‘Luxe’ – ‘Gossip Girl’ 1890-style

Anna Godbersen’s Luxe series would be at the top of my list of “must have” books — were I a teenager today.

While, for teenagers in beach houses bereft of either local or cable TV there is Pretty Little Liars, available from Nigel Khan, Bookseller, for them to keep in touch with that show by reading rather than watching (that way you don’t miss a single word).

But, back to Luxe set in old New York of 1899 (Edith Wharton country) that begins with mystery and the funeral of Elizabeth Holland on the day of her wedding to Henry Schoonmaker — did the beautiful 18-year-old, apparently wealthy social beauty fall off the Brooklyn Bridge or was she pushed?

And what was she doing there with her “best” friend Penelope Hayes who had had her sights set on wealthy Henry herself, while Elizabeth’s younger sister Diana also fancied the handsome Schoonmaker whose father had threatened to disinherit him unless he settled down and married prim and proper Elizabeth. Enter Elizabeth’s envious maid Lina Broud, in love with handsome groom Will Keller who is in love with Elizabeth (oh yes) and she with him — but she has to marry Henry to save the family from the poorhouse — and you have all the ingredients for Gossip Girl 1890s style plus gorgeous clothes, Lucullan feasts, balls — you name it — and, of course, sex.

In short, the Luxe novels, (Luxe and the sequel Splendour also available from Nigel R Khan Bookseller) are fairy tales for teenagers — and those who enjoy well-written escapist romance, mystery and adventure stories.

The writing isn’t at all bad, the plot moves briskly from one love interest to the next to jealousy, to dirty tricks.

In fact, it’s just what’s needed to keep the English as it should be written alive, with texting running rampant among teenagers and ruining the language. So there!