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Lovesick Mannequins
Not yet published
Expected 18 Jun 26It only takes a loose stitch to unravel someone’s heart.
Celine LeBeau is a socialite whose face is plastered on every magazine in Paris. Modelling the lines of Chanel and the other major Houses, Celine dreams to join their ranks one day as a designer herself. When Maison Baudelaire announces a competition where the winner will inherit the rights to the fashion house and ten thousand francs, Celine is the first to apply. The only things missing are: a model to wear her gowns and a limitless amount of lies to tell her controlling mother and her boyfriend Jacques until the competition is over.
Bastien Ménard is a known womaniser who graces the scandal sheets with tales of his lavish parties and strings of broken hearts. When his latest soiree gets out of control and his brother Jacques tells their grandfather, Bastien is forced to find a way to pay for everything he’s spent. Unfit for any kind of labour and intent on making his brother pay, Bastien’s only solution is one dazzling girl.
Desperate to win, Celine agrees to share the competition prize with Bastien in exchange for his secrecy. Bastien agrees to become her model in exchange for the money and…to steal her heart from Jacques. As every round they pass inside Maison Baudelaire draws them closer together, they realise that they have to give up something:
Celine the glittering life she already has in order to make her dreams come true and Bastien his own selfish heart in order to steal another.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication June 18, 2026
About the author
Anna Harmon
2 books18 followersAnna Harmon is a historical fiction writer with an inkling for romanticising everything, especially unconventional characters. She has a degree in Classics and English, which she puts to good use when crafting her novels, besides using it as a dust gatherer on her wall. On the rare occasion she isn’t coming up with her next story, you can find her ruminating world domination along with her cats.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 29, 2025
Lovesick Mannequins is, simply put, a work of art.
With tenderly written phrases, absolute chaos, and a bit of scandal, Anna Harmon will surely transport you into the world of these fantastic characters and the intricately threaded journey they go on
With tenderly written phrases, absolute chaos, and a bit of scandal, Anna Harmon will surely transport you into the world of these fantastic characters and the intricately threaded journey they go on
May 7, 2026
I was lucky enough to be allowed to read Anna's work prior to publishing, and without bias, I have to say WOW, this book is wonderful??
You can tell when an author writes because they truly love the art and like reading and books in general. Lovesick Mannequins reads easily, while also having intricate language. Whereas it is easy for authors to word-vomit on their pages in an effort to create a scene in such detail, Anna managed to write in a perfect manner that shares enough with us to set the ambience and setting of a scene, without making one want to skim due to irrelevance. BASICALLY, good stuff x
I have not even discussed the characters, which are all so unique and lovable in their own way. Each character has a distinct personality and adds to the story in their own way.
Specifically, Bastien and Celine. They are complex with dreams and ambitions, they have insecurities and things that hold them back. Most importantly, while great on their own, they are capable of thriving together without diminishing their counterpart. (Also, the banter is SOOO funny)
There is so much I want to say about Lovesick Mannequins, but I fear I'd end up spoiling way too much. Bottomline, this book will hold a special place in my heart forever <3 Great job Anna!!!
You can tell when an author writes because they truly love the art and like reading and books in general. Lovesick Mannequins reads easily, while also having intricate language. Whereas it is easy for authors to word-vomit on their pages in an effort to create a scene in such detail, Anna managed to write in a perfect manner that shares enough with us to set the ambience and setting of a scene, without making one want to skim due to irrelevance. BASICALLY, good stuff x
I have not even discussed the characters, which are all so unique and lovable in their own way. Each character has a distinct personality and adds to the story in their own way.
Specifically, Bastien and Celine. They are complex with dreams and ambitions, they have insecurities and things that hold them back. Most importantly, while great on their own, they are capable of thriving together without diminishing their counterpart. (Also, the banter is SOOO funny)
There is so much I want to say about Lovesick Mannequins, but I fear I'd end up spoiling way too much. Bottomline, this book will hold a special place in my heart forever <3 Great job Anna!!!
March 1, 2025
obsessed is an understatement
Review of advance copy received from Author
If it wasn't for my exams, I would have devoured this book in a week, tops!
! May contain spoilers !
Lovesick Mannequins is a historical romance set in the glittering world of Paris, 1920's. Think of glamour, haute couture fashion, love, and scandal! We follow the ever-galant Celine whose life has been planned out for her. She's meant to be married to her childhood friend Jacques Ménard, but despite him being kind and a real gentleman to her, her heart longs for something else: fashion! She dreams of being a fashion designer and thus secretly enters a competition at the fashion house she admires, with Jacques' brother, Bastien, nevertheless. Can you feel the drama? Bastien is a real heartthrob and gets disowned by his family...ouch. So he helps Celine by being her model in the competition, where he hopefully wins the prize money and gets revenge on Jacques. However, as these two bicker and banter, swear and insult each other with the most amusing threats, they connect emotionally. Harmon wrote a really touching, slow-burning romance about two passionate young adults trying to follow their hearts in a strict social system. Their chemistry was on point, and while it took them some time and heartbreaks, they got there (in an unexpected way).
The side characters were layered and contributed well to the story. Jacques was just as confined as Celine and Bastien, although it took some while to see that. He was really trying to be understanding and supportive towards Celine. This kind of character is what I would love to see more of, instead of portraying such a character as villainous. There's also Anaïs, the sister of Jacques and Bastien, and leaning towards the female side of the love spectrum. So she's a real feminist and knows all too well the social confinements gazing over their shoulders. She's such a girlboss, and I love her for putting everyone in place or being the one who shakes a character up, you know? Anaïs is the person who gives you a passive-aggressive motivation to follow your heart. Coco, a fellow competitor, was also really interesting. I hope we get to see more of her, because I could sense a story there👀 Despite being Celine's competitor, she knew the lines between competition and friends, which I think is really important (and complex) to know.
Finally, the overall themes and tropes were just amazing and fit the story perfectly. Harmon created this lavish world about social expectations, following your heart, trying to figure out what you want, and grief, all wrapped in 1920's Parisian fashion. As a fashion-lover, I can guarantee you that Harmon knows what she's writing about. Her passion is evident in her writing. The story is perfectly paced and easy to follow. You'll get immersed in the socialite parties and progressive costumes. It's important to note that she not only wrote about the elite class's world, but also showed its hardship and an emotionally darker undertone.
Overall, a 4.8! 🌟
Thank you, Anna Harmon, for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
! May contain spoilers !
Lovesick Mannequins is a historical romance set in the glittering world of Paris, 1920's. Think of glamour, haute couture fashion, love, and scandal! We follow the ever-galant Celine whose life has been planned out for her. She's meant to be married to her childhood friend Jacques Ménard, but despite him being kind and a real gentleman to her, her heart longs for something else: fashion! She dreams of being a fashion designer and thus secretly enters a competition at the fashion house she admires, with Jacques' brother, Bastien, nevertheless. Can you feel the drama? Bastien is a real heartthrob and gets disowned by his family...ouch. So he helps Celine by being her model in the competition, where he hopefully wins the prize money and gets revenge on Jacques. However, as these two bicker and banter, swear and insult each other with the most amusing threats, they connect emotionally. Harmon wrote a really touching, slow-burning romance about two passionate young adults trying to follow their hearts in a strict social system. Their chemistry was on point, and while it took them some time and heartbreaks, they got there (in an unexpected way).
The side characters were layered and contributed well to the story. Jacques was just as confined as Celine and Bastien, although it took some while to see that. He was really trying to be understanding and supportive towards Celine. This kind of character is what I would love to see more of, instead of portraying such a character as villainous. There's also Anaïs, the sister of Jacques and Bastien, and leaning towards the female side of the love spectrum. So she's a real feminist and knows all too well the social confinements gazing over their shoulders. She's such a girlboss, and I love her for putting everyone in place or being the one who shakes a character up, you know? Anaïs is the person who gives you a passive-aggressive motivation to follow your heart. Coco, a fellow competitor, was also really interesting. I hope we get to see more of her, because I could sense a story there👀 Despite being Celine's competitor, she knew the lines between competition and friends, which I think is really important (and complex) to know.
Finally, the overall themes and tropes were just amazing and fit the story perfectly. Harmon created this lavish world about social expectations, following your heart, trying to figure out what you want, and grief, all wrapped in 1920's Parisian fashion. As a fashion-lover, I can guarantee you that Harmon knows what she's writing about. Her passion is evident in her writing. The story is perfectly paced and easy to follow. You'll get immersed in the socialite parties and progressive costumes. It's important to note that she not only wrote about the elite class's world, but also showed its hardship and an emotionally darker undertone.
Overall, a 4.8! 🌟
Thank you, Anna Harmon, for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews