I liked this book but honestly found it long and confusion. I think I would have enjoyed the print version of the book more as I found as an audio book I had trouble keeping the characters and their stories and timelines straight. The stories themselves are interesting enough that I kept with it despite the challenges. Think a screen adaption would be a great way to consume this book as well. If you like fashion and find that world interesting this is a book and story you will enjoy.

I read this for work as the marketing and publicity associate for Forever. Absolutely loved this audio

I went in completely blind when I started listening to the audiobook of The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard. I just knew that it was getting a lot of love in reviews and I was excited to read it.

I enjoyed the multiple timelines and always love a generational story like this. Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres, and love a book that transports me this way. Spanning from 1917 to the 1970s, it had both a historical story with a mystery side plot I enjoyed.

*many thanks to Forever, Netgalley for review

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, written by Natasha Lester, is a book spanning three generations, following the lives of Mizza, Astrid, and Blythe Bricard. Each woman is involved in the world of fashion in her own way, and each has been affected by the lives of those who have gone before her.
I enjoyed this book, and seeing the ways that each character learned from those around her. I liked the character development that happened throughout the book, and I loved the ending. This one took me a little while to get into, but once I did I couldn’t put it down. Definitely recommend! Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher, and to NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Author Natasha Lester has a way with crafting extraordinary stories around powerful women and fashion. This may be her best work yet as three generations of women take on the fashion industry, their own identities, and the past that's broken them.

From WWII to present day, couture houses, to upcycled fashion, Lester enchants readers as women learn to navigate the fashion industry. We explore the role of men, media, and one's own inner thoughts through this whirlwind of a story.

"The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard" by Natasha Lester, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, swept me away by the compelling narrative that intertwines fashion, family, and mystery across three generations of women in the Bricard Fashion dynasty. The book masterfully blends history, romance, and real-life events to deliver a captivating story that spans over a hundred years.
Lester does an excellent job of exploring themes of gender inequality, resilience, and the challenges faced by women pursuing their passions in the male-dominated world of fashion. The interconnected stories of Astrid, her mother Mizza surviving in WWII-era France, and her daughter Blythe navigating her return to the fashion scene after a breakup with her designer husband, are both fascinating and inspiring. The way these women were underestimated but remained resilient, the choices they had to make between career and family, and the mystery surrounding Astrid's disappearance kept me hooked from start to finish.
The 1970s timeline, following Astrid in her quest to change the fashion world forever and her subsequent mysterious disappearance, was particularly engaging. Lester brings the glamour and turbulence of the era to life, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the electric atmosphere of the Versailles designer showdown and Astrid's groundbreaking designs.
Barrie Kreinik's narration is impeccable, seamlessly transitioning between perspectives and timelines, enhancing the immersive experience of the audiobook. Her performance brings the characters to life and adds depth to the emotional journey of the Bricard women.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, I did find it a bit lengthy, and the use of three timelines may not be to everyone's preference. Additionally, some readers may find the resolution of Astrid's disappearance to be somewhat lacking in depth.
Overall, "The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that delves into the intricacies of family, legacy, and the ever-evolving world of fashion. Lester's skilful storytelling and rich historical detail make this novel a compelling choice for those interested in a blend of historical fiction, mystery, and feminist themes.

A surprisingly well written and thoughtful look at womens’ roles in the fashion industry in the last century.

Three generations of women in fashion are chronicled here, demonstrating all the pitfalls of the industry and the ways it consistently undermined and failed its female talent for a very, very long time.

The book is far better quality in terms of writing than most of its kind, and a lot of the narrative is about who gets to tell their own story and whose place in history is cemented—however inaccurately—by those whose voices are more likely to be heard than their own.

The pacing is really good here, and all three timelines are compelling and fit together well in the end, which is unusual to see in this sort of semi-Historical Fiction subgenre. I liked all three protagonists, and while the ending is a little on the tidy and convenient side, it’s the one you want for these women, who are relatable and admirable.

I'm not always the biggest fan of historical fiction, but this sounded so good so I had to give it a try. I'm glad I did. I really liked the characters and the story of the fashion industry over multiple generations of women. I will say, I think I may have liked this a little more if I had not listened to it. Even halfway through, as I was listening, I struggled at times to figure out what timeframe we were currently in. This is not the fault of the narrator, just the structure of the telling of the story.

I have always been a historical fiction fiend when it comes to stories written by Natasha Lester. I love the authenticity of the story, which is a result of her research.

The things she always does well is managing the multiple viewpoints and timelines. The three protagonists are all so well developed and their stories so vivid and balanced, you aren’t left feeling confused by the who, where, what, is happening.

I felt educated by the end of the book and while my eyes weren’t exactly opened to the gender bias and less than reputable practices in fashion houses, I was still taught things because this isn’t the type of industry I am completely aware of.

The performance of the narration was done brilliantly and really drew me into the story.

Most importantly, this story was so moving. So. Damned. Moving. I felt happy and sad at the same time for the majority of the book and when it ended, although I felt the story was complete, I was sad to have finished it.

✨ Review ✨ The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester; Narrated by Barrie Kreinik

Thanks to Hachette Audio, Forever Books, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This was the kind of complicated multi-generational multiple timeline historical fiction that I love. It follows
1) Mizza Bricard - the reported muse of Christian Dior - partly set during WWII in Paris
2) Astrid Bricard - daughter of Mizza, famous for a scandalous photo with famous designer Hawk Jones in the disco era. Sets the fashion scene on fire until she goes missing after a US vs. France design show set in Versailles.
3) Blythe Bricard - daughter of Astrid and Hawk - contemporary times, recently separated from husband and parent of two kids; got left behind with the rise of his career.

All of these women became overshadowed by male designers as muses, mothers, assistants, and just generally shoved to the side. Blythe tries to solve the mystery of where Astrid went after her Versailles show, and in the midst, uncovers a deeper, richer story where all of these women had design genius that became covered up by a patriarchal lens of their history.

I loved how the book unraveled the layers of this story throughout the book. I do think sometimes it was a little difficult to keep track of the stories because of how many parallels there were between the women. At the same time, I loved these parallels and how it linked them together.

CW: complicity with Nazis for survival (honestly I was a little uneasy/unsure about how this was handled, especially as coco chanel is a famous case of this...this might need some more research on my part, but I wanted to note it here)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: historical fiction
Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
Setting: NYC, Paris, Versailles, etc.
Pub Date: 30 Jan 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ fashion and feminism
⭕️ multi-generational female stories
⭕️ historical fiction with multiple timelines
⭕️ messy family stories

I love Natasha's historical fiction stories - I love her story telling, characters, multiple timelines and povs. However, this one I think juggling three timelines and three story lines didn't quite work for me. I wish it were only two and dropped the initial one. But, I still enjoyed and learned so much about the fashion industry and designer world.

Another hit from Natasha Lester – this was brilliant. Loved all 3 of the women, Astrid and Blythe my faves. I love how Natasha Lester blends fact and fiction, light and dark, happy and sad. I was hooked early on, wanting to find out what happened to all of the women. I laughed, I cried. Really enjoyed it, highly recommend.

This book was so good it was hard to put down. The commentaries over 3 generations of women, their design and fashion talent and the way women in the spotlight are treated, this book follows Astrid, a fashion designer and icon of the 1970s who is cut down by news outlets dismissing her work as someone else's and she's just the muse, but also splits a timeline with her equally fashion capable mother surviving in France during WWII, and her daughter Blythe, who is coming back to the fashion scene after a break up with her designer husband.
The way the media never changes, the way these women were underestimated but resilient, the way they had to choose career or family all over the backdrop of the mystery of Astrid was fascinating and addicting.

#netgalley
#thedisappearanceofastridbricard

This was a multigenerational story that focuses deep on women empowerment. Lester paints such a vivid portrayal of the fashion insdustry and that was certainly my favourite aspect!

I enjoyed that the romance plot also had a layer of mystery as well and the writing was just so intriguing!

The general messaging of women trying to make it in a man’s world was the perfect level of compelling. It was poignant, I was important, it was inspiring.

Note to publisher: I received this ALC approval shortly before the archive date. It expired before I even knew I'd received it, so I was never able to listen to it on my NetGalley app. I ended up buying the audiobook so I could still provide a review. 💕

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester follows three generations of the women of the Bricard Fashion dynasty, across one hundred years. Blending history, mystery, and romance, with real-life people and events, Lester delivers another stellar historical fiction novel.

I loved the themes of gender inequality and enjoyed seeing the changes over time. Their interconnected stories are fascinating, heartbreaking, and inspiring. Though I'm not necessarily interested in fashion, Lester writes in a way that made me care, and fully invested in the complicated lives and stories of these women. I enjoyed the mystery element, as well as the way she wove real names into the story (for a non-fashionista, I surprisingly recognized many big names). My favorite timeline was Astrid's in the 70s. This is such a fun time period and Lester made me feel like I was there.

Narrator Barrie Kreinik is a long-time favorite of mine. She beautifully performs this audiobook, and I'd expect nothing less. She did a great job transitioning from one perspective/timeline to the next, and I never felt lost.

My *only* complaint here is that it's a tad long, but that's just personal preference from someone who shies away from super long books. I also really prefer single or dual timelines over three. But those are small things, as I'm still giving this a strong 4.5 stars rounded to 5💕

This story certainly has everything that I enjoy:

- Intergenerational family drama
- Historical period shifts
- Mysterious conflict

Overall, I enjoyed the audiobook version of this novel, but I found a specific tinge of Girlboss Feminism that I found annoyingly anachronistic to both Mizza and Astrid. It lacked a believability, especially for the former's experience as a female designer in 1920s France.

Fans of Daisy Jones will certainly adore this as will historical period dramas. The author's nuanced characterization was certainly appreciated while listening as sometimes juggling three different storylines can get confusing.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release!

"The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard" by Natasha Lester is a captivating novel that weaves together the worlds of fashion, family, and mystery. Set against the backdrop of the 1973 Versailles designer showdown, the story follows the enigmatic disappearance of Astrid Bricard, a fashion icon on the verge of breaking through the barriers of tradition and making a mark in the ever-evolving landscape of fashion and feminism.

Lester skillfully captures the glamour and turbulence of the era, bringing to life the iconic silver lamé dress and the electric moment that defined Astrid's legacy. The narrative explores the complexities of Astrid's identity, torn between her own aspirations and the weight of being the daughter of a legendary muse for Christian Dior.

The protagonist, Blythe, Astrid's daughter, takes center stage as she grapples with the legacy left by her mother and grandmother. The novel intricately weaves together the threads of grief, heartbreak, and abandonment embodied in the fabrics passed down through generations. Blythe's quest to uncover the truth behind Astrid's disappearance adds an intriguing layer of mystery to the story.

I rated "The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard" 3 stars because while the novel presents a compelling premise and explores themes of identity and legacy, it occasionally falters in maintaining a consistent narrative pace. The mystery surrounding Astrid's disappearance, while intriguing, may leave some readers craving a more robust resolution. Nevertheless, Lester's ability to capture the essence of the fashion world and intergenerational relationships makes this novel a worthwhile read for those interested in a blend of historical fiction and mystery.

Holy moly, The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard was such an incredible read that I just added all of Natasha Lester's backlist to my TBR. I ran the full gamut of emotions while reading this, everything from fear to laughter to heartbreak, this book has a little bit of everything, and it is historical fiction at its finest. There is a touch of mystery to it as well as Blythe has no idea what happened to her mother, and much of her present-time POV revolves around that. Lester uses multiple viewpoints and time periods to tell the stories of our main characters, and I loved how sometimes they would end on little cliffhangers and move onto a different viewpoint. This along with the impeccable characterization and fascinating storyline, made this an unputdownable read.

I don't always love it when there is only one audiobook narrator for a multi-POV book, but Barrie Kreinik's narration is so flawless that this became a nonissue. I have listened to her in other audiobooks, but she seemed so well suited to this book that it made me love her even more. I will say that there is an author's note at the end that isn't included with the audio, so I would make sure to have a physical copy as well because it is a must-read. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard explores women in the fashion industry and how they are dominated by men in more ways than one despite their talent. Besides the fact that it broke my heart in many ways, it also made me so mad because of how factual it is even today. I can tell this is a subject the author feels very strongly about, and I love her for it. Shocking, effervescent, and gripping are a few of the many words I would use to describe this heartbreaking but powerful tale.

This was an excellent story! The stories of the three main characters were all fascinating and heart breaking and each needed to be told and impacted the next generation. It is a story of strong women making impossible decisions to live their lives to be more than the story everyone knows.

Three generations o woman that are portrayed as muses of fashion designers. But is this the true story? Blythe Bricard does not want to end up like her mother and grandmother, infamous muses to famous designers and is trying to make different choices for her life. But when she is approached to relaunch her mother's design house, Mizza she begins to ask questions. Was her mother the actual designer or was her father the silent designer? What happened to lead to her mother's disappearance? Is her mother Astrid alive? The more that Blythe learns about her mother the more questions she has. Is what was reported and recorded by the press the truth?

The narrator did an excellent job giving the characters a voice and pulling readers into the story.

3.5 ⭐️ Fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid should gravitate towards The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard. It’s bold and raw, capturing the fashion design space spanning decades in a uniquely powerful manner.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is a historical fiction that follows three generations of female fashion designers: the Bricard family. It follows Mizza’s journey beginning in Paris in 1917 during World War I and how she started the Bricard family fashion legacy; Astrid’s journey beginning with fashion school and a whirlwind romance in New York in the 1970s; and Blythe’s modern day journey as a recently divorced mother of two navigating relationships, her family legacy, and her career.

The writing is excellent, creative, and well-researched, and the narrator of the audiobook version does a wonderful job. That said, I found myself bored by Blythe’s modern day POV, making the book feel a bit long at times, which dropped the rating for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Natasha Lester for the free audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.