Gabrielle and Lulu are half-sisters raised in New York, but in two different worlds. Gabi is privileged. Her father, who died when she was a little girl, was wealthy, and she grows up sophisticated about art, fashion, and finer things. Lulu’s upbringing, although they shared a mother, was different. Her father was not well-off, but he and his family were present for her in a way Gabi’s wasn’t. In fact, Bette, the girls’ mother, was a cold-hearted woman who used a succession of husbands to better herself.

When Bette dies suddenly, her daughters are shocked to discover her apartment contains a secret closet filled with Chanel fashion items, some created only for the runway, many of them never worn. Their mother, always a Sphinx, is now even more mysterious.

While grappling with the death of their mother, Lulu is still grieving the loss of her beloved husband just two years earlier. And Gabi’s husband has recently left her for a younger woman while ripping off his investors and blaming Gabi. Thus she’s lost her marriage, her financial security, and her reputation in NYC.

All of this is only the backdrop to a lush story of two midlife sisters trying to bury lifelong resentments and come together, as well as figuring out who they will be, going forward. This story is a tribute to strong women and a fascinating depiction of the Chanel brand. A great read, well-paced and interesting throughout. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lulu And Gabrielle haven’t been close for a very long time. When their mother passes away, she finds a way to bring the girls back together, whether it’s the last time, is up to them. You see, their mother was a fashionista with a closet full of vintage couture and in order to gain their inheritance, they must work together to decide how to clean our her closet full of glorious style. As they work together they not only meet their mother’s friends and work together, they find messages tucked in here and there along the way.

What a fabulous read. I love seeing relationships and family dynamics, but the fashion and Coco Chanel quotes were the icing on top of the cake. A MUST READ!

The Fashion Orphans follows the story of two estranged sisters who are brought back together by their mother's untimely death, and the seemingly easy task of dividing their inheritance. As it turns out, the inheritance in question is a collection of vintage designer clothes and accessories, and not the sizeable amount of money they were expecting and badly needed.

I couldn't put down this book the moment I started reading it because the writing was engaging, and the story was interesting to me. Aside from the different perspectives of each sister, we get a bit of fashion history, plenty of Chanel quotes, and references to what makes fashion thrive in contemporary times.

I liked how straightforward of a family story this was, with no unnecessary elements mixed in to detract from or diminish the story. Everything served a purpose here, and that's how I like it.

This is the perfect book to read in between more serious works.

I give this 4.5 stars.

Thank you for the e-arc, Netgalley!

This one was a bit of a slow starter to me, so it took a while for me to get into it but I have to say it was a really good book. I loved the little quote cards that Lulu and Gabi would find, and how it always seemed to be exactly what they needed to hear. The SES society ladies were fabulous and just what the girls needed to get a glimpse of a side of their mother that they hadn’t seen before. This was a great story and my only regret is that Gabi’s ex Cole and his new wife didn’t get what they deserved in some way.

This isn’t my normal read but I figured I’d give it a try. I thought the cover was cute and the title left me curious. I’m not big into fashion, know nothing about Coco Chanel, but I loved this book! It was so well written. I found myself unable to put it down and couldn’t guess which direction the story was headed. I loved the dialogue, the diverse characters and all the conflict. Basically everything. The story flowed in a believable manner and left me eager to keep reading. It was a great book that I would definitely recommend others check out.

CW:sudden death, cheating

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

This is a light-hearted and fun book to read. Although I know nothing about vintage clothing, I did enjoy the mother's "pearls of wisdom." All in all, it is a story of forgiveness, family and friends.

I loved this one! As someone who graduated with a fashion degree and works in the industry anything with a fashion doin greatly interests me! It was like Devil Wears Prada but for the advanced set. It was so neat reading about the sisters and how their moms clothes brought them back together after years of being apart! It would make such a cute movie. Highly recommend this one

A lovely, quirky read that delves deep into the relationship between two half-sisters and the love and values of family and friends. That provides the 'cake' part of the story, like the delicious descriptions of the baked goods produced by Lulu but, the icing on the cake comes from the fashion element.
We are lured into the luxury world of Haute Couture and shown how to appreciate a garment as something more than merely a dress or a jacket. Beautiful clothes are far more than just clothes, they embody so many layers of meaning to so many people.
Even if fashion doesn't inspire you as a subject, the love and friendship in this book will.

I LOVED this book! I wish I could go back and read it again for the first time! Rich, quirky characters tell the story of sisters, estranged sisters, born of an eccentric mother and different dads. Mom dies and bequeathes the gals with a secret collection.. Both sisters have recently faced hardships, divorce, money problems, widowhood, so this just seems like another cross to bear! I was pulled in to their magical story from the first page. Perfect for those who love fashion, New York and sisterhood. I would love to see this as a series on HBO or Netflix!

So excited to have an opportunity to read this advance copy of The Fashion Orphans! Thank you!

Being a lover of beautiful clothes, especially vintage, I have been excited about this book since first hearing about it. I was not disappointed.

The descriptive phrases are delicious. I wanted so badly to be able to try on a few of Bette's treasures, search for a perfect piece of advice tucked into a Chanel bag.

And the relationships and camaraderie , trust and love are the cherry on top of a lovely confection. I love this book.

The Fashion Orphans is a wild romp through the world of vintage fashion, Coco Chanel, New York society and an Italian bakery. It’s also a story of the love that holds family and friends together.

As Gabriella and her sister Lulu, who have not spoken for two years, wait for the reading of their mother Belle’s will, they plan their anticipated inheritance. Gabrielle is divorced, working in a bookstore and living in a small apartment. Lulu is a widow with two grown sons, working non-stop in her late husband’s family bakery to pay off the massive debts they accumulated. But the inheritance is not money, it is a collection to be divided between them, and only with the lawyer’s approval. The collection is a huge closet full of Chanel couture clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry. This is not what they expected.

The Fashion Orphans is full of delightful characters of all ages. The descriptions of the vintage Chanel are fascinating and well researched. This is the first collaboration between Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose. I hope there are more. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Blue Box Press, Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose for this ARC.

I was excited about this book. The idea is great, especially appealing to me as a devotee of auctions and vintage clothing. So, this novel of estranged sisters being left a fortune in Chanel clothes and accessories really had me excited. I loved the descriptions of the clothes and discussion about the valuation. I enjoyed the characters of the sisters and those around them.

For me, the dissolution came when they made a decision on how best to handle the monetizing of the collection. There were too many people involved, too many subplots and a scenario that was too unrealistic. It was like the plot of an old film, “hey gang, let’s put on a show,” rather than creating some sound economic plan. So, despite the early promise of this novel, I was disappointed as it moved on.

I do think women will enjoy this well researched foray into the vintage fashion world. The sisters were very interesting and sympathetic.

I am on the faculty of Stony Brook University, so don’t refer to it as a college.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Fashion Orphans by Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose is a heartwarming, feel-good story about two estranged sisters who get to know each other again after their mother's death. Lulu and Gabrielle are middle-aged sisters who haven't really connected with each other in a long time. When their mother dies, she leaves specific instructions in her will that they must decide where to dispense with all of her costumes, high=end fashion, jewelry, and accessories before they can inherit any of her money. Forced to work together, the two sisters soon form a bond while going over their mother's many possessions. Will they find out that the best things in life are free?

Here is a poignant excerpt from the Preface, which is a flashback:

"Who took you on the train when you were little?"
Answering Lulu's question required finesse...
"I only remember one thing from when I was little," Gabrielle fibbed.
"What?" Lulu wiggled closer on the two-person seat.
"You weren't born yet, and being without you was really lonely."
Little girls riding the subway without a parent in New York might be sad, but those traveling with sisters looking out for each other were luckier than those who rode alone. Even at twelve and five, Gabrielle and Lulu knew that particular truth."

Overall, The Fashion Orphans is a fashion-infused novel that is like the older, wiser aunt to The Devil Wears Prada or Sex in the City. One highlight of this book are the many references to high-end fashion that occur when the two sisters go through their departed mother's clothing collection. I felt like I was wearing Crazy Rich Asians, which is one of my favorite books. Another highlight are the "pearls of wisdom" or quotes from Coco Chanel that adorn the plot of the book. The sisters end up learning from this advice, as well as learning more about each other through this journey. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of heartwarming tales of sisterhood, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in February!