Rumors: A Luxe Novel

Rumors continues the story of the elite Holland family in 1899 New York society. Elizabeth Holland has escaped to California with her true love, leaving her sister Diana to maintain the fiction of Elizabeth's death while navigating the social pressures of Manhattan's upper class. The narrative follows multiple characters through their romantic entanglements and social machinations. Diana Holland pursues a forbidden relationship with Henry Schoonmaker, while ambitious social climber Penelope Hayes schemes to secure a marriage proposal. Former maid Lina Broud reinvents herself as Carolina Broad, determined to ascend the social ladder through careful manipulation. The Holland family's financial troubles and reputation hang in balance as Elizabeth must choose between her heart and her duty. Characters face mounting pressure to maintain appearances while concealing secrets that could destroy their social standing. This novel explores themes of duty versus desire, the costs of deception, and the power dynamics of Gilded Age society. The constraints placed on women of different social classes drive the characters' choices and illuminate the era's social structures.

Readers note this sequel has more drama, scandal and betrayal than the first Luxe book. Reviews highlight the intrigue of characters moving between social classes in 1899 New York and the detailed fashion descriptions. Liked: - Fast-paced plot twists - Complex character development, especially Diana and Henry - Historical setting details - Multiple perspectives that build suspense - Strong female characters making bold choices Disliked: - Some found Elizabeth's storyline less compelling - Romance plots called predictable - Too many coincidental meetings between characters - Period language sometimes feels inauthentic Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (47,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (180+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (250+ reviews) "The drama is addictive even when you want to shake some sense into these characters," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Multiple readers compared it to "Gossip Girl in the Gilded Age."

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🌟 The term "Gilded Age" was coined by Mark Twain to describe the period's deceptive nature - a thin gold layer masking serious social problems beneath. 🌟 During the 1890s, New York's elite "400" families were carefully curated by social arbiter Caroline Astor, who literally maintained a list of those deemed worthy of high society. 🌟 Author Anna Godbersen wrote her first novel at age 14 and went on to work as a book editor before publishing The Luxe series, which became a New York Times bestseller. 🌟 The elaborate dresses described in the novel could contain up to 15 yards of fabric and weigh over 15 pounds, often requiring assistance to put on and take off. 🌟 Manhattan's Fifth Avenue mansions of the 1890s were so luxurious that the Vanderbilt family home featured a dining room ceiling painted by French artists and imported Italian marble walls.