Gossip Girl #10: Would I Lie To You: A Gossip Girl Novel [ペーパーバック]

I've been reading the GG series since book 3 came out, and well, I hate all the characters, and their choices, but can't seem to stay away. It's just because the books are exceptionally well written for what is basically trash fiction.

The reason I'm writing this is the reviewer before me made a point that they couldn't understand what's happened in the last two books. What's happened is that Cecily Von Ziegesar had only intended the series to run to 8 books. Now she's concentrating on The It Girl series, and starting from book 9, she's handed Gossip Girl over to a ghostwriter (notice the books now say "created by" instead of just "by"). I myself couldn't really tell before I found out, since I feel this ghostwriter has captured the tone of the books perfectly. They do have a few problems-the constant dropping of storylines and characters practically mid-sentence comes to mind.

The big problem to me is that if the publisher is so willing to keep this series running that they would switch authors, then it is now about money, and not serving the characters or the story.

I've felt that for the last few books, Gossip Girl has been winding to a conclusion. One of the only reasons I've kept up is that I'm fascinated by the mystery of who the titular Gossip Girl might be. The series needs to end before it loses grace. However, after reading Would I Lie to You (which includes some fairly insane plot twists, even for these characters), I get the uncomfortable feeling that Alloy intends to milk GG for all it's worth. And even for a "stupid teenage series" it deserves better than that.

This is the tenth installment of GOSSIP GIRL, the wildly popular and very scandalous series with the kind of characters that you know you want to hate but can't. Just because they are who they are!

Serena van der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, and Nate Archibald are still caught in their never-ending love triangle. Serena and Blair were hanging out at Bailey Winter's house as his "inspiration" until they get fed up with the annoying look alike "Eurotrash" models also staying with Bailey! And guess who happens to live next door???

Nate was working at his Coach's house for "you know what" until he figures out that his Coach's wife has a crush on him! Vanessa walks out of her summer nanny job that she really hates! Dan finds a friend in the new employee at Strand, the hottest bookstore in New York City. They start a "parlor" and things end up getting pretty wild! Some old couples reunite at Serena's eighteenth birthday party, toward the end of the book.

If you're like me and have read the entire GOSSIP GIRL series, then WOULD I LIE TO YOU? definitely makes the whole story just a little bit more twisted. If you decide to read this book, I would advise you to read the books in order, other wise you might get a little confused! And that would totally ruin the first nine books!

Reviewed by: Taylor Rector

Manhattan may be the most glamorous place in the world, filled with shopping, sights, and the finest dining you'll ever experience. But when the summer rolls around, it's nothing more than a sticky, sweltering nightmare that leaves you glistening under an unattractive sheen of sweat, and wearing as little as legally possible. So it's no surprise that when you want to beat the heat, the best place to head is the Hamptons, where the beaches are filled with babes, hot bodies, and bikinis. After all, there's nothing as seductive as a little fun in the sun - rich folk style!

Blair Waldorf is finally in a state of bliss. The debacle involving Lord Marcus is nothing more than a thing of the past. She finally has her frenemy Serena van der Woodsen on her side. And she's snagged a job working as fashion designer Bailey Winter's muse for the summer - alongside Serena - which basically consists of looking fabulous, and lounging around the petite man's sprawling Georgica Pond estate. Sounds simple, but when you're pining over the green-eyed love of your life - Nate Archibald - and trying to contend with a wannabe-Blair Eastern waif named Ibiza, who just do happens to be living under the same roof as you, you can't help but feel angered 24/7. Looks like someone needs to take a chill pill, or spend a little one-on-one time with her American Express card.

Nate Archibald is having the worst summer of his life. After pilfering some of Coach Michaels' forbidden pills, N has been forced to dive headfirst into the unglamorous world of manual labor. Sure, it was fun at first, with a brief flirtation with a Long Island native named Tawny. But now things have gone straight downhill. Nate has finally come to his senses, and knows that Blair is the true love of his life, but has no idea how to win her heart - again. And attempting to escape the uncomfortable advances of Coach Michaels' wife, Babs, is becoming a full-time job of its own, leaving N in a perpetual state of agitation and discomfort. Maybe if you laid off the weed, things would look a little clearer.

Serena van der Woodsen has just wrapped filming on her big screen debut, Breakfast At Fred's, and is looking to finally start her summer. And what better way to party hardy than by tossing on a Missoni swimsuit, and grabbing your best friend - or enemy, depending on what day it is - and heading to the Hamptons. As the blonde-haired muse of Bailey Winter, Serena is confident that this will be the summer of a lifetime. But after a few obnoxious moments with her European clone, Svetlana; and a handful of longing looks in Nate's direction, Serena can't help but feel envious and depressed. I guess that's what happens when you're the birthday girl, and everyone seems to have forgotten that your big day has arrived.

While New York party girl, Jenny Humphrey, is off gallivanting around Prague, sketchbook in tow, Vanessa Abrams has made herself quite comfortable in little J's bedroom. But when her job as a nanny gives her the opportunity to flee the stuffy confines of the city - and Dan Humphrey's cheating heart - Vanessa is convinced that this is her chance to try something new. Too bad she's expected to spend her time chasing around two spoiled mongrels, as opposed to hanging out in the sun. But maybe she'll gain a little insight into the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and create a documentary that will make everyone's jaws drop. Maybe not. Dan, on the other hand, is finally settling into life as a worker at the Strand. But when a new co-worker steps into the picture, as well as the creation of a literary salon, Dan's sexuality is tested, and all bets are off.

As the summer comes to a head, it's obvious that Cecily von Ziegesar is working on winding down the GOSSIP GIRL series, and begin to create a little closure into the lives of some of our favorite characters. Unfortunately, each time we think we're finally satisfied with how things are working out, a new revelation comes about and turns everything upside down. Case in point, Blair's sudden infatuation with Nate. Serena's transformation from happy-go-lucky to depressed all the time. Dan's new thoughts regarding relationships. Vanessa's determination to reconnect with Blair and Serena before each of them heads off to their respective new institutions for higher learning. And Nate's new, mature outlook on...everything. With one more book to go, it looks like we'll all be in for a surprise. Forget diamonds; Cecily von Ziegesar is a girl's best friend!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer