The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
sop17hie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The narrator grated me, but did a whole range of voices well
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Vomit
Moderate: Rape and Sexual content
books_hay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
annapolly14's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Vomit, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Bullying
madisbookshelf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In "Gossip Girl" by Cecily von Ziegesar, we follow wealthy New York teens Blair, Serena, Chuck, Nate, and their friends through their senior year of high school. Through the story, we are given a peak into the lives and rebellious escapades of these high-society teens while their actions are being critiqued and publicized on a gossip blog by an anonymous peer.Â
First off, I absolutely LOVE Serena. Reading the mass about of Serena slander in this book was quite hard for me and I really hated it lol. Her character development throughout the story was great and in my opinion, she was the only main character in the story (besides Jenny and Dan) that actually had any character development at all. At the beginning of the book when we are introduced to Serena, a certain picture of her is very obviously being put into our mind by Blair, her minions, and the narrator. However as the story goes on, Serena proves those misconceptions false time and time again while still remaining true to herself and her morals. In the next books, I truly hope she continues to get closer with Jenny, Vanessa, and Dan because frankly, they are all SO much better than Blair, Nate, and the rest of the preppy douches.Â
I'm only giving this book 4/4.5 stars because of gross ass Chuck Bass and the prevalent pick-me energy in basically every female character. There isn't one female character in this story that doesn't hate Serena for simply existing except for Jenny and that's really dishearting because I would have appreciated seeing Serena be supported by at least one strong female character in this story.Â
Overall I really enjoyed this book and will be picking up the second book in the series right after posting this review!
Graphic: Misogyny, Eating disorder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Drug use, and Sexual assault
miaach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, and Drug use
emilia_thereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Vomit, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying
beholder's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really liked losing myself into this world where there was both character types I recognized from real life, but also, such a complete lack of concern for mundane problems that it was escapist. Also, kudos to how well and subtly the narration made fun of all these people. Dan's parts were especially laugh-inducing.
To me personally, it lost a bit of steam around the 47% mark, which is why it's not rated higher.
But yes, to me, it's a genuinely fun, well written book.
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Drug use, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fatphobia and Vomit
Eating disorder: There's a detailed description of bulimic character's disordered eating behavior in the first two or so chapters. After that, her behavior is just implied throughout the book. She does not consider getting help or recovery or anything of the sort. Related/implied: there is disdain for fat people throughout the book.
Sexual harassment/assault: Chuck's character sexually harasses Serena in some of their scenes, and harasses and assaults Jenny at the end of the book, although
Drug use: Almost every scene involving the teenagers, except for ones at school, Barneys, and Jenny and Dan's house, involved alcohol consumption. Nate smokes weed more and more as the book goes along.
hexed_goldfish's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Toxic friendship
nonfluorescent's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
heymarykathryn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Drug use