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read_with_riley's review against another edition
3.0
Hacking Harvard was weird. I didn't love it, but it was alright. It was interesting in a lot of ways, but got boring sometimes and stopped making sense at others. Overall enjoyable, but not much else.
libraryink's review against another edition
5.0
Yes, I'm late to the party. This book's been out forever and I'm just now getting to it. Sue me.
I loved this book. It makes me glad that I went to undergraduate school at an open admissions university so I never went through anything like the process that Robin describes in Hacking Harvard. I felt for the characters as they got deeper into the hack. And the ending totally worked for me.
And am I crazy or was there a movie called Hacking Harvard? I thought so, but I sure can't find it. And no, I don't mean "The Social Network."
I loved this book. It makes me glad that I went to undergraduate school at an open admissions university so I never went through anything like the process that Robin describes in Hacking Harvard. I felt for the characters as they got deeper into the hack. And the ending totally worked for me.
And am I crazy or was there a movie called Hacking Harvard? I thought so, but I sure can't find it. And no, I don't mean "The Social Network."
leslie1187's review against another edition
3.0
This was the type of novel that's a fun, simplistic read that allows you to shut your brain off for an afternoon while you read it. A quick read with humor tossed in that will make you giggle in some spots. The characters are also easy to relate to and since the perspective shifts from character to character it gives you, the reader, a chance to explore each character a bit more. I recommend this to readers who enjoy YA contemporary/realist fiction.
mdfn's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting take on the college admissions process, with a lively plot.
nutti72's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute book about several very intelligent boys who take a below average kid & turn him into Harvard University. The book focuses on how they do the hack.
meghannf's review against another edition
2.0
That was a fast read. I enjoy it in the beginning but the more I read, the more I started to lose interest. The characters are becoming less and less interesting.
The same goes for the plot, it was well rounded but I had no real interest in the hack in the end, I just wanted it to be done.
The same goes for the plot, it was well rounded but I had no real interest in the hack in the end, I just wanted it to be done.
mathstalio's review against another edition
3.0
Good, fun, added just enough societal commentary to stop it from being completely cliche and boring but not enough to really make me think or blow my mind or anything.
wistyallgood's review against another edition
4.0
There was something about this book, and I can't quite put a finger on it, that I just loved. When this book first came out about a decade ago, I got it from the library but never read it. Spontaneously picked it up again, and I'm so glad I did.
First of all, the narration was unexpected and very, very cool.
The scenarios were clever and technologically, really fascinating.
As a bitter hater of the college admissions process, I just liked the whole idea of fucking with the system and proving it doesn't make sense and that it shouldn't define people.
There was a whole lot of "WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN??" moments for me. A lot of suspense and stress, which are the best book-reading feelings.
Oh, wasn't expecting this to have much of a romance, but I actually enjoyed the one that was sprinkled in.
Clay was a VERY surprising character..
I didn't really like the fact that Lex, in the end,.
The author's disclaimer at the end cracked me up because I could so see some idiots trying to replicate what happens in the book! I also appreciate what she said about admissions officers not being bad people or anything. They just have a tough job.
The little tidbits at the beginning of each chapter were actually so interesting!
Finally, I have to acknowledge the Donald Trump reference. When I read his name, I yelled at these characters form 2007, "IF ONLY YOU KNEW!"
First of all, the narration was unexpected and very, very cool.
The scenarios were clever and technologically, really fascinating.
As a bitter hater of the college admissions process, I just liked the whole idea of fucking with the system and proving it doesn't make sense and that it shouldn't define people.
There was a whole lot of "WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN??" moments for me. A lot of suspense and stress, which are the best book-reading feelings.
Oh, wasn't expecting this to have much of a romance, but I actually enjoyed the one that was sprinkled in.
Clay was a VERY surprising character.
Spoiler
The fact that he chose to actually attend Harvard in the end? WhoaI didn't really like the fact that Lex, in the end,
Spoiler
chose to go to Brown but had to like fish the envelope out of her garbage. Why'd you throw it out like it was trash? Brown's a great school, too!The author's disclaimer at the end cracked me up because I could so see some idiots trying to replicate what happens in the book! I also appreciate what she said about admissions officers not being bad people or anything. They just have a tough job.
The little tidbits at the beginning of each chapter were actually so interesting!
Finally, I have to acknowledge the Donald Trump reference. When I read his name, I yelled at these characters form 2007, "IF ONLY YOU KNEW!"
wendyberry's review against another edition
3.0
Quick read. Dialogue grew tiresome pretty fast, but once I started reading it outloud with a Boston accent, it made it easier to force my way through it. Overall, a fun read!
piedanger's review against another edition
2.0
DNF — the writing wasn’t very good and the plot was weird, I guess just not my cup of tea.
I must say that the premise was awesome, especially being on the brink of college application season but I couldn’t force myself to continue reading even just to know the ending.
I must say that the premise was awesome, especially being on the brink of college application season but I couldn’t force myself to continue reading even just to know the ending.