Review: The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little

The Chanel Sisters

by Judithe Little 

Publisher: Graydon House

Pages: 400

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  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.

Kritters Thoughts:  There is more to the Chanel family than Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel and this book takes the point of view of her younger sister, Antoinette.  Chronicling from their younger years into adulthood, the book spans quite a long time and these ladies had quite the life!  

I have read quite a few books from Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's point of view, so I was excited to read a book from a different perspective and see Coco, but also see more of the family and how they became who they did.  Although the first few chapters as the story started with them in an orphanage felt as though it moved real slow, once they were out and started to really get into the early years of their business, I really started enjoying the book and felt as though the pacing really picked up.  

I would recommend this book to readers who are already familiar with Chanel's story and add it to the group of books to read more about not only Coco, but the whole family.  I appreciated getting more of a perspective on how the brand was started and how it grew to what it became and the ups and downs through it all.  

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2020 Challenge: 134 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Harlequin.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.