The Paris Seamstress

By Natasha Lester, 465 pages, Forever, 2018
Reviewed by Gail Stasiowski Keller, May 21, 2020

This is a historical novel about the fashion industry set in Paris in the 1940s during the war.

When the Germans advanced to Paris, it affected the life of Estella, a talented young seamstress, forcing her to leave her Mother and the only life she had ever known. Her Mother was determined to save her and reveals the first story secret: Her Father was really an American.

Her American status enables her to leave Paris and travel to New York with her specially designed gold dress and with the hope that she would be able to work in the fashion industry.

She did get work as a cutter as well as a designer. Through work, Estella made many friends and developed important relationships including one with a British spy and an American heiress. Each contributes to the mysteries and unknown factors that surprise both Estella and the reader.

While most of the characters in this book are fictional, many others are real people whose names the reader will recognize. Many sacrifices are noted in this story for both love and family, which contribute to the many surprises and life changes for Estella.

Overall this was an interesting read, and I enjoyed the many secrets which came true, changing the fate of the characters in entirely different directions. This happened each time the mysteries of the past came to light.