The Luxe (Luxe, #1)
by Anna Godbersen
by Anna Godbersen
Pages: 433
Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone–from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud–threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future. With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear… In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.
I had heard good reviews for this book thanks to my friends on the Nest Book Club and Jessica over at Reading is Sexy. Unfortunately, alot of other people must have heard these same reviews, because I had to wait forever to get it from the library. I agree completely with the good words this book has received. To me, it was almost like reading today’s gossip magazines, but in a more fashionable era. (Think the Astor family and you’ll have the perfect picture)
I usually have a hard time reading about people in the upper echelon of society because it is so drastically different from my upbringing that I can’t seem to find any common ground with the characters. This wasn’t the case at all with this book. It is so beautifully written that I found myself burning through the pages wanting to know what was around the next corner. It wasn’t the most well-executed mystery I’ve ever read, but it was well worth it. The ending wasn’t a huge surprise, but it was totally what I wanted so I was okay with it. Plus, how can you NOT love a book with a cover like this? If only every girl owned a dress like that, the world would be a better place. This is coming from a complete NON girly-girl!