⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend
In 1973, fashion icon Astrid Bricard disappeared at the legendary Versailles designer show-down. All that remained was a scrap of fabric...and a family unraveled.

Now Astrid's daughter, Blythe, holds what remains of her mother and grandmother's legacies. Of all the Bricard women, she can gather the torn, shredded, and painfully beautiful fabrics of three generations of grief, heartbreak, and abandonment to create something that will shake the foundations of fashion. The only piece that's missing is the one question that no one's been able to answer: What really happened to Astrid?

Part mystery, part family drama, part fashion history, I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the the main characters' (child, mother, and grandmother) stories were weaved together. How trauma and fashion collided differently for each generation of strong women. The grandmother is none other than Mizza Bricard, the historical figure, a real talent, and known as the muse of Christian Dior.

The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension. It was a pleasure to listen to.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, NetGalley, and author Natasha Lester for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is out January 30, 2024.

Fashion, 3 strong female characters, and some history all rolled into one book - what isn't there to love?

The plot of this story was excellent, and I found myself looking for any opportunity to listen, even if just for 5 minutes. The characters were all well-developed, and I felt myself rooting for each one's success. I also really enjoyed that we had a variety of timepoints for the storyline - present day, 1970s, and early 1900s through WW2. There was also a bit of romance, some mystery, family drama, and I especially enjoyed all the references to fashion designers. Having each female with her own POV and voice in the book really helped make the characters feel more real. I kept wondering if Astrid or Blythe had been real fashion designers!

The narrator did an excellent job - different voices but also different accents for the characters, which I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to review. All comments are my own.

This book was everything I didn't know I needed. Its a mix of 1970 Daisy Jones & the Six vibes, with 1920 Great Gatsby vibes, incorporated in to the history of women in luxury designer fashion. Fun fact, Mizza Bricard was a real person and is still know for being Christian Dior's muse, but she lived a life much more than only being a mans muse.
This book follows the three generations of the Bricard women. We follow Blythe Bricard, in present day. Her mother, Astrid Bricard, POV takes place in 1970 New York. Astrid's mother & Blythe grandmother, Mizza Bricard, POV takes place in 1917 Paris. Each of these women follow the legacy left by their famous mother and swear they won't follow in their 'embarrassing' mothers footsteps. Will history be repeated one more time with Blythe?
My favorite part of this book is showing how women were perceived, how that affects what is recorded in the news, and how that shapes the way these women were remembered throughout history. If you never knew your mother and the only things you were told is what the world thought of her, how she was only remembered for was being the muse, how she was just a beautiful women with no other skills.. That is probably all you would think of her. In reality, there is so much more to the story.
This story encompasses everything needed for a cohesive story that was woven between multigeneration.

I received the audio-arc of this book and it was perfect. The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did a great job with each of the characters voices including voice inflection reflecting the time period each character is in. I highly recommend this audio book.

One quote that I feel like sums up the plot of this story perfectly, "Who lives? Who dies? Who tells our stories." - Hamilton

Thank you to NetGalley and Hacette Audio for an audio copy of this book.

I just completed listening to The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, by Natasha Lester. This book spans 3 generations of Bricard woman in the fashion industry and their struggles to have their successes be seen for what they were instead of because of the men in their life. There is much struggle and heartbreak for all three of the main female characters in the book, but there is also much strength from these women. The alternating POVs between the three women and time periods was done beautifully. My only wish is that there was a bit more to the ending. I wanted more!

The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did a great job going between American and French accents. There were times in the first half of the book when I felt that her voice was too monotone, but this was not the case later on in the book. I would definitely recommend the audiobook version of this book.

This is a multi-period novel exploring the lives of three Bricard women who are talented but largely unrecognized for that talent. Mizza Bricard was a talented designer who is better known as the real-life muse of Christian Dior. Her fictionalized daughter Astrid Bricard was known as the daughter of Mizza Bricard and also as the muse of designer Hawk Jones. Astrid’s daughter Blythe is fighting to be recognized as a designer in her own right, but she is in the shadow of media perceptions and her designer ex-husband Jake. She is also living with the fact that her mother disappeared when she was a baby and her father has never been there for her either.

This novel looks at the oppression of women in the fashion industry, mental health, abandonment, and other issues. The characters are strong, talented women who face an uphill battle with discrimination, public perception, and media portrayals. The fashion industry background is richly described, and the treatment of the media towards women over the decades is eye-opening. Important mental health issues that affect women are also brought to the forefront. The three time periods—the 1940s, 1970’s, and present day are very different, but all share the same issue of women fighting to be recognized in the fashion industry. The love stories set in the midst of the glamour and betrayal of this industry are well done.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator Barrie Kreinik does a great job of portraying all of the characters.

My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to five on sites with no half-star option.

Anyone interested in fashion and historical fiction will enjoy this novel.

I received a free copy of the the Audiobook from Hachette Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

So much heartbreak, beautifully woven with fashion’s biggest houses. Spanning the 20th century of fashion icons, war, and women trying to make it in a man’s world, Lester has probably written her best novel to date.

I could not put this novel down, and I was constantly switching between the kindle and my audiobook (thank you @forever and @netgalley) trying to piece together the history of these three women, filling in the blanks and question marks.

Each generation of beautiful women with equally beautiful fashion designs has secrets they are keeping, and through a multiple timeline perspective, winding through the early 1900s to present day. Blythe has been abandoned by her famous fashion parents, and she’s trying to find her own way in the fashion world as well.

The ending, while wrapping up the story nicely, still left me with questions! I just wanted to know so much more of Hawk and Astrid, as well as Jake’s mother.

Highly recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction (not based on anyone’s true story), multiple perspectives, sweeping time spans, and familial drama.

Absolutely LOVED this book. It was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed every second. It was beautifully written and informative. I liked learning about the fashion world and how women were not recognized.

Thank you, Hachette Audio for this advance copy in exchange for my review.

I enjoyed this book so very much.
It's a fantastic historical fiction told through multi-pov / multi-timeline through three generations of women (Astrid, Blythe & Mizza)
I really think the issues raised in this book were extremely moving and so many people would relate.
I also think Natasha did a wonderful job writing the fashion world as well as describing the 70s in such a way that it really put you there. The music everything, it was perfect.
Astrid, Blythe & Mizza will stick with me for a very long time.

🎧📖 note: Barrie Kreinik did an OUTSTANDING job bringing these beautiful characters to life.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, by Natasha Lester, is a tidal wave of glamour, love, heartbreak, fashion, and female empowerment packed into one unputdownable novel. Barrie Kreinik does an incredible job as the narrator for this audiobook, voicing the three powerful women (and one man) who make up the spine of this story, and all of the characters who fill out their lives so richly. Lester is a master at layering her fictional stories with real historical events. I discovered The Battle of Versailles a few years ago and have read several memoirs featuring the mostly forgotten event. I loved having it brought to life by the author's gorgeous prose. In TDOAB, Astrid is an avatar for the only female to show at Versailles, Anne Klein, who was reviled by other designers because she dared—gasp, the horror—to make fashion wearable and attainable for the average woman. An absolute must read!

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester.

Three generations of women, all tangled in the fashion world, and all desperate to make a name for themselves on their own merit.

This is somewhat formulaic, if you've ever read a Kate Morton, or something similar, then you know the type. Absolutely nothing wrong with the formula though! I loved all of the fashion references, Halston, Chanel, Dior, you see them all, and I'm not even a fashionista, but I do love pop culture and history.

This was a finely woven story about three women, and it's articulate and well done. My personal struggle with the story, having listened to it, was keeping all of the Bricard women straight, and remembering what men belonged to whom, and how exactly they were connected to one another.

This story follows three generations of Bricard women: Blythe, Astrid, and Mitza. It’s told in alternating POVs and throughout different points in history. Mitza, the eldest Bricard, is famous for being Christian Dior’s muse. Astrid Bricard is famous for being famous fashion designer Hawk Jones’ muse. Blythe, Astrid and Hawk’s love child has tried to get away from that world, but keeps running right back to it. Each of these women have been defined by the men in their lives, at least to the public. However, each has done so much more than the world gives them credit for.

The alternating POVs was really well done. This easily could have been confusing, but it wasn’t. Instead it highlighted the parallels between each of their stories. I enjoyed seeing the different points in history.

I really loved each of the characters. Such a good tale of strong women fighting sexism. A historical fiction novel that also has elements of mystery and romance. It’s well worth a read (or a listen-the narrator was fantastic and did such a good job with the story!)

- 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️// 5
▪️The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard
▪️Natasha Lester

- 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝:
▪️ The way characters developed so immensely from the way they were first introduced.
▪️ How Natasha Lester was able to blend a real character (Mizza Bricard) and fictional characters so seamlessly.
▪️ How beautifully Natasha was able to portray the struggles women face in the workplace and society while telling a beautiful story of love and heartbreak.

- 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝:
▪️ “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
▪️ “Daisy Jones & The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

- 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Set in three generations, “The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard” tells the stories of three women emerging in fashion all linked by biology.

Astrid, an emerging designer in the in the late 1960s and 1970s receives a scholarship to follow her dream of designing clothes that take on feminism. She’s also hell-bent on outrunning her biological mother’s legacy as the pantiless muse of Christian Dior. But fashion has always been purchased by women and designed by men, so making a name for herself proves harder than imagined…until she disappears.

Jump to 2012 and we are introduced to Blythe, Astrid’s daughter. Much like her mother, she is trying to outrun the legacy her mother and grandmother left. But there is so much more to their stories than Blythe knows.

- 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
“Behind every successful man, is a strong woman” as the saying goes. But, of course, the truth is much more complicated. This novel explores the female struggle at work, at home, and medically throughout generations. The unfolding of character stories is beautifully done, making the reader think critically about the women in their lives and what they have endured to get where they are.

Coming on the heels of “The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears, I couldn’t help but compare the experience Astrid faced to Britney’s. How big of an impact the media made in their undoing and disappearance in Astrid’s case. How many men built careers and names off these women’s backs - designers, artists, journalists, and more. How easy it is to spin a story that makes women smaller, less important, less educated, less sane.

I cannot recommend enough. You’ll find yourself thinking about the characters long after you’ve finished reading. If you love a book with character development, family drama, history, glamour, and feminism, you will adore this read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

First of all---I have to commend the narrator Barrie Kreinik. At 2x speed, her voice was incredible pleasant, she slipped amongst characters and accents seamlessly, and she added so much emotion to the entire story. Brava!

While not a fashionista myself, the backdrop of fashion was a vessel to far more poignant lessons ingrained in the story. Women are the focus, and the strong threads of feminism carry the story along. Starting with 3 women in separate decades, all of whom have their own female friendships-competitors-mentors, Lester leads the reader amongst three distinct lives in three distinct time periods while still interweaving the idea that while so much changes, so much stays the same.

Each women wants independence, but has to lean on others. The tension that causes between being human and being weak become deeper points of examination that each character reckons with--as the implications undoubtedly color both their current situations and their future aspirations. The characters were charming, engaging, and cheer-worthy. Pacing was well done. This is a story I'll be happy to recommend.

Overall: 4.5 stars (I really liked it)

I'll tell my students about: language, alcohol, drugs, sex, trauma, parental death (past tense), war (mentioned), racism, sexism, violence/killing

**Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Audio, Forever for the free ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester was a wonderful audiobook.

Three generations of women. All in the fashion industry. All marred with scandal. All desperate for love and acceptance.

Mizza Bricard abandoned at 16. Muse to a famous fashion designer.

Astrid Bricard adopted daughter who doesn’t want to be a suburban housewife married to lawyer escapes to New York to study fashion at FIT.

Blythe Bricard abandoned by her mom. Feels less than loved by her father. She wants to make a splash in the fashion industry but puts her dreams on hold for her family.

All three women want to show the world that they can make it on their own without the help of a man. All three women have a hard time getting people to believe in them.

This story is GOOD. I couldn’t stop listening.

The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did a wonderful job narrating all the characters (and there are a lot). She did a great job with the French accent, too. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her voice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I do not even know where to start, there are so many things I loved in this book! The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is a story about women, love, family, empowerment, self-fulfilment, courage and choices, not necessarily in this order. 1973, Astrid Bricard, the muse of Hawk, the great designer, vanishes during a couture show in Versailles. What happened to her? And was she really, what her legend says about her?

Natasha Lester tells three stories here. The one of Astrid, trying to find her way on her own in a world dominated by men, while escaping the legacy her mother, Mizza Bricard, left for her. The one of Mizza herself, Christian Dior's muse, who is said to have been an easy woman. And finally, the story of Blythe, Astrid's daughter, who is trying to thrive but also feels plagued by the legend of the two women who came before her.

The author delivers a great book, making all three timelines interesting. I regretted not having more details on what was true and what was invented about Mizza Bricard as she was an actual person. Blythe was my favorite timeline, because it was the only one that had not happened yet, and let chances for her to get her way.

At three different period in time over the past century, these three incredibly talented women fought to make a name for themselves, to be recognized as what they were, creators, geniuses but also simply women, lovers and mothers.

The book describes beautifully the inner fights they go through, when the press writes their stories without them, without the actual facts and knowledges, ready to walk on them for the sake of a good tale, to destroy their work, their family and their pride.

"Can a woman be sexy and strong in this world? Or does being the first makes everyone treat you with contempt?"


Natasha Lester addresses the feministic questions and battles in a subtle way, that still hits very close to home. The double standards, the mental charge and the disrespect. She shows with a lot of talent how we progressed over time but also not really. I loved the statistics she brought up about women as entrepreneurs and their results.

I also loved that she created characters that were believable, having their own flaws and that the world was not all black or white. It is never a story about men against women but about the society's ways and what is interpreted out of it.

"Everytime we are together, the world takes something from me Hawk. You don't take anything from me but the way it's photographed and written about does. I become less than you, an object you use to fuel your genius."


I will definitely read more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with the opportunity to listen to this great audiobook, in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a huge historical fiction fan so I really wanted to love this audiobook. Unfortunately I'm in the minority as I've seen a lot of great reviews. I just didn't like it. The premise was intriguing and I was excited to see how the lives of the three generations of women would somehow intertwine. Their stories were mostly individual and although that's fine, the bouncing back and forth between the three characters and timelines was confusing at first. I thought the book itself was way too long as it felt really drawn out. I was also disappointed by the reasoning of Astrid's disappearance. I won't go further for fear of spoiling for others but I wish this aspect had been different

I liked Mizza's storyline the most and enjoyed the fashion industry plot, even though the sexism was maddening. I think a lot of people will love this one, it just wasn't for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio, Forever for providing me an ALC n exchange for my honest thoughts.

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5

I really enjoyed this audiobook and couldn't stop listening. I found the mystery elements behind Astrid's disappearance intriguing and the character development of the 3 mfc really engaging as well. I also loved the strong feminist themes that I think were very realistic and not to heavy handed. The ending seemed a little to neatly and perfectly packaged but you can't have everything. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Natasha Lester, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is a really good story that spans three generations of women. They are all fashion designers that face the struggles of their generation. Their experiences send them on different paths. I liked this audio book. The narrator did a phenomenal job. I found it very interesting, and engaging all the way to the end tied with a bow.

What a wonderful book!
What a powerful, dynamic story of three generations or women, all trying to make a name for themselves, while also shining light on the many accomplishments of women throughout time!

This story brings you on a journey through three different timelines…

Mitza Bricard made a name for herself in the early 1900’s while trying to be a fashion designer, but somehow failing miserably. We witness her going through war, the depression, marriage…and so much more! And she does end up making a name for herself…but definitely NOT in the way she wanted… 😮

Astrid Bricard is her daughter. She also wants to make a name for herself and tries desperately to do so by attending a posh NY school…on scholarship. But she also needs to work…
She makes friends and connections…and looks to have a promising career.

Blythe Bricard is the third generation, and the present day model… She also wishes to make a name for herself…. But, she has a husband and two young children… and can hardly find the time to do what needs to be done!

Each of these women have a strong foundation and seem to be able to make the impossible happen! But they also seem to have a longstanding history in the fashion world…as well as a history of problems…

This one grabs your attention right from the get go…and keeps you going til the last page! Absolutely loved it!! (Although, I have to say, I kept getting the two more recent timelines mixed up…Astrid and Blythe were similar to me in many ways…so just keep that in mind.) 😉

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HachetteAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which was released today, 1./30/24.

#TheDisappearanceOfAstridBricard by #NatashaLester and beautifully narrated by #BarrieKreinick.

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As always, happy reading!! 📚📖⭐️

Where is the editing? Why is this book so long? This could have been a concise, beautifully-written multigenerational drama about 3 women in the male-dominated fashion industry, but instead it just dragged and dragged and felt like a frustrating letdown. I was trying to read the physical book for WEEKS before I gave up and went for the audio on 2x speed. Even the audio narration was kinda lame and monotone.
I had big TJR dreams with the overall vibes, so maybe my expectations were just unrealistic. I wanted so badly to like this with the premise and cover and the multiple timelines. The locations in NYC and Paris are some of my favorite and the examination of motherhood is always a top of interest, but this book was just too long and boring.