The Dressmakers of London - by Julia Kelly (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The author of the "enthralling" (Woman's World) The Lost English Girl returns with a heartfelt new novel about estranged sisters who inherit their late mother's dress shop in World War II London.

Isabelle Shelton has always found comfort in the predictable world of her mother's dressmaking shop, Mrs. Shelton's Fashions, while her sister Sylvia turned her back on the family years ago to marry a wealthy doctor whom Izzie detests. When their mother dies unexpectedly, the sisters are stunned to find they've jointly inherited the family business. Izzie is determined to buy Sylvia out, but when she's conscripted into the WAAF, she's forced to seek Sylvia's help to keep the shop open. Realizing this could be her one chance at reconciliation with her sister, Sylvia is determined to save Mrs. Shelton's Fashions from closure--and financial ruin.

Through letters, the sisters begin to confront old wounds, new loves, and the weight of family legacy in order to forge new beginnings in this lyrically moving novel perfect for fans of Genevieve Graham and Lucinda Riley.

Review Quotes

"The Dressmakers of London should come with a warning. You will become so immersed in the lives of the characters, their dilemmas and their relationships, that you just might ignore the world around you as you keep reading to see how the sisters will ever come together again. Watching the journey is truly a lovely experience." --Bookreporter

"An intricate narrative about sisterhood, wartime, and the complications of family secrets . . . . While the dresses will be a treat for fashion lovers, the heart of the novel is its sensitive exploration of the tangled relationship between the sisters and the fresh beginnings that lie ahead for them both." --Shelf Awareness

"Fascinating...While there are plenty of WWII novels out there, this one takes a different approach. I couldn't put this down." --Fresh Fiction

"I absolutely adored this book and its rich cast of characters. The sisters are wonderful and their stories utterly absorbing, but what really wove a spell was the meticulous research...the result is a novel that is so authentic and powerful I felt like I could open the door to Mrs.Shelton's Fashions and step back in time. This is historical fiction at its finest!" --Kate Thompson, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Little Wartime Library

"A captivating, uplifting story of family, fashion, and friendship during World War Two. Izzie and Sylvia are strong, resourceful sisters who have become estranged and I was rooting for them to heal the rift. The descriptions of fabrics, dressmaking techniques, and the ingenuity of fashion designers operating under wartime austerity measures are fascinating. Joyful!" --Gill Paul, USA Today bestselling author of Scandalous Women

"I was gripped by this captivating novel about two estranged sisters in WW2. The characters leapt into life, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to them...It was both fascinating and entrancing. A real page-turner." --Maggie Brookes, author of The Prisoner's Wife and Acts of Love and War

"An uplifting WWII story about familial struggles, societal standards, and forgiveness . . . Kelly portrays friendships built, sisterhoods solidified, and new, deserving love stories formed. Women's strength in the face of adversity is the focus of this fine historical novel." --Booklist

"I adore Kelly's smart, thoughtful historical novels about women finding their way . . . So good - sensitive and compelling and full of fabulous WWII fashion details." --Cakes, Tea and Dreams

About the Author

Julia Kelly is the award-winning author of emotional historical novels about ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances and thrilling historical whodunnit mysteries. In addition to writing, she's been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London with her husband. Readers can visit JuliaKellyWrites.com to learn more about all her books and sign up for her newsletter so they never miss a new release.