Splendor: A Dramatic Young Adult Romance of 1899 Manhattan―Socialites, Betrayal, and Royalty (Luxe, 4)

Splendor brings Anna Godbersen's Luxe series to a close, and what a tremendous ending it is! All the loose threads are tied up, but not always so neatly; the four main young women find that life doesn't always give you what you thought you wanted, but you've got to make peace with yourself no matter what. Splendor is told in alternating chapters that focus on each of the young women and takes them through the trials that will ultimately lead them to that peace, whatever it is. The book opens with Diana Holland having traveled (alone in 1900!) to Havana in search of love Henry Schoonmaker, who has joined the army in order to escape his shrew of a wife, Penelope. While the young lovers are reunited, Penelope herself starts to realize that maybe she was too hasty in marrying Henry, and sets her eye on on a Bavarian prince who is looking lustfully back at her. Meanwhile, both Elizabeth Holland and Carolina Broad have achieved contentment: Elizabeth has married her father's business partner in order to give her unborn child a name, and Carolina's past as a maid is firmly behind her as she falls in love with the handsome Leland. Of course none of this flows smoothly, and all of the young women are subjected to tragedies of varying degrees. In this final installment, Ms. Godbersen does the remarkable: she allows her characters to achieve a sense of maturity without being preachy or giving them fairy tale endings. The deceit that all of them have practiced is dealt with, but there is no moral high ground. Instead, I felt they were all so identifiable, because let's face it: pretty young women do have faults and some conquer those faults while others do not. It's all about what you are willing to live with. Ms. Godbersen filled Splendor with fashion and romance, betrayal and reconciliation, and it could not have been a more fitting ending to this series. My one problem with the storyline applies to Diana, and it is only because of her previous infatuation that I have a hard time believing she wasn't up to the task. However, I could still see her achieving something far more exciting with her life, so even though I found her decision out of character, I can let it go, and even give kudos to Ms. Godbersen for not being pat in wrapping up my favorite storyline of the four. I would actually rate Splendor 4.5 stars, but my enjoyment of the series as a whole prompts me to round up to the full five. Truly an enjoyable ride.

It's been a tumultuous year for some of New York's most fashionable young ladies. To hide her delicate condition, Elizabeth Holland has married her father's business partner for security and protection from scandal. Her sister Diana has cut her hair and quit New York to go after her love, Henry, who was forced into an unhappy marriage with the duplicitous Penelope Hayes. Meanwhile, Carolina Broad is steadily moving towards her happily ever after...if the truth about her humble origins can stay hidden. But if there's anything that these ladies have learned, it's that life doesn't go the way you plan, and getting everything you wanted isn't the same thing as happily ever after. Like Godbersen's previous books, Splendor has glamour, drama, and intrigue, but really feels more like an extended conclusion than an actual story. Elizabeth seems to take a more passive role in the book, and compared to her previous escapades, her journey from learning the truth about her husband's death and her current marriage to when she actually takes control of her own life is a little anti-climatic. Readers who love to hate Penelope will be indignant at her behavior but will be happy to see her finally get what's coming to her, even if her fate isn't at all what they expected. Lina struggles with the truth, but readers will be pleased when she finally succumbs to it and reconciles with her sister. Her happy ending is also unexpected, but a good one. Diana continues to stand out in this book as an adventurous, smart, and fiercely independent young lady. She's truly a woman of a new era, unyielding when it comes to her ideals and strong when it comes to life's challenges. Splendor is a novel about growing up, suffering the consequences of your actions, figuring out the truth, and taking control of your life. It's unexpected but very appropriate ending will please fans of the series. Cover Comments: As always these covers are just magnificent! I love the dresses, the colors, everything!

Splender: A Luxe Novel was the perfect ending to a fabulous series. I have to admit, at the end of the third Luxe book I was a little disappointed with the ending. I thought it was weird that Elizabeth ended up married to the "help". However, Godbersen answered all final questions and left all the characters with the proper ending. Elizabeth's ending with Teddy and the discovery that her husband had murdered her father was fitting. Although people might be disappointed that Henry and Diana did not end up together, lets face it--they would not have had a happy marriage. Henry's true partner as the head of the Schoonmaker fortune was Penelope. I also love that Carolina was finally forced to tell the truth and in doing so, was able to enjoy her money without the threat of blackmail.

Although it seems that many readers have been upset with ending, I couldn't have imagined it any other way. The characters in these books have grown tremendously in their own way. Some have grown in a way that made their "fairytale ending" unconvential. That is what I love about this book. The ending was not what the reader might have imagined or hoped for, its better. The ending for each character is perfectly fitting. I felt more then satisfied as the epilogue came to it's imaginative conclusion of the future ahead for our heroine and fellow characters. The pace of the book kept me wanting more. It is safe to say that this gripping series came to the perfect ending with the addition if splendor. I applaud you, godbersen.

I was so thrilled to read the conclusion of the Luxe series... I just had this feeling that somehow, some way, Diana and Henry would be together, Penelope and Carolina would get what they deserve, and Elizabeth, who never had very much luck, would find some kind of happiness without Will. Instead, Diana ends up completely alone, Elizabeth suddenly is in love with Teddy (what?!), Carolina ends up as herself but still fitting perfectly into society, and Henry and Penelope end up still together in somewhat of an open marriage. This was not the way I envisioned this series ending... and especially not as rushed as it was. We spent 3.5 books rooting on Diana and Henry just for Diana to end their relationship with some silly "It's not you, it's me" kind of talk and Henry returning to the denseness he showed in the first book (pre-Diana). The epilogue was vague and the whole series was sloppily wrapped up. This book was such a terrible ending to such a great series... and was good, right up until the end. Sigh. I guess we can't always get our happy ending.

I wasn't entirely satisfied in the way Godbersen wrapped up the series, it certainly wasn't a pure "fairy-tale" ending. But that was okay with me. I don't really read these books for plot content. They are purely escapist for me, and so the whole world could randomly blow up, and I would probably still give it 5 stars. ;) However, friends who have read it said that the ending just made them mad. I know that doesn't make much sense. But c'est vrai. Perhaps other lovers of this series can explain it better. It's a very easy series to hate because of it's vapid and shallow nature, but I still love it. Crazy.

This is a fun series and one that I found myself falling into pretty easily. Having always loved Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, this felt reminiscent of that era and style. Godbersen's writing style and descriptions are delicious and keep the story moving, not to mention the list of characters that you readily care about and want to continue following. In some ways it becomes obvious what direction the story is heading in, but there is still a chance that it might take a different turn. In this case, it did take a slight turn at the end that had me floundering. Okay, I'll be honest. I was a little angry. The final decision that some of the characters' make is understandable, as they come to realize what will make them happy, but I can't say that after four books that I was quite as happy. I'm still not really sure how I'm feeling about it all, but can say I liked the series as a whole. Overall, I really enjoyed the entire Luxe series and would recommend them to readers of YA or historical fiction. In the past I've mentioned that I lack imagination for things such as Science Fiction, so I'm thinking that where my imagination lacks with Sci Fi, it makes up for in historical pieces such as in this series. There is a lot of implied beauty, crazy drama, and masked emotion to behold. For high drama and plot twists, this series fits the bill.

Great quality book, quick shipping. Absolutely love this author and will keep buying :)

Great condition, great price

One of a trilogy and I loved it

Very good book would highly recommend.

The ending is Just awful. The most horrible ending I've ever read... I'm so SO DISAPPOINTED for the Diana storyline... Four long books and all the fuss Just to make Her acting like a stupid spoilt child in the end??? Really??? I am speachless. I Wish I could get back the time I spent Reading these books!

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