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International School #1
I See London
For the first time in print! New York Times sensation Chanel Cleeton's international, angst-fueled romance is perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Lucy Score.
Maggie Carpenter is a small-town Southern girl who’s never been kissed. She’s ready for a change—and to leave her ordinary life and a failed attempt to get into Harvard behind. She accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, where she’s suddenly mingling with the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders.
When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she has always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? There's someone else, someone she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half French, half Lebanese and impossibly rich, Samir Khouri has made it clear to Maggie that despite their intense attraction, he doesn't do relationships. He's the opposite of everything she thought she wanted—a player with no interest in commitments—but she just can’t keep away. Torn between her dream guy and the one haunting her thoughts, Maggie must fight for her own happy ending. But in a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.
International School
Book 1: I See London
Book 2: London Falling
Maggie Carpenter is a small-town Southern girl who’s never been kissed. She’s ready for a change—and to leave her ordinary life and a failed attempt to get into Harvard behind. She accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, where she’s suddenly mingling with the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders.
When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she has always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? There's someone else, someone she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.
Half French, half Lebanese and impossibly rich, Samir Khouri has made it clear to Maggie that despite their intense attraction, he doesn't do relationships. He's the opposite of everything she thought she wanted—a player with no interest in commitments—but she just can’t keep away. Torn between her dream guy and the one haunting her thoughts, Maggie must fight for her own happy ending. But in a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.
International School
Book 1: I See London
Book 2: London Falling
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2013
About the author
Chanel Cleeton
21 books6,804 followersChanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, The Cuban Heiress, and The House on Biscayne Bay.
Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
February 10, 2014
Title: I See London
Series:I See London #1
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: February 3rd , 2014
Rating: 3.5 stars
Cliffhanger: Hard to say
HEA:
I See London is one of those reads that are very hard to classify or grade, and especially write a review about. There were things I very much enjoyed, liked or was pleased with and few that made me bat shit crazy. I was jumping from ‘I liked it’ to ‘I’m not sure what to think’ to ‘I want to kill the main character right this minute’, yet I continued reading. I’m not regretting it nor do I seem to be disappointed with the outcome, although it was a very jumpy ride for me.
Maggie starts her new life in International School in London, where she can finally spread her wings a little and grow up in ‘privileged environment’, filled with rich students from all over the world.
Maggie is your usual Southern girl that needs to go a little crazy…
She meets two unusual men and quickly is swept away by possibilities of steamy romance, though she doesn’t know if she’s ready for it.
Samir is fellow student. He’s the popular, sexy, making you weak in knees type Arab.
Hugh is older, mature and very, very hot.
Let me cut right to the chase of the matter. Fans of innocent, funny and sweet reads that don’t mind a naïve, young heroines will eat this story up. I, as I’m not usually a go to girl for that kind of main characters had a very hard time to get into it.
On the positive side I was smitten with Samir - he was one of the brightest aspect of this book and frankly made it a lot of better. Seriously what hot blooded woman wouldn’t consider sexy, tall and dark haired man a very big plus? What’s more making him Lebanese not only was refreshing but exotic and I was hooked.
As for Hugh he was not that bad either. He was fantastic character and I liked reading about him, but in my opinion eight years difference between him and Maggie was more of a millennia. Maggie acted like she was thirteen instead of freshman in college and I couldn’t comprehend why was he bothering with this child.
Hopeless romantics will fell in love with this story for sure. Fast paced, dynamic and adorable, I See London is a book I would gift to a friend of mine that loves the drama, the I’m the innocent virgin jazz and doesn’t mind a casual love triangle.
In my book, I See London was a three and something stars read, but I’m almost absolutely positive that the charm of greatly pictured London, allure of studying abroad and living the high life will appeal to many of you.
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*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for honest review *
October 19, 2015
5 Words: Fun, playful, growing-up, new-adult, sexy.
I SEE LONDON, I SEE FRANCE, I CAN SEE YOUR UNDERPANTS!
So sorry. I had to get that out of my system.
Book by book, my faith in New Adult is being restored. This is the second NA in a row which has impressed me and kept me reading. And..? No eye rolling.
This book did have me feeling a little rage-y at points, but it worked so so well by the end of the book. When you get to the bit when you think "Really, Maggie?" just keep reading on. Because it's written for a reason. And when you get to the end, everything will fall into place and you'll be feeling all warm and fuzzy and totally understand everything.
What this story does best is the main character, Maggie. She is one of the best written NA characters I've ever read. She changes and it's not always for the better. She loses sight of who she is and what she wants, but in the end everything works out wonderfully, but not without a lot of hard work and heartbreak. And it's right that it does. Maggie's journey is completely relatable and exactly what the New Adult genre should be about.
I think I See London actually worked really well all on its own. As much as I'd love to see where Maggie and Samir go next, I was content with how it ended. There's no pressure on me to read on, no pressing cliff-hanger. But I will read on, because that was a great read. And I want to know more about Maggie's dad. And Fleur. I loved Fleur.
I SEE LONDON, I SEE FRANCE, I CAN SEE YOUR UNDERPANTS!
So sorry. I had to get that out of my system.
Book by book, my faith in New Adult is being restored. This is the second NA in a row which has impressed me and kept me reading. And..? No eye rolling.
This book did have me feeling a little rage-y at points, but it worked so so well by the end of the book. When you get to the bit when you think "Really, Maggie?" just keep reading on. Because it's written for a reason. And when you get to the end, everything will fall into place and you'll be feeling all warm and fuzzy and totally understand everything.
What this story does best is the main character, Maggie. She is one of the best written NA characters I've ever read. She changes and it's not always for the better. She loses sight of who she is and what she wants, but in the end everything works out wonderfully, but not without a lot of hard work and heartbreak. And it's right that it does. Maggie's journey is completely relatable and exactly what the New Adult genre should be about.
I think I See London actually worked really well all on its own. As much as I'd love to see where Maggie and Samir go next, I was content with how it ended. There's no pressure on me to read on, no pressing cliff-hanger. But I will read on, because that was a great read. And I want to know more about Maggie's dad. And Fleur. I loved Fleur.
November 7, 2014
2.5 stars.
This was a bit reminiscent of Anna and the French Kiss (American girl goes to school in another country, her eyes are opened to new experiences, etc.), except not as fun and a tiny bit more NA (just a little though -- even though Maggie is in college, it still felt a little high-schooly.)
The writing was decent -- I think the only thing that ever turned me off about it (but also made me kind of laugh), was the excessive heat that flared everywhere. The heat flared in his eyes. It flared in her body. It flared between them across the room. The Heat. It FLARES. I GET IT. Find another mode of description, please. *eye roll*
The story involved a love triangle that didn’t make much sense to me. There was really great chemistry between Maggie and one of the guys, and a whole lotta nothing going on with the other guy. Also, said other guy gets zero, and I do mean ZERO, character development. So there really was no point to it, other than as a device to create some tension between Maggie and the first guy. Pffft, lazy love triangles. *shakes head* Do it right or don’t bother.
That said, I really did like Maggie’s relationship with the one dude. I like that a real friendship develops between them, and it’s not just flaring heat all the time. I was kept guessing throughout a lot of the book as to how things would end up with these two. I also liked some of the other supporting characters, one of Maggie’s roommates in particular.
I enjoyed the London setting as it has, for personal reasons, recently become one of my most favorite places EVER. The author did a pretty good job of showing us how this dynamic, lovely, awe-inspiring city was seen through Maggie’s eyes.
As to the ending. . . ummm, how should I put this? Ok, here: I thought it fucking sucked.
(spoiler for the ending -- don’t click on it if you haven’t read the book)
Debating now if I will read the next book.
This was a bit reminiscent of Anna and the French Kiss (American girl goes to school in another country, her eyes are opened to new experiences, etc.), except not as fun and a tiny bit more NA (just a little though -- even though Maggie is in college, it still felt a little high-schooly.)
The writing was decent -- I think the only thing that ever turned me off about it (but also made me kind of laugh), was the excessive heat that flared everywhere. The heat flared in his eyes. It flared in her body. It flared between them across the room. The Heat. It FLARES. I GET IT. Find another mode of description, please. *eye roll*
The story involved a love triangle that didn’t make much sense to me. There was really great chemistry between Maggie and one of the guys, and a whole lotta nothing going on with the other guy. Also, said other guy gets zero, and I do mean ZERO, character development. So there really was no point to it, other than as a device to create some tension between Maggie and the first guy. Pffft, lazy love triangles. *shakes head* Do it right or don’t bother.
That said, I really did like Maggie’s relationship with the one dude. I like that a real friendship develops between them, and it’s not just flaring heat all the time. I was kept guessing throughout a lot of the book as to how things would end up with these two. I also liked some of the other supporting characters, one of Maggie’s roommates in particular.
I enjoyed the London setting as it has, for personal reasons, recently become one of my most favorite places EVER. The author did a pretty good job of showing us how this dynamic, lovely, awe-inspiring city was seen through Maggie’s eyes.
As to the ending. . . ummm, how should I put this? Ok, here: I thought it fucking sucked.
(spoiler for the ending -- don’t click on it if you haven’t read the book)
Debating now if I will read the next book.
September 11, 2024
Most Important Thing To Know: DO NOT BUY THE AUDIOBOOK, I could not stand the constant change of voices and the words were not really audible enough to understand what the text was saying. The MC sounded like she was in pain for the first few chapters which was highly annoying. Do yourself a favor and get Speechify (use my link to get 1 month free and $60 off premium) and the Kindle book (you don't need a kindle, the kindle phone app should do) and have AI read to you once you connect your kindle/amazon acct, it is much better.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💖 Love Triangle
💖 Coming of Age Teen to Woman
💖 Flirtatious Romance
💖 New City, New BFFs
💖 Jealous Secret Lover
Maggie leaves her home in North Carolina to go to an international college in London, England. Once she arrives she is struck by the beauty of the city and instantly puts her regrets of leaving home behind her. She meets her new roommates, one being very intimidating and the other immediately friendly. She showers in the common bathrooms and ends up stripping nude in front of what seems to be her roommates boyfriend and things start to get spicy with him. She meets a cute British boy who seems like will be her new fling but there's one issue, he's 8 years older than her and she is a virgin. Will she fall hard for this new lover or will she fall harder for the SECRET 🤫 lover?
What I Loved: This book had me squealing quite literally at the romance and flirting in this book. Some parts were completely unexpected like strip rummy and some sad parts where out MC is the hero in as best as she could be for her friends. I loved how her romantic interests totally whisk her away and goes through an evolution of who she is and what she left behind to get there. I absolutely loved envisioning all of the places that this book took me to, making it feel like an instant getaway. The love that the MC has for her friends is truly amazing and the gossip is double amazing (sorry I am a bit of a Nosey Nelly). The ending truly left me with a smile on my face and I cannot wait to finish the second book in this series and to see what the third will hold. Chanel is an amazing author and I would read just about anything she writes.
Vibes: Coming of Age, Emily in Paris (via Netflix), Felicity (via Hulu)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💖 Love Triangle
💖 Coming of Age Teen to Woman
💖 Flirtatious Romance
💖 New City, New BFFs
💖 Jealous Secret Lover
Maggie leaves her home in North Carolina to go to an international college in London, England. Once she arrives she is struck by the beauty of the city and instantly puts her regrets of leaving home behind her. She meets her new roommates, one being very intimidating and the other immediately friendly. She showers in the common bathrooms and ends up stripping nude in front of what seems to be her roommates boyfriend and things start to get spicy with him. She meets a cute British boy who seems like will be her new fling but there's one issue, he's 8 years older than her and she is a virgin. Will she fall hard for this new lover or will she fall harder for the SECRET 🤫 lover?
What I Loved: This book had me squealing quite literally at the romance and flirting in this book. Some parts were completely unexpected like strip rummy and some sad parts where out MC is the hero in as best as she could be for her friends. I loved how her romantic interests totally whisk her away and goes through an evolution of who she is and what she left behind to get there. I absolutely loved envisioning all of the places that this book took me to, making it feel like an instant getaway. The love that the MC has for her friends is truly amazing and the gossip is double amazing (sorry I am a bit of a Nosey Nelly). The ending truly left me with a smile on my face and I cannot wait to finish the second book in this series and to see what the third will hold. Chanel is an amazing author and I would read just about anything she writes.
Vibes: Coming of Age, Emily in Paris (via Netflix), Felicity (via Hulu)
January 27, 2018
This is not for me. The heroine was not likable. You may love it. Read sample, writing was choppy.
The heroine was obsessed with underwear.
Not worth $1.99. My opinion. Reading is subjective.
The heroine was obsessed with underwear.
Not worth $1.99. My opinion. Reading is subjective.
October 17, 2014
This was such a cute and refreshing read ,about a girl named Maggie she is a small town country type of gal never had a boyfriend before not even a first kiss . Maggie s life is about to change though now that she got accepted to the famous international school in london. There she meets Samir a total hottie ,big brown eyes dark hair six feet something very yummy sexy half french ,half Lebanese boy from school . This is were the fun begins , so you definitely could tell from the moment you start reading that Maggie and Samir have a strong connection but there is a bit of a problem , since Samir is a total player and what girl would like that .....uh none! But thats not all to make things even more interesting she meets Hugh, wow now Were Samir is a very hot boy this is a very very hot man ,thats after our young and innocent Maggie ..choices choices choices .
I also love the friends that maggie makes they are adorable all though Fleur took a bit of warming up to Maggie but she was a true and loyal friend after they adjusted to each other . I really enjoyed this book it was very sweet with a bit of steamy . And i could keep rambling about it but i dont wanna give away to much so i will just leave you with some highlights of the book
Some Samir for you...
" why wont you admit you want me"
" ive been wanting to touch you since the first day we met "
" because i want you in my bed .naked in my arms .because i cant i cant stop wanting you"
4 Hot Internationally sexy stars!
Thx chanel;)
I also love the friends that maggie makes they are adorable all though Fleur took a bit of warming up to Maggie but she was a true and loyal friend after they adjusted to each other . I really enjoyed this book it was very sweet with a bit of steamy . And i could keep rambling about it but i dont wanna give away to much so i will just leave you with some highlights of the book
Some Samir for you...
" why wont you admit you want me"
" ive been wanting to touch you since the first day we met "
" because i want you in my bed .naked in my arms .because i cant i cant stop wanting you"
4 Hot Internationally sexy stars!
Thx chanel;)
November 18, 2018
I was really hoping I'd like this more since I fell so in love with Next Year in Havana. But mostly I just found it a little vapid--totally get wanting to reinvent yourself in college, making bad relationship choices, etc, but the characters were all in real pain and the revelry seemed like it was about avoiding that more than actually enjoying it. I'd read the second one if I thought my library would get it, but I suspect the won't, so I will have to live with Maggie and Samir's relationship untold.
June 25, 2024
Rating: 4.5 stars
Very slight spoilers about a trope, but I kept it vague.
Knocking down a half star because it has my least favorite trope: cheating
So this is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’m so excited to read more by them. I was so engrossed into this book that I didn’t want to put it down. I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve been this into a story, and for an author to do that, they automatically become a five star read. This book has some cheating in it. Mainly it was just once since the rest of the book the couple wasn’t official or anything, it was more of a for fun type of thing, but there was one time that it was cheating. I’m hoping it gets cleared up in the next book, but I don’t know. Cheating is like my least favorite thing to happen in a book. Like if either of the two main characters cheat (not matter if its cheating with on someone who isn’t a main character) I just cannot do it, however, I was just so full invested into the story by the time I got to it that I didn’t really care. This was like a new adult sort of vibes, similar to Jessica Sorensen. I definitely recommend this author if you’ve liked Jessica Sorensen books. I cannot wait to read more by them.
Very slight spoilers about a trope, but I kept it vague.
Knocking down a half star because it has my least favorite trope: cheating
So this is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’m so excited to read more by them. I was so engrossed into this book that I didn’t want to put it down. I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve been this into a story, and for an author to do that, they automatically become a five star read. This book has some cheating in it. Mainly it was just once since the rest of the book the couple wasn’t official or anything, it was more of a for fun type of thing, but there was one time that it was cheating. I’m hoping it gets cleared up in the next book, but I don’t know. Cheating is like my least favorite thing to happen in a book. Like if either of the two main characters cheat (not matter if its cheating with on someone who isn’t a main character) I just cannot do it, however, I was just so full invested into the story by the time I got to it that I didn’t really care. This was like a new adult sort of vibes, similar to Jessica Sorensen. I definitely recommend this author if you’ve liked Jessica Sorensen books. I cannot wait to read more by them.
November 28, 2014
3 stars - More upper YA than NA but a good romance with some culture throw into the mix.
First Impressions...I read the summary for this book before I saw the cover and I was interested. The idea of going to school in London away from home and everything she knew captured my attention. Then that half French, half Lebanese guy sealed the deal.
The Story... Here I have mixed feelings. I really, really liked the fact that there was no insta-love going on. The characters were definitely given time to develop feeling. The story lasts for the first year of college but I wish this much story had lasted for the first semester.
The Characters... I really enjoyed the all the characters. We get to know more than the two main ones. Some of the those characters were so rich. I really enjoyed them. I hope that we will see more of them in the sequels. I really like Samir. He's a player but he's up front about it. I do think he's met his match but hasn't admitted it yet. He clearly has feeling for Maggie and I don't think he realizes just how deep they are yet. He's really a sweetheart and takes care of his friends. When things get real, he's always there. Maggie kinda frustrated me. She portrays herself one way but she doesn't act that way. She's nineteen and never been kissed. But in London, she hits the club scene and "falls" for a much older guy. Which brings me to Hugh. I guess this is a love triangle but does if the other guy doesn't have a chance then is it a real love triangle. Really, Maggie thinks Hugh has a chance but her own resistance speaks volumes. And we don't really get to know Hugh much. He's Maggie's make-out partner and that's all we really know. He is VERY patient for a guy. He claims to be a player but waits patiently for months while Maggie tries to figure out the sex thing. Not sure I bought that.
The Writing... I liked the writing for the most part. It flowed well and I never had to go back and figure things out after the fact. I would only change the length.
Could I Put It Down...Yeah, I could and I did. I read it over three nights. I could have read it straight through if I had had the time but I needed some breaks. I think that was my frustration with Maggie coming through.
In The End...I enjoyed this book. I like the wide range of cultures that were combined into one place and story. The setting was nice. There was a visit to Paris that I enjoyed as well. Then there was a game of strip rummy that was interesting but ended too soon. It's billed as New Adult for 17 and up but I see it more as an upper YA book. Definitely for high school students. There's not a lot of language or explicit scenes in it. The sex is there but not center stage. If you enjoy the upper YA romance books, then this one is a good one to try.
First Impressions...I read the summary for this book before I saw the cover and I was interested. The idea of going to school in London away from home and everything she knew captured my attention. Then that half French, half Lebanese guy sealed the deal.
The Story... Here I have mixed feelings. I really, really liked the fact that there was no insta-love going on. The characters were definitely given time to develop feeling. The story lasts for the first year of college but I wish this much story had lasted for the first semester.
The Characters... I really enjoyed the all the characters. We get to know more than the two main ones. Some of the those characters were so rich. I really enjoyed them. I hope that we will see more of them in the sequels. I really like Samir. He's a player but he's up front about it. I do think he's met his match but hasn't admitted it yet. He clearly has feeling for Maggie and I don't think he realizes just how deep they are yet. He's really a sweetheart and takes care of his friends. When things get real, he's always there. Maggie kinda frustrated me. She portrays herself one way but she doesn't act that way. She's nineteen and never been kissed. But in London, she hits the club scene and "falls" for a much older guy. Which brings me to Hugh. I guess this is a love triangle but does if the other guy doesn't have a chance then is it a real love triangle. Really, Maggie thinks Hugh has a chance but her own resistance speaks volumes. And we don't really get to know Hugh much. He's Maggie's make-out partner and that's all we really know. He is VERY patient for a guy. He claims to be a player but waits patiently for months while Maggie tries to figure out the sex thing. Not sure I bought that.
The Writing... I liked the writing for the most part. It flowed well and I never had to go back and figure things out after the fact. I would only change the length.
Could I Put It Down...Yeah, I could and I did. I read it over three nights. I could have read it straight through if I had had the time but I needed some breaks. I think that was my frustration with Maggie coming through.
In The End...I enjoyed this book. I like the wide range of cultures that were combined into one place and story. The setting was nice. There was a visit to Paris that I enjoyed as well. Then there was a game of strip rummy that was interesting but ended too soon. It's billed as New Adult for 17 and up but I see it more as an upper YA book. Definitely for high school students. There's not a lot of language or explicit scenes in it. The sex is there but not center stage. If you enjoy the upper YA romance books, then this one is a good one to try.
February 3, 2014
Big thanks to Chanel and Jessica for an ARC copy for review.
Holy smokes, this book was very addicting. I loved everything about this book, from the beautiful cities of London, Paris and Italy that Maggie gets to see, to the swoon worthy guys that have captured her attention, jealousy, secrets, and of course the sizzling romantic chemistry. I found myself even thinking about the novel while I was work, wanting to sneak a few chapters in here and there.
The main character Maggie was very likable. She is down to earth, friendly, outgoing and has a loving relationship with her grandmother. I loved her inner confidence within herself, she may have had moments of insecurities like any other girl, but she knows exactly who she is. Mya, Michael, and Fleur were great friends for Maggie, though it took me a while to warm up to Fleur because of her bitchiness in the beginning.
Now we have two of Maggie's potential love interests, Hugh and Samir. Let's start with Hugh who is British, in his late 20's, a successful bar owner, charming, and absolutely gorgeous. He is very intrigued with Maggie. Then we have Samir who is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. With his French/Lebanese heritage giving him a sexy, exotic look, he is charismatic, a ladies man, but underneath is understanding and passionate. There were several of these moments..
I am so excited that there is going to be a sequel because the ending left me wanting more. Who does Maggie belong with? You'll have to read to find out.
"We'd held hands enough now throughout the past year that this felt familiar-comfortable, even. And yet exciting at the same time.
I felt alive. And I felt safe." ~ Maggie
Review also posted at: http://jesstimetoread.blogspot.com
Holy smokes, this book was very addicting. I loved everything about this book, from the beautiful cities of London, Paris and Italy that Maggie gets to see, to the swoon worthy guys that have captured her attention, jealousy, secrets, and of course the sizzling romantic chemistry. I found myself even thinking about the novel while I was work, wanting to sneak a few chapters in here and there.
The main character Maggie was very likable. She is down to earth, friendly, outgoing and has a loving relationship with her grandmother. I loved her inner confidence within herself, she may have had moments of insecurities like any other girl, but she knows exactly who she is. Mya, Michael, and Fleur were great friends for Maggie, though it took me a while to warm up to Fleur because of her bitchiness in the beginning.
Now we have two of Maggie's potential love interests, Hugh and Samir. Let's start with Hugh who is British, in his late 20's, a successful bar owner, charming, and absolutely gorgeous. He is very intrigued with Maggie. Then we have Samir who is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. With his French/Lebanese heritage giving him a sexy, exotic look, he is charismatic, a ladies man, but underneath is understanding and passionate. There were several of these moments..
I am so excited that there is going to be a sequel because the ending left me wanting more. Who does Maggie belong with? You'll have to read to find out.
"We'd held hands enough now throughout the past year that this felt familiar-comfortable, even. And yet exciting at the same time.
I felt alive. And I felt safe." ~ Maggie
Review also posted at: http://jesstimetoread.blogspot.com
September 26, 2024
Nudne jak After. Bohaterka głupia i irytująca, a fabuła płytka.
July 6, 2024
I'm a truly a London gal, all this book did was confirm it. Giggling my way to the Big Ben as we speak
February 21, 2014
First of all let me state this:
I don't want to rate my books low. In fact I hate it. But being a member in this fine community has saved me from a lot of bad book choices so I hope to reciprocate.
I'm not a fan of Samir. And darn it all to hell, I wanted to. I mean come on, a hot, dark Lebanese rich boy? Samir though was indifferent, obnoxious and sometimes downright hateful. His actions were impulsive at best or sneaky at worst (and who likes a sneaky hero?). Does he like Maggie? Who the hell knows. Is he spoiled? Hell yes. Not many fine qualities.
Maggie. Oh Maggie. The poor girl tried. She tried but one quote kept poping up in my head.
"Dorothy we're not in Kansas anymore" She was just so immature and bedazzled by Fleur, Samir and company that she just lost the few brain cells she had to begin with. I can relate to an immature heroine but come on. No self respecting student with a scholarship leaves her homework to travel to France. Or Rome.
The father drama? Well it was irrelevant to the plot. It almost felt like the author thougt: "Hey, I can't have a NA book without some family drama". And she whipped up... well let's not spoil it.
Will I read the sequel? To tell you the truth... No. I have read books that annoyed me to no end and I still managed to read the sequel but right now, I just don't see it.
I don't want to rate my books low. In fact I hate it. But being a member in this fine community has saved me from a lot of bad book choices so I hope to reciprocate.
I'm not a fan of Samir. And darn it all to hell, I wanted to. I mean come on, a hot, dark Lebanese rich boy? Samir though was indifferent, obnoxious and sometimes downright hateful. His actions were impulsive at best or sneaky at worst (and who likes a sneaky hero?). Does he like Maggie? Who the hell knows. Is he spoiled? Hell yes. Not many fine qualities.
Maggie. Oh Maggie. The poor girl tried. She tried but one quote kept poping up in my head.
"Dorothy we're not in Kansas anymore" She was just so immature and bedazzled by Fleur, Samir and company that she just lost the few brain cells she had to begin with. I can relate to an immature heroine but come on. No self respecting student with a scholarship leaves her homework to travel to France. Or Rome.
The father drama? Well it was irrelevant to the plot. It almost felt like the author thougt: "Hey, I can't have a NA book without some family drama". And she whipped up... well let's not spoil it.
Will I read the sequel? To tell you the truth... No. I have read books that annoyed me to no end and I still managed to read the sequel but right now, I just don't see it.
February 10, 2014
No setting here. It could be Rio or Bora Bora...the author did not depicted the city properly. The love triangle is - one word - pathetic. The Main character is an airhead with no true motivation for her actions in the plot. This book was NO for me.
December 16, 2023
Maggie Carpenter is from a small town in the south and was raised by her grandparents. Her mother left when she was a child and her father was usually away in the military with occasional phone calls or visits. The book begins as she flies to London to begin college at International School. She is on scholarship and now she is attending school and rooming with kids who have had a very privileged upbringing. On day one she meets Samir Khouri who is French and Lebanese. He is too cocky and sure of himself but he proves to be someone she can turn to when she needs help. She also meets Hugh, a British club owner. He is in his late twenties and thinks she is an older graduate student.
I know Chanel Cleeton from her books about the Cuban Perez Family. This book was first published in 2013 and I received a digital copy from Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press via NetGalley. It is the first in a three book series. Maggie is frustrating as a lead. She gets caught up in the clubbing and nights out scene. Her lying about her age to Hugh is also a red flag for me. And it took half the book for me to begin to warm up to Samir and understand her attraction to him. Figuring out her feelings about the two men is the focus of the story. My daughter did a semester abroad in London and these were not the kind of adventures I would have wanted for her. I did feel empathy for the lack of parental interest and how it impacts her. While I don’t think I’m the intended demographic for this book it is well written and covers Maggie’s first year in college. (3.5 Stars)
I know Chanel Cleeton from her books about the Cuban Perez Family. This book was first published in 2013 and I received a digital copy from Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press via NetGalley. It is the first in a three book series. Maggie is frustrating as a lead. She gets caught up in the clubbing and nights out scene. Her lying about her age to Hugh is also a red flag for me. And it took half the book for me to begin to warm up to Samir and understand her attraction to him. Figuring out her feelings about the two men is the focus of the story. My daughter did a semester abroad in London and these were not the kind of adventures I would have wanted for her. I did feel empathy for the lack of parental interest and how it impacts her. While I don’t think I’m the intended demographic for this book it is well written and covers Maggie’s first year in college. (3.5 Stars)
July 19, 2014
La reseña fue originalmente publicada en SMW Book Blog
I See London de Chanel Cleeton me parece difícil de reseñar porque hubo momentos en cuales la historia me gustaba, en los que me pareció adictiva, otros en los que la protagonista principal, Maggie, me desesperaba con su inseguridad y me hizo pensar más de un “Really, bitch, really”; sin embargo eso no impidió que dejara de leer I See London y que, al final, me pareciera una lectura pasable.
Maggie Carpenter, de diecinueve años y de Carolina del Sur, obtiene una beca a la universidad International School en Londres, Inglaterra; una universidad privilegiada donde los hijos de los líderes más importantes del mundo asisten. Y es ahí donde Maggie entra a una vida totalmente diferente. Ahora, Maggie se encuentra viviendo la vida que nunca tuvo, y siempre quiso, en Carolina del Sur; una vida llena de lujos, asistiendo a los mejores clubs del momento, usando vestidos de diseñadores famosos, y viajando por la cuidad de Londres en un Ferrari. Pero en su nueva vida, Maggie también se encuentra dividida entre dos chicos completamente diferentes como la noche y el día.
Hugh Mitchell; dueño de uno de los clubs del momento y quien tiene casi diez años más que Maggie. Él es maduro, serio, y, de acuerdo con Maggie, con un acento que es una combinación entre el Príncipe William y Hugh Grant. Pero luego está Samir Khouri; mitad Francés y mitad Líbano y su compañero de escuela. Samir es el chico popular, el chico sexy que con sólo una sonrisa hace que nuestras rodillas se sientan de gelatina y quien siempre obtiene lo que quiere. Dos chicos que invocan sentimientos encontrados en Maggie.
Honestamente, Hugh me pareció un hombre genial y un personaje del cual me gustó leer, pero la “relación” entre Maggie y él me pareció…forzada. Sentí que cuando Maggie estaba con él su personaje daba una giro de 180 grados y no era “ella.” Realmente no me molesta leer historias entre personajes cuya diferencia de edad es mayor, pero entre Maggie y Hugh la diferencia de edad jugó una parte importante y parecía que había entre ellos más de diez años de diferencia. Maggie, a comparación de Hugh, actuaba como una chica de edad aún menor de sus diecinueve años cuando Hugh radiaba madurez y responsabilidad. Realmente no sentí su conexión.
Ahora, en el lado opuesto, yo terminé completamente fascinada con Samir. Todo de él, desde su pelo oscuro, piel bronceada, y su combinación entre Líbano y Francés, lo hicieron un personaje refrescante y pues sí, quedé más que aturdida por su personaje. Además, las interacciones entre Samir y Maggie se sintieron naturales. La química, ciencia y biología—y todas las materias, que surge entre ellos cada vez que están juntos es para echarse aire con las manos. En serio, ¡las chispas saltan!
Otra cosa que disfruté de I See London fue ver crecer las amistades que se desarrollan; especialmente entre Fleur y Maggie. Al comienzo del libro, se menciona que Fleur es la Ice Queen y la bitch de la universidad que nadie soporta. Incluso al comienzo las interacciones entre ellas dos fueron un poco menos que agradables pero fue agradable ver cómo su amistad evolucionó. Realmente, en verdad, me gustó demasiado el personaje de Fleur. Me encantó.
Aunque, realmente, no creo que logré conectar al 100% con el personaje de Maggie—y también del "triangulo amoroso"—, I See London me pareció una lectura adictiva. Y aunque el libro termina en un cierto tipo de cliffhanger, quedé contenta sobre cómo terminó y no siento la necesidad de leer el segundo libro, pero lo voy a leer porque, honestamente, me gana la curiosidad por saber qué sigue para estos en la hermosa ciudad de Londres.
Para más reseñas visita SMW Book Blog
February 12, 2014
3.5 stars
First impression:
I'm pretty obsessed with anything British, so I was on board for trying this one out.
The story:
In high school, Maggie was so focused on her studies that she didn't leave much room for a social life. Now, she has the chance of a lifetime. She's off to London for college and she wants to make the most of her time there. There are new friendships formed, reluctantly, and lots of boys to ogle. One particular boy, Samir, seems to constantly creep into her thoughts, but she doesn't think he's right for her. She wants someone solid, steady. She learns a lot about herself in her first year of college. Now, the question is...where does she go from here and will Samir be a part of that picture?
The characters:
I kinda liked Maggie. She was a bit naive, but I understood that. I couldn't relate to her in that way, but I had some friends like her, so it was easy to connect with her. I felt like her experiences in her first year of college were pretty realistic. Maybe not all the flash, but the basics like meeting new friends, adjusting to life away from home, boy drama...all pretty real stuff.
I was surprised that I like Samir as much as I did. When he's first introduced, he seems like such an ass. But, I liked how gentle he was with Maggie. Sure, he made bad choices, but I think he's really good for Maggie. I think she grounds him a bit too.
What didn't work for me:
The first thing is that I just didn't get the relationship with Hugh. It just never really fit with me.
This is an NA novel, but to me it read more like a Mature YA. I've read some Mature YA that had more steam. I think Cleeton could have pumped up the romance. Samir and Maggie had great chemistry.
Overall:
I liked it. It certainly kept me entertained, but I could put it down. I will say that I've thought about the book since I've read it, so it must have made a decent impact. I'm definitely interested in seeing where Maggie's story goes from here, so I'll likely pick up the next book, London Falling.
Quotes:
~It scared me that it was always like this with him, always a spectacular loss of control. It scared me that he pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me crave more than I should.-Loc 1510
~"You should expect more from some guy than having to fight for his attention. Don't sell yourself short. You deserve more. You deserve everything.''-Loc 4986
First impression:
I'm pretty obsessed with anything British, so I was on board for trying this one out.
The story:
In high school, Maggie was so focused on her studies that she didn't leave much room for a social life. Now, she has the chance of a lifetime. She's off to London for college and she wants to make the most of her time there. There are new friendships formed, reluctantly, and lots of boys to ogle. One particular boy, Samir, seems to constantly creep into her thoughts, but she doesn't think he's right for her. She wants someone solid, steady. She learns a lot about herself in her first year of college. Now, the question is...where does she go from here and will Samir be a part of that picture?
The characters:
I kinda liked Maggie. She was a bit naive, but I understood that. I couldn't relate to her in that way, but I had some friends like her, so it was easy to connect with her. I felt like her experiences in her first year of college were pretty realistic. Maybe not all the flash, but the basics like meeting new friends, adjusting to life away from home, boy drama...all pretty real stuff.
I was surprised that I like Samir as much as I did. When he's first introduced, he seems like such an ass. But, I liked how gentle he was with Maggie. Sure, he made bad choices, but I think he's really good for Maggie. I think she grounds him a bit too.
What didn't work for me:
The first thing is that I just didn't get the relationship with Hugh. It just never really fit with me.
This is an NA novel, but to me it read more like a Mature YA. I've read some Mature YA that had more steam. I think Cleeton could have pumped up the romance. Samir and Maggie had great chemistry.
Overall:
I liked it. It certainly kept me entertained, but I could put it down. I will say that I've thought about the book since I've read it, so it must have made a decent impact. I'm definitely interested in seeing where Maggie's story goes from here, so I'll likely pick up the next book, London Falling.
Quotes:
~It scared me that it was always like this with him, always a spectacular loss of control. It scared me that he pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me crave more than I should.-Loc 1510
~"You should expect more from some guy than having to fight for his attention. Don't sell yourself short. You deserve more. You deserve everything.''-Loc 4986
June 28, 2014
Okay I'm disappointed *sigh*
One star to the writing style and the other one is for the events and the European places/countries.
The romance is horrible, I didn't get the main character actions in one chapter she's innocent and she doesn't know any single thing and in the second chapter she want to be free and to date Samir oh no wait she want to date Hugh, like get a life please you aren't a baby to act like that!!
Minus the romance and the love triangle thing it's going to be an okay book!
I'm not going to waste more time sorry I'm not sorry!
Stay away please!!
One star to the writing style and the other one is for the events and the European places/countries.
The romance is horrible, I didn't get the main character actions in one chapter she's innocent and she doesn't know any single thing and in the second chapter she want to be free and to date Samir oh no wait she want to date Hugh, like get a life please you aren't a baby to act like that!!
Minus the romance and the love triangle thing it's going to be an okay book!
I'm not going to waste more time sorry I'm not sorry!
Stay away please!!
July 31, 2024
~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~
Chantel Cleeton is one of my favorite authors- I love love love her books! I hadn’t read the International School Series yet and wow, I was missing out! I love her writing style, her characters, and plots. I See London starts off the series wonderfully!
This is the story of Maggie who travels for Uni in London from South Carolina. At first she’s a bit of a fish out of water, but she finds her way and herself throughout the book. Cleeton does a great job diving into the insecurities and emotions of a young adult - boys, sex, friendships, etc…
I adored this book and am starting the next in the series now! Can’t wait for more!
Chantel Cleeton is one of my favorite authors- I love love love her books! I hadn’t read the International School Series yet and wow, I was missing out! I love her writing style, her characters, and plots. I See London starts off the series wonderfully!
This is the story of Maggie who travels for Uni in London from South Carolina. At first she’s a bit of a fish out of water, but she finds her way and herself throughout the book. Cleeton does a great job diving into the insecurities and emotions of a young adult - boys, sex, friendships, etc…
I adored this book and am starting the next in the series now! Can’t wait for more!
June 23, 2014
“It doesn’t matter. You could be in a car accident and then what? Would you want people to see you in those?” (Cotton, black, perfect for fat days.) I wasn’t sure if the underwear rule applied to plane crashes. But if it did? I was about to die in the world’s ugliest pair of black cotton underwear.”
Usually my star ratings can never really convey the right feelings because I'm really selfish at giving them out. Unless I give a one-star rating, it just simply means I dislike it. But two stars can mean a lot of things for me, especially when it comes to this book. I liked it for the fun but it was not enough for me to give it three stars. Y'know?
But first let's have a quick run through of what I See London is all about.
So, the main character Maggie Carpenter is from South Carolina and she has been living this perfectly oriented life in high school. She had good grades, she never had boyfriends and she always played safe. When she got rejected from her dream college, Harvard, Maggie was inclined to apply to an international college in the UK. Once she arrives, she is met with schoolmates of diverse ethnicity and culture. And surprise, the first guy she meets, happens to be hot, and also happens to be Samir.
Fast forward and Maggie is bunkmates with the school's resident Ice Queen, Fleur, who also happens to be close buddies with Samir. They all hang out and party together and carry out this fabulous lifestyle of travelling to Paris and Venice over school breaks and driving in crazy expensive cars. Through one of those partying nights, Maggie meets Hugh, who's almost a decade older, so she decides to lie about herself in order for him to fall for her. But instead, later she spends more time with Samir and she finds herself torn between two very very (did I mention very) hot guys. The hot and nice older British guy that owns a club but she lied to or the hot half Lebanese and half French guy who also happens to be a prick and a pain in the ass?
I choose neither to be honest.
And here is why this book didn't make it for me:
1) Absolutely boring characters. No, I don't hate Maggie or Samir or Hugh, but they were ridiculously boring. And even more boring as a love triangle. First, there was nothing special about Maggie. She was just... MAGGIE. I couldn't click with her and I couldn't feel anything for her. Maggie was just there. And I expect that the author plans to build up the arc about her dad, but dude just dropping the marriage bomb with no explanations was kinda tactless and stupid from my point of view.
Samir, oh Samir. I went to google for pictures of "hot Lebanese guys" and damn you look so fine in my mind. Unfortunately he was too much of an asshole to deal with. I personally like to stay away from guys that have "problematic" plastered all over their face. Especially when the guy tries to educate you about what he thinks is best for you.
“He was so casual about things; he always treated me as though we were just having fun. How dare he push me on this?”
What made up for his character before he went down on my shit list, was that he recognised that he was a player. And he knew what he was. I can always take a guy who fesses up to their problematic ass, not someone who tries to act that he is not.
“Don’t try to make me into someone I’m not. I’m not some wounded hero you need to save. I’m a guy. It’s pretty simple. I like sex. I like women. And if I’m having sex with a woman exclusively, then she damned well better be doing the same with me.”
Samir may not be perfect, but hell he's boring as well. I wish there were more background information about his politician family and what not because I really don't care about him other than he's a spoiled rich kid who isn't having his way.
Don't even get me started on Hugh. More like Hugh, whooooeeeww?? I honestly don't understand when authors claim to write love triangles in their stories when 1/3 of the triangle is missing. I suppose I find it surprising that Hugh never made a huge fuss about the whole lying scheme but urgh he is so so so pointless. I don't care about him at all.
I desperately wanted Maggie to have a close knit group of girlfriends, which I guess she kinda did. Fleur was my Ice Princess and I'm glad the author didn't drag out the whole she's-blonde-she's-a-bitch thing because I really liked her. I would've liked Mya as much too but like Hugh she was there and then she wasn't. I honestly feel like the lack of backstory on all the characters made it so hard for me to care about any of them.
2) I love London. It's one of my favourite cities in the world that I have actually been to. It's bustling with life, colours and rich in history. It's picturesque. But the author fails to create that illusion. I feel like someone could've swapped the backdrop with another city and the story would have settled the same. For a book that titles itself as "I See London", I didn't see much of London at all. Other than name droppings of train stations and places, there wasn't much of London at all in the book.
Overall: A fun book to read in a day's span but I wasn't feeling it at all.
June 9, 2020
4.5 stars
March 4, 2024
3.5 ⭐️super quick read- not much of a story line other than the love triangle but excited to see where this story goes
August 27, 2024
A light, mindless read. VERY different from her historical fiction books. Think Gossip Girl in Europe, which is my dream, so I'm sure I'll read the rest of the series. 3 stars.
February 29, 2016
Read this review on my blog! --> I See London by Chanel Cleeton
You guys! This book was so gooooood!! I was completely hooked from the start!
I See London takes us on a wild ride through London’s night clubs, holidays across Europe, and Samir. Oh, Samir. And yes, it even gives us a look at what it’s like to attend university in London. Man, how I wish I’d gone to university in London. It sounds awesome! I loved the diversity of the characters. You have all kinds of nationalities and it all just worked. Really cool. :)
I loved the friendships Maggie forms while there. They weren't all easy, but definitely worth it in the end. I didn’t want to read about bitchy roommates being bitchy just because and I’m so happy it didn’t turn out that way. Maggie’s group of friends knew how to have fun, and they liked to party a lot, but they also knew when to get serious about school and they let Maggie back off of partying without giving her a guilt trip. Real friends!
But the best part… Oh, yes, I’m going there! The best part was Samir and the make-out sessions to end all make-out sessions! Sometimes I forget how much fun making out like that was. When it doesn't have to go further, but the wanting to is so intense. Chanel Cleeton writes great make-out scenes, you guys.
Maggie and Samir were very similar personality wise. The difference was that Maggie was trying to repress that side of her. She wanted to be the good girl and Samir could see right through her, which of course scared her to pieces. I felt for Maggie’s parental situation. Her mom left when she was little and her dad is in the military, which means she hardly ever saw him. It sounded like her grandparents were good to her but of course it’s not the same. I hope we get a resolution to that in the next book because it did feel like it was left hanging.
Like the synopsis mentions, Maggie meets Hugh and tries not to think about Samir much. Hugh is older than her and a lot more experienced in life. He’s a wealthy club owner who likes to date around. He’s a really nice guy and really patient with Maggie because he knows she’s a virgin. I was glad to see he was a good guy about that because most guys like wouldn't have stuck around in that situation. But Samir was who she needed to end up with!! Yeah, sure, he’s a player and he’s hiding something huge regarding his future, but he’s irresistible!
I definitely can’t wait to see how it all plays out in London Falling , the sequel to I See London. Great job, Ms. Chanel Cleeton!! I don’t much enjoy New Adult books but this one was just the right amount of fun, and college, and not too much angst. I definitely recommend you guys check it out. :)
You guys! This book was so gooooood!! I was completely hooked from the start!
I See London takes us on a wild ride through London’s night clubs, holidays across Europe, and Samir. Oh, Samir. And yes, it even gives us a look at what it’s like to attend university in London. Man, how I wish I’d gone to university in London. It sounds awesome! I loved the diversity of the characters. You have all kinds of nationalities and it all just worked. Really cool. :)
I loved the friendships Maggie forms while there. They weren't all easy, but definitely worth it in the end. I didn’t want to read about bitchy roommates being bitchy just because and I’m so happy it didn’t turn out that way. Maggie’s group of friends knew how to have fun, and they liked to party a lot, but they also knew when to get serious about school and they let Maggie back off of partying without giving her a guilt trip. Real friends!
But the best part… Oh, yes, I’m going there! The best part was Samir and the make-out sessions to end all make-out sessions! Sometimes I forget how much fun making out like that was. When it doesn't have to go further, but the wanting to is so intense. Chanel Cleeton writes great make-out scenes, you guys.
Maggie and Samir were very similar personality wise. The difference was that Maggie was trying to repress that side of her. She wanted to be the good girl and Samir could see right through her, which of course scared her to pieces. I felt for Maggie’s parental situation. Her mom left when she was little and her dad is in the military, which means she hardly ever saw him. It sounded like her grandparents were good to her but of course it’s not the same. I hope we get a resolution to that in the next book because it did feel like it was left hanging.
Like the synopsis mentions, Maggie meets Hugh and tries not to think about Samir much. Hugh is older than her and a lot more experienced in life. He’s a wealthy club owner who likes to date around. He’s a really nice guy and really patient with Maggie because he knows she’s a virgin. I was glad to see he was a good guy about that because most guys like wouldn't have stuck around in that situation. But Samir was who she needed to end up with!! Yeah, sure, he’s a player and he’s hiding something huge regarding his future, but he’s irresistible!
I definitely can’t wait to see how it all plays out in London Falling , the sequel to I See London. Great job, Ms. Chanel Cleeton!! I don’t much enjoy New Adult books but this one was just the right amount of fun, and college, and not too much angst. I definitely recommend you guys check it out. :)
February 20, 2014
So this is definitely one of those instances where you should not judge a book by it's cover. I hate this cover but I absolutely adore what's between the pages. I See London is a fabulous new adult novel that exceeded all my expectations.
To be honest, I didn't really have many expectations when I started I See London. I was just looking for a quick, fun read and I thought this one might be good. It was. I'm quickly becoming a fan of the new adult genre and it's all because of books like I See London. The characters, the setting, the story, and the writing were all wonderful.
The characters in I See London greatly surprised me. Maggie started off very closed off and almost a little too perfect. She was very much a goodie two shoes. That quickly changed with the help of her new friends. Mya, Fleur, Samir, and everyone she met helped her come out of her shell and really grow as a person. By the end of the book she was definitely someone I could see myself being friends with. She wasn't the only character that surprised me though. Every character in the book was a lot deeper than they originally appeared (except maybe Hugh.) Fleur was not such a cold hearted bitch, Mya wasn't so perfect, Samir had a heart under his playboy exterior, etc. Chanel Cleeton did a great job developing each and every character.
The romance was obviously a huge part of the story and it did not disappoint. Samir and Maggie have undeniable chemistry from the start but that's not all they have. They quickly develop a very real friendship. They have a lot more in common than they originally think and even though they bicker like an old married couple, they really do make great friends. The banter between the two of them was adorable. Hugh was also a good match for Maggie but I honestly didn't see anything that spectacular about him. Their relationship seemed only skin deep.
There were a few flaws with I See London though. I think the biggest flaw had to be how unrealistic and overdramatic it was. I really couldn't believe some of the things that happened to Maggie and her friends. It seemed like some things were blown way out of proportion. I won't bring up specific examples because I don't want to spoil anything but there were a few very obvious instances where this happened.
Overall, I See London was a very fun read. I look forward to continuing Maggie and Samir's story in London Falling.
To be honest, I didn't really have many expectations when I started I See London. I was just looking for a quick, fun read and I thought this one might be good. It was. I'm quickly becoming a fan of the new adult genre and it's all because of books like I See London. The characters, the setting, the story, and the writing were all wonderful.
The characters in I See London greatly surprised me. Maggie started off very closed off and almost a little too perfect. She was very much a goodie two shoes. That quickly changed with the help of her new friends. Mya, Fleur, Samir, and everyone she met helped her come out of her shell and really grow as a person. By the end of the book she was definitely someone I could see myself being friends with. She wasn't the only character that surprised me though. Every character in the book was a lot deeper than they originally appeared (except maybe Hugh.) Fleur was not such a cold hearted bitch, Mya wasn't so perfect, Samir had a heart under his playboy exterior, etc. Chanel Cleeton did a great job developing each and every character.
The romance was obviously a huge part of the story and it did not disappoint. Samir and Maggie have undeniable chemistry from the start but that's not all they have. They quickly develop a very real friendship. They have a lot more in common than they originally think and even though they bicker like an old married couple, they really do make great friends. The banter between the two of them was adorable. Hugh was also a good match for Maggie but I honestly didn't see anything that spectacular about him. Their relationship seemed only skin deep.
There were a few flaws with I See London though. I think the biggest flaw had to be how unrealistic and overdramatic it was. I really couldn't believe some of the things that happened to Maggie and her friends. It seemed like some things were blown way out of proportion. I won't bring up specific examples because I don't want to spoil anything but there were a few very obvious instances where this happened.
Overall, I See London was a very fun read. I look forward to continuing Maggie and Samir's story in London Falling.
September 24, 2014
I received this book for an honest review.
First I would like to say that one aspect I really enjoyed about this book, is that Chanel included people from different races, cultures and backgrounds. I have not read many books that are very diverse like I See London is.
Maggie Carpenter moves to London to attend the International School, all the way from South Carolina. Maggie has always been a good girl, following the rules, and always spending her high school friday nights at home studying instead of socializing. Maggie has two other roommates Noora and Fleur. Some students around school call Fleur the ice queen because of her reputation, but she actually turns out to be really nice and best friends with Maggie, along with Mya.
Samir is Fleur's cousin, and he is always seen with his arms draped over a different girl or "flavor of the week". Samir and Maggie have multiple steamy make out sessions, but it always ends there. There is so much sexual tension between the two of them, every time they're in a room together.
Maggie tries dating this older guy Hugh, who happens to be much older than she is, which she lies and says she's four years older than her actual age. After Maggie and Hugh attend one of his friends wedding, {two nights before she leaves London for the summer} and seeing a ghost from Hugh's past, they both decide to break off whatever their relationship was (more Hugh than Maggie).
On Maggie's way back to the dorm, which she's walking to in a formal gown, she gets a frantic call from Fleur and assures she on her way back and will be there shortly. When Maggie gets back, she finds Fleur passed out with vomit everywhere. Her last two nights in London were both eventful, and spending the last night with Samir was the icing on the cake, that of which I was looking forward to for the whole book.
I also loved the fact that Maggie referred to the School as her home.
I See London is on the borderline of YA and NA, because it was about young adults finding themselves and stepping out of their comfort zones, learning to not judge someone by the rumors you hear, and everything (and everyone) are not who they seem to be.
I cannot wait to read the following books in this series.
First I would like to say that one aspect I really enjoyed about this book, is that Chanel included people from different races, cultures and backgrounds. I have not read many books that are very diverse like I See London is.
Maggie Carpenter moves to London to attend the International School, all the way from South Carolina. Maggie has always been a good girl, following the rules, and always spending her high school friday nights at home studying instead of socializing. Maggie has two other roommates Noora and Fleur. Some students around school call Fleur the ice queen because of her reputation, but she actually turns out to be really nice and best friends with Maggie, along with Mya.
Samir is Fleur's cousin, and he is always seen with his arms draped over a different girl or "flavor of the week". Samir and Maggie have multiple steamy make out sessions, but it always ends there. There is so much sexual tension between the two of them, every time they're in a room together.
Maggie tries dating this older guy Hugh, who happens to be much older than she is, which she lies and says she's four years older than her actual age. After Maggie and Hugh attend one of his friends wedding, {two nights before she leaves London for the summer} and seeing a ghost from Hugh's past, they both decide to break off whatever their relationship was (more Hugh than Maggie).
On Maggie's way back to the dorm, which she's walking to in a formal gown, she gets a frantic call from Fleur and assures she on her way back and will be there shortly. When Maggie gets back, she finds Fleur passed out with vomit everywhere. Her last two nights in London were both eventful, and spending the last night with Samir was the icing on the cake, that of which I was looking forward to for the whole book.
I also loved the fact that Maggie referred to the School as her home.
I See London is on the borderline of YA and NA, because it was about young adults finding themselves and stepping out of their comfort zones, learning to not judge someone by the rumors you hear, and everything (and everyone) are not who they seem to be.
I cannot wait to read the following books in this series.
April 2, 2014
Urgh I am so torn with this book; one the one hand it's a compelling story while on the other hand it was slow to unfold.
Maggie's life plan has been thrown off course when she doesn't get into Harvard, taking drastic measures she gets a scholarship to a prestigious international school in London. You would expect her to become the poor scholarship student among the privileged yet Chanel Cleeton manages to steer clear of the stereotype. The world building she does is exquisite and realistic, avoiding the stereotypes while making the characters realistic with their own set of problems. The disadvantage of privilege is not knowing who your real friends are.
Maggie gains confidence as the story progresses, developing her own style with the help of the friends she makes. Getting past the emotional barriers of the school ice queen provides a deep emotional connection no-one could have predicted. It was wonderful seeing the friendships develop alongside all the glitz and glam that comes alongside wealth.
While the romance is an integral part of the plot it was this aspect that frustrated me. It is obvious from the beginning which boy Maggie should be with. However, you can understand her reservations with the cultural as well as economical differences. I felt as if a lot of the story focused on her see-sawing between the two male interests in the story without much progression. I really liked Samir for all his player ways. There are glimpses of his true nature that endear him to the reader. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that family pressure and status are going to bring nothing but heart-ache.
I think my frustration is with the build up to the romance without the full conclusion, maybe the second book will help with that aspect although I don't have the feeling that it is going to be hearts and flowers.
Maggie's life plan has been thrown off course when she doesn't get into Harvard, taking drastic measures she gets a scholarship to a prestigious international school in London. You would expect her to become the poor scholarship student among the privileged yet Chanel Cleeton manages to steer clear of the stereotype. The world building she does is exquisite and realistic, avoiding the stereotypes while making the characters realistic with their own set of problems. The disadvantage of privilege is not knowing who your real friends are.
Maggie gains confidence as the story progresses, developing her own style with the help of the friends she makes. Getting past the emotional barriers of the school ice queen provides a deep emotional connection no-one could have predicted. It was wonderful seeing the friendships develop alongside all the glitz and glam that comes alongside wealth.
While the romance is an integral part of the plot it was this aspect that frustrated me. It is obvious from the beginning which boy Maggie should be with. However, you can understand her reservations with the cultural as well as economical differences. I felt as if a lot of the story focused on her see-sawing between the two male interests in the story without much progression. I really liked Samir for all his player ways. There are glimpses of his true nature that endear him to the reader. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that family pressure and status are going to bring nothing but heart-ache.
I think my frustration is with the build up to the romance without the full conclusion, maybe the second book will help with that aspect although I don't have the feeling that it is going to be hearts and flowers.
November 19, 2014
I know you should not judge a book by its cover, but for some odd reason I thought I might not like I See London. The couple’s pose on the cover looked awkward but the synopsis did catch my attention. And I am so glad I took a chance on this book – I really liked this!
Maggie is a young American that decides to attend the International University in London. Right away this brought back my memories of my trip to London when I was 14-years-old. It was my first time outside of the US and being alone on a trip with my sister and cousins. It was really exciting visiting a new country so I formed a bond with Maggie. I relived my trip through her eyes and it was fun reading her impressions of living in a new country. I have also always wondered what it would be like to go to school abroad, so I lived out my fantasy through this book.
But I See London turned out to be more than just a love story. This was about a young girl discovering who she is. Maggie had worked so hard in high school so she can go to her dream college Harvard. But when she didn’t get accepted she settled for the International University. This became the best choice for her. Being away from home she doesn’t have to live up to other people’s expectations. Maggie has a chance to discover who she is and who she wants to become. Plus while she is in London she meets 2 hot guys, Hugh and Samir, who add romance and some steamy scenes to this story.
I See London is an impressive debut for author Chanel Cleeton. The writing was good but the story was slow at times. But I loved these characters. I can’t wait to read the next book!! This book is being sold as a New Adult genre but there is a sex scene that I feel is too descriptive for young readers, so I suggest this book to readers 18 years and older.
Maggie is a young American that decides to attend the International University in London. Right away this brought back my memories of my trip to London when I was 14-years-old. It was my first time outside of the US and being alone on a trip with my sister and cousins. It was really exciting visiting a new country so I formed a bond with Maggie. I relived my trip through her eyes and it was fun reading her impressions of living in a new country. I have also always wondered what it would be like to go to school abroad, so I lived out my fantasy through this book.
But I See London turned out to be more than just a love story. This was about a young girl discovering who she is. Maggie had worked so hard in high school so she can go to her dream college Harvard. But when she didn’t get accepted she settled for the International University. This became the best choice for her. Being away from home she doesn’t have to live up to other people’s expectations. Maggie has a chance to discover who she is and who she wants to become. Plus while she is in London she meets 2 hot guys, Hugh and Samir, who add romance and some steamy scenes to this story.
I See London is an impressive debut for author Chanel Cleeton. The writing was good but the story was slow at times. But I loved these characters. I can’t wait to read the next book!! This book is being sold as a New Adult genre but there is a sex scene that I feel is too descriptive for young readers, so I suggest this book to readers 18 years and older.
September 15, 2014
I've recently read "I See London" by Chanel Cleeton and I must say-I am eager to read her next book!!!! These are the main characters: Maggie ("heroine") and Samir and Hugh ("heroes"). One thing I absolutely loved about this book was character development-especially for Maggie. As readers, we see her through it all-her ups and her downs (sorry to be cliche. :)) There were many times in this book where I screamed to the heavens "WHYYYY???" and other times where I applauded Maggie/"understood" her. The latter DEFINITELY made up for those "WHYY?" moments. Also-the boys. *sigh* I wish I was in Maggie's place. My favorite is Samir-him and his exotic Lebanese, tall, dark and handsome and SEXY self. *fans self* I definitely need a Samir in my life (that's all I'm gonna say ;)). I absolutely loved Samir and Hugh (mostly Samir) and felt that they were very well developed! And finally-the setting-the beautiful scenery of London, Paris and Italy are the backdrop for much of this novel and I was instantly charmed and smitten! I don't know why but whenever a book takes place anywhere BUT the US-I immediately am entranced by the novel and this novel is no different!!! So, while I loved these aspects of the novel-there were some things that I did not like and I won't share them on here and let them color your opinion because this novel is ABSOLUTELY amazing. It's breathtaking. It's exhilarating. Its romantic. It's sweet-all the ingredients have been laid out for you in this book and it's time for you to mix them all together and read this book and react to it yourself!!
~4 Stars~
~4 Stars~
August 10, 2016
I See London by Chanel Cleeton is a fun read about a young woman named Maggie that moves from the United States to London for College at the International School of London. She is young, naive and at times unsure of herself. Especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Upon arrival she has a run in with a fellow student Samir. He is nothing like the boys back home. Samir is a rich, sexy half Lebanese, half French playboy. These two have an instant chemistry that burns from the pages. However it seems Samir isn't the relationship type. Moving on she meets Hugh who is a bit older, established and a bar owner. He seems to be really into her but is he who she truly desires?
This book held my interest the entire time which seems to be a rare occurrence for me these days! I read it in one sitting and I can't wait to see what happens next with Maggie! I loved all of the side characters, especially one of her roommates, Fleur. That chick definitely needs her own book! She has some serious issues going on. I had hoped for a bit more "sexy" in the story but it truly was a nice break from my usual. At times I did feel like the story was a bit choppy. What I mean by that is some scenes ended rather abruptly or I felt like there should have been more to them. Other than that I loved it! Maggie's story is left unfinished but the book ends in a good place with no over the top cliffhanger. 3.5 Stars <3 <3
Blog Post--> http://herjuicyreads.com/?p=1808
This book held my interest the entire time which seems to be a rare occurrence for me these days! I read it in one sitting and I can't wait to see what happens next with Maggie! I loved all of the side characters, especially one of her roommates, Fleur. That chick definitely needs her own book! She has some serious issues going on. I had hoped for a bit more "sexy" in the story but it truly was a nice break from my usual. At times I did feel like the story was a bit choppy. What I mean by that is some scenes ended rather abruptly or I felt like there should have been more to them. Other than that I loved it! Maggie's story is left unfinished but the book ends in a good place with no over the top cliffhanger. 3.5 Stars <3 <3
Blog Post--> http://herjuicyreads.com/?p=1808
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