Set in 18th Century France at the time of the French Revolution ,the story follows three women ,two sisters Sofia and Lara and Hortense who is privileged and demanding and the wife of the owner of the wallpaper factory where they are employed. It is a long and at first slow read but captivating with interesting historical details lots of twists and turns and a satisfactory ending. Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

Lora Jones's debut work, “The Woman in the Wallpaper,” is an intriguing historical fiction depicting the gripping events of the French Revolution. The narrative zeros in on three young ladies whose unknown connections are revealed at the Oberst wallpaper factory.

The author skillfully weaves the history depicted in the novel with the thrilling suspense of a mystery. Jones creates vivid images that transport the reader to Paris in the 1780s and describes the emotions and tension of the characters in the style of a first-person narrative. In each chapter, you get to read how other characters also experience the events and their personality shapes their narrative.

To conclude, Lora Jones’s novel “The Woman in the Wallpaper” is an enjoyable historical work. It presents the vision of the past from a fresh understanding. Nevertheless, I would have preferred the primary plotline to be more complicated with frequent changes, and less of a fixed scheme between a few significant episodes.

It took me a few attempts to engage with the characters in The Women in the Wallpaper, but once I did, I was enthralled by the narrative.

This is not a quick read. It is rich in detail (sometimes a little too rich), and the narrative waivers and fluctuates. Sometimes, mere hours go by, and other times, days, weeks, and even years pass between chapters, making it feel a little disjointed. While the story is told from three points of view, Hortense is the lesser of these three leads, although her narrative is the one that propels much of the final sections of the story. Sofi and Lara are both interesting characters, if sometimes difficult to recall which one is which when swept away by the story's events.

That said, the story is enthralling, almost claustrophobic at points, and there are secrets and lies that must be uncovered by the three women as well as about the three women. None of our characters are particularly reliable narrators, all hold something back from the reader which results in the terrifying conclusion to the tale. And aside from the women, the other characters are often not what they seem either. And neither is the wallpaper!

An absorbing and complex tale, it is a delight to read (and well worth persevering through the first few chapters to get to grips with the characters.)

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

Set in revolutionary France, Woman in the Wallpaper follows the lives of three young women whose lives collide in the most unexpected way.

Full of tension and intrigue, this book is gripping from the start! Set in late eighteenth century France, It paints a vivid and heart-wrenching depiction of poverty, anxiety, and class divisions in the build up to the Revolution. You can’t help but feel a mix of sorrow, sympathy, and frustration as the book flits between each woman’s POV. Sofi, Lara and Hortense are each trapped in their own way, and all are more than what they seem.

It’s not the fastest pace book, it takes a while for the plot to build momentum and it is only in the last 25% or so that it really starts galloping. But the characters captured me from the start and once it gets going it I devoured it. There are plenty of twists and turns I didn’t see coming and it made for an ultimately enjoyable read!

This was a good engrossing read with enough switches along the way in the storyline to keep you guessing.

I really believed in the sisters and their lives. I am immensley grateful I live in sedate and relatively peaceful UK. I only have to watch the news to see many other young women are going through terrible times.

The details of life are good and all in all this is an excellent novel

It took me a while to get into this novel - the beginning seemed quite drawn out. However, towards the middle of the book the plot started get quite exciting. The historical aspect was quite interesting too and I appreciated the research. Still, I'm not keen on books where I really have to persevere which is a shame because the ending was quite exciting.

I was excited to read this book as I love historical drama. There were parts of the book that were really good and kept you hooked but overall I kept waiting for something more to happen. There just wasn’t enough drama and action for me. I liked the characters and the tri-narrative but I just didn’t vibe with it enough. I would pick up another book by the author in the future so it hadn’t put me off completely. It was just missing that little bit of pizzazz.

The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones

People unable to afford food, complaints about a living wage, disaffection with the wealthy and riots in the streets. Not the UK in 2024, France 1789, the impending French Revolution.

Against this tumultuous backdrop, almost penniless sisters Lara and Sofi find their way to Paris, to start employment at the Oberst Wallpaper Factory. Here the worlds of the desperate poor and decadent rich begin their collision with a fallout of love, hate and death.

Some of the lavish wall coverings produced in the workhouse depict inked vignettes of family occasions; but look deeper. Do these harbour a darker secret? Do they alter over time?

A perfect mixture of history,mystery,passion and sense of adventure.

#doc.reading.room

Sisters Lara and Sofi fall on hard times following the death of their father, and leave their home in southern France for new lives near Paris at the famous Oberst wallpaper factory which supplies the upper class. Lara is always seen as the popular and pretty sister, soon drawing the eye of the heir to the factory, Josef, whilst Sofi must continue to work in the harsh conditions of the factory.

The patterns in the wallpaper start to match Lara's life and along with a feeling that she's being watched, her new life in the Oberst's grand chateau as lady's maid to Josef's spoilt new bride and Lara starts to feel like she's going mad.

This is so well written, full of historical detail but never slow or laboured. Based partly on life during the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille, I highly recommend pre-ordering this for next year 💜

Absolutely riveting. I couldn’t tear myself away from this amazing tale; a totally unexpected gem of a story. It’s an historical novel, based around fact, but with a unique and interesting twist. Much centres on the French Revolution, but views events from a female perspective. It’s rich in period detail which takes the reader right to the heart of events. But more than that, it’s a haunting tale told through three narrative voices. There’s an eerie mystery around a figure represented in a wallpaper pattern…it sounds so improbable, but it’s a cracking tale that unfolds bit by bit. Well written and although slow paced in parts, it’s a story that’s indulgent and compelling. One of the best historical fiction books I’ve read this year.

Atmospheric with plenty of gothicky feels, The Woman in the Wallpaper follows two sisters Sofi and Lara and their changing fortunes against the background of the French revolution.

I enjoyed an insight into women during the French revolution and I was a big fan of feisty Sofi. I also love an unlikeable character (if that makes sense) and they don’t come much more unlikeable than the ridiculous Hortense

Did feel a bit lengthy though and I found myself losing interest in the third quarter or so before it picked up again towards the end.

A really strong debut and would definitely be interested to read more from Lora Jones

The Woman in the Wallpaper is a captivating tale set in the heart of Paris during a time of upheaval and change in 1788. After the tragic death of their father, sisters Sofi and Lara secure positions at the Oberst company, famed for its exquisitely designed wallpaper. However, their new employment quickly becomes shrouded in mystery when they notice an eerie pattern featuring the same woman— the late wife of the factory's owner—repeated throughout the designs. Her mysterious demise looms over the wallpaper, casting a shadow on their lives.

As Sofi's political fervour intensifies amidst the brewing revolution, Lara finds herself entangled with Josef, the factory owner's son. Their relationship takes on a surreal quality as Lara begins to question whether her experiences are mirroring the tragic scenes depicted in the wallpaper that adorns her bedroom.

At the same time, Josef's wife, Hortense, a young aristocrat, grapples with her discontent in Paris. Feeling out of place in the world of the factory, she too becomes fixated on the woman whose life is immortalised on her walls. As the revolutionary fervour escalates and the streets grow more dangerous, the spectre of the last Mrs Oberst's fate looms large over her.

The intertwining lives of Sofi, Lara, and Hortense unfold in unexpected ways, leading to a dramatic convergence that underscores the impact of their societal roles during a time of great change. This powerful debut offers not only a vivid portrayal of the French Revolution but also a poignant exploration of class disparities and the consequences of societal expectations.

The book is beautifully written, with rich descriptions and well-drawn characters that draw you into their struggles and desires. It’s a compelling read that will leave you pondering the themes of destiny and the power of choice long after the final page. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction infused with mystery and depth.

3.5/5.

Read more at the Secret Bookreview.

I had very mixed feelings about this book, I certainly enjoyed parts of it but not others. Very atmospheric, set around the end of the 18th Century at the time of the French Revolution. It certainly bought that era to life. The female characters were very well developed and matured as the book continued. The exploits of Hortense, a spoilt aristocrat, got up to were quite hilarious at times especially at the beginning before life took a more sinister turn. Written in three voices, Lara, Sofi and Hortense over several years, mainly near Paris in the town of Jouy, made famous from the production of that classic French designs we're all familiar with and which the story evolves around. Overall I did find the book somewhat over long

The Woman in the Wallpaper follows sisters, Sofi and Lara, who find work at a mysterious wallpaper factory during the French Revolution,

While the story starts slow, it’s worth sticking with as it quickly becomes an engaging Gothic tale. It is told from different characters' perspectives, giving insight into the difficult lives of women during this time.

The perfect book for fans of historical fiction, especially those who like a bit of a gothic vibe to their read.

This novel set in the late 1780s was a slow burner for me ! The first few chapters I was thinking it was one I’d not finish but as the story unfolded I found myself more and more engaged and the characters which were so well written pulled me into their story and left me thankful that I didn’t live at such a turbulent time.

The characters are Sofia and Lara who after leaving their home with their mother find employment in a wallpaper factory near Paris. Josef is the factory owner and Hortense is his wife and is privileged and demanding.

The story is told through the eyes of Lara and Sofi, both close as sisters but poles apart in looks and personality.

Lara becomes lady’s maid to Hortense and soon finds herself haunted by the images she sees in the wallpaper in her bedroom.

This powerful multi perspective novel gives the reader an insight into the French Revolution and how it related to the woman of the time. The historical details and graphic descriptions were first class as well as the twists and turns in the story.

A truly unique debut novel I will definitely read more from this author.

A gorgeously Gothic tale of the French Revolution.

"The Woman in the Wallpaper" opens in Paris, 1789. where a woman enters La Place de la Revolution, and is dazzled by the huge crowd gathered there. Executions are taking pace and she is forced to witness the beheadings. The reader is then transported back one year to Marseilles, and we enter a first-person narrative by Sofi, who is patiently trying to sketch the fishermen in the harbour. Her mother soon arrives though, and drags her and her sister home. When family circumstances change, both girls are told they need to get jobs, to help the family survive.

After a series of mis-adventures, the girls find themselves at the Oberst Factory, which makes fashionable wallpaper. They fall in with Josef, heir to the factory. And that's when things get interesting. They slowly uncover the secret behind the wallpaper, which always features oddly prophetic scenes, and a certain face.

Much of the story is told through the eyes of the sisters - Lara, politically aware, and Sofi, the artistic one, and is set against the background of the French Revolution. The book is over 500 pages long and spends a lot of time examining the role of women during the revolution. As we witness events through the girls' eyes, we realise how hard and horrific that time was, especially for women. As well as the sisters, we meet Josef, and his troubled wife, and his father, and all are fleshed out nicely so we are invested in their fates. Paris, Marseilles and other locations are lovingly described, with bustling markets, breezy harbours and noisy factories. The cast moves through many trials and tribulations, as the mystery behind the wallpaper unfolds, and there are several nicely spooky episodes. This is a gothic novel worthy of the name.

I was lucky to receive a Netgalley ARC, but will happily queue up for a proper copy when it is released in February 2025. Thoroughly recommended for fans of Anna Mazolla, Laura Purcell and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

This was very atmospheric and vivid. I felt totally transported to Paris and the late 1780s.

Great to see this time focus on women and not men for a change!

The volume of detail did occasionally slow down the plot but overall and enjoyable read.

A deeply intense multi perspective novel that follows 3 women in 18th Century France.
Sofia and Lara are sisters but are very different both in looks and their outlook on life. Sofia is incensed by the actions of the aristocracy as she blames them for her Fathers death. Lara is a calming influence on her normally but when she becomes lady's maid to the insufferable Hortense, wife of factory owner Josef, she finds her loyalty divided.
And all the time Lara is haunted by the strange images she sees in the wallpaper in her room.
This is a powerful debut novel giving an insight into the French Revolution and the difference in the classes and the consequences of this.

This is an entertaining story set against the background of the French Revolution. Sofi and Lara are sisters in Marseilles whose father dies in a wagon accident and they subsequently find themselves working at a wallpaper factory outside Paris in around 1789. The story is narrated alternately by the two of them but also by Hortense, the spoiled daughter of some aristocratic nobles at Versailles.

The gulf between the rich and poor is emphasised, the sisters are always hungry and toy with revolutionary ideals while Hortense eats pastries and plays with her toy dog!

This contrast is marked but things change when Hortense is married to Josef, the son of the owner of the wallpaper factory, who seems to have a thing for one of the sisters. The plot is then additionally complicated by a room where the wallpaper designs have ghostly characteristics and there is also a secret passage, a friendly commoner called Guillaume (who also has a thing for one of the sisters), and a mysterious stranger while the burning of the Bastille and the introduction of the guillotine is lurking in the background.

The other problem is that the characters who tell the story are unreliable narrators and are often confused themselves about the significance of events. As a reader, if you can get past this and allow events to unfold as they are perceived it’s a lively story and revolutionary France in all its chaotic fervour is well described in, sometimes, bloodthirsty detail.

The story also has a slight tendency to caricature both nobility and peasants and wrapping it up involves some complications but that doesn’t detract from a plot that rolls along the highway with surprises at every intersection.

I really enjoyed this book - I am not overly familiar with this period in history, so it was good to read a book set in this era and learn about wider political and cultural changes. The plot is well thought out, gaining speed towards the middle. Characters I both liked and disliked, and others I was unsure about until close to the end. I would recommend this book and would look out for more by this author in the future.