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Hardcover |
| List Price
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$17.99
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$12.23
(Save 32%)
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| Published by | HarperCollins |
| Release date | 2007-12-01 |
| ISBN | 0061345660 |
| Availability | Usually ships in 24 hours |
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| Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899.
Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone?from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud?threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.
With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...
In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.
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Customer Reviews - courtesy of Amazon.com ( Marked4Sale.com is not responsible for review content )
Predictable but still a good read...
Even though it was clear what was going to happen from the Prolouge, the author still managed to tell a good story in between. Although I have to say that one relationship is particulary disturbing, the book kept my interest just fine...
Scandalously Scrumptous!!!
If you love lavious parties, gorgeous dresses, and even better looking guys the The luxe series is the perfect choice for you. The Luxe was a breath taking experience that takes you back to 1899 and the turn of the century scandals that keeps you enticed and wanting more. Then come Rumors and is equally breath taking and helps to wade through more of the coming schemes and messes that arise. Now comes Envy which is sure to be salavating and just as scrumptous as the rest.
Historical Teen Romance with Alternating Viewpoints
Two sisters, a servant girl, a best friend, and a hot mess of a boy. Throw in two-ish love triangles and you've got The Luxe. I kept reading and reading about this book, just like I had done with Twilight and then decided I just better read the darn book. I'm sure glad I did. What a fun book. It's set in 1899 New York City and alternates the five main characters points of view. I think the alternating viewpoints really made this book for me. I just can't get enough of that. The book ends not unlike a movie with a sequel in the makings already. It basically ends with a taunting, "you won't know how this ends until you read the next book!" If you even half liked this book you'll want to know what happens next in the sequel Rumors. I know I'm ready to find out what happens next.
Not Jane Austin or Edith Wharton, and not trying to be either!
I loved this book and can't wait to read the sequels. I'm 26 years old and a total sucker for lavish 19th century novels about society and relationships. Jane Austen is the best writer for this genre, and one of the best writers of all time, but writer of this book is not trying to be Austin or Edith Wharton. She has written an outstanding work that is a perfect introduction for the classic novels of this time period, that are not always easy to read, for teenage girls (or anyone for that matter). I give Anna Godberson props for setting these books in an important, historcal time period.
Anachronistic but entertaining
The Luxe is a fairly entertaining, if fluffy read. The characters are highly anachronistic for the turn of the century, but it's still easy enough to get lost in the high-society world of gossip and backstabbing. This is Gossip Girls set in a different era. There is plenty of sexual innuendo but nothing graphic.
I went into this with fairly low expectations (having read some of the negative reviews) so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself wanting to know what happens to these characters and curious to read the sequel. Though we hardly see much of the character Will - the poor love interest of a wealthy debutante - I liked that he wasn't a stereotypically gorgeous guy and that he had integrity. This is perhaps one of the main reasons I found myself caring about the love story. The same goes for the character of Henry, who is presented as a cad, but ultimately has more depth. I'm looking forward to seeing more of what happens with these characters.
Overall, this is a decent debut novel. Perfect for a lazy Sunday when you want some simple, light fun.
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