Gossip Books

Violet is your everyday teenager. She is insecure with her body and unsure of the person she is. But all that changes when she is "discovered" working at the local movie theater. Angela her modeling agent is sure Violet is the next big thing!

Modeling comes easily for Violet, she simply can't help being herself, and the designers love it. The other models however don't particularly like being shown up by a newbie. When Violet takes the big step and moves to New York, she finds out modeling is more that walking around with pretty clothes. Violet tries to resist being swallowed whole by this new world, but in response she has turned into someone else. Will the new Violet win out, or will the old shine through?

When I started reading Violet on the Runway, I was hesitant. I didn't want another one of those books where the girl goes from zero to IT and all her dreams come true. I was for certain I had the storyline pegged, and I wasn't thrilled. Luckily for me I kept reading, because I didn't have this story pegged after all! Sure Violet gets the modeling gig, but it isn't a walk in the park. I know how she felt in the beginning, when she had to have people like her, because I was the same way. I was so happy to see her grow! She did make me mad when she ditched her true friends, but she made it up to them in the end. I actually enjoyed reading this book and I am totally looking forward to reading Violet by Design. I just hope I see some more Violet and Roger action!

Violet Greenfield is a wallflower. She feels way too tall and skinny and the only two people she feels comfortable around are her two best friends. But her life changes forever when a lady with Chanel shades comes into the theater where Violet works and tells her she could be the next IT model. Soon, Violet is on a plane to New York, with other people deciding what she should wear and how she should act. She soon realizes that the life of a model isn't always fabulous.

Violet on the Runway is an amazing book about what really takes place behind the runway, in the life of a model. The characters were realistic and three dimensional and though I know nothing about modeling, I could relate to everything Violet was going through. I must say that Violet on the Runway is way better than what I expected and it's not your normal "Not It Girl Turned IT Girl" novel. I definitely recommend picking this book up on your next trip to the bookstore.

Violet was always just your average girl, who never stood out from the crowd -- until she got the chance of a lifetime.

She was asked to become a model for an agency and move to New York, so she takes a chance and graduates high school early to move into a cramped New York City apartment.

She thinks that it will be all glamor, all the time, but what she finds is the complete opposite. As she tries to battle keeping her old friends and making new ones, things get complicated.

Will Violet become the model she always wanted to be? Or will she fail under all the pressure?

A great read!

Reviewed by: Audrey

What a great read! I love this book and couldn't stop cheering for Violet to open her mouth and use her voice! This book would make a great movie, with a wonderful cast of characters from Mario to Aunt Rita to the transformation of the double V's. I was so pleased that Melissa Walker included an excerpt for the next Violet book coming in 2008. I'm hooked!

I LOVED this book - by the time it ended, I was hoping that Melissa Walker will write another one so I can follow along and see where Violet's life is going. Very good writing, awesome book!

This is a great read especially for people who LOVE espresso. This book makes me want to live in the mountains of Washington and open an espresso/gift shop. The journal entries are simple, funny, and fun to read. I highly recommend this book and am looking for a similar read since I am 3/4 done with this book.

What an INCREDIBLE read!!!! Gals and guys alike will enjoy this book!! I even gave it to my husband to read after I was finished and he's been laughing with it and sharing some of these fabulous stories with his co-workers (all male by the way). Truly an amazing, wonderful, joyful read -You will not want it to end - I surely didn't!! When you start reading this, plan on spending a great deal of time because you're going to be HOOKED!!

To all (men & women) everywhere. You will relate to this laugh a minute book about the Barista challenges/stalkers, hilarious male/female issues.
Real life, honest to a fault, too funny for words. You don't want to put down and you can't wait to see what antics the next day holds.
Recommend recommend recommend.
This would make a #1 top selling MOVIE! Sandra Bullock is the ONLY one who could do it justice.
Fun fun fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A good beach read! Christy is a survivor who has faced life's challenges and the many colorful characters she has encountered with honesty, self-reflection and humor. What a gal!

It's a chick book, but if your not to thin skinned it's funny and a lot of fun for a guy too. Christy tells it the way she sees it and I'm sure the gals love it and if you just look at the humor in it a guy can laugh at what she has to say also.

My 15 yr old grand ask for this series for her choice she earned for getting honors. She is an avid reader and loves these books. The first one was a gift at Christmas and now she has the first 3 collections.

I needed this package to complete my collection. It was in perfect condition which made it even better.

The students here at our school love these books, but budget does not allow for purchase, so I was happy to find the 2nd collection in a group for ease of my purchasing. and yes the girls love them.

It used to be that the Upper East Side was dominated by overpaid nannies pushing baby carriages, the Wall Street set gabbing on cell phones, and the trophy wives making their way up and down Fifth Avenue, shopping to their hearts content. But GOSSIP GIRL has proved that the Upper East Side is quickly being invaded by a group of privileged teens who know how to sparkle and shine, even in the dead of night. So watch your back.

Book 4: BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT - Contrary to what many believe, money certainly can't buy you happiness, and no one knows that better than the privileged members of New York society, and residents of the Upper East Side - namely Blair Waldorf.

Blair Waldorf has it all. The looks, the clothes, but she's missing two very important things - her hotter than hot ex-boyfriend Nate Archibald, and a spot at the prestigious Yale - a place of higher learning which she has had her sights set on since she could walk. But after a botched interview, Blair is seriously contemplating enrolling in community college - after all, in her opinion, that's probably where she belongs. Instead, she hacks off her hair during an Audrey Hepburn moment, then snags a re-do interview for her college of choice. But with her aggravating new stepbrother, Aaron, lurking around, she still can't find a moment of peace.

Blair's best frienemy, Serena van der Woodsen, doesn't mind Aaron's presence, however. In fact, she can't seem to get enough of it. In her opinion, for the first time in her life, she is madly, deeply in love with the dreadlocked, bohemian style that Aaron embodies. But maybe, just maybe, Aaron is beginning to feel suffocated by his girlfriend's presence, and the fact that she expects him to spend his spare time accompanying her to the various fashion week shows coming up - one of which she may be playing a role in.

And of course we can't forget Nate. His good looks may draw you in, but his constant dependence on marijuana can certainly work to deter you from taking a second glance. When he gets busted, it's finally time for him to turn over a new leaf in his life. Hopefully it won't be a marijuana leaf.

Jenny Humphrey and her brother, Dan, along with his girlfriend, Vanessa, of course, are still up to their old tricks; only slightly different. Jenny has picked up a new best friend who seems to think about nothing but romance - perhaps because Valentine's Day is right around the corner. And Dan has let the popularity of his first ever published poem go to his head, leaving Vanessa out in the cold. Never mind, she may just have someone else who can keep her warm - and appreciate her talent for what it truly is; even if it's slightly weird. 5 stars.

Book 5: I LIKE IT LIKE THAT - It seems as if Valentine's Day just passed, and already Spring Break is here, sending everyone into a tizzy - once again. Of course, when you're a part of the privileged set, Spring Break doesn't mean sitting around the house, watching daytime TV and pigging out on popcorn and chocolate. Quite the opposite, in fact. It's a time when you jet halfway around the world for a chance to ski or sunbathe, and, if you're lucky, create a little scandal.

Blair Waldorf wishes that she was one of the people talking about the scandal surrounding her; but, alas, as the daughter of a middle-aged woman who has just remarried, and is pregnant, she has been cast into the scandalous spotlight - much to her chagrin. No matter, with Spring Break looming, she may be able to break free from the current mess that is her life. When her mother announces that they'll be spending the vacation in sunny Hawaii, however, Blair couldn't be angrier. Luckily, her frienemy, Serena van der Woodsen, is there to bail her out.

Serena would do anything for Blair, so inviting her to spend Spring Break in Sun Valley with her parents and older brother, Erik? So not the drama. Besides, it'll be fun to have her BFF by her side on the slopes. But when Blair starts batting her big eyes at Erik, and flirting with him to the maximum extreme, it takes everything inside of Serena to make it through the week without strangling her supposed gal pal.

Nate Archibald has always had his head in the clouds thanks to his constant dependency on marijuana. But he's finally clean, and looking to have a little fun - sober, that is. Unfortunately, his new girlfriend, Georgie, has something different planned. She'd rather party it up with a little help from her friends - alcohol, prescription drugs, and anything else she can get her hands on. Too bad Natie's getting a little fed up with her non-stop inebriated state.

Jenny Humphrey has finally snagged a hot boyfriend in the form of Leo. His pale blonde hair is mesmerizing, and his passion for art is just what the doctor ordered. The only problem is his evasiveness. Jenny can't seem to get Leo to talk about himself, or his family; which is making her a little curious - and a lot more interested. Her older brother, Dan, however, is like a different person completely. With a published poem under his belt, and an internship at RED LETTER, he's acting like he's all that - his used-to-be girlfriend, filmmaker Vanessa Abrams simply thinks he's a rotten jerk. But maybe the two of them will be able to patch up their...relationship with one another before they both end up completely friendless. Maybe not. 5 stars.

Book 6: YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - Spring Break is over, and while some are hitting the books, the Upper East Side set is spending more time showing off their glowing tans, or nursing hangovers from a weeks worth of partying. But not everything is fun and games for the glamorous. Acceptance letters are on their way out from college admissions, and the time has come to find out where everyone will be spending the next four years. Hopefully it doesn't stress anyone out too much.

Blair Waldorf breathes, eats, and sleeps Yale. Since she was old enough to toddle around, she has known that Yale was in her future. It was her destiny. And now that college acceptance letters are in the mail, Blair can't think about anything other than holding that welcome letter in her hand. After all, she has spent her life working on accomplishing this goal. And, in her mind, once she's accepted, the world will be at her fingertips. As if it's not already.

Serena van der Woodsen has never had to work for anything in her life. When you're so effortlessly drop dead gorgeous, of course, it's no surprise. All Serena wants is to hang out, have fun, and make-out with cute boys. And as for college? Of course she applied to all of the Ivies. But when she takes her tours of the colleges, she'll be checking out one thing, and one thing only...how good looking her student tour guides are.

After a stint in rehab and a brief relationship/fling with a pill popping, whisky guzzling heiress, Nate has decided that it's time to buckle down, and start thinking about his future. But that doesn't mean that he can't indulge in a little debauchery - in the form of a joint - from time to time. When his college acceptance letters make it to his stale-pizza-smelling floor, however, he realizes that he holds in his hands something that could both jeopardize his relationship with Blair forever, and set him up for life. Now he has to make a decision once and for all; which seems unlikely thanks to the jumbled musings floating through his pot-addled mind.

Unlike everyone else, Vanessa Abrams isn't stressing about college acceptance letters because - surprise surprise - the little filmmaker of the hour already received her acceptance letter from NYU all those months ago. That doesn't mean that she won't exploit those who are in the midst of a sweat-inducing tizzy over the prospect of where they got in, however, via a documentary that will make you want to hide your head in a paper bag. But she has to do something to keep her mind off of her current hatred for her ex-boyfriend, Dan Humphrey. But Dan has enough problems of his own, now that he's attempting to fend off his classmates, who all seem to know a little too much about his younger sister, Jenny, and her ever-burgeoning chest. 5 stars.

Cecily von Ziegesar managed to drag readers in when she introduced us to Blair, Serena, Nate, and the rest of the Upper East Side set in books one through three. Now, our favorite scandal-creators, and troublemakers are back for another set of fun. But this time, everyone's a little more mature, and, quite possibly, a bit more paranoid than before. Lock your doors, shield your children - GOSSIP GIRL is on the loose!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

My daughter is a senior in high school and we bought her the first series when she turned 16. She's now almost finished with the second set and is excited that she's almost to the third set. She likes the story line and it keeps her busy reading for fun which I like to encourage! I want all of my kids to find things they like to read.

for this little delight of a book.

Since I was in elementary school, Honest Abe has been one of my (political) heroes. (My other political heroes are Thomas Jefferson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, Golda Meir, and Rudy Giuliani.)

Here are my two absolute favorite parts:

The story about how Lincoln and some friends were riding on a country road after a very severe windstorm. He saw two little birds who had been blown from their nest and were too young to fly. The mother bird, naturally, was in great distress.
My beloved Mr. Abraham Lincoln spent an hour, with the two baby birds in his hand, hunting down the nest. His compatriots laughed at him. This man with "the tenderest heart for anyone in distress, whether man, beast or bird," responded to their laughter by saying, "Gentlemen, you may laugh, but I could not have slept well to-night if I had not saved those birds. Their cries would have rung in my ears."

The other story is about what a wonderfully indulgent, patient, loving parent he was. His kids could come to his office and mess up the entire place, and it didn't bother him. In fact, his fellow lawyer writes, "Had they (the kids) s--t in Lincoln's hat and rubbed it on his boots, he would have laughed and thought it smart...." While I was roaring with laughter at that sentence, my heart was filled to overflowing with love for the wonderful man that Abraham Lincoln was.

Order this book now. It's a winner!

I received this book as a gift when it first came out. I had always admired this great president, but hadn't read anything else on Lincoln prior to this book. I found that I couldn't put it done and read it in like 3 days. I almost would describe the book as a picture album full of snapsnots taken by Lincoln's friends, family, and acquaintances. I write this review nearly 4 years later because I picked it up again to read after a recent Lincoln program on PBS aired on television. I fell in love with the book and the man once again. One does not have to be a history or political buff to admire and treasure this small book.

Lots of books have been written about Lincoln. Most tackled this subject through Presidential Papers. Few took the time to look at those who knew Lincoln. Holzer does this by reading all the available material about Lincoln and getting together the writings of those people who knew Lincoln. This book is a summary of some of those people remembering Lincoln. It is great reading.
One is struck by the Lincoln in this book. He comes across as a very human person. He was ugly and not very cultured. He was smart, friendly, and did not take on an attitude with his high position. He was approachable and easy to talk with. A baby sitter reveals his humanity with her encounters. He was not a racist, in a age when most white people were. He was ready to forgive a people who broke the nation apart. He was a rare human being. This comes across in the writting.
For those interested in the real Abe Lincoln, this is a great book.

One of the challenges one faces when studying the life of Abraham Lincoln is the rampant deification that began virtually when John Wilkes Boothe fired his fatal shot on the evening of April 14, 1865.

Since that day biographies have abounded that have, in most instances painted the venerable president in the most friendly and adoring hues possible, making it difficult, if not impossible to have a true look at one of the greatest men to ever live. Where can one go who wants a quick and accurate overview?

This small book, Lincoln as I Knew Him: Gossip, Tributes and Revelations from His Best Friends and Worst Enemies, edited by Harold Holzer, offers a solution.

The book offers excerpts from the personal writings of many who knew him best. These memoirs offer views of a complex individual who suffered from fits of nearly overpowering depression and doubt, was one of the tallest figures of his time and extremely down-to-earth and accessible. These personal accounts provide detail about his numerous idiosyncrasies regarding personal grooming, and diet.

Lincoln As I Knew Him is a wonderful book, offering and up close and personal look a man whose life and impact on the United States will be remembered for forever. If you've read numerous Lincoln biographies as I have you still won't want to miss this one.

Douglas McAllister

I have about 100 books on Lincoln and this is one of the best, it draws on stories from some others but it is an easy and very good read for those who want incites into perhaps or greatest President as told by those who knew him and heard him speak.

Sassy and witty is the plot formula for this totally enjoyable "who-done-it". Intrigue, deception, betrayal, lust, passion, sex are coupled with sarcasim, cynicism, and biting commentary to produce a novel worth of an award itself. The story line is written with such clarity that the book is a very easy read, and THEREIN, lies the trap for the reader. READ CAREFULLY, and you just might be able to figure out who the "bad" guy/gal is. The clues are there, but they are so nicely hidden that a casual reader (which most of us are) will skim past the clues that would, if one was more judicious in one's reading, bite them in the proverbial butt. Have fun with this one.

This surprising "inside" Hollywood mystery is a delightful romp through the seedy world of Hollywood. It is delightfully satirical of Hollywood and its ways and waywardness. Though very funny, it is also suspenseful and engaging. Perhaps the most delightful gay comedy/mystery since the wonderful Aldyne series and the Grant Michaels masterpieces.

Pushes close to the edge of heavyhandedness, but does not cross it. A good, fast read! Recommended!

For the seventh year, Hollywood gossip columnist Rick Domino hosts a live pre-show broadcast of the Academy Awards. Rick has mixed feelings about this year's show because his lover actor Shane Kirk is up for a Best Actor award. He is proud that Shane received the nomination, but disappointed that his beloved refuses to come out of the closet and acknowledge that he is gay let alone in a relationship with Rick. Adding to that insult is the fact that Shane is keeping a straight image by escorting best actress nominee Tara Perez to the ceremony.

Though Rick has to share the spotlight with predator Mitzie McGuire, their show goes over relatively smoothly though Rick does less clothing dissing of the attendees than usual as he mopes over Shane. Afterward Rick looks for Shane only to find his beloved near the corpse of Tara. The police arrive as Shane shouts his innocence and Rick is nearer to the corpse and holding the murder weapon that he picked off the ground. Though the police arrest Rick, homicide detective Terry Zane thinks things are too pat. He and Rick investigate the Hollywood scene as only a veteran police officer and a catty gossip columnist could do.

The who-done-it is fun to follow as the obviously gay Rick and his new partner the straight Terry make a humorous team who uncover a lot of Hollywood secrets during their investigation. However what makes THE BEST MURDER OF THE YEAR so enjoyable is not the homicide or the inquiries, but the satirical look at Hollywood at its most pompous and even more subtly strips the invincibility of the mystery genre fictional superstars. The movies that the nominees star in are hilarious and worth the read by themselves. Fans of a tongue in cheek (not saying which one) will want to read the adventures of Rick Domino in the world of make believe.

Harriet Klausner

This surprising "inside" Hollywood mystery is a delightful romp through the seedy world of Hollywood. It is delightfully satirical of Hollywood and its ways and waywardness. Though very funny, it is also suspenseful and engaging. Perhaps the most delightful gay comedy/mystery since the wonderful Aldyne series and the Grant Michaels masterpieces.

Pushes close to the edge of heavyhandedness, but does not cross it. A good, fast read! Recommended!

When the beautiful winner of the best actress Oscar is murdered outside the theater, all the evidence points to Rick Domino, gay movie gossip columnist. After all, Tara Perez just stole Rick's boyfriend, his fingerprints are on the gun whose bullets are inside Tara, and he was found standing over the body. The only problem is, Rick knows he didn't do it. Now he has one week to find out who did--and find a way to keep himself alive while he does it. Fortunately, one of the arresting cops decides to take some time off to help Rick look--or is he simply trying to get more evidence for the State? Rick sets off to investigate Hollywood and finds that there were plenty of other people with motive and opportunity to kill Tara. She cheated, lied, and slept her way to the top, and Hollywood doesn't forget. But motive isn't enough when the prosecution has all the physical evidence it needs to convict Rick.

Author Jon P. Bloch writes convincingly of a Hollywood where sexual roles are blurred by secrets and fear of being 'outed' can cause almost any crime. Rick manages to meet the standard stereotypes but in a believable and sympathetic way.

Although Rick's investigations are entertaining and believable, the wrapup to BEST MURDER OF THE YEAR was not. Frequent mystery readers might guess the killer's identity, but Bloch didn't really deliver the clues to give us a sense of satisfaction in figuring it out. The resolution of the sexual tension between the gay Rick and his straight cop-sidekick also seemed a little forced--less clever than the rest of the novel led me to hope for.

Overall, BEST MURDER OF THE YEAR is enjoyable reading--but maybe not the best mystery of the year.

I have been saving Girls Who Gossip for a rainy day but it is a beautiful 70 degree day and I can't put it down to get out of bed. I finally stopped reading because I had an overwhelming urge to eat popcorn, a craving I only get when I am in the middle of a good movie. I have read all of Theresa Alan's books and this one is turning into my favorite. I think it has a Hamlet flare to it. It has dark thoughts but it also has the sweetness of new relationships. It is a great book so far. I am almost done but I had to get out of bed and get some work done.

This is one of Theresa's best books yet. It's clever, touching and well written. She reveals a new darkness and depth in her writing that really pulled me in. By the time I hit the middle of the book, I couldn't put it down-I had to find out how Helaina enacted her revenge! I was especially moved by the relationship with her deceased mother, and by the end was in tears. It's a rare book that can move me so much!

I've been a Theresa Alan fan since "Who You Know" helped pioneer Chick Lit as a genre. In her latest triumph, Alan takes the us on a fun and inventive adventure composed of lies, adultry, and revenge. BRAVO!

As a fan of "Chick Lit", I'm always looking for good story to escape into. A friend had mentioned that Theresa Alan was her favorite author, so I found this book. I must admit that I was put off by the cover. Is this a young adult book?

Well, I decided to trust my friend's recommendation and bought the book. I'm happy to report that Theresa Alan's sharp wit and insightful writing sucked me in. The great characters and clever plot make this book a must read!

Theresa Alan does it again with a chick lit that has a surprising twist. Deeper and more thought provoking than traditional chick lit, GIRLS WHO GOSSIP still has Alan's trademark humor and wit. Helaina is a heroine any woman can relate to and Owen is to die for.

The reader follows Helaina on a soul-searching journey that reveals her inner strength. You root for her and cheer her on the whole time. I couldn't recommend this book enough!

Unlike a pickled trout, "Acupuncture Insanity" just gets better and more fragrant with age. How does Artie Rotello do it?

Upon reading ACUPUNCTURE INSANITY I became laughter-filled and have been ever since. Laughter tends to cramp my stomach, preventing my bowels from moving in a smooth and orderly fashion, causing me to expel an embarrassing amount of gas.

I didn't expect to be so inspired by this book, but I was. It inspired me! After reading it, I did four loads of laundry and it wasn't even Sunday. That means a lot! Read this book and be inspired. Okay?

Multi-layered, wonderfully textured and deliciously nuanced. I enjoyed it with the kiwi-lime sauce.

Soon as Trixie git done readin' it, I gonna rip da pages out an' paper ma cell wid it. Dat way I kin reads it day an night. It make me laff an laff, like when Trixie wrap a towel all up in her hair and balance a pot on her head an sing "Pupusas, papusas!" Trixie move just like a real girl.

Terrific book. Unusual subject matter, highly entertaining, and thought provoking all at the same time. I couldn't put it down.

This is a facinating book. It lets readers into the world of the tabloid journalist, how they work and how they will do anything to get the story.
I see celebrities and journalists in a new light now.
Marlise is very funny and a joy to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone!!

You aren't supposed to be able to reconcile Hollywood amorality and a tabloid writer's conscience, but Ms. Kast has done exactly that. She manages to entertain with typical tabloid-style titillating stories, but couches them all inside her own personal journey to a life of higher personal responsibility. A book set in Hollywood that is both entertaining and genuinely thought provoking? They said it couldn't be done...

Tabloid prodigy is a poignant tale of the author's journey into self-realization. This well written read is full of excitement and humor while giving the reader a full-frontal view of the seedy underbelly of tabloid journalism.

Many people are attracted to this book because of the celebrity factor. I was drawn to this book to read about the inner struggles of a young woman trying to to identify who she was between her conservative upbringing and the allure of Hollywood. Anyone who has walked the road of trying to figure themselves out can identify with the author. I will admit learning about the tactics tabloid reporters use to get their stories was quite entertaining as well. This is a great read not to be missed!

This book addresses an incredibly important topic - and is well written to boot. The danger of reputations ruined by carelessness, or by deliberate ill will, should be understood. In fact, this book should be mandatory for human resources personnel and any search committee that uses the Internet to check on a potential employee.

Hopefully Solove will follow up soon with another book. Sites such as Topix, provide a frightening forum for people who are less than ethical. Although Topix provides an alternative format for news, there is no oversight for accuracy or even truth. If Orson Welles had had access to the Internet, perhaps we would all have learned a valuable lesson about questioning and independent thinking. Since Welles is no longer with us, at least we have Daniel Solove to encourage us to question timely issues.

Solove's book doesn't provide answers, rather it provides situations that help you ask the right questions.

As an extra bonus it is extremely well written and an enjoyable read.

Prof. Solove's latest book is a great follow up to The Digital Person (which I also recommend). What I have enjoyed about his writings is his ability to communicate not only to attorneys like myself, but also to a non-lawyer audience. His focus on Internet privacy impacts all of us, and as anyone who follows the news knows, the explosive growth of Cyberspace places a greater burden on the individual and on the legal community to bolster protections and to guard against invasions of privacy. Solove's work explains the terrain of this new digital era in a way that is informative, engrossing, and relevant. I'm looking forward to his future scholarship in this field.

The author, Daniel J. Solove, was kind enough to send me an advance copy of this book; it scored a KnowProSE.com 10/10:

"With actual real world examples gleaned from the internet and put in the limelight, the author seems to leave no stone unturned in a quest for answers. Many people will have heard of some of the examples but few will have looked at them in such a circumspect a manner - and even fewer will have done so with a legal background.

Most of my time spent reading this book was spent nodding - I knew about 70% of the stories, but then I've been around a while and have been following the Internet closely- more so than most people on the internet. Still, in most instances the author was able to show me at least one new side to it. This seemed a job which makes the Herculean quest of cleaning the stables seem simple - there is no river to divert here, but there is most certainly a lot of manure. Perhaps the book is the start of the river's diversion. Cyber-bullying, Internet Vigilantism, libel, defamation... mountains are easily grown from molehills in cyberspace.

The book is very easy to read, it flows and takes on a life of its own. I could not put it down; even knowing some of the stories did not deter my interest. After much contemplation, I have decided to give the book a KnowProSE.com 10/10 score. Only one other book has been given that status, and both books have received this status because they were interesting books that were well written and important, and do one other thing in particular: they will stand the test of time. Daniel J. Solove is rapidly becoming to privacy what Lawrence Lessig is to copyright and the public domain.

If you are reading this review, you need to read this book. Who knows? My next blog entry might be about you. Of all the people who need to read this book, I think bloggers are the ones who need to read it the most: being aware of the consequences of what one writes is important in an age when everyone can write, but not everyone considers the consequences to others. Would that we all understood this better."

Once I started The Future of Reputation, I could not put it down. The book brings alive how online gossip, social networking sites, and blogs increasingly define who we are and how were are perceived in today's Information Age. The stories it tells are, at once, laugh-out-loud funny and terrifying. We see the lives of others distorted by vengeful ex-lovers and mocked by teachers. Online commentators shine light on bad behavior to shame people. Our reputations are out of our control.

What I loved about this book is that it asks us to rethink assumptions about how we define ourselves in an age where search engines tell our story to future employers and old high-school classmates. The book helped me appreciate that online shaming plays a new and perhaps important role in shaping behavior but also has serious costs. It offers thoughtful suggestions for what we can do about these problems without sacrificing so much of what is liberating about our online interactions. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in living a full and informed life in the Internet age.

Barnes's language is so real, he gives real insight into how teenage boys think. Not to mention, some of the situations he invents are just side-splittingly hilarious.

Although, by far, what made me read this book over and over again was that it's full of heart. I like that Deigo cares about Roxy, that he has her best interests at heart.

But seriously, though, this high school hopped up on hormones. Read it, you'll love it.

Dr. Truelove has a real hip-hop vibe and a sexy undercurrent that surfaces often enough to create calamity.

The characters are real, the situations are crazy, and the online advice column is hilarious.

I wish my high school experience was more like Diego's.

When Diego's plans to lose his virginity with his girlfriend, Roxy, don't go the way he wanted them to, he pushes her away. Too late, he realizes his mistake, but he has no idea how to get her back. She's a great girl, being chased by one of the hottest young athletes around, and Diego is a jazz-loving math geek--a jazz-loving math geek who understands Roxy like no one else, but still. There's no way, he thinks, that he can compete with popular, athletic John-John McAfee.

However, his boy J-Live has a plan. A rather insane plan, sure, but it's all Diego's got, so he agrees to go along with it. J-Live wants Diego to start writing an anonymous column about love and sex online. The plan, he says, is foolproof. Diego will learn his stuff from girly magazines, write it all as the anonymous Dr. Dexter Truelove, and then, at the height of his popularity, Diego's identity will be revealed, and Roxy, realizing that he really does have a way with the ladies, will want him back.

Any sensible person--Diego included--would realize the insanity of this plan, but Diego will do anything to get back with Roxy. Of course, like all good plans, it has serious potential to blow up in his face...

Derrick Barnes' smart, funny, debut novel will appeal to all teens. Barnes holds nothing back here, so in case the previous summary isn't enough, beware of some racy content. However, if you're comfortable with that, you will love this book! Barnes is a talented author who really brings his characters to life--my personal favorite is the always scheming J-Live. I can't wait to see what Derrick Barnes comes up with next!

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

This book is awesome!! The story of transformation of Diego into Dr Truelove to win back his love interest Roxy is hilarious, and made me laugh like crazy. Derrick Barnes does a great job - he knows how to reach out and win his readers. The Making of Dr Truelove has everything you could want in a book: Real and funny characters, an urban setting, a fast paced plot, sexy undercurrents and great humor, not to mention the 'Real Talk Sessions' of Dr Truelove and his 'prescriptions'. I had a great time reading this book. A must read!

A brave new author with a funny and unique voice, Derrick Barnes combines hip-hop Jazz and urban culture to make the perfect cocktail for any reader of any age. I would call this book a page turner!!!
Dennis J. Schleicher
Glastonbury, Connecticut