the Paris seamstress book review

How much will a young Parisian seamstress sacrifice to make her mark in the male-dominated world of 1940s New York fashion?

From the bestselling author of A KISS FROM MR FITZGERALD and HER MOTHER’S SECRET.

1940. Parisian seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee France as the Germans advance. She is bound for Manhattan with a few francs, one suitcase, her sewing machine and a dream: to have her own atelier.

2015. Australian curator Fabienne Bissette journeys to the annual Met Gala for an exhibition of her beloved grandmother’s work – one of the world’s leading designers of ready-to-wear clothing. But as Fabienne learns more about her grandmother’s past, she uncovers a story of tragedy, heartbreak and secrets – and the sacrifices made for love.

Crossing generations, society’s boundaries and international turmoil, THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS is the beguiling, transporting story of the special relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter as they attempt to heal the heartache of the past.

Duffy’s Review of The Paris Seamstress

I LOVED A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald so was looking forward to getting into The Paris Seamstress and I wasn’t disappointed. Natasha Lester obviously loved this project as the intricate detail of the fashion houses of the 1940’s fashion houses of Paris, to the life of a New Yorker while the war rages in Europe shines through. We follow three generations of women who are all searching for a way to not only survive but thrive, and all carry with them the legacy and burden of long ago family secrets which are sprinkled and slowly revealed through the story arc. When reading, I felt a real ‘Allied’ vibe, especially when picturing Estella and Alex.

Readers will connect with all, or at least one of these women and the characters that surround them and carry them through the story. You will be taken down darkened Paris streets and shabby, yet homely apartments to wealth, money, power, and misogynistic attitudes that will drive you crazy. What I like about Lester’s writing is that she can write a love story without the cheese and creates female characters with brains and street smarts. No weak women are found in these pages!

If you love reading historical fiction or have an interest in vintage fashion you will simply love this book.

4 out of 5 from me, a solid piece of historical fiction

Buy The Paris Seamstress now from Amazon