A coming-of-age story mingled with the storied history of The Greenbriar - this book captures you from the first and holds for a good read. Based on the real story of Dorothy Draper, Dorothy Tuckerman is of the privileged set in the early 1900's, and "summers" at the Greenbriar, where she enjoys the relaxed days and dance-filled nights. But in her heart, she knows this lifestyle is not what she wants. Instead, she has always had an eye for design, and wants to pursue that passion. Her parents want her to marry the "safe choice" - her best friend who, despite her trying to feel otherwise, is only on the platonic level. It's not until an Italian race car driver enters the picture that Dorothy begins to imagine a "what if" kind of lifestyle.

Almost 40 years later, Dorothy is now an established designer, and has been chosen to refurbish The Greenbriar, and to bring the the charm of the old hotel to the newer hotel that was once used as a field hospital, and has since been neglected. As she reimagines what could be in design, she also is haunted by the ghosts of her past, and must consider what her success has cost her in her personal life.

I've not been to The Greenbriar, but the author brings it alive in the description so well that the reader "sees" it as the story unfolds.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this one.. Opinions expressed in thie review are completely my own.

I stopped reading at around the 40% mark in this book. I found it hard to picture either the Greenbriar itself (when I ended up searching online, I was amazed to see the scale of the resort, which I felt did not come across in the writing) or the time period from the descriptions in the novel. The character of Dorothy came across strongly in the scenes set in 1908, but I could not to relate to her in the 1946 timeline (which was disappointing as I felt here was an opportunity to write a compelling middle-aged female character). After finding out (around 30% in) Enzo's fate, I struggled to care more about what happened to the characters in the 1946 timeline. I also struggled with the sheer number of men in that timeline and who they were in relation to Dorothy - there seemed to be so many Mr This and Mr That and I could not work out which one was which. I just wish I had liked this more because I think it had such potential to be a brilliant story, but it failed to grip me.

The young Dorothy Tuckerman is a bit board of her life in 1908 with her family of socialites. The summer trips to Greenbrier resort in West Virginia are the one thing that she really enjoys. When Dorothy begins a romantic involvement with an Italian racecar driver, her parents quickly intervene. Fast forward almost 4 decades later, Dorothy has crossed all of the limitations set for women in the 1940’s. She is divorced and has started her own business as an interior designer. Now Dorothy must return to Greenbriar with the assignment to restore its lost beauty!

I am a history buff so I really enjoyed this one. With both timelines in the distant past, it was a fascinating read for me. The setting was well chosen and described in a way that you felt like you were right there with the characters. Of course, some romance was included for good measure. I would recommend this excellent historical fiction story!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

"People lost all but a tiny ounce of childlike wonder as they grew to adulthood, and unless something extraordinary caught their eye, the conversation would turn to the weather or sport or, heaven forbid, professions."

I was first introduced to Dorothy Draper and her fanciful interior design style when I stayed at The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, WV, a decade or so ago.

Our room captivated and delighted me more than my husband. With swirling pinks and tropical greens, there was not a quiet surface for the eyes to settle. And I adored it. I loved the charming prints and formal dining room, where we donned dressy clothes for dinner. The resort was truly a special place, steeped in tradition, and I couldn't wait to read the story behind its grandeur.

Narrated by Dorothy, this historical fiction novel flips between 1908 and 1946. In 1908, younger Dorothy found love among the other wealthy and privileged socialites summering at the Greenbrier. In 1946, the interior designer Dorothy restored the resort, serving as a hospital during the war, to its former splendor.

Although upper-crust society frowned upon an heiress actually "working," I enjoyed learning Dorothy desired a purpose and was the first to establish a professional design company.

I thank Harper Muse for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a very long book but is of a subject and genre I enjoy so it wasn't so bad. Based on a true story of Dorothy Draper which is a book you can delve into and live in her world.

Jo Callaway really brings the story to life and makes this story easy to read, It is a good mix of interesting historical details, the life of an amazing woman and her life and relationships. I love the dual-timeline as it really pulls the story together.

A great read that takes you to another world and lets you live a life other than your own. That is what a good book should do.

This book is an example of historical fiction at its best - immersive, a feeling of grandness in scale, impeccable sense of place, and with a central character who becomes flesh and blood and breathes with life on every page. I love that the publisher decided to change the title from The Greenbrier Resort to The Grand Design - with its dual meaning of Dorothy Draper's work at The Greenbrier and also the grand design she had for her own life, masterpieces both. Told in alternating timelines, we meet Dorothy as a young headstrong heiress and later in life as the iconic designer she has become, the former providing insight to the fictionalized events that shape the character and future of Dorothy in this story. I appreciated the author's note at the end to distinguish fact from fiction, and I've already added several of the further readings to my collection. Callaway's take on Dorothy Draper has piqued my interest in her work as well.

I received a digital pre-publication copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I'll be including it in a TBR round-up for Women's History Month in March. I will also be adding a print edition to my permanent collection upon its May 2022 release.

THE GRAND DESIGN is another stunning winner from Joy Callaway. I have enjoyed Callaway's previous novels and, having been to the Greenbrier resort, was eager to dip into this one.

This novel does a fantastic job at dramatizing the life of Dorothy Draper. Aside from her dramatic, eye-popping designs, I didn't know much about her life. The author's note summarizes what is real versus fictional and I'm so impressed with how Callaway fills in the gaps with such lovely drama. The love story is compelling and the personal conflicts kept me turning the pages. I especially appreciated seeing how Dorothy lived her life and developed such a successful business.

The ending feels very cinematic and satisfying.

This book has it all - a gorgeous resort, salacious gossip, star-crossed lovers, a talented and ambitious designer and business woman, and a surprise ending featuring long-lost love letters.

I adore historical fiction, and this is such an interesting premise. I recommend because of the story itself, writing style, and its ability to transport you into a different world/time period.

Thank you so very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I love reading anything set in the 1900's and especially about successful women. This novel was perfect. It depicts the true story of famed designer Dorothy Tuckerman who goes against all social norms and perseveres. I loved every minute of this read!

The Grand Design will release next Tuesday, May 17th. Callaway spins a romantic story in two time lines, both about the life of the famous interior designer Dorothy Draper. I have never been to The Greenbrier Hotel, but have seen beautiful pictures of its interiors, designed by Ms. Draper. This fictitious account of her life leading up to the design project brings out all of the fascinating and romantic historic details of the great hotel. The descriptions of the parties, rooms and grounds are beautiful and colorful, just like the designs that Dorothy created. The love story was a little cloying and Ms. Draper doesn't come off as wholely likeable, but it was a nice read and would be great for a vacation book, even if you can't make it to the Greenbrier.

Thank you to Harper Muse and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is the story of designer Dorothy Draper. When she was a young lady, she always visited the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia with her family. She fell in love with a race car driver, but her family put a stop to that relationship. Now, thirty-eight years later she has the chance to return to the Greenbrier Resort and redecorate it. I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting to learn about the first woman to open her own interior design firm. I highly recommend this book if you like stories about strong women!

Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Dual storylines are either exceptional or fall flat. Unfortunately, they fell flat in this book, as did the writing. On top of that, the story was a tad dry to me, despite the mild drama and angst that should have made it great. The first part of the book was intriguing and drew me in, but I ended up disappointed far too quickly. However, I will say that the historical aspects of the story and the edition of design elements and architecture are fitting, so I’m giving it three stars instead of two.

Note: in the time since I received this book, it appears the title has changed from "The Greenbrier Resort" to "The Grand Design".
This novel is a fictionalized account of a real person, Dorothy Draper, who decorated the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV among many other projects. The story alternates between 2 timelines, in 1908 when Dorothy is at the Greenbrier as a young debutante with her parents, on the verge of marriage, and just after WWII when she has been hired to take the hotel, which has been used as a hospital and internment camp during the war, and turn it into a grand resort. As I grew up in WV and have visited the Greenbrier multiple times, I was very interested in this story. I enjoyed the historical aspect and the decorating descriptions. I couldn't really connect to the romance parts though. I can definitely see this book selling many copies in the Greenbrier gift shops. The cover is beautiful and will fit in beautifully. The Author's Note at the end (which should be saved for the end) was really helpful in explaining which parts of the story were true. It got me interested in reading some of the nonfiction books about DD and the Greenbrier.

This Author Joy Callaway or the Publisher Harper Muse cannot make up its mind on this Title because when I requested it--it was called the "Greenbrier Resort," and that is how it appears on the Good Reads website. On Net Galley and displayed on the cover on it is called "The Grand Design," and that title appears on the books cover also on the Net Galley website. So it is quite confusing to me what the Title is. I had this happen to me in the past twice where I had to post two identical reviews for the same book. So my format is different and I also found the duel timelines frustrating in this publication in all honesty. It is a common way Author's tell the story, but in this one it didn't flow well.

The First Timeline takes place in 1908, a young well to do family along with a few recognizable ones are named but the main protagonist named Dorothy Tuckerman does not follow her family's choice for her to be married to. Instead she is infatuated with a young Italian race car driver named Enzo Rossi. The two of them sort of hint at romance but it struck me as the two were playing games. They are staying at a posh getaway called the Greenbrier resort, in West Virginia. It is described as palatial and with healing waters. The Taft family is staying there so you know its for the elite. There are many characters but after reading more I was able to understand who was who within all of the name dropping. Dorothy has been groomed and expected to choose a husband that she only feels friendship for. So there is that angst in the mood. I love historical fiction, but this was not for me and I'm really surprised considering it is an interesting premise. I just feel like the writing wasn't cohesive or engaging. But the premise was interesting but with the confusion in Titles is sort of how the execution of the storytelling was all over the place and it just wasn't for me. I wanted to love this but honestly I didn't. 2.5 stars!

The other timeline takes place at the same location only it is 1946 after World War II. Dorothy Draper the first Designer is tasked to restoring the Greenbrier resort back to its magnificence. Dorothy has just gotten divorced from her husband Dan who is a physician who has a new wife named Elisabeth who Dorothy is insecure that she will lose this job to Elisabeth. There is more name dropping such as Dorothy is handed a stack of mail and she chooses to read the one from Eleanor Roosevelt. It is mentioned that her husband Dan was a former physician to FDR. The resort is not anything like its former glory and Dorothy along with others are tasked to make it magnificent. It currently has lost all of its former glory and it was a field hospital during the war. So Dorothy as well as her team have their work cut out for them.

One reviewer compared this to the work of Alison Pataki, whose work is much more loved by me and I can easily compare because I recently read and reviewed her historical work called The Magnificent lives of Marjorie Post which my five star review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... I found this to be in no way the same high quality writing. I am sorry but I do give a fair and *honest* review as my arrangement has been. I can't lie and say that I loved this when I found the writing to be disappointing. Don't get me wrong. I love historical fiction and I was so excited to read about a famous Designer that was ahead of her time. I just didn't love this and was disappointed, but I wanted to. I sincerely with heartfelt wishes for both Joy Callaway and Harper Muse to succeed with this tale of an Iconic strong woman, Dorothy Draper. I love the subject matter and premise. I am thrilled to see that other reviewers loved this more than I did.

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Joy Callaway and Harper Muse for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#The GreenbrierResort #TheGrandDesign #JoyCallaway #HarperMuse #NetGalley

I hardly know where to start on this review - this book goes through so many emotions. This one will stick with you a while after reading it! So well-written, the descriptions are amazing and you'll love the characters!

It's a dual-timeline historical set at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WVa. Before reading this book, I hadn't heard of the resort nor Dorothy Draper - but while reading it, I was brought to mind of The Grand Hotel in MI, and wasn't surprised when I later learned that was also decorated by DD.

FIrst section is set in 1908, with socialite Dorothy at age 19. This part of the story reminds me of the Dirty Dancing movie - rich, influential families spending every summer together playing games and betting on the ponies. Dorothy is bucking at tradition, she's looking for something different. In walks, Enzo - Italian racecar driver - and their romance beings. And oh, what a romance!

Second section is 1946, where Dorothy is hired to refurbish the resort, after it'd been used as a hospital. Her goal is to bring back the romance of her hayday at the resort, only in her style -- with lots of color and big, bold prints. But while there, she finds ghosts of seasons past and of loves lost.

Don't miss this one! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Dorothy Tuckerman is a member of an elite New York family residing in Tuxedo Park, sixty miles outside Manhattan. Since she was a little girl she's spent her summers at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia in the company of similarly privileged families. But the summer of 1908 was a turning point in her life and the last one there until the fall of 1946.

Joy Callaway alternates between the two time periods, contrasting the innocent young Dorothy with the Dorothy Draper, a divorcee, head of. her own interior decorating company, the one selected to refurbish the Greenbrier Resort now that it has been released by the military as a recuperation center. She faces innumerable challenges in her striving for perfection, and meets them all.

An insightful look at the life a a privileged young woman who surmounted personal and professional challenges to succeed in creating the Dorothy Draper and Company. in 1925. It is still creating designs for interiors under the direction of Carleton Varney, her personally chosen successor.

This is one of my most favorite novels EVER! I have visited the Greenbrier resort with my family a few times every year since I was born. Joy Callaway’s novel completely captured the Greenbrier’s magic! I felt like I was there participating in all of its exquisite traditions! The history of Dorothy Draper’s renovations were extremely interesting and enlightening. The history of the government’s secret bunker is absolutely amazing. Callaway lovingly depicted one of my favorite people, longtime cherished Greenbrier employee and ambassador Frank Mosley, as a fictional character. In real life, he greets, remembers, and hugs guests as they arrive at the resort. I can’t wait to visit the Greenbrier again soon and will look at it through the enchanting lens of this novel! I highly recommend that everyone read it. It is thoroughly insightful and enjoyable!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse Publishers, and Joy Callaway for the privilege to read this book.

A beautiful resort in the early 1900's where the rich, famous and powerful meet every season to hob knob with each other and discuss world events. Dorothy Tuckerman would spend her time at the Greenbrier with her family every year not just to vacation, but to see if she could fall in love true love. Yet Dorothy a very independent strong women hasn't found anyone to lose her heart to until Enzo appears. Love and passion engulf Dorothy, something she has never felt before. Until her father forbids this foolishness and puts a stop to this love and puts Dorothy in a position to live a life she never wanted.
Thirty -eight years later after WWII is coming to an end, Dorothy finds herself back at the Greenbrier to transform this beautiful resort back to the grand place that it once was. Bringing back the history it holds yet making it a place where people will enjoy themselves and hopefully keep the Greenbrier running for a very long time. Yet Dorothy has a problem, it is now the twentieth century things in the world have changed she has changed. She is a divorced women bring scandal to her family . She is also a working women opening an interior design company that she has given her all to. Now one of the biggest jobs has come to her at a time when her beloved company is hanging by a thread . Can she pull this designer's dream off? Can she prove to everyone that as a divorced women she will do anything to bring this wonderful place back to its original glory. Dorothy must face the her demons of not feeling worthy of this job especially when her ex husbands whife from a rival design company inserts herself. Can she do it and prove to society that a women can handle this job, and not just be your typical woman who must have a husband and home to prove her worth.
One other issue Dorothy encounters as she is works on the Greenbrier are memories . Memories of Enzo and the life they could have had if they were together. Would they have made it? Could she go againist her family and marry this man she relly didn;t know? Or is being at the Greenbrier just bringing back memories that haven't entered her mind in a long time.
This is a story of change. Change not only for a country, but for a woman who pushed the envelope of change. She went tor what she wanted even though society looked down on her choices. She fought for what she loved, and lost a bit of herself along the way. She sacrificed love, family and friends to get to this point. I loved the time period of this book. Joy Callaway writes of a time when a world was changing and yet many choice to stay in the old and not embrace the new. I love the character of Dorothy, Bold, courageous willing to fight for what she wanted.. Not afraid to take a bit of a loss along the way. Beautifully written, wonderful story .
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC and Joy Callaway for a wonderful read.

Thanks to Net galley for providing a copy of this ARC to me. This was set during the early 20th century, flipping back and forth to 1940s. Enter the world of the country's richest and most powerful families of the time. Though life seemed wonderful from the outside, all was not as it seemed. Mainly focusing on the groundbreaking life of the society girl, Dorothy Draper, who created the first interior decorating company, at a time few women owned their own companies. Though there was a lot of decorating details, which I feel could have been scaled back, this was an interesting read, based loosely on real events. Definitely recommend!

I wish to thank NetGalley and Harper Muse Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am so glad that I got accepted to read this one.

This is an amazing story and one that I knew I would love even before I turned the first page. I am a fan of the fabulous Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. It is elegance at its best and its entire history is built on that fact. It is, and was, a gathering place for the rich and famous and later for the Bunkers hidden beneath it. I have visited the site and love the history. This book takes you through two specific times, one in 1908 and the other to the 1940’s. It begins with a young woman’s debutante season and beautifully describes the cottages, the natural beauty of the location and the sheer elegance of the hotel itself. It describes in great detail the fashions of the time and the interiors and customs of the place. This resort is one that has been a favorite of many Presidents, Titans of industry, entertainers, foreign dignitaries and so many others.

In the 1940’s this same young woman is now Dorothy Tuckerman Draper, America’s first female interior designer. She is commissioned with the task for redoing the design of a place that is near and dear to her. As she works room by room she reflects all her time there as a younger person.

This book is part history, part love stories, part imagination, while all the time weaving the story of the famous Greenbrier. I simply did not want to put it down and found it delightful. I felt a part of each of the scenes as though I was actually there. Weaving a story in two timelines while holding the attention of the reader is hard to do, but this author does it brilliantly. If you have never been there you should put it on your list of must see places. It is amazing. I highly recommend this book and this author. This is one story you will long remember. If you have been there you will experience it again through you own fond memories.