My Favorite Novel: Chloe Does Yale by Natalie Krinsky

"Chloe Carrington is a typical Yale student, except that along with her coursework she writes the sex column for the campus newspaper. This puts her love life under intense scrutiny, to say the least. Like all her friends, she's hoping to hook up with the right guy, but that proves even more difficult than participating in may notorious Yale traditions, like drinking dollar drafts at Toad's, struggling through financial markets and attending Exotic Erotic, the most entertaining party on campus. Natalie Krinsky's sparkling debut novel is all about what goes on behind those proper ivy-covered walls. And needless to say, it isn't proper at all."

I just finished rereading Chloe Does Yale by Natalie Krinsky and of course I loved it! Although I knew the end before reading the first sentence I was still genuinely surprised. As I read it, I had a different ending in my head which resulted in my being upset at the end. (I wanted it to go a different way, I remember it going a different way, but I digress.) The ending was far from bad. It was ideal; it's where I want to be the summer between my junior and senior year of college.

I first read Chloe Does Yale sophomore year of high school. I picked it randomly off the Young Adult shelf of the public library near my high school. At such a young age Chloe Does Yale was the most shocking "Young Adult" novel I had read. Now, being the jaded nineteen year old I am and having read books from Bret Easton Ellis, Chloe Does Yale is not shocking at all; it's much more interesting. I think it's a great idea to reread novel every few years or so. You'll discover so much. I first read this when I was fifteen. Four years later, I find all the topics relatable and I see so much of my personality in Chloe Carrington. Everything she said, her sarcasm, her awkwardness, it reminded me of myself. I can say that in confidence because I've gotten to know myself better over the past four years. The only difference between Chloe and I (besides the fact that she goes to Yale and writes a sex column) is that she's much more outgoing. I wish I could be as open as she is with strangers, but I usually only act like that around my very close friends. But I really feel, in another universe, I would be am Chloe Carrington. After reading Chloe Does Yale, the first time, I couldn't believe it was put in the Young Adult section and by the looks of it (battered and falling apart) it must have been very popular amongst the youth. (I can't help, but wonder what my Mom would've said if she asked me what I was reading. I once read an adult novel that had "Sex" in the title around her and she wasn't exactly comfortable with it. She was just happy I was reading.)

I applaud Natalie Krinsky's bold move to make a novel revolved around sex, a very sensitive subject in this PC world. When I was younger I loved Chloe Does Yale because it was about sex (I'll admit it), but now I love it (still) because it's about sex and because of Chloe. You see how I've matured. I wish my friends and I talked about sex more, like Chloe and her gang. Chloe is twenty-one, I'm only nineteen. Maybe in a couple of years my friends and I will be comfortable talking about it. I'm the one who makes the awkward sexual jokes and always has to put the sexual spin on any conversation. That's just where my humor lies. It may be vulgar to some people, but my friends tend to think it's funny (sometimes). Natalie Krinsky's writing reminds me of Bret Easton Ellis; blunt and funny. I like how Chloe commented on the conversations she was having. As she's the narrator it's normal, but in Chloe Does Yale, it felt different than other first person novels I've read. I felt like Chloe was retelling her junior year at Yale directly to me. I didn't feel like I was actually reading a book at all, I was hearing a story. When I can connect and engross myself in a novel like that, it's definitely a novel worth sharing and rereading.

Chloe Does Yale made me want to go visit Yale immediately and funny enough when I started reading this my friend was visiting her cousin at Yale that weekend. To this day I have yet to visit Yale and I know no one who goes there so I don't think attending any of the lovely parties Krinsky talks about is in my future.

I'll definitely keep rereading Chloe Does Yale for years to come. The next time I read it may be after I graduate from college. That's going to be interesting to see how much I've changed and if I still relate to Chloe.

I highly recommend Chloe Does Yale by Natalie Krinsky!