Block Hits Rock
Let's wash that dirty laundry.
Hey, GLUs! Welcome back to a very special Book Club! There is no shortage of dirty laundry to wash (that’s our 2025 version of “let’s unpack this” because we’re beyond burnt on that phrase.) This twisted novel has revenge, betrayal, gossip, alliances, and Todd being super Todd-ish. But who wants to focus on the negative? Not Massie’s mother, Kendra, that’s for sure. The matriarch has joined a self-help book club and is dropping positivity like it’s hawt.
When an enlightened Kendra explains, “It takes strength to apologize. It’s a power move,” Massie’s mind is buh-lown. She would have been apologizing all over the 10583 if she knew fake regret was alpha coded.
Inspired and desperate to be admired, Massie decides to try a growth mindset on for size.
To prove it, Massie goes to The Pretty Committee, beret in hand, ready to apologize. Instead of floating into a room of open arms and forgiveness, she slams into a sleepover. Organized by Kuh-laire!
And.
Massie.
Wasn’t.
Invited!
That comfy growth mindset suddenly feels like a wet wool diaper. Revenge is imminent, but Massie has to be careful because the OG Pretty Committee and Alicia’s new clique have joined forces, not only with each other, but with Teen People. Let’s discuss.
Pretend you’re an overpaid teen therapist who specializes in mean girls and FOMO revenge schemes. What do you think is at the root of Massie’s outrage? (Extra gossip points if you answer like the therapist you’re not.)
Do you think Alicia would be a good Alpha? Does she have what it takes to manage both cliques?
At this point, there has been so much betrayal and backstabbing. How would you, the overpaid therapist, advise them? Would you encourage them to move forward? Break up? Home school?
LWTDL! (Let’s wash that dirty laundry!)
Xoxo Lisi & Ellen
1) Me (an overpaid teen therapist): Massie, are you Walton Goggins character in the White Lotus Season 3? Massie: Uhhh, no? Me: Then why are you so AH-BSESSED with revenge???
Massie has outrage with anyone who challenges her because, deep down, she is insecure. If someone actually has confidence that they can outdo the doer, Massie's fight or flight is triggered (and it's always fight), because she can't fathom not being at the top.
2) Alicia is one my favorite characters, and so I do sort of root for her to fully hone in on her alpha potential. She never seems to go all the way in though - it's like there's always an exit door in her mind to easily escape and return to being Massie's #2. That's why I think that ultimately, it is too difficult for her at this point to manage two cliques.
3) I would advise the girls to reexamine what they want in a friendship. I think most of them have the mindset that they SHOULD want popularity, so their clique just makes sense. We always see Claire be so much more relaxed and herself with Layne. However, she doesn't see her as the ah-bvious choice of friend!
2. If, hypothetically, the PC formed in a world where Massie was fine with being a beta (which wouldn't have happened, given the prequel), then I think Alicia can definitely lead the PC. Her wealth and perceived popularity puts her above most other 7th grade girls in OCD's social hierarchy.
Alicia has strong willpower and an ambition to overthrow Massie, which work to her benefit against other alphas and/or cliques. My personal view is that Dylan was the PC's original beta, but the more ambitious Alicia took over sometime during 6th grade. I think both girls realized that if the trajectory continued, then Alicia would overtake Massie soon. So in the middle of 7th grade, Alicia was confident enough to gather a new clique, and then Massie tried (successfully) to change the trajectory by pushing her down and humiliating her.
Since Alicia is involved in an extracurricular activity, I think she can manage multiple cliques. I'm less convinced that the two cliques would get along, especially since the UPC was formed as a PC knockoff. That's not a big issue if their members ordinarily don't interact with each other, but the PC and UPC walk the same halls and have similar traits.
3. [A bit of a tangential comment] If the Clique series ended after only three books, then I could see book #3 ending with the breakup of the Pretty Committee with only minor changes from canon.
- Claire actually moves to Chicago at the end.
- Kristen feels too awkward now that everyone knows her family's financial situation, so she jumps over to wittier pastures.
- Alicia and Massie's friendship is damaged beyond repair and they go their separate ways after the Teen People shoot.
- Dylan is left alone. Sorry Dylan. :(