The Luxe

Reader reviewed by Krystel

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen is a fantastically written story. I love historical fiction and this is the best one I've read so far. It really shows how the teenagers and young adults over  a century ago are just like teens and young adults today.

Reader reviewed by Agustina Gonzalez

Gossip Girl meets the 19 century.

The story starts with the funeral of Elizabeth Holland, New Yorks sweetheart. Not knowing its a made-up lie, so she could escape and runway with her true love, William Keller. Penelope Hayes, best friends and enemy of Elizabeth, want anything more then to marry Henry Schoonmaker. Diana Holland, Elizabeths young and rebellious sister, who longs for adventure and romance. And later an affair with Henry, her sisters fiancé. And Lina Bround, Elizabeths maid, who envies her for the love of William.

Luxe is the perfect title for this book. While it does has some similarities to Gossip Girl. A way one of the books that I feel in love it. I couldnt put it down. Diana and Henry is my favorite couples and characters. Their have familiar characterized to Blair and Chuck form Gossip Girl, the TV show and the book.

I cant wait to read the next book.

Reader reviewed by Mary

Think Manhattan 1899 what do you see? Elegant carriages, pulled by matching horses with docked tails, snapping their legs high; off to some exquisite ball held for and by the rich. Smartly dressed coachmen help well-born young ladies in volumous dresses down from the plush box. Its all an act, and everyone knows so, but under silent agreement, pretend they dont.

 

Penelope Hayes life is going just as planned and believe me, it is planned. From her early youth she conspired and manipulated to get precisely what she wants money, a life of luxury, and a certain Henry Schoonmaker. And it all seems to be going precisely as she wanted. So when her not-so-best-friend, Elizabeth Holland, returns from oversees and is suddenly engaged to the very man Penelope was sure she would some day wed, she decides that she will not lose her Henry without a fight. Meanwhile, Henry has fallen for spunky and beautiful Diana Holland, Elizabeths younger sister. Diana feels the same way, but is somewhat torn between love and a sisters loyalty. Yet Elizabeth does not want to marry Henry she is, in fact, in love with Will Keller, her familys coachman. So how will these young teens ever untangle their dramatic lives? A sudden, mysterious, and planned death throws all their lives off course.

 

Reader reviewed by Olivia

The Luxe was truly and really fascinating. It's set in the nineteen century in New York. Where there are a lot of scandals, gossip and notorious boys after pretty girls. The books takes place in many point of views. I really enjoyed Diana's. She would have to be my favorite character. I loved how she acted. She didn't want to be all prim and proper like her older sister Elizabeth. She was more tom boyish and fun. Although, I really liked Elizabeth. And how Elizabeth had her own struggles that she hid from everybody. She had nowhere to turn too when she was caught between helping her family or being with the person she loved.

I can honestly say that I hate Penelope. She is a fake and a liar just like Diana said at the end. I also really don't like Lina. Or Miss Carolina as she goes by at the end. But the only reason why I don't like her because I don't like how kingly she is to Will. Sorry, but I really want Elizabeth and Will to be together. And really hope that she finds him in the next book. I also hope that Diana will end up with Henry and put Penelope in her place which is a low class scum. Haha.

But at any rate, The Luxe was everything that I hoped it would be. And can't wait to read the next one Rumors. I totally recommend it to people who really enjoyed A Great and Terrible Beauty.

Reader reviewed by Vanessa

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 Manhattans social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York Citys elite is far from secure, suddenly everyonefrom the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broudthreatens Elizabeths and Dianas 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 citys 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 Manhattans 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. (From Jacket Flap).

The Luxe was an exceptional book and I am glad I spent my $17 on it because I got my moneys worth and more. My favorite character is Elizabeth, hands-down. Elizabeth has the most heartbreaking dilemma in the book. What comes first? Family or true love? I felt torn and not even I could put myself in Elizabeths shoes to decide what to do. The characters were very different (some high-class and some low) and they were all facing different problems (love, family, and money). It made me think to myself how glad I am that I wasnt born in their time. At first I was really surprised, the vocabulary is certainly something bigger than Ive been challenging myself lately but then I just got used to it. I loved that it was told in third person, because then it was like I was up-above them (in a pretty little blue cloud, also) and hearing their thoughts about everything. Every chapter flowed amazingly, I was never bored. Actually, most times I kept telling myself to stop reading (when it got to really high climaxes) and was supposed to be sleeping. The plot is very unique for I have never read a historical fiction novel& there wasnt many true historical facts but you can still sense you are no where near our time. The ending was magical (and such a cliffhanger!), I need Rumors ASAP. I cant stop writing because I have so much I liked about this book to say& but I would like to speak my mind about the spoilers. So just know YOU HAVE TO GET THIS ONE! (May I add, I shed a tear or two at the end because it was so great?)

Reposted from whatvanessareads.wordpress.com

Reader reviewed by Megan

THE LUXE is set in the glittering and decadent world of turn-of-the-century New York, where romance and intrigue rule the lives of society's elite. Elizabeth and Diana Holland are daughters of one of New York's oldest and most respected families. But when their life of luxury is threatened by the death of their father, Elizabeth must make a marriage of convenience in order to secure her family's financial future.

Her finance is Henry Schoonmaker, a notorious rake, who is also the scion of a rich and respectable family. Little does Elizabeth know that her best friend --- the flashy and provocative Penelope Hayes --- is one of Henry's lovers and had hoped to secure Henry's affection for herself. Elizabeth's engagement is further complicated by her own secret love affair with Will Keller, a family servant who grew up alongside Elizabeth in the Holland household.

Henry --- who is forced into the engagement by his overbearing and ambitious father --- has some secrets of his own, including a growing affection for Elizabeth's sister Diana. Their involvement offers some of the book's sweetest and most romantic moments, untainted by the societal expectations or rivalry that characterizes many of the other relationships.

THE LUXE also offers some glimpses into the serving class of New York's Gilded Age, including Lina, Elizabeth's envious and duplicitous maid. Lina discovers Elizabeth's clandestine romance and decides to use the knowledge for her own social and financial gain. She, in turn, is seduced by a shopboy, Tristan Wrigley, who --- in one of the books many memorable scenes --- takes Lina to a bar in the Bowery, a district infamous for its "groggeries, pawnbrokers, brothels, and dangerous characters."

Author Anna Godbersens excellent historical research makes the Gilded Age more than just a backdrop to the novel. THE LUXE is studded with tidbits of historical trivia and events, while her characters are influenced by the biographies of well-known socialites from the time. Godbersens descriptions of clothing and interiors add vibrancy to a world often pictured in the sepia tones of old photographs. But her plot owes more to the scandalous 19th-century newspaper serials than it does the serious drawing room reflections of Edith Wharton. The fact that THE LUXE begins with the disappearance and assumed death of one of the book's central characters only adds mystery to the authors deliciously dishy melodrama.

Reader reviewed by Holly

This book is AMAZiNG! It starts out with a Obit of Elizabeth Holland. How could this wonderful, beautiful girl die?

So starts the story and it's a good one! It's set in the 1800's. Elizabeth has everything she could want. She's rich and beautiful. Gets to go to the best parties and has best friends..or so she thinks. She all of a sudden gets sucked into an arranged marrage with a boy that her best friend wants. She's upset and doesn't know what to do, because she's in love with someone else.

The is a wonderful book! I would pick it up! AND there's a sequal coming out in June!!

Reader reviewed by Kristin

Beautiful people wearing beautiful dresses. The wannabes. Twisted love triangles. New York City. Someone following the going-ons of these people.

Sounds exactly like Gossip Girl, right?
Well, it's not. It's actually a new (dare I say, better) series called The Luxe, which is set in Manhattan in 1899.

Although it seems like this book would be outdated and boring (due to its timeperiod), it actually is just as intruiging and interesting if not more because it shows how people, in ANY time period, go through the same things like forced marriage, fitting in, intense love triangles, and money problems.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could NOT put it down! I empathized with many of the characters except Penelope. The extremely tangled up pentagle (maybe even a sextagle which is 6) kept me guessing the ending the entire time. Plus, the boys sounded amazing.

The ending...wow. Did not really expect that. All I can say is I CANNOT wait for the sequel!

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Wow, this novel was so amazing. I probably don't even have to say that, but seriously, this was one of the best books I've read in a while.


The Luxe is filled with scandal, forbidden love, intrigue, and the perks of living in New York's high society in 1899. Lives are dictated by the laws of proper society. Thus, most of the main characters in The Luxe live their lives unhappily.


The novel starts off with the death of one of the main characters, Elizabeth Holland, and then flashes back to the events before this questionable death. As you read the story, you are constantly kept guessing who was the cause of this beautiful girl's death.


A main theme in The Luxe is happiness. However, many characters are torn between who the should please, others or themselves. This leads to the main conflict in the story, which is a complicated tangle of love. Throughout the story, the main characters learns about themselves and their deepest desires.


Like I said before, The Luxe is one of the best novels of the year. There's a little bit of something for everyone. It's going on my list of favorite books right next to the Twilight series. I would recommend this book to everyone, especially those who are fans of the Great and Terrible Beauty series.


But that's not the best news. Anna Godbersen is planning to publish a sequel, Rumors, in the summer of 2008. I'm looking forward to it!

Reader reviewed by The Story Siren

Beautiful Elizabeth Holland, lovely, prim, proper and of course a lady. Too bad she is dead. The story opens to a dreary day in late 19th century New York at the funeral of Miss Elizabeth Holland, the exact day in which she was to be wed.


Then time flashes back and we are taken through the events that ultimately lead to the death of Elizabeth.


Sisters Elizabeth and Diana couldnt be more different. Elizabeth, the oldest, has always had the most pressure put on her to be a proper lady, to watch everything she says, does, and even wears. Diana is of course the opposite. She is the romantic, and she is wonderfully eclectic and confident in her ways.


When Elizabeth learns that her familys welfare is in jeopardy she agrees to wed Henry Schoonmaker, a well-known playboy and heartbreaker, even though she loves another. Henry himself agrees to marry Elizabeth only so he will not be disinherited of his fathers fortune. At the night of her engagement announcement, her "best friend" Penelope Hayes reveals that she, herself is in love with Henry. This is the start of Penelopes jealousy and betrayal to take down her biggest and only rival. Not to mention, Diana, who finds herself smitten with the elusive Henry, as well. Henry of course finds himself falling in love, finally, but not with his betrothed. Elizabeth struggles with her own happiness and the welfare of her family.
Throw in a jealous maid that knows too much and you have yourself a full-blown scandal!


I loved The Luxe. It had everything a good story should. Mystery, humor, romance, and fun! I felt for Elizabeth and her constant struggle within herself, and having nowhere to turn. I loathed Penelope and only wished she had been the one to fall in the Hudson. The Luxe was enjoyable and entertaining. If you like Gossip Girls or even A Great and Terrible Beauty, I think that you would enjoy this book. Even more good news. It seems that Anna Godbersen will be releasing a sequel to The Luxe in the summer of 2008 entitled Rumors.