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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Irresistable, May 9, 2009
This review is from: Gossip Girl, The Carlyles #3: Take a Chance on Me (Gossip Girl Novels) (Paperback)
First off, I'm 26--above the demographic for the books. With that said, I'm addicted to this series and I LOVE the Carlyles. Awhile back, the New Yorker called the Gossip Girl series as a whole a "comedic fairy tale." I think the Carlyles has managed to continue this tradition with plucky aplomb, as it follows the loves, lives and misdaventures of the Carlyle triplets (Owen, Baby, and Avery) and their contemporaries (Rhys and Jack) from their private schools.
In this book, Avery has an internship at a prestigious magazine, Baby is sentenced to mandatory therapy, and Owen finds out that love in New York is a little more complicated than he anticipated. Jack realizes that fairy tale princesses have responsibilities that come with the title, and Rhys realizes that you can only escape the life you were born to lead for so long. From uptown escapades to decadent downtown parties, the entire book is frothy fun.
But it's more than that. Part of the reason why I love these books is because I volunteer a lot with teens. And I love sharing and introducing these books to them. I know they have a bad reputation, but I've found teens who read them recognize them as pure literary fantasy, delighting in the over-the-topness of the plots and the fun details. Doestoyevsky it's not, but for a smart fun read that appeals to ALL levels (check out the Shakespeare allusions!), I really recommend this series! Plus, it's a great way to get a convo rolling with the teen in your life!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still loving it!!, May 2, 2009
This review is from: Gossip Girl, The Carlyles #3: Take a Chance on Me (Gossip Girl Novels) (Paperback)
In the third installment of the new Gossip Girl series:
Jack's mom got a job on a french soap opera and wants to move her and Jack back to Paris but Jack doesn't want to go so her boyfriend J.P.'s dad suggests she move into one of the condos he's trying to sale and be the spokesmodel for it. She's happy until she finds out J.P. and a new puppy plan on moving with her and then she feels smothered.
Avery gets an internship with a magazine and at first she's treated likd Andy in The Devil wears Prada but then she's asked to help a writer with an article about Jack that will tell the lie that she's hooking up with her boyfriend's dad.
After her recent stint by going to Spain, Baby is asks to complete some hours of therapy by the headmistress of the school and is having trouble finding someone she likes because she doesn't like them telling her that she is co-dependent on men.
After his break up with Kelsey, Rhys goes on a downward spiral by quitting the swim team and hanging out with some pot smoking losers and starts smoking himself.
Owen realizes the consequences of betraying Rhys: the swim team now hates him even though he is made captain and he finds out his relationship with Kelsey has no substance whatsoever besides hooking up.
Overall, I loved this book and the whole series. One of the things I love, which I'm sure will change is the fact that most of the characters are virgins in the original series everyone except for Blair had already given it up by book three. But overall this series is great, I really think that some people should give it a chance instead of bemoaning the end of the original one. You'll love the characaters and the storylines. Even though the ending of this one is a bit too happily ever after (but some books in the original series were like that too), I still love it and hope for more dramatic cliffhangers in the next one.
Grade: A - (only because of the ending)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, September 3, 2009
This review is from: Gossip Girl, The Carlyles #3: Take a Chance on Me (Gossip Girl Novels) (Paperback)
Ever since the Carlyle triplets moved to New York, the Upper East Side has been gossip central.
Owen ended up stealing his best friend's girlfriend. Avery dethroned the queen. Baby ran off to Spain.
As for the rest of the city, Jack is now the It Girl of the Cashman Lofts. Rhys gets into the hippie crowd after Owen steals his girl. Nothing stays quiet with Gossip Girl around.
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME is another wonderful GOSSIP GIRL, THE CARLYLES novel. I just can't get enough of these stories. They are so intriguing and keep me guessing. They are racy, but so enjoyable.
So much gossip is in each chapter. I can't imagine this kind of thing happening in real life, but if it did...
Wow! I recommend these novels to anyone who loves YA.
Reviewed by: Ashley B
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