, etc.) I really felt like I was there & it made me wish I had the opportunity to attend an HBBS or an HBCU. There is such cultural value in going to a school filled with professors & students who look like you. I appreciate the time the author took to familiarize me with Briarcliff Prep.
❤️how the the main character Avi, although not perfect & only 14, was very empathetic, insightful, observant, & smart.
❤️that even though there’s romance in the book, it wasn’t the main concern of the teenage girls. They didn’t just get together and talk about the boys they liked. They also encouraged one another. The sisterhood (biological & non-biological) in this book was beautiful!
❤️how this book really made me take a good, long, hard look at myself because after Avi found out that Logan was abusing Belle, she was so angered by what she perceived to be her sister’s stupidity in choosing to stay with him. And I found myself agreeing with Avi & being hard on Belle. Although I’ve never (thank God) found myself in a situation like this, I would imagine that an abused girl would need compassion, empathy, kindness, & love, especially from the one person who knows her shameful secret. It just reminds me of how easy it can be to criticize or judge someone whose shoes you’ve never walked a mile in.
❤️how merciless & unforgiving social media & the public are concerning domestic violence, especially when it’s someone who is famous & popular. To be physically abused is already a traumatic experience. On top of that, to have to worry about people minimizing your trauma to a joke or meme, peoples opinions (with or without entire or partial knowledge of facts), pictures, polls, posts, & trolls complicates the situation even further.
❤️how this book made me ask, how far is the black community willing to go to excuse black boys & men in favor of protecting black girls and women? What are we willing to ignore? Who are we willing to believe? Who are we willing to cancel? How are we willing to support black girls and women who are survivors? Who are we willing to hold accountable?
💔I Would’ve Loved💔
💔if Avi was a better communicator, less whiny, & more consistent (Who is at 14?!). When it came to communicating to Q, she was shy, timid, & unsure. Yet, when it came to physical intimacy with him, she was very confident, dominant, & straightforward. I wondered if she should’ve been a little older, maybe in her 2nd or 3rd year at Briarcliff…
💔if it wasn’t as predictable at some points.
💔if Belle & Moe didn’t blame Avi for what happened. Bella blames her for the fallout & Moe blames her for allowing the actual abuse! As her older siblings, they were wrong to put that burden on their younger sister. Again, she’s only 14 & already felt guilty.
💔Avi & Moe’s ending felt rushed & unresolved. After he’d accused her of allowing Belle to be abused, their dad says that he’s going to apologize to her. We aren’t given that conversation. All we get is him ‘roughly bumping her shoulder, reminding her ‘to not let anyone punk her.’
💔Avi & Q’s ending also felt like a rushed, unresolved afterthought in the epilogue! She tells him that the therapist told her she may have been projecting bad feelings about Logan & relationships in general onto him, but it felt like ‘too little, too late.’ She has already been dodging his phone calls & text messages for weeks! They didn’t get the opportunity nor time to talk things out. She didn’t share her poem. There wasn’t even a date set for seeing each other over the summer! I was completely & utterly unsatisfied with the way their romance ended. I felt slighted. Q was her first kiss, first boyfriend, & gifted her her first piece of jewelry. He was so sweet & emotionally vulnerable with her. I just don’t understand how she couldn’t open up to him about how she was feeling. Why would she shut him out when she needed him the most, especially when he’d proven himself to be so caring?! Not only that, but after this entire situation, her dad tells her that she ‘didn’t trust her gut.’ Q noticed the exact same thing in her when he started tutoring her & he encouraged her to ‘trust her gut.’ How could she not make that connection that Q knew her as well as her own father & saw in her what she had yet to see in herself?!
💔1st person POV from Avi’s & Belle’s perspectives, although the 3rd person writing was good.
💔if less time would’ve been spent in the beginning of the story building up the Briarcliff Prep world, so that more time was spent at the ending tying up loose ends, relationally. The ending felt rushed, unresolved, & a lot of the relational reconciliation was unaddressed. I was invested in these characters. I cared about what happened to them. I wanted a front row seat to what their relational reconciliation may have looked like before ending the story. Here are a few examples:
1. It’s mentioned that Belle & Nevaeh are back cool, but we aren’t provided w/ what that conversation actually was.
2. Avi’s conversation with her Mom after the entire incident goes unaddressed.
3. Avi & Q’s romantic reconciliation is barely addressed & unsatisfactory.
4. Avi & Moe deserved a big brother, little sister moment & that goes unaddressed.
5. Fallon writes letters to both Avi & Bella, that go unshared w/ the reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2023
*audiobook*
I think the author set the scene in the beginning of the book well. I knew Belle was going to take me on a ride and she did just that. I almost forgot she was the oldest at times. Avi, though a high school freshman, seemed very mature and had to save Belle even when it hurt her to do so. I think Avi experiencing her first boyfriend, questioning her writing, and being away from her parents for school was very realistic. I sympathized with her character a lot. I think the intimate partner violence played a huge role in the story. It was raw and could trigger readers. However, I think it also raises awareness and can help people to understand the signs. I was worried about Belle but I am glad she came through for her family in the end. The narrator did a fabulous job.
I think the author set the scene in the beginning of the book well. I knew Belle was going to take me on a ride and she did just that. I almost forgot she was the oldest at times. Avi, though a high school freshman, seemed very mature and had to save Belle even when it hurt her to do so. I think Avi experiencing her first boyfriend, questioning her writing, and being away from her parents for school was very realistic. I sympathized with her character a lot. I think the intimate partner violence played a huge role in the story. It was raw and could trigger readers. However, I think it also raises awareness and can help people to understand the signs. I was worried about Belle but I am glad she came through for her family in the end. The narrator did a fabulous job.
January 5, 2023
I want to preface by saying that this book was obviously not written for me, but I can definitely see how important this book is and can be for its intended audience. Because of this, please keep this in mind when reading my review!!
We already know that I love a boarding school setting, and I was especially excited to see that this book was set in an HBBS (Historically Black Boarding School) as 1) I had never heard of them and 2) my dad went to an HBCU and I still remember the heated arguments I got into with my white peers in a sociology of education class about their importance. And while reading I did love the setting -- the building names (still mad at UNC for not renaming one of their buildings Hurston Hall), the classes, the extracurriculars; Briarcliff Prep was essentially a college campus. However, what rubbed me the wrong way was the privilege. Every character except for two seems to come from a wealthy background and the struggles of students in lower socioeconomic classes seem to be ignored or written off.
I also felt that this book bordered on having too much exposition and the majority of the action and conflict took place during the latter half of the book. At some points it felt like it was dragging, though it did keep my interest.
This sort of ties into the setting, but at points this book felt more like it should have been NA instead of YA (not because of content!). Like I said earlier, Briarcliff Prep is essentially a college campus. Yes, there is a curfew, a rule about cell phones, and the whole permission-to-leave-campus thing that was always such a hassle for me and my friends when I went to a boarding school (I wish we had an app!), but the rigor and the type of hustle culture depicted in this book felt off to me -- like the main character didn't read like a 14 year old to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and plan on buying it for my school library. It's a really strong story of finding your place away from home, family/sisterhood, and the realities of domestic and relationship violence.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We already know that I love a boarding school setting, and I was especially excited to see that this book was set in an HBBS (Historically Black Boarding School) as 1) I had never heard of them and 2) my dad went to an HBCU and I still remember the heated arguments I got into with my white peers in a sociology of education class about their importance. And while reading I did love the setting -- the building names (still mad at UNC for not renaming one of their buildings Hurston Hall), the classes, the extracurriculars; Briarcliff Prep was essentially a college campus. However, what rubbed me the wrong way was the privilege. Every character except for two seems to come from a wealthy background and the struggles of students in lower socioeconomic classes seem to be ignored or written off.
I also felt that this book bordered on having too much exposition and the majority of the action and conflict took place during the latter half of the book. At some points it felt like it was dragging, though it did keep my interest.
This sort of ties into the setting, but at points this book felt more like it should have been NA instead of YA (not because of content!). Like I said earlier, Briarcliff Prep is essentially a college campus. Yes, there is a curfew, a rule about cell phones, and the whole permission-to-leave-campus thing that was always such a hassle for me and my friends when I went to a boarding school (I wish we had an app!), but the rigor and the type of hustle culture depicted in this book felt off to me -- like the main character didn't read like a 14 year old to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and plan on buying it for my school library. It's a really strong story of finding your place away from home, family/sisterhood, and the realities of domestic and relationship violence.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2023
Great read. I enjoyed the lovable cast and fun plot. I loved learning about Historically Black Boarding Schools and reading a compassionate exploration of teen dating violence.
January 21, 2023
This book constantly made references to Harry Potter when talking about Briarcliff Perp- I mean Prep, and it's just not the same kind of school. I took another step out of my comfort zone for this, but I think I'll stick to my collections of YA thriller, sci-fi, and the few non-cringe-y romances I usually read, thanks.
Avi literally finds out that her sister, Belle, has an abusive boyfriend and doesn't say anything, which just makes me feel icky. Like, if I was in an abusive relationship and either of my sisters knew, they better tell someone who can help, especially since in this book, Belle doesn't want Avi to tell anyone, even though they both know her boyfriend is abusive. This does a good job of representing teen violence in relationships, but it does not do a good job of representing the fact that it's unacceptable and there's definitely a better way to have handled it, but for the most part, it's just ignored while Avi chases her love interest. I didn't even finish it.
Avi literally finds out that her sister, Belle, has an abusive boyfriend and doesn't say anything, which just makes me feel icky. Like, if I was in an abusive relationship and either of my sisters knew, they better tell someone who can help, especially since in this book, Belle doesn't want Avi to tell anyone, even though they both know her boyfriend is abusive. This does a good job of representing teen violence in relationships, but it does not do a good job of representing the fact that it's unacceptable and there's definitely a better way to have handled it, but for the most part, it's just ignored while Avi chases her love interest. I didn't even finish it.
Read
January 24, 2023First, this book was obviously not written for me. I am not a black woman, (or high school aged) so take my thoughts with a grain of salt, or disregard them completely, whatever works for you.
I am a sucker for a boarding school setting and I had so much hope for this setting and premise but this book just didn’t do it for me. Mostly I don’t think this book needed to be as long as it was for what the big moments of the book were- a lot of exposition that felt like it dragged with over explanations of small things like outfits, rather than the setting and things that would have been more immersive as a reader. I did love the nods (& specific mentions) to different black authors and conversations surrounding intersectionality, and that the school was one which created a space specifically for black students and prioritized black voices in curriculum and on principle but those factors did not overpower what I didn’t love about the book.
Intentionally not rating this here.
I am a sucker for a boarding school setting and I had so much hope for this setting and premise but this book just didn’t do it for me. Mostly I don’t think this book needed to be as long as it was for what the big moments of the book were- a lot of exposition that felt like it dragged with over explanations of small things like outfits, rather than the setting and things that would have been more immersive as a reader. I did love the nods (& specific mentions) to different black authors and conversations surrounding intersectionality, and that the school was one which created a space specifically for black students and prioritized black voices in curriculum and on principle but those factors did not overpower what I didn’t love about the book.
Intentionally not rating this here.
September 27, 2022
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this title!
A powerful book that deals with an important topic - teen dating violence.
The character development in this book is wonderful - you really get to know Avi, Belle, Quincy, Rhyon, Zazie, and the rest of Avi's family. While it ultimately deals with a serious topic, it highlights many parts of teenage life in a boarding school - navigating classes and heavy coursework, finding friends, doubting yourself, dealing with people you don't get along with, and more. I really recommend this book!
4.5 stars, rounded to 5.
A powerful book that deals with an important topic - teen dating violence.
The character development in this book is wonderful - you really get to know Avi, Belle, Quincy, Rhyon, Zazie, and the rest of Avi's family. While it ultimately deals with a serious topic, it highlights many parts of teenage life in a boarding school - navigating classes and heavy coursework, finding friends, doubting yourself, dealing with people you don't get along with, and more. I really recommend this book!
4.5 stars, rounded to 5.
October 16, 2022
The books that deal with heartbreaking topics in such interesting ways thing better be here to stay. I found myself rooting for and feeling the pain of these characters even if it was written in third person. Definitely a book I'll be thinking about for awhile.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
July 27, 2022
This book was amazing! RTC
November 20, 2022
Avi has been looking forward to attending Briarcliff Prep, a Historically Black Boarding School, since her sister Belle started there. Now Avi is a freshman and her sister is a senior, and she is finally getting the chance to do everything she has been dreaming of. As with most dreams, not everything lives up to her expectations. She has a great roommate, a boy she is interested in, and of course plenty of mean girl drama. But when her sister begins to quit the activities she loves and seems to be only doing things her boyfriend Logan likes, Avi begins to worry. Belle starts shutting out Avi and her other friends, too. How do you help someone who says they don't want help? And denies that anything is wrong? Avi is desperate to find a way to help Belle while keeping her own life on track too. A powerful read with some important lessons. Highly recommended for grades 8 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
August 29, 2022
Heartbreaking but extremely important. A great read for teenagers that handles some heavy topics.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 11, 2023
This book hit on so many more important topics than I thought it would. I think the way those topics were handled was done very well too. I’m so glad I picked this up. I really loved Avi and how deeply she cared for her loved ones. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
July 14, 2022
⭐️ 4.5 Stars ⭐️
RTC
RTC
December 11, 2022
I picked up this interesting ARC at ALA and since life got in the way am reading it now after it’s release date 🤦♀️. I loved this book- based at an all black boarding school it takes us through a character based story about black excellence, black love and the perils of dating violence. Avi is so excited to start high school at Briarcliff Academy where her siblings attend and make her friends and new experiences. Unfortunately some events make her realize that no matter where she is people can be cruel and hurtful,she has to learn how to manage this as it happens. This book was emotional and loving and the depiction of black excellence was gorgeous to see!
March 16, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️ I wish a book like this was around when I was a teenager! This was such a great coming of age story and the importance of sisterhood. Centering the story around a Historically Black Boarding School was also very creative. Highly recommend!
February 27, 2023
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
I was in love with this story. I automatically find myself drawn to stories at preparatory/collegiate/university settings, and I love a mystery within one. I love how rich in narration and storyline that these characters are. Peppins tackles some tough topics in addition to the central conflict (domestic abuse, violence, race) that make the characters feel more vivid and powerful. I wasn't a huge fan of the third person POV. I feel this might have been more powerful and descriptive and evocative with a first person narration, but I understand why Peppins chose this route. I will for sure be adding this to my classroom library.
I was in love with this story. I automatically find myself drawn to stories at preparatory/collegiate/university settings, and I love a mystery within one. I love how rich in narration and storyline that these characters are. Peppins tackles some tough topics in addition to the central conflict (domestic abuse, violence, race) that make the characters feel more vivid and powerful. I wasn't a huge fan of the third person POV. I feel this might have been more powerful and descriptive and evocative with a first person narration, but I understand why Peppins chose this route. I will for sure be adding this to my classroom library.
June 30, 2022
This was, truly, an absolutely great book all around. Peppins, of course, wrote this story for Black readers, specifically young Black women. Even though I am not a part of the main target audience for this novel, I loved reading every single page of it, and would I 100% recommend it to anyone looking for an emotionally packed story about family, friendship, and sisterhood.
I would separate this book into two sections. The first part of it is so fun and such an enjoyable read. It really focuses on setting the story, describing the characters, and presenting Briarcliff Prep—the Historically Black Boarding School that the main character attends. I found that the relationships in the story were all so wonderful and realistic; it made me so happy and giddy to see them interacting with one another. The friendships, the budding romances, the camaraderie, the family dynamics: it made me want to be on campus with them. I didn’t think a book could make me want to go back to high school (of course, my high school wasn’t anywhere near as amazing as Briarcliff Prep, but a girl can dream right).
This part of the novel felt a bit slow, but not in a bad way. I think the Goodreads synopsis is just a little inaccurate. “[…] Avi discovers a devastating secret about her big sister’s boyfriend.” This part doesn’t really take place until the second half of the story, so I was a little confused at first. Peppins really takes her time to describe her main character’s experience at Briarcliff Prep, which was super fun and I loved reading through it. I just wasn’t sure where the story was heading. I absolutely do not consider this an issue with the book itself though, but more so with the book summary.
The second part of this book is a lot more raw and emotionally heavy. It does really take a turn at this point, and I loved the way that Peppins sets it up. It really gives you a full view of her main character’s life. You get both the highs and the lows, and you really feel like you get to know her throughout the story. It was a true emotional rollercoaster since I spent the first part of the book smiling, giggling, and blushing, whereas I was a sobbing mess throughout the second half. It really is a testament to Peppins’ writing skills.
Of course, the story is much more character-focused, than plot-heavy. And I absolutely adored the character relationships in this book. My favourite is the dynamic between the main character and her sister. So complex, so raw, so full of love, loyalty, and all the intricacies of sisterhood. It was beautiful to watch them go through the good and the bad together, and to see the way their relationship molds throughout the story.
I also loved the main character’s relationship with her love interest. Their romance feels so fresh, so young; it was adorable. Sure, they got into arguments at times and occasionally acted out of pettiness or an unwillingness to communicate. But they’re high school kids, so it would’ve been almost unrealistic for their relationship to develop flawlessly. It was so fun to see their love for one another flourish. They’re just a CUTE couple!
I also appreciate the author including a bunch of lgbtq side characters. The representation is peppered here and there into the story, and while it’s made explicitly clear that these characters are queer, it’s something that’s addressed so casually. It’s never considered as some deviation from the norm that causes some big uproar. There are just a bunch of people in the main character’s life who happen to be queer, and they are accepted and loved without a moment of hesitation.
Most of all I loved Avi, the main character. She stood up not only for herself, but also for her friends and family so fearlessly. I wish I could’ve been that level-headed and brave at that age. She knew when an argument wasn’t worth her time or energy, but she also knew where to draw the line when someone took a situation too far. She just felt like such an authentically written character. She had doubts, she navigated friendships and other relationships, she dealt with expectations and failure, she sought out help all while helping those around her. I really loved everything about her.
Overall, an amazing book that I believe is without a doubt worth the read! It is quite heartbreaking though and, as is mentioned at the beginning of the book, it does discuss dating violence and abusive dating relationships, so I would consider this before picking it up.
Source: NetGalley
I would separate this book into two sections. The first part of it is so fun and such an enjoyable read. It really focuses on setting the story, describing the characters, and presenting Briarcliff Prep—the Historically Black Boarding School that the main character attends. I found that the relationships in the story were all so wonderful and realistic; it made me so happy and giddy to see them interacting with one another. The friendships, the budding romances, the camaraderie, the family dynamics: it made me want to be on campus with them. I didn’t think a book could make me want to go back to high school (of course, my high school wasn’t anywhere near as amazing as Briarcliff Prep, but a girl can dream right).
This part of the novel felt a bit slow, but not in a bad way. I think the Goodreads synopsis is just a little inaccurate. “[…] Avi discovers a devastating secret about her big sister’s boyfriend.” This part doesn’t really take place until the second half of the story, so I was a little confused at first. Peppins really takes her time to describe her main character’s experience at Briarcliff Prep, which was super fun and I loved reading through it. I just wasn’t sure where the story was heading. I absolutely do not consider this an issue with the book itself though, but more so with the book summary.
The second part of this book is a lot more raw and emotionally heavy. It does really take a turn at this point, and I loved the way that Peppins sets it up. It really gives you a full view of her main character’s life. You get both the highs and the lows, and you really feel like you get to know her throughout the story. It was a true emotional rollercoaster since I spent the first part of the book smiling, giggling, and blushing, whereas I was a sobbing mess throughout the second half. It really is a testament to Peppins’ writing skills.
Of course, the story is much more character-focused, than plot-heavy. And I absolutely adored the character relationships in this book. My favourite is the dynamic between the main character and her sister. So complex, so raw, so full of love, loyalty, and all the intricacies of sisterhood. It was beautiful to watch them go through the good and the bad together, and to see the way their relationship molds throughout the story.
I also loved the main character’s relationship with her love interest. Their romance feels so fresh, so young; it was adorable. Sure, they got into arguments at times and occasionally acted out of pettiness or an unwillingness to communicate. But they’re high school kids, so it would’ve been almost unrealistic for their relationship to develop flawlessly. It was so fun to see their love for one another flourish. They’re just a CUTE couple!
I also appreciate the author including a bunch of lgbtq side characters. The representation is peppered here and there into the story, and while it’s made explicitly clear that these characters are queer, it’s something that’s addressed so casually. It’s never considered as some deviation from the norm that causes some big uproar. There are just a bunch of people in the main character’s life who happen to be queer, and they are accepted and loved without a moment of hesitation.
Most of all I loved Avi, the main character. She stood up not only for herself, but also for her friends and family so fearlessly. I wish I could’ve been that level-headed and brave at that age. She knew when an argument wasn’t worth her time or energy, but she also knew where to draw the line when someone took a situation too far. She just felt like such an authentically written character. She had doubts, she navigated friendships and other relationships, she dealt with expectations and failure, she sought out help all while helping those around her. I really loved everything about her.
Overall, an amazing book that I believe is without a doubt worth the read! It is quite heartbreaking though and, as is mentioned at the beginning of the book, it does discuss dating violence and abusive dating relationships, so I would consider this before picking it up.
Source: NetGalley
October 25, 2022
3 stars. Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the review copy of this book.
I am a sucker for boarding school novels, so I couldn't wait to read this glimpse into life at an elite Historically Black Boarding School (HBBS) in Atlanta.
Briarcliff Prep is the story of Avi, a first-year student at an all-girls HBBS that her sister also attends. Her brothers are at the brother school, Preston Academy, across the street. Avi is quickly inducted into the traditions of the school as well as the social politics of her new peers. She is surrounded by women who look like her and encourage her to read literature by Black authors. She is thrown into a very competitive academic enviroment with very high expectations, and at times she is challenged in meeting those expectations. Avi struggles in her math class, but finds herself falling for her math tutor, Quincy. And she struggles with finding her spot on the school newspaper.
While all of that is going on, Avi can also see a strange dynamic developing between her sister, Belle, and Belle's boyfriend, Logan. Logan is one of the most popular students at Preston, and Belle and Logan as set to be the king and queen bee of the social scene. But something isn't quite right there. Avi doesn't trust her gut at first, but soon the signs become too clear to be ignored. Can she help her sister realize this before it's too late?
Briarcliff Prep is a novel about Black identity and Black joy, but it is also novel about the dangers of dating violence. I loved that Peppins was inspired by her time at Spelman college. My favorite parts of the novel were the "world building" bits at the beginning where Avi gets to experience her new school for the first time as a student. Briarcliff is challenging but it also provides Avi with a strong sense of community that can be found at boarding schools and small liberal arts colleges (I was always so jealous of my friends who went to women's colleges!).
The dating violence plot is very slow to develop. The first half really focuses on the school, the academics, and Avi's budding romance with Quincy. In that sense, the plotting here was a little uneven and I struggled to get into the story. I knew what was coming, based on the blurb, and couldn't focus as much on the joy because I was waiting for the sinister elements to appear. I think that affected my early reading experience and my overall perceptions of the book upon completion. I think this is symptom of the book trying to do two key things at the same time, but also just indicative of a debut novel. Peppin shows immense promise as a writer who can appeal to actual teens and tell stories we haven't read it, but I did struggle a bit with wanting to continue reading early in the book -- I almost DNFed this at several points.
HOWEVER, this book is not FOR me. It was not written for me. It was written for the young people I see in my library every day who will eat this premise up! I can think of so many students who I know I can hook into reading this because of the aspirational setting at Briarcliff, the fun politics of boarding school, and the dark drama of dating violence. Briarcliff Prep will certainly be a book I will be purchasing for my library and recommending to students.
I am a sucker for boarding school novels, so I couldn't wait to read this glimpse into life at an elite Historically Black Boarding School (HBBS) in Atlanta.
Briarcliff Prep is the story of Avi, a first-year student at an all-girls HBBS that her sister also attends. Her brothers are at the brother school, Preston Academy, across the street. Avi is quickly inducted into the traditions of the school as well as the social politics of her new peers. She is surrounded by women who look like her and encourage her to read literature by Black authors. She is thrown into a very competitive academic enviroment with very high expectations, and at times she is challenged in meeting those expectations. Avi struggles in her math class, but finds herself falling for her math tutor, Quincy. And she struggles with finding her spot on the school newspaper.
While all of that is going on, Avi can also see a strange dynamic developing between her sister, Belle, and Belle's boyfriend, Logan. Logan is one of the most popular students at Preston, and Belle and Logan as set to be the king and queen bee of the social scene. But something isn't quite right there. Avi doesn't trust her gut at first, but soon the signs become too clear to be ignored. Can she help her sister realize this before it's too late?
Briarcliff Prep is a novel about Black identity and Black joy, but it is also novel about the dangers of dating violence. I loved that Peppins was inspired by her time at Spelman college. My favorite parts of the novel were the "world building" bits at the beginning where Avi gets to experience her new school for the first time as a student. Briarcliff is challenging but it also provides Avi with a strong sense of community that can be found at boarding schools and small liberal arts colleges (I was always so jealous of my friends who went to women's colleges!).
The dating violence plot is very slow to develop. The first half really focuses on the school, the academics, and Avi's budding romance with Quincy. In that sense, the plotting here was a little uneven and I struggled to get into the story. I knew what was coming, based on the blurb, and couldn't focus as much on the joy because I was waiting for the sinister elements to appear. I think that affected my early reading experience and my overall perceptions of the book upon completion. I think this is symptom of the book trying to do two key things at the same time, but also just indicative of a debut novel. Peppin shows immense promise as a writer who can appeal to actual teens and tell stories we haven't read it, but I did struggle a bit with wanting to continue reading early in the book -- I almost DNFed this at several points.
HOWEVER, this book is not FOR me. It was not written for me. It was written for the young people I see in my library every day who will eat this premise up! I can think of so many students who I know I can hook into reading this because of the aspirational setting at Briarcliff, the fun politics of boarding school, and the dark drama of dating violence. Briarcliff Prep will certainly be a book I will be purchasing for my library and recommending to students.
December 9, 2022
Shouts to the author for my ARC…!
This book was quite interesting..! A book about a girl going off to a historically Black boarding school hides much more…I am fully invested in Miss Peppins future works..!
My blog, linked below, has my full thoughts!
http://sltrbooks.home.blog/2022/11/16...
This book was quite interesting..! A book about a girl going off to a historically Black boarding school hides much more…I am fully invested in Miss Peppins future works..!
My blog, linked below, has my full thoughts!
http://sltrbooks.home.blog/2022/11/16...
May 3, 2023
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. this book hit DEEP, way deeper than i expected. i was very caught of guard but this was written with so much care. i could write an essay about how amazing this was. epilogue was kind of sad but it’s realistic. don’t expect a cookie cutter happy ending but it still feels like the right ending.
edit: now that i’ve decompressed i kind of have a higher appreciation for this book. it did what “the girls i’ve been” was trying to do but i think more appropriately. it was gentle but still deep. i literally cried reading the last couple chapters bc it really hit hard. i think seeing the events from Avi’s pov was an interesting but good choice. it showed how abusive relationships can impact not only the victim but the people around them. like i said i could write a whole paper on this book it’s so good.
edit: now that i’ve decompressed i kind of have a higher appreciation for this book. it did what “the girls i’ve been” was trying to do but i think more appropriately. it was gentle but still deep. i literally cried reading the last couple chapters bc it really hit hard. i think seeing the events from Avi’s pov was an interesting but good choice. it showed how abusive relationships can impact not only the victim but the people around them. like i said i could write a whole paper on this book it’s so good.
October 19, 2022
Wow. 5 stars. Was not expecting any of that but I love these “Black girl” canon books. Books written for Black girls. This is beautiful and sad but a must-have conversation amongst teen girls.
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