The Last Dress from Paris

De: Jade Beer

Narrado por: Tamsin Topolski

The secret is hidden within a collection of Dior dresses...

London, 2017. There’s no one Lucille adores more than her grandmother. So when her beloved Granny Sylvie asks for Lucille’s assistance with a small matter, she’s happy to help. The next thing she knows, Lucille is on a train to Paris, tasked with retrieving a priceless Dior dress. But not everything is as it seems, and what Lucille finds in a small Parisian apartment will have her scouring the city for answers to a question that could change her entire life.

Paris, 1952. Postwar France is full of glamour and privilege, and Alice Ainsley is in the middle of it all. As the wife to the British ambassador to France, Alice’s job is to see and be seen—even if that wasn’t quite what she signed up for. Her husband showers her with jewels, banquets, and couture Dior dresses, but his affection has become distressingly elusive. As the strain on her marriage grows, Alice’s only comfort is her bond with her trusted lady’s maid, Marianne. But when a new face appears in her drawing room, Alice finds herself yearning to follow her heart...no matter the consequences.

The City of Light comes alive in this lush, evocative tale that explores the ties that bind us together, the truths we hold that make us who we are, and the true meaning of what makes someone family.

©2022 Jade Beer (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Beer peels back layers of the story slowly, keeping readers guessing. For fans of fabulous historical settings with a modern parallel narrative." —Booklist

"A delightful fashion treasure hunt involving some of my favorite Dior gowns made this book a winner for me! The present day and 1950s narratives weave seamlessly together, the dresses dance from the pages, and Paris is resplendently depicted.” — Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret

“After finishing Beer’s latest, it was all I could do to not book the next plane to France and head straight for the House of Dior. Offering a whirlwind tour through Paris, both past and present, the novel is a rich exploration of the power of female friendships and the true meaning of family. Moving and utterly enjoyable." — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

The full package

This book has it all... part mystery, part love story, part historical fiction, part women's fiction, this well-crafted and beautifully written story spans decades of life, love and couture in Paris and in London. The weaving together of these elements creates a delightful and heartwarming tale.

Fun trip to Dior!

Just finished The Last of the Moon Girls, which is now a Favorite! This was great, I’ve just read too many Paris books lately, at least it was different and not WW11 which is running a lot of books together in my memory. Thank you!

Meaningful

It was easy for me to identify the truth of this very complex story.

Beautiful Story!

Wonderfully written story and the ending was such a great surprise. The narrator was spot on!!

Great story!!

I really loved this book! Well done! I enjoyed this complex, interesting story. Very memorable.

An enjoyable listen.

A wonderful story from beginning to end. I enjoyed the pacing and narration as well. It did feel as though the storyline could have happened even prior to the 1950’s.

Fabulous book

Great story, loved this book. Beautiful nod to amazing Dior . Highly recommended to all lovers of a good family story

Amazing Read- narrator fabulous

The story, the narrator and everything about this story is just perfect! One of my very favorites! A must read!!

Interesting…but ~

Spoilers: A good story with so much missing. A frustrating lack of resolution for many events and characters. We know nothing about most of the characters aside from what they did or said. How many of the main characters end up isn’t greatly explained ~no eventuality at all. A vulnerable young woman is deceived and selfishly used by the most self involved emotionally vacant and wrecked men she could ever come across. I can’t decide which one is worse, at least the husband shelters, feeds and clothes her and makes his position and expectations clear whereas the lover gives nothing and leaves her destroyed to her soul. He seems unaffected by her loss of house and home, income, position, status and to deal alone with the consequences of it all. He seemingly simply used her as a muse. I despised him for setting out to seduce her and ruin her life in every way especially since he seemed to know all along he wouldn’t be able to man up. She is left with being disowned by her parents and everyone in her life with her husband’s world and forced to give up her child as she has no support. Fortunately for her she has a rare find in her friend and former maid who saves her. We don’t know exactly how she managed after leaving Paris to find a job and eventually marry again or how that all came about. We don’t know anything about Edward other than he is a good man that she seems to appreciate after all she has been through with emotionally, nearly evil, exhausting men she could not depend on. I enjoyed the Christian Dior aspect and the dresses that are real and can be viewed online. I did feel sorry for Alice she is young and trusting and unaware of how men can take advantage of innocence. Predators. She learns all the hard way but does not seem to become bitter but her sadness throughout life does affect others. The narrator did a good job but with an air of melancholy that added to the at times depressing content.

Wonderful

The storyline is captivating and engages the reader instantly. A world of romance, intrigue and beauty is all in this read!