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The Fashion Orphans
Two estranged sisters find that forgiveness never goes out of style when they inherit their mother’s vintage jackets, purses… and pearls of wisdom
Estranged half-sisters Gabrielle Winslow and Lulu Quattro have only two things in common: mounds of debt and coils of unresolved enmity toward Bette Bradford, their controlling and imperious recently deceased mother.
Gabrielle, the firstborn, was raised in relative luxury on Manhattan’s rarefied Upper East Side. Now, at fifty-five, her life as a Broadway costume designer married to a heralded Broadway producer has exploded in divorce.
Lulu, who spent half her childhood under the tutelage of her working-class Brooklyn grandparents, is a grieving widow at forty-eight. With her two sons grown, her life feels reduced to her work at the Ditmas Park bakery owned by her late husband’s family.
The two sisters arrive for the reading of their mother’s will, expecting to divide a sizable inheritance, pay off their debts, and then again turn their backs on each other.
But to their shock, what they have been left is their mother’s secret walk-in closet jammed with high-end current and vintage designer clothes and accessories— most from Chanel.
Contemplating the scale of their mother’s self-indulgence, the sisters can’t help but wonder if Lauren Weisberger had it wrong: because it seems, in fact, that the devil wore Chanel. But as they being to explore their mother’s collection, meet and fall in love with her group of warm, wonderful friends, and magically find inspiring messages tucked away in her treasures — it seems as though their mother is advising Lulu and Gabrielle from the beyond — helping them rediscover themselves and restore their relationship with each other.
Estranged half-sisters Gabrielle Winslow and Lulu Quattro have only two things in common: mounds of debt and coils of unresolved enmity toward Bette Bradford, their controlling and imperious recently deceased mother.
Gabrielle, the firstborn, was raised in relative luxury on Manhattan’s rarefied Upper East Side. Now, at fifty-five, her life as a Broadway costume designer married to a heralded Broadway producer has exploded in divorce.
Lulu, who spent half her childhood under the tutelage of her working-class Brooklyn grandparents, is a grieving widow at forty-eight. With her two sons grown, her life feels reduced to her work at the Ditmas Park bakery owned by her late husband’s family.
The two sisters arrive for the reading of their mother’s will, expecting to divide a sizable inheritance, pay off their debts, and then again turn their backs on each other.
But to their shock, what they have been left is their mother’s secret walk-in closet jammed with high-end current and vintage designer clothes and accessories— most from Chanel.
Contemplating the scale of their mother’s self-indulgence, the sisters can’t help but wonder if Lauren Weisberger had it wrong: because it seems, in fact, that the devil wore Chanel. But as they being to explore their mother’s collection, meet and fall in love with her group of warm, wonderful friends, and magically find inspiring messages tucked away in her treasures — it seems as though their mother is advising Lulu and Gabrielle from the beyond — helping them rediscover themselves and restore their relationship with each other.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2022
74 people are currently reading
4203 people want to read
About the author
Randy Susan Meyers
19 books1,038 followersRandy Susan Meyers, an international bestselling author of five novels, has been recognized by the Massachusetts Council of the Book. They have chosen three of her books as Must-Read Books, praising her clear and distinctive voice that captivates readers and leaves them yearning for more.
Her sixth novel, THE MANY MOTHERS OF IVY PUDDINGSTONE, will be released on October 29, 2024.
Though her novels explore domestic drama, societal issues, and cultural nuances, informed by her years working with community and governmental agencies, she gained the most insight into family and other politics during her four years as a bartender in a small Boston neighborhood bar.
Meyers is a Brooklyn-Boston hybrid who believes happiness requires family, friends, books, and an occasional NY bagel. She lives in Boston with her husband and teaches at the Grub Street Writer's Center.
Her sixth novel, THE MANY MOTHERS OF IVY PUDDINGSTONE, will be released on October 29, 2024.
Though her novels explore domestic drama, societal issues, and cultural nuances, informed by her years working with community and governmental agencies, she gained the most insight into family and other politics during her four years as a bartender in a small Boston neighborhood bar.
Meyers is a Brooklyn-Boston hybrid who believes happiness requires family, friends, books, and an occasional NY bagel. She lives in Boston with her husband and teaches at the Grub Street Writer's Center.
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December 16, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
I probably wasn’t the right reader for this collaboration from Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose.
After all, I am a woman who actually hates clothes shopping and would rather hang out in sweats or comfy pajamas (although shopping for cute P.J.’s can be fun! 😂)
Much of the first half of the book had my eyes glazing over 🥺 as two estranged sisters, Gabrielle and Lulu, inherit their Mom’s extensive closet full of Chanel clothes, shoes, handbags, costume jewelry, make-up and fragrance, after their mother’s passing. Bette had been a “special occasion” kind of mother-better at big moments than everyday mothering”-and neither daughter seemed to be grieving the loss. They were instead, disappointed that most of Bette’s money had been spent on these items.
As they start to clear out the huge closet, and take inventory of what is inside, they come across quotes from Coco Chanel, written in Bette’s hand on gorgeous notecards, and it seems like each message is being opened by the daughter who needs the words most.
Like magic, Bette seems to be speaking to them from the grave…
As the sisters mend their relationship, they meet and fall in love with Bette’s friends and gain a community in the process.
Like the vintage clothing, the story has a “throwback” feel-rather than feeling contemporary.
Although the second half of the book was much more engaging for me, focusing more on the characters than on the contents in the closet, it was all a bit TOO “Happily Ever After”.
Still, if you enjoy Hallmark or Lifetime movies, or love FASHION or COCO CHANEL, this book might be a better fit for you.
A buddy read with Susan and DeAnn-be sure to read their wonderful reviews for additional opinions.
AVAILABLE February 1, 2022!
Thank You to Blue Box Press for my gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
I probably wasn’t the right reader for this collaboration from Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose.
After all, I am a woman who actually hates clothes shopping and would rather hang out in sweats or comfy pajamas (although shopping for cute P.J.’s can be fun! 😂)
Much of the first half of the book had my eyes glazing over 🥺 as two estranged sisters, Gabrielle and Lulu, inherit their Mom’s extensive closet full of Chanel clothes, shoes, handbags, costume jewelry, make-up and fragrance, after their mother’s passing. Bette had been a “special occasion” kind of mother-better at big moments than everyday mothering”-and neither daughter seemed to be grieving the loss. They were instead, disappointed that most of Bette’s money had been spent on these items.
As they start to clear out the huge closet, and take inventory of what is inside, they come across quotes from Coco Chanel, written in Bette’s hand on gorgeous notecards, and it seems like each message is being opened by the daughter who needs the words most.
Like magic, Bette seems to be speaking to them from the grave…
As the sisters mend their relationship, they meet and fall in love with Bette’s friends and gain a community in the process.
Like the vintage clothing, the story has a “throwback” feel-rather than feeling contemporary.
Although the second half of the book was much more engaging for me, focusing more on the characters than on the contents in the closet, it was all a bit TOO “Happily Ever After”.
Still, if you enjoy Hallmark or Lifetime movies, or love FASHION or COCO CHANEL, this book might be a better fit for you.
A buddy read with Susan and DeAnn-be sure to read their wonderful reviews for additional opinions.
AVAILABLE February 1, 2022!
Thank You to Blue Box Press for my gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
November 29, 2021
3.5 STARS
I loved Randy Susan Meyer's novel The Widow of Wall Street (read in 2017), and wanted to try this one, co-authored with M. J. Rose. A chick-lit theme highlighting fashion and family dynamics.
An easy, lighter read about two estranged half-sisters, Lulu and Gabrielle. They come together for the reading of their mother's will. They haven't always gotten along, but they are both anticipating a large inheritance and getting their lives back on track with the extra cash.
Sisterhood is at the heart of the novel. They have some fun while trying to navigate the mystery of the collection, dressing up in vintage Chanel, putting ensembles together and guessing how much any of it is worth. They get schooled with some "pearls of wisdom" from Coco Chanel, magical, thought-provoking messages their mom believed in.
Fashionistas will have fun with all the Chanel references. It has a whimsical, magical flair to it, and while I enjoyed parts, it became a bit to sappy for my taste.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT April 2022
I loved Randy Susan Meyer's novel The Widow of Wall Street (read in 2017), and wanted to try this one, co-authored with M. J. Rose. A chick-lit theme highlighting fashion and family dynamics.
An easy, lighter read about two estranged half-sisters, Lulu and Gabrielle. They come together for the reading of their mother's will. They haven't always gotten along, but they are both anticipating a large inheritance and getting their lives back on track with the extra cash.
Sisterhood is at the heart of the novel. They have some fun while trying to navigate the mystery of the collection, dressing up in vintage Chanel, putting ensembles together and guessing how much any of it is worth. They get schooled with some "pearls of wisdom" from Coco Chanel, magical, thought-provoking messages their mom believed in.
Fashionistas will have fun with all the Chanel references. It has a whimsical, magical flair to it, and while I enjoyed parts, it became a bit to sappy for my taste.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT April 2022
December 28, 2021
Heirlooms.
Losing a parent at any age is an unwelcome and sad event and estranged sisters Lulu and Gabrielle are flummoxed to learn that their mysterious mother willed them not money, but clothes.
With an apartment full of Chanel, they have no idea why their mother would think this was appropriate and structure her will this way.
I really enjoyed this but my perspective regarding fashion designers seems to differ after reading reviews from people who don’t care about clothing beyond the functional aspect.
I admit to a clothing fetish and it helped me with liking the book even more. I’ve always loved fashion whether it was shopping, sewing, or pursuing magazines for design ideas. I’m enthralled for hours in fabric stores examining bolts of material and I’m perplexed as to why so many have closed due to lack of interest.
I had to laugh during one portion of the story describing Bette’s closet of clothes. Meticulously organized with each piece in its proper place, I could identify with this O.C.D. tendency myself. However, Bette’s resources afforded her the opportunity to be eccentric - a fun fantasy to read about.
In addition to the enigma of Bette, the two sisters discover more about themselves and what is keeping them from moving forward in life.
As a lighter read, I would equate this to a cousin of a Cozy, because it’s related by a feeling that most issues will be resolved in a satisfactory manner by the finale. Perfect for a relaxing holiday read!
I appreciate Jayme and DeAnn for suggesting this and discussing it with me.
Thank you to NetGalley, authors Randy Susan Myers and M.J. Rose, and publisher Blue Box Press for my review copy in advance of February 1, 2022 publication.
Losing a parent at any age is an unwelcome and sad event and estranged sisters Lulu and Gabrielle are flummoxed to learn that their mysterious mother willed them not money, but clothes.
With an apartment full of Chanel, they have no idea why their mother would think this was appropriate and structure her will this way.
I really enjoyed this but my perspective regarding fashion designers seems to differ after reading reviews from people who don’t care about clothing beyond the functional aspect.
I admit to a clothing fetish and it helped me with liking the book even more. I’ve always loved fashion whether it was shopping, sewing, or pursuing magazines for design ideas. I’m enthralled for hours in fabric stores examining bolts of material and I’m perplexed as to why so many have closed due to lack of interest.
I had to laugh during one portion of the story describing Bette’s closet of clothes. Meticulously organized with each piece in its proper place, I could identify with this O.C.D. tendency myself. However, Bette’s resources afforded her the opportunity to be eccentric - a fun fantasy to read about.
In addition to the enigma of Bette, the two sisters discover more about themselves and what is keeping them from moving forward in life.
As a lighter read, I would equate this to a cousin of a Cozy, because it’s related by a feeling that most issues will be resolved in a satisfactory manner by the finale. Perfect for a relaxing holiday read!
I appreciate Jayme and DeAnn for suggesting this and discussing it with me.
Thank you to NetGalley, authors Randy Susan Myers and M.J. Rose, and publisher Blue Box Press for my review copy in advance of February 1, 2022 publication.
February 1, 2022
3.5 Chanel stars
This lighter tale features two sisters who are working out the details of their mother’s legacy. They thought they would just be receiving money from her estate, but instead they are gifted her “collection” – one they knew nothing about!
Turns out their mother had spent years acquiring couture clothing and accessories and now the two sisters have to agree to the plan for what to do with the items.
Gabrielle, the oldest sister, is reeling from a divorce and an interrupted career as a costume designer. Lulu is a widow, still working in the bakery run by her in-laws and hiding a mountain of debt.
As they work through their plans for their mother’s collection, they meet friends of their mother and learn more about her and her fashion obsession, especially with Chanel. They also enjoy finding messages hidden in the clothing that seem to be found at just the right moment. Are these messages sent from their dead mother?
Things seem to be on shaky ground for their ambitious plan and I wasn’t sure how it would all turn out. Fashion aficionados will definitely like this one and it was a good departure book for me.
Be sure to read Jayme and Susan’s reviews. This one made for a compelling buddy read.
Thank you to Blue Box Press for the opportunity to read and review this one. Now available.
This lighter tale features two sisters who are working out the details of their mother’s legacy. They thought they would just be receiving money from her estate, but instead they are gifted her “collection” – one they knew nothing about!
Turns out their mother had spent years acquiring couture clothing and accessories and now the two sisters have to agree to the plan for what to do with the items.
Gabrielle, the oldest sister, is reeling from a divorce and an interrupted career as a costume designer. Lulu is a widow, still working in the bakery run by her in-laws and hiding a mountain of debt.
As they work through their plans for their mother’s collection, they meet friends of their mother and learn more about her and her fashion obsession, especially with Chanel. They also enjoy finding messages hidden in the clothing that seem to be found at just the right moment. Are these messages sent from their dead mother?
Things seem to be on shaky ground for their ambitious plan and I wasn’t sure how it would all turn out. Fashion aficionados will definitely like this one and it was a good departure book for me.
Be sure to read Jayme and Susan’s reviews. This one made for a compelling buddy read.
Thank you to Blue Box Press for the opportunity to read and review this one. Now available.
February 3, 2022
Real Rating: 3.75* of five, rounded up because the prose is so enticingly polished
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I have a personal connection to this story, in that this could be my family. My sisters are a lot older than me, and our mother was the same kind of borderline personality that the dead woman was. After our mother's death, there wasn't anything left except stuff...lots and lots of stuff...and there's a long, long history of unkindness, rancor, and just plain nastiness all over our "family." I was very curious to see how things would play out fictionally.
It's not like I wasn't expecting the happily ever after...I was...but I was simultaneously frustrated and amused at how these deeply estranged siblings navigated this emotional passage without either death threats or theft taking place.
What drew me to the read was that sense of familiarity, of fellow feeling, for the characters. It was a fun way to work through my own bad past. And in the end, while I wanted the story to end the way it did, I was...curiously detached. Neither Lulu nor Gabrielle ever cohered to me, never took on the full volume of characterhood. The real character here was their horrible mother! She emerged in all her shallow, self-centered, controlling awfulness. If you've never seen The Little Mermaid, you won't know this reference, but this old baggage out-Ursula'd Ursula!
I was drawn in by the deep Chanel lore on display here, and found myself grateful for the Fire tablet's ability to browse the web. There's a lot I didn't know, and a lot I half-knew, about Chanel, so being able to check references and to see aesthetics I was ignorant about helped me to *get* this read. The sisters "playing dress-up" in Mama's clothes was a hoot. But in the end, that's just what it felt like: Playing a game in which Mama would, in the end, step in to decide who wins. (Or her lawyer, in this case, who must approve any plan for the huge collection of Chanel artifacts to be disposed of.)
So there's me, all irked with "Mother" Bette being her borderline-personality tantrummy self...there's the source of my sour, not-quite-four star rating. I was certainly drawn in by the collaborators' ability to merge their prose into one authorial voice. It shows that they're different people mostly in the hilarious older women who formed Bette's coterie of ladies-who-lunch, and Lulu's adult sons. These very, very different types didn't emerge from one brain! But they each contributed to the sense of rightness and reality that the story definitely has.
The obvious comparables to this story are Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada (actually, Author Weisberger, she wore and collected Chanel), but those aren't direct cognates. Bushnell's book and its offshoots are about navigating complications unique to upper-class modern life; Weisberger's bildungsroman takes a greenhorn into adulthood wearing amazing shoes. Here we have what happens when the Bushnell women, now mothers of another Weisberger generation, have to deal with their own mothers' deaths.
It *is* in a tradition, then, but it is *not* something you've read a dozen times already. It's the next step, it's the Bushnell women's ascent to cronehood, it's the education of the adults in the arts of being elders. It works fine. It isn't quite as full-bodied as I expected it to be, since the real main character turns out to be the dead mother; but it was more than worth my time to read. I'll venture to say that it's worth yours, too.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: I have a personal connection to this story, in that this could be my family. My sisters are a lot older than me, and our mother was the same kind of borderline personality that the dead woman was. After our mother's death, there wasn't anything left except stuff...lots and lots of stuff...and there's a long, long history of unkindness, rancor, and just plain nastiness all over our "family." I was very curious to see how things would play out fictionally.
It's not like I wasn't expecting the happily ever after...I was...but I was simultaneously frustrated and amused at how these deeply estranged siblings navigated this emotional passage without either death threats or theft taking place.
What drew me to the read was that sense of familiarity, of fellow feeling, for the characters. It was a fun way to work through my own bad past. And in the end, while I wanted the story to end the way it did, I was...curiously detached. Neither Lulu nor Gabrielle ever cohered to me, never took on the full volume of characterhood. The real character here was their horrible mother! She emerged in all her shallow, self-centered, controlling awfulness. If you've never seen The Little Mermaid, you won't know this reference, but this old baggage out-Ursula'd Ursula!
I was drawn in by the deep Chanel lore on display here, and found myself grateful for the Fire tablet's ability to browse the web. There's a lot I didn't know, and a lot I half-knew, about Chanel, so being able to check references and to see aesthetics I was ignorant about helped me to *get* this read. The sisters "playing dress-up" in Mama's clothes was a hoot. But in the end, that's just what it felt like: Playing a game in which Mama would, in the end, step in to decide who wins. (Or her lawyer, in this case, who must approve any plan for the huge collection of Chanel artifacts to be disposed of.)
So there's me, all irked with "Mother" Bette being her borderline-personality tantrummy self...there's the source of my sour, not-quite-four star rating. I was certainly drawn in by the collaborators' ability to merge their prose into one authorial voice. It shows that they're different people mostly in the hilarious older women who formed Bette's coterie of ladies-who-lunch, and Lulu's adult sons. These very, very different types didn't emerge from one brain! But they each contributed to the sense of rightness and reality that the story definitely has.
The obvious comparables to this story are Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada (actually, Author Weisberger, she wore and collected Chanel), but those aren't direct cognates. Bushnell's book and its offshoots are about navigating complications unique to upper-class modern life; Weisberger's bildungsroman takes a greenhorn into adulthood wearing amazing shoes. Here we have what happens when the Bushnell women, now mothers of another Weisberger generation, have to deal with their own mothers' deaths.
It *is* in a tradition, then, but it is *not* something you've read a dozen times already. It's the next step, it's the Bushnell women's ascent to cronehood, it's the education of the adults in the arts of being elders. It works fine. It isn't quite as full-bodied as I expected it to be, since the real main character turns out to be the dead mother; but it was more than worth my time to read. I'll venture to say that it's worth yours, too.
March 17, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
What would Coco Chanel do? This seems to be the overarching question in Randy Susan Meyer and M.J. Rose’s Fashion Orphans.
Having grown apart over the past decade, estranged sisters Lulu and Gabrielle are shocked to learn their deceased mother has left them an entire collection of vintage Chanel. Even more startling, are the mysterious Coco Chanel quotes, found in many of the pieces, that seem to speak to each of them directly. As the sisters struggle to figure out what to do with all of their mother’s belongings, they are forced to confront both their past relationship with their mother and with each other.
The first half of this book was incredibly slow with a lot of eye rolling on my part. After struggling to get through the first half of the book, I was glad the second half read a bit faster. All in all, this book felt very lackluster. While the characters weren’t completely one-dimensional, I did not feel as though I really connected with either of them. The plot inched along at a snail’s pace and there was nothing in this book that really peaked my interest or kept me engaged.
This was not my cup of tea; however, I’m sure there are others who would enjoy all of the wonderful fashion references held within these pages as well as the moving story of two sisters finding their way back to one another.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What would Coco Chanel do? This seems to be the overarching question in Randy Susan Meyer and M.J. Rose’s Fashion Orphans.
Having grown apart over the past decade, estranged sisters Lulu and Gabrielle are shocked to learn their deceased mother has left them an entire collection of vintage Chanel. Even more startling, are the mysterious Coco Chanel quotes, found in many of the pieces, that seem to speak to each of them directly. As the sisters struggle to figure out what to do with all of their mother’s belongings, they are forced to confront both their past relationship with their mother and with each other.
The first half of this book was incredibly slow with a lot of eye rolling on my part. After struggling to get through the first half of the book, I was glad the second half read a bit faster. All in all, this book felt very lackluster. While the characters weren’t completely one-dimensional, I did not feel as though I really connected with either of them. The plot inched along at a snail’s pace and there was nothing in this book that really peaked my interest or kept me engaged.
This was not my cup of tea; however, I’m sure there are others who would enjoy all of the wonderful fashion references held within these pages as well as the moving story of two sisters finding their way back to one another.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Feb. 1, 2022
Authors Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose combine their talents in “The Fashion Orphans”, a tribute to Coco Chanel written in the fashion of “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and “In Her Shoes”.
Gabrielle and Lulu are as different as sisters could be, and their differences have made them estranged for years. When their mother dies, the two siblings reunite in hopes of collecting their mother’s estate and moving on with their individual lives. But their mother, Bette, had different ideas. Leaving both girls a large, and valuable, collection of Chanel clothes and accessories, with a very specific set of rules as to how they can be used, Gabrielle and Lulu are forced to figure out how they can both benefit from a collection they cannot use or sell. As they sort through the collection, both Gabrielle and Lulu begin to uncover secrets from the very elusive and private Bette, helping the girls to rekindle their bond with each other.
“The Fashion Orphans” is a celebration of family, in designer clothes. Both Gabrielle and Lulu are dealing with loss (not only of their mother but of their respective husbands through both divorce and death, respectively) and they re-connect and bond with each other through the discovery of notes their mother left in various pieces of clothing. Their relationship is honest and emotional, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the sisters as individuals, and as a connected unit.
This novel is, obviously, very fashion-focused. Not only is the personal and business history of Coco Chanel talked about, but also specific details about her pieces, including their value and materials. I am not what you would call a “fashionista” (I am one of those people who wear three hoodies on rotation), and expensive clothing is so beyond my budget. It was hard to understand Bette’s obsession with Chanel, and her desire to spend all of her money on various pieces, even though the end result was a reconnection of her daughters. I could connect with the characters far more than I could with the plot.
The story is well-written, told from the perspective of Gabrielle and Lulu, in alternating chapters. Obviously, the only place this story could take place is New York City (it would honestly not work anywhere else) and I loved the hustle and bustle of the urban setting.
Both Meyers and Rose are talented authors in their own right, and “Fashion Orphans” had such a good flow, I could not determine how the two writers collaborated, and their writing styles could not be differentiated. I definitely think these two powerhouse authors should work together in the future, but I would love it if they focused on a subject matter that was less specific. “Orphans” is a detailed piece for hard-core fashion lovers, and it won’t hit the right note with everyone.
Expected publication date: Feb. 1, 2022
Authors Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose combine their talents in “The Fashion Orphans”, a tribute to Coco Chanel written in the fashion of “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and “In Her Shoes”.
Gabrielle and Lulu are as different as sisters could be, and their differences have made them estranged for years. When their mother dies, the two siblings reunite in hopes of collecting their mother’s estate and moving on with their individual lives. But their mother, Bette, had different ideas. Leaving both girls a large, and valuable, collection of Chanel clothes and accessories, with a very specific set of rules as to how they can be used, Gabrielle and Lulu are forced to figure out how they can both benefit from a collection they cannot use or sell. As they sort through the collection, both Gabrielle and Lulu begin to uncover secrets from the very elusive and private Bette, helping the girls to rekindle their bond with each other.
“The Fashion Orphans” is a celebration of family, in designer clothes. Both Gabrielle and Lulu are dealing with loss (not only of their mother but of their respective husbands through both divorce and death, respectively) and they re-connect and bond with each other through the discovery of notes their mother left in various pieces of clothing. Their relationship is honest and emotional, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the sisters as individuals, and as a connected unit.
This novel is, obviously, very fashion-focused. Not only is the personal and business history of Coco Chanel talked about, but also specific details about her pieces, including their value and materials. I am not what you would call a “fashionista” (I am one of those people who wear three hoodies on rotation), and expensive clothing is so beyond my budget. It was hard to understand Bette’s obsession with Chanel, and her desire to spend all of her money on various pieces, even though the end result was a reconnection of her daughters. I could connect with the characters far more than I could with the plot.
The story is well-written, told from the perspective of Gabrielle and Lulu, in alternating chapters. Obviously, the only place this story could take place is New York City (it would honestly not work anywhere else) and I loved the hustle and bustle of the urban setting.
Both Meyers and Rose are talented authors in their own right, and “Fashion Orphans” had such a good flow, I could not determine how the two writers collaborated, and their writing styles could not be differentiated. I definitely think these two powerhouse authors should work together in the future, but I would love it if they focused on a subject matter that was less specific. “Orphans” is a detailed piece for hard-core fashion lovers, and it won’t hit the right note with everyone.
February 11, 2022
A fun and touching family story about how things can look different once someone is gone and how memories can bring people together.
February 25, 2022
Gabrielle Winslow and half-sister Lulu Quattro never had a normal upbringing. Gabrielle was raised in luxury in Manhattan provided by a trust fund from her late father. Lulu was raised in Brooklyn by loving grandparents. After Gabrielle’s painful divorce and the devastating death of Lulu’s husband, the two sisters became estranged. When their mother Bette Bradford died, the sisters, both in debt, were anticipating a substantial inheritance. They were shocked to learn that the majority of their inheritance was in the form of a collection of new and vintage Chanel clothing and accessories. Yet it came with some stipulations. The sisters needed to come up with a plan on what to do with the collection and Bette’s attorney had to approve it. As Gabrielle and Lulu try to figure out what to do, the seemingly manipulative bequest might actually bring the sisters closer and help them learn more about their mother.
The Fashion Orphans is a light, enjoyable read yet co-authors Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose address some tough and common family issues – death, estrangement, divorce, poor financial decisions and regret. Ultimately, this book is about forgiveness, second chances, love and friendship. If you own or have ever coveted an item from Chanel, you’ll adore all the luxurious references. But even if you have no interest in the world of high fashion, it’s still worth a look.
Many thanks to the authors, Blue Box Press and NetGalley for opportunity to read The Fashion Orphans in advance of its February 1, 2022 release.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The Fashion Orphans is a light, enjoyable read yet co-authors Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose address some tough and common family issues – death, estrangement, divorce, poor financial decisions and regret. Ultimately, this book is about forgiveness, second chances, love and friendship. If you own or have ever coveted an item from Chanel, you’ll adore all the luxurious references. But even if you have no interest in the world of high fashion, it’s still worth a look.
Many thanks to the authors, Blue Box Press and NetGalley for opportunity to read The Fashion Orphans in advance of its February 1, 2022 release.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
February 1, 2022
Midlife sisters Gabrielle and Lulu are at odds with each other, mired in debt and angered still at their mother, a major controller now dead.
Instead of getting a large inheritance, they're bequeathed the contents of her secret closet filled with expensive Chanel clothing and accessories. Which makes them even madder until they meet her lovely friends and find loving messages among her treasures that lead to reconciliation and forgiveness. A poignant and beautifully written tale of healing. Out now.
Thanks to the authors, Blue Box Press, AuthorBuzz, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#thefashionorphans #NetGalley
Instead of getting a large inheritance, they're bequeathed the contents of her secret closet filled with expensive Chanel clothing and accessories. Which makes them even madder until they meet her lovely friends and find loving messages among her treasures that lead to reconciliation and forgiveness. A poignant and beautifully written tale of healing. Out now.
Thanks to the authors, Blue Box Press, AuthorBuzz, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#thefashionorphans #NetGalley
February 19, 2022
One of my favorite stories of 2022! Two sisters, Gabriella and Lulu, must reunite when their mother, Bette, passes away and leaves a surprise (or, a catch rather) to their inheritance. Both sisters are in financial straits, and are shocked when they discover the secret Bette’s been hiding behind her closet door!
Emotional and heart-touching, the sisters slowly find the answers to a lot of questions through a series of notes Bette left them, and through a group of wealthy friends who are also grieving the loss of their friend. I was charmed and captivated from page to page of this lovely story. #CocoStreet
Emotional and heart-touching, the sisters slowly find the answers to a lot of questions through a series of notes Bette left them, and through a group of wealthy friends who are also grieving the loss of their friend. I was charmed and captivated from page to page of this lovely story. #CocoStreet
December 29, 2021
3.5 Personal Thoughts Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Freer- A Quick Review
This book hit a chord with me because it deals with all the things left behind by a parent. It is an experience that is very personal to anyone who has to go through it. You will find memories forgotten, you will find words written to remember or to be shared but never were, you will find parts of yourself and the one who left.
This is a book that looks at that experience between two sisters, a couture collection that represents different things to each daughter, and how they handle it.
The Fashion Orphans
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Freer- A Quick Review
This book hit a chord with me because it deals with all the things left behind by a parent. It is an experience that is very personal to anyone who has to go through it. You will find memories forgotten, you will find words written to remember or to be shared but never were, you will find parts of yourself and the one who left.
This is a book that looks at that experience between two sisters, a couture collection that represents different things to each daughter, and how they handle it.
The Fashion Orphanshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
June 26, 2022
Gabi and Lulu were close as children even though Gabi was eight years older. After Lulu's husband dies suddenly at 45 and Gabi's marriage falls apart they become estranged. Upon their mother's death the girls are called to a lawyer's office for the reading of the will. They find out Bette didn't have a lot of money but she left them her collection and the lawyer is the one who has to approve how they dispose of it.
Most of the time I didn't care for Lulu. Having gotten married at 19, having a baby and becoming a part of her in-law's bakery and then losing her husband I can understand her devastation but at times I felt like she was wallowing in her grief. Gabi also was grieving the demise of her marriage and the loss of the life style she had when she was married. All the sisters had left was each other so as they work through what to do with the "collection" they have to work through their different personalities and different ideas for how to handle the terms of the will.
I thought the characters were pretty well developed. It would have been nice to know more about Matt, Lulu's husband, and more about the bakery, Quattro's. Victoria, one her sisters-in-law seemed quite the character. I would love to see another book focusing on Lulu's son, Seth, and his husband, Gus, who now works at the bakery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for providing me with a digital copy.
Most of the time I didn't care for Lulu. Having gotten married at 19, having a baby and becoming a part of her in-law's bakery and then losing her husband I can understand her devastation but at times I felt like she was wallowing in her grief. Gabi also was grieving the demise of her marriage and the loss of the life style she had when she was married. All the sisters had left was each other so as they work through what to do with the "collection" they have to work through their different personalities and different ideas for how to handle the terms of the will.
I thought the characters were pretty well developed. It would have been nice to know more about Matt, Lulu's husband, and more about the bakery, Quattro's. Victoria, one her sisters-in-law seemed quite the character. I would love to see another book focusing on Lulu's son, Seth, and his husband, Gus, who now works at the bakery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for providing me with a digital copy.
November 30, 2021
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming.
Gabrielle Winslow and Lulu Quattro are estranged half-sisters with debts, pain, and a common dislike for their mother’s controlling methods. Bette has passed away recently and left detailed instructions for her daughters to fulfill her wishes before they can get their inheritance.
Gabi and Lulu resent that Bette is controlling them even after death. They are both in dire need of money to continue living with dignity. Moreover, relations have been strained, and working together doesn’t seem like a good option.
With no other choice, Gabi and Lulu visit Bette’s house and discover a huge secret collection, almost all of the best from Chanel, Bette’s favorite brand. Confused, annoyed, frustrated, and uncertain, the sisters start to work out their differences and try to find out what Bette wanted them to do with her collection.
The path they choose is not easy, but they learn some valuable lessons on the way. Gabi needs to get over her ex-husband’s betrayal and the messy divorce, while Lulu needs to spread her wings and look beyond her late husband’s family bakery. The two sisters need to find each other again and learn to forgive themselves and others. But is it really possible? Can Gabi and Lulu rebuild their bond and also forge a new path to the future and happiness?
As the title suggests, the book relies heavily on fashion and brands (Chanel being the predominant one). However, it is relationships and emotions that keep the momentum going. Gabi is fifty-five and seven years older than Lulu. The sisters are opposite in many ways, be it their sense of fashion, appearance, or approach to life.
Relationships, self-love, and happiness are major themes of the book. We see how Bette pushes Gabi and Lulu to take control of their lives again and do what makes them happy. The story is presented from both their perspectives, giving us insights into their lives.
The reader might be tempted to support one sister a wee bit more than the other, though we want them to sort their differences and become close as they used to be. I was team Gabi even before the book touched 20%. That didn’t stop me from empathizing with Lulu and her circumstances.
The book dragged a little in the second half. As much as I liked Nicholas and Seth (Lulu’s sons) and the other interesting ladies (Bette’s friends), I wanted the story to move a little faster. However, it managed to provide a happy and satisfying ending.
To sum up, The Fashion Orphans is a heartwarming story about love, forgiveness, and relationships. Happy to add that the book doesn’t focus on romance though there’s a glimmer of hope and lots to look forward to.
Thank you, NetGalley, Blue Box Press, and AuthorBuzz, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley
One Liner: Heartwarming.
Gabrielle Winslow and Lulu Quattro are estranged half-sisters with debts, pain, and a common dislike for their mother’s controlling methods. Bette has passed away recently and left detailed instructions for her daughters to fulfill her wishes before they can get their inheritance.
Gabi and Lulu resent that Bette is controlling them even after death. They are both in dire need of money to continue living with dignity. Moreover, relations have been strained, and working together doesn’t seem like a good option.
With no other choice, Gabi and Lulu visit Bette’s house and discover a huge secret collection, almost all of the best from Chanel, Bette’s favorite brand. Confused, annoyed, frustrated, and uncertain, the sisters start to work out their differences and try to find out what Bette wanted them to do with her collection.
The path they choose is not easy, but they learn some valuable lessons on the way. Gabi needs to get over her ex-husband’s betrayal and the messy divorce, while Lulu needs to spread her wings and look beyond her late husband’s family bakery. The two sisters need to find each other again and learn to forgive themselves and others. But is it really possible? Can Gabi and Lulu rebuild their bond and also forge a new path to the future and happiness?
As the title suggests, the book relies heavily on fashion and brands (Chanel being the predominant one). However, it is relationships and emotions that keep the momentum going. Gabi is fifty-five and seven years older than Lulu. The sisters are opposite in many ways, be it their sense of fashion, appearance, or approach to life.
Relationships, self-love, and happiness are major themes of the book. We see how Bette pushes Gabi and Lulu to take control of their lives again and do what makes them happy. The story is presented from both their perspectives, giving us insights into their lives.
The reader might be tempted to support one sister a wee bit more than the other, though we want them to sort their differences and become close as they used to be. I was team Gabi even before the book touched 20%. That didn’t stop me from empathizing with Lulu and her circumstances.
The book dragged a little in the second half. As much as I liked Nicholas and Seth (Lulu’s sons) and the other interesting ladies (Bette’s friends), I wanted the story to move a little faster. However, it managed to provide a happy and satisfying ending.
To sum up, The Fashion Orphans is a heartwarming story about love, forgiveness, and relationships. Happy to add that the book doesn’t focus on romance though there’s a glimmer of hope and lots to look forward to.
Thank you, NetGalley, Blue Box Press, and AuthorBuzz, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley
February 1, 2022
As a huge fashion and luxury lover, The Fashion Orphans was right up my alley. I loved reading the fashion descriptions as Gabrielle and Lulu sorted through their mother’s extensive Chanel collection.
However, this book is about so much more. Gabrielle and Lulu’s relationship journey has had some troubles in the past. I’m really close with my sister so I loved following them as they struggled to rebuild their relationship for the future.
I also lost my mom last year so Gabrielle and Lulu’s experience resonated with me. Grief is a personal journey but there were so many feelings with which I could relate. The sisters are very different people with different lives but their love for each other helps them work through their complicated relationship with their mom.
The Fashion Orphans is a really beautiful, heartwarming story. I adored it and finished it with a smile on my face. If you like books about family - the family we are born into, the family we marry into and the family we choose for ourselves, you’ll enjoy this book!
However, this book is about so much more. Gabrielle and Lulu’s relationship journey has had some troubles in the past. I’m really close with my sister so I loved following them as they struggled to rebuild their relationship for the future.
I also lost my mom last year so Gabrielle and Lulu’s experience resonated with me. Grief is a personal journey but there were so many feelings with which I could relate. The sisters are very different people with different lives but their love for each other helps them work through their complicated relationship with their mom.
The Fashion Orphans is a really beautiful, heartwarming story. I adored it and finished it with a smile on my face. If you like books about family - the family we are born into, the family we marry into and the family we choose for ourselves, you’ll enjoy this book!
February 12, 2022
Estranged sisters Gabrielle and Lulu are thrust together after their mother dies. Rather than leaving them a huge sum of money, their mother has sent sent them on a fashion quest in the form of a closet filled with high end designer clothes and vague instructions to figure out what to do with it.
Forced to deal with their troubled past, and come together for a common mission, Gabrielle and Lulu start to see a side of their mother they never knew existed.
I loved the underlying story of family, blood and otherwise. I was also fascinated by all the fashion talk and I absolutely fell in love with Coco Chanel. I definitely need to read more about her, what an icon. And her quotes are so noteworthy. I marked up so much of my book 😳
If you like stories of messy families, full of misunderstandings and mistakes, coupled with forgiveness, wrapped up to make a truly heartwarming story, this is for you.
I'm impressed with the writing duo, I didn't pick up on the fact that there were 2 writers. I'm so curious about their patnship.
Forced to deal with their troubled past, and come together for a common mission, Gabrielle and Lulu start to see a side of their mother they never knew existed.
I loved the underlying story of family, blood and otherwise. I was also fascinated by all the fashion talk and I absolutely fell in love with Coco Chanel. I definitely need to read more about her, what an icon. And her quotes are so noteworthy. I marked up so much of my book 😳
If you like stories of messy families, full of misunderstandings and mistakes, coupled with forgiveness, wrapped up to make a truly heartwarming story, this is for you.
I'm impressed with the writing duo, I didn't pick up on the fact that there were 2 writers. I'm so curious about their patnship.
August 27, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In The Fashion Orphans, you will meet Gabrielle and Lulu. Two sisters who grew apart are reuniting once again. This is due to their mother's untimely death. While one might think they would have been left some money, they were actually given a vintage collection of Chanel with a twist.
Now I'll admit that the sisters took a while for me to like. I think it's mostly because of how slow things were going in the first half of this book. Once things started to pick up, and the pages were flying, they started to become a bit more likable. I did, however, like how they were sort of forced to face their past in order to heal and make the present, and future, better for themselves.
I will also admit that I was confused over some references used throughout the book but that's due to me being super naive towards fashion. I'm definitely a yoga pants and sweats kind of girl since I've been working from home for basically two years.
Other than that, I really liked the second half of this book. I'll have to check out another book written by Randy or M.J. in the near future for sure.
In The Fashion Orphans, you will meet Gabrielle and Lulu. Two sisters who grew apart are reuniting once again. This is due to their mother's untimely death. While one might think they would have been left some money, they were actually given a vintage collection of Chanel with a twist.
Now I'll admit that the sisters took a while for me to like. I think it's mostly because of how slow things were going in the first half of this book. Once things started to pick up, and the pages were flying, they started to become a bit more likable. I did, however, like how they were sort of forced to face their past in order to heal and make the present, and future, better for themselves.
I will also admit that I was confused over some references used throughout the book but that's due to me being super naive towards fashion. I'm definitely a yoga pants and sweats kind of girl since I've been working from home for basically two years.
Other than that, I really liked the second half of this book. I'll have to check out another book written by Randy or M.J. in the near future for sure.
November 2, 2021
Estranged half-sisters Gabrielle and Lulu are forced to come together by the terms of their mother's will. Unfortunately, Bette was distant and difficult. So when the women discover she's left them a vast collection of vintage Chanel - rather than badly-needed cash - they are not at all pleased. But as they're forced to work together to decide how to handle the clothing, they uncover a new side to their mother. Through a series of Chanel-oriented notes, she becomes an unexpected guiding muse, offering opportunity for understanding, hope, and healing.
As a vintage clothing enthusiast and collector, I was very intrigued by the story premise. Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose didn't skimp on the fashion narrative, describing a multitude of pieces in detail. Readers who are interested in clothing and style would especially enjoy the narrative.
The authors also captured the internal turmoil and emotions of the sisters as they struggled to rebuild their lives. In addition to caring about the characters, the plot drew me along with wondering how they would decide to dispose of this initially unwanted / expensive bounty. Plus, a ribbon of romance and interesting female friendships pop up along the way.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this novel.
As a vintage clothing enthusiast and collector, I was very intrigued by the story premise. Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose didn't skimp on the fashion narrative, describing a multitude of pieces in detail. Readers who are interested in clothing and style would especially enjoy the narrative.
The authors also captured the internal turmoil and emotions of the sisters as they struggled to rebuild their lives. In addition to caring about the characters, the plot drew me along with wondering how they would decide to dispose of this initially unwanted / expensive bounty. Plus, a ribbon of romance and interesting female friendships pop up along the way.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this novel.
February 13, 2022
What would you do if your mom left you a collection of vintage clothing by Coco Chanel? You might be tempted to sell it off or find another way to cash in, which is what at least one of the sisters wants to do, but there are restrictions and an attorney has the final say on what they do with that collection. This book is more than just about clothing by Chanel, it is about sisters finding their way back to one another and learning how to open up and let others into their life.
Gabrielle and Lulu were once close, but time and circumstances have caused a rift between the two. Plus these sisters couldn't be any more different and you wonder how that could have possibly happened. Lulu is more of a free spirit and really doesn't care much about fashion. Gabrielle has, and wants more, of the finer things in life. Both have endured some tragedies in their lives, Lulu's husband passed away and Gabrielle went through a trying divorce. However, both are a little short-sighted and mired in their own grief to look outside of their little world.
This story might resonate with many readers especially when it comes to the loss of a parent. Or perhaps it will be the sibling relationship and what caused a rift so that you aren't as close anymore. Then there is the merry band of women, friends of Bette (the mother), and the challenges they face as they grow older and want to leave a legacy behind. This doesn't even include Thea, the bookshop owner that employs Gabrielle, and has her own set of issues with a son that has become greedy over what he might inherit from his mother...but that is a whole other story that you will discover within the pages.
I enjoyed the story even thought Lulu and Gabrielle could get on my nerves with their lack of communication and expressing their needs. Family is family, and while they might be afraid, if they don't speak up worse things could happen in their lives. I loved Lulu's kids and their spouses. They were not afraid to jump in and help at various times. Gus even has a love for baking and has all sorts of ideas for the family bakery.
The ending just proves that communication and love will go far in your life, you just have to be able to express it to others.
We give this book 5 paws up.
Gabrielle and Lulu were once close, but time and circumstances have caused a rift between the two. Plus these sisters couldn't be any more different and you wonder how that could have possibly happened. Lulu is more of a free spirit and really doesn't care much about fashion. Gabrielle has, and wants more, of the finer things in life. Both have endured some tragedies in their lives, Lulu's husband passed away and Gabrielle went through a trying divorce. However, both are a little short-sighted and mired in their own grief to look outside of their little world.
This story might resonate with many readers especially when it comes to the loss of a parent. Or perhaps it will be the sibling relationship and what caused a rift so that you aren't as close anymore. Then there is the merry band of women, friends of Bette (the mother), and the challenges they face as they grow older and want to leave a legacy behind. This doesn't even include Thea, the bookshop owner that employs Gabrielle, and has her own set of issues with a son that has become greedy over what he might inherit from his mother...but that is a whole other story that you will discover within the pages.
I enjoyed the story even thought Lulu and Gabrielle could get on my nerves with their lack of communication and expressing their needs. Family is family, and while they might be afraid, if they don't speak up worse things could happen in their lives. I loved Lulu's kids and their spouses. They were not afraid to jump in and help at various times. Gus even has a love for baking and has all sorts of ideas for the family bakery.
The ending just proves that communication and love will go far in your life, you just have to be able to express it to others.
We give this book 5 paws up.
February 3, 2022
Mother wore Chanel!
Two sisters, divorced Gabrielle and widowed Lulu, who’ve stopped communicating, are brought together over their mother’s grave, and their mother’s obsession with all things Coco Chanel. The sisters are like chalk and cheese. Their roles neatly pigeon holed from early childhood. Stepping in from the “Beyond” via a tightly managed will, care of lawyer Ms. Hayes, whom the sisters dub The Gray Lady, their mother Bette leaves a structured and perplexing task for her daughters. A task they must collaborate on. The women are both puzzled and dismayed by the will and what that reveals about their mother and her obsession. Shocked and yet not. As was said, Bette’s “self-absorption [which] could sometimes rival Miranda Priestly’s in The Devil Wears Prada, always rose to the occasion.”
Their discoveries at Bette’s apartment opens up into the world of high fashion, and feeds into their mother’s absolute mania with all things Coco Chanel. A world these two must translate and conquer.
They meet their mother’s friends who are all fashion divas and long time members of the same group, “The Style Endures Society.” These friends take the sisters into the fold. They turn out to be a group of crazy dames, somewhat resembling the Ya Ya Sisterhood ladies, doyens of style, who bring their influence and talent to bear on the sister’s quest.
As the lives of the sisters unfold, and as the future beckons, some threads are left hanging. But all becomes clear for Gabrielle and Lulu, including their questions around their mother’s love for them, which they have seriously questioned. Their search is leavened with Coco quotes.
I love the inclusion of the idea of buying vintage being “green.” A thought close to my own heart.
A Vibrant, often joyous, and frequently puzzling read.
A Blue Box Press ARC invitation via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
Two sisters, divorced Gabrielle and widowed Lulu, who’ve stopped communicating, are brought together over their mother’s grave, and their mother’s obsession with all things Coco Chanel. The sisters are like chalk and cheese. Their roles neatly pigeon holed from early childhood. Stepping in from the “Beyond” via a tightly managed will, care of lawyer Ms. Hayes, whom the sisters dub The Gray Lady, their mother Bette leaves a structured and perplexing task for her daughters. A task they must collaborate on. The women are both puzzled and dismayed by the will and what that reveals about their mother and her obsession. Shocked and yet not. As was said, Bette’s “self-absorption [which] could sometimes rival Miranda Priestly’s in The Devil Wears Prada, always rose to the occasion.”
Their discoveries at Bette’s apartment opens up into the world of high fashion, and feeds into their mother’s absolute mania with all things Coco Chanel. A world these two must translate and conquer.
They meet their mother’s friends who are all fashion divas and long time members of the same group, “The Style Endures Society.” These friends take the sisters into the fold. They turn out to be a group of crazy dames, somewhat resembling the Ya Ya Sisterhood ladies, doyens of style, who bring their influence and talent to bear on the sister’s quest.
As the lives of the sisters unfold, and as the future beckons, some threads are left hanging. But all becomes clear for Gabrielle and Lulu, including their questions around their mother’s love for them, which they have seriously questioned. Their search is leavened with Coco quotes.
I love the inclusion of the idea of buying vintage being “green.” A thought close to my own heart.
A Vibrant, often joyous, and frequently puzzling read.
A Blue Box Press ARC invitation via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
February 6, 2022
Gabrielle and Lulu are sisters, but that’s where the similarity ends. Where the elder sister, Gabrielle, has always been a slave to beauty and fashion, Lulu has always been a no frills sort of woman, nonplussed by the latest trends. But when Gabrielle goes through a divorce and Lulu becomes a young widow, the two suddenly have more in common than ever before.
Another thing they have in common? Their strained relationship with their fashionista mother, Bette Bradford. So when Bette dies, the sisters are reluctantly reunited to settle their mother’s affairs. Even from the grave, Bette remains passive aggressively elusive, giving her daughters the mysterious task of tending to her “collection”. Neither woman knows what their mother collected, so when they walk in, quite literally, to a closet full of expensive and one of a kind items, they can’t believe their eyes. Forced to work together, the sisters quickly realize there’s more to the collection than pearls and purses. Neither may have been the perfect fit as daughters, but being there for one another is always in vogue.
Fashion Orphans was a refreshing novel with a unique premise. Not only did the women come to understand their mother better, they came understand each other better as well. The quirky undercurrent kept the story flowing as well as a designer’s new spring collection. It also left me wishing, once again, I had a sister to share clothes and companionship with. 😞
So grab your sister, your gal pal or your favorite garment for a story with a sweet message that, quite frankly, never goes out of style.
Another thing they have in common? Their strained relationship with their fashionista mother, Bette Bradford. So when Bette dies, the sisters are reluctantly reunited to settle their mother’s affairs. Even from the grave, Bette remains passive aggressively elusive, giving her daughters the mysterious task of tending to her “collection”. Neither woman knows what their mother collected, so when they walk in, quite literally, to a closet full of expensive and one of a kind items, they can’t believe their eyes. Forced to work together, the sisters quickly realize there’s more to the collection than pearls and purses. Neither may have been the perfect fit as daughters, but being there for one another is always in vogue.
Fashion Orphans was a refreshing novel with a unique premise. Not only did the women come to understand their mother better, they came understand each other better as well. The quirky undercurrent kept the story flowing as well as a designer’s new spring collection. It also left me wishing, once again, I had a sister to share clothes and companionship with. 😞
So grab your sister, your gal pal or your favorite garment for a story with a sweet message that, quite frankly, never goes out of style.
February 1, 2022
Midlife sisters Gabrielle and Lulu are at odds with each, mired in debt and angered still at their mother, a major controller now dead.
Instead of getting a large inheritance, they're bequeathed the contents of her secret closet filled with expensive Chanel clothing and accessories. Which makes them even madder, until they meet her lovely friends and find loving messages among her treasures that lead to reconciliation and forgiveness. A poignant and beautifully written tale of healing. Out now.
Thanks to the authors, Blue Box Press, AuthorBuzz, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#thefashionorphans #NetGalley
Instead of getting a large inheritance, they're bequeathed the contents of her secret closet filled with expensive Chanel clothing and accessories. Which makes them even madder, until they meet her lovely friends and find loving messages among her treasures that lead to reconciliation and forgiveness. A poignant and beautifully written tale of healing. Out now.
Thanks to the authors, Blue Box Press, AuthorBuzz, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.
#thefashionorphans #NetGalley
October 10, 2021
The story
Two estranged half sisters, Gabriella and Lulu, have just lost their mother Bette. Both have had their fair share of sad times recently and both are having financial difficulties. They are expecting that their inheritance from their mother will relieve their financial situation, but this isn’t the case. They are inheriting a small amount of money and their mother’s collection of vintage Chanel clothing. The will stipulates that they can’t just sell the items, their plans must be approved by their mother’s lawyer. The sisters need to reconcile and decide on the way forward together.
My thoughts
I really enjoyed the aspects of this story that dealt with the sister’s relationship, their relationship with their family and their mother’s friends and the setting in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Some aspects of the story feel like they are repeated and focused on way more than was necessary for me. It’s a lovely read - highly recommend!
I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
Two estranged half sisters, Gabriella and Lulu, have just lost their mother Bette. Both have had their fair share of sad times recently and both are having financial difficulties. They are expecting that their inheritance from their mother will relieve their financial situation, but this isn’t the case. They are inheriting a small amount of money and their mother’s collection of vintage Chanel clothing. The will stipulates that they can’t just sell the items, their plans must be approved by their mother’s lawyer. The sisters need to reconcile and decide on the way forward together.
My thoughts
I really enjoyed the aspects of this story that dealt with the sister’s relationship, their relationship with their family and their mother’s friends and the setting in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Some aspects of the story feel like they are repeated and focused on way more than was necessary for me. It’s a lovely read - highly recommend!
I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
February 1, 2022
I loved this fun story by Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose about two sisters figuring out what to do with their mother's secret stash of high fashion clothes and accessories. I am no fashionista, so that world was new to me and I learned so much. Plus I loved the ingenuity of the sisters as they careened from one plan to the next figuring out what to do with all of it. Highly enjoyable!
dnf
January 31, 2022Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was absolutely not the intended audience for this book.
Sisters and complete opposites Gabrielle and Lulu don't get along. When their aloof, emotionally distant mother dies, they find an enormous, hidden closet in her apartment filled to the gills with Chanel. Chanel bags. Chanel clothes, Chanel make-up. The woman loved Chanel, okay? Anyway, the sisters suddenly find little notes in the bags with Chanel quotes on them. Their mother was communing with them from the grave! The sisters have to figure out what the mother was trying to tell them in order to get the collection. Seriously?
It sort of fell apart from there. It was moderately tolerable at first, albeit the main characters were complete unlikeable- and not really in the intended way. They fought almost constantly, which was irritating. But then add on a plot line that was totally improbable and weird, and it was just a recipe for disaster for me. An emotionally immature mother who actually was super loving but never showed it until now through the gift of Chanel? Please. Talk about narcissism.
I'm sure that there is an audience out there for this one, particularly one who really appreciates fashion. But, unfortunately, this was just not the one for me.
DNF at 55% or something.
Sisters and complete opposites Gabrielle and Lulu don't get along. When their aloof, emotionally distant mother dies, they find an enormous, hidden closet in her apartment filled to the gills with Chanel. Chanel bags. Chanel clothes, Chanel make-up. The woman loved Chanel, okay? Anyway, the sisters suddenly find little notes in the bags with Chanel quotes on them. Their mother was communing with them from the grave! The sisters have to figure out what the mother was trying to tell them in order to get the collection. Seriously?
It sort of fell apart from there. It was moderately tolerable at first, albeit the main characters were complete unlikeable- and not really in the intended way. They fought almost constantly, which was irritating. But then add on a plot line that was totally improbable and weird, and it was just a recipe for disaster for me. An emotionally immature mother who actually was super loving but never showed it until now through the gift of Chanel? Please. Talk about narcissism.
I'm sure that there is an audience out there for this one, particularly one who really appreciates fashion. But, unfortunately, this was just not the one for me.
DNF at 55% or something.
February 11, 2022
I should preface this review with the fact that I am completely the wrong audience for this. I am one of those who look for ruggedness in clothing that can be cleaned several times without damage. I have never understood the concept of branding just for the sake of recognition, although even I must admit that a superior style of sewing does make a difference in how it looks on a person. I read different types of fiction, and usually, my personal preferences of this ilk do not make much of a difference, but here I felt like it was a lot of angst for something that did not feel worth it. The personal stories a group of women share during the tale would have been equally riveting if they were about homemade and simple items. It was the story behind the things that made them special.
That said, the authors got a sibling relationship to hit a very realistic note. The two half-sisters are very different and have the usual misunderstandings, but are united over their feelings for their mother, even if the mother did play favourites. The writing was excellent, and the characters sparkled on the page, even if I did not get the clothes to sparkle as much in my mind.
The two sisters a left with a legacy that they can only receive if they join forces and figure out a few key points. They have years of silence between them (even if the children continued the communication and were not asked to take sides, which was also refreshing to read about), but they start to bond again when they are thrown together for significant periods. It is not a smooth ride but something that made sense. I would definitely pick up another book by either or both authors.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
That said, the authors got a sibling relationship to hit a very realistic note. The two half-sisters are very different and have the usual misunderstandings, but are united over their feelings for their mother, even if the mother did play favourites. The writing was excellent, and the characters sparkled on the page, even if I did not get the clothes to sparkle as much in my mind.
The two sisters a left with a legacy that they can only receive if they join forces and figure out a few key points. They have years of silence between them (even if the children continued the communication and were not asked to take sides, which was also refreshing to read about), but they start to bond again when they are thrown together for significant periods. It is not a smooth ride but something that made sense. I would definitely pick up another book by either or both authors.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
July 24, 2024
Two authors that I really enjoy, Randy Susan Myers and M.J. Rose, collaborate their wring skills in a fun family drama with a chick lit feel.
The first half is a little slow, but detailing the characters personalities is essential. Two estranged sisters are called together after their mother died. The initial friction when the will was read was met with total exasperation. They each were expecting money and move along. Instead, they inherited an apartment with a closet full of designer and vintage clothing. As the two began teaming up with the omnipresent mother and her messages to the girls was a kick. They are forced to work together to disperse the belongings.
The Chanel references throughout was a nice touch as the girls learn more about their mother and understanding and forgiveness ensue.
This is a fun, fast paced read. Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press.
The first half is a little slow, but detailing the characters personalities is essential. Two estranged sisters are called together after their mother died. The initial friction when the will was read was met with total exasperation. They each were expecting money and move along. Instead, they inherited an apartment with a closet full of designer and vintage clothing. As the two began teaming up with the omnipresent mother and her messages to the girls was a kick. They are forced to work together to disperse the belongings.
The Chanel references throughout was a nice touch as the girls learn more about their mother and understanding and forgiveness ensue.
This is a fun, fast paced read. Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press.
February 8, 2022
Gabrielle and Lulu are sisters who have fallen out with each other. But after their mother, Bette, dies, they have to come together to read her will.
Bette has been clear from the first that all her assets have to be divided equally between her two daughters. Both daughters are hard up for money and are eager to get some from Bette. But then, they discover that their mother has left them a "collection." Of course, they are not thrilled.
But then, they learn and grow and get inspiration from Bette who seems to be talking to them from beyond. What is she trying to say?
While the story was good and I even liked the characters, I found the story too slow. It took me 5 days to complete this book which is saying something. There are also too many dialogues and while this is not a bad thing per se, it slows down the narrative.
3 stars.
Bette has been clear from the first that all her assets have to be divided equally between her two daughters. Both daughters are hard up for money and are eager to get some from Bette. But then, they discover that their mother has left them a "collection." Of course, they are not thrilled.
But then, they learn and grow and get inspiration from Bette who seems to be talking to them from beyond. What is she trying to say?
While the story was good and I even liked the characters, I found the story too slow. It took me 5 days to complete this book which is saying something. There are also too many dialogues and while this is not a bad thing per se, it slows down the narrative.
3 stars.
April 3, 2022
Two estranged half sisters Lulu and Gabrielle were brought together at the reading of their mother's will. Both sisters were now single, one widowed and the other divorced and both in need of funds. Imagine their surprise when their inheritance existed of a fabulous collection of designer apparel, mostly Chanel instead of the $$ they expected. This inheritance lead them into a world of rediscovering each other along with their mother's friends, etc. A great look into sisterhood and the joys thereof. A good book that was an enjoyable read with likable characters and an interesting story line. I read a free advance copy via Net Galley and voluntarily chose to review it.
March 14, 2022
I have read both of these authors before but not their combined works and let me say if you haven’t read them yet then fix that now. This had all the elements that I enjoy - fashion, family drama, and a NY setting. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it!
Thank you to GetRedPRBooks and to Blue Box Press for the gifted book to review!
Thank you to GetRedPRBooks and to Blue Box Press for the gifted book to review!
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