This story is based on the real Dorothy Draper who almost 30 years later gets the opportunity to restore and create a better Greenbriar Club in West Virginia. Dorothy was a daring and scandalous character and a true joy to read about. She had more moxie than most women of the early 1900’s.

This book is a fantastic read and well worth the time to sit back and enjoy a rebel.

Thank you to #netgalley and #harpermuse for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

This is a dual timeline novel about the famed interior designer Dorothy Draper. The story alternates between 1908 and 1946 and is set in the glamours Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. In 1908 Dorothy is spending the summer at Greenbrier with her family. They are expecting her to accept a marriage proposal from Warren, the son of family friends. Dorothy however has other plans. She dreams of being more than just another socialite wife, and mother. In addition, Dorothy is distracted by Enzo, an attractive Italian race-car driver. The alternate chapters are set in 1946, and Dorothy has returned to Greenbrier restore the famed resort back to its former glory. Dorothy's career has faced setbacks as has her reputation in society due to her divorce from her husband. She soon finds inspiration in the resort's beautiful surroundings, and she is determined to bring her vision to fruition, despite the obstacles thrown in her way by owners, employees, and the memories still haunting her.

Prior to reading The Grand Design, I had not heard of Dorothy Draper or the Greenbrier Resort. The author, through vivid description and wonderful dialogue, transports the reader back to the waning days of the gilded age, just before society changed forever as the result of two world wars and the Great Depression. Sprinkled into this grand setting, are cameos of notable figures of the time periods from politics, fashion, and art such as William Howard Taft and his wife and daughter.

For those of us who will never have the opportunity to see the beauty of Greenbrier, nor experience the privileged life of the upper classes; this is a wonderful escape into a different place and time.

In 1908 everyone that was anyone summered at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Joy Callaway escorts readers right into the enormous dining hall prepared for Greenbrier’s Centennial Celebration filled with “silk & chiffon served atop a platter of tradition and romance.”
Callaway shares the story of socialite Dorothy Tuckerman’s attempt to escape the prison of expectations through her rebellious and creative lifestyle. In this dual timeline, thirty-eight years later, Dorothy is challenged with overcoming the stigma of divorce and sustaining her design business. She had established herself as one of the first female interior designers but having been raised by a father who found fame uncouth, Dorothy had become dependent on it and praise. Callaway peels back layers of confidence, waxing and waning, as insecurities immerge, affecting Dorothy’s business and personal life.
In alternating chapters Callaway portrays a clear portrait of Dorothy as a debutante in 1908 as she recalls the details and “what ifs” of her last summer at the Greenbrier. In 1946, Dorothy Draper is hired to transform the Greenbrier from an Army hospital to its former glory as a destination resort. Different designs for every guestroom, restoration of antiques, and acquiring artworks along with tales of presidents, royals, and movie stars gracing the halls and cottages make for rich renditions of spectacular events. While hoping for a successful “resort reveal” readers are immersed in the lush details and vibrant colors of Dorothy Draper designs. Scandal, secrets, and love are wrapped in the historic theme of the Greenbrier Resort: romance and rhododendrons.

I had never heard of Dorothy Draper before the story though I have seen pictures of Greenbrier and its magnificent blue, green, and red halls. As someone who loves color, this novel was a feast for the senses.

Dorothy wanted more than to become the wife of a wealthy man and an unexpected meeting of an inappropriate Italian racecar driver at the Greenbrier resort convinces her of this. Unfortunately her family has different plans for her. Decades later Dorothy is living life on her own terms and returns to the Greenbrier as an interior designer with a mission to make it even better than it was before. Will Dorothy be able to make her dreams come true at the place were so many were broken?

In this dual timeline novel, it is 1908 and young Dorothy Tuckerman is chafing at familial and societal expectations. Her family has long expected her to marry Warren, for whom she feels nothing but friendship. While her parents expect an engagement announcement, she is falling in love with the inappropriate Italian race car driver, Enzo.

In 1946, Dorothy Draper is a divorcee who makes a living as a designer. She is scorned and criticized by the social circle to which she once belonged, but is thrilled to have the opportunity to design the Greenbrier Resort, where she once spent her summers, including the fateful summer of 1908 that forever changed the trajectory of her life.

This fictionalized account of the life of famed designer Dorothy Draper is also full of historical details about the famed Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. Although it has inspired me to learn more about Dorothy Draper and add more color to my house, the romance between Dorothy and Enzo falls a little flat. Far more interesting is the May-December relationship between her and her employee, Lee. Nonetheless, this book is wonderful for those interested in design and history. #TheGreenbrierResort #NetGalley

If you start reading this novel and immediately give out a sigh that maybe you’ve mistakenly picked up a wholly romance novel, I can hear you! However, only part of the book leans heavily on the romance elements. When you’ve reached the chapters that start in 1946, you’ll be out of that mode! Sadly, when the story reverts back to the 1908 parts, you might feel a bit disappointed. Yes, I get why Callaway did this, but I found Dorothy’s whole infatuation with Rossi to be distracting, even though I can understand that some background into Dorothy’s youth was a good idea. What I wanted was to concentrate on Dorothy’s renovating of the Greenbrier Resort. My thinking is that this earlier story arc would have been just as effective if it had been done as shorter flashbacks rather than whole chapters set in the earlier year. This was exactly how Callaway dealt with the intervening years, which include Dorothy’s marriage and divorce with Dan Draper, and I found those inclusions both insightful and well centered.

I should mention that Callaway’s writing was necessarily very descriptive, especially when it came to décor and fashion. This was particularly present when she described the dilapidated Greenbriar Resort as Dorothy surveyed the shell which she was about to renovate. Together with this, her descriptions of Dorothy’s vision for the renovations nicely appeared in my imagination, and for the most part, I could envision each element. Now, as they say, there’s no account for taste, so I’m not going to lower my rating of this novel because I don’t think I could stomach spending even an hour inside some of these rooms, let alone a whole vacation there. I mean, yeah, mid-century modern was very bright, and Draper took that word to new heights. However, that’s not me, and frankly, I prefer to be surrounded by more neutral tones with only pops of accent colors than this highly whimsical, almost circus-like, gaudy color-palette (which you can see here for yourself). But that’s just me.

So, I’m a bit of two minds about this book. On the one hand, all of the 1908 stuff was far too romantic for my taste, and I much preferred the post-war era chapters. That said, because Callaway’s writing was so lovely, I would have liked more of those sections that described the many varied designs that Draper used in this renovation. Believe me, if you click on the link above, you’ll see just how different each area looks, and more about the development of her visions would have really made this novel for me. Not that I didn’t want to know more about Dorothy as a person, because that was just as important. For all of this, I’ve been wavering between 3 and 4 stars, and I think I should just go with the middle ground of 3.5 stars, mostly because of the quality of the writing. I’m certainly going to recommend it, but with the caveat that lovers of historical romance might enjoy this more than I.

I love historical fiction book covers, they suck me in every time. This cover is no exception. And I adored the book too. A home run for me.

I enjoyed the storyline, I don't think I had every heard of Dorothy Draper, but what an interesting character both in the book and the extra googling I did to find out more about the real person. I enjoy dual timeline storylines and I thought that this one was well done but the author.

I enjoy HF that is set in the US, so I thought this was an all around good book, it kept me turning the pages and I look forward to reading this authors other two books.

The Grand Design
A Novel of Dorothy Draper
by: Joy Callaway
Harper Muse
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
genre: Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction

Author Joy Galloway has exquisitely arranged a new historical fiction novel, based on the life of Dorothy Draper. Her narrative layout begins in 1908 as Dorothy is immersed in the world of high society. The gorgeous Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia provides the setting, as we follow Dorothy's through life and love as a young woman.

The dual timeline pattern then moves forward thirty-eight years as Dorothy returns to the Greenbrier for a restoration project. Calloway's writing is lovely and appealing in presenting the life of the woman who established America's first interior design firm.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Muse for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#TheGreenbrierResort #NetGalley

I fell in love with the cover and then i fell in love with the plot that made me discover a master designer, a woman who invented the Modern Baroque, and her iconic work at the Greenbrier.
I loved Dorothy and loved the style of writing. I discovered a lot of new places, historical characters, and design concepts.
It's a compelling and fascinating read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Greenbrier Resort by Joy Callaway is a great historical fiction that takes us to the grand and steeped in history Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.

This is such a wonderful and unique book that encouraged me to devour it within two days. Growing up in WV, I have been surrounded by the images, history, and activity regarding the Greenbrier, but the way the author presented her dual timeline narrative, really drew me in and made this fun and fresh.

Weaving between, what feels like two different generations and worlds, she takes us between 1908 and the 1940s in the point of view of the true to life Dorothy Draper. Most assuredly a woman before her time, and we get a firsthand look at her life through this story.

There are surprises, twists, cameos if famous names, fashion, art, and everything one could possibly hope for in design and architecture. The author brings to life in exquisite detail the passions, motivations, intense undertaking, and the sheer talent that Ms. Draper possessed and contributed to help make the Greenbrier look as it does today. Being able to see a part of Dorothy and how her path to this point contributes to this outcome is also beyond fabulous.

I highly recommend this gem and this will be one of my favorites of 2022…guaranteed.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Harper Muse for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts immediately upon publication on 5/17/22.

The Grand Design by Joy Callaway, is historical fiction based loosely on the life of renowned interior designer Dorothy Tuckerman Draper. I love the absolutely breathtaking descriptions that place readers at the heart of the book set in two separate timelines. It is a beautiful heartfelt book.

1908
Dorothy Tuckerman's family spends summers at the popular Greenbrier Resort located in gorgeous West Virginia. The family attends social events at the resort which Dorothy finds a bit boring until she meets handsome Enzo Rossi. Enzo is a racecar driver. He wants to pursue a life with Dorothy, but her parents have other plans for Dorothy's future.

1946
Thirty eight years later, Dorothy Tuckerman Draper's marriage is over and she has been through an unseemly divorce. She is the owner of her own interior design company which is deemed very unsuitable for a woman in historic times. Dorothy tries to cast off rumors and her scandalous reputation to rebuild her life as an independent woman. She jumps at the chance to restore the rundown Greenbrier Resort which sadly was turned into a hospital during WW2. She needs this job to be completed smoothly in order to keep her design company afloat. Will Dorothy be able to compete this massive undertaking and gain the trust of her critics?

Before reading this book, I knew nothing about Dorothy Draper or the historic Greenbrier Resort. I began searching the internet for more information and pictures. This is a fascinating novel that includes author's notes about the book that you will want to read.

The Grand Design is available on May 17th. (5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

My deepest respect and thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse, for allowing me to review this interesting look back at Dorothy Draper's life. I loved every page of this book!

Under the skillful pen of Ms. Callaway, the grandeur of the Greenbrier comes to life inviting readers to become the next generation to be enthralled with the history of this magnificent resort. Nestled amidst the natural beauty of the West Virginia mountains, this is a place that has long served as a refuge, one of renewal for its guests.
This split time novel grabbed my attention with Dorothy Draper's story, a designer that flaunted societal expectations to have a successful career in design. Her overwhelming achievement was in the redecorating of the Greenbriar following WWII. While I am aware that certain aspects of the story were fictional, I was intrigued by both the factual and the might-have-been aspects of this story.
With impeccable attention to detail, this story is filled with nostalgia, lost-loves and heartbreak, but most of all, it tells the story of an amazing woman with an incredible drive and vision to make the world a more beautiful place.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/ publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I had never heard of either Dorothy Draper nor Greenbriar until reading this book. Switching between pre WWI and post WWII time slots, the story slides easily, showcasing Draper’s life as a debutante and then decorator of the resort that played such a role in her life.
I liked all the drama and the behind the scenes look at the renovation of the Greenbriar.
Times like those will never come again so The Grand Design illustrates so much, not just for historical fiction, but also for nostalgia.

Oh the Greenbriar! I hope that those who have not visited this famous resort will google it to see the Dorothy Draper designs, which are loud, proud, and fun. This is her story and it moves back and forth between 1908, when she fell in love with Enzo, an Italian race car driver seen as entirely inappropriate, and 1946, when she's back in town, divorced, and running her own design business. This mixes fact and fiction (Enzo, for example) to bring the reader into the world of the Greenbriar complete with famous visitors, social mores, and other things. At root, however, it's the story of a woman who found her own way, pushing conventions to create a style all her own. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read for fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and #HarperMuse for this ARC. Dorothy Draper grew up in the privileged neighborhood of Tuxedo Heights. This same set of people vacationed at The Greenbrier - a premier resort. Expected to marry in her set, she found she couldn't marry the man she really loved. Flash forward 30 years, Dorothy, now divorced and owner of a reputable design firm, she has been asked to come back and revitalize The Greenbrier back to its former glory while also dealing with past memories she thought she had buried. I liked learning this true story about this strong, talented women but I felt like the story drug and had a hard time finishing it. However, if you look up The Greenbrier, her bold designs are still there and celebrated. #TheGrandDesign #JoyCallaway #May2022

This is very much a character-focused book, over plot--which can be fantastic! I personally didn't find the characters compelling, though; there simply wasn't much to draw me in and feel anything for them beyond mild curiosity.

The book deep-dives into a setting very different from my own, which was appealing. It reminded me of _Gilmore Girls_ and Rory being presented to society as a deb. I definitely learned more about that with the read, especially as it was set in a time where debs were expected to present to society--they didn't have the choice, unlike Rory. Bringing that world to life is very much where the book's strength lies; the plot and characters were just a tad dry for my taste.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I know I am not going to do this book justice with my review, but this book is AMAZING! The book captured the old-world elegance of the early 1900s when everyone was much more proper, women were presented to society, and marriages were arranged, but sometimes the heart falls in love with another person or place. That is the case for Dorothy Draper, an infamous American Designer from 1923 until the 1960s. 

I do love a good historical fiction book about a real person from history. I learn so much about the time and the person. While it is fiction, many of the basic facts are true such as her career and the company she created, and her marriage, divorce, and children. I always love to read the author's notes when it comes to a book like this to learn where they drew their information, what is fact vs fiction, and what twists they added to make it an intriguing story. If nothing else, this type of book always has me searching the internet for more details about the main character.

The early 1900s was an elegant time where women were dressed to the nines, men were in suits, and people would vacation for months at a time at resorts like The Greenbriar which is depicted in this novel. I loved reading about the dances, races, picnics, and so much more that were part of their daily lives. 

The fictional part of this story is a love connection between Dorothy and Enzo during the summer of 1908. They don't end up together (well because he is not real) but the story is beautifully told and while I suspected the ending, I almost thought it wasn't going to be as I imagined due to some other factors that came into play.

I admire Dorothy and what she stood for and really pioneered the way for women designers. I loved that she wanted color and for a room to be fun and relaxing and not dark and dreary as The Greenbriar was prior to her makeover after WWII. There are times when Dorothy acted like a child, but I understood her frustration with life and what was expected of her as a woman at that time. I thank her and all of the other women that came before me that made an effort to make sure that we were heard and not taken lightly or dismissed out of hand.

I had a hard time putting this book down and highly recommend it and give it 5 paws up.

I was truly transported by this book from its very first page. I loved being in 1908 and 1946 and imagining The Greenbrier in both times. But more than anything, I loved stepping in to the shoes of Dorothy Draper. She was so interesting, I would read ten books about her. Now I must go to the Greenbrier and see it as described. I loved imagining this place of history and making so many design decisions without restraint. For these reasons, I highly recommend this book.

The Grand Design comes out next week on May 17, 2022, you can purchase HERE! This book is SO good!!

You're wild and bold, a rhododendron in the midst of greenhouse roses, and I pray that you aren't ever tamed. I'll never see those magnificent blossoms without seeing your face.

Thanks to Harper Muse, I was provided an ARC of The Grand Design by Joy Callaway via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

****Publishing May 17, 2022****

I loved how this author chose to write about two significant time periods in Dorothy Tuckerman / Draper’s life as it gives you the insight into how she became a trailblazer for women with her forward thinking, risk taking behavior, and following her heart!

This book includes two timelines:

1908 : Dorothy Tuckermsn vacations to the Greenbriar Hotel with her family as a young adult and all the societal pressure she faced and how she handled it. Her father has in mind who she is going to marry, but is this what Dorothy wants?

1946 : When Dorothy is in her 50’s and her career is established, she is asked to do a redesign of the Greenbriar Hotel after it had been left to disrepair during WWll. With the concern for money, she is pressured to keep it the way it once was, but she has plans to design it to be more vibrant and colorful. Can she come to a compromise with keeping with tradition, but also getting what she wants with a more updated design? Can she prove she has what it takes to get it up and running?

A fascinating read about Dorthy Draper and the Greenbriar hotel, and all the many changes changes it went through! I loved how Joy Callaway included in her author note her inspiration for the book, her research, and how she incorporated it into her book.

Perfect for those who love a well researched Historical Fiction book. A great book club pick as well as it will lead to many great discussions!