Review: The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard

Natasha Lester has become a Must Read author for me ever since I read her novel The Paris Secret at the end of 2020. I love how she approaches historical fiction and how she weaves (pun intended) fashion into her stories. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is her latest and it’s another winner.

Here’s the book’s description:

Three generations. One chance to prove themselves. Can the women of the Bricard fashion dynasty finally rewrite their history?
French countryside, Present: Blythe Bricard is the daughter of famous fashion muses but that doesn't mean she wants to be one. She turned her back on that world, and her dreams, years ago. Fate, however, has a different plan, and Blythe will discover there is more to her iconic mother and grandmother than she ever knew.
New York, 1970: Designer Astrid Bricard arrives in bohemian Chelsea determined to change the fashion world forever. And she does―cast as muse to her lover, Hawk Jones. And when they're both invited to compete in the fashion event of the century―the Battle of Versailles―Astrid sacrifices everything to showcase her talent. But then, just as her career is about to take off, she mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind only a white silk dress.
Paris, 1917: Parentless sixteen-year-old Mizza Bricard has made a to be remembered on her own terms. Her promise sustains her through turbulent decades and volatile couture houses until, finally, her name is remembered and a legend is born―one that proves impossible for Astrid and Blythe to distance themselves from.

There are some definite Daisy Jones and the Six vibes about this story but Lester’s novel is entirely her own. The focus is on fashion instead of music but the time period is similar, as is the gossip, sex, drugs, and rock and roll atmosphere. I wouldn’t say music or fashion are huge passions of mine but Lester, like Jenkins Reid, was able to hook me with a world I may never have read about. Which would have been a damn shame.

Like Lester’s other novels, and many other historical fiction stories, this was a multi-timeline novel. I’m honestly getting a little over that…would we call it a trope? Storytelling choice? I don’t know why it’s been such A Thing in historical fiction but here we are. But Lester uses the three timelines well, for the most part. The bulk of the novel is dedicated to Astrid and Hawk during the seventies as their personal and professional lives collided in a spectacular explosion. Then there was Blythe in what the book’s description calls “present” but is actually the 2010s (I want to say 2012?). Finally, Lester introduces Mizza in 1917 and follows her through both World Wars, focusing on what she was involved in during WWII. 

Mizza’s storyline is where things got a bit muddled which is interesting since, of all the characters, she’s the only person who actually existed. Lester notes at the end that much of Mizza’s background is unknown and, like a lot of French women who lived through World War II, she never spoke of what happened during that time. I don’t really mind when authors take liberties with real people, and I don’t think that was my issue with Lester’s treatment of Mizza. As intrigued as I was with Mizza and how the Bricard dynasty began, I felt like it was a totally separate story and didn’t quite mesh with Astrid and Blythe’s story. 

I never, ever feel like Lester does an info dump in her novels, which is surprising since there is always so much new-to-me information in her stories! I love love love how passionate she is about fashion and how she inserts interesting (and relevant) details into her novels about the world of fashion. She does her research on other historical tidbits too which make the novels feel authentic and such a joy to read.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard isn’t going to usurp The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre as my favourite Natasha Lester novel but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great read. I still loved it! Other historical fiction lovers will find a story that is interesting, emotional, informative, and entertaining all at once. I definitely recommend it!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Knockoff

Looking for the next The Devil Wears Prada? Authors Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza have you covered. Their new novel The Knockoff is a hilariously addictive novel that is similar to Weisberger's but with its own twist on the world of fashion magazines. It's such a delight to read!

Here's the synopsis:

An outrageously stylish, wickedly funny novel of fashion in the digital age, The Knockoff is the story of Imogen Tate, editor in chief of Glossy magazine, who finds her twentysomething former assistant Eve Morton plotting to knock Imogen off her pedestal, take over her job, and reduce the magazine, famous for its lavish 768-page September issue, into an app.
When Imogen returns to work at Glossy after six months away, she can barely recognize her own magazine. Eve, fresh out of Harvard Business School, has fired “the gray hairs,” put the managing editor in a supply closet, stopped using the landlines, and hired a bevy of manicured and questionably attired underlings who text and tweet their way through meetings. Imogen, darling of the fashion world, may have Alexander Wang and Diane von Furstenberg on speed dial, but she can’t tell Facebook from Foursquare and once got her iPhone stuck in Japanese for two days. Under Eve’s reign, Glossy is rapidly becoming a digital sweatshop—hackathons rage all night, girls who sleep get fired, and “fun” means mandatory, company-wide coordinated dances to Beyoncé. Wildly out of her depth, Imogen faces a choice—pack up her Smythson notebooks and quit, or channel her inner geek and take on Eve to save both the magazine and her career. A glittering, uproarious, sharply drawn story filled with thinly veiled fashion personalities, The Knockoff is an insider’s look at the ever-changing world of fashion and a fabulous romp for our Internet-addicted age.

The Knockoff  (known as Techbitch in the UK and, I think, Australia) was one of those books that I enjoyed more the more I read. I found this novel a bit hard to get into, in part, I think, because I had some issues with the way the story was being told. Imogen is the main character but every once and awhile the story is told from another character's point of view. It was a bit jarring and it threw the flow off a bit. I liked having another side of the story explored but it just kind of hopped around with no real sense of whose POV we'd see next. I also sometimes felt it was very clear there were two authors...it's hard to explain but it goes back to the flow and there were times everything just felt a little off.

I went into reading this one expecting Imogen to be like Miranda Priestly. Personality-wise, Imogen is nothing like the aforementioned Devil. She's actually a nice person, someone you want to work for not just because she's a smart, savvy businesswoman, but because she's so lovely. I totally fell in love with Imogen. I liked that Sykes and Piazza made her so relatable, even to me, a twentysomething. I couldn't relate to Eve because, well, she's a psychotic bitch (and that's kind of the whole point to Eve...she's a hilarious parody and totally nuts). Imogen tries so hard to keep up with the tech world and does pretty well for someone who had had her head in the sand. It was actually pretty fun to read as she discovered Twitter and Instagram (she fails at one and is obsessed with another) and learned how to use them properly.

The Knockoff isn't a book about romantic relationships or family. It's about careers and the workplace and I found it refreshing. Bonus: the American/Canadian cover totally nails that feeling. I would have been upset if the designers had made it light and feminine. The UK cover is a bit softer but the title, Techbitch, creates a nice contrast.

Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza have written such a fun novel. The Knockoff should be put in everyone's beach bag (or on their ereader which will then go in their beach bag) because it is a book you need to read this summer. The characters are both relatable and extreme and the glimpse into the world of fashion is awesome. Check this one out and let me know what you think!

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Random House of Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Lying to Meet You

I was really looking forward to reading Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner. Why? Because I've loved the two books I've read by Libby Mercer. Confused? Anna and Libby are actually the same person! Anna is one of the nicest authors I've come across through blogging and when she asked if I would like to read her new chick lit novel I jumped at the chance. There were a few little things that made the novel almost too cookie cutter chick lit but the story was cute and funny and I adored the main character. It was a win for me!

Here's the synopsis:

Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?
Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.
However…
Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

The only real issue I had with this novel was that I needed more at the end. I found that the story ended sort of abruptly so there were too many loose ends and I had a lot of lingering questions. I can't really share any though because I don't want to give anything away! It was really just a matter of wanting to know why certain people did the things they did and how others reacted to some situations.

I adored Chloe and thought she was an awesome heroine. She wasn't flighty or immature, like you sometimes find with chick lit characters. Sure, she's got issues but we all do (don't try to lie) and her little quirks and flaws made her likeable. I think the other thing that helped make her seem down to earth (and explain why she was so successful) was that she was a little bit older (she turns thirty over the course of the novel). She just seemed more grounded than a character in her early twenties might be. I liked that the story sort of began and ended with her being really kick ass. At the start of the book Chloe chases down shoplifters and the final part of the story has her figuring out who's trying to ruin her, both personally and professionally. I loved how she stood up for herself and that part of her personality helped make her an even better character to read about.

I really liked the relationship part of this novel. I knew what would happen (it's very chick lit-esque after all) but I wasn't sure how things would progress with Chloe and William. I wasn't sure what the issue(s) would be that would force them apart or even if Chloe would realize that she had feelings for Ethan (or vice versa). Reading about the developing flirtation between Chloe and William was a lot of fun and I loved the solid friendship between Chloe and Ethan. I love stories where male and female friends realize they have feelings for each other and I found myself rooting for Chloe and Ethan. I really wanted Chloe to get her happily ever after, since the business side of her life was doing so well!

Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner was a solid chick lit novel. I enjoyed reading it and being immersed in Chloe's life. There was fun, fashion, and flirting and characters that you want to be friends with. I can't wait to read the next book Anna writes!

*A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*