Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things, #2)

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Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things #2)

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 2,501 ratings · 266 reviews

For the bright young things of 1929, the beautiful days seem endless, filled with romance and heartbreak, adventure and intrigue, friendship and rivalry.

After a month in New York, Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur are small-town girls no longer. They spend their afternoons with Astrid Donal at the Greys' lush Long Island estate and their nights in Manhattan's bustling metro...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published September 20th 2011 by HarperCollins

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Nov 01, 2011 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 my fault Godbersen does a fantastic job of...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity by: Buddy read w/Meg

Shelves: young-adult

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So far, this trilogy is turning out to be more of a whimper than a roar. Book 1 seemed to have much more oomph than book 2 did. I miss the scandal, the sneaking around, and the nightlife!

I was looking forward to more of this...
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...and instead I sat around waiting for things to happen.

Now, don't get me wrong. Anna Godbersen can write the heck out of coming-of-age stories. I love how her passion for the style and feeling of an era shines through in every single thing she writes. But I was missing t...more

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Apr 16, 2012 KM rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, cover-love, mobsters-and-mysteries, harper-collins

Anna Godbersen is an incredible writer! Seriously, she has an incredible gift of making everything in her books so visceral, so real, so visual that I'm always stunned at how I feel like I'm actually in the scene. And each page just drips with historical accuracy, almost like you're reading a super interesting text book.

But the best part of Godbersen's books are the characters, for sure! I love how she can weave so many different storylines into one incredible plot that will have your heart raci...more Anna Godbersen is an incredible writer! Seriously, she has an incredible gift of making everything in her books so visceral, so real, so visual that I'm always stunned at how I feel like I'm actually in the scene. And each page just drips with historical accuracy, almost like you're reading a super interesting text book.

But the best part of Godbersen's books are the characters, for sure! I love how she can weave so many different storylines into one incredible plot that will have your heart racing at the end of each chapter.

Beautiful Days, just like its predecessor Bright Young Things, feels a lot like an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. There are so many times when it reminded me of The Great Gatsby, with the lavish parties and free-flowing alcohol and flapper dialogue. It's all so luxurious and romantic.

The drama in this book is still high. Cordelia is angry about Thom's betrayal and she swears she'll get revenge for her father's death, Letty has all but given up on her dream of becoming a singer until Cordelia opens a new speakeasy, and Astrid and Charlie's relationship is on the verge of crumbling because he's too busy for her. As per usual for Godbersen novels, there's lots of pretty boys with lots of pretty money and plenty of relationship issues.

I found Letty a lot more interesting in this book, though Cordelia seemed to take a bit of a back seat to the story. The tension was amped up when Charlie's bootlegging got dangerous. The end especially was really exciting. I was afraid that with them living on Long Island that there wouldn't be as much action as if they had been living in Manhattan, but they still made it to the city a few times. I really liked the scenes at the speakeasies.

But even with the good parts, I was a little disappointed. This definitely felt like a middle-in-a-trilogy book, like it was a sort of transition. I wanted there to be more of a self-contained plot instead of being a segway between the first and third book. I just wanted a little more.

But the very last chapter was amazing! I won't give much away, but I'll say this: they go to Harlem! I'm really interested in the Harlem Renaissance, so I'm hoping that Godbersen will delve into that a little - maybe we can meet Carl Van Vechter or something!

So, overall, this was a good book. But I would have liked to see a little more character development and action. The story lagged a bit in the middle. This was my least favorite Anna Godbersen book to date, but her worst is still better than most people's! I'm still looking forward to the next book, and I'm hoping to see more of a confrontation between Thom and Cordelia, Astrid and Charlie finally working things out, and more Harlem!(less)

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Aug 30, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books

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 complete with a...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Cass - Words on Paper rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-release, sequels-series, review-copy, read-2011, historical-ya, author-love

!!!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 dealing with her father's rece...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars

I suggest to readers , that if you have not read Bright Young Things - Book #1 in this series, then read that first before Beautiful Days as you will be rather confused with what is happening and who's who. At the end of Bright Young Things to refresh readers , we saw the Grey's father killed and Charlie and Cordelia were set to inherit their father's wealth. Cordelia's newfound friend Astrid is dating Charlie and Letty - Cordelia's friend from their hometown of Ohio has reunited with Cordelia a...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Quoc rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, realistic-fiction, romance, historical-fiction

Beautiful Days book 2 in the Bright Young Things series is a magnificent story about achieving one’s dream in 1920's Manhattan, New York City. The story follows the lives of Letty Larkspur, Cordelia Grey and Astrid Donal.

Letty is still chasing her dreams of being a star on Broadway. After being thrown out of her previous shared home in NYC, she now finds herself living with her friend Cordelia whom is now building a new club with her brother Charlie. After a shocking event in the Grey family,...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Annette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Beautiful Days kept my interest, but I wouldn't say it was riveting. This may be a classic case of "second book syndrome" (however you define that...)

The first book, Bright Young Things, introduced the characters and set up some tension for the next book.

Letty, Cordelia, and Astrid all end up, at least for a while, living at Dogwood, Charlie and Cordelia's father's house. We spend much of the book experiencing their attempts to connect with their various male interests. They do go to parties, an...more Beautiful Days kept my interest, but I wouldn't say it was riveting. This may be a classic case of "second book syndrome" (however you define that...)

The first book, Bright Young Things, introduced the characters and set up some tension for the next book.

Letty, Cordelia, and Astrid all end up, at least for a while, living at Dogwood, Charlie and Cordelia's father's house. We spend much of the book experiencing their attempts to connect with their various male interests. They do go to parties, and go out on the town, and Godbersen's descriptions of their hair and dress is once again, the best part of the book.

Cordelia is opening her own speakeasy. Letty wants to continue to pursue her singing career, and Astrid is trying to figure out if she's going to marry Charlie or not.

I didn't really feel much tension or excitement or suspense in Beautiful Days. There was a bit of a scare for one of our characters, but I never really felt like she was in any real danger -- and I don't thing Godbersen intended the reader to feel that way. I really couldn't stand some stupid decisions that were made. If someone tells you that you should stay home and not go out because you are in danger -- there are people that want to harm you -- would you turn around and get ready for a night on the town? Then, go to a run-down, sleazy bar in a bad part of town instead of going to a place where people know who you are? She behaved like a petulant child.

I also thought the ending of Beautiful Days was really abrupt! I wanted to revel a bit in the relatively happy situations, but everything happened so fast, and then -- bam -- "the end!"

Let me say once again that The Luxe is one of my absolute favorite series EVER. So, I guess it's no surprise that the Bright Young Things series can't live up to it. I actually enjoy Larkin's Vixen, Diva, and Ingenue books about the Roaring 20s better than Bright Young Things.

But, I still plan on picking up The Lucky Ones, the next in the series that will be released November 27.(less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Four stars. Not counting Letty. Three stars if I have to count her.

I enjoyed this book I LOVE all the mentions of beautiful clothes and the witty things these girls say. The writing really shines in places. And I found the POV shifts really effortless. (Usually this bothers me.)

I like Cordelia coming into her own.

And I love Astrid trying to be serious and not act like a beautiful young thing "hanging from the chandelier"

What I don't like about this series.

Letty. I find her overflowing talent wit...more

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May 07, 2012 Kirsti rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now, odd as it may seem, I did not realize this was the second in the series when I picked it up at the library. I've read the Luxe series, and adored it, so I knew the author, but I simply wasn't aware of her other books. That being said, the fact that it was the second and I could fall right into the storyline and love the characters is really something, since that doesn't often happen with me. I'll have to see if my library has the first now, and catch up, and look forward to reading the thir...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Katya rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: brain-candy-lit, historical-fiction, young-adult

I almost feel guilty putting this book on the 'historical fiction' shelf. It's hardly historical fiction, despite the fact that it's set in the 20s. The most historical things in it are the clothes, some slang and, of course, the Prohibition and bootlegging. Otherwise, it's watered-down Gossip Girl with era envy.

I didn't much enjoy the first book in the series, and read this one out of a weird sense of obligation. Whereas Bright Young Things was simply unimpressive, Beautiful Days was borderlin...more I almost feel guilty putting this book on the 'historical fiction' shelf. It's hardly historical fiction, despite the fact that it's set in the 20s. The most historical things in it are the clothes, some slang and, of course, the Prohibition and bootlegging. Otherwise, it's watered-down Gossip Girl with era envy.

I didn't much enjoy the first book in the series, and read this one out of a weird sense of obligation. Whereas Bright Young Things was simply unimpressive, Beautiful Days was borderline offensive. Let's look at our heroines: three skinny white girls, one of them wealthy and the other two perfect examples of rags-to-riches wish fulfillment. Anyone in their world who's overweight is instantly mocked, and there's not a person of color to be seen until the last twenty pages. Everyone is perfectly straight, with the exception of Billie, who's a cardboard cutout of the lesbian stereotype. There is a scene between Billie and Astrid that turned my stomach - if you're wondering why that's offensive, look up why Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" is offensive. And there's the extremely unhealthy, abusive relationship between Astrid and Charlie that's glorified in the same way that the abusive relationship between Bella and Edward is glorified.

All this aside, the book was simply boring. Nothing happened until the last fifty pages, and the other two hundred pages were wasted on descriptions of clothing, the girls whining and repeated failures to communicate. If any of the girls would just say what they mean at any given time, so much of the conflict in the book wouldn't have happened - but, of course, in a successful story there must be conflict and instead of creating something clever Godbersen seemed to go the lazy way of lobotomizing her heroines. Essentially every single struggle stems from the girls' expectancy to have their mind read and their wishes preemptively fulfilled. Communication is key, darlings!

Well! I didn't expect to have that many feelings on the book. From the other dissatisfied reviews, it seems that I should give Godbersen's Luxe series a try. I really hope it fills the many gaps that Bright Young Things has left behind. (less)

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Jan 07, 2012 Drianne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, historical, fiction, books-i-own

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 much of the L...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Sarah Mayor Cox rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-themes, young-adult-novels

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 histo...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Tia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, young-adult

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 is simply...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-release, 2011-100-book-challenge, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews

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 feeling a bit h...more 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 feeling a bit heart broken for each of the girls, Beautiful Days leaves me feeling both hopeful and cautious for them. There's a turn of events that leads each of the girls down a different path and in essence changes them, not necessary for the better or for worse, but they've each made decisions that I'm afraid will have disastrous consequences for one of them. I really do adore each of the characters. They each add something unique to the storyline.

Cordelia is trying to get over a broken heart, and help her brother run a new family venture, and in the process of all this she's trying to figure out her feelings for Max Darby, the pilot she saves at the end of Bright Young Things. There's of course complication as she's now the latest gossip in every newspaper around town. Not to mention that there's stuff going down between her family and the Hale Family. Did I mention Thom Hale is still in the picture. Anna definitely does a great job at stringing me along as I try to figure out Max and Thom's motives are. There's something about the two of them I can't quite figure out....

Speaking of figuring people out, Cordelia's brother Charlie is turning out to be quite the twisted character. There's definitely something about him that's alluring and a little off setting at the same time. Astrid and Charlie's relationship isn't as peachy as I was hoping it would be. In fact, it's a bit more volatile, which gave me a hint of that rage that seems to be simmering just below his surface. He's not abusive to her, but there's just something about him that puts me on guard.

Letty is the character my heart broke for the most. This poor girl is trying to juggle following her dreams of making it on broadway and her friendships with Cordelia and Astrid. Both girls are so pre-occupied with their own issues that they often times without meaning to brush Letty aside. I felt so bad that things between her and Grady didn't turn out the way I had hoped they would, and I'm really hoping there's more of him in the next book. Letty definitely deserves someone who can treat her right.

This is a great series. I really enjoy being whisked away into this swinging time period, and feeling like I'm apart of each of these girl's lives. I enjoy the way the character's stories are told. It's not hard to fall in love with them and feel like I'm apart of their lives as they learn to deal with the different turn of events and circumstances that are changing who they are. I'm really exited to read the next installment in this series. I think Anna's going to be throwing a few more curve balls into this series' plot line.(less)

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Jan 26, 2012 Anna Jade rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 5 of 5 stars

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 of a lifetime – running her very own...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Destiny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-bright-young-things-series, 1920s

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 that hurdle...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Charlotte Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 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 fashioned and not to my taste or liking. But instead the novel itself was very envoking and engaging in the sense that it let my imagination run wild, so that I could image and see everything.

I love the way the three main female characters were all connected to each other and that they all had different personalities and life style choices. It just showed how we do not have to be the same in order to be friends. Yet at the same time, the author showed how complications and barriers can and do get in the way, how they can cause divisions between them, and make things seem a little more complicated and on edge. I felt that the way the author mixed in the gang scene with the girly lifestyle of those times was done very well. In many ways it was almost as if I was actually reading the movie for it all flowed fluidly and the imagery was alive and vibrant throughout the whole novel.

There was mystery, drama, romance, crime, vengence and fun. This book just seemed to contain everything that a book should have and yet it was not dull nor boring. It was exciting and exagerated and yet completely down to earth, in the sense that you could imagine all these things happening back in those times. I did like the three different romance stories though each one tugged on my heart string in different ways. I felt that the romance bit touched the females and the gang bit perhaps the males. There was just a lot going for this book and I really did enjoy it. It was one of those books where you don't have to read the first one in the series in order to understand it, but at the same time it leaves you wanting to find out.(less)

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Dec 19, 2011 Grant rated it 2 of 5 stars

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 - and makes the last h...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

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 and it becomes...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Lisa (Badass Bookie) rated it 5 of 5 stars

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. It’s about...more 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. It’s about social classes and the scandals of the beautiful and privileged. Beautiful Days is more or less along the same lines, it’s about the rich and beautiful but it’s got this extra sparkle that only a story set in roaring twenties would have. Glamorous and dazzling, I loved the plot! Filled with exciting and luxuries parties, young love and ambition to be famous. It’s highly entertaining and worth every cent! I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t enjoy this novel! Fantastic!

The novel is told from the perspectives of three best friends, each with ambition to be someone in the era of glamour. My favourite characters of all would be Cordelia, the heiress to a bootlegging business. She’s filled with confidence, she funny and she’s considerate. More than anything she can support herself and make her own decisions. Her sweetheart Max, a talented pilot is irresistible! Letty would be my least favorite character. I’m a little annoyed at her dependent, self-pitying nature and I honestly don’t know how anyone can stand her! She’s living off Cordelia’s generosity and she wants to be famous yet she’s sitting around waiting! By the end of the novel, she seems to grow confident and she’s (kind of) growing on me so I’ll wait to judge :) Astrid is the poster child for rich and privileged. For her it’s all about flirting, glamorous parties and pretty dresses but she’s also furiously loyal and very kind. These three girls are going to grow on you, great development.

If you love novels about the rich, young and beautiful. If you’re looking for a glamorous novel about expensive dresses, scandals and social classes. If you’re looking for something that will dazzle you, pick up Beautiful Days. Godberson has written her best novel yet, anything goes in the roaring twenties and these three girls are having the time of their lives. Highly entertaining and addictive, it’s a guaranteed good read!

Rating – 6/5(less)

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Aug 09, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-read-childrens-ya

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

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Apr 06, 2013 Sarah W. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: anna-godbersen

Don't get me wrong. This was a lovely second installment. As far as sequels go, this book didn't fall as short from the first as others. Most of the reason should be credited to Ms. Godbersen vivid language, the kind that compels me to wear an shiny thing of a dress and an elaborate updo to school, or wish for a time machine back to the Twenties. She does a fabulous job using era-appropriate vocabulary, and I love her for it. She also can understand her characters in their entirety, which I alwa...more Don't get me wrong. This was a lovely second installment. As far as sequels go, this book didn't fall as short from the first as others. Most of the reason should be credited to Ms. Godbersen vivid language, the kind that compels me to wear an shiny thing of a dress and an elaborate updo to school, or wish for a time machine back to the Twenties. She does a fabulous job using era-appropriate vocabulary, and I love her for it. She also can understand her characters in their entirety, which I always appreciate.
Where it fell short for me...well, there's a couple things. I'll be vague- no spoilers here, I hope. But mostly, the coincidental happenings occurred too often, (I lied. There will be semi-spoilers.) like Grady's attendance at the club's opening when Letty happened to get her chance. And then, the kidnapping. (I won't say who.) So underplayed- it was over, I felt, in minutes. In the actual book, I think it was a day. One whole day. *insert sarcasm. Finally, I will admit to favoring Thom Hale. I mean, hot, witty, and interested? Cordelia still didn't let him explain himself. I understand this piques curiosity, but I'm not sure this issue will ever be resolved. If Cordelia's going to swear off Thom, I want closure. The scenes he was in, or lack thereof, left me dissatisfied. He barely said anything. No character development and a sudden detachment from the bootlegger's daughter. I felt cheated. The ending, finally, was less cliffhanger-y as the first book. I have less enthusiasm to get to the final book. Except that I'm hanging onto a sliver of hope that Thom's development does him justice.
My hope for The Lucky Ones is that everything is tied up. Not nicely, as I know the author is not in the habit of doing (dying to use that phrase) but I want the details. Not just that Cordelia moves on, still convincing herself that her lover killed her father, or that Letty (who, frankly, annoys me with all her whining and dependance) becomes a star.
3 STARS- for slowness of pace and lack of development, despite the inevitable plot twists. (less)

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Feb 01, 2012 Tiny Pants rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library, series, fiction, young-adult

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 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 1929, so there's that).

Regardless, this one sucked me in fast, and soon I remembered what was going on well enough (though I had kind of forgotten the whole thing with Thom and was confused why Cordelia didn't like him, and also the whole thing with the pilot). Still, it was good, but not great. Why is Bright Young Things just not doing it for me the way The Luxe did? Well, as I've noted before, there's the time period. But I think more of it is that despite their page-turning qualities, not a lot happens, and the dialogue is brutal (approximately half of it is "Darling!" or some approximation thereof).

I will say I find Letty and Cordelia very appealing, and I really enjoy the friendship elements of the plot (though surprisingly, I like the bootlegging family rivalry stuff even more). But when I re-read the prologue to Bright Young Things and hit the "one would be famous, one would be married, one would be dead" bit -- well, I pretty much spent this entire book hoping Astrid would be the dead one. Her catty and turbulent relationship with her mother (who is described as if she were like, Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? or Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard even though she's 39) really kept her character interesting in the first book. In this one though, yikes, she comes off as a spoiled shrieker. Yeah, I want her to be the dead one, and I don't even care who does her in -- Astrid's antics supplied virtually every character in this book with a motive.

I really wish the third book were coming out sooner than in the fall... they are spacing these out way too far, and I'll surely have forgotten what happened in this book by the time I get to that one. (less)

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Apr 21, 2013 Kristina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm seeing some character development! This series keeps getting better and better. Can't wait till I get my hands on the third.
Sometimes (mostly) Astrid and Cordelia seem to only be able to spoil themselves. Especially when the first chapters are spent by the pool or drinking at some party. But then the author proves me wrong and the girls finally do something worthy.
Beautiful Days is introducing a new Cordelia Grey. This one is now a real member of the family, and has to take care of some of...more

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May 28, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book really took off! Set in one of my favorite times, Beautiful Days is great read.

What I enjoyed most about this book is the plot. Cordelia, Letty, Astrid lives have taken some unexpected turns. I like that in this book the reader still gets each point of view from the girls. Being in their shoes is fantastic. I enjoyed the parties, the clothes, and also the music.

All of the girls face some hard times in the book. There is also something that starts to form, a woman's movement. Women are...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Ellie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Though it admittedly took me a considerable amount of time to get around to reading "Beautiful Days", once finished, I completely regretted having waited so long. I've always loved period pieces, and this novel was no exception. Set during the Roaring Twenties, "Beautiful Days" is the second in a series chronicling the lives and happenings of three New York socialites. I reveled in the old school glamour and lawlessness incited by the years of prohibition. Being able to escape to a different tim...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 that...more 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 that Cordelia and Charlie build, and the view from Max Darby's airplane, like I am actually there. And reading this book makes me want to be there.

While Bright Young things was about these girls trying to find their place in The Big City, Beautiful Days is more about them trying to find themselves. They have gotten so wrapped up in the lazy, self-centered, glamorous life of a boot-legger's daughter/friend, that they've forgotten who they are, and who they want to be. Astrid has become obsessed with being the perfect wife, Cordelia can't get her mind off a certain distraction in the form of Max Darby, and Letty has seemingly abandoned her dream of being a star. But as the girls try to find their way again, they make some decisions that may come back to haunt them in the end. I can't help but be constantly reminded of the tagline in Bright Young Things, "One would be famous, one would be married, and one would be dead." As I grow closer to these girls, and their stories, I am eager to find out what happens to them, but I'm dreading that ending. And my mind keeps changing about which girl will achieve which outcome.

I seriously love everything about this series. From the time period to the mystery, from the heartbreak to the glamor, this book has me entranced! The dialogue has me enraptured, the romance has my heart pounding, and the storyline and plot twists are constantly making me guess at what will happen next. I can't bring myself to pick up another book yet, because I just don't want to leave these girls behind.

If you enjoyed Bright Young Things, you will not be disappointed with Beautiful Days. If you haven't picked up this series yet, I can't recommend it enough. Go out and grab Bright Young Things get lost in the roaring twenties like I have!(less)

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Oct 28, 2011 Kirsten rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: zzz-faves-i-ve-read

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 one, it`s refreshing, keep...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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Bright Young Things (Bright Young Things, #1)

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“You don’t need to marry a man with millions. You only need to be your exquisite self.” — 9 people liked it

“Interesting" people were her favorite hobby. She collected them: the type who did gay things late at night and smoked cigarettes in mixed company, those would have most scandalized her own mother.” — 6 people liked it

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Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things #2)

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