The Luxe -- Anna Godbersen

Ah, Alloy.  They do know how to put together an attractive product.  Regardless of how I felt about the inside of the book, there's no disputing that the outside is gorgeous.  Look -- this is the full wraparound book jacket (minus the back cover blurb):

And who is the back cover blurb by, you ask?  None other than Cecily von Ziegesar, creator of the Gossip Girl series.  As The Luxe is basically Gossip Girl set in 1899, it's a perfect match.

The book, well, it is what it is.  Two-dimensional characters (some of them verge on two-and-a-half), not-particularly-interesting prose, a storyline with no surprises (and I mean NO SURPRISES) and yet, somehow, a page-turner.  I'm not at all surprised that it's been so popular.

And, humiliation of humiliations, I'll totally read the next one.  So, there you have it.  If you're looking for a book that involves absolutely no work whatsoever on your part, here it is.  Especially if you (like me) suspect that you could (and would) secretly enjoy the Gossip Girl books if they didn't sport those pesky brand-name references in every other paragraph.

Oh, also?  It would pretty much be the best thing ever (and so very, very perfect) if the movie version (which I assume will happen at some point) starred all of the kids* from Gossip Girl.  I'd totally go.

*God, I'm old.