You Know You Love Me

ck to haunt her! If you love books about spoiled kids, drama, gossip and scandal, Gossip girl is the book for you.
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4/5 stars.

As with last time, I won't go into excruciating detail in this review, just talk a little about the differences and why I did/didn't like them.

Aaron and his dog, Mookie, are a nice contrast to all the UES machinations. He's genuine and sweet, unlike TV show Aaron who came across as just another pretentious hipster.

I felt sorry for Blair in this book. Her mother gets married on her birthday, while Nate grows increasingly distant. She steals a pair of cashmere pjs and fucks up her Yale interview, big time by kissing the interviewer (on the cheek, but still) and confessing her relationship problems and suicidal thoughts - all of which culminate in the crushing realisation Nate isn't her "leading man". It would be easy to pass off her bitchiness as privilege and sometimes it is, but I can't help feeling compassion.

Chuck is barely present, and still creepy.

Dan is extra introspective, mopey and stalkerish. He writes Serena a love poem and fantasises about their virtually non-existent relationship to such an extent that he feels wounded when he sees Nate and Serena holding hands in their sleep on a trip to Brown.

Erik gives Serena some hard won wisdom and tells her to "fuck em".

Jenny, in her naivete, hangs out with Nate and starts to form a relationship with him. I'm not sure if she's knows he's nominally "with" Blair or not. Either way, I like their chemistry and I feel like there's a lot more feeling involved here. Yes, I ship little J and Nate, even though I know they're doomed.

Nate is a difficult one. I think he needs to man up and tell Blair he doesn't want to be with her any more, instead of ignoring her and avoiding an eventual issue: Jenny or Serena? And where's he going to college?

Serena irritates me. One minute she's vapid and uncaring, saying that Blair and Nate's problems are nothing to do with her, and it's not her fault Blair's being a bitch. Um, hello? You slept with her boyfriend! It isn't entirely her fault, of course, but it definitely didn't help. She makes a film, because she needs something to show that she has other interests when she goes to Brown. To no one's surprise, she wins the film competition. I'm not sure why. Yet for all of this, when she realises Blair is really in trouble at the end of the book, she steps up to comfort her so I guess she's not totally abhorrent.

Vanessa seems surprised that her film didn't win, despite her horrible casting choice. If she'd casted Serena instead, her film probably would have won. However, the book makes the point that underneath all her bitterness, she is still a girl. One capable of taking advice and finally starting something with Dan. She could've broken up with her boyfriend first, though, cheating is not cool.

Overall, enjoyed this book more than the first one. Stay tuned for my review of book 3 soonish, xoxo