Reviewed by Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews on
Now to the book...
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. All this is experienced by three bright young things, Cordelia Grey, Letty Larkspur and Astrid Donal.
Cordelia starts off as a run away bride from a small town in Ohio who with her best friend Letty head to New York to make it big. Once there she discloses that the real reason she has traveled such a distance is to find her long lost father, a wealthy bootlegger. Upon hearing this Letty feels betrayed (and rightly so) going her own way. She quickly finds her father and is accepted with open arms. Personally, I found this rather odd, what if she had been an imposter after his vast fortune? Some people are so trusting. Cordelia soon becomes an entitled bitch who mixes with the wrong crowd to drastic consciences. She is the character we all love to hate.
Letty is a sweet naive girl who despite her talent always falls down on her luck. Unlike her former friend she mixes with the right crowd but is blinded by the idea of her name in lights and books a degrading position to discover her mistake too late. Poor young thing, your heart goes out to her.
Astrid, Cordelia's new best friend and brother's fiance. I think the best way to describe her is a hooker with a heart of gold, although she is no hooker, Astrid just likes to have a good time. She is perhaps the most likeable character of the three as she is kind and considerate and has a head on her shoulders. Unfortunately, she can not be the only one skips along like a Disney princess and has her shortcomings too.
With the era, plot and lively characters Anna Godbersen's Bright Young Things is sure to be a wonderful appetizer to a new series.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 12 July, 2011: Finished reading
- 12 July, 2011: Reviewed