Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton is one of those books that I could not get out of my head prior to reading it. I guess the greenish blue cover just would not let my attention go. You could say that I was quite fixated on reading it. Eventually it made the way from my bedroom bookshelf to my nightstand, to me actually turning pages and reading it. While it was not quite what I had built it up to be in my head, I felt this book was very entertaining and certainly a page turner.
Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton follows intrepid young journalist Piper as she goes from public school to a ritzy private school, on scholarship. Piper is determined to win this prize college scholarship that will pay her way through university based upon her journalism. So, she goes chasing stories and comes at different dead ends. That is, until, she ends up with a story about diplomatic immunity falling into her lap. She gets close with Rafael Amador, who is a diplomat’s son and who gets away with everything. So, she takes what she learns and begins to craft an expose about how these kids are above the law. She explores power and privilege. While the story may get her an award, it may also lose her the guy.
One thing that I really liked about Piper’s character was that she was legitimately poor. First, she works for a frozen yogurt shop and that’s how she paid for her clunker car and her gas money. Second, her clothes are basically all second hand. Third, her dad works for a factory and does not make bank. Her mom works part time, but takes care of her brother who has special needs. At one point, Piper catches sight of a food stamps application that her parents have on the table.
I loved that her family was actually in poverty and it wasn’t oh we don’t have an extra 45,000 laying around for your college tuition this year, but we can cover all the other needs we are so poor kind of thing. I liked that her struggle with money and her parents struggle was something I could actually relate to and see as legitimate, as someone who grew up poor.
The romance in Diplomatic Immunity is pretty okay. I mean, so at first it feels like Rafael and Piper are going to get together. He’s pretty nice toward her. Then, he falls into this whole douchebag stereotype and it’s like, meh, really? But then, things change and flip. There’s also another guy who could be good. I mean, the romance is a fun aspect to the book, but I just did not feel it as I read it.
Honestly, Diplomatic Immunity is not going to change your life. However, if you like semi-political thrillers about intrepid teens, you will probably enjoy this book by Brodi Ashton. I think it’s a fun read overall, but it just lacks a little something that makes it spectacular. If you still aren’t too sure, get this one from the library. It’s actually a good book to get into between longer, heavier reads. I did read it in pretty much a day, so it does have pacing going for it.
Other reviews of Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton:
- Beauty And The Bookshelf – “a quick, sweet, and fun read“
- The Eater Of Books – “more enjoyable than I expected“
- The Book Hookup – “cute, laugh-out-loud worthy“
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Thanks for the review, April! I’ll probably just grab this one at the library someday. It doesn’t sound particularly ground-breaking and there are so many YA contemporary novels out there that I’m much more excited to read.