What do you think?
Rate this book
Nine Women, One Dress
A charming, hilarious, irresistible romp of a novel that brings together nine unrelated women, each touched by the same little black dress that weaves through their lives, bringing a little magic with it.
Natalie is a Bloomingdale’s salesgirl mooning over her lawyer ex-boyfriend who’s engaged to someone else after just two months. Felicia has been quietly in love with her happily married boss for twenty years; now that he’s a lonely widower, she just needs the right situation to make him see her as more than the best executive assistant in Midtown Manhattan. Andrea is a private detective specializing in gathering evidence on cheating husbands—a skill she unfortunately learned from her own life—and can’t figure out why her intuition tells her the guy she’s tailing is one of the good ones when she hasn’t trusted a man in years. For these three women, as well as half a dozen others in sparkling supporting roles—a young model fresh from rural Georgia, a diva Hollywood star making her Broadway debut, an overachieving, unemployed Brown grad who starts faking a fabulous life on social media, to name just a few—everything is about to change, thanks to the dress of the season, the perfect little black number everyone wants to get their hands on…
Cast of Narrators:
Robert Fass
Dorothy Dillingham
Tristan Morris
Mandy Siegfried
Hillary Huber
Cassandra Campbell
Erik Singer
Dan Woren
Michael Crouch
Em Eldridge
Natalie is a Bloomingdale’s salesgirl mooning over her lawyer ex-boyfriend who’s engaged to someone else after just two months. Felicia has been quietly in love with her happily married boss for twenty years; now that he’s a lonely widower, she just needs the right situation to make him see her as more than the best executive assistant in Midtown Manhattan. Andrea is a private detective specializing in gathering evidence on cheating husbands—a skill she unfortunately learned from her own life—and can’t figure out why her intuition tells her the guy she’s tailing is one of the good ones when she hasn’t trusted a man in years. For these three women, as well as half a dozen others in sparkling supporting roles—a young model fresh from rural Georgia, a diva Hollywood star making her Broadway debut, an overachieving, unemployed Brown grad who starts faking a fabulous life on social media, to name just a few—everything is about to change, thanks to the dress of the season, the perfect little black number everyone wants to get their hands on…
Cast of Narrators:
Robert Fass
Dorothy Dillingham
Tristan Morris
Mandy Siegfried
Hillary Huber
Cassandra Campbell
Erik Singer
Dan Woren
Michael Crouch
Em Eldridge
Audiobook
First published May 1, 2016
987 people are currently reading
17154 people want to read
About the author
Jane L. Rosen
8 books966 followersJane L. Rosen is an author and Huffington Post contributor. She lives in New York City and Fire Island with her husband and three daughters. Her first novel Nine Women, One Dress was translated into ten languages. Her second novel Eliza Starts a Rumor has been optioned by NBC. A Shoe Story is out now and On Fire Island is dropping o May 23rd.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,972 reviews
November 16, 2016
This is a lovely and disarming festive read with a strong sense of location in New York City. It is an ensemble piece that revolves around the fashion industry's 'must have' little black dress. You can understand why this concept and this story works so well, I and almost all of my women friends, have had such a dress throughout the years. It is our 'go to' dress for so many events, it looks good and, more to the point, is just how great it makes us feel. We wear it until it disintegrates and we then have to engage in the task of trying to finding another one that is just as good. However, this dress has magical properties and we are in the realms of a contemporary fairytale. Everyone who has a connection with the dress is set to have their lives changed.
The narrative switches from person to person. We have a vignette of stories, that include the southern novice model embarking on her first runway assignment and who is about to hit the big time with the dress. We have the elderly pattern maker, Morris Siegel, who designed the dress and could feel in his bones that this was the dress. We learn about Morris's life, his arrival from Poland and how he came to be working with Max. There is Natalie, a Bloomingdale's clerk, the sales staff at the store, Felicia who has been in love with her boss for twenty years, and the private detective. There is a whole array of characters, with a few whose stories are given more depth. There are loathsome characters, but this is a feel good book where dreams come true. This is as true for men as well as women, as is the case with a man who lost his wife and has the opportunity to fall in love again. This is a wonderfully uplifting read that I can recommend. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
The narrative switches from person to person. We have a vignette of stories, that include the southern novice model embarking on her first runway assignment and who is about to hit the big time with the dress. We have the elderly pattern maker, Morris Siegel, who designed the dress and could feel in his bones that this was the dress. We learn about Morris's life, his arrival from Poland and how he came to be working with Max. There is Natalie, a Bloomingdale's clerk, the sales staff at the store, Felicia who has been in love with her boss for twenty years, and the private detective. There is a whole array of characters, with a few whose stories are given more depth. There are loathsome characters, but this is a feel good book where dreams come true. This is as true for men as well as women, as is the case with a man who lost his wife and has the opportunity to fall in love again. This is a wonderfully uplifting read that I can recommend. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
July 17, 2023
I LOVED this novel! If you are in the need of a feel-good, well-written, chick-lit novel, this little beauty is for you. A big shout-out to GR friend Carol who reviewed it and put it on my radar. It’s just what I needed.
A LBD (Little Black Dress) is the main character in this delightful read. For those clotheshorses out there, you understand that a dress can change your mood; it can make an evening spectacular. It can make you feel fabulous. Well, this little number affects the lives of nine women, and a few men. It’s the “it” dress of the season. Every woman who puts it on feels glorious. Oh, and the story takes place in Manhattan, the fashion city of, dare I say, the USA.
If you enjoy witty chick-lit, this is the novel for you. “A beautiful dress holds a little bit of magic in it.” If you agree, read this novel!!!
A LBD (Little Black Dress) is the main character in this delightful read. For those clotheshorses out there, you understand that a dress can change your mood; it can make an evening spectacular. It can make you feel fabulous. Well, this little number affects the lives of nine women, and a few men. It’s the “it” dress of the season. Every woman who puts it on feels glorious. Oh, and the story takes place in Manhattan, the fashion city of, dare I say, the USA.
If you enjoy witty chick-lit, this is the novel for you. “A beautiful dress holds a little bit of magic in it.” If you agree, read this novel!!!
July 29, 2020
4.5 All Meant to Be Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
We all have had the feeling at one time or another that if A. hadn't happened to us, then B. wouldn't have either.... and when you think about it...it is hard to deny the truth in these feelings or thoughts. To have novels out there about how one thing impacts so many others is nothing new...And when picking up this book, I thought it would be a lovely diversion but nothing seriously impactful.
I was wrong.
Yes, this is a premise of a dress and how it works its way through nine different people... but in the telling of this intricate tale, much more was given. We are given insight into what a person feels in a number of real circumstances. Some parts of this will touch more than others but the clever way all of the parts are necessary to the whole will keep you enthralled.
It opens with the "fish out of water" theme; a young Southern beauty walking her first runway in the Big Apple, New York City. She is nervous; hiding as much as possible her inexperience, her way of speaking and fear she will fall or trip. As she waits for her time to walk, another model is blabbing about how she is possibly wearing The Dress of the Season...the Max Hammer LBD. History has been made when the powers that be have deemed one garment to be THE ONE. As she starts her way to the end of the runway, the cameras start to thunder with the clicking and applause is heard...Our Gal will be seen on the front on Women's Wear Daily, WWD... the bible of the Rag Trade.
The next part is linked to the maker of this amazing dress, Morris Siegel...the pattern maker for Max Hammer, LTD for the last 75 years. Morris is 90 this year and finally retiring. His life has been full and being on the cover of WWD has happened a couple of times over the years... but to leave on this high note... is a blessing. We are told of how 13 year old Morris came to America; how he met Max on the boat over from Poland and they became like brothers. Max knew what he wanted and Morris had the pattern making skill his father had taught him. Their history and lives together are what many experienced during WWII and after. We are able to enjoy his pleasure in the success of the last dress he has cut.
There are others... each equally as important to this tale. We are with people who are thrown together for the good of a movie star's career... we see the inner workings of the industry through them and others... each involving this dress...Each character has their own issues...some surviving cheating partners, both genders...
We see how people handle adversity; how life can be a path which our religious beliefs require for us to only experience a set group of traditions being respectful and accepting of this calling. We also see how the innate goodness of others can change a course of behavior for the better... opening the eyes of someone to see what was in front of them all along.
This has these love stories woven, linked and solid in how they come together. The heart in this was authentic and the last part of the story was so beautifully said...it filled me up.
This was written by Jane L. Rosen who has also written The Thread, a YA novel. With her film/television/web experience, it was very easy to see how well she understood how to reach us with her crafting and flow.
This is a story to enjoy... read in one sitting or spread it out...It won't matter as the delight is there for the taking.
A gifted copy was provided by Doubleday Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
We all have had the feeling at one time or another that if A. hadn't happened to us, then B. wouldn't have either.... and when you think about it...it is hard to deny the truth in these feelings or thoughts. To have novels out there about how one thing impacts so many others is nothing new...And when picking up this book, I thought it would be a lovely diversion but nothing seriously impactful.
I was wrong.
Yes, this is a premise of a dress and how it works its way through nine different people... but in the telling of this intricate tale, much more was given. We are given insight into what a person feels in a number of real circumstances. Some parts of this will touch more than others but the clever way all of the parts are necessary to the whole will keep you enthralled.
It opens with the "fish out of water" theme; a young Southern beauty walking her first runway in the Big Apple, New York City. She is nervous; hiding as much as possible her inexperience, her way of speaking and fear she will fall or trip. As she waits for her time to walk, another model is blabbing about how she is possibly wearing The Dress of the Season...the Max Hammer LBD. History has been made when the powers that be have deemed one garment to be THE ONE. As she starts her way to the end of the runway, the cameras start to thunder with the clicking and applause is heard...Our Gal will be seen on the front on Women's Wear Daily, WWD... the bible of the Rag Trade.
The next part is linked to the maker of this amazing dress, Morris Siegel...the pattern maker for Max Hammer, LTD for the last 75 years. Morris is 90 this year and finally retiring. His life has been full and being on the cover of WWD has happened a couple of times over the years... but to leave on this high note... is a blessing. We are told of how 13 year old Morris came to America; how he met Max on the boat over from Poland and they became like brothers. Max knew what he wanted and Morris had the pattern making skill his father had taught him. Their history and lives together are what many experienced during WWII and after. We are able to enjoy his pleasure in the success of the last dress he has cut.
There are others... each equally as important to this tale. We are with people who are thrown together for the good of a movie star's career... we see the inner workings of the industry through them and others... each involving this dress...Each character has their own issues...some surviving cheating partners, both genders...
We see how people handle adversity; how life can be a path which our religious beliefs require for us to only experience a set group of traditions being respectful and accepting of this calling. We also see how the innate goodness of others can change a course of behavior for the better... opening the eyes of someone to see what was in front of them all along.
This has these love stories woven, linked and solid in how they come together. The heart in this was authentic and the last part of the story was so beautifully said...it filled me up.
This was written by Jane L. Rosen who has also written The Thread, a YA novel. With her film/television/web experience, it was very easy to see how well she understood how to reach us with her crafting and flow.
This is a story to enjoy... read in one sitting or spread it out...It won't matter as the delight is there for the taking.
A gifted copy was provided by Doubleday Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Read
August 17, 2016The Hook This collection of interconnected stories drew me in with its premise of nine women each coveting this little black dress, size small.
The Line The Epigraph
"What is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it."
-Yves Saint Laurent
The Sinker It's summertime and this was a delightful, easy read. Love how the author connected the stories with the life and journey of the little black dress. Starting on the runway, moving next to the story of Morris Siege, Garment Center Pattern-Maker, Age 90, and on to the floor ladies of Bloomingdale's, weaving in a few despicable characters, balanced by some old-fashioned romance, this one black dress provides a magical read.
The Line The Epigraph
"What is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it."
-Yves Saint Laurent
The Sinker It's summertime and this was a delightful, easy read. Love how the author connected the stories with the life and journey of the little black dress. Starting on the runway, moving next to the story of Morris Siege, Garment Center Pattern-Maker, Age 90, and on to the floor ladies of Bloomingdale's, weaving in a few despicable characters, balanced by some old-fashioned romance, this one black dress provides a magical read.
October 30, 2021
2.5 stars
A light, palate cleanser. The title, Nine Women, One Dress, explains the gist of the plot. For so much hype around this highly sought after, fashionable dress, the author didn’t describe the dress in much detail.
Maybe I read the novel too slow, but the plot jumped around a lot. I couldn’t remember the details each character’s story, because their previous chapter was kind of far back. All the main characters conveniently got a happy ending. However, the stories of the sideline characters didn’t quite get clearly wrapped up.
Overall, this book was just alright. It was generally cute, and I liked how the stories were all connected by the dress. The characters were humorous and fun to read about. It was a little boring at times, but it was still an enjoyable read.
A light, palate cleanser. The title, Nine Women, One Dress, explains the gist of the plot. For so much hype around this highly sought after, fashionable dress, the author didn’t describe the dress in much detail.
Maybe I read the novel too slow, but the plot jumped around a lot. I couldn’t remember the details each character’s story, because their previous chapter was kind of far back. All the main characters conveniently got a happy ending. However, the stories of the sideline characters didn’t quite get clearly wrapped up.
Overall, this book was just alright. It was generally cute, and I liked how the stories were all connected by the dress. The characters were humorous and fun to read about. It was a little boring at times, but it was still an enjoyable read.
July 11, 2022
This was a cute book. Had a bit of slow moments so that's the reason for my rating. Cute and interesting how many lives were touched by one dress. Really wanted to see more of the blossoming of relationship happen between Natalie and Jeremy.
April 26, 2016
This is a great book to get lost in! Filled with stories that revolve around friendship, romance, family, and especially hope, it will make you laugh, cry, and smile.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2016
Quick, easy, fun - a perfect summer read!
May 14, 2016
This is the BEST book I've read in years. It's fantastic!
It's the perfect summer read. I promise.
It's written in first POV, and it's not your regular romance story. There are several protagonists, each with their own story and all are somehow connected to the "little black dress" of the season. Each character is unique in their own way and super funny. There were times I couldn't stop laughing, as there were other times when it had me at "aaw".
This story reminds me of my favorite Spanish TV series called "Velvet". I can say it's all because of the famous dress, the pattern maker, and the crew at Bloomingdale's.
Now I wish this could be made into a movie. It'd be my favorite.
It's the perfect summer read. I promise.
It's written in first POV, and it's not your regular romance story. There are several protagonists, each with their own story and all are somehow connected to the "little black dress" of the season. Each character is unique in their own way and super funny. There were times I couldn't stop laughing, as there were other times when it had me at "aaw".
This story reminds me of my favorite Spanish TV series called "Velvet". I can say it's all because of the famous dress, the pattern maker, and the crew at Bloomingdale's.
Now I wish this could be made into a movie. It'd be my favorite.
August 8, 2018
I really liked Nine Women, One Dress. It was a light, entertaining read with many relatable characters. As a fashion-lover myself, I could easily relate to the characters' love of the dress and their feelings when finding a dress that is a game-changer :). When you look better, you feel better.
Nine Women, One Dress was a cute, easy read with many modern references that I enjoyed.
Nine Women, One Dress was a cute, easy read with many modern references that I enjoyed.
June 15, 2017
Yikes. I went in liking the idea behind following nine women who are all tied to the same small Little Black Dress (LBD) but after a few chapters there were way too many people to track. The book included following some men as well which made things doubly confusing. And after a while it just felt like we got a few short paragraphs per chapter and would skip ahead to someone else.
I was hoping more for a book set up like the The Secret Lives of Dresses.
I wish that I could pick out one character that I liked the most, but honestly I can't even recall someone that is standing out in my mind right now. The model turned actress character was interesting, but honestly I found her whole rise to stardom to be implausible in this day and age with so many insta-models becoming the new hot thing. And the Hollywood leading men character was not believable at all. Maybe because I had some friends who dated actors/actresses and they all had some stories to tell.
What could have worked better for me is if we followed the elderly (male) dress designer as he worked on designing a dress and each chapter would show a different woman coming to Bloomingdale's finding THE DRESS and wearing it a pivotal part in their lives. I think that is where Rosen was going, but it just got lost with the shifting perspectives.
And I am going to say it seemed like to me she got bored towards the end since the chapters were so choppy. And then everyone got a happy ending (well except for one character who I could not figure out who it was).
I was hoping more for a book set up like the The Secret Lives of Dresses.
I wish that I could pick out one character that I liked the most, but honestly I can't even recall someone that is standing out in my mind right now. The model turned actress character was interesting, but honestly I found her whole rise to stardom to be implausible in this day and age with so many insta-models becoming the new hot thing. And the Hollywood leading men character was not believable at all. Maybe because I had some friends who dated actors/actresses and they all had some stories to tell.
What could have worked better for me is if we followed the elderly (male) dress designer as he worked on designing a dress and each chapter would show a different woman coming to Bloomingdale's finding THE DRESS and wearing it a pivotal part in their lives. I think that is where Rosen was going, but it just got lost with the shifting perspectives.
And I am going to say it seemed like to me she got bored towards the end since the chapters were so choppy. And then everyone got a happy ending (well except for one character who I could not figure out who it was).
May 5, 2016
#2016-aty-reading-challenge--week-18: A book on a summer/beach reading list.
#Doubleday-Keep-Turning-Pages-group-read: May
What a fun book! Charming, witty, warm-hearted and delightful. I hope it's on everyone's summer/beach reading list this year.
The story revolves around one little black dress...THE dress of the season...and the people whose lives are affected by its magic...from the elderly pattern maker who creates it, to the young model on the runway, to the Bloomingdales staff who sell it, to the women who wear it. This was really some dress!!
The setting is Bloomingdales in NYC and many of the iconic sites of the city--the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, the Plaza Hotel, Central Park, etc. The many characters are identified in headings on chapters and it is amazing how well Rosen ties all these various story lines together.
Many thanks to Doubleday and the Keep Turning Pages goodreads group for providing me with a free copy to read via NetGalley.
#Doubleday-Keep-Turning-Pages-group-read: May
What a fun book! Charming, witty, warm-hearted and delightful. I hope it's on everyone's summer/beach reading list this year.
The story revolves around one little black dress...THE dress of the season...and the people whose lives are affected by its magic...from the elderly pattern maker who creates it, to the young model on the runway, to the Bloomingdales staff who sell it, to the women who wear it. This was really some dress!!
The setting is Bloomingdales in NYC and many of the iconic sites of the city--the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, the Plaza Hotel, Central Park, etc. The many characters are identified in headings on chapters and it is amazing how well Rosen ties all these various story lines together.
Many thanks to Doubleday and the Keep Turning Pages goodreads group for providing me with a free copy to read via NetGalley.
June 7, 2024
Author Jane Rosen cleverly weaves together a sweet and charming story about a little black dress that irrevocably changed the lives of the nine women who wore it. This light and enjoyable story, with it’s likeable characters, will make you smile.
June 27, 2016
Very cute, but a little too much fluff and not enough substance for me. It is an enjoyable romantic-comedy of errors, written from the many different POVs of the many different characters in it, all connected by one fabulous LBD. It is well done, and I liked some of the characters, but I didn't really care what happened, because none of it is really important. A good novel for its genre, I guess, but this genre is not one of my favorites.
July 10, 2016
4.5 stars
What a delightful book! Nine Women, One Dress was so much fun to read - I did not want to put it down until I was finished. Jane Rosen has created a story that has a great plot line while also containing a wonderful group of characters that I loved getting to know. Moreover, it was witty in addition to being entertaining. I hope Rosen is already busy working on her next novel.
Morris Siegel is an almost 90-year old dress pattern-maker for designer Max Hammer who is approaching retirement and wants to go out with a bang. He creates the pattern for a little black dress that he feels confident will be the “dress of the season”. Happily as the story begins, the Max Hammer dress appears on the cover of Women’s Wear Daily cementing its position as “that dress”. As the story progresses, Morris’s dress brings happiness and good luck to nine different, unrelated women who wear it.
Part of the success of the story is the way Rosen constantly switches point of views from character to character. There are a fair number of characters, but I found it easy to keep track of them all. My two favorite storylines were Albert Winters and his interaction with the clerks at Bloomingdale’s and the actor Jeremy Madison and his publicist and agent. The Albert Winters story was so sweet, and I loved the role that the Bloomingdale’s clerks Tomas and Ruthie played in changing the trajectory of Albert’s life. The Jeremy Madison story is laugh out loud funny, and the Tab Hunter reference was classic. Rosen’s cultural references really add to the story.
I highly recommend this funny, clever novel. Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Doubleday Books for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a delightful book! Nine Women, One Dress was so much fun to read - I did not want to put it down until I was finished. Jane Rosen has created a story that has a great plot line while also containing a wonderful group of characters that I loved getting to know. Moreover, it was witty in addition to being entertaining. I hope Rosen is already busy working on her next novel.
Morris Siegel is an almost 90-year old dress pattern-maker for designer Max Hammer who is approaching retirement and wants to go out with a bang. He creates the pattern for a little black dress that he feels confident will be the “dress of the season”. Happily as the story begins, the Max Hammer dress appears on the cover of Women’s Wear Daily cementing its position as “that dress”. As the story progresses, Morris’s dress brings happiness and good luck to nine different, unrelated women who wear it.
Part of the success of the story is the way Rosen constantly switches point of views from character to character. There are a fair number of characters, but I found it easy to keep track of them all. My two favorite storylines were Albert Winters and his interaction with the clerks at Bloomingdale’s and the actor Jeremy Madison and his publicist and agent. The Albert Winters story was so sweet, and I loved the role that the Bloomingdale’s clerks Tomas and Ruthie played in changing the trajectory of Albert’s life. The Jeremy Madison story is laugh out loud funny, and the Tab Hunter reference was classic. Rosen’s cultural references really add to the story.
I highly recommend this funny, clever novel. Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Doubleday Books for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2017
This book was a really good find! I loved each of the stories and how they intertwined around 1 dress. I was rooting for all the characters and loved how each got their happily ever after. At times I laughed out loud and others, I couldn't contain my smile. The story actually sucked me in and there were times I couldn't put it down. I haven't had that feeling in a while. Loved it!
There was only one story that I wish could have expanded more or gotten a better ending. It actually made me kind of sad to read it. But I guess the reality is that not everyone gets what they truly want? Not sure, but I'd like to think eventually everything works out and ends up well for the sisters :)
There was only one story that I wish could have expanded more or gotten a better ending. It actually made me kind of sad to read it. But I guess the reality is that not everyone gets what they truly want? Not sure, but I'd like to think eventually everything works out and ends up well for the sisters :)
February 6, 2024
3 stars
A cute book. The story is spread between 9 different women - that come and go throughout the book - who come in contact with one little black dress. It is THE dress of the season and it changes the life of every woman it touches.
The story is based on three of the women, with the other six in supporting roles. Seems like a lot of people to keep straight, but their varying stories make it easy. Some of the women you like and want to return to their story, others you don't like and hope they are written out quickly.
One redeeming fact is the end of the story. Rosen wrote the perfect ending, for the women and for the dress, because by the end of the book you are wondering where the dress will end up. Rosen ended it well.
A cute book. The story is spread between 9 different women - that come and go throughout the book - who come in contact with one little black dress. It is THE dress of the season and it changes the life of every woman it touches.
The story is based on three of the women, with the other six in supporting roles. Seems like a lot of people to keep straight, but their varying stories make it easy. Some of the women you like and want to return to their story, others you don't like and hope they are written out quickly.
One redeeming fact is the end of the story. Rosen wrote the perfect ending, for the women and for the dress, because by the end of the book you are wondering where the dress will end up. Rosen ended it well.
August 28, 2016
2 1/2, I think. I'm honestly not quite sure what kept me reading this book. It felt like a young author's first novel, not the product of a veteran writer. The prose was pretty mediocre, and there were so many exclamation points--and mostly narratively, not in dialogue--which is always frustrating. This book is an excellent example of why I am wary of reading novels in first-person: I never got a feeling for the character telling the story--or, for that matter, any character. The prose was simplistic and almost childish at times (probably the exclamation points), with every single "essay" sporting the same boy-howdy, golly-gee sort of tone to it, and the author often gave in to stereotypes, as if we wouldn't believe one of the young women whose story was being told was Southern without her speaking, even narratively, as if she were in a Tennessee Williams play.
The format of the "essays" also annoyed me. Each was introduced with a title, a byline, and occasionally (usually for the woman, major side-eye) their age. Furthermore, there were times when the essay-writer would address the reader or refer specifically to their title or byline. It was jarring and disconcerting. It was a self-aware move that only works with some books, and this was certainly not one of them. I picked up this book because it seemed reminiscent of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, to a degree; from the description, it seemed as if it would be a third-person account of where this dress went, that I would consistently follow it on its journey from person to person. That, however, was not the case. So if that's what you're going into this book looking for, steer clear. You won't get it.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
I'm still not sure what kept me reading this book. I think it was because I wanted to know what happened to the millennial who was looking for a job.
The format of the "essays" also annoyed me. Each was introduced with a title, a byline, and occasionally (usually for the woman, major side-eye) their age. Furthermore, there were times when the essay-writer would address the reader or refer specifically to their title or byline. It was jarring and disconcerting. It was a self-aware move that only works with some books, and this was certainly not one of them. I picked up this book because it seemed reminiscent of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, to a degree; from the description, it seemed as if it would be a third-person account of where this dress went, that I would consistently follow it on its journey from person to person. That, however, was not the case. So if that's what you're going into this book looking for, steer clear. You won't get it.
I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
I'm still not sure what kept me reading this book. I think it was because I wanted to know what happened to the millennial who was looking for a job.
January 8, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is an enjoyable light read. The premise is that 9 different women come in contact with THE perfect Little Black Dress and their lives are somehow transformed by the experience. Some of the women’s stories are given more prominence than others. Some only have a fleeting experience with the LBD. Some of the women are better portrayed than others. NYC is almost a star in this book, as is the LBD, but NYC gets a more descriptive treatment than the LBD.
There is nothing taxing about reading this book. It exactly what it purports to be, light chic lit, and nothing more, and that’s just fine. I would have liked a better description of the infamous LBD, and maybe what constitutes the perfect LBD. The drawing on the cover of a LBD is banal and uninspiring. There is nothing “perfect” about it. More thought could have gone into this illustration to make the cover more appealing. (I am not usually so critical of covers, but this one seemed like an after thought.)
This book is a fun read and may be just what you are in the mood for after a more weighty book. It worked for me just fine!
This is an enjoyable light read. The premise is that 9 different women come in contact with THE perfect Little Black Dress and their lives are somehow transformed by the experience. Some of the women’s stories are given more prominence than others. Some only have a fleeting experience with the LBD. Some of the women are better portrayed than others. NYC is almost a star in this book, as is the LBD, but NYC gets a more descriptive treatment than the LBD.
There is nothing taxing about reading this book. It exactly what it purports to be, light chic lit, and nothing more, and that’s just fine. I would have liked a better description of the infamous LBD, and maybe what constitutes the perfect LBD. The drawing on the cover of a LBD is banal and uninspiring. There is nothing “perfect” about it. More thought could have gone into this illustration to make the cover more appealing. (I am not usually so critical of covers, but this one seemed like an after thought.)
This book is a fun read and may be just what you are in the mood for after a more weighty book. It worked for me just fine!
March 12, 2018
QUICK NOTES: Oh my goodness, I really enjoyed this book! it's just like the interweaving anthologies of Love Actually, Valentines Day, He's Just Not That Into You... very sweet book. You meet several women, as well as a slew of diverse and entertaining supporting characters, who in some way chronicle a single "it dress" as it makes it's rounds of nine women.
Some of the stories are sweet, some are dramatic, and some are hilarious. And even though the stories may be separate, they all find common threads and criss-cross in the best ways.
I definitely had a few favorite characters that I was rooting for and it was extremely easy to get sucked into the lives of the characters. All in all it's a perfect little chick-lit book, great for Summer reading or cozy days curled up inside. Easy and delightful!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the stories are sweet, some are dramatic, and some are hilarious. And even though the stories may be separate, they all find common threads and criss-cross in the best ways.
I definitely had a few favorite characters that I was rooting for and it was extremely easy to get sucked into the lives of the characters. All in all it's a perfect little chick-lit book, great for Summer reading or cozy days curled up inside. Easy and delightful!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2017
I just finished listening to this CD book and it was so wonderfully funny. I hated for it to end. If you don't have time to read it, utilize your local library.
January 2, 2020
THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING CUTE.
Nine Women, One Dress reminded me of the sisterhood of the traveling pants. Each girl that finds this dress eventually finds love. Doesn't always mean it's with the person that they are currently with or someone that they've been pining over. It just means that things eventually fall into place for each and everyone of them. Again, it was freaking adorable.
I don't necessarily have a favorite character with this one which is a bit odd since it followed so many MC's. Yet, I can say that I loved all of them. Each person had a unique story that ending sort of happily ever after. Of course come guys are completely clueless but they got it eventually. I think my favorite part was the sink hole killing the vile women. It made me laugh.. which it probably shouldn't.. but she also definitely deserved it.
Overall, each little love story put a smile on my face and I really did enjoy how everything played out in this one. The flow into each story and how they sort of met the next person to find happiness was brilliantly written. Definitely need another book by this author.
Nine Women, One Dress reminded me of the sisterhood of the traveling pants. Each girl that finds this dress eventually finds love. Doesn't always mean it's with the person that they are currently with or someone that they've been pining over. It just means that things eventually fall into place for each and everyone of them. Again, it was freaking adorable.
I don't necessarily have a favorite character with this one which is a bit odd since it followed so many MC's. Yet, I can say that I loved all of them. Each person had a unique story that ending sort of happily ever after. Of course come guys are completely clueless but they got it eventually. I think my favorite part was the sink hole killing the vile women. It made me laugh.. which it probably shouldn't.. but she also definitely deserved it.
Overall, each little love story put a smile on my face and I really did enjoy how everything played out in this one. The flow into each story and how they sort of met the next person to find happiness was brilliantly written. Definitely need another book by this author.
August 8, 2019
Compared to multiple character storylines like Valentine's Day , Mother's Day and New Year's Eve, this failed to ever really rise above a 2 star. Although I must admit that Felicia and Arthur's storyline was sweet, I didn't really enjoy any of the others.
Goodreads review published 07/08/19
Goodreads review published 07/08/19
March 10, 2017
Every woman needs a LBD(Little Black Dress). This book tells the story of one such dress. You get to follow the life of the dress at it is born until it meets it's demise. Max Hammer is the designer. Along the way, we meet the dressmaker, the runway model who first shows the dress to the world and the other women who have come in contact with the dress and the way it has affected their lives. The dress of the season has made it's way around New York City and the world.
I listened to this book over the past couple of weeks to and from work. It's a cute story about "the" dress of the season. Throughout the life of the dress you meet a host of characters that each have their moment with the dress. We have Natalie the Bloomingdale's sales girl, who uses the dress to help an actor get negative press away from his name. Then there's, Felicia who has been Mr. Winters assistant for the past 20 years and has been in love with him for just as long, she gets the dress in the best/worst mix-up ever. Then there's an actress in a Broadway play, the French girl who is normally only in a berka, the private eye who snoops out cheating husbands, and the runway model from Alabama making her debut in the dress. The whole story is centered around the Bloomingdale's where the dress is being sold and the employees who work there are just as pertinent to the story as the women who wear the dress.
Overall this was a cute story that made me laugh out loud at parts.
I listened to this book over the past couple of weeks to and from work. It's a cute story about "the" dress of the season. Throughout the life of the dress you meet a host of characters that each have their moment with the dress. We have Natalie the Bloomingdale's sales girl, who uses the dress to help an actor get negative press away from his name. Then there's, Felicia who has been Mr. Winters assistant for the past 20 years and has been in love with him for just as long, she gets the dress in the best/worst mix-up ever. Then there's an actress in a Broadway play, the French girl who is normally only in a berka, the private eye who snoops out cheating husbands, and the runway model from Alabama making her debut in the dress. The whole story is centered around the Bloomingdale's where the dress is being sold and the employees who work there are just as pertinent to the story as the women who wear the dress.
Overall this was a cute story that made me laugh out loud at parts.
December 20, 2016
3.5 stars...but do I round up or down is the question.
This book is contemporary Women's fiction. I don't spend a lot of time in this genre, but I enjoyed this book. It's about how 9 different women from different walks of life, meet up with this one little black dress. This dress definitely gets around. I liked the different vignettes and how this dress served as a catalyst in altering lives.
Even though this was predictable and sweet, I think I'll round up, because it was a fluffy read when I needed one.
This book is contemporary Women's fiction. I don't spend a lot of time in this genre, but I enjoyed this book. It's about how 9 different women from different walks of life, meet up with this one little black dress. This dress definitely gets around. I liked the different vignettes and how this dress served as a catalyst in altering lives.
Even though this was predictable and sweet, I think I'll round up, because it was a fluffy read when I needed one.
March 15, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
This fun sounding story is a short, quirky read that is jam-packed with a full cast of characters. There are so many characters, in fact, that there is bound to be one that everyone can relate to. Some of the stories intertwine, which give them a little more depth and interest, while others are short and sweet. Due to the fact that the advanced copy is a scant 257 pages, there needs to be more detail and character development to make these stories that much more entertaining.
Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen starts off with a bang and jumps right into the first couple of stories. We meet a few of the characters, including the designer of the famous black dress that weaves the parts of the book together. Honestly, the number of personalities that are introduced in the book never seems to stop multiplying. It became difficult to really follow along with some of the stories because of the sheer multitude of characters in the book. I would have preferred fewer characters in this book so that there could be some more focus and depth given to them.
As the synopsis states, there are a couple of stories that make up more of the book than some of the others. The different storylines do weave together a little bit through a sales person at Bloomingdales. Even though, there is an attempt at making some of the narrative beefier, it was lacking in description and moved on much too fast for my liking. As the novel progresses, it starts to feel like a soap opera and really flits from one story to another.
With very little detail and such quick and often times inconceivable events, I left this book wanting more. For a novel that is attempting to add so many stories and personas, I believe that it should have been a much longer book. I really enjoyed some of the characters and would have liked to know them a little bit better. I actually didn't get this feeling until almost midway through the book, but the stories just felt as though they were being wrapped up and hurried out the door.
Nine Women, One Dress is a very interesting concept and has some fun elements woven into it. If you enjoy a book that is light, fast-paced and has loads of characters, then this might be right up your alley. I prefer to get to know the characters a little better and needed this one to be a bit more drawn out. It is a great book to read on a holiday, as it is quite short and quick.
This fun sounding story is a short, quirky read that is jam-packed with a full cast of characters. There are so many characters, in fact, that there is bound to be one that everyone can relate to. Some of the stories intertwine, which give them a little more depth and interest, while others are short and sweet. Due to the fact that the advanced copy is a scant 257 pages, there needs to be more detail and character development to make these stories that much more entertaining.
Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen starts off with a bang and jumps right into the first couple of stories. We meet a few of the characters, including the designer of the famous black dress that weaves the parts of the book together. Honestly, the number of personalities that are introduced in the book never seems to stop multiplying. It became difficult to really follow along with some of the stories because of the sheer multitude of characters in the book. I would have preferred fewer characters in this book so that there could be some more focus and depth given to them.
As the synopsis states, there are a couple of stories that make up more of the book than some of the others. The different storylines do weave together a little bit through a sales person at Bloomingdales. Even though, there is an attempt at making some of the narrative beefier, it was lacking in description and moved on much too fast for my liking. As the novel progresses, it starts to feel like a soap opera and really flits from one story to another.
With very little detail and such quick and often times inconceivable events, I left this book wanting more. For a novel that is attempting to add so many stories and personas, I believe that it should have been a much longer book. I really enjoyed some of the characters and would have liked to know them a little bit better. I actually didn't get this feeling until almost midway through the book, but the stories just felt as though they were being wrapped up and hurried out the door.
Nine Women, One Dress is a very interesting concept and has some fun elements woven into it. If you enjoy a book that is light, fast-paced and has loads of characters, then this might be right up your alley. I prefer to get to know the characters a little better and needed this one to be a bit more drawn out. It is a great book to read on a holiday, as it is quite short and quick.
January 2, 2017
Everyone comes in searching for the perfect dress for her big day, whether it’s her high school prom or her fiftieth high school reunion. The dress needs to match more than just the shoes. It needs to match her hopes and expectations. It needs to remove all worry and doubt about looking good from the equation so that everything else can fall into place. Tomas, Third Floor Ladies' Dresses
Fun, frothy and fab! This is a rom com of a novel, but oh how I enjoyed this trifle. It’s an ensemble of vignettes with parallel story lines similar in style to Love Actually and the New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day movies. Serendipity and the ‘it’ frock of the season are what propel and connect the various plots and it is awash in relationships both youthful and mature. The New York setting has been called a love letter to the city and I agree, the tour of Grand Central Terminal is now on my must do list the next time I’m in town.
The first person narrations made for immersive reading, the short chapters made it easy to put down and pick up, yet I couldn’t wait for the next installment of the story lines even if I had an inkling of how they’d turn out. From the Bloomingdale’s clerks’ meddling to the PI who finds herself enmeshed in a love triangle to the long suffering, love struck assistant, the characters are all lovingly fashioned. And the writing is both sharp and poignant including a laugh out loud karmic moment involving a sink hole to the pattern maker’s words ‘…the importance of making a life that counted enough for all those they left behind,’ the narrative threads are often humorous and all the while touching.
Full of cultural references, witty characters and warm and fuzzy moments, this was a pleasure to read. I thank Carol for praising its virtues earlier this year thereby landing it on my holiday reading list! Thanks Hula Lady!
Fun, frothy and fab! This is a rom com of a novel, but oh how I enjoyed this trifle. It’s an ensemble of vignettes with parallel story lines similar in style to Love Actually and the New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day movies. Serendipity and the ‘it’ frock of the season are what propel and connect the various plots and it is awash in relationships both youthful and mature. The New York setting has been called a love letter to the city and I agree, the tour of Grand Central Terminal is now on my must do list the next time I’m in town.
The first person narrations made for immersive reading, the short chapters made it easy to put down and pick up, yet I couldn’t wait for the next installment of the story lines even if I had an inkling of how they’d turn out. From the Bloomingdale’s clerks’ meddling to the PI who finds herself enmeshed in a love triangle to the long suffering, love struck assistant, the characters are all lovingly fashioned. And the writing is both sharp and poignant including a laugh out loud karmic moment involving a sink hole to the pattern maker’s words ‘…the importance of making a life that counted enough for all those they left behind,’ the narrative threads are often humorous and all the while touching.
Full of cultural references, witty characters and warm and fuzzy moments, this was a pleasure to read. I thank Carol for praising its virtues earlier this year thereby landing it on my holiday reading list! Thanks Hula Lady!
February 9, 2022
Fast-paced, funny and refreshing. There's romance, heartbreak, family issues and friendship.
*Gifted by the publisher*
*Gifted by the publisher*
August 13, 2016
Light as air. drink a martini (or a cosmo) while you read it.
March 8, 2018
I adored this book!
“... a beautiful dress knows no age. It is boundless. A beautiful dress holds a little bit of magic in it.”
A Max Hammer little black dress! It’s the dress “of the season” and widely sought after. This book is about the dress and nine women whose lives are changed by it’s magic! The magic of confidence ...
The women’s stories are intertwined throughout the book with each reaching it’s conclusion simultaneously. The main characters are fun, quirky, relatable and likable with an amazing supporting cast of friends, co-workers, family and even strangers!
My favorite line in this book referenced a much loved fairytale. “I can promise you it wasn’t those ill fitting glass slippers that gave Cinderella the confidence to crash the ball. It was the dress ... the dress made her do it”
“... a beautiful dress knows no age. It is boundless. A beautiful dress holds a little bit of magic in it.”
A Max Hammer little black dress! It’s the dress “of the season” and widely sought after. This book is about the dress and nine women whose lives are changed by it’s magic! The magic of confidence ...
The women’s stories are intertwined throughout the book with each reaching it’s conclusion simultaneously. The main characters are fun, quirky, relatable and likable with an amazing supporting cast of friends, co-workers, family and even strangers!
My favorite line in this book referenced a much loved fairytale. “I can promise you it wasn’t those ill fitting glass slippers that gave Cinderella the confidence to crash the ball. It was the dress ... the dress made her do it”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,972 reviews