Review: Elite (Eagle Elite, #1) by Rachel Van Dyken (No... Just, no.)

Title: Elite
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Series: Eagle Elite
Book #: 1
Pages: 256
Reading Level: NA
Book Rating: 
Goodreads Rating: 4.23
Published: July 9th, 2013

For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy -- until it was too late.

Taschima's POV:

I can't even count how many times I rolled my eyes while reading Elite. There were too many things that deserved the eye roll: Tracey, Nixon, the romance, the story... Elite definitely isn't what I thought it was going to be. It kind of disappointed me with not only the story but the characters. The setting of the novel was an utter joke. A college that acts like a high school in every which way. The students are immature a hell, there are cliques, uniforms, etc. It was basically a high school that was given the name "college" just so nobody would be pissed with how sexually charged many of these pages were. Also, no adult supervision.

Let's start off with the main character, Tracey. Tracey, Tracey, Tracey. Sometimes I liked Tracey, at least at the beginning I did. She stood up for herself, she had a spine, and she was spunky. That is, until she got involved with the "Elite", the "college's" most powerful clique. Then she became the BIGGEST CRY BABY. She was "bursting into sobs" with every other page over EVERYTHING. She couldn't "keep it in". She never could! She LOVED playing the victim.

"I sighed. It would be impossible to forget to breathe, to forget I had a heart, so what made him think it would be possible to forget Nixon?"

At the beginning she was good at standing up for herself, after 15% in? Not so much anymore. She needed some serious saving. She was pathetic. And did I also mention she was completely clueless? There were SO many signs regarding what Nixon was and what was going on around her, but she was of course completely clueless. I cannot respect this girl, she doesn't deserve the reader's respect and I am not even sure why not only one but TWO guys are trying to get her attention. Yeap, here comes the love triangle.

"Open" I opened my eyes and my mouth, since I really didn't have a say in the matter. But then again, it was Nixon. I wasn't given a vote. Ever.

Nixon, Nixon, Nixon. God's gift to earthly women everywhere. Only... not. He is a prick. Not only a prick, he is a mobster! Like, he is only 20 years old and he is already running the family business. Are you kidding? Why is he still attending the "college" which isn't really a college (more like a high school... they make then wear uniforms) from which he was already supposedly graduated? It makes no sense. I dislike this guy so much. He isn't dreamy, he isn't a dangerous bad boy, he is a mobster who thinks the world has to answer to his every beck and call.

"Sobs racked my body until I couldn't breathe or see straight for that matter. I didn't even know which direction I was running. I just knew I had to get out of there. Away from him and away from my broken heart that had just shattered at Nixon's feet."

Don't worry, this isn't unusual behavior for Tracey. She is always bursting into sobs. Hey Nixon, do you mind stepping on that heart for good measure? Thanks.

"Chase's face was suddenly in front of me. Wordlessly, he lifted me into his arms and carried me out of the classroom, damning the mafia to hell the entire way."

Why couldn't Clueless Sobbing Tracey go for Chase? Because he is the nice one of course. But the minute things went wrong with Nixon Tracey ran unto Chase's arms. It's like a bad cheesy chick flick. Then the author tried to quickly assemble together something that looked like attraction between the two characters and we were supposed to buy it. Yeah, no. I need a little more detail in my relationships if I am going to believe this girl is torn between the two guys. Seriously? Chase is the only character I really liked. The only character I would like to get to know better. Well, him and maybe Monroe.

Now let's talk about the girl side characters. Monroe. She is Nixon's twin sister. Being the only other girl in the story of course she gets the "slut" treatment package. Her dresses are too short, she is too beautiful, she is only seen as being interested in partying and guys. She does come to Tracey's rescue when needed however. Even if Tracey doesn't seem to have the best thoughts about her appearance.

"Don't worry, I think I've got the perfect dress." My stomach launched into nervous somersaults. If it was anything like the dress she was wearing now, then I was going to be put in prison for prostituting myself out."

I don't even blame Tracey. No, she just HAD to be the MOST SPECIAL girl in the book. Of course she is a virgin with little to no experience. She is the SPECIAL girl. Everybody take note! Monroe is no good because she dresses "slutty" and is rich and beautiful and so very cliche.

Tracey said and did a lot of stupid things. Like, a lot of them. Look at this little gem:

"Tears threatened again. "Sometimes, Cahse... it's the emotional wounds that hurt the most." I pushed back the anger and sighed. "I'd rather he beat me. Cuts heal, bruises fade-but broken hearts? They carry scars for a lifetime."

 

I am done. I can't even continue to keep writing about the many things that are just wrong with this book. I can't. I won't. Good luck if you want to read it. I won't be picking up the second one anytime soon, not when there are so many other wonderful things I could be spending my time with.