Wowza! This was such an immersive read and such a great piece of historical fiction!

The Women of Chateau Lafayette follows the stories of three resilient women who are connected through the tragedies they encounter. In the late 1700s, Adrienne comes from a powerful French family and marries Lafayette, an important player in the American Revolution. But their roles put the family at risk during the French Revolution. Almost 150 years later, during WWI, Beatrice Chanler is a New York socialite who uses her position, attained through marriage, for good to spread resources to troops in France. Less than 30 years pass before the world is at war again and Marthe Simone is tasked as a teacher and caregiver at the Chateau Chavaniac. She must make difficult, and dangerous, decisions to help those around her during the Nazi occupation of France, at her own peril.

Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. The history was rich and the characters were wonderful. I loved how the women were connected over time and the strength they showed in their journeys. I was able to connect the story to the history I’ve previously learned about and it’s great. And don’t miss the author’s note! Stephanie was meticulous in her research and went above and beyond for this novel. I can’t wait to check out some of her other works. Highly recommend this for historical fiction lovers!

Thank you so much to @stephanie.dray, @netgalley and @berkleypub for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a marvelous work of historical fiction that follows three remarkable women in three different war periods in France - Adrienne Lafayette (French Revolution), Beatrice Chandler (WWI), and the fictional Marthe Furland (WWII). All three storylines are connected to and partially all take place at Chateau Lafayette (Chavaniac).

From the start, this book captivated my attention. The story is full of intricate details, making it a longer, more marathon-type read. This is definitely a book you want to savor to catch all of those details that really add depth to the story.

I really enjoyed all three storylines, but Beatrice’s was my favorite. It was incredible to learn about all of her work in setting up the preventatorium at Chavaniac and the numerous times to she crossed the ocean during the war to keep things going both at home and in France.

Overall, this was a phenomenal read. This is definitely a book that I recommend to fans of historical fiction.

4.5 Stars

Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for my complimentary e ARC of #TheWomenOfChateauLafayette for review. All opinions are my own.

A real castle in France, Chateau Lafayette, connects three women: noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette (wife of Gilbert Lafayette); New York socialite and actress Beatrice Astor Chanler; and French school teacher, aspiring artist, and orphan Marthe Simone. After having been the home of the Lafayette’s, the castle became a refuge for orphan children during two world wars.

Stephanie Dray is a dependable and popular historical fiction author who puts the history in histfic. Readers expect her ambitious work to be well-researched, thoughtful, and engaging. The Women of Chateau Lafayette does not disappoint! It helped me to take notes in the beginning because the substantial and complex story could have been three separate books, jumping between three very different characters (two based on real people and one fictional), a great deal of historical detail, and three very different time periods. If you’re looking for rich and dense historical fiction, you will be pleased with this story! Although I need to admit that at times my eyes glazed over trying to comprehend the details and political intrigue of the French Revolution! If you find the first half of the book slow going as you become familiar with the characters and settings, you will be pleased that the second half of the book picks up the pace and intensity.

There were a few times that I had to roll my eyes by some modern thinking that was tossed in (one of my pet peeves in historical fiction). One quote: “She made a good argument, though no one ever told a brave husband and father that he must not risk his life. Men like my husband were allowed–may, encouraged–to do great deeds. No one ever asked Willie. But who’s looking after the children when you’re gone?” This seems like modern thinking and a bit anachronistic for a woman in the early years of the 1900s. Does it appear that way to you?

Stephanie Dray brings us the untold and inspiring stories of three women. Each is well drawn and admirable for her own reasons. Adrienne is a loyal and devoted wife and becomes a true partner with her husband, Lafayette, in every way. She shares his ideals, hosts huge gatherings to support the cause, is clever and brave, and makes incredible sacrifices. Beatrice is brave (making several ocean crossings during WW1…although I wondered about leaving her children for so long when the father wasn’t in the picture), uses her wealth and social standing to further her work with the orphanage, and loves her hats! Marthe is the fictional character (based on a historical composite) in the story. As a young child, she was placed in the orphanage and grew up there. Now (during WW11) she teaches there and is an aspiring artist in her spare time. Her bravery and actions to protect the orphans is remarkable. In addition, her marriage will surprise you! (***spoiler: it is my favorite relationship in the story!) Chateau Lafayette needs to be considered a character also as it connects and holds the entire story together. Don’t miss the author’s notes.

Thoughtful themes throughout the story include marriage relationships, bravery, family life, independence, and sacrifice.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette is an ambitious and substantial read and highly recommended for historical fiction fans who like their reads heavy on the history, for readers who love untold stories of brave, independent women, and for book clubs.

If Lin Manuel Miranda taught you everything you know about Lafayette, then I highly recommend picking up this book about the women who inspired him and were inspired by him throughout the years. This incredibly well researched novel is like three stories in one. Lafayette's wife, Adrienne, an unsung hero of freedom in her own right. Beatrice Chanler, a New York socialite who took on multiple challenges in the face of WWI. And Marthe Simone, an orphan staring down Nazi occupation of France. All three characters are tied together by the castle home of the Marquis de Lafayette.

Three women in different periods of time are the guardians of the castle known as Chateau Lafayette. During times of war, they hold secrets, save children, and believe in the freedom of France. A compelling read of fiction-based-on-fact, these women, Adrienne, Beatrice, and Marthe, remind us of France's motto of liberty, equality, and fraternity, though in this case, it should be sorority.

**received an ARC from the publisher**

Three women all tied together by Chateau Lafayette, all living during wars, and all phenomenal. I was enthralled from the very first page.

To pick my favorite character would be impossible. I initially chose the book to read about Adrienne Lafayette and found that I was just as intrigued by Beatrice Astor Chanler and Marthe Simone. Each woman has a strength and perseverance that is amazing. The lives they lived were extraordinary. They had to have a special power to survive during war, to protect the others that were in their lives, and to live the lives so powerfully.

I loved the three timelines. I found it extremely easy to follow and enjoyed how the stories were tied together with the location. I was blown away with the attention to the details of the different eras, the different wars, and the situations of the time. Stephanie Dray, author, took her time to give the reader the detail and knowledge to understand the women and the lives they were living and the lives of the people important to them.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a long book but it is an amazing book. Take your time, read every word, enjoy the story, and learn some amazing history.

This historical novel chronicles the lives of three women in three different time periods who are connected to Lafayette’s ancestral home in France.

In the 1770s, Adrienne de Noailles marries Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette who fights for American independence and sparks the French Revolution. While her husband is often away from home, she raises the children and unfailingly supports him and his battles for freedom and justice, even if she has to risk her life to do so.

Beatrice Astor Chanler, a New York socialite, is inspired by Lafayette to urge the U.S. to support France in World War I. She helps raise money for humanitarian aid, eventually turning Lafayette’s chateau into a school, orphanage, and preventorium for the care of frail and malnourished children, as well as a museum of the life and family of Lafayette.

During World War II, Marthe Simone is a teacher at the Chateau Lafayette where she grew up as an orphan. When the Germans invade, she becomes involved in secretly hiding Jewish children at the chateau.

The book describes historical events from the perspective of women. Adrienne Lafayette and Beatrice Chanler were real people who influenced events, whereas Marthe is a fictional character. All three women are courageous, resilient, resourceful, tenacious and intelligent. Though Beatrice and Marthe are flawed, Adrienne seems flawless. She is unfailingly loyal and supportive and supremely heroic.

Just as Adrienne is portrayed as virtually perfect, the same is true of the depiction of Lafayette. The author and the three protagonists all seem to suffer from hero worship. I understand that Lafayette is an almost mythic figure for Americans so the mere mention of any flaws might seem almost sacrilegious, but showing him to be less than perfect would make him more realistic. In this regard, omitting Lafayette’s 30-year relationship with Diane, the Comtesse de Simiane was a mistake.

Marthe’s story is also problematic. A woman is sexually attracted to a woman, but seems to adapt to marriage to a man rather easily? She says, “I don’t long for her anymore. I’ve let that go.” Is the author making a comment about homosexuality?

The novel’s chapters alternate among the three women. Often chapters end in cliffhangers which are only resolved two chapters later. The author can be commended for connecting the three narratives. One of Marthe’s chapters ends with Americans landing in North Africa; it is followed by Beatrice’s chapter which begins with Americans joining the war. One of Adrienne’s chapters ends with a reunion; it is followed by Beatrice’s chapter which begins with a reunion. Several characters from Beatrice and Marthe’s stories overlap.

Dray can also be commended for her extensive historical research. Perhaps, however, she should have written three novels. This one, at 550+ pages, feels too long. A trilogy, with one book devoted to each character, might have worked better. In the Author’s Note, Dray mentions that she began by wanting to tell the story of Adrienne Lafayette and perhaps one book devoted to her would have depicted both her and her husband more realistically. The other books could have continued the story of the Lafayette legacy, ostensibly the purpose of this book.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction and strong female characters will find much to like in this book. Though I appreciate the message about the necessity of fighting for one’s principles, I wasn’t always totally engaged, primarily because of the worshipful characterization of the Lafayettes. And Beatrice and Marthe are inflicted with unquestioning, rapturous adoration of this couple. For me, a more nuanced portrayal is always preferable.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Stephanie Dray writes thrilling historical fiction, and The Women of Chateau Lafayette is no exception. Readers get a look at life in what Dray calls Lafayette’s “fortress of freedom” during three gripping eras: the French Revolution, WWI and WWII, focusing on courageous women from each period and their stirring legacies. HF lovers, don’t miss this!

Pub Date 30 Mar 2021

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheWomenofChateauLafayette #NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book. Completely sucked me in and I did not stop until I finished reading it. "The Women of Chateau Lafayette" is the story of Adrienne de Lafayette, the wife of the Marquis de Lafayette. It is also the story of Beatrice Chanler, who eventually purchased the Chateau and turned it into a school for children who needed to escape from the Great War. It also tells the story of Marthe Simone, an artist who grew up in the Chateau, and is still teaching there, despite World War Two ravaging the country around them. Each of these women had fascinating stories and relationships and I did not want the book to end. It was genuinely well written, I loved all of the characters, and I will be recommending it to all of the historical fiction readers I know.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette | Stephanie Dray

“Darling, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. No one is born a hero; It’s something you have to find inside yourself.”

⚜️ The new novel, ‘The Women of Chateau Lafayette’, by @stephanie.dray , follows the lives of three unforgettable women who find extraordinary courage, strength, and resiliency within themselves to face the tragedies of war and, each in her own way, leave indelible marks on world history. As a fan of historical fiction, I am appreciative of authors who unearth and meticulously research these incredible stories and faithfully bring to life the contributions women have made throughout history.

This book links the stories of:

⚜️Adrienne, an incomparable woman born into an aristocratic French family who must fight for her own family’s survival amid the strife of the French Revolution and at great personal sacrifice.

⚜️ Beatrice, a bold American society maven who uses her shrewd fundraising skills to raise millions in support of soldiers in WWI France while she copes with the uncertainty of her own marriage’s future.

⚜️ Marthe, a fictional character who grew up as the first child placed in the orphanage at Chateau Chavaniac and becomes an artist and schoolteacher willing to risk her own safety to save lives in pre-WW2 France.

⚜️ If I had any quibbles about this book it’s that it took me a while to get into Marthe’s story, but the reward is Marthe’s remarkable tale based on actual events. With three incredible lives woven together around a historic castle in France it becomes an epic, brilliantly told story that should be savored to the end.

Note: Do not skip the Author’s notes at the end of the book.

⚜️QOTD: What period of history do you most enjoy reading about?

Thank you @berkleypub @letstalkbookspromo and @netgalley for the eARC of this book. Opinions are my own.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#Letstalkbooks #Letstalkbookspromo #letstalkTheWomenofChateauLayfayette #StephanieDray #berkleywritesstrongwomen #berkleybooks

This was a fascinating multi-POV historical fiction that takes place in France during three important points in history.

I really enjoyed all three storylines, but preferred Arienne Lafayette’s story. Even though the book was 576 pages, I could have read more detail about Arienne’s life. I applaud the author’s talent in distilling her research about the historic figures (Arienne and Beatrice) and putting together such an interesting story.

Chateau Lafayette was a setting, but I think it was also a character in the story. I am amazed that the ancestral home of the French Revolutionary War hero was purchased by American philanthropists to become a hospital, school, and orphanage. Also that the Chateau played a part in hiding Jewish children during WWII. If I am ever lucky enough to travel to France, Chateau Lafayette will be on my list to visit.

I recommend this story to readers who enjoy multi-timeline historical fiction novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Pub for an eARC of this one in exchange for an honest review.

2.5⭐️ rounded to 3.

This one was okay. I really wanted to like this one. The premise of these three women from three different periods (French Rev, WWI, WWII) sounded like an interesting, ‘fresh’ historical fiction, but it wasn’t for me. I ended up skimming the last 50% of this book. This book was just too long. The plot sounded really interesting to me but the execution had too much unnecessary exposition for me.

I think this is an unpopular opinion for this one so maybe it just wasn’t the right book for me. I did enjoy the writing and I liked the characters. I think I would have liked this book better on audio.

If you like slow-paced, multiple POV historical fiction this one is for you!

"I didn't know yet what it meant to be a Lafayette, for none of us had any idea that the redheaded boy I married burned for freedom... I could never have guessed he would change the world...or that I would help him do it."

These profound words of Adrienne, the wife of the Marquis de Lafayette, set the tone for the bravery and patriotism of three French women in three eras that would change the world.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray is a brilliant example of how historical fiction can not only entertain and educate but also inspire its readers. Taking place in 3 different timelines, the American Revolution, WWI and WWII, we are transported to the Chateau owned by Lafayette; yes The Lafayette that helped America win its independence. The Chateau became a real life landmark for freedom as it housed soldiers, activists, orphans, and displaced Jewish children.

Besides Adrienne, there is the resilient Beatrice who goes from being a chorus girl to a influential socialite and then a political activist for France during WWI.

Then there is Marthe, the only fictional protagonist, who during WWII, helps not only France but America to defeat the Nazis.

All three women reside at the Chateau. All three have different and yet similar obstacles to overcome during times when women are considered property. Yet without them the world might not have survived.

This author could have written 3 different novels for each woman but by connecting them to this historical castle she transported me to different monumental moments that influenced all our lives. The bravery, selflessness, and determination of these women left me with a sense of pride for my gender.

If you only read one historical fiction novel this year it needs to be this one.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray is a captivating story that pulls you in from the beginning and holds your attention until the very end. A must-read for fans of historical fiction

I received a gifted galley of THE WOMEN OF CHATEAU LAFAYETTE by Stephanie Dray for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THE WOMEN OF CHATEAU LAFAYETTE follows three women from different time periods all of whom have a connection to the ancestral home of the Marquis de Lafayette. We begin following Adrienne in 1774, Lafayette’s wife and partner as her husband fights alongside Americans for independence and sparks revolution in France. In 1914, Beatrice is a socialite from New York with a passion for France. Having seen the war’s impact on France first hand, she works tirelessly to get Americans involved in the name of Lafayette who once helped out Americans fighting for their freedom. Lastly, in 1940 France, Marthe has grown up an orphan and is now working as a teacher in the castle of Lafayette, trying to make a difference in people’s lives against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation.

This book was absolutely fantastic! It is a long one (I looked it up and the audio is going to be 24 hours long when it’s released), but it is so worth every page. The author clearly has done her research into the lives of the historical figures she is writing about had she has brought them to life on the page. Each of these women is strong in their beliefs and their desire to fight for what is right.

The narrative is well balanced, switching back and forth between time periods. While each story does center around war and upheaval and there are of course difficult things to read, I felt really connected to each of our main POV characters and wanted to root for them to come to good outcomes. I didn’t know a lot of the history being covered here around Lafayette, but it definitely held my interest.

I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction where you can really immerse yourself in the story and spend some time getting to know strong characters! THE WOMEN OF CHATEAU LAFAYETTE is out today!!

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Women of Chateau of Lafayette” by Stephanie Dray, Berkley Publishing, March 30, 2021

Kudos to Stephanie Dray, the author of “The Women of Chateau Lafayette” for writing such an amazing, intriguing, captivating, enthralling, memorable, heartfelt, and thought-provoking novel. I love the way that Stephanie Dray compiles the history of three courageous and dynamic women from different times, as they live, manage and rule a historical castle in France. If this castle could talk, it would tell us tales of danger, death, fighting for freedom, courage, love, and hope.

This story is layered with so much historical research of past turbulent times in history, and how the women in these times managed to be so brave and heroic. I would highly recommend this amazing and memorable novel to many readers. The wars that occurred during these years are discussed in 1774, 1914, and 1940. Each of the women plays such an important part in history. I had difficulty putting this book down.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an advanced copy of The Women of Chateau Lafayette!

The Women of Chateau Lafayette might be the best book I've read all year! 5 Stars!

At almost 600 pages it's but a long book but how the author ties together these 3 women to tells the incredible story of The Chateau de Chavaniac which is better known as Chateau Lafayette is incredible.

We have Adrienne Lafayette whose husband is the Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the American Revolutionary War and their story through the French Revolution. American socialite Beatrice Chanler who set up a relief organization in France during WWI and later turns the Chateau to be used as a home for orphans. And Marthe a teacher at the school housed at the Chateau who during WWII helps hide Jewish children.

The historical research that went into this book! You know my love of the Historical note at the back of historical fiction and this might be the best one I've ever seen! While Marthe's character is the fictional one in the book, the notes on what happened in real life and who characters are based on is incredible. Plus the pages of notes in Adrienne & Beatrice too.

If you like historical fiction do yourself a favor and read this book, it might take some time to read but it is worth it! I'm now off to read more in Adrienne as I found her fascinating!

I really want to like this book. The premise is so good, and clearly other readers really love it! I have read more of this than I do some books I'm not enjoying, but I just can't get into the story or the characters. I just have so many books to read, and I can't finish ones that I'm not enjoying.But, like I said, I am in the minority, so you may love it.

I really wanted to love this book but I DNF at 30%. It’s beautifully written unfortunately the content was not easy to follow and became hard to follow without losing the audience.

This was a suspenseful and compelling story that I could not put down, and where truth is more powerful than fiction.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette was an epic saga that told the tale of three women and how their lives tied to the chateau. Each woman was strong, courageous and real. As I read, I was drawn more and more into each woman’s life and the challenges, dangers, love, and heartache each endured. All this combined had me turning the pages (well swiping) as fast as I could in order to find out what would happen next.

I really appreciated all the research Dray put into this story (the author’s notes were amazing). The descriptions of all three time periods and the major personalities involved were vivid and detailed. I could tell the author had researched everything down to the last detail. The home of Lafayette is definitely a special place, and the women who have sustained it are a special kind of people.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review