Author: Natasha Lester
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 464
Review: 4 out of 5 stars
**I should probably dub this a semi “french corner” review because it is split between New York and Paris.
The description of this book says it’s for readers of The Nightingale, a novel that I recently DEVOURED (review to come). So perhaps I was looking to satisfy my craving for more sentimentally epic World War II novels when I picked this one up. It certainly ticked all the familiar boxes set up in The Nightingale:
An Independent, smart and scrappy female heroine – check
A love story wrought with difficulties and tragedy – check
A present-day family member uncovering the truth about their family history – check
With those elements intact, the plot of The Paris Seamstress did enough to make itself unique, weaving in elements on the world of fashion in Paris and America while tapping into the intrigue and scandalous legacy of Gibson Girl, Evelyn Nesbit (she’s worth her own novel).
The Review: The book follows a young Parisian woman named Estella who escapes Paris just before the fall of France to the Germans. Her ticket to New York is her American citizenship, bestowed upon her by a father she’s never met. Estella’s love for fashion will become her path to finding her place in a new world and to meeting her friends Janie (an Australian model) and Sam – a loyal friend who fails to hide his love for Estella. Soon though, Estella encounters a young man named Alex Montrose and his assumed girlfriend Lena Thaw. The resemblance between Estella and Lena is more than just coincidence. The reader is along for the journey to find out if Estella’s mother is be hiding a dark secret tied to a notorious New York murder (read about it here) and Evelyn Nesbit.
As this story unfolds, so does the modern-day saga of Estella’s grand-daughter, Fabienne. Somehow, she has no problem with flying between Australia and New York at a moment’s notice (must be nice!) to visit her ailing grandmother. She also meets Will, a Tiffany jewelry designer, who is watching his sister slowly die of Ovarian cancer. They quickly form a bond that has Fabienne doubting whether she wants to stay in Australia or take the helm of Estella’s fashion house ‘Stella Designs’ in New York. Uncovering the truth about Estella’s will force Fabienne to question her future.
Finding a way to love someone during the most difficult moments of our lives is a thematic element coursing through past and current worlds. Estella’s preconceptions about Alex Montrose force them both to hold back their true feelings. When they finally succumb to their feelings, more deception seeks to tear them apart. The author does a great job of building up the emotional attachment to these characters as they deal with death, uncertainty, and more, finally finding solace in each other.
My only complaint, personally, was the deep dives into fashion, a subject which I am admittedly ignorant of. It was hard trying to picture dresses so I often found myself skimming through it, or just picturing one of the dresses from Marvelous Mrs Maisel (I love their designs). It’s hard to convey high fashion in writing, so I struggled even caring about what the author was trying to describe.
Overall, the historical elements of this novel were well enough researched with some dramatic liberties. I didn’t really feel much for Fabienne’s role, and could have done without it honestly. If Fabienne had played less of a passive role I might have enjoyed her character more.
Friends, should I read another book by Natasha Lester or do you have an recommendations for novels in the same vein as this and The Nightingale? Let me know!
-Rouxfolle
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