NetGalley Review: Admission

It’s good to be Chloe Wynn Berringer. She’s headed off to the college of her dreams. She’s going to prom with the boy she’s had a crush on since middle school. Her best friend always has her back, and her mom, a B-list Hollywood celebrity, may finally be on her way to the B+ list. It’s good to be Chloe Wynn Berringer–at least, it was, until the FBI came knocking on her front door, guns at the ready, and her future went up in smoke. Now her mother is under arrest in a massive college admissions bribery scandal. Chloe, too, might be facing charges, and even time behind bars. The public is furious, the press is rabid, and the US attorney is out for blood.

As she loses everything she’s long taken for granted, Chloe must reckon not only with the truth of what happened, but also with the examination of her own guilt. Why did her parents think the only way for her to succeed was to cheat for her? What did she know, and when did she know it? And perhaps most importantly, what does it mean to be complicit?

Title: Admission
Author: Julie Buxbaum
Publisher: Random House Children’s (Delacorte Press)

Rating: ⭐ 4/5

Privilege, entitlement, wealth, and pressure – Admission looks at the high competitiveness of college application season and how far some are willing to go.

After a huge college admissions bribery scandal comes to light, Chloe’s seemingly perfect life comes crashing down. She begins to grapple with the truth, leading her to face her own guilt and reflect on her own role in the events leading up to her mother’s arrest.

Since the book is in first-person, it was easy to see the events through Chloe’s eyes. It helped me get a better idea of where her thoughts were coming from and the reasoning she had for her actions. This also provided a bias, however, especially since Chloe lacks self-confidence. As each chapter went by, I enjoyed seeing Chloe’s growth, both personally and in relation to others.

I think the alternating chapters of “Now” and “Then” really helped develop the story (and the drama). It was interesting reading about the past events while already knowing about the scandal. This was especially true when something good happened, and I knew it was all going to come crashing down for Chloe. I also liked the alternating chapters because it had me examine the privileges Chloe and her family took for granted. There were times where they felt entitled to a certain outcome, and it was clear to me, as an outsider, that certain thoughts and actions were leading up to the family’s downfall.

Although Chloe’s story is fiction, I could not help but think about the college admissions bribery scandal that shook the U.S. in 2019. As Julie Buxbaum was inspired by the true event, reading Admission encouraged me to look into the case with a different perspective.

Addressing privilege, wealth, and what it means to be complicit, I recommend picking up Admission for yourself!

Until next time, happy reading! ♡