I love Melissa Walker’s series about a rather ordinary teenage girl from North Carolina who becomes a high fashion model. The concept is fun, the characters are amazing, and the writing is sharp. That’s remained a constant in all three books. I didn’t love this latest one quite as much as the other two, but I still loved it, as will other Violet fans. In this latest installment, Violet has decided to quit the modeling world and go to college like a normal nineteen-year-old. She’s going to Vassar, where she hopes for anonymity, despite her loose ends in the fashion world.
Of course, that doesn’t quite work out. If everything was great, where would the story be? Violet is trying to stay true to herself despite pressures from the modeling world, and also try to figure out who she is on her own. She doesn’t want to be the wallflower she was in high school, but she also doesn’t want to be a model whose every move could make it into the tabloids, and who, despite an ad campaign to promote loving your body, is pressured to be unhealthily thin. Anyway, besides those issues, Violet has to deal with her feelings for her best friend, Roger–and his bubbly older girlfriend, Teen Fashionista reporter Chloe.
I really like the way Melissa Walker handles issues like body image with relation to fashion. It’s a great message, but not one that is in any way pushed on the reader–it’s totally part of the story. Of course, I love catching up with my favorite characters here, and meeting a new favorite character in Kurt! Melissa Walker creates such awesome characters. She’s just great in general, a brilliant writer. These books (VIP being no exception–great acronym, huh?) just draw me in an completely capture my attention for an afternoon…And then the whole next day as I wonder what happens to the characters after the last page. I would hate for this to be the last book about Violet Greenfield. Here’s to hoping for number four!
Check out my reviews of the first two books in the series, Violet on the Runway and Violet by Design. Also, don’t miss my interview with Melissa Walker, her guest blog here, and her fantastic blog.
August 1, 2008 at 9:50 am
Seems everyone is posting about Violet today in my blog feeds! I just started the book last night and though I was hooked I fell asleep after about three chapters (ok, so I started it at midnight when I normally go to bed at 9-ish but I was just so excited to have finally received it! haha!)
This is a fantastic series and I keep making people read it too. I might have to buy new books after mine are circulated!
August 1, 2008 at 11:04 am
I love this series. I haven’t started this one yet but since I’m featuring Melissa on my blog this month, I’m going to start it ASAP.
I’m glad you’re back, btw :)
August 2, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Great review, and unfortunately, this is the last Violet book for now, unless her publisher wants a fourth. I really do hope they ask for a fourth, but I’m happy with the ending if they don’t.
Glad to have you back!! :) I missed your posts.
August 7, 2008 at 5:33 am
My VIP has apparently shipped this morning, and I couldn’t be more excited. Melissa has created such an enduring character in Violet.
August 8, 2008 at 11:05 am
Great review. I’m so excited to start reading these books…I’m so slow with this, but I’ve been meaning too!!! And yes, it is nice to see you back and posting. :)
-Lauren
Authors/Reviewers:Read the Blog. Post for you!
August 8, 2008 at 11:27 am
Great review! I can’t wait to read these books!
August 8, 2008 at 11:47 am
Truthfully, I don’t think a fourth book would do the first three justice. I think the open ended ending was fabulous and a great way to end a small series like this one. Melissa had her characters grow and become mature in front of us, but still left room for our imaginations about their futures. Not every series needs a set in stone ending, and I think this is one of them!
<3 Kate
August 8, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Ahhh…. I love it that there are so many great reviews! I’m so hyped up to read this series :)
August 8, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I agree with bunnyb… I have heard nothing but good things about this series and about Melissa…
I’m SO looking forward to reading all the books!
August 8, 2008 at 5:55 pm
great review ;D
~bella aire~
August 9, 2008 at 1:07 am
Spending the next day hoping for book four? Oh my goodness, Melissa must have some serious skill that I’ve been missing out on by failing to read any of her books as of yet…
Great review, I want to read the series even more now than I did before reading your review!
August 9, 2008 at 11:05 pm
All of these reviews are amazing!
August 12, 2008 at 6:28 am
Kurt was such a fun character.
February 8, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I loved the book. I just finished Violet in Private about ten minutes ago and my heart sank. I don’t want VIP (yes, that’s a really good acronym) to be the last book ! There are too many unanswered questions. What will happen over the summer? Will Roger and Violet go out with each other? Will Roger not go to USC because of Violet? Will Violet’s Dove campaign lead her back to real modeling? What happens to Chloe? What goes on back at Vassar? There are simply too many questions!
February 14, 2009 at 3:25 pm
[…] might say that Violet in Private doesn’t fit here because it’s about a model, but it totally does. Violet is bashed by the […]
April 28, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Very informative article post. Will read on…
February 19, 2011 at 7:27 pm
I read Violet on the Runway and Violet by Design… SO FAR!!!! I couldnt put any of them down!!!! I read Violet by Design in 3 days!!! im ordering the 3rd book, Violet in Private, AND IM SOOOOO EXCITED!!!! I love Violet because she is exactly like me in everyway, its freaky :D. Its like these books were made for me :))