Reading the synopsis of this, I was expecting a gripping story. The premise of the story was something I thought would be extremely interesting, however, I felt that the royal connection could have been expanded. There were some beautiful moments addressing illness which was sympathetically written, but I felt I didn't connect with any of the characters. I will be looking forward to reading more from Jade though as she definitely has a great talent.

Pure joy. This book kept me hooked till the end.
It is set in Bath and what sounds like a beautiful house split into a number of apartments. One of the residents has Alzheimers and the rest of the residents come together to help her. There is a mystery with some missing people. It has the glamour of royalty, the details of dressmaking, a romance and the story of a group of well meaning people. I couldn't ask for a better combination of story elements.

It is really enjoyable to read, a number of different timelines, so we know how things end up, and the various unknowns emerge as the story is told.

GIFTED from Hodder & Stoughton @hodderbooks as an eARC via @Netgalley

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Multifaceted and endearing, the story embraces a missing gown, those who created it, and its history. Interwoven are the lives, hopes, loves, loneliness, and loss, of the residents of a house in Bath, brought together by a dressmaker in need of help. The resolutions are heartwarming and make one wish for similar neighbours for everyone.

This is the best book that I have read in a long time. It is really captivating and the author writes a fantastic story around dementia. I still can't decide whether this is a true story or not because it is so realistic. The main characters are true hero's in the way that they rally around their friend.
It also has some sweet love stories churning around in the background.

The only downside about this book is that it is based on people living in England but the words are written in American so for me that made it lose its authenticity.

I really enjoyed this book and I liked the different time settings. The book was very different to what I imagined from reading the blurb and much more emotionals than I expected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was set over a couple of decades and although I originally thought it was going to be a book all about the fashion world and Princess Diana, it turned out to be so much more. This was a wonderful, gentle read but also very emotional and needs a trigger warning for dementia

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this eCopy to review

The Palace Dressmaker beautifully intertwines the lives of two remarkable women across different decades, creating a rich tapestry of history, fashion, and heartfelt emotion.

From the moment I started, I was captivated by Meredith’s journey in 1988 London, where she lands her dream job at a prestigious fashion house. The pressure of creating dresses for Princess Diana added an exciting layer of tension and intrigue. Meredith’s relationship with her co-worker William was both tender and inspiring, showcasing a beautiful blend of romance and creative partnership.

The mystery of the missing dress at the auction of Princess Diana’s gowns kept me on the edge of my seat. The way the story unfolded, revealing the connections between the characters and the dresses, was masterfully done.

In 2018 England, Jayne’s discovery of Meredith’s past and the secrets hidden in her disarrayed home was both touching and heart breaking. The portrayal of Meredith’s struggles with dementia was handled with sensitivity and realism, adding depth to the narrative.

The Palace Dressmaker is a sweeping, emotional, and inspiring story

Oh my, what a glorious read! A clever and moving story interwoven through several decades involving strong but realistically flawed women. This book really is an homage to love, friendships and community. The research the author has done for this book shines through in every paragraph - I felt I was living in their homes, walking through Bath, watching the dressmakers design and cut and sew. It took me on a fascinating internet journey to find out more about Catherine Walker’s life and the dresses she designed. However, what especially resonated with me was the realistic and sensitive way Meredith’s struggle with dementia was told. My Dad suffered with dementia and this book took my breath away with the exceptional writing describing this cruel disease and how it affects all who love and care for the person suffering. A book that will stay in my heart for quite some time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an eARC of this book.

The Palace Dressmaker addressed the topic of dementia very sensitively. Meredith, someone who led a life immersed in the world of glamour and royalty, found herself locked in a world of confusion and muddled memories unable to recall her past in any meaningful way. She was helped to piece together the fragments of her life by the residents of her apartment block who each had their own story to tell.

If you like feel good books then this is one for you. It is a slow gentle read. I found the whole plot line a little unrealistic, however, and that affected my overall enjoyment of the book.

In 1997 Princess Diana auctioned 80 of her memorable dresses with the proceeds going to her various charities. But on the day only 79 dresses were actually auctioned, what happened to Lot 19.
20 years later, Jayne lives in the top floor flat of a converted town house in Bath, she runs a dog walking business. One day when she is taking her neighbours dog for a walk, the dog escapes from her and enters the open door of Meredith's flat.. Why does Meredith have a beautiful pink embroidered dress and jacket thrown over a chair? A dress designed by Catherine Walker, dressmake to Princess Diana.
What part did Meredith play in the history of the dress? Why does she have this dress?
A beautifully told story of someone suffering from dementia and how it effects the other family members.

I knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the author, the title, the cover and the description. I was so delighted to read an early copy of this novel.

The Palace Dress Maker offers a long (400 pages) and immersive read that takes place in the present day, the late 1980s and the 1990s. The storylines intersect through protagonist Jayne.

The dressmaker of the title is Meredith. In the current day, she lives in a Bath flat where both she and the readers get to know the other tenants. Meredith is struggling in her day to day life which leads to her meeting Jayne (more on Jayne below).

Meredith appears to be suffering from a form of dementia. She has a memory room that was created by her beloved William. But…where is he?? This is a central question in the novel. Also in the flat is an amazing dress and some notes from a certain Diana. Why does Meredith have these? No spoiler really given the novel’s title.

Jayne has been struggling in life. She is happy in her flat. Jayne works as a dog walker and in a flower shop. Through her jobs, she meets all of the other residents of the flat. Each of them has their own backstory. Note that one of these people is Jake. What will happen between him and Jayne?

I enjoyed this novel which, for me, required some suspension of disbelief. I don’t know enough about dementia to know if events could truly unfold in this way in real life. However, the novel still offers a good read.

Recommended to royal fans and lovers of women’s fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton or this title. All opinions are my own.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6922571411

I thought this was going to be a much more frivolous book than it was! Although it's got the glamorous fashion backdrop the main theme is dementia, which is treated in a thoughtful, sensitive and (relatively) realistic way. It started slowly for me but the characters and their relationships felt genuine. Over the course of the book I started to care about them, and the end was very moving. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A story of the sad decline that dementia brings.
As her neighbours rally to support her. Meredith’s story is unravelled to bring her the help she needs.

Lots of iconic dresses and the story behind them when and where they were made for their ever so famous recipient.

I wasn’t a massive Diana fan, but love fashion so appreciated the details of the glamour and the dressmaking.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh dear, dementia is a real hidden disease and totally un reversible. This novel by Jade tells not only a story but also gives good insight and advice on how to deal with the challenges that await. All it took to get started on this journey of unraveling the past was a wayward dog, which led to neighbours becoming really good and caring and supportive friends. Behind the relationships lie the dress designer to Royalty, Caroline Walker, and two of her incredible colleagues. It was a pleasure to accompany Jayne and Meredith in their travels. Written with great empathy and understanding of her subject, Jade Beer has portrayed realistic characters and penned a perfect story.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder, for this ARC.

Ow , what a fabulous book.....I absolutely loved it.

Taking the reader back to the days of Princess Diana - including her iconic dresses, this book tells the story of Meredith, the dressmaker of some her most famous dresses. It tells the story of how she got her job and met her would be husband, William.

Then the book jumps to 2018 where Jayne becomes a neighbour of Meredith. She knows the quiet lady has a story to tell so she sets about to try and find what it is.
With the undercurrent of dementia throughout the story (which is handled honestly and truthfully), the author links the two stories beautifully.

I loved this book...so wonderfully written.

Absolutely loved this book. A house splits in to flats but lives are not connected except by the top floor flat occupant who walks two of the dogs.
A chance encounter, missing family, caring and unraveling a mystery.
Stick with it and it all comes together wonderfully.
So sensitivitiey handled.

Loved it! What a lovely warm, intriguing story which gripped me in a gentle way! A story of developing friendship, romance and history. So well researched and had me googling afterwards to learn more. Each character and their developing relationships were very well drawn and convincing. Having a close relation who has dementia I can confirm that the depiction of Meredith is spot on. I am almost the same age as Diana would have been had she lived and worked in the fashion world at the same time as Meredith and William so it brought back many happy memories for me. I loved reading about the occasions at which the various dresses were worn and learning more about these events which we saw reported in the papers at the time. I enjoyed this so much I have already ordered another novel by the same author!

This sweeping, tender novel weaves together three timelines—London in 1988, New York in 1997, and England in 2018—each uncovering secrets, heartache, and the enduring power of love and fashion.

In 1988 London, Meredith landed her dream job at an elite fashion house, tasked with creating a gown for none other than Princess Diana herself. As she pours her heart into this career-defining project, she finds herself working closely with William, a handsome yet demanding colleague in the workroom. What begins as professional collaboration soon turns into something far deeper, with the dress—and William—changing Meredith's life in more ways than she could have ever imagined.

Fast forward to New York in 1997, where Princess Diana’s iconic dresses are being auctioned off for charity. Of the eighty pieces listed, only seventy-nine are sold, as the mysterious dress Number 19 has gone missing...

In 2018, Jayne moves into a new building and befriends her reclusive neighbour, Meredith Chalis. As she steps into Meredith’s dishevelled home, Jayne stumbles upon an exquisite evening dress and a note that hints at an incredible untold story. As Jayne unravels the mystery, she becomes the key to unlocking Meredith’s hidden past and the love story that has been buried for decades.

This beautifully written book is perfect for fans of The Crown, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and The Royal Librarian. It offers a heartwarming, slow-burn read that explores the emotional depth of love, friendship, and the devastating impact of dementia. Jayne, the modern-day heroine, is wonderfully relatable—content with being in the background, finding joy in giving, and asking for nothing in return. The story also immerses readers into the captivating world of Diana's dressmakers, filled with intricate fashion details that will have you googling every gown Meredith designed.

Above all, this novel is brimming with love, kindness, and human connection. It’s a story that will touch your heart and reaffirm your faith in the goodness of others. If you’re a fan of royal history, heartfelt love stories, or the legacy of Princess Diana, this should be your next read.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

If you were obsessed with what Princess Diana wore as much as me, (yes I had half a dozen scrapbooks, heck before she showed up I was Miss Diane from Crossroads...she propelled me into a fairytale and everyone called me Lady Di thereafter; so forgive me for being forever obsessed but I have a lot to be grateful to her for), you will love this story.

Such a tender hearted novel that reaffirms all your faith in society. It's a slow read, (a perfect break from the frantic lives we lead), but the characters will fill your bucket. I thought Jayne was so relatable (happy to be in the background, gets so much joy from giving but expects nothing in return). While exploring the heartache of dementia, friendships and love, we are immersed into the world of Diana's dressmakers. There is so much love in this novel, so much caring, so much kindness. I was googling every dress that Meredith made. If you love The Crown this should be your next read - Diana would have eaten up the love story between Meredith and William. An ideal book club novel as there can be plenty of discussions about Jayne's actions, relationships, forgiveness, and 80's/90's fashion :)

What a lovely story. I was so immersed in this that I read it in one day. So interesting and cleverly written. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.