Book of the Week #13: Bright Young Things

The book I read this week was called Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen. It’s about three girls, Astrid, Letty, and Cordelia in 1929 in New York. Letty and Cordelia escape their Midwestern town to enjoy the grandeur of the city. Letty wants to be a famous actress. Cordelia wants to find the father she never knew. Astrid is the rich girlfriend of a bootlegger’s son.  Cordelia and Letty have a falling out, and Cordelia befriends Astrid. At the very beginning of the book, there’s an ominous prologue that states that one of the girls will be married, one will be dead, and the other will be famous by the end of the year. Dun Dun DUUUUHHNNNN.

I didn’t care much for this book. It’s a quick read, being young adult fiction, but there isn’t much substance. It’s part of a series, so nothing really happens in the book. It’s all about introducing the characters. I tried really hard to identify with these girls, because I love the 20’s, and I really wanted to like something about them. Unfortunately not. There was nothing likeable about any of them. Astrid is spoiled and aloof. Letty is naive and babyish. Cordelia has no defining traits whatsoever. It’s not a good time. There’s also an uncanny god luck that follows the characters around. Everything magically goes right for them in all their adventures. That’s just unrealistic, and made for unpleasant reading.

I’m going to say that this book isn’t worth it. I think that’s the first time that’s happened since I started my reading challenge. 2/10. Dang.