Psycho Killer, Gossip Girl

Wow - young adult books have changed a lot since I was a young adult (don't ask how many years that has been). Or maybe there just weren't too many young adult books and I moved on to adult books. Either way I think that it's wonderful that there are so many young adult books out there for adults and teenagers to choose from. So - I heard about this series and wanted to read it. The first one was definitely interesting. It seems so different from how it was when I was a teenager, but then again I didn't live in New York or have extremely wealthy parents, so these kids are different from me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading about them. Remove the fast and rich lifestyle and they have the same problems as any other teenager, plus there own set of problems. This book does not glamorize the life of the rich, but shows how these kids are like other kids. They are insecure, they do dumb things, they fall in love, make tough decisions and decide on the path their life will take them. They have trouble with friends and with boyfriends, they pick on other kids, sometimes they are picked on. Their parents fight, divorce, date, sometimes act like parents and embarass them.

So I really enjoyed reading about Blair, Nate, Serena and the other characters. The book centers around gossip that is reported and how it can be expounded upon and everyone seems to believe it. Thankfully as the reader you have a little more insight into the characters and you can see that the gossip hurts. But it sucks you in. I flew through this book and have the second one on the way so I can learn more about this crowd. It's a worthwhile, fun read and I can't wait to read more about them.

Serena is that luckiest of all creatures, she is young, beautiful and rich. At seventeen she is ready to begin her senior year of high school, rested from her fun filled summer in Europe, which she had spent completely unencumbered by her parents (but happily accompanied by their credit cards). Unfortunately there had been one too many outrageous stunts at her boarding school and so Serena was sent back to her parent's Manhattan penthouse and to the exclusive girls' school she had left the year before. Serena was not too unhappy by this turn of events, Hanover had been her parents' idea, not her's, and Serena and her best friend Blair had ruled not only their school but the entire adolescent elite of New York. But things had changed while Serena was away at Hanover. Blair was now the Queen Bee and their mutual best guy pal, Nate, had been Blair's exclusive property for more than a year. Queen Serena has returned alright but will she regain her throne or will she find herself on the outside looking in?

The GOSSIP GIRLS series is targeted to the young adult audience - 15 and older but holds a much greater appeal. This is not this generation's CATCHER IN THE RYE more like a SEX AND THE CITY for the younger set, not great literature for the ages but a guilty pleasure for right now. The characters are not especially well defined, they have a bit of a tendency to blend together. The situations are a bit fantastic and a bit predictable but the combination does keep the reader turning the pages to see what will happen next.

Gossip Girl Book Review

The first book I read was called Gossip Girl. It is the first book in a series of eight or nine books. This novel was written by Cecily von Ziegesar. Gossip Girl is about a couple of very rich high school seniors that live in the Upper East Side of New York City. The main characters are Blair Waldorf, Kati Farkas, Isabelle Coates, Nate Archibald, Chuck Bass and Serena Van der Woodsen. Serena left Contance in tenth grade and went to a boarding school in Europe. At first, Blair was very sad, but eventually she realized that without Serena around, Blair was now the best looking, most popular girl at her school. She was no longer the side kick or the uglier friend and she decided she liked it that way. After Serena left she even started to date one of her friends, Nate! She was so excited! But one day at one of Blair's mothers famous dinner parties a beautiful, mysterious, blonde girl shows up. It was Serena! Everyone is so surprised that she is back out of no where. Serena is eager to find Blair and continue their friendship but that's the last thing Blair wants. Blair is unhappy Serena is back so she starts many nasty rumors about Serena's return. Now all their lives are filled with drama. The only people that are happy that Serena is back are Nate and Chuck. Nate has always had a crush on Serena and it just so happens that both of them lost their virginity to each other. What will happen??

I enjoyed reading this book a lot. It was exciting to read because the drama of the teenage girls reminded me of my own life. You would never know what Blair would do next to make people hate Serena. I felt like I was in the book because the author described the situations the girls encountered so vividly. Even though I really liked this book, I thought the main conflict could be a little more interesting. There wasn't a main problem, just a bunch of little fights between the characters. I thought the characters were realistic because they reminded me of myself and friends here at my school. I also liked the books ending. It left you hanging and wanting the second book to read!

The author did a great job narrarating the story, I felt like she was standing on the side lines just writing down what was going on! She described the character's lives, personalities and thoughts perfectly. I felt like I could be inside the character's minds and decisions. I really liked the vocabulary that Cecily von Ziegesar used. There were some words I hear rarely and it seemed very sophisticated to me and I like the ways she used the words. I think the authors writing style was unique because it seemed like she could relate to the life of a teenager. It almost seemed like a teenager wrote the book! I think she must have some teenage daughters, judging on how well she acted like one in the way she wrote this book. It was really entertaining to read this book because it was really cool how she knew just what a teenager would say or do. Though the author did use dialogue, it seemed like she used less than a regular book or novel. It seemed like she described the characters feelings more than what the character said or expressed. She used more thought. She liked to add what the character was thinking and fun little details about the character for example, when she introduced the girls' principal, she mentioned that the principal (Ms. Mclean), has a girl friend in Vermont and visits her every weekend. I thought that was a good detail to add to get to know the principal of Constance a little better.

In my opinion, Cecily von Ziegesar is a very good author. If I had to rate this book out of ten I would give it an eight and a half. It was really good, but lacking in the main conflict. I recommend it to any girl, ages twelve to fourteen. I don't think guys would like this book very much. Girls would like it because it may remind them of their own lives which might make the book interesting! Well, as I said before, I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting and kept me hooked on every word! I can't wait to read the rest!

Gossip Girl, the first of the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar, was surprisingly fun to read. It didn't seem like my type of book when I first ran into it a few years ago, but I finally decided to give it a chance.

Even though I knew that they would be different, I was quite surprised by how different the book is from the television based on the series. Of course, that doesn't take away from either. (I'm new to both, so I'm not really "biased" towards or against either.)

The writing was fairly good, and the characters were pretty well-developed. I felt quite drawn in by the ease at which they were presented. The only thing that really bugged me was that everyone seemed to turn a blind eye to things that struck me as being serious to ignore (i.e. Blair's budding/full-blown bulimia). I know that sometimes people tend to brush these kinds of things aside, but it seems like eventually someone would say something. Even the wealthy/powerful aren't typically that oblivious.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it that enjoys young adult fiction or chick lit, since I think it fits quite well into both categories. I also thing that this might be a good beach book if you're into reading on the beach.

I have absolutely no idea what some of these other reviewers are talking about! This book is the best one out of all of them, except maybe the first one. I found the 2nd and 3rd books of the GG series kind of pointless in some areas, and not nearly as funny as the first one. In this 4th new Gossip Girl book, I thought it was going to be exactly like the 3rd one, slightly boring with pointless events, but I was wrong. It made me laugh as much as the original Gossip Girl did. Even if it sure seemed like it was going to be like the 3rd one in the beginning, nearing the end of the book, I was just struck with shock. As many other reviewers have already stated, Serena becomes more unrealistic with each book. She lacks so much personality in an obvious attempt to make her seem "perfect", which I find completely and utterly annoying. Blair, on the other hand, is most certainly imperfect, but I believe she was much nicer in this book. Even though her jealousy level was about as high as usual and her obsession for Nate continues, she finds that helping people in need is actually self-satisfying! Her obsession for Audrey Hepburn has lessened considerably as well, which is a complete shock to most of us, I'm sure. Nate is also turning over a new leaf. His permanently stoned days are coming to an end as he meets his new love, a drugged Snow White beauty. Jenny also gets a new friend, who she finds very uncomfortable to be around at times, but in the end, meets the man of her dreams. Dan and Vanessa go through some happy times in the beginning of this book but as the story comes to a close, so does their "love". Vanessa ends with tears but a still growing passion for her art, and Dan rides off into the sunset with a yellow-toothed, practically naked woman of his somewhat morbid poems. And with the last page being turned, the following questions still remain and new questions arise: Will Nate stay in love with his Snow White? Will we ever find out if Blair gets into Yale? Will Serena and Blair remain best friends? Will Serena actually stay with a guy for more than five seconds? Will Jenny and her new man be a long lasting item? Will Vanessa ever forgive Dan for the horrid things he's done? Will Dan continue to live "happily ever after" with this yellow-toothed woman? And the one question that itches most of all... Will we ever find out who Gossip Girl is? Sounds like we'll find out soon enough. And the very ending of the book also makes you wonder if Gossip Girl is the last person we expected her to be...

The enigmatic "gossip girl" describes the life at a particular prestigious New York Upper EastSide Highschool, where the students are rich, nasty, spoiled, partying animals, who are all headed to Ivy League Colleges, but meanwhile are out for some fun in high school. Not only do they get drunk at their parent's parties, but each are backstabbing friends, and cheating on another. They might all live in huge apartments, have shining cars, and wear expensive brands, but each is insecure about life and themselves.

First there is Blair and her hot boyfriend Nate. Blair been really insecure lately since her former best friend Serena van der Woodsen, just expelled from boarding school overseas, is back and Nate, and the whole male population, can't seem to take their eyes off Serena. Blair once again is becoming the sidekick, one of Serena's friends, out of the school's mainstream limelight. But Blair is going to fight back at Serena this time with all shes got.

Serena doesn't understand why every girl, especially Blair, is suddenly becoming so cold to her and spreading nasty rumors about her. However Serena has other problems to deal with. She has fallen terribly behind and if she doesn't pick herself up, Yale or Harvard is never going to accept her. So Serena decides to join the school play and unexpectantly the lead male actor is extremely cute, but unpopular. Throw in the fact that the director has a crush on the male actor and things are heating up.

Drink, eating disorders, insecurity, drug use, and profanity are just many parts of Gossip Girl that might make your parents have a heartattack, but the book itself is really wonderful and delicously full of gossip. I literally could not put this book or any of the other books in this series down. A definite must for any teenage girl!

Gossip Girl
Cecily Von Ziegesar
Little Brown & Co. 2002, 208 pp., $8.99
ISBN: 0316910333
What would you do if you just found out that your ex best friend came back to town and you weren't exactly first to know. Would you make a little white lie and tell all your friends your still staying in touch twenty-four seven? Well, this is what Blair Waldorf does.
Blair's life is great she has a hot boyfriend that every girl wants to date and a great group of friends who everyone loves to hate. Blair's ex best friend Serena travels to Europe over the summer and ends up going to a boarding school there. The reason why Serena comes back to Manhattan is because she gets kicked out of boarding school and tries to act like she was never gone.
The big idea in this book is that you have to trust your friends and know when to call it quits. This book will tell you what happens that makes Blair so upset and Nate, Blair's boy friend, so worried. All the characters in this book keep you addicted to turn the page and read on. What makes their friendship so interesting is that they are like oil and water, two completely different people. Blair is busy and uptight jamming her palm pilot with appointments and Serena is enjoying every minute, relaxing and laying back.
I feel this book is a great read for teens and is defiantly a great book by Cecily Von Ziegesar and will keep you hooked through all four books and the new one titled All I Want is Everything.

Picture this: You live in a fabulous apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side, complete with your own phone line, all the privacy you want (because your parents are never home), and your own bedroom and bathroom. You attend the exclusive all-girls Spenford School. Weekends are filled with parties, fundraisers, and shopping for the latest fashions. You have endless money to spend, a perfect boyfriend, and a first-class ticket to the college of your choice.

Chances are, Gossip Girl is watching you.

Gossip Girl is the anonymous webmistress of GossipGirl.net, where the world can catch up on the lives of New York's privileged teens. Hers is the place to go for the gossip on C, B, and the most beautiful and untouchable of them all: S. Watch out for S, warns Gossip Girl. "If we aren't careful, S is going to win over our teachers, wear that dress we couldn't fit into...and basically ruin our lives and piss us all off in a major way."

Follow Gossip Girl through the melodramas of a charmed life. Among others, you'll meet Jenny, the artistic wannabe popular girl that uses her talents to get her foot in the elite door; her angst-ridden brother, Daniel, with a weakness for the very thought of S; and rebel Vanessa who gets nauseous at the very thought of popularity. This is a sassy, sexy, indulgent book to be read wearing satin pajamas while sitting in bed with a box of chocolates at your side.

A book for young teenage girls that they are able to relate to, Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar. This book has a lot of combinations of every different teenager.

This is a fiction book about 14 to 17 years old teenagers. They are basically allowed to do what ever they want, just as long as they don't embarrass their family. Serena van der Woodsen is back in town after a year of boarding school, just when things couldn't get any worse. Seems like something is a miss fit with Serena's old friends, Blair, Isabel and Kati have better things to do besides wonder what Serena did to get kicked out of boarding school and doesn't plan on having her as a friend again. However, not everyone is upset over Serena's return. Blair's boyfriend, Nate, is having a hard time being truthful with his girlfriend and is glad that she is back. Nate's friend, Chuck, is hoping the rumors of Serena are true. Serena is find things in common with her new friends.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading books that are drama filled; this is the right book for you. It gives you a better perspective about how it is like being rich and when your parents are ever home, it's not the same as your normal life. Just remember you can relate to this book in many different ways.

Meet GOSSIP GIRL, an anonymous New York teen who posts all of the latest news about her peers at her website. Readers are introduced to a variety of high schoolers whose days and nights are filled with money, cars, boyfriends/girlfriends, cell phones, agendas, parties, and more. If you're in, you're in; if you're out, you're definitely out - unless you are dating or are related to one of the cool kids.
The character with the most mystery surrounding her is Serena, a blonde beauty whose return to Manhattan sparks controversy galore as her classmates wonder why she has come back to her all-girl private high school after a year-long absence and travels overseas. Serena's estranged best friend Blair, who was just getting accustomed to being THE most popular girl, now must take a step back and share the spotlight. Not only is her popularity at stake, but so is her love life, as she worries that her boyfriend Nate only has eyes . . . for Serena.
If GOSSIP GIRL was a TV show, HBO, FOX and THE WB would all fight over the rights to it. GOSSIP GIRL takes 90210 and moves it to Manhattan. The teens are trashy and classy at all once; while they know the difference between Prada and Gucci, they don't always know the difference between right and wrong. The book is more melodrama than drama, and delightfully so. It's a beach read mixed with martinis.

Are you are girl who likes reading books about New York City, shopping, and drama? Then you will love the book Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegsar. Blair Waldorf's life is perfect while Serena van der Woodsen is at boarding school in England. Suddenly, Blair's the prettiest, richest, most "girl-I-want-to-be-friends-with" person at Constance Billard. She has a penthouse on 5th Avenue. She has a perfect life with a perfect boyfriend who is secretly in love with Serena. Blair is totally oblivious because she's so obsessed with herself.
I would give this book 4 ½ stars out of five. It's one of those books that I've read multiple times, so to me it's a pretty good book. If this book were a movie (it is a TV show), it would probably be rated PG-13 to R because of mature content. The characters in this book are really funny and totally believable, and I love the setting because NYC is one of my favorite places, & the plot is completely relatable to things teenagers do and are these days. The author's writing style in this book is 3rd person. Example: "After shoveling in 5 plates of food, Blair ran straight to the bathroom." Ziesgar did a great job writing this realistic fiction book, the first in the series. Review by Kayla M.

Blair Waldorf has the prefect life, living in New York city, going to one of the top schools and the best friends anyone could have and the cutest boyfriend. Blair life is like a movie everything that happens could relate to a drama, or soap on television. About a year ago Serena van der Woodsen used to be the most popular and gorgeous girl everyone admired, she was the girl every boy wants and every girl wants to be. She had the kind of smile you might try and imitate posing in the bathroom mirror like an idiot. The magnetic, delicious, "you can't stop looking at me, can you?" mile supermodels spend years perfecting, well Serena smiled like that with out even trying. The whole Wan der Woodsen family was all tall, blond, thin and super-poised and never did anything, playtennis, hail a cab, eat spaghetti, go to the toilet with out maintaining their cool. Serena Especially. She was gifted with the kind of cool ness you can't acquire by buying the right handbag or jeans. Everyone loved and enveyed Serena. But this was all before she went away to boarding school a year ago and year very very, very, best friend Blair took over and she was the one everyone now adored. When Serena went away she never called Blair or wrote her everyday like she promised the only letter she got from her was a postcard saying that " I love France, I'm having so much fun, I miss you!!! Love, Serena"
And then one day Serena just comes back from boarding school and everyone hears all of these rumors that she got kicked out because she had diese and she got addicted to drugs and has a baby in France and they all come running to Blair and asks what happened and if everything was true, and Blair being Serenas best friend does not know anything and makes up lies to prove that they are still best friends. Serena shows up at party and acts just like its always been and like everything is fine and as if she had never left. But all her old friends feel that everything has changed when she moved away and she cant just come into their lives and act as thought nothing happened. Serena is very upset about this so she goes through the book acting just as cool but trying to win her friendships back. Read the book to find out if everything turns out Serena's way.

In the fourth installment of Gossip Girl things are about to drastically change. These rich, beautiful, wild life Upper EastSide New York kids are still up to their backstabbling, malicious ways but this time life is gonna throw them some curveballs.

Blair is still waiting to see if she'll be accepted by Yale but after the whole interview mess and accidental affair with an older man things don't look so great, but meanwhile her obsession with ex-boyfriend Nate continues, though she is finding new avenues in her life, including letting go of her major Audrey Hepburn obssesion. Yeah, bet we expected that. Nate himself is turning over a new leaf after getting busted for drugs. He is sent to counseling where he saves a girl who overdoses. A drugged Snow White beauty would be a nice way to describe her and it looks like Nate's romantic status is headed in a different direction.

More emphasis is put into Dan and Vannessa's relationship, and less on Serena, though I find her increasingly annoying. Dan, the romantic poet gets his poem published in the New Yorker somewhat by accident and then meets a yellow toothed lady whom he goes off and has an affair with. Call that messed up!

Serena and Aaron are finally an item, but who knows how long that will last knowing Serena...Jen is moving on to a new man since Dan no longer seems to have time for her...Things are changing and the scandals/soap opera is getting weirder by the minute but the biggest question is still: Who is Gossip Girl? Could it be someone we least expect??? A definite must read though not as good as the previous few. Some storylines were a bit dull but still not one to miss:) Probably not your mother's favorite cup of tea but who can resist some guilty pleasure?

Cecily Von Ziegesar must be credited with this much: She never pretends that "Gossip Girl" is anything but vapid, vitriolic fluff with no real plotline and no real end. It is possible to produce books like that that are also funny and even enlightening, but "Gossip Girl" is essentially a plodding, repetitive attempt at a "real" teen book.

The beautiful Serena has returned from a sojourn in a ritzy private school and some time in France. Pretty bulimic Blair is dismayed by this, as Serena has unconsciously usurped the position that Blair had been occupying. Even worse, Blair's boyfriend Nate once slept with Serena and is still interested in her, but Serena is not really interested in Nate. Dan is besotted with her, and Jenny looks up to her.

Rumors begin to fly about Serena -- that she's slutty, that she has a variety of STDs, that she had a baby in France, that she was thrown out of her boarding school, that she's had several abortions, and just about every other kind of vicious rumor. And presiding over all of this is Gossip Girl, a mysterious omniscient observer who reports online about the tangled lives of her friends and peers.

It seems that readers will never tire of the antics of too-rich Manhattanites, especially if they live empty lives that they believe are significant. Like Nick McDonell's "Twelve," this book is filled with shallow, obnoxious characters who do drugs, sex, alcohol, and mourn the problems of their privileged lives. The drugs, sex, alcohol, bulimia and angst serve no actual purpose in the plot; they are merely attempts to shock.

The problem is that they are handled in such a haphazard manner that they don't shock at all -- they are merely diversions to spice up the lack of plot. Strip them away, and there's pretty much nothing left. Von Ziegesar never makes an attempt to get the readers interested. We are never given a reason to react to anyone in this book, either to be interested or repelled by them -- only bored.

Those characters are stereotypes, in a fictional world where the elite rich are all gorgeous: the scheming insecure girl, the mystery beauty, the shy naive girl, the weak handsome guy, the promiscuous guy, and dozens of others are devoid of any originality. They are part of the stereotype that teenagers are intrinsically shallow and can't be bothered with anyone who is not of interest to them.

Admittedly, the "Gossip Girl" website extracts are amusing. There's a certain wit to them, and they are also the only parts of the book that show some genuine originality. I only wish there had been more of them, and fewer repetitive rumors about Serena's past. The writing style lacks detail or any sort of wit or spiciness. And, like, the dialogue is so, you know, like, stupid, right?

Perhaps the worst part of the book is the finale, which fails to produce a climax or wrap up any loose threads. The book simply stops. Perhaps this is an effort to get readers to read the sequel, if they aren't too disgusted by the plodding storyline and grating characters. Von Ziegesar, take a writing class.

Cecily von Ziegesar's first launch in the Gossip Girl series brings you into the lives of some of New York City's wealthiest families. Throughtout the novel there is the mysterious, unknown gossip girl who answers questions and talks about what everone is doing. The book starts off when Serena van der Woodsen arrives back from boarding school. Blair Waldorf, her used-to-be-best-friend, now hates her, and everyone is spreading rumors about why she is back and how she spents her suummer and why she got kicked out of boarding school. All of Serena's old friends are now mistrteating her, while Blair's boyfriend, Nate Archbald, tries to hook up with her. Serena meets Dan and Jenny Humphrey, while trying out for a part in Vanessa Abrams movie for the Constance Billard movie festival. Dan has a huge crush on her and Jenny looks to her as a role model, because she is stunning. Unfortunately Vanessa gets jealous and gives the part to someone else, but Serena still talks to Dan. Serena is now getting used to not having very many friends, even though she is the it girl of New York City. This novel shows what gossip can do to people. Overall Cecily did a great job. This book is really interesting. Yes there are some inaapropriate parts and some profanity, but you can get over it. This book keeps you interested in whats going to happen and is a real page turner.

The fourth book in the Gossip Girl series opens with the beginning of second semester for the Constance Billard School girls. Some are finding out who got into their Ivy League schools of choice. Blair and Serena have become peer counselors for freshmen, including Jenny. Daniel and Vanessa are finally an item. Serena is totally in love with Aaron. Nate is finally arrested for his pot habit. Everyone is gearing up for Fashion Week in New York City. The anonymous Gossip Girl is summing it all up for readers throughout this lightweight, fun read.

This title is better than the two previous ones in the series because no girls are fighting over men and Blair's boring obsession with her virginity takes a backseat to better plots. Everyone in the book is having pretty exciting things happen --- from becoming a NYC runway model, to having a film shown at a famous fashion show, to having a poem published in the New Yorker and getting a literary agent, to being accepted into Harvard or NYU. Blair even has been given another chance at her Yale interview. Remember how she kissed the last interviewer?

BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT shows the series stars growing up and looking to the future. There are still plenty of plot surprises, and the breezy writing style brings in lots of humor. The writer is making fun of the characters and their angst in a way the reader will enjoy.

These books aren't completely realistic --- after all, how many high school teens only wear designer? But somehow it works --- as a 90210-esqe soap opera that's pure escapism. Readers may want to keep a copy of Vogue handy to brush up on what some of the frequently name-dropped designers' creations actually look like. BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT is most suitable for older teens but this Gossip Girl novel is definitely "worth it."

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Cecily Von Ziegesar must be credited with this much: She never pretends that "Gossip Girl" is anything but vapid, vitriolic fluff with no real plotline and no real end. It is possible to produce books like that that are also funny and even enlightening, but "Gossip Girl" is essentially a plodding, repetitive attempt at a "real" teen book.

The beautiful Serena has returned from a sojourn in a ritzy private school and some time in France. Pretty bulimic Blair is dismayed by this, as Serena has unconsciously usurped the position that Blair had been occupying. Even worse, Blair's boyfriend Nate once slept with Serena and is still interested in her, but Serena is not really interested in Nate. Dan is besotted with her, and Jenny looks up to her.

Rumors begin to fly about Serena -- that she's slutty, that she has a variety of STDs, that she had a baby in France, that she was thrown out of her boarding school, that she's had several abortions, and just about every other kind of vicious rumor. And presiding over all of this is Gossip Girl, a mysterious omniscient observer who reports online about the tangled lives of her friends and peers.

It seems that readers will never tire of the antics of too-rich Manhattanites, especially if they live empty lives that they believe are significant. Like Nick McDonell's "Twelve," this book is filled with shallow, obnoxious characters who do drugs, sex, alcohol, and mourn the problems of their privileged lives. The drugs, sex, alcohol, bulimia and angst serve no actual purpose in the plot; they are merely attempts to shock.

The problem is that they are handled in such a haphazard manner that they don't shock at all -- they are merely diversions to spice up the lack of plot. Strip them away, and there's pretty much nothing left. Von Ziegesar never makes an attempt to get the readers interested. We are never given a reason to react to anyone in this book, either to be interested or repelled by them -- only bored.

Those characters are stereotypes, in a fictional world where the elite rich are all gorgeous: the scheming insecure girl, the mystery beauty, the shy naive girl, the weak handsome guy, the promiscuous guy, and dozens of others are devoid of any originality. They are part of the stereotype that teenagers are intrinsically shallow and can't be bothered with anyone who is not of interest to them.

Admittedly, the "Gossip Girl" website extracts are amusing. There's a certain wit to them, and they are also the only parts of the book that show some genuine originality. I only wish there had been more of them, and fewer repetitive rumors about Serena's past. The writing style lacks detail or any sort of wit or spiciness. And, like, the dialogue is so, you know, like, stupid, right?

Perhaps the worst part of the book is the finale, which fails to produce a climax or wrap up any loose threads. The book simply stops. Perhaps this is an effort to get readers to read the sequel, if they aren't too disgusted by the plodding storyline and grating characters. Von Ziegesar, take a writing class.

Cecily von Ziegesar's first launch in the Gossip Girl series brings you into the lives of some of New York City's wealthiest families. Throughtout the novel there is the mysterious, unknown gossip girl who answers questions and talks about what everone is doing. The book starts off when Serena van der Woodsen arrives back from boarding school. Blair Waldorf, her used-to-be-best-friend, now hates her, and everyone is spreading rumors about why she is back and how she spents her suummer and why she got kicked out of boarding school. All of Serena's old friends are now mistrteating her, while Blair's boyfriend, Nate Archbald, tries to hook up with her. Serena meets Dan and Jenny Humphrey, while trying out for a part in Vanessa Abrams movie for the Constance Billard movie festival. Dan has a huge crush on her and Jenny looks to her as a role model, because she is stunning. Unfortunately Vanessa gets jealous and gives the part to someone else, but Serena still talks to Dan. Serena is now getting used to not having very many friends, even though she is the it girl of New York City. This novel shows what gossip can do to people. Overall Cecily did a great job. This book is really interesting. Yes there are some inaapropriate parts and some profanity, but you can get over it. This book keeps you interested in whats going to happen and is a real page turner.

The fourth book in the Gossip Girl series opens with the beginning of second semester for the Constance Billard School girls. Some are finding out who got into their Ivy League schools of choice. Blair and Serena have become peer counselors for freshmen, including Jenny. Daniel and Vanessa are finally an item. Serena is totally in love with Aaron. Nate is finally arrested for his pot habit. Everyone is gearing up for Fashion Week in New York City. The anonymous Gossip Girl is summing it all up for readers throughout this lightweight, fun read.

This title is better than the two previous ones in the series because no girls are fighting over men and Blair's boring obsession with her virginity takes a backseat to better plots. Everyone in the book is having pretty exciting things happen --- from becoming a NYC runway model, to having a film shown at a famous fashion show, to having a poem published in the New Yorker and getting a literary agent, to being accepted into Harvard or NYU. Blair even has been given another chance at her Yale interview. Remember how she kissed the last interviewer?

BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT shows the series stars growing up and looking to the future. There are still plenty of plot surprises, and the breezy writing style brings in lots of humor. The writer is making fun of the characters and their angst in a way the reader will enjoy.

These books aren't completely realistic --- after all, how many high school teens only wear designer? But somehow it works --- as a 90210-esqe soap opera that's pure escapism. Readers may want to keep a copy of Vogue handy to brush up on what some of the frequently name-dropped designers' creations actually look like. BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT is most suitable for older teens but this Gossip Girl novel is definitely "worth it."

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

In the depths of the long New York winter Valentine's Day shines as a beacon of hope - or maybe desperation - among Manhattan's elite prep school set. Serena and Aaron have become an item. Jenny is mending her not so broken heart in the most unexpected places. Nate has found something interesting in Greenwich and Dan and Vanessa are still in the throes of their angst ridden on again off again romance. Don't know who these people are? Then go back to the beginning of this Sex and the City for teenagers series that began with GOSSIP GIRL and follow the on-going stories of a group of Manhattan prep school students.

This series is targeted for the 15 and older 'young adult' audience, although it does have a certain guilty pleasure appeal to a much older group. Very real adolescent issues are dealt with, sex, drugs, peer pressure and insecurities although not in a particularly realistic manner. The books do address the universal adolescent longings for unlimited funds and minimal parental interference.

After reading the A-list series, which I thorougly enjoyed, I decided to buy the first book in the Gossip Girl series. Comparing the first books of both series, I thought that the first Gossip Girl book was better. It was hard to put down, and very engrossing.

The plot revolves around upper-class teens living in NYC's Upper East Side. The book describes in detail current fashion trends, and other things that rich teen girls indulge in. In the novel, Serena van der Woodsen, a pretty, popular girl returns back from boarding school to her old school, where she is met with nasty rumors being spread about her by girls who were her friends when she still went to school with them. The book is narrated by an unknown "Gossip Girl", who frequently updates her website throughout the book and lets the readers know about the latest gossip.

I finished this book in two days, it was well written and made you want to read more. I can wait to read more of Cecily von Ziegesar, the first Gossip Girl book was a real treat, and recomended to teens fans of fashion and gossip!

This book is VERY different from the television show. First off, most of the kids in the book do a lot of drugs, i mean all the kids smoke, get high, and do a lot of recreational drugs.

It starts off with Blair being bulimic. It goes on to mention how Dan smokes and you find out Chuck and Nate getting high in the park on the way to school. Serena is very conceited in this book, then on the show. Blair in the book is more human than in the show (ie - less b***hy). I also feel this book stays more true to lifestyle of the upper east side in manhattan. Even with the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of it.

I did enjoy the book a lot though. I wouldn't say it's my favorite, but it wasn't boring either. This is more of a book for young girls, more so who aren't too impressionable, because of the activities that go on in the book.

[...]

This feisty novel's realistic situations make it a great read. Gossip Girl is about teenagers from the Upper East Side and their world of jealousy, competition and the fine line between friendship and rivalry. The novel focuses on academic achiever Blair and her gorgeous and scandalous friend Serena. Having returned to Constance Billard School after two years in boarding school, Serena hopes to rekindle her friendship with Blair. However, with the help of a gossip web site, Blair questions her friendship with Serena after she discovers various secrets...
Gossip Girl's characters are all vibrant and interesting because each illustrates the lifestyle in which upper class teens live under. Their lives are the padding out of how they become superficial socialites in their adult lives. The novel's language is satirical and fun to read. This is without a doubt "Sex and the City for the younger set," as one of the critics had said. However, everyone -- regardless of age -- could enjoy Gossip Girl. I look forward to reading the other parts of this promising series.

Serena van der Woodsen returns to NY after being expelled from boarding school. Rumors run rampant through the halls of Constance Billard School for Girls regarding why she was kicked out. The rumors are nasty and vicious. Serena notices that people who used to be her friends are now acting differently towards her. While reading about the exploits of Serena, Blair, Nate and Chuck, you are introduced to "gossip girl" who intermittenly dishes the dirt about New York's elite.

I don't watch the TV show and I am not familiar with the books. I got this book on a whim from the library. The main problem I have with this book is that it is aimed at 9th graders and up. This book is filled with foul language, sexual situations (borderline date rape), and drug and alcohol use. From what I've read online, the Gossip Girl series is based on the author's experience from attending private school in Manhattan. I don't have a problem with the author basing the books on her life experience; I have a problem with who the target audience is. While reading Gossip Girl, I felt like I was reading Sex and the City: The Teen Years. These teens had no parental guidance and were allowed to live life as an adult. They attended bars and parties where underaged drinking was allowed and not questioned. As a parent, there is no way I would let my 14 year old read any of these books. The Gossip Girl series appear regularly on the ALA's challenged books list. I can see why. Although I don't agree with the targeted age group for these books, I still don't think that these books should be banned. It is up to the parents to be informed and aware of what their kids are reading. Kids are going to sneak and read books that they shouldn't be reading; it's what kids do. I remember reading Forever by Judy Blume as an 8th grader knowing that the content was too mature for my young eyes. But where, in my opinion, Forever dealt with teen sexuality in a mature and honest manner, I think that Gossip Girl is completely gratuitous without consequences. That may be due to the lifestyle these teens live. Look at Paris Hilton. I can easily see her as one of the girls in Gossip Girl.

My thoughts:
The book was a quick and easy read. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. The ending of the book is open-ended, indicating that the next book will pick up where the first one left off. I don't think I will be reading anymore of this series. I never had an interest in the TV show and I have no interest in finding out how the lives of Serena, Blair, Chuck and Nate end up

This is the fourth book in the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar. It starts out where the third book left off, with the gang going more and more crazy. This series, although it is funny, is very unrealistic to a person who has never lived a privileged New York life, but it is still worth the read - hey, it is fiction! There are many new characters introduced in this edition of GG and they are all a little more off kilter then the originals. Nate meets a new girl, who is completely out of control and just when a normal person would have given up on her, he is typical Nate and hangs around. Jennifer makes a new best friend once she realizes that her brother has moved on and doesn't really have time for her anymore. This friend seems normal at first but just watch out! Dan and Vanessa meet some interesting new people and their relationship is more messed up than ever!

In the first few books, I really liked Serena but in this book she really starts to show her true colors. I won't say much more so you can form your own opinion. Blair is more messed up than ever, but anyone who has read all the books should have seen that coming.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book as far as this series goes. There are two main reasons that I am giving this book 3 out of 5 stars: First, it seems that the author is trying to hard to get all of the characters to continue interacting with each other, it is becoming painfully obvious in this book. Some seemingly random characters become very closely attached to other more important characters in unbelievably obscure ways. Second, the new character introductions are so out there that few of the characters are actually believable. None of them are people that a reader wants to fall in love with!

Cecily von Ziegesar's 4th installment in the Gossip Girl series is fun and interesting. In this segment, Blair gets the chance to redue her Yale interview with one of her fathers friend who works for Yale. At school, Serena and Blair join a peer pressure group where Jenny and other freshmen, including Elise Owens gets advice and gets to ask for help on pressure. Blair falls in love with her Yale interviewer, who falls in love back. But she realizes that he was Elise's father, and Elise is saddend by the fact that her father is less around, and she believes he is having an affair, so Blair leaves him. Serena gets to model for ads and at a fashion show, which leads to the breakup of her and Aaron, Blair's stepbrother. One of Dan's poems gets published in a newspaper and it becomes famous, and he gets to speak at a country club, and go to party's. Vanessa's filming becomes famous, but she turns down and deal with a famous filmer. Nate goes to rehab after his dealer starts working for the police. There he mets another girl and saves her life, while also falling in love with her. Cecily did a great job on this novel, and she keeps the series interesting.

The book is well written, yes, but hard written as a girl's first sexual experience. The rivalry between some of the girls in their search for the appropriate male for the first bonding is a good touch and includes a peek into the status of the wealthier strata and its outlook on itself and all the others, the total lack of compassion, sympathy, or even understanding well set out in the novel, as well as the standing of some of the Ivy League schools. There is a brief mention of subjects taught in the private school the girls attend and their attitude towards those subjects ( subject matter does not matter). Social standing is almost dictated by financial standing and size of apartment, and location. The novel continues to dither towards the end, at which point the girls have resolved their partners and their standings.

(Possible spoilers) Wow...this book had no point to it at all. It was about a group of rich girls living in New York and the girl every girl wants to be, Serena van der Woodsen, (such a soap opera name) has been kicked out of her boarding school in Europe and has returned to NY. Gossip ensues.

This book had no point. The characters were shallow and 2 dimensional-with the exception of Jenny and Dan,-the plotline was bad and predictable, and everything turned out happily ever after. Also, the characters had sex on every other page, which kind of disturbed me. But then again, I haven't read anything like this before.

Then why did I give this 4 stars? Because it was simply addicting. As much as I tried not to care about the characters...I did. Throughout the whole story, I rolled my eyes at the sheer stupidity of the plot...but I didn't put the book down. The author knows how to keep you into her story.

After working with teens for nearly two decades, I don't recognize the teens described in this book. Yes, it's fiction, but the characters are a combination of every stereotype of teens. It's an insult to real teens.

If it were well written, I would get it, but the author transitions from one character's POV to another without thought. It is full of cliches, and detailed description of the designer clothes and purses that the characters wear. Oh, and don't forget the hair!

Yes, our teens struggle. Yes, many are sexually active. Yes, many drink or smoke weed or are taking their parents' prescription drugs. But these characters (14 to 17) have sex with each other, with friends, with older men, all the while smoking, drinking, taking drugs, and shopping their way to fabulousness.

Seriously. . .

I bought this book with store credit at my favourite used bookstore. I wasn't sure what to expect, but wanted a better idea about what my students are reading/watching on TV.

This book was a guilty pleasure read. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed the descriptions of the idle rich, white New Yorker teenagers. This book sheds light on the shallow lives of the main list of characters. I am not sure that I will buy or use credit for these books, but I would check them out of the library to just keep up to date. Yeah, that is the excuse I'll give.

Criticisms aside, I do think that the books do give more than lip service to the cruelty of cliques and silent bullying that can take place among girls (_Odd Girl Out_).

There are better books out there for the teenaged set: Francesca Lia Block books or Carolyn Mackler to name two authors.

I picked this book up, thinking that maybe it was something I could recommend to my teenagers at school and keep in my classrom library as a lending copy. I will be taking it to the used bookstore instead. Here, I was hoping for another gossipy book, like the Georgia Nicholson series (Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging) or maybe even the "Mates, Dates, and..." series. Instead, this book is more mature and graphic than those other two choices and, knowing the parents in my school, they would have this book removed anyway, due to the graphic language.

While I believe that teens should have books that they can relate to, I still just don't see where this book would fit in. Most of the kids I know do not carry Prada bags and wear Burberry jackets. Most don't go to the social elite soirees and such, so they just wouldn't "get" this book. It is way too far removed from their own experiences, with the exception of the language used by the teens in the story.

One GREAT thing about this book, however, was the "Gossip Girl" webpage that caught the readers up on what was happening with each character. It was interesting how, throughout the story, some of the minor characters would mention things that had been on the website.

I just couldn't get into this book at all. There wasn't one major character that the book focused on and the characters were so shallow, it was hard to like any of them. They were also pretty undeveloped and flat, mostly stuck-up rich kids who were budding alcoholics. I have seen better writing on after-school specials. I will probably skip the rest of this series and if you choose to read this book, you probably will do the same.

Will Nate and Georgina, his new rehab pal, end up being an item?
Will Jenny and her new man live happily ever after? Will Jenny's new best friend Elise interfere?
Will Blair get into Yale? Will Elise's father ever get the chance to explain why he tried to get with Blair romantically? Will Blair stop loving Nate?
Will Serena continue to be famous, ditzy, and wanted on all the runways?
Will Dan and Mystery Craze, the yellow-toothed and yellow nailed poetess, fall madly, deeply in love?
Will Vanessa, Dan's girlfriend, find out that he hasn't merely been cheating, but CHEATING CHEATING??? Will she survive?
Is Chuck Bass bisexual?
And, the most burning question of them all...
WHO IS GOSSIP GIRL?
All of these questions are left unanswered till book number five. Quite frankly, it's infuriating. What leads to the end is suspenseful and enthralling - you will be so absorbed you'll be unable to put this book down till it's over. Nate ends up caught for his weed smoking and is forced to attend rehab meetings, where he meets a beautiful Snow White lookalike named Georgina Sparks. Blair decides she wants to go to rehab too for her bulimia, yet really wants to be close to Nate again. She sees him with Georgina and her entire plan is thrown off. Not only that, but she finds that a handsome Yale graduate who she senses has feelings for her is the FATHER of one of her younger classmates at Constance Billard. Dan, on the other hand, thinks he is in love with Vanessa until he meets eccentric Mystery Craze and ends up cheating. Clearly, his fame over his poetry has diluded his mind. Jenny meets her admirer and bonds with Elise, her new best friend, over nude figure painting and 'experimentation,' which she deems 'overrated.' Serena lives a carefree, no-worries life, becoming a model and having success practically knock at her door. So much more happens in this book, you'll be dying to read the next so that all of these loose ends can finally be tied together. Recommended age: 13 and up.

After hearing so many rave reviews for this book, I decided to check it out for myself. When I started reading, this book was very hard to put down. However, I don't really think this was a five-star book. For one thing, the characters in this book are very shallow and unrealistic; they smoke, do drugs, are smart, spoiled, rich, wear the latest, most expensive designer clothing, have sex, and swear. I really don't think Cecily Von Ziegesar captured what upper east New York City teens were really like; probably just a small fraction act like this. Yes, the book was VERY inappropriate. Full of cuss words, talk of who had sex with who, gossip, and boyfriends ditching girlfriends (and vise-versa), I wasn't sure what age this book was targeted to. It seems inappropriate even for teenagers.
Not only that, but I found that the book really had no plot line. Like another reviewer said, when I got to the end, it really felt like it was the middle of the story. Basically, this book really has no beginning and no end. I enjoyed reading it, so I gave it three stars, but it's such a trashy "novel", I don't know if I'm gonna pick up any more Gossip Girl books in the future.

Once again, readers are plunged into the trashy, smutty, delicious world of Nate, Blair, Serena and co. No, these books aren't "family friendly." These teens drink, smoke, do drugs, screw like bunnies, and are a step away from becoming juvenile deliquents. Contrary to what some other reviewers have written, however, I have to respectfully disagree about whether the books deliver a bad message. Yes, a character does drugs ... but he's busted and then meets someone who overdoses. Yes, the young couples have sex .... but then they break up, showing how it can be dangerous to "commit" yourself to someone. The teens misbehave, but they do face consequences. Most of them are not role models, and that point is made very clear. And let's face it - the 9th graders whom this book is recommended for, probably hear more and see more smut in their schools, or at parties or on TV, than this book offers. Isn't it better to deliver a message in a package that's realistic and entertaining? Then again, you can always tune in to the treacly trash that is 7th Heaven where 20-somethings still live with their parents and it's OK to spy on your grown children. Yeah, like that's really going to teach kids anything. I say, let your kids read a well-written book like this and then discuss the issues, rather than let them simply hear about things through their friends.

Gossip Girl is the unidentified narrator of this first in a series. She describes the comings and goings of a group of affluent high school students in Manhattan. All of these girls and boys come from very wealthy families where the children are basically left to do what they please when they please and all with the financial backing of a trust fund.

But life isn't always greener on the other side. Serena has just returned from a boarding school she was kicked out of and finds that her friends have moved on without her leaving her to fend for herself in a lonely social circle. Blair, Serena's former best friend, is miserable that her competition is back in town and equally upset at the way her boyfriend, Nate, looks at Serena. Nate, happy enough with Blair, is actually in love with Serena and cannot forget the one night of sexual magic they had the previous summer. Add a number of other young adults, all with their own worries and insecurities, post about them on a website, and you have Gossip Girl - a fun and catty quick read.

This book is definately not a work of great literature, but is a really simple fun quick read. Gossip is one thing many women take guilty pleasure in - add reading about it to the list. Adults and teens can relate to the issues of jealously, insecurity, and fear from which teenagers quietly suffer. Simplistic in nature, this book is clearly meant to be taken lightly, but entertain nonetheless. Word of warning to parents - some content is a bit racy for young teens.

The book was alright. It may be because I watched the show first, but I just didn't like the book quite as much. Even the characters that I wasn't so fond of in the show, I still appreciated but in the novel, not so much. It was okay, but I probably would like it better if I'd read this before watching the television show.

This is the best teen series out there, and while it isn't completely realistic it is more real then book series like Sweet Valley High.The girls school, Constance Billiard is described to the letter, I was a scholarship student at a school very similar to the one in the book I'll admit not all rich teens in upper New York act this way only a very few do. But the characters do make the book interesting, my favorite character is Vanessa, she seems more real. Dan and Jenny are okay too but their obession with Serena is kind of weird. I don't care for Blair, she had no real reason to cut Serena out of her life like that, she didn't even know what happened between her and Nate before she did that. This is a great series and I hope it goes on for a long time!

Recently I picked up the popular Gossip Girl novel series, by Cecily von Ziegesar. I am sure you have heard of Gossip Girl, especially since the novels were made into a popularly watched television series (in my opinion, the best ever). The first novel, just titled Gossip Girl, introduces readers into the lives of the novel’s main characters-a group of teen girls and boys with money and looks to die for. Full of gossip, secrets, drugs, sex, and all sorts of scandal, the book takes us to a wild place with some wild people, leading readers into the other thirteen novels.
The setting takes place in New York Cities’ Upper East Side. In the Constance Billard School for Girls and St. Jude’s School for Boys, in insane apartments, and at over the top parties, it is a “luxe” life for our characters: Blair Waldorf, the perfect queen-bee with the perfect boyfriend and the perfect everything, and her “best friend” Serena van der Woodsen, the wild and crazy, flawless looking blonde. Along with these two main characters are the rich and privileged Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass, as well as the not so rich Humphrey siblings, Jenny and Dan. All of these characters intertwine to make a pretty wild storyline. But another main character that leaves a whole lot of mystery to the plot is Gossip Girl, an Internet blogger who seems to know every little thing about this group of people. Readers never do find out who she is, but that is exactly what makes this story so scandalous and intriguing.
In book one, the story is based around the return of Serena from boarding school. The friendship between her and Blair is strained for many reasons and as the story progresses you see many conflicts between these two characters arise. Also, a side story from the main conflict is the Humphrey’s new entry into the world that Serena, Blair, Nate and Chuck live in. There are a lot of surprises and many scandals throughout creating an enticing story line. This is a very fun read and it is not hard to get completely entangled into it; after reading this first book, I felt the need to continue on with the others.
I would definitely recommend this series. It is fun, exciting, and completely ridiculous, yet some how relatable in many ways I found. Gossip Girl takes you into a world, which to most, is completely unknown and absurd. The gossip and crazy conflicts keep you thoroughly entertained and surprised throughout. I am excited to continue reading the other books. So until next time, XOXO.

Among the teen books out there this one is really about young adults, or teens acting like adults. Enter the world of Private School New York, where kids pride themselves on drinking, drugs, disorders, and social status. This first novel in the Gossip Girl series draws you in so much so taht its possible to read it in one sitting (As I practically did). The plot seems a little contrived and loose, but is an effective portrait of what Von Ziegesar is trying to display; a bunch of spoiled rich kids.
Live through the gossip supplied by a omniscent third-person narrative, and watch as friends become enemies, losers take risks in the social scene, and sex and love battle each other. A fun book to check out for a change from the usual teen fare.

Meet GOSSIP GIRL, an anonymous New York teen who posts all of the latest news about her peers at her website. Readers are introduced to a variety of high schoolers whose days and nights are filled with money, cars, boyfriends/girlfriends, cell phones, agendas, parties, and more. If you're in, you're in; if you're out, you're definitely out - unless you are dating or are related to one of the cool kids.
The character with the most mystery surrounding her is Serena, a blonde beauty whose return to Manhattan sparks controversy galore as her classmates wonder why she has come back to her all-girl private high school after a year-long absence and travels overseas. Serena's estranged best friend Blair, who was just getting accustomed to being THE most popular girl, now must take a step back and share the spotlight. Not only is her popularity at stake, but so is her love life, as she worries that her boyfriend Nate only has eyes . . . for Serena.
If GOSSIP GIRL was a TV show, HBO, FOX and THE WB would all fight over the rights to it. GOSSIP GIRL takes 90210 and moves it to Manhattan. The teens are trashy and classy at all once; while they know the difference between Prada and Gucci, they don't always know the difference between right and wrong. The book is more melodrama than drama, and delightfully so. It's a beach read mixed with martinis.

If you are looking for pure cattiness - this is definately the book for you. It's like a younger, hipper early Jackie Collins novel... Blair thinks she has the perfect life until her best friend Serena comes back after being kicked out of boarding school. Rumors fly, hatred and envy ensue, and you thought being rich was easy! I was kind of suprised to find this on our Young Adult shelf, but I can see why it was put there since it is about teenagers. The content wasn't all that shocking however, because I think almost everyone goes through something in this book sometime during their teen years.
While I probably wouldn't recommend this to someone below 16, it is an interesting read for those who don't want to go the romance route.

You will be suck into this self-involved book series if you are into gossip. You don't get a sense of depth in any of the characters, but at the same time, you don't care to. They are the object of gossip, so you only get the superficial surface-level information about each character so they are meaningful only in their use. As a reader, you become part of a "Mean Girls" culture, reveling in the juicy and not very nice gossip of others. But, it is entertaining, if you like to hear gossip about and from the superrich, superspoil gossip girls who would befriend you only to gossip behind your back. Maybe a good gossip magazine like People would be better.

Oh please, all these over protective parents who have never seen the 'F' word in a book before are writing all these one star reviews on what really is a great book.
I can't tell you much about it since it is kind of hard to follow, but it has a great story to tell.
Sienna is extremely nice and thinks about others which is why she gets everything she wants, while people like Chuck are rude and cruel which is why he has to force girls to let him get up their shirts.
This book was amazing and who cares that there was a 'bad' word on every page? I mean that is what gets you to be able to put your self on how they are feeling.

Gossip Girl is fun, easy, and quick---three adjectives that also happen to describe the novel's main characters, as well! It chronicles the lives of hoity-toity, rich high-schoolers who live in New York City and are faced with such traumas as, "Whatever shall I wear to the benefit tonight?"
...Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. In reality, the teens do have serious issues they're faced with. It's just that the conflicts aren't so terrible it prevents them from taking a fun shopping trip to Barneys.
Anywho, this book's a great choice if you want a little "fluff" that doesn't require a lot of mind-power. But try to overlook the author's attempt at naming every NYC street and landmark in order to make the setting more realistic. It gets old after awhile.

And this book is no exception! I originally picked it up after hearing a really great review in YM magazine. Now, ordinarily I wouldn't bother with the reviews, but the review stayed with me for some reason.
"Gossip Girl" is like the movie, "Cruel Intentions", but instead of having the plot the same as the movie, it's about Blair Waldorf and her friends living their lives happily in New York's Upper East Side until Blair's best friend, Serena van der Woodsen, came back from getting kicked out of boarding school.
This book was extremely well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because I just love a good gossip and I can basically relate to the teens featured in the book, mostly, Serena. There wasn't a thing I didn't like in the book, if you can believe it.
This book should be made into a movie. Why not? It worked for "Cruel Intentions".

I first bought this book because I was attracted to the cover but when I began to read it, it was so interesting and fun that I couldn't stop. The story is mainly about a group of teenagers living in New York's upper east side and dealing with problems in the midst of it all. I loved Serena because she seemed so sweet and nice and hated Blair for treating her so shabbily. Of course I think we all agree that Chuck is a loser of the highest order and that things were just starting to get interesting when it ended. But that's the beauty of this book-it gets you hooked and keeps you hanging until the last page. Naturally, we all wonder who Gossip Girl is-but maybe one day we'll find out. Buy it!

After the disappointed g.g book # 3 This book (The fourth one) comes out it's so good. It's good like the first book was. Alot of things happen that are shocking like Nate gets busted in the park and Blair has an affair with a married man! Wow it was good. But the thing I hate about this book is Dan and Vanessa. Anything with them I quickly read through. It's so boring until Dan cheats on her with Mystery Craze. Also he's becoming very arrogant just like the rest of the characters in this book and I hate that! His sister Jenny has a lesbian affair too. I didn't see that one coming. It's all too juicy to put down.

This book is about Blair and her friends: Katie, Isabelle, Serena, and Nate who is her boyfriend. Serena has just come back home from out of town, and Nate and her have always been best friends, but now Serena is starting to like Nate. But Nate also has a girlfriend, so Serena is hitting on Nate and Blair is not liking that at all.

I like this book because it has alot of action and drama in it, which most girls like. The book has a series. I would reccomend this book for a teenager who likes alot of action and drama. If i were to rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10 i would defenitly give it a 10.

Gossip Girl is written by: Cecily Ziegesar. This book is a realistic ficton. Blair, Nate, Isabell, and Katie all live in NYC and go to single sex private schools. Blairs old best friend Serena is back from boarding school and Blair is not happy because she no longer the smartest or the prettist.

This is a great book it is a series of 7 almost 8 books. After I finished the first book I HAD to go get the next one. Once you start reading these books you can't stop. This book is for someone that can read all of them because each one stops at a spot where you have to get the next one. So if you are planning on reading this book make sure you can read them all. Hope you like my review!

Enter the world of fabolous designer label clothes, the rich teens of New York, manicures, parties and so much more.

Blair's life seemed to be going perfect for her, fabolous friends, Katie and Isabel, a handsome boyfriend, Nate, and a spolied child living in New York. Blair seemed to be having everything going for her, in all AP's sending out college applications to places like Yale, her dream college, her life seemed perfect. Until Serena her bestfriend and worst enemy came back from boarding school! Rumors are starting to spread of why she had gotten kicked out of boarding school, there were rumors she had gotten pregnant, had sex with every boy on campus, but you will find out the truth.

This book focuses mainly on Blair, Serena, Nate, Jenny/Jennifer, Vanessa, Dan, and sometimes Katie and Isabel.

I recommend this book on a rainy day with nothing to do since it can be very easily read, and isn't very long. I would not recommend this for a school book project though since its not very complex.

God, why would someone write a book about how horrible high school is? It assumes that every girl cares about popularity and having the right clothes as well as going to jock filled parties. It is totally ridiculous, for people who want to feel better about themselves to write books about how mean girls are. Not every girl cares! Some of us prefer kinder books like the traveling pants series or awesome movies like ghost world and office space. Freaks and geeks is perhaps the best show ever about high school. If your into what is "cool" and "hot" and like watching god awful shows like the "OC" gossip girls books are the ones for you. If you care about anyone other than yourself, this is not the book for you! Writing is terrible and the characters are heartless. 1 lousy star!

Gossip girls #1 is truly an inspiring book. It tells a story about a girl (Blair) and her friends and their lives. Tuly when i read it, it truly changed the way i thought of life. Its so amazing how people act so different because of where or the way they live. i am now reading #2 and i cant wait to read more. these books are good for readers that like everyday life. Its also for readers that like to read dramma and looking into a persons feelings. i love thoes kind of book personally, and i will continue to read them now.
Jessica Greenwich,Connecicut