I read this because the reviews I saw compared it to Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep, but with college students instead of high schoolers. I found this to be untrue. Prep was a MUCH better written, more believable, and entertaining read. The first half of Commencement, which follows the girls while they are in school, isn't so bad, but the second half, which happens about 5 years post-graduation, walks a fine line between ridiculous and unbelievable. I can buy that April would have initially allowed herself to be manipulated by Ronnie, but for an entire year?