Member Reviews
Thank you to @readforeverpub @netgalley and @anitakellywrites for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Natasha Lester is one of the reasons I’m in love with historical fiction. The way she weaves a story together is a believable manor has a way of taking you back to that era and make you a part of the story. The research that has gone into this book to cover spies and couture plus romance drew me in right away.
The work Alix St Pierre did during WWII continues to haunt her, even in her new life in post-war Paris working for the House of Dior. In her job as Head of PR, she meets a man who she encountered during a failed mission that left 9 people dead. Together, they set their eyes on taking down the Nazi who led them astray only to find out the Nazi is hunting down Alix for his own revenge.
This book is full of secrets, glamour, and romance. Highly recommend!
5 Stars
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An unputdownable Historical Fiction read set in between and after World War II. It had a wonderful flow in the storytelling that kept me captivated from start to finish. I was particularly impressed by the strength of the female lead, Alix - a woman living in a time when women were regarded for their domestic value. But her boldness and drive to pursue her dreams inspired me and made me pause to realize how far we have come in terms of women’s rights.
The story was further enhanced by an unexpected twist that changed the course of the plot and added another level to it. It immensely impacted the Female Main Character, which was captivating to read. The romance between Alix and Anthony was swoon-worthy and added a much-needed layer of dramatic yet light-heartedness to the story. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Australia, for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book follows the life of Alix, mostly in 1947, as she becomes the PR person for Dior as he becomes famous for his designs. She meets Andrew, as he's a part of the press she's trying to convince to come to Dior's grand premier. It quickly becomes apparent to Alix that they were both spies during the war. Someone is also trying to get Alix to leave Paris... A great read and I'm excited to go read the author's other books!
The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is a beautifully written novel. It's about Alix St. Pierre and her life directly after WWII. It's written in third person and switches between her life during WWII and after WWII, so you learn the backstory as you read the book. While it did have a slow start, I feel like it was worth pushing through to get to the end. This book was very well crafted to keep you guessing what would happen next or why something had happened. I didn't realize that this book focuses heavily on espionage when I first heard about it, and I honestly thought it would be similar to The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo; however, this is a very unique story. If you enjoy reading historical fiction, especially around the WWII time period, I highly suggest reading this one.
I am a big fan of Natasha Lester and eagerly await each new book. The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre while a good story, fell short for me.
I enjoyed reading about Alix’s work for Dior and her recruitment of others to work. Watching her secret unfold and the consequences of this was interesting. I learned even more about the agreement with the US for criminals of war and their work that protected them.
This book seemed to have so many characters and so much going on that I sometimes had trouble keeping track of everyone.
Also, in a day where vulgar language is overused and taking the Lord’s name in vain has become commonplace, I was very disappointed to see so much of it in this story. It often took me by surprise and honestly took away from what was happening in each story. I know it is common and not everyone will share my view. I do think that overuse by any character means it loses its effect.
None of the above will keep me from anticipating and reading Natasha’s next book.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.
The Three Lives Of Alix St. Pierre is a historical fiction genre novel told in six parts. There are alternating timelines as we read about Alix's lives and experiences as an orphan, a spy, and her work in Fashion. I wish that there had been more of the World War II spy parts of her life and her work and less of the fashion aspects of the story. When reading the parts with Alix and Anthony, I found myself turning the pages and getting invested, then the book would switch back to more of the Dior fashion world, and my interest was lagging again. Natasha Lester is an author I will continue to read, but of her books that I have read, this is my least favorite.
An intense book, at times long, but action packed every sentence of the book....I absolutely LOVED it and thought it was brilliantly written! Natasha Lester is one of my favorite writers, and this book ranks at the top of the books she's written!
I adore Natasha Lester’s writing and have loved everything she has written so far but this one just fell short for me.
There was a lot going on (three separate time lines) that made it difficult to keep everything straight and I just didn’t really connect with Alix like you would want to connect with a main character.
I guess some stories just aren't for everyone. That being said I won’t be giving up on Lester anytime soon. She is an amazing storyteller and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Thanks to Forever and Net Galley for the advanced copy.
I love Natasha Lester’s books and this one is no exception. One is difference from her other books, is it doesn’t have a dual narrative. Even though there are two different timelines, we stay with the main character, Alix.
Her story is amazing, and it was great reading about a different location than many other books I’ve read set during WWII. I’m already looking forward to Natasha’s next book!
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and when I saw this stunning cover I knew I had to read it.
This beautifully written and emotional story did not disappoint.
Alix St. Pierre's lives in the world of WWII espionage and at the forefront of post-war fashion working for Dior are both fascinating.
Natasha Lester crafts a perfect blend of glamor and intrigue by bringing both of these worlds together.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I love books that bring little known info of WWII to life. That’s exactly what this book does! A strong female lead, multiple timelines featuring before during and after the war, fashion, and espionage- this book has it all. A must read for historical fiction lovers and fashion lovers alike! I listened to the author talk about the book on the Friends and Fiction podcast, and then I loved the book even more!
I was hooked on this book from the first page as it is completely captivating and enthralling. It is one of my favorite books I have read and I was utterly absorbed in the action and all that ensued! Excellent!
Thanks @readforeverpub for the ARC
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
This is my third book by this author and she does not disappoint. I was very easily captivated by this story of fashion, espionage, trust, journalism, teamwork, and revenge in post-WWII Paris. I enjoyed Alix's character so much as well as all of the very riveting side characters, some of whom become more prominent.
Natasha's books are exquisitely researched and one would almost think she lived in Paris in the early war years because she portrays that world so vividly. her author's note shares a bit about how she landed on this plot line and the character of Christian Dior and the birth of his fashion legacy. Though this is fiction, it is based on factual events and timelines and some very real characters such as Dior and his employees.
There are some wonderful friendships in these pages, some beautiful writing, a few tearjerking moments and an epic conclusion. I definitely couldn't turn the pages fast enough near the end.
The other two books of hers I loved are The Paris Secret and The Riviera House. I'll get to her backlist someday!
Following the war, Alix St Pierre returns to Paris and takes the job of PR and marketing for the new House of Dior, launching this season with their first collection. There she realizes that she can try to avenge the mistakes and during the war and put those guilty in jail forever.
Told from three timelines, before, after and during the war, this historical fiction story is full of all the emotions: laughter, sadness, anger and love. Easy to read and fall into the past, I loved the great character development and satisfying ending.
4.5 stars
This book truly had it all- multiple timelines, WWII spies, and a romance. I loved the historical elements that were woven into the narrative, and the character of Alix is truly unforgettable. The fact that I am still thinking about this book over a week later speaks volumes.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Hachette. Such a wonderful book taking in fashion and Paris and some very brave partisans in World War 2. Love a super strong female lead and Alex certainly provides this. Ant wait to be able to share this with friends and fellow readers.
Orphaned at 13, Alix was taken in by a rich Hollywood family. But after graduating, she makes her own way by going into public relations. And during World War 2, she becomes a spy. Now the war has ended, but there's unfinished business from a mission that went wrong.
The story is told through multiple timelines before, during, and after the war. I was sad at each switch because I was always so immersed in the timeline I was reading. That's a sign of excellent storytelling.
As you would expect from the title, the book predominantly follows Alix. She is such a strong, courageous, woman. And I also really enjoyed the scenes which focused on other characters, most notably Anthony March. The mystery of what happened and the suspense of how it will be resolved were so great throughout.
I'm not sure if I was more emotional at the story or about the reflections on how women were forced backwards after the war ended. The bigger themes in this book were so thought-provoking, and I annotated a bunch.
There was just one drawback for me. While I understand that smoking was common for the period, I do wish it hadn't featured quite so prominently or been portrayed as sexy and an emotional connection.
As always, Natasha Lester's book was amazingly well researched. The author's note at the end added further to the power of the story for me.
Thank you to Forever for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up
Oh my stars. Yes and yes for The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by @natashalesterauthor. Once I started this book, I could not put.it.down. The story captured my heart and imagination from the get go. Alix, Dior, the Madame's of Dior, Lillie, the Romaro siblings, Anthony, Esme - all of them characters that buried themselves in my brain.
I appreciate a well done historical novel about WW2. The Three Lives does not disappoint. The clever way that Natasha weaves the story together creates a story that moves forward elegantly and seamlessly. As a reader, you experience the pain, frustration, joy, heartache and love between the characters.
Highly recommend if you:
⚪️ WW2 historical fiction with a dash of romance.
👗 enjoy fashion and learning about the beginnings of fashion house Dior.
❤️ enjoy taking a journey with characters as they heal from past pain and open themselves up to new beginnings
🗺️ enjoy a book that takes place in different countries
💥 enjoy a book that is written with flashbacks
The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre is one of those books that wrapped me up in its story and refused to let go. This one kept me eagerly reading way past my bedtime.
Told during three timelines before, during, and following WWII, Natasha Lester has created a compulsively readable journey of one unforgettable woman. Centered within the Paris fashion industry, WWII fighting, and the unique position of women of that day, it's a story that's compelling, evocative, poignant, suspenseful, and empowering. A tale I won't soon forget.
I enjoyed the method Lester used to tell this story, moving from Alix's present to past to present, divulging bits and pieces of this complex character each time until a full picture of her life began to emerge. It was an interesting and successful way to get to know and understand her, without the proverbial info dump. I don't always enjoy time hops but in Lester's hands it worked exceptionally well.
I loved all of the layers within the characters Lester created. Not only Alix but secondary characters as well. She brought them to life vividly, easily pulling me into their lives and eliciting a range of emotions within me. They were so realistic that, with real people (Christian Dior, for one) woven into the fictional fabric of the book, it was all too easy to believe that they all actually lived during that time, that all of the events in the book actually happened.
This was my first book by Natasha Lester but it sure won't be my last. I've already purchased her earlier novel, The Rivera House, and will be watching for any future books to come.
Advance copy received for fair and unbiased review
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: January 10, 2023
There’s no other way to put it, I just loved the hell out of this book and I was sad when it ended! A fantastic dual timeline WWII historical fiction—nazi-hunting and heartbreak, but with all the fabulousness of fashion and romance in Paris. This was a closed door romance which was such a tease, because it was properly swoony. I love a thoroughly researched book and this one hit the mark (lots of bonus tidbits in the author’s note at the end!) which reminded me of the historical fiction books I’ve read by another fav, Kate Quinn.