Ella will never ever escape the Royals. 
 She has the illusion of freedom for a while, until the reality hits back and she is straight home before she realizes it. Now that her life and Royals' paths have been crossed and their lives have been entwined, Ella has become a part of this crazy, out of this world family. She has lost her heart anyway. How far away can you go with a broken heart when your other half is going crazy back at home? 
 I honestly wished she wasn't found and then I wished she could run away again. I am not sure that she deserves all this. 
 Once again Ella will be caught in the Royal drama. Sometimes Royals will be puppets, sometimes they will be calling the shots. Every now and then will be jerks and other times nice and sweet. Every word out of their mouth is hitting the mark. Seriously, what a fucked up family! 
 Astor Park Prep life will also become such a soap opera. Royals and more specifically Reed don't feel like ruling the school anymore. Reed's best friend Wade (by the way, what a male slut! I cannot really decide who is sluttier: Wade or Reed's bother, Easton) warns that school kids need a leader. Yet again, we realize the power Royals have at this school and that basically that they are the school enforcers for peace and quiet. When they don't accept this role, the school is in chaos. 
 Ghosts this time will not play such a significant role in the story, until maybe the very end. There are so many secrets and enemies of the family around to keep the Royals occupied for 10 lifetimes. There are the "grown up" enemies: Brooke, Dinah, Mark Carrington, judge Delacorte and the school bullies: Jordan, the Pastels, Daniel etc. 
 Plenty of revelations in the story. I cannot say I was that surprised about the revelation concerning Gideon, the eldest brother. The most important fact we learn is that things were not okay at the Royal house between the Royal boys even with their super mom around. Dad was not the only one to blame for these boys' attitude and feelings of guilt. 
 I don't say this often, but I loooved the cliffhanger. It sets a new path for the story. I hope enough explanations will be given in book 3 
 - although I am positive that things will get a lot more complicated before they become less complicated.