The Clique (series)
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | May 19, 2004 |
| Founder | Lisi Harrison |
| Products | Young adult novels, graphic novels, films, video game |
| Parent | Little, Brown and Company (initial publisher) |
The Clique is a young adult book series authored by Canadian writer Lisi Harrison, initially published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. Subsequently, the series was reissued under the Poppy books imprint. The narrative centers on five girls—Massie Block, Alicia Rivera, Dylan Marvil, Kristen Gregory, and Claire Lyons—who form a group called The Pretty Committee at the fictional Octavian Country Day (OCD) middle school. Claire relocates from Orlando, Florida to Westchester, New York, residing in the guesthouse of the Block family. Though she starts as an outsider due to her modest financial background and lack of fashion sense, Claire gradually gains Massie’s trust and is accepted into their circle.
The debut novel appeared on May 19, 2004. By June 2012, the main series had expanded to 14 titles. On October 4, 2006, "The Clique Collection" box set was introduced, compiling the first three books; a second compilation followed in November 2006, containing volumes four through six. Between April and August 2008, five novellas—each named after one of the central characters—were released as "The Clique Summer Collection," depicting their summer break between seventh and eighth grade. Harrison also published Cliquetionary, a companion guide explaining the series’ slang and trivia, on November 16, 2009. The fourteenth installment, issued on February 15, 2011, concluded the series.
In 2007, Warner Brothers collaborated with publisher Alloy Entertainment to create direct-to-DVD film adaptations based on the novels. The inaugural movie premiered on November 11, 2008. Beginning July 2010, Yen Press transformed the books into graphic novel format with illustrations by Yishan Li. The franchise further expanded to include a video game titled The Clique: Diss and Make-Up. Additionally, a spin-off series named Alphas was developed.
History
The book-packaging division of Alloy Online targeted the teen demographic by creating proprietary franchises. They enlisted Lisi Harrison—then a writer at MTV—to craft youth-oriented novels. Harrison accepted the project enthusiastically, originally composing the story as a humorous take and naming the high school "OCD" as an allusion to obsessive–compulsive disorder. Her intent was to depict popular teenagers as imperfect individuals rather than flawless icons. Alloy’s involvement in writing varies among series; in Harrison’s case, they mainly provided feedback while allowing her creative independence. The first novel, The Clique, was published by Little, Brown and Company in May 2004.
Characters
- Massie Block leads The Pretty Committee as its founder and alpha. She has sleek brown hair and amber eyes and is characterized by her commanding demeanor and privileged upbringing due to her father’s prosperous business—although his job loss causes temporary financial difficulties. Massie enjoys acquiring designer apparel and accessories and has dated Derrick "Derrington" Harrington and Landon Crane. Beneath her confident exterior lies vulnerability shared only with her black pug Bean and close friends such as Claire.
- Alicia Rivera is regarded as OCD’s most attractive girl, noted for her dark hair, large brown eyes, and breast augmentation. She delights in gossiping, dancing at Body Alive Dance Studio, and anything related to Ralph Lauren. Alicia resides in a mansion with her ex-model mother Nadia and lawyer father Len. While aspiring to lead like Massie, she finds it challenging to assert herself. After a brief relationship with Josh Hotz ends over their shared clothing size issue, Alicia is suggested to become the new alpha in A Tale of Two Pretties following Massie’s move to England.
- Dylan Marvil acts as Massie’s deputy and connects the clique to celebrity culture through her mother Merri-Lee Marvil, a renowned talk show host. Dylan has two older sisters starring in their reality TV show "Marvil-ous Marvils." With long red hair and green eyes, she remains conscious about her weight despite maintaining a size 6 figure.
- Kristen Gregory is an accomplished soccer player who balances tomboy tendencies with a passion for designer fashion, often clashing with her disapproving mother. Prior to the series’ start, her father’s financial collapse forces Kristen to conceal their poverty until she reveals it in "Revenge of the Wannabes." Academically gifted, she attends OCD on scholarship until being expelled in The Pretty Committee Strikes Back. Recognizable by her blond hair and blue eyes (later sporting a pixie cut after a bad haircut), Kristen enjoys word puzzles and sports. She leads The Witty Committee—an intellectual rival group opposing The Pretty Committee—and founded an unsuccessful lip gloss company. This group dresses as historical thinkers; Kristen selects Cleopatra as her persona. Her friendship with Massie experiences tension but eventually mends.
- Claire Lyons moves from Orlando to Westchester to live in Massie’s family guesthouse due to connections between their fathers. Unlike the others, Claire comes from a modest background which initially hampers her social acceptance. She befriends Layne Abeley (an LBR) and ultimately gains respect through loyalty and genuine personality. Claire prefers Keds sneakers and gummy candies and harbors a crush on Cam Fisher. With Massie’s approval, she joins The Clique while maintaining friendships outside it. At one point she leaves the group temporarily for drama club members Cara and Syd during her lead role in Dial L for Loser. After learning that former Florida friends secretly dislike her, Claire supports Massie in a beauty pageant instead.
List of novels
The Summer Books
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Additional Clique Books
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Reception
The Clique was recognized as a "Quick Pick For Reluctant Young Adult Readers" by YALSA. The title Best Friends for Never received a nomination in the "Young Adult/Teen" category at the 2005 Quill Awards. It appeared on The New York Times bestseller list in early February 2005, approximately four months post-release, initially remaining for one week. The book re-entered the list in late February at position #7 and returned again in late March and April, maintaining a presence for several weeks following the launch of Revenge of the Wannabes. Additionally, it secured the #9 spot on the Publishers Weekly bestseller chart in late March.
Sales figures demonstrated consistent strength, with close to 150,000 copies sold in 2005, surpassing 200,000 in 2006, and exceeding 150,000 in 2007.
Within the "Summer Collection," three novels—Alicia, Dylan, and Massie—achieved placement on the New York Times Children's Books bestseller list. On June 22, 2008, Alicia entered at #1, while Dylan and Massie ranked #2 and #6 respectively.
Critical reviews
Critics reviewing the inaugural novel, The Clique, frequently commented on the characters’ conduct. Publishers Weekly remarked that it "amplifies cliquish, snobbish behavior to Hollywood extremes," whereas School Library Journal expressed dissatisfaction with its unresolved conclusion. Opinions regarding brand name references were varied: School Library Journal praised the inclusion of "trendy references kids will love," while Booklist highlighted the vivid portrayal of affluent lifestyles and "playfulness with brand name dominance," cautioning that such details could quickly date the work. The instant messaging scenes received acclaim from Booklist as "hilarious," though School Library Journal criticized the characters as superficial and found the storyline lacking depth. Spero News described the novel as initially off-putting due to its materialistic focus but ultimately entertaining for its exaggerated depiction of teenage life.
For Best Friends for Never, reviewers underscored its lighthearted and enjoyable tone: Book Loons referred to it as "engaging soap operatic fun," The Virginian Pilot called it "a fairly quick and easy read," and Teen Reads described it as "another fast-paced, enjoyable read." Romantic Times awarded it three stars, labeling it "sinful, nasty fun." Some critiques were less favorable; for instance, The Virginian Pilot noted it "lacks the sophistication and style found in more profound novels." Regarding character behavior—previously a point of contention—Romantic Times observed that "the girls remain just as catty as before," while Book Loons acknowledged that it captures both harsh verbal exchanges and the emotional sensitivity typical of pre-teen girls. The cliffhanger ending received positive remarks: deemed "perfect" by Teen Reads, and considered a significant element contributing to the novel’s appeal by The Virginian Pilot.