Bright Young Things (Bright Young Things, #1)

by Anna Godbersen

[jeannamichel]

Letty and Cordelia leave the farmlands of Ohio behind, one night, and enter New York City. It’s 1929 and the speakeasies are blaring with music and overflowing with illegal drink. Letty wants to be a star. Cordelia wants to find her father. In their journeys, they meet people who will help them and people who will deceive them. In a city where there is always going to be dark corners, can these girls follow their dreams and succeed?

Anna Godbersen has been my favorite author since I read The Luxe in high school. When I tell people about her books and how wonderfully written they are, people look at me like I am crazy. I describe Bright Young Things as Gossip Girl in 1929. It is a fast paced historical drama (rather than historical romance), which is not my usual genre. I am more the type of supernatural, paranormal, and dystopian. However if Godbersen wrote it, it has to be good. And, yes, it was beyond good. Her writing style takes you to another world, alongside two girls who are trying to figure out their place in New York City.

Bright Young Things is set in 1929, during the Jazz Age, which is definitely glamourized and filled with drama. And, oh, Godbersen writes drama so well. She starts out with two girls, Letty and Cordelia. Perspectives move around a bit between chapters but is written so gracefully that is easy to understand. Every character has something which is likeable to them but also each has their dark secrets. That is something to love about Godbersen’s characters: they all have depths; they have stories beyond the main story and backgrounds beyond that.

It is difficult to talk about the plot without giving too much away. Drama always has its standard twists and turns. Some of Godbersen’s were predictable but lovely to read about. However, other twists were totally unexpected which only made me love the book more.

Bright Young Things has a way of making your heart fall in love, tremble, and ache all at the same time. This is the first book in a new series by Anna Godbersen and, to me, she is off to a great start. I look forward to reading the second installment! Godbersen knows how to write drama and if you haven’t read one of her books, I highly recommend them.