The Chanel Sisters was quite the interesting historical fiction read that kept me engaged as I turned each page.
Antoinette and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel know they’re destined for something better. Abandoned by their family years before, they’ve grown up under the guidance of pious nuns preparing them for simple lives as the wives of tradesmen or shopkeepers. At night, their secret stash of romantic novels and magazine cutouts beneath the floorboards are all they have to keep their dreams of the future alive.
The walls of the convent can’t shield them forever, and when they’re finally of age, the Chanel sisters set out together with a fierce determination to prove themselves worthy to a society that has never accepted them. Their journey propels them out of poverty and to the stylish cafés of Moulins, the dazzling performance halls of Vichy—and to a small hat shop on the rue Cambon in Paris, where a business takes hold and expands to the glamorous French resort towns. But when World War I breaks out, their lives are irrevocably changed, and the sisters must gather the courage to fashion their own places in the world, even if apart from each other.
This story was about how the Chanel sisters and their aunt forged their own way to rise above their current situation in life to create a better future for themselves. We watch this story unfold through the discerning eyes of Antoinette, and also dive into the pragmatic personality of Gabrielle (Coco) and her constant internal struggles. Gabrielle was an impulsive woman who seemed to not think before she acted. Watching Antoinette and their close friends turn into her voice of reason was an eye opener.
I really enjoyed learning how the Chanel line got started and found this one the most interesting parts of the book, and wish it had been longer. But, my favorite part of the book dealt with the romance between Antoinette and Lucho, the Argentinian Polo. I lived for the moments when they would get to bask in each other’s love.
If you are looking for historical fiction with powerful women, determination, complex family dynamics and friendships with a bit of romance, then you should check this book out
Note to reader: I’ve seen quite a few reviews that criticize this author for not writing from Coco Chanel’s point of view or including more of her in the story. Personally I think that Judithe Little did a fabulous job in choosing to explore the story through Antoinette’s point of view, and here is why:. - Coco developed a bad reputation for herself before and during WWII. She worked for the Nazi’s, turned in her own Frenchmen who were part of the resistance, and was an anti-Semite who also turned in hidden Jews to the Nazis and Vichy. For an author to take on a story from Coco’s point of view would be extremely hard given these conditions and personality.
Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
