The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard (add-on) : Discussion Thread

[Trisha]

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.

[Vicki]

ACT ONE

(view spoiler)[ I like that we are getting the POV from three different generations of women. I haven’t thought a whole lot about fashion and women versus men in design and that type of thing, but it is interesting how men and women have been treated differently through the years. It would be difficult for most people, man or woman, to stand up against what society considers appropriate, and be a forerunner of something like women’s fashion, and showing more skin, etc. (hide spoiler)]

Blythe (view spoiler)[ I love her children, but her children’s father seems mostly like a deadbeat dad. So far I find her POV probably the least interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Astrid (view spoiler)[ She is something else! I like the relationship between Astrid and Hawk. I’m curious to see how she ends up going missing. I can’t stand Candace and the way that she treats Astrid. She is so mean to her all of the time and really for no reason. I was so upset when they were being so thoughtless and uncaring about what Astrid needed to do that morning of the photo shoot. That was so important to her to get her test done so that she could continue on her scholarship. Maybe nobody knew about that or consider it, but they shouldn’t have had to. School was very important to her so it should’ve been important to them UGH They simply should have postponed it till after her test and been considerate of Astrid’s time. And once again, CANDACE! Yuck! (hide spoiler)]

Mizza (view spoiler)[ I’m really into her POV. I was so sad for her when Lev died in the war. They just seem so much in love and I hated that for her! Based on the way that act one ended it would appear that she is going to disappear after the war has taken place (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

ACT TWO

(view spoiler)[First, I have to say I felt SO BAD for Hawk!!! What a horrible time for all of that crap to come out and make Astrid feel like she had to leave or she'd basically lose herself.

It's getting more interesting now with the impending war. I can't imagine what it would be like but this kind of said it all: "The German Occupation of Paris was swift and shocking. One minute the French government marched out of the city, the next minute the German tanks and soldiers rolled in..." (207). I would be so devastated! I'm glad that Tian took Mizza to his brother. It's even scarier looking back on what we now know and how Hitler wanted to have that pure race. Bernard could be in trouble if the Germans take over the asylum. Ugh...

The Jewish people, including Iris have left, and that alone is life-changing for Mizza. But the way she's talking and committing what they'd call treason, I wonder now if her disappearance had to do with the Germans or someone fearing she'd get them in trouble with the Germans.

Mizza was a good woman (slut-shamed or not). The way she helped the children to safety and the pilots. What a horrific time in history all that Hitler's army did to so many people, families, businesses...just awful!

Jake - it's always good to know someone's background. After his mother told Blythe about his childhood, I understand him and his actions a lot better! Good to know. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Act One

I don't know anything about designing and the state of the fashion world so I'm finding all of this fascinating! But also oh so frustrating. So many men taking credit for women's work.

Blythe (view spoiler)[ugh, I'm so sad. I see her trading away her control and ability to design to an ex husband I worry will take it all from her once it's successful.
I like Coco and I'd really like to know what happened to Astrid - I'm ready for the mystery to kick off! (hide spoiler)]

Astrid (view spoiler)[ Ugh, as much as I like Hawk, clearly he let her just give herself over and over again for HIS ambition and she never got to realize her own.
I hate that both Hawk and Benji just ignored what was so important to her
and I agree, Candace sucks, which makes it all the worse that Candance is implicated in both her disappearance AND Hawk at the time she went missing. Ugh (hide spoiler)]

Mizza (view spoiler)[ I'm so sad that through her POV, we see nothing much has changed in the field of fashion. Blythe is no better off than Mizza - and she is 2 generations later. But she still gave up her dreams for Jake, put hers on hold, all for it to be clear that she has the design mind, not Jake - just like blythe and mizza
and yet the world remembers the MEN as designing it, not them (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Act Two

*sigh* I loved this section but I feel like it's full of more excuses for men to have the liberty to borrow "inspiration" from women - which is really just taking women's work and claiming credit for it

Blythe (view spoiler)[ I mean, sure, Jake had a rough childhood - but it's not like Blythe has had it easy either, right? So I don't give Jake a pass. He checked out on their marriage and didn't help
I STILL think he's going to try to walk away with Blythe's creations. (hide spoiler)]

Astrid (view spoiler)[ horrible. I hate how she's been both treated and remembered
and I worry that Hawk is going to use her sketch book for his "inspiration" instead of submitting it for her.
You have to wonder how it turned up now - I worry it might be Hawk's doing - trying to change the narrative around Astrid (too little too late) .
Hawk had no problem taking inspiration from Astrid when it made him famous but the second she had to stand on her own, he went to Candace. Gross (hide spoiler)]

Mizza (view spoiler)[ I'm really glad she is getting to live her life out from under the thumb of a man but it still begs to wonder - if she did all these amazing things during the war, why does no one know? Why is she still just known for that jacket/half undressed photo and being a muse? When she did so much in her own right? I worry her caring for the brother and her work here will, again, be overshadowed by the accomplishments of the men in her life (hide spoiler)]

lol I am clearly much more jaded than you!

[Vicki]

I'm so glad you're also enjoying it. I finished it but I have two graduations to go to today plus other stuff happening. I have one graduation tomorrow, so I won't have time to post my final thoughts until tonight or possibly tomorrow.

All of your comments are spot-on and a ditto from me! That's what's so darn frustrating...(view spoiler)[men taking credit for what women really have done! I wonder if that's where the saying came from: Behind every good man is a good (better) woman.

I loved Hawk, but like you said he truly ticked me off by not caring enough about her desires and needs and what SHE wanted. Same with Jake....I would NOT give him a pass either, but I do understand his character and actions better. There comes a time when everyone has to grow up/man up/put on your big girl panties and do what's right!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Act Three

Blythe (view spoiler)[ wow! so we got a lot more here, why is jake getting that phone call? I love that she's still giving in the benefit of the doubt but I worry. (hide spoiler)]

Astrid (view spoiler)[ so Blythe really does seem to be from Astrid and Hawk - I'm so glad but also, my heart broke when he said the dress HE designed. *sigh* he was just as bad about changing history into his favor

but wow, Astrid is a live. It sounds like she left for similar reasons, maybe, that Jake did.

I hate that Candace is back in all this. What on earth could she have to add? Did she finally see taking down another woman was a bad idea? We should build each other up (hide spoiler)]

Mizza (view spoiler)[ wow, heartbreaking that she did so much and was so helpless during the war.
but does this mean that Astrid is the american's?
or a baby Mizza helped? hmmm. . . (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

The Penultimate Act to end

this one was SO good!

(view spoiler)[I was shocked Astrid was still alive and then they got that time to chat. it breaks my heart why she left

I was so glad Jake wasn't as awful as I'd thought it was

I loved the author's note.
that was such a great ending (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Vicki wrote: "I'm so glad you're also enjoying it. I finished it but I have two graduations to go to today plus other stuff happening. I have one graduation tomorrow, so I won't have time to post my final though..."

YAY! Happy graduations! I hope you had a fun day!

[Vicki]

Oh. My. Gosh. I can't believe how busy I got yesterday. Now I have a nail & pedicure appointment. Then I'm so excited...I am going to lunch with my granddaughter, Julianna, whose boyfriend is manager of Texas Roadhouse in Elk Grove. We're going to have lunch there and get some one-on-one time which doesn't come too often. She's just so special to me. I have 22 grandkids as you know, but she's just so sweet, loving, and affectionate. I can't wait to just have her all to myself! lol She texted me and asked me to go with her so that's even more special, right? But I will come back after my appointment and post my final thoughts.

[Vicki]

FIINALLY!

Act Three

(view spoiler)[I know! I figured she would be alive but wasn't sure how it would all play out.

Yes! Your question is one that I had too and we do find out in the last part of the book but I won't say here in case another person joins this thread at some point. I felt for Mizza's situation for sure. Who can say for sure what they would do under similar circumstances? Nobody knows unless faced with the same situation. Difficult times! (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

The Penultimate Act to End

(view spoiler)[Wow! I couldn't believe Astrid came back after all those years and was just suddenly there at Blythe's front door. lol

Her reason for leaving was definitely heartbreaking. It would be such a difficult decision to make the day she went back to get her daughter but knew in her heart that she already had grown to love her "mom" at that point. The heart of a mother. She gave her up at that point because of her love for her. Not so sure I could do the same. I would've tried visiting her and letting her get to know me slowly but I don't think I could've simply left altogether. But I do understand why she believed it was best for Blythe.

I liked the author's notes too, but I read it before reading the book. Not sure why really because sometimes they contain spoilers, but I was glad to know the background of the women in the story and the history to a degree. It made it more intriguing to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Joe]

Wow, this sounds like such an intriguing multigenerational story! I love how it weaves together different timelines—Paris in 1917, New York in the 70s, and the French countryside in the present. The mix of fashion, family legacy, and mystery (especially Astrid’s sudden disappearance) really pulls me in. It feels like it’s not just about fashion, but also about identity, resilience, and how each generation carries the weight of the ones before. Definitely adding this to my reading list it sounds like the kind of novel that’s both dramatic and inspiring.

[Trisha]

YES! I absolutely loved it! And you've hit it correct - it tackles all of that in a compelling and well-written story! I hope you love it!