Deel de passie

Gossip Girl #10

by Cecily von Ziegesar

Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live in decadent penthouses, massive townhouses, and come summer, fabulous beach houses.

Enter the world of Gossip Girl -- a world where espadrille sandals are flown in from Spain, crisp cotton sundresses are made to order, and jealousy and betrayal are the ultimate summer accessories.

Time to throw your hair into a messy pony and cut off your Sevens -- we're heading to the Hamptons! S and B are now co-muses to a super-famous designer, who just happens to live next door to N's Hampton's estate.... I wonder how neighborly these new neighbors are going to get. And what's this I hear about V venturing surfside? Who's next, D!? Never say never...

You know you love me,
gossip girl

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Teen, High School

195 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2006

About the author

Cecily 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.

Reviews

[Tee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally start a review with my favorite quote from a book.
Not having a single one to start this one with, shows how much of a trash it actually is.

But, I'm only 2 sequels away from leaving this series behind me once and for all, so there's no way I'm giving up on them now.

Hopefully, the next two books are a bit better.
Come on Cecily, I know you can do it!

[Zoe Stewart (Zoe's All Booked)]

I finished this earlier this morning and I've already forgotten, but I'm preeettyyy sure no one got cheated on in this one! Yay for them! 🙄 Blair is just SUCH a garbage human. I feel bad for her every once in a while because clearly no one actually cares about her, but come ON. She's a terrible friend, and person in general 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Madeleine Knutsson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Så nu är Daniel plötsligt homosexuell? Jag verkligen skäms över den här författaren och hur hon gestaltar LGBTQ karaktärer. Nu är det bara två böcker kvar annars skulle jag gett upp på den här serien för LÄÄÄÄNGE sedan. SKÄMS!

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

really? come on. Serena has been secretly in love with Nate this WHOLE time? I know these books are not great literature and they are not exactly deep, but I think the author is just grabbing at plot lines as though they are straws. it seems a bit ridiculous that even the reader has never heard an internal monologue of Serena's "realization" until the 10th book. plus wasn't it two books ago that Serena and Nate were "together"? and she never had a chance to say "i love you"? another annoyance is that now rather than span a school year or even a month like the last couple books, you know so the author can milk this series, has now become a week to two weeks at most. ugh get it over with already!

[Kaliegh Yohnka · Rating 2 out of 5]

*SPOILS*
not that anyone cares.


Just to add some insult to injury from my last review...

The thing that bothered me the most in this book (and I now realized bothered me in the other books, too) is how no one can ever finish anything they start a relationship, a job, a punishment (Nate was supposed to go to rehab for six months, lasted a few weeks. Nate was supposed to help his coach with his house, and go to AA meetings (which they didn't even mention, so I can only presume he didn't go at all (classic Gossip Girl plot-holes)). Blair getting a job. Blair and Serena and being "fashion muses". Just to name a few.), etc.

Speaking of "fashion muses"... what? I didn't understand what they were supposed to be doing or if they even were doing anything. And who the hell were those "doppelganger" girls? What exactly was their purpose?

Nate being sexually harassed and blackmailed by the coach's wife. And then the coach has the nerve to say he can't go to Yale?! Hellloooooooo, all you gotta do is tell the police you're being sexually harassed! And I'm pretty sure he's underage, too!

Surprise, surprise. Blair and Serena aren't friends anymore. But because Serena's in love with Nate. WHAT!? Since fucking when?! She had 10 books to declare her love, especially when she was DATING him!, or to atleast clue us readers in. Which brings up back to a classic Gossip Girl plot-hole. Way to start pulling shit out of your asshole now, Cecily. Which I'll say, apparently, Cecily didn't write this one, a "ghostwriter" did. But, case and point, your name is still on the books, I will still blame you.

And with that being said, for it being a ghostwriter, I enjoyed this book (and by "enjoyed", I mean I stretched my usual one star for these books to a whole measly two stars). So I'm sitting here actually thinking this phantom writer should have been writing this series this whole time. Well, if I'm really choosing a writer for this, I'd ask a well-known good author. Scratch that again. I think I'd just nuke the whole idea of these books. Let's be honest, we all lost a few braincells reading them.

But hey, Blair and Nate are back together. For now atleast. (I give it until before halfway into the next one)

In the style of Gossip Girl herself...

Will B and N stay together? Or will they continue to annoy me with their teenage tendencies?
Will S and D ever get together like the television show got my hopes up for?
Will V realize she's annoying and go away?
Will J stay away?


You know I hate you,
kwheeeels

[Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

At A Glance

Genre: Young Adult; Chick Lit
Love Triangle/Insta Love?: Triangle.
Cliff Hanger: no
Rating: 4 Stars

Score Sheet
All out of ten

Cover: 7
Plot: 7
Characters: 7
World Building: 7
Flow: 8
Series Congruity: 9
Writing: 8
Ending: 7

Total: 8

In Dept

Best Part: Orgy Party.
Worst Part: eh.
Thoughts Had: That's nasty; It's CHUCK!; Finally Nate!

Conclusion

Continuing the Series: yes
Recommending: yes

Short Review: It took 10 books for Nate to say "I love you" back, what a jerk, and Blair is horrible for accepting that. Orgy party was crazyyyyy, didn't see that coming. I'm sure Dan is not gay, but we'll see. Vanessa is getting desperate for sure, going after Chuck. I am ready to see how this plays out!

Review in GIF Form:

[Janet Lynch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uses the f-word in every part of speech. No, just five of them. I don't think you can use it as a preposition or conjunction. Cardboard characters that drink, smoke, get high, and wallow in mean-spirited hatred. Not funny, not entertaining. Contrary to von Ziegesar's belief, most teens are living, breathing, feeling people filled with hope and good will, trying to figure the world out.

[Phoenix2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that was a fun one.

[bailey (taylor’s version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this series because at this point it’s just going around and around in circles and it’s not as dramatic as I wish it would be

[Jen Wakelin ✿ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m still so turned off by this whole series and author because of all the gay slurs and jokes…

[patrizia]

è la saga più stupida che abbia letto? sì.

mi piace proprio perché è totalmente priva di contenuti? assolutamente.

sono triste di essere quasi arrivata alla fine della saga? terribilmente.

[Jana M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Darf man noch ein Guilty Pleasure haben?

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

How I Came To Read This Book: Twofold. One, after reading the prequel, I sort of missed the series and was sad I never read the final two books. Two, I discovered the sequel that follows up on the characters in their college years and got nostalgic. Not wanting to ruin the end of the series for myself, I got the final two books and the sequel so I could be fully up to speed.

The Plot: The guys and gals of the Upper East Side are officially graduated, and herein lies a brief glimpse of how they’re spending their summer vacations, or at least a few days of them. The majority of the gang is in the Hamptons – Blair and Serena as fashion muses, Nate as a blackmailed workhorse, Chuck as a man of leisure, and Vanessa as a morose nanny. Dan is back in the city exploring his sexuality, while his sister is overseas and present only in postcard form. Gossip Girl of course is omnipresent to capture the latest seesawing relationships between all of the characters – friends, lovers, and foes.

The Good & The Bad: Sadly, the latter half of the Gossip Girl series got really lame when Cecily von Zeigesar stopped writing them and a ghostwriter stepped in. That’s actually why I stopped reading them, and this book is on par in terms of the quality. It’s hard to explain the subtle differences that exist, but they’re there – you can feel this imposter persona doing their ‘best Gossip Girl’. Beyond that, the other big problem with the later books in the series is the fact they only highlight a few days, in comparison to the much longer time spans in the earlier books. If you recall, the first three books covered all the way through to the winter holidays, and there were over ten books in the series! The incredibly short time span of entries like this one makes the action seem frivolous, too fast-paced for its own good, and forced.

Of course, the books are fun and silly and easy to read, and this book is no different. Dan’s storyline was pretty funny, and it’s always a kick to get this far less sanitized version of the characters (compared to their TV show alter egos). Mostly it just got me interested to get to the final book in the series, and follow it up with the sequel. All in good time I guess.

The Bottom Line: A flimsy, forgettable entry in the Gossip Girl series.

Anything Memorable?: Nawsers, just that if you’ve only watched the show and you decide to give the books a go, prepare to be incredibly surprised.

50-Book Challenge?: Book #47 in 2010

[Michelle Rubio-Garcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everyone has graduated (except for Nate who is working at his Coach's Hampton house). Blair and Serena have these weird European twins flown in by Bailey Winter who end up trying to take over their spotlight from the fashion campaign B & S were muses for. Vanessa had started babysitting in the last book, but in this book she leaves after coming to the Hamptons. She comes back to the city to find Dan exploring his sexuality with a guy named Greg (coworker at The Strand). This happens in a drunken same-sex orgy that was originally supposed to be a literary salon. The story and even some of the editing seemed very lazy. On page 126, they misspelled the word "brother" and put "bother". The one thing I will say was that this was the first time I've seen the series use a Craigslist ad and letters. I also liked some of the quotes being quoted during the literary stuff that was going on (ex. "Weren't ideas, when all is said and done, so superior to reality?" page 64). That was a pleasant surprise, but it wasn't something I could enjoy for long. I was more annoyed than shocked when Serena had her "realization" that she loves Nate this whole time. Not only was it in the tenth book, it was also in the last third half of the book. I'll read the other books after this only because I bought them (so I don't want to waste money). However, I don't know if wasting my time reading them will make up for the money. Since the TV show is over, I don't feel as obligated anymore to finish the series if it's not that well-written. We'll see. My next review will show my decision.

For more reviews, visit: www.michellesshell.blogspot.com

[Sully · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 / 5 stars rating

This review is also posted at https://cabezadecrecre.wordpress.com/...


Nothing had changed and yet everything had. That thought made her unexpectedly sad.

Yet again, repetition strikes this muddled series (Gossip Girl even admits it in the quote above). While this series has never been spectacular, it was at least interesting in the beginning to catch a glimpse at how the 1% live. Now, though, we can’t seem to get past old plot lines. These characters never really grow or develop, making my reviews redundant.

This novel features:

- Vanessa going through three? (I honestly lost count) different jobs in as many months

- Dan and Vanessa awkwardness. Again. Though one new little tidbit was Dan’s literary orgy, although this entire plot line felt forced (even Dan doesn’t understand it)

- More drama, drama, drama with Serena, Blair, and Nate (I’m so sick of this love triangle). Once again, Serena proves to be the worst best friend in the world, and Nate proves to be a pothead.

That’s pretty much all that happens in this book. Oh, and Serena hooks up with a guy she’s already dumped. See the repetition? It’s still a readable quick skimmer, but the life has definitely left this series.

[Ericafoferica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't really pay attention in this one because it wasn't that interesting. It was basically the same concept but slightly different surroundings. The only difference is Dan might be gay or bisexual and Nate finally confesses his love to Blaire. Oh but wait! Serena is really upset because surprise surprise SHE is in love with Nate and decides to write him a letter about it. Do you think Nate even read the letter? Of course not. Blaire did. So there goes that temporarily happy threesome. Oh and Nate, he totally isn't getting his diploma. Was anyone else disgusted with the coach's wife hitting on him? I'm surprised Nate contained himself. Either way I'm still going to finish this series even though I knew it was possibly going to suck after the gang finally graduated high school. And so far, I've been right about that.

[Maitê · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually thought for a second this one might be different but it's exactly the same thing as always. The same shit happens over and over again, but this time Cecily move on the being gay is funny thing and is now making fun of a character who might be questioning his sexuality, because having 2 gay "characters" whose sole purpose is to be a joke is not enough.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was funnier than some of the others. I always enjoy reading about Hamptons shenanigans, it just seems like another planet!

[Amandine Desmousseaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

Au moins c’est rapide à lire ! Je ne comprends toujours pas l’utilité de Gossip Girl dans les livres puisqu’elle n’a aucun impact sur la vie des gens et qu’on dirait qu’ils ne lisent même pas. Bref, pas très cohérent.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Annina | Blattzirkus · Rating 2 out of 5]

What does Blair see in Nate?? Seriously that dude has a personality of a STONE.

[Ali D · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know what to expect from these anymore.
If we could stop getting reminders about Dan’s poem in the Times, that would be so appreciated.

[grazi ♡︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serena and Blair are the new inspirational muses of the famous designer Bailey Winter's collection and will spend the summer at his house. But neither Serena nor Blair suspected that spending the season in Mr. Winter wouldn't be that pleasant. Two foreign look-alikes of B. and S. are already occupying the house, and they will spare no effort to make their lives hell. But speaking of B. and S., obviously, they won't let it go.

Vanessa also decides to take a vacation from New York: As a nanny, she gets a room in the Hamptons, but when she sees that all she wanted to do was go back to Dan's apartment, she goes looking for B. and S.. However, when she gets home de Bailey, B, S were already gone, along with Nate, who coincidentally lived next door. Nate was in the Hamptos doing summer work at the Lacrosse coach's house, to get his degree - which Nate had been denied in the previous volume of the series - but when the coach's wife started blatantly hitting on the boy, he was fed up. of this summer. He didn't think twice about accepting Serena and Blair's invitation to go to the family ship and spend the rest of the summer sailing.

Dan, who spent the summer working at a second-hand bookstore in NYC, meets a new colleague, Greg, who is as addicted to books as Dan himself, and together they found a Literary Salon. When he meets Greg, Dan ends up raising doubts about his sexuality, thinking he had become gay. But when Vanessa returns home (after staying for a short time at Bailey's, being his inspirational Muse), after venting to her, he doesn't deny the possibility that he still has feelings for her. Serena's brother Erik decides to prepare a party for Serena, who turns 18. The party is a success, but for Serena, her night was shattered when she heard Nate say "I love you" to Blair. She writes a letter to Nate, but it never reaches Nate: when Blair discovers the letter, she tears it up.

In my opinion, the strong point was that until this book, I thought nothing was secret to Gossip Girl, but who knew that our #1 diva managed to keep her biggest secret from her this whole time? We discovered, after these 10 books, that yes, Serena has feelings: she didn't cheat on her best friend for cheating or had sex with Nate for having sex, she had, all this time, a secret crush on him. Contrary to what GG has always said, she can be interested in a guy for more than 30 seconds!

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This week, I read "Would I Lie to You a gossip girl novel" by Cecily von Ziegesar. It's a book about overly-privileged kids in the upper east side of Manhattan. This time, Serena and Blair (who are best friends now) are icons for a new and famous designer. They find out that there's two other girls there who seem like exact replicas of them which they think is weird, so they trick the copies into going rouge. Meanwhile, Nate (Blair's ex boyfriend) begins to miss Blair and starts to regret ever breaking up with her. On the other hand, Dan is out and confused. A guy co-worker kisses him, which he thinks is weird. While he questions who he works with, Vanessa moves over to the Hamptons for her babysitting job and lives with Dan and Jenny in her own room. This isn't so smooth, as now nobody really knows her place. for instance, she's mistaken for the help at another party which isn't really a complement to a teen on the upper east side and actually isn't the help. This ends when Serena, Blair, and Nate all run away together and check off things to do for Serena's birthday. The story leaves us with questions like do Nate and Blair end up together and what did Nate actually tell Blair. I would recommend this book to viewers of Gossip Girl who know what's going on in the story and can tell where they left off. Overall, this was a very good book and I loved it so much!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I was trapped in a library and had to burn books for warmth, I'd run straight for this series

[Lillian Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ups and downs between B and S are so hard to keep up with but at this point I NEED to know who ends up with N!

[Hailey Davidson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The one where there's an orgy party! Dan thinks he might be gay- and Rufus tells him that he has also slept with men and Dan's mom sends him a giant dildo .

[ingrid ₊]

jesus we are dragging this out 😭

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish someone would cleaned Dan Humphrey's house already...