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The Secret Dressmaker
Shelves of sequins in a kaleidoscope of colours. Bolts of silk and tulle against the back wall. The sewing room was the last place anyone had seen her daughter alive.
Northern Ireland, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. When British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls – now young women in occupied Paris – her world shifts. One is safe. One has vanished. And their father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.
Flora agrees to a dangerous parachute into France, pose as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, and uncover the truth. Lodging above a brothel where Edith Piaf sings after hours and where Pablo Picasso still holds court, she mends costumes, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien.
But Lucien isn't the man she remembers. Neither is their history. And what Flora discovers will unravel everything she thought she knew – about Lucien, about her daughters, and about the night she gave them away.
A sweeping tale of wartime Paris, family secrets and impossible choices. Fans of Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah will be mesmerised by The Secret Dressmaker.
Northern Ireland, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. When British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls – now young women in occupied Paris – her world shifts. One is safe. One has vanished. And their father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.
Flora agrees to a dangerous parachute into France, pose as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, and uncover the truth. Lodging above a brothel where Edith Piaf sings after hours and where Pablo Picasso still holds court, she mends costumes, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien.
But Lucien isn't the man she remembers. Neither is their history. And what Flora discovers will unravel everything she thought she knew – about Lucien, about her daughters, and about the night she gave them away.
A sweeping tale of wartime Paris, family secrets and impossible choices. Fans of Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah will be mesmerised by The Secret Dressmaker.
278 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 1, 2026
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.
August 9, 2026
I love it when historical fiction is based on real people.
I am not a fashionista but I do like reading about people who design and make clothes. But when Flora was doing the calculations I skipped that part since math gives me a headache.
Tomas was my favorite character and Lucien my least liked. I thought Flora was way too nice to him.
There were a couple of surprises in the story that I didn’t see coming.
I liked the author’s end notes.
Thanks NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advance copy.
I am not a fashionista but I do like reading about people who design and make clothes. But when Flora was doing the calculations I skipped that part since math gives me a headache.
Tomas was my favorite character and Lucien my least liked. I thought Flora was way too nice to him.
There were a couple of surprises in the story that I didn’t see coming.
I liked the author’s end notes.
Thanks NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advance copy.
June 30, 2026
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.
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.
October 2, 2026
I loved The Secret Dressmaker. Flora’s story completely pulled me in, especially her determination to uncover the truth about the daughters she was forced to give up and what happened to them.
One of my favorite parts was how Jenny O’Brien intertwined famous historical figures, including Edith Piaf and Pablo Picasso, into Flora’s story. They helped bring occupied Paris to life, but never overshadowed Flora or made the book feel like it was relying on recognizable names. This remained Flora’s story from beginning to end.
The combination of family secrets, espionage, motherhood, and wartime Paris kept me invested throughout. I especially loved how personal Flora’s story remained even as she became caught up in much larger historical events.
My only frustration was the cliffhanger. I was so invested in Flora, her daughters, and the secrets surrounding her past that I wanted more answers before the final page. I definitely need to know what happens next.
Overall, this was an immersive and emotional historical fiction novel and an easy five-star read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
One of my favorite parts was how Jenny O’Brien intertwined famous historical figures, including Edith Piaf and Pablo Picasso, into Flora’s story. They helped bring occupied Paris to life, but never overshadowed Flora or made the book feel like it was relying on recognizable names. This remained Flora’s story from beginning to end.
The combination of family secrets, espionage, motherhood, and wartime Paris kept me invested throughout. I especially loved how personal Flora’s story remained even as she became caught up in much larger historical events.
My only frustration was the cliffhanger. I was so invested in Flora, her daughters, and the secrets surrounding her past that I wanted more answers before the final page. I definitely need to know what happens next.
Overall, this was an immersive and emotional historical fiction novel and an easy five-star read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2026
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.
July 12, 2026
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews