1. In the first book, it’s a tough call between Massie and Claire being more insecure but I’d have to go with Massie. I think the more you dislike yourself, that dislike/animosity tends to spread towards others. There are a few exceptions but for the most part, Claire was still kind.
2. Stemming from my first comment, the cruelty was absolutely ruled by insecurity. Like those exceptions for Claire that I mentioned- the only time she was ever remotely mean, it was her trying to prove herself to herself (as well as to the others).
I will say though, Massie was spitting venom from the very beginning. It was literally on site for her! I don’t think she was insecure about Claire… at first. So while I do think she trained herself to be the ultimate mean girl, her behavior really amped up when she started seeing Claire as competition.
1. I honestly think that Massie is more insecure than Claire in book 1. Claire feels comfortable and secure in her skin until meeting Massie and realizing Massie doesn’t like her. Claire rocks her keds, overalls, and enjoys her gummies without a care in the world until Massie points out her flaws and makes fun of Claire for it, causing some insecurity. Massie seems to have it all and the duality of her character is her outward confidence with her inward insecurities.
2. Now I see the PC’s meanness as insecurity but as a kid I thought they were just bad bitches without a care in the world and were just that “it” they really seemed to have it all and at times I found myself “jealous” of the confidence and things the PC had. Reading it through the adult lens, we see that they all have something to hide, something they aren’t secure about, and act confident to hide everything hidden inside.
This is giving me flashbacks to college discussion boards, except I’m actually thrilled to be participating in this 😅
1. If I was asked who the most insecure character of book #1 was when I read this at 12, I would have answered Claire. She’s the new kid on the block and sticks out like a sore thumb for a variety of reasons: her clothes aren’t as high end, she doesn’t have a home of her own, she’s struggling making friends while her little brother socially thrives. However, rereading this in my late 20s is making me want to give Massie Block a big ole hug 🥺 Her insecurity is glaring to me now. Her inner dialogue especially, constantly keeping tabs on her friends and making sure they don’t have “wandering eyes”, so to speak. Making sure loyalty is bid correctly when Claire steps into the picture. It’s funny, now that I’m typing this, I’m realizing that off-rip, Claire’s abundance of security upon arrival that was rooted in the love from her family, and her friends back home in Orlando, honestly may have intimidated Massie and made her MORE insecure. How interesting!
2. When I first read The Clique, I was so jarred (but also fascinated) because my group of friends were never so competitive with one another (thank god!) However, like other GLUs (😉) in this post have mentioned, I think their savagery was deeply, deeply rooted in the aforementioned insecurities. Even the members of the Pretty Committee I think constantly feared they were toeing an imaginary line, and had to be mean to others to prove themselves in a way.
I love this forum space to talk about these books — no one else in my childhood was as obsessed as I was. I’m thrilled to have found my people 🤣
This was EXACTLY how I felt when I re-read the first book. I didn't remember Massie's insecurities being so glaring, I just remembered her being so vicious. With age and perspective, it was so obvious that Claire's security rooted in family, true friends in Orlando and overall self confidence, made Massie look inwards on what she doesn't have in her life. This is such a great take! Love talking about this with all of you.
1. The most insecure character in the first book is definitely Massie. Although she is the head of the group, we see that the structure she has built is fragile. There are little things, such as claiming she would rather be a friendless loser than have friends who secretly hate her, when in reality she has a deep-rooted fear of being alone and singled out, and she only says it because everyone else is. She builds herself up as a trendsetter but she can fall in line when public perception of her is hanging in the balance. I think that’s part of why she’s threatened by Claire, she sees her as someone who is authentic, and it reflects something back at her.
2. I always thought that it was rooted in insecurity. Throughout the books, we even witness many of the characters attempt to branch out, with Kristen even creating her own Clique, but keeping it hidden from Massie, Claire staging a coup of the PC (coincidentally I just realized the Clique is the reason I love this trope in media lol). Their drive to be liked and not fall out of social order is what fuels them. In a way, most of the girls are many sides to the same coin (or maybe a die? Idk). Part of me also thought that the world around them pressured and morphed them to be that way, because it was such a foreign world to me at the time, although the feelings weren’t. The pressure to keep up, to stay on top, but at the same time the frustration of being overshadowed while also being afraid to stick out from the crowd is something we can all relate to. It’s interesting that even as adults we can fall into these patterns.
1. Massie is for sure the most insecure. So much of the internal dialogue we hear from her is worrying about if someone saw or heard what she did/said and if so- what did they think about it. Massie is on-sessed with what people think about her. At the sleepover, Massie wouldn’t answer the never have I ever honestly because *gasp* what would people think if they knew she was afraid of being a friendless loser. Massie rarely does anything for herself, usually her motivations lay with advancing her social capital or maintaining her status. She puts down others when she feels judged or threatened. Every time she makes an iconic quip-that’s her way to cope with her insecurities. Massie also feels an inability to be herself authentically due to her insecurity and (in what I now recognize as projection) tries to put down Claire and/or Layne when they are being authentic- eg Layne eating her snacks, dressing how she wants, Claire eating candy. She won’t share her crush with her friends until she is SURE they like her back because to her it would be MORTIFYING to not be liked back. The only time she is partially honest is to bean, or in her SOTU’s because they can’t hurt or embarrass her. She is terrified of being vulnerable.
2. I truly thought they were born that way. Something that has been healing rereading these as an adult is recognizing the insecurity these girls have.
I used to want to be the clique girls so badly (in the book and real life), and while I wasn’t a LBR in real life, I felt like one often. I switched schools in 8th grade and was terrified the girls I thought were cool would think like Massie and friends. Growing up and now talking to people I wanted to be liked by as a teen but was to afraid to approach and try to be friends with, I learn that they didn’t feel cool and thought I’d be nice to be friends with too.
I wish I recognized as a kid that Massies actions weren’t cool, and that her insults and quips said more about her than the person they were directed at. I wanted to grow up and be like Massie, but honestly now I want to be nothing like her (apart from daddy’s credit card, shiny hair, and a massive closet- I’ll still take those parts). I recognize her as flawed and honestly feel bad for her- and bad for young me too. I wasn’t often cruel like Massie, but as an example I was also afraid to share my crushes with friends unless I know the boy liked me too. What a waste of precious time in girlhood?! Crushes and giggling and being silly and making up dances are what middle school should be about.
That was a lot. BRB, should go message my therapist 😂
1. I think Massie was the most insecure. Massie hated the PC hanging out without her, and Claire noticed it immediately and used her insecurity to turn the PC against Massie. Claire just wanted Massie to like her and to fit in, and yes her ways were cruel but she was still secure with who she was and made a true friend in Layne, which Massie never did till she befriended Claire.
2. When I first read The Clique I thought only Massie was insecure until I kept reading and realized the whole PC was, including Claire and Layne. I figured they were mean because they were wealthy and spoiled, especially Massie being an only child and had never been told no a day in her life (that is until she asked to go Labor Day shopping when the Lyons arrived).
I definitely think Massie was the most insecure, her jokes she would say to the girls when she felt she needed to regain her title. The moments where she let Claire see who she was, because she knew Claire wouldn’t judge her. When I was younger I was always so jealous of Massie and the girls because they had everything. As I reread it now as an adult I just want to tell them that they are all enough. Especially Claire who really tried her hardest to get into the PC. I was always so happy she had Layne to be there for her.
I agree with a lot of the comments here! I think that Massie was the most insecure in the first book, however I don't think I made that connection when I first read it as a preteen. I didn't consider the internal motivations of the girl's actions as much back then, but rereading it has definitely made me see these characters as more dimensional and complex! Some of my favorite moments from this book are when Massie lets her guard down with Claire - I always felt like Claire was better at seeing her insecurities and not judging than the rest of the PC.
I'm going to say it I think Massey is the most insecure because she needs to have people around her that reaffirm how great she thinks she is. Like her sense of self is not settled within her it's coming from the validation of a lot of other people. Like she knows that she's great but she. Like when everyone stops and freezes to try and find her diamond earring it's almost like Massey needs her friends to validate her place in the social order and that like she wants to be kind of Untouchable so she kind of builds this Posse around her to give her that feeling of social invincibility
1. In the first book, it’s a tough call between Massie and Claire being more insecure but I’d have to go with Massie. I think the more you dislike yourself, that dislike/animosity tends to spread towards others. There are a few exceptions but for the most part, Claire was still kind.
2. Stemming from my first comment, the cruelty was absolutely ruled by insecurity. Like those exceptions for Claire that I mentioned- the only time she was ever remotely mean, it was her trying to prove herself to herself (as well as to the others).
I will say though, Massie was spitting venom from the very beginning. It was literally on site for her! I don’t think she was insecure about Claire… at first. So while I do think she trained herself to be the ultimate mean girl, her behavior really amped up when she started seeing Claire as competition.
1. I honestly think that Massie is more insecure than Claire in book 1. Claire feels comfortable and secure in her skin until meeting Massie and realizing Massie doesn’t like her. Claire rocks her keds, overalls, and enjoys her gummies without a care in the world until Massie points out her flaws and makes fun of Claire for it, causing some insecurity. Massie seems to have it all and the duality of her character is her outward confidence with her inward insecurities.
2. Now I see the PC’s meanness as insecurity but as a kid I thought they were just bad bitches without a care in the world and were just that “it” they really seemed to have it all and at times I found myself “jealous” of the confidence and things the PC had. Reading it through the adult lens, we see that they all have something to hide, something they aren’t secure about, and act confident to hide everything hidden inside.
This is giving me flashbacks to college discussion boards, except I’m actually thrilled to be participating in this 😅
1. If I was asked who the most insecure character of book #1 was when I read this at 12, I would have answered Claire. She’s the new kid on the block and sticks out like a sore thumb for a variety of reasons: her clothes aren’t as high end, she doesn’t have a home of her own, she’s struggling making friends while her little brother socially thrives. However, rereading this in my late 20s is making me want to give Massie Block a big ole hug 🥺 Her insecurity is glaring to me now. Her inner dialogue especially, constantly keeping tabs on her friends and making sure they don’t have “wandering eyes”, so to speak. Making sure loyalty is bid correctly when Claire steps into the picture. It’s funny, now that I’m typing this, I’m realizing that off-rip, Claire’s abundance of security upon arrival that was rooted in the love from her family, and her friends back home in Orlando, honestly may have intimidated Massie and made her MORE insecure. How interesting!
2. When I first read The Clique, I was so jarred (but also fascinated) because my group of friends were never so competitive with one another (thank god!) However, like other GLUs (😉) in this post have mentioned, I think their savagery was deeply, deeply rooted in the aforementioned insecurities. Even the members of the Pretty Committee I think constantly feared they were toeing an imaginary line, and had to be mean to others to prove themselves in a way.
I love this forum space to talk about these books — no one else in my childhood was as obsessed as I was. I’m thrilled to have found my people 🤣
This was EXACTLY how I felt when I re-read the first book. I didn't remember Massie's insecurities being so glaring, I just remembered her being so vicious. With age and perspective, it was so obvious that Claire's security rooted in family, true friends in Orlando and overall self confidence, made Massie look inwards on what she doesn't have in her life. This is such a great take! Love talking about this with all of you.
1. The most insecure character in the first book is definitely Massie. Although she is the head of the group, we see that the structure she has built is fragile. There are little things, such as claiming she would rather be a friendless loser than have friends who secretly hate her, when in reality she has a deep-rooted fear of being alone and singled out, and she only says it because everyone else is. She builds herself up as a trendsetter but she can fall in line when public perception of her is hanging in the balance. I think that’s part of why she’s threatened by Claire, she sees her as someone who is authentic, and it reflects something back at her.
2. I always thought that it was rooted in insecurity. Throughout the books, we even witness many of the characters attempt to branch out, with Kristen even creating her own Clique, but keeping it hidden from Massie, Claire staging a coup of the PC (coincidentally I just realized the Clique is the reason I love this trope in media lol). Their drive to be liked and not fall out of social order is what fuels them. In a way, most of the girls are many sides to the same coin (or maybe a die? Idk). Part of me also thought that the world around them pressured and morphed them to be that way, because it was such a foreign world to me at the time, although the feelings weren’t. The pressure to keep up, to stay on top, but at the same time the frustration of being overshadowed while also being afraid to stick out from the crowd is something we can all relate to. It’s interesting that even as adults we can fall into these patterns.
1. Massie is for sure the most insecure. So much of the internal dialogue we hear from her is worrying about if someone saw or heard what she did/said and if so- what did they think about it. Massie is on-sessed with what people think about her. At the sleepover, Massie wouldn’t answer the never have I ever honestly because *gasp* what would people think if they knew she was afraid of being a friendless loser. Massie rarely does anything for herself, usually her motivations lay with advancing her social capital or maintaining her status. She puts down others when she feels judged or threatened. Every time she makes an iconic quip-that’s her way to cope with her insecurities. Massie also feels an inability to be herself authentically due to her insecurity and (in what I now recognize as projection) tries to put down Claire and/or Layne when they are being authentic- eg Layne eating her snacks, dressing how she wants, Claire eating candy. She won’t share her crush with her friends until she is SURE they like her back because to her it would be MORTIFYING to not be liked back. The only time she is partially honest is to bean, or in her SOTU’s because they can’t hurt or embarrass her. She is terrified of being vulnerable.
2. I truly thought they were born that way. Something that has been healing rereading these as an adult is recognizing the insecurity these girls have.
I used to want to be the clique girls so badly (in the book and real life), and while I wasn’t a LBR in real life, I felt like one often. I switched schools in 8th grade and was terrified the girls I thought were cool would think like Massie and friends. Growing up and now talking to people I wanted to be liked by as a teen but was to afraid to approach and try to be friends with, I learn that they didn’t feel cool and thought I’d be nice to be friends with too.
I wish I recognized as a kid that Massies actions weren’t cool, and that her insults and quips said more about her than the person they were directed at. I wanted to grow up and be like Massie, but honestly now I want to be nothing like her (apart from daddy’s credit card, shiny hair, and a massive closet- I’ll still take those parts). I recognize her as flawed and honestly feel bad for her- and bad for young me too. I wasn’t often cruel like Massie, but as an example I was also afraid to share my crushes with friends unless I know the boy liked me too. What a waste of precious time in girlhood?! Crushes and giggling and being silly and making up dances are what middle school should be about.
That was a lot. BRB, should go message my therapist 😂
1. I think Massie was the most insecure. Massie hated the PC hanging out without her, and Claire noticed it immediately and used her insecurity to turn the PC against Massie. Claire just wanted Massie to like her and to fit in, and yes her ways were cruel but she was still secure with who she was and made a true friend in Layne, which Massie never did till she befriended Claire.
2. When I first read The Clique I thought only Massie was insecure until I kept reading and realized the whole PC was, including Claire and Layne. I figured they were mean because they were wealthy and spoiled, especially Massie being an only child and had never been told no a day in her life (that is until she asked to go Labor Day shopping when the Lyons arrived).
I definitely think Massie was the most insecure, her jokes she would say to the girls when she felt she needed to regain her title. The moments where she let Claire see who she was, because she knew Claire wouldn’t judge her. When I was younger I was always so jealous of Massie and the girls because they had everything. As I reread it now as an adult I just want to tell them that they are all enough. Especially Claire who really tried her hardest to get into the PC. I was always so happy she had Layne to be there for her.
I agree with a lot of the comments here! I think that Massie was the most insecure in the first book, however I don't think I made that connection when I first read it as a preteen. I didn't consider the internal motivations of the girl's actions as much back then, but rereading it has definitely made me see these characters as more dimensional and complex! Some of my favorite moments from this book are when Massie lets her guard down with Claire - I always felt like Claire was better at seeing her insecurities and not judging than the rest of the PC.
I'm going to say it I think Massey is the most insecure because she needs to have people around her that reaffirm how great she thinks she is. Like her sense of self is not settled within her it's coming from the validation of a lot of other people. Like she knows that she's great but she. Like when everyone stops and freezes to try and find her diamond earring it's almost like Massey needs her friends to validate her place in the social order and that like she wants to be kind of Untouchable so she kind of builds this Posse around her to give her that feeling of social invincibility