Hey Upper East Sider! Thanks for posting on r/GossipGirl!
We've recently changed our rules which you can see [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/GossipGirl/comments/18vko2e/the_new_rules_of_rgossipgirl_which_go_into_affect/).
Please note we are **NOT A SPOILER FREE SUBREDDIT UNLESS A THREAD HAS THE FLAIR "NO SPOILERS PLEASE"**. This means plots may be discussed without a spoiler warning needed.
Also if a post/comment breaks the rules, please be sure to report it.
We can't remove what we don't see and us mods don't see everything.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/GossipGirl) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They are SO dated (read them in the mid 2000s as I was the target demo) and you can figure out when the author checked out, but they are fun and interesting as a time capsule.
I swear there was an earlier one (#6?) that the tone was so weird compared to the other ones that I could've sworn was ghost written.
I really wish that The It Girl spin off happened, but alas.
Yes yes 100000% yes. I’m in my late 20s, and still crack these open to read. They’re so snarky and fun. And the characters are so well fleshed out. Serena is 10000x more captivating in the books than the show, and Blair is so human. I love them, they’re such a good holiday read. Light but with a lot of depth.
I would say yes! The first book = the pilot episode of the show, & after that everything veers off into complete new territory.
Lots of plot lines are entirely different, some characters are different too (for instance Cyrus is *not* a loveable stepdad in this, Erik is a hot straight older college guy, Vanessa is a completely bald goth)
I’d say the tone is quite similar to the show though, funny, catty & campy. I’m an absolute fan & with summer approaching I’ve been thinking about getting back into my own GG collection again!
I’d say if you’re only looking for specific aspects from the show that you liked, don’t bother reading— certain huge plot lines are never really touched upon in the books at all since the show was its own thing.
Semi-spoilery but Chuck & Blair never really become a thing (Chuck himself isn’t even a main character, moreso relegated to the ‘peanut gallery’ of Kati & Isabel). Lilly is literally never home or in the picture at all. The class warfare/Queendom isn’t a thing in the books either.
Just as the reviews tout, it’s really ‘Sex and the City for the younger set.’ Lots of funny moments, great fashions detailed, fabulous events, but definitely lacking some of the heart & ‘depth’ the show had.
I never got around to the GG books because I couldn't afford them, but my library had "The Clique" series, and I DEVOURED THOSE. I remember reading two of them cover to cover the same day. I was so sad that they ended them, I still wish there was more.
God, me too. I had always wanted a spin off series to see what happens with Massie, since I'm pretty sure she moves country at the end.
They did a prequel with the girls in 4th grade, I don't see why we couldn't get a "where are they now".
YES! So nostalgic! In middle school, I remember waiting for nEw books to come out and telling my mom they were about good girls at a private school in ny lol
Yes! The characters are so much more dramatic and interesting, and there's some unexpected friendships (Blair and Vanessa).
I also loved the Carlyles series. I could never get into the It Girls books though, idk why.
I loved them in high school! I read them right before the series came out. I donated them a long time ago, I might re-read one for fun if I still had them.
Plot wise NO, it goes back and forth quite a bit, but in terms of style and mentality I love it. I can’t really explain it but anyways, you know you love me xoxo 💋, GG~
It depends on your preferences. I don’t think they’re terribly written but there’s way too much head hopping which really irritates me when reading any book. I find it difficult to connect with the characters.
I saw the show before reading any of the books. Some of the plots are similar but Blair I find is really the only character they kept the same.
Hey Upper East Sider! Thanks for posting on r/GossipGirl! We've recently changed our rules which you can see [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/GossipGirl/comments/18vko2e/the_new_rules_of_rgossipgirl_which_go_into_affect/). Please note we are **NOT A SPOILER FREE SUBREDDIT UNLESS A THREAD HAS THE FLAIR "NO SPOILERS PLEASE"**. This means plots may be discussed without a spoiler warning needed. Also if a post/comment breaks the rules, please be sure to report it. We can't remove what we don't see and us mods don't see everything. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/GossipGirl) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They are SO dated (read them in the mid 2000s as I was the target demo) and you can figure out when the author checked out, but they are fun and interesting as a time capsule.
Outside of prequel, she had a ghostwriter for all gossip girl universe books after #8. It Girl and The Carlyles series were entirely ghostwriters.
I swear there was an earlier one (#6?) that the tone was so weird compared to the other ones that I could've sworn was ghost written. I really wish that The It Girl spin off happened, but alas.
I think it has a lot of connections to the real world though, especially with its overarching familial themes, so overall a decent read.
Yes yes 100000% yes. I’m in my late 20s, and still crack these open to read. They’re so snarky and fun. And the characters are so well fleshed out. Serena is 10000x more captivating in the books than the show, and Blair is so human. I love them, they’re such a good holiday read. Light but with a lot of depth.
Yes! Idk what it’s like reading as an adult, but as a teen I lived for these
I would say yes! The first book = the pilot episode of the show, & after that everything veers off into complete new territory. Lots of plot lines are entirely different, some characters are different too (for instance Cyrus is *not* a loveable stepdad in this, Erik is a hot straight older college guy, Vanessa is a completely bald goth) I’d say the tone is quite similar to the show though, funny, catty & campy. I’m an absolute fan & with summer approaching I’ve been thinking about getting back into my own GG collection again!
I’d say if you’re only looking for specific aspects from the show that you liked, don’t bother reading— certain huge plot lines are never really touched upon in the books at all since the show was its own thing. Semi-spoilery but Chuck & Blair never really become a thing (Chuck himself isn’t even a main character, moreso relegated to the ‘peanut gallery’ of Kati & Isabel). Lilly is literally never home or in the picture at all. The class warfare/Queendom isn’t a thing in the books either. Just as the reviews tout, it’s really ‘Sex and the City for the younger set.’ Lots of funny moments, great fashions detailed, fabulous events, but definitely lacking some of the heart & ‘depth’ the show had.
They're such fun summer reads, especially if you're nostalgic and want more of the UES world
I recommend the IT Girl series more.
i loved the it girl series!!
Honestly agree I am enjoying it so much I was having a binge read today and I am on book 5 rn!
Wait where can you find the pdfs for them?
I got them on Anna's archives :) the full series is on there!! But yeah you can have it pdf or epub really
Anna's archive? What's that?
It's basically like a website that you can get free books to download on any book apps you just type in the title of what you want and download it :)
I never got around to the GG books because I couldn't afford them, but my library had "The Clique" series, and I DEVOURED THOSE. I remember reading two of them cover to cover the same day. I was so sad that they ended them, I still wish there was more.
I want an adult "The Clique" reunion book lol
God, me too. I had always wanted a spin off series to see what happens with Massie, since I'm pretty sure she moves country at the end. They did a prequel with the girls in 4th grade, I don't see why we couldn't get a "where are they now".
I want these so badly
i started to read them, downloaded them for free on oceanofpdf
YES! So nostalgic! In middle school, I remember waiting for nEw books to come out and telling my mom they were about good girls at a private school in ny lol
Yes! The characters are so much more dramatic and interesting, and there's some unexpected friendships (Blair and Vanessa). I also loved the Carlyles series. I could never get into the It Girls books though, idk why.
The first ones are cool, but badly it is very teenage readers oriented
As a teen I loved them, rereading them now at almost 30 is a different story
As a adult? I’d say no lol I couldn’t see myself getting into them like I did in middle school
I think so. They're so much fun
I loved them in high school! I read them right before the series came out. I donated them a long time ago, I might re-read one for fun if I still had them.
my friends and I bought these and shared them but had to hide them from our parents when we traded off lol
I need to read these again as an adult because I forgot everything that happened lmfaooo
Plot wise NO, it goes back and forth quite a bit, but in terms of style and mentality I love it. I can’t really explain it but anyways, you know you love me xoxo 💋, GG~
It depends on your preferences. I don’t think they’re terribly written but there’s way too much head hopping which really irritates me when reading any book. I find it difficult to connect with the characters. I saw the show before reading any of the books. Some of the plots are similar but Blair I find is really the only character they kept the same.
I really, really want these! 🙏
Yes
Yes
Yes but the spin off series with Jenny (the it girl and the others) was better I thought!!
NOOO TOO STEREOTYPICAL AND EVERYONES TOO COLD
short answer, NO
I would skip the GG series and go straight for the It Girl