The Clique

The Clique by Lisi Harrison: A Reflection on Friendship and False Alliances*

*"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."* — Proverbs 18:24

In *The Clique* by Lisi Harrison, the reader is introduced to the glittering yet treacherous world of the privileged girls of Westchester, New York, led by the queen bee, Massie Block. With designer clothes, cutting-edge social skills, and a fierce grip on the social hierarchy, Massie and her friends Dylan, Kristen, and Alicia seem to embody the ideal of friendship. Yet, their interactions reveal a darker reality—one where power, control, and exclusion reign supreme.

Claire Lyons, the newcomer, enters this world like a lamb among wolves. show more Humble, kind, and unpolished by the standards of her peers, she quickly becomes a target for the Clique's biting wit and calculated cruelty. Massie, secure in her power, views Claire as an intruder, someone to be ridiculed and manipulated rather than embraced.

But Claire's story is not one of defeat. Though she is rejected by those who wield social power, she finds refuge in an unexpected place: her friendship with Layne Abeley. Layne is neither wealthy nor concerned with the superficial trappings of popularity. She sees Claire for who she truly is—a person of worth and integrity. Their friendship, though quieter and less glamorous, embodies the essence of what Proverbs 18:24 teaches us.

True friendship is not based on appearances, status, or what one can gain from another. It is rooted in mutual respect, loyalty, and authenticity. Layne stands by Claire, offering her the kind of unwavering support that Massie and her clique are incapable of providing. In contrast, Massie’s group, though seemingly united, is built on fragile alliances, insecurity, and a constant fear of falling from grace.

Claire’s journey reminds us that friends who treat us as stepping stones or discard us when we are no longer useful are not true friends. They are like "dust mites"—present but inconsequential, revealing their own insecurities and fears. In contrast, a true friend like Layne is a treasure, offering warmth, honesty, and a safe space in a world that often values the superficial over the genuine.

*The Clique* is a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing acceptance from those who do not value our true selves. It reminds readers, especially young ones, to seek friendships that uplift and nourish the soul rather than those that drain and diminish it. In the end, Claire's strength lies not in joining the Clique but in finding her true friends and learning to stand firm in her own identity. show less

I can see why this series was so popular. I'm also extremely grateful that I missed it because The Clique was published when I was not too much older than Claire and Massie, and I would have been lost to it. I read a lot back then, but not in contemporary, thank goodness. I'm glad I didn't read this book when I was younger because the "mean girl" trope would have eaten me up.

The book is short. Characters get away with things like trespassing that wouldn't be possible in 2022 (thanks to technology!), but their behavior would have been so much worse if social media was an option at the time of the book. The manipulative bullying is unreal, and it's a miracle that various characters didn't shed more tears. There are all sorts of shaming - show more fat-shaming, classism, elitism - and every once and a while; I had to step back and remind myself: these are middle schoolers.

So while it's entertaining and an easy read and hooks the reader in quickly... I don't recommend this book. I don't recommend the series. Especially for girls and female-identifying readers in middle school - this sets such a terrible behavioral precedent. Lessons are not learned, not really. In book two, all the characters go back to being nasty to each other. And they do this for a dozen more books. There are better books with more complex characters and storylines out there. show less

I was genuinely (good griefedly) amused by this book. These girls are so much fun to follow, I think I'll keep reading the sequels. Maybe it's the seriousness with which they take all of their own drama that is so amusing, I'm not quite sure. Even so, I like the way that Lisi Harrison develops her characters and plot. I like the way she can pack so much action between these girls into such a short span of time and hold my attention. I find it interesting how my loyalty to each of the characters ebbs and flows like some sort of ying/yang balancing thing. Claire is so full of gutsy determination inspite of her plain and wispy self. Yet at times, she just takes on too much revenge to keep me on her side. And yes, the revenge is an accurate show more reflection of Claire's personality. I find myself laughing at the character of Massie. She is so easy to hate and love at the same time. The book takes language/situations/contemporary life as it today and brings it to a whole new level by adding the ritzy "Westchester" element. So much fun! show less

I really didn't like this book. I thought I would like it, because it seemed to get a fairly good reception from others (YALSA even chose it as a quick-pick for YA readers). But this is honestly one of the worst books I've ever read.

The biggest problem I have is that I don't think it gives pre-teens and teens enough credit. Every single character in this book is superficial, even Claire, who is supposedly the average, normal sort of girl. To me, they all seemed to be different versions the same character. They're all petty and selfish; they all only care about boys, make-up, and clothes. What about activities? Favorite TV shows? Books? Granted, Massie rides horses, but right away this activity turns into a device to attract an older show more boy. What I love about YA is that it shows that just like adults, young adults are complex people. They have varied interests and they have real problems. This book doesn't portray that at all. The characters are down-right mean and don't show significant growth throughout to redeem themselves by the end.

Also, the stuff they have to deal with is trivial. For example, Massie doesn't want to be friends with the new girl, but her parents are trying to force her to be nice. I don't see why or how we're supposed to relate to such an awful character. Then there's Claire who is the new girl and would have a legitimate problem about trying to fit in and be friends with Massie, but then she ruins it by playing horrible pranks on Massie and her friends and trying to fit in with them even after she realizes how awful they are.

There are some redeeming factors, though these don't make up for all the bad stuff in this book. The writing itself isn't bad and it's a quick, easy read. Also, there are some funny moments that don't have anything to do with mean-spirited pranks. At moments I thought we were going to see into a deeper side of the characters, but these moments were fleeting and didn't follow through. Maybe they are more fully developed in later books, but from what I've skimmed through, I doubt it. show less

The Clique does a good job of shining a spotlight on the shallowness of adolescent popularity as well as the vulnerability of young girls who seem to be the most confident and sure of themselves. This novel also effectively and realistically shows how an otherwise sensible 7th grader like Claire can be fascinated by and want to be friends with girls in a clique who are openly disdainful of her. Young adults can recognize their own social structures in this book. There are, however, some situations that, while entertaining, stretch the book’s credibility, such as when Massie’s friends turn on her and instantly become best friends with Claire solely on the basis of a few IMs Clair faked.

Massie Block's ultimate goal is complete popularity. The girls at school want to be her with her perfect house and designer fashions. Then Massie finds out that an old friend of her dad's is bringing his family to live with them because they've fallen on hard times. Claire moves into the guesthouse and Massie is Not Happy about it. Although Claire is perfectly nice, Massie lets her know that they will Not be friends. Massie, after all, has an image to uphold. Through some scheming, backstabbing, and tons of designer-name-dropping, Claire tries to figure out who her real friends are... if she can find any!

A fairly entertaining read, at first I didn't like any of the characters, but Claire grew on me by the novel's end. Don't hesitate to show more give these to your middle schoolers. Although they are not about nice girls and they do have lots of superficial brand name dropping, there are no sexual or drug references. Compared to others in this vein, they are squeaky clean! show less

A perfect read for the middle school girl who is looking for an updated version of sweet valley high. The Clique is the first book in an entertaining series focusing on exaggerated realities many young girls face today regarding, clothes, phones and friends. What else is there in a young girl's life? Oh, but of course... boys!