The Paris Seamstress, Free Preview: Chapters 1-4

by Natasha Lester

For readers of Lilac Girls and The Nightingale comes a World War II novel that spans generations, crosses oceans, and proves just how much two young women are willing to sacrifice for love and family.

1940: As the Germans advance upon Paris, young seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee everything she's ever known. She's bound for New York City with her signature gold dress, a few francs, and a dream: to make her mark on the world of fashion.

Present day: Fabienne Bissette journeys to the Met's annual gala for an exhibit featuring the work of her ailing grandmother - a legend of women's fashion design. But as Fabienne begins to learn more about her beloved grandmother's past, she uncovers a story of tragedy, heartbreak and family secrets that will dramatically change her own life.

"The Paris Seamstress is a gorgeously rich and romantic novel about young women finding their way in the world." -Kate Forsyth, author of Bitter Greens

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, World War II, Romance, Audiobook, Chick Lit

464 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2018

About the author

Natasha Lester is the multi-award winning and New York Times best-selling author of THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS, THE PARIS ORPHAN, THE PARIS SECRET and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ASTRID BRICARD. Her new book, THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE, the story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only female leader of a French Resistance network in WWII, is coming in April 2025.

Prior to writing, she worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing.

Natasha's books have been translated into twenty-one different languages and are published all around the world. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her 3 children and loves fashion history, practising the art of fashion illustration, collecting vintage fashion, travelling and, of course, books.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estella Bissette grew up in Paris dreaming of fashion and design. When she inadvertently becomes involved in transferring secret materials for the resistance, her mother persuades her to flee to America. Starting with almost nothing but determination and a couple of close friends, Estella builds a fashion empire.
Current day, Fabienne Bissette is in NYC to spend time with her grandmother, Estella. As Fabienne celebrates her grandmother's legacy, the secrets, tragedies and loves of her past are revealed.
An enjoyable story and I was enchanted by the descriptions of the elegant gowns, but there were too many implausible scenarios to make the story believable.
Worth reading if you are a fan of historical fiction and fashion.
3.5 stars.

[Almira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another look at the fashion industry during WWII and after.
Four named "characters" were indeed real people Harry Thaw (he really did the murder described). Evelyn Nesbit (she was really raped by both Harry and Stanford), John Barrymore (the actor) and Stanford White.

In the days before the Nazis stormed Paris, Estella and her mother worked in a fashion house. Estella's mother insists that Estella leave Paris and go to America to be safe. Crossing the Atlantic the ship (SS Washington) is nearly torpedoed by the Germans (this too is factual) but the Germans for whatever reason let the ship pass safely.

Once Estella lands in NYC her life is a constant source of ups and downs, and many changes.
The "love of her life" is at once mysterious and knowing.

Her granddaughter, Fabienne, from Australia travels to NYC as Estella is nearing the end of her long life- a life that will ultimately change Fabienne's, due to the secrets held close to Estella's heart for all those years.

[Georgettenecessities Gmailcom · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems I am not in the majority with my rating of this book. I purchased it because it was said to be on par with The Nightingale. The similar aspects were...Paris in World War II and women focus characters....but, to me, did not come close to a satisfying read as was The Nightingale. I was tired of all the dialogue which seemed to be merely page fillers. What I did enjoy...since I follow that era of fashion design...was the detail in description of the industry at that time. I found myself trying to like the characters...or hate one in particular....but, left me unemotional on both counts.Thank heavens, the author summarized all the relationships in a final letter from Estelle to her "grand daughter" Fabienne...just to keep me straight on who was who. The relationship in modern times between Will and Fabienne, to me was ridiculous, although content I was content that all the pieces fit into a happy bundle at the end.

[Cassie | Cassie’s Next Chapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estella Bissette is forced to flea Paris for America in 1940 as the Germans advance, leaving her mother and everything she knows behind. Arriving in New York City with her sewing machine, a gold dress, and a few new friends, Estella is determined to uphold the promise she made to her mother.

This section of The Paris Seamstress was so enthralling - beautifully descriptive and deeply emotional. The characters are relatable and honest, and Estella is such a strong female protagonist. I can't wait to see how her story unfolds, and how the second half of the book looks back onto the 1940s. I definitely need to read this book in its entirety!

This was an excerpt for The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advance copy excerpt in exchange for an honest review.

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this novel. For the most part they were not met. The present day Fabienne pages at times were sappy, hard to fathom and poorly written. I more enjoyed the Estella character but there always seemed to be an underlying element of something missing. It wasn’t until near the end that I felt more compelled to want the main characters to come back together. It was a little too late for that after slogging through 394 pages to get there. I contemplated not finishing the book but hoped there would be some satisfaction in doing so. I guess I’m left feeling just Meh...

[Denise Deen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that this book is in NO WAY comparable to Lilac Girls or The Nightingale. Those books had depth, description and detail. They also had a brilliant storyline and beautiful writing. The characters in those books were real and relatable on an emotional and realistic level. This book had none of those qualities. It was all I could do to get through its 450 pages (I am compulsive to always finish a book once started). The only reason it gets two stars is because the main cities are New York and Paris, two of my favorite places. This was a very disappointing read as it had all of the elements (on the book jacket) needed for a fantastic story. The author just could not bring them all together to make me care about any of it.

[Billie Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made it to chapter 8 before deciding to abandon. I love WWII historical fiction and fashion, so this should have been right up my alley. Whatever plot there was rested heavily on implausible coincidences and dialogue. Disappointing.

[Jody Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a really interesting book somewhere in this one. I don’t need trite romances to keep me reading. I would have liked more of the interior lives of the women in this book and less of their mooning over boys.

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vivid sharing of the making of Couture Fashion and the fashion industry over the years captivated me. I feel I have been allowed a sneak peek into a very special world. This book had it all. Mystery, suspense, colorful characters, Paris and fashion

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for my birthday present, Vivian! Solid read. ❤️ I like the Eiffel Tower on the cover too.

[Brielle Sweeten · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that scene in Once Upon A Time when the evil queen rips someone's heart out and squeezes it till it turns into dust?
Yeah...

[Millie Vickers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a bit duped. This book’s cover claims “for readers of ‘Lilac Girls’ and ‘The Nightingale’ comes an unforgettable WWII novel” - aside from the main character fleeing German occupied France for New York, this book has little if anything to do with WWII. And absolutely IN NO WAY compares to either of the above mentioned novels. If you like fashion and romance you’ll like this book, unfortunately I don’t care for either.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alleluia!! An absolutely wonderful book. A French seamstress. A British spy. An American heiress. One destiny that begins in war-torn France.

[Madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this would be more of a historical novel not a novel about fashion. Not to my liking. Did not finish it.

[Dawson Bernard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like reading a soap opera- everytime it started to get plausible they added more dramatics.

[Nancy Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me a way to look in which fabric and the construction of clothing and the history of the fashion industry weave their way through the lives of different characters. There’s a lot of interesting history here especially Estella’s life looks at the fashion industry from Paris to New York. Where the characters who are seamstresses think about what women do and how clothing makes them feel. It’s a story of love and a lot of sadness. At the end of the book which I found to be very intriguing to find out the family tree. I found there was a lot of violent history, abuse, assault, and terror that happened. I’m glad at the end I found a little sunshine and happiness.
This is the first time I have ever read a book by Natasha Lester and it won’t be the last. I wish that they would make a movie out of this book.

[Sarah Patt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like I read a trilogy in this 450 paged novel that took me a long time to finish because there were many parts that dragged on and should have been shortened. The story bounced between generations and countries. Grandma in Paris during the 1940's and her grandaughter in Manhatten in 2015. Author Natasha Lester writes beautifully though and visualizing the characters and places came easy. Certain chapters however had too many characters that it became overwhelming-all the names! And some of their traits seemed slightly exaggerated and unbelievable. Overall, I'm giving The Paris Seamstress 3 stars but I will read another novel by author Natasha Lester because I LOVED the romantic parts she wrote between lovers. I really felt I was in the room . . . bedroom! ;)

[Brittany Sommers · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5)

I've seen a number of poor ratings on this novel and I couldn't disagree more. I loved the characters, the representation of fashion and it's impact during the war, and the notice given to real life couturiers (The House of Worth, etc). I loved the way the real life events of Henry Thaw, Evelyn Nesbit, John Barrymore, and Stanford White were intertwined with the fictional stories of the other characters. It was such a varying dynamic of the upbeat and fast moving fashion world mixing with the brutality many characters suffered due to Henry. I also enjoyed revealing these pieces of history in present day with Fabienne. Although I was less invested in her character than in Estella's, I still enjoyed the present day aspects.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Natasha Lester and I would recommend it. Some books that I have read in the past with 2 different storylines always have me racing thru one storyline to get to the other that interests me more but this wasn’t the case with this book. I liked both storylines.
How can you not love a book that has Fashion, Paris and New York City in it?

[Lila Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

didn't finish

[Laura Mauro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first historical fiction book I read in awhile and I really enjoyed it. I was really invited in both time lines and also the other characters we read through their eyes. I also really enjoyed the focus on the fashion industry and the complex relationships that we explored. I also really enjoyed the spy craft and war elements that were used throughout this novel. I also really liked how this book wa structured and how it kept swapping time lines. I really did enjoy this book, I felt that some of the plot stuff got a bit confusing at points but I would def read more by this author in the future.

[Vic Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written! Highly recommend to all readers, but especially for those who love a complex love story

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Highly recommend

[Sofia Andrade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start but great ending

[Vicki Purifoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that spans generations, hides and ultimately reveals secrets, breaks the heart and puts parts of it back together. It has true historic context and modern day timeliness. Its characters are talented overachievers and flawed by insecurities. There is love and love lost. This book has it all. Thank you, Natasha Lester! And I loved The Paris Orphan as well!

[Anushka Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into reading this book thinking it would be a heavy world war 2 book but as I read on, I realized it’s more about the lives of Americans vs Parisian during the war. This book has a few great love stories and a fantastic mystery! A lovely read!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1940, young seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee Paris as the Nazi’s and German army advance into her beloved city. Leaving everything she loves behind, Estella ends up in New York City with her signature gold dress she designed, a few dollars in her pocket and her dream of opening her own fashion house.

In the present day, Fabienne Bissette, Estella’s granddaughter, helps open up the Met Gala’s exhibit featuring the work of her grandmother within the fashion world. But as Fabienne finds out more about her grandmother’s past, she wonders what else is hidden behind the life of Estella and how it will impact her present.

THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS is a book I just could not put down. It is told in two story arcs that converge together at times and tells a tale of Estella’s past, filled with love, tragedy and secrets. Ms. Lester delivers a powerful story that will haunt you and keep you glued to the pages until the very end. The story of Estella and by extension, Fabienne, is a pure delight to read and the reader can’t help but fall under their spell while reading THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS. The reader will get two stories, one set in WWII and in France and the other is more present day.

Meet Estella and Fabienne. Estella’s life is full of very high highs and some lows that would flatten a normal person. But not Estella. She persevered and delivered to the reader a story that will send chills through you even as you feel for her. Estella has secrets that Fabienne will slowly find about as she unravels those family secrets and finds out just what really happened to Estella. Fabienne is a delight as she unravels those secrets and I enjoyed the scenes of her finding those answers, even as her life continues and a love comes calling. Even as the reader goes along with Estella and Fabienne, I know I was chilled as I read the scenes of the war years and some of the effects it had on people during the time it happened.

What makes this book so powerful was not just the history it was centered around but also those gorgeous characters that just lifted themselves off the pages and into your life. They are exceptionally well written and just are captivating. The author does a marvelous job in capturing the distinct and unique personalities that were within the pages of THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS. If you enjoy a book that has two stories going and a slow build up to the secrets, where some secrets will be shocking in itself, then THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS is definitely for you. I can’t highly recommend this one enough.

this is an objective review and not an endorsement

[Heather Williams]

I have found myself really being drawn to books that take place in war torn Paris during the 1940s and the Paris Seamstress did not disappoint. The story was very easy to follow while bouncing back and forth between war torn Paris and present day New York. I loved diving into the lineage of the Estella and Fabiella and how they are connected. Also, the fact that the story focuses on females being self sufficient and conquering the man-centered business world was so empowering.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting story of a young lady who escapes from france during WWII because she discovers her father was an American and she was born in America-with a passport, her mother tells her to escape and start a new life but it is very hard-very good story, not only of her trials and tribulations of trying to break into the dressmaking/fashion world but her connections to France and the war

[Carol Mcgrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book with a very interesting story. Estella Bissette was forced to leave her mother in Paris after becoming involved in one incident during the war that could have cost her her life if she hadn't left. The year was 1941. Before leaving Paris she met Alex, a spy, who would play an important part in her future. Estella, while she was en route to America met a man by the name of Sam on the boat. Estella wanted to be a dress designer and Sam wanted to be cutter for a fashion house. She told Sam if she ever became a designer she would hire him. They remained friends after they came to America. She eventually became a great designer of Stella Designs.

Estella had a granddaughter, Fabienne Bissette. Her story begins in 2015. Estella is now 97 years old. Fabienne lives in Australia and came to visit her grandmother. Estella wanted to tell Fabienne the story of her father Xander, who had died the month before. While Fabienne was cleaning she found a box that belonged to her grandmother and looking in the box she found her father's birth certificate which brought up many questions, but before they could be answered her grandmother died.

This story weaves the tale of Fabienne's search for answers from the past. Some how Estella and Leah, who look identical to each other, search for answers as to who they are. It also incorporates the true story of Harry Thaw, Evelyn Nesbett, his wife, and Sanford White, a New York Architect who Harry Thaw murders on the roof of Madison Square Garden because Sanford had raped Evelyn years before they were married. Harry is a lunatic and raised Leah. In Fabienne's search for answers it brings the whole story together, one of love, despair and secrets.

If you enjoy this book I would recommend, The Designer, by Marius Gabriel, a novel about the life of Christian Dior.