The Luxe (Luxe #1)
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.
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
...moreHardcover, 433 pages
Published
November 20th 2007
by HarperCollins
(first published January 1st 2007)
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The Luxe is about turn of the century New York socialites falling in love and misbehaving. New York's darling debutant, Elizabeth Holland is poised to marry one of the most eligible (and debaucherous) bachelors in the city, but her perfect life is not what it seems.
The Luxe reads like Gossip Girl meets Edith Wharton. Sadly, it has all of the shallowness and poor writing of the former, with little of the intelligence and power of the latter. Godbersen does her best to make the t...more
The Luxe reads like Gossip Girl meets Edith Wharton. Sadly, it has all of the shallowness and poor writing of the former, with little of the intelligence and power of the latter. Godbersen does her best to make the t...more
The Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana, are at the top of the social ladder. When their father dies, the girls move away to get educated about being a proper lady and when they come back, they find out that things don’t look too good for the Holland family. They’re broke. But if Mrs. Holland has anything to say about it, they won’t be, not for long. If Elizabeth can marry Henry Schoonmaker—a man who’s so handsome he has the hearts of all eligible females—their family name won’t be smeared. But...more
It's September 1899 and the Manhattan season is starting off with a bang. Elizabeth Holland, the darling of the high society set, has returned from her year in Paris in time for the first ball of the season, held at her best friend Penelope Hayes' newly finished and incredibly vulgar mansion. Penelope is all about showing herself to the best advantage, and has her sights set on young rake Henry Schoonmaker - but his father has other ideas. Intending to run for mayor the following year, he wants ...more
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 couldn’t be more different. Elizabeth, the oldest, has always had the most press...more
Then time flashes back and we are taken through the events that ultimately lead to the death of Elizabeth.
Sisters Elizabeth and Diana couldn’t be more different. Elizabeth, the oldest, has always had the most press...more
Hmmm. This is an interesting book. It is, as the name implies, very luxe. The gown descriptions are sumptuous, and all the characters are gorgeous, with thick curling hair and full pouty lips. However, I had a hard time figuring out who to root for, as it were. You don't really get deep insights into Elizabeth, ostensibly the heroine, and her handsome lover's thoughts are never known at all. The villainess bitchy girl, the little sister, the rich cad, all get more detailed character develo...more
So I'd be lying if I said I was oozing with excitement to read this book. In fact, I put off reading it for just about a year. A really good friend of mine recommended me this book and told me I'd absolutely love it but when I bought the book, I let it gather dust in the corner of my bookshelf.
There are two reasons why I put off reading this for so long: One, because its a Historical Romance. I cannot even begin to tell people how much I HATE (okay, hate is a strong word, but seriou...more
There are two reasons why I put off reading this for so long: One, because its a Historical Romance. I cannot even begin to tell people how much I HATE (okay, hate is a strong word, but seriou...more
I hate, hate anachronisms. Anachronistic characters, situations and objects truly set me off and leave me seething, preparing me to write hate mail to the author by lack of research and inconsistency in plot. The Luxe certainly does seep of anachronisms. All the characters- Diana, Elizabeth, Penelope,Henry and Lena commit actions that would be unheard of in the Gilded Age, in the year 1889 when propriety and restricted conventions was the norm.
Yet, I clearly gave this book a four...more
Yet, I clearly gave this book a four...more
One big love triangle between Henry Schoonmaker, Diana Holland, Will Kellar, Elizabeth Holland, Penelope Hayes, Lina Broad, and Teddy. Elizabeth is having an affair with her coachmen, Will. Naturally their forbiden love is kept a secret. The Holland family begins losing money, forcing Elizabeth into an engagment with the charming casanova, Henry Schonnmocker. There's a few problems with that however:Penelope has a delusional infatuation with Henry but Henry is having a love struck affair with El...more
If you didn't think the nineteenth century was full of drama then think again. Life in New York in 1899 was very eventful. At least it was for the very wealthy. Elizabeth Holland has been a perfect daughter her entire nineteen years of life. She has been groomed for years to be perfect - to talk when she was supposed to, to receive visitors on Sundays, and always appear happy no matter when she was feeling on the inside. People in New York expect her to marry well and continue the tradition...more
Another Christmas gift, and one I wanted to read very much when it first came out, but shied away from somewhat after reading several reviews comparing it to the Gossip Girl series and stating that the writing left rather a lot to be desired. Oh, I thought sadly. That's too bad. It looked better than that. So I just admired the cover from afar, and that of the sequel Rumors. I probably would have just gone on ignoring the series if my mom hadn't given me a copy of The Luxe. I'm glad she did.
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Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com
One of the elite, one of the daughters of New York society, is dead.
In life, the lovely and fair Elizabeth Holland is everything a young, turn-of-the-century girl of her position ought to be. But, it's not easy to be proper and mannerly all the time, and a handsome servant who lives in the stable gets to see more of her than anyone else -- much, much more.
No one knows of their secret affair, except Miss Holland...more
One of the elite, one of the daughters of New York society, is dead.
In life, the lovely and fair Elizabeth Holland is everything a young, turn-of-the-century girl of her position ought to be. But, it's not easy to be proper and mannerly all the time, and a handsome servant who lives in the stable gets to see more of her than anyone else -- much, much more.
No one knows of their secret affair, except Miss Holland...more
Two sisters, a servant girl, a best friend, and a hot mess of a boy. Throw in two-ish love triangles and you've got The Luxe. I kept reading and reading about this book, just like I had done with Twilight and then decided I just better read the darn book. I'm sure glad I did. What a fun book. It's set in 1899 New York City and alternates the five main characters points of view. I think the alternating viewpoints really made this book for me. I just can't get enough of that. The book ends not unl...more
I hate, hate, HATE books that are suppose to be set in one time period but they have the behavor of someone in a different time period. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that this books was set in the present time. I won't ruin it for anyone who wants to read it... but I was disappointed. I thought "How could such a pretty book not be good?" I always thought that not judging a book by its cover was about ugly books being good, but now I know better.
However, if ...more
However, if ...more
I spent a day and a half with Anna Godbersen and The Luxe. I don't know if I'll be going back forthe other three books. The book only closes one plot and leaves all the others w-i-d-e open. I rarely feel this 'meh' about a book. I don't think it was bad. I also don't think it was historically accurate, which killed some of my enjoyment. I don't like period novels, but if you're going to do something you ought to do it right damn it. We have girls running around for secret midnight affairs, when ...more
I probably should have taken down notes as I read. There are so many characters who were all so busy **naughty-naughty, wink-wink** So to avoid the risk of misnaming a key character, I can best summarize them thus:
One wants only what’s best for herself (seen flirting it up with one known with the initials of HS). Another wants to save her family from financial ruin and certain social ostracism (seen in a compromising position with the coach man, was it? Also known to be engaged to a...more
One wants only what’s best for herself (seen flirting it up with one known with the initials of HS). Another wants to save her family from financial ruin and certain social ostracism (seen in a compromising position with the coach man, was it? Also known to be engaged to a...more
Tatiana
rated it
Recommends it for:
fans of "Gossip Girls" and such
Recommended to Tatiana by:
self-inflicted out of morbid curiosity
Sorry, but I can't go on reading this drivel. Maybe I am too spoiled by Edith Wharton and know too much about Gilded Age mores to enjoy this book. I know that young men and women of that time simply do not behave, talk, or live the way Godbersen portrays in her books. If you take the historical setting out of the story, what's left is a who-will-hook-up-with-who kind of trash. If I ever want to read that, I'll pick up Gossip Girls.
Beautiful cover though...
Beautiful cover though...
OK, I think I'm sending this one back to the library unfinished. When I am halfway through a book and honestly don't much care what happens to anyone in it, I know it's a wash! I had some high hopes for this series based on good reviews from friends, but it really just didn't do much for me. I have very little interest in reading about catty, shallow characters who do scandalous things just for the sake of sensationalism. All of the characters and their relationships felt very flat to me, and I ...more
The Luxe is a story of high society girls who aren't as nice as they seem. Back when NYC still had horse drawn carriages as the main mode of transportation and Van Wyk was the mayor not a highway in Queens. Love triangles add to secrets that may bring to the demise of the social lives of some of the characters. I thought this book was immensly entertaining. At first it went slow for me but after the first three chapters I was into it. I was caught up in the lavish descriptions of their dresses ...more
Můj názor:
Autorka
Anna Godbersen nám v této knize představí život Newyorské smetánky konce 19. století, a to, že být členem starých a vážených rodin, na které se obrací veškerá pozornost jak tisku, tak celého města nemusí být vždy výhrou. Autorce se podařilo vykreslit dobu a vdechnout život mnoha charakterům...
Postavy
V této knize máme hned čtyři dívky, kolem kterých se příběh točí. Miláčka New Yorku – Elizabeth Hollandovou, energickou královnu večírků - Penelopu Haye...more
Autorka
Anna Godbersen nám v této knize představí život Newyorské smetánky konce 19. století, a to, že být členem starých a vážených rodin, na které se obrací veškerá pozornost jak tisku, tak celého města nemusí být vždy výhrou. Autorce se podařilo vykreslit dobu a vdechnout život mnoha charakterům...
Postavy
V této knize máme hned čtyři dívky, kolem kterých se příběh točí. Miláčka New Yorku – Elizabeth Hollandovou, energickou královnu večírků - Penelopu Haye...more
I can't believe that I'm about to rate a book based on the characters over the story itself.
The Luxe as a read felt like historical fiction meets Gossip Girls. The historical part was great - the Gossip Girls part - not as much.
However, I really warmed up to flow of the story as it moved along past my initial first reaction. Sure, this book is about high society in the late 19th century. It's absolutely girly and gossipy and filled with mock scandal. Unashamedly, I fo...more
The Luxe as a read felt like historical fiction meets Gossip Girls. The historical part was great - the Gossip Girls part - not as much.
However, I really warmed up to flow of the story as it moved along past my initial first reaction. Sure, this book is about high society in the late 19th century. It's absolutely girly and gossipy and filled with mock scandal. Unashamedly, I fo...more
Well, Godbersen is no Edith Wharton, but who is? I went into this book expecting it to read like historical fiction with a bit of scandalous intrigue, but got Gossip Girl in a Victorian setting instead.
Godbersen mentions clothing and internal decoration about a thousand times too many for my taste. I really don't care to know every detail about every outfit the characters are wearing, but I allowed it as these women are just sad little cutouts, and it would seem natural for their t...more
Godbersen mentions clothing and internal decoration about a thousand times too many for my taste. I really don't care to know every detail about every outfit the characters are wearing, but I allowed it as these women are just sad little cutouts, and it would seem natural for their t...more
Nineteenth century Manhattan has never been portrayed so catty or dissolute as it is in this young adult novel. Like Gossip Girl, but with bigger frocks, Anna Godberson’s The Luxe tells the story of the beautiful Holland sisters, their Queen Bee friend Penelope Hayes, and the man they all seem to revolve around, the eligible Henry Schoonmaker. The Hollands are bankrupt, and the only way to save their fortunes before their situation is known, is for the eldest daughter Elizabeth to marry money. C...more
I've seen this book compared to Gossip Girl, and I don't think that's an entirely fair analogy. I can see where it came from; the main characters are well-to-do New Yorkers, and there is an emphasis on beauty and backstabbing. However, it was much better written than GG.
I admit I've only read one GG, inspired to do so because I like the show. I've marveled, in fact, at how the writers of the show managed to get such a well done show out of the source material, because the one that I ...more
I admit I've only read one GG, inspired to do so because I like the show. I've marveled, in fact, at how the writers of the show managed to get such a well done show out of the source material, because the one that I ...more
unfortunately, I left this at home over the weekend, so progress is stalled.
here are my thoughts half-way through, and I don't expect them to change:
1. every review I caught of this made it out to be "gossip girl, 1899"--it's not. the comparison is obvious enough (rich kids, new york...1899...there are even some amazingly parallel characters that would make me mad if I were Cecily von Ziegesar), but it's inaccurate. Gossip Girl, while trashy, and fraught with gross m...more
here are my thoughts half-way through, and I don't expect them to change:
1. every review I caught of this made it out to be "gossip girl, 1899"--it's not. the comparison is obvious enough (rich kids, new york...1899...there are even some amazingly parallel characters that would make me mad if I were Cecily von Ziegesar), but it's inaccurate. Gossip Girl, while trashy, and fraught with gross m...more
First, I can't believe that this is considered Youth Fiction! It definitely read like it was written for a teenage audience, but there was way too much sex, even if it was only ever implied. It was incredibly predictable and the characters were extremely unlikable. Beware, moms of teenage girls, this book was recommended to me as the "next big thing".
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I have been trying to resist this book for awhile now, but I just can't. The cover looks like a big piece of deliciousness. I want to both eat that huge cupcake-lookin' dress and be wearing it. Look at it, seriously! How do you not want to fall asleep. I love rich historical details, but I'm not really a gossip girl fan, so we'll see how this goes. But right now I think I'm completely up for some sweet-frosted-angel-food-cake-dress wearin' society ladies up to no good.
What can I say, I LOVE romance novels. Mes amis say its because I don't have any romance in my life, and that's totally true. :( Anyway, the beginning of this book looked as if it had been written by a fourth grader, but it slowly escalated into an intricate with an ending that fit together like peanut butter and jelly (unless you're allergic). In the end, Diana and Henry were my favorite characters, but I hated Buck, Lina, and most of all Penelope. With Penny still alive, and Elizabeth ''gone "...more
It took a while to really get into this book, but about halfway through, it happened. For the most part, Godbersen was clearly influenced by my favorite American author, Edith Wharton. And Godbersen uses Wharton's world, almost, in her novel. It's turn of the 19th century New York, and it's high society complete with love and betrayal and lies and ... everything. In fact, Godbersen even pays homage to Wharton by including a very close likeness of Wharton herself in the book. Looking forward to t...more
El Templo de las Mil Puertas
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
09-eltemplo,
criticas-literarias
"Anna Godbersen hace su debut en España con su serie The Luxe, título traducido con bastantes libertades como Latidos, y hasta la fecha compuesta por tres libros que narran el tortuoso camino que recorren las tres heroínas para conseguir la felicidad en una sociedad que se rige por unas normas de conducta muy estrictas. Con una primera ojeada al libro vemos que al cruzar el charco ha sufrido un cambio de cara. De tener en la portada a una joven con un elegante vestido de fiesta pasamos a ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Luxe: the Most Predictable Book Ever? | 52 | 105 | Jan 21, 2012 02:17am | |
| Goodreads Librarians: Incorrect Summary | 2 | 18 | Jan 12, 2012 11:51am | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: The Luxe Series | 2 | 5 | Jan 11, 2012 11:19am | |
| The Luxe and Jane Austen | 10 | 57 | Sep 18, 2011 09:10pm |
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Anna Godbersen was born in Berkeley, California, and educated at Barnard College. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband.
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“Don't go looking for boys in the dark
They will say pretty things then
leave you with scars.
Do go looking for boys in the park
For that is where the true gentlemen are.”
—
183 people liked it
They will say pretty things then
leave you with scars.
Do go looking for boys in the park
For that is where the true gentlemen are.”
“There was no pleasure like being envied on a mass scale.”
—
130 people liked it
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