Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book. I went in blind, not knowing anything about the Paris fashion world during the 70s - or ever, for that matter. The author painted such a clear picture of it all - the physical environment, the illustrious fashion, the colorful individuals, and the sex and drug frenzied world. I found myself looking up each and every person the author mentioned because he excelled at peaking the reader’s interest. I’ll tell you what, I want to go and buy something ANYTHING from YSL as soon as humanly possible.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is fashion-obsessed or doesn’t care a thing for it. Regardless, you’ll be hooked by the author’s lavish details and prose and the lengthy list of interesting characters, especially Yves, I don’t doubt you’ll fall a bit in love with him, as well.

I will be honest I wanted to like this book so much. I was hoping that it was going to be historical fiction that had a lot more to do with fashion, but it wasn't expecting it to be all drugs and partying but I guess what else can I expect for a novel set in the 70s. All in all I probably am not the target audience considering I'm an educator myself and this is probably not something I would recommend to on my highschoolers.

I enjoyed this book, but I know some of my readers won't, I'll explain. This book takes place in the fashion world. There are tons of drugs, sex (all types) and lots of backstabbing. Yes, it is totally intriguing. Yes, I did like taking a journey through the fashion world, but I see why some readers didn't love this. CW's books have always interested me because they are different. The author chooses unique subjects. While reading this, I was transported to the 1970's. Hanging with Andy, the designers (Halston, St Laurant, Lagerfield) and Liza with a Z! Liza was the perfect choice to enter and spew her opinion about the designers and their fueds. The whole book felt like a hangout at Studio 54, maybe a little too much for Midwest me, but a club hangout nonetheless.

The writing was rich and descriptive and I could feel the seventies unfurling in front of me like a bold tapestry. The audiobook narrator was first-rate and lovely listening.

I was delighted to have a chance to peek behind the curtain at the history of YSL and the people who helped create Parisian 70s fashion. I'd heard of LouLou de la Falaise and seen her in fashion publications, so I was interested to learn more about her impact on fashion, design, and culture. Frankly, I was disapponinted. This felt like a wild ride through partying and messy relationships with glamourous backdrops and designs. In many ways, it felt like a historical fiction version of a Bravo TV show. I would have loved more depth, but by the end I realized that maybe these people weren't that deep to begin with.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really enjoyed learning about the fashion scene in 1970s Paris—Yves Saint Laurent and the cast of characters connected to his business make for some interesting stories. However, I could have done without half of the club/party scenes because they were all essentially the same. The ending was dramatic and unexpected and I really liked how it all came together. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

The Saint Laurent Muse, by C.W. Gortner, narrated by Ell Potter, is a fascinating romp through high-society Parisian fashion circles of the 70s. Loved this fly-on-the-wall view of the fierce Laurent/Lagerfeld rivalry and (fictional) glimpse of LouLou de la Falaise, Laurent's real muse whose own life was as outrageous and incredible as the clothes she modeled. Potter was the perfect narrator, I wish I could have listened to many more hours of Loulou's exploits!! Highly recommend!!

DNF - I’m never one for books about privileged people doing drugs and high society things. I thought being historical fiction depicting a particular time and place (fashion houses in Paris in the 70s) it would capture my interest, but alas, it did not.

I lost track of who’s sleeping with who in this group of socialites in quasi open relationships and vague references to competition between Yves Saint-Laurent and other contemporary designers. It was actually interesting to hear about the clear division and tension between “haut couture” and “prêt-a-porter” fashion at the time, and a time and place where the success of a company or brand isn’t strictly about sales and profits (“what?!,” say we Americans).

Listened to over half of the audiobook before shelving it and deciding there are many many many more books in the world I’d rather give my time and attention to. Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am not a fashionista, but have found myself oddly drawn to a number of books that offer behind-the-scenes peeks at the fashion world and the lives of designers lately, and have really enjoyed them. I have particularly enjoyed several set in the 1970s, amid the rise of American fashion in relation to French design, and was intrigued by this title as a result. While I enjoyed the way it began, it rather quickly became apparent that this book was at least as much - if not more - about the decadence of the era than the actual designing/designers/muses, and that's where it lost me. LouLou felt like a spoiled child, and the descriptions of drugs and parties wore me out. I'm sure many people will find that focus highly interesting - unfortunately it wasn't a good fit for me.

I had hopes for this book - I thought it would be great because it’s about a famous fashion designer and is set in Paris. However, this book was quite boring and seemed to lack an actual plot beyond clubbing and doing drugs. I would not recommend this book.

While it was interesting to hear about the relationship between Yves St Laurent and his muse Loulou de La Falaise working and creating couture together and shocking the world with their creations, I was less thrilled with their crazy lifestyle. The narration of the audiobook was well done.

The narrator made the book feel like an older era not the 70s but I enjoyed the characters and story. It was a fashionably fun historical fiction

The story takes place in the 70’s with the main character LouLou de la Malaise who was consider Yves Saint Laurents muse. The story begins when LouLou is recently divorced and living with her mother and her mother wants LouLou to launch to her next chapter.

The story takes place in Paris for the majority of the book and we follow LouLou careers. She has an unexpected (to her) start in the fashion industry and continues on with Yves and his design house for decades. Pierre Cardin, Karl Lager, Paloma Picasso and several others make appearances in the story - the overall story is interesting and seeing the relationships between these French designers early in their career is fascinating.

Overall the story is full of decadence of sex, drugs and alcohol and their mainstay in the 70’s - it was one late night party after the other - I would of loved to read more the journey of her career versus LouLou extracricular fun.

3.75 stars This book is a novelization of Loulou de la Falaise, who worked for YSL for many years' life in the 1970s when she joined his atelier and became a core part of his inner circle.

I listened to this on audio and it was kind of how I imagine Loulou de la Falaise's life felt during this time, chaotic, a little confusing, decedent and overstuffed. There are more descriptions of drugs, parties and sex than clothing and it focuses a lot on the bed hopping and rivalry between Saint Laurent and Karl Lagarfeld. Battle of Versailles is a plot point and you get lots of cameos like Halston on the beginning of his decline. There are a lot of gay men and some straight couples with "arrangements" and a lot of people pushing the envelope on what their "arrangements" allow.

I often find that this genre has too many characters and minor details like location changes that a novelist wouldn't include if they were starting from scratch. This is true in this instance and gets a bit confusing. Real life for notable people includes a lot of names and faces and it can be a little tough at times to remember how everyone is connected.

That being said, it was fun, I enjoyed it, and if the topic sounds interesting and you aren't looking for subtle literature, go for it!

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult for an advance listening copy for an unbiased review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at about 27%. The premise sounded interesting about 1970s fashion in Paris. However, this book became more about the sex, drugs, and wild lifestyles of the time rather than focusing on fashion. The main character was insufferable, and it seemed like she cared more about being a rebel than on the fashion.

Some may like this story, and I can see why, but it unfortunately is a pass for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book. I have been reading Gortner off and on for a few years. So when I saw she had a new book I wanted to read it. I was hooked early on with this book. Unfortunately once it got to 40% it started to drag. The main character is oblivious to anything that is not fashion.

Set in 1970's Paris, The Saint Laurent Muse, is Loulou de la Failaise, a young woman at loose ends. Recently divorced and wondering what to next with her life she stumbles into the fashion world and meets Yves Saint Laurent. Almost immediately she becomes his muse, a term she hates, as it sounds indolent and she, despite the partying and reckless life she sometimes leads, is hardworking and full of her own inspirations. She is also a close friend and confidante of Yves and their story is more about their lives then about the fashion world itself.
This was a fascinating look into a world I know very little about, and done incredibly well. I was deeply invested in the lives, and loves of Loulou and Yves and desperately wanted happy endings for them all.



Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this book. It explored a time in Paris that most Americans rarely think about. Many of the historical books out in the last ten years focus on WWII or the 1950's after the war. This is a very different Paris. The characters were interesting, however they often served to move along the plot rather than felling like full flesh and blood people. I would recommend this to anyone that loved fashion.