Women, the role of women, the standards applied to women in a patriarchy, and the pressures on women have been and continue to be a universal conversation. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard presents these themes through three generations in the world of couture fashion. The lifestyle of the rich is not relatable, and I can certainly do without the scenes of sexual encounters. However, as a woman, the three main characters and their struggles are relatable, making this a memorable read.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/01/the-disappearance-of-astrid-bricard.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Thank you Forever publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was quite an interest story that weaves three different stories together to create such a beautiful historical yet fictional. This story follows Astrid, her daughter and Astrid's significant other who was also in the fashion industry at the time. All three perspectives create quite the story to tell. Astrid having disappeared after her career was going well for the most part. This story weaves in a lot of themes of love and family. I enjoyed parts of this book but found it to be longer than it needed to be. I also sometimes found myself a bit lost. I was not sure if all the details were needed. Overall though it kept my interest enough to finish and enjoy parts of it.

Content: innuendo, swearing, mention of marriage problems

Read if you enjoy::
Historical Fiction
Family ties
Mystery
Fashion

I really enjoyed this book, going into to it it was not what I expected but in the best way possible. Very well written and I could not put it down.

I loved this one! I liked the journey of the three POV taking the reader from WW ll to the 70s club and fashion scene and then back to modern times. I loved the character of Hawk. Mizza, Astrid, and Blythe all had to deal with their talent being overshadowed because they were female. This was beautifully written and a true masterpiece!

"The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard" is a mesmerizing historical fiction novel that weaves together the lives of three generations of Bricard women, each navigating the complexities of their own time. The story spans multiple timelines, but it's Astrid's narrative that drew me in the most. As the novel unfolds, we follow Blythe Bricard's journey as she attempts to break free from the legacy of her mother and grandmother, but ultimately, this is a tale of all three women fighting for recognition and autonomy in a male-dominated fashion world.

Absolutely love this author and this book was a fast read for me. Very interesting story. Thanks, #NetGalley, for the arc in exchange of my honest review.

My favorite author of historical fiction stuns once again! Intricate and satisfying dual timelines, compelling female characters, sumptuous fashion, and dramatic historical backdrops. Lovely in every way.
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I did find myself more drawn to the present day timeline and I think the reason for that was the romance and mystery subplots featured in the present. I found myself routining for Blythe above all and felt more of an emotional connection to her, than I did with either Astrid or Mizza, though both women eventually won me over in the end. Overall, this is a really engaging and interesting read. I cannot wait to read more from Natasha Lester in the future

I tried and tried to get into this book, but sadly I had to DNF around 100 pages. I just could not get invested in the story and found myself struggling to keep up with the plot. I love the idea of this story, but it just didn't work for me.

"Daisy Jones" meets Vogue magazine and not much more. It was a quick read, I'm sorry that it wasn't what I was hoping for.

I care nothing for fashion and all its inner workings, but every time I pick up a Natasha Lester book, I can't stop reading. I fell in love with these characters and the story of Astrid Bricard. I loved the three points of view and how they eventually overlap. There's definitely fashion, but also historical fiction here and great storytelling. I feel like if you liked Daisy Jones and the Six, you might enjoy this one! A huge thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced e-copy!

I’ve been reading this one for 5 days & can’t make it past 10%. I’m not sure how a book with the word “disappearance” in the title can be boring, but here we are.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is a wonderful novel about the notorious designer Astrid Bricard. Rooted in semi-truths, it's a perspective of women designers in a man's world. Astrid's creativity is attributed to her partner, Hawk Jones, when they were both great designers in their own right. It details a pivot in the world of design and gender norms in the fashion industry.

I have tried reading this repeatedly this year, and I just can't get into it. I know others that love historical fiction, generational stories, and mystery will love it. Our library even purchased it on my recommendation and others have really enjoyed it. This one just wasn't for me.

The premise of this book had me really intrigued. What girl doesn’t want to read about the fashion industry?! And I love me a good dual timeline story, so this checked all the boxes. But, unfortunately, I struggled to get into this book. It was long and dragged out a bit in the middle, and for that, I really had a hard time finishing this.

I enjoyed the sneak peak into the fashion world, and loved the historical context, especially Mizza’s part in the war. It was also fun to read about the changing fashion for women, including the introduction of pants, but at times, it felt like I was bouncing around a bit too much and it made me feel a little lost. I think I would like to try reading this book again when I can really put some time into it.

Thank you to Natasha Lester, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for an advance electronic copy of the book for an honest review.

It was slow to start but I ended up really enjoying this! I liked the historical fiction portion of the novel, especially Mizza's part I feel like if you enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid, this one is right up your alley. This story's about the Bricard fashion family and three generations of fashion powerhouses.

I found this to be more of a three and a half to four star read. It did take a little bit of the book for me to finally get hooked. The story is interesting, especially Mizza’s parts during the war, but it’s also very slow at other times and feels like it drags. If you want something fast-paced, this isn’t it.
if you’re a fan of stories spanning different decades, with suspense and drama, this may be for you.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

4.5 beautiful stars from me as someone who spent 20+yrs in the industry!

Going back to January, I am SEVERELY behind in this review, and to NetGalley and the publisher, I am truly sorry because here's the thing -- it's September, and this was *one* of my FAVE books of the year!! (I'm certain it's because of my past life career, but I digress.)

This is my first novel by this author and I don't want it to be my only!
Paris 1917, NYC 1970 and present day, collide in this hit about the fashion industry and family generational shadows. Who leaves what baggage for the next gen? For Astrid, there was always a preconceived notion about her mom in the public's eye. She thinks she knows the truth...but does she really? Blythe in present day, had always felt abandoned by her mom, Astrid, and now her husband as well...but then again, she never had the real story either. There's factual industry language interspersed in this exciting fictional drama and I was here for it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Historical Fiction isn't my go to genre, but this book makes me question why. It's told in the perspectives of 3 women throughout different times in history. They're all in the world of fashion, and for each woman they experience inequalities because of being female.

I loved reading about the history of fashion and each woman's experience. There was some mystery throughout as indicated in the title - what happened to Astrid? This does not get answered until the very end and definitely leaves you guessing throughout the book as we learn more about Astrid's life.

Recommended!

The story of three generations of the Bricard fashion family dynasty finally culminate as Blythe, the youngest, tries to bridge her past with her future dreams. Grandmother Mizza and Mother Astrid were fashion geniuses in their own rights, but due to societal norms were unable to claim any designs as their own, Instead, they were labeled by the press as "muses" for noted male fashion designers even though the creations were their own. Blythe, granddaughter and daughter respectively, has observed her predecessors' struggles and opted out of that world, stubbornly insisting on not being a pawn in a male dominated field. Told from three perspectives, this book follows the story of each woman until its culminating conclusion when the reader finally understands what happened to Astrid and why.

A bit of historical fiction wrapped with a modern day tie-in, I loved this book and would highly recommend it to readers who loved Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'Mick Riva' series.