Scan barcode
crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
4.0
That is what I want to tell you about: the girls with their short skirts and bright eyes and big-city dreams. The girls of 1929
Cordelia Grey and long-time best friend, Letty "Larkspur", flee their boring, sleepy Ohio town and head to New York City. Their reasons for leaving differ: Cordelia longs to meet the father she never knew and Letty wants to see her name in lights. Meanwhile, Astrid Donal is a sparkling socialite, but not everything in her life is perfect, particularly when it comes to her boyfriend, Charlie Grey.
I enjoyed myself immensely with this book. It had soapy drama, it had a sexy Jazz Age setting, it had glittery lights of New York, and, oddly enough, it had a bit of realism to it.
I can't really say if I had a favorite character. I liked how independent Cordelia was, but she almost felt too competent (especially given where she started). Also, SUPER surprised how she slept with a boy, was forced to marry him, and then ran away after the wedding! (TOTALLY would never expect something like that!) Letty, on the other hand, was the complete opposite: I was sure the girl was going to crumple in on herself at the drop of a hat. Astrid was definitely fun, as a spoiled rich brat, but then that also didn't endear her to me. Charlie was a two-timing scuzz-bag...but the emotional scene with him and Astrid threatened to bring a tear to my eye. Paulette was so sweet and big-sisterly to Letty...except when she wasn't.
What I can truly take away from this is: the characters are real people. They have things you like about them...and they have things you don't. They have strengths, and they have weaknesses. And so while I didn't have a favorite character, I also can't say I openly hated or despised any one of them.
(Okay, except maybe for Cordelia's aunt. Seriously, I know religious people can be nutjobs, but some aren't so judgmental. And I *KNOW* that that wouldn't necessarily be time-period appropriate, but I just wanted to throw that out there.)
The story overall was entertaining. Now, I did find Cordelia's "hunt" for her father painfully easy--all she needs to do is go to his home, claim to be Fanny's daughter, and boom, that's it? But I enjoyed Cordelia getting to know her dad and brother, befriending Astrid. And Letty trying to live on her own was good too (even if she was painfully naive and somewhat dense). Astrid's story was probably most interesting though. Having a mother who married and divorced so frequently, the upset her life went through, dealing with her boyfriend issues, and her final decision with Charlie were very compelling.
I was pretty impressed with the setting. I can't say if it is 100% accurate, but it did make me journey to Wiki and do online searching (and listening to 1920's jazz music!). And my very cursory findings agree pretty nicely with how Godbersen describes her setting. Now, I don't know how a more intense study would hold up, but since I wasn't looking for a hard-core historical, I was fine.
After a prologue that introduces an unknown narrator (is it important who that is?), the prose is in third person omniscient, which means we can flip in and out of the girls' heads at any time. At first, it was rather jarring, but then I got the flow of it and actually kinda liked it. Honestly, I feel it is one of the better written stories in third person omniscient that I've ever read.
If you want to read a light YA story set in the Jazz Age, this is a perfect book. The characters feel real, the setting is atmospheric, and the stories are a nice getaway. I'll definitely be checking out the sequels.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Very mild language.
Cordelia sleeps with John; her aunt forces her to marry him afterwards. Astrid's mother has been married many times; her step-father flirts with other women while married to her mother. Cordelia's father has a girlfriend, and it is hinted they are intimate. Letty is conned into performing at a strip show; she runs off before discarding too many clothes.
Cordelia's father is a bootlegger and surrounds himself with gunmen. There are a few shootouts or discussions of shootouts (nothing too violent).
Cordelia Grey and long-time best friend, Letty "Larkspur", flee their boring, sleepy Ohio town and head to New York City. Their reasons for leaving differ: Cordelia longs to meet the father she never knew and Letty wants to see her name in lights. Meanwhile, Astrid Donal is a sparkling socialite, but not everything in her life is perfect, particularly when it comes to her boyfriend, Charlie Grey.
I enjoyed myself immensely with this book. It had soapy drama, it had a sexy Jazz Age setting, it had glittery lights of New York, and, oddly enough, it had a bit of realism to it.
I can't really say if I had a favorite character. I liked how independent Cordelia was, but she almost felt too competent (especially given where she started). Also, SUPER surprised how she slept with a boy, was forced to marry him, and then ran away after the wedding! (TOTALLY would never expect something like that!) Letty, on the other hand, was the complete opposite: I was sure the girl was going to crumple in on herself at the drop of a hat. Astrid was definitely fun, as a spoiled rich brat, but then that also didn't endear her to me. Charlie was a two-timing scuzz-bag...but the emotional scene with him and Astrid threatened to bring a tear to my eye. Paulette was so sweet and big-sisterly to Letty...except when she wasn't.
What I can truly take away from this is: the characters are real people. They have things you like about them...and they have things you don't. They have strengths, and they have weaknesses. And so while I didn't have a favorite character, I also can't say I openly hated or despised any one of them.
(Okay, except maybe for Cordelia's aunt. Seriously, I know religious people can be nutjobs, but some aren't so judgmental. And I *KNOW* that that wouldn't necessarily be time-period appropriate, but I just wanted to throw that out there.)
The story overall was entertaining. Now, I did find Cordelia's "hunt" for her father painfully easy--all she needs to do is go to his home, claim to be Fanny's daughter, and boom, that's it? But I enjoyed Cordelia getting to know her dad and brother, befriending Astrid. And Letty trying to live on her own was good too (even if she was painfully naive and somewhat dense). Astrid's story was probably most interesting though. Having a mother who married and divorced so frequently, the upset her life went through, dealing with her boyfriend issues, and her final decision with Charlie were very compelling.
I was pretty impressed with the setting. I can't say if it is 100% accurate, but it did make me journey to Wiki and do online searching (and listening to 1920's jazz music!). And my very cursory findings agree pretty nicely with how Godbersen describes her setting. Now, I don't know how a more intense study would hold up, but since I wasn't looking for a hard-core historical, I was fine.
After a prologue that introduces an unknown narrator (is it important who that is?), the prose is in third person omniscient, which means we can flip in and out of the girls' heads at any time. At first, it was rather jarring, but then I got the flow of it and actually kinda liked it. Honestly, I feel it is one of the better written stories in third person omniscient that I've ever read.
If you want to read a light YA story set in the Jazz Age, this is a perfect book. The characters feel real, the setting is atmospheric, and the stories are a nice getaway. I'll definitely be checking out the sequels.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Very mild language.
Cordelia sleeps with John; her aunt forces her to marry him afterwards. Astrid's mother has been married many times; her step-father flirts with other women while married to her mother. Cordelia's father has a girlfriend, and it is hinted they are intimate. Letty is conned into performing at a strip show; she runs off before discarding too many clothes.
Cordelia's father is a bootlegger and surrounds himself with gunmen. There are a few shootouts or discussions of shootouts (nothing too violent).
threegoodrats's review against another edition
3.0
My review is here.
"Dogwood, as it happens, is easier to sneak out of than into, a fact that applies to many places in this world but very few of life's situations." p. 159
"Dogwood, as it happens, is easier to sneak out of than into, a fact that applies to many places in this world but very few of life's situations." p. 159
eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
Godbersen's new series has all the same intrigue, luxury and perfect story telling that made her Luxe series so incredible. The characters are each unique, fully realized and endearing despite any faults and Godbersen creates a suspense that lingers throughout the entire book which ends with her signature cliff hangers that have you begging for book two. Loved it.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
2.0
Cordelia and the newly christened Letty Larkspur leave their quiet Ohio town for New York City. Letty is determined to make it as a starlet with her beautiful singing voice, and Cordelia is convinced that NYC is the place to look for her long lost father. Astrid, a socialite, loves her boyfriend Charlie...most of the time. But she's afraid she'll turn out like her mother, with an ever growing list of former husbands. It's the roaring 20s, and these young women are determined to take advantage of the new world opening up before them.
Unfortunately, all three felt very superficial to me. While their actions, their motivations, and their feelings are all clear and understandable at some point, they are rarely all clear at the same time. So, I'm left feeling like they caused their own problems by their stupidity, or they got out of an understandable problem in a selfish way, or something else that's almost likable, but not. I found myself interested enough to make it through this book, but I feel no need to read the rest of the series.
Unfortunately, all three felt very superficial to me. While their actions, their motivations, and their feelings are all clear and understandable at some point, they are rarely all clear at the same time. So, I'm left feeling like they caused their own problems by their stupidity, or they got out of an understandable problem in a selfish way, or something else that's almost likable, but not. I found myself interested enough to make it through this book, but I feel no need to read the rest of the series.
shhchar's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't read a book this good in a long time. Anna Godbersen has DEFINITELY done it again! I would have thought her first series, The Luxe would be hard to top, but she's really done it effortlessly.
The story is from the POV of three different strong females, that are all connected. It takes place in the roaring twenties (1929 to be exact) and let me just say, everything about it was accurate to the time. The way the acted, interacted, and the vocabulary. Books that can do that are already an A in my book. The names of the properties, the descriptions of the dresses, and of course it's set in NY! There were no descriptions that ran on too long or too short, they were all great and just added to the charm of the book.
Astrid is a socialite,
Cordelia is searching for her father,
And Letty is looking to be discovered.
The three girls all manage to have different traits, AND different from the girls in the Luxe. I know I keep bringing the Luxe up, but when a similar book series can be completely outstanding and different from the series before it, that is literature skill.
One issue with this book was, (yes, only ONE) the quick romance between Cordelia and Thom. It just honestly felt unrealistic at some points. Cordelia doesn't strike you as a naïve person but when she was with Thom, it was like she downgraded.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! Especially if you love historical fic/romance, flappers, discovering yourself, the twenties, and friendship.
The story is from the POV of three different strong females, that are all connected. It takes place in the roaring twenties (1929 to be exact) and let me just say, everything about it was accurate to the time. The way the acted, interacted, and the vocabulary. Books that can do that are already an A in my book. The names of the properties, the descriptions of the dresses, and of course it's set in NY! There were no descriptions that ran on too long or too short, they were all great and just added to the charm of the book.
Astrid is a socialite,
Cordelia is searching for her father,
And Letty is looking to be discovered.
The three girls all manage to have different traits, AND different from the girls in the Luxe. I know I keep bringing the Luxe up, but when a similar book series can be completely outstanding and different from the series before it, that is literature skill.
One issue with this book was, (yes, only ONE) the quick romance between Cordelia and Thom. It just honestly felt unrealistic at some points. Cordelia doesn't strike you as a naïve person but when she was with Thom, it was like she downgraded.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone! Especially if you love historical fic/romance, flappers, discovering yourself, the twenties, and friendship.
kalliste's review against another edition
3.0
I was so excited to begin reading this book. It was a return to my guilty pleasure; YA fiction which was a nice change from all of the classics I've been reading.
Unfortunately, Bright Young Things is written in the new YA style, that is the bad style or as I like to call it the "Stephanie Meyer style". Fortunately though, Bright Young Things didn't include too many Topaz eyes or irresistible scents and had something that resembled a plot so I was able to finish it and not feel like I had wasted my time.
Bright Young Things is set in 1929 and is the story of Cordelia and Letty who have run away from hicksville (Union, Ohio) to the Big smoke (Manhattan) to become famous! For me, everything falls into place far to easily. The girls barely have to try to get settled even though they had never seen anything like Manhattan before.
For me, Cordelia's chapters are the hardest too take. I really couldn't stand the character or the decisions she made and I found myself wishing for a Letty or Astrid bit with every new paragraph. I was really cheering on Letty though and hoping everything would work out for her.
I loved the setting. 1920's America has always held a bit of a fascination for me and I think I'd love to go back in time and be a Flapper. It seemed like such a good age to be alive... until the depression that is. But, luckily for me, Bright Young Things doesn't go there and keeps us in the Roaring Twenties... for now anyway.
Unfortunately, Bright Young Things is written in the new YA style, that is the bad style or as I like to call it the "Stephanie Meyer style". Fortunately though, Bright Young Things didn't include too many Topaz eyes or irresistible scents and had something that resembled a plot so I was able to finish it and not feel like I had wasted my time.
Bright Young Things is set in 1929 and is the story of Cordelia and Letty who have run away from hicksville (Union, Ohio) to the Big smoke (Manhattan) to become famous! For me, everything falls into place far to easily. The girls barely have to try to get settled even though they had never seen anything like Manhattan before.
For me, Cordelia's chapters are the hardest too take. I really couldn't stand the character or the decisions she made and I found myself wishing for a Letty or Astrid bit with every new paragraph. I was really cheering on Letty though and hoping everything would work out for her.
I loved the setting. 1920's America has always held a bit of a fascination for me and I think I'd love to go back in time and be a Flapper. It seemed like such a good age to be alive... until the depression that is. But, luckily for me, Bright Young Things doesn't go there and keeps us in the Roaring Twenties... for now anyway.
debbiebarr's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and well-written like the Luxe books. I actually enjoyed this one more than her previous series. Again, there's not a lot of substance, but quite a compelling read. It should be noted this would be best for older teens and up, since there are some adult relationships in the book.
thatnerd's review against another edition
4.0
This book was great. I admit, I never would have read it had Barnes and Noble not offered it up as one of their Free Fridays selections, though. They did, and I read it and it was quite enjoyable to read about that era. Godbersen, IMO, writes about that era quite well. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is that it just seems things come TOO easily for the 3 girls. Sure, Cordelia's father gets killed, Astrid catches Charlie in bed with another girl, and Letty gets taken to a bachelor, expected to strip, and then kicked out of her home by her roomies, but still, in spite of these things, things still seem to have worked out for the girls. Not that I wanted bad things to happen to the girls, it's just that the author resolved their conflicts WAY too easily. But, it's a good book and I will definitely get around to reading the second one in the series.
ashvaberle16's review against another edition
3.0
Not as great as The Luxe series, but still pretty good.
alanaleigh's review against another edition
4.0
Anna Godbersen sets her latest series at the end of the roaring twenties, a time of prohibition and loosening morals when everyone who wanted to be anyone flocked to New York City. Cordelia and Letty are no different -- two girls from Ohio convinced that they're bigger than their small town. Cordelia is practically forced into marrying her high school sweetheart after being caught doing things with him that no good girl would do before marriage, spurring her decision that it's time for the girls to leave. They skip the reception to hop on the only train that goes direct to New York City and so begin their epic adventure. Letty (who ditches her last name and re-christens herself "Letty Larkspur") has stage aspirations and while she might be naive, she has the vocal talent that just might make her dreams come true. Cordelia, meanwhile, simply appears to be supportive of Letty's plans and doesn't confide in her friend that she believes she has figured out the identity of her father: the notorious bootlegger Darius Grey.
After a night on the town and a loud fight, the girls get kicked out of their hotel for unmarried women on their very first night and go their separate ways. Letty is taken under the wing of a cigarette girl who invites her to live in a small apartment with her and two others, and even manages to secure Letty a steady job while Letty circles newspaper audition ads that she hasn't the courage to go to. Cordelia shows up at Dogwood, Darius Grey's estate, on the night that he's throwing himself a birthday party... and after tricking her way in, is welcomed with open arms by the father who always missed her (even if her new half-brother isn't exactly thrilled with her appearance). Cordelia befriends Astrid, her new brother's girlfriend, and Astrid proves to be a young woman who has grown up privileged, though the situation has always been somewhat precarious as her mother goes through husbands rather quickly. Bright Young Things entwines the stories of these three young women, destined to play a role in each other's lives, and sure to live quite an adventure before "one would be famous, one would be married, and one would be dead."
I'll admit that since I haven't read The Luxe and its series, I wasn't quite sure what to expect -- yet Bright Young Things exceeded whatever those expectations were. Godbersen's ability to create a historically sound atmosphere makes for a charming read, as what New Yorker hasn't imagined the bygone days of the 1920s? It's full of jazz and illegal liquor, of course we've imagined it (even before Boardwalk Empire helped us with the details.) As a result, it's a great time period for a series, particularly one that doesn't seem fixated on just providing the point-of-view of the wealthy. Letty's storyline is a touch more realistic (including the struggle to make ends meet and naive notions dashed in dramatic ways), whereas Cordelia is whisked off to luxury and a Montague/Capulet family feud, realized a bit too late for her romantic nature. Astrid, meanwhile, deals with the many sides of both wealth and romance -- which makes her come off a bit one-note in the beginning and she develops depth as we go. Astrid's presence is a little surprising at the start -- though one assumes she'll be folded into the main story and come to know Letty and Cordelia. Her position as girlfriend of Cordelia's new half-brother and Cordelia's new best friend is an interesting role, particularly as her friendship with Cordelia seems very situational. As a result, she remains a bit of an outsider, allowed her closeness with the absence of Letty, and so the next books will likely play upon her tenuous bond.
The three girls are all unique in situation and attitude, though I hope we don't lose the perspective that's placed on the less-than-upper-crust scene. The glitz and glamour might be with the high society types, but the peek at how the rest of us might have lived is quite fascinating indeed (and certainly bears a resemblance to young adults of the modern day, just out of college and floundering around in the big city). As the first in a series, Bright Young Things certainly shows promise and while that whole "one would be famous, one would be married, and one would be dead" is ridiculously over-dramatic, it does certainly have the reader guessing as to the fate of each girl.
After a night on the town and a loud fight, the girls get kicked out of their hotel for unmarried women on their very first night and go their separate ways. Letty is taken under the wing of a cigarette girl who invites her to live in a small apartment with her and two others, and even manages to secure Letty a steady job while Letty circles newspaper audition ads that she hasn't the courage to go to. Cordelia shows up at Dogwood, Darius Grey's estate, on the night that he's throwing himself a birthday party... and after tricking her way in, is welcomed with open arms by the father who always missed her (even if her new half-brother isn't exactly thrilled with her appearance). Cordelia befriends Astrid, her new brother's girlfriend, and Astrid proves to be a young woman who has grown up privileged, though the situation has always been somewhat precarious as her mother goes through husbands rather quickly. Bright Young Things entwines the stories of these three young women, destined to play a role in each other's lives, and sure to live quite an adventure before "one would be famous, one would be married, and one would be dead."
I'll admit that since I haven't read The Luxe and its series, I wasn't quite sure what to expect -- yet Bright Young Things exceeded whatever those expectations were. Godbersen's ability to create a historically sound atmosphere makes for a charming read, as what New Yorker hasn't imagined the bygone days of the 1920s? It's full of jazz and illegal liquor, of course we've imagined it (even before Boardwalk Empire helped us with the details.) As a result, it's a great time period for a series, particularly one that doesn't seem fixated on just providing the point-of-view of the wealthy. Letty's storyline is a touch more realistic (including the struggle to make ends meet and naive notions dashed in dramatic ways), whereas Cordelia is whisked off to luxury and a Montague/Capulet family feud, realized a bit too late for her romantic nature. Astrid, meanwhile, deals with the many sides of both wealth and romance -- which makes her come off a bit one-note in the beginning and she develops depth as we go. Astrid's presence is a little surprising at the start -- though one assumes she'll be folded into the main story and come to know Letty and Cordelia. Her position as girlfriend of Cordelia's new half-brother and Cordelia's new best friend is an interesting role, particularly as her friendship with Cordelia seems very situational. As a result, she remains a bit of an outsider, allowed her closeness with the absence of Letty, and so the next books will likely play upon her tenuous bond.
The three girls are all unique in situation and attitude, though I hope we don't lose the perspective that's placed on the less-than-upper-crust scene. The glitz and glamour might be with the high society types, but the peek at how the rest of us might have lived is quite fascinating indeed (and certainly bears a resemblance to young adults of the modern day, just out of college and floundering around in the big city). As the first in a series, Bright Young Things certainly shows promise and while that whole "one would be famous, one would be married, and one would be dead" is ridiculously over-dramatic, it does certainly have the reader guessing as to the fate of each girl.