This book was incredible. It actually left me speechless at times. The research that went into this book is evident through the entire read. The story line sucks you in from the start and the characters are created realistically and flawlessly. Lester tells the story from three times, before, during and after WWII - and not once was I confused by these different stories told. They are all connected clearly and incredibly. Anyone who loves historical fiction, with some truth behind the story, should pick this one up. Seriously one of the best Historical Fiction books I have read in a while.

This book follows Alix St. Pierre before, during and after WWII. We follow her as a young woman who leads many successful PR campaigns, which catches the eye of the US government. She is enlisted as a spy in Europe to help the Allied Forces by getting close to a Nazi who is willing to help. After the war, Alix moves to Paris to help the not-yet-famous Christian Dior make a name for himself. During this time, a figure from the war emerges and threatens to destroy her future. When old wounds are opened up, Alix must figure out how to heal and right the wrongs from the past.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

It took a bit to get into this book - due to a lot of information presented and trying to keep up with it. But then a point was reached that it was easier to follow along and I really wanted to know what would happen (and what had happened). This was a multiple timeline storyline - almost a flashback of what happened previously. I learned a lot about Dior and the war in Northern Italy. I would recommend this book to those interested in WWII from a different perspective. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-copy to read.

This is a beautifully written WW2 historical fiction with a strong female lead character, Alix St. Pierre. The story is engaging from the start filled with espionage, fashion, love, loss, friendships, and betrayals. The twist dealing with a friendship betrayal was especially shocking to me. This is a long book but it is a page turner. I read many historical fiction books set during WW2 and cannot believe I have not read more by this author. That is definitely going to change. If you love historical fiction, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the review copy.

Happy Pub Day! If I could pick fashion from any book, right now it would be The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre. I spent a good chunk of time Googling early Dior.

Alix is an ex-spy, previously a reporter and now Dior’s marketing/PR person. During WW2 she’s part of a mission that went terribly wrong, now after the war and back in Paris she is plagued by guilt and the return of her German informant.

What I liked: Alix’s social commentary on how society views women is unfortunately still relevant in 2023. I felt her pain and the uncertainty in the right path to take and how to make a career and marriage/children compatible.

Lester does a good job of making you feel Alix’s pain over her role in the mission.

I enjoyed Alix and Anthony’s will-they/won’t-they relationship.

What didn’t work for me: I do think the book ran a bit long and was slow in parts.

I questioned some of the timeline during the war, between Alix and her German informant’s motives.

I wish they could add photos of the Dior gowns - I spent way too much time googling.

Who should read it: Because Lester covers both historical fiction, romance, and there’s a bit of a mystery/intrigue, I think this book will appeal to a variety of readers. It reminded me a bit of Magnolia Palace in how it weaved together multiple genres.

Set during and after the Second World War, the titular character, Alix St. Pierre, a former spy, now works for the up and coming designer, Christian Dior. When someone from her past returns, Alix revisits the dark memories of her past and, with the help of a charming journalist, discovers secrets unbeknownst to her—and more specifically, the truth she needs to finally find peace.

I was instantly captivated by the theme of female espionage and the enticing world of high end fashion. I loved how Christian Dior was a character in this piece; typically, when I read historical books set during this period, I often see designers briefly mentioned, so this was quite refreshing.

I liked seeing Alix thrive in her career as a PR manager. Alix is vibrant, bold, and determined, yet we see her more vulnerable side through her friendships with Lillie and Anthony March. The values she has with regards to marriage and what it means to be a woman really make her a feminist icon, and I just loved seeing her independence and work ethic shine through from beginning to end.

Some of the action-packed scenes, though heartbreaking, were thrilling to read, and despite liking dual perspectives, I did prefer the 1946 timeline more, as I found it more intriguing with the small twists, the romance and the mystery.

With that, this book would be perfect for those who loved The Alice Network and The Devil Wears Prada. I really liked this book, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read the ARC—thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing),

A Night Without Stars

A story of one brave young woman, Alix St. Pierre, was an orphan, a spy, and a publicity director for the fashion house of Christian Dior. The story follows her as she goes from on phase in her life to another.

The story is written in different time periods. Mostly between the time in WWII and the time she worked at Dior with some scenes from her earlier life thrown in.

This is a story of young people and the resistance during WWII. Working with the SOS Alix is trained as a spy during the war. When the war ends she takes a job at Dior to help get along with her life and forget about the horrible WWII years.

It is about Alix and also those close around her. Her fiancée Bobby, her best friend Lillie, and a few others The handsome Italian Matteo, the newspaper reporter Anthony, her friends Mary and Esemee.

I liked that the main character Alix is strong and that she refuses to be put down due to her gender and fights to have her views and her work respected. That she wishes for more for women than a home and children. She wants women to be able to have a career and also a family.

The book has some sad scenes and some happy scenes. It has danger, intrigue, romance and the glitz of Paris fashion. Each part of the lives of Alix is as interesting as the next although I really enjoyed the WWII part with the Paris fashion and the beginning of Christian Dior as a close second.

The book began well and it ended well. I really did like the ending. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it .

Thanks to Natasha Lester for writing a great historical fiction novel, to Forever Grand Central for publishing it, and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

A fine novel that gets past the life of Ali’s St. Pierre after her actions during WW II, The book brings the reader to the glamour of post-war Paris and the rise of the House of Dior.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

"Finding the Nazi who had made her the murderess of nine men was the right thing to do. Because—Live. That was the message she’d seen in Dior’s gowns."

Oh, the fashion! Swoon, the romance between former OSS spies Alix, PR head for Christian Dior, and Anthony, New York Journal international editor! Ah, the bravery of the anti-Nazi, anti-Mussolini Italian resistance!

Set in Paris, Switzerland, Italy, and America between 1937-1947, THREE LIVES features characters who sing with authenticity, a narrative that grips through the wee hours, lush descriptions of designer clothing that transformed the way a generation of women dressed.

Books like this are the reason I read, review, write. Brava, Natasha!

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is set in the 1940's. Alix St Pierre works in public relations in NYC when she is recruited to work as a spy for the Allies in Switzerland. Later her work takes her to the House of Dior in Paris in the aftermath of the war.

I wanted to read this novel because I am interested in the World War II time period and I also love Paris settings. It is a fascinating novel with lots of intrigue and twists and turns. I recommend it for fans of historical fiction and especially for anyone interested in the 1940's. I look forward to exploring more books by this author!

This is a sweeping historical fiction story about an inimitable young woman in 1940s Europe.

I loved the character of Alix St. Pierre, and this book transported me the postwar fashion world of late 1940s Paris. Lester is so talented at building an immersive atmosphere with details about architecture, clothing, and food.

I did prefer the chapters that took place during the postwar timeline more than the flashbacks to the war; the latter chapters dragged a bit for me. Overall, however, this is a fabulous pick for historical fiction fans!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the gifted copy of The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre! All opinions in this review are my own.

I was already a fan of Natasha Lester and The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre did not disappoint! Between the espionage, romance, and grief, it was hard to put this book down. I like how the dual timelines both were used to reveal things in the other timeline so that it wasn't always the past affecting the future. This became incredibly important at the end!

Lester's author's note at the end of the novel is fascinating! I love how many of the characters in the book were real people. Plus, there is a special note at the very end to all of the readers who make it that far!

The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre is a gripping story about the war and post-war and the role of women in them. It is also a story about love, strength and forgiveness. I've read and love books by Natasha Lester before and this time it didn't disappoint either. I deeply enjoyed it. I really liked Alix and I loved the fashion part as well. It took me a bit to get into the story but after a couple of chapters I couldn't stop. If you like historical fiction and fashion you definitely shouldn't miss it.

It's 1946 and headstrong Alix St. Pierre has just been hired to do public relations for the yet to be launched collection of Christian Dior. Determined to be more than someone's wife, Alix throws herself into her work and makes the rounds in Paris to promote Dior's first show. She quickly finds though that her past work as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) has come back to haunt her and that more than one person has been trying to track her down. Teaming up with journalist Anthony March, they embark on trying to find the Nazi informant who may be after Alix and whose information led to the death of 9 men. Told in alternating eras from Switzerland in WWII and post-war Paris, The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is a fantastic mix of the sparkling Parisian fashion world, a compelling love story, and the more heartbreaking WWII history.

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre features a strong female protagonist who works as a spy during WWII and has to come to terms with her experience once the war ends. Lester does not shy away from describing some of the atrocities that Alix witnesses in Italy, where she is working to support the partisans fighting against the Nazis. The addition of the Dior storyline and the tension of Alix and Anthony's relationship provide a balance that sometimes is missing in WWII historical fiction (understandable, but when you read a lot of it sometimes you need it!).

Lester includes an author's note discussing the real historical figures as well as some information on the partisans in Italy which provides more context.

This is a tough one for me to review because I absolutely adored aspects of this story but could have done without a lot of it….

I LOVED the character of Alix St. Pierre and everything she stood for - what an absolute badass! Between her work during the war and the role she played in Dior’s rise to fame I’m convinced there is nothing this woman could not do!

I was so intrigued by the 1947 storyline but felt as though it was a bit bogged down by the alternating storyline which was very detail and description heavy! I wish that this perspective had been presented in more succinct flashbacks to help support the story but as to not slow the pace of the plot!

If you are a fan of historical fiction, strong female leads and fashion I would absolutely recommend that you give this book a shot!

I have only read Natasha Lester's The Paris Secret, which I loved, so couldn't wait to read latest historical fiction. It did not disappoint!

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is so named for MC Alix's "three lives," loosely defined as before, during and after World War II. Alix was a down and out orphan after her parents died suddenly and she was taken in by a wealthy Hollywood family who had a daughter that was good friends with Alix. But the dual timeline story focuses primarily on Alix's work as a spy during the war and then as PR director for the fledgling fashion designer Christian Dior.

I loved how strong and independent Alix is when we first meet her. She's trying to work in a man's world of the late 1940s and nothing is easy. Women of the time are expected to be housewives and raise children. But Alix has other plans.

I also enjoyed learning about Alix's work with the Italian resistance during the war - something I haven't really read before. And like the Paris Secret, we are treated to lush descriptions of the Dior gowns and dresses - the fabrics, the styles and their impact on society.

Although it started a bit slowly for me, it picked up steam about halfway through as Alix closes in on the Nazi war criminal she believes responsible for the death of dozens of troops, including her brother and her first true love. I couldn't wait to find out how it all ended!

Thank you Forever and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre.

Happy book birthday to @natashalesterauthor whose newest Parisienne flavoured novel is destined to charm readers of Kristin Harmel and Janet Skeslien Charles. Elegantly researched and deeply nuanced, The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre is a refined spotlight on its author's passion for interweaving fashion and the turmoil of war. Her canvas: a brilliant, ambitious woman who can turn on a dime in the spirit of reinvention. If only her past doesn't trip on her heels.

Natasha Lester is definitely a master with words, and weaving incredible historical fiction tales. She has a beautiful way of incorporating fashion and it’s history into her novels, while still making them thrilling and interesting (for me!). This book is no exception. 

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre was full of different characters, which I did find a little difficult to keep track of at some points, as well as a bit confusing with the timeline switches, but that could have been an audiobook issue. While it was still a beautiful story, there was definitely a lot lost in translation between the timeline switches and I wanted more from certain ones and much less from others. I’d still recommend it for fashion/historical fiction lovers!

I am always a fan of historical fiction and then when you throw in a female spy with a love story, I'm hooked, lined, and sunk!

This is a captivating story of war, adversity, love, fashion, loss, and hope! In 1946, Alix moves to Paris to help launch Christian Dior's entrance into the fashion world. I. The meantime looking for her informant that went rogue and turned against her in WWII.

I loved the dual time lines along with dual POVs. The character of Alix St. Pierre is strong and she's one determined woman who isn't going to settle for the "expected life" of a woman. She doesn't want to be a house wife who throws parties, she wants to work for what she loves.

If you love historical fiction, you need to get your copy of The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre today!

Thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review
The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre by Natasha Lester

Genre
Historical fiction

Tropes
WWII
Feminism
Fashion
Second chances
Classes -aristocrats vs laymen
Love
Paris/Italy

Thoughts
One of the best narratives of historical fiction I have read in awhile. With an emphasis on fiction ( see the appendices) Lester has created characters steeped in history. Her research paired with her creativity and love of fashion shines throughout the writing. Who else but Lester could make Dior, Spies, Journalism, and Glamour in the heart of Paris seem so effortless.

Thank you to @readforeverpub @netgalley @grandcentralpub for my copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

I rarely read historical fiction books but every now and then my attention is captured by a beautiful cover and an interesting blurb. And that’s exactly what happened with The three lives of Alix St Pierre
This beautiful written book is about a woman who will risk her live in the espionage world, will become a successful fashion person and also will let go of her painful past and give a chance to real love.
It’s emotional, suspenseful in parts and entertaining all along.

📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley