The Luxe (Luxe, #1)

by Anna Godbersen

In Manhattan in 1899, five teens of different social classes lead dangerously scandalous lives, despite the strict rules of society and the best-laid plans of parents and others.

• ISBN10: 0061345687
• ISBN13: 9780061345685
• Publish Date: 23 September 2008 (first published 20 November 2007)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 433
• Language: English

Reviews

[ladygrey]

I knew this book was historical fiction Gossip Girl before I read it. I've known for years. And I never liked Gossip Girl so I wasn't interested. But I was told it was a quick read (true) and that my primary concerns were unfounded (also true). So I gave it a try.

And I would have liked it better, I think, if it weren't for two things.
1. I knew how it was going to end on page 91. The very beginning was a little confusing and then it jumped time and I was better anchored in the story and then *Boom* - I knew how it was going to end up. Not all the details of how it would get there but what all those details would lead to and obvious "mysteries" are boring.

2. I didn't love any of the characters. In fact, I actively disliked Lina. I almost liked Diana and Elizabeth but I didn't love Will or like Henry much until the end and... I didn't dislike any of them enough to stop reading (though almost once or twice) but I never liked any of them enough to have to know what happens next either.

I think because it was written in third person close with a lot of setting (so much setting! I don't love New York so all the Fifth Avenue this and Broadway that and carriages and historically accurate descriptions of foot traffic and Gramercy Park and... I don't care) and internal monologue (with so many false assumptions) I never cared for the characters that much or rooted for them. And if I'd liked the characters more, knowing that was going to happen wouldn't have been much of a detraction.

All that being said, I probably could be persuaded to read the next book if I didn't have a dozen other books on my tbr list. Some of the characters were just starting to get interesting.

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

Completed Series Review

Individual ratings:
Luxe: 4 ★
Rumors: 4 ★
Envy: 3.5 ★
Splendor: 4 ★

Recommended for lovers of: Historical Fiction, Gossip Girl, 19th century New York, Downton Abbey

Suggested age group: 16+

{I’m doing a compiled review for this series because I completed it before becoming a full-time reviewer.}

The above ratings were given immediately upon finishing each installment. In retrospect, I have apparently grown to love this series much more since completing it, because I now think my initial ratings were a bit conservative. I have fond memories of this series and its characters. Diana Holland may actually be one of my favorite characters of all time. The setting for this series still vividly stands out in my mind a year after listening to it. If I had to re-rate, I would probably bump each of the ratings up by .5 stars for nostalgia. I enjoyed this series so much more than Godbersen’s Bright Young Things. It had an incredible narrator and was extremely easy to follow. I was completely wrapped up by the majesty of this series. I wouldn’t have expected a story about young women in the late 19th century to have been so exhilarating, nor the romances so tantalizingly juicy. This series was basically the 19th century version of Gossip Girl! The more I think about it, the more I love it. ♣︎

Overall series rating: 4.25 ★

[celinenyx]

3.5 Stars

Saw the final plot twist coming from about 10% in, but that didn't deter my enjoyment of the book. Life in The Luxe is trivial. It doesn't try to spice things up with murder or intruige like so many other books do. What you see is what you get - bored rich teenagers doing bored rich teenager stuff. And they do it so well.

I'm torn about the stars. There was something addicting about this book because I finished it so quickly, but looking back, I didn't fall in love with all the characters and I knew the plot immediately. I guess I'll think on it.
Full review coming soon.

[Angie]

I know this is said a lot, but it's true: If Gossip Girl was set in 1899, it would be The Luxe. This book was full of glitz, glamor, frenemies, forbidden love, love triangles, love squares, all kinds of love geometry, falling to the bottom of the social ladder, jealousy, gossip and betrayal. These girls will do anything for social standing and love, or at least what they think is love.

I have mixed feelings about the prologue. On one hand, I liked how it introduced a major conflict, since from then on I kept reading to find out how things go to that point. But then, I also felt like it took away from the shock that could have been there if not for the prologue. While I was eager to get to the events leading up to the prologue, I was bogged down by the extremely slow pacing. It felt like it took forever for the story to actually get going. This is something I noticed about the first book in another of this author's series, too. But she does an amazing job in describing the setting which is one of my favorite time periods.

As for the characters, Elizabeth is so boring! She follows all of the rules of society, acts like a proper lady, and does exactly what she's told. She's the complete opposite of her little sister, Diana, who seeks a grand romance and adventure, and refuses to settle into the role expected of her. Thankfully the other characters were more dynamic and interesting, and there are plenty of additional characters since this book has several POVs. Althuogh it was annoying that the characters were referred to by their full names at the beginning of each chapter, like the reader needed reminding of their heritage every 10 pages.

I liked The Luxe well enough despite its slow pacing and Elizabeth the cardboard cut out. It's definitely a solid set up for the rest of the series which I'm eager to read.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

At first, the Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana seem to have it all being the desired socialites and now, despite her best friend Penelope's resentment Elizabeth is suddenly engaged to Henry Schoonmaker. Everything appears perfect, until Elizabeth is thrown from a horse and buggy and disappears into the Hudson River.

Anna Godbersen's The Luxe is The Age of Innocence meets Gossip Girl. Elizabeth, Diana, Penelope and the Holland's former maid Lina all grasp for romance, fortune and grandeur in Manhattan society at the end of the 19th century.

All represented females had their ups and down in morality, one minute I'd be routing for the heroines and on the next page they would be uppity bitches, (well except for Penelope, she was always an uppity bitch).

Anyway, I felt Anna Godbersen did an excellent job of separating classes in tiers of ranking, but despite consequence everyone managed to slip through the cracks of these standings. But The Luxe is not souly about catty debutantes, it is also about the men they love which is the root of all this backstabbing. From the most eligible bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker to the coachman Will Keller New York has a three-ring circus.

As much as I loved the book I have to get uppity myself for a minute, after I began raving about this to my mom she picked the series up as soon as I would finish it and besides agreeing it was highly readable concurred on another thought, that there were several "sex scenes" that could be a little risque for the geared audience. Fortunately, they were eloquently written so only a maturer eye could catch the full intention. But still, scandalizing!

The Luxe is a soap opera in the form of 400 pages and personally don't understand why the CW hasn't picked it up.

[catiebug]

When I originally saw this book, I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, but I wanted to give it a shot because the synopsis sounded interesting. I’m so glad I didn’t because this book had me hooked from page one.

The book starts off with the prologue being about the funeral of Elizabeth Holland and is very vague about what had happen. Then the book goes back and goes through all the events leading up to her death. There is the feel of a mystery because you find yourself constantly trying to figure out what happened or even who did it. And there is so much drama and secrets, you can help but to side with someone and point fingers at another.

Elizabeth is definitely my favorite character because she does what she needs to do, but she is also able to live and do what she wants without making herself look bad. Carrying on a secret relationship then being forced into marrying someone else. I don’t know how she was able to keep her cool. And that “best friend” of hers, Penelope. She was definitely a fun character and added a lot to the story, but she really irritated me sometimes. She is the girl that pretends to be your friend so she can learn all your secrets and make herself look better by making you stuck in your shadow. I found my self very surprised when it came to Henry. In the beginning the book he comes off as a guy who only cares about himself and nothing else really matters. By the middle, you see a totally different side of him and I grew to really like him.

I love how there was so much detail without it being boring and seeming like just pointless fill in stuff. And the way each chapter was focused on a different character. With books like these, you find yourself wondering what is going on with other characters and you usually only hear about one. It’s nice to get all sides of the story, especially because it makes it harder to guess what will happen in the end.

The ending both surprised me and didn’t surprise me. I loved the way it ended though, epecially because it opens up so much more for the story to continue. You’re left wanting more and wondering where the story will go and what will happen with all the characters as a result.

This cover though? Wow! There were times when I stopped reading just to look at it. It is absolutely gorgeous! I love the color pink they chose and they way they have the dress set. And the gold writing fit so well. The cover definitely fits the story perfectly.

[rakesandrogues]

I definitely enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I was hooked by the delicious drama, though I predicted the ending straight from the beginning. Hopefully, I will enjoy the sequel as well.