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. I don't watch Gossip Girls, so I can't speak to any similarities there - what I was reminded of, though, was Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers. Admittedly, I have read very few books set in 19th century Manhattan, so Wharton's book was the only one I could think of, mostly because it's about four girls from "new money" making their way in the world amongst the British upper class. I highly recommend it, or the TV mini-series based on it. 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 The Luxe Bali is a fabulous garden estate featuring a private garage and entrance through an amazing rainforest with waterfalls and large pond containing colourful koi. The villa is terraced, with easy wheelchair access provided by a six-person lift connecting all four floors. Large marble floor covered terraces on the oceanside adjoin a white marble pool and a covered timber floor terrace on the peaceful rainforest/koi pond area. The Architect Freedo Taufin of KU DE TA fame designed the villa and the centrepiece being his spectacular open stairway leading to all four floors. A stay at The Luxe Bali is a real once-in-a-lifetime experience, with many amazing spaces and facilities. Living Room

At that time, I haven't read enough historical fiction to know what was the good quality ones and the bad quality ones. I was only interested on what this book was going to contain. 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. 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."Claire Broud is Lina's older sister. Claire is a proper maid who relishes the gossip of the upper class and is truly fond of Diana, her mistress. Despite her love of gossip, she is very loyal to the Hollands. Claire is described as having red hair and a pale face. 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 ] The main protagonists, Elizabeth and Diana Holland, are the major socialites of Manhattan. Everyone envies them. But what the public doesn't know is that they're broke. The only solution for this problem is that Elizabeth should marry the handsome bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker (HA! What a stupid last name!). Problem is, Penelope Hayes--Elizabeth's on and off best friend--wants Henry and she and him were supposed to be a couple. Also, Elizabeth is in love with Will Keller, her coachman. Unfortunately, Lina Broud, one of the house's servants, is in love with him as well and she's determined to win him. 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. 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.

The girls of her class were slaves to rules, going about life—if you could call it that—like bloodless mannequins." It's September 1899 and the Manhattan season is starting off with a bang. Elizabeth Holland, the darling of the high society set, has returned from her year in Paris in time for the first ball of the season, held at her best friend Penelope Hayes' newly finished and incredibly vulgar mansion. Penelope is all about showing herself to the best advantage, and has her sights set on young rake Henry Schoonmaker - but his father has other ideas. Intending to run for mayor the following year, he wants his only son to shape up and marry a good girl from a good family: Elizabeth.

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Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem LYX digital Verlag für das kostenlose Rezensionsexemplar des Buches. Ich gebe hier meine unabhängige und unbezahlte Meinung zu dem Buch ab. 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.

The book begins at the funeral of Elizabeth Holland. Diana and Elizabeth were known as daughters of New York City’s elite tradition. Elizabeth died just before she was to marry into one of the city’s richest families, reinforcing the sisters’ position. Elizabeth’s fiancé, Henry Schoonmaker, who harbors a secret crush on Diana, notes that the circumstances of Mr. Holland’s disappearance are suspicious.The 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. Life for Elizabeth isn't easy though, even though all she has to do is sit around and look beautiful. It turns out, since the death of her father, her family is having financial problems and aren't able to keep up the type of lifestyle they are used to living. One thousand dollar gowns, priceless works of art, and trips abroad are a thing of the past unless something can be done to secure the family's place in society before everyone learns of their trouble. Mrs. Holland thinks Elizabeth can save the family by marrying Henry Schoonmaker – New York's most eligible and most sought after bachelor.

When Elizabeth learns that her family’s welfare is in jeopardy she agrees to wed Henry Schoonmaker, a well-known playboy and heartbreaker, even though she loves another. Henry himself agrees to marry Elizabeth only so he will not be disinherited of his father’s fortune. At the night of her engagement announcement, her "best friend" Penelope Hayes reveals that she, herself is in love with Henry. This is the start of Penelope’s jealousy and betrayal to take down her biggest and only rival. Not to mention, Diana, who finds herself smitten with the elusive Henry, as well. Henry of course finds himself falling in love, finally, but not with his betrothed. Elizabeth struggles with her own happiness and the welfare of her family. 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. Anna Godbersen’s young adult historical novel The Luxe (2007) is the first book in a tetralogy. Set in 1899 New York, it follows two sisters, Elizabeth and Diana Holland, who hail from the elite class of Manhattan. When the sisters’ father dies and his rich legacy suddenly holds no weight, they scramble to stabilize their lives before they fall from high society and are forced to undergo a drastic shift in consciousness. The novel is structured episodically, rotating perspectives between three minor characters, as well as the two sisters who are its central protagonists. This complex, shifting, and non-linear plot serves to produce an anachronistic characterization of the destructive social dynamism of American capitalism’s upper echelons.Okay, I'll admit that despite being rather anti-girly, I've always had a thing for dresses and period costumes, and the big poofy thing on the cover certainly fascinated me. But it also repelled me: it's just so HUGE and PINK and PUFFY!