Review: The Luxe by Anna Godbersen!

Every bookworm has the one book they have been desperate to read. They're scrimped and saved, only to splash the cash on chocolate (just me?), they have attempted to steal a copy from Waterstone's but chickened out at the history section, and torn their hair out because the nearest library to have a copy is as far away as me to you. However, I did get to FINALLY hold the copy of my must-read on the fourth of January and punch the air - I'll stop babbling and get on with it.

Imagine, if you will, New York City, 1899. Society's elite: the glamour, the grandeur, the glittering parties, the most handsome beaux, the most beautiful debutantes... the rich girl, the humble boy, the forbidden love, the stolen glances, the whispers, the scandal, the mystery, the revenge. You are cordially invited to step into The Luxe, where the secrets are dark and the sins are delicious. R.S.V.P
This book is more delicious than an jammy iced finger. I adored it. There isn't much flawing in the history, the sumptuous clothes are accurate and have you sighing with jealousy, and the love triangles and twists are cleverly planned and carried out in such good dialect. Anna writes a dream - the details are fantastic, the dialogue is witty and the plotline is stuck to. My only personal fault in the novel was the main character. Elizabeth was bland to me, with a tasteless personality like a wet lettiuce. OK, so maybe she should be, but it seemed silly to play make believe with her forbidden love, stable boy Will!
Penelope was one of my guilty pleasures. At first you think she'll be the perfect society best-friend, but her true side of jealousy, revenge and the desire to do what she wants to be on top came out. She had a pair of sharp talons, clawing at anything that benefits anyone but her, and this draws you in. Her love rival, Diana (Elizabeth's sister), was my other favourite. The way her and Henry innocently fall in love is beautiful and she seemed like my kind of person. Impatient for a life of adventure, the book ends with her in and good position. It leaves you hanging on for all the answers.
My copy has the opening prologue for the next in the series, Rumours. I have read this one too, which is just as good and ends with a sharp, but A-MAZING, twist. I am awaiting Envy, book three, but the post hasn't come. But while I'm thinking about early 1900's Manhatten elite monsters, you'll be buying book one and licking it up faster than a sticky doughnut!
Ratings:
Cover: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Total: 39/20 - TOTAL.MUST.READ
Published 2008 by Penguin Books: 433 pages: 12+