Wentworth Hall

Feb 19, 2013 Kate rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, young-adult

This came very close to ending up on the abandoned shelf, and the only reason I pushed through was because I'd spent the money and it was the only thing on my phone to read in court this morning. This book was not written so much as it was manufactured. My problems with it were many.

1) Editing - Had I submitted this to an agent, it would have been rejected on sheer number of typos and tense changes alone. Not to mention the continuity errors, some of which occurred in the first five pages. The n...more This came very close to ending up on the abandoned shelf, and the only reason I pushed through was because I'd spent the money and it was the only thing on my phone to read in court this morning. This book was not written so much as it was manufactured. My problems with it were many.

1) Editing - Had I submitted this to an agent, it would have been rejected on sheer number of typos and tense changes alone. Not to mention the continuity errors, some of which occurred in the first five pages. The number of basic proof-reading mistakes was pretty appalling considering I spent ten bucks of my actual money for this book. It's ridiculous to think something that is given the editing thoroughness of a high school sophomore at 6am after pulling an all-nighter to write a term paper from scratch was sent out by a publisher.

2) Research - Had any one of the ghost writers of this book actually watched an episode of Downton Abbey, they could have corrected many of these details. First, the titles. Robert Crawley is not Lord Crawley. He is the Earl of Grantham, so he is The Right Honourable Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, or Lord Grantham. If a family has the surname of Darlington, it is not Lord Darlington. We're never given a rank for Douchebag Darlington, but assume he's an Earl (which would make sense as this is a ripoff of Downton). It would then be The Right Honourable Douchebag Darlington, Earl of title. But we're never told that title. Then there's the actual setup of the house. There is one butler, so never a head butler. They kept referring to him as Percival (or once as Perceval), which I suppose could be a last name but seems much more like a first name to me. At any rate, it should be Mr. Percival, especially amongst the staff.

3) The plot - And by the plot, I mean the fifteen random things going on all at once. How many secrets does one 155 page book need!? Not to mention that they were so blatantly obvious that you were basically slapped in the face with them. Combined with its tell don't show philosophy, this book read like the above mentioned sophomore's term paper. Everything was all over the place with nothing to tie it together. Too many points of view meant that none of the characters got their due. Eliminate the plots of the newly arrived orphan heirs and give more time to the characters the reader is supposed to care about. Or, better yet, eliminate the damn gossip pages. They were neither funny nor relevant, making them time wasters I wanted to skim. They slowed the pace down and diluted things beyond an already ridiculous level. I could really give the pacing it's own subpart but saying that it's terrible and all over the place will suffice, I think.

4) Because I'm thinking of it now, originality. This book is not only a clear attempt to capitalize on Downton Abbey's success, it is also a retread of both the Luxe books and the Flappers series. It brought nothing new whatsoever.

5) Characters - There were, point blank, too many with too much going on in their lives. Had this been Lila's book or Maggie's or Nora's, or maybe one sister and one servant, this could have been a different book because I'd know something more about them than what's on the very surface. I didn't get to know any of the characters, I was just told about them.

Really, I feel like an idiot. I picked this book up and knew it would probably have some of these faults, but not to the degree that it had. It almost insults your intelligence, how badly written and atrociously edited it was. Ultimately, I just feel like a dupe for even buying it in the first place.(less)

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Jan 06, 2012 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist added it · review of another edition

I originally wasn't planning on reading this book because I assumed it would be like a turn-of-the-century version of "Gossip Girl." Or, you know, another one of those attempt-to-rewrite-history-by-modernizing-every-character books that authors like Anna Godberson are so fond of writing...

And you know, Wentworth Hall may be all those things, but after becoming completely OBSESSED with the awesomeness that is "Downton Abbey," I gotta at least give it a try!

So when I saw Wentworth Hall again, thi...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Elle! rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lovers of Historical Victorian Period, The Luxe

Recommended to Elle! by: Goodreads -_-

Shelves: yawn, ya, teens, romance, purple-prose, not-my-style, boring, hell-no

Don't judge a book by it's beautifully photographed cover....And definitely don't judge a book by the man on the cover... I know that now. -_-

Just look at the guy, isn't he gorgeous?!!!! Enough drooling. To my review! I despised this book , it was so boring! But to be fair, I'll post a summary and try not to be bias if I can stay up that long to write one because this was like Ambien. But the cover...That delicious cover....*steam rises from the mans face*

First Sentence: Maggie Darlington rolled...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Wigs rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to like this. I really did. I love Downton Abbey and I was hoping that this might be guilty pleasure reading.

But halfway through, this really was me:

The characters are simply remixed versions of what you already see in Downton Abbey. Maggie is the Mary character. Michael is the Branson character. Lila is Sybil and Edith blended into one. The parents are the same. And while there's a new story layered over it, it has no depth and uses some of the elements the show already had. Just worse...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, read2012, ya, yahf-challenge

Wentworth Hall is very similar in tone to The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen. It is light historical fiction that features family drama, gossip, and romance. Wentworth Hall also taps into the popularity of the Downton Abbey craze with its early 20th Century setting and focus on the upstairs/downstairs relationship between the aristocracy and their servants. The story is told through the point of view of multiple characters including Maggie Darlington, her sister Lila, the maid Nora, new nanny The...more
Wentworth Hall is very similar in tone to The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen. It is light historical fiction that features family drama, gossip, and romance. Wentworth Hall also taps into the popularity of the Downton Abbey craze with its early 20th Century setting and focus on the upstairs/downstairs relationship between the aristocracy and their servants. The story is told through the point of view of multiple characters including Maggie Darlington, her sister Lila, the maid Nora, new nanny Therese, and the groom Michael. I much preferred the chapters from Maggie's POV. I liked Maggie and even her sister Lila though she annoyed me at first. I also liked opinionated Nora and it was nice getting the perspective of those below stairs.

Having multiple narrators should have given us greater insight into the characters but it didn't quite work that way. Though I liked them, characters are not well developed with perhaps the exception of Maggie. The other characters are either likable or horrid but I didn't get the sense that I really got to know them. I think if the story were told from the perspective of only a few characters, it would have been stronger and if more space had been given to the characters rather than other things like the parody, the novel would have been much better. I also didn't like that the "secrets" were so easy to figure out, the gimmick of including the newspaper parodies of the Worthless family became incredibly annoying (they should have been shorter and fewer in number), certain of the characters just seemed to disappear from the narrative, and the threads of the story did not wrap up very plausibly. In fact it ended so abruptly that it took me by surprise. The ending was very rushed with an epilogue of sorts tacked on. I am under the impression that this is not a series but perhaps I am wrong.

Still for all its flaws, I found this to be an entertaining book. It didn't completely live up to its potential for me but if there is a sequel, I'd likely pick it up (from the library) just to see what happens next. For readers looking for a YA book with a little more substance to fill that Downton Abbey fix, try the Luxe novels by Anna Godbersen instead.(less)

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May 15, 2012 The Lit Bitch rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

All secrets have a way of coming out in the end.

Every family has their own secrets that they would rather not become public knowledge...but when your family is rich….the gossip columns love nothing better than a juicy family secret.

At Wentworth Hall, while family fortune might be in short supply...juicy secrets are not.

This was a quick fun read! The alluring plot, period, setting, and characters work well together in this novel...and the newspaper satire added humor and pace to the novel. The au...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Library Lady rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-in-2013, young-adult-fiction

First, a question: how many teens are really that interested in "Downton Abbey"? In fact, how many of them actually watch the show? I've racked my brain, trying to find something about the show that would appeal to them, and therefore make books like this a hot commodity and I can come up with nothing. Maybe this is one of those Young Adult books that's really more for the "adult" part of Young Adult. You know, the adults who like to read Young Adult literature. Not that there's anything at all...more First, a question: how many teens are really that interested in "Downton Abbey"? In fact, how many of them actually watch the show? I've racked my brain, trying to find something about the show that would appeal to them, and therefore make books like this a hot commodity and I can come up with nothing. Maybe this is one of those Young Adult books that's really more for the "adult" part of Young Adult. You know, the adults who like to read Young Adult literature. Not that there's anything at all wrong with marketing to that part of the Young Adult literature fan base-- of which I am happily a part of-- I just find it rather perplexing that this books is one of two that I've seen recently attempting to capitalize on the "Downton Abbey" craze in America. ("Cinders and Sapphires" being the other one.)

As for the actual book, oh my was it awful. There were so many typos and tense changes I lost count. Seriously, Simon and Schuster: hire a copy editor. Really. It won't hurt the books in your catalog and it certainly would have helped this one. Also, does the author even like history? Most historical fiction, even the kind that concerns itself more with the social mores and fashion details of history rather than the events-- Anna Godbersen's books, I'm looking at you-- have some historical details that make them work. I'll wholeheartedly admit that I love "The Luxe" series by Anna Godbersen. Yes, they're a bit trashy, but I loved how she took that period in history and made it come alive, much in the same way that Edith Wharton did in "Age of Innocence." When I read the description of this book and some of the professional reviews I had some hope. (Oh Publisher's Weekly reviewer, did you even read the book?) Maybe this would be a historical fiction book like "The Luxe" series only set about a decade later!

But alas, my hopes were dashed within the first 10 pages. The characters, descriptions, and plot were so one-dimensional and predictable I pretty much had all the secrets solved right away. And that hardly ever happens. I was also thrown off by the inclusion of the excerpts from a supposed "satire" about the family published in a local newspaper. I certainly wouldn't call the story satires and there were so many typos and tense changes during those experts it annoyed intensely. I also wondered if this author had done any research AT ALL aside from knowing that the Titanic sank in 1912. There is absolutely no historical detail whatsoever, nothing to make this period of history come alive which is something that I can say for Godbersen's books. She manages to make both turn of the century New York and New York during the Roaring 20's come to vivid life, with characters that certainly aren't perfect but are at least readable. And she does much better descriptions of clothing! (Not that that's important, but it is a big part of her books.)

So if you're a fan of "The Luxe" series or other similar books, don't bother with this one. This is like a poor reader's version. I'm hoping that the other recent book set in this time period, "Cinders and Sapphires" is better. If it isn't, then I'll just hope against hope that Godbersen, or someone like her, comes along and does this fascinating period in history justice.(less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Coranne (The Best Books Ever) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wentworth Hall is a young adult fiction novel set in the early 1900s England. The premise of the story is similar to the show Dowton Abbey. The book is actually advertised and blurbed as being the book to read if you enjoy that PBS series. I thought it was interesting that they actually said on the cover of the book that if you enjoyed the Abbey series, you would enjoy this book. I have found in the past- that is a very dangerous thing to do. In other books that have been compared to the Hunger...more

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May 20, 2012 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

* Hardcover: 288 pages
* Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (May 1, 2012)
* ISBN-10: 1442451963
* Author: Abby Grahame
* Cover art: One of the best of the year.
* Overall rating: ****1/2 stars out of 5
* Obtained: My personal book shelf.

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame

Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.

The prettiest people often have the ugliest secrets…

Eighteen-year-old Maggie Darlington has turned into an entirely different person. The once spirited teen is now passi...more

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May 14, 2013 Steph rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"...with a setting that will thrill Downton Abbey fans," read the cover. Well, what Downton fan could resist?

Turns out, I should have resisted. While the setting was similar to Downton (maybe a little too similar), it wasn't Downton worthy. The plot had many twists and turns, but most of the surprises just jumped out at you from nowhere. Maybe someone could have put the puzzle pieces together, but the clues weren't obvious enough for the reader to realize she was reading about a clue to an upcom...more

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May 17, 2012 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Historical Fiction is by far one of my favorite genres, especially within YA. That love for Historical Fiction has been reinforced by Wentworth Hall. The early 1900's is such a great time period, and Abby really did a beautiful job making everything about Wentworth Hall feel like it was actually part of that time period. And the fact that it takes place in Britain makes it even better.

The story is actually pretty simple, but I didn't feel like that was a negative thing. The heart of this book, i...more Historical Fiction is by far one of my favorite genres, especially within YA. That love for Historical Fiction has been reinforced by Wentworth Hall. The early 1900's is such a great time period, and Abby really did a beautiful job making everything about Wentworth Hall feel like it was actually part of that time period. And the fact that it takes place in Britain makes it even better.

The story is actually pretty simple, but I didn't feel like that was a negative thing. The heart of this book, in my opinion is it's richness. It was such a great reading experience, simply because Abby put so much detail into it and made it to where it felt like you were stepping into this early 1900 estate and experiencing everything that goes on. The reason I say the story is simple, is because a lot of it becomes really predictable early on. The mystery surrounding who is writing the satires, the story behind Baby James those are two very important parts of the story which I was able to figure out very easily with just a few small hints. It in no way ruins the book though. It's still a beautifully written story.

Just like with all setting and time period of Wentworth Hall, the characters are absolutely amazing. Maggie and Michael are great, their story is really complicated but it is really interesting to see how things actually play out between the characters, and to learn about their past. Especially with Teddy having a thing for Maggie. My favorite characters are so easy to chose in this case, Lila and Nora were honestly two of the greatest characters in this book. I am not positive what exactly it is about them that I like so much, I just loved every scene in which they were in. There is a lot of drama between the family, maids, Michael (Stable Hand) and the other characters in this book. But I really felt like it was done really well.

The ending brings back the statement I made about things feeling a little predictable. While not a bad thing, I knew what was coming. I wasn't disappointed with it though. I thought it was a beautiful ending to the book. It was very solid, and made everything end with a good vibe in my opinion. Abby just did an amazing job writing this book, and I was really impressed. And with Wentworth Hall being her first novel, I am even more impressed. It's a really fantastic book, and I hope everyone will check it out if it seems like something you would be interested in. It's a really rich book as far as the Historical aspect goes, but it also feels somewhat light if that makes sense.. I think it would make a great book for someone wanting to try Historical Fiction for the first time.(less)

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Apr 23, 2012 Pamela Foster rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a fun read for young adults who are looking for the same type of upstairs downstairs drama that Downtown Abbey provides. The book follows the coming of age stories of sisters Maggie and Lila Darlington at Wentworth Hall in 1912. We also get a taste of the below stairs lives of the young servants who grew up together in the house and played together with the Darlingtons as children.

The Edwardian period marks the peak of a thousand years of wealth through land, and as we see at Wentworth...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Jem Langford rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: couldn-t-put-down, library-books

Wentworth Hall was certainly....interesting. I thought the storyline was solid and the characters were great but all in all, it was a letdown. The book is way too short to be able to fully elaborate on the characters which were completely flimsy and thin. Michael was stupid, a terrible suitor for Maggie and she was utterly ridiculous. I liked Nora who was down to earth and wonderful girl who is eager for gossip but doesn't gossip around.
Therese was stupid, a ridiculous and useless character as...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Lisa (Badass Bookie) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rating - 3.5

The Short Story? - I can definitely see the similarities to Downton Abbey! Beautifully written and deliciously scandalous, Grahame's YA debut is filled with dirty secrets, secret agendas and unexpected betrayals between the beautiful and the damned. Following the lives of the rich and powerful, Wentworth Hall is your insider's guide to what life is really like behind closed doors. Notoriously twisted, Wentworth Hall is the perfect for those who like their historical fiction with...more Rating - 3.5

The Short Story? - I can definitely see the similarities to Downton Abbey! Beautifully written and deliciously scandalous, Grahame's YA debut is filled with dirty secrets, secret agendas and unexpected betrayals between the beautiful and the damned. Following the lives of the rich and powerful, Wentworth Hall is your insider's guide to what life is really like behind closed doors. Notoriously twisted, Wentworth Hall is the perfect for those who like their historical fiction with a little bit of drama!

The Long Story? - I *really* enjoyed Wentworth Hall but there was this one aspect of the novel that really annoyed me. It was too short. Normally I like short novels but Grahame has created such an amazing premise for the novel, it was such a shame to see it end so soon. It's not even a series! BUT that's just a personal preference thing. Onto the review, Wentworth is a very solid debut that will definitely appeal to fans of both historical fiction and contemporary. If you like scandals, dirty secrets and lots of drama, Wentworth Hall is definitely one to pick up. The length of the novel doesn't really allow much room to "beat around to the bush" so if you like your novels direct and straight to the point, put this one on your radar. There is also a mystery element to the novel that I really enjoyed. The romance wasn't a major part of the novel which seems to be the focus of most historical fiction and I found the lack of romance quite unique. If you're a fan of Anna Godberson's YA novels, Wentworth Hall is right up your alley!

One of the downsides of a short novel is that it doesn't give the author much time to develop characters. In this case, it's not exactly a concern because Wentworth Hall is more plot-based than character-based. However I would have liked to see a little more depth in the characters. One of the things I liked about the novel was how the spotlight was shared among the characters, Wentworth Hall doesn't really have a protagonist, everyone is equal and that was quite original. My favourite characters were probably Therese or Maggie, these two girls were quite developed so I could connect with them, especially Therese. I felt like their personalities were more compatible with mine and that allowed me to understand them better than the other characters. Overall it was a good characterisation, it's definitely not as in depth as other books but it wasn't really a problem in the bigger picture.

Wentworth Hall is one of those novels that have many different plots that interweave into a bigger picture. The plot is detailed and it has all those elements that make a novel enjoyable. A little mystery, drama, betrayal and romance. Filled with delicious scandals and dirty secrets, Wentworth Hall is the insider's story of the not-so-glamourous lives of the beautiful, rich and powerful! If this sounds like anything you would enjoy, check it out!(less)

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Jul 07, 2012 Lora rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-lit

I picked this up because it reminded me of Downton Abbey. I was pleased that as I read it this reminder was confirmed. It's all about a wealthy family in the countryside of England, the Darlingtons, who has recently lost a considerable amount of money. Lord and Lady Darlington are now on a mission to marry off their two daughters to rich husbands to secure their financial future. Obviously these two daughters, Maggie and Lila, are not too happy about being forced into a marriage with older, ugly...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Annabelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm a huge fan of British period dramas, especially Downton Abbey and when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. It promised the secrets and scandals like in the TV show and the book didn't disappoint. The reader views everyone as a suspect, the mystery hangs in the air, the culprit just out of reach from the reader, after all it could be anybody. The author, Abby Grahame brilliantly makes everyone a suspect, they all have their good points and bad points which makes it harder to point out wh...more I'm a huge fan of British period dramas, especially Downton Abbey and when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. It promised the secrets and scandals like in the TV show and the book didn't disappoint. The reader views everyone as a suspect, the mystery hangs in the air, the culprit just out of reach from the reader, after all it could be anybody. The author, Abby Grahame brilliantly makes everyone a suspect, they all have their good points and bad points which makes it harder to point out who was the one behind the mysterious satires in the local paper. The mystery is brilliantly woven through the pages of the novel leaving the reader grasping for clues, so they can make their own assumptions. It was a total hoot reading this book. It was like watching a mystery play out in front of you and you were the detective who had to find the culprit among many suspects, It was brilliant!

Wentworth Hall is home to the Darlington family. Secrets and Scandals whisper through the halls, everyone has something to hide. Maggie returns home from a trip to France, she's been gone a year and now she's grown up and she's as cold as ever. Her younger Sister Lila has been left in the shadows all alone. Nora, the maid is full of gossip and always has her ears ready to listen and get the scoop. Therese the french maid, has a secret of her own. One that could rip the family apart. With so many secrets flying around, it won't be long until the truth is revealed, changing the world the Darlingtons are used to.

The characters were all well fleshed out, each had their mystery backgrounds that will be revealed throughout the novel. Grahame perfectly writes about the gap between different classes and how it affects different peoples lives and how they react to one another. Maggie is who we originally think is the snobby older sister who looks down her nose at everybody but we soon realise that underneath it all she's trying to keep a secret under wraps and it's hard. Inside she's hurting and can't cope much longer. We begin to see how the some of the upper classes had to put on big smiles when really things weren't ever as good as they seemed. Lila, is the younger sister and probably my favourite character. She's the third child always left in the shadows of her siblings. She's treated like a child but she wants to grow up. She struggles to try and make her parents see she is no longer a child. She's ready to become apart of the world and she won't stay in the shadows forever. Her story, even today is very similar to what many people go through. Lots of people have felt stuck in somebodies shadow as the other gets all the limelight. I didn't like the maid Nora, She was such a gossip and although she was friendly with the girls, there was always something off with her for me. Therese the maid is also quiet but her secret is as big as them all, one step out of line and she would be sent packing. This was her last chance. There were many other characters who were equally impressive but I won't ramble on about them.

Instead I shall talk about the period, 1912 which has always been interesting to me. Although we do see it shine in the novel, it wasn't enough as I hoped. I wanted a grand mansion that was at the top of it's game, not a mansion that was falling apart because the family had money problems. I was slightly disappointed with the house, it wasn't as elegantly described as I expected, at all. On the other hand the girls dresses were always described in so much detail it got slightly confusing. I personally thought the year itself, could have shined a lot more in the novel. Alas we did get the problems with the social classes and scandals that could ruin a family but that period in time was full of so much more. For a small example the Titanic, it was mentioned once. At the time it was huge, it had such an impact, I'm sure it would have hit home more. I'm also a slight history geek so many other readers probably won't care about that.

Apart from that Wentworth Hall is a very enjoyable read, full of mystery and suspense that leaves the reader guessing until the very end. It was also a rather easy read, so if you want a light historical YA read this will be perfect. I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to all younger fans of Downton Abbey and similar programs. It truly is a great debut novel, the author transports the reader into Wentworth Hall where the reader walks alongside the characters viewing everyone as a suspect. The twists I didn't even see coming. Thinking about it now I probably could have twigged but I didn't, It's written perfectly so anyone is left guessing until the end. I loved it, it's a great YA historical novel, that will leave the teens wanting to prance around in frilly dresses, waiting for their own happily ever after.
(less)

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Aug 05, 2012 (Sara) Through the Looking Glass rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Whenever I hear about a book set in the Roaring 20’s or early 1900’s, I must read it. That was the main thing that made me read this book. It was also portrayed to be about a family with lots of dark, ugly secrets. I thought, what could be a better combination? It didn’t turn out to be as amazing as I hoped for, but it was still a good read and I’m glad I read it. Any brief trip to the 20’s is great to me!

Wentworth Hall is the title of the book and also the name for an enormous estate owned by t...more Whenever I hear about a book set in the Roaring 20’s or early 1900’s, I must read it. That was the main thing that made me read this book. It was also portrayed to be about a family with lots of dark, ugly secrets. I thought, what could be a better combination? It didn’t turn out to be as amazing as I hoped for, but it was still a good read and I’m glad I read it. Any brief trip to the 20’s is great to me!

Wentworth Hall is the title of the book and also the name for an enormous estate owned by the Darlington family. They are old money, but these days things aren’t looking so good for them financially. The book starts off with Maggie Darlington returning from a year long stay in France. With her new maturity and worldliness, her family notices that she has also grown uncharacteristically indifferent towards everyone. She used to be a fierce horsewoman with a no-nonsense attitude. Her sister Lila and some of the house staff grow curious as to what happened in France to change her so.

Lila, the sixteen year old sister of Maggie, is the baby of the family. While she has matured into a young woman, her parents and everyone seem to think she should still be treated like a little girl. Maggie has always had the spotlight with boys and people in general. As much as Lila tries, guys just fall head over heels in love with Maggie and leave Lila by the wayside.

Nora, the ladies maid to Lila and Maggie, is all about gossiping and learning secrets about the Darlington's and whoever else. The book switches perspectives between most of the main characters, which I didn’t particularly enjoy in this book, but it was okay. Terrible satires about the Darlington family are posted in a newspaper and it could be any one of the family or staff. This was a very mysterious element of the story that kept me guessing!

As for the secrets in Wentworth Hall, they weren’t exactly what I expected. I expected them to be darker, or something. But rest assured, they are definitely juicy and scandalous!

I’ve heard this book heavily compared to the popular British television show, Downton Abbey, and while I like the show better, this book is certainly for fans of the show. It focuses a lot on the house staff as the show does and has secrets galore!

Wentworth Hall was a rather short read. I both liked and didn’t like that. Some details could have been better explained but it ended well. It was a fun and quick read for those of you who like that sort of thing.(less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

This book reminded me of The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen. It seems like the Gossip Girl of the time. I like finding gossip and secrets as much as the next girl, but I like a bit of mystery too. I figured out Maggie’s secret about 40 pages in. I figured out Therese’s about 120 pages in. It made me wonder why nobody in the book figured these out, but maybe they didn’t think these people would do anything like that.
If you flip through the book, you will find the little articles that had been sent...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I brought this book because of an impulse at the bookstore earlier today. I had seen the cover on a blog but I didn't know anything about it. I didn't planned to read it for a while but when I went ton goodrear earlier and saw that the rating was under, I got really curious. I've never read any book(or at least I think so) that had a rating under 3. Since I was so curious, I deciced so start it imidiatly.

I don't have much to say about it. It only took me a few hours to read and I was also doing...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Diane rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british, historical-fiction, romance, washyarg

It’s 1912, the Darlingtons are English nobility fallen into hard times. Lord Darlington is trying to keep up appearances. His elder daughter and wife have just returned from the Continent with his newborn son and French nanny, his younger daughter is puzzled over her sister’s aloof behavior. When satirical articles clearly describing the Darlingtons begin to appear in the local paper, the façade begins to unravel.
This is an easy to read romance for fans of Downton Abby or Jane Austen, without...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-debut-author-challenge, 2012-historical-fiction-challenge

4.5 stars

What a fun read! Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame was almost like a historical Gossip Girl. This book was just a darling to read, and I really enjoyed it. For fans of historical fiction, this is a must read. Even people who haven't given historical fiction a try before should read Wenthworth Hall, as I found it read very easily and almost read more along the lines of a contemporary with the secrets, betrayal, and gossip. And it was just so fun!

There wasn't a lot of depth to the plot, as i...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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I really enjoyed Wentworth Hall. If you loved Downton Abbey or The Luxe series you will love it too!

The thing that drew me in about this book was the whole host of characters all of whom had their own quirks and things that made want to know more about them. I particularly loved Maggie, the elder daughter and seeing her story as her father tried to marry her of the the richest local landowner. I loved the younger daughter Lila and seeing her alternate view to a world were she felt second best fo...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Shelby the Incredible rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“And you thought there were secrets at the Abbey…”

For those of you who are still in the dark after reading that sentence (which appears on the front of Wentworth Hall), it’s a reference to Downton Abbey, the much-talked about British TV show (which I’m sad to say I’ve seen little of, and won’t be seeing too much more of due to, um, inappropriate content *coughcough*). Point is, that sentence, which implies this is a book filled with juicy gossip and whispered secrets, along with the short summar...more “And you thought there were secrets at the Abbey…”

For those of you who are still in the dark after reading that sentence (which appears on the front of Wentworth Hall), it’s a reference to Downton Abbey, the much-talked about British TV show (which I’m sad to say I’ve seen little of, and won’t be seeing too much more of due to, um, inappropriate content *coughcough*). Point is, that sentence, which implies this is a book filled with juicy gossip and whispered secrets, along with the short summary I read, hooked me almost immediately. Not to mention the cover (I fell in cover love yet again!). I just adore it- the four people, who are most likely Therese (or Nora), Maggie, Lila, and Michael, all staring off in different directions. And the girls wearing those gorgeous vintage gowns! Sorry for the gushing, but I’m still fresh with emotion from this book. I’m still kind of inwardly freaking out that someone actually (finally!) took the initiative to add to the unfortunately measly pile which is young adult historical fiction. And I am quite pleased with this new addition.

As with any well-off family in the early 1900s, the Darlingtons are the talk of the town. Well, at least they are for now. Financial trouble rumbles on the horizon, and Wentworth Hall, the centuries-old mansion, is in desperate need of repair, but the family is far more concerned with other issues. Like getting Maggie married off. And entertaining the soon-to-be millionaire Fitzhugh twins. Then there’s this irksome business with the scandalous newspaper articles. Oh, the list goes on and on. As scandal soars, rumors are whispered and secrets are divulged, and much more is at stake than meets the eye.

One thing I loved about this book was that it wasn’t modernized. I’ve read what I call “attempts” at YA historical fiction, and they reek. Badly. Mostly because the author seems to think no one will be interested if she/he writes the historical facts accurately, like they’re supposed to be. So she/he tweaks. And tweaks again. And tweaks some more. Until you don’t have a historical fiction, but a new genre: modernized historical fiction (um, isn’t that an oxymoron?). My point being: Abby doesn’t do this. She may have slipped up now and then with the facts, but she didn’t twist them to make the story more appealing. Besides, who needs more appeal when you have all this lovely, juicy gossip floating around? *grins*

Which leads me to my next point- I simply love Nora. She’s the backbone of the gossip mill at Wentworth Hall, the frontrunner of the grapevine. Her curiosity and the way she thrives on gossip had me chuckling the whole time. Especially at the end, when Therese leaves her the letter: “Dear Nora, if you are reading this, then you have already snooped in my things…” I also like Lila. Yes; silly, naïve, somewhat-childish Lila. The most endearing thing about her was that she reminded me of Lydia from Pride and Prejudice. I felt I didn’t get as much engagement into Maggie’s character, but that’s alright. Michael, the lovesick puppy, was adorable at times, but in other places his dialogue seemed a bit overdramatic and unrealistic. Too flowery and Shakespeare-y. But it didn’t bother me too much; I brush it off as this being Abby’s first novel. The author definitely has potential in writing YA historical fictions, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll bring to the table next! I thoroughly enjoyed Wentworth Hall and recommend it to anyone who’s just beginning to explore this genre, or anyone who’s been dying for another decent YA historical fiction just like I was.

Quick Content Review: *may contain spoilers*
Language: Mild (Only one or two words)
Violence: None- Mild (Lord and Lady Darlington have a heated argument towards the end of the book; Lord D. handles Lady D. a bit roughly and Lady D. slaps him in return.)
Sexual: Mild- Moderate (It’s revealed that Michael and Maggie have a torrid love affair and a child results from a night they spent in the hayloft of the stables. Also, it’s discovered that Lord D. had an affair with a maid and got her pregnant. No details or description.)
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Dec 23, 2012 Brittany (The Book Addict's Guide) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: selective-collective, ya, historical-fiction

3 stars

Very Gossip Girl-esque. It felt a lot like a soap opera.
I actually didn't feel very connected with the characters - It seemed like a lot of them were very basic, cookie-cutter versions of an idea that really could have been developed much more. They need to grow a bit more, to be more well-rounded. I think it could have been a lot better if the author had spent more time developing certain plot points and twisting mysteries into the story instead of silly things - Like, I didn't really c...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Ruby Slippers rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

This book is shallow. Shallow on all fronts. The writing, the characters, the plot, the setting, the dialogue, the emotions, everything about this is shallow. The setting is purely aesthetic, it's obvious that whoever wrote this (whoever S&S hired to write this, that is) didn't do their research. The characters are cardboard, just words on a page, they don't feel like real people. The dialogue is not engaging and weirdly modern. The plot had potential to be completely soap-opera dramatic but...more

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May 16, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult, for-review

If you enjoy Persuasion, Downton Abbey, or even Gossip Girl, you’re going to want to pay attention to this review. Abby Grahame’s debut novel, Wentworth Hall, is a combination of all of the above and more. Filled with themes and story lines that involve the mixing of social classes, lies, deceit, unrequited/lost loves, gossip and more, this book is jam packed from start to finish.

The Darlington family is one of the most powerful families in all of England in the beginning of the twentieth-centur...more If you enjoy Persuasion, Downton Abbey, or even Gossip Girl, you’re going to want to pay attention to this review. Abby Grahame’s debut novel, Wentworth Hall, is a combination of all of the above and more. Filled with themes and story lines that involve the mixing of social classes, lies, deceit, unrequited/lost loves, gossip and more, this book is jam packed from start to finish.

The Darlington family is one of the most powerful families in all of England in the beginning of the twentieth-century. Under their massive estate, Wentworth Hall, all the intricate daily goings-on of all the family members coincide with each other and secret and scandal run amok. Maggie Darlington, the elder sister, has always been known to be more raucous and carefree, yet she is now much more reserved and secretive since returning from her year away. Although her secret is not revealed until the end of the novel, its effects on all the other members of the household are immediate, as the Darlington family fights to save its polished image as it begins to crack amongst whispers in the local media. A series of newspaper articles that are supposedly satirical on the surface seem to be all too similar to the actual lives of the Darlingtons, and soon everyone begins to speculate as to the fate of this famed family. Will they be able to uphold the noble status of their estate? What is Maggie’s secret?

Wentworth Hall can be summed up in one word – glamorous. While the hall itself isn’t, Grahame’s rich writing and fascinating storylines can 100% be described in this way. (For a perfect example of her glamorous writing style, check out the guest post she posted last week here on Austenprose) I’m still surprised that this is Grahame’s debut novel. Her understanding of the culture, most specifically the social aspects, is captivating. Similar to Persuasion and even Downton Abbey, Grahame explores the mixing of social classes using a love story as her plot device. Using the Edwardian Era as the backdrop for her sweeping drama allows her to use the upstairs/downstairs and master/servant mentality to clearly demonstrate her narrative style.

I really enjoyed all of characters different secrets and how they were revealed and unraveled, merging together in the end. It wasn’t difficult for me to figure out what each person was hiding, but I think it’ll be less obvious for the younger crowds that pick this up to read.

My major disappointment was the vagueness of the ending. This young adult novel builds and builds and does resolve itself, but with few details. It’s like going from point A to Z with nothing in the middle. It left me wondering if this was going to be part of a series. If it is in fact scheduled to be part of a series, then the vagueness sets up the plot for future books nicely. Despite this, the splendor of Grahame’s writing combined with the excitement of the plot made me into a big fan of Wentworth Hall. I humbly suggest that it becomes the next addition to your “to read” pile.

Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
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May 30, 2012 Holly P rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, historical-fiction

I just resolved to give YA novels a chance this year so when I was offered the chance to review Wentworth Hall, I decided to give it a go. Though I have not had the pleasure of viewing Downton Abbey (something I need to remedy-and soon!), Wentworth has been described as sort of a DA for the teen crowd. While I don't know if this is quite true since I have yet to see the show, I do know that Wentworth Hall brings fun and a heavy dose of drama to the YA genre.

The Darlingtons of Wentworth are a on...more I just resolved to give YA novels a chance this year so when I was offered the chance to review Wentworth Hall, I decided to give it a go. Though I have not had the pleasure of viewing Downton Abbey (something I need to remedy-and soon!), Wentworth has been described as sort of a DA for the teen crowd. While I don't know if this is quite true since I have yet to see the show, I do know that Wentworth Hall brings fun and a heavy dose of drama to the YA genre.

The Darlingtons of Wentworth are a once great family whose fortunes are on the decline. The story focuses on the two Darlington daughters: Eighteen year old Maggie-the once wild and carefree elder sister who underwent a transformation during her time in Europe that turned her into a serious and reserved young woman, and 16 year old Lila who longs to conquer her shyness and be viewed as the beautiful young lady she is becoming. Everyone at Wentworth Hall has a secret-Maggie, Lila, Therese-the beautiful French maid, Lord and Lady Darlington, even Michael the handsome stable groom! Adding to the drama are the Fitzhugh twins-the rich orphaned offspring of Lord Darlington's recently departed friend who have come to stay at the hall until they turn eighteen and come into their inheritance. I thought Grahame did a good job of showing the inner workings of early 1900's society in England. If your family has an old name, you must do everything you can to keep the appearances of wealth and prestige even if you no longer have the finances to do so. Also the focus on marrying the Darlington girls off in wealthy matches seemed spot on too. I really enjoyed the character of the younger sister Lila and also the Fitzhugh twins-Teddy and Jessica. The intrigue surrounding who was responsible for the scathing satires being written about the Darlington family in the local paper was quite entertaining.

There were a few issues for me while reading though. One is the consistency of Lila. Even though she is supposed to be 16 and desperate for people to view her as more adult, some of her inner dialogues at the beginning of the novel seemed a little juvenile-like something someone younger than 16 would think/feel. She did seem to grow up a bit as the book progressed though. Second, I thought there was a great opportunity missed with the characters of Teddy and Jessica Fitzhugh. I found the gorgeous and entitled Teddy and the snobby mean girl Jessica to be diverting characters who were sorely underutilized. They seemed to fade further into the background as the book went on which I was sorry to see because I thought they could have caused much more havoc if given the chance. Third, I thought the ending was kind of abrupt. The secrets start to unravel, the pace of the book quickens as the characters react, and then the book springs a bit forward in time rather unexpectedly as we are given the conclusions for all the story arcs with the various characters. I would have liked to see the ending fleshed out a bit more. Also since almost all the novel was confined to Wentworth Hall, you don't get a lot of historical content beyond the society circles.

This novel was a quick and enjoyable read. I think it works well for a YA adult audience or for an adult reader looking for something light and fun. It might not be your cup of tea if you're not big on the drama or prefer a lot of historical content though.(less)

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Jun 10, 2012 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, historical-fiction, young-adult

Fans of the great British period drama will love 'Wentworth Hall' which has all the same charm and distinction, along with absolutely gorgeous cover art. I picked this one up to read as soon as it arrived after having been enticed by the description of Downton Abby meets The Luxe. I also adore books which have a historical setting, as does this one which takes place in 1912.

It features the Darlington family of Wentworth Hall - older daughter Maggie who all the men fall in love with, younger sist...more Fans of the great British period drama will love 'Wentworth Hall' which has all the same charm and distinction, along with absolutely gorgeous cover art. I picked this one up to read as soon as it arrived after having been enticed by the description of Downton Abby meets The Luxe. I also adore books which have a historical setting, as does this one which takes place in 1912.

It features the Darlington family of Wentworth Hall - older daughter Maggie who all the men fall in love with, younger sister Lila who feels forever in her shadow, older brother Wes and Mr and Mrs Darlington. As well as seeing events through their eyes, the story also encapsulates the experiences and lives of their servants. It was interesting getting to see what upstairs and downstairs life was like for all the characters and contrasting the privileged life of the rich with that of the poor.

Interspersed throughout the book are articles from The Sussex Courier newspaper. The mini-stories are a satire on the Darlington family and are both scathing and mocking. The big mystery surrounding them is who is the author. I had several guesses but none of them were right. I did think they seemed a bit unnecessary to the main story, although they were quite amusing and fun and illustrated nicely the destruction that gossip could cause.

Reading 'Wentworth Hall' felt at times like watching a soap opera unfold before my eyes with all the characters having a secret or some kind of scandal to hide. As we all know skeletons never remain in the cupboard forever and I knew they were all going to come spilling out at some point.

This was definitely the book for me! There was intrigue and scandal in abundance and secrets set to shock all. 'Wentworth Hall' was a fab read and I finished it in one evening because I was totally hooked. This book is perfect material for a Sunday night television show! As much as I loved it, I was also pleased to see that it was a stand-alone novel so everything was nicely resolved at the end.
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Apr 07, 2013 Cara Ginter rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

I was seriously disappointed with this book. Not at first; at first I was really enjoying it. But the plot twists were incredibly predictable, and I hate predictable twists. It was too short, and the gossip-girl-esque parody newspaper article things were annoying and although they were somewhat important to the plot right at the end of the book, they weren't at all before that. All in all, I though the book started off strong but ended weak. I liked the writing style, but not the plotting, and I...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Katie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was easily one of the worst books I've ever read. I got sucked in by the cover and the claim that it was like Downton Abbey. Not so much. The writing was terrible and had many typos and grammatical mistakes. I'm not even sure how it got published. The plot is terribly boring and contrived, and there are all these secrets that they just come out and tell you midway through. The only reason why I finished it was because it was short and I hate abandoning books. Thank goodness I checked this o...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14290248-wentworth-hall?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342462231l/14290248.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14290248-wentworth-hall?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame[/url]

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