It Had to Be You

Mar 01, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guilty-pleasure, book-series, young-adult, bitch-lit, boarding-school, revenge

Over time I've grown to known and love our favorite Upper East Side scandal-makers. We have followed their every move - thanks to the help of a little birdie named Gossip Girl - and accompanied them as they played the field, played hard to get, broke hearts, found love, shopped 'till they dropped, and partied until the sun came up. The one thing we were never privy to, however, is how it all began. How they came to love -- and hate -- one another; and why their relationships were so tumultuous....more Over time I've grown to known and love our favorite Upper East Side scandal-makers. We have followed their every move - thanks to the help of a little birdie named Gossip Girl - and accompanied them as they played the field, played hard to get, broke hearts, found love, shopped 'till they dropped, and partied until the sun came up. The one thing we were never privy to, however, is how it all began. How they came to love -- and hate -- one another; and why their relationships were so tumultuous. But now, we get to go inside their private world, and see just how our favorite socialites became so fabulous. "It Had To Be You: The Gossip Girl Prequel" takes readers back to a time before Nate Archibald hat taken his first hit. Before Serena van der Woodsen abandoned her cushy life in the city for boarding school living with her older brother. Before little Jenny Humphrey was burdened by an over-large chest. Before Blair Waldorf's father came out of the closet. It provides answers to our questions, except to the one thing I'm curiously about: who exactly is Gossip Girl?

At fifteen-years-old, Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen, and Nate Archibald were basically attached at the hip. The Three Musketeers-esque clique did simply everything together - from partying to sleepovers, and everything in-between. Both Serena and Blair had been madly in love with Nate, and his hypnotizing green eyes, since they were in diapers. The only question that remained was who would be the lucky girl to snag him as their boyfriend; and who would end up the odd woman out.

"It Had To Be You: The Gossip Girl Prequel" paints each character in a different light. Serena displays such an uncanny amount of vulnerability, loneliness, and sadness throughout the story, that you can't help but love her, and want to see things work out in the end. Blair, on the other hand, comes off as being completely self-centered and self-absorbed. However, the underlying family problems she finds herself going through, and the fact that she is struggling with an eating disorder - even if she refuses to come to terms with it - show just how much she is crying out for attention; which actually makes you feel badly for her. Nate, as always, is so dashing and adorable. However, his penchant for being totally out of it in just about every situation makes him seem like a total waste of a life. I will admit, though, that his looks make up for whatever his personality happens to be lacking.

Without a mother to care for them, Dan and Jenny Humphrey simply had each other to rely on. And, without any known friends, it was essential that the two stuck close to one another. Luckily, they both had one very important thing in common: their unhealthy obsession with the ethereal Serena van der Woodsen. While neither had ever spoken to Serena, they both admired her from afar, and watched her every move - like sibling stalkers.

Vanessa Abrams was always an off-the-wall girl. However, with her flowing black hair that reached past her waist, she had the potential to be beautiful; if only she would take up a new hobby. When she shaves her head completely bald, she finally gets the recognition she wants - especially from Dan Humphrey. Unfortunately, he seems to be more after her friendship than her body; and would rather spend his days mooning after Serena - much to Vanessa's chagrin. But she knows that, with a little effort, she may just be able to snag his heart - before it's too late.

Book Details:

Title It Had To Be You: The Gossip Girl Prequel (Gossip Girl Series)
Author Cecily von Ziegesar
Reviewed By Purplycookie(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 27, 2008 Yasmina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-jen

This book is about how Serena van der Woodsen started falling for Nate and what led to their affair, and why she left Constance Billard School for Girls. When Blair Waldorf began to like Audrey Hepburn and when her dad left her mom for another man, when she first fell in love with Nate, and what caused her to have bulimia. How Nate Archibald came between Blair and Serena. When Nate first learned how to do drugs. How Vanessa got into film making and when she shaved her head to make sure she had l...more

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May 25, 2008 Tara Calaby rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: NO ONE

Shelves: tv-tie-in, ya-fiction

I borrowed this from the local library because there's been a lot of talk about the Gossip Girl series, especially since the telly show came out. Now, it is VERY rare that I won't finish a book if I start it, and even rarer that I won't at least give it a good chance, but this book? I wouldn't want to waste another minute on it. Seriously, the writing in here makes my beloved Sweet Valley High look like Shakespeare in comparison.

Want some examples?

"Nate dove on top of her, all five foot eleven...more

6 likes · like · see review

May 06, 2008 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com

In the prequel to the GOSSIP GIRL series, Blair, Serena, Nate, Jenny, Dan, Vanessa, and Chuck's nasty little secrets are exposed.

Why Serena left, what attracted Nate to Blair, and every detail about our favorite rich kids are told. And nothing is left to the imagination. How did Serena and Nate end up hooking up before Blair and Nate? Is Vanessa really in love with Dan? What other dirty little deeds has Chuck participated in? Is Jenny really as inno...more

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Jan 21, 2009 Annabella rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book because it is so unlike my life!
This is the prequel to the "Gossip Girl" series. (So its what happened before all the stuff in the series).
I haven't read any other ones besides this one, and now I want to read the rest of them.
But someone said that I shouldn't read the prequel before the whole series because it gives something away...but I understood everything and stuff so I was fine...but I guess it might ruin the rest of the series a little...but probably not.
I real...more

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Apr 15, 2008 Christy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yes, I am embarrassed to admit that at my age I bought this book! I fell in love with the tv series (yes embarrassed) but what can I say, I am hooked! This book, however, promises to reveal what happened before the tv series started and it revealed literally nothing new.... nothing! It was also very full of weird things like three best friends (one male and two female) who slept in each other's beds (nonsexually of course) constantly since like elem school - what??? This book in No WAY compares...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 PurplyCookie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-series, boarding-school, bitch-lit, e-book, young-adult, revenge, guilty-pleasure

Over time I've grown to known and love our favorite Upper East Side scandal-makers. We have followed their every move - thanks to the help of a little birdie named Gossip Girl - and accompanied them as they played the field, played hard to get, broke hearts, found love, shopped 'till they dropped, and partied until the sun came up. The one thing we were never privy to, however, is how it all began. How they came to love -- and hate -- one another; and why their relationships were so tumultuous....more Over time I've grown to known and love our favorite Upper East Side scandal-makers. We have followed their every move - thanks to the help of a little birdie named Gossip Girl - and accompanied them as they played the field, played hard to get, broke hearts, found love, shopped 'till they dropped, and partied until the sun came up. The one thing we were never privy to, however, is how it all began. How they came to love -- and hate -- one another; and why their relationships were so tumultuous. But now, we get to go inside their private world, and see just how our favorite socialites became so fabulous. "It Had To Be You: The Gossip Girl Prequel" takes readers back to a time before Nate Archibald hat taken his first hit. Before Serena van der Woodsen abandoned her cushy life in the city for boarding school living with her older brother. Before little Jenny Humphrey was burdened by an over-large chest. Before Blair Waldorf's father came out of the closet. It provides answers to our questions, except to the one thing I'm curiously about: who exactly is Gossip Girl?

At fifteen-years-old, Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen, and Nate Archibald were basically attached at the hip. The Three Musketeers-esque clique did simply everything together - from partying to sleepovers, and everything in-between. Both Serena and Blair had been madly in love with Nate, and his hypnotizing green eyes, since they were in diapers. The only question that remained was who would be the lucky girl to snag him as their boyfriend; and who would end up the odd woman out.

"It Had To Be You: The Gossip Girl Prequel" paints each character in a different light. Serena displays such an uncanny amount of vulnerability, loneliness, and sadness throughout the story, that you can't help but love her, and want to see things work out in the end. Blair, on the other hand, comes off as being completely self-centered and self-absorbed. However, the underlying family problems she finds herself going through, and the fact that she is struggling with an eating disorder - even if she refuses to come to terms with it - show just how much she is crying out for attention; which actually makes you feel badly for her. Nate, as always, is so dashing and adorable. However, his penchant for being totally out of it in just about every situation makes him seem like a total waste of a life. I will admit, though, that his looks make up for whatever his personality happens to be lacking.

Without a mother to care for them, Dan and Jenny Humphrey simply had each other to rely on. And, without any known friends, it was essential that the two stuck close to one another. Luckily, they both had one very important thing in common: their unhealthy obsession with the ethereal Serena van der Woodsen. While neither had ever spoken to Serena, they both admired her from afar, and watched her every move - like sibling stalkers.

Vanessa Abrams was always an off-the-wall girl. However, with her flowing black hair that reached past her waist, she had the potential to be beautiful; if only she would take up a new hobby. When she shaves her head completely bald, she finally gets the recognition she wants - especially from Dan Humphrey. Unfortunately, he seems to be more after her friendship than her body; and would rather spend his days mooning after Serena - much to Vanessa's chagrin. But she knows that, with a little effort, she may just be able to snag his heart - before it's too late.

Book Details:

Title It Had To Be You: The Gossip Girl Prequel (Gossip Girl Series)
Author Cecily von Ziegesar
Reviewed By Purplycookie(less)

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Oct 21, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the blocks from East Sixty-Eighth Street to East Eighty-Eighth Street, live a group of upper class teenagers. If you are a part of them, you are a part of the fabulous parties, the amazing clothes, and basically getting everything you want. Unfortunately, if you aren’t in this group of seemingly perfect people, you are an outcast. In other words you spend your time wishing that you could be like them. One person catches all the drama, all of the scandals and secrets and puts them into a blog...more In the blocks from East Sixty-Eighth Street to East Eighty-Eighth Street, live a group of upper class teenagers. If you are a part of them, you are a part of the fabulous parties, the amazing clothes, and basically getting everything you want. Unfortunately, if you aren’t in this group of seemingly perfect people, you are an outcast. In other words you spend your time wishing that you could be like them. One person catches all the drama, all of the scandals and secrets and puts them into a blog. She goes by the name Gossip girl. As you read this book, you take a look into the lives of Serena Van Der Woodsen, everyone worships her for her beauty. Next to her there is Blair Waldorf, this is Serena’s best friend. Blair is a perfectionist, the queen bee of the school. It is better to be on her good side since she sticks up for the ones she cares about. Then there is Nate Archibald, this is both Blair and Serena’s love interest. He loves both of them which leads to conflict throughout the book. Next in the social scene is Chuck Bass. He is known to be a womanizer but no one cares about that since he host the best parties. Leaving the perfectly polished princesses and princes of the upper class, and moving on the outcasts is Dan Humphrey. He has a not to secret love interest in the one and only, Serena Van Der Woodsen. He spends his days writing poems about her. That is until he meets Vanessa Abrams. She is considered the freak of the school, with her freshly shaven head and taking strange photos all of the time. She meets Dan in an unfortunate situation and the two hit it off almost immediately. Last, but certainly not least there is Jenny Humphrey. This is Dan’s little sister. To say the least, she is obsessed with Serena. The apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree. This book is recommended for teenage girls. I found it to be a very good book. Although when I picked it out, I did not realize that it would be somewhat inappropriate. There is a lot of cussing, drinking, and smoking. This book is for the people who are interested in what Serena bought from Barneys, or who was at Chuck’s party. It is all drama, shopping, and partying. (less)

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Jul 06, 2011 Brenna added it · review of another edition

I read some of the Gossip Girl series when they first came out, and then stopped. I've completely forgotten everything about them, and when venturing to the library with my grandma, I saw the prequel & decided I might as well read it, then begin to re-read the series. . . I have never seen a single episode of the show, and have no idea what has gone on. But, I love the writing style the author brings to the table. She gives a very objective, clear omniscient view, followed at the end of para...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Mayra rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, I'll admit it: I didn't really read this, but I've read most of the other books, and the same thing happens in each one--Blair does her bitchy thing, and Serena does her promiscuous thing, they fight over Nate who's too dazed and stoned to choose either one of them, and finally choose each other in the end.
I skimmed through this book and only really read the end, just because I wanted to see the sex scene part. That was particularly disappointing, and I knew everything that was going to h...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Ebony Lacy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I recently just started It Had to Be You, the 12th book in the gossip girl series. This book actually goes wayyy back into the beginning. Telling how it all began and how everywhere ended up they are. Im on page 75 and so far I've read how from the age of 13, Blair supsects her father having an affair. Serena's mother wants her to go to boarding school for the fall and she's told nate but doesnt know how to break it to blair. Jenny is looking up ways to get bigger breasts , Dan (her brother) is...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Chrissy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

So, I must start by admitting that I actually did *not* read the Gossip Girl series before reading the prequel -- but, I did watch Season 1 of the show. And, while I'm admitting things here, I actually *did* really, really enjoy the TV show -- embarassingly so -- and I can't deny that my obsession with streaming GOSSIP GIRL on Netflix was part of the reason I pretty much stopped reading at the end of this past year. Oops.

Given that I've only seen the television show, and haven't read a single GG...more So, I must start by admitting that I actually did *not* read the Gossip Girl series before reading the prequel -- but, I did watch Season 1 of the show. And, while I'm admitting things here, I actually *did* really, really enjoy the TV show -- embarassingly so -- and I can't deny that my obsession with streaming GOSSIP GIRL on Netflix was part of the reason I pretty much stopped reading at the end of this past year. Oops.

Given that I've only seen the television show, and haven't read a single GG book before the prequel, my mental images were specifically of Blake Lively and Leighton Meester -- not necessarily of Serena and Blair as they're written. As such, I'm not sure if book 1 of this series differs tremendously from the first few episodes of the TV show -- because most of the "secrets" and "surprises" seemed to be things that were either blatantly stated in the television show, or they were at least heavily alluded to in such a way that nothing was really unpredictable or exciting here. And, it's not all necessarily the same as the show either, of course. Like, the Blake/Leighton drama over Nate was much more exciting on television than this lovey-dovey Serena/Blair dispute in the book. I somehow assumed Dan and Vanessa had known each other *much* longer than this prequel suggested. And, I knew Jenny was a bimbo -- but not THIS much of one, I guess. Oh, and Blair definitely pulls off the bitch factor better on television, for sure.

I kept forgetting these kids were, like, fifteen years old in the prequel. I found myself just pretending they were older. The writing style was a bit clumsy and awkward because, well, sentences just don't flow as well if they're specifically constructed more around the quantity of name-dropping than the quality of the storyline, I think.

I'm reading the first official GOSSIP GIRL novel next, and I'm hoping that things get a bit more interesting from here. Honestly, I don't think I would have continued to trudge through these 400+ pages if I hadn't loved the show so much -- and, I do still think the show is better. But, I'm all for a nice, frivolous, air-headed read, so I'm not ready to give up quite yet... (less)

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Jun 19, 2011 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This prequel takes us back before Vanessa moves to New York and shaves her head, before Jenny had boobs, before Dan started smoking and became a poet, and, most importantly, before Nate, Serena and Blair became the most messed up love triangle ever. In addition to how all those things began, the three watch Breakfast at Tiffany's for the first time, Blair begins her bout with bulimia, Blair's dad comes out of the closet, and Serena decides to go to boarding school.
It was a little obvious to any...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Alissa added it · review of another edition

The book, It Had to Be You, which is the last book of the first Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar was very enterntaining. I liked it the best because it was the last book, but it was narrated before the first book so it brings everything back to the beginning. The characters are Serena, Blair, Nate, Dan, Jenny, and Vanessa. In this story, it brought it to the first time Serena Van Der Woodsen and Nate Archibald fell in love. When Blair, and Serena first fought over Nate's love. Vanessa met Dan,...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Arra Abella rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Gossip Girl fans, Young Adult, Girls

Shelves: 3-stars, chicklit, ebooks, its-ya, tv-series-tie-in

COVER -- It just shows the two main characters, Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf looking back. Since the book was a prequel of the Gossip Girl series, looking back was appropriate because this book will discuss the characters' past.

CONTENT -- Yes, it is the beginning of Gossip Girl where all the scandals, secrets, and all the dirt all started. Their actions and all the events that happened on the twelve books are all preempted in this book. I guess it is the right time to judge the chara...more COVER -- It just shows the two main characters, Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf looking back. Since the book was a prequel of the Gossip Girl series, looking back was appropriate because this book will discuss the characters' past.

CONTENT -- Yes, it is the beginning of Gossip Girl where all the scandals, secrets, and all the dirt all started. Their actions and all the events that happened on the twelve books are all preempted in this book. I guess it is the right time to judge the characters' maturity. Somehow, they did overcome their childish demeanor but they cannot shake off the drama. It will always linger around them.

I know it will be wrong to compare the TV series to the books, but it is inevitable. I, for one, hate that but in this case, I will always love the prior more than the latter. The producers were able to give the books a more explosive impact to the viewers which the books somehow fail to deliver. But hey, I would still thank Cecily von Ziegesar because if she did not wrote the books, the TV series will cease to exist. Moreover, for the good points, this book did gave the answers to some of our questions regarding the twelve books. Somehow, I did enjoy reading it--same as with the other books--because scandals and gossips are something we all find entertaining. Who doesn't? I will always love the idea of Gossip Girl's anonymity. Her character was just something we would want. She was omnipresent and omnipotent. Let's admit it, we will always love to get the first dish. Plus, these information can always be useful whether in a good way or--for being just so wicked--use it as leverage.

Again, the story of Gossip Girl's knowledge to all the secrets of the High Society members will always strike my curiosity of how she was able to do it and how does she operate? Or how can these people live their lives knowing they are an open book in the world wide web? In knowing that they will always be watched like a reality show only that their version was real and not reel. That idea will always be the one factor I fell in love with the series despite the disappointments and dismays I experienced. These books are for those who love drama and gossips, which will always go together side by side. And for the Gossip Girl fans, you are half a fan if you have not read the books yet.(less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Coincidentally I had read Wharton's "The Age of Innocence" before stumbling upon the prequel in the teen section of my hometown's library. I don't know why I had put off reading this novel when I had loved the series so much as a middle and high school student. Maybe it is because I was going away to college to be a grown up English major. However, I picked it up, and I love the series all the more.

von Ziegesar has done something really cool. She's taken a great novel about the constricting soci...more

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Aug 17, 2009 Lm rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: high-school, series, young-adult-literature, family-relationships, friendship, romance

I wonder if I should have read the rest of the Gossip Girl series before checking out this prequel? In any case, my opinion of the series remains the same - it's fun, juicy, addicting, but I could stomach it so much better if these were 20-somethings instead of 15-year-olds! The sexual situations are definitely over-the-top for the target audience and the alcohol and drug use also seem in excess. (Naked girls kissing in the hot tub while Italian contessas run around topless slurping vodka-soaked...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Margaryta rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chic-lit, bookshelf-of-shame, modern

Hearing about Gossip Girl so much from people in my class and how some people had actually even watched the whole TV show I felt I was lucky to find this book in my local library. I picked it up, and that's when the oh boy part hit me.

I don't even see any plot in this. It just goes along by events, strung together somehow. Again, the 15+ factor really shows in this book, and francly, this book wasn't good at all.

Why I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 was because for some strange reaosn I had felt...more

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Oct 27, 2009 Stef rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: grade-8-ir-books-chris

"It Had To Be You" is behind all the secrets on Blair Serena Nate. How did Nate get hooked on drugs? How Nate decided between Blair and Serena. And how more stuff that has happened between Blair and Serena. And don't forget on why Serena left to go to boarding school. Excatly why Blair and Serena fought.Where Blair and Serena buy there clothes (irealvant) More about Blair's mom and dad dicvorcing and her step-father. The aren't any internal and external conflict in "It Had To Be You" because it...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Paloma Paredes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 8th-grade

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 12, 2010 Kayla Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is about how gossip girl goes back in time and tells everyone's secret's on how they got her how they got that and how they got with some one. Thid book is interesting because it will answer all your answers. For example, when i was reading the gossip girl series i wondered why Nate like both Serena and Blair. In the book it told me that they were bothe beutiful and they were his best friends so he knew them inside out so they were really close and they already loved each other since t...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Alannah Clarke rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, paperback

'It had to be you' is the fantastic prequel to the Gossip Girl book series from Cecily Von Ziegesar. The book goes back to the Summer before the original series began, concentrating on the original love-triangle of Blair, Serena and Nate - and also on the lives of Dan, Jenny and Chuck.

This book is a good read and opens up the door to the original relationships between the characters, back when they were a few years younger. It's funny, riveting and a great read for the older teenager-young adult...more

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Jan 13, 2009 Naurin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading the book “Gossip Girl – It Had to be you” by Cecily von Ziegesar, I gained much more knowledge about friends, betrayal, lies etc, than before. This book correlates to me and two other people. Just like there were three best friends in the book, I was also in a friendship where there were three people and sometimes I fear of if our friendship will ever come to an end and if so, how will it end. My favorite part in the book was actually the beginning where they introduce all three ma...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Mikala rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Maybe she would be the kind of girl who had more boy-friends than girl-friends, but those boys were so immature they hardly counted as boys.
Get used to it, sweetie- they're all like that. But they get hotter with age, and we learn to be more tolerant."

This book was a nice break from all of these intense distopian novels.Cecily von Ziegesar is really good at writing her characters. They all have such distinct voices when in some books the characters all blend into one sloppy mess. My favorite t...more

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May 28, 2009 Alice rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guilty-pleasures

I am a grown woman. I am hooked on the Gossip Girl books. This happened to me because the audiobook of the first Gossip Girl came with the dvds of the tv series. I innocently popped the cd in my car for the commute and was instantly addicted. It was like reading gossip blogs on the Internet. I promised myself I would stop after just a peek. Just one little peek to see why these books are so popular. But I couldn't stop. Hey, I can't always read nonfiction. Sometimes I just have to set my brain o...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Samantha added it · review of another edition

I can't even give this a star. I couldn't even give it a half one, if that were possible. Seriously, this is HORRIBLE. There are only 2 books in my history of reading that I have abandoned after the first 3 pages. The first was The Scarlet Letter. The second one was this one. I tried. I really did. It sounded good, but it was horrible. I like a book that lets me imagine parts of the book. I don't need every single agonizing detail down to the color/shape/size/sound! Sheesh. Please tell me that t...more

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Jun 09, 2009 Ella Perkins rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-deb-sadok

This is the beginning of gossip girl, Blair and Serena are best friends and Nate is still single. Dan has illusions of Serena and Jenny is taking breast pills. What will gossip girl find out and will we find out who she is?
I can make a text to text connection, In Private Reed and Thomas and Arianna are all friends but Reed didn't know about Arianna and Thomas. So there is a lot of drama between the 2 girls and 1 boy.
I gave this book 5 stars. I like the Gossip Girl series, I hope I can read al...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Hana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't really like this book. Once again like the "It Girl," books I have read, its about your social status in life, which would determine your popularity at school. Mainly the story revolves around two girls, they are best friends, and enemies at times, but they need each other. The book is really confusing too because their boyfriend problems become complicated. Its not really a good book because it shows these teenage girls to be irresponsible and reckless. They can buy their way out alway...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Alicia rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: didnt-finish

I am not sure if its the writing style or the fact that I am use to the characters from the show, who are SO different to the ones in this book.... or more likely the combination of the two! I did try to get into it, I made it to page 92 but I just couldn't continue....

Quote from book:
"He rolled onto his back and wriggled like Serena's long-dead golden retriever, Guppy..." ummmmmm NO! Come to think of it, it IS the writing style AND the fact that I cant picture Nate from the TV show ever doing/...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Courtney Bocci rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fiction, ya

Ugh. It was a quick, easy read and entertaining in the way that tabloids are - like, as a window into a whole different social sector that there's little chance I'll ever experience (or that I'd want to). The writing was mediocre and in a weird pseudo-combination of tenses. I guess I could have read the others in the series before this one. Ah, well, live and learn.

(In short, it's kind of like this generation's Sweet Valley, only without Elizabeth's annoying goody-twoshoes flair to balance out a...more

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