I was going to try to fill in the blanks and rush in reading all the books I've missed. However, it's not fun if it's a job so I'm just picking up where I left off today.
Author: Cecily Von Ziegesar
Pages: 231
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Summary (from publisher):
Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where the girls are dazzling, the guys are gorgeous, and the summer heat is the perfect excuse to throw a fabulous roof-deck pool party. As if we need a reason!It's our last summer together before heading off to college, and things are sizzling -- no, it's not just the weather. Despite that steamy kiss on graduation night, Blair, Serena, and Nate have gone their separate ways...though not for long. Blair is off to London with her English Lord boyfriend, Serena's about to become a movie star -- as if she wasn't a star already! -- and Nate's rolling up his well-worn khakis and heading to the Hamptons. Back in New York, Dan and Vanessa are rekindling their love. Fiery! Watch out, this summer is going to be hotter than ever
Thoughts (relevant material bolded, opinion is normal font):
As I've said before, the other books have things going on that don't really add to the story (like Blair and Serena kissing) but this one seems to progress the story more than recent books. This is the first one I finish in a two-three day span since the first three books so I don't know if that says something. Also, I read in several outlets that this far along in the series, it isn't even Cecily Von Ziegesar writing anymore (more of a ghostwriter). I don't know how true that is but if it is true, I picked up on it like two books ago. ANYWAYS, out of the main characters, Jenny seems to be the only one absent. I think she got her own spin off series but her absence was noticed since I wasn't reading about her rebellious adventures that I subconsciously got accustomed to. Serena gets a lead in a movie that Blair ends up getting a job as a costume designer. Blair seemed in denial that Lord Marcus was more into his "cousin" (who is made to feel like his arranged fiance) and comes back to New York from England. Blair is excelling and Serena is having trouble for the first time in her life. Serena thinks that she's going to end up with Thaddeus, the Hollywood hotshot, but he ends up being gay. That part of the story was being foreshadowed since the last book and I thought it was well done although I could predict it. Dan cheats on Vanessa with this yoga-obsessed, Zen girl named Bree. Vanessa is heartbroken since she actually moved in with Dan after her sister kicked her out and expected things to go "back to normal". However, Rufus lets her stay and offers her the chance to pay cheap rent in exchange for some company once Dan and Jenny are off in their respective schools. Awkward?! Nate is working in the Hamptons for his lacrosse coach to get his high school diploma (after stealing his stash of Viagra) and meets this local "slut" type named Tawny. Nate hears Blair is back early and thinks she's either pregnant or married and he starts to ditch Tawny as a result, who later hooks up with Chuck. Tawny and Bree were a little lame but I wasn't so annoyed by everything..only one thing. The whole Nate and Blair things needs to finally end or they need to get together. It's starting to feel more juvenile for high school graduates. So, as I've said, this was one of the better books lately and I'm about halfway into the next book because I'm curious to see how everything plays out and where the series will end. Will the story touch on their freshmen year of college? We'll see.
'til next time, stay classy! ♥
-M
