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It Girl #3
Reckless
When Jenny Humphrey arrived at Waverly Academy, the student body immediately started buzzing about her and her body. She quickly caught the eye of three of the hottest guys on campus, kissed two of them, and made one her boyfriend: the adorable Easy Walsh. Too bad Easy just happened to belong to somebody else - Jenny's roommate, Callie Vernon.
It didn't take long for powerful Tinsley Carmichael to tell Callie their sweet-faced new roommate was really a manipulative skank. So what if Tinsley herself stole a guy out from under their other roommate Brett Messerschmidt's perky little nose? Then Callie and Tinsley threw Jenny and Brett out of their ultra-exclusive club. And just like that, it was war.
Now the four roommates have been split up across enemy lines - Jenny and Callie are living together in Dumbarton 303, and Brett and Tinsley are seemingly miles away downstairs. What will happen when Easy sneaks in to see Jenny . . . but finds Callie instead? And what if Brett discovers the one secret Tinsley's kept hidden for years?
Everyone at Waverly is watching and whispering. With girls this wild, anything can happen, but only one can be it.
It didn't take long for powerful Tinsley Carmichael to tell Callie their sweet-faced new roommate was really a manipulative skank. So what if Tinsley herself stole a guy out from under their other roommate Brett Messerschmidt's perky little nose? Then Callie and Tinsley threw Jenny and Brett out of their ultra-exclusive club. And just like that, it was war.
Now the four roommates have been split up across enemy lines - Jenny and Callie are living together in Dumbarton 303, and Brett and Tinsley are seemingly miles away downstairs. What will happen when Easy sneaks in to see Jenny . . . but finds Callie instead? And what if Brett discovers the one secret Tinsley's kept hidden for years?
Everyone at Waverly is watching and whispering. With girls this wild, anything can happen, but only one can be it.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
85 people are currently reading
2831 people want to read
About the author
Cecily von Ziegesar
105 books2,967 followersCecily von Ziegesar is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl novels, upon which the hit television show is based.
Cecily von Ziegesar was born in New York City. Her childhood dream was to grow up to be a ballerina; she began lessons at age 3 and auditioned for the School of American Ballet at age 8, but was rejected.
As a teenager, von Ziegesar commuted to Manhattan at 6 a.m. to attend the Nightingale-Bamford School. After graduating from Nightingale, von Ziegesar attended Colby College before spending a year in Budapest working for a local radio station.
Von Ziegesar returned to the United States to study creative writing at the University of Arizona, but dropped out shortly thereafter.
Back in New York, while working at book-packaging firm Alloy Entertainment, von Ziegesar became inspired to create the Gossip Girl series, which follows the lives of privileged teenagers in New York. The series climbed to the top of The New York Times best-sellers list in 2002. A spin-off series, The It Girl, made the list in 2005.
The Constance Billard School for Girls in Gossip Girl is based upon an exaggerated version of von Ziegesar's alma mater, Nightingale. She also culled events from the book from the lives of her extremely wealthy friends, as well as her own life as a perpetual gossip.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.
Cecily von Ziegesar was born in New York City. Her childhood dream was to grow up to be a ballerina; she began lessons at age 3 and auditioned for the School of American Ballet at age 8, but was rejected.
As a teenager, von Ziegesar commuted to Manhattan at 6 a.m. to attend the Nightingale-Bamford School. After graduating from Nightingale, von Ziegesar attended Colby College before spending a year in Budapest working for a local radio station.
Von Ziegesar returned to the United States to study creative writing at the University of Arizona, but dropped out shortly thereafter.
Back in New York, while working at book-packaging firm Alloy Entertainment, von Ziegesar became inspired to create the Gossip Girl series, which follows the lives of privileged teenagers in New York. The series climbed to the top of The New York Times best-sellers list in 2002. A spin-off series, The It Girl, made the list in 2005.
The Constance Billard School for Girls in Gossip Girl is based upon an exaggerated version of von Ziegesar's alma mater, Nightingale. She also culled events from the book from the lives of her extremely wealthy friends, as well as her own life as a perpetual gossip.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
May 31, 2018
Seeing all these girls grow up is a very fun experience but a very different one than I had in high school. The things that end up happening to these poor girls sometimes really shows how sometimes high school isn't very kind to everyone. I'm loving where this story is going and I can't wait to see what happens after. The reader really ends up either liking some of the girls or hating them, but the things that are happening now are changing my thoughts on some of them.
Longer review to come soon!
Longer review to come soon!
September 14, 2010
The It Girl series is highly entertaining and highly addictive. But Reckless was my favorite one so far, and I thought the only one of the three I've read that deserves five stars. Why? For starters, the characters were more fleshed out this time around and felt less like stereotypes. The story was also more entertaining and there was more drama.
Life continues at Waverly Academy, even as Jenny and Brett are at war with Tinsley and Callie. This makes living arrangements uncomfortable to say the least, because Jenny and Callie are roomates and so are Tinsley and Brett. But Jenny feels like with the gorgeous, artistic Easy as her boyfriend, she can survive any mean girl drama. And now that Brett is back together with the wonderfully sweet Jeremiah (and the creepy Mr. Dalton is out of her life) she can almost put up with her roomate's antics. Tinsley is still the mean girl you love to hate and Callie is the spiteful but secretly vulnerable rich girl.
In Reckless, I didn't like Easy as much as I usually do. I was cheering Brett and Jenny on the whole time. And I was also rooting for Brett's boyfriend, Jeremiah. He's the one nice guy in a sea of dishonest males! The ending left me eager for the next installment, and I know it will keep you wanting more too.
Life continues at Waverly Academy, even as Jenny and Brett are at war with Tinsley and Callie. This makes living arrangements uncomfortable to say the least, because Jenny and Callie are roomates and so are Tinsley and Brett. But Jenny feels like with the gorgeous, artistic Easy as her boyfriend, she can survive any mean girl drama. And now that Brett is back together with the wonderfully sweet Jeremiah (and the creepy Mr. Dalton is out of her life) she can almost put up with her roomate's antics. Tinsley is still the mean girl you love to hate and Callie is the spiteful but secretly vulnerable rich girl.
In Reckless, I didn't like Easy as much as I usually do. I was cheering Brett and Jenny on the whole time. And I was also rooting for Brett's boyfriend, Jeremiah. He's the one nice guy in a sea of dishonest males! The ending left me eager for the next installment, and I know it will keep you wanting more too.
March 15, 2010
After reading the first and second book, I thought this one was a bit "blah." It was not quiet interesting, but it was a read to get the facts and get going. While reading this book, I just wanted to know what was going on with Jenny and what was going to happen to her next. I did not care about all her other roomates thoughts and what they were going to do. So I realize that I was just skipping a lot of the facts and just moving on to Jenny.
This series, I have trufully enjoyed it. I could not have lied that this book was not interesting because I was just flipping through the book. Cecily Von Ziegesar has a great sense of writing skills to catch her reader's attention, and to make sure that everything is worth being said. Even though I did not have my full attention to all the details on the book, I did have the attention to grab the next book in the series and read on. For Cecile Von Ziegesar to have be grab the next book of her series, is good enough for me.
This series, I have trufully enjoyed it. I could not have lied that this book was not interesting because I was just flipping through the book. Cecily Von Ziegesar has a great sense of writing skills to catch her reader's attention, and to make sure that everything is worth being said. Even though I did not have my full attention to all the details on the book, I did have the attention to grab the next book in the series and read on. For Cecile Von Ziegesar to have be grab the next book of her series, is good enough for me.
January 4, 2010
Not a bad book, I like how this series is a bit more realistic than the other ones. The ending of this one was really sweet as well. I enjoyed how Tinsley pretty much got what was coming to her in the book as well. It's just a light read so it's good for when your brain is dead.
November 8, 2009
I loved Reckless by Cecily Von Ziegesar due to its spunk and surprises. After Dean Marymount finds out about a party (thrown by Tinsley Carmichael, of course) on top of Dumbarton Dorm’s roof, he puts every Dumbarton girl on lockdown for the weekend. This stirs up a lot between former friends, Tinsley, Callie, Brett and Jenny, because now they have nothing else to do but fight and make one another’s life stink. I think that the It Girl series just keeps getting better with each book, and this novel was no exception. Reckless made me want more and more of Cecily Von Ziegesar’s writing and I can’t WAIT to read the next book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fun, daring and modern books.
January 11, 2014
I don't have anything to say except for the fact that I still loved it. The plot never seems to get old or boring. Something surprising is always happening, damn it xD
I love that Kara was introduced. I think she'll become my new favorite character xD
I love that Kara was introduced. I think she'll become my new favorite character xD
June 18, 2016
This book was a lot better than the first few in the series. Some character development finally started happening and one of my favorite characters of this series, Kara was finally added to the mix.
As always the story is very entertaining, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
As always the story is very entertaining, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
October 15, 2023
Had dinner with my parents recently and told them this series is why I wanted to go to boarding school. Still bitter they didn’t let me
January 2, 2019
I still have 7 more books to read in this series, but as of this moment, this is my favorite book! And not just because it's the purple spine ;)
I absolutely loved the drama in this book! I was just more invested it and actually cared what was going to happen next, I could not wait to know what was going to happen next! Whereas, the first two books it was just entertaining, I was reading for the fun of it.
I was surprised to see that Tinsley is losing her shine in my eyes throughout this book. I was caught up in the glitz and glamour of Tinsley Carmichael in book 1 and 2. She was a bitch, but she had some "noble" purpose, like trying to help Callie get back at Jenny and E, but in this book I felt she was being petty just for the sake of being petty.
Brett, girl, why are you blowing up at Jeremiah?
How Jenny didn't lash out at Callie is beyond me, although I am glad the girls are all starting to make up. The ending was quite sweet as well.
Everything seemed to have settled down by the end despite the bombs dropped at the party, and even Brandon managed to find some "happiness."
So with love triangles, blossoming romances, and more secrets the next book should be interesting.
I absolutely loved the drama in this book! I was just more invested it and actually cared what was going to happen next, I could not wait to know what was going to happen next! Whereas, the first two books it was just entertaining, I was reading for the fun of it.
I was surprised to see that Tinsley is losing her shine in my eyes throughout this book. I was caught up in the glitz and glamour of Tinsley Carmichael in book 1 and 2. She was a bitch, but she had some "noble" purpose, like trying to help Callie get back at Jenny and E, but in this book I felt she was being petty just for the sake of being petty.
Brett, girl, why are you blowing up at Jeremiah?
"But if he loved her, how could he have slept with someone else?"Umm was she not also going to sleep with Dalton if he hadn't dumped her for T? Seems a little hypocritical. Jeremiah is probably one of the only DECENT guys in this series, and she's just gonna let him go? Probably not his brightest idea or moment, but Brett made it seemed like he deserved death for doing it, when she isn't necessarily an angel either.
How Jenny didn't lash out at Callie is beyond me, although I am glad the girls are all starting to make up. The ending was quite sweet as well.
Everything seemed to have settled down by the end despite the bombs dropped at the party, and even Brandon managed to find some "happiness."
So with love triangles, blossoming romances, and more secrets the next book should be interesting.
August 17, 2022
I have no idea when I started this book except that I know it took a long time to read. I wanted fluff and that’s what I got. I haven’t been able to concentrate on any book anyways so I may as well read one that doesn’t really have content. Score! The storyline is relatively decent. The characters could be flushed out more, though I did start this series at the second book instead of the first. Maybe there was more heart to one of the main characters, Tinsley, in book number one? I will never know. Because I have no interest in going back to read it. I also don’t have the next book in the series (#4) but I have 5-7. Normally that would give me anxiety. I’m thinking it probably doesn’t matter too much in this case.
March 24, 2023
Rereading my favorite series from middle/high school for the guilty pleasure nostalgia.
This must have been my favorite book of the series growing up, or at least my most reread, because I remembered everything that was going to happen. The second I read "Trustee Weekend" on page 3, I just KNEW we were in for a treat. The drama and shenanigans that unfold during this weekend have stuck with me for 15+ years, to the point that I think about that Never Have I Ever game allllll the time. That scene is iconic to the series.
Hopefully we can continue this 5-star streak, and it doesn't head downhill from here... (if it does though, I'm perfectly fine considering this series only a trilogy...and also rereading said trilogy once a year...)
This must have been my favorite book of the series growing up, or at least my most reread, because I remembered everything that was going to happen. The second I read "Trustee Weekend" on page 3, I just KNEW we were in for a treat. The drama and shenanigans that unfold during this weekend have stuck with me for 15+ years, to the point that I think about that Never Have I Ever game allllll the time. That scene is iconic to the series.
Hopefully we can continue this 5-star streak, and it doesn't head downhill from here... (if it does though, I'm perfectly fine considering this series only a trilogy...and also rereading said trilogy once a year...)
March 27, 2017
This book went sooo fast! I literally read it in an hour. It wasn't the best in the series but let me tell you this whole Easy romance triangle is getting complicated! I refuse to read the back of the books because they give WAY to much away. So DO NOT read the back of the books AHEAD of this one it'll destroy the books you still have to read! I just got this in the mail and now I have to wait AGAIN for the second one which hasn't even been sent out yet! Ugh!
But yes the romance in this book is getting hectic and makes me want to punch certain individuals but it will keep you entertained :)
But yes the romance in this book is getting hectic and makes me want to punch certain individuals but it will keep you entertained :)
February 24, 2022
This book really picks up on the character development and I’m living for it. We’re also finally introduced to Kara who I only very vaguely remember, so re-reading all of these feels new, which is fun. Also, you literally could not pay me to go back to being a teenager in high school. Anyways, I’m still living my best life re-reading this series.
January 20, 2018
This series really requires me to get in the right mindset. So many stupid decisions ... Anyway, I really liked Kara (hope we see more of her). Tinsley is still a bitch. Callie grew on me a bit. I really hope the girls start to stick together a bit more.
February 24, 2023
Its good.
Bit I guess i was zoning out while reading until im on page 110 till the end.
I couldnt recall any scene from page 110 and below but i can tell its really good.
I just wished i annotated it it had some girlish great advice enough to apply for life specially for gurlsss like usss
Bit I guess i was zoning out while reading until im on page 110 till the end.
I couldnt recall any scene from page 110 and below but i can tell its really good.
I just wished i annotated it it had some girlish great advice enough to apply for life specially for gurlsss like usss
July 31, 2024
Full review with spoilers here
Not as fun as the last one. I need some true Mean Girl drama but don't think we're going to get it :(
Not as fun as the last one. I need some true Mean Girl drama but don't think we're going to get it :(
January 2, 2025
omg the drama! Are these books good? Nah. Are they addictive? YES!!
I'm just a little confused by the timeline, so much has happend since the first book and it's still autumn? It feels like they've spent a lot more time in school!
I'm just a little confused by the timeline, so much has happend since the first book and it's still autumn? It feels like they've spent a lot more time in school!
July 12, 2017
Entertaining from beginning to end.
January 11, 2021
All the books in this series become interchangeable after awhile. Didn't stop me from continuing to read them.
December 25, 2021
Really fun read. I now officially hate Callie and Tinsley and Easy. Can’t wait to read the 4th book.
September 15, 2022
simpel. cringy. maar echt top. gotta love it once in a while. leuk om de meisjes samen te zien komen
November 21, 2022
(It Girl, #3)
July 14, 2023
I like it! I just don’t get where the “it girl” aspect comes in to play. When I read the book it felt as if I was watching a movie or show tbh
July 1, 2024
jeremiah supremacy carries across all book series i guess
March 17, 2025
Those who enjoyed reading Malory towers...this is an adult version of Malory towers. Worth a read
January 15, 2017
An easy read. But the more I read from this series the less I find it believable.
August 9, 2024
RIP Jeremiah you would be mortified by the state of the New England Patriots in 2024
July 12, 2025
Tinsley still a sociopath, Callie still fake, Easy still a flake, Jenny still my fave.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2020
No mi favorito de los 3 que he leído, pero tengo esperanzas que el siguiente sea mejor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews