I wanted to give this book a 2.5, but since GR prefers whole numbers, I'm going upward with the rating just for the sheer difficulty of what the author is doing here.

When one thinks of modern figures of glamor and potential interest, Coco Chanel ranks high. How could the founder of the House of Chanel not be endlessly fascinating? But unfortunately, as we know, Chanel's story is more than a story of fabric, fragrance, and parties in the mid-century. It is also the story of Nazi collaboration.

That would make most writers run away from Chanel as the protagonist of a work of historical fiction--unless one ignores or diminishes entirely her Nazi past, she's too unlikeable for us to follow.

But Ewen here takes up Chanel's case without such acts of posthumous PR. Taking a page from the depiction of Scarlett O'Hara, perhaps, Ewen shows us a Chanel who is a fighter, who has endured great loss and underdog status, as well as a Chanel who is deliberately myopic and self-centered when it comes to the larger impact of her choices. Her Chanel is neither entirely victim nor entirely hero, and that's what makes the character so interesting on the page.

What's iffier here are some authorial inventions to help explain Chanel's motives at points. For example, the emphasis on family feels logical, but as this bit of authorial construction ends up a large element in the story, I felt myself taken out of the story, wondering if we'd entirely gone off the rails of historical fiction. (The author does explain her choices at the end of the work, but I am speaking to the experience of reading the book.)

(Note: This unbiased review is based on an ARC provided by Netgalley.)

I loved this. I recently have read several novels taking place during this era which have painted Coco Chanel in a less than flattering light. It was nice to read about some events that may have led her to do some of the things she did. Also nice to read a novel which shows her to have a heart. Highly recommended!

It is a very hard time in history and one cannot imagine how one would react but Coco is not a nice person. Interesting second half unsure if it’s supported by facts. Hard to read

Pamela Binnings Ewen is a brilliant writer who delivers an amazing depiction of Gabriella Chanel life in this time slip story revealing events from her younger years and then later that shows her quick wit and determination as she faces unthinkable situations when the war smashes down on France. The book begins in Paris, Place Vendome Fall 1944. The author gives readers a peek into this mysterious woman who created Channel No.5, (who I knew nothing about) Coco says, “Once all of Paris lay at my feet, and Europe, too. The world was mine. Even after I closed the House of Chanel in 1939 in a fit of pique, my luminous No. 5 still sold, until Pierre stole it away.”

Readers get to walk in Icon Coco Chanel shoes as she faces the realities of WWII. Up until this point it had just been rumors. She didn’t think any of it was real, but when her business partner Pierre moves to America and starts to build a Chanel plant there she begins to panic and takes her partner to court. Chanel No.5 was her creation, it had her name on it. How could he take that away from her?

The author states in Author notes, “Coco Chanel was known to be an anti-Semite and a controversial and secretive woman, with emotional layers as difficult to differentiate as the various scents in the compositions of her perfumes. It is often said that jasmine from Grasse is the top note in No. 5. It’s difficult to pick out the true “top note” in Coco’s own life, the events that formed her… or from her own struggles to survive, and the deep sorrow over Andre….dear reader, I leave you to judge.”

This author masterfully takes you inside this complex woman’s head and her past showing how the hurts of life left deep scares. She also gives a glimpse at the infancy of this woman’s creation of Channel No. 5 perfume. Coco didn’t stop at creating perfumes, she also developed a clothing line. Both were successful. She was a very talented, and driven woman determined not to ever be poor again. There is a quote in the book that sums it up, “I, Coco Chanel, have discovered the first rule of survival: Trust no one but yourself.” This statement permeated her life.

The author exposes this famous woman’s pain and triumphs in this beautifully written story I couldn’t put down. I had heard of the perfume Chanel No. 5 but nothing else. The author keeps this story clean in that there were no cuss words, and no graphic sex scenes. I was reminded about how much people smoked back then as it was a habit Coco Chanel had. This is quite an adventure you won’t soon forget. I love learning about history this way. I’ve read a lot of books about WWII but never from a famous person’s perspective. The author takes you inside Coco’s life, WWII on the streets of France, Society and those who are blacklisted. It’s a compelling read you don’t want to miss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

While I really enjoyed this book, I have to wonder how much of it is factual.
That's not the authors fault. Anytime I read a book about someone written as a novel and not a biography, in the back of my mind I always have ... questions.

It was an informative read, I learned a lot about Chanel and this book definitely piqued my interest about her role with the Nazis. Definitely a subject I will look into.

I thought the writing was good but at times long winded. I felt as tho I read the phrase "No. 5 is mine" about a hundred times.
And as this was all at the beginning of the book so it took a while for me to get into it.

All in all I think this is a solid 3.5 - 4 star book.

A big fan of Coco Chanel's designs, I was anxious to review this "novel based on the real life of Coco Chanel." The story was excellent, with suspense, romance and history intermixed. It switches between first person and third person throughout the book, which is a bit annoying, but didn't dull my interest in the story. It gives a unique perspective on the events of WWII, as well as Chanel's life. After finishing the book and reading the author's notes, I'm still not clear how much of this is truth and how much is fictionalized. It's made me want to seek out a biography of Chanel to compare. Excellent reading!

I hadn’t really known much about Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel before beginning this book, and I’ve never read a book about war time.
Let me tell you, this combination was magical.
It is historical fiction, but based on true events. At the very end the author explains more of how they got the information to make it historical fiction which I also found fascinating!
This books transported me so thoroughly I kept forgetting it was fiction.
I can’t wait to recommend this one!

What a wonderful read!!!!!! I learned a lot from this book. I’m an avid WWII reader and I love when I come away with something I didn’t know before. Paris, the Ritz, Coco...what a time to live..but what a tough time to live through.

Gabrielle Bonheur ‘Coco’ Chanel (1883-1972) remains to be an icon of couture and perfume Chanel No. 5. But what probably most of us don’t know, she was also Nazi spy. Not by her choice, but by playing with fire, she put herself into fire. To save something or someone she dearly loved, she was forced to collaborate with Nazi.

French Riviera, 1944. Gabrielle Chanel – Coco to most – just learned that her business partner has stolen the No. 5 perfume formula.

Pierre Wertheimer, Jewish businessman, flees Europe for America taking with him the formula to produce it in the US.

“Since closing her line of couture last year after the worker’s strike, No. 5 has become her primary source of income.”

She takes the case to court.

The story alternates between 1940-1944 and her past.

1909. On a hot humid day, “on a whim I tied a black grosgrain ribbon around the rim of a straw boater, a lighter, cooler hat than fashionable ladies wore.” Then suddenly, some ladies crave her hat. Before she knows, she is in business of selling hats.

“Then came jackets and skirts and blouses… (…) classic, simple…”

1940. As France is under German control, now it’s also governed by German laws. She thinks she can outsmart SS officer. But she makes a fatal mistake. And now she can lose everything, even her freedom.

Vividly imagined story has a heart-warming ending, even tear-dropping. To have such a friend…

The focus of the story is Coco Chanel, not the gruesome events of WWII. At the same time, the author skillfully puts dimensions into the time period. It is interesting to read how war is progressing in France, some not feeling the effect of it at all, at least at the beginning of the war. And after liberation, the terror, or the Purge, that follows on the streets of Paris.

Coco Chanel is very real. She is a very complex woman. Among her many traits, she is ambitious, driven, arrogant, and more. Events in her life propel her to be certain way. She makes a name for herself, but she is not so lucky with the love of her life – Boy Capel. Despite her superiority, she still can be a likeable character and you do feel sympathy for her and feel for her lost love.

With smooth prose and evoking characters, this story of an iconic couturier is revealed in engrossing layers.

Pamela Binnings Ewen's "The Queen of Paris" is a historical fiction based on Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's life during World War II, Germany's occupation of Paris. This novel reveals some of the secrets into her personal life; her tenacity to keep Chanel No. 5 formula from being produced and distributed without her consent, and potentially losing control over the rights and the profits to it. The sacrifices and risks she had to make to protect her business, and save André's (her nephew) life.

I admire Coco's resiliency to overcome poverty, being abandoned by her father to become the sophisticated, successful fashion and perfume icon. As a business woman, in a male dominated industry, she had to be tough and put on a strong facade, but this novel also showed a softer, caring side to her character.

This novel started out slow, but got to be engaging, intriguing and dramatic as the story continued. A fascinating look at what possibly motivated, inspired Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. Look for this novel when it is published on April 07, 2020.

I have just read “The Queen of Paris” A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen

What an intriguing book. Pamela Binnings Ewen writes eloquently. The author has done a great deal of research, and the book was very engaging and very interesting. Her description of Coco Chanel and the era was very visual.

It is a storyline takes place during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII

I am giving this book a solid 4.5 stars

I found it a wonderful read, but at times a bit hard to follow all of the characters, and a bit long winded, however a book that I would highly recommend to those who love a good historical fiction

#TheQueenOfParis #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing

I’d like to start by thanking Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC. Prior to reading this book, I did not know much about the story of Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel. I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction, so I was very excited to read this. I've seen some claims that she was anti-Semitic so I was interested to see how that was approached in this novel and if I felt like I could come to the same conclusion. Of course, this is historical FICTION, so I understand that there may be some slant.

The author's style in this book is very engaging and has the right amount of description. The writing was easy to follow and I like that the chapters were relatively short. My one concern with the writing style in Queen of Paris is that the pacing seemed a little strange; the years 1940 and 1941 take up nearly 85% of the novel while the remaining years through the end of WWII seemed rushed.

This is one of the first novels I can remember classified as a WWII historical fiction that I've read that isn't focused on a "hero"... someone who resists the Nazis, is part of the French Resistance, or is Jewish and taken to a concentration camp. I liked that this was a different viewpoint and that Coco Chanel is clearly not a one-dimensional "perfect" person. While her character can be annoying at times and she frequently makes idiotic decisions, I think that is refreshing for this genre. While reading, I would find her actions to be frustrating and inappropriate, but then she'd surprise me by doing something I could understand. I am not saying I agree with every decision she made throughout this novel, I'm just saying it was refreshing to read about a "gray" character and attempt to understand the reasoning behind the decisions she made.

In summary, I did enjoy reading this novel. At the end, the thought that stuck with me was that we all make poor decisions in our life, largely driven by our own experiences. Should we be forgiven for these mistakes if they are made because we are naive and acting in our own self interest? I'm not sure of the answer to that question, but this book will definitely make you think about it.

Overall, a 3.5 star read for me.

The Queen of Paris by Pamela Binnings Ewen is a fabulous historical fiction piece that focusses on a very polarizing woman, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. The book narrates as Coco herself, and the reader is lucky enough to get inside her head to try to learn about her past, what monumental things happened in her life growing up and as an adult that can completely alter who they are and become, and also try to reason what was going through her mind during the German occupation of France. The book also covers Coco’s flashbacks to her past, incorporating pivotal moments that altered her path in life as well as the aftermath of the Liberation of Paris. It also covers a few key happenings onwards as well as a great Author’s note that helped the reader know what was known fact vs speculation vs fictional details added in by the author for a better narrative.

I have to say that before reading this, I did not know a lot about Chanel except that she lived at the Ritz for a while, was an antisemite and possible collaborator with the Germans. But, I knew that there had to be so much more. While her behavior is completely inexcusable, one has to think how they would react (in general) and what ideals they may compromise (she may have not have some of those ideals to begin with) when faced with survival or death. Those questions that hit at the base of who we are and what/whom we cherish most are brought up repeatedly while reading Coco’s story.

It was a very thought-provoking novel, that had a great pace, an appropriate ending, and was a much enjoyable read.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this great ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post the review to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Thank you again!

I really enjoyed this book about the lives of all these people,the marriages,the affairs,the life sty!e of the King and Queen of England,other Royalty all over the world at this time I history and it is history for England,it is what they are made of! Terrible things do happen even if you are royalty,but the children are the ones who suffer because of the adults being so spoiled of their position in court! Interesting,informative and dad ,the research was well done and you can tell a lot of time went into the writing of thisbook! It is a must read,you may learn something new!🙈🙉🙊

I learned alot about Coco Chsnel through this work of historical fiction. It was interesting and we read about her being s collaborator eith the Nazis, which is abhorrent, but we also learn about her ambutions and what led her to do such things. Chanrl no. 5 is still around today so reading this story of the woman behind it was very intriguing.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

This book is the perfect companion to two of my favorite books of 2019, Mistress of the Ritz and Meet Me In Monaco. This is an interesting read as it is part biography and part fictional story. It was at times difficult to keep the various characters straight. The first half of the book was a slow build, but once the idea of Coco spying was proposed it suddenly picked up. This wasn’t an easy read but it was interesting.

Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy and to Blackstone for approving my request to read.
Well, The Queen of Paris gets two stars from me. First, the good. Pamela Bunnings Ewen writes beautifully. She uses lush prose and brings the beautiful scenery and luxury of Coco Chanel’s lifestyle to the page with astounding clarity. She has certainly done a thorough job with her research. That’s THE only reason I’m giving the book any stars.
Now, the bad. I somehow did not know that Coco Chanel was a Nazi Collaborator. I could blame that on not really being familiar or a fan girl of the Chanel brand, but my own ignorance is appalling. I requested this book because I figured it would be cool to learn about a woman who built a legacy long after she had passed on.
Coco seems like the type of woman who ruthlessly went for what she wanted. To the point of selfishness and at times, humiliation. This story does not depict a kind or even likable person in my eyes. It might just be the subject matter, but I could not find admiration in Coco’s choice to collaborate with Nazis, and even take a Nazi lover, even if it was to help her friends and family. I can understand her thought process, as it would be unimaginable to know that your friends and family were in the hands of terrible people (that you are also willingly sleeping with). But, I think the admiration for people in that time lies with the ones who did everything to survive and fight AGAINST the Nazi wishes.
This book made me realize that Coco Chanel was talented and commanding, but a terribly lonely social climber… willing to tear the world apart to suit her whims and fancies. I could find no joy in this book because of what I learned, but sadly, I know there’s plenty of people out there who are Chanel fans who will use this book as a means to heighten her pedestal.

Review also available on goodreads and my blog.

You read the name Chanel and your senses awaken to the flowered scent that is so desired by women everywhere, Chanel No. 5 but what are the dark secrets that are buried in the past. Chanel's story lies in these pages as part fiction, part real. Why did she betray her country to preserve the iconic scent? As you read you are immersed once again into the dark years of World War II. Its a tale like so many of this period, difficult to understand and forgive but time deadens our anger and we forgive and forget but authors like this remind us and leave us with that every difficult question, why?

Just finished reading this amazing book and I’m in awe.The author brought this icon to life in these pages.The different roles she played during World War II and the reasons why.This book goes beyond the facade to show us the real woman.The one who did what she had to for love of family and Chanel No 5.
Extremely interesting details of how the rich lived during this time.
You won’t be able to put it down once you start.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC.