Read It Like You Stream It: Gossip Girl

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Wen

If you love Gossip Girl for its secret romances and high-pressure expectations, Loveboat, Taipei delivers allllll the drama, but in a vibrant new setting. Elite teens spend the summer in Taipei balancing family demands, academic ambition, and forbidden love—proving that no matter the city, rich kids come with complicated secrets.

“When Ever Wong’s parents sent her away for the summer, she’s expecting Chien Tan: a strict, educational immersion program in Taiwan. Instead, she finds the infamous “Loveboat.” There, Ever is surrounded by prodigies, like Rick Woo, Chinese American wonder boy and longtime bane of her existence; Ever’s roommate, the confident and clever Sophia Ha, as glamorous as she is sharp; and the intimidatingly cool Xavier Yeh, heir to an international tech empire. But her classmates are more interested in the nonstop Taipei nightlife than anything to do with the curriculum. Hookups abound, snake-blood sake flows, and adult supervision is nonexistent. For the first time ever, Ever is discovering what freedom tastes like and it’s exhilarating. But summer will end and Ever will be back to her parents and the future they’ve planned for her. Will she let this glimpse of freedom go – or will Loveboat give her the courage to pursue the future she dreams of, and the Ever Wong she wants to be?”

Anna K – A Love Story by Jenny Lee

This is Gossip Girl energy turned all the way up. Set among Manhattan’s wealthiest teens, Anna K follows a glamorous socialite whose love life sparks scandal across the Upper East Side. If you loved messy romances, designer lifestyles, and watching privilege unravel, this modern retelling is a perfect match.

“At seventeen, Anna K is at the top of Manhattan and Greenwich society (even if she prefers the company of her horses and dogs); she has the perfect (if perfectly boring) boyfriend, Alexander W.; and she has always made her Korean-American father proud (even if he can be a little controlling). Meanwhile, Anna’s brother, Steven, and his girlfriend, Lolly, are trying to weather a sexting scandal; Lolly’s little sister, Kimmie, is struggling to recalibrate to normal life after an injury derails her ice dancing career; and Steven’s best friend, Dustin, is madly (and one-sidedly) in love with Kimmie. As her friends struggle with the pitfalls of ordinary teenage life, Anna always seems to be able to sail gracefully above it all. That is…until the night she meets Alexia “Count” Vronsky at Grand Central. A notorious playboy who has bounced around boarding schools and who lives for his own pleasure, Alexia is everything Anna is not. But he has never been in love until he meets Anna, and maybe she hasn’t, either. As Alexia and Anna are pulled irresistibly together, she has to decide how much of her life she is willing to let go for the chance to be with him. And when a shocking revelation threatens to shatter their relationship, she is forced to question if she has ever known herself at all.”

Influence by Sara Shepard

Fans of Gossip Girl’s anonymous blasts and social manipulation will love Influence. From the author of Pretty Little Liars, this book is a fast, dramatic read for fans who enjoy watching social power games play out, where reputation is everything and one bad move can completely change the game.

“After her family moves to Los Angeles, Delilah Rollins, already a minor Internet celebrity, plunges into the competitive and glamorous world of social media influencers, but can cosmetics and good lighting conceal cheating, manipulation, blackmail, and murder?”

The Ivies by Alexa Donne

If you’re obsessed with Gossip Girl for its cutthroat private school drama, ambition, and scheming teens, The Ivies is right up your alley. It’s perfect for fans who love high-stakes rivalries, secret alliances, and seeing how far people will go to protect their reputation and get what they want. It’s giving if Blair Waldorf wasn’t afraid to commit murder.

“Everyone knows the Ivies: the most coveted universities in the United States. Far more important are the Ivies. The Ivies at Claflin Academy, that is. Five girls with the same mission: to get into the Ivy League by any means necessary. I would know. I’m one of them. We disrupt class ranks, club leaderships, and academic competitions…among other things. We improve our own odds by decreasing the fortunes of others. Because hyper-elite competitive college admissions is serious business. And in some cases, it’s deadly.”

– Amazon

When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk

For Gossip Girl fans who cared as much about friendships as romances and couldn’t get enough of Blair and Serena’s “on again, off again” friendship, this emotional story focuses on what happens when a once-unbreakable bond falls apart. It’s a quieter look at privilege, pressure, and identity, perfect for readers drawn to the personal fallout behind the drama.

“It’s been twenty-seven days since Cleo and Layla’s friendship imploded. Nearly a month since Cleo realized they’ll never be besties again. Now Cleo wants to erase every memory, good or bad, that tethers her to her ex-best friend. But pretending Layla doesn’t exist isn’t as easy as Cleo hoped, especially after she’s assigned to be Layla’s tutor. Despite budding friendships with other classmates–and a raging crush on a gorgeous boy named Dom–Cleo’s turbulent past with Layla comes back to haunt them both.”

– Amazon

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra

Love watching Gossip Girl characters compete for attention, status, and success? Tiny Pretty Things channels that same intensity into the elite ballet world, where ambition positively fuels betrayals and rivalries. Everyone wants the spotlight—and someone is always ready to take it away.

“Three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet academy compete for the status of prima ballerina, with each willing to sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.”

The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian

If you loved Gossip Girl’s mix of elite private schools and scandal, but craved the exploration of heavier topics, The Chandler Legacies will feel like your next obsession. With diverse characters, sharp dialogue, and a slow-burn mystery that keeps you guessing, this is a book for fans who crave both the glamour and the raw, messy truths of teen privilege … and the cruelty dished out to those who are different.

“Beth Kramer is a “townie” who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of tension with her roommate, Sarah. But Sarah Brunson knows there’s more to that story. Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah. Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys’ dorms. And Freddy Bello is the senior who’s no longer sure of his future but knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin. At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born–and secrets are revealed.”

– Provided by Publisher

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Think Gossip Girl—but darker, sharper, and more dangerous. Fans who love messy, rich kid drama will be hooked, but this one takes the stakes up a notch with dark suspense and a fresh look at privilege and power. Unlike the show, it explores how race, identity, and systemic pressure shape the social game, adding a tense, thought-provoking layer to the scandals you already crave.

“At Niveus Private Academy, Devon and Chiamaka are the only students chosen to be Senior Prefects who are also black, which makes them targets for a series of anonymous texts revealing their secrets to the entire student body. Both students were on track toward valedictorian and bright college futures, but this prank quickly turns into a very dangerous game, and they are at more than one disadvantage as it looks like things could turn deadly.”

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee

If you loved the glitz of Gossip Girl, this is like upping the ante in a futuristic Manhattan skyscraper. It’s the same kind of elite teen drama—but with hovercars, virtual parties, and a world where the stakes of reputation reach dizzying heights. It’s all the scandal of the Upper East Side…with a science-fiction twist.

“A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future where anything is possible — if you want it enough. Welcome to Manhattan, 2118. A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. Everyone there wants something … and everyone has something to lose.”

– From dustjacket

This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki

For fans drawn to the darker, pressure-filled side of Gossip Girl, this one goes deeper into the emotional cost of perfection. Plus, it throws in a little murder mystery and a lot more LGBTQ+ representation. What’s not to like?

“At Wilberton Academy, few students are more revered than the members of the elite Wilberton Theatrical Society–a.k.a. the WTS–and no one represents that exclusive club better than Elizabeth Woodward. Breathtakingly beautiful, beloved by all, and a talented thespian, it’s no surprise she’s starring as Juliet in the WTS’s performance of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. But when she’s found dead the morning after opening night, the whole school is thrown into chaos. Transfer student Abby Kita was one of the last people to see Elizabeth alive, and when local authorities deem the it-girl’s death a suicide, Abby’s not convinced. She’s sure there’s more to Wilburton and the WTS than meets the eye. As she gets tangled in prep school intrigues, Abby quickly realizes that Elizabeth was keeping secrets. Was one of those secrets worth killing for?”

– Provided by Publisher