The Chanel Sisters

A Novel

By: Judithe Little

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

A USA Today and a Globe and Mail best seller!

A novel of survival, love, loss, triumph - and the sisters who changed fashion forever

Antoinette and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel know they’re destined for something better. Abandoned by their family at a young age, they’ve grown up under the guidance of 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 boutique business takes hold and expands to the glamorous French resort towns.

But the sisters’ lives are again thrown into turmoil when World War I breaks out, forcing them to make irrevocable choices, and they’ll have to gather the courage to fashion their own places in the world, even if apart from each other.

“The Chanel Sisters explores with care the timeless need for belonging, purpose, and love, and the heart’s relentless pursuit of these despite daunting odds. Beautifully told to the last page.” (Susan Meissner, best-selling author of The Last Year of the War)

©2020 Judithe Little (P)2020 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Engaging

I was so enjoying this book. Getting a glimpse into the life of Coco Chanel. Spoiler it just ends.

Coco and Her Sisters

I loved reading this book or actually listening to this book. I could never afford any Chanel except for some of their make up and skin care. I have always been very intrigued by Chanel.

Finding out about the Chanel sisters gave me so much insight into them.

I had no idea of their struggles. I am glad to know of their history and their life and their loves.

This book meant a lot to me. The narration was excellent, the author was excellent. It was just all good I am very grateful to have gotten to listen to this thank you.

The author wrote a beautiful book. In addition I think I will listen to anything that Saskia Maarleveld narrates. I just looked so forward to hearing her voice and getting into the characters that she portrays. It is a gift!

AnnieB

Well, she never got into Coco very much is mostly about your sister

Very disappointing because I was hoping to hear about both sisters thoroughly. She just skimmed on Coco and it was more about the one sister and her love desires and then it just ended like just like that you have no idea what happens next did she die? did she go off to Buenos Aires? What happened to her, and then, as far as Coco goes, she didn’t get into anything about the Nazi stuff or who she helped or nothing. There was absolutely nothing just about how she designed hats. It was entertaining the narration was OK. I like that narrator but not for this story.
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This was an 'ok' story.

I wish this book was more about Coco Chanel and her later years, how she ran her successful business.

Super!

It's amazing to see what these women accomplished in their era. Yes there's romance but it doesn't overtake the book and if that's how they lived their lives, it's part of the story. Interesting history - the artists, the personalities of the various locations, the aristocracy, the war, and on and on. But the characters draw you in immediately and you want to know what happens to all of them. The history comes out as part of the characters lives, it's not just recited at the reader. Well done. Really enjoyed this.

Brilliantly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

Abandoned by their family years before, Gabrielle and Antoinette Chanel grow 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.

It was refreshing to read about the humble beginning of famous fashion designer, Gabríel (Coco) Chanel, through the eyes of her obscure sister, Antoinette. Much of the story of Antoinette was imagined, as there are fewer historical details about her life. That’s disappointing, because Ninette, as Coco called her, was largely responsible for the success of the Chanel brand, and I found her character to be the most interesting. I wanted to know more about her and less about Coco, who wiggled herself to the upper echelons of European society, in large part because of her relationships with men with money and influence.

I enjoyed the overall pacing of the novel, which had significantly different content than another recently published novel, Mademoiselle Chanel, which I read back in 2015. In both books, Coco is a larger-than-life presence and a highly successful businesswoman. In The Chanel Sisters, Coco was presented practically as a magical being who worked and played hard, and turned everything she touched into gold. And even though she had many affairs, it was as if she did no wrong. Historians agree Coco collaborated with the Nazis. A fact that is conspicuously absent in The Chanel Sisters.

I adored the ending. Very poetic and touching. No spoiler here; you’ll need to read it for yourself. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. To read more of my reviews, google my name.

The end is a bit sad, but overall good book

The end is a bit sad, but overall good book.
This feels like it is based off of real life Chanel but not 100% true story line.
It was a very good story.

Fascinating Journey from Poverty to Great Wealth

This is a marvelous book detailing the life of Gabrielle 'Coco" Chanel. Ms. Little was able to weave her extensive research into a a captivating historical fiction novel that held my attention to the end. I was disappointed when it ended.

True story or not…

After researching the authenticity of this take I decided it didn’t matter. Based on true facts, albeit mainly historical, the story weaves a vibrant picture of the times and how the Chanel sisters lives were transfigured with hard work, passion and dogged determination. I enjoyed the ride.

Great Novel

Interesting story, nice to hear it from a different point of view. Performance was great!