Book Description from Back Cover:During New York City's Gilded Age...The GAME is played amid banquets and balls. The PRIZE is a lifetime of wealth and privilege. The RULES will test friendships and the desires of a young woman's heart. Clara Carter is the social season's brightest star... but at what cost?
My Thoughts:
This story is about a young woman who is forced to debut in New York City's elite society in the hopes of landing the most eligible bachelor. Clara Carter is at the mercy of her Aunt who is so beholden to the rituals of the age. It doesn't matter that Clara may have dreams of her own that don't involve marrying the heir to the richest family in New York City. It doesn't matter that the corsets she is forced to wear are so tight, she can barely eat or sit or even breath. It doesn't matter that Clara has to compete with her best friend for the same man. It doesn't matter that Clara doesn't love the chosen mark, the heir, but rather is falling in love with someone else. The only thing that matters to Aunt and Clara's father is that she shine and dazzle and make sure the wealthiest bachelor proposes marriage before the debut season is over. Clara, being the dutiful young woman she has always been, abides by all these oppressive rules Aunt crams down her throat. But it costs her a great deal.
I really enjoyed this story. It was my first Siri Mitchell book read. I wanted so badly to free Clara; to tell her to just leave and be her own person. And for heaven's sake, take off that cursed corset!!! Who invented those crazy things??? Siri Mitchell wrote Clara's story well and really focused on her throughout the entire book. Sometimes in reading a story, you connect with multiple characters because their stories are important as well. Clara put up with so much burden, she deserved her own spotlight. I was very enlightened about the rituals surrounding debuting in society. It always looks so glamorous in movies and on TV.
My absolute favorite part of the book was the last three pages! I promise you, this is a book worth reading and it will grab you all the way until the end. I look forward to reading some more books by Siri Mitchell.
