When I was offered the opportunity to review this novel I was hooked by the subject matter- set during the French Revolution- and the author was compared to authors such as Jessie Burton and Stacey Halls, whose books I enjoy.

However, I was strangely reluctant to read it, maybe it was the mention of supernatural wallpaper! I love the way that in Philippa Gregory historical novels you truly believe that an historical character spoke as she writes it, in this case, to begin with, I found the characters predictable and behaving/speaking in a stereotypical way, particularly Hortense. As I read more, I did like the way that we saw events from the point of view of Sofi, Lara and Hortense, and they seemed to find their voices as the story developed.

As I continued to read , I was drawn into the story and felt that the plot flowed with some twists and excellent evocative descriptions. I was truly moved by the final chapters of the novel.

I was impressed by the letter received from Lora Jones when I received my ARC, the research she has undertaken is fascinating and her inspiration taken from the Oberkampf factory near Paris between 1760 and 1818 intrigues me.

Ultimately, in spite of my reluctant start, I did enjoy this debut novel and look forward to reading Lora Jones' next book.

The story:
In Marseilles 15-year-old Sofia Thibault and her older sister Lara long to put their artistic skills to use and become draughtswomen for their father, a stonemason. But when tragedy strikes, Sofi and Lara must put their dreams aside and try to make a new life, working at the Oberst Wallpaper Factory in Jouy-en-Jouvant.

Josef Oberst, the young son of the factory owner, has tragedy in his own past. His mother died in mysterious circumstances when Josef was just a child; yet he sees her face every day, with her image depicted in the beautiful wallpaper the factory produces for the fashionable homes of France.

As a complicated relationship builds between Josef, Sofi and Lara, their lives are further confused by Josef’s marriage to haughty aristocrat Hortense. But with revolution raging across France, will anyone, rich or poor, emerge unscathed?

My thoughts:
“The Woman in the Wallpaper”, the debut novel of Lora Jones, is a richly described historical fiction tale with a hint of the gothic…

Set at the height of the revolution in 18th century France, the story begins with a woman being taken to the guillotine. But who is she? To find out, the narrative jumps back 5 years, and we meet Sofi and Lara Thibault. The sisters are very close, but something of a wedge is driven between them in the form of Josef Oberst, when family tragedy forces their relocation to work in the Oberst family wallpaper factory.

We experience the story from the perspective of Sofi and Lara, and the third woman of the novel – lofty aristocrat Hortense, who is married (much to her disgust, and his) to Josef. The chapters alternate between each woman’s point of view, and gives a real flavour of the wide gulf between rich and poor. That being said, I had a sneaking sympathy for Hortense, and her acerbic inner monologue certainly offered some comic relief! But the heart of the story for me lay with the Thibault sisters, and Lara in particular, who is haunted by the disturbing similarities between herself and the inspiration for many of the factory’s wallpaper designs – Josef’s late mother Justine.

The personal drama is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, and given the start of the book we know things are going to go badly for at least one of our main characters. This is a long book, and at times I found the pace a little slow, but I was drawn on to the conclusion, where some shocking revelations are brought to light, as the various strands of the story are tied up and mysteries resolved. An accomplished debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what this author does next!

This is not the normal period of history I choose to read about but was intrigued by the premise of this novel. Based around true historical events including the French Revolution. The story is told from the point of view of a mother and her young adult daughters. I found the whole idea of the wall paper influencing the women somewhat odd and unnerving. There was also a rather heavy emphasis on description in the book which makes it far longer than needs be for the story. Indeed, I think it would be a more accessible book, and perhaps attractive for teens, especially if studying history, if it was 20% shorter and without the ‘waffle’. Interesting story and history but a bit long really.

Set in the midst of the French Revolution, this historical novel turns to gothic when the two Thibault sisters are uprooted from their family home to travel to the outskirts of Paris to work in a wallpaper factory which specialises in a very particular toile de Jouy type of print. Mystery surrounds the factory, and the girls become entangled in the life of the owner’s son, Josef and his family.
Around the same time, an over-privileged aristocrat’s daughter, who up until now has been ensconced in a apartment in the palace of Versailles, is forced into an arranged marriage with Josef and is also uprooted against her will to live in the mansion next to the factory.
It’s only a matter of time before the factory workers start to revolt.
A promising debut.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

I found this book really hard to get through and gave up at the 56% mark. I struggled with the length and while I liked the characters and the setting it just took too long to go on anywhere.

The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones. France during the revolution has never been my jam and this book proves that further for me. Sofia and Lara end up in Paris and it’s all a bit shit. It’s a long book and obviously a chaotic one given the state of France. There is a twist at the end but I just thought this went on and on. *Given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book is going to stay with me for a long time. It is inspiring, dark, heartbreaking, beautiful and sad. It shows women's raw strength and determination, and how much we can accomplish in our lives, even when we start out in challenging circumstances. It takes you on a whirlwind with every page. I love historical fiction, and I think this is the first one I have read set during the French Revolution.

The two main characters, Sofi and Lara, try to live their best lives in difficult and challenging circumstances. These two characters go on a fantastic journey through the book, from losing their Father tragically, having to move with their Mother from their home in Marseille to get work in a wallpaper factory outside Paris, to living apart while still working within the confines of the factory setting and then the devastating conclusion of the book,

The family who own the wallpaper factory, the Obersts, have endured their own tragedies with the loss of their wife and Mother in very suspicious circumstances. Her son, Josef, has been greatly affected by the loss of his Mother at such a young age, and he soon develops a friendship with Lara and Sofi, although his feelings toward Lara are much more intense. They are complicated when he is forced into a marriage with the selfish and unpleasant Hortense, who hates everything about her life at the factory, including her husband. The only thing she loves is her little dog Pepin. As the French Revolution rises to a boil, she is determined to escape France. At all costs.

The one thing that binds them all is the woman in the wallpaper. Their lives seem to be eerily mirrored in the wallpaper on some of the walls in the house. Will they share the same fate as the woman in the wallpaper??

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am so impressed with the author, Lora Jones, especially given that this is her first book. I can't wait to read her books in the future.

This is a captivating historical novel, that is set against the backdrop the French revolution. I particularly like the way that we see the current events from the viewpoint of various women from different social classes and circumstances. It is also interesting to note how they begin to understand each other and find that they have more in common than they once imagined.. It's quite a long book, and I had to convince myself to stick with it at first. I'm so glad I did though as it became unputdownable the further it went in to the story.

A beautiful historical novel, with a strong dynamic between the female characters amid the backdrop of the French Revolution. This is not the type of historical fiction I usually read and the first book I have read about the French Revolution, so I learnt a lot and enjoyed it very much. An educational as well as an entertaining read.

3.5

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book. Based in France during the 1780s during the Revolution when aristocratic families were hounded and executed. Two sisters and their mother are forced to leave Marseilles when the male head of their family is tragically killed in an accident. They move to a small village near a Paris and start work in a wallpaper factory. The story highlights the class differences and the hatred for the upper classes. The three main characters are women…Lara and Sofi, the 2 sisters who are both accomplished in drawing, and Hortense who is married off, against her will, to the son of the factory owner. We learn that his mother died in what seemed to be strange circumstances and that the son is fixated on older sister Lara as she resembles his mother. This is a story about secrets, love mixed with a little bit of history and magic. The wallpaper scenes are fascinating.

The Woman in the Wallpaper is a mesmerizing debut that weaves gothic mystery, psychological depth, and a touch of the supernatural into an utterly spellbinding tale. From the very first page, Lora Jones crafts a haunting atmosphere reminiscent of The Miniaturist and The Yellow Wallpaper, pulling readers into a world where reality and illusion blur.

The novel’s protagonist is both compelling and deeply human, navigating a story filled with eerie imagery, family secrets, and a creeping sense of unease. Jones’ prose is beautifully evocative, painting vivid scenes that linger long after you turn the final page. The way she explores themes of identity, obsession, and female agency through a gothic lens is masterful.

I was completely captivated by the mystery at the heart of this novel and found myself unable to put it down. Every twist was perfectly placed, and the ending left me breathless. This is a must-read for fans of atmospheric, thought-provoking fiction—I can’t wait to see what Lora Jones writes next!

An historical history novel set in 1780s France when revolution is in the air. In Marseilles, Sofi and Lara live a comfortable life with their stonemason father and mother, although rising rents and food shortages can make things difficult. When their father dies tragically, the 3 women are forced to leave and they go to a small village near Paris to work in a wallpaper factory run by the Obersts. Josef is the son and the two sisters form a relationship with him. Sofi sees a sort of connection because as she lost her father, Josef lost his mother in strange circumstances - a mystery that carries through the novel. The wallpaper produced is intricately patterned with little vignettes and Lara sees echoes within them to her own life. The workers in the factory are starting to clamour for more pay and Josef's father decides to marry him off to the daughter of an aristocratic family so that more money can be brought into the factory. Hortense is entitled and selfish, surrounding herself with fripperies while the workers go without - she even buy clothes for her pampered dog. Lara becomes her maid and is installed in the tower where Josef's mother had her rooms, but within the tower, Lara can't escape the feeling that she is being watched. Sofi meanwhile becomes more politically aware. We have the three POVs, that of Sofi, Lara and Hortense who I disliked more and more each time and we are taken through events such as the storming of the Bastille and Madame Guillotine. Although you do have some inkling of where the fates of these three women lie, you are never quite sure. There are moments of shock and suspense and secrets to be revealed. The sense of growing danger is excellent and I was with the two sisters the entire time. A super debut novel.

Since hearing about The Woman in the Wallpaper last year I have been really excited about getting a copy and got it on publication day. Historical Fiction is still my favourite genre and this book is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, a time of change and anger. Add to this a touch of the supernatural, and sense of ‘other’ and you have the makings of a compelling read.

The book is narrated by by sisters Lara, Soffi and Hortense who is part of the aristocracy. Laura and Soffi are devestated after the death of their father in Marseilles and this is made worse when they have to move to Jouy en Jouvent just outside Paris to work in a Wallapaper Factory. The sisters have always been close but divisions start to arise; Soffi feels that Lara gets a better job than her, and Soffi has feelings for Josef, the heir to the factory but he is only interested in her sister. Hortense lives at Versailles with her parents, she is privileged, difficult and blunt. When I first came across Hortense I laughted at her observations and sarcasm, it was refeshing, but as the book went on I found that she was spoilt and selfish. With the Revolution gatherig pace, she is everything the workers in the factory and in particular Soffi find abhorrent, especially when she is forced to marry Josef, heir to the factory. Their different stories were each fascinating in their own way, different outlooks on life and the politics of the time, the different roles they played and their relationships with the same man.

As well as fascinating characters the plot to this book is addictive and at times unsettling. At it’s centre is a love story between Josef’s parents, a love story that is told in the wallpaper used in the house. In that Wallpaper Lara is convinces she sees herself, in situations she has been in and this gets worse when she moves into the house as a ladies maid. Throughout the book there runs a sinister undercurrent as to how Josef’s mother died, with insinuations that she was murdered which plays on both Soffi and Lara’s minds as they both make judgments. I loved the historical aspect to the book, Paris under siege by the revolutionaries, the feelings on both sides that are part of the book and how it effects the poor, using soil to bulk out flour for bread.

I loved Lora Jones writing style, it was descriptive and grabbed me from the first page. Her historical research is a huge part of this book, and she made it easy to read and understand what was happening. She captured the fear, anger and hightened emotions of the period, and took the reader into the heart of the protests. This book took a path I never expected that made the last one hundred pages difficult to read and that gave me a sickening feeling as it hurtled towards the conclusion.

The Woman in the Wallaper was everything I hoped it would be and a lot more. It had an atmospheric and haunting feel that was offset by some witt in Hortense’s story. The characrers were well drawn, I really become invested in their stories, especially Lara who was kind and did what was best for her family. This is a beautifully written book and I can’t believe this is Lora Jones’ debut novel, she is very talented and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

📚Book Review📚

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I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book. Special thank you to my buddy readers @wendyreadsbooks and @jan_is_reading.

Set in Paris, in the 1700s, we met Sofi and Lara. Two sisters from a working class family, who find themselves working at a wallpaper factory.

There are secrets, torment, heartache and gothic vibes running through the tale, and you're never sure who to trust. Every character seems haunted by their decisions or experiences and the character development was delivered perfectly.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Woman In The Wallpaper is a historical thriller that follows two Sisters that are very close. Unfortunate circumstances mean they have to move near to Paris, and the French Revolution is getting worse.
They meet the new family that they work for, and form close relationships with their fellow workers. The two sisters’ lives start to separate and Lara especially seems to have her life mirrored in the wallpaper that is made in the family’s factory. Meanwhile, Sofi is getting involved in the political views of fellow workers.
All I can say is that although the story started off slowly, boy did it get going afterwards!! It’s a very gripping story with lots of suspense and mystery. I really enjoyed it! I do believe this is a debut novel so I I really look forward to seeing what comes next from this author!
Many thanks to The Little Brown Book Group for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheLittleBrownBookGroup_Uk, #LoraJonesWriter.

3.5/4

The Woman in the Wallpaper is a historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, a particularly turbulent time in European history.

Sofi and Lara Thibault are sisters whose lives change after a tragedy. They find themselves at the home of the Oberst family who are the owners of a wallpaper factory. Lara is, at first, given a job within the factory but having caught the eye of the owner's son and following Josef's marriage, she is employed as the lady's maid to Josef's wife - an aristocrat who is about as happy to be married off to a factory owner as Josef is to have her.

However all their lives are turned upside down with the coming of the revolution.

Lora Jones must have trawled through a ton of research to give this novel an authentic feel. She freely admits that she has fiddled with some parts in order to fit her narrative but for those of us who are not scholars of this time it certainly hung together well.

Lara and Sofi are well-rounded characters and even the dreadful aristocrat wife, Hortense has her softer moments.

Nobody is quite what they seem in this novel and all are changed by the revolutionary fever that swept the country.

It did take me a little time to get into the narrative as there is some magical realism thrown in throughout. However, ultimately I enjoyed the whole book and the end was satisfying.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Little, Brown for the advance review copy.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I note it has just passed publication date.
Set in Paris and Marseille at the time of the French Revolution It's narrative follows the lives of both the landed gentry and the proletariat. Most of the action take place in or around the wallpaper factory of the Orstadt family and there is some focus on a particular wallpaper pattern.
To be fair the narrative is not at all what I expected, I think the balance is not quite right, the woman in the wallpaper felt like an also ran theme rather than the main focus.

I am not sure that I liked any of the characters - would I come down on one side, rather than the other? Maybe I would but that is probably because of the disparities in society rather than the story telling or characterisation.

It is a long book - perhaps too long. Some parts read well and others feel like they are caught in a bit of a maelstrom.

I think the author does well to draw everything together at the end but it failed to really reach the high notes

I am not sure I would be tempted to read more from this author

As France teeters on the edge of revolution, the Thibault women are forced to leave their home in Marseilles to work at the wallpaper factory owned by the Obersts. There Sofie falls hard for the son of the factory owner but he only has eyes for her sister Lara. However Josef is forced to marry spoiled aristocrat Hortense. As Sofie becomes more radicalised, the royal family falls and being an aristocrat is a danger that comes very close to the family.
As a setting for a novel this is a really good one, it combines radicalism with romance and a little mystery which does work well. The characters are portrayed with broad brush strokes, rather than being particularly nuanced, and it is only towards the very end that some of the back stories are explored. In fact the only thing spoiling this book for me was the theme around the wallpaper and its changing patterns - it wasn't strong enough to compete with the rest and actually just seemed to be an extra, unnecessary layer.

This is once again one of those debut novels where you cannot believe you are reading a debut. So beautifully written with an intricate storyline that has so many layers to it.

Sisters Lara and Sofi along with their mother, move from Marseilles to Jouy, a little outside Paris, to start work at a wallpaper factory after the loss of their father and family lodgings. It isn’t long before their lives are entangled with the factory owner’s son, who seems bewitched by Lara but who Sofi has fallen for herself. There are secrets Lara’s mother keeps, secrets between the sisters and secrets within the factory owner’s family too.

As we follow the sisters, who despite being so different in personality, love each other so dearly, we are also given glimpses into the workings of the factory and the French Revolution: the time during which the novel is set. The writing is so descriptive, I could see it all come to life in my mind’s eye as I read on. It is a wonderful blend of fiction and fact, allowing you to envisage what life was like for both poor and rich alike in those times.

The mysteries are unravelled as we turn the pages and I will tell you, it is not all as it seems! I really enjoyed this one!

The French Revolution is one of the most fascinating periods of history for me. So much more than the execution of a king, this book brings to life the background of the unrest and also the fall out of the violence. Three incredibly strong female heroines take the lead in this book, each have their own viewpoint and each let us into their lives one by one. I warmed to each of them, yes, even the spoilt Hortense, there was so much more to her character. Lora uses short chapters to capture perfectly the fast paced story and how things change in the blink of an eye. Right from the start I fell in love with this book, it made me cry, it made me slam it down in anger when I realised what disaster was unravelling and it broke my heart in many pieces. The ending was perfect. The whole novel was. I couldn’t believe this was a debut as it was incredibly well written, sympathetic to all characters. Beautiful.