This book takes you to the heart of Versailles at a turbulent time for France and the royal family. It is an historical novel that cleverly weaves the lives of real people and events alongside the stories of the fictional characters we meet. This is a love story of two young people thrown together during a riot, who are carried along in the wave of revolution fever and the heady excitement of romance. The tension in Paris is as palpable as the passion between them as the story builds to its inevitable outcome.

Giselle is sharp, observant and clever, with an eye for fashion and an ambition to design her own clothes. As one of Marie-Antoinette’s wardrobe ladies, these traits get her noticed within the royal household, but also attract interest from life outside the palace.

I felt the conflict and turmoil for Giselle, who despite her young age, could see and understand both sides of the revolution that was tearing Paris and France apart. She witnessed the riots on the streets, the food shortages and difficulties everyone was facing first hand, but alongside her frustration at the king and queen’s lack of comprehension of life outside the palace, she also understood their vulnerability at the hands of revolutionaries. She is loyal and has the courage to stand up for what she believes is right, putting her in difficult and sometimes dangerous situations.

The tension, emotion and eye for detail in this book swept me along, adding the real-life grit to the knowledge I’d learned in history.

This is definitely one for fans historical fiction.

This is the first time I've read a book that is set in the French revolution and the first about Marie Antionette.

I liked the whole setup and the characters. The writer goes into so much detail that it almost seems like you've been teleported to this time.

I found it hard to put this down once I started because the characters intrigued me and I wanted to know more about them as the book continued.

I will definately read more books from this author.

This is the first novel I have read by this author and I enjoyed it very much. I really liked her writing style and the characters were well developed.

Her whole life, Giselle dreamed of making beautiful dresses, but never did she dream of being chosen to attend to the elegant, queen of France, Marie Antoinette. Giselle has to make sure that the queen is never outshined by those who attends the elegant parties at the castle. But, as the friendship develops between the queen and Giselle, the battles that the queen faces are heartbreaking. Giselle faces here share of trials and tribulations, being torn between decisions she must make about her family, her homeland and her queen. But on a trip home, Giselle is caught up in a violent riot, and is saved by the handsome Léon, a young man who she falls in love with. She must return to the palace, but Léon doesn’t approve of the royal life, so Giselle has some life changing decisions to make. Continue to serve the queen, making the dresses she loves, or return home to be with the man she loves. The author’s detailed description of the beautiful gowns and the ballrooms at the palace are very vivid and are easy to picture in your mind’s eye.

I enjoyed this book, and this historical fiction is a must read for anyone who is a fan of this time period of history, the French Revolution. If you haven’t read this author yet, I highly recommend her, you won’t be disappointed. Thank you Meghan Masterson for such a fabulous read.

Giselle is a wardrobe assistant in the palace in Versailles attending the glamorous but troubled Marie Antoinette. This book follows about the last two years of Marie Antoinette's life and the events leading up to her death. Through Giselle and her beau Leon, we see the politics and violence as the French Revolution begins. As much as she believes in more rights for the people, Giselle also feels empathy for the Royal Family. Will those conflicting sympathies place her in danger?

The first half of this book moved a little slowly for me as I struggled to connect with the main character, Giselle. At the same time the description of Marie Antoinette as she tried to cope with the escalating events was fascinating. About halfway through the book, the story picked up and I finally became interested in Giselle and Leon as well. The second half of the book was filled with danger, intrigue, and romance as events escalated and Giselle's two worlds collided. The book ended with the possibility of a sequel, because Giselle's adventure is still continuing. Despite the slow start, I would give this three and a half stars, rounded up to four. I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley . My review is voluntary.

I had just finished Netflix's La Revolution, which is about as different as a piece of media about the start of the French Revolution could get from this book, before starting the novel (royals and vampires, if that's your thing, give it a gander) and thought it be appropriate I continue in the same vein (pun not intended). I think I enjoyed La Revolution a bit more, but that's not to say that this wasn't a worthwhile romp.

I'm of two minds about the choice of Giselle and her place in society as the protagonist of this story. On one hand, I thought it a realistic portrayal of how most Parisians at the time probably saw the revolution - neither an ardent revolutionist nor a staunch royalist, but somewhere in between, just trying to get by. On the other, I suspect that maybe having Giselle absent for the really pivotal events of the time was an excuse for Masterson to avoid confronting them. Still, I appreciated how Giselle had one foot in both worlds, and how her perspective gave the reader insight into both sides. I liked that she saw the world in shades of grey, not black and white, that she saw the need for a change while being able to sympathize with (and humanize) the queen.

I also enjoyed the romance central to the plot, for the most part - which is saying a lot, because I don't typically read or enjoy romance. I thought Giselle's relationship with Leon was sweet and believable, reminiscent of a fiery first love - I definitely recalled my first relationship while reading about their courtship, and I could easily place myself in her shoes. I did think that their break was a bit too contrived, and Leon too much of an ass to throw away a two-year relationship just like that, and I thought their reconciliation was just as abrupt - I wish Masterson had been a little less heavy-handed in her attempt at drama. Still, overall I thought the romance was respectful without being overbearing, and handled well.

This is a quick and engaging read, and would suit those who are interested in the French revolution as it was likely seen from the perspective of one who doesn't particularly have a horse in each race. I did enjoy the focus on fashion and colors, and the emphasis placed on the significance of what Marie Antoinette, Giselle herself, and the revolutionaries, wore. All too often fashion and interest in dress is dismissed as frivolous and shallow, and it's an important point that fashion has had, and continues to have, a strong historical and political impact.

Thank you, Netgalley, Meghan Masterson, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book!

The Queen’s Dressmaker by Meghan Masterson is a historical romance of the French Revolution. Giselle is now a part of the servants whose job it is to dress Queen Marie Antoinette. The French court is all magnificence and spares no expense. It is Giselle’s job to make Marie Antoinette be the most stylish and beautiful. However, the people of France are starving and Revolution looms near. Giselle’s uncle has always had an interest in politics and asks Giselle to keep her eyes and ears open around the royals. Giselle is actually quite talented at spying but soon learns that Marie Antoinette is privileged but also kind to those around her which causes Giselle to be hesitant in spying. As the Revolution becomes more serious, so does her position in the Queen’s household.

While I was hooked on this book from the very beginning, I am not sure this book knew what would happen next. Not only did the title change a few times, but I think the direction of the book changed with it. It started out introducing a love story and had the makings of a beautiful historical romance. But then there is the suspense spy storyline. THEN the ending was not exactly wrapped up nicely, could that mean a book two?

Despite the issues with the flow and direction of the novel, I was hooked on the characters. I love reading about the French Revolution. It is a period of history that can still be relatable today. While I don’t condone violent revolution where the streets literally flow with blood, the aristocracy put themselves in the position with their greed and selfishness. The book does portray Marie Antoinette as fragile and naive. Giselle is a wonderful heroine as she wants freedom for her country but being in the middle class, she isn’t exposed to the desperation that extreme poverty brings.

Overall, I was in this novel for the characters but it could have had a better direction. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. This book releases on the 19th!

The Queen's Dressmaker by Meghan Masterson is the perfect book for any historical fiction lover. The book starts in 1789, right at the beginning of the French Revolution. It follows Giselle on her journey as she must navigate the tumultuous times while being torn between her uncle, her hometown of Paris as the Revolution threatens to take over the King and Queen, her new love who is joining the Revolution, and her loyalty to the Marie Antoinette. Masterson skillfully sets the stage for you to fall in love with Giselle and feel her anguish as she is pulled in many different directions and must start making decisions that she knows won’t please everyone.

As someone who has gotten swept up in watching The Crown and reading anything about the British monarchy, reading about the French Revolution and the struggles of those close to the action of this historic time period was a welcome addition to my fascination with historic royal families.

This book is also perfect for anyone who loves to read about a woman’s desire to find herself amid the constraints of family, love, and society.

While I wouldn't necessarily teach this in my classroom, I think the historical aspects of this book are really intriguing. The French Revolution time period has always been interesting to me and I think taking it from the view of someone working for the queen is a unique perspective and lends another viewpoint to the situation that we don't normally get in our history books. We usually only get stories of the Revolution through the eyes of male history figures, or male fictional characters, so shifting this through a woman's perspective is bold and intriguing. This book is perfect for people who love historical romances and love a faster paced story!

The Queen’s Dressmaker is a well-paced story of loyalty, espionage and love set in the turmoil of the French Revolution.

Masterson’s fictitious heroine, Giselle Aubry, offers a gripping and highly plausible first person insight into what it might have been like to serve Marie-Antoinette as wardrobe mistress in the years leading to the queen of France’s imprisonment and beheading.

With meticulous research, the author brilliantly highlights the often absurd transitions of this period, and the tightly wound relationships between French dress, overt political stance, intense social pressure and death itself. I adored the attention to detail placed on clothing and its social symbols.

The plot, deftly entwined with Marie-Antoinette’s tragic fate from 1789 to 1793, follows the romantic relationship between a dressmaker working in Versailles Palace and a republican watchmaker, Léon Gauvain. Giselle’s inner conflict and her torn loyalties are well-executed, lending a cerebral quality to her romance which rather than being thwarted by emotions or jealousy, is imperilled by opposing values.

Encouraged to spy on the queen by her uncle, Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (author of Le Mariage de Figaro), it was interesting to witness Giselle’s stint into espionage evolve from a source of pride – in her own worth, knowledge and intelligence — to a source of shame. An activity begun as voyeurism, and which mirrors the curiosity we modern readers feel for Marie-Antoinette’s life, it, and all other espionage takes on a dangerous quality as the Revolution unfolds.

From the point of view of character development, I also appreciated how a pure initial fervour into the French republican cause, as held by Léon, could later be tempered once France entered the Terror.

I loved this book. Having studied the French Revolution created added suspense due to my anticipation of upcoming historical events. I worried in advance for the character and was curious to live precariously though her. Those unfamiliar with the French Revolution and with Marie-Antoinette’s fate, would still be highly captivated by this novel as it artfully explains the events and brings them to life in a unique, intimate manner.

The novel’s cast of real life characters, including the heart-warming Madame Campan, General Lafayette, Maximilien Robespierre and journalist, Camille Desmoulins, further grounds this historical novel into the world of the French Revolution. There was a cute cameo from Talleyrand which I appreciated.

Highly recommended for lovers of France, Marie-Antoinette, clothing, and historical fiction.

The Girl From Versailles was a great, quick read. It is set in Marie Antoinette’s court, but the main character is one of the girls who made her dresses. I really appreciated the perspective being from a character other than a royal and it was interesting to see the historical events unfold from a perspective of someone who worked for the royal family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and is looking for a quick read. This book is being released March 19th, be sure to add it to your TBR list or preorder a copy.
.
This ARC was given to me by #netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, Meghan Masterson, and Bookouture for this copy.

I've read many books before about the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette, so as far as this book is concerned there is nothing new to be found here. It was okay as historical fiction goes and the author did her research. First released in 2017 under the title "The Wardrobe Mistress" through St.Martin's Press. More recently its title was "The Girl From Versailles" and then change to the Queen's Dressmaker, through Bookoutre. I'm quite sure I read the first version in 2017. In reality, the protagonist wasn't actually the queen's dressmaker, but rather a servant as a wardrobe mistress! "The Girl From Versailles" was definitely a better title! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC (to read once more).

An interesting perspective on Marie Antoinette from one of the ladies in her court as they are going through the turmoil that would result in her death and the death of her husband. Giselle comes from a good family that finds themselves in the middle of the revolution and then she goes to her place of work and is in the middle of it and seeing it from a different point of view.

I know only a bare minimum of Marie Antoinette's story, so to get some more details but from a unique point of view was so fun to read. I also love that with a historical fiction, you learn about the main events, but you also learn about the feelings of others as they go through these historical moments. It is a good sign when a historical fiction book makes me consult the internet for facts to know the full depth of the situation - a prod for knowledge is always a good thing in my book (pun intended).

It was exciting to find out after finishing the book that this was a debut novel and there could be many more to come from this author. I hope she continues to focus on characters that are just adjacent to the limelight and give color to the person, place and time.

The Girl from Versailles was really well written. The story flows well from on scene to another and I felt very connected to the feelings and thoughts of the main character. While this is billed as a historical fiction and romance, the romance portion of the story does not overshadow the events going on in France prior to their revolution. We meet characters from the revolution throughout the book and learn a little bit more about all of the players of the revolution.

This is a good, quick read for anyone who is interested in the French Revolution and historical fiction.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookoture for the ARC but the thoughts and opinions are my own.

My thanks to Meghan Masterson, Bookouture, and Net Galley for the ARC of THE GIRL FROM VERSAILLES.
An amazing debut with masterful research and gripping story about Giselle who has been given a position as a wardrobe maid to Marie Antoinette. She is entranced by her employer, realising she is nothing like the scathing and insulting publicity that she attracts, but France is on the cusp of a revolution, and Giselle finds herself caught up between wanting to protect the queen and her children whilst understanding why the revolution needs to happen.
Her position with the royal family has placed her in the midst of their life, and she has some sympathy with Marie Antoinette even though she questions some of her actions which can only serve to infuriate the populace even further. Giselle's uncle is a retired spy, yet he insists that Giselle keep him informed of the comings and going within the palace, asking her to spy on the family for him, and keeping him apace with any information she can glean from the letters that Marie Antoinette writes daily.
When she meets Leon during a protest outside a wallpaper factory, they fall for one another, but Giselle has underestimated his fervor for the revolution, and makes a mistake of conscience that pulls them apart.

Versailles, 1789. Giselle is one of Marie Antoinette's wardrobe women and hopes to draw her own dresses one day. But revolution is looming in the streets of Paris and Giselle gets herself involved in a riot. She's saved by Léon, a young revolutionary, and soon the two of them start to develop an intimate friendship. When things get worse and the king and queen are blamed, Giselle needs to choose between her loyalty to the queen and her revolutionary friends.

I was happy to get a chance to read 'The girl from Versailles, a reissue of 'The wardrobe mistress', Masterson's debut novel that already was on my TBR. It tells the story of Giselle, a wardrobe women of Marie Antoinette and is set in the final years of her life during the revolution.

Although I love French history, Marie Antoinette isn't one of my favourite historical figures. I believe she wouldn't be that famous without her dreadful end. As a queen she didn't get a chance to change things. Or rather: she didn't grab the chance for change.

What I loved about this story is that it also shows the bloody and fearful side of the revolution. The events of 1789 and the coming years are glorified nowadays, but it were uncertain times and the terror that followed the execution of the monarchs made many victims. You walk with Giselle through the street of Paris where no one is quite sure how things will play out as royalists and Jacobins can't agree on the role of the king in their new regime.

I also enjoyed the portrayal of Marie Antoinette. You feel some sympathy for her, while at the same time she behaves herself as a snob not understanding the real threat of the revolution. But this is Giselle's story, not Marie Antoinette's. I liked her character and the fact that she's constantly in between two conflicting loyalties. There's also a heavy romance. And as you know, I'm usually not a big fan of those, but I did become quite invested in it this time. But for the wrong reasons. I didn't think Leon deserved Giselle so I became quite mad at him sometimes 😅.

In the end, this book couldn't really grip me as much as I would liked it to. The second part is certainly a lot better than the first but the ending is a bit sudden. I had hoped to know a bit more about what happens next to the characters. But this is a good read for anyone interested in the French Revolution and/or Marie Antoinette.

Thank you to Bookotoure and NetGalley for ARC on exchange an honest feedback.

The Girl from Versaillies is about Marie Antoinette's wardrobe servant named Giselle who served Marie Antoinette at the very last moment of Marie being the Queen of France. She was torn in between of revolution and being sympathy towards the royal family. Along with that, romance between Giselle & Leon sparks in the middle of revolution. This is was a piece of a story of French people who lived during revolution.

I love Giselle. Despite of royals will be thrown out by its people, she still has empathy towards the royals as a human. However, I am so dissapointed with Leon. Hastly make a bad decision and finally reunited with Giselle in the end. Thank God. You can be educated on how does French people lived during revolution. How does tricolour can be so popular. The fate of royals in the end. I would love to know Marie's POV and this is historical fiction then it certainly can make one. Romance part was quite good too. Courtiered by this kind of gentlemen would be lucky but kind of hate when they stop respect if you are associatef with royals.

Overall, it was a nice one. I really love to read more historical fiction books.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the history, I loved the suspense. Just a very very good novel that makes me hope I can finally visit Versailles one day.

First I wanted to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

•

Before I start my review I have to put some Trigger Warnings in place. There’s is a mention of molestation, incest and suicide at one point in the book. There’s also some detailed and graphic gore at times. So please be cautious upon reading if any of the above may cause you to become triggered.

I can’t lie when I say I adore historical fiction novels and this was absolutely no exception. I literally devoured this book.

This novel revolves around 1700’s France and the revolution that ensued. It follows one of Queen Marie Antoinette’ tire-women Giselle through the last monarchy of France, whilst the revolutionists thirst for the Queen’s blood, Giselle has to decide whether to do what is right or what she desires. She must decide whether to stay loyal to the queen she serves and keep her safe, or support the movement she and the love of her life wholeheartedly believe in. With consequences severe for either choice, Giselle has to tune into her morals and her heart.

•

I really enjoyed this book, I was instantly engrossed. I can often be quite cautious around historical fiction, I worry they’ll be more factual than engrossing and it’ll be hard to connect with the characters and therefore somehow dilute the historical event. However, this book didn’t disappoint me. The characters were well developed, it’s easy to become attached to Giselle and Leon. The plot is quite fleshed out too which I enjoyed. I never got to learn about the revolution in France whilst at school so this was a very interesting read for me.

Furthermore, I found the writing just flows, it’s easy to get lost in the story and the chapters aren’t too long either which is always beneficial.

•

The only thing I think could’ve been done better is maybe the ending. I felt like it was quite abrupt I would’ve liked a bit more added at the end, but it was still enjoyable and I can’t wait to get my hands on it upon its release.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The French Revolution period is very familiar to me (I read a lot about it, both fiction and non-fiction, since 2012 when a French musical titled 1789 was my "current obsession") so I went through this novel knowing exactly what riot or other big event the heroine was going to witness next. It could have make it less interesting, but it didn't. I enjoyed seeing the historical figures through Giselle's eyes, worried about her when I knew something dangerous was coming again, and of course hoped she would be happy with Léon by the end of the story, while knowing she would inevitably be in danger for years just because she happened to work for the queen. Now I wonder if there will be a second book. This one ends in 1793 so there's room for a sequel. I would gladly read that too if it happens. Or any other historical by the same author.

With the acumen and precision of an haut couture dressmaker, Meghan Masterson has taken pieces from France’s tumultuous past and seamlessly sewn them together with an engaging and superbly written story and added a decorative flair of romance and suspense to produce “A Girl From Versailles” – a masterpiece of historical fiction.

You will read about a budding designer, 16-year-old Giselle Aubry, whose dream has come true – she’s the newest undertirewoman of Queen Marie Antoinette. Giselle is elated to be working with the opulent gowns by Rose Bertin, Marie Antoinette’s favoured dress designer. The Aubry family belongs to the bourgeoisie, a part of the Third Estate and eagerly welcomes Giselle home during her days off. Her uncle is a retired member of the Secret du Roi, a spy ring that worked for the former King Louis XV and encourages his niece to report back on life at Versailles. During visits at home, Giselle hears political discussions and is well-aware of the rising threats. In fact, she’s caught up in the riot in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine suburb of Paris against the manufacturer of Réveillon wallpapers. Here she meets the handsome and idealistic revolutionary watchmaker, Leon Gauvain.

My inner geek and history buff were beyond excited to read a well-researched account of the French Revolution. As is most often the case, authors choose to take sides and portray the revolution from either a royal standpoint, a disgruntled employee’s standpoint, or a political standpoint. Readers only get a one-sided look into the past. Masterson has managed to do something unique; Giselle is able to show readers both sides, thus creating her predicament. As one of the queen’s most trusted servants, Giselle is torn because she can see beyond the royal titles. It forces her to become a ‘double-agent’ and increases the suspense and interest level of the novel. One the one hand Giselle understands the defence of the royalists and loyally supports her queen and on the other hand, she is dealing with an inner growing fire of a revolutionary. We can see her struggle when she explains that Marie Antoinette is “a woman who does not deserve her fate, or all the blame heaped upon her personally, no matter what errors she’s made.” Yet, at home, Giselle proudly wears a necklace and fashion accessories of a revolutionary. Masterson has deftly shown Giselle’s inner tumult as the revolution gains momentum. Readers know that eventually Giselle will have to choose sides. Will it cost her Leon’s love? Her parent’s safety? Her employment?

You’ll read a well-chronicled account of the French Revolution from February 1789 (after Louis XVI is executed) to October 1793 (the Reign of Terror) including the Réveillon Riot, the Tennis Court Oath, the dismissal of Jacques Necker, the storming of the Bastille, the Woman’s March on Versailles, the flight to Varennes, the Camp de Mars massacre and the use of the guillotine. Masterson will breathe life into those names in your high school history book; Charlotte Corday, Jean-Paul Marat, Lafayette, Jacobins, Girondists, and Maximilien Robespierre.

Masterson has masterfully woven together revolutionary intensity, haute couture fashion and royal politics in an engaging and thought-provoking look at the tumultuous French Revolution.

Put March 19, 2021 on your radar! This novel is worthy of more than 5 stars and a spectacular read from a debut author. I'm beyond excited for August 2021! Masterson is writing a second historical fiction novel set in Second Empire Paris.

Thank you Meghan Masterson, Bookouture and Netgalley for this superb gift of an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.