Read-Bait: “Private School”

Posted February 5, 2015 / Book Lists, Features / 16 Comments

Here is my first post in a new series here at the blog: Read-Bait! Over the coming weeks, I’ll be featuring different words or phrases that catch my eye in book descriptions, the books I’ve read under those categories, and the books I plan on reading. I hope it shares some insight about my reading preferences and interests. As always, feel free to recommend any books you’d think I like!

read bait definitionYou know how it goes: you’re browsing Goodreads, clicking on books that look interesting, and checking out their summaries. All of a sudden you see a certain word or phrase in the synopsis that triggers an automatic reaction to click that “Want to Read” button. I call this “read-bait” – any word(s) that make you instantly think that you MUST read this book. One example for me is…

private school definition headerThe minute I see a plot summary for a book involving some kind of special school, I’m on board. I loved the idea of attending boarding school when I was younger: living with your classmates, walking to class like you’re at college – it all sounded awesome. My first foray into this category was the Private series by Kate Brian. It featured a girl who attended private school on scholarship and got involved in some pretttttty crazy shit, including murders, mean girls, and boy drama. Along that same vein, when Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar branched out and gave Jenny her own series, The It Girl, I was in heaven. Jenny was headed to boarding school! YAAAS. It was essentially the same kind of series but just took place in an even cooler location. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (speaking of cool locations) takes place at an American boarding school in PARIS. I was head over heels within the first chapter. Another way to hook me in this category is if there’s some kind of magic involved. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray is one of my favorite series and is one of few historical fiction books I’ve enjoyed. Of course my recent Gallagher Girls reread has brought the Gallagher Academy back into my life. I’d Tell You I’d Love You but Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter is probably a less mature version than the rest of these books, but still a unique boarding school premise. All of the girls are training to be spies and live in a giant mansion. Sign me up.

private schoolI have quite a few books on my TBR that fall under this general umbrella. Oddly enough, three out of the five books pictured here I just bought in my most recent Book Outlet haul. I must have subconsciously decided that I haven’t read a boarding school book in a while!


formula read baitBoarding/Private/Special School
+ Mean Girls or Magic or Paranormal or Mystery or Romance
= GIMME.

16 responses to “Read-Bait: “Private School”

  1. Oh I like the term read bait, there are certainly a few words or sentences that can catch my atttention. Boarding school is one of those theme’s I love reading about as well, although I don’t think it’s read bait for me. I really enjoyed Vampire Academy and it’s certainly one of the series I enjoyed most with the boarding school setting. Interesting topic, will have to think of that next time when I am browsing books and see what my read baits are.

  2. I love this feature! I think it’s a great idea! I really used to be drawn to boarding school books too (and I loved the It Girl even more than the Gossip Girl books!)

    Also, I’m not sure if you’re participating in blog awards but if you are, I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blog Award 🙂
    http://girlinthepages.com/2015/02/05/the-versatile-blogger-award/

    Cristina @ Girl in the Pages recently posted: The Versatile Blogger Award!
  3. My gosh, this is brilliant! I think about this all the time. There are definitely preferences and interests that will make me read a book in a heartbeat. Gosh, you and your great creative features. 🙂 I totally agree about the special school one, for me it’s like academies. Like fancy smart school academies. So like Free To Fall was an instant “I need to read you”.

    I loved the idea of boarding school too. 🙂 I blame Zoey 101. I was so convinced I could go to a boarding school later when I was in high school. Then I looked up the prices and down the toilet, my dreams went. Ha.

    I may have to do a one time “discussion” on this (more like listing out my own triggers), giving you credit of course. I can’t wait to see more posts on this.

    Amber recently posted: Weekly Recap (#12)

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