Every time I have to write a book review, I spend hours thinking about which book I’ll talk about. Ok, maybe not hours, but you see what I mean. It’s been such a long time since I’ve had a real crush on a book! Except “Burnt Shadows” which truly marked me, I didn’t read anything particular this past year – or at least, not in English. And I think it’s really sad. So please, if you have any suggestions, tell me all about it in the comment section, I’m waiting for a new discovery that’ll transport me!
Anyway, today I’m going to present you a series I’ve read a few years ago. I loved it back then, and still loved it when I’ve reread the first book last year – I didn’t have time for the others, unfortunately.
“The Luxe” is a young adult series, with drama and romance, and contains four novels. The first one was published in 2007, the last one in 2009. Written by Anna Godbersen, author of “Bright Young Things” and “The Blonde”, it talks about four girls living in Manhattan’s upper class during 1899. I have to say, it’s not the type of book I read usually, so if this is also your case, give me a chance to persuade you with my top three reasons!
1 – You’ll love and hate the characters at the same time
At the beginning of the series, you slowly get to know Elizabeth, Diana and Penelope, the three main characters. They’re all very different from each other, they all have their qualities and their flaws, and it’s very interesting to see them all evolve in the same environment.
Elizabeth is the “perfect one”, always obeying her mother, described as the angelic one. But she secretly loves Will, her stable boy, and she has to choose between true love and family duty when her mother tells her she has to marry Henry to save her family from poverty. Diana is Elizabeth’s younger sister, rebellious, a romantic soul, wild, she hates to follow rules and the world she’s living in. And when she first meets Henry, they fall in love with each other. As for Penelope, she’s Elizabeth’s good friend in society, she’s gorgeous, rich, manipulative, and she’s interested in Henry just for his money and prestige. She cares only about her own welfare and her schemes are for her personal gain.
And in the middle of them, there’s Lina, Elizabeth’s maid. They were close friends before Elizabeth arrived on the social scene and before Lina fell in love with Will. Throughout the series, she’ll climb to the social ladder with more or less success.
Maybe it will be difficult to believe, but I promise, you get attached to all of them, more or less according to the books. It’s refreshing to read a series centered on strong women. Even if they almost all turned around Henry, he’s really not the point after all. It’s more about power, and reputation, and what they want to do with their lives, how they want to live it.
Yeah, it’s a bit like “Gossip Girl” – Manhattan’s upper class – but in 1899, and it’s so much more interesting!
2 – A great suspense and a well-constructed story
Somehow, despite the romantic background of the story, it still catches your attention, I assure you. There’s suspense, you don’t always know what will happen next and you’re often surprised. Something I really loved about this series was the fact that every book is constructed as a flash-back. There’s a special scene at the beginning which will always make you wonder a lot of questions.
For example, the first book opens on Elizabeth’s funeral. And the entire book you wonder how she died, what happened, who is involved? And because of that, it’s really difficult to let it go until the very end!
The suspense is also present at every chapter. Each one of them is written from a different point of view: Elizabeth, Diana, Penelope, Henry and Lina. And of course, each chapter ends on an intriguing note. Just enough to make you want to read the next one, and the next after that. It’s so addictive!
3 – The rich, ostentatious and shiny universe of the Gilded Age
If you love reading about the past and dive into a complete different universe, this books are for you. Anna Godbersen successfully described the very peculiar atmosphere of this Manhattan at the end of the 19th century. Let’s be honest, a plot like this one nowadays would be a bit dull. But in the middle of the Gilded Age, with the robes, and the magnificent hotels, and the balls, it’s gorgeous and breath-taking! Descriptions are vivid and you almost see yourself in Elizabeth and Diana’s living room drinking tea, or dancing with Penelope, or playing cards and smoking cigars with Henry. You see all the decadence of the upper-class, all the false pretence, and it’s so delightful to dive in this ambience. As long as you read, you’re deep in another world, and that’s what I loved about those books.
Of course, I didn’t tell you all of the events that will shook good society of Manhattan, but be sure that the three other books are full of adventures and suspense and dilemmas themselves! And even if it’s a young adult series, it doesn’t end with a happy ending that make you want to throw up rainbows – on the contrary.
I hope those few reasons convinced you and that you’ll spend a good time reading this series. At least I did – and it made me want to read it again. If you’ve already read it, tell me in the comment section what you’ve thought about it! And see you soon for the next review!
Lots of love,
Léa
Advertisements Share this:- More
