Bright Young Things Shines!

The book Bright Young Things is the first book in a series by Anna Godberson. Godberson is already quite well-known for her previous series, The Luxe, which takes place at the turn of the 20th century during the Victorian Era in New York City. Fast-forward about 30 years, still in the NYC, and you have the setting for Bright Young Things. Coincidentally, the time period is May of 1929...just five months before Black Friday, the fall of the stock market. I can't help but wonder if stock market crash will have anything to do with the future books.

So, May 1929 in NYC means lots and lots of the Jazz Age. If you don't have any background knowledge on the Jazz Era get ready to be taught a lot about it. The Jazz Age was probably one of the most carefree times in American history. It was all about fun, music and partying. That is exactly how Bright Young Things felt. Similarly to Luxe, Bright Young Things follows several female heroines: Cordelia, Letty, & Astrid. Coredila and Letty, childhood friends from a small town in Ohio, know they are much too big for the insignificant lives they have been born into. Together they make their way to the big city, New York, to make their fortunes. Unfortunately, they end up fighting and abandoning one another. Letty goes on to become a "cigarette girl" in a speakeasy, while Cordelia searches out her mobster father.

Astrid, meanwhile, is already a wealthy young lady, living the high life in the rich part of New York called White Cove. She is dating a man named Charlie, who's father is the famous boot-legger, Darius Grey. Astrid also has a mother who marries and divorces as a hobby, causing great embarrassment to Astrid. Astrid may be a socialite with a lot of money, but she finds that in a time period where everything shines with the help of alcohol that doesn't prevent things from having a really bad hangover.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the second in the series. Bright Young Things literally shines with its characters, plot, language and breathtaking descriptions. In our current unstable economic times you can't help but long for moments in history like this while at the same time feel a sense of trepidation at what you know is in store for these young people. As Robert Frost has said, "Nothing gold can stay."

To give fair warning to the reader this book does contain a great deal of drinking, especially in underage teenagers. However, readers should know that this was totally commonplace during this time period. Prohibition had been in place for a few years but many people were finding other ways to drink. Besides, Godberson doesn't ever glamorize the drinking. Instead, its all matter-of-fact and part of the Jazz Age world. Also, there are three sex scenes. They are NOT explicit and the reader doesn't hang around for the scene. It's all implied or is talked about after it has happened. But, if these types of things offend you don't pick up this book.

Jazz music, speakeasies, flapper dresses, bobbed hair, men who are "cads" and men who are "dolls"...I couldn't believe how much this book felt like a throw-back to the Jazz Age. I'm not saying that this book will go down in history like The Great Gatsby, but in many ways I feel like Bright Young Things captured the Jazz Age just as well, if not more than Fitzgerald's famous book. I am on pins and needles until the next book is out. :)