Rumors

Reader: Mollie W

Age: 15

Title: Rumors

Author: Anna Godbersen

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

Pub Date: 2008

Galley: No

Nominate for Teens’ Top10: No

Recommend: Yes

Annotation:In Manhatten in 1899, there is more drama than ever. With Elizabeth Holland in hiding, and all eyes on Diana Holland, will she rise to the occasion and fill the shoes of her sister? Or will she fall when Penelope Hayes, Elizabeth’s 'best friend', seems more than ready to steal everything that used to be Elizabeth's.

Convince us to read the book: If you read The Luxe, you'll want to read this one. Though it is very disappointing, there are moments that make it worthwhile.

Compelling Aspect of the Book: The best thing about the series is the drama--it's like Gossip Girl but way more interesting. I prefer this series to Gossip Girl because anyone can write in the now, but it's something entirely different to set a book in a completely different time period. It's admirable that Godbersen doesn't follow the pack of authors that all seem generic and uncreative, and ratherresearches a time period and writes about it no matter the leg work it may take.

Did you finish the book: Yes

Were you disappointed with the book: Rumors is interesting, but it's like (excuse my embarrassing reference) Grey's Anatomy--some characters need to die--NOW. And the further I get into the series theless and less I care about these characters, and since they're written bouncing between all the characters plot lines it's a very big flaw. By the time I've finished Envy I only seriously care about two characters (Diana Holland & Henry Schoonmaker). This leaves me wanting Penelope, Lina, Elizabeth, Teddy, Mrs.Holland, Mr.Longhorn, and Buck all dead. I've reverted to skipping over all the chapters about Lina--which isn't good because her story sometimes ends up overlapping with the other characters.

Did the cover reflect the contents: Rumors is the sequel to The Luxe and that is made very clear by the cover. One of the few things that never disappoints about this series are the tantalizing dresses worn onthe cover.

Age Range: 14-15, 16-17, 18 up

Comments: FYI: There's sexual content in this book, and Godbersen doesn't tip toe around the topic at all.