4.5 stars. The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Natasha Lester who is a fantastic story teller - strong, witty female protagonists, beautiful friendships, riveting romance, a quick moving plot between timelines to unravel an exciting storyline, and a satisfying ending! Always hard to put down with so many chapter ending cliff hangers!

Alix St Pierre is living in Paris while working as a publicist at Dior and trying desperately to recover from her time as a spy in Switzerland during WWII. She is haunted by events that happened in Switzerland resulting in the death of people very close to her. While Alix is launching Dior into one of the most renown designers in the world, she is also being hunted by an enemy from her past. While working to save herself and Dior, she has to learn to trust the people in her life to help her succeed.

Thanks to #netgalley, Natasha Lester, and Forever - Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC of #TheThreeLivesofAlixStPierre in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this latest historical fiction, WWII romance from Natasha Lester!! She's one of my absolute favorite authors and this new book did not disappoint!! Spanning the years before, during and after WWII, we get to know Alix St. Pierre, a strong woman who balances multiple lives - one as a publicity manager for Dior and another as a secret spy and ally, helping people during the war in Switzerland.

Highly recommended for fans of Kristin Harmel or Kate Quinn. Alix was such a strong protagonist and easily a woman to admire and be in awe of - someone not willing to bend her ideals or dreams just for the love of a man. I loved how she refused to give up what she wanted just to be a society wife and stuck to what she wanted to do - all while being extremely fashionable.

Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!!

A unique take on the idea of "the three faces of self"....especially since Alix seems to struggle with which one is truly hers.

Historical fiction is always interesting because balancing the fine line between accurate research and artistic license often proves as elusive as the smoke from Alix's cigarettes. I really enjoyed Alix's grounding in espionage and the struggles to recognize that-despite how much you want to-putting complete trust in other person opens you up for heartache and destruction. The twists, turns, and missteps made her character more believable and really showcased the networks of information that exist in many lives.

I struggled with the way Alix held herself apart from others and the idea that she was able to trick the best of the best into doing exactly what she wanted time and time again. Was she smart? Sure. Was she a mastermind? No. The love stories also never felt fully grounded, and at least one of the "twists" was pretty heavy handed.

Female empowerment stories are always great reads, especially for items like this (fashion world and WWII espionage) that are so foreign to me. Overall, I enjoyed the story, despite the cliche ending and the lack of connection to any of the characters.

I'll tell my students about: language, death, threats, parent death, sex, smoking, drinking

**Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the free ARC prior to publication. All opinions expressed are my own.**

I really enjoyed this story and this was my first dive into a Natasha Lester book. Alix St. Pierre is a PR maven during WW2 who is an ambitious and independent heroine. Not to give more away but this book was one of the best historical novels I have read this year. You will not be dissapointed if you pick up this book.

** Thank you NetGalley, Forever Publishing and Natasha Lester for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Thank you Forever for providing my with an advanced copy to read for an honest review.

This book is written about Alix‘s story during three different time periods as we get to know about the life events that have moulded her to be who she is. She is an orphan as both her parents passed when she was young and she was fortunate enough to have a friend named Lillie whose family sort of adopted her and helped her move forward in life. Alix attended private boarding school and socialized with many affluent people even though she was not a part of that social circle. The book starts off with Alix working for Dior in his marketing department after the war. As the story unfolds we begin to understand that during the war she was involved as a spy and we started to learn about her work during the war and about her fiancé Bobby, who died in the war.

I really enjoy reading historical fiction. I found the components of the story around Dior really interesting and it makes me want to pick up some more material and read about Dior’s original design.

I enjoyed the book and it’s the first book that I have read by this author and I will read more books by her in the future. I found this one a little bit long and drawn out at times. I enjoyed the plot and the writing. It was a good historical fiction book and I would read another book by her again. I would rate this book around 3.75, not quite 4 stars for me.

I adored this book. It is different than a typical WWII book and it includes the title character reckoning with the aftermath of the war, which I find books often skip or gloss over. Recommend!

Jumping between two timelines, this book follows Alix St. Pierre through her time during World War II as an OSS spy in Switzerland and her postwar life in Paris. Though the war is over, her past continues to haunt as the weight of nine lives falls on her shoulders. Alix has attempted to move on by becoming the head of PR for the up and coming designer, Christian Dior. while working for Dior, she meets a man who was on the mountain with those nine men and they vow to form a partnership and take down the Nazi who seemingly got away with these murders. Natasha Lester developed a beautifully written historical fiction book that ties in so many real historical figures and dresses. Focusing on not only Alix’s haunting history but current societal issues of gender roles, I love that Lester addressed these issues that occurred not only after the war but still today seamlessly. I enjoyed seeing women’s prominent roles during the war be a focal point and not glossed over. Alix plays the hand she is dealt and does it spectacularly, aiding to the strong character development. Lester does a fantastic job writing this piece and hope everyone reads it. I hope it will be the next Alice Network!!

"There was one brief and shining moment, wasn’t there, when it looked like the world would change. For four years we spied and we worked damn hard and we saved people’s lives and we made a difference and nobody cared too much that we were women. And then it all ended. Went backwards, even.”

What I loved:

✔️Following one character throughout the book
✔️A title that made me stop and ponder
✔️A fiercely independent protagonist who didn’t use her past as a crutch
✔️Set against the glitz of French couture, fashion, designing houses,
✔️Christian Dior and the women behind his genius
✔️vivid, lush descriptions of fabrics and pieces
✔️Meticulously researched using primary sources
✔️A grand romance
✔️WW2, espionage and the resulting tension
✔️Twists
✔️miriad of quotable lines
✔️Examination of gender roles during and after the war; impact on females
✔️learning something new - Piscine Deligny!
✔️bring reminded of visits to Bern and seeing the Kindlifresserbrunnen and of Paris and crossing the Pont Alexandre III

'So you are being useful. It’s just that your usefulness isn’t acknowledged by anyone.'

Another win for a trusted author! I can count on Lester to showcase daring women and France, a country dear to my heart, and pen a fantastic book that allows me to escape into history.

I was gifted this book by Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

After reading a lot of non-fiction about actual female war spies this just fell way short to the point of not being able to continue reading it. Maybe if I cared more about fashion ... but I don't.
(Want a real thrill? Pick up some Ben Macintyre.)

I really enjoyed the first 1/4 of this novel and felt that I was reading a potential 5-star read. I know next to nothing about couture fashion, but the plot was dynamic and interesting and I felt that Alix’s character was reminiscent of Evelyn Hugo’s moxie and wit, which is the highest of compliments. After the book jumped timelines to during the war, I really struggled to maintain interest and keep up with that story, as the dialogue seemed repetitive and the intrigue of the plot mystery was waning. I ultimately found my interest and investment in the book to be completely gone by 50%, and ended up putting this one down to hopefully return to another time. I truly love historical fiction and the mystery component in this one of being hunted for by a Nazi informant was super intriguing, so I feel hopeful in saying it would be a 3-star read or higher for most historical fiction lovers.

Thanks to Forever Pub for the copy of this book!

Let me start by saying that when it comes to historical fiction... I am very picky. I used to read a ton of it, but it is no longer my go-to genre, and to stick with a book, I really have to love it. That being said, this was SUCH a compulsive read for me. The dual timeline during and right after WWII was executed perfectly to the point I'd end a section and be like AHH I have to read more.

Next, the subject matter. WWII spy network + Paris after the War + the start of Christian Dior's career + strong females + mystery + romance was just EVERYTHING. Such a good blend to make this book really unique and interesting. Absolutely recommend picking this one up!

I'm not sure what I read. This was slightly confusing I ended up DNFing half way through. I had a hard time following the story.

I read Natasha’s book The Riviera House last year and adored so I knew I wanted to read this one. And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. “An unforgettable story of an orphan turned WWII spy turned fashion icon in Paris.” I loved the alternating timelines of before, during and after the war (even when you got to the end of one part and were DYING to know what happened next and it switched to a different time!!) Alix is strong, courageous and not afraid to speak her mind. She’s truly a force to be reckoned with. I enjoyed the aspects of being a female and the discussion on what rights you did [or in this case didn’t have] and the differing economic classes and how that impacted each persons lives. There’s something for everyone in this book; the unique plot about Switzerland in WWII, mystery/whodunit, and a bit of romance.

Run don’t walk to get a copy of this. Out Jan 10.

Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a unique, thoughtfully planned out story perfect for fans of WIII historical fiction. It is told through the lens of Alix St. Pierre and weaves together three timelines: Alix’s life pre war as a Paris fashion correspondent, her life during the war as a spy for the OSS and her life post-war working for Dior. These three shifting timelines not only keep the story moving forward but also bring suspense as gaps are filled and twists are revealed. What I think makes this book stand out from others in this genre was the element of fun and excitement we got through Alix’s job working for Dior. I enjoyed learning about the history of this designer, the Paris culture post war and the descriptions of the lavish Ritz Hotel. While I primarily read the book, which you will want in front of you to see the gorgeous Dior dresses, I listened to some chapters via audio and found the narrator to be excellent and skillful, particularly when depicting the accents from various countries!

Read if you like:
-WWII Historical Fiction
-Fashion/ Christian Dior
-Stories about feminists
-Alternating timelines and settings
-Side romance storylines
-A bit of mystery and suspense

Thank you so much Forever and Hachette Audio for the ARC/ALC. Out Jan 10th!!

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of this book. Lester does a great job with another histories fiction during WWII. Alix St. Pierre is an amazing main character with her job as PR for Christian Dior launching his own line. I love how strong and determined Alix is and we learn about her role during the war.

I enjoyed how the book explored how difficult it was for a woman wanting a career and not to be a housewife. Economic class was also discussed and how people treated you if you weren't in the same economic status.

I love how the past of Alix leads her to her preset day and how the story was told.

Alix St Pierre is fierce in both mind and body. A talented, hard-working woman. It's 1943, and she is recruited into the OSS as a spy and sent to Switzerland. She ends up working with the Italian partisans to secure the supplies, especially weapons and ammunition, they need to fight the Nazis. However, some of her methods are questionable, and not everything goes according to plan. So, when the war ends, she is haunted by some events.

Wanting to escape her war efforts and past, she returns to Paris and is hired by Dior to help launch his new couture clothing line. But, as she immerses herself in work, the past comes back to haunt her once again.

This is a unique take on historical fiction; it combines war, espionage, romance, and fashion, making it fun but, at times, intense and intriguing. I loved learning about the early years of fashion design houses and Christian Dior before he was well known. Overall, excellent historical fiction.

4.5 stars

Plot: This story centers around Alix St. Pierre, a young woman who desperately tries to escape her previous involvement in the war by becoming a publicist at the House of Dior in Paris. Told through timelines of before, during, and after the war, we learn of Alix’s recruitment to be a spy, her time serving in Europe, as well as her role in launching the Christian Dior brand. She wants nothing more than to leave her past behind, but when a person from the war threatens to destroy her future, Alix realizes this is her chance to right her wrongs and maybe even find some justice.

Thoughts: It is clear how much research went into this book. Lester crafted the perfect blend of intrigue and glam by bringing together a WWII storyline with the glitz of Dior. This is certainly different from most WWII stories, but how can you go wrong with a story that involves a female spy, fashion, and journalism? There is really something for everyone in this book, and I look forward to checking out some of Lester’s previous works. It is clear that she values strong female protagonists within the historical fiction genre, which I always enjoy reading about.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author did a wonderful job of painting the scenes for us. In the beginning of the book I thought it was going to be rather shallow, but it was not. I liked Alex in all of her lives. I believe that we can always count on Natasha Lester for our historical fiction reading. The book was easy to read, told a great story, and held my interest.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. I found the title character Alix well developed. I would recommend this book to just about anyone who likes a good story.

I really enjoyed reading this book. This was a beautifully written World War 2 novel with a great premise. Alix
works for the resistance during the war, and she evolves into a publicist for Dior back when women didn't usually work unless they had to.

I loved the setting, and the plot. I enjoyed the background about women - how they were so important to the war effort, but then dismissed when the men came home. I also enjoyed the dilemma that Alix had CAN women have it all.

It was a novel of war, of history and it had some romance thrown in.

.A solid 4 stars. Why not 5? Because I really enjoyed it, but I didn't close it thinking "wow". . I didn't immediately message my friends saying "you HAVE to read this". I liked it a LOT, but love? Not so much..