While covering the book series, Janet Malcolm of "The New Yorker" labeled the character "an antiheroine of the first rank," and asserted that "the series belongs to awful Blair, who inspires von Ziegesar's highest flights of comic fancy." She also compared Blair to vintage film and literary figures such as Becky Sharp of "Vanity Fair", and Lizzie Eustace of "The Eustace Diamonds". In addition, several critics have likened Blair to the character Lila Fowler of the earlier "Sweet Valley High" series.