Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Luxe was recommended in by several of the magazines I read for book reviews. Interestingly, as sometimes happens, each reviewer recommended it for different grades. This usually means the content is slightly risque, thus making it is difficult for the reviewers to agree.

I was intrigued, especially since one reviewer said it was a great read for those looking for more mature fair to Lisi Harrison's Clique series. I have only read two books in the Clique series and I don't even recall which ones they were. I really didn't care for them. I felt they were trite and simply written. However, a series I did like, which is also similar is Kate Brian's Private series. Plus, in the Clique the "bad" girls tend to get away with being bad. At least in the Private series, there are consequences for actions - good and bad. Private is not really appropriate for middle school, but I would still recommend it.

This new creation on the privileged girl theme, I really did like. As usual with historical fiction, I looked at this book trying to find historical inaccuracies in costume or events. However, these books seem fairly historically accurate, even though the language and actions are at times out of character for the time period.

These books are being written as a series. The first book Luxe follows Elizabeth Holland, one of two daughters born into one of New York's oldest families, through few days of her life culminating in her "death". Actually, the book begins with her funeral. Don't let this stop you from reading this book. The story quickly progresses in a decidedly wicked fashion of exposing her best friend to be actually trying to sabotage her recent engagement to the "hottest" and "best" catch of the season Henry Schoonmaker. It does have some racy moments and alludes to some risky sexual behavior, there is nothing graphic or detailed. These risky behaviors are similar to those in Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. If you are ready for something more mature and like the privileged bad girl theme, I would recommend these books.

Oh, BTW, I read this book on my Kindle. I do have a copy in the library, but would like one or more two readers before adding to the collection. Talk to me if you are interested in being one of the first at Los Cerros to read this book.