This book left me feeling sad. I don't know why, because it was a happy ending. I guess it was just because everything fell apart at the end and I really felt sorry for Clara, even though she was happier. This seemed to be more about the history of social season. I thought it was going to be more of a love story. I wanted more conversations. Every time she would get into a conversation that I was REALLY interested in, the scene would switch and she would be on her way home, or it would be the next day. I was always left wondering and wanting more. It had a happy ending, but I really wished, as a reader, I could have experienced it rather than read about it in the society section of the newspaper. Although that seemed fitting and followed suit with the rest of the story, I still wished I could have read their words and their thoughts at the end.

Also, I know this book was written to show how ruthless it was back then, being thrust on society, trying to make a name for yourself, or your family trying to make a name for themselves. And the pressures of making a good match. After reading this most people would be so thankful not to have to go through that. But it had the opposite effect on me believe it or not. After closing the book, I was enchanted with thoughts of dresses and balls and operas. It sounded like a very exciting time! Reading about it and living it I'm sure were very different things, but now I long to experience it.


**Spoiler ALERT**

OK I've been thinking about this book all day and I think I can finally put into words why this book left me feeling sad. I think it was because after all she went through, she ended up holding out for love which is what she wanted. But she didn't really get to celebrate it, she had to run off and elope and live over seas. Which I know she wanted to go over seas, but near the end she said she felt sad for the loss of what she could have had. I just wish that his family would have been more accepting of her, because despite what her father and her aunt did, it was very obvious that she was pretty naive to it all until the end. Harry and Katherine both fell in love with her and could see that she wasn't like the other gold diggers, it seems like his family could have seen that too and welcomed her to the family with a big wedding just like Lizzie. The poor girl needed a good family.

Also I was not very sure about Lizzie throughout the whole book. I kept waiting for her to double cross Clara. I NEVER expected it to be the other way around. I found that really unexpected. I kept thinking that Lizzie was setting Clara up when they spread that rumor, or Lizzie's mom was setting her up.

I went back and reread some of the conversations she had with Henry near the end of the book, and it made me wonder if he was responsible for setting her up with his Aunt. I wish that would have been clarified how that came about. Did he contact Miss Miller? Or was it just a coincidence that Miss Miller knew Harry's aunt. That just seems unlikely. I hate it when things aren't explained!