You read about lives of three women on three different timelines, but were they even different lives? Background changed from WWII to 70s to modern day, but treatment women receive and stuff they had to do to establish their presence did not. Grandma to mother to daughter - Bricard women just wanted people to take them seriously as fashion designers not some muses.

Mizza started the line of headstrong, independent line of Bricard women. She was supporting war efforts in Paris while making a name for herself during a time being woman (and an unmarried one) was a crime. She was there to be next Chanel. Then Astrid entered the scene. She was studious, she was smart, she was creative. But also she was in love - she couldn't see that falling for Hawk was going to be her undoing. No one was taking her seriously - she was a girl wearing revealing Hawk Jones stuff. Years later, Blythe hated her for this. One she left her when she was just a baby. Two, she couldn't be Blythe Bricard without having Astrid's daughter following her name.

I liked how elements of each era were weaved into the story. How scenes we saw in Halston aka Battle of Versailles was the center of the story. The ending was what I wanted to see even though it was predictable. As advertised, this was part Daisy Jones and The Six, part Devil Wears Prada, part Vogue HQ. If you like those, you'll enjoy this book

I am completely and totally obsessed with this book! In the 1970s, Astrid Bricard is known for two things: being the daughter of Christian Dior's muse Mizza, and being a muse herself, for the up-and-coming designer Hawk Jones. And then, during a fashion competition in Paris, Astrid disappears, leaving behind a bloody dress, and is never seen again.

Flash forward to the present day, where Astrid and Hawk's daughter Blythe is struggling to escape the confines of her failed marriage, and the tarnished legacy of her mother and grandmother that haunt her in the press. However, as Blythe works to re-establish Astrid's fashion line Mizza, she begins to realize that the women in her family were more than just muses, they were designers themselves, whose histories were reshaped by men wanting to reduce their talents and their impacts on the world.

Natasha Lester weaves these three storylines together to tell a fast-paced story filled with fashion, romance, and intrigue. The book examines how women are often forced into the role of the muse while their contributions are minimized and hidden away. I loved each of the Bricard women, and I couldn't stop reading until I discovered the truth about Astrid's disappearance.

Fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will love this look at the 1970s fashion world, and a complicated, fabulous woman fighting against the patriarchy to make a name for herself independent of any man.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts are my own.

📸Fashion, fame & female ambitions: fascinating!

4.5🌟 stars
This novel had me wrapped up in the struggle of Mizza, Astrid and Blythe Bricard, three generations of women at the heart of the struggle to get women designers recognized for their achievements. It spans a whole century, crossing the Atlantic from Paris to New York, and really made me ponder the strength of purpose and blind talent needed to break into the male-dominated top ranks of the fashion industry.

This was phenomenal storytelling, mixing the very personal loves and lives of the three women with broader history, like the World Wars, the Nazi occupation of Paris, the changing social attitudes of the Vietnam War era and the liberating effects of the Equal Rights movement. Though I really liked the romance and family aspects of the story, the women's constant struggle to triumph really connected with me. It infuriated me to read about the way the press and colleagues treated the very idea of women making it as designers on their own merits, writing them off as mere accessories or "muses" to male designers. A novel that draws me in like this is an excellent work in my eyes. And I was fascinated to learn in Natasha Lester's Afterward that Mizza was a real person.

Thanks to Grand Central/Forever Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is a beautifully written historical fiction novel that weaves these women's lives together wonderfully, but it is so much more than that. I was drawn into the story early on, but by the halfway mark, I was completely invested in each of their stories. I couldn’t put the book down because I was compelled to find out what was going to happen. I became so connected that I could feel, understand, and empathize with them, and I needed to know how things would all work out. And the ending gave each woman the conclusion they not only needed but what they deserved.

This was my first novel by Lester and it definitely won't be my last!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel that was based on a real woman of the fashion industry, Mizza Bricard, who lived and worked in Paris a century ago. While little is known about the real Mizza, as history sidelined her as "just a muse" to the great male designers of that time (like Dior), Lester extrapolates on her life to create a compelling tale about three generations of women: Mizza, her daughter Astrid, and her granddaughter Blythe.

I'm not very familiar with the fashion industry, but the author points out "how easily women lose out to men in the strange world of fashion, where the customers are largely women but the people in charge are men." To highlight this theme, the author follows these three women across a century, with Astrid in the 1970s and Blythe in present day, to show how women, especially working mothers and POC, grapple with societal expectations and pressure that are not bestowed upon their (white) male counterparts. In doing so, Lester crafts an intriguing and emotional tale about the power of female friendships and relationships, and reminds women that "there's not shame in being a woman free, stripped of the inhibitions society wants her to wear."

I appreciated the Author's Note at the end of the digital version, which explained more about the real Mizza and Lester's rationale for writing this story. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for copies of this book and audiobook to review!

LOVED this book—my first five star review of 2024! I was a huge fan of The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre and somehow this was even better than that?! The three generations and their own storylines also seamlessly woven together, the rich settings of each time period, the incorporation of real historical events and people, everything about this book was just chef’s kiss. I was hooked from page one until the last sentence. No notes. What an incredibly fun, rewarding, satisfying story.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader’s copy.

Lovely family saga. Three generations of women, all in the fashion business, all who face challenge make this interesting read. There are real people among the fictional characters (so I found myself googling and learned a bit) but it's Blythe, Astrid, and Mizze who make this a delightful read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling,

Told from the perspective of three generations of Bricard women (+ Hawk Jones), The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard explores what happens to women when the world crafts their image without their consent, when each generation carries the weight of the images of those that precede them, and what it is like to live in a “world…designed for the Ophelias to die and the Hamlets to rule.” And, oh my gosh, I adored it. I devoured it. I did not want to put it down.

Natasha Lester takes on the patriarchy as she interweaves the stories of present-day Blythe, 1970s Astrid, and 1910s-1940s Mizza. All three women are involved in fashion, but how can they get the world to see who they really are? How can they craft their own stories and legends when so much is defined by what came before?

5 stars. No notes.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Forever and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I have always loved Natasha Lester's novels but this novel has surpassed them all. She presents a chilling picture of the fashion industry from the 1920s to today without sacrificing her three generations of women who have to fight for their dreams and their lives. Although I received an ARC, my opinions are my own and I heartily recommend this novel.

A great combination of a glamorous fashion story with historical fiction (sobering at times) and a family story. I appreciated the multiple perspectives of generations of women from the same family, all of them trying to blaze their way in the fashion world, and what that has meant for their relationships and connections.

A compelling story of three generations of strong Bricard women. We follow Mizza from a teenager thru the WWII years. Daughter Astrid from her college years, Vietnam and women's movement. Granddaughter Blythe, current day divorced, mother of 2, making her way on her own.

Original storyline told in the three strong female voices. Historical fiction that brings many topics to light; the horrors of war in Paris, the chauvinism of the press and fashion industry, the difficulty of living up to your potential all the time fighting an uphill battle and fighting the demons of the past and trying to right the wrongs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline. The very beginning seemed jumbled to me, but once I settled in, the story took over and everything fell into place. I enjoyed the characters, and felt outrage at their treatment. The manipulation and lies told by the press was frustrating to watch, the misinformation by loved ones was disheartening. Although I wouldn’t characterize this as a love story, there are strong love overtures. The story did drag at times, and unfortunately I found myself skimming which may have made me miss important information. The ending was a little disappointing, leaving me with questions, but again, I might have missed clues. The author neatly merges the storyline. Overall, I found this enjoyable and informative. I enjoyed the Author’s Note at the end, although somewhat lengthy. This is the first time I’ve read this Author, drawn to this cover by its Evelyn Hugo vibes, and look forward to reading her again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

What an incredible, enthralling, pilot twisting story! The centerpoint of the story is three female generations of Bricards who are incredibly talented designers dealing with an all too low glass ceiling, male dominated field. Reputations are influenced by stereotypes and the jealousy of others. Each of the women has a strong streak including an empathy for others.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I agreed to read The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard. The story is told through multiple nonlinear timelines to accomodate the unique stories crafted by Natasha Lester. Just when the reader is invested in one's story, another story is inserted that is just as engrossing. You won't want to put this one down once you start. Kudos Ms. Lester. Excellent, excellent work!

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard follows the interwoven stories of three generations of muses to famous couturiers, each of whom is struggling to break away from that characterization and to make a name for herself in fashion in her own right. Mizza’s story spans World Wars I and II in Paris, Astrid’s in the 70’s in New York, and Blythe’s while she vacations outside of Paris in the present day.

The characters all aspire to work in fashion (which you won’t readily forget— every metaphor and descriptive verb in the book relates back to textile arts). One day on the brink of a huge deal international fashion show, Astrid disappears into thin air, leaving her daughter Blythe with an aching mother wound, as she is then raised by her father’s mother while he is in rehab. Each woman’s story is told through a lens where you’re able to see exactly where their desired careers gets tripped up, and how their public perceptions get tangled in their professional lives. Each subsequent daughter spends a lifetime running from the reputation of her foremother.

The third of the story that focuses on Astrid is an absolute vibe— if you loved Daisy Jones and the Six, this is going to feel like another fun jaunt into that era. I found these sections most compelling and kept me interested in learning about the rationale behind choices that we know will come to fruition from the other perspectives.

I felt like the plot line was weakest where Mizza is trying to find a way to survive WWII— it just didn’t work for me. Stylistically, I also felt like the dialogue was often oddly performative and didn’t feel real. The dialogue specifically often felt disjointed, like characters weren’t responding to the what had just been said to them. I often also felt that the metaphors which leaned so heavily on fabrics and sewing techniques became fairly overwrought but they had their place. It was clearly an intentional editing choice and it was done deliverately; it was just a bit heavy handed for my taste.

Blythe’s character I found absolutely infuriating, but despite all of her choices that made me want to chuck the book across the room at regular intervals, all loose ends are accounted for in the end.

I wish we’d spent more time with Astrid and Mizza and there had been a different vehicle for Blythe to discover more about them. They were fascinatingly flawed characters in truly atmospheric surroundings. And the idea of each woman trying to outrun her mother’s reputation and fate is an excellent one, and made for a compelling read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the advance copy.

I so truly love books that allow readers to look at something or someone in a light that forces us to really think about what we know about someone. I have always said when dealing with any celebrity I like the person that I see. This book highlights so beautifully over three generations this idea. The press or public only sees what one side wants us to see. Mizza, Astrid, and Blythe are all tied together in their history and the way that the press decides to depict them. Yet there is more to them than what the public is given. All three woman are strong and do amazing things. They are more than the muse title that has been passed down from Mizza to her heir. Sometimes we have to take what the press says as being worth a grain of salt. People are more than the drama or the simplistic view we are sometimes led to believe.
Thank you so very much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester is the story of a mother, daughter, and granddaughter all with their own struggles. All three extremely talented fashion designers make several dramatic and important fashion innovations. The three ladies struggle with relationships and all must look deep inside themselves to become the women they are meant to be. Mizza Bricard is constantly falling short of her own expectations but eventually finds peace in working to deliver Jewish children to safety during World War Two. Astrid lacks the understanding of love and struggles to make her fashions the best in the world while doubting her ability as a mother and eventually abandoning her daughter. Blythe puts her husband’s dreams first in the hope that her dreams will follow. Unfortunately, this does not happen. Three women who seem different, but in reality, are all struggling for recognition in their field, for understanding of their own upbringings and their relationship with their mother and most importantly finding love. Enjoy!

The disappearance of Astrid Bricard reminds me of the disappearance of Agatha Cristie! Being at the top of your game and then disappearing, and the pieces left behind. While I don't understand high fashion, I understood the plot. I really enjoyed the writing and being taken to a "world" I was unfamiliar with. Natasha Lester does a beautiful job of laying out setting and characters.

If you enjoy a little bit of mystery, fashion, or history, this is a book you'll enjoy

I wanted to like this book so much but unfortunately I’m in the minority. What started as an intriguing premise ended up in a hot mess soap opera. I think of all three storylines, I enjoyed Astrid’s the most (until the end), Mizza second, and Blythe not at all.

The explanation of childhood illness trying to exonerate the terrible father and husband Jake was does not fly with me. As someone who has been in this situation, you can empathize but it never excuses. She “still wants him” and he couldn’t bother to come home or even check on his child in the hospital. This is the most unrealistic scenario for a mom. I believe in forgiveness but it was ridiculous how easily Blythe was willing to give it for such weak explanations from a man who severely hurt her children. I did not love the entire Blythe storyline and I wish it would have been cut out and we could have had the same information from Coco doing research.

The reason for the disappearance of Astrid is a huge let down. As a mom, I just can’t see anything keeping me from my child. There were alternatives to the scenarios she came up with why she had to stay away, and why for so long?? It didn’t make sense. Mizza was at least a little more believable and acceptable but still unreasonable and I’m not sure I love how much of her story was made up. Sure the author tried to humanize and paint her in a good light but it is still fiction about a very real woman.

In the end I found this to be a book about women who are weak for men but don’t want to be seen as weak.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC.

This was such a well told, intriguing story. The multiple timelines were done perfectly and added so much to the story. The parallels between all three Bricard women were done in a way that didn't feel cliche. It walked through so many parts of history in a stunning way. Overall, this was just a really great, really unique read. The pacing was great, the storyline flowed easily, and it had just enough true history to make the story believable. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who loves fashion or historical fiction.

I flipped back and forth between the audiobook and the e arc, and both were so well done! The audiobook had great pacing and the narrator did a wonderful job bringing all three women (and Hawk Jones) to life!

Thanks to Netgalley for the Advanced copy to read.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this ARC!

Natasha Lester is one of my go to authors for historical fiction. I always love everything she writes, always feel fulfilled after reading her books and The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard was no exception!

This story follows three generations, during three timelines and beautifully tells the stories of Mizza, Astrid and Blythe. You get to to see behind the scenes of the fashion industry in the different eras and it is fascinating.

5 stars from me, would give more if it was possible!

Wonderful story of strong women in the fashion industry. The novel, set mostly in NY and France, tells the story of three generations of women fashion designers. There's a lot to this book, historical fiction, mystery, romance, and family drama. The book is based on one real woman, Mizza Bricard, with other both fictional and real characters. It's a dynamic tale of the widespread misogyny in the fashion industry and the general treatment of women in history. All of the characters are well-developed. This would be a great book club book, so much to discuss. Also, would make a must-see TV series.