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Envy (Luxe #3)

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 13,206 ratings · 937 reviews

Jealous whispers.

Old rivalries.

New betrayals.

Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South...more

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 405 pages

Published January 27th 2009 by HarperCollins

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Jan 31, 2009 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

12 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2009 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult, 2009

This book was so deliciously addicting, I couldn't put it down. The Luxe series seems to get better with each book, as this one is currently my favorite in the series - I really liked the time spent with all the main characters, even the ones you love to hate. And I am of course on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the next book in this series, Splendor (release date unknown).

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Nov 10, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com

It's 1900 in New York, and scandal and gossip are never far behind.

Elizabeth Holland is back and everyone is awaiting her re-entrance into society. But things are not as they seem in No. 17 Gramercy Park. Elizabeth and her sister, Diana, are both grieving the loss of their loved ones. When the sisters are invited along on a trip to Florida by the newly married Schoonmakers, they decide this is the perfect escape.

Penelope Schoon...more

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Feb 04, 2009 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 20, 2009 Kaykay rated it 4 of 5 stars

OMG! so excited to read this! im a big fan! <3 for: big beautiful dresses, reading about drama, old days, etc.

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Jan 24, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya, historical-fiction

Oh the angst! My heart bleeds. Henry made me cry. Diana made me grit my teeth and Elizabeth made me sigh in exasperation. What's next I ask you?

While this series is ridiculous and completely over the top, it is a fabby guilty pleasure read. I swear the characters, apart from Penelope, are a few grapes short of a bushel, but vati are they entertaining.

Penelope has successfully trapped Henry into marring her, but because she is an evil, scheming wench, he is refusing to bed her, lol. She is certai...more Oh the angst! My heart bleeds. Henry made me cry. Diana made me grit my teeth and Elizabeth made me sigh in exasperation. What's next I ask you?

While this series is ridiculous and completely over the top, it is a fabby guilty pleasure read. I swear the characters, apart from Penelope, are a few grapes short of a bushel, but vati are they entertaining.

Penelope has successfully trapped Henry into marring her, but because she is an evil, scheming wench, he is refusing to bed her, lol. She is certain that if she can destroy Diana's reputation, she can win Henry back, as if she ever had him, and therefore assigning her brother, Grayson, the mission of re-deflowering Diana Holland. (For those of you new to this series, Henry had his way with Diana on a bear skinned rug in Rumors, vair entertaining). Alas, things don't quite work out as Penelope intended, surprise surprise.

Elizabeth is still reeling from Will's death but is finding solace in Teddy Cutting, who just gets cuter by the minute. Sadly, Teddy, completely unaware of his appeal, sets out to war to win the respect and love of Elizabeth, which he was already well on his way of winning. This wouldn't be so bad if Elizabeth wasn't pregnant with Will's child. But she is and therefore ends up marrying Mr. Carnes in Teddy's absence. This caused me a great deal of frustration as I just know that Mr. Carnes is suspect and surely played a part in Will's unfortunate demise. Boo to that. Hopefully Mr. Carnes will meet a bad end and kick the bucket allowing Elizabeth to marry Teddy.

Lina is in lurve with a new character, Leland, and though I can't stand her, I find myself wanting her to nab him. Odd. Even more to my chagrin was that I actually felt sorry for her when her patron died and secretly hoped that he would will her his fortune, which he did. Didn't see that one coming :)

Diana. This character is frustrating to no end as she is quick to jump to conclusions, though I can't blame her, and causes her own troubles by following that hot temper of hers. But I like her, cause I would be a liar if I said that I didn't do the same things myself. I was a bit repulsed that she did the deed with Grayson, as he is described as having eyes that are too close together, and as a result, I was envisioning a #10 session with someone who looked like a fish. Hopefully she can find Henry in book 4 and put that disturbing image to rest.

Henry, oh I still love Henry, though he is incredibly stupid. I was so annoyed with him throughout this book and was nearly ready to throw my copy across the room, but I just couldn't do it, cause I lobes him in spite of his stupidity. Just when I was about to loose all faith in him, he enlists and sends Diana a fabby letter that reduced me to tears, and once again, Henry has earned his way back into my good graces.

Now all I have to decide is whether or not to run out to the store and buy Splendor in hardback or wait a year for it to come out in trade paper. Decisions decisions.
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Feb 08, 2009 Chloe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 11, 2009 Stacey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 11, 2009 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns, bibliocrack

Third Luxe book and my favorite cover to date. Could just be that it's Diana on the cover and she's my favorite character...but I really like the dress. Actually, this is my favorite book of the three as well. And I really wasn't sure it would be. What with Henry and Penelope being...shudder. But this one seemed the most real. People grew up and, in a couple of notable cases, grew spines. Whether or not it will all be too little too late remains to be seen. The fourth (and final) Luxe book, Sple ...more Third Luxe book and my favorite cover to date. Could just be that it's Diana on the cover and she's my favorite character...but I really like the dress. Actually, this is my favorite book of the three as well. And I really wasn't sure it would be. What with Henry and Penelope being...shudder. But this one seemed the most real. People grew up and, in a couple of notable cases, grew spines. Whether or not it will all be too little too late remains to be seen. The fourth (and final) Luxe book, Splendor, is due out in October and will hopefully settle a few things satisfactorily.

Envy begins just a couple of months after the disastrous conclusion to Rumors. Elizabeth is inexplicably back on the scene, but not really there. Diana is floating through a fog of numb and trying to rise above the crushing blows that keep coming her way. Ditto for Henry. Lina is capitalizing on all her success and makes a surprisingly apt romantic choice. And Penelope is Penelope. You just want someone to stash her in a broom closet for Two Seconds so everyone else can take a deep breath and perhaps hatch a plan to put her in her place once and for all. And amid all this, everyone manages to sweep off on a trip to Palm Beach where much of the book takes place.

I liked the change of scenery in this one. Putting everyone together in a Florida beach hotel for several days on end forced them all to interact despite the myriad tensions criss crossing between them. It also provided several quiet moments in which several characters reflected on how they ended up in the nasty mess they're in. It was nice to see some talk of doing the right thing at the cost of short-term (even long-term) happiness. Though I do hope happiness is in the cards for the most deserving (read: Teddy, Elizabeth, Diana, Henry). I liked this one best because it seemed the most natural. Every single character, at one point or another, was able to see beyond themselves for a moment to the people around them. I hope they remember what the view was like. This continues to be a diverting series and I look forward to its conclusion.
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Oct 07, 2011 Laura Ashlee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, audiobooks, young-adult

Review posted 9/14/2011 at EARphoria.

The society girls of New York are back with more intrigue and even more devilish schemes. There’s a certain drama to all of this that I should probably find cliché and overdone, but the truth is I can’t get enough of it. I feel constantly outraged by what these girls have to put up with simply because society says so. It’s been quite a journey for every character and I have one more book left. I was initially wary because I read a spoiler giving me a little i...more Review posted 9/14/2011 at EARphoria.

The society girls of New York are back with more intrigue and even more devilish schemes. There’s a certain drama to all of this that I should probably find cliché and overdone, but the truth is I can’t get enough of it. I feel constantly outraged by what these girls have to put up with simply because society says so. It’s been quite a journey for every character and I have one more book left. I was initially wary because I read a spoiler giving me a little insight to how things end (please, for the love of God, label your spoilers), but I think I’ve finally convinced myself to be excited. Godbersen hasn’t gone easy on these characters thus far. Why should she start now? And after all, I have no doubt people actually faced these sorts of problems in the interest of keeping their good name and their fortunes intact.

If you’re reading this review, I can only hope that you’ve read the previous books so you’ll have some clue what I’m talking about. Also, there will most likely be spoilers of those books, but I’ll refrain from spoiling this one. When Envy begins, everything is a total mess. No one is happy. Well, perhaps Lena is content with how things are going for her, but everyone else is miserable. Elizabeth can barely eat, much less attend the balls and parties, where society has been expecting her. I can’t really blame her after the devastation she suffered at the end of Rumors. Diana’s heart is hardened, but she’s made an interesting friend in a gossip columnist and begins feeding him stories of what she sees and hears while attending social events. Though Penelope thought she won when she ensnared Henry in her trap, things haven’t worked out exactly like she thought, but she’s clever and she puts all sorts of plans into action to assure he stays right where he belongs, with her. I do find myself a little more inclined to like Lina, or at least feel sorry for her when things go wrong. Though she’s a shameless social climber, what does she really have without society’s eye on her? She has her sister, but she can hardly go back to working for the Hollands. Still, I’m not totally sold on her, and I don’t think I’ll actually make up my mind until I finish the series.

I think what has really caught my interest in this series is how different it is from most YA lit. There’s not a ton of historical literature written for teens (at least, not much that I’ve seen). I also love those plot surprises that have thrown me almost every time. This isn’t some story about shiny, happy people who get everything they want because they’re rich. It’s about real, complex humans who rarely get what they want because they’re rich (or they want to be) in a time when money and family connections matter. A lot of things don’t happen the way I want them to, and though this threw me off at first, I’ve come to like that about the series. The outcomes Godbersen writes are probably much more realistic. Just be prepared to listen to a lot of descriptions of the countless gowns they wear and how rich their lips are and that sort of thing. For the most part, I think the descriptions help create the atmosphere of the setting, but it can be annoying to hear about Lina’s beestung lips every five chapters.

Forgive me for being snarky, but I can’t help it. Dear Nina Siemaszko, "ennui" is a French word, and should be pronounced as such. This is the second time you’ve mispronounced that and I can’t believe the people at Harper Audio didn’t edit that. However, I am glad to hear that you’ve learned to pronounce lithe. Sincerely, Laura Ashlee. Seriously, if you make money reading books, I think you should at least know how to pronounce what you’re reading. Those aren’t even difficult words. I know I’m doing this to myself because I keep listening to the audio, but it’s so much faster. I am happy to say that when I’m ready to re-read this series, I have some lovely print copies, and they’re hardcover, which is even better. (less)

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Feb 17, 2009 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, age-ya, historical-fiction

This third installment of the Luxe series was just as good as the first two books. The relationships between the characters are tangled and soap-opera dramatic, but nothing so confusing that I couldn't follow the story line from the first book. As with the first two books, the prologue hints at the ending, but by the time I got to the ending, what I had imagined to be happening was something entirely different - in a good way.

The one nit-picky thing that bugged me was how the author describes C...more

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May 02, 2012 Jeann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Continuing the Lux series, Envy was a fun, frivolous read for me. These New York debutantes certainly don't act like olden day 'ladies' but that's what makes it fun about it. Coming off reading a few apocalyptic/dystopian titles, the contrast in emotion was really stark in this series. They aren't anything deep and meaningful but are good for a light read. It was difficult to see where the author was going with the series early on, but by the time you finish it, some major cliffhangers and twist...more

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Nov 10, 2009 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Nothing happens in this book. It is one long set-up for the next book (which I have heard is the last?). I was only mildly entertained by the change of scenery, but I was mostly annoyed at how none of the characters matured. Please! Penelope is still conniving, Diana is still naive, Elizabeth is still pathetic, Carolina is still clueless, and Henry is still drunk. Am I really supposed to believe that no one suspects the guy Elizabeth ends up marrying of having some kind of ulterior motive? And w...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Fatema rated it 1 of 5 stars

The Luxe is my favorite book among the four books because it had intriguing events, secret relationships, romances, and a promise of a gripping fast paced story. Rumors followed to add spice to the sisters' romantic lives but offered little to the plot. Then Envy and Splendor came to ruin the series for me. It would have been better if the last two books were merged into one and filtered from all the unnecessary events and characters.

SPOILERS AHEAD - continue reading if you read The Luxe (four b...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Maandoe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This series is set in late 1899 mainly features 4 ladies (shown in the book covers above in order: Elizabeth, Penelope, Diana and Carolina) and 2 guys (Henry and Teddy). Instead of commenting on each book, I thought it would be better for me to comment on the overall progression of each girl’s story from book 1 to book 4.

At the start of the first book, the author portrayed Elizabeth as THE premiere catch out of all the ladies in Manhattan. She was described as obedient and a follower but is tra...more This series is set in late 1899 mainly features 4 ladies (shown in the book covers above in order: Elizabeth, Penelope, Diana and Carolina) and 2 guys (Henry and Teddy). Instead of commenting on each book, I thought it would be better for me to comment on the overall progression of each girl’s story from book 1 to book 4.

At the start of the first book, the author portrayed Elizabeth as THE premiere catch out of all the ladies in Manhattan. She was described as obedient and a follower but is trapped in a hopeless affair with her driver, Will. I applaud her in the first book for defying convention and faking her death and running away to be with Will, but i thought she was stupid in book 2 to have gone back to Manhattan for some flimsy reason (well, of course she had to go back or she would have lived happily ever after in just 1 book). I kind of pitied her when Will died, but i wanted to scream at her for being so “pakipot” with Teddy in book 3 (again, the author needed a story to make her life worse). In the end, i’m glad she did get her happy ever after with Teddy who i liked for being so true and loyal to Elizabeth even after the 2 marriages and her baby. I did liked the side plot about the bad uncle and her father though.

Penelope’s character was so typical evil girl who thinks she’s so hot and spends her time scheming, seducing and manipulating people left and right (esp Henry). Though i felt pity for her for being stuck in a loveless marriage (serves her right though for forcing a guy who doesn’t love you to marry you), I laughed out loud when she was duped by the visiting prince (haha!). But i think the author forgot to give her character some maturity – i felt like she stayed the same for all 4 books without character development, which was sad, she could have been a better character if the author gave some reason why she was such a bitch.

I loved Diana’s story out of the 4, mostly because I thought she was the prettiest and gutsiest and i just love secret love affairs (ala Bella-Edward, Schuyler-Jack) but i was really really disappointed at the ending of her story! On one hand, i thought it was reasonable for Diana to leave Henry (Henry did disappoint her in every single book) but did she do it because she gave up? or it was revenge for Henry? or she was tired of the games? I dont know. I thought it was lame that she wanted to discover and try new things as a reason to say no to Henry’s proposal. Did she really choose adventure over her love for Henry (after 4 miserable books)? I thought that was just way out of character for her. okay, i’m getting worked up now.. WTH was her problem??? she finally had Henry and she just let him go! after all the pain and suffering she had to overcome for him, she just said no to her proposal? Diana – who the author kept saying was very adventurous and didn’t care what people think.. ended up leaving Henry because she was afraid of how society will see her? Henry and Diana could have gone away together (more on Henry below) or she could have remained with him in Manhattan (i kinda think of the movie UP where the lady said that though Carl and she weren’t able to go on a trip together, she was happy just being with him). In the end, i thought her character was not so adventurous at all, and that she was just running away from reality, unlike Elizabeth who faced her problems head on.

Carolina’s story.. i didn’t even bother. what an ungrateful little sh*t (sorry for the foul language). she was such a bitch to Elizabeth just because she wasn’t born rich and Will didn’t love her. I thought that was so wrong, so i really hated her in books 2-3 (i just skipped her parts) for even inheriting the money. I’m so glad the guy she was supposed to marry left her. Money can’t really buy class. I’d like to think that she did not deserve all those things the author gave her, but the reason the author gave her money was for her sister, who i thought would have been a better character to write a story on.

Henry.. oh Henry, though he was such a spineless rich boy, i still loved his undying and passionate love for Diana. I did feel sad that he didn’t end up with Diana but after my tirade above, I actually didn’t mind him being stuck in a marriage with Penelope. At least they finally became honest with each other and had an understanding whereas i would think that if he had ended up with Diana, she would have eaten him alive. I also liked how he finally became mature after taking over his dad’s responsbilities. (i did however, hoped a little that the epilogue was for Henry and Diana to meet many years later and live happily ever after but no such luck).

Overall, it was an interesting series and it would be fun to have a tv series made after these books!(less)

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Oct 27, 2011 Brianna Massengill added it

This book takes place shortly after Rumors, the last installment of The Luxe novels. After Elizabeth came home to New York, Will was shot and killed by the police and Elizabeth's mother asked her not to tell anyone about her (Elizabeth) and Will's relationship. Now she is coping with the death or her deceased husband and everyone thinks it's because she was supposedly kidnapped. Also, Diana and Henry were caught by Penelope who blackmailed Henry into marriage. He went along with it, never tellin...more

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Oct 22, 2011 Ta§chima Cullen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, 4-star-shelf

You can find more reviews @BloodyBookaholic

And just when you think Anna might have no more new ideas, she pulls them out of a hat.

Envy is a delightful read! The suspense, oh god the suspense. Will Carolina fall from grace? Will Elizabeth ever be happy? Will Penelope ever stop being so evil? Will Henry and Diana finally find a way to be together?

All is good in Manhattan, birds are singing, ladies are drinking tea, the usual, or is it? If all is good, why are all our main characters running away...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Anna Godberson returns to the gilded world of The Luxe with her third novel, Envy. Envy picks up where Rumors left off and continues the back-stabbing, political adventures (and scandals) of a group of young socialites in turn-of-the-century New York.

Penelope successfully blackmailed Henry into marrying her at the end of Rumors, but the marriage is loveless. Henry still loves young Diana, who reciprocates his feelings in a tense, forbidden romance. Diana's sister Elizabeth mourns the loss of her...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Meera K. rated it 3 of 5 stars

OH GOD. I swear I've had a love hate relationship with these books. THEY'RE SO BAD THAT THEY'RE GOOD! Every minute I read Envy, all I was thinking about was some flaw with a stupid character in the book or the INCREDIBLY boring plot line. But I just HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN! And after I finished Envy at like 2 AM.. I got up and picked up Splendor. Doesn't sound like I hate them.. but believe me.. I HAVE SO MANY COMPLAINTS.

FIRSTLY: Stupid Characters
Elizabeth: Okay, I understand the tra...more OH GOD. I swear I've had a love hate relationship with these books. THEY'RE SO BAD THAT THEY'RE GOOD! Every minute I read Envy, all I was thinking about was some flaw with a stupid character in the book or the INCREDIBLY boring plot line. But I just HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN! And after I finished Envy at like 2 AM.. I got up and picked up Splendor. Doesn't sound like I hate them.. but believe me.. I HAVE SO MANY COMPLAINTS.

FIRSTLY: Stupid Characters
Elizabeth: Okay, I understand the trauma because her husband was killed.. but why does Godbersen have to give her these sudden feelings for Teddy? Do all the characters have to be heartbroken? And then when Teddy leaves for war and Elizabeth "sinks into her chair with regret" or whatever, it made me want to puke. So, husband dead, you immediately have to go back for the second choice. But when Snowden decided to marry her.. I thought that was incredibly sweet. And really good that Elizabeth didn't complain that he wasn't handsome or whatever.

Diana: Even though she's my favorite character.. EH. I guess that I can understand her desperate need for Henry, and visa versa. The whole Grayson thing was a little unnecessary and weird. Plus, it seems like all the guys that run after her just follow her for her "rosy cheeks" and "dreamy lashes" and her youngness. Firstly, pedophile alert... and secondly, it totally makes their love seem fake. They say and think all the right things, but the "I can't live without you" crap seems to be a little put on.

Penelope: I get that she's the bitch character... but I wish Godbersen try to make her seem a little more wanted. She's portrayed as this TOTAL bad guy.. which is WAY too unrealistic. She's supposed to be incredibly beautiful like the rest of them. THEN SHOW IT! Have someone come after her too! Have her seem nice. Put the Holland sisters in the bad position!! Diana continues to lust after Henry even though he's married. MAKE THAT SEEM LIKE A BAD THING! Don't make Penelope the ONLY BAD GUY!

Lina: Only character that seems to get a happy ending, SHE moved on from loving Will.. but then again, she wasn't the one married to him. Only problem: but her life seems to be getting so distant from Elizabeth, Diana, and Penelope. Especially SPLENDOR ALERT! when Claire starts working for someone else, Lina has no inside into the Holland's anymore. She's not intertwined with their lives. I haven't finished Splendor... so I hope before I do, they turn that around.

SECONDLY: Plot line
The overall story was so PREDICTABLE. And wayy to over the top with the thoughts from the heart broken lovers "I want to be with her so bad.. I felt like I was dying" or whatever. I felt like laughing. SO CHEESY.
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Sep 11, 2010 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Envy is the third instalment in The Luxe series. It picks up right where Rumors left off, with enough scandal to drive even the calmest of readers’ crazy.

Mr Henry Schoonmaker – one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, and the love of Diana Holland’s life – has a new wife, and he’s not one bit happy about it, either. How could he be, when the love of his life is not the woman to whom he is now legally bound? Henry can’t even bring himself to look at Penelope with affection so how is he going to...more Envy is the third instalment in The Luxe series. It picks up right where Rumors left off, with enough scandal to drive even the calmest of readers’ crazy.

Mr Henry Schoonmaker – one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, and the love of Diana Holland’s life – has a new wife, and he’s not one bit happy about it, either. How could he be, when the love of his life is not the woman to whom he is now legally bound? Henry can’t even bring himself to look at Penelope with affection so how is he going to fulfil his physical requirements as a husband? As Henry drinks himself stupid night after night, hoping that the alcohol will numb his senses and dull the pain, Penelope’s scheming ways continue evermore.

Diana Holland – the real love of Henry’s life, and the reason he married Penelope in the first place – is hurting. Although Henry told her that he married Penelope to protect her, that Penelope had threatened to tarnish Diana’s wholesome reputation by telling all of New York that Henry had taken her virginity out of wedlock, seeing him with Penelope all the time is a painful matter indeed. Now that he is no longer in the market for a wife, Diana is doing everything she can to put her feelings for Henry behind her, but love is relentless and he haunts her everywhere she goes. Will she be able to stay away from him, especially when he is asking her not to?

The new Penelope Schoonmaker is watching Henry and Diana with hawke-like eyes. She is no fool and she can see the way the pair of them still look at each other. It makes her sick to the stomach to think of her husband’s eyes searching for someone else in the crowd, but honestly, what did she expect? She bribed him into marrying her in the first place. Penelope knows all too well that the only way she will keep her man is by bribing and manipulating him further. But will Henry put up with it for much longer? If the love of your life was slipping through your fingers, what would you do to be with them?

Elizabeth Holland finds herself in quite the predicament indeed. Mourning the loss of her husband, and former servant, Elizabeth finds herself attracting the attention of a one Mr Teddy Cutting – again. Elizabeth feels alone, in despair. Will she warm to Mr Cutting’s affections this time around? Only time will tell. Elizabeth is honest with Mr Cutting about her feelings for him – that the timing is all wrong and she’s still in mourning. But then something happens, something that will ruin the Holland’s forever if Elizabeth doesn’t find a way to fix it. Being with Mr Cutting suddenly seems like a magnificent idea…

And Carolina Broad is up to her usual tricks. I hate Lina so much that I can’t even bring myself to write anything about her.

Envy delivers the goods. After reading Rumors I wasn’t so sure that Anna Godbersen would be able to top her effort – but I was wrong. She writes brilliantly and reading her work is effortless. Henry’s character is developed further in this instalment and he steps of the pages of Envy like a radiant, shining light. I find myself wondering how much more of Anna Godbersen’s scandalous world I can take. I can’t wait for Splendour (the fourth novel) and I know I’ll re-read Envy obsessively until I get my hands on it.

Praise for Anna Godbersen, who has successfully reignited the 1900’s and made it totally cool to be all proper and old school. I love everything about this series – absolutely everything! This would make one hell of a killer television show.(less)

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Jul 13, 2010 Kelli (I'd So Rather Be Reading) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series is one of my all-time favorites. I love it! The characters, imagery (especially of the dresses), plot, pacing and dialogue are all outstanding. Once I started The Luxe, I was unstoppable and I can honestly say that I haven't enjoyed a series, especially a YA series, this much in a long time.

Envy picks up about two months after Rumors ends. I feel so badly for Elizabeth; her situation is terrible. And Diana's love life (or lack thereof) is so sad too. I love how strong the women are-...more

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Jun 25, 2010 Lady Knight rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, teen, 20th-c, americas

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've never really been a champion of this series, but I always saw a glimor of why everyone else seems to love it. This book, though, was a disappointment, even for me.

Elizabeth Holland is still trying to recover from Will's death and learn to move on in Society as everyone expects her to. Diana is still smarting from Henry's having married Penelope. Henry repeatedly tries to explain his reasons and eventually gets through to her. Throughout the book she wavers back and forth between loving Hen...more I've never really been a champion of this series, but I always saw a glimor of why everyone else seems to love it. This book, though, was a disappointment, even for me.

Elizabeth Holland is still trying to recover from Will's death and learn to move on in Society as everyone expects her to. Diana is still smarting from Henry's having married Penelope. Henry repeatedly tries to explain his reasons and eventually gets through to her. Throughout the book she wavers back and forth between loving Henry and believing every word to trying to hate Henry and feeling utterly ashamed of herself. Penelope doesn't understand the allure of Diana Holland and is doing everything in her power to entrap Henry into being hers alone. Grayson Hayes, Carolina Broud, and a cast of others also take on more significant roles this time around.

I was really disappointed in this book for several reasons:

(1) In the first book we felt for Elizabeth and wished her happiness. The story truly was about her. Now, she is nothing more than a shade of herself. She mopes around (yes, I do understand that the love of her life just died) and just when her character starts to become interesting again - she is dealt a quick and definitive death blow that basically ends all interest in her - except perhaps to pity her.

(2) Diana Holland has clearly become the star of the series and the one we cheer on, and I really like that fact, because let's face it, she's a bit of a rebel and rebels are always interesting. But, I was seriously disappointed with her lack of dignity. Yes, I understand that she's heartbroken, but to not only dwell on what she cannot have and then to repeat the same mistakes that got her into that mess is unforgivable.

(3) Henry Schoonmaker. I admit I really like his character, and I do want him and Diana to be together, but to repeat his mistakes (much like Diana) because his is almost always drunk is unacceptable.

After having said all that, this book was impeccable at explaining more thoroughly Henry's character, and making him more likeable, and by the end he does indeed grow up and become a man. As much as I don't want to admit it, I do want to read the final book in the series, if for nothing else than closure. Too, some interesting developments occur in the last twenty pages of the book....(less)

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Apr 26, 2010 Jenben8426 rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

This series is just so Soap Opera"ish" to me! You get a couple together and then some evil character who looks absolutely beautiful comes and tears them apart. No one can say what is obvious to say which drives me bonkers. Again the book had potential but because of all the stupid drama it was hard to find the good. I think the story could have been much better and more entertaining if it wasn't so cliche. I again would say that this book needs to be read if you are 18 or older hence the adult t...more

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Jan 29, 2010 Bella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 8th-grade-ir-nicole

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was the third in a series. Elizabeth tries to prove to everyone that she's okay, but only because her mother wants her to. She marries Mr. Cairns because she's hiding the fact that she's pregnant with Will's baby. Penelope continues to scheme in order to get Henry away from Diana. Leland and Carolina fall in love, but then Mr. Longhorn dies and Carolina becomes homeless, until his will is read and she gets a ton of money. Grayson falls in love with Diana, but in the end she shaves her...more

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Jul 06, 2009 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars

OK- let me just say.....there is a point in the book (towards the end) where you have a Scarlet moment (it cracked me up)- you will know what I'm talking about when you get to it.

I guess I should get online to see if there is a fourth book coming out (there better be)......I need more closure from the ending than what I got (but wasn't as bad as the second book-in terms of leaving you hanging).

I loved this series mostly because of all the romance/drama and really can you beleive that it doesn't...more

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Jun 20, 2009 Sarah BT rated it 5 of 5 stars

Why oh why do I love this series? I know that things aren't going to go the way I want, because how can there be a happy ending when more books are coming and the drama needs to be drawn out in another 500 page book? But for some reason I keep coming back.
I’ve been addicted to The Luxe series since it began and Envy continues to add more gossip and scandal to the story. I really like The Luxe, but then the second book, Rumors, seemed to move really slow. I was glad to see the story pick up aga...more

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May 19, 2013 Thea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

This series is very frustrating because the prologue is always so damn interesting and leaves me dying to know what happens in the end, however the beginning and middle of the book doesn't have much happening in it. Once you reach the ending of the book, there is always something that completely SHOCKS you and leaves you DYING to read the next book! I cannot begin to explain how frustrating this is.

The beginning and middle of this book wasn't boring exactly, but not much happened. It was a lot o...more

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Oct 18, 2010 Rosey rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, young-adult

One of my biggest pet peeves is when the star-crossed lovers have all these obstacles in their way that would be solved if THEY WOULD JUST TALK. I hate the whole "Oh he's acting differently than I thought. I'll make some dramatic conclusion and act on that without confronting him or waiting for an explanation. The consequences will be permanent and disastrous, but no need to stop and think about it. Here we go!"

Ugh. And what the hell, the exciting part about the last book was the promise that E...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Livvvy75 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: protagonists, not-that-predictable-yay, romance, sad, historical-fiction, favorites

I have absolutely no idea how the author does it, but each book in the Luxe series that she writes is better than the last. If you had asked me at the end of Rumours if I was looking forward to reading Envy, I probably would have answered: sure, but there is no way it could be better than Rumours. But it was.

In this book, we see all four main protagonists develop quite a lot. We see Penelope begin to break, Diana and Henry's relationship only takes a turn for the worst, Elizabeth has to overcom...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Ifigenia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historico, enredos, romance, saga, venganza

Después de lo mucho que me gustó el 2º, este no me ha gustado tanto, aunque lo más correcto sería que no me ha enganchado tanto, no he tenido esa ansia devoradora de pasar una página tras otra para saber qué pasaba al final. No puedo decir tampoco que no hayan pasado cosas, que el ritmo se haya estancado, porque no es cierto, simplemente, lo que pasaba no me parecía tan sumamente interesante.

Espero que el 4º coja más ritmo, ahora con dos de los protagonistas en la guerra (¿tal vez 3?), y con el...more

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About Anna Godbersen

Anna Godbersen was born in Berkeley, California, and educated at Barnard College. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

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Books by Anna Godbersen

Bright Young Things (Bright Young Things, #1)

Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things, #2)

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“He was a mystery to her, and every time she tried to solve him it caused her a little more pain. But when she tired to give him up he pursued her in her thoughts, stronger each time.” — 254 people liked it

“To look in the face of hard things and keep moving forward - that's what one has to do.” — 66 people liked it

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Envy (Luxe #3)

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