A fantastic, well researched historical fiction. The characters and their relationships are well written and nuanced. I loved how multi-faceted so many of the characters were.

For me, this novel was a throwback to the kind of novel that made me an avid reader. It’s a Barbara Taylor Bradford Woman of Substance kind of book. The undaunted heroine rises from meager circumstances. With talent, grit, and ambition she faces many obstacles but becomes successful and climbs the rungs of society.

This is not a criticism. Maisie McIntyre is such a character. She grows up in a hardscrabble neighborhood in early twentieth century Edinburg . Her mother is a seamstress and teaches Maisie to sew. Maisie dreams dress designing and masters their sewing machine. The small apartment becomes even more crowded when her sister, Netta, gets married and begins having children. When Maisie’s mother dies, she finds savings hidden in a drawer. With the money and a stolen bolt of elegant fabric, she sails to New York and becomes a wealthy, renowned fashion designer.

Threaded through the story is the history—the Triangle factory fire, the Depression, two wars—and the social issues of race, sexuality, corruption. Maisie fights her way through it all having success and failure, heartbreak and triumph.

There may be nothing new to learn in this story but I enjoyed my trip back in time with Maisie, Oti, Joseph, Aiden, Rosa and the rest of the colorful cast.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read the advanced readers copy and give my honest opinion .

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. If you were a fan of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this is sure to be right up your alley. The character development of Maisie invokes much emotion in following her ambitious story. As a whole, covering many historical events and the personal journey of Maisie, this story brings love, heartbreak, joy, struggles, pain, and resilience.

Check out this beautifully written novel on publication day May 21st.

This is certainly a humdinger of a book and I loved every minute of it! It tells the story of Maisie McIntyre from her humble beginnings in a Edinburgh tenement to becoming couturier to the finest ladies of New York society, dressing movie stars and a successful business woman in her own right. Because the timescale of the book covers a huge chunk of the 20th century many historical events and major issues of the day are effectively used as markers in Maisie's life. The Rebel of Seventh Avenue will be the book for you if you like a family saga, a historical novel, a woman's success story or just a really good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

4-1/2⭐️
I was given the opportunity to review this book by the publisher and NetGalley, and what a book this is. The Rebel of Seventh Avenue follows Maisie McIntyre, a young seamstress from 1910 Edinburgh who, after her mother’s death, steals silk and money to start a new life in New York City. Her extraordinary talent for dressmaking propels her into the world of high fashion, where she builds a couture empire catering to Manhattan’s elite. Along the way, she falls for Joseph Jackson, a brilliant Black architect, and must navigate a society rife with prejudice, ambition, and sacrifice.

Uniquely told and unlike anything I’ve read in the historical fiction genre, I savored every chapter of this story. Maisie is not exactly a likable character, yet you find yourself rooting for her and her incredible ambitions. The descriptions of the fashion she creates are stunningly exquisite and elegant, and I felt so immersed in the genius of Maison McIntyre. The story is full of longing and sadness and color and creativity.

Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century New York, the novel brilliantly weaves historical events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the women’s suffrage parade into Maisie’s journey, making it both an intimate and sweeping read. I also learned so much about this era—the opulence of pre-Depression NYC, the struggles of working-class women, and the barriers faced by those who dared to defy societal norms.

What an enchanting and immersive experience this novel was for me. Exquisitely and beautifully written, The Rebel of Seventh Avenue is a stunning tale of ambition, love, and resilience that will stay with me for a long time.

This book was an absolute marvel to read. The highs and lows of Maisie’s life are explored in such vivid detail and the historical elements are interpreted so skilfully. It was immersive, gripping, devastating, and exciting.

Set in the late 19th century we follow Maisie Macintyres life from humble beginings to the high echelons of fashion

Maisie is an amazing character and as a dressmaker myself I loved reading about her rise from sewist to designer.

There is a lot of modern themes running through this read and the story is quite remarkable. It is well written, it has heartbreak and moments of triumph and all in all is well worth the reading time.

I loved it

I was excited to read Annabelle Marx’s latest novel, even though I know nothing about the history of fashion, or anything much at all about the world of clothes designing. I learned so much.! The story is set in the early 20th century, and follows an ambitious fashion designer called Maisie McIntyre. We see her rise from the slums of Edinburgh, to the wealthy circles of New York, to the glamour of Hollywood, gradually perfecting her art, creating the iconic fashions of the era. Maisie says at one point: “fashion, I came to realise, wasn’t just about the beautiful dresses, it was about self-respect, freedom of expression and power.”
This novel covers so much - female ambition, the fight for equality, black rights, war, love, heartbreak - I could go on.
Annabelle Marx has written a wonderful, thought provoking, heartwarming book, weaving fact and fiction seamlessly. Brilliant stuff.!

I found this book very hard to put down. It’s a beautifully written rags to riches story, but also a carefully researched and accurate description of life in a very difficult period in recent history.
Maisie Macintyre was born in 1890 and bought up with her older sister, Netta, by their mother in a one room Edinburgh tenement.
This story unfolds as Maisie’s mother teaches her to sew, using a Singer sewing machine given by her employer, Mrs Robertson, in dubious circumstances.
Maisie discovers a passion for beautiful fabrics and design. She has great strength of character and this sees her through her life as she deals with the attitudes and prejudices of the time. She lives through two world wars, then the Depression in America, but always building her successful fashion business and caring for her employees.
Maisie is fiercely independent. She has a strong sense of family values and she has romantic relationships, but can her one true love can ever be?
This is a great story which gives insight into the lives, some hard, some privileged, that many people had just a few short years ago.

"The Rebel of Seventh Avenue" by Annabelle Marx is a beautifully crafted historical novel that follows Maisie McIntyre, a young seamstress from Edinburgh, who sets off to make her mark in New York after her mother’s death.
The novel’s portrayal of Maisie’s growth is nothing short of inspiring, as her resilience and determination are truly captivating. What truly elevates this book is how Annabelle Marx expertly weaves historical events into the narrative, particularly the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the rising women’s rights movement, grounding Maisie’s journey in a broader social context.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Annabelle Marx for the ARC!

The Rebel of Seventh Avenue by Annabelle Marx is an inspiring story of ambition, love, and self-discovery. Set in 1910, we follow Maisie McIntyre, a young seamstress from Edinburgh, as she escapes the poverty-stricken life she once knew. Stealing a bolt of silk and some money, Maisie sails to New York City, where she begins to build a couture empire from scratch, showcasing her remarkable talent for dressmaking.

What stands out in this book is Maisie's fierce determination. She faces many challenges, including the gender biases and prejudices of the time, but her strength and ambition keep her moving forward. Her ability to make her mark in a male-dominated industry is empowering, and it was refreshing to see a character so resolute in her pursuit of success.

The backdrop of early 20th-century New York is rich and well-developed, with the city’s dynamic energy adding depth to the story. I particularly appreciated how the fashion scene, the women’s rights movement, and even the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire were woven into the plot, giving the book both historical depth and relevance.

Maisie’s relationship with Joseph Jackson, a talented Black architect, adds another layer to the story, with the challenges of love in a prejudiced society making their connection all the more poignant. The themes of self-respect, freedom, and personal growth are at the forefront, making this a powerful read for those who enjoy stories about strong, independent women.

The Rebel of Seventh Avenue is a compelling and immersive read that will captivate anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly stories of women who defy the odds to carve their path. Marx’s depiction of the fashion world and Maisie’s journey to success is detailed and engaging, making this book a standout in the genre.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. This book is set in 1910, as Maisie leaves Scotland and poverty to make a life for herself in New York City. She embarks in the fashion industry and soon finds herself making creations for the elite of Manhattan. But she encounters many issues of that time, such as working in a man's world, an era before regulations, racism, and women's rights.

I enjoyed this book a lot - it takes place in an interesting timeframe, but also during an important social movement in society. This is a great book if you are looking for that historical feel, as the author does a great job of capturing that scene and feeling. I also enjoyed the peek into the fashion industry, from the design process to production.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annabelle Marx's The Rebel of Seventh Avenue tells the story of Maisie McIntyre, a determined young seamstress who escapes poverty in Edinburgh to build a couture empire in New York City. We follow Maisie's journey as she confronts the challenges of a male-dominated industry, pursues her ambitious dreams, and finds love amidst the burgeoning fashion scene of the early 20th century.

We see Maisie's unwavering determination, particularly when facing the gender biases of the time. The historical backdrop of early 1900s New York, with its bustling energy and evolving social landscape, was well-crafted.

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those who appreciate stories of strong, independent women forging their own paths. The detailed descriptions of the fashion industry and Maisie's innovative designs made this novel a truly captivating read.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read The Rebel of Seventh Avenue by Annabelle Marx, a historical fiction novel in the world of the fashion industry following a fascinating woman from humble beginnings to her rise to the top along with a wide group of unconventional friendsand family.

What a gorgeous historical novel! I love anything to do with fashion and I am beyond excited for readers to en there this world of fashion, glamour, and intrigue. Also a beautiful interracial love story that will have you rooting for this gorgeous couple throughout the whole novel.