Product Description

Imagine, if you will, New York City, 1899 . . . Society's elite: the glamour, the grandeur, the glittering parties, the most handsome beaus, the most beautiful debutantes . . . the rich girl, the humble boy, the forbidden love, the hushed whispers, the stolen glances, the whispers, the scandal, the mystery, the revenge . . . You are cordially invited to step into The Luxe, where the secrets are dark and the sins are delicious . . . R.S.V.P.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30727 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Review
Mystery, romance, jealousy, betrayal, humour and gorgeous, historically accurate details. Edith Wharton, Jane Austen and Agatha Christie rolled into one . . . I couldn't put The Luxe down! (Gossip Girl )

About the Author
Anna Godbersen was born in Berkeley, California, the daughter of a cab driver and a painter. She studied English at college, and has been assistant to the Literary Editor at Esquire magazine since 2003. She writes weekly reviews for various New York magazines, and has written several young adult novels under a pseudonym. This is her first novel for Puffin.

Customer Reviews

High society, low morals
THE LUXE is the story of a young elite American woman, Elizabeth Holland at the end of the nineteenth century.
Elizabeth's world is one of ballrooms, parties, servants and duty - manners are meant to be the making of a young lady, and Elizabeth prides herself in always maintaining her manners before anything else. This even includes her own happiness, for although Elizabeth has a secret love with her coachman, she is duty bound to wed the most eligible bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker, to save her family from poverty.
Unfortunately for Elizabeth, Henry also has some secrets of his own - one of them being an affair with her best friend and rival, Penelope Hayes. The other is his admiration for her younger sister, Diane Holland.
Unfortunately for all parties concerned, their world is also habitted by servants; and they are often the ones who know most of what is happening within a household. Elizabeth's servant, Lina, hides a love for the very coachman that Elizabeth has been courting, and so it is only inevitable that, in the end, all these secrets shall start to be revealed.
But, the real twist and concern of THE LUXE is the events leading upto the death of Elizabeth Holland, just before her marriage. As all these strands unravel, the reader is able to witness the true dealings of the higher classes, showing that they are no different to the rest of the world.

What I loved about THE LUXE was Godbersen's ability to make their world so real and so relevant. Although I cannot say that Elizabeth was my favourite literary character, she seemed real enough, making you care about her story. And, as you can tell from the short synopsis that I have given, the depth of the story and how each character may be affected by another was also well managed - to say that THE LUXE had a love triangle would not be accurate; there are many more sides.
For a quick, easy read, THE LUXE would be well recommended for young girls or women who wanted to slip into another time, but one which still explores the complexities of the human heart and family obligation.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
One of the elite, one of the daughters of New York society, is dead.

In life, the lovely and fair Elizabeth Holland is everything a young, turn-of-the-century girl of her position ought to be. But, it's not easy to be proper and mannerly all the time, and a handsome servant who lives in the stable gets to see more of her than anyone else -- much, much more.

No one knows of their secret affair, except Miss Holland's personal maid, Lina. Why did Elizabeth Holland have to go and pick Lina's love interest to treat as her personal plaything? Isn't it enough that the wealthy and admired young lady is betrothed to New York's most eligible bachelor?

Henry Schoonmaker doesn't even want to marry the prim and boring Miss Holland. He's having too much fun living a carefree life and having a secret affair with his fiancé's best friend, Penelope Hayes. But, that sister of Elizabeth's, she is truly spirited. Yes, maybe Diana is the Holland sister for him. Maybe he should defy his father's wishes and forget about Elizabeth...and Penelope.

But, Penelope simply will not be forgotten. Henry Schoonmaker belongs to her. It should be her name linked with his in all the society papers. She'll do whatever it takes to get him back.

The twists and turns readers navigate throughout this book are staggering. With so many different perspectives to balance, the story could become difficult to follow, but author Anna Godbersen deftly guides her readers through the tale.

It can be unclear at times where loyalties should lie, with so many scandalous doings underway. However, this only further adds to the big picture of New York's upper crust society and the games its elitist members must play in order to stay on top.

The mystery of Elizabeth Holland's impending death will keep readers riveted, and by the story's end, they will be crying out for a sequel. I join their ranks in hoping this debut novelist will comply.

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

entertaining teenage-read
Though the end is predictable - the author gives a little too much away in the prologue - the story is told well. What it mostly shows is that conventions might have changed, but people remain the same. The historical details - what a social minefield a ballroom was in those days! - are accurate and believable. Still, in its whole atmosphere the book is more of a bad-and-beautiful-teenage-girls story like the Gossip Girl series, than a historical novel in the old-fashioned sense. If you want Sex and the City in even more sumptuous dresses, more scandalous behaviour (according to their period, at least) and more champagne, this is your book.