The Secret Dressmaker

by Jenny O'Brien

278 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2026

About the author

Hi and thanks for stopping by.

I took up writing about twenty years ago when I first came up with a plot for a book, and I haven't stopped since. When I’m not writing, I’m ferrying around 3 teenagers or working as a nurse. I’m also an all-year-round sea swimmer.
I write what I love to read, which is romance and thrillers.

My next release, out February, 2026, is The Resistance Knitting Club, a World War 2 historical novel set in Guernsey, the UK and France. I am currently working on my third WW2 novel.

If you like my writing please get in touch - my social media links are below (I’m rarely on Goodreads so it’s best not to drop me a message here). I also have a newsletter, which you can sign up to via my website.

Jenny O

Facebook: Jenny O'Brien Guernsey Writer
Twitter: scribblerjb
Instagram: scribblerjb

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second in this fascinating series. Set in France this was a story of many layers and a few surprises. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[martyn benny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien is a beautifully crafted historical novel that seamlessly blends emotion, resilience, and hope into an unforgettable reading experience. Rich in atmosphere and filled with compelling characters, this is the kind of story that transports readers to another era while reminding them of the enduring strength of the human spirit.

O'Brien excels at creating authentic, relatable characters whose struggles and triumphs feel deeply personal. The narrative unfolds with grace, balancing moments of tension with heartfelt emotion, while the historical backdrop adds remarkable depth and authenticity. Every chapter reveals new layers of courage, sacrifice, and determination, making it difficult to put the book down.

The title itself hints at a story woven with creativity, identity, and hidden strength, and the novel delivers on those expectations with elegance. Themes of love, resilience, and perseverance are explored with sensitivity, creating an emotional connection that lingers long after the final page.

Historical fiction enthusiasts will appreciate the meticulous attention to detail, while readers who enjoy character-driven stories will find themselves fully invested in every twist and emotional revelation. Jenny O'Brien has written a novel that is both captivating and deeply moving, celebrating the extraordinary courage found in ordinary people during challenging times.

A memorable and inspiring read, The Secret Dressmaker is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction filled with heart, hope, and unforgettable storytelling.

[Tuscania · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. It was a good story until it wasn’t. The story ended abruptly and we never found out whether Flora found her 2 other daughters.

[Deborah J Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a big fan of Jenny O'Brien's work, I was already eager to read The Secret Dressmaker, even before digesting the blurb. When I did finally read it, I just knew this was a book I'd really enjoy as it covers a period in history that I am particularly interested in and, through the author's meticulous research, I'd learn something more about that time. From the blurb I'd already learned that Edith Piaf sang in a brothel during the war years and I was sure there would be more titbits to glean. And there was!

This is an emotional story about love and ties that bind set against the backdrop of occupied Paris. This second book in the Threads of Resistance series reveals more of the ingenuity employed at that time, in finding ways to pass messages covertly. There is mention of coded knitting - a nod to the first book in this series - and which, in this story, inspires the creation of patchwork quilts that would also conceal a hidden message.

As I read, I like to guess how the plot will unfold, sometimes with predicatable accuracy. Obviously I enjoy a story more if I'm wrong-footed occasionally and The Secret Dressmaker had a few surprising twists I definitely hadn't seen coming.

The ending didn't answer all my questions, much as life never rounds things off neatly, but made me want to learn more of Flora's quest to know her daughters.

I highly recommend The Secret Dressmaker to readers who enjoy well-researched, historical, women's fiction set in this era.