Book Review - The Dressmakers of London

Title: The Dressmakers of London

Author: Julia Kelly

Publisher: Gallery Books

Genre: Historical + Women’s Fiction

Thank you @gallerybooks #partner + @simon.audio for the #gifted copies! I quite enjoyed narrator Shiromi Arserio in my ears for a 3 hour flight.

When I see ‘WWII’ in a synopsis I automatically assume it’s a war heavy book, however this one was much more on the relationship of estranged siblings and the fashion industry in London during coupon rationing of the 1940s. It also touches on when unmarried women of certain ages were forced to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service/WAAF to do their part for the war.

Author Julia Kelly is a rich story teller. It was easy to visualize the Shelton Dressmakers shop, Nottingham Court, and a WAAF Camp. When letters were sprinkled throughout the book, I could picture each sister sitting down to write each other and gradually mending their rocky relationship. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end—it was fascinating! I definitely recommend this one.

Book Summary:

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.