The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Holland sisters were the beautiful daughters of an old New York family. But they couldn’t have been more different.

Elizabeth, the oldest, was known for her strong “moral character”. Liz always did what was expected of her. She had spent a year with a finishing governess, and had lived in France. Liz was well on her way to becoming a lady. Diana, only 16, was yet to have her formal coming out and she hated the idea of becoming a lady. Diana was an outspoken free spirit in full rebellion against the Rules.

It was September 1899, the end of a century and the beginning of the party season in Manhattan. For many of the 70 or so families that made up New York society, much revolved around what would happened in the next few weeks. This was especially true for the Hollands. For they had a secret that no one else must know—with the death of Mr. Holland the family had become poor.

Elizabeth’s mother was desperate to save the good name of the Holland Line. To accomplish this, she was grooming Elizabeth to marry a rich suitor. Liz thought she would have time to pick a husband. But now it seemed like time had run out. For Liz had gotten a proposal from an unexpected source—Henry Schoonmaker, The handsome Henry was the descendent of one of New York’s oldest families, the son of a man who owned much of Manhattan. But Henry was definitely not a rule-follower. And he was not the kind of young man Elizabeth would have chosen as a husband.

In fact, Elizabeth was in love with somebody else, a boyhood friend who was much below her station. Someone she could not get off her mind. What should she do? Her mother was depending on her to save the family. But her heart was telling her that she couldn’t go through with the wedding.

The Luxe, when anger, jealousy, and passion collide in turn-of-the century New York City Society none of the old Rules apply.

(Booktalk by Tom Reynolds, Seattle Public Library)

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Scandal. Lust. Secrets. Betrayal. Gossip. Debutante society in wealthy New York city.Do these sound like the ingredients an episode of Gossip Girls?? Guess again: the Luxe takes place in 1899. Elizabeth Holland is the darling of the New York. The prettiest. The richest. The most desired. But Elizabeth Holland is dead.
Was it suicide? Murder?Find out all of Elizabeth and her family’s most guarded secrets in The Luxe.

And don’t miss the series website: Meet the characters, take a quiz, scope out the different hotspots and get a sneak peak at the sequel Rumors at: http://www.harperteen-theluxe.com/luxe.html

(Booktalk adapted from a book review by Katy, Cameron Village Regional Library)