gossip girl 1 & 2 :: cecily von ziegesar

Title: Gossip Girl #1: A Novel
Title: Gossip Girl #2: You Know You Love Me
Author: Cecil von Ziegesar
Published: Poppy, 2002
Read: May 2009; Barcelona & Mallou, Spain
Format: Kindle

Before I left for a longish trip this spring, I loaded up my Kindle with what I hoped would keep me entertained on the road. I really like the show, so I thought I'd eat this popular YA series up. I bought the first three, assuming I'd like them at least enough to get through a few short novels.

I gave the series a solid shot by reading the first two installments. Plot-wise, they're pretty thin and I've conflated them in my mind. Basically, an omniscient, anonymous blogger called 'Gossip Girl' exposes the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan teens. They're precocious, beautiful and smart. Also, they go to fancy schools and have too much freedom.

This stuff is established:
- Blair Waldorf is bulimic, obsessed with Yale and mad at Serena - I don't remember why
- Serena van der Woodsen is beautiful, oblivious and effortlessly good at everything interesting
- Everyone thinks that Nate is perfect looking, but he is usually stoned and seems like a pretty bad boyfriend (to Blair)
- Vanessa Abrams is a misfit, shaves her head and makes films
- Dan Humphrey is awkwardly intense about Serena and writes her embarassing poetry
- Jenny Humphrey is busty and makes questionable decisions

I didn't finish the prequel (It Had to Be You: The Gossip Girl Prequel), but not because the books were boring or terrible or anything. It's that the show isn't just more entertaining, it's actually much better in every important way: plot, character development, dialogue, setting, etc. I feel like the books don't do anything better than the show does. So really, what's the point, you know?

Some YA books are so clever, well-written or deliciously addictive that they appeal to a wider audience than originally intended. The GG books, or at least these first two, don't fall into that camp. Not a big deal. They weren't intended for me anyway.

Entertaining, but maybe not worth it. Especially if you are a fan of the show. Or if you're older than 15.
3 out of 5 stars.