Last Christmas: The Private Prequel

Ariana Osgood has everything an Easton Academy girl could want: straight A's, the perfect boyfriend, and a coveted spot in exclusive Billings House. But on the first night of Christmas vacation, a blizzard traps her on campus with irresistible bad-boy Thomas Pearson. Alone. Instead of snuggling with her boyfriend next to a cozy fire in Vermont, she's huddling for warmth with Thomas in Ketlar House.

As the snow transforms Easton into a winter wonderland, Ariana finds herself falling for Thomas. But someone is watching their clandestine romance unfold, someone intent on turning their holiday weekend into a nightmare...

Last Christmas reveals the secret of what really happened before Private began — and the shocking truth will change everything for fans of Kate Brian's bestselling series.

Editorial Reviews

Ariana Osgood has everything—the perfect boyfriend, good grades at the elite Easton Academy, and a spot in the exclusive Billings House. On the first night of winter break, she's supposed to be meeting her boyfriend in Vermont, but an unexpected blizzard strands her on campus with bad-boy Thomas Pearson instead. Almost too easily, she begins to fall for Thomas and quickly loses her virginity to him. Everything seems surreal, until she discovers they're being stalked—and secretly photographed. Ariana confronts the Latvian student, Sergei, who has been caught taking photos of her before; their meeting results in his "accidental" death. Just when Ariana thinks the situation is resolved, she finds the actual stalker, and she resolves to take the situation into her own hands. As the prequel to Brian's "Private" series, this novel offers short chapters that are packed with action, drama, and suspense, making it a fast read. But the location doesn't fit with the plot; the characters and events portray Easton Academy as an elite college—not a private high school—where everything is ideal and not at all realistic. It is disappointing how sex, infidelity, murder, and underage drinking are shown without any ultimately devastating consequences; though, in Brian's defense, there aren't highly graphic details of such events. By the book's conclusion, the reader has discovered the unstable and true person that Ariana really is. Because there is no change or remorse brought about in her during the course of the story, the reader will be unsatisfied. Reviewer: Ashleigh Vanada

About The Author:

Kate Brian is the author of the NY Times and USA Today best-selling Private series and it's spin-off series, Privilege. She has also written many other books for teens including Sweet 16 and Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys.