Thank you Netgalley, Natasha Lester, and publishers for gifting me a copy of The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre in return for my honest opinion.

4/5

I love a good dual-timeline historical fiction and 3/4ths of this book did not disappoint. I enjoyed the timeline where Alix was working for Dior in Paris. The timeline from the "past'' was slightly disappointing to me. It was not bad by any means but to me, it just wasn't anywhere near as wonderful as the "current" timeline.

Alix is such a strong independent character, she had to be due to her support/participation in working with the OSS. She used her background in PR while working with them to gather information from the enemy. At one point the intel she received was a trap that cost 9 people their lives, including her fiance. Now two years later she is back in Paris, working in PR for the new fashion house, Dior. When her past starts to catch up with her will she run back to the United States or finally stand up and get revenge?

I adored learning more about Alix and slowly seeing why she is so closed off and independent. It is a heartbreaking story that kept me entertained and glued to the book. I was able to sit down and read it in only a few hours.

Andrew and Alix's story was wonderful to see grow and how they both learned to love and trust each other. They both went through such a series of horrible circumstances that will forever leave them connected. With each twist, Natasha added I feel more in love with them as characters.

Continuing to read after the final chapter, Natasha included what books she used for her research. I found it fascinating to learn about all of the real-life characters that were alive and have a fascinating history as well. There are a few books that I will be adding to my TBR!

I've been wanting to read a novel by Natasha Lester and I'm happy to have read The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre. It was immersive, atmospheric, thought-provoking, and at times heartbreaking. Alix St. Pierre with the perfect name for the fashion world, but practically penniless, arrives in Paris ready to lead a new life. With her quick wit and determination, she works for the new House of Dior and helps launch it with her brilliant marketing strategies. But Alix is haunted by her past as a WWII spy.

The novel goes back and forth through several time periods which at times I found confusing because I read this as an ebook, which for me, made it cumbersome to quickly go back and forth in the book. However, despite this, and the length of the book, I found this novel captivating because it was not at all predictable. Alix is a feminist at heart, a survivor, fiercely proud but broken, at the cusp of an era when women who had stepped up to help with the war effort (many as spies) are now forgotten and expected to go back to housewife roles. It opened my eyes to what women lived through in the late 1930s into 1940s.

If you love WWII historical fiction and the fashion world, this book blends both very well. Best of all, we get to see the aftermath of the war through one woman's many transformations, hence the title. This was a very good read.

I love historical fiction, every time I read a historical fiction novel, I think "why don't I read them more". And this book had me thinking that. World war II historical fiction novels are so frequent, it's hard sometimes for them to be unique. But I loved this one and it found its own lane and way to stand out. This story is about a woman named Alix St. Pierre who is working in PR for the designer Christian Dior in Paris post World War II. I love fashion so this was fun and interesting for me. There is also a dual timeline going on. Highly recommend!

The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester really scratched that itch for a good historical fiction for me. This story is about a woman named Alix St. Pierre who is working in PR for the designer Christian Dior in Paris post World War II. As the story unfolds, we find out that during World War II, Alix worked in Intelligence for the US in Switzerland. There we see tragedy unfold in Switzerland. The timelines alternate, in the post-WWII timeline, Alix and an unexpected ally end up trying to take down a former Nazi who was at the heart of a tragedy that took the life of Alix’s finance among others.

This is the second book I’ve read by Lester and honestly I want to read more. I really enjoyed learning more about Dior. Also, Alix is such a unique character — one who you can’t just put into a box and expect to act like the traditional woman. She relishes her independence and freedom. I also found the setting and her career so interesting. The pacing is excellent — this book moves along at a really good clip where I was invested, not bored, but not feeling breakneck either. If you’re looking for a really good historical fiction with dual timelines, you can’t go wrong with The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester.

Read if you like: WW2 fiction, dual timelines.
-
I love WW2 fiction and dual timelines and I thought this book was superbly crafted. The dual timelines looks at Alix’s life during and immediately after the war as we try to piece together what happened during the war and why someone is after Alix after.
-
I also thought it was cool that the author had Alix work for Dior and I loved the post war Paris fashion scene. This book is beautiful, snazzy, fast paced and heartbreaking and I thoroughly enjoyed!

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I loved this book! Paris is like another character in this story. The sights, smells and sounds are incredibly realistic. The characters have so many flaws but some are more likable than others. The creation of the House of Dior is fascinating and Lester details much of the process. There are spies and much intrigue from WWII. I could not put down this book! I recommend this book for anyone interested in history and all that happened while the world was falling apart.

Alix St Pierre is a remarkable woman. This story is initially set in Paris. She works for a fashion house which eventually becomes the House of Dior. The story is set before, during and after WW2. The setting varies at different times in the story taking the reader to London, Switzerland and the United States.

Alix is a driven woman. Her home life is sparse, but rich. She begins to help the United States by providing details about the war unavailable to military personnel. She is a very strong, independent woman. Her family life has not been a happy one and much of her life evolves around her work.

This story was wonderful historical fiction. While I read many stories set in WW2, this one is a story from a different perspective. Never have i imagined that fashion houses were involved in war efforts.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Don't miss it..

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is a suspenseful read filled with guilt, love, and running away and towards past mistakes and secrets. This was a read that was bursting with heartbreak and hope at the same time. With twists and turns to keep you aching for more, Alix is truly an independent yet lonely woman. Breaking the norms of society in terms of expectations for women at the time, Alix shows such gusto and when that ability to be vulnerable finally opens up? Swoon worthy.

This book mixes reality and fiction and tells the story of Alix St Pierre, a spy in WW2, and how the war and the world shaped her into the woman she is today.

As someone who doesn't read a lot of historical fiction, this was an outstanding read. It has drama and romance, and it tackles feminism in the 40s as well which I absolutely adored!

Alix is such a strong person and an interesting character. Being a spy and then working for Christian Dior, trying to get a new start on life, when someone from her recent past threatens to destroy her life. Now, she has to avenge her loved ones and find peace.

This story is heartbreaking and healing, it tackles WW2 which I find hard to read about. It's such a devastating time in history and the author manages to capture the pain & loss of that time perfectly.

Really enjoyed the romance in this book, it was executed perfectly. Fashion felt like a separate character, alive and bright in post-war Paris. I think the ability to express yourself through clothing after such a terrifying and devastating time period really helped some people in the 40s to survive, to have something to focus on.

Overall, this is a great story with solid writing and a plot that makes you want to binge this story.

Rating: 4.25

thank you Netgalley and Forever for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It may be a work of fiction but the detail, here will keep you turning the page. It has a depth of knowledge of women recruited during the war to send messages, receive and decode messages. Alix goes from the glitter of Hollywood to the war torn houses of fashion of Paris. It chronicles the start of the House Of Dior. Alix is there for it all. Humble beginnings lead to a house of silks and satins in a time of war. It tells the story of a betrayal that led to loss of life, of men who she not only knew but loved. We are included in the setup for revenge that will have you inwardly cheering. It is a story rich and rewarding.

I love how Natasha Lester can combine the intrigue of spy networks in WWII with the glamorous world of Paris fashion post-war. It was so interesting to read about and imagine the House of Dior, and I really liked the way the two timelines wove in and out together and finally came together at the end. I always enjoy Lester's books and this was no exception! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

An orphan growing up in Hollywood pre WWII - Alex finds herself in Paris working for Dior - ah but her past as a spy comes back to haunt her - fascinating tale - glam and good
Giving current books I like all 4 stars

// ✨

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre
By Natasha Lester
••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
An American spy.
A war-time secret.
A race to uncover the truth.

This historical fiction novel was amazing! I have a very hard time reading about WW2, because I just can’t stomach it. I felt that this novel was beautifully written, it was heart breaking sad and tragic but also healing. Lester’s writing was so well done with the different time lines, the weaving in and out of perspective, the difference stages that we see Alix in, and ultimately this is a wonderful story about feminist. We see how much the world has changed and hasn’t as well. The plot was amazing, it was perfectly paced and with the different time lines you had to keep reading to find out what happened. The healing and love that Alix finds at Dior, the love interest that is so swoon worthing, and the amount of self love and healing that Alix has to have to live her life. I didn’t see a couple plot points coming and I was on my toes! There were a few chapters that were really hard to read, but it really added to the motive. Everyday I’m so thankful for my freedom. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone!

Alix St. Pierre. An orphan, that grew up in a world that she never felt like she belonged. With her smart wit and persuasion skills, the U.S. government sends Alix to be a spy in Switzerland in 1943. Soon she’s on the precipice of something HUGE, but can she trust her German informant? After the war, Alix moves to Paris to be the director of publicity for the House of Dior. When Alix has been running from her past to try to forget everything that happened, someone from her past resurfaces and threatens to destroy her future.

My copy was given to me by Forever in exchange for an honest review. #ad

Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Plot points: 💥💥💥💥💥
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @readforeverpub @netgalley and @anitakellywrites for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Natasha Lester is one of the reasons I’m in love with historical fiction. The way she weaves a story together is a believable manor has a way of taking you back to that era and make you a part of the story. The research that has gone into this book to cover spies and couture plus romance drew me in right away.

The work Alix St Pierre did during WWII continues to haunt her, even in her new life in post-war Paris working for the House of Dior. In her job as Head of PR, she meets a man who she encountered during a failed mission that left 9 people dead. Together, they set their eyes on taking down the Nazi who led them astray only to find out the Nazi is hunting down Alix for his own revenge.

This book is full of secrets, glamour, and romance. Highly recommend!

5 Stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #readforeverpub #readforever2023 #thethreelivesofalixstpierre #natashalester

An unputdownable Historical Fiction read set in between and after World War II. It had a wonderful flow in the storytelling that kept me captivated from start to finish. I was particularly impressed by the strength of the female lead, Alix - a woman living in a time when women were regarded for their domestic value. But her boldness and drive to pursue her dreams inspired me and made me pause to realize how far we have come in terms of women’s rights.

The story was further enhanced by an unexpected twist that changed the course of the plot and added another level to it. It immensely impacted the Female Main Character, which was captivating to read. The romance between Alix and Anthony was swoon-worthy and added a much-needed layer of dramatic yet light-heartedness to the story. Overall, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Australia, for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book follows the life of Alix, mostly in 1947, as she becomes the PR person for Dior as he becomes famous for his designs. She meets Andrew, as he's a part of the press she's trying to convince to come to Dior's grand premier. It quickly becomes apparent to Alix that they were both spies during the war. Someone is also trying to get Alix to leave Paris... A great read and I'm excited to go read the author's other books!

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is a beautifully written novel. It's about Alix St. Pierre and her life directly after WWII. It's written in third person and switches between her life during WWII and after WWII, so you learn the backstory as you read the book. While it did have a slow start, I feel like it was worth pushing through to get to the end. This book was very well crafted to keep you guessing what would happen next or why something had happened. I didn't realize that this book focuses heavily on espionage when I first heard about it, and I honestly thought it would be similar to The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo; however, this is a very unique story. If you enjoy reading historical fiction, especially around the WWII time period, I highly suggest reading this one.

I am a big fan of Natasha Lester and eagerly await each new book. The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre while a good story, fell short for me.

I enjoyed reading about Alix’s work for Dior and her recruitment of others to work. Watching her secret unfold and the consequences of this was interesting. I learned even more about the agreement with the US for criminals of war and their work that protected them.

This book seemed to have so many characters and so much going on that I sometimes had trouble keeping track of everyone.

Also, in a day where vulgar language is overused and taking the Lord’s name in vain has become commonplace, I was very disappointed to see so much of it in this story. It often took me by surprise and honestly took away from what was happening in each story. I know it is common and not everyone will share my view. I do think that overuse by any character means it loses its effect.

None of the above will keep me from anticipating and reading Natasha’s next book.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre is a historical fiction genre novel told in six parts. There are alternating timelines as we read about Alix's lives and experiences as an orphan, a spy, and her work in Fashion. I wish that there had been more of the World War II spy parts of her life and her work and less of the fashion aspects of the story. When reading the parts with Alix and Anthony, I found myself turning the pages and getting invested, then the book would switch back to more of the Dior fashion world, and my interest was lagging again. Natasha Lester is an author I will continue to read, but of her books that I have read, this is my least favorite.

An intense book, at times long, but action packed every sentence of the book....I absolutely LOVED it and thought it was brilliantly written! Natasha Lester is one of my favorite writers, and this book ranks at the top of the books she's written!