THE LUXE IS . . . Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan in 1899.

They were all dressed in their finest as though life really were some magical stage play in which every moment ought to be illuminated with its own bright spotlight.

All really interesting girls invent themselves.

They will stop calling brides beautiful after today—you have simply set the standard too high,' he said.

After Henry's treatment of her she wasn't sure that men could honestly love women but she wanted to believe it. She wanted to be told pretty things and for the frightening clip of her heart to slow to something more reasonable.

But in that moment she realized how false most smiles were and what a tremendous waste of time.

Her life, she realized, had all the charm of a steel trap.