Cover Image: The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Solid 3 star read. I had trouble connecting with the characters and the time jumps were hard for me to follow.

Was this review helpful?

As a PR consultant Alix St. Pierre had a talent for convincing people what to do. Because of her language skills, Alix got recruited to become a member of the newly formed Office of Strategic Services in Switzerland under Allen Dulles during WWII. Alix had gone to boarding school in Switzerland thanks to the family who took her in after her parents deaths. While working for the OSS she was able to reconnect with some friends and slide into the shadows. Alix suddenly found herself at the forefront of the Italian Resistance movement. The trust she chose to bestow upon certain people ultimately altered the trajectory of her life.
The story's shift to after the war brought to light the repercussions of Alix's choices during the war. Lester chose to place Alix at the center of the unveiling of the new House of Dior. The magnificence of haute couture after the devastation of WWII cannot be overlooked. Amidst the hustle and bustle of what would become known as the "New Look", Alix found herself face to face with the past. As joint forces attempted to bring her down Alix learned who she could and couldn't trust to bring an end to the ghosts that haunted her.
While Alix St. Pierre is a fictional character, Lester did a fantastic job at using her to explore many historical events. There were some wonderful gems uncovered in the book. Readers will be mortified by the actions taken of multiple offices during WWII. However readers will be utterly enchanted with the details Lester provided on Christian Dior's entrance into the fashion world. Sprinkle in some romance and you have a wonderfully multifaceted story that will delight all.
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Holy cannoli, Batman. I've been diving into more historical fiction lately and I'm finding that I am absolutely in LOVE with this genre.

Natasha hit this one out of the park- it was beautiful, tragic, & authentically written. I was entirely entranced by Alix and her strong personality in a time when it was uncommon (and frowned upon) for women to be bold and have their own wants and desires. This is told in sections that effortlessly move between the past and the present and even though you don't want to end a section without knowing immediately what's next, you are hooked right into the unfolding events of what Alix is or has gotten herself into.

I loved the integration of this being more than just history- there is mystery, romance, coming of age and finding your place in the world - which are all woven so delicately that I had a seriously hard time putting it down.

At the end I was surprised to have such a detailed Author's Note that explores her research and the connections to the actual history that was brought into the narrative. I found that such authenticity will be the reason I read more from Natasha Lester in the future- you'll know what you're getting and learn so much of our rich (and devastating) history.

Was this review helpful?

WWII historical fiction always seems to draw me in. Add in a little mystery, romance, and insight into the fashion world, and I am lost in the world created by Natasha Lester in her novel, The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Was this review helpful?

This book was beautifully written. Natasha has an absolute amazing way of telling a story and her characters are always favorable.

The attention to detail within the story truly transports you to Paris in 1947 and essentially living the life of Alix St. Pierre. The back and fourth between Paris 1947 and Bern 1943 really helps the flow of the book and puts everything into perspective. You can clearly envision the gorgeous and stunning gowns of Christian Dior, plus gain some insight of his debute into the fashion world post war.

Alix is being haunted by the ghosts in her past and truly is trying to find one of these ghosts, “La Voce,” and bring him to justice for the crimes he committed during WWII. With the help of editor, Anthony March, the two use their espionage skills in trying ti unravel the mystery of what happened that night within Italy that cost the lives of innocent men in order to find closure and move on with their lives.

There’s so much rich history within these pages and it was a joy to learn about new things that happened within WWII. This book would’ve received 5 stars from me but I thought it dragged a bit in the beginning, however once you get through the first few chapters the book really takes flight!

Was this review helpful?

Natasha Lester writes beautiful heroines that are effortless chameleons - outwardly elegant and poised yet far from fragile. Alix St Pierre is the definition of ambitious, resourceful and a self made woman. She was dealt a difficult hand early on in life and used that as fuel to float between worlds sometimes noticed but mostly in the shadows doing what needs to be done. When someone from her past threatens her future, she must join forces with an unlikely ally and not only get done what needs to be done but also give them something more valuable than secrets-her trust. Can Alix rid herself of the guilt that’s been weighing her down and forge ahead or will the past sneak up when she least expects it and take her down once and for all?


It’s barely 2 weeks into the new year and I can absolutely guarantee I will be thinking about this book for the rest of the year. I was so ingrained into Alix’s journey that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. With each little detail Alix revealed we learned so much about her tenacity and character that left you amazed and in awe of her. She was put to the test time and time again and rose to the challenge every time without backing down even when it threatened to derail everything Alix worked so hard for. She made waves and altered the course of history while standing on her own 2 feet in elegant gowns planting the seeds of change while capturing the stars.



Thank you @readforever and @natashalester for my gifted copy and a chance to review this amazing book.

Was this review helpful?

4.5 Stars rounded up to a 5 - One of the few books I have read this month was Natasha Lester’s historical fiction The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre. This one follows Alex as she works for Dior in Paris after the war while we also get flashbacks to her time during the war as well. I don’t normally like WWII stories but this one was really good! I loved Alix’s story in both timelines and loved the ending we got. I will say there was one scene in the flashbacks that was very hard to read so you may want to look into content warnings if needed or dm if you have any questions! Thank you @readforeverpub for my #gifted copy of this one!

Was this review helpful?

I read the synopsis and was intrigued. This isn’t my usual read but from the very first page I knew I was going to like it. I was right. I have a few friends who will be getting this for Christmas this year.

Was this review helpful?

“He wanted her to know that she was the mouse—and he was the cat. But the time had come for Alix to be a goddamn lioness.”

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is a novel about espionage, fashion, and romance. The story is told in two timelines, one while Alix is working as a spy during WWII and one after the war when Alix begins working for Christian Dior. That is until a figure from her past re-emerges, determined to finally bring her down.

All of Natasha Lester’s work is so good, but I think this novel is one of her best. The plot is fast-paced, and the romance between Alix and journalist Anthony is excellent. Alix is a beautifully flawed character, who wrestles with her past, while attempting to build a better future for herself. I give The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre 5/5 Dior dresses. Thank you to Forever publishing for an early copy!
1 like

Was this review helpful?

Alix St. Pierre is a lot more than she seems. Not only the publicist responsible for the rise of Christian Dior and his fashion industry, but also a heroine of WWII. A well written historical novel with enough detail to make the times seem real and romance too! Recommended reading.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the free book.
This book has made me realize how much I miss reading a well-written historical fiction novel. This one was packed full of emotion and rich characters. Alix knew what she wanted because she had to fight to be there - her character was filled with grit and determination. Anthony added a great contrast to her and their mystery. The timeline is set in Paris in 1947 and in Switzerland during WWII. This book covered some war topics that I did not know about, and I got swept up into this story of Alix and her skills used during the war. The 1947 timeline was also interesting with the Dior aspect. I highly recommend this one. I did end up listening to the audio over reading print, and the audiobook performance is so well done.

Was this review helpful?

This book is fantastic. Romance, mystery, history, feminism, and fashion. I am not really into high end fashion, but I loved the glimpse this book gave into the beginnings of Christian Dior's rise to fame and household recognition.

As always, I enjoyed and appreciated learning about people who actually existed and events that took place during the war and their significance. Reading the Author's Note at the end added even more substance to parts of the story set during the war and after.

Not only is Natasha Lester a wonderful storyteller and historian, she has a gift for building chemistry between characters. I absolutely adored Alix and Anthony on their own, but together? I was swooning. They were perfect.

Was this review helpful?

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

Was this review helpful?

Natasha Lester takes us back to Paris for the amazing story of Alix St. Pierre. Because of her ability to learn many languages Alix is recruited to work for the OSS in Switzerland during WWII. Her main job is to help get supplies to the Italian Partisans even if she has to do it on her own. After the war Alix works helping launch the new line of clothing by Christian Dior. But things from her past are catching up with her and she needs to resolve a major mission that went wrong during the war and bring those responsible to justice. I loved hearing about the fabric, color and styles of that time and the celebrities that were excited to wear them. Alix St. Pierre really does have many lives in her lifetime and each one is more excited than the last! Highly recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

I stayed up way too late reading this and have only great things to say about it. Author Natasha Lester writes such dynamic and courageous female characters. I’ve never been terribly interested in fashion, but the way she writes about clothes and integral part fashion plays in history makes me wants to learn more. (I may or may not have been googling Dior dresses from the 1940’s after reading this). If you are interested in historical fiction, the history of fashion, or the roles of women in war and the limitations woman faced in the post-war years, you should add this to your reading list!

Was this review helpful?

Alix is a fascinating character with an exciting backstory. We are taken on her life journey. From the beginning, she’s an orphan, she becomes a spy during the war and she starts another adventure as a fashionista. An intoxicating historical fiction story, with titillating characters. This book is a definite must read. The author doesn’t disappoint.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

This was the first book I've read from this author even though I've been interested in reading her other books since I'm a huge fan of historical fiction. The timeline during WWII Switzerland and Italy when Alix was a spy was thrilling and interesting. I also really enjoyed Alix in Paris after the war working in PR for the new fashion house Christian Dior, as well as her dealing with the return of someone from her past. I'll definitely be adding Lester's other novels to my to-read pile.

Was this review helpful?

This story was all over the place, making it very difficult to follow and connect with any of the characters. Alix herself is an interesting woman: she’s a PR person for Dior, a spy for the government, a fiancé, a reluctant socialite, etc. There’s so much thrown at you, it’s inevitable you’ll lose track of what’s going on in which time period. I am not a fan of dual timelines where the time periods are so close together. This might have been better told chronologically but, as it’s laid out now, I was not a fan. I struggled to finish this one but I can definitely see how others would really enjoy this.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A very enjoyable WW 2 historical fiction novel. Lester is a preferred author as she writes strong women doing big things. A must-read!

Was this review helpful?