The universe was born in 2002 when was published, and by the end of its run, 's sizzling young adult series included 13 books. The series is named for a mysterious blogger who chronicles the lives of Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen, best friends and students at the upper-class Constance Billard School for Girls. The Gossip Girl series has stirred up controversy—and even been banned—for its inclusion of topics like teen drug use and sexuality. Despite this, the books were adapted into the wildly popular Gossip Girl TV show in 2007. In 2021, HBO Max aired a Gossip Girl reboot set well after the original show.
So, who is Gossip Girl, and why is she (or he) so obsessed with Serena and Blair? That depends on whether you're listening to the books or watching the show! In fact, there are a number of differences between the books and their small-screen adaptations. This article will review some of the major, most scandalous differences between the Gossip Girl books vs show. But first, and especially for those who haven't dipped their toes into the franchise as of late, let's take a look back at those inimitable Gossip Girl characters.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Gossip Girl series.
Gossip Girl Main Characters
Blair Waldorf
Pretty, popular, and accomplished, Blair is the (mostly) undisputed queen of the school. She, like all of the characters, is used to getting what (and who) she wants. She was portrayed by Leighton Meester on the TV show.
Serena van der Woodsen
Serena's expulsion from boarding school causes her to return to Constance Billard at the worst possible moment. She is Blair's best friend and chief rival for Nate Archibald's affections, leading to frequent drama. Blake Lively plays her on the show.
Chuck Bass
A relatively minor but important character in the books, bad boy Chuck Bass became a primary member of the Gossip Girl cast and one of Blair's main love interests when the franchise moved to television. Played by Ed Westwick, Chuck is the son of a real estate tycoon and a student at St. Jude's School for Boys.
Nate Archibald
Nate is the object of affection for both Blair and Serena. This leads to frequent tension between the three as Nate struggles to choose between them. Despite his indecisive and sometimes irresponsible ways, both Blair and Serena trusted—and lost their virginity to—the handsome Nate, played by Chace Crawford.
