Customer Reviews

Rumors: A Luxe Novel (The Luxe)

5 star:		(32)
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3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The second book in the Luxe series by Anna Godbersen, Rumors picks up approximately two months after The Luxe left off, showcasing the wealthy and beautiful of 1899's New York City. Henry Schoonmaker, mourning the untimely death of fiancee Elizabeth Holland, is slowly coming out into society again, and his eye has fallen on Elizabeth's younger sister, Diana. While he ponders the consequences of being with his dead fiancee's sister, Henry himself is being stalked by the beautiful and wily Penelope Hayes. Penelope's not going to rest until she has Henry for herself, and the secrets she carries are going to ensure heartbreak and triumph.

This is a page-turner, with the characters of Penelope and Diana struggling over their feelings and schemes for Henry. Secrets abound: Elizabeth, who is not dead (which is not a spoiler since The Luxe determined this), is living with love Will Keller but realizes her family, in desperate financial straits, needs her; Elizabeth's former maid, Lina, is masquerading as a "lady" by using her hush money from Penelope; and Diana must keep the biggest secret of all. Amid all these secrets and layers, Godbersen has given us a glimpse of the mores and regulations of genteel society in 1899. Many who read these novels will be surprised at the subterfuge and scandal that affected those lives just as much as ours do today.

This is a young adult novel, but it is engaging enough for those of all ages who enjoy looking at others' lives covertly. Think of it as a "Gossip Girl" for the historical fiction set, and you'll have a good idea of the fun and drama involved. I am looking forward to the third installment, Envy. Recommended.

New York, 1899. It is Christmastime, and all of New York's polite society is mourning the loss of the young socialite and debutante Elizabeth Holland. Well, everyone except for her sister Diana Holland and "best friend" Penelope Hayes, who are the only ones who know the truth -- that Elizabeth had staged her own death so that she could escape to California and be with her true love, her former coachman Will Keller. Elizabeth had been set to marry Mr. Henry Schoonmaker, former rogue and son of an aspiring New York mayor, ready to sacrifice her great love in order to save her family from certain financial ruin and social disgrace. That all soon changed when she discovered that Henry and Diana were secretly seeing each other and had developed feelings for one another (this all happened in The Luxe), and so a plan was set into motion. Now that her main rival is out of her way, new money and social climber Penelope Hayes will do everything to get Henry into the altar. Speaking of social climbers, Lina Broud, former maid at the Holland home, is still enjoying her small fortune obtained by supplying information to Miss Hayes and is going about town posing as an heiress visiting from the west. She even makes the gossip columns. But what's going to happen to her when her money -- and therefore her luck -- runs out? Overcome with guilt, Henry, who doesn't know Elizabeth is alive and happy in California, refuses to continue his liaison with Diana. He wishes to marry Diana, but it would be improper. Meanwhile, Mrs. Holland is holding on to Diana as her last hope to regain fortune by introducing her only daughter to every rich suitor in the city. Welcome to New York circa the turn-of-the-twentieth-century, where the rich, beautiful and scheming go from lovers to betrotheds and friends turn into rivals.

Rumors is an entertaining sequel to The Luxe. It has the same lustrous language and somewhat melodramatic style. As you read it, you can't help but be reminded of soap operas like Dynasty and The Young and the Restless. There is romance, gossip, intrigue, beauty and gorgeous descriptions of wardrobe and home décor. Old New York is described well and you do get a sense of the time period in spite of some glaring anachronisms. (Though the author takes care of bringing up propriety and mores of the times, the girls in this series are very loose when it comes to giving in their virginity or walking about town without a chaperone.) I like the star-crossed romance between Diana and Henry, and Penelope is definitely a fictional version of Consuelo Vanderbilt. Elizabeth and Will are also great, and there is a twist at the end that will move you very much if you come to care about these characters the way I have done. The only storyline I do not like is the one centered on Lina Broud. I know this is a somewhat campy series, but the way Lina passes off as a lady of quality, and the things that transpire with Tristan the conning Lord & Taylor salesman, Mr. Longhorn and her deal with Penelope are too contrived and far-fetched for my taste. Other than that, I enjoyed Rumors very much and look forward to reading Envy. The future of these young characters is uncertain, and I for one can't wait to see what happens next.

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

The year is 1899. New York City, a place of much hustle and bustle, has been placed under an eerie glow marred by the tragic demise of young Elizabeth Holland. Elizabeth Holland was a debutante, and the pride and joy of New York City. She was kind, gentle, and ever so beautiful - three things that all young ladies should be. Destined to marry the handsome and debonair Henry Schoonmaker, Elizabeth was the envy of everyone around her. But then her young life was taken from her in a tragic accident; or so everyone thought.

Elizabeth Holland never wanted to hurt her family. Seeing them under financial duress, she would have done anything to make their lives better. Anything but marry Henry Schoonmaker. Henry Schoonmaker, while handsome in his own right, couldn't hold a candle to Will Keller, a servant in her lavish home. But even at eighteen-years-old, Elizabeth knew that she would never be able to be with Will, so she did the unthinkable. She faked her own death and disappeared to California. While different than New York City, California is a lovely place; and Elizabeth has Will's love to make her feel at home. But when she learns that her mother is ill, Elizabeth realizes that, as much as it pains her to leave her new life behind, she must make the trek back to New York City to help her family.

Diana Holland, in just sixteen-years, has managed to make her name known in the society pages as a wild child, intent on breaking the rules, and living life to her heart's content. While never truly close to her sister, Diana and Elizabeth created a strong bond with one another, when Elizabeth let Diana in on her little secret. The truth is, part of the reason why Elizabeth left New York City had to do with Henry Schoonmaker. She could not marry a man whom her sister loved, and, it was quite evident in Henry Schoonmaker's eyes that he loved Diana, as well. With Elizabeth gone, Diana believes that she and Henry can finally be together, but others are intent on standing in their way.

Unlike many of the other families in New York City, Penelope Hayes comes from new money, and she's not afraid to display her wealth wherever she may go. Elizabeth's former best friend, and the individual who assisted her in escaping to California, Penelope has always been the bad girl. Running off with Henry Schoonmaker in the dead of night for romantic trysts, wearing provocative clothes, she has done it all. But now, with Elizabeth out of the picture, Penelope has taken up her good girl persona, and plans on claiming Henry Schoonmaker for herself, once and for all. Good thing she doesn't know about Henry and Diana. But she may soon.

Lina Broud (now known as Carolina Broad in the society papers), worked for the Holland's as a maid for years; fighting the jealousy that overwhelmed her regarding their wealth. She has always wanted to be a part of high society; but, even more, she wants Will Keller. Too bad his heart belongs to Elizabeth. Now that Lina has begun selling secrets about the Holland's to Penelope Hayes, she's finally living out her dreams of being fawned over, and wearing fancy gowns. But when she runs out of money, she realizes that her dreams are quickly coming to an abrupt halt. That is, until she meets Carey Lewis Longhorn, an older gentleman with a penchant for spoiling those around him - including Carolina.

Little more than six months has passed since I read Anna Godbersen's debut THE LUXE, yet it feels like decades. Luckily, the short wait was quite worth it, as RUMORS is, if possible, even better than its predecessor. Godbersen has a knack for blending the voices of Jane Austen, Edith Wharton, and the more current Cecily von Ziegesar, into her writing to create a to-die-for novel. Wildly romantic, suspenseful, and full of scandal, there are no lulls found in RUMORS. The action flies from the very first page to the very last, with each page presenting a new revelation. The society page snippets found at the beginning of each chapter are tantalizing; yet it is still the characters who drive the story from beginning to end.

As with THE LUXE, Diana is still my favorite character, as she is so lively, breathtaking, spirited, and witty. Penelope, however, with her penchant for stirring up trouble, lends a delightful wickedness to the tale; and Lina, with her new skill for blackmail, makes it obvious that she may just give Penelope a run for her money. Elizabeth, due to the fact that she is in California, is less prevalent in this particular storyline; but the few glimpses we see into the life she has created with Will are precious. And Henry Schoonmaker...well, he has become the man of every girls dreams. RUMORS is, hands down, without a doubt, the best book that I have read thus far in 2008. I only hope that the sequel makes its debut sometime before the year is out, because I'm dying to find out what will happen next. RUMORS will keep you talking - and reading - long into the night!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

In Rumors: A Luxe Novel (The Luxe), gossip "rears its ugly head," aiming poisonous darts of rumor and half-truths at the dazzling young women of New York's upper echelon of society in 1899 Manhattan.

But before I get to the plot, and the "plotting," I must pause to admire another type of beauty: the book itself. Rumors: A Luxe Novel (The Luxe) is an exquisite book ... probably the most elegant I've ever seen. The dust jacket is undoubtedly the most beautiful, and the hardcover binding is tres chic. As you can see, the dust jacket features Diana Holland, a gorgeous New York debutante, in a red French gown with a bouffant train. But what you can't see is that the train trails from front cover to back where it dramatically sweeps across the entire page. I was so taken by this dust jacket that I felt like running to Kinko's, having it enlarged, framed and then displayed on my living room wall. And I would do that if the dress were a shade of teal green, but since I don't decorate with red, I reluctantly vetoed that idea.

But there I go, digressing again; books have a way of affecting me like that.

Now back to the aesthetics of this special book, the hard cover and text got the royal treatment from the publisher, too. This is the second in the "Luxe" series and I understand the first cover was just as gorgeous, with Elizabeth Holland, the most sought-after deb, gracing the cover, wearing a sumptuous pink gown. I could rave on and on about the interior fonts and chapter headings, also, but I think you get the idea: I'm crazy about the elegance of this book.

I was delighted to see that the author's style is just as fine as the "window dressing"; Anna Godbersen is a fabulous writer, a voice that speaks with knowledge, clarity and emotion. She makes old turn-of-the-century New York and its characters come alive.

The first book ends with Elizabeth's funeral--but she's not dead. This is not a spoiler because it's revealed in The Luxe that she faked her death to protect her family from "ruin," which is what happened in those days when girls failed to adhere to the outrageous conventions concerning "arranged" marriages. She fell in love with a family servant and chose to follow her heart ... all the way to California.

Two characters aid Elizabeth in her plan, faithfully keeping their commitment to her when tongues start wagging, when rumors float, threatening to expose the truth of her situation.

Rumors: A Luxe Novel (The Luxe) opens at Tuxedo Park where the upper echelon of New York Society go to escape New York's prying eyes; they're assembled there for the wedding of Henry Schoonmaker, the groom Elizabeth jilted. After a proper mourning period, Henry is marrying another beautiful debutante. But which of the ones who scheme to get him?.

Is it the sneaky, seductive Penelope Hayes? Is she the right one for him? Is he truly in love with her, or is he the victim of parental interference in his desire to follow his heart ... as Elizabeth had done? How does Elizabeth's younger sister Diana fit into the picture? And the maid who betrays Elizabeth's secret? When she sells information to a popular gossip columnist, how does that affect the outcome of all their lives, including her own?

Will Elizabeth find happiness In California with her true love? Or will she be forced to return to Manhattan when rumors become too rampant and she receives a letter from Diana?

There are many more questions that seek answers in this intriguing, convoluted plot, but you can RFY to find the questions AND answers this time.

My favorite character by far is the younger sister Diana, even though Elizabeth has always been the paragon of virtue and the most sought-after debutante in Manhattan. Diana, Elizabeth and the younger sister of Claire, Diana's maid, are my three favorite characters. Her name is Lina Broud, and while I don't admire her methods when she seeks to rise above her "class" and worms her way into "high society," I admire her guts, her determination and her reasons.

Elizabeth--despite her proper ways and strict adherence to the "societal mores" of those days--showed determination and free-spiritedness by following her heart in defiance of her father's marital choice for her. Although I generally like my heroines to be independent and feisty, I disliked the way Elizabeth went about it, but at the same time, I realized she had to act as she did to save the family "reputation." In following her own heart, her younger sister Diana was not as subtle as Elizabeth, which seemed much more realistic to me, thus earning her the place closest to my heart.

As for the men in the book, Henry Schoonmaker--a playboy and a cad in many ways--is still a likable character, and his best friend, the loyal, good-natured Teddy Cutting is a breath of fresh air and good humor.

This page-turner series is a showcase of the wealthy and beautiful of 1899's New York City. The dialogue, description, and formatting are cleverly created, and with the author inserting newspaper quotes from favorite columnists of the day in between each chapter, she added a charming, authentic touch.

Although this is supposed to be a young adult book, I found it engaging enough for women of all ages, and for men who enjoy a good romance mixed with a bit of history.

I look forward to the third novel in this series, but this is the first book I've ever read where I feel that the author is "forcing" me to buy her next book. I say that because of certain happenings that disgruntled me in the final chapters. I can't reveal them without being a "spoiler," and I was going to take off one point for that reason. But because the novel is so well-written, the author obviously gifted, and the book itself such a gorgeous work of art, I can't bring myself to do it.

Highly recommended with a feeling of delicious pleasure.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
author of 1106 Grand Boulevard

If you like T.V. shows like One Tree Hill, 90210 and the like, then you will like this book. If you enjoy good classic literature by Edith Wharton then you will be sadly dissapointed.

When I read the description this book promised an Edith Wharton type of story and I was excited to read it. As I read it, I realized that I missed the first novel which carried over to this one and it was not historically accurate at all. Characters were doing things that they would not have dared to do back in 1899. It was like she took 90210 characters and transported them back in time. The language wasn't complex either. I was dissapointed and it left a bad taste in my mouth. The style reminded me a little of The House of Mirth, but nowhere near as emotionally gripping. And you never really got attached to the main characters. I was expecting more.

I was also disspointed in the ending, because nothing was resolved and it was completely set up for the next novel. It was like watching an episode of a T.V. drama. So sad in my opinion; I feel like the author could have done better.

It's a good read, however, I was disappointed in the path she chose for some of the characters, especially Elizabeth. This could be because she was setting up for the next book, but it leaves a lot of unresolved issues. I would suggest waiting until the following book in the series is released before picking up this book.

The book Rumors by Anna Godbersen is a great insight into Manhattan's most popular social scene, in 1899, during the turn of the century. Each of the characters Ms. Godbersen writes about has their own unique personality. Elizabeth was always seen as Manhattan's "good girl", but what is she really hiding? Everyone knows Henry and Penelope were going to get engaged, but what happens now that he proposed to Elizabeth? What about Elizabeth's sister, Diana? She has always been rebellious to traditional ways, but how far will she take it? Each of the characters are about to make decisions that will change the rest of their lives.
After the first chapter of Rumors, the reader is swept into all of the drama. Although at times it can be hard to keep up with which character is preparing to back stab her best friend or tell a new lie, the plot is very interesting. The author does an amazing job of setting up the scene and gives a great description of what is happening in the plot.
While the book is obviously a romantic fiction novel, it does contain some historical information about the end of the nineteenth century. Before I read this book, I had no idea what the wealthy people were treated like at the turn of the twentieth century. Even if a young lady was just going on a shopping trip, she was treated like a goddess. Rumors also shows what the poor people used to live like. They had to work as maids or servants to wealthier people and had to wear hand-me-down clothes. Sometimes the poorer people would do anything to get money, like Lina who sold out her old boss who used to be her good friend.
At a time when everyone is changing, how will they survive? All of the characters are keeping their own secrets, but rumor has it that soon these secrets will all come spilling out.

I didn't read the first book in the series, as a result, I had a hard time getting into the story. It talks about already established characters and has some assumptions that the reader knows certain things. I would say you should read the first novel before getting into this one, perhaps that will make the beginning of the story a bit more enticing. All of that aside, once I got into it, it was a great read. It is incredibly well written and the story moves quickly and has a lot of twists, turns, and surprises! I was left wanting a bit more at the end-it's obvious there will be another book, so just know when you start this story it's only a piece to a much larger puzzle! It would be a great read for anyone who likes YA literature and appreciates historical fiction. The accurate history was very refreshing and I thought it was very cleverly woven in as a part of the character development and the story itself.

I was quite taken with the first novel (The Luxe) and vowed to read the next, but the ending of Rumors is terrible and totally out of sync with the rest of the book. I wonder what the author was thinking since others besides myself aren't going to be interested in reading any more of this series now that the best plot line has been dispensed with.