Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.-From Goodreads
I had seen this book in a bookshop a while ago but didn't buy it as the blurb was very vague (not the one above, but the one on the actual book!) However, after taking out from my library I wish I had bought it in the first place! I really enjoy historical fiction and this book was informative and thrilling, giving just the right insight in to 19th century Manhattan.
There were a lot of characters introduced at the start of the book and I was a little worried that it would get confusing and over-complicated. Whereas at the start this was the case I quickly felt that I was actually in Manhattan and knew the characters personally. Elizabeth Holland was a very interesting character and one that I admired. She seemed sweet and innocent from the outside, but she was actually tough and incredibly naughty! She was a very likeable character and I felt for her very deeply and found that I reached a great understanding of her character.Elizabeth's sister, Diana, was also a character that I loved. She added a new dimension to the book that would have been lost if she hadn't have been added. I really liked her personality, which was so different to her sister's!Now to the love interests! I really loved Will, although we didn't see much of him. I really wish we had seen more of him as it would have really captured me.Henry Schoonmaker! What can I say? He was totally swoon-worthy and I really enjoyed reading about him! Okay, so maybe not one of my favorite love interests but he's right up there on the list!
I absolutely love the cover! How amazing is it?! That dress is just divine! It's really eye capturing and if I were to see it in a bookshop would instantly check it out! The title is big which gives it instant recognition and so is the author's name. The picture above really doesn't give it justice!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the others in the series! I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a great lover of historical fiction- and those who would like to try it but haven't yet! Just please, READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it!
RATING: 4/5