It’s a mind-blower, but author Nicole LaPorte deftly charts a course through today’s obstacle course of college applications in her fascinating expose of Rick Singer and the so-called 'Varsity Blues' scandal that captured America’s fancy. If you wondered how it happened, and why, Guilty Admissions: The Bribes, Favors, and Phonies behind the College Cheating Scandal has the answers ... The book’s ending is somewhat unsatisfying as it leaves open what ultimately happened to Singer and many of his co-conspirators ... In a true Hollywood cliffhanger ending, the author closes the book by teasing the moment that a prosecutor approached the cameras at a press conference ... Guess we'll have to wait for the sequel.
[A] detailed, fast-paced narrative of the college admissions scandal that for months became fodder for late-night comedians and commentators of all persuasions ... LaPorte makes clear in Guilty Admissions that a culture ruled by the rich led to an environment that fed Singer’s criminal behavior ... LaPorte has presented a sobering tale of the double standard that exists in America’s prestigious learning institutions. Perhaps one of the most important points she makes is that Singer and many other participants truly operated in the open.
Ripped from the headlines, this book is sure to be a crowd-pleaser with nonfiction readers. It is a juicy and engrossing indictment of privilege gone awry.
Though the narrative tone is largely gossipy, LaPorte ably covers all the aspects of the scandal, including the unique atmosphere of LA ... Her fast-paced book has much to interest parents whose offspring are aiming for top-tier colleges. An engaging tale of the lifestyles of the rich-and-felonious parents of college-bound students.
[A] riveting rundown of Operation Varsity Blues, the 2019 FBI investigation that led to the arrests of Hollywood celebrities Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman ... LaPorte provides plenty of juicy gossip about the rich and famous, but also probes systemic flaws and 'inequities of class' in American higher education. Readers will be captivated by this entertaining look behind the headlines.
