“The Grace Kelly Dress” by Brenda Janowitz

Read via paperback

A heartwarming journey through three generations of brides passing down a family heirloom.

Synopsis:

The bride
Brooklyn, 2020

Although she has always marched to the beat of her own drum, Rocky is engaged to the perfect man, has created her own business, and become very successful. After losing her father years ago, Rocky has felt a disconnect with her mother. Convinced her mother likes Rocky’s sister, Amanda, more than her, she puts up a wall. Rocky doesn’t want to wear the wedding gown her mother is passing down to her but doesn’t know how to tell her. Can Rocky figure out how to break down her walls and talk to her mother, or will she just wear the dress?

The mother of the bride, as a bride herself
Long Island, 1982

Joanie is an NYCU student, fiancé to Matthew, and has recently lost her sister due to an unknown heart condition. She always tries to be the “good girl,” afraid her parents have already been through too much. When Joanie finds out her sister’s cause of death wasn’t quite what she was lead to believe, Joanie’s world begins to unravel.

The seamstress
Paris, 1958

Orphaned Rose is a seamstress at a famous bridal atelier in Paris. When the owner and designer, Madam Michel, passes away, Rose and Madam Michel’s nephew, Julien, must do everything in their power to keep the atelier afloat. They begin a ruse in which they tell their brides that Madam Michele is away traveling to find the best materials but that she is still giving her approval on the dresses. All is going according to plan, but when Rose forms a friendship with one of the brides and begins falling for the bride’s brother, will they be able to keep up the ruse?

Rating: 3.5/5

Review:

“The Grace Kelly Dress” is a very sweet book. I love historical fiction and thought I would give one a try that isn’t a heavy war book. I enjoyed all three stories in the book, don’t get me wrong, I just never got fully invested in the characters. I kept waiting for something to really pull me in, but unfortunately, that never came.

The storyline that interested me the most was the seamstress in 1958 Paris. I found myself always wanting to get to these sections while reading the others. Maybe I would have liked the book more if it went more in-depth with Rose’s story!

Families can be complicated, but reading along as this one binds together through a dress doused in their heritage is utterly heartwarming.

Conclusion:

This may not have been my favorite book, but if you’re looking for an easy, light, and girly read, I think you’ll love this one!

Amazon: The Grace Kelly Dress: A Novel

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