Splendor: A Luxe Novel

Jacket:
A spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.
Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.
In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

*spoilers*

The sun faded from the sky and the light around them grew purple and soft, and she began to feel that they might go on, just as they were, for a very long time. p. 386

I really enjoyed this entire series.  Thankfully, someone knew it was a good idea to stop at four.  If it had kept going then it would have become tedious.  But Godbersen found the perfect ending for all her characters.  And while some got the happy ending you'd expect, some got the ending they deserved and I was happy to see that.  All to often, the direction of the plot is turned in order to let everyone have a happy ending.  But that's not what happens in real life and certainly not in this book.  So I was glad for that.  I think Penelope and Henry, who have more and more reminded me of a Rhett and Scarlett, deserve each other for all the chaos they have inflicted on each other and everyone else.  I'm glad Elizabeth finally got the right man who will love her forever and that Diana had the sense to get out when she did.  And so I would say that this series was definitely worth reading and worth my time.