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Dec 30, 2011

Kristin rated it:

GrowingUpYA

Anna Godbersen is officially Queen of period novels and my book loving heart! That's all thanks to Beautiful Days, the second novel in the Bright Young Things series.

Now, I am usually a pretty fast reader, but I really enjoyed taking my time with this book. I completely immersed myself in the world of speakeasies, bootleggers and flappers. Side note: I may or may not have started addressing people with "Yes, darling."

Don't judge me. It's not More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 04, 2012

Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it:

Beautiful Days is the second in the Bright Young Things series. While I enjoyed the first book I thought this instalment was much more engaging and I enjoyed it all the more for it.

This book picks up where the first one left of and continues to follow the stories of the three main girls and all the different things they go off and do. I love how the book entertains the reader by following these girls and at the same time gives them a real insight and feel of the time it is set in compl More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 28, 2011

Cass - rated it:

!!!WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT READ BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS!!!

4.5/5

I'd be lying if I said I was utterly blown away by BEAUTIFUL DAYS. However, with that said, this eagerly awaited sequel really brought me back to the Jazz Era - along with the lives of Cordelia Grey, Astrid Donal and 'Letty Larkspur'. There's mystery, romance, intrigue, fun, tragedy and beautiful days and roaring nights among it all.

The girls are back! Cordelia (on cover this time) is More...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 07, 2012

Drianne rated it:

In this sequel to Bright Young Things, author Anna Godbersen (author of the Luxe books) continues the adventures of BFFs Astrid, Cordelia, and Letty amid the glamour and sparkle of the Roaring Twenties.

I really enjoyed this book (I do so adore books like this). The plot continues to be more intriguing than the Luxe books (more happens), and I find the characters immensely more likeable. They do angst about boys an awful lot (as straight teenage girls are wont to do), but unlike how m More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 29, 2011

Sarah rated it:

I love historical fiction - it’s one of my favourite genres - but I think that some readers are warned off it because they think it is going to be very dull or worthy reading – couldn’t be further from the truth with Godbersen. I discovered the Luxe series back in the late noughties and became addicted. I had never read historical ‘pulp’ before, but Godbersen has such a crisp way of writing that makes you feel you’re just reading an airport novel when actually there is some really thorough hist More...

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Oct 12, 2011

Tia rated it:

I listened to the audio version of this book from Amazon's Audible. The reader, Caitlin Davies was FANTASTIC. Her voice was smooth and she livened the story. I would give Caitlin 5 stars. Sometimes, when listening to a book instead of reading it, the choice of the reader can be a terrible mistake that can negatively affect the book.

I have read all of Anna Godberson's books thus far. Beautiful Days was a good read, nothing over top but a solid story. No doubt about it, Anna's writing More...

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Sep 19, 2011

Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it:

I'm so fascinated with this time period and really adore this series. In Bright Young Things I loved the way Anna brought the time period to life via the story of three bright young girls, Cordelia, Letty and Astrid. In this sequel, Anna does another fabulous job with keeping the feel of this era live with her richly detailed setting, her well written characters, surprising turn of events, great storyline and realistic character dialogue.

While the ending of the first book left me fee More...

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Jan 26, 2012

Anna Jade rated it:

Wow. This book was glamorous. It was a bit awkward for me because I have not read any of the other books, but I was caught up right away in the way that the author explained things. It was a fast pace book that seemed to have things around the corner, and I was glad I pushed through it, because this isn't my usually tupe of book. I do feel like there could have been a couple of days written in the book with nothing going on to show that not everyone is having a fast pace week like the 3 girls in More...

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Sep 04, 2011

ALPHAreader rated it:

And how!

The year is 1929 and small-time Ohio girls, Letty and Cordelia, have turned into society darlings and found their place in the Big Apple. But the girls want more, not content to spend their days lounging by the pool and their nights filled with hot music and lovely men.

Letty intends to pursue her Broadway dream, and she’ll do just about anything to see her name up in lights.

Cordelia has already lost so much that she won’t turn down the opportunity o More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 06, 2012

Destiny rated it:

After reading Bright Young Things, I was eager to read the sequel. I remember counting down the days until the book came out. In October after it had been released, I ordered it and waited for the book to arrive at my door. I had intended to read the book as soon as I could, but for some reason I never got around to it. It wasn’t until the last day of December during my exile from the net that I actually picked it up.

It took me about fifty pages to get back into the story, but after More...

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Jan 01, 2012

Charlotte rated it:

Think, Bugsy Malone, and you'll have the perfect setting for this kind of book, where the main people on stage are the fancy women who sing and look glamorous. Where looks are important, figures are slim and well kept, and everything is about making sure that the heirarchy is kept in order. The people who are meant to be at the top, are up the top. I really enjoyed this book, though was somewhat hesitant to enjoy it at first. I think a large part of me jsut expected it to be very somewhat old fa More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 19, 2011

Grant rated it:

The second book in the Bright Young Things series is not nearly as entertaining as the first installment. It continues to follow the lives of Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid. The three friends often get themselves into "romantic" or "scandalous" situations that seem entirely too predictable. Beautiful Days also shares more than a couple of similarities with another series (set in the same era), Vixen. In all, Beautiful Days spends too much time on trivial or useless situations - More...

1 comment like

Sep 26, 2011

Megan rated it:

WARNING- MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!
As a giant fan of Anna Godbersen, and also considering how much I enjoyed the first book in her Bright Young Things trilogy, I was estatic to read this installment.
It is set in the Jazz age of 1929, complete with cigarette girls, country clubs, and the glamour of NYC. I was completely drawn into the setting from page one, wishing I could be part of Letty, Cordelia, and Astrid's world. Godbersen does an amazing job of creating the world and setting an More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 21, 2011

Lisa (Badass Bookie) rated it:

The Short Story? – Glamorous and addictive, set in the era of the roaring twenties, Beautiful Days is a highly entertaining historical fiction that’s bound to captivate your hearts. A novel about the ambitious and glamorous lives of three best friends, Beautiful Days is not to disappoint! Gossip Girl set in the glamorous twenties!

The Long Story? – I’m in love with this series! If you have read The Luxe by Godberson you would know that it’s historical fiction about the rich and young. More...

4 comments like

Aug 09, 2011

Laura rated it:

Loved it, of course. I'm an unapologetic geek for both of Anna Godbersen's series.

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Feb 01, 2012

Tiny Pants rated it:

This was really more of like a 3.5 for me -- I teetered back and forth, but eventually went with the lower number of stars (even though I read this, as I did the Bright Young Things, in two sittings). It had been so long since I read the first book I had to go back and read my review of it to try to jog my memory... then read the book's jacket copy... then the first several pages... wow, I had almost no memory of it (basic plot elements, the characters' names, etc. I did remember it was set in 1 More...

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Sep 28, 2011

Reading rated it:

There is something absolutely amazing and fascinating about this series. I've never read a book where I felt so completely lost in another time period before. Anna Godbersen doesn't just write about the 1920's, her words are actually dripping with the 1920's. As I mentioned in my review of Bright Young Things last year, I'm not a very visual person. But, somehow Anna makes me able to see every last detail of her story. I can picture the grandiose houses, the gorgeous dresses, the speakeasy More...

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Oct 28, 2011

Kirsten rated it:

I`m absolutely loving this book so far, - I think it`s gonna be better than the last one, and I can`t wait for the next book in this series to come out in 2012 ! Lucky me, I didn`t have to wait a year between each book !

Let me tell you what I really like about these book, - what good is a review unless I tell you why I love them, :

- love the changing between 3 characters; whenever you start to get just a little bored of each characters story, it switches you to a new o More...

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Oct 03, 2011

kate.o.d rated it:

Beautiful Days, Anna Godbersen

This sequel to Godbersen's Bright Young Things continues the story of Cordelia, Letty and Astrid. It's summer in Long Island and the three girls have been spending their days lazing about the pool and attending lovely parties. And wearing wonderful clothes!

Cordelia is still feeling guilty and sad about the death of her new-found father and starting to get used to living the life of a high-profile bootlegger's daughter and sister. When her bro More...

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Jan 11, 2012

Samantha rated it:

Anna Godbersen could basically come up to me on the street and ask for one of my kidney's and I'd give it to her. She is literally the Queen of my heart at the moment.

I was clearly born into the wrong era, because I know for a fact, I'd be awesome in 1929.

Each of the characters bring something different to the table and you're fighting a losing battle if you think you won't fall in love with them. Letty is my favourite I think, she dreams so big, and will fight tooth-and- More...

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Oct 04, 2011

Stacy rated it:

The well-dressed trio is back in Anna Godbersens 'Beautiful Days'. Cordelia becomes quite the business woman when she and her brother, Charlie, open their very own speakeasy (club). Letty takes a step towards stardom, and Astrids relationship with Charlie takes some wild rollercoaster dives before everything straightens itself out again.

Anna Godbersen has captured my attention with her flawless writing. I may have thought that the last few chapeter were a bit rushed but it was stil More...

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Dec 07, 2011

Avital rated it:

I bought this book the minute I finished reading Bright Young Things and I'm sorry to report that I am disappointed. After Godbersen had artfully built Cordelia's, Letty's and Astrid's character in Bright Young Things, She had destroyed them in Beautiful Days. In this book, the three young women are portrayed as vain and empty. The relationships are also conveyed in the same shallow way. Things happen with no explanation and the plot seemed rushed or too slow. I must admit that I was also disapp More...

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Feb 02, 2012

Kasey rated it:

I am enjoying this trip back in time. The characters are good and believable. They are still making mistakes and growing up. The prices they have paid for some of their mistakes are more than they could have imagined. They laugh with each other and hurt each other and above all else love each other even after it all.

There are some moments of overly full descriptions. While some of the descriptions are great for us getting a visual of characters and to really appreciate the set More...

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Oct 22, 2011

Lisa rated it:

Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

After the luxurious first novel of the series, things begin to heat up and become deadly serious in Beautiful Days. With family wars, speakeasy openings and relationship problems, there is never a dull moment and this novel will definitely impress, whether or not you liked the first!

I hardly want to spoil anything for you because so many intriguing things happen that will send you into a tailspin. As always, Godbersen transp More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 04, 2011

Lindsey rated it:

I adore Godbersens writing! I find myself unable to put her books down and am loving this one even more than the first in the series. The kiss scene between Letty and Grady...... melt! And Cordelia and Max out for a drive and dinner....even better! I feel like I am right there with these women and wish I were. Godbersen is an amazing story weaver. Everything she describes is so brilliant and colorful.

Ah-mazing :) Loved it. I cannot wait until the third book. At the very start of the f More...

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Sep 21, 2011

Shelby rated it:

I was lost in this book for a giddy few hours. It's seriously so beautifully written, I sometimes didn't even mind what was being said. Godbersen is a genius at spinning scenes and making characters. The main three never betray themselves and, sure, sometimes that get's annoying--like how Cordelia is so single-minded she forgets her friend, or Letty is melodramatic and weepy and just making a mess of her romantic life, or how Astrid knows better but won't really fight what she feels is inevitabl More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 25, 2011

Alma rated it:

This could also be titled "The Girls Almost Grow Up," as Letty and Cordelia seem to have finally found their places in 1929 New York. Cordelia has recovered from her immaturity in book one, and is bound and determined to carry on the bootlegging Gray name, while Letty has improved not only in her singing, but in her ability to "reach out and grab" her impending stardom. Astrid is the only one of the trio to have taken several steps back from book one. Her immaturity shows thr More...

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May 12, 2011

Katie marked it as to-read

I'm so excited for this!!!!

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 11, 2012

Stephanie rated it:

The second book in the Bright Young Things series is a breath of fresh air! Typically I read YA / Urban Fantasy work (Cassandra Clare, Chloe Neill, etc.) but I read the first book in this series and had to immediately pick up the second book. What I love most about this book is that it is such an escape from the darker books I usually read, as well as reality. There is a completely different vibe when you aren't worried about vampires eating your favorite character(s). I adore these characte More...

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Feb 08, 2012

Amber rated it:

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

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