The Paris Gown by Christine Wells -review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 20, 2O24

1957: Three friends—Margot, Gina, and Charlotte—share an apartment above a bookstore in Paris.

Margot is a twenty-two-year-old Australian having the time of her life. Having been sent to the City of Light to be “finished” before her debut, Margot falls in love with Paris all over again. In her mind, all she needs to complete her transformation into “Une Parisienne” is a gown from the spectacular designer Monsieur Dior, particularly if she wants to catch the eye of Peter Mountbatten, a distant cousin of the Queen.

Gina is an American blueblood whose family has fallen on hard times. She’s run away to Paris and is now working in a bookstore while writing a novel at night. But then she receives an invitation to a high society ball at the American Embassy where the man who once jilted her will also attend…with his new wife. Gina must have a knockout gown to wear.

French chef Charlotte is the lone girl in a family of boys and one of the very few women working in the stubbornly sexist restaurant business. She’s always thought herself homely compared with her conventionally pretty mother and is more interested in her work than fashion. But that is about to change…

One night, Margot proposes to share the cost and the gown with her two best friends and roommates. Each will put in some of her savings, and they’ll each get to wear the gown in turn.

Gorgeous, perfectly tailored, lustrous and luxurious, the Dior gown has the power to change lives—as these three remarkable women are about to discover…

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REVIEW:THE PARIS GOWN by Christine Wells is an historical adult story line focusing on three friends in Paris: Claire, Gina and Margot, and a Dior gown gifted by a socialite whose own life took a different path.

Told from three omniscient third person perspectives (Claire, Gina and Margot) covering approximately ten years in the life, THE PARIS GOWN focuses on the lives and friendships of chef Claire, wanna-be writer Gina, and sales assistant Margot. In 1950 our trio of friends dreamed of a different life, and the ability to afford a designer Dior gown. Fast forward five years, the friends choices in life have pulled them in different directions but choices often lead to consequences and changes, and the trio will reunite in Paris, with the gift of the original Dior gown. As each struggles to find a new direction going forward, the past returns for one; a family crisis pulls another back home; and a forbidden love will see a happily ever after yet for each, the Dior gown will bring them one step closer to the future they have always wanted.

THE PARIS GOWN is a story of friendships and relationships, secrets and acceptance, forgiveness and love. The premise is spirited, lively and enthralling. The reader is up close and personal with the lives of three friends, their struggles to find happiness, security and independence. The characters are animated, charismatic and real.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy