Review: Splendor

Title: Splendor
Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Category: Young Adult
Page Count: 391 
Release Date: October 2009
Series: Luxe, Rumors, Envy
Source: Library
Challenge: none 
Quick Rating: 2/5

New beginnings.

Shocking revelations.

Unexpected endings.

As spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searched for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father’s death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.

Carolina Broad, society’s newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty - but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father’s rule extends well beyond New York’s shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.

In this dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York’s most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city’s oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

Thank God that’s over with. I have finally finished the Luxe series, and I’m so happy I don’t have to suffer through all these characters’ depressing lives a second more. I found Splendor to be a very weak installment of the series, though not quite as rage-inducing as Rumors. It seemed slow, and yet rushed, all at the same time. It was a whole lot of muck to sift through for a very lackluster, unsatisfying ending.

Even the prologue, which I’ve always found to be one of the best of it’s predecessors, wasn’t as good. It didn’t hook me like the others - I didn’t feel compelled to keep reading until I found out all about the cryptic beginning. At least the dresses didn’t disappoint.

Follow the jump for more!

Review: Envy

Title: Envy
Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Category: Young Adult
Page Count: 416 
Release Date: January 2009
Series: Luxe, Rumors
Source: Library
Challenge: none 
Quick Rating: 3/5

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 bestselling 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…

: If you haven’t read any of the previous installments of the Luxe series, I suggest you skip this review. I’ve tried to keep things mostly spoiler-free for Envy, but details of the first two books are unavoidable.

I was really left on a low note at the end of Rumors. When we last saw the ‘Fabulous Five’, absolutely no one was happy, and there was no glimmer of hope. I about had a fit of rage after the end of Rumors, and I am thrilled to say I got to at least let out a sigh of relief at the end of Envy. There is, finally, after so much heartache and depression, the tiniest flame of hope.

As always, Ms. Godbersen knows how to write an intriguing, confusing, wonderful prologue. I don’t want to be, but I start reading, and I’m just swept right back up into the lives of Diana, Henry, Elizabeth, Penelope, and Lina. And the clothes - oh! The clothes! There’s probably a few spots of drool on my book from dreaming about all those lovely dresses.

That being said, these books still annoy the crap out of me.

Follow the jump for more!

Review: Rumors

Title: Rumors
Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Category: Young Adult
Page Count: 432
Release Date: February 2010
Series: The Luxe
Source: Library
Quick Rating: 3/5

As rumors fly about the untimely demise of New York’s brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, all eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her sister, Diana, the family’s only hope for redemption; Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind; even Elizabeth’s former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency. In this delicious sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal…or more precious than a secret.

So I’m really having a love/hate relationship with this series right now. Maybe it was the lack of sleep and the fact that it was 2 am when I finished it, but as soon as I turned the last page, I had the deepest urge to just rip the book to shreds and throw it in the garbage. But, it’s a library copy, so I can’t. I cried instead.

But let’s start with the positive. Anna Godbersen really knows how to write a prologue that hooks you, but is so vague it’s almost maddening. I get sucked right back in, and there’s no stopping it. I stay up way later than I should reading these books. The flow is perfect, and it’s sososo hard to put them down! Not to mention all the lovely descriptions of all the dresses. I would want to see these made into movies just for the costumes.

Follow the jump for more character-specific details!

Review: The Luxe

Title: The Luxe
Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Category: Young Adult
Page Count: 464 
Release Date: September 2008
Source: Library
Quick Rating: 4/5

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.

Irresistible boys with sly smiles and dangerous intentions.

White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.

This is Manhattan, 1899...

Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone - from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud - threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or it, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear.

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

 The first thing that drew me to the Luxe series was, of course, the absolutely stunning covers. What girl can resist those kinds of beautiful dresses?

As much as I really loved the book, I’m actually finding it kind of hard to write a review for it. My thoughts are kind of all over the place in regards to The Luxe. One thing I really liked was the flow. I’m a big fan of alternating chapters, and I found I just could not put this book down. I devoured it in two nights before bed, staying up way later than I should on a work night. I also loved all the little notes and “newspaper” clips at the beginning of each chapter. Little details like that win big points in my book.

(Follow the jump for more!)