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.

The overarching story was good - really different. But it never really grabbed me. Or it would for a chapter or so and then I’d get bogged down again.

I have never read a book by Natasha Lester, but after reading this I will definitely be reading more. I loved the detail and research that went into the book. The timeline does jump around, but it is easy to follow. The first couple of chapters started slow, but after that I was hooked and could not put it down. I'm usually not a fan of World War historical fiction, but the timeline and the narrator give different aspects to an era that has been written about endlessly. Can't wait to find more of her books to read.

I loved this book, could not put it down. Alix is a fascinating character. Each aspect of her life was compelling reading - the life with a wealthy family, her OSS work in Italy, as the publicist for the new couture house of Dior, her efforts to right the wrongs from the war. There wasn't a single part that felt unnecessary. Lester has done a brilliant job of seamlessly combining historical figures, extensive historical facts, and several geographical locations, with a compelling fictional story.

The lengthy author's note at the end spells out what is fact and fiction and leaves historical fiction fans ready to read and learn more. Highly recommended.

I’ve recommended this one very successfully to many patrons who are fans of Fiona Davis and Amanda Quick, A solid addition for most libraries

I have been a fan of Natasha Lester since the first story of the women involved in the European resistance efforts during World War II and this one is the best so far. The characters are larger than life with heart and a deeply troubled soul that are strong enough to try to change the world and make it a better place. The book delves a lot into the place of women after the war and the expectations for both men and women at the time. There is also the added benefit of the dresses of Dior!

Pub date: 1/10/23
Genre: historical fiction
Quick summary: Alix St. Pierre has lived multiple lives - first as an orphan, then a spy in WWII, then publicity director for the House of Dior. But she can't outrun what happened in WWII - can she figure out how to make a better future for herself?

Fashion and historical fiction?! Yes please! The strongest parts of this story for me were Alix's adventures at the fashion house - challenging societal conventions and helping make Dior a star. I loved spending time with her in post-war Paris.

It took me a bit longer to warm up to the spy storyline - there were a lot of characters, and I had trouble keeping everything straight. But I'm glad I stuck with it, since the ending paid off with plenty of surprises and a satisfying conclusion. I wish the journey to the payoff had been a little quicker, but I think historical fiction fans will enjoy this book a lot!

Thank you to Forever Publishing for my e-ARC and finished copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved reading and listening to Natasha Lester's latest novel, The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre!
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Alix is a character of many backgrounds: she's a war spy and later on, a fashion marketing rep for Dior. St. Pierre is known along the circles as captivating, cunning and charming. Trying to help America and its allies win against the Nazis, she's also trying to find the man who made her world turn upside down. With the help of someone you'd least expect, Alix is on a mission that readers will delightfully turn the page and keep on listening to.

I couldn't put down this read and highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, especially World War 2 novels. Lester paints enough details to become fully immersed in the story and the multiple timelines/ parts flowed well together. I enjoyed the cast of characters and wanted to be apart of their world, especially with Dior.

Thank you Forever Publishing and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to @NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC. The book follows the life of Alix St Pierre before, during and after the war. Orphaned at a young age, she was taken by a friend and raised in a wealthy household. She was recruited during the war by the OSS. However, under her watch nine recruits were killed and she still hasn't recovered from the guilt. Now after the war, in Paris, she starts working at the House of Dior to help fund her quest to find the man that betrayed her trust and lead to the killings. Love @NatashaLester and all she has written! #TheThreeLivesofAlixStPierre #NatashaLester #ForeverGrandCentralPublishing #Jan2023

Solid 3 star read. I had trouble connecting with the characters and the time jumps were hard for me to follow.

As a PR consultant Alix St. Pierre had a talent for convincing people what to do. Because of her language skills, Alix got recruited to become a member of the newly formed Office of Strategic Services in Switzerland under Allen Dulles during WWII. Alix had gone to boarding school in Switzerland thanks to the family who took her in after her parents deaths. While working for the OSS she was able to reconnect with some friends and slide into the shadows. Alix suddenly found herself at the forefront of the Italian Resistance movement. The trust she chose to bestow upon certain people ultimately altered the trajectory of her life.
The story's shift to after the war brought to light the repercussions of Alix's choices during the war. Lester chose to place Alix at the center of the unveiling of the new House of Dior. The magnificence of haute couture after the devastation of WWII cannot be overlooked. Amidst the hustle and bustle of what would become known as the "New Look", Alix found herself face to face with the past. As joint forces attempted to bring her down Alix learned who she could and couldn't trust to bring an end to the ghosts that haunted her.
While Alix St. Pierre is a fictional character, Lester did a fantastic job at using her to explore many historical events. There were some wonderful gems uncovered in the book. Readers will be mortified by the actions taken of multiple offices during WWII. However readers will be utterly enchanted with the details Lester provided on Christian Dior's entrance into the fashion world. Sprinkle in some romance and you have a wonderfully multifaceted story that will delight all.
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

Holy cannoli, Batman. I've been diving into more historical fiction lately and I'm finding that I am absolutely in LOVE with this genre.

Natasha hit this one out of the park- it was beautiful, tragic, & authentically written. I was entirely entranced by Alix and her strong personality in a time when it was uncommon (and frowned upon) for women to be bold and have their own wants and desires. This is told in sections that effortlessly move between the past and the present and even though you don't want to end a section without knowing immediately what's next, you are hooked right into the unfolding events of what Alix is or has gotten herself into.

I loved the integration of this being more than just history- there is mystery, romance, coming of age and finding your place in the world - which are all woven so delicately that I had a seriously hard time putting it down.

At the end I was surprised to have such a detailed Author's Note that explores her research and the connections to the actual history that was brought into the narrative. I found that such authenticity will be the reason I read more from Natasha Lester in the future- you'll know what you're getting and learn so much of our rich (and devastating) history.

WWII historical fiction always seems to draw me in. Add in a little mystery, romance, and insight into the fashion world, and I am lost in the world created by Natasha Lester in her novel, The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

This book was beautifully written. Natasha has an absolute amazing way of telling a story and her characters are always favorable.

The attention to detail within the story truly transports you to Paris in 1947 and essentially living the life of Alix St. Pierre. The back and fourth between Paris 1947 and Bern 1943 really helps the flow of the book and puts everything into perspective. You can clearly envision the gorgeous and stunning gowns of Christian Dior, plus gain some insight of his debute into the fashion world post war.

Alix is being haunted by the ghosts in her past and truly is trying to find one of these ghosts, “La Voce,” and bring him to justice for the crimes he committed during WWII. With the help of editor, Anthony March, the two use their espionage skills in trying ti unravel the mystery of what happened that night within Italy that cost the lives of innocent men in order to find closure and move on with their lives.

There’s so much rich history within these pages and it was a joy to learn about new things that happened within WWII. This book would’ve received 5 stars from me but I thought it dragged a bit in the beginning, however once you get through the first few chapters the book really takes flight!