Book: The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester
If you read and liked The Huntress, The Winemakers Wife, The Tattooist of Auschwitz , or are a fan of historical fiction literature, you will enjoy this book!
Kara Vallari Book Review:
I thought the The Paris Seamstress was a well written, easy to read book. It takes place at the beginning of France’s invasion during WWII and follows a protagonist as she flees to New York and starts her own fashion label. The story unfolds through past and present day story telling as you begin to weave together a mystery and family secret that has remained hidden for generations.
While this book is considered historical fiction, and does highlight an important role in France’s resistance, it also is very much about Estella’s journey – past, present and future. My only piece of criticism is that the story seems a bit idealized in the sense that so many coincidental acts seem to align at all the right times for both Estella and Fabienne rendering the plot a little less realistic.
Otherwise, this is an enjoyable book to read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Book Synopsis [from Amazon]:
1940: As the Germans advance upon Paris, young seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee everything she’s ever known. She’s bound for New York City with her signature gold dress, a few francs, and a dream: to make her mark on the world of fashion.
Present day: Fabienne Bissette journeys to the Met’s annual gala for an exhibit featuring the work of her ailing grandmother – a legend of women’s fashion design. But as Fabienne begins to learn more about her beloved grandmother’s past, she uncovers a story of tragedy, heartbreak and family secrets that will dramatically change her own life.
KARA VALLARI 