Godbersen, Anna. The Luxe. HarperCollins, 2007. ISBN 9870061345331. $17.99. 433 p.
Reviewer: Larysa Bordner
Reading Level: Young adult
Rating: Excellent
Genre: Juvenile Fiction; Historical Fiction;
Subject: Love--Juvenile fiction; Social classes--Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
Elizabeth Holland is the envy of all around her—the beautiful girl with the perfect life, or so it seems. But things are not always what they seem. New York society is filled with the joyous celebration of parties and courting, and it appears to be at its best when Elizabeth Holland becomes engaged to Henry Schoonmaker, one of the most eligible bachelors around. However, away from the eyes of the general public there are desires and feelings that alter the landscape. The book begins with Elizabeth’s funeral and then flashes back to a few weeks earlier to view what events in the lives of Elizabeth and her close associates may have brought this to pass.
The Luxe is a fast-paced novel with many twists in its plot. The story is told from a variety of views including Elizabeth, her sister Diana, her friend Penelope, and the servant girl Lina, which allows the readers to see every angle of what is taking place. Godbersen, does an excellent job of intertwining the stories without confusing the reader. Within the plot, there are many seductive situations and, although there is not a great deal of detail included, it may make the content of the book inappropriate or uncomfortable for younger audiences. But overall, The Luxe is a highly entertaining young adult novel that will keep readers guessing up to the last page as they follow the ever-changing lives of the characters.
Volume 28, no. 6 (Jul/Aug 2008)
