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The Last Dress from Paris
The secret is hidden within a collection of Dior dresses....
London, 2017. There’s no one Lucille adores more than her grandmother (not even her mother, she’s ashamed to say). So when her beloved Granny Sylvie asks Lucille to help secure the return of something precious to her, she’s happy to help. The next thing she knows, Lucille is on a train to Paris, tasked with retrieving a priceless Dior dress. But not everything is as it seems, and what Lucille finds in a small Parisian apartment will have her scouring the city for answers to a question that could change her entire life.
Paris, 1952. Postwar France is full of glamour and privilege, and Alice Ainsley is in the middle of it all. As the wife to the British ambassador to France, Alice’s job is to see and be seen—even if that wasn’t quite what she signed up for. Her husband showers her with jewels, banquets, and couture Dior dresses, but his affection has become distressingly illusive. As the strain on her marriage grows, Alice’s only comfort is her bond with her trusted lady’s maid, Marianne. But when a new face appears in her drawing room, Alice finds herself swept up in an epic love affair that has her yearning to follow her heart...no matter the consequences.
In The Last Dress from Paris, the city of lights comes alive as Jade Beer weaves this lush, evocative tale that explores the ties that bind us together, the truths we hold that make us who we are, and the true meaning of what makes someone family.
London, 2017. There’s no one Lucille adores more than her grandmother (not even her mother, she’s ashamed to say). So when her beloved Granny Sylvie asks Lucille to help secure the return of something precious to her, she’s happy to help. The next thing she knows, Lucille is on a train to Paris, tasked with retrieving a priceless Dior dress. But not everything is as it seems, and what Lucille finds in a small Parisian apartment will have her scouring the city for answers to a question that could change her entire life.
Paris, 1952. Postwar France is full of glamour and privilege, and Alice Ainsley is in the middle of it all. As the wife to the British ambassador to France, Alice’s job is to see and be seen—even if that wasn’t quite what she signed up for. Her husband showers her with jewels, banquets, and couture Dior dresses, but his affection has become distressingly illusive. As the strain on her marriage grows, Alice’s only comfort is her bond with her trusted lady’s maid, Marianne. But when a new face appears in her drawing room, Alice finds herself swept up in an epic love affair that has her yearning to follow her heart...no matter the consequences.
In The Last Dress from Paris, the city of lights comes alive as Jade Beer weaves this lush, evocative tale that explores the ties that bind us together, the truths we hold that make us who we are, and the true meaning of what makes someone family.
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2022
895 people are currently reading
19463 people want to read
About the author
Jade Beer
4 books179 followersHello, The Palace Dressmaker (or The Memory Dress as it is known in the USA) may be my most glamorous novel yet. Its opening scene takes place at Christie’s auction house in New York in 1997 during the sale of Princess Diana’s dresses. Eighty dresses were listed to sell that evening but only 79 did. One of them is missing and it is what happened to this missing dress that is the central mystery of my novel and the love story that unfolds over thirty years across its pages. I hope you will enjoy the tour through some of the most famous dresses in Diana’s wardrobe. I certainly enjoyed retracing where some of these incredible gowns were worn in order to write this story.
As for me, after decades working in glossy magazines in London, I now live in the beautiful English town of Cheltenham with my two daughters and my husband. It’s where we used to spend romantic weekends plotting our future together, long before the girls came along, and is now where I write my books.
Women have always fascinated me. I think it comes from seeing first-hand how truly brilliant we can be and how wonderfully flawed. I've been lucky enough to work with some incredibly talented women throughout my career as a journalist and editor - ones who juggle the most all-encompassing careers with family and friendships and everything else that life throws at them. It’s why women of all ages and the friendships they form always feature largely in my books.
The need to present one version of yourself to the world, while keeping the grittier, less polished reality under wraps, is a thread that runs strongly through my novels too. In my former job as the editor of Conde Nast Brides, I shared my working life with editors of some of the glossiest magazines in the world - Vogue, Tatler, Glamour - and I had the enormous privilege of travelling the world and sitting front row at beautiful fashion shows and working with the world's leading florists, cake makers and stylists. But I also took a daily peek into the lives of young women who were experiencing one of the most intense times of their lives - planning their wedding days. This, above everything else, was the fascinating bit. Hearing their thoughts, fears, worries and ambitions for the future. This really powerful cocktail of glamour and reality is there, I hope, on the pages of all my books.
Take a peek inside my life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jadebeerbri... or at https://jadebeer.com/
As for me, after decades working in glossy magazines in London, I now live in the beautiful English town of Cheltenham with my two daughters and my husband. It’s where we used to spend romantic weekends plotting our future together, long before the girls came along, and is now where I write my books.
Women have always fascinated me. I think it comes from seeing first-hand how truly brilliant we can be and how wonderfully flawed. I've been lucky enough to work with some incredibly talented women throughout my career as a journalist and editor - ones who juggle the most all-encompassing careers with family and friendships and everything else that life throws at them. It’s why women of all ages and the friendships they form always feature largely in my books.
The need to present one version of yourself to the world, while keeping the grittier, less polished reality under wraps, is a thread that runs strongly through my novels too. In my former job as the editor of Conde Nast Brides, I shared my working life with editors of some of the glossiest magazines in the world - Vogue, Tatler, Glamour - and I had the enormous privilege of travelling the world and sitting front row at beautiful fashion shows and working with the world's leading florists, cake makers and stylists. But I also took a daily peek into the lives of young women who were experiencing one of the most intense times of their lives - planning their wedding days. This, above everything else, was the fascinating bit. Hearing their thoughts, fears, worries and ambitions for the future. This really powerful cocktail of glamour and reality is there, I hope, on the pages of all my books.
Take a peek inside my life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jadebeerbri... or at https://jadebeer.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 854 reviews
July 6, 2022
The narrative in this new title from Jade Beer revolves around not just one dress, but eight. When Grandma Sylvie sends Lucille on a rescue mission to Paris -- for one dress -- Lucille is shown a closet holding six exquisite Dior dresses from the 1950's. According to the cards that were kept by the original owner, there are two more dresses to be found. As Lucille uses the cards to visit the places where the dresses were worn and track down the missing ones, we also are treated to a past story line and the debut of each creation. Our past heroine is Alice Ainsley, wife to the British ambassador. What will Lucille discover as she follows the clues for the dresses. Will Leon, that mysterious man from the resale store, really be available to help? I found the past timeline to be very frustrating and a bit repetitive, so not quite a five-star read. I came for the dress and got eight, though. We'll award each dress a half star for their hard work and settle on a four.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2022
A search for Dior Dresses from the 1950's - how fun would that be?
Louise makes a trip to Paris on her grandmother's request to find a certain dress, but it turns into a trip to search for eight other dresses.
What she finds is someone to help her, personal notes that accompany the dresses, secrets her Grandmother Sylvie kept all these years, and of course, the gorgeous, interesting dresses that have stories of their own.
We then go back in time and meet Alice Ainsley in 1952 who is the ambassador's wife and who also has gorgeous Dior dresses and a wonderful confidante for a maid, and a husband who is not who he appeared to be. He is cold, and she is lonely.
The loneliness leads to her visiting with a young man named Antoine.
Louise's chase to find the dresses leads to finding her grandmother's secrets, a love interest for her, and a longer stay and return to Paris.
Those readers who love Paris, who love fashion, the 1950's, and visiting with characters with complicated relationships will want to read this book.
A very enjoyable read with a bit of a mystery as grandmother’s life is unraveled. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.
Louise makes a trip to Paris on her grandmother's request to find a certain dress, but it turns into a trip to search for eight other dresses.
What she finds is someone to help her, personal notes that accompany the dresses, secrets her Grandmother Sylvie kept all these years, and of course, the gorgeous, interesting dresses that have stories of their own.
We then go back in time and meet Alice Ainsley in 1952 who is the ambassador's wife and who also has gorgeous Dior dresses and a wonderful confidante for a maid, and a husband who is not who he appeared to be. He is cold, and she is lonely.
The loneliness leads to her visiting with a young man named Antoine.
Louise's chase to find the dresses leads to finding her grandmother's secrets, a love interest for her, and a longer stay and return to Paris.
Those readers who love Paris, who love fashion, the 1950's, and visiting with characters with complicated relationships will want to read this book.
A very enjoyable read with a bit of a mystery as grandmother’s life is unraveled. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.
July 6, 2022
There was not only the promised dress in this story but a collection of 8 Dior original dresses that tell the story of a season in Paris that changed one woman’s life. The story is told in dual timelines and I have to say the past timeline was a bit tough for me to get through at times and quite repetitive. I loved the present day timeline thought and overall I did enjoy the story quite a bit. Lucille’s beloved grandmother has asked Lucille to take a trip to Paris to retrieve a Dior dress that she would like to hold again. Lucille doesn’t take spontaneous trips, but she can’t let down her grandmother. Going to Paris helps Lucille find herself, and some wonderful connections. When she goes to collect the dress and finds it was part of a collection of 8 with corresponding cards but two dresses are missing. Lucille walks the path of the dresses and learns more than she imagined about her grandmother.
June 30, 2022
You can tell this book was written by someone in the fashion world because the descriptions of the dresses are quite vivid. Unfortunately that’s really the only part of the book that pulled me in. I didn’t connect with any of the characters as the choices they made all seemed unfounded and unrealistic, and I found myself rolling my eyes a handful of times mid-read. And although the protagonist admits to feeling one step behind at several points in the book, I always felt like I was too many steps ahead of her in figuring out the twists, which in turn made me feel as though I had to wait multiple chapters for her to catch up and continue with the story. I enjoyed the ending and I do think Beer is a good writer, unfortunately the characters just didn’t do it for me.
Read
July 12, 2021A delightful fashion treasure hunt involving some of my favorite Dior gowns made this book a winner for me! The present day and 1950s narratives weave seamlessly together, the dresses dance from the pages, and Paris is resplendently depicted.
June 9, 2022
Read my blog review here https://veganbookblogger.wordpress.co...
This is a most delightful book with it's dual time-line you'll get pulled into two delightful stories that just seamlessly mesh.
Lucille has a special and loving relationship with her Grandmother Sylvie and will do anything for her.
When her grandmother asks her to go from England to Paris to find a priceless Dior dress she believes she'll be home quickly and easily with the task completed.
What she doesn't count on is needing to rent a French apartment and finding a side of her grandmother she had never know about.
The book kept me spellbound while reading about the 1950's glamour of the fashionable Dior gowns,an opulent lifestyle a forbidden affair,well kept secrets and a heartbreaking betrayal.
So many glamorous Dior gowns each representing a special time. You can practically feel the heaviness and sumptuousness of the velvet and other lush materials of the vintage gowns in your hands.
Secrets and heartbreak comes alive in this book I was unable to put down!
Pub Date: 21 Jun 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
This is a most delightful book with it's dual time-line you'll get pulled into two delightful stories that just seamlessly mesh.
Lucille has a special and loving relationship with her Grandmother Sylvie and will do anything for her.
When her grandmother asks her to go from England to Paris to find a priceless Dior dress she believes she'll be home quickly and easily with the task completed.
What she doesn't count on is needing to rent a French apartment and finding a side of her grandmother she had never know about.
The book kept me spellbound while reading about the 1950's glamour of the fashionable Dior gowns,an opulent lifestyle a forbidden affair,well kept secrets and a heartbreaking betrayal.
So many glamorous Dior gowns each representing a special time. You can practically feel the heaviness and sumptuousness of the velvet and other lush materials of the vintage gowns in your hands.
Secrets and heartbreak comes alive in this book I was unable to put down!
Pub Date: 21 Jun 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
August 2, 2022
I have been hard on this book while I have been reading it, and when it comes to reviewing it, I wonder if I have been fair. Was I just in a mood?
I think I am feeling disconnected to the part about high couture and the dresses. That somehow the love story is connected through the dresses, sewn into the experiences of the fabric. The story once told isn't altogether a bad one. There is a lot of beauty to it. I got what was beneath the dresses and woven into it. Which is possibly why I felt I was being hard on the book. I guess I kept feeling what's all the fuss about a dress?
I did feel nostalgic for the feeling of what it must be like to feel so beautiful that a Dior dress would be like one's own skin. To be so radiant, that falling in love with the love of your life and the greatest love story ever told, is a given, if one is wearing a dress that breathes that into imagination. I was thinking about what women need to feel beautiful, and how few people fit into a Dior dress, the way they were made to fit and to shine. And yet we each have a love story, a journey marked, where potentially once, for a moment, we felt that beautiful. A wedding day, a prom, a first meeting, or early dating, holding your baby in your arms for the first time. I guess now, I am musing on what it takes to feel beautiful. That the theme of the love sewn into a dress did inevitably stay with me, but not until the end of the book. Until the story was finally told in the way that it was intended. Maybe I just "got it" by the end. Maybe the predictable outcome moves your or makes you cry just a little bit, even though you thought you weren't that invested. Love is carried through a lot of things, why the heck not a dress?
I think I am feeling disconnected to the part about high couture and the dresses. That somehow the love story is connected through the dresses, sewn into the experiences of the fabric. The story once told isn't altogether a bad one. There is a lot of beauty to it. I got what was beneath the dresses and woven into it. Which is possibly why I felt I was being hard on the book. I guess I kept feeling what's all the fuss about a dress?
I did feel nostalgic for the feeling of what it must be like to feel so beautiful that a Dior dress would be like one's own skin. To be so radiant, that falling in love with the love of your life and the greatest love story ever told, is a given, if one is wearing a dress that breathes that into imagination. I was thinking about what women need to feel beautiful, and how few people fit into a Dior dress, the way they were made to fit and to shine. And yet we each have a love story, a journey marked, where potentially once, for a moment, we felt that beautiful. A wedding day, a prom, a first meeting, or early dating, holding your baby in your arms for the first time. I guess now, I am musing on what it takes to feel beautiful. That the theme of the love sewn into a dress did inevitably stay with me, but not until the end of the book. Until the story was finally told in the way that it was intended. Maybe I just "got it" by the end. Maybe the predictable outcome moves your or makes you cry just a little bit, even though you thought you weren't that invested. Love is carried through a lot of things, why the heck not a dress?
October 5, 2022
3,5-4. Me ha gustado mucho esta novela contada en dos tiempos, sobre todo el del presente por el hecho de ir investigando y encontrando pistas sobre cada uno de los ocho vestidos de Dior y la historia que hay detrás. Me he dado cuenta de por dónde iban los tiros en general, pero hay algún giro final que me ha sorprendido y me ha gustado su final. No es una historia de amor tradicional ni dos, son historias de amigas, madres e hijas y abuelas y nietas. Aunque hay algo de amor entre parejas, no es lo importante. He tardado en leerlo por falta de tiempo, pero os lo recomiendo mucho ya que merece la pena.
January 3, 2023
"Creo que existen muchas formas de romperle el corazón a alguien".
Sylvie envía a su nieta Lucille a París en busca de un vestido, pero ésta se sorprende al encontrar en el armario de quien lo custodiaba, no uno sino seis vestidos de Dior. Cada uno tiene las mismas iniciales grabadas y una tarjeta que identifica una fecha, un lugar y algunas palabras especiales… y nada entiende sobre qué tiene que ver con su abuela, pero decide recorrer estos lugares e imaginar cómo fue la vida de la persona que los usó, y también se propone investigar sobre las dos piezas faltantes… y encontrará más de un secreto en el camino.
Estos ocho vestidos originales de Dior cuentan la historia de una temporada en París que cambió la vida de una mujer, y que la hizo descubrir lo peor y lo mejor de la vida…
La novela está narrada en dos líneas temporales, que se van intercambiando según se investigan cada uno de los vestidos y su historia. La época pasada (1952) con una protagonista llamada Alice dueña de los vestidos y la del presente donde Lucille intenta realizar el encargo que le ha pedido su abuela. El ritmo es bastante ágil, pero debo decir que disfruté mucho más de la línea actual, puesto que la investigación me pareció fascinante.
Por otra parte, fue espectacular conocer detalles de estos maravillosos vestidos y en algunos casos el metódico proceso de confección, destaca el conocimiento de la autora sobre el mundo de la moda y supo explicarlo en palabras sencillas, pero que fueron absolutamente gráficas. Los vestidos son unos protagonistas activos de la historia, ocho personajes más de la novela, que dotan de fuerza a la trama y permiten comprender el desarrollo del carácter de Alice. Mi favorito es y será siempre el Debussy, si tienen oportunidad de verlo, no se la pierdan porque es un verdadera obra de arte y un espectáculo de feminidad.
También encontramos historias que se entrecruzan, secretos familiares y lazos que intentan recuperarse y otros por el contrario que se pierden con el tiempo… pero no todo está dado en la historia, quizás algunos secretos se prevén con facilidad… otros logran sorprendernos.
Definitivamente no perderé de vista a esta autora, quien está pronta a publicar otro libro sobre una reconocida casa de modas británica.
Sylvie envía a su nieta Lucille a París en busca de un vestido, pero ésta se sorprende al encontrar en el armario de quien lo custodiaba, no uno sino seis vestidos de Dior. Cada uno tiene las mismas iniciales grabadas y una tarjeta que identifica una fecha, un lugar y algunas palabras especiales… y nada entiende sobre qué tiene que ver con su abuela, pero decide recorrer estos lugares e imaginar cómo fue la vida de la persona que los usó, y también se propone investigar sobre las dos piezas faltantes… y encontrará más de un secreto en el camino.
Estos ocho vestidos originales de Dior cuentan la historia de una temporada en París que cambió la vida de una mujer, y que la hizo descubrir lo peor y lo mejor de la vida…
La novela está narrada en dos líneas temporales, que se van intercambiando según se investigan cada uno de los vestidos y su historia. La época pasada (1952) con una protagonista llamada Alice dueña de los vestidos y la del presente donde Lucille intenta realizar el encargo que le ha pedido su abuela. El ritmo es bastante ágil, pero debo decir que disfruté mucho más de la línea actual, puesto que la investigación me pareció fascinante.
Por otra parte, fue espectacular conocer detalles de estos maravillosos vestidos y en algunos casos el metódico proceso de confección, destaca el conocimiento de la autora sobre el mundo de la moda y supo explicarlo en palabras sencillas, pero que fueron absolutamente gráficas. Los vestidos son unos protagonistas activos de la historia, ocho personajes más de la novela, que dotan de fuerza a la trama y permiten comprender el desarrollo del carácter de Alice. Mi favorito es y será siempre el Debussy, si tienen oportunidad de verlo, no se la pierdan porque es un verdadera obra de arte y un espectáculo de feminidad.
También encontramos historias que se entrecruzan, secretos familiares y lazos que intentan recuperarse y otros por el contrario que se pierden con el tiempo… pero no todo está dado en la historia, quizás algunos secretos se prevén con facilidad… otros logran sorprendernos.
Definitivamente no perderé de vista a esta autora, quien está pronta a publicar otro libro sobre una reconocida casa de modas británica.
September 17, 2022
Pintaba bien pero se quedó en aburrido y pasteloso.
November 3, 2022
This started with such promise - - until A met A. It then became a bad Hallmark movie. Ugh! I couldn’t read beyond their insipid longings. Stopped reading it.
November 10, 2023
I cried, so bad, ugly cried, my tears still marked on some pages.
It was a shock for me at first, cried over it for so long, couldn’t keep reading for a while.
Until i read a page, that got me certain, some harsh things must happen, and it will definitely be for our own benefit, even if it broke our hearts now, and broke us. One day, in the far future, we will be grateful for them. Deeply grateful.
The book is so pretty, in every way possible, the way it was written, the way they lived, the years it took actions at, the fact it was from two perspectives, in two decades. Love stories in Paris, pretty dresses and gowns, Dior it self.
The characters development, the strength in most of them, and how they deal with their stuff. So inspiring.
I got so attached to the characters, to everything that happened, it broke me so bad at some parts, i cried even worse than while crying over the book thief. It may not make sense but it did happen! Not lots of things has to make sense do they? But ugh.
It had a slow start, tho how pretty it was, and how many lines I highlighted and admired, i wasn’t as hooked to binge reading it, and i also heard from my buddy read that she didn’t like how to ended. Which scared me. And got me taking my time reading it and enjoying it before (as i thought) it gets ruined. It didn’t tho. Yeah it ended in unexpected way.
But as i mentioned earlier, some stuff has to happen for our own benefit no matter how heartbreaking it may seem.
I totally love this book. And love how it got me feeling.
And i cannot be more grateful for Azreal, who stepped in when I couldn’t keep reading from crying over whats happening and suggested reading for me, which I appreciate so much! It really helped me finishing the book finally. (Her reading was so incredible that got me even smiling, tho what was happening was supposed to piss me off)
It was a shock for me at first, cried over it for so long, couldn’t keep reading for a while.
Until i read a page, that got me certain, some harsh things must happen, and it will definitely be for our own benefit, even if it broke our hearts now, and broke us. One day, in the far future, we will be grateful for them. Deeply grateful.
The book is so pretty, in every way possible, the way it was written, the way they lived, the years it took actions at, the fact it was from two perspectives, in two decades. Love stories in Paris, pretty dresses and gowns, Dior it self.
The characters development, the strength in most of them, and how they deal with their stuff. So inspiring.
I got so attached to the characters, to everything that happened, it broke me so bad at some parts, i cried even worse than while crying over the book thief. It may not make sense but it did happen! Not lots of things has to make sense do they? But ugh.
It had a slow start, tho how pretty it was, and how many lines I highlighted and admired, i wasn’t as hooked to binge reading it, and i also heard from my buddy read that she didn’t like how to ended. Which scared me. And got me taking my time reading it and enjoying it before (as i thought) it gets ruined. It didn’t tho. Yeah it ended in unexpected way.
But as i mentioned earlier, some stuff has to happen for our own benefit no matter how heartbreaking it may seem.
I totally love this book. And love how it got me feeling.
And i cannot be more grateful for Azreal, who stepped in when I couldn’t keep reading from crying over whats happening and suggested reading for me, which I appreciate so much! It really helped me finishing the book finally. (Her reading was so incredible that got me even smiling, tho what was happening was supposed to piss me off)
June 19, 2022
I liked this historical fiction/romance so much. It’s told in two timelines, one is postwar Paris where the city is recovering from the German occupation during WWII. The other is in modern times.
Lucille’s Granny Sylvie lived in Paris but never returned after she left, and she doesn’t talk about her time there. She sends her granddaughter Lucille to Paris to get a dress, but until she arrived Lucille didn’t realize it would turn out to be a scavenger hunt.
She teams up with her granny’s contact, a woman named Veronique, and Leon, whom she met at his father’s shop. His father knows about the dress and the people involved, and has some ideas for them.
They follow clues all over Paris that eventually lead to a beautiful couture Dior dress collection. The dresses were purchased by Alice Ainsley, the wife of the British ambassador to France in the post-war 1950s. Why does Granny Sylvie want another woman’s dresses?
Lucille finds pictures of Sylvie at fabulous parties, and one alone with a handsome man that’s not her grandfather. What exactly was Sylvie doing in Paris, why won’t she talk about it, and why didn’t she go back?
This book is beautifully written and well plotted. I love the twist at the end! The characters are vibrant and real, and the descriptions of Paris (and the food!) made me want to go back there again. 5 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.
Lucille’s Granny Sylvie lived in Paris but never returned after she left, and she doesn’t talk about her time there. She sends her granddaughter Lucille to Paris to get a dress, but until she arrived Lucille didn’t realize it would turn out to be a scavenger hunt.
She teams up with her granny’s contact, a woman named Veronique, and Leon, whom she met at his father’s shop. His father knows about the dress and the people involved, and has some ideas for them.
They follow clues all over Paris that eventually lead to a beautiful couture Dior dress collection. The dresses were purchased by Alice Ainsley, the wife of the British ambassador to France in the post-war 1950s. Why does Granny Sylvie want another woman’s dresses?
Lucille finds pictures of Sylvie at fabulous parties, and one alone with a handsome man that’s not her grandfather. What exactly was Sylvie doing in Paris, why won’t she talk about it, and why didn’t she go back?
This book is beautifully written and well plotted. I love the twist at the end! The characters are vibrant and real, and the descriptions of Paris (and the food!) made me want to go back there again. 5 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.
April 1, 2022
THE LAST DRESS FROM PARIS
by Jade Beer
Berkley Publishing Group
Pub Date: Jun 21
There are compelling dual timelines in this historical fiction gem. London, 2017, when Lucille is tasked by her grandmother to travel to Paris to find a certain Dior gown. While there, she locates something in a small Paris apartment that has her scrambling across the city for answers.
Then Paris, 1952, when the City of Light bustles with glamour post-war, drawing dignitaries such as Alice Ainsley, wife to the British ambassador to France. Although her husband gives her many gifts, including Dior gowns and jewels, she senses he's pulling away. Lonely with just her lady’s maid as confidante, Alice soon finds someone who makes her care not for consequences as she desires to heed her heart.
I was completely captivated by both eras, by the complicated relationships, the gorgeous Dior gowns, and the expansive story. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction, Paris, the Fifties, and haute couture.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#TheLastDressFromParis #JadeBeer
#berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley
#womensfiction #London2017 #Paris1952 #Dior #CoutureDresses #Romancenovel #mysterynovel #historicalfictionnovel
by Jade Beer
Berkley Publishing Group
Pub Date: Jun 21
There are compelling dual timelines in this historical fiction gem. London, 2017, when Lucille is tasked by her grandmother to travel to Paris to find a certain Dior gown. While there, she locates something in a small Paris apartment that has her scrambling across the city for answers.
Then Paris, 1952, when the City of Light bustles with glamour post-war, drawing dignitaries such as Alice Ainsley, wife to the British ambassador to France. Although her husband gives her many gifts, including Dior gowns and jewels, she senses he's pulling away. Lonely with just her lady’s maid as confidante, Alice soon finds someone who makes her care not for consequences as she desires to heed her heart.
I was completely captivated by both eras, by the complicated relationships, the gorgeous Dior gowns, and the expansive story. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction, Paris, the Fifties, and haute couture.
Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#TheLastDressFromParis #JadeBeer
#berkleypublishinggroup #NetGalley
#womensfiction #London2017 #Paris1952 #Dior #CoutureDresses #Romancenovel #mysterynovel #historicalfictionnovel
May 31, 2025
The Last Dress from Paris is told in parallel narratives in alternative timelines. When I read books constructed in this way, I often dislike the more contemporary narrative. Not this time. I enjoyed 2017 and 1952 in equal measure.
I am no fashionista, but I found this book about haute couture intriguing. The relationship between grandmother and granddaughter is charming—completely unlike what I experienced with my own and one I pray for with my own granddaughters.
Both primary characters are deeply written and likeable; Granny’s emotional strength is especially astonishing. I also appreciated the mystery components of the book, and in the case, I even liked the romance!
On the downside, though, I’ve read too many books about granddaughters who find out about their grandmothers’ secret lives. It’s getting tiresome. Come on publishers, let’s be more innovative!
The Last Dress from Paris is perfect for fans of The Gown (Jennifer Robison) and The Good Left Undone (Adriana Trigiani). 4 stars.
I am no fashionista, but I found this book about haute couture intriguing. The relationship between grandmother and granddaughter is charming—completely unlike what I experienced with my own and one I pray for with my own granddaughters.
Both primary characters are deeply written and likeable; Granny’s emotional strength is especially astonishing. I also appreciated the mystery components of the book, and in the case, I even liked the romance!
On the downside, though, I’ve read too many books about granddaughters who find out about their grandmothers’ secret lives. It’s getting tiresome. Come on publishers, let’s be more innovative!
The Last Dress from Paris is perfect for fans of The Gown (Jennifer Robison) and The Good Left Undone (Adriana Trigiani). 4 stars.
April 18, 2023
Una historia preciosa y muy emotiva sobre como los lazos de amistad pueden perdurar a pesar de la distancia y circunstancias, un reencuentro entre madres e hijas, una historia de amor y ocho confecciones de la Casa Dior que nos llevan de la mano a descubir un gran secreto.
Lean "Los ocho vestidos de Dior" si desean disfrutar de una historia romántica que combine el glamour de la alta costura parisina y la resilencia que puede albergar una madre. Una historia con un final tan dulce que será imposible no soltar el libro con una sonrisa en el rostro...
``Encuentra el amor verdadero, aunque te destroce el corazòn. Debes darte la oportunidad de vivirlo. Persigue tu felicidad. Està esperando a que la encuentres.``
Lean "Los ocho vestidos de Dior" si desean disfrutar de una historia romántica que combine el glamour de la alta costura parisina y la resilencia que puede albergar una madre. Una historia con un final tan dulce que será imposible no soltar el libro con una sonrisa en el rostro...
``Encuentra el amor verdadero, aunque te destroce el corazòn. Debes darte la oportunidad de vivirlo. Persigue tu felicidad. Està esperando a que la encuentres.``
June 14, 2023
4.25 stars Page turner
The Dior gowns in this historical fiction romance are real and are on display in various museums. The only one I could not find a picture of was the last one. This is the first book I have read by this author. I expected a different story than what this was. This is a very good family drama/romance/historical fiction taking place in London and Paris in two different time periods. I am not a romance novel fan but I enjoyed her writing very much.
The Dior gowns in this historical fiction romance are real and are on display in various museums. The only one I could not find a picture of was the last one. This is the first book I have read by this author. I expected a different story than what this was. This is a very good family drama/romance/historical fiction taking place in London and Paris in two different time periods. I am not a romance novel fan but I enjoyed her writing very much.
November 29, 2022
Un recorrido del estilo de Dior a través de la historia de una nieta y su abuela. Qué llega a París buscando un vestido.
August 12, 2024
O ficțiune istorică simpatică, dar care nu ajunge pe lista mea de preferate. 🤷🏻♀️
Asta nu înseamnă că nu o recomand, căci o fac. A fost frumoasă povestea, doar că n-am fost eu trup și suflet cu ea.
Ca să n-o lungim prea mult, mi-a plăcut și aici ce-mi place mereu în ficțiuni istorice: bucata de trecut, povestea de dragoste plină de obstacole și elementele unei perioade trecute.
Aș fi vrut să fie mai complexă totuși, mai bine ancorată în spațiul istoric, să mă facă să empatizez mai mult.
Sunt curioasă ce va mai scrie autoarea pe viitor 👀.
Asta nu înseamnă că nu o recomand, căci o fac. A fost frumoasă povestea, doar că n-am fost eu trup și suflet cu ea.
Ca să n-o lungim prea mult, mi-a plăcut și aici ce-mi place mereu în ficțiuni istorice: bucata de trecut, povestea de dragoste plină de obstacole și elementele unei perioade trecute.
Aș fi vrut să fie mai complexă totuși, mai bine ancorată în spațiul istoric, să mă facă să empatizez mai mult.
Sunt curioasă ce va mai scrie autoarea pe viitor 👀.
June 14, 2022
The Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer is a dual timeline novel that takes place in 2017 and 1952. A grandmother (Granny Sylvie) tasks her granddaughter (Lucille) with recovering a special dress from Paris. It sounds like an easy task, but grandmum may have left out a few details. Lucille soon finds herself on a journey in Paris that could change her life. I thought the story was well-written. Jade Beer is a descriptive writer. I enjoyed the word imagery of the couture dresses. I could imagine sitting at the Dior fashion shows seeing all the gorgeous creations. I delighted in the detailed descriptions of Paris. I thought the author beautifully blended the two timelines together. The Last Dress from Paris has a forbidden romance, couture fashions, elaborate parties, Paris landmarks, a dress hunt, friendship, a strained mother/daughter relationship, and an unexpected romance. I liked the strong female friendship between Anne and Alice. I did have a hard time getting into the story. It took me some time to become engaged. I did find Alice’s storyline to be on the sad side, but it was balance with the more upbeat atmosphere in Lucille’s storyline. I like that we get to see Lucille grow and become self-assured. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. The Last Dress from Paris is a heartfelt tale about friendships, fashion, and familial relationships.
August 12, 2022
A dual timeline historical fiction novel that takes place mostly in Paris. In the 1950s, Alice's husband is the British ambassador to France. Married life isn't quite what she imagined it would be, and when she meets Antoine, her heart is pulled in another direction. In the present day, Lucille's grandmother asks her to venture to France to retrieve a Dior gown from her youth, but the trip turns into something much more than Lucille bargained for. I really enjoyed this book! Paris is always a wonderful setting, and I was so drawn into Alice's story. I loved seeing the way she blossomed with Antoine and how taken he was with her. Her closetful of Dior dresses sounded so glamorous, and I found myself Googling images of the dresses. I wasn't as crazy about Lucille; she sounded a little innocent and clueless at times, but I liked her journey to find her grandmother's dress. That there was such history and such memories behind the items of clothing was really interesting. Of course, family secrets abound, but the story unfolds nicely, if not a little predictably.
September 30, 2022
En realidad 2,75 y es por la historia de Alice, porque Lucille es insoportable y su historia absurda.
July 5, 2023
Más que hermoso, perfecto 👌🏻 el amor en su máxima expresión.
June 23, 2022
Thank you #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary e-Arc of #TheLastDressFromParis upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Do you own a dress that could tell a story?
In dual timelines (2017 and 1952), The Last Dress From Paris is a page-turning story of family secrets, romance, and couture. In the present-day timeline, Lucille’s grandmother asks her to go to Paris and retrieve a priceless Dior dress for her. Upon Lucille’s arrival in Paris, she realizes that there’s more than one dress and a mystery involving her grandmother’s past to solve.
In historical fiction, a grandmother’s secret uncovered by a granddaughter is a commonly used trope. This allows the author to provide us with a side of mystery and intrigue as well as a multigenerational relationship.
One of the reasons I liked this story is its structure. In alternating chapters, the past unfolds as present-day discoveries are made. I also appreciate that the story uses the eight dresses as an informal organizational structure. Each dress represents an important development in the story as it unfolds and we gain a more complete picture.
I love a story with likable characters you can root for, and there are reasons to admire the woman in each timeline. Alice (1952) is a risktaker which causes her to make difficult decisions. Lucille (2017) is determined to solve the mystery of her grandmother’s past. Throughout the story, we’re never quite sure which character the grandmother is until all is revealed and made clear in the end.
If you love the world of couture, design, and, fashion, you will have extra reasons to appreciate this story. The couture Dior dresses are easily googled!
Thoughtful themes include family secrets, difficult decisions, risk-taking, found family, reconciliation, forgiveness, sacrificial love, and daughter/mother/grandmother relationships.
I think fans of historical women’s fiction and couture (Dior) with a side of page-turning mystery and romance (closed door) will appreciate The Last Dress From Paris.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
Do you own a dress that could tell a story?
In dual timelines (2017 and 1952), The Last Dress From Paris is a page-turning story of family secrets, romance, and couture. In the present-day timeline, Lucille’s grandmother asks her to go to Paris and retrieve a priceless Dior dress for her. Upon Lucille’s arrival in Paris, she realizes that there’s more than one dress and a mystery involving her grandmother’s past to solve.
In historical fiction, a grandmother’s secret uncovered by a granddaughter is a commonly used trope. This allows the author to provide us with a side of mystery and intrigue as well as a multigenerational relationship.
One of the reasons I liked this story is its structure. In alternating chapters, the past unfolds as present-day discoveries are made. I also appreciate that the story uses the eight dresses as an informal organizational structure. Each dress represents an important development in the story as it unfolds and we gain a more complete picture.
I love a story with likable characters you can root for, and there are reasons to admire the woman in each timeline. Alice (1952) is a risktaker which causes her to make difficult decisions. Lucille (2017) is determined to solve the mystery of her grandmother’s past. Throughout the story, we’re never quite sure which character the grandmother is until all is revealed and made clear in the end.
If you love the world of couture, design, and, fashion, you will have extra reasons to appreciate this story. The couture Dior dresses are easily googled!
Thoughtful themes include family secrets, difficult decisions, risk-taking, found family, reconciliation, forgiveness, sacrificial love, and daughter/mother/grandmother relationships.
I think fans of historical women’s fiction and couture (Dior) with a side of page-turning mystery and romance (closed door) will appreciate The Last Dress From Paris.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
March 20, 2022
A brilliant book that will stay with me for a long time. I know it took me a day to read and believe me I went slow, stopping to do life and eat. A thoroughly engrossing novel of strong love. The story goes between past and present which, to be honest, I am never a fan of BUT it works here.
Someone amazing created this story board. I would love to see it. I need to research this author. What a a well researched and imaginative book. The author thought long and hard about Alice and Anne, the creation of these cards and the description of places. I appreciate each and every one. I looked at videos and photos of St Germain des pres Church. I googled the heck out out Dior. There is nothing like classic couture from the 50’s Every dress named has the most vivid description.
Creating the image of Alice, the wife of a diplomat, is organized, has a staff, prepares, shops, attends events, I mean she does it all. Alice had this "job" that she was more than capable of. It doesn't take a genius to see that something is missing. in her life. He husband Albert is a man typical of the political nature. I imagine the story board with Albert and some dashing wool suits. Very clean cut dapper and elegant. I dont know who he would look like but the fabric next to his photo would be amazing. Together for only a few years, there is nothing left between them. She is just there to be a puppet, sad, very sad. .
Then the formation of Marianne "Anne" and Alice is what totally wrapped up the package for me. Anne has a story, they bond, and she becomes the best friend that Alice could ever have. This is a personal assistant that dresses and undresses Alice. That is a bond.
Antione was .....young but somehow so worldly. He spoke deep thoughts. He was so smart and the talent described was precise. The author creates these visuals in my mind about what he draws that is so descriptive. I want to say so much more, but I dont want to spoil it.
A few of the sub characters are Veronique and Leon. What to say about Leon? His grandfather and the connection. I saw just a bit of Antione in him. Veronique's story was simply shocking.
To Jade Beer 🥂 you are awesome!! You made me cry and that’s pretty hard
Someone amazing created this story board. I would love to see it. I need to research this author. What a a well researched and imaginative book. The author thought long and hard about Alice and Anne, the creation of these cards and the description of places. I appreciate each and every one. I looked at videos and photos of St Germain des pres Church. I googled the heck out out Dior. There is nothing like classic couture from the 50’s Every dress named has the most vivid description.
Creating the image of Alice, the wife of a diplomat, is organized, has a staff, prepares, shops, attends events, I mean she does it all. Alice had this "job" that she was more than capable of. It doesn't take a genius to see that something is missing. in her life. He husband Albert is a man typical of the political nature. I imagine the story board with Albert and some dashing wool suits. Very clean cut dapper and elegant. I dont know who he would look like but the fabric next to his photo would be amazing. Together for only a few years, there is nothing left between them. She is just there to be a puppet, sad, very sad. .
Then the formation of Marianne "Anne" and Alice is what totally wrapped up the package for me. Anne has a story, they bond, and she becomes the best friend that Alice could ever have. This is a personal assistant that dresses and undresses Alice. That is a bond.
Antione was .....young but somehow so worldly. He spoke deep thoughts. He was so smart and the talent described was precise. The author creates these visuals in my mind about what he draws that is so descriptive. I want to say so much more, but I dont want to spoil it.
A few of the sub characters are Veronique and Leon. What to say about Leon? His grandfather and the connection. I saw just a bit of Antione in him. Veronique's story was simply shocking.
To Jade Beer 🥂 you are awesome!! You made me cry and that’s pretty hard
March 19, 2023
En realidad es un 2.5
No me gustó el estilo narrativo de la autora. El libro se torna repetitivo y las acciones de los personajes no tienen fundamento. Detesto cuando en una historia hacen que un personaje se vea mal solo porque si, o para beneficio de otro. Y muchas decisiones que tomaron los protagonistas quedaron en el aire, no hay una razón lógica de por qué lo hicieron.
Además, creo que es una historia que se pudo haber contado en 200 páginas, a este libro le sobran muchas y eso es porque la autora repite y repite lo mismo un capítulo tras otro.
No me gustó el estilo narrativo de la autora. El libro se torna repetitivo y las acciones de los personajes no tienen fundamento. Detesto cuando en una historia hacen que un personaje se vea mal solo porque si, o para beneficio de otro. Y muchas decisiones que tomaron los protagonistas quedaron en el aire, no hay una razón lógica de por qué lo hicieron.
Además, creo que es una historia que se pudo haber contado en 200 páginas, a este libro le sobran muchas y eso es porque la autora repite y repite lo mismo un capítulo tras otro.
May 12, 2023
Gave this book a 4* but thinking about it for a while decided to give it a big 5*s. Wonderful story about family, romance, and Dior.
December 25, 2025
2.5 out of 5 stars
Too slow and a bit boring in the beginning and the plot was very predictable. I would have liked the book if it was told from Alice’s point of view only, Lucille was very naive and unlikeable. The ending of the story makes up for it, but it felt very rushed unfortunately.
Too slow and a bit boring in the beginning and the plot was very predictable. I would have liked the book if it was told from Alice’s point of view only, Lucille was very naive and unlikeable. The ending of the story makes up for it, but it felt very rushed unfortunately.
September 16, 2022
Un libro entretenido sin más.
July 3, 2022
Alice, the wife of the British Ambassador to France in the early 1950s, dresses for public appearances in head-to-toe Dior. She attends runway shows, gives parties and generally lives a bird-in-a-gilded-cage sort of existence. It doesn't help that her husband is cold and formal and twenty-four years her senior. Little wonder, then, that when she meets an aspiring artist at a cocktail party, sparks begin to fly. Hands touch, walks in Parisian parks and churches are taken and Alice and Antoine fall in love. Sixty years later Lillian's granny Sylvie asks her to go to Paris to retrieve a Dior dress from the daughter of a friend who has recently died. One dress turns out to be eight, complete with dated cards listing the last time each was worn. There are two cards with no dress attached and Lillian finds herself on a treasure hunt around Paris to see if she can find a trace of either of the other two Diors. One of the two missing ones is called The Maxims. Both 1950s haute Paris and 2017 contemporary Paris are evoked beautifully. The two friends Lillian makes are warm and wonderful and the adventure of travel helps her to blossom into a confident woman. I loved this, not the least for the things I learned about the House of Dior.
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