History said she was just a man’s muse. History was wrong. The exquisite new novel from bestselling author Natasha Lester.
In November 1973, a fashion legend vanished, leaving behind only a white silk dress and the question: what really happened to Astrid Bricard?
Paris, 1917: Parentless sixteen-year-old Mizza Bricard makes a vow: to be remembered on her own terms. This promise drives her and her designs through the most exclusive couture houses in France until, finally, a legend is created – one that will endure for generations to come, but not the one she wanted.
New York, 1970: Designer Astrid Bricard arrives in bohemian Chelsea ready to change the fashion world. And she does – but cast in the role of muse to her lover, Hawk Jones. Just as Astrid’s star is finally poised to ascend in its own right, she mysteriously disappears, leaving her family in tatters and perpetuating the infamous Bricard family myth.
French Countryside, Present Day: Blythe Bricard is the daughter of fashion’s most infamous 70s power couple, but she turned her back on that world, and her passion for it, years ago. Fate, however, has other plans, and in a chateau over a whirlwind couple of weeks, Blythe will discover there is more to her iconic mother and grandmother – and herself – than she ever knew.
These three generations now have one chance to prove themselves. Can the women of the Bricard fashion dynasty finally rewrite their history?
Buy a copy of The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
An absolute gem that had me captivated from start to finish! The story weaves three generations of women in the misogynistic and egoistic world of Haute Couture across decades and continents. Both fictional and historical characters are remarkably well-developed and meticulously researched. They all felt so real; I had to look some of them up just to be sure. I also enjoyed crossing paths again with characters from her previous books. It felt like catching up with old friends. Overall, Natasha Lester delivers a riveting mystery that is as much a celebration of resilience as it is a tale of intrigue. If you’re seeking a book that will transport you to another time, discover another side of history and keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further. This is storytelling at its finest! Julie, WA, 5 Stars
Great read! I couldn’t put it down. Eliza, QLD, 5 Stars
Once again, a complete success. Enjoyed the intriguing characters and the three timelines were very interesting. A wonderful exploration of three women finding themselves and making their own way and impact in their worlds. Brandi, TAS, 5 Stars
The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard by Natasha Lester is a historical fiction novel taking place in three timelines. The novel focuses on three women in the fashion industry and the ways they have been treated in a world ruled by men. It was a fascinating read that educates the reader on the gender bias and struggles in the world of fashion. I was captivated by Natasha Lester’s’ writing and was left wanting more. The characters were beautifully written and I constantly felt intrigued and emotional while reading this book. I look forward to reading more works from Natasha Lester. Brittany, VIC, 5 Stars
Following three generations of Bricard women, touted as muses, rather than the fashion designers and intelligent women that they are, this fabulous read spanning over three different decades depicts how women in the fashion world have been downtrodden and victims of the system for so many years. This story was a true page-turner and has something for everyone: romance, intrigue, mystery and reality. I was hooked from the beginning and could not wait to peel away the many layers that made up this incredible read. My first read from Natasha Lester, but certainly will not be my last. Suzie, WA, 5 Stars
This author most certainly shines her light on a whole new era! What a wonderful glimpse into the life of fashion (something I don’t know much about) spanning over three generations of strong powerful women. A few famous names thrown into the mix, gorgeous gowns and a fight for these three women to prove themselves and stand out/make their own name known to the world. Rachael, NSW, 5 Stars
This was my first Natasha Lester book but it definitely won’t be my last. I love a multi-generational story and this didn’t disappoint. Set across several time periods, beginning in 1917, it explores the lives of three generations of Bricard women, all strong in their own ways as the youngest daughter/granddaughter sets out to learn more about her mother and iconic grandmother. Rich in detail and history of the fashion industry, I really loved this book and learning about this male-dominated industry. These are my favourite type of books and this was well written and researched and I highly recommend it. Thanks to Better Reading for the ARC. I can’t wait to read more by this author. Sally, NSW, 5 Stars
This book takes you into the heart of the fashion industry over a period of nearly a hundred years. The leading characters are three generations of female fashion designers. The strength, love and heartbreaks they go through really drew me to them. I could feel their happiness and shed tears for their sadness. This book was very engaging and enlightening. Eleanor, WA, 5 Stars
Beyond Brilliant! Captured my attention from the get-go and I have had a couple off book hangovers because of it 😂 Lee, QLD, 5 Stars
Mizza Bricard, Astrid Bricard, and Blythe Bricard. Three generations of women, all plagued with the familiar experience of being underestimated and reduced to simply being a woman a muse. While the main plot point of this book is what happened to Astrid Bricard, the throughline connecting grandmother, mother, and daughter is their experience being a woman working in a male-dominated industry as well as the general public putting them under a microscope to catch them slipping. Everyone loves a witch hunt, but I love a messy female character. I love women who aren’t perfect, who make mistakes, who feel real. Natasha Lester is an expert at writing historical fiction, but with The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, she has also proven herself as an expert in writing the modern, everyday woman’s story as well. Evelyn, NSW, 5 Stars
The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is another amazing novel by Natasha – she has an incredible gift for storytelling. One that will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning with not a single regret. Except maybe that you didn’t personally know Astrid or Hawk, or Mizza, or Blythe… You get the point. Lauren, NSW, 5 Stars
I absolutely loved The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard! I was hooked from the outset and found it hard to put the book down. The three protagonists are passionate, dynamic women, all trying to achieve success and recognition in the male-dominated world of fashion design, with each one encountering similar obstacles and prejudice despite living in different periods of time. It makes one wonder if the gender gap will ever be solved. The novel is beautifully written and Natasha Lester seamlessly weaves in and out of the lives of Mizza, a real person and renowned muse of Christian Dior, her fictitious daughter Astrid, and granddaughter Blythe, so that the reader is entranced by their stories and in awe of their talent, but also saddened by the discrimination and chauvinism to which they were subjected. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Astrid at the Battle of Versailles is the core of the novel and I love the way in which Lester threads some characters from her previous novels into the storyline and the way in which her descriptions reference fabric and textile. Whether or not you are a fan of Natasha Lester I would highly recommend this novel. Tracy, WA, 5 Stars
Two hundred words cannot do justice to this book. I’ve enjoyed all of Natasha Lester’s books, particularly her last novel, The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre, but The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is outstanding. As a young woman in the early 1970s, Astrid Bricard believes she can do anything, be anything and achieve her dreams. Like her mother Mizza, and her daughter Blythe, she is not only to be disabused of those ideas but to be scorned, ridiculed and tortured by the mostly male-controlled media and world of fashion. Told through the stories of three generations Lester’s characters are bold, powerful women, keen to empower other women but brought to their knees by men who are threatened by them and have the power to control the narrative. Whether in the 1930s, 1970s, or today women have to fight hard to overcome the power of falsehoods, jealousy, and fear used against them in the media. In this book, Natasha Lester challenges us to recognise and challenge this status quo. I cried, I laughed and I cheered on these women. Please don’t miss reading this wonderful book. Catherine, QLD, 5 Stars
Any book by Natasha Lester is eagerly anticipated, and this one does not disappoint. The stories of three generations of strong, creative women and their fight to be recognised in the male-dominated fashion design industry are set amongst the backdrops of glittering New York nightclubs, the horrors of war and the fashion Battle of Versailles. One can feel their frustration and anguish at having to make choices and sacrifices to prove their talent, while being belittled in the media and the industry by rumours and innuendo, becoming icons for all the wrong reasons. As usual, Natasha weaves her magic, melding real-life characters and events with fiction to create a novel that was impossible to put down. I hope she continues to champion unheralded women in history! Helen, WA, 5 Stars
Natasha Lester, what can you say, she has done it again! Fantastic! Natasha has this ability to grab you in the first chapter, pulling you into the story and just not letting you go. Even at the end of the book you just want more. I often, after reading her books, go back and research the time; she has you wanting to read more, learn more! Her research into the characters and topics is so thorough and I really enjoy her strong female leads. The struggles and the triumphs of what women have had to face over the decades in male-dominated societies, and also our silent fights as women inside our heads. How to be the best mother, the best wife, the best friend, what society expects us to be. It’s like she is reminding us as females of what we can do, look what you can achieve with hard work (and yes sacrifice), look at what has been achieved with hard work. And look at what she has achieved, a definite legacy, a master storyteller! Kate, TAS, 5 Stars
Natasha Lester’s books have all been five-star reads for me. So it was with great anticipation that I took up her latest novel, The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard. Yet again Natasha has floored me with her storytelling, almost to the point of speechlessness. Where to start with a read that was so powerful, so raw and intense, taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotion? This book consumed me as it is astoundingly told from three viewpoints, three generations of Bricard women, over multiple decades. Unbelievable. This novel is so powerful and beautifully written, each and every character brings something to the story. Through pain and loss, sacrifice and sorrow Natasha takes you on a journey where seemingly impossible decisions will have to be made with the ramifications transcending through the years to come. I challenge you not to be shocked as secrets are revealed at just the right points throughout the story, or feel triumphant when your heartfelt hopes are realised. This is historical fiction, indeed storytelling, at its finest. Helen, VIC, 5 Stars
Wow! I am in awe of Natasha Lester’s storytelling ability! She has an incredible talent and her writing always leaves me feeling incredibly touched and satisfied with the ending. In The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, we follow alternating storylines spanning three generations of Bricard women and the struggles they all faced to be credited for their work and recognized as successful in the fashion industry. I loved how these storylines connected and how each chapter left me wanting to read more. I loved every single character and was rooting for them all throughout the entire book. I absolutely loved reading this book! I was immediately hooked from the first chapter and was captivated the entire time! Gina, NT, 5 Stars
Another amazing piece of historical fiction from Natasha Lester! This novel was so well-researched and I loved how the facts and fiction were interwoven. As always I love the insights into the fashion world and was aghast at the treatment of women throughout time. It was a fascinating read and the fashion storylines captured my attention the most! Highly recommended read! Laura, QLD, 5 Stars
From the first chapter, there is a sense of feminist power and passion within the pages of The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard. Having fallen in love with Natasha’s brilliance for sharing the untold story of women’s role as change makers, I couldn’t wait to read her latest novel. The story follows three generations of Bricard women, all with a style and journey of their own. Yet all possessing a passion for fashion within their veins and held back from their potential by misogyny and societal judgment. Their strength and determination to never give up, even at the expense of their own hearts was inspiring and uplifting. Natasha’s celebration of women’s fashion is always a joy and this novel in particular tapped into the empowerment gained from wearing your favourite outfit. The strength and power you feel within those threads make you believe you can take on the world. And yet Natasha’s book made me question, what sacrifices have been made and whose story has not been told in its journey? Once again Natasha has tweaked at the loose thread of a history told by men, to unveil a beautiful tapestry of women’s untold contribution to our time. Sarah, NSW, 5 Stars
Yet another Natasha Lester masterpiece that has left me speechless. Natasha’s passion for haute couture and fashion history oozes from the pages of this story. Told over three timelines, stretching from the 1900s to present day, it incorporates the real story of Mizza Bricard, Dior’s right-hand woman with the fictional story of her daughter Astrid and granddaughter Blythe. The narrative takes us on a fascinating journey in the world of fashion where the workers are women, catering for a market of women, yet it is an industry dominated by male designers. Despite being supported by their male partners, it is the social norms and gender biases of the fashion industry that the women face that shape their stories. The traumatic events of WWII along with the hedonistic world of the 70s are a major backdrop to the story and enhance the development of the characters. Impeccable research entwines with the fictional liberties taken by the author to make this a book that was difficult to put down. The author’s note clarifies any confusions and questions the reader may have. Rita, WA, 5 Stars
Heartbreaking, inspirational and powerful. Yet another multi-faceted treat from Natasha Lester full of mystery, history, fashion, pop culture and heartbreak. This feminist story exposes the judgement women have endured throughout history and still do to this day. A thoroughly entertaining read that attempts to empower all women, especially those who “…had a man make her into someone less than she truly is.” Michelle, QLD, 5 Stars
I loved this book. In fact, I loved it so much that I couldn’t put it down and I read it in a day and a half! I was fascinated by the 20th-century fashion world and the story really opened my eyes to the chauvinism and misogyny that were obviously rife in the rag trade – and which maybe still are. Mizza, Astrid and Blythe were strong characters and the way that fact and fiction were woven together really brought their stories to life. In particular, I really sympathised with Astrid, trying to make her name in fashion but constantly getting relegated to “Muse” or simply famous because she was someone’s lover. Thank you for this preview copy, Better Reading – it was a terrific story! Dari, WA, 5 Stars
Another brilliant historical fiction novel from Natasha Lester! Slightly different from her usual WWII historical fiction genre, this book is a multi-generational look at women in fashion. The story centres around the lives of three strong women in the world of fashion in France and the USA from post-WW1 through to present day. Weaving historical events into the story, with a cameo of a character from another book, makes for a well-written and very absorbing book. I did not want to put this book down. If you love historical fiction and fashion, then you will love this book! Wendy, VIC, 5 Stars
It’s not very often that the characters are so realistic that you Google them to make sure that what you are reading isn’t in fact based on a real person. And I’m still not convinced that my search results are correct. The level of detail in this story was just amazing, and I got a lesson in the fashion industry as an added bonus. There must be hours of research behind this book! I enjoyed the switch between the three timelines, with Mizza’s war stories being particularly poignant, but with all three women going through situations and fights that made me angry. I had little awareness of how male-led the fashion industry was, and seeing their dreams thwarted at every turn was heartbreaking. Despite this, it was great to read about not one but three strong female lead characters, and the men who supported them against the odds. It was an inspirational story and gave me the kick up the bum that I needed to go for what I want in life. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone I know! Laura, NSW, 5 Stars
I love Natasha Lester’s books and The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard was no exception. While there were flashes through Mizza Bricard of the WWII setting that is the familiar backdrop of Lester’s novels, the 1970s setting was exciting and new, a world on the cusp of major change. Astrid Bricard is a brave, bold woman struggling to be seen for who she is, at the mercy of a world that was still far from accepting and understanding a woman’s worth. Her daughter Blythe inherits her talent for fashion and design, however, struggles with the legacy she has been left by her mother and grandmother. All three women have been forced to take a backseat to men either in their lives or due to the times they lived in. Walking through 1970s New York with Astrid was at times wonderful, but also frustrating for the way women were treated even as recently as that. I highly recommend this book. Natalie, NSW, 5 Stars
This is a really good read. It takes into the fashion world where women weren’t considered designers but merely assistants or ‘muses’. The story follows three generations of Bricard women who strive to change the way they are seen, not just muses but reputable and brilliant fashion designers in their own right. They fight for equal rights in the industry to show their designs in their own name. Vivien, ACT, 5 Stars
I literally don’t know where to start. I read this book in four days. The mystery surrounding Astrid’s disappearance had me unable to stop at the end of every chapter. This book highlighted how a glimpse of a person can be portrayed so differently from who a person can be. Especially women. It made me think about how harshly we can judge people we don’t know. I loved all three leading ladies and loved learning about their sacrifices and the consequences they experienced within their lives. I highly recommend this book. The mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat and sharing the tough experiences Mizza and Astrid faced is definitely a learning experience for me. Donna, NSW, 5 Stars
Natasha Lester has done it again, what an amazing, well-written story. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is a story of three generations of women set in three different timelines all failing to be recognised for their work in the fashion industry. The characters were well-developed, and the main characters were all strong female leads. The storyline was well-researched, and the plot twists kept me engaged and waiting more. The topic of gender equality was very powerful, and I loved how there were male characters who supported these females against all odds. Thank you, Better Reading, for this preview read and this is a novel that I highly recommend. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Tyson, TAS, 4 Stars
Another delightful read from the Australian darling of Historical Fiction. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is another engaging read by Natasha Lester. Based on true events, you’ll find yourself invested in both the plot and characters whether you’re a fashionista or not. I liked the interweaving of the three generations and that it also provided a sense of mystery in a work of historical fiction. I had a feeling about how the book would end, and was glad I was right to an extent, but also happy that the writing was clever enough and the plot strong enough that I wasn’t completely right. Just like I recommend all of Lester’s back catalogue, so too do I recommend The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard. Katie, QLD, 4 Stars
I don’t even know where to start with this review. But Wow. What a read!! The Three Generations of Mizza, Astrid and Blythe. Each story interwoven to make a greater picture of each person and how they became. I am so glad Blythe got Coco to research her Mother, and the stories from their background shaped what kind of person they were, tragedy, love and the decisions that they made – all though not easy at the time. A thoroughly enjoyable book and I highly recommend it. Annette, NSW, 4 Stars
What a great read. Not a book I would normally pick up but thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend. Shirley, VIC, 4 Stars
A fantastic read set over multiple generations of the Bricard Family, loved each era and each character. Beautifully written. Deanne, VIC, 4 Stars
This is the first book I have read by Natasha Lester and I will be going back for more. This was a beautifully written story of three generations of Bricard women, all determined to make their mark in the world of fashion. The story touches on life during WWII, during the seventies and modern day, and examines the struggles that women face to be seen as equals to their male counterparts. Despite the length, I read this one quickly and enjoyed the story; however, I didn’t really love the ending. Belinda, NSW, 4 Stars
Three strong women, each impacted by her family and the times she lived in. Natasha Lester weaves their stories of loss, joy and challenges as women through exotic locations, centred on the mystery of Astrid’s disappearance with her beautiful prose. I loved and learned by travelling with Mizza, Astrid and Blythe. Jenny, WA, 4 Stars
How to classify this book? Historical fiction, based on a true story? Fashion, women etc… Unfamiliar with this author and faced with 438 pages of text, I began to read this book with some trepidation. However, by Act 1. page 7, I was lost in the story of Astrid and the women (and men) of the New York fashion industry. After reading about the author’s own life and her Author’s Note it seemed to make sense. This story captures you because it is written with authenticity and a real truth. Lisa, NSW, 4 Stars
I just finished reading “The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard” by Natasha Lester, and I must say, it was as brilliant and captivating as a lab-grown diamond on https://labcreateddiamondrings.com! Lester’s storytelling prowess truly shined through in this book, and I found myself completely engrossed in the mystery and intrigue of Astrid Bricard’s disappearance. Every chapter was a gem, much like the exquisite lab-grown diamonds available on the website. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a thrilling and beautifully written story.