A Dior gown! Paris in the 1950s! The food and wine! Who could resist a story that has all three? The Paris Gown is stitched together so nicely as it tells the story of three young women who meet in Paris and become friends. Margot is from a wealthy Australian family, a real beauty and is returning home with plans to marry and have a family. Gina is American and also from a wealthy family. She returns home to begin her career as a writer and meets Hal, also wealthy with political aspirations and they plan to wed. Claire is French and lives and works in Paris at her family’s restaurant but she dreams of becoming a world class chef with Michelin stars in her eyes. The three friends used to window shop at Dior. Who knew a dress from the famous designer would play a role in their lives and bring them all together again in The Cityof Lights. I thoroughly enjoyed the story line of each young woman as they pursued their dreams, learned some hard life lessons along the way, and yet persevered to reach their goals. Life at that time didn’t always prove easy for women who valued careers of their own and took a non-traditional route. Christine Wells handled the subject nicely and I was drawn into 1950s Paris with pleasure. An engaging story! Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the chance to read this ARC!

I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting exploration of women's rights and roles in the post-WWII era. The dress was a nice literary element to tie the storylines together, but really was not essential to the plot. Each of the 3 main characters did have an interesting plot line, although the character that initially seemed to be the main character felt less important as the book continued. The pacing could have been a bit better. The plot seemed to drag a bit in the middle and then pick up rapidly at the end. Overall, this was a charming and enjoyable book.

I adore Christine Wells' historical fiction, and THE PARIS GOWN is an exquisite example of why. The setting in the City of Light is sumptuously described and the narrative beautifully written. I grew to care deeply about Claire, Gina, and Margot and how their lives entwine around one spectacular Dior gown. Histfic, Paris, and haute couture fans will love it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read The Paris Gown by Christine Wells. This was a magical novel with characters I fell on love with in a city everyone loves.

Thank you @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the eARC of The Paris Gown by @christinewells_ in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 There is something magical about Paris, it’s nearly impossible to describe yet somehow Christine Wells has captured this je ne sais quoi in her new novel. The Paris Gown shares a glimpse of the City of Light as majestically as window shopping along the Champs-Élysées at sunset or a kiss under the Eiffel Tower at midnight at New Years. For three young women, Paris is the epicenter of their formative years, a place where they bonded with each other and first dreamed their dreams. As their hopes dull with the marriage to reality, their lives turn out to be different than expected and relationships are challenged almost to the brink of destruction. The Paris Gown is a novel as beautiful and timeless as a Dior dress.

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!