Scan barcode
lazygal's review
3.0
Apparently this is based on the real life adventures of Grace Woods - it's unclear exactly how much is her life and how much has been embroidered on, but her life is certainly exciting. Raised in Australia on a ranch, able to shoot and fix equipment as well as speak French and be the perfect hostess, Grace is falling into a traditional life; one terrible day she leaves her husband and discovers her mother's darkest secret, so she flees to France and becomes a model for Christian Dior. There are great cameos, including Jackie Beauvoir and the Duchess of Windsor. There's excitement (spying), love, reconciliation, and lots of post-war Paris. All in all, fun historical fiction.
eARC provided by publisher.
eARC provided by publisher.
openmypages's review
4.0
I love historical fiction but when I received The Paris Model from Harper Collins in the mail for review, I thought I was in for a fru fru love story with a little glam but boy was this book so much more than that! The synopsis alludes to the political intrigue within but I was not expecting the complex story that was presented. In the first third of the story, you fall in love with Grace, she is a young girl dreaming of more than a girl in 40's and 50's was entitled to in Australia.
When her life takes her to Paris, she falls in with a super glamorous crowd which was fun to read about. I learned a lot about post-war France and the height of New Look fashion. The associations Grace makes with the glitterati of Paris leads her into a life which no one would expect. The twists of her personal life are quite stunning and even more so when you read the epilogue to the book and realize that the book is based on a real person.
Thanks to Harper Collins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
When her life takes her to Paris, she falls in with a super glamorous crowd which was fun to read about. I learned a lot about post-war France and the height of New Look fashion. The associations Grace makes with the glitterati of Paris leads her into a life which no one would expect. The twists of her personal life are quite stunning and even more so when you read the epilogue to the book and realize that the book is based on a real person.
Thanks to Harper Collins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
kayereader's review
3.0
I enjoyed this story that included family dynamics, fashion, & some intrigue in post WWII Paris. The characters were lifelike and for the most part, endearing. Some of the plot twists seemed unrealistic It was interested that actual famous personalities were brief characters in the story. The book was based on an actual person.
onlyoncetbj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
took a while to build i think, but it ended up having a lot of different parts that made it more complex as it went!
georgie90's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Nice easy read.
After bastille day felt a little drawn out, like there was a word count that needed to beAmet.
A little bit too nearly tied up at the end. It could have finished a few chapters earlier.
my main issue is, if you were given a photo of a person to track down, even if that person is standing the the shade of a black and white photo. You would recognise your step father.
After bastille day felt a little drawn out, like there was a word count that needed to beAmet.
A little bit too nearly tied up at the end. It could have finished a few chapters earlier.
ellensbookishcollection's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really enjoyed this story. The middle felt a bit long, but it was fun. We follow Grace Woods, as she grows up into a young woman in Australia. Fascinated with the high fashion of Paris. After the war, we find her in the magical city of Paris and follow her as she comes into to her own. This is a story about a young woman finding herself, it's about high fashion, it's about romance and about family. Just overall a very great book that I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
chantellef's review against another edition
4.0
I found the book a little slow to get into at first, it jumped around the different characters and places and I felt a little lost. But about 1/3 of the way in I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the descriptions of place and clothing, I felt like I was at some of the places with characters.
Grace is a vibrant and independent women, who struggles through running a sheep farm in Australia before heading to Paris to work as a model.
It was a beautiful account of the love of family, and the struggles of war and getting back on your feet after war.
Thank you Better Reading and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.
Grace is a vibrant and independent women, who struggles through running a sheep farm in Australia before heading to Paris to work as a model.
It was a beautiful account of the love of family, and the struggles of war and getting back on your feet after war.
Thank you Better Reading and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.
al1cya's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
rhodaj's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for both a kindle and paperback copy of this book to review! This book comes out on 20th January.
Grace is living on a vast Australian sheep station with her husband Jack, although she is not at all happy and is feeling very unfulfilled. When an opportunity to model in Christian Dior’s first parade outside Paris, in Sydney arises, Grace runs with the opportunity.
Grace is then offered a position as a mannequin with Christian Dior in Paris and as she prepares to move to Paris, she makes a shocking discovery that changes her life. What follows is an eventful life in post-war Paris, surrounded by sumptuous fashion and famous faces as Grace tries to find her true identity.
This is a fascinating book, based on a true story. If you’re a fashion lover and admirer of the arts, I’m sure this book will appeal, although the name dropping of famous faces was a little off-putting to me.
I feel that a little more character development would have given this book a bit more substance, as the characters felt a little flat and underdeveloped to me. The book seemed to focus more on the storyline than the characters, however I did really enjoy the story and the contrast between the Australian bush and the frivolity of Paris. Grace certainly had an adventurous and interesting life for a woman during that period in time! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
Grace is living on a vast Australian sheep station with her husband Jack, although she is not at all happy and is feeling very unfulfilled. When an opportunity to model in Christian Dior’s first parade outside Paris, in Sydney arises, Grace runs with the opportunity.
Grace is then offered a position as a mannequin with Christian Dior in Paris and as she prepares to move to Paris, she makes a shocking discovery that changes her life. What follows is an eventful life in post-war Paris, surrounded by sumptuous fashion and famous faces as Grace tries to find her true identity.
This is a fascinating book, based on a true story. If you’re a fashion lover and admirer of the arts, I’m sure this book will appeal, although the name dropping of famous faces was a little off-putting to me.
I feel that a little more character development would have given this book a bit more substance, as the characters felt a little flat and underdeveloped to me. The book seemed to focus more on the storyline than the characters, however I did really enjoy the story and the contrast between the Australian bush and the frivolity of Paris. Grace certainly had an adventurous and interesting life for a woman during that period in time! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!
mirunabutuc's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25