Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Jordana

If you are a girl, aged 13 to 18, and love intrigue, period books, scandal, luxury, romance, illicit affairs, and a mean beyotch or two to hate, READ THIS BOOK.
The Luxe is for people who like this sort of thing, but if you don't I wouldn't tell you to rush to your bookstore/library and get this book.  I couldn't put this book down, and had it finished in 3 days.  The cover is beautiful, there are lavish descriptions of all the nice things rich people had back in 1899, and the story (though predictable) leaves you wanting more.  In criticism: the characters are not really all that likable.  Elizabeth is a bit of a bore, and if she wasn't having an affair she'd be a total sap.  Lina Broud was alright at first, but she is a beyotch in training to the master: beautiful, cunning Penelope Hayes, who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, which is  Henry Schoonmaker (who I think is OK on teh character front, even if he is a man-slut), though he is engaged to Penelopes "BFF" Elizabeth, but Henry is really in love with Elizabeth's little sister Diana (who is the most dimensional and likable character in the whole thing)  The whole situation is pretty screwed up.
Also, I didn't like how EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER had such a lax attitude to premarital sex.  It didn't overtly offend me (I actually thought it was interesting) and the sex wasn't graphic (if you are truly naive you may miss the references) but it just didn't seem realistic to me.
All in all, I enjoyed this book, and will definetly be reading the sequels (which I haven't read yet)