What a completely and utterly guilty pleasure this book turned out to be. Anna Godbersen’s The Luxe takes place in New York in 1899, and many around the office have declared it’s Gossip Girl meets Edith Wharton, but even more addictive. I have to say that I set aside the last 100 pages of Late Nights on Air, this year’s Giller winner, just so I could read this book uninterrupted over the past couple days. It’s that addictive.
As many of you know, I’m not one who does well with moderation (she says after watching the entire first season of Friday Night Lights again), and after a couple of really heavy movies, I needed something light and fluffy to bring me back down to a happy place. The Luxe was just the book. Centering around society girls Elizabeth, her sister Diana and her “best” friend Penelope, The Luxe imagines a world where beautiful gowns are hand-made, husbands are arranged from other good families, and under no circumstances does one get involved with the help, regardless of how dishy they might be.
It’s a sweet book that melts teen romance into historical drama, and if you’re at all into reading YA fiction, you’ll enjoy it immensely. Once you get sucked in, I guarantee it’s impossible to stop. Kind of like Friday Night Lights. Sigh.
I have seen the cover of this and thought it looked interesting! I have never looked up what it was about though, thanks for the review! I might have to read this one, I could use some fluff lately.
Do you like Light Nights on Air?
Ooh, this sounds like just the right amount of fluff. The last week has been all about heavy events in my life, and all the books on my shelf right now do not lend themselves easily to happy thoughts.
I think I’m off to the bookstore tomorrow to pick this up!
This sounds right up my alley! And now I want to watch Gossip Girl, too.
I am handselling Luxe like crazy in lieu of the Gossip Girl and the Clique crap.
I think it would make a fabulous movie… think of all the fabulous clothes !!
Review for “Late Nights On Air” tk today (fingers crossed). Once you guys have read it, let me know if you found it as addictive as I did…