The Last Little Blue Envelope (Little Blue Enevelope, #2)

Summary:

"Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.
Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions."

When The Last Little Blue Envelope came out I was quite stoked to read it and finally get an ending to Ginny's story and although, I am happy to get an ending. I am not necessarily  happy with the book.  I felt it dragged on and really just plateaued. I was constantly waiting for the story to pick up, for their to be a big turn around, a really exciting or dramatic moment and there wasn't.

I liked the book, I did and it was quick and witty, as any Maureen Johnson book should be. BUT as a sequel, they book just didn't cut it for me. I personally think, had Maureen Johnson just combined The Little Last Blue envelope with 13 Little Blue Envelopes and made it a two parter. I would have preferred it more. The momentum from Part 1 would be freshly with me to carry on the less dramatic Part 2. Since she did not do that, they momentum of the excitement for 13 Little Blue Envelopes was lost on me.  It was not a bad book, just not exactly what I wanted from the story. Curious, if anyone else felt this way too?

Bright Young Things

Summary:

"The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star…Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age"

Plot: The plot is intriguing, fun and a little more mature. Although Godbersen shows a fondness for building her characters up, to see them fall, like she did in the Luxe Series. Right now it is working, and creates a page turning plot, that is not overplayed.

Characters: I really love these characters, there personalities are so vivid and the girls are all so likeable (so far) I mean Letty is a little annoying, but it's cause she is still naive. One thing I do like about Godbersen is her male characters are equally as well written. Although, I have yet to find a swoon-worthy male character.

Pros: fun, hard to put down, glamorous.

Cons: shows tendencies of writing like The Luxe Series.

Final Thoughts: I have been waiting to read this book forever! I had a few worries about reading this book though, one reason being I ended up not liking The Luxe Series written by Godbersen. Which was at times really good, but Godbersen's sense of justice was just twisted. Also, I had read Vixen which is another 20's themes book with 4 girls. So, I was afraid of similarities. As for my first worry, this book has the potential to go that way , but as far as being like Vixen the books do a good job at being very different. And I prefer Bright Young Things more. Being that this was Book 1 though, it was definitely a book that was just building up the whole story line for the series.
I also like that the book takes place in  1929 and in New York. As opposed to early prohibition and in Chicago. Which would be cool too, but it is always nice to  read a different point of view.  I don't know what else to say besides I can totally see why this book is a big hit.