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.

I absolutely adored this book from the first page. The sense of caring from the neighbours in the house. The love story of Meredith and William. The individual stories of the more minor characters which all feed into their care of Meredith. I wasn't a great Diana fan so that part of the book wasn't a pull for me but the effort put into her dresses, usually only worn once or twice was incredible! The author manages to convey the effect that creating these dresses had on the lives of the amazingly talented people who made them so well. It really was their life work. She also manages to document dementia brilliantly. As someone who went through dementia with both parents I was in tears at the kindness, patience and consideration the neighbours, Jayne especially, showed Meredith. A wonderful book that I recommend everyone to read and enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh how I loved this book..

Reading the blurb I immediately thought Paul Burrell stole the missing dress and i did giggle to myself but this novel is more than a missing dress, it is historical view into the life os a much loved Princess and her wardrobe.

As a dressmaker I really did enjoy the life inside the atelier and the story was well developed.. mixing fiction with a litlle true life was for me as a reader a joy..

An amazing tale and a fabulous read..

I absolutely love anything to do with fashion and dressmaking especially when it has to do with the time of the beautiful princess Diana. I find it so interesting and I know readers will as well.