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    Rumors
    Rumors
    Rumors
    Audiobook9 hours

    Rumors

    Written by Anna Godbersen

    Narrated by Nina Siemaszko

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Gossip Girl meets the Gilded Age in this delicious and compelling novel, the second in the New York Times bestselling series from author Anna Godbersen.

    As old friends become rivals, Manhattan’s most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal...or more precious than a secret.

    True love. False friends. Scandalous gossip. This is Manhattan, 1899.

    After bidding good-bye to New York’s brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise.

    All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family’s only hope for redemption; New York’s most notorious cad, Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind—including Henry; even Elizabeth’s scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency.

    “Mystery, romance, jealousy, betrayal, humor, and gorgeous, historically accurate details. I couldn’t put The Luxe down!” —Cecily von Ziegesar, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Gossip Girl series

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateDec 23, 2008
    ISBN9780061709616
    Author

    Anna Godbersen

    Anna Godbersen is the author of the New York Times bestselling Luxe series. She was born in Berkeley, California, and educated at Barnard College. She currently lives in Brooklyn.

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    Reviews for Rumors

    3.5/5

    537 ratings38 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      The Gossip Girl of 1899: sinfully delicious summer reading! The soap-opera derring-do sweeps you along for the ride but what's particularly luscious are the artful descriptions of the rich and privileged, including their furniture ("the ormolu-encrusted arm of his chair"), their gestures ("he switched the cross of his legs after he spoke") and of course, their fashion ("it was made of a garnet-colored silk faille in rows of tucks and volants...and flowed outward at the knee and was garlanded at the neckline and hem with yards of white point d'esprit"). It almost makes you wish you could have floated along in 19th century high society if only high-necked lace collars didn't sound so uncomfortable!
    • 5/5
      This series is so compelling I just had to read the next in the series.
    • 4/5
      I haven’t reviewed many books contained in series on the blog and find it incredibly hard. It’s almost like reviewing the middle of a book, right where the juicy part is but still trying to maintain a veil of secrecy.Nowhere is this more difficult to accomplish than in the second installment of Anna Godberson’s four part Luxe set, Rumors. Staged in turn of the century Manhattan and essentially the wilderness of California, the second book finds our party of revelers and mourners garter deep in more trouble than they can manage.There is nothing like good scandal to keep readers guessing which is why it is incredibly difficult to lay it on the line for review dissection.The stage set by The Luxe was a gaudy one but also one that hinted toward a lust for the other side of the tracks. When we meet them again, both Holland girls find themselves in over their heads in love and in life. Their passions can’t be contained within the walls of the society in which they were born and raised and this, inevitably, leads to trouble.The usual suspects return, starring debutante extraordinaire, Penny, reluctant millionaire heir, Henry; social climbing but clueless ex-maid, Lina, handsome and wholesome oil-hopeful Will and of course, that lovable entity, the gossip column.I enjoyed the sequel as a welcome diversion from real life drama. I won’t get into the specifics of the small things that irked me because it involves listing unforgivable spoilers. Let’s just say several people show up dead, alive and, more dramatically, married. But, well, that’s just Manhattan in 1899.
    • 4/5
      I knew from the start that Diana wasn't going to become Mrs. Schoonmaker, but I still hoped through all the book. And, not too surprisingly, my desire wasn't satisfied. I liked Elizabeth's storyline, it's so nice and happy. At the contrary, Diana is having a hard time at home, dealing with her sister's absence, her mother trying to find her a fiancé and her own feelings for Henry. And when everything seems perfect, after Henry and Di's lovemaking and Will and Liz's wedding, total chaos: Penelope aka The Bitch blackmails Henry into marrying her and Will gets shot. I was so surprised by the turn of events that I couldn't close my mouth before 20 minutes :D I'm really enjoying this series and the author's style makes you go back in time in a delightful way.
    • 4/5
      Rumors, the follow-up to The Luxe, is a delectable read. The plot and characters evolve in entertaining twists. The tale ends with the reader needing to pick up the third installment - Envy. As a reader I didn't feel cheated by this as the entire series has been heavily marketed. Really wish this series was around when I was a teen!
    • 4/5
      Rumors is the second in Godbersen's Luxe series. There is no way to review this book without spoilers from the first book (but there are no spoilers for Rumors). If you haven't read the first book, start with my review of The Luxe and then skip the first two paragraphs here.Two months after Elizabeth Holland's funeral, the New York social scene starts to pick up again as the century draws to a close. Mrs. Holland has now pinned all her financial hopes on her remaining daughter, Diana. Meanwhile, two members of Elizabeth's inner circle have been busy remaking themselves in her image. Penelope Hayes, with the help of the current Mrs. Schoonmaker, is shedding her old persona so she can be ready the moment Henry comes out of mourning for his fiancée. Carolina Broud, the ex-personal maid, is working equally hard to become the lady she thinks Will Keller desires.Tales of Elizabeth's kidnapping and reports of her being sighted are the fodder of high-society gossipmongers, but only Diana and Penelope know the truth. As the Hollands' fortune continues to dwindle, Diana begins to panic, and she sends a telegram that will have widespread repercussions.Rumors contains several well-paced, interconnecting, and converging story lines, and Penelope Hayes is at the center of most of them. Carolina's story is particularly interesting, and it's not clear if she truly understands what she's doing and whom to trust. The plot is complex and keeps you riveted clear to the end.The cast of characters—from the sleazy Lord & Taylor clerk to the mysterious Mr. Snowden—are three-dimensional and hold true to their personalities. You want to strangle some and offer much-needed guidance to others.There are fewer historical details in Rumors than there were in The Luxe. But we were so well introduced to 1899 New York City in the first book that further elaboration wasn't really necessary or missed.At the end the novel, I was definitely left wanting to know more about these families. Fortunately, Envy has already been published and Splendor is in the works.I listened to this book via digital download from my library. It was read by Nina Siemaszko, who also narrated The Luxe. Siemaszko makes this an engaging listen.
    • 1/5
      I don't even have a shelf for this because I refused to put it in with the "bon bons" which are things you actually like. I hated it. The characters are mean and nasty almost across the board. The ones that aren't, are wimpy and annoying. The ending is a real "gotcha" like all those movies or books that solve everything with "..it was really a dream." This book ends with a nightmare and no promise of redemption. I can only surmise that the author hates (or condescends to) her audience. I will not read another in this series because I am not a masochist. I must say, I do love the covers though. What's a cover without a book?
    • 4/5
      Brutal but sweet love, jealousy and gruel fate. It's the three major things in this books. I loved it and I hated it. I still have a hard time to understand all that happened in this book. And I can't do anything but to read the next book because this series totally have me in its claws.
    • 3/5
      I think I actually enjoyed the sequel to this book more than the first one.

      The characters were more developed and it became more interesting as the plot progressed. Once again, Godbersen does a really nice job of creating the old-style New York atmosphere. She writes it well and manages to make fun of it without being too pretentious.

      It looks like a thick book but I read it really easily. I didn't, however, go on to read the third or even fourth book in the series. I would be curious to see what happens so I might pick up the next few books, if I want something really light to read.

      If you like glamorous, tongue-in-cheek sort of books, give this one a read. c:
    • 3/5
      This was quite enjoyable but not as good as the first book in the series.
    • 5/5
      A very strong sequel, although I was seriously pissed at the ending. That's not a fault of the book per se, just the stories natural progression I guess.

      Still, if I get Penelope Hayes by the neck, she better pray for mercy......
    • 3/5
      An addictive historical fiction series. After wolfing down two books, I conclude that the author's a sadist- to her characters AND to her readers. There was a plot twist where I just looked at the words on the page and exclaimed "WHAT?"
      Still, I'll read the next!
    • 4/5
      Can I just say that I really hate Penelope? I know it's not very mature, but there it is.
    • 5/5
      Very good. Left me wondering which direction she is going to take the series.
    • 3/5
      The Luxe series is a fun read--juicy, entertaining, and imbued with delicious details of material life for the upper class in turn-of-the-century Manhattan. Anna Godbersen is a young writer and from the first book in the series to the second, you can see her grow as a writer. Her stories become more fluid and her style becomes more graceful. I love the idea of historical fiction for the teen set and I think Godbersen has hit on a potent formula. I admire her willingness to explore the desirability and allure, but ultimate emptiness, of materialism.
    • 3/5
      I can't say much about this book.
    • 5/5
      Mini ReviewAlright. I'm officially unsatisfied with the ending. Really. I know that not every story can have a happy ending but at the same time, some characters are killed off or taken away some how and it really does not add to the shock value. I still loved this book and all but the end was not good. That's really all I have to say.
    • 3/5
      This book was almost as fun as the first, although an event in the last few chapters really irritated me. Not only did it feel unnecessarily unpleasant, but it was also glaringly underdeveloped. Oh well. On to book three.
    • 4/5
      What a sad end to Elizabeth's story, well at least for this book. As far as the other characters, Henry needs to grow some balls and stand up for himself, and poor Diana, she finally grew up and has now lost her love for now. Hopefully the series has happy endings for these sisters.
    • 3/5
      And I’m Done with the SeriesI knew what I was getting into with Rumors after having read Luxe but this book proved too vapid even for me. (This is saying something considering I was looking to read something light; this was the Diet Coke of light reading) Again, for the Gossip Girl lover, you might find some entertainment value here but all you’re really doing is picturing Chase Crawford in a top hat and Leighton Meester asphyxiating herself with a corset.
    • 3/5
      In Anna Godbersen’s second novel in the Luxe series, the New Yorkers are finally starting to move on from the mysterious death of Elizabeth Holland. Her sister, Diana, is going on numerous dates with the city’s finest bachelors, her fiance Henry is coming out of his mourning phase and her best friend Penelope is waiting in Henry’s shadows. But what some know, and others wonder about, is that the story they heard about Liz, may not be the truth and it will soon all be crystal clear. And what a better way to end the 19th Century than with an amazing wedding with a happy bride and a bribed groom? A love square that became a triangle is now back to two.Ok, so if you’ve been following my posts, you already know I accidentally read Envy before Rumors. While it wasn’t on purpose, it kind of worked out. I understood that I missed some things, like Elizabeth coming back and Henry’s wedding, but there wasn’t so much missing that I was confused. Going back and reading this after the 3rd one filled in all the holes. It was different, but nice. There are many books in a series where this wouldn’t work.The thing I like least about these books are they are extremely long. Each book is 400+ pages and I catch myself, numerous times, skimming. I love the fact that I feel like I am there, in 1899 in a hand made dress in the plum middle of NYC winter. But, I just find myself not caring about all of the small details and wanting to get to the juice.The drama, as with the rest of the series is great. I love how she starts the book with the ending, then goes back to a previous time and works back to the ending. It keeps me guessing how we will get there. I also like, as I have said before, at the beginning of the chapters how she has little snippets from the society pages. I am still on a quest to get in touch with Godbersen to see if these are real snippets and if the characters are based on real life events.I give Rumors 3 bookmarks. I liked it, but didn’t love it.
    • 3/5
      (minor spoilers if you haven't read the first book, The Luxe)In the second book of the Luxe series we are focused a bit more on the younger Holland sister Diana. As society reels from Elizabeth's death and speculates on possible alternatives, Diana must grow up quickly to save the family. They are quickly running out of money and things to sell for money. Her best hope is to marry her sister's former fiance, Henry Schoonmaker, who is mourning for Elizabeth. But it isn't a simple as all that. Penelope Hayes, who played a part in Elizabeth's death/disappearance, has her eyes on Henry as well, and she is not afraid to use every underhanded trick she can think of to win him over.Diana is a girl after my own heart. She mocks society and all it's silliness as she attempts to play along - if only for appearances sake. She loves Henry deeply and passionately, and prays for when it will be considered appropriate for them to leave mourning and become engaged. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Will have settled in California and are looking for oil when a letter from Diana causes enough concern for them to risk returning to New York to try and help, for Elizabeth's mother is quite ill and the financial situation is becoming even more dire.Penelope is a very mean person (I'd like to use a different phrase, but my daughter reads this). While I respect her will to fight and do whatever it takes to get what she wants...I hate to see how she treats the people around her in order to get it. This book moved a bit more slowly for me than the first in the series. There were many small details that became large ones and I'm hoping they are all made relevant in the third book. I'm far too attached to Diana to give up on her now and will be ordering the next in the series, Envy as soon I can.3.5/5
    • 4/5
      This is the second book in The Luxe series. If you have not read the first book, it may get confusing. There are more scandals, more drama, and more secrets. It is a lot to keep up with but this it's easier in this book now that we are familiar with the characters and their personalities. Penelope is up to her usual games chasing Henry and trying to get people to notice her and accept her as much as they did Elizabeth. Henry is dealing with his feelings for Diana and trying not to feel guilty for betraying Elizabeth. The Hollands are still trying to figure out their financial problems. Lina is trying to move up the social totem pole. And I can go on and on.I enjoyed this book more than the first which is always good when reading a series. The only problem I had was that it started off a little slower than I would have liked. I think the parts about Elizabeth were a little boring and her part in the book isn't as interesting as it could have been. With that said, the rest of the book is pretty good. Diana is still my favorite character although she goes through some changes. I find it interesting how in the first book Elizabeth is more worried about their financial woes and in this one the roles were reversed. I liked how the sisters essentially end up in the same situation by the end of the book. The ending was okay but leaves the reader a little sad but hopeful for the next installment.
    • 4/5
      I am loving this series. They're like historical soap operas gorgeous dresses, betrayal, love and all.
    • 2/5
      Much better than the first in the series, 'The Luxe'. Characters were a lot more dynamic, yet realistic, and I actually found myself wanting to know what was going to happen. I think they also did a better job reseraching the rules of society for this one, which were often insightful at times.It is a pretty sad story however but teen girls will probably gobble this one up. I'm actually interested to read the next one -- Envy. When's it coming out?
    • 4/5
      I haven’t reviewed many books contained in series on the blog and find it incredibly hard. It’s almost like reviewing the middle of a book, right where the juicy part is but still trying to maintain a veil of secrecy.Nowhere is this more difficult to accomplish than in the second installment of Anna Godberson’s four part Luxe set, Rumors. Staged in turn of the century Manhattan and essentially the wilderness of California, the second book finds our party of revelers and mourners garter deep in more trouble than they can manage.There is nothing like good scandal to keep readers guessing which is why it is incredibly difficult to lay it on the line for review dissection.The stage set by The Luxe was a gaudy one but also one that hinted toward a lust for the other side of the tracks. When we meet them again, both Holland girls find themselves in over their heads in love and in life. Their passions can’t be contained within the walls of the society in which they were born and raised and this, inevitably, leads to trouble.The usual suspects return, starring debutante extraordinaire, Penny, reluctant millionaire heir, Henry; social climbing but clueless ex-maid, Lina, handsome and wholesome oil-hopeful Will and of course, that lovable entity, the gossip column.I enjoyed the sequel as a welcome diversion from real life drama. I won’t get into the specifics of the small things that irked me because it involves listing unforgivable spoilers. Let’s just say several people show up dead, alive and, more dramatically, married. But, well, that’s just Manhattan in 1899.
    • 3/5
      OK, this series is addictive. I don't much like any of the characters barring Diana, I thought the real ending of this was dreadful, the teaser ending at the start did add to the suspense. This seemed to be more of a setup for a third instalment than a book on its own, nothing is resolved here. And I will keep on reading, because I must know what happens to Diana.I'd give this to people who enjoyed Luxe.
    • 4/5
      It's like "Gossip Girl: 1899" -- and a lot of fun.
    • 3/5
      I don't actually like the Luxe series all that much, the problem is that I just have to know what happens. This is the second of Anna Godbersen's Luxe series. The story centers (mostly) around Elizabeth's sister, Diana and the young man she's in love with, Henry. The problem, of course, is Elziabeth's best friend, Penelope Hayes. While that appears to be the main issue, Godbersen does do some things right. Diana Holland and her mother must battle their increasing lack of wealth, the loss of several of their servants, and their grief for Elizabeth. Rumors is full of double crossing, heart break (and heartache), and a surprising wedding at the end. As much as I don't want to keep reading, I will because I need to know what happens to the Hollands.
    • 4/5
      I found these books to be a whole lot tamer than other secular teen fiction series such as Gossip Girl, The It Girl or The A-List. Maybe it's because of the time period but there is almost no cursing and while there is teenage sex it is not as frequent as in the modern books. This series is being touted as the 1900s version of the aforementioned series. The premise being that the lifestyles of the rich and famous are always the same no matter the time period. However, regarding sex, it does make one think. This story takes place during a time period where there is no form of birth control. It appears that the characters who are having sex are doing it frequently. They seem to have no concern that they could possibly get pregnant. It just seems a little irresponsible of these teens to not think about the consequences.Parents seem to exist only to provide the lavish lifestyles for the main characters to partake in. There is not one single grown up who is a role model for the teens. I don't know exactly how the wealthy exactly lived but I would have thought perhaps a childhood nanny or teacher could have been there to provide some sort of positive influence. It's a jarring absence that seems to enhance the surreal lifestyle. It's hard to get attached to any of the characters as I felt that they were too involved into their own drama. The only one I felt any feelings toward to was Diana and that was because she was the only one who wanted to not act like society. I was highly disappointed at the ending of the book but I can hardly say I didn't expect it. I had a feeling that situation was going to happen as there were too many events that kept leading up to that incident.I do enjoy the covers of the books, the dresses are simply to die for although I felt that the necklines are too low for the Victorian age. That much skin would NOT be shown at all by a well-bred young female of that time period. I will read the next book in the series because although this is not the best writing that is out there, it is rather addictive.