While I enjoyed parts of this story, I just didn't feel that I could relate at all to the characters or plot. Not because it is historical fiction, but because I just felt that they weren't likable at all

I enjoy reading historical fiction and lately have read several taking place in Paris during the Nazi occupation. I recently finished both Mademoiselle Chanel and Mistress of the Ritz. I loved both of these books and tried not to compare The Queen of Paris with them.

This book left me feeling mixed as to my rating. The first half of the book did not flow and did not really stage Mme Chanel's background and upbringing to develop the foundation for the rest of the story. Having read Mme Chanel, I have this point of reference. However, a reader who may not have this may find the beginning a bit scattered.

The pacing and character development came into its own during the second half of the book. Coco's relationship with the Nazi's and being a spy was much for interesting and kept my interest. She is smart and has learned over time never to trust anyone, which she did and did not follow with the associated consequences.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

I physically cannot say no to a book that features the Ritz Paris as a setting. I physically cannot. I have read many and only through those books did I learn of Coco Chanel’s problematic and disappointing involvement on behalf of the Germans in WW2. This book gives a glimpse to the whys behind why the choices she made, but leaves it up to the reader to decide.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It took over half the book to get going, and even then, I wasn’t kept particularly captivated. The chapters were pretty short — something I appreciate, but I expected to enjoy this book a lot more than I did. 2.5 stars rounded up.

his book details the life of Coco Chanel and the Paris Ritz during the WW2 German invasion. How she collaborated and got by with a little help from her German friends. It showed how truly selfish someone can be.

I really enjoyed this captivating, novelized story of Coco Chanel. I knew very little of Chanel’s biography and found this book readable, informative and engaging. The books switches back and forth between time periods smoothly and in a way that really enhances the story. I especially appreciated the historical detail of occupied Paris during WWII from Chanel’s point of view. Well-written and very enjoyable.

Read if you: Like stories with "grey" characters.

I knew little about Coco Chanel before reading this (other than that she was a fashion designer/parfumer). Although I did find this a bit slow-going at first (like other reviewers), once I was hooked, I couldn't wait to get back to it. Chanel is not a likeable person by any means, but I feel this is a fairly even-handed portrayal of her attributes and her moral failures.

Librarians and booksellers: Get this for your WW II historical fiction fans or your fashion history fans.

Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone publishing for allowing me an ARC of this title.

Coco Chanel. The very name conjures visions of high fashion and elegant perfumes, not Nazi Germany and war.

This is a well researched book about a very selfish, strong willed woman. It was somewhat difficult to follow but overall, an enjoyable read. I've read several books about Coco Chanel. This is not my favorite book about her life, however, it is very well written, if somewhat wordy. The author did bring the characters to life, Pamela Binnings Ewen has an ability to create a visual picture of the events and the character. Overall, I give this book 4 stars for holding my interest and attention.

Ah. With all books, we bring a bit of our own story into the experience and that colours how we feel and react.
I didn't know much about Coco Chanel before this book, but I did know about my family's experience during the war. Trying to separate the words on the page from my history is hard, and it made reading this book hard.

I love tales that illuminate and humanize figures from history, but that comes with it's own set of challenges. To be human is to be flawed, complex, and multifaceted. The phrase 'never meet your heros' exists because it is hard to reconcile those human imperfections with our idolized versions.
Chanel is one for me. My limited knowledge of her involved her being the head of one of the most iconic and influential fashion houses. She didn't play by the rules of the day, she made her own, and as such redefined class and what it means to be stylish, sophisticated, and feminine. And yet, here we see that she is so much more than just that.

Do the ends justify the means?
We are told now to look out for ourselves, because no one else will. We are told to 'hustle' and work for what ewe want, to never give up. To use that lens to look at this story is hard because Chanel is human, vulnerable, strong, and determined. Does that make her bad or wrong? Can you separate her work from her story?

More than anything, it speaks to the quality of this book to be confronted with these questions. The depth and detail of this story are compelling and worth fighting through.

Coco Chanel was conniving, deceitful, a collaborator, and a survivor. Ewen tells,her story very well. The Queen of a Paris is a solid read. The book is rich with detail about Chanel's trials during WWII and her willingness to betray her country to spy for the Germans. She was very fortunate to escape persecution after the war. I don't care for her as a person very much, but Ewen does an accurate depiction of her character and circumstances.

I actually decided to read/review this title based solely on the author, having read and enjoyed books by Pamela Binnings Ewen in the past. This is the first I’ve read by her that would not be characterized as Christian fiction, however. She is a talented author and knows how to craft a compelling story.

I learned a lot both about Coco Chanel and WWII in Paris especially. It was a hard book to put down while at the same time hard to read based on the atrocities that went on during that war and the .German occupation.

I was given an advance copy of the book for review via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

Coco Chanel was hot-headed and selfish, she was also swindled by the men she trusted most in her life starting with her father. This book is well written and does not soften Coco in any way. Coco lives at The Ritz during World War II. Her main mission is to get back ownership of her famous Chanel #5, and she will do just about anything to make that happen. She goes through World War II first denying it's even happening, and then only caring what it is doing to her bank account. She seems oblivious to what is going on around her, as long as she gets what she wants. I don't want to say too much and give away some of the main plots of the book. Thank you to netgalley for the providing me with the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of The Queen of Paris.

Coco Chanel survived WWII German occupied Paris in a controversial way While living at the Hotel Ritz, a German headquarter, she collaborated and rubbed elbows, and bed sheets, with the hierarchy of the SS military. Just before the German invasion her (Jewish) partner in her wildly successful perfume, Chanel NO 5, fled to America with the recipe and plans to manufacture the perfume overseas. She decides to fight him in every way even appealing to the German courts to let her retain the rights due to his heritage. During this time she must also do whatever it takes to rescue her nephew who has become a POW.

Told from Chanel's point of view this is a very interesting take on the polarizing icon. It is a good historical novel that attempts to understand the rational and the risky decisions the designer made to save herself during this traumatic world event. It shows a more human vulnerable side that is sometimes lost in the telling of her story.

The Queen of Paris is about the life of Coco Chanel during WWII. It invites us into an exploration of what Coco's life must have been like and how she went from surviving and total dependence on the men in her life, to thriving and independent. I enjoyed the read and the wartime setting, and it was a little disheartening to discover this side of Coco Chanel's life, as she engaged with the Germans, seemingly detached from what was going on around her. Some artists and creatives can become so passionate about their work that this happens. Unfortunately I didn't find Coco a likeable character, even though she's seeking to protect and save her closest family member.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and thank you to Pamela for writing it.

Pamela Binnings Ewen paints a picture of Coco Chanel as charming yet ruthless and manipulative as she fights for control of her Chanel No. 5. With the approach of WWII, her business partner Pierre Wertheimer relocated to America, taking the perfume’s formula with him. Chanel owned only a small share of the company and her efforts to regain control appeared futile. After the Germans entered Paris, she used her connections to appeal to Admiral Canaris, head of the Abwehr. Pierre was Jewish and the Nuremberg Laws prohibited him from owning any business, but her appeal to Canaris came at a price. It is one that she was willing to pay if she can also discover the fate of her son, a German POW.

Ewen alternates her tale of Chanel’s war years with her earlier years. She was abandoned by her father as a child, became a mistress as a young woman and finally found love with Boy Capel. She believed that love would be forever, but was betrayed when she became pregnant and Boy later married another. Her design of hats finally opened up a future for her that led to her clothing and fragrances and brought the status and wealth that she would fight for.

Chanel was not an easy character to like. As the people of Paris suffered during the occupation, she was unaffected by the food shortages and could not see what was going on around her. Life at the Hotel Ritz was comfortable for her and her sense of entitlement was constantly in evidence. Even so, she was an interesting personality whose name is still prevalent today. It is well worth spending the time with Coco Chanel. I would like to thank Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing this book for my review.

I have been a little torn over this book. While on one hand I loved learning all about Coco Chanel but I felt at times it was a bit lengthy in places. Coco is a wonderfully strong woman who despite very humble beginnings becomes quite a force in the fashion world. Using her intellect and status she was able to comfortably live in occupied France right in the nest of many powerful Nazis. Such a great novel about the life, love and tragedy of Coco especially during WWII.

This book was very well written and easily sucked you in. This is a fictional book so liberties were taken but I love how it’s a great starting point in learning about Coco Chanel

Very interesting tale told from Coco's side of the story and her time in Paris during the Nazi occupation.

I have read quite a lot of WW2 historical fiction lately and this book was great.

I did receive and ARC of this book from netgalley for my honest feedback.

I have only heard fairly recently about Coco Chanel being an anti-Semite and Nazi collaborator. I was somewhat hesitant to request this novel from NetGalley, wondering if would be an apologist piece justifying her actions, or if it would be a critical look at her life. I found it to be both - and an extremely interesting story. It is a novel, but based on documented facts. I learned a lot about Coco's life in general, and it did offer plausible explanations for how she became who she was and why she did what she did (although I am definitely not condoning her actions). And it did include her spy work for the Nazis, etc, as well as her struggle to keep her company. Of course, we'll never really know Chanel's inner-most thoughts, but I really liked this book, and the fascinating look at not only her life but of war time Paris. Pamela Binnings Ewen did a great job of describing the life of this fashion icon, some of her personal heartbreaks, along with her singular and somewhat cold blooded focus on surviving anything and everything. Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the e-arc - much more compelling than I expected!

I knew nothing about coco channel before reading this book now I can't wait to read more a really good historical fiction book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The life story of Coco Chanel is told in this novel. She suffered abandonment and much loss, but also gained much success in life. Her collaboration with the Nazis was both unforgivable and understandable if Andre was indeed her son.

Very interesting book. I loved it.