Step into the dazzling and ruthless world of New York City's Upper East Side, where the apartments are massive, the bank accounts are limitless, and privacy simply does not exist. Serena van der Woodsen has just returned to town after a mysterious absence, and her sudden reappearance is already causing shockwaves through the halls of her exclusive private school. Her former best friend, the fiercely ambitious Blair Waldorf, is less than thrilled to see her back. Blair has spent the last year claiming the top spot in the social hierarchy, and she is not about to let Serena reclaim her throne without a fight. Caught in the middle is Nate, the golden boy who harbors his own secret feelings, complicating the already tangled web of loyalties. Every scandal, heartbreak, and betrayal is documented by an anonymous and all-knowing blogger who sees everything. In a city where appearances are everything and your best friend can turn into your worst enemy overnight, surviving high school requires more than just good grades.