The Luxe

Product Information

Meanwhile, it is revealed that Henry is being forced into the engagement by his overly ambitious and protective father. He has to hide his love for Diana from his father, playing along with the wedding plans. Henry and Diana enjoy a rich and intimate life with each other that seems untainted by their chaotic and competitive external world. Lina, Elizabeth’s maid, is envious of Elizabeth’s privilege and tries to sell the Holland family’s secret for both social and financial gain. Along the way, she unexpectedly falls in love with Tristan Wrigley, a shop boy, who exposes her to and teaches her to value new elements of New York City’s rich lower class life. Elizabeth was so perfect, prim and proper that it was irritating. She felt fake and selfish to me, and behind the perfect manners, she didn't care about anyone other than herself. 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. The book alternates perspectives through a few key players in Elizabeth’s life. Henry Schoonmaker- the fiancé, Diana Holland- the sister, Lina Broud- the maid and Penelope Hayes- the best friend. The bitch of the book is Penelope, of course - and she's marvellous at it. She's the character you "love to hate". She's the most straight-forward of all the characters, and spiteful, and duplicitous, and you have to admire her tenacity.When I say this felt exactly like gossip girl- I mean exactly like gossip girl. Take this with a grain of salt, because I have never read the books and only watched about half of the first season of the show but to me, these characters were scarily similar:

customer can choose the suitable size according to the size guide and the design of the female size chart. The types are targeted at waist and chest circumference, hip joints, and also targeted at different regions, such as Europe and Australia and other countries in different regions to choose the appropriate size. To enrich the optional diversity. there is always one that will satisfy you and make your life more elegant in The Luxe Company. all the other girls Diana's age were conformists at heart and seemed to have dressed up as themselves, only with more powder and artificially narrowed waists” There was plenty to love and enjoy here, despite the somewhat clichéd characters. The setting is vividly brought to life, though I would imagine some people wouldn't care for the little asides about dress fabrics and ormulu (gilt-bronze) inlaid chairs, but to me it added some necessary and authentic detail, as well as showing (without actually telling) the disparity between classes and "breeding": the gaudy over-the-top grandeur of the Hayes' new mansion; the stately but stuffy Schoonmaker home; and the refined, old-world elegance of the Hollands' - all highlighting the still-pervasive class clash between old money and new, inherited from the British. Overall, I LOVED this book as you can see from my lengthy review. Wow, I actually think this is my longest review, officially beating out my Perfect Chemistry review length. Woo hoo! I am happy to say that I loved the story line and although the writing could have been better in some parts, I loved this book nonetheless. I am currently in the middle of Rumors and boy oh boy are things getting exciting. And even though this is a historical/third person book, I am happy to say how much I loved it all.

Floor 2

William Keller is Elizabeth's secret lover who works for the Holland family as their coachman and valet. He loves her and wants her to come away with him to California. Elizabeth isn't sure about leaving her life and running away. He is also very handsome with dark hair, blue eyes, and a crooked nose. Diana Holland considers herself the romantic Holland sister. Diana is a 16-year-old with a rebellious streak that, Elizabeth believes, stems from the fact that she did not have a very refined coming-out party. Diana has wild, chestnut brown curls and features similar to her sister, pale skin and brown eyes. Diana is not one to follow rules, but she is often seen with her nose in a book, her only escape from what she thinks is a dull and ridiculous life. She falls in love with her sister's fiancé, Henry Schoonmaker. If you didn't think the nineteenth century was full of drama then think again. Life in New York in 1899 was very eventful. At least it was for the very wealthy. Elizabeth Holland has been a perfect daughter her entire nineteen years of life. She has been groomed for years to be perfect - to talk when she was supposed to, to receive visitors on Sundays, and always appear happy no matter when she was feeling on the inside. People in New York expect her to marry well and continue the traditions of high society. The Luxe Bali’s dining area has a large timber plank dining table that can comfortably accommodate ten guests. The dining area offers amazing 360-degree views of the gardens, and the ocean and a fully opening doorway to another deep koi pond and fern garden. There are more outdoor dining areas on the villa’s multiple balconies. The state-of-the-art kitchen next to the main dining area is also a gathering spot with a natural tree edged bar standing on raw hewn marble that overlooks the kitchen and via very large windows the rainforest beyond. The kitchen is fitted out with work benches and floors in spectacular Kashmir gold granite and exceptionally high end fixtures. Cinema Room

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 ] So I'd be lying if I said I was oozing with excitement to read this book. In fact, I put off reading it for just about a year. A really good friend of mine recommended me this book and told me I'd absolutely love it but when I bought the book, I let it gather dust in the corner of my bookshelf. 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! 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. Elizabeth wird geradezu als Vorbild für die jungen Damen angesehen und ist eigentlich auch die vornehme, luxuriöse Dame, wäre da nicht ihre geheime Liebe für den Kutscher. Ihre Lage und ihr lieber Charakter machen sie noch zur sympathischsten und ehrlichsten Figur in diesem Roman. Ihre Schwester Diana hingegen ist eine Rebellin, die den Gedanken an Armut aufregend findet und gern hübsche Männer küsst. Sie sieht sich selbst als modern, aber ich sah in ihr eher einen aufmüpfigen Teenager, der sich nach Aufregung sehnt und dabei Chaos stiftet.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 person she was trained to be would have nodded and been thankful, but she had just been forced out of her old life. The person she would be in her next life was finding her way one second at a time." Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hook-ups. This is Manhattan, 1899. 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