This novel sucked me in from the beginning. I am a sucker for books with narratives split across time and this book delivers. I thought Natalie’s modern narrative and how she interacted with the historical fiction narrative of Madame Clicquot’s was effortless. While not a romance, I loved watching two strong female characters learn to love, trust, and rely on themselves. I know I will be asking myself what would the widow do for years to come.

I absolutely LOVED this novel! The story is told in alternating perspectives and time periods. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot lived during the 1800s in France and Natalie lives in the present era in Chicago. I have found in the past that when there are dual narratives, one seems to be much better than the other. Here we have two equally compelling narratives. When one chapter ended, I groaned. However, when the next chapter ended I groaned again.

I loved that as Natalie's story was told, she kept a biography of Clicquot in her bag. She referenced it as she hit lows in her post-divorce vacation in France. Madame Clicquot inspired her to live differently than she had before. In the past Natalie always served others. She began to put herself first by being as bold as Madame Clicquot was. I myself was inspired by Natalie's musings over how to change her life by acting as Clicquot did. I, too, am in a transition period as Natalie. One of the sayings that she especially loved from Clicquot was her definition of strength. Madame Clicquot thought that strength was a series of choices. It is not a state of mind. I like this definition!

During Natalie's stay in Paris she meets two people who swindle her out of her money and assets. Believing that these two are not connected to each other, Natalie fell prey to a wine fraud scheme and was questioned by the police. After reviewing the biography Natalie found a way to get her money back that was ingenious. It was risky because the police would then assume that she was involved in the fraud from the beginning. She wasn't. However, Madame Clicquot took huge risks with her business in order to be on top of the champagne business. We all know how successful she was.

The Champagne Letters is a must read. I recommend that you pre-order the book. Amazon will allow you to do so even though the publication date is six months away. I assume that other booksellers will offer pre-sales too.

Loved this book. Set in a dual timeline - a modern divorcee trying to rediscover her purpose in life and a historical look at the life of France's most accomplished female champagne maker - I loved the contrast of the stories and I learned a lot about champagne and France. Highly recommend!