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Gossip Girl: The Carlyles #3
Take a Chance on Me
The Carlyle triplets have made a lot of new friends in Manhattan-and more than a few enemies. O stole his best friend's girlfriend, and A dethroned the queen bee. Now a line has been drawn down Fifth Avenue, and it's all-out war. Only here, the battles are fought with icy glares and vicious rumors. It's the Upper East Side, and all's fair in love and scandal...
You know you love me,
Gossip Girl
You know you love me,
Gossip Girl
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
About the author
Cecily von Ziegesar
112 books3,072 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 62 reviews
May 16, 2009
Am I ashamed that I ordered this book from Amazon the day it came out, and that I read it in two sittings? Yes and yes. I don't even like this series all that much (the previous one sat on my shelf for a couple months before I bothered). But circumstances conspired such that I purchased (at nearly full price, no less) and read this book altogether quite rapidly.
And what did I think? Eh. I mean, I'm not going to lie -- it was pretty enjoyable, and I finally have the main characters straight (which really did take three books, since no one has enough personality to be really memorable -- I still don't have a chance with the secondary characters). But this series is just not at all as good as the original Gossip Girl. The plots that are I think meant to be humorous are mostly just uncomfortable, Baby (the Serena-like character) is mostly just spacy and annoying without Serena's charm, and Avery (the Blair manque) is a toothless Blair whose motivations remain unclear at best. My favorite character remains the "villain," Jack (who doesn't really have an equivalent in the original series, but who I'd compare to Cammie in The A-List), and even she winds up a bit neutered in this book. As for Owen, the third Carlyle triplet, I continue not to care. Let's face it, Gossip Girl has never been about the guys.
All in all, the best news in this book is the ad in the back that trumpets the new Gossip Girl coming out in November 2009 with THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS! In light of the TV show, I am especially interested to see what they try to do. They're repackaging all the original books with new covers sure to confuse the heck out of people, since in the books Chuck and Dan are both possibly-gay laughingstock, not the show's suave leading man and sweet boy from Brooklyn which they now depict on nearly half the book covers.
And what did I think? Eh. I mean, I'm not going to lie -- it was pretty enjoyable, and I finally have the main characters straight (which really did take three books, since no one has enough personality to be really memorable -- I still don't have a chance with the secondary characters). But this series is just not at all as good as the original Gossip Girl. The plots that are I think meant to be humorous are mostly just uncomfortable, Baby (the Serena-like character) is mostly just spacy and annoying without Serena's charm, and Avery (the Blair manque) is a toothless Blair whose motivations remain unclear at best. My favorite character remains the "villain," Jack (who doesn't really have an equivalent in the original series, but who I'd compare to Cammie in The A-List), and even she winds up a bit neutered in this book. As for Owen, the third Carlyle triplet, I continue not to care. Let's face it, Gossip Girl has never been about the guys.
All in all, the best news in this book is the ad in the back that trumpets the new Gossip Girl coming out in November 2009 with THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS! In light of the TV show, I am especially interested to see what they try to do. They're repackaging all the original books with new covers sure to confuse the heck out of people, since in the books Chuck and Dan are both possibly-gay laughingstock, not the show's suave leading man and sweet boy from Brooklyn which they now depict on nearly half the book covers.
March 29, 2010
Actually, this was pretty boring and kida predictable. If I kept reading was because I enjoy the New York chit-chat and the descriptions, but there was barely any plot in the book, and the characters I first liked became a bit annoying with their stories. I just got one left, and I guess it won't be any better. Though I liked this book's ending -it could've perfectly ended here. Anyway, maybe I'm becoming too old to read this? IDK.
September 9, 2019
These are not getting any better. Glad I only have onenleft to finish the series and then there apparently is one reunion-type last book with the original Gossip Girl characters. I liked that Jack became more humanized and less villainous in this book, but I found the entire Baby's mandatory therapy storyline completely stupid and dull, and Owen's side plot about his girlfriend gets boring fast, too. Probably because his character is about as developed as an unused roll of film. Almost done. 1.5 stars rounded up
March 13, 2009
Does anyone else realize that the second generation is no where near as good as the original because CECILY VON ZIEGESAR didn't even write this! Annabelle Vestry did.
August 9, 2018
This book was dreadful. Owen should not have been a POV character and honestly neither should Baby. Neither of them did anything interesting throughout the entire book.
Avery is also possibly one of the most boring characters in literature. She doesn't do or say a single interesting thing and yet somehow she impresses the editor of an elite fashion magazine and Jack Laurent, who, by the way, is the most interesting character with the LEAST believable plot. Who in their right mind would buy their 16 year old son and his girlfriend a brand new apartment and let them live in it together? Who in their right mind thinks a 16 year old who is still in high school and is not famous in any way is cool enough to be the "face" of a new green movement condominium? So many plot holes and so much boredom. I cannot believe the ghost writer dragged this book out over 200 pages and I'm not a bit surprised they canned the series after the next book.
Avery is also possibly one of the most boring characters in literature. She doesn't do or say a single interesting thing and yet somehow she impresses the editor of an elite fashion magazine and Jack Laurent, who, by the way, is the most interesting character with the LEAST believable plot. Who in their right mind would buy their 16 year old son and his girlfriend a brand new apartment and let them live in it together? Who in their right mind thinks a 16 year old who is still in high school and is not famous in any way is cool enough to be the "face" of a new green movement condominium? So many plot holes and so much boredom. I cannot believe the ghost writer dragged this book out over 200 pages and I'm not a bit surprised they canned the series after the next book.
September 3, 2009
Reviewed by Ashley B for TeensReadToo.com
Ever since the Carlyle triplets moved to New York, the Upper East Side has been gossip central.
Owen ended up stealing his best friend's girlfriend. Avery dethroned the queen. Baby ran off to Spain.
As for the rest of the city, Jack is now the It Girl of the Cashman Lofts. Rhys gets into the hippie crowd after Owen steals his girl. Nothing stays quiet with Gossip Girl around.
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME is another wonderful GOSSIP GIRL, THE CARLYLES novel. I just can't get enough of these stories. They are so intriguing and keep me guessing. They are racy, but so enjoyable.
So much gossip is in each chapter. I can't imagine this kind of thing happening in real life, but if it did...
Wow! I recommend these novels to anyone who loves YA.
Ever since the Carlyle triplets moved to New York, the Upper East Side has been gossip central.
Owen ended up stealing his best friend's girlfriend. Avery dethroned the queen. Baby ran off to Spain.
As for the rest of the city, Jack is now the It Girl of the Cashman Lofts. Rhys gets into the hippie crowd after Owen steals his girl. Nothing stays quiet with Gossip Girl around.
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME is another wonderful GOSSIP GIRL, THE CARLYLES novel. I just can't get enough of these stories. They are so intriguing and keep me guessing. They are racy, but so enjoyable.
So much gossip is in each chapter. I can't imagine this kind of thing happening in real life, but if it did...
Wow! I recommend these novels to anyone who loves YA.
December 31, 2018
2.5* These books are so predictable and the characters are pretty awful. But I can't stop reading them! At least with this series I'm not comparing the characters to their tv counterparts so I like them a bit more
June 14, 2022
I’m honestly kinda over this serious but I’m so close to finishing them all that I have to do it on principle. The books are starting to get repetitive. Same conversations, same goals, same worries. There’s nothing really sucking you in and insisting you read the next chapter.
Read
June 1, 2026Take A Chance On Me (The Carlyle’s)
Kelsey and Owen meet up before Owen’s swim meet. Then they take a walk (to get away from the eyes of the swim team) start to make out in public. Of course, Rhys catches them. Hugh-another member of the swim team, tries to walk him past them. Rhys tries to play it off. He announces loudly to Hugh they’ll be late. Kelsey calls out to him, but he tells her he’s not talking to her. Kelsey tells Owen she’ll see him later and she might have a extra-special surprise for him.
It’s the first day of Avery’s internship at Metropolitan, the legendary city-centric fashion magazine. Avery is introduced to McKenna Clarke, and McKenna quickly lets her know interns are seen and not heard. Avery tries to talk to Ticky, but she tells her it’s best she stay in the closet for a couple of days until she learns the ways of Metropolitan. She gives her the task of organizing the drawers. Because she mixes a burgundy lip stain in with some pale pinks, she’s sent to run an errand in the Meatpacking District, and to run personal errands as well. Avery gets the feeling her dream job just might turn into a nightmare.
Baby returns from Spain, and immediately has to go meet with the headmistress (Mrs. McClain). She says Baby’s attitude is the problem. Baby is told she’ll have to complete 24 hours of therapy. She’s already set up the first session. Baby meets with Dr. Rebekah Janus. The therapist asks her to tell her about the trip, and Baby says she went there to look for a guy named Mateo. The therapist tells her she thinks she went there to look for her father. She tells Baby she needs to learn her inner motivations and she’ll need to come in every day. Baby tells her she’ll think on it and leaves.
Things are starting to look up for Jack. First, her father had relented over dinner at Le Cirque last week and given her a monthly prepaid debit card. She’d also nailed two scholarship auditions for her ballet program and was just waiting for a call to let her know she’d been accepted into the School of American Ballet’s prestigious apprenticeship program. And, most importantly, she and J.P. were back together. But then, Jack’s mom drops the bomb. They’ll be moving to Paris so her mother (Vivene) can be on a French television show. They leave on Sunday.
So, she decides to ditch her dance class and go over to J.P’s (with the intent of “releasing her anger”). Rhys comes in last in the swim meet against Owen and just says f it. I quit (and walks out). The Coach tells them they’d better get it together and makes Owen the new captain.
Jack is invited to breakfast. JP’s dad offers her to be the face of his new building (the Cashman Towers?), and Jack jumps on it. Now she won’t have to move to Paris. Avery sets it up so Owen and Kelsey go on a *real* date. He tells her he’s been made captain, and she says she’s happy for him. It’s becoming clear to him he really doesn’t know her all that well. He asks her about herself, and then can’t come up with anything else to talk about. Then they end up going to the ladies' room. They try to make out, but can’t fully get into it because a lady tells them to get out. Then a waitress tells them they have to leave and a matre d escorts them out a back door. They take a cab back to Owen’s place.
Jack gets her own penthouse apartment as a part of being the face of the Casman Towers. She also gets a ton of housewarming presents from an exclusive boutique. But the loft comes with an unexpected surprise. JP as a part-time live-in partner and a dog from J. P’s mom.
Back at school, Jack’s billboard has caused everyone to treat her as an overnight celebrity. Jack attempts to get into a confrontation with Avery, but is rescued by Sydney. Baby decides to give another kind of therapy a try. So, she goes to a lady named Opehia Ravenfeather. (who says she can pick a name for her). Baby decides to stick with this name for now. The lady says that Baby has a dark aura and takes her to the park. When they get there, she instructs her to do a yoga pose (which she says is good for healing). But the energy is wrong. So, she tells her to walk until she finds a place that’s right. But she bumps into a bike rider. (She was walking with her eyes closed). Ophelia interprets this as she was following her heart, and it led her into an entanglement with a man. It’s the same thing Dr. Janus told her.
She says they need to put together some rituals that include chanting, essential oils, and juice cleansing. She needs to learn that she can depend on herself. Ophelia leads her to an area with water and tells her to imagine (and say) a word. She says ocean, but that’s not the word Ophelia sees in her aura. She says love, but that’s not it either. Ophelia tries to move on from words to chanting. She tells her to chant seventeen times a say and go on an all-green diet. Then detox.
The other guys on the swim team don’t show up at (Paragon’s?), and don’t listen to him in practice. Hugh (another teammate) tells him it's because of the bro’s before hoe’s rule that he broke. And that despite what Coach says *he’s* the new Captain. At work, Avery is still being treated as McKenna and Gemina’s personal errand girl. She’s given the assignment to remove all the staples from some paperwork and redo them. When she returns the papers fixed to the conference room, she overhears Ticky chewing out her assistants material ideas for the Metropolitan. Then someone comes up with the idea to feature Jack Laurant and her campaign. Ticky notices Avery and puts her on getting the interview with James (a cute employee she ran into minutes ago).
Jack finds out that playing house isn’t what she thought it would be. The dog (Magellan) is always in the bed with her and JP. Then when it seems like they’ll have a romantic evening cooking, the food burns, and Magellan pees all over the floor. The diet and clease leave Baby feeling sick and looking drained. Sydney takes her home, gets her to shower, feeds her, and gives her a copy of her mom’s book (whose a therapist) “Your Life Really Isn’t That Complicated."
After Rhys gets his phone taken by a teacher for texting in class, he walks out. The Stoner’s he met earlier invite him to hang with them. Lucus describes them as freegans (aka they Dumpster dive), and says they’re on a walk about (there school has a open semester to do pretty much anything). Rhys finds himself more relaxed around them. Jack meets up with JP at Barney’s. and plans to tell him that Friday after the Launch party for the apartments, they’ll do it. Only people keep coming up to Jack. So, they head home. Jack starts to notice that this is what JP wanted all along. Maybe this is how he’s always been.
Avery and James meet to talk about Jack. Only not that long into it, Avery starts to wonder if it’s a date. She’s convinced that it is when he calls her darling and starts to fantasize about their lives together. But then James turns the subject to Jack. She tells him a little bit about Jack, but not enough to stoop to her level. Then she accidentally turns over her drink in his lap. He thinks it’s cute and calls her a minx. Then says he should get her home. Rhys gets an email about the swim team having a pasta party and deletes it and unsubscribes. He decides to throw his own party, and then maybe he and Lisa (one of the Stoner girl’s) will hook up and live happily ever after.
During a visit from JP’s parents, Jack gets a call that she’s been accepted for a scholarship with a ballet company. James shows Avery an article he wrote (with photos) that makes Jack look like the reason she’s the face of the Cashman Towers is that she’s having an affair with Dick Cashman and using JP as a cover. He invites her as his dad to the apartment’s launch party. Owen gets a lecture from the Coach to straighten the team out. He goes to see Kelsey, but finds he wants to get to know her, but she just wants to make out. He ends up, walking out on her and heading back to his own place.
Baby reads Sydney’s mom’s book. She’d thought it would be lame and self-help-y, but it actually made sense. Basically, all Lynn advocated was militant and consistent cleaning and purging stuff, to make sure your past selves and goals wouldn’t invade your future plans. As soon as she’d finished, she’d begged Sydney to set up a meeting, just so she could pick Lynn’s brain about what she could possibly do to fulfill her therapy requirement
She sums up her situation. “I was seeing this guy back in Nantucket, and I thought we were in love, but then I moved here and started hanging out with this really nice, really sweet guy who was just way too different from me, so we broke up, and then I ended up following another guy to Barcelona, and he wasn’t even there. That’s why I have to be in therapy. I kind of skipped a week of school.” Lynn tells her that she doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with her, but she thinks there are some things holding her back. She needs to embrace and love who she is. Then she sends her home to clean out her closet and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit.
Owen reluctantly goes to Coach’s pasta party. While there, he sees his Coach’s roommate (who Coach uses as a cautionary tale of what not to do). It’s then he realizes that a girl isn’t worth it, and he leaves to go to Rhys to make up. Rhys isn’t happy to see him there. Owen wonders why Rhys is hanging out with these losers. Rhys asks him why he’s there and tells him that he’s ruined his life, but it’s ok now he’s found some good people. He tells him to just leave him alone, but Owen says no. Owen tells him this isn’t him. He says they might never be friends again but he’s the best friend he’s ever had. He belongs on the team. He and the swim team miss him. Rhys is like yeah whatever.
Owen sees it’s pointless and leaves. Avery finds out that James expects her to follow Jack around all night. Ticky tells her tho to just enjoy herself. Avery actually gets a chance to talk to Jack, and she confides in her about how great it is to have the apartment, but it feels like she’s married to JP (and this isn’t a good thing). Jack asks that she not print that but says she’d understand if she did. She’s been a bitch and she knows it. She apologizes for it. She then asks Avery if she wants to leave the party and go for a drink. Avery thinks it’s the best thing she’s heard all night.
The next morning, Jack tells JP they need to slow down and that she’ll be moving to her dad’s place. Baby feels better after cleaning out her closet. Then she goes to see Lynn to thank her. Lynn says she didn’t do a damn thing and then signs her form that shows she’s completed her therapy hours. Owen calls it off with Kelsey. Rhys kicks the Stoners out and tells them he’ll see them around. Owen tells Rhys, who doesn’t feel anything by this. Rhys is now back on track and wins a race. Owen gives him the captain position back.
Rating: 6 Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to think this series is getting into a rut. The main characters in this series are starting to remind me of the ones in the original series. Rhys started to annoyingly remind me too much of Nate. Maybe the author realized this herself and switched him back. Then when I thought about it Baby started to take on Serena’s flighty personality.
Kelsey and Owen meet up before Owen’s swim meet. Then they take a walk (to get away from the eyes of the swim team) start to make out in public. Of course, Rhys catches them. Hugh-another member of the swim team, tries to walk him past them. Rhys tries to play it off. He announces loudly to Hugh they’ll be late. Kelsey calls out to him, but he tells her he’s not talking to her. Kelsey tells Owen she’ll see him later and she might have a extra-special surprise for him.
It’s the first day of Avery’s internship at Metropolitan, the legendary city-centric fashion magazine. Avery is introduced to McKenna Clarke, and McKenna quickly lets her know interns are seen and not heard. Avery tries to talk to Ticky, but she tells her it’s best she stay in the closet for a couple of days until she learns the ways of Metropolitan. She gives her the task of organizing the drawers. Because she mixes a burgundy lip stain in with some pale pinks, she’s sent to run an errand in the Meatpacking District, and to run personal errands as well. Avery gets the feeling her dream job just might turn into a nightmare.
Baby returns from Spain, and immediately has to go meet with the headmistress (Mrs. McClain). She says Baby’s attitude is the problem. Baby is told she’ll have to complete 24 hours of therapy. She’s already set up the first session. Baby meets with Dr. Rebekah Janus. The therapist asks her to tell her about the trip, and Baby says she went there to look for a guy named Mateo. The therapist tells her she thinks she went there to look for her father. She tells Baby she needs to learn her inner motivations and she’ll need to come in every day. Baby tells her she’ll think on it and leaves.
Things are starting to look up for Jack. First, her father had relented over dinner at Le Cirque last week and given her a monthly prepaid debit card. She’d also nailed two scholarship auditions for her ballet program and was just waiting for a call to let her know she’d been accepted into the School of American Ballet’s prestigious apprenticeship program. And, most importantly, she and J.P. were back together. But then, Jack’s mom drops the bomb. They’ll be moving to Paris so her mother (Vivene) can be on a French television show. They leave on Sunday.
So, she decides to ditch her dance class and go over to J.P’s (with the intent of “releasing her anger”). Rhys comes in last in the swim meet against Owen and just says f it. I quit (and walks out). The Coach tells them they’d better get it together and makes Owen the new captain.
Jack is invited to breakfast. JP’s dad offers her to be the face of his new building (the Cashman Towers?), and Jack jumps on it. Now she won’t have to move to Paris. Avery sets it up so Owen and Kelsey go on a *real* date. He tells her he’s been made captain, and she says she’s happy for him. It’s becoming clear to him he really doesn’t know her all that well. He asks her about herself, and then can’t come up with anything else to talk about. Then they end up going to the ladies' room. They try to make out, but can’t fully get into it because a lady tells them to get out. Then a waitress tells them they have to leave and a matre d escorts them out a back door. They take a cab back to Owen’s place.
Jack gets her own penthouse apartment as a part of being the face of the Casman Towers. She also gets a ton of housewarming presents from an exclusive boutique. But the loft comes with an unexpected surprise. JP as a part-time live-in partner and a dog from J. P’s mom.
Back at school, Jack’s billboard has caused everyone to treat her as an overnight celebrity. Jack attempts to get into a confrontation with Avery, but is rescued by Sydney. Baby decides to give another kind of therapy a try. So, she goes to a lady named Opehia Ravenfeather. (who says she can pick a name for her). Baby decides to stick with this name for now. The lady says that Baby has a dark aura and takes her to the park. When they get there, she instructs her to do a yoga pose (which she says is good for healing). But the energy is wrong. So, she tells her to walk until she finds a place that’s right. But she bumps into a bike rider. (She was walking with her eyes closed). Ophelia interprets this as she was following her heart, and it led her into an entanglement with a man. It’s the same thing Dr. Janus told her.
She says they need to put together some rituals that include chanting, essential oils, and juice cleansing. She needs to learn that she can depend on herself. Ophelia leads her to an area with water and tells her to imagine (and say) a word. She says ocean, but that’s not the word Ophelia sees in her aura. She says love, but that’s not it either. Ophelia tries to move on from words to chanting. She tells her to chant seventeen times a say and go on an all-green diet. Then detox.
The other guys on the swim team don’t show up at (Paragon’s?), and don’t listen to him in practice. Hugh (another teammate) tells him it's because of the bro’s before hoe’s rule that he broke. And that despite what Coach says *he’s* the new Captain. At work, Avery is still being treated as McKenna and Gemina’s personal errand girl. She’s given the assignment to remove all the staples from some paperwork and redo them. When she returns the papers fixed to the conference room, she overhears Ticky chewing out her assistants material ideas for the Metropolitan. Then someone comes up with the idea to feature Jack Laurant and her campaign. Ticky notices Avery and puts her on getting the interview with James (a cute employee she ran into minutes ago).
Jack finds out that playing house isn’t what she thought it would be. The dog (Magellan) is always in the bed with her and JP. Then when it seems like they’ll have a romantic evening cooking, the food burns, and Magellan pees all over the floor. The diet and clease leave Baby feeling sick and looking drained. Sydney takes her home, gets her to shower, feeds her, and gives her a copy of her mom’s book (whose a therapist) “Your Life Really Isn’t That Complicated."
After Rhys gets his phone taken by a teacher for texting in class, he walks out. The Stoner’s he met earlier invite him to hang with them. Lucus describes them as freegans (aka they Dumpster dive), and says they’re on a walk about (there school has a open semester to do pretty much anything). Rhys finds himself more relaxed around them. Jack meets up with JP at Barney’s. and plans to tell him that Friday after the Launch party for the apartments, they’ll do it. Only people keep coming up to Jack. So, they head home. Jack starts to notice that this is what JP wanted all along. Maybe this is how he’s always been.
Avery and James meet to talk about Jack. Only not that long into it, Avery starts to wonder if it’s a date. She’s convinced that it is when he calls her darling and starts to fantasize about their lives together. But then James turns the subject to Jack. She tells him a little bit about Jack, but not enough to stoop to her level. Then she accidentally turns over her drink in his lap. He thinks it’s cute and calls her a minx. Then says he should get her home. Rhys gets an email about the swim team having a pasta party and deletes it and unsubscribes. He decides to throw his own party, and then maybe he and Lisa (one of the Stoner girl’s) will hook up and live happily ever after.
During a visit from JP’s parents, Jack gets a call that she’s been accepted for a scholarship with a ballet company. James shows Avery an article he wrote (with photos) that makes Jack look like the reason she’s the face of the Cashman Towers is that she’s having an affair with Dick Cashman and using JP as a cover. He invites her as his dad to the apartment’s launch party. Owen gets a lecture from the Coach to straighten the team out. He goes to see Kelsey, but finds he wants to get to know her, but she just wants to make out. He ends up, walking out on her and heading back to his own place.
Baby reads Sydney’s mom’s book. She’d thought it would be lame and self-help-y, but it actually made sense. Basically, all Lynn advocated was militant and consistent cleaning and purging stuff, to make sure your past selves and goals wouldn’t invade your future plans. As soon as she’d finished, she’d begged Sydney to set up a meeting, just so she could pick Lynn’s brain about what she could possibly do to fulfill her therapy requirement
She sums up her situation. “I was seeing this guy back in Nantucket, and I thought we were in love, but then I moved here and started hanging out with this really nice, really sweet guy who was just way too different from me, so we broke up, and then I ended up following another guy to Barcelona, and he wasn’t even there. That’s why I have to be in therapy. I kind of skipped a week of school.” Lynn tells her that she doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with her, but she thinks there are some things holding her back. She needs to embrace and love who she is. Then she sends her home to clean out her closet and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit.
Owen reluctantly goes to Coach’s pasta party. While there, he sees his Coach’s roommate (who Coach uses as a cautionary tale of what not to do). It’s then he realizes that a girl isn’t worth it, and he leaves to go to Rhys to make up. Rhys isn’t happy to see him there. Owen wonders why Rhys is hanging out with these losers. Rhys asks him why he’s there and tells him that he’s ruined his life, but it’s ok now he’s found some good people. He tells him to just leave him alone, but Owen says no. Owen tells him this isn’t him. He says they might never be friends again but he’s the best friend he’s ever had. He belongs on the team. He and the swim team miss him. Rhys is like yeah whatever.
Owen sees it’s pointless and leaves. Avery finds out that James expects her to follow Jack around all night. Ticky tells her tho to just enjoy herself. Avery actually gets a chance to talk to Jack, and she confides in her about how great it is to have the apartment, but it feels like she’s married to JP (and this isn’t a good thing). Jack asks that she not print that but says she’d understand if she did. She’s been a bitch and she knows it. She apologizes for it. She then asks Avery if she wants to leave the party and go for a drink. Avery thinks it’s the best thing she’s heard all night.
The next morning, Jack tells JP they need to slow down and that she’ll be moving to her dad’s place. Baby feels better after cleaning out her closet. Then she goes to see Lynn to thank her. Lynn says she didn’t do a damn thing and then signs her form that shows she’s completed her therapy hours. Owen calls it off with Kelsey. Rhys kicks the Stoners out and tells them he’ll see them around. Owen tells Rhys, who doesn’t feel anything by this. Rhys is now back on track and wins a race. Owen gives him the captain position back.
Rating: 6 Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to think this series is getting into a rut. The main characters in this series are starting to remind me of the ones in the original series. Rhys started to annoyingly remind me too much of Nate. Maybe the author realized this herself and switched him back. Then when I thought about it Baby started to take on Serena’s flighty personality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2009
Gossip Girl, The Carlyles Take a Chance on Me
By Cecily Von Ziegesar
240pp Ny Ny
Poppy Hachette Book Group $10.99
ISBN: 978-0-316-02066-4
When’s the last time you had nine hours of sleep? Years ago? The life of a teenager is always so busy with a tightly packed schedule. Especially, when you live in the Upper East Side, when your every move is being posted online by gossip girl. Avery, Baby, and Owen Carlyle have never just had one ordinary day of school and homework without any gossip.
The triplets have adapted to life in New York City, Owen rotating around his complicated love story, Avery fighting to gain the cover on Metropolitan, and Baby always getting punished for breaking rules. Owen is the top swimmer on his team but because his girlfriend was Rhys, his best friend’s girlfriend, Rhys quit with the rest of the team on his side. Rhys has an ultimate breakdown and Owen struggles to gain his true friend back. Avery, on the other hand, works as an intern and tries to get her beautiful face on the cover of Metropolitan. However, getting there must involve removing staples and organizing lipstick. Avery gets so close to success but she is smart enough to discover her true self, giving up whatever she worked on to be herself. While all this is going on, Baby, the other triplet has to have therapy as a punishment for skipping school for an entire week just to go to Barcelona. Baby strives to find her old self again and she becomes less dependant on men, which was really weighing her down. What about her boyfriend? Well, JP went back to Jack, whom is back at the top again. Jack gets a helping hand from JP’s family and doesn’t have financial problems anymore. Instead, Jack is on the cover of magazines, gets interviewed all the time, and has a tightly crammed agenda. To my surprise, she doesn’t enjoy this kind of life but she makes a new friend out of it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the first or second gossip girl Carlyle books. It wraps things up perfectly and it has a really good ending. However, the book is starting to get boring and what I don’t like about it is that it talks so much about clothing and expensive brands of clothing.
By Cecily Von Ziegesar
240pp Ny Ny
Poppy Hachette Book Group $10.99
ISBN: 978-0-316-02066-4
When’s the last time you had nine hours of sleep? Years ago? The life of a teenager is always so busy with a tightly packed schedule. Especially, when you live in the Upper East Side, when your every move is being posted online by gossip girl. Avery, Baby, and Owen Carlyle have never just had one ordinary day of school and homework without any gossip.
The triplets have adapted to life in New York City, Owen rotating around his complicated love story, Avery fighting to gain the cover on Metropolitan, and Baby always getting punished for breaking rules. Owen is the top swimmer on his team but because his girlfriend was Rhys, his best friend’s girlfriend, Rhys quit with the rest of the team on his side. Rhys has an ultimate breakdown and Owen struggles to gain his true friend back. Avery, on the other hand, works as an intern and tries to get her beautiful face on the cover of Metropolitan. However, getting there must involve removing staples and organizing lipstick. Avery gets so close to success but she is smart enough to discover her true self, giving up whatever she worked on to be herself. While all this is going on, Baby, the other triplet has to have therapy as a punishment for skipping school for an entire week just to go to Barcelona. Baby strives to find her old self again and she becomes less dependant on men, which was really weighing her down. What about her boyfriend? Well, JP went back to Jack, whom is back at the top again. Jack gets a helping hand from JP’s family and doesn’t have financial problems anymore. Instead, Jack is on the cover of magazines, gets interviewed all the time, and has a tightly crammed agenda. To my surprise, she doesn’t enjoy this kind of life but she makes a new friend out of it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the first or second gossip girl Carlyle books. It wraps things up perfectly and it has a really good ending. However, the book is starting to get boring and what I don’t like about it is that it talks so much about clothing and expensive brands of clothing.
February 27, 2010
Take a Chance on Me (Gossip Girl: The Carlyles, #3)
By Cecily von Ziegesar
240 pages
Poppy Hachette Book Group $10.99
ISBN: 978-0-316-02066-4
Are you the one who's always gossipping about others? Or are you the one who's always being gossipped about? Nothing's the same when an everyday life only revolves around G-O-S-S-I-P! Avery, Baby, and Owen Carlyle has never had a regular day which doesn't involve any gossip. This is especially when each of their every move, every step, is being observed and is posted online by gossip girl. The triplets all have their own life and different things occur to each of them, but this doesn't stop the gossip around them.
The writing style of Cecily von Ziegesar is different than others because it seems like readers like me are watching a movie. There are things posted up online which readers are able to imagine, and that creates imagery. We're able to visualize what's happening in the book and we can assume what's next to come.
I would recommend this book to people who've read the first and second book of (Gossip Girl: The Carlyles) because it's like an addition to what's happened in the previous two books. I'd also recommend this series in general to oen who are interested in clothing and fashion, and people who are gossippers themselves, so they'd enjoy the book, too.
By Cecily von Ziegesar
240 pages
Poppy Hachette Book Group $10.99
ISBN: 978-0-316-02066-4
Are you the one who's always gossipping about others? Or are you the one who's always being gossipped about? Nothing's the same when an everyday life only revolves around G-O-S-S-I-P! Avery, Baby, and Owen Carlyle has never had a regular day which doesn't involve any gossip. This is especially when each of their every move, every step, is being observed and is posted online by gossip girl. The triplets all have their own life and different things occur to each of them, but this doesn't stop the gossip around them.
The writing style of Cecily von Ziegesar is different than others because it seems like readers like me are watching a movie. There are things posted up online which readers are able to imagine, and that creates imagery. We're able to visualize what's happening in the book and we can assume what's next to come.
I would recommend this book to people who've read the first and second book of (Gossip Girl: The Carlyles) because it's like an addition to what's happened in the previous two books. I'd also recommend this series in general to oen who are interested in clothing and fashion, and people who are gossippers themselves, so they'd enjoy the book, too.
July 15, 2017
Everyone is hating on everyone. Owen and Rhys aren’t friends anymore because of a girl, Jack and Avery never liked each other to begin with and who knows what’s going on with Baby. But as time does tell, things happen and situations change. Now everyone is slowly coming back together as friends, but in the world of New York City’s high life, is anyone your friend? This novel continued from the previous novel, and the plots were okay, but they were rather mediocre. Nothing crazy stood out, and the writing felt more like fanfiction than anything else. As for characters, they did mature as the novel progressed and that was actually entertaining to read, but nothing felt too substantial. But overall this novel was good for light reading.
May 4, 2009
So this book, was amazing, Sidney tells Avery that even though her and Jack hated eachother, they were probably gonna end up being best friends, and it happened. Rhys takes a time out from Swimming, and Owen discovers taht is never worth it to lose a friend over a girl. And that he and Kelsy are a great couple when it comes to physical, but not emotionally connected at all.
July 17, 2009
I really liked the ending of this book. I found it was a nice way to end the books so far. I liked the characters more and more in this novel. I like how they all kind of went on to try to find themselves and faced some real problems unlike the characters in the original series. All in all I found this one to be the best book so far out of this series.
July 14, 2013
There wasn't anything great about this book, the plot was average, the character development was average, this wasn't my favourite book in the series but again, it was very quick and easy to read even though I think this series is going downhill very fast.
October 31, 2023
‘Take a Chance on Me’ is by far my favourite of ‘The Carlyles Series.’ Romance, friendship, mental health struggle, independence, lots of gossip but with a sprinkle of kindness.
Jack is the new face of the Cashman lofts but it soon becomes overbearing despite the privileges. She is losing her freedom and is treated as JP’s trophy wife. Eventually, she realized she was powerful enough on her own. Also, loved the refreshing friendship that blossomed between her and Avery.
Speaking of which, Avery is the new intern at Metropolitan. But she isn’t there to be a mean girl or a gossip queen. She is classy, and even her boss recognizes it. Finally, her life is turning around.
Baby is going through therapy. I think it’s the first time I liked her character. She is doing something positive for herself instead of gallivanting.
Owen realized what he and Kelsey shared was lust and not love, regretting losing a beautiful friendship with Rhys. Honestly, I never liked Kelsey, can’t stand cheaters who act innocent, her character is boring as well. I knew we’d see a new side of Rhys in this book, just didn’t expect him to be a beginner stoner. But I loved the reconciliation in the end.
I don’t why but from the first book, I really wanted Rhys and Avery to connect. They seemed perfect for each other and the last chapter gives hope. Still, this is Gossip Girl, so I’m eager to read the last book of the series.
Jack is the new face of the Cashman lofts but it soon becomes overbearing despite the privileges. She is losing her freedom and is treated as JP’s trophy wife. Eventually, she realized she was powerful enough on her own. Also, loved the refreshing friendship that blossomed between her and Avery.
Speaking of which, Avery is the new intern at Metropolitan. But she isn’t there to be a mean girl or a gossip queen. She is classy, and even her boss recognizes it. Finally, her life is turning around.
Baby is going through therapy. I think it’s the first time I liked her character. She is doing something positive for herself instead of gallivanting.
Owen realized what he and Kelsey shared was lust and not love, regretting losing a beautiful friendship with Rhys. Honestly, I never liked Kelsey, can’t stand cheaters who act innocent, her character is boring as well. I knew we’d see a new side of Rhys in this book, just didn’t expect him to be a beginner stoner. But I loved the reconciliation in the end.
I don’t why but from the first book, I really wanted Rhys and Avery to connect. They seemed perfect for each other and the last chapter gives hope. Still, this is Gossip Girl, so I’m eager to read the last book of the series.
October 1, 2025
Contrairement aux commentaires que je lis (qui datent d’il y a environ 15 ans…), je finis par vraiment préférer ces nouveaux personnages que les « originaux », probablement car je n’en n’ai aucune représentation imagée, je ne sais pas. En tout cas j’aimerais bien savoir ce qu’il va leur arriver par la suite, les autres ne me manquent pas (dans les livres).
January 29, 2022
It was okay. Jack and JP's relationship was a trainwreck waiting to happen. I'm glad Rhys got his shit together because most of his storyline in this one was incredibly boring. I'm glad to see everyone together at the end.
October 14, 2023
Vraiment un bon roman ! Je suis contente de la fin ! O et R sont à nouveaux amis et O à rompu avec K, J et A peut-être le début d'une belle amitié et A et R peut-être le début d'une belle histoire... j'ai hâte de lire le dernier roman ! 🙂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2017
I was alittle turn off the series after reading the last book but this one makes me want to keep going: I have to know if Avery and Jack's new found friendship will last
July 6, 2018
Besser als der Band davor aber immer noch nicht großartig. Den letzten Band werde ich dennoch lesen - will ja trotzdem wissen wie es ausgeht.
October 23, 2019
Certainly not a book I'll rave about - especially coming to it 10 years after it came out. But I got it at a discount sale and it was a great quick-read and escape from real life.
Read
February 8, 2020Nothing to see here
April 14, 2021
I just love how these super rich trust fund kids are drinking Bud Light and Tecate 😂🍻
April 8, 2023
The original gg series is way better, i only liked Jack
September 16, 2026
My fave out of these series
July 26, 2021
LEUKK
December 22, 2010
Reading a Gossip Girl book is pretty much like sitting down to watch a mini-marathon of the tv series except there are no commercial breaks and no credits you have to skip through to get to the next episode. It takes as much time to read through a book as it does to watch a disc of the DVD sets, but with The Carlyles series, it's not as much fun. Instead of Blair and Serena, we're introduced to a set of triplets who become the new "it" kids in town, though all they have working for them is their last name and good looks. At least the old kids seemed to have layers to their personalities, while Avery, Owen and Baby stick to one character trait apiece and have to rely on the plot to keep moving. All that aside, these books are still a fun read. They're like a tornado, sucking you in until the very end where everything has been thrown around all over the place, and you'll be lucky if you can even find all these books among your piles or your bookshelves when you're done because they've been borrowed by friends or shoved under the bed, instead of being dutifully put away.
That being said, Take a Chance on Me was a fair entry into the series, but it didn't bring much more to it than the other books. Give me anything that takes place in a school setting and I'll like it, but most of this novel ventured outside of a high school and onto the streets of New York City where Baby has mandatory therapy she has to struggle through, Owen gets smacked in the face by his swim team "buddies" and Avery finds out working for a magazine isn't as glamorous as it's made out to be. It seems like everyone is a frenemy and no relationship can last through a single book, but that's the way we like it. If we didn't, these books wouldn't be so addicting. I have one more Carlyles book to go before I finish the entire GG series (except for The It Girl spin off, but does that even count?), and it will be interesting to see how everything turns out (or rather, who hooks up with whom). You know I'll be there. The tornado hasn't stopped spinning yet.
That being said, Take a Chance on Me was a fair entry into the series, but it didn't bring much more to it than the other books. Give me anything that takes place in a school setting and I'll like it, but most of this novel ventured outside of a high school and onto the streets of New York City where Baby has mandatory therapy she has to struggle through, Owen gets smacked in the face by his swim team "buddies" and Avery finds out working for a magazine isn't as glamorous as it's made out to be. It seems like everyone is a frenemy and no relationship can last through a single book, but that's the way we like it. If we didn't, these books wouldn't be so addicting. I have one more Carlyles book to go before I finish the entire GG series (except for The It Girl spin off, but does that even count?), and it will be interesting to see how everything turns out (or rather, who hooks up with whom). You know I'll be there. The tornado hasn't stopped spinning yet.
May 5, 2015
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Full review here: http://bookandbroadway.blogspot.com/2...
In the third installment of Gossip Girl: The Carlyles, things continue heating up on the Upper East Side and these new scandalous teenagers just won’t quit. Everything has been up in flames since the arrival of The Carlyle triplets and Take A Chance on Me is quite possibly the best in this spin off and dishes us a hefty helping of drama, betrayal, romance and power struggles.
Say hello to your next best beach read, ladies and gentlemen. Although this next generation of kids don’t quite reach the level of awesomeness that our original group did, this installment certainly takes things to a whole new level and is classic Gossip Girl. It’s stylish, witty, light and will have you glued to the pages until the final chapter.
As for the kids…
Owen has officially snagged the girlfriend of his ex best friend, and with this betrayal and the entire UES teenage population knowing this, he no longer has to hide his attraction to Kelsey. No matter who he hurts, he flaunts this relationship and finds himself blissfully at ease. Love is a powerful thing, my friends. Powerful and brutal.
But is it love that two share or is it just lust? Was their romance a classic case of “you want what you can’t have”? Owen soon can’t help but wonder how well he really knows Kelsey. Now that he is friendless and in a relationship, Owen begins to have second thoughts. Kelsey doesn’t seem to ever want to just talk to him and after Rhys quits the team; he becomes captain to a group of guys who seemed to have picked sides.
In the third installment of Gossip Girl: The Carlyles, things continue heating up on the Upper East Side and these new scandalous teenagers just won’t quit. Everything has been up in flames since the arrival of The Carlyle triplets and Take A Chance on Me is quite possibly the best in this spin off and dishes us a hefty helping of drama, betrayal, romance and power struggles.
Say hello to your next best beach read, ladies and gentlemen. Although this next generation of kids don’t quite reach the level of awesomeness that our original group did, this installment certainly takes things to a whole new level and is classic Gossip Girl. It’s stylish, witty, light and will have you glued to the pages until the final chapter.
As for the kids…
Owen has officially snagged the girlfriend of his ex best friend, and with this betrayal and the entire UES teenage population knowing this, he no longer has to hide his attraction to Kelsey. No matter who he hurts, he flaunts this relationship and finds himself blissfully at ease. Love is a powerful thing, my friends. Powerful and brutal.
But is it love that two share or is it just lust? Was their romance a classic case of “you want what you can’t have”? Owen soon can’t help but wonder how well he really knows Kelsey. Now that he is friendless and in a relationship, Owen begins to have second thoughts. Kelsey doesn’t seem to ever want to just talk to him and after Rhys quits the team; he becomes captain to a group of guys who seemed to have picked sides.
June 17, 2009
Gossip Girl The Carlyles: Take a Chance On Me
Poppy. Hachette Book Group, 237 park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Cecily Von Ziegesar
$10.99 Pages.240
ISBN: 9780316020664
At least one time in your life, you want to be #1 in the whole society. Wait... lest narrow it down to you being #1 in the community. If everyone tries to fight for that spot, there will definitely be betrayal, hate, love, friendship, and everything. But you might wonder there;s no such thing. WRONG! In the book Gossip Girl The Carlyles: Take a chance on me, things like those happens. Take a Chance on me is the third book and a sequel to Gossip Girl The Carlyles. Cecily Von Ziegesa1r wrote many other books such as the series Gossip Girl.
The Carlyles are triplets, they are Baby Carlyles, Owen Carlyles, and Avery Carlyles. The Carlyles weren't New Yorkers, until they moved in to New York. New york is full of dramas. Avery is working in a company where you write about celebrity. Baby need to go to therapist, because it seems like she is obsess with boys. Owen feels guilty because he stole his best friend's girlfriend. Every second Jake is a celebrity but she isn't like a huge celebrity, life has been really hard for her. Especially J.P's parent, they seem to be treating her like she was married to J.P. But in the end of the story, it was more like a happily ever after.
When I read this book I thought it wasn't that great! I recommend this book to people who are fans of Cecily Von Ziegesar, or who enjoys reading Gossip Girl.
Poppy. Hachette Book Group, 237 park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Cecily Von Ziegesar
$10.99 Pages.240
ISBN: 9780316020664
At least one time in your life, you want to be #1 in the whole society. Wait... lest narrow it down to you being #1 in the community. If everyone tries to fight for that spot, there will definitely be betrayal, hate, love, friendship, and everything. But you might wonder there;s no such thing. WRONG! In the book Gossip Girl The Carlyles: Take a chance on me, things like those happens. Take a Chance on me is the third book and a sequel to Gossip Girl The Carlyles. Cecily Von Ziegesa1r wrote many other books such as the series Gossip Girl.
The Carlyles are triplets, they are Baby Carlyles, Owen Carlyles, and Avery Carlyles. The Carlyles weren't New Yorkers, until they moved in to New York. New york is full of dramas. Avery is working in a company where you write about celebrity. Baby need to go to therapist, because it seems like she is obsess with boys. Owen feels guilty because he stole his best friend's girlfriend. Every second Jake is a celebrity but she isn't like a huge celebrity, life has been really hard for her. Especially J.P's parent, they seem to be treating her like she was married to J.P. But in the end of the story, it was more like a happily ever after.
When I read this book I thought it wasn't that great! I recommend this book to people who are fans of Cecily Von Ziegesar, or who enjoys reading Gossip Girl.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews