Getting Green with Envy

It seems to be a common thing in the novels of The Luxe series.  Someone is jealous of someone else’s life and would do anything to ruin their happiness.

With Envy, the next in Anna Gobberson’s Luxe novels, we continue with the story started in The Luxe and Rumors.  What was different about this prologue was that the point-of-view was from a sparrow flying around Manhattan peeking in our character’s lives.

Diana isn’t doing well.  Henry is now married to Penelope – but only because Penelope would tell that Diana and Henry slept together and Diana is a whore.  However, their marriage isn’t going well – Henry and Penelope aren’t sharing a bed but Henry’s father is pressuring Henry for grandchildren.  Carolina, or Lina, is doing well, having been taken under the wing of Carey Lewis Longhorn in the last novel, a bachelor who is more like a grandfather to her and provides her with necessities.  Elizabeth isn’t doing well either – she married Will at the end of Rumors but while heading back to California people thought Will kidnapped her, so Will was shot and killed.  She’s not quite ready to go back into society life, even though her mother is pressuring her to do so.  Mrs. Holland even organizes a small luncheon, inviting Elizabeth’s closest “friends” over.

While at the luncheon, Penelope brings up that she and Henry are planning on going to Palm Beach, Florida.  She asks Elizabeth to come, and Elizabeth’s mother says Elizabeth would love to go.  Henry earlier asked Diana, who he truly loves, if she can find a way to go. When Penelope asked Elizabeth, Diana said she would go with her sister.  Penelope acts like she’s excited about all of this, when in reality she’s upset.  So the trip is set – Henry, Penelope, Carolina, Elizabeth, Diana, and two others – Teddy Cutting, who likes Elizabeth, and Penelope’s brother, Grayson Hayes are off on their trip to Florida.

Even though the book changes locations, drama still is around.  One lady is constantly pursued by a gentleman.  Another young lady isn’t having a good experience on the trip, and finds out on her return that she’s expecting.  Men are falling in love, but are the ladies accepting?  And what’s up with the war?  That’s something I don’t want to completely give away because I want you, as a reader to be as shocked as I was when I was reading.

This book is definitely enjoyable, but you need to read the others so it all makes sense.  I am exciting to see how it all ends in Splendor, the last novel in the series which I haven’t read yet, but will be reading for next week.  I hope you are all excited as I am!