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Suzanne
Painted by the great men of Paris, a teenage model secretly teaches herself to paint, determined to step out of the frame even as poverty, motherhood and scandal conspire to push her back in.
Inspired by the life of Suzanne Valadon, Suzanne follows a young French woman through the studios, cafés and scandals of Belle Époque Paris as she moves from model and muse to artist in her own right.
Born into poverty and drawn into the orbit of painters, poets and performers, Suzanne learns by watching. While others paint her, she studies them: their technique, their ambition, and their assumptions about women and art. But talent is only part of the struggle. Motherhood, desire, reputation and survival all threaten to pull her back into the frame others have made for her.
A novel of art, ambition, motherhood and self-invention, Suzanne is historical fiction about the cost of becoming oneself.
Inspired by the life of Suzanne Valadon, Suzanne follows a young French woman through the studios, cafés and scandals of Belle Époque Paris as she moves from model and muse to artist in her own right.
Born into poverty and drawn into the orbit of painters, poets and performers, Suzanne learns by watching. While others paint her, she studies them: their technique, their ambition, and their assumptions about women and art. But talent is only part of the struggle. Motherhood, desire, reputation and survival all threaten to pull her back into the frame others have made for her.
A novel of art, ambition, motherhood and self-invention, Suzanne is historical fiction about the cost of becoming oneself.
373 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2026
About the author
Michael Saxton
2 books2 followersMichael Saxton writes historical fiction inspired by real lives, private loyalties and the moments when ordinary people are caught inside larger events.
A lifelong reader, he studied History of Art at UCL before beginning a career in public relations and marketing. Fiction was always there in the background. Early on, one of his short stories unexpectedly won him a £10,000 motorbike, a wonderfully surreal encouragement to keep going.
After years of writing around the edges of working life, Michael returned more seriously to fiction. A Faber course helped him find the discipline and momentum to complete his first novel, All Friendship Brings.
His new novel, Suzanne, follows a young Suzanne Valadon through the studios, cafés and scandals of Belle Époque Paris as she moves from model and muse to artist in her own right.
Michael lives and works in London. His fascination with art, politics, friendship and the private lives behind public events continues to shape his fiction.
A lifelong reader, he studied History of Art at UCL before beginning a career in public relations and marketing. Fiction was always there in the background. Early on, one of his short stories unexpectedly won him a £10,000 motorbike, a wonderfully surreal encouragement to keep going.
After years of writing around the edges of working life, Michael returned more seriously to fiction. A Faber course helped him find the discipline and momentum to complete his first novel, All Friendship Brings.
His new novel, Suzanne, follows a young Suzanne Valadon through the studios, cafés and scandals of Belle Époque Paris as she moves from model and muse to artist in her own right.
Michael lives and works in London. His fascination with art, politics, friendship and the private lives behind public events continues to shape his fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 24, 2026
3.5/5 Stars
I'm always wary when an author approaches me directly to read their self-published book, at least when it is someone I don't know personally. However, I had a window in my reading list, and was excited to get a book that would qualify for #ParisInJuly this year, so I agreed. While this isn't perfect, it has the potential to be excellent, and is still a good read if you have patience to get over 1/3 of the way into it.
My full review can be found here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2026/07/2...
I'm always wary when an author approaches me directly to read their self-published book, at least when it is someone I don't know personally. However, I had a window in my reading list, and was excited to get a book that would qualify for #ParisInJuly this year, so I agreed. While this isn't perfect, it has the potential to be excellent, and is still a good read if you have patience to get over 1/3 of the way into it.
My full review can be found here https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2026/07/2...
October 7, 2026
I couldn't put it down
What a fun read! Michael Saxton’s Suzanne explores the turbulent life of French artist Suzanne Valadon as she transitions from a model into a celebrated painter. The historical novel poignantly captures Valadon’s tenacity, framing her as a strong protagonist navigating immense personal and career struggles. If you love rich historical fiction this book deserves a spot on your reading list.
What a fun read! Michael Saxton’s Suzanne explores the turbulent life of French artist Suzanne Valadon as she transitions from a model into a celebrated painter. The historical novel poignantly captures Valadon’s tenacity, framing her as a strong protagonist navigating immense personal and career struggles. If you love rich historical fiction this book deserves a spot on your reading list.
August 13, 2026
A fascinating stroll through insights and tribulations of overlooked artist in historical fiction.
Told with a gentle kindness - Saxton writes with effortless storytelling that threads a fine balance of historic detail and sympathetic character narrative. The first few chapters are perhaps delivered in a fast paced but perfunctory style, but don't let this dissuade you from pushing through, by the third or fourth chapter, the writing gets into an effortless and pleasing stride.
By end of part two the narrative truly hits its marks with a beautiful natural dialog combined with fascinating historic detail. I felt entertained and inspired to uncover more about an artist I know woefully little about, nestled amongst some of the most famous titans of École de Paris.
Told with a gentle kindness - Saxton writes with effortless storytelling that threads a fine balance of historic detail and sympathetic character narrative. The first few chapters are perhaps delivered in a fast paced but perfunctory style, but don't let this dissuade you from pushing through, by the third or fourth chapter, the writing gets into an effortless and pleasing stride.
By end of part two the narrative truly hits its marks with a beautiful natural dialog combined with fascinating historic detail. I felt entertained and inspired to uncover more about an artist I know woefully little about, nestled amongst some of the most famous titans of École de Paris.
September 29, 2026
A nice historical account of a self-made woman painter, at the time when the art world was dominated by men. I was most curious about this Suzanne Valadon, who started her career in Montmartre as model for famous artists such as Berthe Morrisot, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir; but later on became "one of them" - as Edgar Degas had said at that time - the model had become the peer of the artists she had posed for. Suzanne had always been persistent in both her art and her dealings with blood-sucker art dealer, and with people who was on the way between her and her son's happiness.
My full review: https://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2026...
My full review: https://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2026...
August 8, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed Suzanne. It completely drew me in and was one of those books where I kept saying I’d read just one more chapter and then ended up carrying on!
I really wanted to know what was going to happen and found myself getting very invested in Suzanne and the other characters. There were plenty of moments that kept me guessing and I loved how the story gradually unfolded.
It was gripping, easy to get into and difficult to put down. I was actually a bit disappointed when I finished it because I’d enjoyed reading it so much! Definitely a 5-star read for me and one I’d happily recommend.
I received a free advanced copy from the author.
I really enjoyed Suzanne. It completely drew me in and was one of those books where I kept saying I’d read just one more chapter and then ended up carrying on!
I really wanted to know what was going to happen and found myself getting very invested in Suzanne and the other characters. There were plenty of moments that kept me guessing and I loved how the story gradually unfolded.
It was gripping, easy to get into and difficult to put down. I was actually a bit disappointed when I finished it because I’d enjoyed reading it so much! Definitely a 5-star read for me and one I’d happily recommend.
I received a free advanced copy from the author.
August 3, 2026
Suzanne is a great read. It's a beautifully written story of a very real & fascinating female artist (Suzanne Valadon) living in a very male world in Paris at the end of the 19th Century. The basic facts and friendships of her life are so amazing that it's hard to believe that she is not more well known. My time was equally split between reading the book and looking up various Wikipedia pages to do background research on the artists, paintings and events mentioned - all part of the fun of the read!
Michael Saxton does a great job of bringing the various fascinating (and real) characters, relationships and events to life, while never losing sight of Suzanne as the central figure of the story and her journey to becoming a major artist in her own right. I thoroughly recommend it.
P.S. And it would make a great movie!
Michael Saxton does a great job of bringing the various fascinating (and real) characters, relationships and events to life, while never losing sight of Suzanne as the central figure of the story and her journey to becoming a major artist in her own right. I thoroughly recommend it.
P.S. And it would make a great movie!
September 18, 2026
Both Emotional and Inspiring
Michael Saxton's SUZANNE is an exciting novel that takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster. The plot follows Marie-Clémentine Valadon as she transitions from a naive teenage model to a self-made artist who fights against all odds to become the first female artist to be featured in exhibitions. Suzanne's story is that of resilience and undying determination.
While reading this book, one will feel empathy for Suzanne at times and judge her at others. This displays the power of the author’s writing skills: being able to control the reader’s emotions, thus ensuring the story resonates with them. Suzanne's life struggles in rebuilding her family, fighting her son's alcohol addiction, and marriage challenges are relatable to most mothers single parenting. One would have expected her to find solace in church, but it turns out that it was where her ordeals began when she faced judgment as a young girl. The story is immersive, engaging, suspenseful, and worth reading.
Michael Saxton's SUZANNE is an exciting novel that takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster. The plot follows Marie-Clémentine Valadon as she transitions from a naive teenage model to a self-made artist who fights against all odds to become the first female artist to be featured in exhibitions. Suzanne's story is that of resilience and undying determination.
While reading this book, one will feel empathy for Suzanne at times and judge her at others. This displays the power of the author’s writing skills: being able to control the reader’s emotions, thus ensuring the story resonates with them. Suzanne's life struggles in rebuilding her family, fighting her son's alcohol addiction, and marriage challenges are relatable to most mothers single parenting. One would have expected her to find solace in church, but it turns out that it was where her ordeals began when she faced judgment as a young girl. The story is immersive, engaging, suspenseful, and worth reading.
September 17, 2026
SUZANNE was an expertly written and wonderfully witty novel. The tongue and cheek tone contrasted well with the darker themes and events of Suzanne Valadon's life. The prose demonstrate such a deep understanding of the arts and really breathed life into the paintings being described.
It is incredibly well researched and shows a very clear appreciation of both the time period and the subjects of the novel. The ability to clearly and lovingly characterize someone who has been dead for nearly a century is one that takes exceptional skill and Michael Saxton did so excellently. SUZANNE is a novel I will be praising for the foreseeable future and I highly recommend it to those with any interest in the arts. A fantastic read!
It is incredibly well researched and shows a very clear appreciation of both the time period and the subjects of the novel. The ability to clearly and lovingly characterize someone who has been dead for nearly a century is one that takes exceptional skill and Michael Saxton did so excellently. SUZANNE is a novel I will be praising for the foreseeable future and I highly recommend it to those with any interest in the arts. A fantastic read!
July 20, 2026
I was lucky to receive a free advance copy from the author.
I really loved the book.
It’s fascinating and very well documented and I discovered Suzanne Valadon’s life and her famous painter son, Maurice Utrillo. I was genuinely impressed how this book kept me engaged from beginning to end, I simply couldn’t put it down. I am myself French and lived in Paris and I could feel myself in the Montmartre beginning of last century. I highly recommend this book, may you know the story of Suzanne Valadon or not (I didn’t know this painter), I found this book a page turner. My hope is that it would be published as it deserves to be read by a wider audience.
I really loved the book.
It’s fascinating and very well documented and I discovered Suzanne Valadon’s life and her famous painter son, Maurice Utrillo. I was genuinely impressed how this book kept me engaged from beginning to end, I simply couldn’t put it down. I am myself French and lived in Paris and I could feel myself in the Montmartre beginning of last century. I highly recommend this book, may you know the story of Suzanne Valadon or not (I didn’t know this painter), I found this book a page turner. My hope is that it would be published as it deserves to be read by a wider audience.
July 21, 2026
The book by Michael Saxton, is the perfect intersection of historical fiction and great storytelling. The real-life artist Suzanne Valadon comes alive on the pages with raw emotion as she tries to break into the heavily male dominated art world, while navigating motherhood, strained relationships, mental illness, and war. But her talent simply can't be silenced.
I'd never heard of her before reading this, and now I feel I've come to know her. What a gift!
I'd never heard of her before reading this, and now I feel I've come to know her. What a gift!
July 26, 2026
I received an advance copy of Suzanne and read it over two days on holiday, reluctant to put it down.
The cleverness lies in refusing to make Suzanne either a victim or a saint. She is driven, contradictory and frequently her own worst enemy.
The novel also sidesteps the well-worn trap of treating women in art history as decorative satellites orbiting famous men. Suzanne is not the footnote, she is the story. The historical detail is vivid without ever becoming showy and the narrative moves with real assurance.
What stayed with me was not simply the world of Belle Époque Paris but Suzanne herself. Flawed, wilful and endlessly resourceful, she refuses to be defined by the gaze of others. Her determination to become an artist rather than remain someone else's subject gives the novel its pulse.
The writing has an easy confidence and the pacing never falters. As someone who has long been fascinated by art history, I loved that Suzanne Valadon emerges here not as a muse attached to famous names but as a formidable talent in her own right.
The best historical fiction reminds us that the past was never black and white. It was always as vivid, chaotic and complicated as the present.
The cleverness lies in refusing to make Suzanne either a victim or a saint. She is driven, contradictory and frequently her own worst enemy.
The novel also sidesteps the well-worn trap of treating women in art history as decorative satellites orbiting famous men. Suzanne is not the footnote, she is the story. The historical detail is vivid without ever becoming showy and the narrative moves with real assurance.
What stayed with me was not simply the world of Belle Époque Paris but Suzanne herself. Flawed, wilful and endlessly resourceful, she refuses to be defined by the gaze of others. Her determination to become an artist rather than remain someone else's subject gives the novel its pulse.
The writing has an easy confidence and the pacing never falters. As someone who has long been fascinated by art history, I loved that Suzanne Valadon emerges here not as a muse attached to famous names but as a formidable talent in her own right.
The best historical fiction reminds us that the past was never black and white. It was always as vivid, chaotic and complicated as the present.
September 4, 2026
I have read all three of Michael Saxton's books, and I've enjoyed them all. Suzanne is the most accomplished and well written, illustrating a deep and sympathetic interest in the artist which I found compelling. Suzanne Valadon's life was both a struggle and a triumph, and I was rooting for her to succeed against considerable odds in a world dominated by men. After the first couple of chapters adjusting to the many unknown characters, I felt immersed in Montmartre at the end of the 19th century, and could almost smell the paint and turpentine of the various artist's studios. This is a must read.
September 17, 2026
Beautiful homage to a lesser known artist
SUZANNE paints a fascinating picture of the artist's life and times. It is an inspiration to women, as Suzanne spends her life fighting up hill battles to succeed in a world of men in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
The book will enthrall art lovers as many well-known artists play a part in her story.
Sadly, it also depicts an accurate story of the devastation of alcoholism regarding her son, also an artist.
The book will appeal to history lovers, as well, as it spans several decades of French history.
It has inspired me to seek out her paintings to learn more.
SUZANNE paints a fascinating picture of the artist's life and times. It is an inspiration to women, as Suzanne spends her life fighting up hill battles to succeed in a world of men in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
The book will enthrall art lovers as many well-known artists play a part in her story.
Sadly, it also depicts an accurate story of the devastation of alcoholism regarding her son, also an artist.
The book will appeal to history lovers, as well, as it spans several decades of French history.
It has inspired me to seek out her paintings to learn more.
September 12, 2026
A loving snapshot of artistic Paris
Suzanne by Michael Saxton is a fantastic read. Impossible to put down.
On one hand it makes you feel that you would have liked to have studied History of Art and spent 20 years in Paris.
And on the other, that maybe it would be fun to dig out a map of Paris and follow the footsteps of the protagonists across time and space.
Or one could simply enjoy the book as a great story and a snapshot of history, which just happens to include a lot of familiar names and places.
Highly recommended.
Suzanne by Michael Saxton is a fantastic read. Impossible to put down.
On one hand it makes you feel that you would have liked to have studied History of Art and spent 20 years in Paris.
And on the other, that maybe it would be fun to dig out a map of Paris and follow the footsteps of the protagonists across time and space.
Or one could simply enjoy the book as a great story and a snapshot of history, which just happens to include a lot of familiar names and places.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews