Healthy Living Books Books

Rating: - Very disappointing considering all the hype
Perhaps it's because I haven't read the first book, although after reading this one I have no desire to read it. The story begins in late 1899 New York and California as it tells the tale of Elizabeth and Diane Holland (upper crust family in financial difficulty), Penelope Hayes (new wealth) and Lina Broud (Elizabeth's former maid) who is trying to set herself up as a "lady". A good deal of the first third of this book sets up what happened in The Luxe, Elizabeth's faked death so she could join her former servant and lover Will in California, Diana's pining over Henry Schoonmaker while Penelope schemes to trap him in marriage and Lina's entree' into society via an older gentleman. Enough reviewers have covered the plot sufficiently that I needn't rehash it again, however I do have several problems with this book and that is what I'm here to talk about.

First is that this book and the previous one are written and promoted for the YA market, yet most of the main characters are hopping in and out of bed, Elizabeth (the perfect lady) is living with Will in an unmarried state and no one even talks about birth control, let alone the consequences of being outed in society if one got caught in the act? I don't think so, and I feel this is a horrible example to be setting for our younger readers. Try Edith Wharton. She lived and breathed upper crust New York society and she wrote it and heroines who didn't live by said society's rules were ostracized and suffered for their sins. And what's with these well born young women doing going out with young gentlemen without a proper chaperone? Or wandering around the opera house and visiting a young man's box?

Secondly, this book is too spread out with too many POV's in too many short little chapters. The author would have been better off focusing on one couple exclusively with the others being secondary characters, instead of this soap opera feel to it -- five minutes on one scene here, 10 minutes there, etc. -- that things didn't flow smoothly for this reader. Perhaps telling Elizabeth and Will's story with more focus on life in California and Elizabeth's experiences in roughing it. Instead of letting the reader see the great difficulties a well bred young lady would experience in adjusting to that kind of life -- broken nails, rough hands, no hairdresser, no manicures, no silk stockings -- all we read about is a bit of trouble with the can opener. Maybe telling it mainly through Lina or Penelope, anything would have been better than these choppy vignettes of chapters.

That said all I can say is that what was hyped as a tale of gossip, rumors and treachery amongst the upper crust of New York society was a shallow boring tale -- the main villainess wasn't much of a bad girl, I didn't find any chemistry between Diana and Henry, and as for Elizabeth and Will I won't be a spoiler but readers will not be happy with this ending. All in all, very mediocre. Sorry, but I'm going to be in the minority and call this one at two stars.

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Rating: - Luxe life
Imagine the moneyed teenage soap opera of "Gossip Girl," but less shrilly self-indulgent... and set in the Gilded Age.

That's the best description I can conjure for the second Luxe novel, the aptly-named "Rumors." The entire novel is all about rumors -- true ones, false ones, and the people who spread both if you're not careful. While the primary storyline is filled with some unnecessarily complicated twists, Anna Godberson turns out a lushly-written, frothy little teen-soap read.

With Elizabeth Holland dead -- really, she's hiding in Californian oil fields with her new boyfriend -- things have suddenly shifted in Manhattan's society. Her ex-maid Lina is funding her new upper-crust life with blackmail money, her family's dwindling fortune is going critical, and her calculating friend Penelope is making a play for Elizabeth's ex-fiancee, handsome cad Henry. Of course, Penelope now wants to be queen bee

But Henry is more fascinated by Elizabeth's little sister Diana, but fears the repercussions if he were to marry her -- society is pretty unforgiving of such things. As Diana tries to coax or provoke Henry's affections, rumors start to fly that Elizabeth isn't really dead -- and the worst possible person has gotten hold of Henry and Di's secret.

One of the biggest differences between the Luxe series and the "Gossip Girl" series is that Godbersen doesn't seem to be living some kind of shallow teen fantasy, nor are her characters utterly loathsome and selfish. As I flipped through the text of "Rumors," I found that even though the characters tended to be rather melodramatic, they all had some human dimensions.

Godberson also shoots for a genuine Gilded Age atmosphere -- lush descriptions with lots of gloves, hats and lace, veiled conversations, nouveau riche versus old money, and an overhanging examination of society's approval. There's even a scene at the opera which echoes the opening scene of Edith Wharton's "Age of Innocence," complete with opera glasses and a passionate onstage diva -- which of course is of secondary interest to those watching. Nice work.

The main flaw with the soap-opera plot is that the central, oft-thwarted relationship between Di and Henry seems a bit overwrought. Seriously, how many massive obstacles and devastating separations can a single couple go through in less than a week? Still, she throws some rather shocking twists into the story, without making them unbelievable.

And it must be admitted that Godbersen has a flair for characterization. Though the characters include good boys, conmen, calculating heiresses and passionate young things, Godberson never makes you dislike any of them. Even if Henry is a cad and Di rather immature, they're given some inner thoughts rather than being turned into sad caricatures.

"Rumors: A Luxe Novel" aims for a "teen soap opera by way of Edith Wharton" appeal, and despite a few missteps, it definitely works as that. And by the end, Anna Godbersen has given herself an intriguing dilemma for her next book.

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Rating: - Courtesy of Teens Read Too
The mysterious death of Elizabeth Holland still hangs onto the hearts of those whom she was close to. Her fiancé remembers the look she gave him the last time their eyes met and it continues to haunt him. Only Diana Holland and Penelope Hayes know the truth behind Elizabeth's death. That she didn't in fact perish, but fled New York to follow her one true love, Will Keller.

Penelope has her heart set on claiming everything that Elizabeth left behind, including her fiancé, Henry Schoonmaker. Henry, however, is even more aware of his feelings for the younger Holland sister, Diana.

Lina Broud, the Holland's former maid, continues to rise into society as she had often dreamed. Box seats at the Opera and lavish parties are now her reality. She also continues to be a cause of trouble for the Holland sisters, with the help of Penelope Hayes.

When Elizabeth receives word that her mother is ill and that the family is in financial disarray, she knows that she must return to New York. Even if it means revealing the scandalous nature of her true disappearance. Elizabeth never could have imagined what events would unfold next.

RUMORS was an entertaining and captivating sequel to THE LUXE. If possible, it may be even better than its predecessor! Godbersen continues to impress me with her writing and flair for the dramatic. Although I initially started reading this book for its historical fiction aspect, I couldn't help but become engrossed in all components of the story!

Diana continues her reign as my favorite character. I admire her strength and compassion. Penelope, unfortunately, continues to be her evil, conniving self, and I only hope that she gets what she deserves in the end. I have come to know and care for these characters and I was very surprised and shocked by the ending! I have to say I was a little disappointed at first and thought that certain aspects were unnecessary, but not every book can have a happy ending.

I have faith in Godbersen's creative mind and I can't wait to see what she has devised next. I will eagerly be waiting for the release of ENVY.

Reviewed by: The Story Siren