Looking for a good summer read? Now's the time to tackle the Gossip Girl books in order. The forthcoming HBO Max reboot will reacquaint fans with the infamous Upper East Siders, but Cecily von Ziegesar's YA series is how the glitz and glam all began. Ready for a trip down memory lane? XOXO.
- Nostalgia 2000s: why that nostalgic TV binge is good for you
Chances are Cecily von Ziegesar was responsible for a good chunk of your recreational reading in high school thanks to her series. Gossip Girl follows Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen (whom many of us know from the CW TV adaptation of Gossip Girl) and their wild escapades, which include but are not limited to sex, lies, betrayals, and of course, expensive garments.
Their time at the Constance Billard School for Girls is filled with much turmoil, especially when an anonymous teen version of Page Six compiles all of her findings on gossipgirl.net. (As Dan says, "You are no one until you're talked about," right?)
How many Gossip Girl books are there?
What began as a simple idea turned into a 14-book series that spanned nine years, as well as two TV shows. And it turned the conventional idea of a book for teens on its head.
"I always resented books that tried to teach a lesson, where the characters are too good: They don’t swear, they tell their mothers everything,” the author revealed to The New Yorker in 2005.
Readers certainly won't find that here! Check out the series and kickstart your summer reading on a lavish note.
The Gossip Girl books in order
- Gossip Girl (2002)
- Gossip Girl: You Know You Love Me (2002)
- Gossip Girl: All I Want Is Everything (2003)
- Gossip Girl: Because I'm Worth It (2003)
- Gossip Girl: I Like It Like That (2004)
- Gossip Girl: You're the One That I Want (2004)
- Gossip Girl: Nobody Does It Better (2005)
- Gossip Girl: Nothing Can Keep Us Together (2005)
- Gossip Girl: Only in Your Dreams (2006)
- Gossip Girl: Would I Lie to You (2006)
- Gossip Girl: Don't You Forget About Me (2007)
- Gossip Girl: It Had to Be You - The Gossip Girl Prequel (2009)
- Gossip Girl: I Will Always Love You (2010)
- Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer (2011)
Gossip Girl 2021: Read the books before the reboot
Considering there are plenty of interesting differences between the Gossip Girl books and TV show—including the status of Blair and Nate's relationship, Dan's dating life, and Chuck's interesting pet choice, to name a few—you'll want to check out all media types to become familiar with the different sides of the GG story.
A diversified cast and amplified promiscuous affairs await in the HBO Max reboot, which is set to premiere on July 8th. Trust us, this is high school in Manhattan like you've never seen it before, so leave those preconceived notions above 96th Street.
• Meet the cast of the Gossip Girl reboot 2021, including starlet Whitney Peak
Who is Gossip Girl in the books?
An unidentified blogger—the brains behind gossipgirl.net—is the narrator of the book series. Although the CW series does put a face (or more) to the gossiper—no spoilers here!—time will tell how the blog will unfold in its new social media-crazed chapter.
This just in—we'll be reading and uncovering the 2000's goodness from the series before July 8th. Try not to need us!
