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Gossip Girl #12
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Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan, and Vanessa went off to live their lives. Now they're coming home for the holidays.
A lot can change in a few months . . . but some things never do.
It finally we went to college. We started over. No one knows who we've coveted, what we scored on the SATs,where our parents live, or when we became debaucherous. We've learned new things, made new friends, and maybe even met the loves of our lives. We've changed.
Or at least, some of us have. But old habits are hard to break-especially when faced with your former besties and former flames. With everyone back in the city for the holidays, this break is guaranteed to be filled with makeups, breakups, and shakeups.
Lucky for you, I'm here to report all the scandal as it happens. Let the games begin!
You know you love me,
xoxo Gossip Girl
A lot can change in a few months . . . but some things never do.
It finally we went to college. We started over. No one knows who we've coveted, what we scored on the SATs,where our parents live, or when we became debaucherous. We've learned new things, made new friends, and maybe even met the loves of our lives. We've changed.
Or at least, some of us have. But old habits are hard to break-especially when faced with your former besties and former flames. With everyone back in the city for the holidays, this break is guaranteed to be filled with makeups, breakups, and shakeups.
Lucky for you, I'm here to report all the scandal as it happens. Let the games begin!
You know you love me,
xoxo Gossip Girl
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Cecily von Ziegesar
110 books3,059 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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September 25, 2020THIS WAS THE MOST UNSATISFYING ENDING TO ANY SERIES EVER UUGGHHH
It's like they left it open for another spinoff, but never followed through. I don't mind an open ending, BUT NOT THIS FUCKING OPEN.
It's like they left it open for another spinoff, but never followed through. I don't mind an open ending, BUT NOT THIS FUCKING OPEN.
April 24, 2016
Considering this was the last book in the series, there wasn’t much resolution! and how come we never found out who Gossip Girl was?
6 out of 10
6 out of 10
December 9, 2009
The entire "Gossip Girl" series was created to be a guilty pleasure and a "Sex and the City for the younger set" and they have achieved their goal. This latest installment of the original Gossip Girl cast is everything the others were: fun, light and breezy. It is not a book to be taken seriously, none in the Gossip Girl series is, and it is an easy read that doesn't require much thinking or analyzing. It certainly lived up to my expectations: it was fun.
For the first time, a book in this series follows its characters for four years, from their first holidays after leaving for college to their senior year at college. It is definitely fun to catch up with everyone and see how everyone is doing.
I know the writer didn't give a proper closure whom Nate chose but I think it's not the essence of the book series. The wrap-up was fantastic showing how life goes on in unexpected ways.
Book Details:
Title Gossip Girl # 12: I Will Always Love You (Gossip Girl Series)
Author Cecily von Ziegesar
Reviewed By Purplycookie
For the first time, a book in this series follows its characters for four years, from their first holidays after leaving for college to their senior year at college. It is definitely fun to catch up with everyone and see how everyone is doing.
I know the writer didn't give a proper closure whom Nate chose but I think it's not the essence of the book series. The wrap-up was fantastic showing how life goes on in unexpected ways.
Book Details:
Title Gossip Girl # 12: I Will Always Love You (Gossip Girl Series)
Author Cecily von Ziegesar
Reviewed By Purplycookie
December 21, 2012
Finally I finished the Gossip Girl book series. Personally, I have to say I prefer the show. The books are not very organized and tend to have the same dull plot each time. There are no twists or surprises, no mystery or scandal. I have to say that out of all of the books, I liked this one the best. Most of the book is organized in three parts, each fast forwarding to New Years at the beginning of the new section. All of the characters are maturing (if you could even call it that), and each year the cast is a little different: Serena works on her acting career, Blair focuses on college and her new boyfriend(s), Nate learns his destiny is to sail around the world, and Dan and Jenny...well they have always stayed the same in my opinion.
So overall, the Gossip Girl books could use some major editing.
So overall, the Gossip Girl books could use some major editing.
January 24, 2021
Ugh. I hate these characters so much. Especially Nate. He is the literal worst. The only character who seemed to have any development was Chuck.
August 5, 2011
I went into this one with fairly low expectations. They were...met, I guess? I certainly wasn't all that disappointed, mostly because not one thing that happened was surprising. I've actually become a fan of the tv show, after reading the books in high school and college. This is ostensibly the last one, so I was curious enough about how it all ends in book-world to pick this one up.
The plot (if one can call it that) is the same that can be found in the other 11 novels in the series: Blair and Serena fight over Nate. Other people are there too. That's pretty much it. The biggest difference was the time frame: while the other books cover only a portion of the year, this one spans four years, checking in with the characters during Christmas break for the duration of their college careers. What bugged me about this was the author's apparent assumption that school ends in January. Her grasp of time wasn't the greatest, and though reality has never been much of a concern in these books, it bothered me that the next year of school seemed to be starting every January.
All of the same characters make appearances, and though it's been a few years since I read the previous book, these people don't seem to have changed that much -- nor have they by the time the book ends and they're evidently done with college (don't even get me started on the whole "Serena can graduate from Yale after 2 years, even though she still hasn't declared a major! Because she...took lots of classes? Or something? Aren't Ivy League colleges, like, just like high school?" nonsense. Seriously, if you're going to send your characters to major universities, at least do some research. Read a pamphlet or something). Anyway. One of the changes from book to screen that I always appreciated was that the characters on the show actually have some depth to them. They seem like real people, while the characters in the book are caricatures at best. Not that the show is a shining emulation of reality, but I know more about them than what brand of shoes and dress and shade of lip gloss they have on in any given scene.
To give a tiny bit of credit, I get the theme she's going for here -- for some of us, it's hard to escape who we were in high school. And if you have to go back to that place (as many of us do around the holidays), it's very easy to become that person and fall into those patterns again. Granted, we don't see them during the school year in this installment, just Gossip Girl's recap before each section starts, but you get the feeling they've somewhat progressed as human beings. Once they return to Manhattan, however, they all regress to the people they were in high school. I'd be willing to give the author more credit if she somehow spun this into a "you can't go home again" sort of lesson. After all, these people are now adults. As much fun as it is to stay up all night eating ice-cream, we do eventually have to grow up and get real jobs. And yet the two people who DO actually move on are the "weirdos". Dan and Vanessa's choices are sort of glossed over like "well, they're going to grad school, whatever losers." Evidently the better choice is to put off making a decision and travel around the world like Blair and Serena. Not that there's anything wrong with not having your whole life figured out, but I resent the fact that it's treated as though knowing who you are and what you want is "lame." It's far more cool to waste mommy and daddy's money on expensive vacations because you're too scared to be an adult.
Finally: the ending. Did anyone not see it coming? Blair and Serena will always choose each other. Isn't that the outcome of every book? They spend 200 or so pages fighting over Nate (I can't imagine why, as book-Nate seems incredibly dull, especially since he's evidently stoned all the time), and when it comes time for him to "finally" choose between them, they give him the proverbial finger and choose each other. Until the next book. I like that the show very quickly put that storyline to rest somewhere in the first season.
I wanted to say it's about as satisfying as cotton candy, but I realize I also compared Spoiled (which I really liked) to cotton candy, in a good way. The main difference here (because Spoiled is clearly referencing Gossip Girl) is, as I said in my review, Spoiled doesn't take itself seriously. This book does.
The plot (if one can call it that) is the same that can be found in the other 11 novels in the series: Blair and Serena fight over Nate. Other people are there too. That's pretty much it. The biggest difference was the time frame: while the other books cover only a portion of the year, this one spans four years, checking in with the characters during Christmas break for the duration of their college careers. What bugged me about this was the author's apparent assumption that school ends in January. Her grasp of time wasn't the greatest, and though reality has never been much of a concern in these books, it bothered me that the next year of school seemed to be starting every January.
All of the same characters make appearances, and though it's been a few years since I read the previous book, these people don't seem to have changed that much -- nor have they by the time the book ends and they're evidently done with college (don't even get me started on the whole "Serena can graduate from Yale after 2 years, even though she still hasn't declared a major! Because she...took lots of classes? Or something? Aren't Ivy League colleges, like, just like high school?" nonsense. Seriously, if you're going to send your characters to major universities, at least do some research. Read a pamphlet or something). Anyway. One of the changes from book to screen that I always appreciated was that the characters on the show actually have some depth to them. They seem like real people, while the characters in the book are caricatures at best. Not that the show is a shining emulation of reality, but I know more about them than what brand of shoes and dress and shade of lip gloss they have on in any given scene.
To give a tiny bit of credit, I get the theme she's going for here -- for some of us, it's hard to escape who we were in high school. And if you have to go back to that place (as many of us do around the holidays), it's very easy to become that person and fall into those patterns again. Granted, we don't see them during the school year in this installment, just Gossip Girl's recap before each section starts, but you get the feeling they've somewhat progressed as human beings. Once they return to Manhattan, however, they all regress to the people they were in high school. I'd be willing to give the author more credit if she somehow spun this into a "you can't go home again" sort of lesson. After all, these people are now adults. As much fun as it is to stay up all night eating ice-cream, we do eventually have to grow up and get real jobs. And yet the two people who DO actually move on are the "weirdos". Dan and Vanessa's choices are sort of glossed over like "well, they're going to grad school, whatever losers." Evidently the better choice is to put off making a decision and travel around the world like Blair and Serena. Not that there's anything wrong with not having your whole life figured out, but I resent the fact that it's treated as though knowing who you are and what you want is "lame." It's far more cool to waste mommy and daddy's money on expensive vacations because you're too scared to be an adult.
Finally: the ending. Did anyone not see it coming? Blair and Serena will always choose each other. Isn't that the outcome of every book? They spend 200 or so pages fighting over Nate (I can't imagine why, as book-Nate seems incredibly dull, especially since he's evidently stoned all the time), and when it comes time for him to "finally" choose between them, they give him the proverbial finger and choose each other. Until the next book. I like that the show very quickly put that storyline to rest somewhere in the first season.
I wanted to say it's about as satisfying as cotton candy, but I realize I also compared Spoiled (which I really liked) to cotton candy, in a good way. The main difference here (because Spoiled is clearly referencing Gossip Girl) is, as I said in my review, Spoiled doesn't take itself seriously. This book does.
December 7, 2009
I had low, low, low expectations for this book -- I was worried the ghostwriters would come up with something crazy, that they'd ruin the way the series had originally ended (which I'd found if not satisfying then at least unexpected), or worst, that this was going to become some kind of hideous tie-in with the TV series, which while I enjoy it on its own terms I feel like is sacrilege in terms of the way the characters were developed in the books.
And yet -- surprise -- I LOVED IT. I was worried that the premise -- winter break for the four years the core characters were in college -- would be a bit precious and too elliptical, it actually worked really well, enabling them to cover a large amount of ground in a pleasing way. I was also thrilled that in addition to capping off the Gossip Girl series (what will I do without it!?!) that it also provides a bit of a coda for The It Girl, which is ending this spring with it's tenth book, Classic. Strange I know, but shallow, narcissistic, and nihilistic as these characters are, I've become quite attached to them (as likely have many other readers).
Finding out a bit more about how things turn out for them is genuinely pleasurable -- I had to spread out reading this book for as long as I could, forcing myself to take long breaks between reading each of the four sections. I can only hope that sooner or later, everyone gets over vampires, werewolves, etc., and we come back around to this. It's happened before -- R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike killed off Sweet Valley et al., only to wind up themselves falling victim first to Harry Potter and then to Gossip Girl.
The other big hope is hinted at in the New Yorker's recent article about Alloy Media -- that they are considering another Gossip Girl sequel that looks at the characters ten years out (so in their early 30s). I can't believe I'm waxing so rhapsodic over Gossip Girl, but whatever -- THAT would really be something.
And yet -- surprise -- I LOVED IT. I was worried that the premise -- winter break for the four years the core characters were in college -- would be a bit precious and too elliptical, it actually worked really well, enabling them to cover a large amount of ground in a pleasing way. I was also thrilled that in addition to capping off the Gossip Girl series (what will I do without it!?!) that it also provides a bit of a coda for The It Girl, which is ending this spring with it's tenth book, Classic. Strange I know, but shallow, narcissistic, and nihilistic as these characters are, I've become quite attached to them (as likely have many other readers).
Finding out a bit more about how things turn out for them is genuinely pleasurable -- I had to spread out reading this book for as long as I could, forcing myself to take long breaks between reading each of the four sections. I can only hope that sooner or later, everyone gets over vampires, werewolves, etc., and we come back around to this. It's happened before -- R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike killed off Sweet Valley et al., only to wind up themselves falling victim first to Harry Potter and then to Gossip Girl.
The other big hope is hinted at in the New Yorker's recent article about Alloy Media -- that they are considering another Gossip Girl sequel that looks at the characters ten years out (so in their early 30s). I can't believe I'm waxing so rhapsodic over Gossip Girl, but whatever -- THAT would really be something.
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January 21, 2026if you’re a green eyed golden haired boy getting in the way of two girls’ friendship, it’s very important that you kill yourself.
January 9, 2022
I finally finish this shit!
That was the most horrible and disgusting experience, wow these books are the reason why people think all teenagers are dumb and dont know what they're talking about/doing
That was the most horrible and disgusting experience, wow these books are the reason why people think all teenagers are dumb and dont know what they're talking about/doing
November 21, 2021
Aaaahhh my ears, they're bleeding 😭
This star, this lonesome star, is only for Chuck.
This star, this lonesome star, is only for Chuck.
January 21, 2024
Die Zeitsprünge hier und Ereignisse sind etwas gedrängt, da es ein paar Jahre umfassen soll. Aber alle die GG Serie geschaut haben, sollten mal die Bücher lesen. Die sind nämlich nochmal eine ganz andere experience ;)
June 20, 2019
"Even if college didn’t leave much time for book learning, one knowledge-by-experience lesson should have stuck: We’re more alike than we think. We’ve all had to deal with broken hearts, crazy roommates, messed-up parents, disappointing grades, and all those other less-than-ideal details that make life complicated, infuriating, and, admit it, interesting. So, in the spirit of growing up, hug that girl who made your high school career a living hell. Forgive that boy who dumped you without warning, only to date your best friend. Not only will you keep your enemies close, you may even make a new friend. Let’s all make nice for now, and who knows what tomorrow will bring? One thing’s for sure: I’ll be there when it happens. Here’s to a wild and wicked future.
You know you love me,
gossip girl"
It's finally over! The ending was somewhat satisfying. I loved seeing Jenny back again especially with Tyler, the real member of the Waldorf family that deserved better. I forgot he existed until this book but it looks like he's done well for himself. I have a hunch that Jenny's spinoff will be much more fun for me to read.
Blair, Nate and Serena finally had a conclusion to their love triangle. I suppose it was nice but did it really have to take them 12 books to get to THAT? The character development was again non existent. It was nice to see them realize that the three of them together made each other stay stuck in a time loop of some sorts where they never really grew up. I don't think any of them really got a proper ending though and was disappointed on that front.
Dan and Vanessa definitely had the best ending couple wise. I always knew that they were going to end up together and that people like Hollis, Greg and Mystery Craze were just roadblocks to an inveitably satisfying conclusion. The Humphrey's were my favorite characters in the series overall and seeing Dan and Jenny being the only ones to get legitimate conclusions was nice.
Gossip Girl herself remained the best character/narrator always calling the characters out on their bullshit and making the snarky comments the readers were thinking. I'm glad that her/his identity was never revealed. Gossip Girl felt like a wink to the audience more than a legitimate character.
Overall, I enjoyed the series and think that the whole concept of a "Gossip Girl" documenting the lives of a group of teenagers/young adults was brilliant.
You know you love me,
gossip girl"
It's finally over! The ending was somewhat satisfying. I loved seeing Jenny back again especially with Tyler, the real member of the Waldorf family that deserved better. I forgot he existed until this book but it looks like he's done well for himself. I have a hunch that Jenny's spinoff will be much more fun for me to read.
Blair, Nate and Serena finally had a conclusion to their love triangle. I suppose it was nice but did it really have to take them 12 books to get to THAT? The character development was again non existent. It was nice to see them realize that the three of them together made each other stay stuck in a time loop of some sorts where they never really grew up. I don't think any of them really got a proper ending though and was disappointed on that front.
Dan and Vanessa definitely had the best ending couple wise. I always knew that they were going to end up together and that people like Hollis, Greg and Mystery Craze were just roadblocks to an inveitably satisfying conclusion. The Humphrey's were my favorite characters in the series overall and seeing Dan and Jenny being the only ones to get legitimate conclusions was nice.
Gossip Girl herself remained the best character/narrator always calling the characters out on their bullshit and making the snarky comments the readers were thinking. I'm glad that her/his identity was never revealed. Gossip Girl felt like a wink to the audience more than a legitimate character.
Overall, I enjoyed the series and think that the whole concept of a "Gossip Girl" documenting the lives of a group of teenagers/young adults was brilliant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2016
Alas, not as good as the rest of the series. While I kind of always enjoyed the ongoing love-triangle now it just seemed unnerving.
And literally the whole story was pressed into the last few pages.
I expected so much more! Also, we never get to know who Gossip Girl actually is. Why is that?
And literally the whole story was pressed into the last few pages.
I expected so much more! Also, we never get to know who Gossip Girl actually is. Why is that?
February 8, 2019
Trash.
March 6, 2025
ending: five stars
not one book without like 927 instances of cheating: negative all the stars
not one book without like 927 instances of cheating: negative all the stars
February 15, 2026
One more too go!!!
November 9, 2012
I'm not really gonna review the book, more like the end of the series. So this was an amazing end but I think its neccesary to read between the lines.
Just so you know
technically B and S chose each other over N and walk away in the sunset. B has graduated from Yale, Serena is a semi famous actor and N has graduated from the same school of C. Speaking of C he hooked up with Blair at one point and he has completely changed for good. And D and V break up but still love each other. D is still a depressed writer and V is an uber artsy filmmaker.
This is what I reason in my head:
Nate + Serena- Ultimately, I think Serena should get Golden Boy. They'll find each other in like 10 years in an unexpected place(prob not new york) and commence a long lasting relationship. They'll both have changed as people: Serena is no longer the it girl and Nate will have a legit career. Despite everything they'll be drawn to each other because they were each other's first loves, after all. Also they were best friends from the start, and loved each other minus all the crazy drama. He chose her in the third part, and she was out the door first in the last part so that had to mean something. I refuse to accept otherwise.
Chuck + Blair- They play games with each other but ultimately they're the loves of each other's lives. They fit each other perfectly, and can keep up with each other. One day they'll rule New York together. She'll eventually return to New York and run into Chuck. She'll be over Nate who was more like her childhood dream.
Dan + Vanessa- They're a very artsy couple, so I think as a result they kinda have to have a unique relationship. They will always be on again off again and will inspire each other. Maybe they will settle one day, who knows?
Jenny + Eric - They're around the same age, and there's a sense of peace when they're together. They'll have a fun time partying together for awhile and it doesn't really matter to me if they ultimately work out.
Dan + Serena never struck me as an end game couple
a)it felt like a crush
b)she was only ever intimate with nate
c)their dynamics just weren't there
Nate + Blair don't seem right for each other
a) blair would rub it in serena's face
b) they weren't quite happy together and always felt they were missing something
c) they're better with other people
d) they didn't seem to want the same things from life
Serena + Blair-
I think they're the greatest couple of the books. Seriously, they're perfect the way they understand each other and love each other anyway. I love the notion of them choosing each other, but it can't be permanent. I mean c'mon this is B and S we're talking about, how could they stay away from their lives forever? I think that it means they'll put their friendship over everything which threatens their balance and choose to forgive each other and ignore each other's flaws so they can always maintain a beautiful friendship.
Just so you know
technically B and S chose each other over N and walk away in the sunset. B has graduated from Yale, Serena is a semi famous actor and N has graduated from the same school of C. Speaking of C he hooked up with Blair at one point and he has completely changed for good. And D and V break up but still love each other. D is still a depressed writer and V is an uber artsy filmmaker.
This is what I reason in my head:
Nate + Serena- Ultimately, I think Serena should get Golden Boy. They'll find each other in like 10 years in an unexpected place(prob not new york) and commence a long lasting relationship. They'll both have changed as people: Serena is no longer the it girl and Nate will have a legit career. Despite everything they'll be drawn to each other because they were each other's first loves, after all. Also they were best friends from the start, and loved each other minus all the crazy drama. He chose her in the third part, and she was out the door first in the last part so that had to mean something. I refuse to accept otherwise.
Chuck + Blair- They play games with each other but ultimately they're the loves of each other's lives. They fit each other perfectly, and can keep up with each other. One day they'll rule New York together. She'll eventually return to New York and run into Chuck. She'll be over Nate who was more like her childhood dream.
Dan + Vanessa- They're a very artsy couple, so I think as a result they kinda have to have a unique relationship. They will always be on again off again and will inspire each other. Maybe they will settle one day, who knows?
Jenny + Eric - They're around the same age, and there's a sense of peace when they're together. They'll have a fun time partying together for awhile and it doesn't really matter to me if they ultimately work out.
Dan + Serena never struck me as an end game couple
a)it felt like a crush
b)she was only ever intimate with nate
c)their dynamics just weren't there
Nate + Blair don't seem right for each other
a) blair would rub it in serena's face
b) they weren't quite happy together and always felt they were missing something
c) they're better with other people
d) they didn't seem to want the same things from life
Serena + Blair-
I think they're the greatest couple of the books. Seriously, they're perfect the way they understand each other and love each other anyway. I love the notion of them choosing each other, but it can't be permanent. I mean c'mon this is B and S we're talking about, how could they stay away from their lives forever? I think that it means they'll put their friendship over everything which threatens their balance and choose to forgive each other and ignore each other's flaws so they can always maintain a beautiful friendship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2015
What a terrible end to a terrible series. I read the books because I like the show, little did I know how different they are! The first few books were okay, but after that it went steadily downhill. I tired of the same love triangle drama, only the year and semester being the difference between books. After well over a year of seeing the last in the series still sitting on my book shelf unread, I finally got around to reading it. Mostly I just wanted to find out if the Gossip Girl revealed in the books was the same as the show. Well spoiler alert, Gossip Girl never reveals her identity!! WTF I just tortured myself reading another book for no reward! Over than that massive failure, this book combined all that I hated about the series into one boring story. The amount of brand names being dropped was pathetic. Can't the author just say that a girl stepped out of her apartment, without a full run down of what she is wearing complete with which designer the garments are from? This happens every single time anything happens. *yawn*. The worse example of over branding was naming the brand of a refrigerator that someone gets a beer out of. Not only is that pathetically unnecessary, because it's clear the characters are rich and would have the best of everything, to repeat it the very next page is ridiculous overkill! The final book is life post high school. This time though, time moves forward in large unspecified months or years, trying to cram all of college into one book. Even the author knows the series is dead. I could practically write down the formula used to create the lackluster drama. Cycle though each main character pairing a boy and a girl up. Create said romance. Create said breakup. Repeat with different characters. Intersperse with Serena and Blair loving then hating each other. None of this is new material. I no longer care who ends up with who. I just want it to end. You could basically skip the first 11 books and just read this one and not miss a thing. Especially because there were constant recaps back to past story lines. Strip out the past, the brands, and the expected relationship dramas and this book has absolutely no substance. None at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2012
Finally, the end to the almost plot-less, airheaded book series. I only read the books to see how the author portrayed everything and really? It was utter nonsense. The characters were basically all the same: ambitious airheads. Even Blair and Dan, supposedly 'smart' people, were just dumb and annoying. Nate .... he's hot, sure, but he deserved to be ditched by the girls. That was the only realistic thing in the whole ENTIRE SERIES.
You could pull the characters out of the setting and put them in some middle class environment. The result? NO CHANGE! The setting of Manhattan and Brooklyn is just a superficial attraction for people who want to live like that. If you really think about it, these characters, Blair especially, are every where, all over the world. The Upper East Side just makes the whole series more appealing - that's all. I live on the UES and I've been to a all girls Prep School. Sure, we had our own fun being occasional pot-heads or the 'rebels' that skipped school to shop, but these characters were extremes of already unlikely people.
And Serena.....where to begin?! In the whole entire series of 12 books, she's said to be beautiful. But I don't see that at all. She might be physically attractive but there's nothing attractive about her inner self. Which is why through out the entire series, no one has loved her for the girl she truly is. Even Nate gets confused only because of her looks when he clearly, truly, loves Blair. Serena is favored in the series only because of her looks, which makes us all want to be like her: beautiful, blond and blue-eyed. But come on! Blair, however nuts and insecure she is, is definitely the more real and more genuine person. Sure, we learn how beauty gets you places in this modern world but to encourage something like that in a book....that too a book for teens?!
No wonder the bulimia and anorexia cases went up so much!
You could pull the characters out of the setting and put them in some middle class environment. The result? NO CHANGE! The setting of Manhattan and Brooklyn is just a superficial attraction for people who want to live like that. If you really think about it, these characters, Blair especially, are every where, all over the world. The Upper East Side just makes the whole series more appealing - that's all. I live on the UES and I've been to a all girls Prep School. Sure, we had our own fun being occasional pot-heads or the 'rebels' that skipped school to shop, but these characters were extremes of already unlikely people.
And Serena.....where to begin?! In the whole entire series of 12 books, she's said to be beautiful. But I don't see that at all. She might be physically attractive but there's nothing attractive about her inner self. Which is why through out the entire series, no one has loved her for the girl she truly is. Even Nate gets confused only because of her looks when he clearly, truly, loves Blair. Serena is favored in the series only because of her looks, which makes us all want to be like her: beautiful, blond and blue-eyed. But come on! Blair, however nuts and insecure she is, is definitely the more real and more genuine person. Sure, we learn how beauty gets you places in this modern world but to encourage something like that in a book....that too a book for teens?!
No wonder the bulimia and anorexia cases went up so much!
November 12, 2021
I actually liked the ending of book 11 and would have been happy if it just ended there. The ending to this last instalment felt much more open. I get the feeling there were plans to write more books that never happened. The book itself wasn't that terrible, but it was just unnecessary. It was 300 pages to have everyone end up in the same place they started, but a few years older and none the wiser. What else is new.
May 16, 2024
Terrible ending to the series, no growth everyone went backwards. TV show is much better.
What really bothered me was that the whole series all Blair wanted was someone to love her, value her, be faithful, not interested in Serena, commit to her, etc; she got it and threw it away. Why even have this book if every character would throw their growth away. They should have ended it with the last book, that would have been a better ending.
What really bothered me was that the whole series all Blair wanted was someone to love her, value her, be faithful, not interested in Serena, commit to her, etc; she got it and threw it away. Why even have this book if every character would throw their growth away. They should have ended it with the last book, that would have been a better ending.
July 4, 2016
Finished the whole series in a week. Definitely not a series to binge because it is pretty much the same thing in every book. But pretty much, I read these to get caught up on my goodreads challenge because I was seriously behind. it was a good brain break from the stuff I usually read and now I'm ready to get back to my normal stuff.
Or maybe I will just go on to Pretty Little Liars next.
Or maybe I will just go on to Pretty Little Liars next.
January 6, 2019
I really thouroghly enjoyed this book way more than any in the series I loved watching them all go thru their college experiences and comming together and the ending was the best choosing friendship over love was amazing. I’m glad that this series ended the way that it did
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2021
Can‘t believe i finally made it to the end of the series and this fever dream is over. Loved and hated it all the way through.
May 16, 2022
The Gossip Girl universe is one of my favorites. I'm addicted to the TV series and the books, despite being very different from it, also won me over. So, while I was curious about this final book, I was sad, because it's the last - besides the last of the spin-off, The Carlyles, which I haven't read either.
This thirteenth book takes place months after the eleventh - the twelfth is actually a prequel - and follows several characters' Christmases and New Years. I didn't program it, but reading it right at the beginning of December only made the story more immersive and fun. Like the previous ones from the eighth, this volume is not written by Cecily von Ziegesar, but the new author manages to assimilate a lot to her writing and be faithful to what she created in the past. There are several fun and cliché moments of the time, such as fighting characters being forced to live in a place because they are trapped by the snow.
In addition, it was interesting to see the characters in college, in fact, and many followed a different career from the show, like Blair, which leaves some events a surprise, even for those who saw it. There's also the return of novels from the previous books, which was a surprise, but reminds us even more of the series - mostly one very popular in the series, but one that I thought was unlikely in the books. Because I like all the ones mentioned, I loved these returns.
The only downside was the fact that some characters didn't mature. Even at 19 or 21, they were still childish and questionable, especially Blair. Despite that being the spirit of the series, irony above all else, it would have been interesting to see them go down a different path (ironically, the character that no one would believe in a change was the one that evolved the most!). Despite that - and many things falling apart faster than they started, making some endings different from what I expected - I liked how it all ended. The TV series is the TV series and the books are the books; the ending followed here was consistent with the previous ones.
Overall, I loved the series. The books are fun, fast-paced and if you're looking for a leisurely read or wanting to get out of a book hangover, they'll more than help - if you like the TV series then it's only going to be a better experience. But unless it's a commemorative book or something, there's really no need for others. Eu Semper Vou Te Amar closed the cycle of Gossip Girl in the best way possible.
This thirteenth book takes place months after the eleventh - the twelfth is actually a prequel - and follows several characters' Christmases and New Years. I didn't program it, but reading it right at the beginning of December only made the story more immersive and fun. Like the previous ones from the eighth, this volume is not written by Cecily von Ziegesar, but the new author manages to assimilate a lot to her writing and be faithful to what she created in the past. There are several fun and cliché moments of the time, such as fighting characters being forced to live in a place because they are trapped by the snow.
In addition, it was interesting to see the characters in college, in fact, and many followed a different career from the show, like Blair, which leaves some events a surprise, even for those who saw it. There's also the return of novels from the previous books, which was a surprise, but reminds us even more of the series - mostly one very popular in the series, but one that I thought was unlikely in the books. Because I like all the ones mentioned, I loved these returns.
The only downside was the fact that some characters didn't mature. Even at 19 or 21, they were still childish and questionable, especially Blair. Despite that being the spirit of the series, irony above all else, it would have been interesting to see them go down a different path (ironically, the character that no one would believe in a change was the one that evolved the most!). Despite that - and many things falling apart faster than they started, making some endings different from what I expected - I liked how it all ended. The TV series is the TV series and the books are the books; the ending followed here was consistent with the previous ones.
Overall, I loved the series. The books are fun, fast-paced and if you're looking for a leisurely read or wanting to get out of a book hangover, they'll more than help - if you like the TV series then it's only going to be a better experience. But unless it's a commemorative book or something, there's really no need for others. Eu Semper Vou Te Amar closed the cycle of Gossip Girl in the best way possible.
July 5, 2018
A lot better than what I was expecting (by now my expectations were really low), they finally found a writer that could give some character growth to the characters, and that at least tried to pretend this isn't a repetitive mess, even tried to give some meaning to it. They also tried, probably as a joke, to give the characters the tv series treatment, what clearly would never work out since they are completely different from their tv show counterparts.
I still don't understand what's so magical about Nate's dick. Or how milking cows made Chuck not gay. Whatever.
I still don't understand what's so magical about Nate's dick. Or how milking cows made Chuck not gay. Whatever.
June 1, 2023
Felt like a little nostalgia. I’m taken aback by how awful the characters are in the books — a case where the TV show is better than it’s book series.
August 29, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ time to rewatch the series
February 8, 2026
Net zoals in de serie heeft Chuck een grote character development gemaakt.
Helaas de rest niet
Helaas de rest niet
June 19, 2026
That ending was just as bad as in the tv show
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