HarperCollins, 2010; 389 pages; ISBN 006196266X
My Goodreads Rating: 5 stars
With the twenties and the prohibition era coming back into style (seen in fashion trends and with shows like Boardwalk Empire) young adult books are no exception. But this new series by Anna Godbersen is actually exceptional. Although Bright Young Things is a "teen" book, I would recommend it to adults as well. The book is set during the summer of 1929. Best friends Letty & Cordelia decide to leave their small town for the bright lights of New York City. However, soon upon their arrival they get into a tiff and go their separate ways. Cordelia ends up finding her long lost father, as well as a new love interest and a new best friend in the fascinating and pampered flapper Astrid Donal. Letty also makes some new friends and starts chasing her dreams of stardom on her own. Along the way all three girls find out that not everything that is shiny is made of gold. Just like with the Luxe series I was impressed with Godbersen's writing, her characters, her plot, and all the details of the era. I was able to picture the lavish parties, the bubbly champagne, the drape of the silk and sequin gowns, and the allure and romance that permeated Letty, Cordelia and Astrid's lives. It looks like the next novel in the series, Beautiful Days, will be released on September 10th and I look forward to devouring that one as well. I made a book trailer for Bright Young Things, and here it is:
The Dial Press, 2009; 435 pages; ISBN 0385342020 My Goodreads Rating: 4 stars
I have to start off by saying that the Confessions of a Shopaholicbooks are some of my favorite reads. Yes, I admit that I love "Chick Lit" and sometimes the cornier and sappier, the better. I would say that it is one of my guilty pleasures, but I actually don't feel guilty about it, so there goes that. With that said I do love me some Sophie Kinsella (aka: Madeleine Wickham, her real name). I'm counting down to her newest Shopaholic installment, Mini Shopaholic, which comes out in September. I also adore Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin. This time around Kinsella offers up a book about a twenty-something girl who can suddenly see (and hear) the ghost of her great-aunt Sadie. Sadie is the "Twenties Girl", and honestly, after reading this I did have the urge to wear a flapper dress, drink a sidecar and dance the Charleston. At the very least the book was a fun romp with some sentimentality thrown in. There is also some romance and of course some mix-ups and situations that the living protagonist, Lara, has to resolve. Sadie's ghost becomes a real character that can't rest until Lara finds a missing necklace (well, real to Lara anyways). This leads to Lara coming to terms with some of the other things going on in her life, like her business, her friendships, and her love life. Although I did enjoy the story, I do feel that the Shopaholic series is more enjoyable. But if you are a fan of any of these authors, I think Twenties Girl should go on your to-read list, especially if you are into vintage or even just the twenties in particular.
