A gothic tale of mystery and tragedy set in Paris, 1789 right before the French Revolution where 2 sisters Lara and Sofi find work in the famed Oberst wallpaper company after their father is killed in a freak accident. The days are long and the sisters toil in hot and stifling conditions along with their mother to make the wallpaper prints, but the toil is made lighter when the sisters meet handsome Josef Oberst son of the reclusive factory owner who befriends them. As the girls become accustomed to their work they begin to notice that the wallpaper details images of a woman who resembles the late wife of the factory owner who died under mysterious circumstances. But Lara begins to notice that not only does the wallpaper have images of the dead woman, but the wallpaper holds images of herself as she notices it more and more and she feels there some connection between them. As Josef and Lara spend more time together he increasingly becomes attracted to Lara, a fact that Sofi resents because she is harboring a crush herself for Josef. But, Josef's father has plans for his son to marry someone of nobility and arranges his marriage to Hortense, a petulant, spoiled daughter of an aristocrat, but the storm of the Revolution is brewing and the aristocracy's days are numbered as they meet the guillotine and the people are demanding change. I was enthralled by this read I couldn't put it down, I needed to know the outcome of Sofi, Lara's and Josef's lives, a very gripping read.
Thank you to author Lora jones and NetGalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

With so many historical fiction novels set during WWII it was refreshing and interesting to read one set during the French Revolution. When their father dies suddenly, sisters Sofi, Lara and their mother are forced to move away from home and accept jobs in wallpaper factory. Upon arrival they find that the late wife of the factory owner is represented repeatedly in the wallpaper, but the scenes are not always constant, moving and changing with regularity. A great novel of romance and war, I highly recommend this one!

I found this book very intriguing by the description given. I did not enjoy the purple cover that I saw, it is a vibrant purple, I thought the other cover was a bit more polished. The current cover feels very dated and I believe you will be missing out on a younger market. If I was basing my judgement solely on the cover, I would have probably skipped over the book. Unfortunately, I had a hard time coming back to this book. I did not realize until after ordering the book that the book is written with multiple narratives, and I don’t usually enjoy that style. I think the book has great potential, I really loved the premise, and I enjoy the author and her professionalism. I hope to pick up the book later, but I have moved on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square Publishing for access to this title. I am auto-approved by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.


France, 1780s- As revolution swirls through France, sisters Sofi and Lara find their life in beautiful Marseilles upended when their father dies in a tragic accident and along with their grieving mother, they must leave the only city they have ever known. Settling in a small village near Paris, the three women are employed to work in a factory. Lara and Sofi soon became intrigued by some of the local gossip surrounding their masters which leads them very close to danger. Meanwhile, Hortense, the youngest daughter of a noble French family has lived a very privileged life. When her father weds her to the son of the factory owner, the three women's lives collide in the most tragic of ways.

The chapters alternate between the three aforementioned characters. The story starts slowly and it is jarring when Hortense is introduced because it isn't clear until much later in the story the role that she will play. Word of caution, Hortense's point of view is so hard to read because she's such a selfish person! However, the last 1/3 of the book had me on the edge of my seat and for that, I place it in the 3-star range


Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 12/02/25

This book was based on love story and a murder mystery. It starts out with these 2 girls named.So FA and her sister. L a r e. . These girls were both artists we like to draw. The father Died and they had to go leave go to work in the factory which made wallpaper. There was another story as well about a rich woman who family was trying to marry her off. Factory owner's son JOS. E! FFOPERs. T. FELL in love Quit one of the sisters. His mother died tragically and nobody ever talked about. There are so many different parallels in this story.Also a french revolution was going on at the same time. It was very interesting how she wrote this history in with the story. Things got very interesting when he married this wealthy woman. She came to live at a factory was not very happy. Her maid took off and so The S o n ask for One of the sisters to become her M a I d. L a rbegin to see things in the wallpaper in her room and there house where she was working. J o s e s treated her like a sister. They had Fancy party one night. Things got out of hand that's well and one of the old neighbors showed up.. This is very interesting because revolution is taking place and one of the sisters is very Involved. Lar e comes pregnant. And you will really find out who my father i At the end of the book.

This book started off too slowly for me, and the tone is too dark. I’m sure others will enjoy it, but I’m not the right audience. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Set in France during the Revolution. Lara and Sofi lose their father because of an accident. Together with their mother, they start working at the Oberst wallpaper factory. Both sisters are drawn to the son of the owner, Josef.
The workers start telling them stories about the late Madame Oberst and how she died in mysterious circumstances.
On the background of this the French Revolution is taking a hold of the workers in the factory. And this situation is particularly dangerous for the new Madame Oberst, Hortense, who marries Josef. After having to leave the luxuries of Versailles she does not even try to like her new home and the people around it.

Will the sisters be able to solve the mystery of the death of Madame Justine Oberst? And what will it cost them? Will Hortense survive the French Revolution? And why is Josef trying to replace his mother?

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The French Revolution is an interesting period and a great stage for historical novels. This novel has a bit of a slow start but once events start unfolding, the pace quickens a lot and sometimes a lot of things happen one after the other (which sometimes made it a bit confusing).

The POV switches between sisters Lara and Sofi, and Hortense. Bit by bit the story unfolds and you get to read each of their thoughts and motivations. Because the sisters sound very alike, I sometimes had to look back to the start of the chapter to remember myself who's POV it actually was. Hortense was a very unlikable character, but I think the author made it very clear how the aristocrats felt they were better than other people and that shows very clearly in Hortense.

It was a nice historical novel but didn't grip me as much as I hoped it would. The wallpaper mystery was unnerving without being creepy.
Overall, a promising debut novel!

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1788 France, this story follows Sofi, Lara, and Hortense as they navigate lives that don’t quite unfold as they had hoped. With the increasingly volatile French Revolution in the background, the tension in this book gradually builds to a gripping climax.

There’s so much depth to this story, and I found myself fully invested in these women and their perspectives. I rooted for them, commiserated with them, and even disliked them at times as they moved through an ever-changing, and eventually explosive, French landscape. Add in some unexpected psychological thriller elements set in a Toile de Jouy wallpaper factory, and I found myself thoroughly captivated.

This book delivers a rich and layered experience—I highly recommend it! Thank you NetGalley and Union Square &Co.

It is October 1793, the same month as Marie Antoinette’s execution, and another young woman travels on the tumbrel towards the guillotine in the Place de la Révolution. As the woman is hoisted to her death, a voice cries out that there has been a terrible mistake. The novel’s Prologue ends on this powerful cliff-hanger, the story then returning to 1788 to follow the train of events that will lead to this dramatic moment.

So begins Lora Jones’ fabulous debut novel about three very different women leading their lives during the early days of the French Revolution. The plotting is superb with unexpected twists and turns right to the end and the story-telling is consistently masterful. The narrative perspective shifts between the three main characters allowing us to view events from different angles, and often revealing misunderstandings or prejudiced assumptions. The characters are all beautifully rendered, flawed and damaged by events and circumstances, but also changed and often redeemed by them. The stark division between the rich and poor that so fuelled these revolutionary times is brought to life in the characters themselves, and there is a constant mirroring between the broader political context and the intimacy of everyday domestic life.

The writing is absolutely beautiful, scenes finely observed and places skilfully depicted with a painterly eye. We totally inhabit the world of the characters, sharing the opulence of Versailles, the cold starkness of a factory worker’s cottage or the disturbing violence at the storming of the Bastille. Aspects of the story – such as eighteenth century wallpaper manufacture – have been carefully researched and included to enhance the authentic feel of the story, never intruding on or impeding the narrative. There is lots of clever symbolism – birds, animals, flowers, colours – alongside a carefully constructed and growing sense of unease. There are some fantastic Gothic scenes making use of extreme weather conditions – storms, fog etc - and numerous unsettling and ghostly happenings. However, this novel is ultimately more Thomas Hardy than Ann Radcliffe: it is about relationships and tragic love; it is about women’s lives and whether change is possible in this male-dominated world; and, while it shows that society is deeply flawed, it questions whether the cost of reform is too high.

Overall, this is a fantastically engaging novel that gripped me from beginning to end. It gives a real sense of what it was like to live life during turbulent times, and if a key motivator was revenge, it shows that the power of love is always infinitely stronger.

Interesting premise. Took me a long time to get into it and almost DNF'd. The story picked up a bit in the second half. I thought the writing was a little uneven. Two of the three MCs are sisters and I had a bit of trouble distinguishing their voices. Overall a good read.

I loved this book! Lora Jones' "The Woman in the Wallpaper" is full of gothic intrigue and historical depth, weaving together themes of love, loss, obsession, and the inexorable pull of destiny. Set against the charged backdrop of pre-Revolutionary Paris, this novel is both a richly atmospheric period piece and a riveting psychological mystery.

The characters are exquisitely drawn, each with unique struggles and desires. Sofi's fiery political passion, Lara's quiet unraveling, and Hortense's aristocratic discontent all converge in a story that is as unpredictable as it is haunting. Their lives are forever changed by one man, Josef Oberst, whose mother died when he was a child. Since then, he has forever obsessed over his memories of her within the artistic designs of the family's intricate wallpaper.

But this isn't any ordinary wallpaper. The mysterious wallpaper, with its intricate patterns and ghostly echoes of the past, becomes almost a character in itself, drawing the women into its enigmatic spell.

Sisters Sofi and Lara are incredible artists who find their way to Oberst's wallpaper factory after the death of their father for work and housing. Both take an interest in Josef. He sees so many similarities to his mother in Lara that he can't stay away from her and has plans to propose, but his father has grander plans in store for his wealthy son that don't involve someone on their staff. While villagers and workers live on scraps - rich, spoiled, rude, and rotten, Hortense enters the picture as Josef's betrothed. Forced to marry but in love with Lara, he brings her into the home as his new wife's lady's maid, where things take a turn for the worse.

Jones's writing is so immersive, painting vivid scenes of the Oberst factory, the streets of Paris on the brink of revolution, and the ominous interiors of the Oberst home. The novel masterfully balances historical detail with suspense, keeping readers gripped until the final, heart-stopping twist.

Thank you, #NetGalley, #LoraJones, and UnionSquareCo, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #TheWomanintheWallpaper.

Revolutionary Designs: A Review of Lora Jones's The Woman in the Wallpaper

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the French Revolution, "The Woman in the Wallpaper" weaves an intricate tale of two sisters whose lives become entangled in a web of family secrets, artistic passion, and class conflict. This atmospheric historical novel blends elements of Gothic suspense with keen social commentary, creating a narrative that lingers long after the final page.

The story follows Sofia and Lara Thibault, sisters whose contrasting personalities and shared artistic talents drive the narrative. When circumstances force them to leave their home in Marseilles, they find themselves at the Oberst wallpaper factory, where they encounter a cast of compelling characters who will alter the course of their lives. As political tensions rise and social upheaval threatens the fabric of French society, the sisters must navigate increasingly treacherous waters while pursuing their artistic ambitions.

The author's talent shines in creating richly atmospheric writing and multifaceted characters with genuine depth. Through Jones's skillful portrayal, pre-revolutionary France emerges in vivid detail. At the story's heart stands the wallpaper factory, its daily cadence dictating the flow of life for those who work there. The elaborate designs and manufacturing techniques mirror the characters' psychological landscapes, weaving together the physical and emotional elements of the narrative.

The relationship between Sofia and Lara forms the emotional core of the novel. Sofia's fiery temperament and revolutionary fervor contrast beautifully with Lara's gentler nature and quiet resilience. Their bond provides a touching exploration of sisterly love amid challenging circumstances. Jones populates her novel with vivid secondary characters, from the enigmatic factory heir Josef Oberst to the complex array of workers and aristocrats whose lives intersect with the sisters'.

The author's use of wallpaper as a recurring motif is particularly effective. The patterns within patterns, the hidden scenes, and the stories embedded in the designs mirror the novel's themes of perception, memory, and how the past can shape our present. Jones demonstrates remarkable skill in using these artistic elements to enhance atmosphere and theme without letting them overshadow the human drama at the story's heart.

The historical context is deftly handled, with the French Revolution serving as more than a mere backdrop. The political and social tensions of the era are woven seamlessly into the characters' dramas, highlighting how larger historical forces shape individual lives. Jones shows particular skill in depicting the class divisions and social inequalities that fueled the revolutionary period.

The novel's pacing slows in its middle section, particularly during passages focused on life at the factory. Some readers might find certain character arcs developing along predictable lines, though Jones generally manages to keep the story engaging through strong prose and atmospheric detail.

Overall, "The Woman in the Wallpaper" succeeds as both historical fiction and psychological drama. The author's careful attention to period detail and her exploration of timeless themes such as identity, ambition, and the power of art create a rich and rewarding reading experience.

This novel will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric historical fiction, especially those drawn to stories featuring strong female characters and Gothic elements. Jones has crafted a compelling debut that skillfully balances historical authenticity with psychological insight, making "The Woman in the Wallpaper" a noteworthy addition to the historical fiction genre.

This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Union Square & Co. - a subsidiary of Sterling Publishing. It is currently scheduled for release on February 4, 2025.

An interesting concept that kept my attention through the story. Very atmospheric.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

4.5/5 stars

It's Paris 1789, just before the French Revolution, and we're introduced to three women who are beginning to find their place in the world and through circumstances find themselves at the Oberst's wallpaper factory. Sofi is a worker at the factory, her sister Lara is a Lady's Maid, and Hortense a young aristocrat. The sisters both notice something strange at the factory, as the same woman appears again and again in the illustrations on the wallpaper. But what does it mean and what will unravel when they begin to search for answers?

I love a multi-perspective story, and this was told wonderfully. Three totally intriguing characters, each with their own unique 'voice' that I enjoyed getting to know throughout the book. The story itself was beautifully written and cleverly constructed with plenty to say about the intricacies of sisterhood and relationships. I adored the backdrop of the French Revolution, especially as it begins to unfold in front of our characters and we see how it affects their lives in very different ways.

At it's heart it feels like a historical fiction, but there was so, so much more to this story. It had a mystery that run throughout, it was about the lives of 18th Century women across the classes, and it was about repeating patterns, and how grief shapes and changes us. I thoroughly loved this book - I have a digital copy but I NEED to buy a physical one to keep on my shelf, and to share with a few people I know who are going to love this too! It's a debut book with a lot of heart and I'm excited to see what Lora Jones does next.

Are some patterns destined to be repeated?

This is a fascinating story with a unique plot and plenty to think about!

Author Lora Jones wants readers to consider that the past isn’t really that foreign - that history repeats itself with few drastic changes. Her particular setting to showcase this concept of historic recurrence is Paris in 1793. By taking readers back to the events of the French Revolution and examining the heart of the conflict, the fight for change and the results, she offers us a mirror with which to view our present and our future.

To showcase her driving concept, she introduces us to three women from different sections of society and highlights their plight before, during and after the revolution. Sofi, a wallpaper factory worker; Lara, Sophie’s sister and a lady’s maid; and Hortense, an aristocrat, enlighten readers about the lack of real change and opportunity for women. Poverty is as much an issue then as it is now, harvest failures are still happening, food prices are soaring post-Covid and widespread social unrest still drives people to protest.

I loved Sofi’s thread and the chance to enter the Toile de Jouy factory. I was intrigued by Sofi’s claim that the scenes in the wallpaper bore a striking similarity to someone she knew and mirrored a history to which she soon became privy.

This was an original, entertaining and fantastic historical debut. It needs to be on your radar. Please check out the author’s page to see her contribution to fostering change.

I was gifted this copy by Union Square & Co and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.