This is a story about a woman with dementia. We learn some of her history from the dresses she and her husband made for Princess Diana. However most of the story is about how the other people in her building rally around and help her out. Through the Memory Room that her husband set up for her, Meredith is guided through her own past history, from when she first started working with William as dressmaker to one of Diana's favourite designers. There could have been more stories about the dresses, but it keeps coming back to Meredith and her dementia.

A royal princess. A dress lost for decades. A love story waiting to be uncovered...

Opening at Christie's Auctions in New York in 1997, we dive into the story of the most luxurious dresses made for royalty. Except there's one missing. Lot number 19...

London 1988: As early morning dawns, Meredith hurries to her new place of work. Somewhere she could only dream of working for it's all she's thought of for the past 10 days. And now here it is. As she's ushered into the humble little workshop and introduced to her new colleagues, there is one that stands out to her amongst them all. His attention to detail and his professionalism go above and beyond.

Bath 2018: Thirtysomething Jayne lives in a rooftop apartment in one of Bath's most illustrious addresses. The terraced townhouuse is broken up into little flats of four residences, with the coach house out the back. She's a dogwalker and part time florist, walking the dogs of two of the residents in her townhouse complex. But it's when she's juggling one dog Margot and grappling for the other Teddy's leash, a door opens and there stands their elderly neighbour Meredith. Margot takes the opportunity and races through the open door, leaving Jayne stumbling over what to do. Meredith looks dazed and confused, asking her if she has seen William. That he's missing and hasn't come home.

And so begins the unlikely friendship between Jayne and Meredith. It isn't long before she suspects something is amiss with Meredith. Her flat is untidy, food left rotting, open bottles of milk on the bench, dishes piled on every surface. As haphazard as her flat is, Meredith seems to find comfort in it. But every morning when Jayne greets her, Meredith asks her where William is. And so Jayne sets herself the task of finding him, unravelling the mystery of Meredith's life via a "memory room" that William and Meredith had painstakingly put together and that of the stunning pink silk dress with intricate floral embroidery Princess Diana had worn on her India tour in 1992 which now lays draped over a chair in Meredith's room. Slowly but surely, Jayne enlists the help of the other residents, their neighbours, to help care for Meredith as well as unravel the mystery of the missing William.

It brings to mind the horrid disease that is dementia, slowly stealing the memories we hold dear of our loved ones. Almost everyone in the world will be touched by dementia at some point in their lives, so rife that it is. It is a heartwarming story tinged with sadness. It's plot is somewhat predictable as we too are eager to learn the whereabouts of William.

I loved reading about the dresses that were lovingly created for Princess Diana, their descriptions enough for me to key in to Google and take a look at the finished products themselves. And I have to say...the pink silk with the floral embroidered bodice worn on her India tour is siply stunning. I don't remember ever seeing it. The most iconic photograph from that tour is of her sitting alone on the bench outside the Taj Mahal that everyone knows. But this dress - sorry, gown - is stunning.





Woven through the fabrics of time, the threads of this story come together to create a heartwarming and endearing tale that is both beautiful and poignant.

A must-read for fans of historical fiction, dual timelines and Princess Diana.

Published in the US as "The Memory Dress".

I would like to thank #JadeBeer, #Netgalley and #HodderBooks for an ARC of #ThePalaceDressmaker in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This dual timeline novel sees Meredith, a dressmaker, tasked with making a gown for Princess Diana in 1988. Modern day sees Meredith living in an apartment, in a building where no one pays much attention to the other residents. Fellow loner Jayne realises Meredith is struggling, and when she discovers a memory room in Meredith's flat, Jayne attention is soon drawn to a very famous item of clothing. Can Jayne and her fellow neighbours help Meredith understand what it all means?

This is a story of friendship, relationships, and the heartbreaking illness that is dementia. A beautiful book, very well written. I loved how the flashback timeline was perfectly interspersed with the modern, giving just enough small snippets of information to help the reader understand Meredith's life more clearly.

A cozy and hearwarming story, imagining the lives of some of the tailors who made some of the most famous gowns worn by Princess Diana. Anyone who has enjoyed reading Angela Kelly's account of her time as designer to the late Queen Elizabeth II, or who has a fascination with the gowns worn by Diana in her lifetime, will love reading this story of the imagined lives of those who worked for the designer Catherine Walker. Diana herself is a subtle presence in the story - never featured directly but holds sway over the events past, present through her dresses and the memories of her held by those who knew her. It's a lovely story, warmly told and well worth reading.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Set against the backdrop of both present-day and a nostalgic past, The Palace Dressmaker unfolds through Meredith and her neighbour, Jayne. After Meredith shows signs of dementia, Jayne becomes concerned.

The mystery intensifies as Jayne uncovers Meredith’s memory room, a poignant creation by her husband, William, and the unexpected presence of one of Princess Diana’s iconic dresses in Meredith’s flat. Together with the other residents of their building, Jayne embarks on a journey to unveil the truth about Meredith’s past, and a friendship between young and old starts to blossom.

Jade Beer’s novel is a captivating blend of historical intrigue and contemporary storytelling that will resonate deeply with fans of The Crown. The dual timelines and Beer’s writing effortlessly transports readers back in time to learn more about the lives of Meredith and William.

The characters are well-developed, each contributing to the overarching themes of love, loss, and the quest for understanding.

The Palace Dressmaker is a heartwarming read which also invites reflection on the stories we carry with us and the impact they have on our lives. Highly recommended!

A lovely story about Jayne, who has experienced trauma in her past, and her neighbour Meredith, who has dementia. Meredith used to work for the designer Catherine Walker making couture clothing for Princess Diana. Together, they uncover Meredith's memories, and help Jayne to be more open in her life.
All the neighbours are very pleasant and work well together to support Jayne and Meredith. Maggie is a lovely character and livens up the book. Recommended.

Not really quite what I expected, as I had been drawn to the book because of the connection to Princess Diana. It did include details of her dresses and the work and background to them. But the main story was about Meredith and her battle with dementia. It is a beautifully written book by someone who has done their research well.

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.