Gossip Girl #11: Don't You Forget About Me: A Gossip Girl Novel [ペーパーバック]

"Don't you Forget About Me" is the 11th book from the popular teen series "Gossip Girl", and most likely this will be the last book including the original Gossip Girl characters, that is if you want to include the prequel coming in October. According to the last page of the book next year Gossip Girl will start with a whole new set of characters reigning the Upper East Side, since all the Original ones that we learned to love and hate are now college bound (well, most of them at least).

After Nate Archibald confesses to Blair Waldorf that he is in love with her, they both decide to ditch their best friend Serena van der Woodsen's country house in Connecticut to go out and spend a whole month together sailing on Nate's yacht. The problem is that Serena is in love with Nate too, but Nate does not know it, but Blair does though, and after Serena leaves a letter in Nate's car compartment Blair finds it, reads it, and tears it to pieces, but when Blair and Nate come back from their little romantic getaway, Blair finds Serena in her penthouse with her mom organizing a "going away to college party" for Blair and her stepbrother Aaron. That is when Blair's Mother tells her the ghastly news that they will all be moving to L.A. Blair is devastated and does not want her family moving out from NYC, and she certainly does not want to leave Nate behind in the city with Serena not after what she found out. Serena and Nate are asked by Blair's Mom to organize a slideshow of pictures of Blair from when she was a little girl to now. Serena tells Nate straight up she loves him, surprisingly he loves her too. Nate is told by his dad that he will have to repeat his senior year at St. Judes, but not if Blair can help it. Serena is told by Ken Mogul (famous movie director) that she will be making 3 more movies with him, making her decide whether she should stay in the city or go to Yale with her best friend. Nate meets a Navy General who gives him some good advice on what to do with Blair and Serena, and pretty much life in general. Chuck finds a special someone, but you'll be surprised, who that special someone is. Dan is not sure whether he is really gay or not, since he still thinks he has feelings for his ex Vanessa. Vanessa gets a shocking makeover. Vanessa's sister Ruby gets Married. Dan and Jenny's mom comes to visit Dan after finding out he is gay, and throws him an embarrassing "coming-out" party,and Jenny comes back from Europe who will now be heading to boarding school.

This book was certainly an extreme improvement from the last book, I was on the edge of my seat reading if Nate was gonna stay with Blair or Serena, and if Serena and Blair were gonna continue being friends. I've been a Blair fan since day one, so I was always rooting for her. Dan's storyline was hilarious, and I really liked Vanessa in this book. I will truly miss these characters, and since I am a college student ,and spent my high school years reading about Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan, Vanessa, Jenny, Chuck, etc. It is most likely that I too will discontinue to buy the rest of gossip girl. Farewell.

When you first graduate, you're on top of the world, thinking about the future. But even the people of the Upper East Side know that, within a few short months, they'll be reminiscing about the people and experiences they'll be leaving behind - or not. Now, with ten short days left until everyone heads off to their respective colleges, it's time to party like there's no tomorrow, and soak up as many memories as possible before everyone goes their separate ways.

After spending the last month aboard a gorgeous boat with her hot other half, Nate Archibald, Blair Waldorf is convinced that their relationship is one that will last. And now, with just ten days before she heads off to Yale with the love of her life, and her frenemy, Serena van der Woodsen, Blair can't help but find herself on top of the world. The only thing making her shiver in her Marc Jacobs flats is the sappy love letter she found in the glove compartment of Nate's car. The writer? Serena van der Woodsen herself. Sure, Blair made sure to dispose of the evidence before Nate laid his gorgeous green eyes upon it. But, knowing Serena, there's always a possibility that she'll find a way to Nate before Blair has a chance to destroy anything between the two of them. Luckily, she's able to keep herself busy by buying all of the necessities she and Nate will need to live happily-ever-after in a quaint cottage she has created in her mind.

Nate Archibald had the time of his life sailing about with Blair for one blissful month; but now that he's back on dry land, he can't help but think about Serena van der Woodsen. Like Blair, he and Serena have so much history, and he's reluctant to throw it all away. But he has to push thoughts of romance aside as he faces his domineering father who has just discovered that Nate will not be attending Yale in the fall. Instead, he'll be going where no normal teenager would go - back to high school. After bailing on his promised assistance at Coach Michaels's home, Nate managed to get himself into even more hot water, and now he has to find a way to let Blair in on his plans - or, rather, lack thereof. Maybe he is better off with Serena - at least she'd take his news in stride.

It took years to realize, but Serena van der Woodsen finally knows that Nate Archibald is the one and only guy for her. But after he takes off with Blair, the only thing she has left to do is promote her first feature film Breakfast At Fred's, which is garnering rave reviews from every critic in the country. When the two lovebirds return, however, Serena can't help but feel that Nate is sending her messages of the romantic variety. Unfortunately, she has no idea whether or not he has received her forbidden letter, and doesn't know how to react. The fact that she's contemplating deferring Yale for a year doesn't set her mind at ease much either. Looks like someone had better make some decisions - stat!

After dabbling with being gay for a bit of time, Dan Humphrey is beginning to wonder if, much to his family and friend's surprise, he is actually straight. If the overwhelming feelings he's experiencing towards Vanessa Abrams - again! - is any indication, we may just be able to chalk the whole incident up to confusion. After gallivanting around Prague for the summer, Jenny Humphrey can't wait to pack up her things and head off to Waverly Academy. But first she'll have to find a way to gain entrance to the hottest party of the summer for one last blowout before she bids adieu to the Big Apple. Vanessa Abrams has had her share of summer jobs over the past few months; but the one thing she wants is Dan. Maybe, with a few well-placed hints, she'll be able to win him back - once and for all.

Cecily von Ziegesar has kept us all on the edge-of-our-seats for the past few years, digesting more and more gossip to discover what, exactly, would happen with some of our Upper East Siders. DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME finally puts our minds to rest - slightly. As always, Blair seems to be living in her own little bubble, refusing to come to terms with any of the new revelations which have rocked her world over the past few months. Serena has reverted back to the solemn, slightly depressed girl who we were introduced to in the debut GOSSIP GIRL. And Nate seems to be - gasp! - finally maturing, at least a little bit. The ping-pong relationship between Dan and Vanessa is, once again, in full force; but it's welcome, after the turmoil that has taken place between the two of them in the past couple of books. And Jenny's minor appearance certainly drops a ray of sunshine into the story, and gets us ready for a new adventure - accompanying her to Waverly Academy. The hints that are dropped regarding a new set of characters coming into the picture make for a slightly exciting bit of info. Yet saying farewell to the people we know and love is still difficult, and tragic, in it's own way. A bittersweet end to an era.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I saw this book in the bookstore this weekend and finished it in one sitting! It was, like all the other Gossip Girls books, highly sassy and addictive! I only read the parts about Blair, Serena, and Nate though, skipping the Vanessa, Dan etc parts. SO... Blair and Nate return from their sudden sailing trip, very much in love. Serena is still feeling very in love with Nate and that Nate is with Blair. Some complications happen here, because mainly Nate cannot make up his mind. He pulls a surprise move at the very very very end though. Some other surprising things: Even though B, S, and N get into Yale, the majority of them actually decide not to go! This book ends with the end of summer-- off to college or other places they will go. Serena's movie, Breakfast at Fred's, gets promoted, she becomes a huge star, and a sequel is in the works for S. Nate develops a friendship with a strict friend of his admiral dad's, who has good advice for Nate. Blair's family announces a surprise move across the country. And they throw a huge surprise party for Blair and Aaron, which is where a lot of the plot will happen (not to mention pretty dress descriptions). It is a bitter sweet ending-- everyone gets what they want, and yet no one gets what they want!!!!