The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Luxe is the first book in The Lux series by Anna Godbersen, which tells the story of the young and wealthy in Manhattan in 1899. It is a world full of big dresses, balls, and the trappings of a society where the goal of every well-to-do female was to catch a wealthy husband. The book has all the great archetypes needed for a great stroy - the beloved golden girl who is the perfect society girl, but was a secret which could bring her world crashing down; the "best friend" who turns on the golden girl to suit her own needs; a sister who marches to the beat of her own drum and is often a source of embarrassment; the handsome servant who steals the golden girl's heart; and the handsome playboy, whose exploits are fuel for the tabloids, forced to reluctantly marry to suit his father's political ambitions. All of this and more can be found within the pages of this novel.

Elizabeth Holland, society's golden girl, discovers that her father has left behind a series of bad debts, and now her mother is relying on her to make an advantageous marriage to prevent the family from becoming destitute. The solution to their financial problems comes in the form of a proposal from Henry Schoonmaker, society's most eligible bachelor, who is being forced to marry by his father in an attempt to tame his playboy ways. Elizabeth, who has fallen in love with the family's coachman, Will, finds herself torn between true love and her sense of duty to her family. To make matters worse, her "best friend," Penelope, who is determined to have Henry for herself, sets out to destroy Elizabeth.

The story is full of lies and deception, which are all set in a world were appearances and following the social code of behavior is everything, and one false move can lead to complete and total ruin. I loved, loved, loved this book! I loved the characters and the historical setting of the story. There was nothing especially surprising in the book, and it was somewhat predictable, but it was well written and entertaining. I never found myself getting bored with the story. In fact, I cannot wait to start reading the sequel, Rumors.