I love Gossip Girl. I’ve read the books, watched the show, and back in April, when we thought covid lockdown was going to be a few weeks of Netflix relaxation, I rewatched the series. So much backstabbing and drama! I love Blair and Selena’s gorgeous clothes and endless frenemy escapades, but, also, we all agree that Rufus deserves better than Lily, right? So I was thrilled to get a copy of XOXO, A Cocktail Book: An Unofficial Gossip Girl Fan Book, by Bridget Thoreson.

XOXO A Cocktail Book is a fun bartender’s guide with Upper East Side twists on favorite cocktails. There’s a section on bartending tools and correct cocktail glasses for serving stylish drinks at home, just in case you don’t have your own Dorota to mix them for you. All the cocktails have cute names referencing various episodes and events. Perfect for making at-home cocktails more like a night out at Butter or Victrola.

I very rarely like the TV or movie version as much as the books, but in this case, I’m such a massive fan of the Gossip Girl TV series.  I could tell that the author of XOXO A Cocktail Book was too. The explanatory text is written in the style of those “spotted” episode intro narrations, with little notes and references to specific moments from the show. So fun.

I received a copy of XOXO, A Cocktail Book: An Unofficial Gossip Girl Fan Book to review, because I’m a Gossip Girl superfan.