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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Wow! Lorna Cook has done it again! Another captivating storyline! I can’t summarise her latest page-turner any better than Lorna herself: “I’ve told a story of a largely forgotten piece of the past in the way I usually try to: with real history, a sweeping romance and a huge element of intrigue.” It is indeed beautifully written and very enjoyable. If you enjoy dual-timeline stories, Lorna Cook’s novels are definitely worth reading.
Rating 4.5
There are lots of historical fiction stories out there that I enjoy reading. The meticulous details that that goes into researching the story and how the author ties real life events and characters with fictional ones always interest me. But there is more to this story as she uses a real famous person.
Paris, in 1941 during WW2, Adèle works for Coco Chanel and lives in The Ritz Hotel together with the German officers. As the war goes on, Adèle finds herself helping the resistance putting herself in danger and the man she falls in love with.
Present day, Adèle’s granddaughter Chloè knows little about her grandmother Adèle as she never talks about her life during the war. Chloè finds herself in Paris to uncover the truth about Adèle’s past and at the same time to bring her respite and fresh start from her recent divorce. She is not sure if she is ready to learn the truth about her grandmother and how it will affect their relationships.
I find this one not just captivating but very interesting as to how the author presents a very touchy subject without condemning the people and overshadowing the story itself. Until recently, there are documents and news that surface on how Coco Chanel’s role in the occupied Paris. I don’t really know her except for her bags and perfume and of course as a fashion icon. But whatever it is, we do not know what a person is capable of doing during war. It just goes to show people’s weaknesses during this difficult time.
Going back, it is a well-researched story that has alternating timelines during WW2 with Adelè and present time with Chloè. I like how their stories blend together and played out well in the end. The author gives us the old theme with a fresh take on war fiction. It will capture your imagination on how it is to be present in war-torn Paris and how the people live their lives in one of the most depressing time in history. As with this kind of story, there are sadness, heart breaks, suspense, long buried secrets, romance and unexpectedly happiness.
If you are a fan of historical fiction or dreaming to be in Paris one day, I would highly recommend that you pick this up.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Book UK for the e-ARC in exchange of honest review. The Dressmaker’s Secret is out today Jan 27.
There are lots of historical fiction stories out there that I enjoy reading. The meticulous details that that goes into researching the story and how the author ties real life events and characters with fictional ones always interest me. But there is more to this story as she uses a real famous person.
Paris, in 1941 during WW2, Adèle works for Coco Chanel and lives in The Ritz Hotel together with the German officers. As the war goes on, Adèle finds herself helping the resistance putting herself in danger and the man she falls in love with.
Present day, Adèle’s granddaughter Chloè knows little about her grandmother Adèle as she never talks about her life during the war. Chloè finds herself in Paris to uncover the truth about Adèle’s past and at the same time to bring her respite and fresh start from her recent divorce. She is not sure if she is ready to learn the truth about her grandmother and how it will affect their relationships.
I find this one not just captivating but very interesting as to how the author presents a very touchy subject without condemning the people and overshadowing the story itself. Until recently, there are documents and news that surface on how Coco Chanel’s role in the occupied Paris. I don’t really know her except for her bags and perfume and of course as a fashion icon. But whatever it is, we do not know what a person is capable of doing during war. It just goes to show people’s weaknesses during this difficult time.
Going back, it is a well-researched story that has alternating timelines during WW2 with Adelè and present time with Chloè. I like how their stories blend together and played out well in the end. The author gives us the old theme with a fresh take on war fiction. It will capture your imagination on how it is to be present in war-torn Paris and how the people live their lives in one of the most depressing time in history. As with this kind of story, there are sadness, heart breaks, suspense, long buried secrets, romance and unexpectedly happiness.
If you are a fan of historical fiction or dreaming to be in Paris one day, I would highly recommend that you pick this up.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Book UK for the e-ARC in exchange of honest review. The Dressmaker’s Secret is out today Jan 27.
I have always enjoyed well-researched historical fiction particularly set in the 20th century and I do like a dual storyline but I found the first 60% of this novel quite a slog and I’m not sure why. I didn’t feel it offered anything original with regard to the structure. However the final 40% was much more intriguing and I was very interested by this largely unknown piece of history concerning Coco Chanel. I’m not a fan of romance and I think there was too much emphasis on this and too predictability in both relationship storylines for my particular preference.
When the Germans invaded France, most Parisians fled. However, Mademoiselle Chanel chose to remain in the occupied city, living at the Hotel Ritz where the German military officers were living. Cook’s story starts in the summer of 1941 where Chanel meets a high-ranking German attaché of the German embassy in Paris, Baron Hans Gunter von Dinklage, at the Ritz and ends in 1945, with a brief epilogue about her death in 1971.
Readers enter Coco’s world for four years and immerse themselves in wartime Paris, The Ritz, secrets, lies, love and resistance. A unique perspective, Coco’s life is told through the eyes of her ladies’ maid, Adele Fabron. Although Coco had a luxurious apartment above her shop across the street, she’d been living in the Ritz since 1937. Adele is hired in 1941 as a live-in ladies’ maid after an accidental meeting and as the narrative progresses, readers are privy to Coco and Adele’s secrets. You’ll find out why Coco collaborated with the Nazis, why a precious 1647 painting by Charles Le Brun was found in her suite at the Ritz, how she was able to regain full monetary control of her company from her Jewish partners, as well as discover why Adele wants to keep her extracurricular activities to herself, and if she can attain happiness and love after the war.
To expose Coco’s secret life, Cook has chosen to present this story as a dual timeline and uses Chloe’s quest in 2018 to slowly reveal the secrets behind the doors of No. 302, The Coco Chanel Suite at the Ritz Paris. I was surprised that Cook chose not to add much emotion nor a sense of the luxurious lifestyle I was expecting to read about; however, the beautifully executed dual timeline and the surprise twist more than made up for any shortcomings. Chloe has ties to Paris, The Ritz and to Coco Chanel, so you’ll have to read to find out why she is able to shed a light on the fashion icon’s life and see if what Chloe uncovers while in Paris has the potential to help solve her present problems.
Since 1999 the records the French secret service kept on celebrities they deemed suspicious have been declassified and authors and journalists are sharing what they’ve gleaned from accessing the documents. I’ve enjoyed ‘The Chanel Sisters’ by Judith Little which is written from Coco’s younger sister’s point of view and reveals Coco’s rise to fame. I also have (unread at this point) The Last Collection by Jeanne Mackin and Mademoiselle Chanel by CW Gortner. Although the focus is the same, each author brings out different aspects of this enigmatic fashion icon’s secret life. I'm sure as research continues into these declassified documents, we'll have more books published, giving us a deeper look into Coco Chanel.
Publishes January 27, 2022.
I was gifted this advance copy by Lorna Cook, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Readers enter Coco’s world for four years and immerse themselves in wartime Paris, The Ritz, secrets, lies, love and resistance. A unique perspective, Coco’s life is told through the eyes of her ladies’ maid, Adele Fabron. Although Coco had a luxurious apartment above her shop across the street, she’d been living in the Ritz since 1937. Adele is hired in 1941 as a live-in ladies’ maid after an accidental meeting and as the narrative progresses, readers are privy to Coco and Adele’s secrets. You’ll find out why Coco collaborated with the Nazis, why a precious 1647 painting by Charles Le Brun was found in her suite at the Ritz, how she was able to regain full monetary control of her company from her Jewish partners, as well as discover why Adele wants to keep her extracurricular activities to herself, and if she can attain happiness and love after the war.
To expose Coco’s secret life, Cook has chosen to present this story as a dual timeline and uses Chloe’s quest in 2018 to slowly reveal the secrets behind the doors of No. 302, The Coco Chanel Suite at the Ritz Paris. I was surprised that Cook chose not to add much emotion nor a sense of the luxurious lifestyle I was expecting to read about; however, the beautifully executed dual timeline and the surprise twist more than made up for any shortcomings. Chloe has ties to Paris, The Ritz and to Coco Chanel, so you’ll have to read to find out why she is able to shed a light on the fashion icon’s life and see if what Chloe uncovers while in Paris has the potential to help solve her present problems.
Since 1999 the records the French secret service kept on celebrities they deemed suspicious have been declassified and authors and journalists are sharing what they’ve gleaned from accessing the documents. I’ve enjoyed ‘The Chanel Sisters’ by Judith Little which is written from Coco’s younger sister’s point of view and reveals Coco’s rise to fame. I also have (unread at this point) The Last Collection by Jeanne Mackin and Mademoiselle Chanel by CW Gortner. Although the focus is the same, each author brings out different aspects of this enigmatic fashion icon’s secret life. I'm sure as research continues into these declassified documents, we'll have more books published, giving us a deeper look into Coco Chanel.
Publishes January 27, 2022.
I was gifted this advance copy by Lorna Cook, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This was a fantastic book. I really enjoyed it and I learned something new about Coco Chanel
I had no idea about Coco Chanel's involvement during WW2 as a Nazi spy. I was captivated by this story. I loved the characters, particularly Adele and Theo. The story of their relationship, resistance fight and survival through the years of the war was tense and engrossing.
I equally enjoyed reading about Adele's granddaughter Chloe in the present day as she travels to Paris, in an attempt to make a new life for herself after separating from her husband. Chloe starts to uncover secrets about her grandmother's past whilst she's there as well as developing a new love interest.
This is such a great story built around a fascinating figure (Chanel) and period of history. I would highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction. I will definitely be reading the other books by this author.
I equally enjoyed reading about Adele's granddaughter Chloe in the present day as she travels to Paris, in an attempt to make a new life for herself after separating from her husband. Chloe starts to uncover secrets about her grandmother's past whilst she's there as well as developing a new love interest.
This is such a great story built around a fascinating figure (Chanel) and period of history. I would highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction. I will definitely be reading the other books by this author.
The Dressmaker's Secret is a dual timeline set in Paris during WWII and the present time. Lorna Cook writes about the Nazis occupying Paris and then people began to disappear. The backdrop of the war seeped into everything and changed the world, including the lives of the characters in this story. We read of loss, love, desperation and hope.
Adele, assistant to Coco Chanel, was poor and orphaned when she landed her job. Though in a privileged position, she was unaccustomed to Chanel's obscenely luxurious lifestyle, especially during the war. Her salary did not allow extras and she clung to her few belongings. Meanwhile, super rich Chanel was sleeping with the enemy but Adele was not paid to question her motives. Disgusted by the Nazis hauling off Jews and sympathizers, Adele decided to help. In doing so, she embarked on an adventure she would never had imagined.
Present-day Chloe moved from London to Paris and wishes to discover more about her grandmother Adele's life. She knows about her job with Chanel but everything else is glossed over. She is shocked to discover Nazi connections in her background. Along the way, she makes friends and becomes enamoured with one of them....and with Paris.
In the back the author describes her interesting inspiration for this book. I did not realize Chanel was involved in the war and read about this further. Cook beautifully ties the historical and modern stories together.
My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this enthralling story.
Adele, assistant to Coco Chanel, was poor and orphaned when she landed her job. Though in a privileged position, she was unaccustomed to Chanel's obscenely luxurious lifestyle, especially during the war. Her salary did not allow extras and she clung to her few belongings. Meanwhile, super rich Chanel was sleeping with the enemy but Adele was not paid to question her motives. Disgusted by the Nazis hauling off Jews and sympathizers, Adele decided to help. In doing so, she embarked on an adventure she would never had imagined.
Present-day Chloe moved from London to Paris and wishes to discover more about her grandmother Adele's life. She knows about her job with Chanel but everything else is glossed over. She is shocked to discover Nazi connections in her background. Along the way, she makes friends and becomes enamoured with one of them....and with Paris.
In the back the author describes her interesting inspiration for this book. I did not realize Chanel was involved in the war and read about this further. Cook beautifully ties the historical and modern stories together.
My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this enthralling story.
Interesting look into the life of Coco Chanel during WWII France. The story is told by the granddaughter, living in present day, and the grandmother, who is Chanel's assistant. Cook delves into the lives of the Nazi sympathizers, such as Chanel, and the resistors, the grandmother, and the forces that pushed them into those rolls. Recommended for readers looking for the personal stories of innocent people caught in an ugly war.
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
The premise of this book is what drew me in. I enjoy (as much as one can with the topic being as devastating as it is) novels set during WWII. I was fascinated by the wrongdoings of Coco Chanel, as I had no idea that she was involved with the Nazis. There was so much information about her doings and what life was like during that time period that I thought was done very well.
However, I'm not sure that the dual timeline added much. As someone who is looking into her grandmother's past, I felt like Chloe's story was really more about her finding someone new after divorce.
And as for Adele, I wish we had seen her take more action. There were certainly tense moments that made me wonder if the ending would be happy or not, as there is no knowing with a WWII historical fiction novel.
Overall, the writing was nice and the story was interesting, but it wasn't my favorite.
However, I'm not sure that the dual timeline added much. As someone who is looking into her grandmother's past, I felt like Chloe's story was really more about her finding someone new after divorce.
And as for Adele, I wish we had seen her take more action. There were certainly tense moments that made me wonder if the ending would be happy or not, as there is no knowing with a WWII historical fiction novel.
Overall, the writing was nice and the story was interesting, but it wasn't my favorite.