Juicy Drama Series

I love a good juicy drama, backstabbing, high fashion, television, that’s how I got into reading and now I feel compelled to share it with everyone on the internet. Even as it painfully dates me to an early 2000s girl (the best era, let’s be honest), and most of these are from the now unfortunately defunct Poppy imprint.

The Clique/Alphas (spin off) by Lisi Harrison

This one takes top spot in my heart, I reread these books a lot. It was like a reality show, all heightened drama and romance before I even knew what realuty tv was. Though I know people said these books were trashy and mean, I still never understood why it seemed like only I saw the character development between books. Everyone else said development was non existent! I thought it was obvious that Massie got somewhat nicer, not wanting Claire to go to Chicago; how the girls supported Dylan’s fatphobia and so on and so forth.

Plus now that I’m older I can clearly see the influences of satire like when Kirsten “the smart one” is relieved to find out her crush isn’t perfect because he makes a gramatically mistake between their and they’re. We, the readers can see her crush was right all along, and Kristen is wrong which I found funny. It just illsutrated the point that these girl think they know so much, but they’re so wrong, they just don’t know it.

Point is, I loved the series and the manga and the spin off and the movie and its still worth the nostalgia reread.

Canterwood Crest by Jessica Burkhart

I’m always so amazed that Burkhart wrote this while she was in college, but hey, if she can do it, what excuse do the rest of us have. Jokes aside, Canterwood Crest is a bit like the Clique but on horseback. Burkhart manages to write enemy turned frenemy turned friend done right. Not always an easy fight but it speaks to how she is able to write three dimensional characters. A little less skilled in the love triangle thing if only because I wanted, Sasha (the MC) to stay with the other guy. Even though her current/ex bf redeemed himself in the end, I still preferred the other guy. And I applaud Burkhart for including Cole, a gay character. I mean she never explicitly states it but the being bullied for being too feminine, liking fashion, naming his horse Valentino, you can draw the connection. Also the fact that she explicitly wrote, “Cole’s infectious energy always made me smile. We could talk about anything—horses, cute guys Cole was crushing on—and we always had fun” (Famous 42 if one wants to check for proof).. yeah. Its small but pretty big for 2013. I’ll admit I preferred the second protagonist, Lauren more (the series switch protagonists as a sort of passing of the torch once Sasha graduates to varsity), but all the books were fun and gave me equestrian knowledge even though I never ridden in my life. Additionally, has the best, most meta line ever in book 13.

The Daughters by Joanna Philbin

A nice quartet of books of daughters of celebrities whose lives have been in a fishbowl constantly in the shadow of their rich and talented parents who mostly want them to follow in their footsteps. A tall order for these girls who are still finding their way in the world, and rebelling to be their own people. But they have each other because no one gets what it’s like to be a daughter than a fellow daughter. Philbin also knows what she’s talking about, being the daughter of talkshow host, Regis Philbin.

Talent by Zoey Dean

This is a nice trilogy for those who like the high drama of Hollywood hills but without the backstabbing. Among friends that is. Mackenzie, or Mac as she prefers to be called seeks to make her mark in a family of high professional/intelligent people. Her job of choice becoming a manager to her friends, Coco Kingsley, daughter of renowned triple threat but more of an indie songwriter; Evangeline Becks, daughter of a surfer champion who has the skills but not the drive; And newcomer, Emily Mungley whose impressive lying (or in this case acting) skills make Mac certain she’s destined to be the next big thing. They are a close knit group who truly want to support each other and lift one another up, but its never that easy in Hollywood/Bel Air. You may have the talent but do you have what it takes to stay?

But if you want more juicy drama with love triangles, unsupportive friendships and backstabbing in Hollywood, then go with Zoey Dean’s The A-List.

Aristobrats by Jennifer Solow

While the title may lead to believe it’s like the Clique and while it shares the premise of following a bunch of rich popular girls in an elite school, it’s not. For one thing, it’s very anti-clique in that this group of friends are truly friends in fact they call each other “Lylas” (“Love you like a sister”). They don’t seek to rule the school. They follow the more business-like “Make friends and influence people” model in try to be kind to others. Their leader, Parker Bell wants to spread positive vibes through the school and revamp the AV club webcast. However, their webcast backfires and ends them in humiliation central. I won’t go into what happens but it’s very much a positive and girl empowering book. It’s a shame that it’s not around much and therefore even the sequels are hard to find.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

Perhaps this is more remebered/mainstream than I think, but I feel like it should gain a resurgence. Yes, some of the celebrity sightings are dated and there’s no reference to social media to be found. However, it is smart and witty in showing the celebrity lifestyle of a teen soap star, Kaitlin Burke, without her being trashy. Rather the rest of her family are happy cogs in the Hollywood machine while she sometimes wonders about the “ordinary” life that she never got to experience. However, it’s not only about longing for high school, with Calonita’s background in Acess Hollywood and People, she gives the dirt behind tinsletown workings. Kaitlin manages to impart valuable life lessons on stress and independence and friendship without sounding too preachy or unrealistic for a tv star.

Drama! by Paul Ruditis

As you can gues it, this is like Fame for modern times and in book form. Bryan Stark is a photographer-actor looking to find more hyphens in the madcap world of celeb children who try to screw with his friends to get get lead of the school play. Perfectly delicious with backstabbing, wit and good old drama. Plus in the vein of Love, Simon (before Simon vs the Homo Sapian Agenda came out), Bryan is a semi-closeted gay person who doesn’t want to come out, he just wants to date a guy without a big announcement. However, his reasons for not coming out don’t hinge on fear (He goes to a performing arts school, no one-NO ONE would bat an eye) but there’s a slight pining for someone that keeps him repressed. This is the only one on the list for high schoolers as it has explicit mentions of drinking and sex.

Commerical Breaks by PG Kain

While all these other books relied on the lifestyles of the rich and famous in Hollywood, this triolgy focuses on the less spotlighted commercial acting industry which can be just as cutthroat and busy as any. Not to mention embarassing when their professional lives get word around school (You must imagine how being known for being a bouncing banana in a commercial really messes with your popularity). The trilogy centers a thread on these girls trying to figure out what they want in life, a bigger career in this industry or a new passion that doesn’t fuel their paychecks.

Lights, Camera, Cassidy by Linda Gerber

Lights, Drama, Cassidy is a fun little quartet that combines traveling and vlogging when Cassidy attracts a younger audience to her TV host parents’ travelling show, the producers decide to put the spotlight on her. A fun series going across the world and really centers Cassidy growing up and maturing as she reaches teenagehood.

Lucy B. Parker by Robin Palmer

This was a lighthearted series of what its like to be stepsister to a famous celebrity and adjusting to that new normal. I don’t have many memories of this book admittedly but it was fun seeing what hijinks would ensue and highly relied on the relatability of the titular Lucy B. Parker.

One more book, that’s technically not part of a series but still full of juicy drama for adults. Killing Monica by Sex and the City’s Candence Bushnell.

Novelist, Pandy Wallis created a national hit with her Monica charcter. Someone fashionable, witty, badass, an IT girl to aspire too. She helped Pandy land suites, an amazing husband and her BFF, Shonda-Beth who plays Monica in the movies. But that all went to shit when her husband cheated, Shonda-Beth helped and now Pandy just wants to write a historical novel. But people want more Monica. She doesn’t. So there’s only one thing to do. Kill Monica, and fake her death. The book jumps back and forth between present and the past so readers can get a sense of what has led Pandy to such a drastic decision, and the smear that lies under the gilded lifestyle. There’s also a heavy amount of female friendship and the importance of finding fufillment in yourself. And of course, the upper east side glitz that Bushnell is known for. Sure, to keep you at the edge of your white leather seat.