Envy by Anna Godbersen

In this sequel to Rumors, novelist Elizabeth Holland returns to the inner circle of New York's Gilded Age upper crust. Gramercy Park society watchers quickly notice that differences appear to be simmering between Elizabeth and her sister Diana. Meanwhile, troubles are also festering between celebrated newlyweds Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker. Apparently, the stately brass doors of Manhattan's 400 conceal more tumult than the general public suspects. Silk gowns and scandals.

Another book in The Luxe series. And another book I couldn't put down. I had to finish it!
The characters seems more real this time. This book is the one I felt was the high point of everyone's lives, getting what they want. But wait! There's one more book in the series so the high must be setting us up for some loses.
  While the lives of the rich and mean are interesting to watch, the little voice in my head asks why no one is paying the consequences?

Rating: PG 15
S: yes not graphic
L: no
V: no

3 Stars

25% test (p. 99):
""People broaden the guest list all the time," Buck went on. "Anyway, you'll need someone to help you, especially so that you don't ever have to worry about appearing to scheme. Miss Broad has all the right clothes, but she hasn't learned to be clever yet."
"That's true," Penelope glanced at the deflated blonde at her side. "I wish you could come, Isabelle. It's so unfair that mean old Schoonmaker says you must stay here."
Isabelle smiled at her sadly. "Thank you for saying so," she replied in a tone that suggested that the younger girl couldn't begin to understand her suffering.
Penelope might have asked herself if Buck didn't want to come along, and whether or not he might have been her choicest ally, when she looked down below and saw her older brother hopping off the driver's set of a four-in-hand. the horses were gleaming with sweat as though they had just been ridden hard, and Grayson handed over the reins to a servant and began to trot up the Hayeses' grand limestone steps with the clipped assurance of a born aristocrat. Although she liked to think of herself as the brighter. more cunning sibling, she had always known that he was like her--they had the same natural excess of ambition and total deficiency of sentimentality--in a way that could only be explained by shared blood. She had always been a little proud of that , and as she watched him disappear into the house below, an idea began to form in her mind."