Nostalgic 2000's It Girl Reads For Summer 2025(It's Giving Gossip Girl)
- soulsteadfarms
- May 5
- 4 min read
We’re officially bringing back the 2000s rich-girl chaos of gossip girl, but make it cozy, nostalgic, and beach-bag approved.
These series were my everything growing up, and honestly? They still hit. Whether you want boarding school scandals, Hollywood romances, or secret society mysteries, here’s your summer reading list to live your best old-money glam life (even if it's just from your porch swing). 🍒📖
The It Girl Series by Cecily Von Ziegesar
✨ Gossip Girl goes to boarding school.
Jenny Humphrey (yes, that Jenny from Gossip Girl) is starting fresh at Waverly Academy, a super elite boarding school tucked away in New York. She’s determined to become the new "It Girl", polished, poised, and popular. But of course, when you put designer bags, secret crushes, and backstabbing in one place, things never stay perfect for long.
Key books to know:
The It Girl (Book 1): Jenny’s arrival at Waverly. Glamour, drama, and a major reinvention attempt.
Notorious (Book 2): Secrets come out at a horse-riding weekend getaway (very old-money summer core).
Reckless (Book 3): Sports scandals, forbidden relationships, and new betrayals.
If you love preppy uniforms, rooftop parties, and "perfect girl" facades cracking under pressure, The It Girl is your series.
Private Series by Kate Brian
✨ Boarding school secrets, but make it dangerous.
Reed Brennan lands a scholarship at Easton Academy, where the kids are rich, gorgeous, and hiding way too many skeletons in their walk-in closets. At first it feels like a dream — new friends, dreamy lacrosse boys, fancy dorms. But when Reed gets pulled into the elite "Billings Girls" clique, she realizes nothing at Easton is what it seems.
Key books to know:
Private (Book 1): Reed's arrival at Easton. Classic outsider-turned-insider setup.
Invitation Only (Book 2): Reed is finally being accepted... until someone goes missing.
Untouchable (Book 3): Big tragedy strikes, and Reed realizes power comes at a deadly price.
This series starts off innocent but turns into pure rich-girl thriller energy. Think The Summer I Turned Pretty meets Big Little Lies at a boarding school.
Privilege Series by Kate Brian
✨ Bad girls do it better.
If you loved the drama of Private but wanted it even more chaotic, Privilege is for you. This spin-off follows Ariana Osgood, one of Easton’s "it girls." After she breaks out of a psych hospital and reinvents herself as the perfect rich girl in a new town, of course. Yes, it’s completely unhinged. Yes, it’s amazing.
Key books to know:
Privilege (Book 1): Ariana’s great escape and glamorous new life.
Beautiful Disaster (Book 2): She’s lying, scheming, and doing it all in designer flats.
Perfect Mistake (Book 3): How many lies can one girl juggle before it all crashes down?
This one is pure messy rich girl thriller energy — perfect if you want your summer reading to feel a little dangerous.
The A-List Series by Zoey Dean
✨ Gossip Girl, but in sunny LA.
Anna Percy leaves uptight New York for the glitz and glam of Los Angeles. She’s supposed to be starting fresh, living the responsible life... but then she steps off the plane and into a whole new world of movie stars, Malibu beach parties, and heartbreak.It’s all Range Rovers, designer bikinis, and complicated love triangles from here.
Key books to know:
The A-List (Book 1): Anna’s first wild weekend in LA. Spoiler: nothing goes to plan.
Girls on Film (Book 2): Friendships get messy when careers (and boys) get involved.
Blonde Ambition (Book 3): Power plays, jealousy, and major career moves.
If you want pure beachy escapism with a little side of heartbreak, The A-List will make you want to grab a Diet Coke and a sun hat immediately.
If your dream summer looks like reading by the pool in white linen pants, sipping a cherry soda, and plotting your main character glow-up, these books are the mood.The 2000s rich girl renaissance is here, and honestly? She’s thriving.
Honourable Mentions: Standalone Reads with a Rich Girl Vibe
1. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
✨ Glamorous but gritty New York City life
Vibe: Gossip Girl meets The Devil Wears Prada, but with a nanny twist.
Perfect for: Real-world drama meets upper-crust chaos.
2. The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
✨ Glamour, betrayal, and society scandals in the 1900s
Vibe: Glamour, gowns, and gossipy intrigue in Gilded Age New York.
Perfect for: Historical drama lovers with a flair for fashion and scandal.
3. Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
✨ Billionaire drama meets stolen identities
Vibe: Luxe living, identity theft, and dark secrets.
Perfect for: Fans of Gossip Girl and Big Little Lies with a twist of crime.
4. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
✨ The ultimate beach read with a twist of dark mystery.
Vibe: Summer secrets, family drama, and twists that’ll make you gasp.
Perfect for: Mysterious summers with a mix of heartbreak and suspense.
5. The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen
Summer romance meets complicated friendships
Vibe: Summer love, healing, and growing into yourself.
Perfect for: Those who want a gentler, more introspective vibe with their beach reads.
6. The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn
Love, affairs, and the messy truth about marriage
Vibe: Scandal, complicated relationships, and unexpected consequences.
Perfect for: Fans of relationship drama and The Affair vibe.
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