Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Summary:
The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the bright young things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star...

Cordelia is seraching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined - and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for... and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blinding stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall - together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age. (from book jacket)

Review:
I loved The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen (though I still haven't read the last book, Splendor) so when I heard that she wrote another book set in the 1920s, I really wanted to read it. I love the Twenties and books that take place in that loose and frivolous era (especially The Great Gatsby). Bright Young Things follows three girls, Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid, and their experiences living in New York City at the end of the Twenties. I would love to live in this time period but the whole Great Depression happening right after kind of puts a damper on everything.

Anna Godbersen is a good writer in that she is really detailed and her facts seem historically accurate. Her writing is what I would call luxurious: kind of slow and silky so it makes you feel like you are living in New York City with the Cordelia, Astrid and Letty. However, since it is so slow, it sometimes translates to the story and plot. A lot happens in Bright Young Things, but it happens pretty slowly. If you are looking for something fast and exciting, this is probaby not the book for you.

Also, the fact that the novel is written in third person really distances the reader from the characters. While I liked them all, I didn't actually feel a connection with any of the girls. While, these things prevented me from loving Bright Young Things, I still enjoyed reading it a lot and would definitely read the sequel when it is published.

I liked the references to The Great Gatsby. Cordelia's father, Darius Grey, is a bootlegger and is known for his wild parties just like Jay Gatsby. They were actually pretty similar characters but I can't go into detail because it's spoilery.

So all in all, I loved the setting of Bright Young Things and the storyline in general, though the slow-moving plot and distant characterizations prevented me from loving it. If you enjoyed Godbersen's other series, I would definitely recommend this.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from library.

2010/Harper Teen/389 pages.

Envy: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen

Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune - and her fame - are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestelling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets... (Taken from inside cover)

This series is so good and Envy did not disappoint. As I've stated before, The Luxe series is like Gossip Girl in 1900, but since it's historical fiction, it's even better. Anna Godbersen writes so well and there is a lot of historical facts and information that show that Anna did a lot of research. The story continues right where it left off in Rumors, and the characters never fail to create drama for themselves and others. As soon as you think all is well in Manhattan, there's a twist and everything falls apart again. Even after three books, I never tire of the characters and plot, which means the author is doing a wonderful job of storytelling. This series is perfect who likes historical fiction, romance, and a lot of scandalous secrets just waiting to be spilled.

8 out of 10.

Rumors: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen

Even though it's been a few months since Elizabeth Holland's untimley demise, rumors still fly about her mysterious disappearance, as noted in the newspaper. Amidst these rumors are the mourning family and fiance, Henry Schoonmaker, who are ready to return to society and all its winter season gatherings. But now that Manhattan's princess is gone, who will take her place? Will it be Elizabeth's younger sister, Diana, whose prospective marriage could pull the family out of debt? How about Elizabeth's best friend Penelope Hayes, who has her eyes on Henry? Or could it be the Hollands' former maid, Lina Broud, who has somehow entered society's elite circle? As the wealthy know, it's never a dull day in Manhattan...

I still can't get over how original this series is! It's like Gossip Girl, but instead takes place in 1899. There's still plenty of scandal, and Gossip Girl's notorious website is even present, this time taking the place of the society pages in the newspaper. There's a lot of historical detail and it's all very interesting. The one thing I don't like, though, is that some of the characters seem very one-dimensional and flat. I'm sure that's the author's intention, but they seem so shallow, it's almost boring to read. But it's only one or two characters like this. I think Anna Godbersen wants to make it easy for us to know which characters to love and which to hate, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Besides that, there are characters who are grow and develop, like Elizabeth and Henry, and that makes up for any other characters that might be lacking. Even so, the book is extremely readable, and if you don't like historical fiction, I'm sure you'll still fall in love with this series.

7 out of 10.

Envy will be released in January 2009.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The elite and wealthy of Manhattan in 1899 live glamorous lives that the lower classes can only witness in the gossip pages of the newspaper. Most of these people enjoy the secure status that money and privilege brings, except sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland, whose status is far from secure. When they discover that their fortune is dwindling, Elizabeth finds herself making a terrible sacrifice in the name of family duty. Other socialites Penelope Hayes and Henry Schoonmaker, and maid Lina Broud are in the background, waiting to take the top spot that Elizabeth now occupies. So when Elizabeth's carriage overturns by the East River and she disappears, many wonder is something more sinister is behind the accident...

The Luxe was an excellent book. I was reading it while vacationing at the beach, and could not put it down! My sister kept wanting me to do things with her, like go into the ocean or walk along the beach, and I kept saying no just so I could read. It's very much like Gossip Girl, except it takes place in 1899, which makes it even more interesting, in my opinion. The characters were all great, and I loved learning about how the elite in Manhattan spend their days. There was suspense, romance, twists, everything that makes a book wonderful. I can't wait to read the next in the series, Rumors!

8 out of 10.