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The Dress in the Window
A perfect debut novel is like a perfect dress—it’s a “must have” and when you “try it on” it fits perfectly. In this richly patterned story of sisterhood, ambition, and reinvention Sofia Grant has created a story just right for fans of Vintage and The Dress Shop of Dreams.
World War II has ended and American women are shedding their old clothes for the gorgeous new styles. Voluminous layers of taffeta and tulle, wasp waists, and beautiful color—all so welcome after years of sensible styles and strict rationing.
Jeanne Brink and her sister Peggy both had to weather every tragedy the war had to offer—Peggy now a widowed mother, Jeanne without the fiancé she’d counted on, both living with Peggy’s mother-in-law in a grim mill town. But despite their grey pasts they long for a bright future—Jeanne by creating stunning dresses for her clients with the help of her sister Peggy’s brilliant sketches.
Together, they combine forces to create amazing fashions and a more prosperous life than they’d ever dreamed of before the war. But sisterly love can sometimes turn into sibling jealousy. Always playing second fiddle to her sister, Peggy yearns to make her own mark. But as they soon discover, the future is never without its surprises, ones that have the potential to make—or break—their dreams.
World War II has ended and American women are shedding their old clothes for the gorgeous new styles. Voluminous layers of taffeta and tulle, wasp waists, and beautiful color—all so welcome after years of sensible styles and strict rationing.
Jeanne Brink and her sister Peggy both had to weather every tragedy the war had to offer—Peggy now a widowed mother, Jeanne without the fiancé she’d counted on, both living with Peggy’s mother-in-law in a grim mill town. But despite their grey pasts they long for a bright future—Jeanne by creating stunning dresses for her clients with the help of her sister Peggy’s brilliant sketches.
Together, they combine forces to create amazing fashions and a more prosperous life than they’d ever dreamed of before the war. But sisterly love can sometimes turn into sibling jealousy. Always playing second fiddle to her sister, Peggy yearns to make her own mark. But as they soon discover, the future is never without its surprises, ones that have the potential to make—or break—their dreams.
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First published July 25, 2017
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About the author
Sofia Grant
4 books181 followersCalled a “writing machine” by the New York Times and a “master storyteller” by the Midwest Book Review, Sofia Grant has written dozens of novels for adults and teens under the name Sophie Littlefield. She has won Anthony and RT Book Awards and been shortlisted for Edgar, Barry, Crimespree, Macavity, and Goodreads Choice Awards. Visit www.sofiagrant.com and www.sophielittlefield.com for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
January 29, 2021
A historical fiction piece that appealed to me because it centers on women in the workforce post WWII.
We get three narratives here: Peggy and Jeanne are sisters that are both widowed and they live with Thelma who is Peggy's mother in law. Peggy has a daughter Tommie.
The story focuses on how the three women are trying to make their way in a society that is largely patriarchal and the expectation is that the women will simply take whatever typing job they can and feign contentment.
But all three women are harboring secret desires to do more and be more, so this is the lens with which we view the four or so years the story spans. There is betrayal and deception, but also loyalty and forgiveness.
The strings were a bit too neatly tied in the end, but this is a feel good story. And there are a lot of interesting notes on women and fashion for the time period.
We get three narratives here: Peggy and Jeanne are sisters that are both widowed and they live with Thelma who is Peggy's mother in law. Peggy has a daughter Tommie.
The story focuses on how the three women are trying to make their way in a society that is largely patriarchal and the expectation is that the women will simply take whatever typing job they can and feign contentment.
But all three women are harboring secret desires to do more and be more, so this is the lens with which we view the four or so years the story spans. There is betrayal and deception, but also loyalty and forgiveness.
The strings were a bit too neatly tied in the end, but this is a feel good story. And there are a lot of interesting notes on women and fashion for the time period.
August 7, 2017
Tough time getting into it took a few chapters before I got a handle on it.....then it was very good....couldn't wait to see what was going to finally happen...and basically "something" happens and then it's basically the end.....HUH? How can "something" happen and 2 months go by and it have a happy ending.....feels like my book was missing a chapter....don't want to ruin it for others that's why I used "something".
August 30, 2017
Terrible. There were parts that were intriguing and some chapters where I was drawn in and wanted to see how it all played out, hence why I finished it instead of adding it to the DNF shelf, but overall the book was a mess. There was so much misunderstanding between the sisters, unnecessary side stories about the Mother-in-law, and an ending that made absolutely no sense! It was like a whole chapter of explanation was missing. I was actually mad when I finished. Complete waste of my time.
January 6, 2019
Ugh.
I kept soldiering on, hoping it would get better. It didn't.
Not only were the characters not people I cared about, I actually disliked them.
And the ending - it just wrapped up neatly and suddenly.
I kept soldiering on, hoping it would get better. It didn't.
Not only were the characters not people I cared about, I actually disliked them.
And the ending - it just wrapped up neatly and suddenly.
October 19, 2019
The Dress in the Window by Sofia Grant is the story of Jeanne, Peggy, and Thelma who are all trying to make their way in the late 1940’s in post-World War II Pennsylvania. Each of these women has lost someone that they loved during wartime. Jeanne and Peggy are sisters that live with Thelma, Peggy’s mother-in-law. Throughout the story, these women combine their talents and resources in order to pay their bills, keep the house in working order, and raise Peggy’s young daughter.
Jeanne is a talented seamstress who can take any garment and turn it into something that looks like it comes from the high-fashion magazines. Her work is exquisite and nearly flawless, which earns a reputation for herself. Neighbors and coworkers call on her to mend and re-purpose their clothing due to their budget constraints. The demand is high for her work.
Peggy is interested in fashion, and very talented, but her area of expertise is designing. Her sketches are top-notch and her eye for what looks nice complements Jeanne’s skill nicely. Although Thelma is older than the younger girls, her working skills lie in management and organization – things like book keeping, payroll, accounts, things like that. She is smart as a whip and not to be underestimated.
The Dress in the Window tells how these three women find their place in the world when their plans get ripped out from under them. When they find themselves alone after the war, they have no choice but to grieve quickly and figure out what they will do with their lives. I love their processes of self-discovery and re-planning after their grieving time, because they all decide that they have what it takes to earn for themselves and to be fulfilled in life. They realize that they are smart and can be successful with hard work. It takes them a little time, but they way all three of them turn their lives around is amazing.
Making the book more interesting: well, these are three women living together in a house. They aren’t exactly friends – they are family. And they are living together out of necessity, not necessarily choice. So there is plenty of comparisons and butting heads. There are periods of time where two have to work together to pick up the slack of the third. And there is always the issue of who is taking care of Peggy’s child since all three women are busy working. Not to mention that everyone wants a few moments to herself and what about if someone wants to visit with a man? Hmm.
Ultimately this is a story of loss and redemption, of sisterhood, of secrets and betrayal. It’s the story of success and family, and how three people define these things differently. There are no big actions scenes in this book – this is a steadily paced, multi-perspective story about these women making their way during a really hard time in history. I love the way that all three of these women are strong women, but none of them are perfect by a long shot. They need each other. I loved seeing the lengths that they would go to in order to find happiness and success, and I loved seeing how sometimes these things worked out and sometimes things did not. I enjoyed each woman’s perspective equally, by the way – flaws and all. And this is one of my favorite covers of the year.
This is a little bit silly, but the chapters are long; I wish the chapters had been a little bit shorter. This is because I have to read in small chunks because: life with kids keeps me on the go, constantly. To be clear the chapter size does not make a difference to the book at all in terms of flow or the story. This is just a detail that I nitpick about. I also selfishly wish that I knew a little bit more about these women beyond the end of the story, but that is because I grew attached to them. Sigh, I know that all good things must end.
I enjoyed The Dress in the Window. The more I read, the more I wanted to know about these women. I was invested in their lives and their careers. I was interested in their dramas and their secrets, even when they made me gasp.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
Jeanne is a talented seamstress who can take any garment and turn it into something that looks like it comes from the high-fashion magazines. Her work is exquisite and nearly flawless, which earns a reputation for herself. Neighbors and coworkers call on her to mend and re-purpose their clothing due to their budget constraints. The demand is high for her work.
Peggy is interested in fashion, and very talented, but her area of expertise is designing. Her sketches are top-notch and her eye for what looks nice complements Jeanne’s skill nicely. Although Thelma is older than the younger girls, her working skills lie in management and organization – things like book keeping, payroll, accounts, things like that. She is smart as a whip and not to be underestimated.
The Dress in the Window tells how these three women find their place in the world when their plans get ripped out from under them. When they find themselves alone after the war, they have no choice but to grieve quickly and figure out what they will do with their lives. I love their processes of self-discovery and re-planning after their grieving time, because they all decide that they have what it takes to earn for themselves and to be fulfilled in life. They realize that they are smart and can be successful with hard work. It takes them a little time, but they way all three of them turn their lives around is amazing.
Making the book more interesting: well, these are three women living together in a house. They aren’t exactly friends – they are family. And they are living together out of necessity, not necessarily choice. So there is plenty of comparisons and butting heads. There are periods of time where two have to work together to pick up the slack of the third. And there is always the issue of who is taking care of Peggy’s child since all three women are busy working. Not to mention that everyone wants a few moments to herself and what about if someone wants to visit with a man? Hmm.
Ultimately this is a story of loss and redemption, of sisterhood, of secrets and betrayal. It’s the story of success and family, and how three people define these things differently. There are no big actions scenes in this book – this is a steadily paced, multi-perspective story about these women making their way during a really hard time in history. I love the way that all three of these women are strong women, but none of them are perfect by a long shot. They need each other. I loved seeing the lengths that they would go to in order to find happiness and success, and I loved seeing how sometimes these things worked out and sometimes things did not. I enjoyed each woman’s perspective equally, by the way – flaws and all. And this is one of my favorite covers of the year.
This is a little bit silly, but the chapters are long; I wish the chapters had been a little bit shorter. This is because I have to read in small chunks because: life with kids keeps me on the go, constantly. To be clear the chapter size does not make a difference to the book at all in terms of flow or the story. This is just a detail that I nitpick about. I also selfishly wish that I knew a little bit more about these women beyond the end of the story, but that is because I grew attached to them. Sigh, I know that all good things must end.
I enjoyed The Dress in the Window. The more I read, the more I wanted to know about these women. I was invested in their lives and their careers. I was interested in their dramas and their secrets, even when they made me gasp.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
September 22, 2019
What do you do when life doesn't turn out like you imagined?
Sisters Jeanne and Peggy are forced to confront this question in post WWII America after the former loses her finance and the latter is a widow with a young child to raise. Living with Peggy's mother in law, Thelma, the girls are struggling to make ends meet. In their struggles to the top, Jeanne and Peggy will have to confront the grief, old hurts, and secrets of the past if they plan to forge ahead.
I always tell my students that they're not allowed to quit a book until they've read the first 40 pages. With this book, I had to break my own rule and forge up to 60 before I felt that it was worth sticking with the characters. I am glad I did because by the end of it, I was a rainbow of emotions and grateful for the climb. As an added bonus, this is a stunning cover.
Goodreads review published 22/09/19
Sisters Jeanne and Peggy are forced to confront this question in post WWII America after the former loses her finance and the latter is a widow with a young child to raise. Living with Peggy's mother in law, Thelma, the girls are struggling to make ends meet. In their struggles to the top, Jeanne and Peggy will have to confront the grief, old hurts, and secrets of the past if they plan to forge ahead.
I always tell my students that they're not allowed to quit a book until they've read the first 40 pages. With this book, I had to break my own rule and forge up to 60 before I felt that it was worth sticking with the characters. I am glad I did because by the end of it, I was a rainbow of emotions and grateful for the climb. As an added bonus, this is a stunning cover.
Goodreads review published 22/09/19
January 14, 2025
The Dress in the Window by Sofia Grant is the story of three women living together at the end of WW11. That time from 1945 to 1952 when America is recovering from the hardships and losses of the war. Thelma, Peggy and Jeanne are no exception. Both the girls who are sisters have lost men to the war as has Thelma, her son Thomas - Peggy's husband. With the three women is also Tommie, Peggy's daughter.
They scrape the pennies to live together and make do. The story is told in turns by the three women and so the reader gains interesting insights into each of them, things that are not known often by the other two. I did not like some of the things each of them did but I felt sympathetic towards them all and could understand their longings and desires to matter and have purpose.
Let's just say secrets abound in this book and each revelation certainly changes things up. Some I just did not see coming. Men are mostly conspicuous by their absence and when present mostly are not that well mentioned for their faithfulness.
If you are interested in how women dressed in this era and the fabrics that were around and how fashion was changing at this time then the story will hold extra interest for you. Jeanne is a seamstress and delights in sewing up costumes, Peggy while not as clever as her sister and a bit of a rebel has artistic skills that see her developing her own path. There is much sisterly affection and some petty differences that cause problems. Choices made are not always appreciated by the other. Thelma on the surface is quite different to Thelma in the depths. An interesting character who makes mistakes but really is a strong woman and helps out Peggy and Joanne where it counts.
I enjoyed The Dress in the Window because it was set in the time just before I was born so I could relate to it easily. The intricate interrelationships had me reading on wondering where it would all end. I was pretty satisfied with the ending although I did wonder about the changes for Peggy, would she really have changed that much?
They scrape the pennies to live together and make do. The story is told in turns by the three women and so the reader gains interesting insights into each of them, things that are not known often by the other two. I did not like some of the things each of them did but I felt sympathetic towards them all and could understand their longings and desires to matter and have purpose.
Let's just say secrets abound in this book and each revelation certainly changes things up. Some I just did not see coming. Men are mostly conspicuous by their absence and when present mostly are not that well mentioned for their faithfulness.
If you are interested in how women dressed in this era and the fabrics that were around and how fashion was changing at this time then the story will hold extra interest for you. Jeanne is a seamstress and delights in sewing up costumes, Peggy while not as clever as her sister and a bit of a rebel has artistic skills that see her developing her own path. There is much sisterly affection and some petty differences that cause problems. Choices made are not always appreciated by the other. Thelma on the surface is quite different to Thelma in the depths. An interesting character who makes mistakes but really is a strong woman and helps out Peggy and Joanne where it counts.
I enjoyed The Dress in the Window because it was set in the time just before I was born so I could relate to it easily. The intricate interrelationships had me reading on wondering where it would all end. I was pretty satisfied with the ending although I did wonder about the changes for Peggy, would she really have changed that much?
February 7, 2018
The title and cover of this book have absolutely nothing to do with the story. All of the women are selfish and unlikable.
August 9, 2017
A wonderfully immersive story of women, mothers and sisters, wives and widows, in post Work War II America. Much of what women have achieved in the workforce today is grounded in the trails that were blazed by women during and after World War II, and this wonderfully researched and delicately nuanced story illuminates this remarkable journey through the eyes of women struggling to find their way in a post war world. These women are challenged in so many ways, and while they falter, they show so much courage. There are secrets, outright lies and betrayals, but ultimately there is hope. And throughout there is fashion! This novel is just so well done. I loved every page.
May 25, 2018
Firs if all the title of this book really does not relate to anything but the last 5 minutes of the book. Yes fashion played an important part is this narrative of two sisters and the mother in law of one. The characters were not particularly likeable, all thinking only of themselves and failing to have anything more than an angry interaction with the others. Thelma domineering and Peggy whining about how hard it is to be a mum. The storyline didn't have enough to compensate for this unlike ability and just when it might have become interesting it was like the author decided enough was enough and pouff we were in the epilogue.
March 19, 2020
Not at all what I expected-it was better! A solid historical novel set in the suburbs of Philadelphia after World War 2.
Here's my review:
https://bookaliciousbabe.blogspot.com...
Here's my review:
https://bookaliciousbabe.blogspot.com...
July 25, 2017
This was a historical women's fiction that told the tale of a life forged out of post-war. Jeanne and Peggy had to make life work for them and their families after the war ended. Things changed in both of their lives and finding that one thing to sustain them may have been the very key to their demise. The story held a great deal of detail. Some parts it felt to overwhelm me. Others parts there was not enough to hold it together. The was a heart involved story of these two sisters and how the moved forward with life after war.
September 2, 2018
The gorgeous cover and the blurb's promise of a designer/dressmaker sister duo hint at an idealized world and an escapist plot. But make no mistake: this is a family saga. Though fashion-world details make for a superb, vividly-described backdrop, this is really a story about the consequences of family secrets.
For reasons we can relate to, everyone living under matriarch Thelma's roof is despondent in the aftermath of the war. Thelma's son (Peggy's late husband) never returned from overseas, nor did he meet his daughter, Tommie. The fiance of Peggy's sister, Jeanne, was also killed in the war. As if grief weren't enough, money is scarce, and the three women are forced to take jobs as they juggle raising Tommie. Each struggles to reconcile who she has become with earlier expectations of very different lives.
Yet, sisterhood becomes a complicated proposition among relationships with weak foundations. Thelma's taking in of Peggy and Jeanne is less heartfelt than it is obliged. Between the sisters themselves, distance comes not from petty rivalries but complex history that is hard to face. And neither Thelma nor Jeanne looks kindly upon Peggy's neglect at Tommie and her lack of committment to being a good mother.
Yet, they are stuck together, with no single one of them in a financial position to live independent lives, however much each aches to start fresh and live again. This book is utterly realistic in its depiction of the kinds of secrets women keep--particularly women who were raised at a time of status-seeking and judgment. Women whose bonds were stronger might have confessed their secrets--from the pursuit of lost dreams to the details of inappropriate trysts--yet these women are thrown together, not bonded. Therein lies the conflict.
This makes for a story that shows how women really treat one another, how traumatized people really cope, and how the bonds of family--often forced--can complicate everything. Dedication to the survival of their family unit juxtaposes each woman's fight to reclaim herself. If you like a story that is true to life, you will love "The Dress in the Window". It was inescapably complex and utterly messy.
For reasons we can relate to, everyone living under matriarch Thelma's roof is despondent in the aftermath of the war. Thelma's son (Peggy's late husband) never returned from overseas, nor did he meet his daughter, Tommie. The fiance of Peggy's sister, Jeanne, was also killed in the war. As if grief weren't enough, money is scarce, and the three women are forced to take jobs as they juggle raising Tommie. Each struggles to reconcile who she has become with earlier expectations of very different lives.
Yet, sisterhood becomes a complicated proposition among relationships with weak foundations. Thelma's taking in of Peggy and Jeanne is less heartfelt than it is obliged. Between the sisters themselves, distance comes not from petty rivalries but complex history that is hard to face. And neither Thelma nor Jeanne looks kindly upon Peggy's neglect at Tommie and her lack of committment to being a good mother.
Yet, they are stuck together, with no single one of them in a financial position to live independent lives, however much each aches to start fresh and live again. This book is utterly realistic in its depiction of the kinds of secrets women keep--particularly women who were raised at a time of status-seeking and judgment. Women whose bonds were stronger might have confessed their secrets--from the pursuit of lost dreams to the details of inappropriate trysts--yet these women are thrown together, not bonded. Therein lies the conflict.
This makes for a story that shows how women really treat one another, how traumatized people really cope, and how the bonds of family--often forced--can complicate everything. Dedication to the survival of their family unit juxtaposes each woman's fight to reclaim herself. If you like a story that is true to life, you will love "The Dress in the Window". It was inescapably complex and utterly messy.
July 31, 2017
Secrets and lies abound in this well written novel about three women forced to make their way in post World War II. The novel alternates between two sisters Peggy and Jeanne, and Peggy's mother in law Thelma. Peggy's husband died in the war and left her to be a single mother of her daughter Tommie. Jeanne lost her fiancé in the war. Thelma, agrees to take both of them in for the sake of her granddaughter. Together they must make a life for themselves in a time when there aren't many options for women. Peggy however is gifted at designing. Jeanne is an excellent seamstress and Thelma will do whatever it takes to succeed.
This novel kept me reading and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. The secrets and lies kept unraveling and they left me shocked and wanting to know more about the characters. I feel very lucky to have won this novel in a Goodreads Giveaway.
This novel kept me reading and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. The secrets and lies kept unraveling and they left me shocked and wanting to know more about the characters. I feel very lucky to have won this novel in a Goodreads Giveaway.
June 6, 2019
I liked this book quite a bit - I really like the time period - right after WWII through the 1950's. I like that it focused on 3 women who grow in strength, and have to fight in so many ways to earn a living and be respected for their skills. And, it was a book about fashion and sewing - and I love that too.
February 2, 2021
Right off the bat I disliked the three main characters...selfish, mean and miserable women. I kept reading with the hope that some hidden qualities would be revealed. But no, still three unlikable women at the end.
July 20, 2021
I didn't like this one as much as Lies in White Dresses. IT was harder to get interested. 2 sisters are widowed after WWII, 1 with a child and they live with her MIL. The 3 women try to get by but money is tight. 1 sister is a great seamstress while the other can design. The story is kind of all over the place with 1 sister trying to become a designer and the other put foot on the table.
May 3, 2018
Set in the 1940's, a story of two sisters with completely opposite personalities trying to survive and work in the fashion industry. Completely intriguing story. Very enjoyable.
December 27, 2020
A historical fiction that I enjoyed because of my own love of fabric and sewing as well as memories of my mother’s sewing during essentially the same time period as the book.
February 18, 2021
3.5⭐️ Good story about family and I loved the fashion element! Some parts felt dis-jointed but once secrets were revealed they made sense.
September 20, 2023
3.75 stars. Couldn’t put it down. I’m a seamstress myself so I loved the story line, and I have a sister as well, so this book was relatable for me in that aspect. Great twists and I’m glad it wasn’t predictable. I did think the ending was a little quickly wrapped up, but I thought the characters struggles and lives felt real.
April 6, 2024
You were right, sister. It was kinda meh.
July 18, 2017
I liked it. Very sweetly told sad story of women's struggle after WWII. Illuminating look at fashion as it pertained to ALL women.
September 16, 2023
2.5 stars rounded down.
Such a disappointing book. The story follows the lives of three women in postwar America: Thelma, a bitter woman in her 40s, who lost her son in the war; Peggy, her daughter-in-law, and reluctant my mother to Thelma‘s, only grandchild, Tommie; and Jeanne, Peggy’s sister, who Thelma reluctantly takes in after Jeanne’s fiancé dies in the war, and she has nowhere else to go. The three women are barely, barely scraping by, although Jeanne is a talented seamstress, and Peggy has a flair for dress design. But the sisters have a fraught relationship and can’t get along well enough to work together. Eventually, Thelma and Jeanne going to business together.
At one point there is a bizarre and unbelievable plot twist. Peggy eventually becomes a famous dress designer on her own, and Thelma and Jeanne’s business thrives. All of this leads up to an incredibly unsatisfying ending, which in someways makes absolutely no sense.
None of the three main characters are in any way likable. All are bitter and resentful of their circumstances and take it out on each other especially Peggy and Jeanne. Thelma sees her self as a moral authority and does everything she can to control Peggy, Jeanne, and Tommie, yet she has a secret life that she hides from everyone.
There is a storyline where one of the characters is raped, and yet blames herself for the encounter, because no one would believe her if she told the truth. There is another storyline where one character becomes pregnant and is forced to find an unsafe abortion because abortion is illegal. But this takes place in the 1950s. Thank goodness it is 2023 and things have changed so much…oh wait.
After finishing the book, I am confused and befuddled as to what point the author was trying to make. In her notes she talks about the fashion industry of the 1950s and her love of fashion, but the fashion industry in the book takes a backseat to the melodrama in these three women’s lives. The descriptions of the fashions are good, and probably the most interesting part of the book. The story could’ve been so much more, but in the end it was so disappointing.
Such a disappointing book. The story follows the lives of three women in postwar America: Thelma, a bitter woman in her 40s, who lost her son in the war; Peggy, her daughter-in-law, and reluctant my mother to Thelma‘s, only grandchild, Tommie; and Jeanne, Peggy’s sister, who Thelma reluctantly takes in after Jeanne’s fiancé dies in the war, and she has nowhere else to go. The three women are barely, barely scraping by, although Jeanne is a talented seamstress, and Peggy has a flair for dress design. But the sisters have a fraught relationship and can’t get along well enough to work together. Eventually, Thelma and Jeanne going to business together.
At one point there is a bizarre and unbelievable plot twist. Peggy eventually becomes a famous dress designer on her own, and Thelma and Jeanne’s business thrives. All of this leads up to an incredibly unsatisfying ending, which in someways makes absolutely no sense.
None of the three main characters are in any way likable. All are bitter and resentful of their circumstances and take it out on each other especially Peggy and Jeanne. Thelma sees her self as a moral authority and does everything she can to control Peggy, Jeanne, and Tommie, yet she has a secret life that she hides from everyone.
There is a storyline where one of the characters is raped, and yet blames herself for the encounter, because no one would believe her if she told the truth. There is another storyline where one character becomes pregnant and is forced to find an unsafe abortion because abortion is illegal. But this takes place in the 1950s. Thank goodness it is 2023 and things have changed so much…oh wait.
After finishing the book, I am confused and befuddled as to what point the author was trying to make. In her notes she talks about the fashion industry of the 1950s and her love of fashion, but the fashion industry in the book takes a backseat to the melodrama in these three women’s lives. The descriptions of the fashions are good, and probably the most interesting part of the book. The story could’ve been so much more, but in the end it was so disappointing.
August 17, 2017
This book had some promising moments. But then there were parts that just drug. And confusion where the wrong character's name was in place for another. And the plotting/sequencing/time had issues. It jumped a lot. Or at least seemed to. And there was a time towards the end that days seemed both condensed and stretched. Don't get me started on the epilogue that jumped without anything really resolved. Just too many half-plot lines.
April 19, 2018
Unsatisying ending, seemed like everything happened “offscreen” to tie everything together.
January 23, 2022
The prologue was like reading a jumbled up mess. Refused to go further.
October 21, 2017
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
This story, set in the late 40’s just after WWII, narrates how many aspects of society changed due to the end of the war. We get the perspective from three different women: Jeanne, her sister Peggy, and Thelma, Peggy’s mother-in-law. The situation affected them in very different ways. Jeanne lost her fiancee, while Peggy lost her husband, leaving her with a child. Thelma gave them both refuge, since goods are scarce, but the three of them all suffer the consequences of the war. Jeanne works as a seamstress, while Peggy makes the designs on paper. Together they are a good team, but not good enough for the times they lived in.
Something that motivated me to listen to this book is that there is much sewing related. One of my passions is sewing, and I especially like the styles in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. In this book we read about how the clothes industry changed with the war and after it: with fabric rationing came narrower skirts of not more than thirty inches in length, lack of pockets and cuffs and lots of mending. Some years after the war the industry started to slowly pick up and tendencies changed. Christian Dior’s full and long skirts became popular, and America answered back in its own way, revolutionizing the industry and making it accessible to the public with quality RTW and the use of new fabrics.
This is an engaging story, but I am fully aware that those interested in the fashion industry or just home sewing will be the ones who most rejoice at this one. There are quite some technical words sewing and fabric related, and the beginning of each chapter is dedicated to a specific type of fabric, describing its qualities, uses, and even giving advice to work with it.
Now about the plot. I was quickly absorbed by the story of these three women, which imperfections brought them to life. They felt like real people, with their problems, insecurities, and also successes. Something that bothered me a bit was the constant lack of solidarity among women, the critiques, the envy, the will to destroy each other. I know this often happens in women environments, but I want to believe that we are not all the same, and that it is possible to find sorority and understanding among our female friends.
The story is mostly slowly paced, but I really enjoyed every step of the way, and the evolution of these three women. I was so invested in the story that I could not put it down. There are a couple of twists that made the book even more interesting and helped to give a feeling of reality, and showed that nothing is black or white, and that sometimes somebody can cause great harm to another one, even with the best of intentions.
Even when the 40’s-50’s is an era that esthetically inspires me, I know we have it somehow idealized; and we are witness in this book of the unfairness toward women, the difficulties put there by men, and in many cases by other women.
The other reason for me to have listened to this book is that it is narrated by the wonderful Teri Schnaubelt. She is one of those narrator that guarantees a fine final product, with perfect audio production, very clear diction, amazing interpretation skills and an ample range of voices. With Schnaubelt the only thing that you have to do is sit, play, and enjoy.
I know the public for this book could be quite specific, but I would totally recommend it to all those who are interested in sewing and how WWII affected the fashion industry and the lives of women.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
This story, set in the late 40’s just after WWII, narrates how many aspects of society changed due to the end of the war. We get the perspective from three different women: Jeanne, her sister Peggy, and Thelma, Peggy’s mother-in-law. The situation affected them in very different ways. Jeanne lost her fiancee, while Peggy lost her husband, leaving her with a child. Thelma gave them both refuge, since goods are scarce, but the three of them all suffer the consequences of the war. Jeanne works as a seamstress, while Peggy makes the designs on paper. Together they are a good team, but not good enough for the times they lived in.
Something that motivated me to listen to this book is that there is much sewing related. One of my passions is sewing, and I especially like the styles in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. In this book we read about how the clothes industry changed with the war and after it: with fabric rationing came narrower skirts of not more than thirty inches in length, lack of pockets and cuffs and lots of mending. Some years after the war the industry started to slowly pick up and tendencies changed. Christian Dior’s full and long skirts became popular, and America answered back in its own way, revolutionizing the industry and making it accessible to the public with quality RTW and the use of new fabrics.
This is an engaging story, but I am fully aware that those interested in the fashion industry or just home sewing will be the ones who most rejoice at this one. There are quite some technical words sewing and fabric related, and the beginning of each chapter is dedicated to a specific type of fabric, describing its qualities, uses, and even giving advice to work with it.
Now about the plot. I was quickly absorbed by the story of these three women, which imperfections brought them to life. They felt like real people, with their problems, insecurities, and also successes. Something that bothered me a bit was the constant lack of solidarity among women, the critiques, the envy, the will to destroy each other. I know this often happens in women environments, but I want to believe that we are not all the same, and that it is possible to find sorority and understanding among our female friends.
The story is mostly slowly paced, but I really enjoyed every step of the way, and the evolution of these three women. I was so invested in the story that I could not put it down. There are a couple of twists that made the book even more interesting and helped to give a feeling of reality, and showed that nothing is black or white, and that sometimes somebody can cause great harm to another one, even with the best of intentions.
Even when the 40’s-50’s is an era that esthetically inspires me, I know we have it somehow idealized; and we are witness in this book of the unfairness toward women, the difficulties put there by men, and in many cases by other women.
The other reason for me to have listened to this book is that it is narrated by the wonderful Teri Schnaubelt. She is one of those narrator that guarantees a fine final product, with perfect audio production, very clear diction, amazing interpretation skills and an ample range of voices. With Schnaubelt the only thing that you have to do is sit, play, and enjoy.
I know the public for this book could be quite specific, but I would totally recommend it to all those who are interested in sewing and how WWII affected the fashion industry and the lives of women.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2017
**FULL REVIEW**
What can I say...I really wasn't a fan. This story follows three women in a post-war-stricken time period and while it had the makings of something intriguing and different, ultimately it fell a little flat for me. For starters, while the cover holds a glimpse of what this story is about, truly there wasn't much correlation. Jeanne is a seamstress, part of a family who at one time owned a textile mill...but that's the extent. She never owns a storefront where a dress she'd made sat in the window. There was no coveting of said dress in the window...and while there is fashion related to the story as well as design and fabric, there is, in fact, no dress.
I found that I rolled my eyes a lot. Each female, while struggling with their own demons, remained poised and ultimately confusing in how they would hymn-haw around with their decision making. Each selfish in her own right, these women (two sisters and one mother-in-law) grated on my every last nerve with the lack of concern for each other or their individual responsibilities. There was a lot of resentment and bitterness weaved through these pages and it took me a while to finish the story because honestly, I don't want that kind of negativity in my life. Or in my fiction.
And it never seemed to end...until it did. The book just ended. No real storyline or conclusion. It was as though the author documented these women's lives and then decided she'd had enough and just stopped. No rhyme or reason, no definitive ending. Just over...like she ran out of pages or things to say.
Now, I know this sounds harsh and normally I wouldn't leave a review at all if I have more negative than positive to report, but, there was a slight silver lining. I know writing a book isn't easy. I also know that in historical fiction there is much research to be done in order for the story to not only be believable but accurate to the time period in which the author is depicting. With that said, Grant did a wonderful job. I felt very much a part of the era this story portrayed and it's very much why I kept reading. I was holding out some sort of hope that something--anything would happen to entice my senses. To draw me in. To make it not seem like nonfiction.
It's not that it had to have a happy ending per-say, but just some sort of direction. Some sort of closure. I felt nothing as I turned the last page...and I wanted to. I really did. Unfortunately, The Dress in the Window gave me nothing but another completed book to my never ending list of reads.
**2.5 Historically Believable but Boring, Stars**
What can I say...I really wasn't a fan. This story follows three women in a post-war-stricken time period and while it had the makings of something intriguing and different, ultimately it fell a little flat for me. For starters, while the cover holds a glimpse of what this story is about, truly there wasn't much correlation. Jeanne is a seamstress, part of a family who at one time owned a textile mill...but that's the extent. She never owns a storefront where a dress she'd made sat in the window. There was no coveting of said dress in the window...and while there is fashion related to the story as well as design and fabric, there is, in fact, no dress.
I found that I rolled my eyes a lot. Each female, while struggling with their own demons, remained poised and ultimately confusing in how they would hymn-haw around with their decision making. Each selfish in her own right, these women (two sisters and one mother-in-law) grated on my every last nerve with the lack of concern for each other or their individual responsibilities. There was a lot of resentment and bitterness weaved through these pages and it took me a while to finish the story because honestly, I don't want that kind of negativity in my life. Or in my fiction.
And it never seemed to end...until it did. The book just ended. No real storyline or conclusion. It was as though the author documented these women's lives and then decided she'd had enough and just stopped. No rhyme or reason, no definitive ending. Just over...like she ran out of pages or things to say.
Now, I know this sounds harsh and normally I wouldn't leave a review at all if I have more negative than positive to report, but, there was a slight silver lining. I know writing a book isn't easy. I also know that in historical fiction there is much research to be done in order for the story to not only be believable but accurate to the time period in which the author is depicting. With that said, Grant did a wonderful job. I felt very much a part of the era this story portrayed and it's very much why I kept reading. I was holding out some sort of hope that something--anything would happen to entice my senses. To draw me in. To make it not seem like nonfiction.
It's not that it had to have a happy ending per-say, but just some sort of direction. Some sort of closure. I felt nothing as I turned the last page...and I wanted to. I really did. Unfortunately, The Dress in the Window gave me nothing but another completed book to my never ending list of reads.
**2.5 Historically Believable but Boring, Stars**
June 21, 2025
The Dress in the Window by Sofia Grant is set in post-WWII Pennsylvania. Jeanne was 'almost' engaged to Charles, before he went off to fight. Jeanne's younger sister Peggy was married to Thomas before he left for war. Her daughter Tommie was born after he left. Jeanne, Peggy and Tommie live with Peggy's widowed mother-in-law Thelma in a mill town. Once prosperous, Brink's mill has been closed down for years. The women manage to get by, but it's very challenging. Chapters alternate between their individual POV.
When Thelma finally confesses to Jeanne money is so tight they might lose the house, Jeanne goes off to work as a secretary. Her true passion is sewing exquisite couture she sees in magazines. She has the gift of being able to recreate a beautiful gown from a single picture (not a step-by-step pattern that I need to sew clothes). I was mesmerized from the moment I heard this story is about a seamstress. Jeanne has the rare gift of knowing how to completely modify parts of a dress to flatter. She has plenty of practice 'making over' old clothes into smart-looking styles, to save money. She begins to sew unique flattering outfits at the request of friends she makes at work.
Peggy resents being asked to stay home and watch her daughter. Peggy gets a job of her own, and expects Thelma and Jeanne to take over babysitting. Peggy fetches high-end garments for rich customers to try on at an exclusive salon. She had initially tried to be hired as a designer; she has amazing artistic ability, and her passion is designing haute couture. She's helped design the garments for Jeanne to sew for co-workers.
The sisters love one another, yet each harbors deep resentments. Jeanne resents that Peggy was the one to marry first. Jeanne should have been first, but her engagement announcement was put off until it was too late, and Charles enlisted. Whereas Peggy suddenly eloped. Peggy resents Jeanne's independence, feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of raising her daughter.
Surprise plot twists are more and more surprising, with increased impact on each woman's life, as the story unfolds. Jeanne isn't harboring any secrets, but oh boy, Thelma and Peggy sure are. As the plot twists increase, the detailed descriptions of Jeanne's sewing projects tapers off (sigh). I may be in the minority of readers, but I wonder, was she happier and more fulfilled in the end with her success in business than she was with her earlier passion for sewing? I didn't warm to Peggy or Thelma, or by any means excuse their colossal treachery.
So much historical fiction is about the war itself; this story is a very refreshing tale of what came next.
When Thelma finally confesses to Jeanne money is so tight they might lose the house, Jeanne goes off to work as a secretary. Her true passion is sewing exquisite couture she sees in magazines. She has the gift of being able to recreate a beautiful gown from a single picture (not a step-by-step pattern that I need to sew clothes). I was mesmerized from the moment I heard this story is about a seamstress. Jeanne has the rare gift of knowing how to completely modify parts of a dress to flatter. She has plenty of practice 'making over' old clothes into smart-looking styles, to save money. She begins to sew unique flattering outfits at the request of friends she makes at work.
Peggy resents being asked to stay home and watch her daughter. Peggy gets a job of her own, and expects Thelma and Jeanne to take over babysitting. Peggy fetches high-end garments for rich customers to try on at an exclusive salon. She had initially tried to be hired as a designer; she has amazing artistic ability, and her passion is designing haute couture. She's helped design the garments for Jeanne to sew for co-workers.
The sisters love one another, yet each harbors deep resentments. Jeanne resents that Peggy was the one to marry first. Jeanne should have been first, but her engagement announcement was put off until it was too late, and Charles enlisted. Whereas Peggy suddenly eloped. Peggy resents Jeanne's independence, feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of raising her daughter.
Surprise plot twists are more and more surprising, with increased impact on each woman's life, as the story unfolds. Jeanne isn't harboring any secrets, but oh boy, Thelma and Peggy sure are. As the plot twists increase, the detailed descriptions of Jeanne's sewing projects tapers off (sigh). I may be in the minority of readers, but I wonder, was she happier and more fulfilled in the end with her success in business than she was with her earlier passion for sewing? I didn't warm to Peggy or Thelma, or by any means excuse their colossal treachery.
So much historical fiction is about the war itself; this story is a very refreshing tale of what came next.
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