In My Mailbox #60

Wowzers, two IMMs back to back?! Jeez, I don't think I've ever stooped this low before, yikes! :( How exactly did this happen? Oh yeah, that's right, I was still busy out of my mind, but but but the awesome news is that I've actually (FINALLY) finished translating that book today so now I might actually have some free time after work, woooohooooo! Yes, that means I can actually read now and post reviews and comment and stuff! I've been neglecting all this for the past months, but now I'm back, yay!

More good news: I got some awesomesauce books this week! LOOK!

HAZEL by Julie Hearn - I saw this one over at The Story Siren and ordered it as soon as I read that it's about the suffragettes! Couldn't resist and I'm really excited about this one!

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS by Anna Godbersen - OMG!!!!! SQUEEEE!!!!! This is one of those Books of the Years that I've been really excited about (along with Mini Shopaholic & The Distant Hours) and I was over the goddamn moon when it arrived! It's the UK paperback so it will match my the Luxe series, which I loved! I've been waiting for this book forever and now I finally have it, YAAAAAAAAAY! Excuse the hyperventilation, but this makes me really happy! :D

RAE by Chelsea Rae Swiggett (aka The Page Flipper) - I finally got myself a copy of this! I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since I first heard about it and I have a feeling it might hit quite close to home ...

Hope you've all had great book weeks too! :)

Waiting On Wednesday: BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

In my review of Splendour, I mentioned that the author of brilliant The Luxe series is already working on a new series called Bright Young Things - well, now the GORGEOUS cover and the amazing summary have been released (thanks, Goodreads!) and I could not possibly be more excited!!! Honestly, I adore everything about the cover (gorgeous model, perfect font - Ms Godbersen seriously gets the best covers EVER) and the summary sounds fantastic too and I love the characters' names and the time it is set in and everything!
Talk about PERFECTION! I need this book in my life NOW, but sadly it doesn't come out until 26 October 2010, boo! I can't wait that long!

Bright Young Things is the first in an epic four-book series about three teenage girls finding their way in the glittering metropolis of New York City and the glamorous mansions of Long Island.
It’s 1929 and Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey have escaped their small Midwestern town to chase big dreams and even bigger secrets. In New York, they meet Astrid Donal, a flapper who has everything she could ever want, except for the one thing Letty and Cordelia have to offer—true friendship.
Set in the dizzying summer before the market crash, against the vast lawns of the East End and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls will find romance, intrigue, and adventure.
Just as The Luxe books brought the Gilded Age to readers of Gossip Girl, Bright Young Things will bring the Jazz Age to bestselling author Anna Godbersen’s devoted fans and to new readers alike.

Review: SPLENDOR by Anna Godbersen ****

A spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.
Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.
In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

I can't believe I've actually finished reading The Luxe series! I'm quite sad to have reached the end of the series, mostly because the books were fantastic, but partly also because I found the conclusion slightly unsatisfying ... Yes, the characters have come a long, long way since the beginning, but I was hoping that things would end on a slightly different note for some of them.

If you've read my reviews of The Luxe, Rumours and Envy (the first three installments in the series), then you remember how much I've enjoyed them. Sure, they weren't really masterpieces, but they were perfect escapism material with stories full of drama and the prose was oh so flowery and wonderful and the covers were beautiful and I couldn't be happier. I was wondering how it would all end and I have to say that I really enjoyed reading Splendour, it was gripping stuff, right until the last couple of chapters ... I suppose Lina's ending was okay, no complaints there, and I didn't see the Penelope twist coming, but I have to say I was slightly bothered by who she ended up with because while I was reading the books I grew to believe that this guy she ended up with after all had an unbreakable bond with another girl. They were meant to do absolutely everything to be together and then they just parted. Just like that. Huh? Hmmm ... As for the Holland sisters, I wasn't too keen on their ending either. I was happy for Elizabeth, but I would like to learn more about her new family, and as for Diana, she made a very brave choice and I'd like to learn more about her new life too.

As you can see above, I was hardly pleased by how it all ended. I just can't believe this is really it as there is still so much going on and so much of the story is left untold and I want more of it. Fingers crossed the author will return to these characters eventually and let us know what their lives are like a few years later, but she is apparently currently working on a new book/series called Bright Young Things (set in 1929 Long Island), which I will most definitely read as soon as it hits the shelves as I know Ms Godbersen can tell a magnificent story.

All in all, I personally may have been slightly disappointed by the conclusion of this series, but I still highly recommend these books and I do not regret reading them at all! The books were incredibly enjoyable and packed with drama and countless twists and I honestly cannot praise the beautiful writing enough! And don't even get me started on the covers - I'll discuss them below and I've already posted about the Splendour cover shoot here. Anyway, if you're thinking about reading these books, then I'd certainly suggest giving them a try, I really enjoyed this series!

overall rating:
plot: 3/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 4/5 | cover: 5/5

ps: I'm sure we can all agree that the covers for this series are fantastic and absolutely beautiful - here they are in all their glory (my personal collection - click to enlarge):

I've always imagined each portays one of the four main characters and I'm guessing it could be Elizabeth, Penelope, Lina and Diana from left to right - what do you think? Lastly, feel free to vote for your favourite cover - I'm quite curious to see what everyone thinks! :)

Which cover is your favourite?

Review: ENVY by Anna Godbersen *****

Two months have passed since the dramatic homecoming of Elizabeth Holland - Manhattan society eagerly awaits her return. But Elizabeth won't rejoin her sister Diana's side. The whispers are beginning - is all as it seems behind closed doors?
Further uptown, notorious cad Henry Schoonmaker and his new bride are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond she wears, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other.
Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: wealth, beauty, happiness.
However, in a city where appearance is everything, sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets.

This is the third instalment in the amazing Luxe series and in case you haven't heard of it (tsk tsk!), it's a historical YA series which takes place mostly in New York City in 1899/1900 and tells the story of the scandalous lives of privileged teens. It's full of drama and so much fun to read! I've already reviewed the first two books, The Luxe and Rumours.

Some of you may already know that I absolutely LOVE this series! Someone somewhere called it 'mind candy' and that's exactly what it is - delicious & beautiful mind candy! Who could resist that? :)

So in the third book we still have Diana and Penelope "fighting" over the same man - one of them blackmailed him into commitment and the other one promised revenge. For a change a large part of story doesn't take place in Manhattan, but in Palm Beach, Florida, due to the retreat there organized by the newlywed Mr and Mrs Schoonmaker. All the important people are invited, including Elizabeth, who is still recovering from personal tragedy and just when her situation is starting to improve, she is hit by a double whammy when the person she thought she could rely on leaves her to serve the country and she receives some shocking news. She does what she feels is right and in the end also grabs a lifeline when she's offered one ...
Also in attendance is Carolina, the ex-maid turned socialite, whose holiday is cut short when she receives some surprising tragic news. She's forced to flee back home, where she first very low and then unexpectedly rises higher than ever and it'll certainly be interesting to see how she copes with everything.
Henry just can't seem to be with the girl he truly loves so he makes an abrupt decision to do what he thinks is right. The ending is rather shocking as his true love, the one he thought he lost, decides to leave everything behind and follow him across the ocean ...

Another great installment in this wonderful series, which is still full of (love) drama and scandals and deceit and blackmail and betrayal. As illustrated by the cover, the book also features beautiful dresses and, just like the others, is marked by this very flowery old-fashioned prose, which is not only a delight to read, but it also an excellent representation of all the excess and extravagance of the Gilded Age.
These books are honestly very fluffly (meant in a good way), but there is so much going on and the writing is so lovely that I just can't fault them, even if I do occassionally roll my eyes at some characters or the things they do, but in the end you just learn that it all adds to the story.

I'll be sad to see the story end in the next and last book, Splendour (my copy just arrived!), but I really can't wait to see what happens! As always, I'm expecting lots of drama and love and shocking little twists & turns, and I just hope the ending disappoint - but surely it won't, right?

overall rating: 5/5
plot: 4/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 5/5 | cover: 5/5

Behind the scenes of the Splendor cover shoot!

I'm sure we all agree that the covers for The Luxe series are absolutely gorgeous, right? If you're not familiar with the books yet, then you can see the covers in my review of the first book - those are actually the UK covers, which have the exact same images as the US ones, but the British designers have added those cute swirly thingies, which I think make the covers even more beautiful!

Anyway, ever wondered how these wonderful covers get made? I've recently come across a video posted on MarjoleinBookBlog that takes us all behind the scenes of the cover shoot for Splendor, the last book in the series, which just came out in the US, but those of us waiting for the UK release will have to wait till January 2010, boo!

This cover is possibly my favourite one of the series and I found it really interesting to see how they shot it. In the video, you'll see that they actually shot an alternative cover picture as well and I think that I actually prefer the gold one with the loose hair that wasn't used in the end (click here for a quick screencap), but I can't complain about the winning shot either, it's beautiful, not only due to the lovely dress, but also thanks to the stunning model posing as Lina (I think) - honestly, this girl is just too pretty!

See for yourself! Which one do you prefer? :)

ps: Oh and if you haven't read the books yet, then by all means do yourself a favour and read them asap - they're just SO good! Delicious escapism!

Review: RUMOURS by Anna Godbersen *****

"December 1899, New York City.

Manhattan has bid farewell to its brightest star, the dazzling Miss Holland. Yet the rumours about her untimely demise continue. Meanwhile, her sister, the irrepressible Diana, has been seen in the company of not one, but three eligble bachelors. Might there be a fourth? In High Society reputation is everything. The Holland family simply can't afford to be the subject of such wicked whispers. Heaven forbid that they should fall so spectacularly from grace . . .
There is a very fine line between truth and love, lies and hate. And all is about to be gloriously revealed."

This is the second book in the brilliant Luxe series and you can read my review of the first one here. I've said before that I love the coveres for these books, but I really don't understand why the blurbs are so vague? For those of you that are unfamiliar with the series but curious about it, I can tell you that the story revolves around four main female characters in their teens (16-18): Elizabeth & Diana (sisters), Penelope (Liz's (ex) BFF) and Lina (Liz's (ex) maid). They live in New York in 1899 when apperances were everything so there's a lot of deception and betrayal and revenge going on in the background. There are two main love interests in the book, Henry and Will, who are shared among the four girls, which obviously causes a lot of drama. You'd be surprised to see what the girls are willing to do to get what they want ...

As you can see, I couldn't help but love the first book and that was pretty much the case with the sequel. The first one ended with a bang and I thought the beginning of the secone one was a bit slow, but eventually the story picked up and the ending was just mindblowing! Good thing I already have the next book waiting on my bookshelf, otherwise I'd go mad waiting for it since I can't wait to see what happens next!

As you can probably tell even from my review, these books are very action packed. There is just so much going on and the plot twists are enough to make your head spin. I may not protest violently if someone described the characters as slightly cartoon-like, but I suppose that's also partly why the story moves so fast. But whatever these books lack in character development, they make it all up with the beautiful setting and wonderful writing. I love the fact that these books are set in 1899 and as I mentioned before, I delight in reading about all the dresses and the lifestyle of the rich of those times. I can't say if the author's portrait of New York in 1899 is completely accurate, but I certainly find it believable and very enjoyable and really well written so kudos to Ms Godbersen.

I've stated in my review of the first book that I'm aware of the fact that these books are no literary masterpiece, but they make for wonderful escapsim and they are such fun to read, despite their minor flaws. I can't help but adore this series and I still strongly recommend it to everyone!

overall rating: 5/5
plot: 5/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 4/5 | cover: 5/5

ps: You can also watch the trailer for this book below, although I can't really say I'm a big fan - it just doesn't do the books justice and they're so much better than portrayed in this clip. But feel free to see for yourself ...

Review: THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen *****

"Imagine, if you will, New York City, 1899 . . . Society's elite: the glamour, the grandeur, the glittering parties, the most handsome beaus, the most beautiful debutantes . . . the rich girl, the humble boy, the forbidden love, the hushed whispers, the stolen glances, the whispers, the scandal, the mystery, the revenge . . . You are cordially invited to step into The Luxe, where the secrets are dark and the sins are delicious . . . R.S.V.P."

(summary)

This is the first book in The Luxe series, which will consist of four novels (the last one, Splendour comes out in January 2010 in the UK), all of which take place in New York at the turn of the 20th century. This first book takes place in late 1899 and it's sort of a YA read as the protagonists are between 16 and 20 (or so). It's a story of high society teens and it has scandal, secret love affairs, glamurous dresses and balls, betrayal, revenge etc., basically all the necessary ingredients for an enjoyable read!

I admit I was mostly drawn to this book because of the beauuutiful cover, but I'm pleased to report that the story is such is equally wonderful! I was drawn in right from the start and really enjoyed reading it. I can't say if the portrayal of New York and its citizes back then was accurate because I'm not an expert, but it was certainly interesting. I also thought the story was well written both language and plot wise - the written flew nicely and the plot was quite riveting, there was always something going on, a lot of scheming and revenge etc. Yes, it sounds trashy and I suppose it really it, but it's great fun!

The cover says that this is like the OC or something but with bigger frocks and more dashing boys, haha. Personally, the book really reminded me of Gossip Girl and I could just see the connection between the characters ... I thought Liz and Penelope were such a Serena and Blair (respectively), while I totally got the Chuck vibe from Henry. Furthermore, Lina reminded me of Little J. and Will seemed like such a Dan (expect LJ & D are siblings in GG whereas they're romantically involved here so that kinda doesn't work, lol). So yeah, I didn't think the boys were particulary dashing or anything, but the dresses were definitely fantastic and I loved reading about them - I really enjoyed how the author went into detail describing them. And the whole scenery and events and everything - it was just so easy being sucked into 1899, hehe!

Another great thing about these books is that they're beauuuuutifully designed, major props to the designer as they did an amazing job! The covers themselves are stunning, but even the book as such is well designed with cute fonts and newspaper articles etc. I know that's silly, but it's a small thing that simply added to the enjoyment of the book.

Technically this shouldn't be a 5/5 as it's really not a masterpiece or anything, but wahey it's just soooo much fun to read. I mean, all the necessary ingredients are there and they're well mixed and wonderfully served - what's not to love?!

I strongly recommed this series to *everyone* and I'll definitely be reading the rest of the books. I've bought the second and the third one a while ago, but I'm just gutted that the last book has been pushed back and will now be published in January 2010 instead of November 2009 as it was originally planned. Nonetheless, I cannot wait to read the rest of the books too!

overall rating: 5/5
plot: 5/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 4/5 | cover: 5/5

Below are the other three books in The Luxe series.
Aren't the covers simply divine? :)