'Gossip Girl' by Cecily von Ziegesar follows the lives of several rich high school girls in a private school setting, delving into their relationships, backstabbing, drug use, and romantic entanglements. The story is narrated from the perspectives of different girls, providing insight into their catty and stereotypical behavior. The plot revolves around the characters' interactions, including love triangles, friendship dynamics, and scandalous events, set against the backdrop of a privileged New York City lifestyle. The writing style is described as dishy, engaging, and occasionally sarcastic, resembling a TV show with a focus on gossip and teenage drama.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes content warnings for issues such as drug and alcohol use, casual sex, eating disorders, and themes of bullying.
Has Romance?
Romance is a significant element in the novel, as it features various romantic entanglements and relationships among characters.
From The Publisher:
The #1 New York Times bestselling series returns with a fresh new cover in time for the highly anticipated HBO MAX series reboot.
'Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live and go to school and play and sleep - sometimes with each other. We're smart, we've inherited classic good looks and we know how to party. It's a luxe life, but someone's got to live it.'
The first in the established and well-loved Gossip Girl series about the most popular high school crowd. Set in glamorous New York City the narrative takes a voyeuristic look into the troubled, raw and indulgent lives of Upper East Side's finest.
Ratings (14)
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (3) |
Reader Stats (24):
Read It (15) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (6) | |
Not Interested (2) |
1 comment(s)
Well.
I can't say this has aged well at all. And was I ever that young at seventeen? There's an odd mix of youth, sex and swearing - which is probably more to do with how much I've aged in the last decade - but I felt it worth noting at least.
This was sort of entertaining? But also not really at all? I do think we've come a long way as a society regarding attitudes and acceptable behaviors towards and about women. The casual slut shaming, derogatory comments and even sexual touches are no longer left to linger silently - I won't deny it still happens but I definitely think we're more likely to speak up and out about it than we were.
Regarding the book itself - any love I have for the characters is more to do with lingering nostalgia over the television show rather than the book - because frankly none of them were particularly likeable. They were whiny, self-centered and kind of flat. The television show has doubtlessly also not aged well but it's also very different to the book series. Plus I'm a Chuck/Blair fan - I never liked Nate on the show and I absolutely hate him in the book. I don't get what Blair even kind of sees in him.
When I first read this I rated 3 stars but upon rereading I can't go higher than 2 stars - there's just not enough depth to the characters or the plot to warrant more.
What can you read after
Gossip Girl?
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