I enjoy historical fiction and this book was no exception. Based in Paris after the German occupation, this story tells about a woman stuck in an unhappy marriage who ends up separating from her husband. While in Paris, she befriends Christian Dior before he became famous.

An interesting read that I would definitely recommend.

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first half of the book that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

Was provided a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

This historical fiction story is centered around a recently divorced up and coming journalist, Oona "Copper" Reilly, living in Paris at the end of WWII. She befriends Lelong's lead designer Christian Dior and his fashionista friends. When a hard hitting expose lands her a job at Harper's Bizarre she begins covering Paris' rebirth as the fashion capital of the world. This includes exclusive access to a daring show called Theatre De La Mode, where the elite fashion designers made doll clothes to showcase their new line since fabric was scarce.

The title feels misleading since most of the story is focused around the fictional character Copper and her over the top love life instead of the famous designer, Christian Dior. He along with a host of other fashion royalty are more supporting characters. Some of the story lines are a bit ridiculous like she is caught in a love triangle between a Russian resistance fighter and a bawdy lounge singer, with no real reason as to why she chooses one over the other. Another example is when she moves her ex-husband's abused cocaine addicted one night stand in as a roommate. I wanted to love this book and ended up thinking it was okay.

Thank you to NetGalley, Marius Gabriel, and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC of The Designer to read and review. I found this book enjoyable. I've been very into historical novels that weave fiction with real people lately, so this book fell into my lap at just the right time. I'd recommend it to lovers of the same.

It was the mentioning of Christian Dior that made me curious to read the book. Well, not only that, but I was intrigued by the fact that the main character, Copper, strikes up a friendship with the well-known fashion designer. A man I know next to nothing about.

The book took me by surprise, at first I thought this would be the usual woman finds herself and has to choose between two men. But, yeah Copper does leave her husband after he has one affair too many, but after that, her life takes a pretty drastic turn as she tries to fulfill her dream as a journalist. Her friendship with Dior is a strong point in her life and I loved how to book introduced all the bohemian artist, painters writers, etc. that are living in Paris at the time. A lot of name dropping (in a good way) and I love how Copper embraces the bohemian world. And, there is love waiting around the corner, two very different people enter her life and both stir feeling inside her. But, who will win her heart? Or rather, will she sacrifice her new-won freedom she gained after her divorce? I was engrossed in the story and I really enjoyed reading about Copper's life in Paris.

The Designer is a fabulous book. I loved reading about Paris after the liberation, how the city slowly tries to return to normal after the occupations. But, there is unrest in the city and collaborators are frowned and often roughly treated.And, the war is yet over. This part of the book, everything going on that concerns the war added a deeper layer to the story. The Germans may have left the city, but the memory of their occupations is a deep wound.

The Designer was a fabulous fictional take about Paris during the Second World War. It was told from a unique perspective-Copper's. Copper was an American bride who was swept off of her feet by a handsome American from the upper class. He took them to Paris to cover the war as a correspondent. Copper was the classic stereotype of the independent woman who loses her individuality due to the role of women in the era. The Designer follows Copper's break from the traditional and uses her relationship with Dior to not only show her rebirth as a strong, independent, modern woman; but to give us a history of how fashion waxed and waned during the war depending on the perspective you viewed it from. A lot happens in this book. Some plot lines are more successful than others, but this book is a satisfying read.

3.5 Stars

This was a fun book to read!
Copper found her self with her soon to be ex-husband in Post Occupation Paris, a city still recovering from a great hardship. By sheer chance she was introduced to a couturier working for the prestigious Maison Lucien Lelong, a certain Christian Dior, a very talented but obscure name, surrounded by a fascinating mix of friends belonging to that unique Parisian arts world.
After leaving her husband, Copper was whisked in the glamorous word of fashion in Paris, guided by Dior who became her friend, and eventually becoming a fashion journalist respected by many.

I liked most parts of this book. Copper was a character i liked and disliked alternatively. In my opinion, she was at times very reckless . At the beginning, i felt sympathy for her, a woman making her way in a man's world, in a strange country, But after a while she became too much. At some point i was considering abandoning the book hadn't it been for Christian Dior.

It was interesting to read all those great names that made fashion and Paris immortal. and with the great contrast that the war presented, that was a fascinating story. The war ending in Europe, the world of fashion coming back to life and bringing back some hope for people.

I really enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. The story itself is very capitivating but I also enjoyed reading about Paris after world was two. I have always loved fashion and it is so interesting to know about how Christian Dior started out and to knowabout his personality. The main character is an american journalist who meets Dior in paris and they become great friends. She is married when she arrives but soon divorces her unfaithful husband and meets a woman as well as a man who both have romantic designs on her. This is so entertaining and hard to put down. I highly recommend it to historical fiction lovers.

I just didn't find this book very interesting. The plot line was simplistic and the characters over the top. I expected more of a story.

"The Designer" is a complex narrative--it's not quite about Christian Dior, nor is it quite about post-occupation Paris. It isn't quite a romance, nor is it quite a war story. Rather, it is all of these things, as seen through the eyes of the protagonist, Copper Reilly.

Copper is--like any aspiring journalist--an excellent observer, and through her we come to understand how uniquely important haute couture was to France as it struggled to pull itself back together during the final years of the war (and after). And Copper herself has plenty going on--freshly divorced, stranded in Paris, trying to find a balance between freedom and security.

Based on the title and description, I'd been expecting (hoping for?) much more detail about the inner workings of an atelier, some true behind-the-scenes details on the French fashion industry of the time. The focus, however, is much more on Copper's personal life. This isn't a bad thing--Copper is vivacious and sympathetic--but while there's plenty of haute couture, that's definitely not the emphasis.

My only real complaint is Copper's love interest, who (without getting into spoilers) is a pretty thinly drawn character. Exactly WHAT Copper likes about them is unclear, and the ultimate impression is of a character that's "fine" but not terribly compelling.

Overall, though, I loved this story. It's well written, funny in all the right places, and if you have any interest in couture, I'd strongly recommend it.

As a photographer and fashion enthusiast, I was looking forward to exploring the rise of fashion and the world of Christian Dior during the remaining years of WWII.  The story revolves around Oona Reilly (Copper), a young American woman stationed in Paris with her journalist husband.  After her marriage falls apart and her husband is stationed elsewhere, Oona becomes heavily involved in the bohemian art and fashion world.  This association leads her to become a protege of Christian Dior, a talented designer who has yet to establish his own design house.

Although this book is primarily historical fiction, there are several historical events relating to the war described in this novel such as the concentration camps, the severe living conditions in France at the time as well as the role the American army and the French resistance played in liberating France from the Nazis.  I found myself googling the characters and events in the book for more information and found that the events described were accurate.

Although Oona's meteoric rise as a photographer and  a successful freelance journalist seemed "a little too effortless" to be believable I really did enjoy reading this novel.

This book is sort of like an insider's look at Paris haute couture at the end of WWII. The characters are so well developed, you will almost feel like you know them. Christian Dior is at the centre of this enjoyable book, but the ambiance and feel of Paris is all around you. It does have a few annoying characters but for the most part is a good read.

Very slow start. If you are not into historical novels I'd skip this book. Since they did explain the characters at the end it was worth the read.

Copper (Oona) Reilly travels to post War Paris with her new husband, who turns out to be a philanderer. Fed up with his behavior Copper leaves him and explores Paris on her own where she runs into none other than budding designer, Christian Dior. Dior is obviously a talented designer, but he’s also insecure and withdrawn. Copper makes him her pet project, attempting to draw him out of his shell and help him get his designs noticed. Along the way, she finds her own true calling as a fashion journalist. There aren’t any surprises in this book, but if you want to feel like you are walking the streets of a newly liberated Paris and hang out with artists and designers who are now household names, you’ll love this book. It gave me a feel for what the City if Lights must have been like right after Word War II