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Rumors (Luxe #2)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 19,755 ratings · 1,333 reviews

After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise.

All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised...more

Paperback, 423 pages

Published January 27th 2009 by HarperCollins (first published June 3rd 2008)

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Jan 24, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Gossip Girl and Soap Opera fans

Shelves: 2009, ya, historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It is with a great deal of shame that I confess to finding this book and series so freakin entertaining. But alas, I am hooked on this garbage. I would even claim to love it if it weren't for the obsessive mentions of clothing. Some pages drown in silk, satin and lamb skin gloves. I didn't know they made lambskin gloves for hands. Regardless, after a very slow start, and 150 pages, Rumors finally began to pick up speed and ended rather spectacularly, though abruptly.

Things we now know are:

Penelo...more It is with a great deal of shame that I confess to finding this book and series so freakin entertaining. But alas, I am hooked on this garbage. I would even claim to love it if it weren't for the obsessive mentions of clothing. Some pages drown in silk, satin and lamb skin gloves. I didn't know they made lambskin gloves for hands. Regardless, after a very slow start, and 150 pages, Rumors finally began to pick up speed and ended rather spectacularly, though abruptly.

Things we now know are:

Penelope is an evil tart with no pride or morals.

Diana is childish and a bit self absorbed, though I suppose that is part of her charm. I guess we are meant to feel sympathy towards her as she has lost her beloved Henry after he was forced to marry the evil Penelope in order to save his beloved's reputation once knowledge of their fornication on a bear skin rug was conveyed to Penelope via Lina. Long story, you will have to read the book for more details.

Elizabeth is completely stupid and naive, but somehow, I still manage to like her. I don’t know why. She finally found her happy ending with Will then ruined it when she finds out about her mother's ailing health. As if she could do something, she and Will go back to New York where they provide no help. Couldn't have seen that one coming. Once Elizabeth's mother confirms that she and Will are basically useless and therefore must leave New York, they set out to do just that. Sadly they never make it as all of New York are under the impression that Will kidnapped Elizabeth and thus kill him stone dead in a train station. Normally that sort of scene would make me cry, but as it were, I was overtaken with a fit of the giggles.

Lina could fall off a bridge and I would not care. She now has a benefactor, which is kinda creepy; who she scored after confessing to Tristan that she was penniless. For some reason he is helping her in her endeavor to become even more self important. I suppose he will try and bribe her in the next installment. We shall see.

Henry, though I love him, is just as dim witted as the rest. If only he would allow his father to disinherit him, he could have his beloved. But as he is allowing his father to control his life, I'm guessing that his true love is money, with Diana coming in a close second. Maybe he will get a clue by Splendor?

I will continue on with Envy, as I want to know how this contrived train wreck ends :)
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Jan 07, 2009 Haleh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

amazingly wonderfully fantastically gooood!

WARNING: If you plan to read the first one (The Luxe) you might not want to read this because it gives away info from the end of the first book. just fyi.

Manhattan, 1899. The drama amongst the most admired people in Manhattan’s social scene continues in this gripping sequel, Rumors, by Anna Godbersen. I chose to read this book because I read the first one, recommended by my sisters, and had to know what was going to happen next. This book is filled with...more amazingly wonderfully fantastically gooood!

WARNING: If you plan to read the first one (The Luxe) you might not want to read this because it gives away info from the end of the first book. just fyi.

Manhattan, 1899. The drama amongst the most admired people in Manhattan’s social scene continues in this gripping sequel, Rumors, by Anna Godbersen. I chose to read this book because I read the first one, recommended by my sisters, and had to know what was going to happen next. This book is filled with drama and unexpected twists and turns. Elizabeth and Diana Holland are two sisters high in Manhattan’s social scene. Elizabeth is thought to be dead but there are rumors that she may still be alive. Secrets about the Holland family’s financial problems start to unfold and the family’s social status is in danger. Diana and Henry Schoonmaker are in love but they are faced with a great problem. Henry was Elizabeth’s fiancé, and now that Elizabeth is out of the picture, Penelope, Elizabeth’s former best friend, is taking the chance to try and have Henry all for herself. As the drama spreads the Holland family’s problems increase and Diana’s fight for Henry seems impossible to win.

The central conflict in this book is man vs. society. The Holland family is struggling to keep their place in society and Elizabeth and Diana are struggling to keep their family secrets from their backstabbing friend, Penelope, and former maid, Lina. Now that Elizabeth is gone, Penelope takes the chance to take everything that was Elizabeth’s for herself, which could ultimately lead to ruining the Holland family. The Holland’s fight against society to make sure they do not fall into ruin. The theme in this book is that society hinders the individual from achieving what they desire the most. Elizabeth wanted to marry Will Keller, the one she ran away with, when she was supposedly dead. However, society would interfere and would not accept her if she did so. Will was a coachman for the Holland family, he was low in status and she was high, they would not work out in the social scene. Society almost made it impossible for Elizabeth and Will to be together, if they had not gone away they would never happen. Society hindered Elizabeth from being with what she needed most, her one true love. Along with Diana and Henry, society would look down upon them and hinder them from being together.

Godbersen’s writing style is different from many books that I have read before. Her writing makes the impression that the people in the book are very sophisticated. She writes with words and language that is sophisticated so you get the feel that they are too. Godbersen’s writing style helps reflect the elegance of the characters in the book and helps you see their high social status. She writes so you feel like you are part of Manhattan’s social scene and know how elegant it is and see how important it is for them to keep a good reputation. Godbersen also switches character perspectives and every chapter focuses on a different person, one perspective in a chapter would not be the same in the next. Overall I loved this book. I was so anxious to know all the drama that was going to unfold and what Penelope and Diana were planning to do next. The ending of the book was my favorite, it was intense and it keeps me wanting more, and I’m glad there is more. While reading this book some parts were sometimes a little annoying to me when she would move to the perspective of a different character in each chapter. When I would be interested in one, she would change it, but I wanted to hear more about the first character. Fortunately, after reading the new character the interest for the other dies down and I am completely interested in the new one. That cycle pretty much went on throughout the whole book for me, but it was no downer at all. That did not change my view on the book. It was interesting because you would not know what would unfold next. I really enjoyed this book, this series is actually really good, except I haven’t read the last one. I would recommend this book to any girl out there that would be interested in a book about drama, scandals, and romance.
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Sep 26, 2008 Traci rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: teens who like the Gossip Girl or Clique books

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

While Ms. Godberson won't be winning any awards for her writing soon- (how many times can anger or rage "burn down the back of her throat" weird- sounds like reflux to me. When she describes the men at the ball with their heads looking like "soft boiled eggs" above their collars. Weird again.) She can produce a good soap opera-type book. The plot was interesting enough that I didn't even realize that I was 250+ pages into the book. I find the most interesting part for me is the whole Diana, Peno...more

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Nov 28, 2008 Liv. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mm..I'm really torn with this book.

Okay, this book was good. Really good. Which is shocking because I found the first one to be a tad bit boring. I don't know why, but this one is SO MUCH BETTER! Maybe it is because the author didn't have explain too much and could just dive right into all the scandals of 1899 Manhattan. Ah, boy, did I eat it up. Each character's story-line was really interesting and each had their own distinct voice. It was just...really fantastic.

BUT. Oh yes, the but. I'm sure...more

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Jun 09, 2008 Cassie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*cries* The ending! Argh! I'm torn between wanting the next book desperatly and wanting to pretend I never read the last few chapters......... I was actually near tears at the end, and I never cry at books. Granted, I didn't cry at this end either, but still. I was as close as I ever get.

More coherent review coming someday when I get over the shock of this ending.

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Mar 14, 2011 Temoca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The scandalous suspense continues...for all the reasons why I picked up and fell in love with this series, read my review of The Luxe, #1. I was sad at the end of Rumors, but now I have to go on. I have to find out what happens next!

Ohhhh, Penelope Hayes is devious! I have to admire her cunning, cut-throat ways. She's a beautifully drawn villian, you want to choke the New York High Society life out of her. It's interesting to me too why she won't just get it through her pretty little vixen head,...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Furball rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Readers who like: surprises/unexpected twists/gossip/drama

Shelves: historical-fic, romance, drama

After reading Rumors, I finally understood what was lacking in the Luxe series. The whole series is just too fast-paced (despite each book having like 450 pages). There are some particular moments that could have been more detailed or savored, especially in this book. (Like what about the time when Elizabeth spent at California with Will? What about the struggles that Elizabeth had to do to try to meet her true love?)

I've realized now that the Luxe series aren't based only one particular charac...more

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Feb 28, 2010 Jade rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OMG! I am in the middle of reading this book it is so unpredictable, you think that something is going to happen and it doesn't! LOL!
Really good book.

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Jul 27, 2011 Ubalstecha added it · review of another edition

Anna Godberson's second entry into her Luxe series is full of gossip and scandal as young society women in Victoria New York coming of age and try to snare a good husband. Way better than other angsty teen romances out there, with believable female characters trying to live within their society's rules, yet straining against them.

Elizabeth has escaped to the west, leaving behind a destitute family. Penelope has her eyes set on Henry, but Henry seems to truly be mourning his supposedly dead fianc...more

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Jan 25, 2009 k8inorbit rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historic, fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay, I could have continued to tolerate these books if it weren't for author's choice of dramatic endings for this one. Now I'm just angry. What was the point of making us go through all those pages of half-developed characters and relationships if you're just going to throw us a ridiculously trite and overused tragic ending at the end of the story. If certain characters don't make a miraculous recovery in the third book, I'm just going to be tetchy for a while.

I'm assuming, given the air of p...more

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Dec 15, 2008 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 2008, historical-fiction

The sequel to The Luxe, which I read a few months ago and enjoyed. In this installment, all the same characters continue to live their secretly scandalous society in the last month of 1899, some scheming to better their situation, others trying to marry the fiance Elizabeth left behind, and so on. There is a lot going on in this book, with a number of characters and stories, but the author does a good job weaving it all together and skipping from one scene to another, and the writing is very str...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Trina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had taken a long break in between The Luxe and Rumors, however I was quickly able to get back into the story plot and the characters. Diana's story captivated me the most with her love for Henry Schoonmaker, and the jealousy from Penelope along with it. I'm rooting for Henry and Diana to be together and for their love to be un interrupted, whereas at the end of the book, there was an interruption from Penelope which annoyed me.
I'm very upset about the outcome of Elizabeth and Will, because it...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Fatema rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 · review of another edition

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

One of these days I will learn to NOT read reviews about books that I have not read... but I'm addicted to reading reviews because I want to know if the book is going to be worth the time to read it. I was not shocked about the ending because I read some reviews and put two and two together and figured it out.... so I didn't know how it was going to happen but I did know it was going to happen. I could kick myself for it, but I guess it was good that I was prepared because that was dreadful, jus...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-books

This is book 2 of the Luxe series by Anna Godbersen, and is just as good if not better than the first - The Luxe.

It is almost two months now since Elizabeth's death, or Elizabeth's faked death at least, and Mrs Holland - Elizabeth's mother, is now focused on Elizabeth's younger sister Diana, who although young at only 16, she is now looking to marry off to try to save the family from their increasing debt problems.

Diana, and Penelope - the girl who orchestrated Elizabeth's disappearance, are the...more This is book 2 of the Luxe series by Anna Godbersen, and is just as good if not better than the first - The Luxe.

It is almost two months now since Elizabeth's death, or Elizabeth's faked death at least, and Mrs Holland - Elizabeth's mother, is now focused on Elizabeth's younger sister Diana, who although young at only 16, she is now looking to marry off to try to save the family from their increasing debt problems.

Diana, and Penelope - the girl who orchestrated Elizabeth's disappearance, are the only ones who know the truth about Elizabeth's 'death', but Diana alone is aware that her sister is now living with their old coachman Will in California. The boy that she fell in love with as a child.

Henry - Elizabeth's fiancé, is in mourning for Elizabeth, even though he did not really love her, and feels guilty that her death may not have been an accident, as he knows that she knew about the affair he was having with her younger sister Diana. Henry himself though is biding his time, until a reasonable amount has passed in which to appear proper, before he can marry Diana who he actually does love. His best friend Teddy feels that it is in poor taste to marry his dead fiancé's younger sister, and tries to convince Henry of this, while Penelope continues her scheming to be Henry's wife, getting his step-mother on side in her quest for his attention.

Diana, although happy that Elizabeth is not dead, can't help but feel a little put-out by the fact that her mother is now setting her up with countless eligible bachelors who she can't stand, when in fact she is also very much in love with Henry, and also waiting until an appropriate time for them to be together.

Unfortunately, Mrs Holland falls ill, and under Teddy's guidance, Henry tells Diana that he can't be with her, prompting Diana to send a telegram to Elizabeth explaining the awful situation she has found herself in, and the families continuing money problems.

Elizabeth is living with Will in California, under the ruse that they are a married couple, and Diana's telegram shocks her, prompting her to begin the long journey with Will back to New York so they might see her ill mother. They have good news though, Will believes he has found oil on the land that they are renting, and that the Holland's will soon see an end to their financial problems.

In a turn of events however, Penelope then reveals to Henry that Elizabeth in fact faked her own death, and is now off with her coachman somewhere, and Henry takes this as a sign that he should be with Diana. Waiting in her room for her one night, he professes his love for her, and they make love for the first time. Unfortunately however, they are caught together by the maid the next morning, and the news gets back to Penelope, who issues an ultimatum to Henry - marry her, or she will ruin Diana's reputation with the news that she and Henry are having an affair.

Several things are now on the line, who will Henry marry - will he choose Penelope and save Diana and her family from public humiliation, or will he go against what society thinks is proper and marry Diana anyway? What will Mrs Holland think of her eldest daughters deceit and her arrival - not dead, completely out of the blue?

There are a couple of other storylines running through this story, but the main question still revolves around who will eventually end up married to Henry - the scheming Penelope, the not-dead Elizabeth, or her younger sister Diana who Henry really does have feelings for.

This book continues in the same `gossip girl' style as the first, and lives up to the expectations of the first book very well. Towards the end it is totally un-put-down-able, as the race to the alter becomes more fierce, and Elizabeth returns from the dead. You really will be enthralled by Penelope's scheming, and poor Diana's struggles to both be with the one she loves, and save her family from the poverty they have found themselves in, not to mention how she explains away her dead sister's presence.

Read this book! And read the one before it too - The Luxe. Both highly recommended. 9/10.(less)

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Sep 18, 2011 Mom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Elizabeth pretended to have an accident and to die. But in secret, she went to California to meet Will who she loved, only Diana and her friend, Penny, knew she was alive.
Penelope wanted Henry who was the man Elizabeth was engaged to when she was to have the accident.
The Holland's were fallen on bad times since the death of their father, and their mother wanted Elizabeth to marry Henry which would help their situation of no money.
Only Penelope wanted Henry to herself. When she found out by the s...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Picking up right where The Luxe leaves off, Rumors continues the gossip-filled, cut-throat lives of the Manhattan social elite in 1899.

Rumors are flying around Manhattan after Elizabeth Holland's obscure and surprising death -not to mention who will wed her former fiancée, the wealthy Henry Schoonmaker. As Elizabeth's sister Diana must juggle her feelings for Henry with her mother's new marriage expectations, Penelope Hayes weaves the perfect marriage trap to ensnare Henry. Meanwhile Lina, Eliza...more Picking up right where The Luxe leaves off, Rumors continues the gossip-filled, cut-throat lives of the Manhattan social elite in 1899.

Rumors are flying around Manhattan after Elizabeth Holland's obscure and surprising death -not to mention who will wed her former fiancée, the wealthy Henry Schoonmaker. As Elizabeth's sister Diana must juggle her feelings for Henry with her mother's new marriage expectations, Penelope Hayes weaves the perfect marriage trap to ensnare Henry. Meanwhile Lina, Elizabeth's former maid, passes her self off as a society lady and learns the value of information and gossip in polite society. Rumors fly around this strange new lady from out West, as well as the possibility that Elizabeth may still be alive...

Rumors is considerably better than The Luxe. The characters break out of their stereotypes and become more three-dimensional; for the first time since I began this series, I cared more about the socialites than before and really started to dislike the character who has grown into the villain role. Rumors is also less predictable and more complex than The Luxe, giving the reader some edge-of-your-seat twists near the end that ruin the "happy ending" facade presented in part of the novel. I would have liked to see more of Lina though, since she became more interesting as she explored the value of selling information to Manhattan's elite.

Godberson's writing also feels more clean and to the point in Rumors. While her detail can still become overwhelming at times, it's more restrained than in The Luxe and the writing is more focused on plot and character than in the previous book. Godberson seems to have a quick learning curve, and I hope that this trends continues in the last Luxe novels.

After floating through The Luxe and the beginning of Rumors, the last section of Rumors got me really excited (for the first time) about this series. The plot keeps thickening and the drama continues to unfold with some unexpected happenings. I'm eager to check out Envy and see what happens next to the lovely ladies of The Luxe! (less)

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Aug 02, 2011 Anya Tracey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was a good book. Once I started it, I could not put it down. it was a excellent sequel to The Luxe. It shows us that the social scene becomes unravel because of the absence of the most popular girl in New York, Elizabeth. I thought the author did a good job developing the characters more especially the old maid Lina. She shows us that back then, anyone could make it to the top if they meet the right people and have a secret that can make you more liked.

It reminds me a lot of Gossip Girl, but...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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Sep 11, 2010 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rumors is the second installment in The Luxe novels and is every bit as scandalous, juicy, and naughty as the first.

Society in Manhattan, New York City is in mourning for they have just lost their darling girl, Elizabeth Holland. Lizzie’s body never was recovered from the Hudson River and no one seems capable of understanding how a girl drowns in a river without a body turning up. The gossip columns start printing murmurs about her death being a hoax and suddenly the whole city is questioning he...more Rumors is the second installment in The Luxe novels and is every bit as scandalous, juicy, and naughty as the first.

Society in Manhattan, New York City is in mourning for they have just lost their darling girl, Elizabeth Holland. Lizzie’s body never was recovered from the Hudson River and no one seems capable of understanding how a girl drowns in a river without a body turning up. The gossip columns start printing murmurs about her death being a hoax and suddenly the whole city is questioning her whereabouts. Only a very few select people truly know what happened to Lizzie on that ill-fated day, however, and not one of them is breathing a word.

But Lizzie has been corresponding with Diana, her sister, to assure her that she is not dead but that she must keep this news a secret. In her letter, Lizzie gives Diana and Henry her blessing, wishing them well, and warns Diana to keep a keen eye out for Penelope. Unable to keep this glorious news to herself for long, Diana eventually shares her secret with Henry, who responds most excitedly. You see, Henry and Diana are unable to announce their relationship to anyone, as society deems it highly inappropriate for a man in Henry’s position to be cavorting with his supposed dead fiancés sister. But now that Henry knows Lizzie is actually alive, chasing a true love of her own, he wants nothing more than to announce his love for Diana to all of society. But doing so will mean that Elizabeth’s cover will be blown, and Diana isn’t having any of that…

What will become of their forbidden romance, and will Diana and Henry betray family confidences in the hope of finding happiness in each other? You’ll be surprised, my friends, very surprised indeed.

Meanwhile, Penelope catches wind of Henry and Diana’s secret affair and decides that she must put a stop to it before another Holland girl manages to snatch Henry from her greedy fingers. Penelope is more devious than any Gossip Girl character ever created and proves to readers that she is without a doubt, New York’s most evil creature alive. Blair Waldorf could learn a thing or two from this hellspawn. But it’s not Penelope’s devilish plan that floored me – it’s the fact that Henry agreed to go along with it, that he is so blinded by Penelope’s conniving ways that he can’t seem to see through her flawed plan to find an alternative solution. Those rooting for Henry’s happiness will be deeply disturbed by the events which unfold in this instalment. Is there a resolution for Henry, or is he doomed to live his life according to the wishes of others, forever?

If The Luxe was completely unputdownable (as I suggested it was), then Rumors is entirely infuriating – and it’s so, so good. Where The Luxe was a little slow on the uptake, Rumors gets straight into the action, right form the get go. All the passions, the feelings of love and hate that I experienced in the first installment increased threefold during this read. I yelled, I groaned loudly, and I harrumphed constantly as I read.

Godbersen’s words flow effortlessly across the page, allowing a clear and complete picture of each individual scene to play out in my mind. Rumors is an emotive, gripping read that left me with absolutely no fingernails at all.

This is pure teen chick lit in all its glory and I can see this series quickly becoming every teenage girl’s best friend. I can’t wait to get my hands on the third novel.(less)

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Jun 20, 2010 Apzmarshl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Is it wrong to swoon over a cover of a book so much that you don't care what takes place inside? I would love to put on this blood red frosting and walk right into New York elite society 1899.

Spoilers if you haven't read The Luxe.

Elizabeth has gone to meet Will in a very underdescribed manner....out West. Diana is hot for Henry. Henry is hot for Di. The fact that Henry was engaged to Diana's dead sister is keeping them apart. Penelope is a hot mess as far as I am concerned. Her kitty claws are o...more

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Jun 09, 2010 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.0 out of 5 stars A rumor of disappointed readers?, August 4, 2008

This review is from: Rumors: A Luxe Novel (The Luxe) (Hardcover) YA FICTION

I did not read The Luxe although it has been very popular at my school's library. I chose this because I like to read YA novels, historical fiction, and fast paced stories. The book was all that, but yet, very disappointing as far as the trite story lines of the 4 main focused upon characters. Elizabeth and Diana Holland, Lina Broud, and Penelope Hayes.
Su...more

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May 06, 2010 Jasmyn9 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, young-adult, series, romance, the-luxe

(minor spoilers if you haven't read the first book, The Luxe)

In the second book of the Luxe series we are focused a bit more on the younger Holland sister Diana. As society reels from Elizabeth's death and speculates on possible alternatives, Diana must grow up quickly to save the family. They are quickly running out of money and things to sell for money. Her best hope is to marry her sister's former fiance, Henry Schoonmaker, who is mourning for Elizabeth. But it isn't a simple as all that. Pen...more

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Apr 17, 2010 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: made-me-cry

It was a great book. Not as good as the first one, because by the time it came out, I had forgotten some of the characters. The downside is that the ending was terrible. Terrible, terrible, terrible. Don't get me wrong, it was well written, and I suppose it was realistic since if it didn't happen we wouldn't really get to see one of the main characters at all anymore, because she would've been gone. But it was just awful. I don't want to say what happened, but I absolutly hated it. I started cry...more

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Mar 15, 2010 Anya rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Man, this book was painful to read. I thought I would scream if I had to read about Diana's "heart-shaped face" one more time. The author seems to think every noun must always be paired with a lavish adjective. And she could be way too descriptive when it came to clothing and luxury items. Focus more on your characters and less on their clothing. As for the characters, I can't say I was particularly enamored with any of them. Diana, who seemed to fit the Unconventional Independent Girl mold in t...more

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Feb 07, 2010 gina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: victorian, young-adult, audiobook

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've read a lot of spoilers so I think my judgment might be skewed on this series. When the audiobook first began I thought, why am I wasting my time listening to this? But then a while later I found myself enjoying it once the story picked up. I was horribly disappointed that Will dies. Even though I knew it was going to happen. I also continued to be frustrated by the authors unwillingness to let any of the characters be honest or just open their mouths and say what's going on in order to prev...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I haven’t reviewed many books contained in series on the blog and find it incredibly hard. It’s almost like reviewing the middle of a book, right where the juicy part is but still trying to maintain a veil of secrecy.

Nowhere is this more difficult to accomplish than in the second installment of Anna Godberson’s four part Luxe set, Rumors. Staged in turn of the century Manhattan and essentially the wilderness of California, the second book finds our party of revelers and mourners garter deep in m...more

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Sep 22, 2009 SBY Youth Services Rencsko rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Godberson’s second Luxe novel all the drama continues as Manhattan morns the loss of their brightest star Elizabeth who “died” of accidental causes in the first novel. Now, all eyes are on her younger mischievous sister who is left to keep up the Holland family name by marrying “up” to ensure the family’s bright finical future. The only problem is Diana’s true love and money holder is Henry Schoonmaker, the man who was set to marry her dead sister. Understanding this predicament as well as th...more

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Sep 21, 2009 Aimee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few o...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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Quotes from Rumors

“Diana knew it wouldn't be right, but then she told herself that things only looked wrong when there was someone to see you.” — 122 people liked it

“So this was betrayal. It was like being left alone in the desert at dusk without water or warmth. It left your mouth dry and will broken. It sapped your tears and made you hollow.” — 78 people liked it

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Rumors (Luxe #2)

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