We've only kept buying the books because of our overwhelming guilt that came with publishing such scathing reviews. We were pretty sure that Godbersen would forgive just about anything if enough money was pouring in (we know we would).
Well, the vicious cycle ends here with the third book in the series, Envy. Yes, we are aware there is a fourth book, but it's only available in hardcover right now and our guilt isn't $25 worth of guilt, thankyouverymuch.
Now you'd think that by book three, the teenagers-having-soap-opera-sex thing would be long past. They should be all grown up and able to have consensual promiscuous sex judgement free, right? Wrong.
You see, the time lapse between Book One and Book Three is only one short year. And in that one year, we've seen the belles of 1899 New York society run amok with no supervision, scheming and sleeping with boys right under their parent's noses.
But by the time we get to the Book Three, Envy, the chief protagonist is sixteen (now seventeen) year old Diana. Not only was Diana sleeping with her older sister's fiance in previous books, but in this latest installment we find her copulating with random men in hallways of New York's finest homes, whilst a big ol' ball is going on in the next room.
Again, folks, this is the year 1900. *sigh*
It's clear that Godbersen has no intention with messing with this tried-and-true method of teenagers-embroiled-in-sex-and-scandal masquerading as Young Adult Historical Fiction. Why meddle with success, right?
Read it if you must, if only because it's a good lesson to be AWARE of what your kids are reading. Then give your teen a copy of Penman's The Sunne in Splendour and introduce them to real historical fiction. They'll thank you for it later.
Well, happy holidays to all of you.....A Reader's Respite is happily giving away these first three books of The Luxe Series! Included is The Luxe, Rumors, and Envy. Just leave us a comment and on December 1st, we'll announce a random winner. :)
I'm going to throw my name in the hat even though you didn't love this series, because I know other people who have.
ReplyDelete"but in this latest installment we find her copulating with random men in hallways of New York's finest homes, whilst a big ol' ball is going on in the next room."
ReplyDeleteOh vey, Wharton should be rolling in her grave. Please don't enter me, Rumors was bad enough.
I do agree with all you are saying about this series, but I also think that they are very entertaining. But then I am 24 and not 14 so I think my perspective is different. If I were to read these books at a more impressionable age then I think my view would be different! Enter me in the contest please, I would love to win copies! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteemily DOT wittenberg @ gmail DOT com
But I do love the covers.
ReplyDeleteEh, I'll trust you on this one. And with all the really good YA literature out there, I don't think I'll be rushing my daughter to learn about how to copulate with strange men and sleep with relatives' fiances.
ReplyDeleteHrmmm....I'm still going to brave it and enter my name for the contest. My excuse for still wanting to read these is that I'm soon to be a school librarian and they are quite popular with the teen girls set.
ReplyDeletefitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
Sorry you didn't like them. However I've been dying to read them and definitely can't afford to buy them. Count me in.
ReplyDelete~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com
I'd like a chance to have them - your posts have gotten me interested in them, if only to see if they're really that bad. I've read more books than I care to admit due to that kind of curiosity.
ReplyDeleteI remember your first review and, despite not having any time anyway, decided to look the other way. I'll continue to do just that. Thanks for making your negative reviews just so much fun. No need to enter me in your contest. Hopefully someone else out there will win them and enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fair warning. (Repeatedly--I am a rather slow learner! ::grin::) Based solely on the lush covers I have considered getting them for my tween but just wasn't certain she'd be as gung-ho about historical fiction as I am.
ReplyDeleteNot commenting to enter the contest - just to say that it's too bad books with such gorgeous covers are nothing but Gossip Girl in a time machine. I almost want to buy them anyways so they can look pretty on my shelves :)
ReplyDeleteI would like to read them...my daughters already know about copulation, haha , they are all grown up.. I keep looking at them at the bookstore....
ReplyDeleteThanks
momkelly2003(at)yahoo(dot)com
It's a shame that the publisher invest their money to promote these books with gorgeous covers, while some literary gems do not get the same attenttion. I haven't read this series but would like to try. :)
ReplyDeletelinna.hsu at gmail dot com
The series sounds really bad but who knows? Maybe I'll get to like it. Count me in on the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteaustenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to check them out.... crazy as it may seem.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the entry.
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
I think I need these if only to get a few laughs. As long as I win them, that is. Otherwise I can live without.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
ReplyDeletewandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
My neice told me she was reading The Luxe. EEK! But your reviews intrigue me (while making me el oh el) and I'm just a bit rebellious so enter me please. If nothing else I will fondle the gorgeous covers.
ReplyDeleteNow, you got me curious! Is it really that bad? Well, toss my name in the hat.
ReplyDeletefrances[dot]ivy09[at]gmail[dot]com
Please don't enter me, Michele. I am staring @ Splendor now. Thank goodness, I didn't pay foor it!
ReplyDeletePlease dnt enter me :D
ReplyDeleteMuch as I loved your hilarious bad review, I can't resist entering myself! I'm old enough to know they're inaccurate but can't resist wondering what happens. I wouldn't buy them, but I'd love to win them. =)
ReplyDeleteI have them all, so don't enter me. I need to get to Envy soon and then I'll be reading book 4. I like them!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win these...they'd be some good holiday brain candy :)
ReplyDeletethanks!
I've totally been wanting to see what this series is about. I think I'd probably be able to read it just as a fun story apart from the fact of historical inaccuracy (or unlikelihood). :)
ReplyDeleteakreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
Even if I don't win, I'm going to have to pick up this series just to see what you dislike so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
shhhimreading[at]hotmail[dot]com
I would like to have this set for my home library...thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Doesn't sound like historical fiction to me. Matter of fact, the time period sounds like it's the only thing that makes this unique. Now, if the characters had the mannerisms of people back then it would be different but it sounds like it would make more sense if it was time travel...
ReplyDeleteNo need to enter me. I have WAY too much on my TBR pile to add something I'm not even remotely sure I would enjoy.
I love these covers so I'm disappointed that the contents don't live up to them. Still I'm curious to see how much YA lit has changed since I was reading Sweet Valley High, where no teenage has sex ever. (I have read the first two Twilight books, but that was more of the same really). So if the contest is open to Europe, do please enter me.
ReplyDeletehelena_athome@yahoo.com
Oh well, I enjoyed reading your reviews on this series :)
ReplyDeleteBut...I still do want to read these books for a long time now. I promise not to pass them on to any teenagers if that helps :)
Please enter me
violetc dot books at gmail dot com
I applaud you!
ReplyDeleteNo need for entry.
Oh, gosh! I have to enter the giveaway, if only to know what my teen is reading (she read LUXE and has been saving her $ to buy the others). I gave up monitoring her reading, but you're making me have second (guilty) thoughts ...
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be entered in the give-away, even if they were'nt your cup of tea. While I'm a big fan of more typical historical fiction, a little bit a fluff is good every now and then.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Even though you obviously don't like the series, I'd still like to read them, so please add my name to your giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI know you dont like this series but could you please count me in.
ReplyDeleteYes, please! Yes, PLEASE!
ReplyDeleteI would love to be entered in your contest giveaway. My niece would love these books and they would make a great Christmas present!!!
ReplyDeletemitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net
Wow! I would totally LOVE to win the set of books! Thank you for having this great giveaway!!
ReplyDeletenancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
OK, now I've got to see the awfulness for myself. :) Sign me up for the books (because one can never have too many pretty books, even if the inside is skanky).
ReplyDeleteJust got the first one - your post was too tempting to pass it up! I'll let you know what I think. May be a good holiday read!
ReplyDelete