"The Paris Gown" by Christine Wells is a delightful and enchanting novel that transports readers to the glamorous world of 1950s Paris. This captivating tale weaves together the lives of three young women - Claire, Gina, and Margot - as they navigate love, friendship, and personal ambitions in the City of Light.


At the heart of the novel is a stunning Christian Dior gown, which serves as both a symbol of elegance and a catalyst for change in the protagonists' lives. Each woman has her time to wear the dress throughout the story.

The three main characters are well-developed and relatable, each facing unique challenges that will resonate with readers. Claire's culinary ambitions, Gina's struggle with family expectations, and Margot's mysterious past create a rich tapestry of storylines that intertwine seamlessly.

A charming and uplifting read that offers a perfect escape into a world of fashion, friendship, and self-discovery.

I loved that the Dior dress was symbolic of not only friendship and love but also of courage! The characters were very interesting. I honestly would have loved more about them.

The novel was well-written and easy to read. For sure made me want to go back to Paris!

A fabulous work of historical fiction—truly compelling! I loved this story of friendship and love in 1950s Paris. Gina, Claire, and Margot meet in Paris as young women and form a fast friendship, but their lives take unexpected turns as they pursue careers and fall in love. When they meet again we see them trying to get back on track and their connection also involves a marvelous Dior gown. This is a perfect book for those who love Paris—especially food, literature, and fashion—and those who are drawn in by this period in history, when women who did not readily embrace the traditional roles of wives and mothers faced challenges. Christine Wells has again written a captivating story and I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel. It kept me reading because I wanted to know what would happen to each of the three women who each had a chance to wear one Dior gown.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"The Paris Gown" by Christine Wells is a captivating journey into the world of 1950s Paris, brought to life through the intertwined lives of three remarkable women and a stunning Christian Dior gown. As a newcomer to Christine Wells' work, I was delighted by the rich historical detail and the compelling narrative that kept me engrossed from start to finish.

The story centers on Claire, Gina, and Margot, three friends whose lives take unexpected turns as they reunite in Paris. Claire, an aspiring Michelin-starred chef, finds her dream within reach when she is gifted a dazzling Dior gown. Gina, a heartbroken American journalist, returns to Paris to pursue her writing aspirations and faces a challenging reunion with her former fiancé. Margot, now working at Dior, hides secrets that threaten to unravel their friendship. The gown, a symbol of hope and transformation, weaves their stories together in a beautifully poignant manner.

Wells' writing is lush and evocative, capturing the essence of Parisian life and the emotional depth of her characters. The dynamic between the three women is well-developed, and the narrative seamlessly blends historical context with personal struggles and triumphs. The Dior gown serves as a powerful metaphor for change and aspiration, adding a layer of enchantment to the plot.

While the book is thoroughly enjoyable, there were moments where the pacing felt slightly uneven, and some plot points could have been explored in greater depth. However, these minor quibbles did not detract significantly from the overall experience.

"The Paris Gown" is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and anyone who appreciates a well-told story of friendship, dreams, and resilience. Christine Wells has crafted a memorable tale, and I eagerly look forward to exploring more of her works in the future.


Thank you NetGalley and Christine Wells for the ARC read.
***All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone***

Three women are friends in Paris studying to be chefs. They always stare at the Dior window, dreaming about acquiring a Dior gown. Fast forward several years and two of them, Claire and Gina, reunite in Paris, their circumstances having changed. Still, their friendship allows them to navigate their current situations including career and relationship woes. Their only regret is that their third friend, Margot, is not only not there but seems to have disappeared into thin air despite their numerous letters to her. They soon run into Margot, who is using a different name and is in disguise. The story of her struggle slowly unfolds. This is a lovely story about friendship and its power to give strength to each other, allowing friends to become the person they aspire to. It is easy to read and the characters are likable. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it. Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced reader's copy.

From the Amazon description of the book:
Paris, 1955

Three friends—Claire, Gina, and Margot—who parted as very young women with their whole lives ahead of them, reunite in Paris years later, determined to start life anew.

Parisian Claire has been working hard to become a Michelin-starred chef one day, but ever since the heady time she spent in the company of socialites Gina and Margot, her dream has been to own a Dior gown. This seemed like a far-off fantasy, until the eccentric and wealthy Madame Vaughn, who lives above Claire’s family brasserie, abruptly leaves Paris, asking Claire to mind her apartment. More bafflingly, Madame Vaughn also makes Claire a very special gift: a stunning Dior gown.

Meanwhile Gina, a cool American blue blood, lands on Claire’s doorstep nursing a broken heart and a broken engagement after her father lost all of the family money in a risky business venture. A journalist aspiring to be a novelist, Gina has returned to Paris in the hopes of pursuing her dream. But when her father begs her to attend the United States Embassy ball in the hopes of persuading Hal Sanders, her former fiancé, to invest in her father’s new business venture, she is torn. She wants to help her father, but seeing Hal again will be exquisitely painful. And what on earth is she going to wear?

Warm-hearted Claire insists Gina wear the Dior gown to the ball, and after some hesitation, Gina accepts. At Dior for Gina’s fitting, who should assist them but Margot, the friend they thought had gone back to Australia to be married. But Margot is living in Paris and working at Dior under an assumed name, and clearly, she is not happy to have been found.

Is their close friendship at an end? Or will the wonder and delight of the Dior gown bring these young women back together?

Gorgeous, perfectly fitted, lustrous and luxurious, the Dior gown has the power to change lives—as these three remarkable women are about to discover…

Christine Wells has written a riveting novel that describes the lasting nature of friendship and how friends will give anything for friends. Her characters are crisp and the settings are quaint. There are faults and foibles to uncover, characters who will anger the reader, characters who will endear themselves to the reader, and overall this is a book worth reading.

Four Strong Stars.

William Morrow provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This novel is about friendship, fashion, love and the power of women. The three women were friends earlier in life and now some years later they are all at a crossroads. The three women in the story rediscover their lost friendship and eventually help each other with some life decisions. A Dior gown plays a central part in each of their stories as they find new love or reignite their past love interests. Those interested in high fashion and the 1950’s time period will have much to enjoy here. I enjoyed the authors’s notes at the end which explained her inspiration for each of her characters. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced e-book for an honest review. #TheParisGown
#ChristineWells #NetGalley

“The Paris Gown” is the emotional tale of three women, Claire, Margot and Gina. All three are from different backgrounds, but they become fast friends in the 1950’s in Paris. It’s a coming of age novel that explores career choices, love, and dreams.

I loved the concept of this story and really enjoyed the perspective from all three women. I struggled a little with the pacing and felt the middle was a little slow, but overall an interesting historical fiction novel.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own

I was not expecting to love this book. It started off a little slow and I thought it was a bit cheesy. But the more I read I couldn’t put the book down. I basically read most of the book in one day. I loved all three storylines of the friends. I loved that it was set in Paris! I loved that the Dior dress brought these women together! Most of all I loved that these women were strong and independent during a time when this wasn’t expected of them. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

A sweet, simple novel about the friendship of three young women in Paris. This was a nice and enjoyable book to read. I could imagine this being a really cute beach or travel read. I really enjoyed the authors note on the back that detailed the inspirational women behind each of the protagonists.

The Paris Gown tells the story of 3 friends in Paris in the mid-50s and the Dior dress that they bond over. Claire is a chef, Gina is a writer and Margot doesn't know what she wants, except to escape her abusive marriage. The novel starts out with excitement and curiosity to learn more about these young women. About the middle of the book, however, it turns into a standard romance and that's how it goes the rest of the way. I also felt there was not a great sense of Paris in the book. It could have been set anywhere. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit the cover of this story is what intrigued me initially. When I then read the description of how fashion brought three friends back together during rough times, I was completely sold. And the similarities to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants seemed perfect for me. If you love fashion, friendship, and a little glimpse into a world of the past, this book is the one for you! You will love reading about the three women it follows and their lives, as well as the clothes that are described, and the setting of 1950's Paris as a backdrop for the story.

Summary:
Gwen, Claire, and Margot met in Paris, France in 1950 in their early 20s and bonded over their love of Dior. They would visit Dior's shop to share their successes and discuss their aspirations for the future while admiring the dresses in the shop window. After they part, they head to different continents to continue their lives and eventually lose track of each other. Years later, the women are all at different places in their lives than they had imagined, and they are all struggling in various ways. This book tells the story of how the Dior that they all loved may bring them together to help each other through their tough times.

Thoughts:
This is a great book! It is a very short read, and I found it easy to get invested in the characters. There are POVs of each of the three women throughout the book that all have distinct voices. There is a bit of mystery throughout to figure out what is really going on. The women felt very realistic to me and I could picture all three of them well. They all also felt very relatable to me, which helped me understand them as characters a bit better. I honestly enjoyed every moment I spent reading this and got a tiny bit emotional at the end.

Critiques:
There wasn't anything that I would change about this book. It was well written and super enjoyable to read. It wasn't one of my favorite books I've read this year, but that doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the book. I will say that as I got to the end, I did realize that this book is much shorter than others I've read recently, which means there was a bit of depth and explanation that I was missing. However, I don't really think this story needed any more depth or detail than what was provided to be a really great book.

Final Words:
I highly enjoyed my reading experience, and would recommend this to a wide variety of readers. Like I mentioned at the beginning, if you especially enjoy reading about fashion, friendship, and France in the 1950's, I think you will really love this story.
 
Thank you to William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a delightful and fun book to read. Fans of Jane Rosen’s books - Three Women and One Dress and A Shoe Story - will love this story and adore the main characters - Charlotte, Claire & Margot. A great beach read. Thanks for the advanced read!!

I was hooked from the very beginning! Friendship, love, loss, and secrets all entwine the lives of three friends living in post-war Paris, A Dior gown at the center of it all. This is a beautifully written piece by Christine Wells, one you won’t want to put down!
#NetGalley

1950s, Paris, Dior, and a trio of young friends! Post-war Paris, and three friends in their 20s from wildly different backgrounds seek to reinvent their futures with help from a fabulous Dior ballgown and a bond that transcends everything. TW: partner emotional abuse.

Great read. Warm. Uplifting. Wells wonderfully creates a story of friendship and overcoming obstacles. Her detail to historical Paris was a joy to read. If you love historical fiction, I think you will enjoy this novel!

In 1950s Paris three friends, students at the Escoffier, meet every week in front of Dior's display windows to share good news. After graduation they go off to follow their dreams. Charlotte wants to write, Gina wants to be a Michelin star chef, and Margot wants a family. Fast forward a few years and they are back in Paris. Gina is running her family's cafe. Charlotte is broke and getting over a romance. Margot has also returned and is in hiding. Can they still achieve their dreams? Enjoy this story of female friendship, support and couture.

The Paris Gown is a light-hearted, delight of a story. An easy summer read, this book moves along quickly through real life, love, and loss.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a mix of Mrs Harris goes to Paris and sisterhood of the traveling pants. Sure, this story had little love stories in it, but it was really about the friendships. We need people who will love us no matter what, be honest when we need it, as well as be vulnerable enough to apologize.

I am planning to share this book on my Instagram on august 19 at https://www.instagram.com/robinashleyreads?igsh=MXczYmd6bmszdXN2Nw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr