The minute I finished this book, I researched The Greenbriar Resort.

This is the kind of historical fiction that I want to read. This is the kind of historical fiction that I dreamed of reading when I was a kid and would page through my mom's design books that she would pick up from garage sales.

Reading about Dorothy Draper was reading about such an important figure in American History. Women in American history and design are so often relegated to home and homemaking space. Draper was at the forefront of design and had such an eye for elegance.

Thanks to NetGally and the publishers for the opportunity. I'm booking our next vacation now.

I thought that this book would be more interesting than it turned out to be! I was interested in learning about Dorothy Draper and her role as an interior designer. I thought that a book about her life and her struggles would be a good read. Unfortunately, this book of historical fiction was based too much on a fictitious love story that did not interest me. It also seemed pretty far-fetched. I cannot recommend reading this book.

I really enjoyed this book! Joy Callaway is such a wonderfully visual writer and the story was in such an exceptional setting that I pictured everything going on, which then had me envisioning a series adaptation of The Grand Design. I could see a This is Us vibe where Dorothy's storyline is shown in different times of her life, mixed with a feeling similar to Downton Abbey, Belgravia, or even a touch of non-spicy Bridgerton. I'd be there for that tv series. How can we make this happen :)

I love a good setting in a story and this ones has it in spades. Although I've never been to The Greenbriar (although I'd love to check it out one day) I did go to a resort year after year as a kid so this book also brims with feelings of nostalgia, including early friendships, family and romance. I'm not a big romance reader and the romance here was not over the top, just enough to evoke that nostalgic feel. I loved learning the history of The Greenbriar and also of Dorothy Draper, what an interesting combo. This story had me doing a little research online as well, I love when that happens because of a story. This was my first book by the author and I'll keep her on my radar.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse.

Being from West Virginia I know of course about the Greenbriar Hotel and have been there on a couple of occasions. I knew some of the history of the resort prior to reading this novel, but the fine details that are contained throughout this story are priceless. As for Dorothy Tuckerman/Draper her style of design stands alone, it would be hard not to recognize a room decorated by Dorothy Draper, her bright colors and flamboyant style stand out in a crowd and are very hard to miss. This I knew. Her story, her life I did not know. I enjoyed reading this well researched detailed account of Dorothy, from the early 1900s when a young debutante Dorothy and her family spent sumners there, till post WWII Dorothy returns after many years absdent, this time to oversee the rebirth of the Greenbriar, restoring it to better than its old These things I knew nothing about.
I love when a historical fiction novel not only entertains but also educates. This novel blends both elements, providing a terrific attention holding read till the very end. Great job! I recommend this hist-fic highly! This is one of my top reads thus far for 2022.
Thank you to the publishers at Harper Muse and to Net Galley for the free ARc, I am leaving my honest review in return.

The Greenbrier is legendary but I didn't know much about renowned interior designer Dorothy Tuckerman Draper. This novel follows young Dorothy as she vacations at the Greenbrier in the early 1900s with her family and unfolds her story between flashbacks and the present day 1960s as Dorothy is redecorating the new Greenbrier.

This is my first book my Callaway and her style transported me to the hotel. Her descriptions of people, places, and the complex emotions throughout the novel put me into the story. I could image the beautiful dancing scenes and the decorations of the Greenbrier.

I tried really hard to get into this book but I had a really hard time. It was very slow going and tough to read although the subject was really interesting.

This is a slow methodically beautiful crafted novel about Dorothy Tuckerman and her life's achievements and love -- not just romantic passions but personal passions as well. I love stories with a dual timeline and in our novel, from 1908 vs 1946 - there is a back and forth between the two that balance out the story. The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia is a big setting for our novel and one that I was initially unfamiliar with even though I have been to W.V. plenty of times - I hear West Virginia is for lovers. The writing style in this novel slowly develops and creates even minute detail of the characters not just for our protagnist but for the secondary characters as well and I so enjoyed that our author, Ms Calloway took the time to do that! If you enjoy stories of independant, sharp working women that follow their passions and are complex characters, this novel is for you. For fans of Masterpiece theater who enjoy historical fiction novels of renewal and rebirth of self -- this one is a stunner!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperMuse for the advanced copy of my book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a story that features the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, a place where the rich and famous summered back in the early 1900’s. We are there in the summer of 1908, and Dorothy Tuckerman’s family want her to make a match with Warren, a member of their social circle. and of course this young debutant has other ideas.
This is a time split read, and we fast forward to 1946, still at the Greenbrier, and with Dorothy. She is now a famous designer, and is hired to refurbish this hotel, it is really in disrepair.
A story of rebirth of a woman, gone is the young girl, and she is reeling from a divorce and a replacement of a younger rendition of herself. This is also the story of a lost love, and a story of survival, her personal, but also that of her gift of decorating and the company that she has formed.
Come and watch through the eyes of the author the Greenbrier come alive!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harper Muse, and was not required to give a positive.

This book is about a resort called Greenbriar. It was in its heyday in the early 1900s but had fallen in disrepair after WW2. It had been used as a hospital and POW camp during the war. One of the young women that had stayed there during the heyday had a decorating company that was tasked with bringing the building back to its former glory. The story goes back and forth between 1908 and 1947 but it is not clear what time period you are in until you read a little. I love to read about the details of gowns and decor of times gone by but it was glossed over in this book. There was a nice romance. There was also quite a bit of information of the different social mores of the different time period. I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
#Netgalley #thegranddesign #joygalloway #Hollandmuse

The Grand Design is based on the life of Dorothy Draper, a socialite turned designer, who was inspired by bold colors. Written in dual timelines, the reader is introduced to young Dorothy living the life of elite dinners and balls during her family’s summer visit to the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Later the reader is brought back to the Greenbrier Resort when Dorothy is hired to renovate the grand location after WWII.

Although I was looking forward to this book and enjoyed a look into Dorothy Draper’s life, I did struggle to finish it. It never truly captured my attention and made me want to learn more. The tale progressed too slowly for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Joy Callaway has crafted an interesting tale regarding the Greenbrier and the fabulous designer who created the beauty that is the resort. Dorothy Tuckerman Draper grew up visiting the Greenbrier and is asked to redesign the resort after the World Wars. As she works, she remembers the friendships, loves and heartbreak she suffered during her last summer at the resort.

Though I did enjoy most of the story, I found some of the book slow and a little repetitive. I also wanted to like Dorothy and sympathize with her, but I found her character annoying and, at times, obnoxious.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Having spent many of my summers in West Virginia with my grandparents, I'm familiar with the name of the Greenbrier Resort, although I've never been. After reading this, I'm certainly of a mind to. I hadn't heard of Dorothy Draper prior to reading this novel, and she's such a fascinating character! I love any book with a dual timeline. There's lots of history, signs of the times, architecture, and decorating. This was a well researched and plotted book.

Dorothy is a bold young woman with an eye for design, born and raised in high society. She thrives using color and concept to create design worthy of discussion. Though she loves her work the reviving the Greenbrier reawakens memories of a love yet to be surpassed. The grand design is a historical romance, based on a true story, for the modern woman.

This was a fun read! I have never heard of Dorothy Draper, but I certainly have heard of The Greenbrier, so I was interested in reading more about them both. From socialite to designer, Dorothy certainly led a fulfilling life. This book is written in dual timelines at different parts of her life. I found myself more drawn to the late 1940s timeline after she had established her interior design company. I really enjoyed the writing in this story, and I can't wait to see what Joy Callaway writes next!

A dual time line book dealing with the life of a real person and her rise to fame as an independent, working woman.
Although I found the descriptions of American society of the period interesting I found their sentiments of entitlement rather wearing. The attitudes portrayed were quite probably those of the period and thus it is easy to comprehend why Dorothy rebelled against them.
Unfortunately I found the book dragged somewhat in places

This book was an enjoyable time piece; I can imagine it as a series on PBS! Strong main character and I always find it interesting to read about woman who succeeded in spite of the time period they were born. I did find the last third dragged a tad - a bit too much rehashing for my taste.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

this book is based on the life of desiginer Dorothy Draper. very good fictional account. I enjpyed the story.

This is a fictionalized account of Dorothy Draper, a well-known designer best known for her bold colors. Draper was not an easy character to like, and she was a complex woman who kept her emotions in check and sometimes at the expense of those around her. She was most in love with her work and was dedicated to the restoration and decoration of The Greenbrier. I loved reading about her ideas for decorating The Greenbrier, and it was pretty extravagant. I also enjoyed reading about the history of The Greenbrier, and I still would love to know more as the author gave glimpses as opposed to an entire scoped account of the resort. I should also mention that this story is primarily broken into two timelines, Dorothy's early life (mostly fictionalized) and her time designing The Greenbrier post-WWII. As with most stories that have dual timelines, I preferred one timeline to the other; in this case, I liked reading about Dorothy's decorating in the late 1940s, which was the least fictionalized portion of the book. Overall, a well-written story. Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to read for a review.

THE GRAND DESIGN
by Joy Callaway
Harper Muse
Pub Date: May 17

I knew nothing about Dorothy Draper, socialite and founder of the first interior design firm, and eagerly read Joy Callaway's historical fiction novel, The Grand Design, which compellingly tells her story.

As a young woman in the early 1900s, she adored her family's yearly trips to the magnificent Greenbrier Resort, set in the uncommon beauty of West Virginia. During one visit, she falls in love with an Italian race car driver, who gives her a taste for a freer life and a longing for more than a confined socialite's existence.

But her family ends their relationship, and Dorothy fears she'll be trapped into a conventional life.

Through dual timelines, we see how the young Dorothy evolves into a courageous woman who later divorces her husband -- scandalous then -- and starts a daring business in interior design. And we follow her progress 38 years later when after WWII, she applies her audacious ideas to
renovating Greenbriar once more. Now, her business and reputation hang in the balance. Will she succeed?

A must-read for historical fiction fans, interior design lovers, and those who adore gracefully written stories about strong inspiring women.

Thanks to author Joy Callaway, Harper Muse
and #NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#JoyCallaway #HarperMuse #NetGalley #historicalfictionnovel #DorothyDraperInteriorDesigner #novelsffeaturingboldwomen #TheGreenbriarResort #WestVirginiasetting#heiressfoundsfirstinteriordesignfirm #bookstagramcommunity