Customer Reviews

Gossip Girl (Gossip Girl Novels)

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This book is one of those that you can't put down. It's full of the drama that surrounds the upper east side of Manhattan. I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a good read that is just fun. This book leaves you with a burning question in your head: Just who is Gossip Girl?

Who doesn't like gossip? Be honest now. Well, sit back and don't miss a word because "Gossip Girl" is going to dish for you. She's a part of the rich and fatuous set from Manhattan's Upper East Side where too much is never enough, whether it's too much sex, too much drugs or too much alcohol.
Christina Ricci has the patois down pat as does Maria deLuca who delivers the emails from "Gossip Girl." Young girls of a certain age (say 10 - 13) will undoubtedly be fascinated by this tale that gives tell-all new dimensions. It's the stuff of which their worlds are made - boys, parties, shopping (with no credit limit?).
Before long listeners will feel as if they're a part of the Serena/Blair crowd at a tony school for girls. They'll empathize and anguish through the fictional gals hopes and predicaments.
"Gossip Girl" has become a bit of a phenomenon sprouting a website and other works from Cecily von Ziegesar. That's how it is with gossip - you can never get enough and are eager for the latest.

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.

The Upper East Side used to be overrun with plastic surgery happy society women, and spoiled tots torturing their high-priced nannies. But times have changed. While these people still occupy a small portion of the sidewalks, they have been pushed aside for a new generation of beautiful people. Teenagers brought up in the lap of luxury, who spend their days buying overpriced La Perla undergarments at Barney's, and indulging in frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity. But spending money isn't all that's on their mind. There's always...gossip.

Ever since the flawless Serena van der Woodsen departed from New York City to take up residence at a boarding school in Connecticut, sixteen-year-old Blair Waldorf has ruled Constance Billard School for Girls. As the daughter of a prominent lawyer turned gay, Blair has always gotten her way. And, with Serena out of the picture, was able to snag the gorgeous, green-eyed Nate Archibald for herself. Unfortunately, as much as Blair would like to deny it, Nate has always had a thing for Serena. A secret passion for the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty. And now with Serena back in the picture, Blair doesn't know where their relationship will stand. So she has to take drastic measures...hand Nate her V card and he'll be hers forever. The only problem is that Nate is a stoner who has a very short attention span, and even sacrificing herself to Nate won't let him forget the passion he feels for Serena.

But he's not the only one. Dan Humphrey isn't your typical rich kid. For one, while he attends school with some of New York City's most privileged, he actually resides in an apartment on the Upper West Side with his chesty younger sister, Jenny, and his eccentric writer father, Rufus. Dan is a dark, brooding poet, whose penchant for cigarettes and Folgers coffee crystals leave much to be desired. But, like Nate, Dan is infatuated with Serena. The only difference is that he has never so much as spoken to her before, and she doesn't know he exists. Now that Serena's off the A-List, and treading outcast waters, however, the only thing he can hope is that she'll find her way to him and they can live happily ever after. In his dreams, of course.

Gossip is one of those things you can't help but be enamored with. Sure, you can pretend all you want that you have no interest in who's dating who, or who's wearing what, but you do. And you love it. Cecily von Ziegesar has managed to touch upon the hot commodity of gossip, and turned it into an amazing new series. Blair is so evil and mean at times, and while that may seem like something that would be a turn-off to the reader, she's actually an addicting character. Her ability to turn people against Serena in a snap is impressive; while the fact that she is able to juggle school, extracurricular's, a boyfriend, and ruining people's lives is humorous in a sinful way. Nate is a character who seems to have nothing between the ears. He's intelligent and gorgeous, however, the fact that he spends most of his time stoned makes him slightly bizarre, and a useless addition to the human race. But I still love him. Thus far, Serena is the most appealing character. She is kind, sweet, and selfless. She manages to ignore the nasty things people say about her, and keep a smile on her face no matter what situation she is thrust into. Basically, she's happy-go-lucky, and completely irresistible. Dan is an offbeat character, who reminds you of old, soulful beatnik poets who spent their days lounging around Greenwich Village in the 1960's. While he seems sweet, some of his poems are so serious and creepy that he can freak you out at times. But the kindness that he extends to his younger sister, Jenny, more than makes up for it; and actually leaves you rooting for the Humphrey family, in general. A delicious new series that will definitely give you something to talk about.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

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.

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.

This book was really good. Even though there are not teens in this world like them, its cool to have an image of them partying and living their life.

I normally find it difficult to find a good book...one that you just can't put down. Then I came across Gossip Girl and it is definitely the best book I have read. It's full of scandal and gossip. The story line is good and keeps you interested. I reccomend all the books in the addictive series. All 4 are just amazing! You attach yourself to characters as they go through their "perfect" and unbelievably rich lives. You'll be up all night reading until it's done! =)

If you are looking for a book that is fun and easy to read (along with racy, scandilous, and a guilty pleasure) Gossip Girl is for you! All about rich friends living in New York City, Gossip Girl is something to take your mind off of your world and excape into theirs.

I loooooved this book!!!! Me and my friends all read it. We all wished we were beautiful,rich,popular and lived in New York City just like the girls do. WE haven't bought the second book yet but we can't wait!!!! If you haven't read the book yet then you should because it's totally awsome! It's the perfect book for any high school teen. But if there are younger kids thinking about reading it then maybe you should think twice ( my little sister started reading and I got in trouble!)