The Paris Seamstress in Aussie Readers

Mar 13, 2018 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, 5000-books, reviewing-by-request, contemporary-fiction, net-galley, 2018-release, historical-fiction, own-read, arc

Estella Bissette was a seamstress, working with her mother at the atelier in Paris. It was all she had known, having grown up with a needle in her hand and her mother's fashion by her side. But Germany's approach on France in 1940 saw Estella flee the only home she'd known, heading to Manhattan on the SS Washington - the last American ship to leave French waters.

When Fabienne Bissette arrived in Manhattan from Sydney for the Gala of her grandmother, Estella's work in 2015, she was once again sho ...more

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May 13, 2018 Kate Forsyth rated it really liked it

Shelves: australian, contemporary, historical, parallel-narratives, aww2018

A dual-timeline novel that moves between the 1940s and contemporary times, The Paris Seamstress is a gorgeously rich and romantic novel about young women finding their way in the world.

The story begins with Estella Bissette, a young apprentice seamstress working with her mother at a fashion designer’s atelier in Paris. Her metier is creating silk flowers, but she dreams of designing her own dresses and takes every opportunity to practise her craft. But the Nazis are closing on France, and no-one A dual-timeline novel that moves between the 1940s and contemporary times, The Paris Seamstress is a gorgeously rich and romantic novel about young women finding their way in the world.

The story begins with Estella Bissette, a young apprentice seamstress working with her mother at a fashion designer’s atelier in Paris. Her metier is creating silk flowers, but she dreams of designing her own dresses and takes every opportunity to practise her craft. But the Nazis are closing on France, and no-one knows what the future will hold. One day Estella gets caught up in a mysterious errand that smacks of intrigue and resistance … and meets a handsome stranger. With her life in danger, she must flee France, and with her mother’s help, gets a bunk on the SS Washington - the last American ship to leave French waters – with nothing more than a suitcase and a sewing machine.

The other narrative thread concerns Estelle’s granddaughter Fabienne, who arrives in Manhattan from Sydney for a celebration of her famous ancestor’s fashion designs. Fabienne is puzzled by some mystery in her grandmother’s past which the recent death of her father has revealed to her, and wishes to question her … but Estella is elderly and frail, and talk of the past upsets her. At the gala event, Fabienne meets a handsome stranger … but her own life is full of problems and troubles, and it seems unlikely their paths will ever cross again.

From that point onwards, the two stories cross and part and cross again, full of sensual descriptions of fabulous clothes and evocative descriptions of Paris and New York, then and now. I loved the story of how determined Estella builds her career from nothing, despite obstacle after obstacle, and I empathised with sensitive Fabienne, trying to step out from her grandmother’ shadow.

Much of the pleasure of this book is the wish-fulfillment fantasy it offers many women – the chance to imagine oneself in a swishy satin gown, drinking cocktails with high society in New York, flitting off to Paris on a whim and meeting the man of your dreams, inheriting palatial residences in two of the city’s most glamorous and sophisticated cities, making a name for oneself with your talent and hard work. The secret at the heart of the novel is not one of those surprising, oh-my-god-I-never-saw-that-coming plot twists that leaves you gasping – it’s more of a device to put the two women’s journeys into motion. But both of those journeys are so beguiling, I didn’t mind that at all.

And I just loved Estella’s final words to her granddaughter:

‘Be brave. Love well and fiercely. Be the woman I always knew you would be.’

These are wise and beautiful words indeed. ...more

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May 13, 2018 Helen rated it it was amazing

I am left speechless and emotional after reading this awesome story WOW, this is the first Natasha Lester book I have read and I need to fix that because here is an author that you don’t want to miss, this is just so beautifully written, moving, emotional I loved it, a story across two timelines World War 11 1940’s and 2015, fabulous characters that show love, strength and what they go through, secrets to uncover and love to find. I do highly recommend this book.

The story starts in 1940 in Paris I am left speechless and emotional after reading this awesome story WOW, this is the first Natasha Lester book I have read and I need to fix that because here is an author that you don’t want to miss, this is just so beautifully written, moving, emotional I loved it, a story across two timelines World War 11 1940’s and 2015, fabulous characters that show love, strength and what they go through, secrets to uncover and love to find. I do highly recommend this book.

The story starts in 1940 in Paris the Germans are coming to Paris and Estella Bissette a young seamstress is sent to Manhattan by her mother after she helps with secret papers and meets a man she will never forget, she has very little in her pockets but she has a sewing machine and hope and strength, she meets Sam on her way over and then Janie when she gets there and then her life changes when she meets Lena and Alex and there is a lot to learn and fashions to create.

It is now 2015 Australia and a young curator Fabienne Bissette is travelling to New York for her beloved grandmother’s Gala exhibition of her fashions, a lot has happened in the past year for Fabienne, the death of her father she has just taken on a new job and sadly her grandmother is getting frailer as she gets older. Fabienne has doubts on whether she could take over Stella Designs as her grandmother wishes and is sent to Paris for the weekend where she meets Will and these two inspire each other. When her grandmother suffers a stroke and is trying to tell her things that she needs to know, life again changes when she uncovers heartbreaking secrets that in the end will make her stronger.

Really this is such an emotional story I loved it from page one I savoured every word every trip to Paris and Manhattan and from the 1940’s to 2015 from Estella and Fabienne and all of the characters that we get to know and love. The love the strength the pain the heartache and yes the joy that is there, I bow down to you MS Lester this story is going to stay with me for a long time to come I have tears in my eyes typing this review and cannot highly recommend it enough thank you for a fabulous story.
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Sep 08, 2019 Kathryn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, reading-list-2019, australian-authors, audiobooks

3.5★

Love the descriptions of fabrics and dresses, the story was clever. I listened to it as an audiobook - and Anthea Greco was a great narrator - her different accents were fantastic, but it did mean that it was difficult to keep track of the different timelines and what was happening when.

There were a few mildly graphic sex scenes which weren't necessary, and several overly sentimental bits of writing which always make me roll my eyes, but overall it was enjoyable.

This is my first Natasha Lest ...more

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Jun 24, 2018 Janine rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley

This book tells the story of Estella who is a seamstress in France. She works copying designs from the fashion shows and selling the designs to American buyers so they can stay ahead of the latest fashions. She dreams of one day being able to design her own line of clothing, but with the war happening, its hard enough just to keep her head above water. As things heat up her mother pushes her to go to America to pursue her dreams there. She is lucky enough to befriend Sam on the ship who gives he ...more

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Jul 12, 2023 Kathy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Despite a bit of a slow start, I really liked this dual time period novel. Both story arcs are fascinating and the characters are well-drawn. The chapters with cliffhangers that help keep readers engaged in both storylines. Compelling family secrets are slowly unearthed both in the past and present. The conclusion is uplifting and well worth the wait!

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Apr 12, 2019 Mary rated it liked it · review of another edition

A lovely read. Perfect for the holiday I was on. It feels like a simple romance but also shows how crimes against women can affect generations.
Content warning: the book does reference a lot of violence against women. Although none of it really happens in the plot and is revealed in exposition but it might be a bit difficult for some.

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Feb 22, 2020 Tanya rated it really liked it

It's funny to think that a year ago I probably wouldn't have picked up a historical fiction novel, thinking that the genre didn't appeal to me. Over the past 12 months though, with discovering Kelly Rimmer and Natasha Lester, that has begun to change.

The Paris Seamstress, like other Lester stories, is the tale of two women. In 1940, Estella is forced to flee Paris with just her sewing machine and sewing box. She has dreams of becoming a designer in Manhattan, of bringing American women their own ...more

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Mar 11, 2018 Kalliste rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

This was a great read! It is the story of Estella and is split over 2 time periods and I have to admit when it first changed from Estella to Fabienne I was a bit sad that we had to veer away from Estella.

In the end I enjoyed both timelines but Estella's was definitely the highlight.

** Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for an honest review ** ...more

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