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Gossip Girl #12
Seni Daima Seveceğim
Bir fenomen sona ererken sonsuza giden bir gemi kalkıyor Yukarı Doğu Yaka’dan!
Tam hayal ettiğiniz gibi: B, Yale’e gitti. S, bir Hollywood yıldızı olmak üzere. J, cidden büyüyor galiba. N, ortalığı eskisinden de çok kasıp kavuruyor. D ve V hem gerçek dostlar, hem de gizli aşıklar. C, her seneki gibi unutulmayacak bir yılbaşı partisi veriyor. Üstelik sen de davetlisin. Neden mi? Çünkü seni daima seveceğim. Bence bunu kaçırma. Kim bilir, belki de bu son buluşmamızdır?
Selam millet!
Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan ve Vanessa yeni bir hayata yelken açtı. Şimdi de tatil için eve dönüyorlar. Birkaç ayda çok şey değişebilir ve bazı şeylerse hep aynı kalır!
Nihayet! Üniversiteli olduk ve baştan başladık. Şiddetle arzuladığımız insanlardan, SAT sonuçlarımızdan, ailelerimizin nerede yaşadığından ya da nasıl zamparalar olduğumuzdan kimsenin haberi yok. Yeni şeyler öğrendik, yeni arkadaşlar edindik ve hatta belki hayatlarımızın aşklarıyla tanıştık. Değiştik. Ya da en azından, bazılarımız değişti. Ancak eski alışkanlıklardan kurtulmak zordur, özellikle de eski kankalarınız ve eski aşklarınızla karşılaştığınızda. Herkes Noel için şehre döndüğüne göre bu tatilin barışma, ayrılık ve uyanışla dolu olacağı kesin. Şansınıza, tüm bu skandallar yaşanırken size haberleri iletmek üzere ben bizzat buradayım. Maç başlasın!
İtiraf edin, bayılıyorsunuz bana. Ve son kez: Beni sevdiğinizi biliyorsunuz.
Dedikoducu Kız
Tam hayal ettiğiniz gibi: B, Yale’e gitti. S, bir Hollywood yıldızı olmak üzere. J, cidden büyüyor galiba. N, ortalığı eskisinden de çok kasıp kavuruyor. D ve V hem gerçek dostlar, hem de gizli aşıklar. C, her seneki gibi unutulmayacak bir yılbaşı partisi veriyor. Üstelik sen de davetlisin. Neden mi? Çünkü seni daima seveceğim. Bence bunu kaçırma. Kim bilir, belki de bu son buluşmamızdır?
Selam millet!
Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan ve Vanessa yeni bir hayata yelken açtı. Şimdi de tatil için eve dönüyorlar. Birkaç ayda çok şey değişebilir ve bazı şeylerse hep aynı kalır!
Nihayet! Üniversiteli olduk ve baştan başladık. Şiddetle arzuladığımız insanlardan, SAT sonuçlarımızdan, ailelerimizin nerede yaşadığından ya da nasıl zamparalar olduğumuzdan kimsenin haberi yok. Yeni şeyler öğrendik, yeni arkadaşlar edindik ve hatta belki hayatlarımızın aşklarıyla tanıştık. Değiştik. Ya da en azından, bazılarımız değişti. Ancak eski alışkanlıklardan kurtulmak zordur, özellikle de eski kankalarınız ve eski aşklarınızla karşılaştığınızda. Herkes Noel için şehre döndüğüne göre bu tatilin barışma, ayrılık ve uyanışla dolu olacağı kesin. Şansınıza, tüm bu skandallar yaşanırken size haberleri iletmek üzere ben bizzat buradayım. Maç başlasın!
İtiraf edin, bayılıyorsunuz bana. Ve son kez: Beni sevdiğinizi biliyorsunuz.
Dedikoducu Kız
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
87 people are currently reading
7431 people want to read
About the author
Cecily von Ziegesar
105 books2,967 followersCecily von Ziegesar is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl novels, upon which the hit television show is based.
Cecily von Ziegesar was born in New York City. Her childhood dream was to grow up to be a ballerina; she began lessons at age 3 and auditioned for the School of American Ballet at age 8, but was rejected.
As a teenager, von Ziegesar commuted to Manhattan at 6 a.m. to attend the Nightingale-Bamford School. After graduating from Nightingale, von Ziegesar attended Colby College before spending a year in Budapest working for a local radio station.
Von Ziegesar returned to the United States to study creative writing at the University of Arizona, but dropped out shortly thereafter.
Back in New York, while working at book-packaging firm Alloy Entertainment, von Ziegesar became inspired to create the Gossip Girl series, which follows the lives of privileged teenagers in New York. The series climbed to the top of The New York Times best-sellers list in 2002. A spin-off series, The It Girl, made the list in 2005.
The Constance Billard School for Girls in Gossip Girl is based upon an exaggerated version of von Ziegesar's alma mater, Nightingale. She also culled events from the book from the lives of her extremely wealthy friends, as well as her own life as a perpetual gossip.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.
Cecily von Ziegesar was born in New York City. Her childhood dream was to grow up to be a ballerina; she began lessons at age 3 and auditioned for the School of American Ballet at age 8, but was rejected.
As a teenager, von Ziegesar commuted to Manhattan at 6 a.m. to attend the Nightingale-Bamford School. After graduating from Nightingale, von Ziegesar attended Colby College before spending a year in Budapest working for a local radio station.
Von Ziegesar returned to the United States to study creative writing at the University of Arizona, but dropped out shortly thereafter.
Back in New York, while working at book-packaging firm Alloy Entertainment, von Ziegesar became inspired to create the Gossip Girl series, which follows the lives of privileged teenagers in New York. The series climbed to the top of The New York Times best-sellers list in 2002. A spin-off series, The It Girl, made the list in 2005.
The Constance Billard School for Girls in Gossip Girl is based upon an exaggerated version of von Ziegesar's alma mater, Nightingale. She also culled events from the book from the lives of her extremely wealthy friends, as well as her own life as a perpetual gossip.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.
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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.
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 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
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
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
Read
April 29, 2024I Will Always Love You
Serena a goes to a industry party hosted by Thad. She’s supposed to meet up with Blair but gets delayed Blair (meanwhile) is at Chucks (It’s a theme party “Hollywood Is Hell and its New Years). Blair decides she’s had enough of trying to impress the wanna be’s at her former school with lies of “her boyfriend” and calling Sirena’s phone for the umpteenth time and makes her exit from Chuck’s lame party -who isn’t even there-.
Nate returns home (groans) and is alone so he remembers Chuck a’s NY’s party. He runs into Chuck who looks different. Nate finds out Chuck has been in California at Deep Springs College, it’s an all-male school that has a two-year program. They run am alfalfa farm between school and classes. It was either that or military school and he didn’t want to leave Sweety. It was an adjustment for him but it turned out to be what he needed. He apologizes for how he use to be and says he’s changed. Sweety could never adjust and died by starving herself.
Blair is about to go rent a suite when she runs right into Nate. Nate tries to apologize and explain -and tell Blair he loves her all at the same time-, Blair suggests they go back to his house-knowing what will happen and that she’ll give him another chance-. Vanessa spends NY at a party at Holli’s She and he head for the rooftop He asks to hear her story. (This is an old teacher of hers). But before she can it turns into the New Year and he kisses her. Vanessa briefly thinks of Dan -and knows it’s wrong- but in the moment it feels right. Sirena sends Blair a message of apology. Blair answers back she left the party and found another place to stay.
Blair , she shows up at Sirena’s with Nate. Sirena plays it off and suggest they have breakfast. They catch u. Sirena realizes they’re together (and have been together). Nate doesn’t have a clue as usual what he’ll do now. Luckily, Blair says he can come to Yale and take up sailing courses. Dan is camping with his dad and some friends of his but can’t take any more of it so he decides he’s OUT! Blair gets a call that her order is ready at Tiffany’s. When she gets there some guy named Pete -who I guess she’s been dating- surprises her with a white, gold, ring with pink sapphires. She remembers the heart on the black string Nate gave her and regrettably gives the ring back to Pete. (It’s not an engagement ring. It’s more like a promise ring I guess). Sirena finds herself AGAIN distracted while
trying to do lines. She decides to go tell Nate how she feels so she just leaves-not carrying if she’ll get fired-. Later when Blair goes to see Nate, he has a surprise for her. He got back into Yale-and reveals a Yale shirt-. Vanessa knew the kiss was wrong and took off running at midnight, but she left her camera behind. Her ex-teacher shows up with it at Roofus’s place. He at first doesn’t mention the kiss. Instead, he compliments her on the footage he saw on the tape and asks can they watch it together. While watching it he goes in for another kiss. D and OF COURSE walks in on them half naked. Dan in throws Vanessa’s camera and tells her she can’t live there anymore.
Serena comes by but is told by Blair they’re going to Yale together just as she suggested she and Nate go sailing around the world. Sirena asks what her boyfriend thinks about that. Nate senses troubles. Blair tells Sirena to get a life. She doesn’t know anything about her. Sirena tells her she can’t just have whatever she wants. Blair throws a hairbrush at her and breaks one of Nate’s sail boats. Nate tells them they always fight. He’s leaving and not coming back (and that he never should have come back). Blair tells Serena they’re no longer friends. Serena says GOOD!
From GG we learn that Nate decides to go to the Deep Springs College. Blair and Pete made up and are now living together. Vanessa is now with Hollis. Sirena now has her own apartment. Dan is now giving seminars (poetry) but is single. Chips passes from cancer and doesn’t tell Nate about being sick. . Nate and Chuck have become close and Chuck attends the funeral. His sister (Chips) introduces herself and gives him an envelope. . Chuck asks him to stay for a few days. He’s having a party Nate just wants to get back to Deep Springs.
Vanessa and Hollis eventually get a spacious place together and one of his indie films is the hit of the Sundance Festival. Vanessa tells Hollis about some of the things in previous books and Hollis is fascinated by it and says it will make a great movie.. Vanessa just thinks her life is tragic and absurd, but on second thought shesays let’s do it. At Chucks party, we learn that after her sequel movie, Sirena hasn’t acted in anything else. She’s taken some acting classes but that’s about it. She’s thought about going to Yale but. So, she spends time catching up with Isabelle. She and some of the other girls tell her about their classes and they all sound like a joke. She doesn’t fit in here or with her acting friends0who she’s falling out of touch with-. Nate is gone. Eric isn’t around and Blair hates her. She starts starts thinking about how she wishes she could tell Nate she understands why he did what he did and then he shows up. So, she goes up to him, hugs him from behind, and tells him Happy New Years. wHe and Sirena end up kissing.
Blair goes to the party with Pete planning to show Serena up but she sees Sirena and Nate making out. So, she leaves with Pete. Pete asks Blair what’s wrong and she tells him about her former friends. He wants to know if she still has feelings for Nate. She tells him no she’s in love with him. He asks for honesty and wants to know if anything happened between them since HS. So, she tells him the truth. Blair is relieved. Pete is dumb struck and accuses her of cheating and lying. Blair tries to get him to understand it was once and she hasn’t thought of him since, but Pete says he’s taking a train to his brothers and he’ll call her. He tells her he just needs some time to think.
Dan tries to move on but can’t. His writing is suffering and he’s about to fail a passion poetry course. Rufus gives him the idea to use something old. He fishes around in some old poems about Serena and combines them just making his deadline. The next morning, Nate asks about Blair. Serena hasn’t talked to her in a year. When he doesn’t say anything that indicates she’s the only one she tells him she has things to do. Dan’s teacher emails him that his poem is going to get printed in the New Yorker and asks what it’s called. He says they can call it “Serena.”
Blair goes out shopping and runs into Serena Serena greets her warmly, but picks up on the tension and reminds Blair that she’s not with Nate although he wants to be. She tells her what she saw didn’t mean anything. It was just a hook up. Serena suggests lunch but Blair tells her they aren’t friends anymore Nate finally opens Chips envelop[e. It’s his antique silver compass. He uses the compass as a guide. W for Waldorf S for Sirena. It lands on W.
Sirena emails Dan and tells him she loves his poem. She asks would he like to meet for coffee. (He says yes). Vanessa goes with Hollis to pitch their idea to some people at a movie studio, but the story changes so drastically that by the end of it it’s turned into a story about a girl in Brooklyn too twin boys in Iceland. Hollis just goes along with all the changes so Vanessa walks out of the studio -and out of Holli’s life. - When Dan and Sirena meet up, they eventually get to the subject of college. Sirena admits she doesn’t know what she wants to do. She doesn’t have a passion for anything like Dan. She tells him about Yale and he says she should go for it. She says if she does, she can always come back to visit.
Blair awakens to a surprise. Nate is confessing his love for her. But then Pete shows up. Pete storms off and tells them they deserve each other. Blair cusses Nate out, and then tells Nate that she never wants to see him again. Hollis comes home with wine and a puppy. He tells Vanessa he didn’t speak up because he saw they were getting too off track and that’s why he pushed them into another story idea. They want him to direct this film but he’ll be on location in Iceland for some months. Vanessa gives him the green light
Chuck lets Blair stay at the Tribecca and while there she runs into Serena who tries to make amends. She tells Blair she’s going to yale next year, but Blair tells her she’ll be going abroad and then leaves. While touring Brown College, Nate runs into Jenny who tells him she’s thinking of going to RISTU-a college nearby-. Hollis returns home for good. Sirena and Dan go to pick up Jenny but she says she’s offered Nate a ride back with them.! On the way, the snow starts to really come down Sirena has an idea that can stay at an old place of Blair’s parents. Blair meanwhile has been attending Oxford and she’s seeing Chuck. Blair and Chuck are spending the holidays with her father, his husband, and their twins. Then Nate, Jenny, Dan, and Serena show up. They explain about the snow and Blair’s dad and his husband invite them to stay.
The next morning, Sirena and Blair talk and make up. During the trip Blair gets jealous of Jenny and thinks Serena is going to slip into Nate’s room. Nate ends up sleeping with Jenny. Dan ends up texting Vanessa. Again a year goes by. Serena and Blair again bump into each other this time at a party Elenor and Cirus are throwing Serena and Blair have passed each other at school but hadn’t spoken. Siren mentions Dan is going to graduate school in Iowa and she’s going to be graduating early (bc of previous classes and credits). Nate ends up awkwardly sitting in between Sirena aand Blair. (They now live together). Jenny sits on Nate’s lap, but Elenor-uncomfortable with this- moves her. They have this bizzare cat language thing they do now. Then Blair and Sirena mockingly start to do it. Blair says Tyler doesn’t have a girlfriend and she’s going to set up him and Jenny. She and
Sirena then make up again. Vanessa now stays on and off at the Humphrey’s. She and Hollis haven’t talked in a year. Vanessa applies for a film makers for change grant to Indonesia-and she gets accepted-. She celebrates with Dan with dinner. Chuck surprises Blair by redoing his apartment to make it home when they both graduate. It’s a little too much for Blair. Jenny and Eluse sneak out to a club to see Tyler. Sirena and Blair sneak into Nate’s. Nate waakes up to find Blair and Sirena watching “Breakfast At Tiffanys”. He thinks oh what the hell and they all have ice cream and promise even when they’re married they’ll have slumber parties.While discussing Vanessa’s plans to leave, Dan and Vanessa find themselves kissing and then heading to his room. When
Sirena shows Dan the Frank Loyd house she bought for them in Iowa, he realizes -and says- he didn’t plan for her to come along. She realizes she needs to find her own “Iowa” and they break up. Blair gets a job offer at a law office. Blair gets cold feet when Chuck mentions a home in the Hampton. She tells him she’s not ready and leaves him sitting in a café. Jenny almost kisses Tyler. When things start to get to routine with Nate, and he rejects going to dinner with her she tells him it’s not working out -but she’ll always love him-. Vanessa and Dan say their goodbyes at Chuck’s last party. Sirena decides to travel the world with with Blair=turning down Nate’s offer to go to.
My Thoughts
It was good to see Serena and Blair “ride off into the sunset” without Nate. I kinda think if these books were written in today’s time Blair and Serena would have ended up together. There’s always a slight hint bordering on they could be in a relationship other than friends. It’s always just lingering there. I’m happy honestly I don’t have to read about ANY of them anymore. The Blair and Chuck twist just felt off. I just can NOT see them together -and I guess the author thought twice about it by the end of the story-. Dan and Serena *might* have had some potential -and for some reason I can’t explain I was rooting for this match to work-, but then it didn’t. Then I thought about real life and how a family member and a friend of my mothers wants to play match maker with the friend’s son (whose an introvert like Dan and heardly likes to go anywhere) and my cousin (who every time you look up is going somewhere) and how there’s just no chemistry.
Dan got a good ending tho. I don’t know if he’ll find what he’s looking for in Iowa. I could be wrong but I’ve never heard of Iowa being a great place to go for authors but if it can give him the peace of mind he needs to write. Vanessa also got a good ending. I’m glad these two’s dreams were able to come true. I’m also happy that Jenny realized Nate was about not a damn thing and dumped him. Not sure how I feel about her and Tyler. Just seems random but ok. I’m happy to be finished with this series! The show was better!
Rating: 6
Serena a goes to a industry party hosted by Thad. She’s supposed to meet up with Blair but gets delayed Blair (meanwhile) is at Chucks (It’s a theme party “Hollywood Is Hell and its New Years). Blair decides she’s had enough of trying to impress the wanna be’s at her former school with lies of “her boyfriend” and calling Sirena’s phone for the umpteenth time and makes her exit from Chuck’s lame party -who isn’t even there-.
Nate returns home (groans) and is alone so he remembers Chuck a’s NY’s party. He runs into Chuck who looks different. Nate finds out Chuck has been in California at Deep Springs College, it’s an all-male school that has a two-year program. They run am alfalfa farm between school and classes. It was either that or military school and he didn’t want to leave Sweety. It was an adjustment for him but it turned out to be what he needed. He apologizes for how he use to be and says he’s changed. Sweety could never adjust and died by starving herself.
Blair is about to go rent a suite when she runs right into Nate. Nate tries to apologize and explain -and tell Blair he loves her all at the same time-, Blair suggests they go back to his house-knowing what will happen and that she’ll give him another chance-. Vanessa spends NY at a party at Holli’s She and he head for the rooftop He asks to hear her story. (This is an old teacher of hers). But before she can it turns into the New Year and he kisses her. Vanessa briefly thinks of Dan -and knows it’s wrong- but in the moment it feels right. Sirena sends Blair a message of apology. Blair answers back she left the party and found another place to stay.
Blair , she shows up at Sirena’s with Nate. Sirena plays it off and suggest they have breakfast. They catch u. Sirena realizes they’re together (and have been together). Nate doesn’t have a clue as usual what he’ll do now. Luckily, Blair says he can come to Yale and take up sailing courses. Dan is camping with his dad and some friends of his but can’t take any more of it so he decides he’s OUT! Blair gets a call that her order is ready at Tiffany’s. When she gets there some guy named Pete -who I guess she’s been dating- surprises her with a white, gold, ring with pink sapphires. She remembers the heart on the black string Nate gave her and regrettably gives the ring back to Pete. (It’s not an engagement ring. It’s more like a promise ring I guess). Sirena finds herself AGAIN distracted while
trying to do lines. She decides to go tell Nate how she feels so she just leaves-not carrying if she’ll get fired-. Later when Blair goes to see Nate, he has a surprise for her. He got back into Yale-and reveals a Yale shirt-. Vanessa knew the kiss was wrong and took off running at midnight, but she left her camera behind. Her ex-teacher shows up with it at Roofus’s place. He at first doesn’t mention the kiss. Instead, he compliments her on the footage he saw on the tape and asks can they watch it together. While watching it he goes in for another kiss. D and OF COURSE walks in on them half naked. Dan in throws Vanessa’s camera and tells her she can’t live there anymore.
Serena comes by but is told by Blair they’re going to Yale together just as she suggested she and Nate go sailing around the world. Sirena asks what her boyfriend thinks about that. Nate senses troubles. Blair tells Sirena to get a life. She doesn’t know anything about her. Sirena tells her she can’t just have whatever she wants. Blair throws a hairbrush at her and breaks one of Nate’s sail boats. Nate tells them they always fight. He’s leaving and not coming back (and that he never should have come back). Blair tells Serena they’re no longer friends. Serena says GOOD!
From GG we learn that Nate decides to go to the Deep Springs College. Blair and Pete made up and are now living together. Vanessa is now with Hollis. Sirena now has her own apartment. Dan is now giving seminars (poetry) but is single. Chips passes from cancer and doesn’t tell Nate about being sick. . Nate and Chuck have become close and Chuck attends the funeral. His sister (Chips) introduces herself and gives him an envelope. . Chuck asks him to stay for a few days. He’s having a party Nate just wants to get back to Deep Springs.
Vanessa and Hollis eventually get a spacious place together and one of his indie films is the hit of the Sundance Festival. Vanessa tells Hollis about some of the things in previous books and Hollis is fascinated by it and says it will make a great movie.. Vanessa just thinks her life is tragic and absurd, but on second thought shesays let’s do it. At Chucks party, we learn that after her sequel movie, Sirena hasn’t acted in anything else. She’s taken some acting classes but that’s about it. She’s thought about going to Yale but. So, she spends time catching up with Isabelle. She and some of the other girls tell her about their classes and they all sound like a joke. She doesn’t fit in here or with her acting friends0who she’s falling out of touch with-. Nate is gone. Eric isn’t around and Blair hates her. She starts starts thinking about how she wishes she could tell Nate she understands why he did what he did and then he shows up. So, she goes up to him, hugs him from behind, and tells him Happy New Years. wHe and Sirena end up kissing.
Blair goes to the party with Pete planning to show Serena up but she sees Sirena and Nate making out. So, she leaves with Pete. Pete asks Blair what’s wrong and she tells him about her former friends. He wants to know if she still has feelings for Nate. She tells him no she’s in love with him. He asks for honesty and wants to know if anything happened between them since HS. So, she tells him the truth. Blair is relieved. Pete is dumb struck and accuses her of cheating and lying. Blair tries to get him to understand it was once and she hasn’t thought of him since, but Pete says he’s taking a train to his brothers and he’ll call her. He tells her he just needs some time to think.
Dan tries to move on but can’t. His writing is suffering and he’s about to fail a passion poetry course. Rufus gives him the idea to use something old. He fishes around in some old poems about Serena and combines them just making his deadline. The next morning, Nate asks about Blair. Serena hasn’t talked to her in a year. When he doesn’t say anything that indicates she’s the only one she tells him she has things to do. Dan’s teacher emails him that his poem is going to get printed in the New Yorker and asks what it’s called. He says they can call it “Serena.”
Blair goes out shopping and runs into Serena Serena greets her warmly, but picks up on the tension and reminds Blair that she’s not with Nate although he wants to be. She tells her what she saw didn’t mean anything. It was just a hook up. Serena suggests lunch but Blair tells her they aren’t friends anymore Nate finally opens Chips envelop[e. It’s his antique silver compass. He uses the compass as a guide. W for Waldorf S for Sirena. It lands on W.
Sirena emails Dan and tells him she loves his poem. She asks would he like to meet for coffee. (He says yes). Vanessa goes with Hollis to pitch their idea to some people at a movie studio, but the story changes so drastically that by the end of it it’s turned into a story about a girl in Brooklyn too twin boys in Iceland. Hollis just goes along with all the changes so Vanessa walks out of the studio -and out of Holli’s life. - When Dan and Sirena meet up, they eventually get to the subject of college. Sirena admits she doesn’t know what she wants to do. She doesn’t have a passion for anything like Dan. She tells him about Yale and he says she should go for it. She says if she does, she can always come back to visit.
Blair awakens to a surprise. Nate is confessing his love for her. But then Pete shows up. Pete storms off and tells them they deserve each other. Blair cusses Nate out, and then tells Nate that she never wants to see him again. Hollis comes home with wine and a puppy. He tells Vanessa he didn’t speak up because he saw they were getting too off track and that’s why he pushed them into another story idea. They want him to direct this film but he’ll be on location in Iceland for some months. Vanessa gives him the green light
Chuck lets Blair stay at the Tribecca and while there she runs into Serena who tries to make amends. She tells Blair she’s going to yale next year, but Blair tells her she’ll be going abroad and then leaves. While touring Brown College, Nate runs into Jenny who tells him she’s thinking of going to RISTU-a college nearby-. Hollis returns home for good. Sirena and Dan go to pick up Jenny but she says she’s offered Nate a ride back with them.! On the way, the snow starts to really come down Sirena has an idea that can stay at an old place of Blair’s parents. Blair meanwhile has been attending Oxford and she’s seeing Chuck. Blair and Chuck are spending the holidays with her father, his husband, and their twins. Then Nate, Jenny, Dan, and Serena show up. They explain about the snow and Blair’s dad and his husband invite them to stay.
The next morning, Sirena and Blair talk and make up. During the trip Blair gets jealous of Jenny and thinks Serena is going to slip into Nate’s room. Nate ends up sleeping with Jenny. Dan ends up texting Vanessa. Again a year goes by. Serena and Blair again bump into each other this time at a party Elenor and Cirus are throwing Serena and Blair have passed each other at school but hadn’t spoken. Siren mentions Dan is going to graduate school in Iowa and she’s going to be graduating early (bc of previous classes and credits). Nate ends up awkwardly sitting in between Sirena aand Blair. (They now live together). Jenny sits on Nate’s lap, but Elenor-uncomfortable with this- moves her. They have this bizzare cat language thing they do now. Then Blair and Sirena mockingly start to do it. Blair says Tyler doesn’t have a girlfriend and she’s going to set up him and Jenny. She and
Sirena then make up again. Vanessa now stays on and off at the Humphrey’s. She and Hollis haven’t talked in a year. Vanessa applies for a film makers for change grant to Indonesia-and she gets accepted-. She celebrates with Dan with dinner. Chuck surprises Blair by redoing his apartment to make it home when they both graduate. It’s a little too much for Blair. Jenny and Eluse sneak out to a club to see Tyler. Sirena and Blair sneak into Nate’s. Nate waakes up to find Blair and Sirena watching “Breakfast At Tiffanys”. He thinks oh what the hell and they all have ice cream and promise even when they’re married they’ll have slumber parties.While discussing Vanessa’s plans to leave, Dan and Vanessa find themselves kissing and then heading to his room. When
Sirena shows Dan the Frank Loyd house she bought for them in Iowa, he realizes -and says- he didn’t plan for her to come along. She realizes she needs to find her own “Iowa” and they break up. Blair gets a job offer at a law office. Blair gets cold feet when Chuck mentions a home in the Hampton. She tells him she’s not ready and leaves him sitting in a café. Jenny almost kisses Tyler. When things start to get to routine with Nate, and he rejects going to dinner with her she tells him it’s not working out -but she’ll always love him-. Vanessa and Dan say their goodbyes at Chuck’s last party. Sirena decides to travel the world with with Blair=turning down Nate’s offer to go to.
My Thoughts
It was good to see Serena and Blair “ride off into the sunset” without Nate. I kinda think if these books were written in today’s time Blair and Serena would have ended up together. There’s always a slight hint bordering on they could be in a relationship other than friends. It’s always just lingering there. I’m happy honestly I don’t have to read about ANY of them anymore. The Blair and Chuck twist just felt off. I just can NOT see them together -and I guess the author thought twice about it by the end of the story-. Dan and Serena *might* have had some potential -and for some reason I can’t explain I was rooting for this match to work-, but then it didn’t. Then I thought about real life and how a family member and a friend of my mothers wants to play match maker with the friend’s son (whose an introvert like Dan and heardly likes to go anywhere) and my cousin (who every time you look up is going somewhere) and how there’s just no chemistry.
Dan got a good ending tho. I don’t know if he’ll find what he’s looking for in Iowa. I could be wrong but I’ve never heard of Iowa being a great place to go for authors but if it can give him the peace of mind he needs to write. Vanessa also got a good ending. I’m glad these two’s dreams were able to come true. I’m also happy that Jenny realized Nate was about not a damn thing and dumped him. Not sure how I feel about her and Tyler. Just seems random but ok. I’m happy to be finished with this series! The show was better!
Rating: 6
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2013
Freshman Year College Christmas Break- Blair is spending Christmas with Peter, her new Yalie boyfriend, and his family. They don't invite her to Costa Rica with them so she goes back to New York and lives with Serena. Serena has been acting and is in a new movie. She still loves Nate. Nate returns from traveling around the world with captain Chips. Dan comes home and tells Vanessa that he is transferring to Columbia. Vanessa is doing great at NYU. On New Years Eve Serena ditches Blair and so Blair spends the night with Nate. They are basically back together. Pete comes and basically proposes to Blair in Tiffany's, but she leaves. Nate tells Blair that he is going to Yale, but Serena shows up and Blair and Serena fight over Nate so Nate leaves and thats how that part ends. Vanessa kisses her TA Hollis on NYE. Dan goes away for the weekend and when he comes back he catches Vanessa and Hollis together. He kicks her out.
Sophomore Year College Christmas Break-Blair and Peter are back together and have a town house. Vanessa moved in with Hollis. Serena has stopped acting. Nate went to the same college as Chuck and have become good friends. His friend captain chips died. serena sees nate at chucks new years eve party. they sleep together. blair sees them kiss and so she leaves. she tells pete that she cheated on him last nrw years eve and they break up. serena realizes that nate loves blair. nate cones to tell blair this and pete sees them together and leaves again. blair and chuck hang out. dan and serena hang out and she decides to go yo yale. hollis is a jerk to vanessa and he is leaving to shoot a movie. Nate goes back to his college.
junior year Christmas- Nate has spent his second year at the college in California, and is looking for a school to go to after he graduates there. He visits Brown, and there he sees Jenny who is a senior and is looking at colleges. Serena and Dan have been dating since last christmas break. She is at Yale, but visits him on the weekend. Blair has spent her Junior year at Oxford for study abroad. Nate, Jenny, Dan, and Serena are driving home and they got stuck in a snowstorm so they go to Blair's country home thinking that she won't be there, but she is with her dad. Blair and Chuck are now dating because he is at Oxford after graduating from his California school. Blair and Serena, after not talking for a year, make up. Jenny and Nate kiss. Nate is still as confused as ever over what girl he loves most. Serena is getting annoyed with Dan. Vanessa has completely changed. She has lost contact with her friends, because all she does is wait around for Hollis. serena and blair both go up to see nate at the same time, but jenny ends up sleeping with him. dan and chuck find out about blair and serena doing this. serena and blair fight again. both boys forgive them. nate and jenny leave to sail on his boat. dan and vanessa stay up texting and so Hollis breaks up with her. when serena and dan get home vanessa is there. and that's how it ends
senior year christmas break- Blair went back to Yale while Chuck stayed at Oxford. They are still dating. Serena is just a sophomore at yale but she is going to graduate. Her and Dan are still dating. AFter college Dan is going to Iowa for his writing. Serena thinks she might follow him. Blair is going to intern at a law firm. Vanessa is living at Dan's. Jenny and Nate are living together in Providence, with her going to RISD and him going to Brown. Blair and Serena make up at a Christmas party. Erik is engaged. Chuck presents Blair with an apartment for Christmas. She realizes that she does care about him, but ironically she needs to be alone because she is feeling very adultish, even though this is the kind of life she wanted since she was a child. Dan and Vanessa kiss, but she is going to Indonesia for two years to film and he is going to be in Iowa. There is still hope though because Dan and Serena break up. Jenny goes to on of Tyler's, Blair's brother, gig and they end up hitting it off. She realizes that her relationship with Nate is too safe so she breaks up with him. At Chuck's New Year's Eve party Nate texts Serena and then Blair. Blair thinks that Serena is trying to get with Nate, but Serena invites Blair to travel with her in the summer around Europe. She does not invite Nate. Finally the two girls chose each other over Nate.
Even though this gave me insight into the college years. I feel like i still need to know more. I think it was a good choice to have Blair and Serena finally choose each other after so many Christmas breaks choosing Nate.
Sophomore Year College Christmas Break-Blair and Peter are back together and have a town house. Vanessa moved in with Hollis. Serena has stopped acting. Nate went to the same college as Chuck and have become good friends. His friend captain chips died. serena sees nate at chucks new years eve party. they sleep together. blair sees them kiss and so she leaves. she tells pete that she cheated on him last nrw years eve and they break up. serena realizes that nate loves blair. nate cones to tell blair this and pete sees them together and leaves again. blair and chuck hang out. dan and serena hang out and she decides to go yo yale. hollis is a jerk to vanessa and he is leaving to shoot a movie. Nate goes back to his college.
junior year Christmas- Nate has spent his second year at the college in California, and is looking for a school to go to after he graduates there. He visits Brown, and there he sees Jenny who is a senior and is looking at colleges. Serena and Dan have been dating since last christmas break. She is at Yale, but visits him on the weekend. Blair has spent her Junior year at Oxford for study abroad. Nate, Jenny, Dan, and Serena are driving home and they got stuck in a snowstorm so they go to Blair's country home thinking that she won't be there, but she is with her dad. Blair and Chuck are now dating because he is at Oxford after graduating from his California school. Blair and Serena, after not talking for a year, make up. Jenny and Nate kiss. Nate is still as confused as ever over what girl he loves most. Serena is getting annoyed with Dan. Vanessa has completely changed. She has lost contact with her friends, because all she does is wait around for Hollis. serena and blair both go up to see nate at the same time, but jenny ends up sleeping with him. dan and chuck find out about blair and serena doing this. serena and blair fight again. both boys forgive them. nate and jenny leave to sail on his boat. dan and vanessa stay up texting and so Hollis breaks up with her. when serena and dan get home vanessa is there. and that's how it ends
senior year christmas break- Blair went back to Yale while Chuck stayed at Oxford. They are still dating. Serena is just a sophomore at yale but she is going to graduate. Her and Dan are still dating. AFter college Dan is going to Iowa for his writing. Serena thinks she might follow him. Blair is going to intern at a law firm. Vanessa is living at Dan's. Jenny and Nate are living together in Providence, with her going to RISD and him going to Brown. Blair and Serena make up at a Christmas party. Erik is engaged. Chuck presents Blair with an apartment for Christmas. She realizes that she does care about him, but ironically she needs to be alone because she is feeling very adultish, even though this is the kind of life she wanted since she was a child. Dan and Vanessa kiss, but she is going to Indonesia for two years to film and he is going to be in Iowa. There is still hope though because Dan and Serena break up. Jenny goes to on of Tyler's, Blair's brother, gig and they end up hitting it off. She realizes that her relationship with Nate is too safe so she breaks up with him. At Chuck's New Year's Eve party Nate texts Serena and then Blair. Blair thinks that Serena is trying to get with Nate, but Serena invites Blair to travel with her in the summer around Europe. She does not invite Nate. Finally the two girls chose each other over Nate.
Even though this gave me insight into the college years. I feel like i still need to know more. I think it was a good choice to have Blair and Serena finally choose each other after so many Christmas breaks choosing Nate.
July 3, 2018
My Original Post
Warning: SPOILERS!
Hello Dear Readers! And Happy Lazy Sunday!
I'm at Scruff's this weekend but I thought I would break up the monotony of my weekend with one of the book reviews I promised you in this post. As most of you know, I was a huge fan of the Gossip Girl television series and I had been wanting to read the books. Well, I finally got a hold of them and started reading them at the end of January. I finished up book 11 recently and am finally ready to write out the review.
As a fan of the show let me start by saying that the artistic license taken by the WB was wonderfully applied. I found the books to be severely.... Lacking. In everything that the show was about. For a series that is touted to be about spoiled rick kids who drink, do drugs, have sex and betray each other over and over - all before noon! - I felt like this series could have been written about the MHS class of 2000. Honestly, I'm no Upper East Sider but my friends and I accomplished just about as much as the main characters in the book series did. We just didn't do it at Barney's or on our own private sail boat.
Let me explain:
Blair Waldorf, Nate Archibald, Vanessa Abrams, Dan & Jenny Humphrey & Serena van der Woodson all live in posh houses in the equally post Upper East Side of Manhattan, NY. They all attend private schools an they all have parents they wish would just leave them alone. Focusing on the senior year for each of them and the summer prior to heading off to their respective Ivy League colleges, we learn what it is to be a snob as seen through the eyes of an anonymous blogger calling herself "Gossip Girl".
Despite the television portrayal of these high school (into college and then post college) kids as ego eccentric, rich snobs doesn't come close to the cigarette smoking, fashion unconscious (unless it's for a party), rude and undeveloped characters. Although we are told a small bit about each main characters background, the truth is that each is vapid, clumsily written and underwhelming. I won't outright call it a waste of time to read, but at least go into expecting the series to defy all your expectations.
If you are a fan of the show, don't read the books.
And then there is Chuck Bass... Oh Chuck. What did they do to you in transition from book to TV heartthrob? I honestly don't know but somewhere down the road Chuck became a leading man and not just a secondary character who had absolutely no character development other than his acquisition of a per snow monkey. Straight? Gay? Rapist? High School flunkie? Ms. von Ziegsesar certainly can not be held accountable for the Chuck Bass we all fell in love with. Her version of chuck was more underwhelming than the character of Dan Humphrey.
I don't know. Maybe it was simply that I fell in love with the actors playing the characters or that the show had a six season run but I honestly felt that in 11 books, she could have created an environment that would suck the reader in an not push them away. Unfortunately, if you read the books before starting on old reruns of the show, you will probably hate the show. Which is unfortunate because it really was a well written television drama.
WTF?
All in all I have to label this series as read at your own risk. It only took me a week to finish all 11 books and that was with having a life and reading other things as well. It didn't grasp my attention the way The Clique (Lisi Harrison) did. And those books are aimed at YA readers with a splash of snobbery as well. But at least the characters weren't one dimensional.
The show will go down as one of my favorites with Chuck Bass being one of my favorite leading men. It's such a disappointment I couldn't fall in love with the books the same way.
Warning: SPOILERS!
Hello Dear Readers! And Happy Lazy Sunday!
I'm at Scruff's this weekend but I thought I would break up the monotony of my weekend with one of the book reviews I promised you in this post. As most of you know, I was a huge fan of the Gossip Girl television series and I had been wanting to read the books. Well, I finally got a hold of them and started reading them at the end of January. I finished up book 11 recently and am finally ready to write out the review.
As a fan of the show let me start by saying that the artistic license taken by the WB was wonderfully applied. I found the books to be severely.... Lacking. In everything that the show was about. For a series that is touted to be about spoiled rick kids who drink, do drugs, have sex and betray each other over and over - all before noon! - I felt like this series could have been written about the MHS class of 2000. Honestly, I'm no Upper East Sider but my friends and I accomplished just about as much as the main characters in the book series did. We just didn't do it at Barney's or on our own private sail boat.
Let me explain:
Blair Waldorf, Nate Archibald, Vanessa Abrams, Dan & Jenny Humphrey & Serena van der Woodson all live in posh houses in the equally post Upper East Side of Manhattan, NY. They all attend private schools an they all have parents they wish would just leave them alone. Focusing on the senior year for each of them and the summer prior to heading off to their respective Ivy League colleges, we learn what it is to be a snob as seen through the eyes of an anonymous blogger calling herself "Gossip Girl".
Despite the television portrayal of these high school (into college and then post college) kids as ego eccentric, rich snobs doesn't come close to the cigarette smoking, fashion unconscious (unless it's for a party), rude and undeveloped characters. Although we are told a small bit about each main characters background, the truth is that each is vapid, clumsily written and underwhelming. I won't outright call it a waste of time to read, but at least go into expecting the series to defy all your expectations.
If you are a fan of the show, don't read the books.
And then there is Chuck Bass... Oh Chuck. What did they do to you in transition from book to TV heartthrob? I honestly don't know but somewhere down the road Chuck became a leading man and not just a secondary character who had absolutely no character development other than his acquisition of a per snow monkey. Straight? Gay? Rapist? High School flunkie? Ms. von Ziegsesar certainly can not be held accountable for the Chuck Bass we all fell in love with. Her version of chuck was more underwhelming than the character of Dan Humphrey.
I don't know. Maybe it was simply that I fell in love with the actors playing the characters or that the show had a six season run but I honestly felt that in 11 books, she could have created an environment that would suck the reader in an not push them away. Unfortunately, if you read the books before starting on old reruns of the show, you will probably hate the show. Which is unfortunate because it really was a well written television drama.
WTF?
All in all I have to label this series as read at your own risk. It only took me a week to finish all 11 books and that was with having a life and reading other things as well. It didn't grasp my attention the way The Clique (Lisi Harrison) did. And those books are aimed at YA readers with a splash of snobbery as well. But at least the characters weren't one dimensional.
The show will go down as one of my favorites with Chuck Bass being one of my favorite leading men. It's such a disappointment I couldn't fall in love with the books the same way.
June 1, 2022
Did NOT see that ending coming with B and S! I’ve got to say I wasn’t overly thrilled with the ending of this series. There’s so much character buildup gone to waste and we’ve been invested for TWELVE books only for N to never really make a decision and nothing final to happen in the end. And we don’t even learn who Gossip Girl is. Overall kind of disappointing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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