The Luxe

Product Information

When reputations are at stake and secrets become a currency, friends turn on friends and no one is safe. Elizabeth Holland and her best friend Penelope Hayes rule Manhattan's social scene. But when Elizabeth learns her family's status is far from secure, suddenly everyone is a threat to a golden future. Elizabeth is forced into an engagement to Henry Shoonmaker, a man she barely knows, with a terrible reputation as a ladies man, who happens to be the person Penelope is in love with.

Her instinct was to do some violence to the white-and-gold upholstery that decorated the room, but she had not so lost her head as to want to ruin good brocade. Not yet." The writing. Don't get me started on the writing. It was okay but it wasn't okay at the same time. Do you get what I'm saying?The descriptions of this novel/series that I came across said it was like Gossip Girls and that it was about New York High Society girls at the turn of the century - well it all put me off. Until a friend recommended it, and I'm glad she did, for as ridiculous as the dress is, the book is really very good. The Luxe is a 2007 young adult novel by author Anna Godbersen. It follows the lives of two upper class sisters in Manhattan during 1899. There are four books in the Luxe series including Luxe, Rumors, Envy, and Splendor. [1] Plot [ edit ] To complicate matters Elizabeth's headstrong little sister Diana also falls head over heels in love with Henry, who develops feelings for her as well. Meanwhile Elizabeth is secretly in love with her childhood friend Will, her family's coachman... but so is Elizabeth's maid Lina who will do anything to win Will's love.

So I'd be lying if I said I was oozing with excitement to read this book. In fact, I put off reading it for just about a year. A really good friend of mine recommended me this book and told me I'd absolutely love it but when I bought the book, I let it gather dust in the corner of my bookshelf. When I say this felt exactly like gossip girl- I mean exactly like gossip girl. Take this with a grain of salt, because I have never read the books and only watched about half of the first season of the show but to me, these characters were scarily similar: The second reason is that this book is in the third person. When I read books in third person, I hardly ever give them five stars, no matter how well written because as I've said before, I want to make a connection to the characters. I understand that this is difficult to do, especially when a writer wants to incorporate more than one voice in the novel but at the same time, I feel almost shut off from everyone. The Luxe Bali’s dining area has a large timber plank dining table that can comfortably accommodate ten guests. The dining area offers amazing 360-degree views of the gardens, and the ocean and a fully opening doorway to another deep koi pond and fern garden. There are more outdoor dining areas on the villa’s multiple balconies. The state-of-the-art kitchen next to the main dining area is also a gathering spot with a natural tree edged bar standing on raw hewn marble that overlooks the kitchen and via very large windows the rainforest beyond. The kitchen is fitted out with work benches and floors in spectacular Kashmir gold granite and exceptionally high end fixtures. Cinema RoomThe news of her impending engagement is a surprise to Elizabeth. She has always held out the hope that she would marry for love and in fact, has been in love for quite some time. Elizabeth has been having a secret relationship with Will Keller for many years. The relationship must be kept a secret because Will is an employee of the Holland family. He works in the stables and drives the carriages for them and carrying on a relationship with someone of lower status would be something that would ruin Elizabeth's reputation and the Holland family name. Word of her engagement puts a strain, understandably, on Elizabeth's relationship with Will. Anyway, I completely expected to be utterly bored by this book, but instead I was vastly entertained and gripped by the unfolding mystery and tension, and even though the prologue tells you the ending, it doesn't tell you anything, and you're never sure what's going to happen next or how it all worked out. I did suspect from the very beginning the truth about Elizabeth, though. 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.

And, oh my god yeek I loved this book! I don't know how to explain it but I did! I fell in love with a historical romance third person book! Who would have thunk it? I can't even begin to describe how much I loved this book. Upon their father’s death, the two girls learn that their position is more unstable than they had assumed. None of his famous wealth has been left to them. To secure her and her sister’s futures, Elizabeth agrees to marry Henry, a narrow-minded, rich bachelor whose father is an industry magnate. Meanwhile, Elizabeth doesn’t know that Penelope Hayes, her clever and social best friend, is also being entertained by Henry and is secretly competing for Henry. Penelope tries to leverage Elizabeth’s secret financial instability to throw her out of the running. Finally, Elizabeth has to reconcile all of this with her own affair with Will Keller, her childhood friend and a servant in the Holland household.

The Luxe Bali’s experienced and knowledgeable manager is responsible for the overall operation of the villa. The villa manager will oversee and coordinate the staff and property and assist you during your stay. Housekeeping The book alternates perspectives through a few key players in Elizabeth’s life. Henry Schoonmaker- the fiancé, Diana Holland- the sister, Lina Broud- the maid and Penelope Hayes- the best friend. I was actually pleasantly surprised with the writing and worldbuilding. While I am under no illusions that it is perfectly researched and historically accurate in terms of dialogue or general conduct- it served its purpose of transporting me to the time with its descriptions of fine gowns, lavish balls and court like intrigue. Penelope was who I initially hated the most, but that was because she was written was such a purposeful intent for us the hate her. She knew what she wanted, and was prepared to do whatever she must to get it. She was resourceful, cunning and ambitious. A true slitherin queen. Upon reflection, she may the character I hated the least.

The plot. Imagine Gossip Girl set in the 1900's, that's basically the book. B-O-R-I-N-G! Maybe it's just me. But I didn't like Gossip Girl and I really couldn't bring myself to even finish this one. And I normally like historical romances.

Of the four protagonists: Elizabeth, Diana, Penelope and Lina, I liked Diana the most. Probably because she was the most honest, direct and least girly, she had spunk and flair and was the least superficial. Elizabeth was handled well: a goody-goody, demure and seemingly innocent girl in public, sharp and uncomfortable with her maid Lina in private, and relaxed and true to herself with Will - a realistic portrait of how most of us present different sides to different people, sometimes what is expected of us, or what creates armour for us, or what enables us to get along with people the best. Elizabeth wasn't all that likeable because she didn't stand up for herself as much as you'd want, but she was definitely sympathetic. You didn’t think you would be expected to clean while enjoying time off did you? The housekeeping team spotlessly clean the rooms whenever you are not in them, arranges your laundry as required, and turn down your beds at dusk. You don’t lift a finger. Butler