Review: Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: October 28th, 2014
Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters, #2 | The Secret Diamond Sisters
Pages: 448
Format: Paperback
Source: Gifted
Genre(s): Contemporary
Synopsis from Goodreads:

All-access doesn’t mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah’s YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don’t keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters’ archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow’s riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

 

Drama, drama, DRAMA! Diamonds in the Rough brings it in droves. This sequel to The Secret Diamond Sisters takes it up another level with scandals, shocking revelations, and so much fun! I found it to be a big step up from the first book!

I was a bit disappointed in the beginning because it was a little slow going at first. But once I pushed to about halfway through things started to heat up and get crazy… Diamonds in the Rough is told from four different POV characters: Savannah, Courtney, Peyton, and Madison. I definitely have my favorites of the group.

Savannah, the youngest Diamond, really gets on my nerves. She’s so naïeve, yet tries to be really mature with her actions and relationships. I found her to be even more whiny than in book one. 😦

Courtney, the middle Diamond sister, is still my favorite. She’s the most sensible of the three, and I found her to be the most relatable character to me. In Diamonds in the Rough you get to see a different, less composed side of her, which I liked as well. I was a little upset with her constant turn-downs to Brett, though, because I ship them! They’re adorable together!

Peyton, the eldest, has really grown on me since the first book. While I don’t like everything that she does, you can tell that she’s a really strong, stubborn character. Her love life gets even more intense and I have yet another ship that I possibly like even more than Courtney and Brett: Peyton and Jackson!! I would love it if Jackson was my bodyguard, just saying…

Lastly we have Madison, who I feel went through the most development since book one. By the end of this book I really found myself liking Madison and feeling for her character. Oh, and what is this? Another ship, Emily? Why yes, I think Madison and Oliver are so perfect for each other!

I liked Diamonds in the Rough in that it delved further into the past, explaining why each of the girl’s lives ended up as it did. Secrets are unearthed, and truths are revealed, making for a great and entertaining story!

All in all, Diamonds in the Rough was a good sequel, taking the story up a notch. It dragged in a few places, but the alternating POVs kept me wanting to read to get back to my favorite characters storylines!