Historical fiction telling about the younger years of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel narrated by her younger, lesser known sister, Antoinette. Although much of the story is fiction based on little known facts of the girls early lives; it is still an interesting story of what their lives may have been from their youth in an orphanage through the beginnings of the fashion empire in Paris.

4 ooh la la stars

I really enjoyed this historical fiction story about the Chanel sisters – there was actually a large family – 3 sisters, 2 brothers and an aunt who was almost the same age as the sisters. How two of the sisters started and grew the Chanel empire was a fascinating story! The author definitely used some historical research, but like many books with this model, much is created for the sake of a good storytelling.

I assumed that the Chanel family was ultra-wealthy and created the empire. It was very surprising to learn that they were very poor, and in fact the girls spent years in an orphanage after the death of their mother. The story focuses on Antoinette Chanel, who helped her sister Gabrielle (known to us as Coco) run the business. They started with a hat boutique and grew to add clothing later. Toward the end of the book, Coco is creating a perfume, and I thought, aha Chanel No. 5!!

The later part of the book deals with WWI and the impact that has on France and the world. I found these sisters to be resourceful and determined to overcome the nun’s predictions for them of marrying a merchant or being a passable seamstress. This book was a good reminder that the Chanel sisters were ahead of their time in wanting to run their own business and change fashion for comfort for women.

Today in 2020, the Chanel brand is worth $13.7 billion dollars and is synonymous with the wealthy and elite. It was definitely a journey to read one interpretation of how it all got started! This one put me right in France and this time period and reminded me that I want to go back soon!!

This book tells the story of the Chanel sisters. It is narrated by Antoinette Chanel, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's younger sister. Their mother dies and the father leaves, leaving the sisters to be raised at a convent by nuns. They are taught basic household tasks, with the expectation that their lives will consist entirely of them marrying into the lowest ranks of society. They spend their time dreaming of the upper class and reading romance stories.

When they're of age, the sisters leave, determined to make it in a society that has never accepted them, and to fall in love. Gabrielle's fashion forward ideas launch the sisters into the upper echelon of society; money, scandal and all.

I truly enjoyed this book. It's based on known facts and made more interesting by weaving those facts with fiction. Chanel is a fashion legend and its endearing to see that she became this renown when she literally started off with nothing.

The sisters had a joie de vivre and lived life to the fullest. They didn't care what society thought, when in those times, society was everything. They valued love over everything, and thought it was better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all.

Finally, I can't wait to visit France again! It is as if it is another character in the book. The beautiful descriptions of the various regions of France has woken my desire to travel.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves fashion, history and sisterhood.

Thank you to Harlequin - Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the eGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am in love with the cover of this book, and I found The Chanel Sisters very interesting! It is a well-written historical fiction, and the story is told from the point of view of the middle Chanel sister, Antoinette. Readers get a glimpse at the beginnings of the Chanel fashion house as well as the sister’s humble childhood and later romantic escapades. The story provides much information about Gabrielle (Coco) not only as it pertains to her younger sister, Antoinette, but also about their growing business and various romantic dalliances. Gabrielle, not Antoinette, shrewdly used her wealthy and generous lovers to her advantage in terms of developing and growing her business. There is just enough information about their younger sister Julia and the rest of the family to give you a taste of the struggles they experienced. Not surprisingly, much of Antoinette’s story is surmised as historically, there was little documentation on women’s lives. I loved the details of Gabrielle’s creativity and Antoinette’s technical ability. With every mention of a new hat or dress, I was looking up photos and drawings for reference. The sisters’ yearning for “something better” tugged at my heartstrings. Their desire to rise above the low expectations given to them at the orphanage is understandable. Beyond the exploration of the Chanel sisters, Ms. Little’s book provides a look at the mores of various social classes. I would have appreciated more details about the impact of the war on the Chanel business, but overall, the book is clearly well researched. An added bonus is the brief story about the development of the iconic Chanel 5 parfum. Overall an engaging and easy to digest historical fiction with added appeal to any fashionista. 4.5 stars

While this book tended to be a departure from my usual type of books, I did find it interesting. What I discovered was that Coco and her sisters were raised in a convent where they felt they were "never enough". They excelled at sewing, but little else. It is no wonder. they longed for something better. Ms. Little has spun an interesting read here about what may have been what the early lives of the Chanel sisters looked like.

True Rating 3.5
What an enlightening novel. Before I started reading this I had only equated Chanel as more of a fragrance giant. Wealthy and, in my thinking, probably had always been.

Though this book is a story told by the lesser-known sister, Antoinette, known facts are interspersed along with fiction.

We learn that the sisters were put in an orphanage after their mother died in 1895. Their father, a struggling peddler, was doing all he could to provide, yet couldn’t care for the girls and travel.

It was at the orphanage that both girls learned to sew. Antoinette’s sister, a dreamer, was constantly promising her sister that they would someday live a very different, elegant life.

Gabrille ended up leaving the orphanage earlier than her sister since she was over a decade older. Sometime later, she began a singing career, where she was exposed to beautiful clothing, which only caused her to reach harder for her dreams.

Eventually, the sisters opened a small clothing shop in Paris. B then Coco, Gabrielle’s new nickname, had become somewhat of a curiosity due to her free nature. This and her unique designs drew many women to their shop. Many because of the girls’ new creations, but also to just get a glimpse of Coco.

This story not only includes the lives of the sisters, though not much is really known regarding Antoinette but also what is happening in the world at the time.

What Concerned Me
I would have been happier with more factual information woven through the story. The Author’s Notes at the back of the book had a lot of facts that weren’t included.

What I Liked
Even as it stands, I learned so much from this enjoyable book. And there’s so much untold story, that Little might consider writing a second book!

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for a copy of the book. This review is only my opinion and I appreciate the ability to freely post it.

Normally it takes a while for a book to be set up as the author introduces the scene and the characters. This novel starts immediately and the reader is instantly attached to the girls in the story. Julia-Berthe, Gabrielle, and Antoinette Chanel are living as orphans in a convent after their mother's death. Their father is still alive, but lives a nomadic life as a peddler and does not want to travel with the girls.

The girls are allowed to visit their grandparents and Aunt Adrienne on holidays, who is around their age. The aunt introduces the girls to the elegant, fashionable world of the upper class in town, and the girls collect magazines with photos of the women. This is how Gabrielle, later known as Coco, is introduced to the world of high fashion. Adrienne becomes an honorary Chanel sister due to her closeness in age to Gabrielle.

The story is told from Antoinette's perspective, and she notices Gabrielle's penchant for making up stories to make her life seem more glamorous. This tendency stays with Coco for the rest of her life.

The girls experience their share of tragedy and triumph over the years. Gabrielle begins making hats for fashionable ladies and uses Antionette's experience in a milliner's shop to help her produce better hats. Gabrielle's lover finances her startup boutique in Paris.

It's clear to the reader that Gabrielle is ashamed of her humble beginnings and her disdain for everything that is overdone as "gauche" is simply because she cannot afford over the top designs. This influences her fashion sense, as when she is creating a hat she says to always remove, never add.

Gabrielle's ability to shift her focus is what keeps her relevant leading up to and during World War I. She begins making clothes for others before the war, and her devotion to comfortable yet fashionable clothing appeals to vacationers and war volunteers.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction or haute couture.

There is more to the Chanel family than Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel and this book takes the point of view of her younger sister, Antoinette. Chronicling from their younger years into adulthood, the book spans quite a long time and these ladies had quite the life!

I have read quite a few books from Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's point of view, so I was excited to read a book from a different perspective and see Coco, but also see more of the family and how they became who they did. Although the first few chapters as the story started with them in an orphanage felt as though it moved real slow, once they were out and started to really get into the early years of their business, I really started enjoying the book and felt as though the pacing really picked up.

I would recommend this book to readers who are already familiar with Chanel's story and add it to the group of books to read more about not only Coco, but the whole family. I appreciated getting more of a perspective on how the brand was started and how it grew to what it became and the ups and downs through it all.

I wanted more from this book! Correction, I needed more! I loved so much about this book. I was sad when it ended.

I don't know exactly how to write a brief summary of this book yet it was more so about Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel's sister, Antoinette, and her point of view and telling of their childhood. I think that's what I liked about it. We got to see tastes of the fashionable and glamourous lifestyle of Coco but by telling it through Antionette's eyes, there was more focus on the history and relationships that were also important. Of course, it's just a story and the Author's Note at the end goes into depth a little more, but it felt real. It made me want to go back to Paris so much and pretend I could be just as glamourous.

The book made me think a lot about one's 'reputation' and how back then, most women couldn't live the lifestyle they wanted to, and instead had to live the lifestyle you were expected to. The scenes of the sisters at Chateau de Royallieu made me giggle and wish I could have been there.

One of my favourite lines was 'She wears her freedom around her neck. Layers and layers of pearls'.

I thought this book was written quite well and I really enjoyed all the characters that were introduced. I would recommend it if you're looking for a fun historical fiction read!

While most of us are familiar with Coco Chanel, I knew nothing of her early life and was unaware that she even had sisters. So while this book is factionalized, there is of course, some truth to it. It is a good story about Ninette and Gabrielle (Coco) and how they came from nothing to be very successful. It would seem that Coco’s success was due in part to the support, good business sense, friendship and hard work on the part of her mostly unheard of sister.

Little is an American author and this is her second novel, her first being "Wickwythe Hall". This one is historical fiction and is loosely based on the life of Antoinette Chanel, the younger sister of the famous fashion designer Coco Chanel. When their mother died young, the three Chanel sisters are sent to live in a convent. The oldest sister was a little simple minded, Coco was the middle sister and a bit of a troublemaker and Antoinette the youngest. The book explores Antoinette's role in the beginnings of making of the fashion empire and the relationship between the sisters before, during and after World War I. There are elements of history, romance and of course fashion. This is a good recommendation for fans of such books as "Meet Me in Monaco", "And They Called It Camelot" or "The Girl in the White Gloves"...fictionalized books based on real women.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I didn’t know much about Coco Chanel or her background prior to picking up this book, and upon coming to the end of the book and the historical note, I realized a lot of that was by design, and not just my lack of knowledge of fashion history. So, I was intrigued to read a book that peeled back the layers of her mysterious persona and peered into her early life through the eyes of Antoinette, the Chanel sister forgotten to history.

I like the way the story manages to realistically bring to life the Chanel sisters’ early life in a strict Catholic orphanage and then Gabrielle’s rise to fame and adoption of the “Coco” nickname, with Antoinette and their aunt, Adrienne (who is close to them in age) also contributing.

As Antoinette dies young, the book does not go into some of the more controversial moments in Coco’s later life, like her association with the Nazis, apart from a mention in the author’s note. While I did want more clarity on this, I can also understand why it wouldn’t fit narratively.

Prose and pacing wise, it was a bit odd at times. It does drag at times, especially towards the end, and there are passages that summarize time passing that made the book feel more nonfiction than historical fiction.

I still enjoyed this, and feel this was an interesting book. If you love historical fiction about women forgotten to history, or fashion history, I think you’ll enjoy this.

THE CHANEL SISTERS tells the addictive tale of the early life of French designer Coco Chanel and her younger sister Antoinette. Raised in a convent after their mother died, they’re left with nothing but courage to pursue their dreams of respect and acceptance. Fashion-mad and ambitious, they start with a small pre-WWI hat shop in Paris that eventually blossoms into haute couture’s most famous brand. An enthralling read for hf lovers who adore fashion and the early 20th Century — my kind of book!

5 of 5 Stars

Thanks to the author, HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada), and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

Pub Date 29 Dec 2020
#TheChanelSisters #NetGalley

Judithe Little brings the story of the Chanel sisters to life. Most people know of Coco Chanel in the fashion world, but few know the backstory of her and her sister Antoinette"s younger years. The book is fascinating and eye opening. An interesting read.

You know CoCo Chanel, but do you know her sister Antoinette? Told from the lesser known perspective, with perfect embellishments and fiction to perfectly fill in the blanks, The Chanel Sisters gives us more of the story that anyone who knows anything about fashion already knows.

I absolutely adored this book and flew through it. Starting from a young age at an orphanage, we see the Chanel sisters grow up and become the elite fashion haus we all still know and love today. Antoinette dreams of love and marriage and wealth and success. Gabrielle “CoCo” Chanel dreams of being on the stage, yet we all know her for the creative fashion genius she is. Through all their struggles, bouncing from city to city in France, the sisters work their way through the early 20th century, through a war, and through all the love and heartbreak that comes with members of the “in between” class. They find themselves taking what they learned from the nuns, their sewing, and turn it into their dreams. Antoinette is the brains, the seller, the practical mind. The one no one knows about and yet we get this unique and beautiful story all from her perspective.

I’ve recently been very into historical fiction books with war romances and this gave just the perfect amount of that. It was beautifully written, heartbreakingly glorious, and I cannot recommend The Chanel Sisters enough!

Judithe Little's The Chanel Sisters tells the amazing tale of the Chanel sisters of France. While Coco Chanel is clearly well know in today's fashion world, her begins are anything but upper class. Together with her sister, Antoinette and aunt, Adrienne, the young women make their way in the world. As Coco and Antoinette walk their own path and never settle for what people expect of them this "rags to riches" story is anything but straight forward.

Little's descriptions of characters and French towns allows the reader to full emerge themselves in the story. Her use of French terms to describe the sights, sounds, and social classes standings also lends to the authenticity of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House for my gifted copy of this novel.

This is a fiction book about the Chanel Sisters before they became "Chanel". We follow the sisters as they grow from children living in a conventional to adults trying to make their way into life. We follow them through the times that led to their fashion dynasty and through World War I.

I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and extraordinary story. Gabrielle (CoCo) and Antoinette Chanel grew up in an orphanage, and their aunt Adrienne, who is about the same age all work together to make each of their lives better. Gabrielle, Antoinette, and Adrienne all work hard, try to make life better, and find their great loves which leave them vulnerable and shaken. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, riveting story capturing the reader's attention from the first page of the story until the last page of the story, captivating characters, engaging storyline, and a must read story.

Gabrielle- Coco- Chanel is arguably the most famous and influential fashion designer. This is the fictionalized story of her early years (mostly pre WWI) but more importantly, it's the story of her sister Antoinette. Abandoned by their father and effectively orphaned when their mother died. they were placed in a convent, along with their older sibling. Much of Gabrielle's sensibility was formed by this experience. Ninette yearns for love as well as for her sister, who leaves the convent earlier and. later, moves to follow several different men. Ninette, once reunited with Gsbrielle, helps her establish her hat shop- the novel ends before Gabrielle becomes a force in clothing. Ninette is a fascinating character and more accessible in many ways than Gabrielle. You get a sense of the latter but she's not the focus of the novel, which does not, btw, address her actions during WWII. Many of the characters are based on real people (there's a helpful end note with details). I enjoyed this more than I expected I would. Little has given us a good look at Chanel and illuminated Ninette. She's a good storyteller and this is a well written and engaging novel. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction and fashion.

This was an interesting historical fiction novel about Antoinette and her sister Coco Chanel. I liked the artistic decision Little made to write the novel from Antoinette's point of view. Since I knew nothing about Coco Chanel's background or life, I had no idea what to expect or which direction the plot would take. I admire writers who can recreate history using some truth but who can expand on that knowledge with imagination. Judithe Little writes a convincing story about the lives of the Chanel sisters and recreates their world. I thought it was very well done and thoroughly enjoyed this novel!