I have to admit that I approached this series with a lot of suspicion. I’d heard bad things, and figured that the lives of spoiled socialites who lived without consequences would be difficult to relate to for the more normal reader. Since the TV series is coming out this fall, I figured I’d better read a few.
The end of the series is exactly what I was afraid — something that few people could relate to due to the lifestyle of the characters. There is little added value or insight into these shallow people. However, I’ve begun reading the first book and I have to admit that it is so far a better book. Blair, the main character lives with her mother in an apartment in some swanky neighborhood of Manhattan and spends a horrific amount on clothes, while drinking large amounts of alcohol. These are not the aspects I find relatable. I find her coping with her parents’ recent divorce, her struggle with an eating disorder, and her indecision regarding her boyfriend, Nate, all situations that many normal teenage girls can relate to, even if they don’t live on the upper east side or attend exclusive private schools.
