Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Anna and the French Kiss meets The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks in a romantic and hilarious new novel from Brodi Ashton, the author of the Everneath trilogy. 
Raucous parties, privileged attitudes, underage drinking, and diplomatic immunity . . . it’s all part of student life on Embassy Row.
Piper Baird has always dreamed of becoming a journalist. So when she scores a scholarship to exclusive Chiswick Academy in Washington, DC, she knows it’s her big opportunity. Chiswick offers the most competitive prize for teen journalists—the Bennington scholarship—which would ensure her acceptance to one of the best schools in the country.
Piper isn’t at Chiswick for two days before she witnesses the extreme privilege of the young and wealthy elite who attend her school—and realizes that access to these untouchable students just might give her the edge she’ll need to blow the lid off life at the school in a scathing and unforgettable exposé worthy of the Bennington.
The key to the whole story lies with Rafael Amador, the son of the Spanish Ambassador—and the boy at the center of the most explosive secrets and scandals on Embassy Row. Rafael is big trouble—and when he drops into her bedroom window one night, asking for help, it’s Piper’s big chance to get the full scoop. Except Piper discovers that despite his dark streak, Rafael is smart, kind, funny, and gorgeous—and she might have real feelings for him. How can she break the story of a lifetime if it will destroy the boy she just might love?

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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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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