Bright Young Things - a review by George Morejon

Bright Young Things

by Anna Godbersen

**** stars

Bright Young Things takes place during the 'roaring 20's', following the story of three girls. The first character is Cordelia. The book starts just an hour before her wedding to a boy she met and fell for the earlier summer. But it's not all it seems, as it's a forced marriage her aunt arranged. She needs someone to help her. The second girl, Letty, is just the person to do that. Letty's a petite girl who's been Cordelia's best friend since they were both little. They decide that day to finally run away from their podunk Ohio town to the city of dreams, New York City. Almost missing the 6;52 train, they make it and find a women's tenant house to stay at. But the first night, they get drunk at an easyspeak and evicted when they get back home. With Letty's dream of becoming a star seemingly crushed, this causes a fallout between Letty and Cordelia, who go their separate ways.

Cordelia goes on to look for her father (the real reason she came to New York) by crashing a party at the house of Darius Grey, who has the same last name as her. She's called out by someone for party crashing, but the third girl, Astrid, takes Cordelia under her wing and protects her. When Cordelia is able to have the chance, she tells Darius she's his daughter. The party fall's silent, and finally he says how glad he is to see her, to her relief. Astrid and Cordelia become best friends, and share more than secrets and romances. All the while while Letty is learning the hard way that breaks don't come easy in New York, and it isn't easy becoming a star.

I thought this was an okay book. The 20's were something I had just learned about in history class, so that's why I picked it. I thought the characters were interesting, and the way it switched perspectives in between chapter was really smooth. Letty's story seemed the most interesting. She had the hardest time and wasn't always out at rich people parties. I think her story showed what it was really like trying to move to New York. (I don't remember how long it took me to read the book. Oops)