What readers think of The Roaring Days of Zora Lily, plus links to write your own review.

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily is a riveting story about a young Seattle woman who recognizes her passion and skills for costuming and couture dress designing and makes good on them. From a disadvantaged background, she is cautious but determined to gain independence and recognition for her one-of-a-kind creations. A disillusioning experience in Hollywood requires great courage and fortitude to continue despite the disappointing setback. Forging ahead, she meets some influential people with helpful advice and connections. She also falls in love with a man who she feels is above her station and could not possibly be interested in her.

It is quite by accident that Lily's talent becomes the focus of a Smithsonian exhibition 100 years later. And all will be revealed.

Having grown up in Seattle, I loved the references to familiar locations. It made this very readable story even more so.

Who is Zora Lily Hough?

She is a character you will fall in love with as you follow her through her days helping her family cope with poverty and tragedy and as she works as a day nanny for the Harringtons as she waits for her dreams to come true.

Zora and her friend, Rose, take us through speakeasies and their lives as young women in the 1920's.

We follow them through heartbreaks and Zora's wish to become a fashion designer and to own her own boutique. I loved hearing about her sewing skills and fashion ideas.

You will be pulled in immediately with Ms. Salazar's marvelous, detailed writing and story line.

I didn't want the book to end because of Zora. She is a character who made you want all good things happen to.

Do not miss this gem.

It is such a beautiful read, I was actually crying. Not sad tears, but just overwhelmed at the beauty of the story.

Thank you to the publisher and BookBrowse for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily portrays a three tier tied relationship between family, friendship and love. Zora is a young lady who works hard to reach her goal ,to be a famous fashion designer.The obstacles she encountered never thwart her desire to keep working for her dreams she was a lady who is ready to fight, no matter what happens.

Zora was truly a hardworking and ambitious young woman and I loved her character. I loved seeing Zora take her sewing skills to her highest levels designing movie set costumes during the 20's and see her resilience following a major set back. I find characters like Zora who has motivation and drive such great examples for every reader but especially women readers. The double time line present and past was an added value as we discover Zora Lily.

Zora's love interest Harley was a true gentlemen and the love to Zora was so honorable. The book did not sugar coat family and romantic relationships. The author truly had each character suffer adversity and it she drew you in to see who would overcome!

I would recommend this book to teen readers and book clubs for a story filled with history, rich vs. poor, and strong characters who all dealt with adversity. The author also provided a glimpse of the 1920's with the extreme poverty, wealth, racial tensions and competition in many areas in life to get ahead.

"The Roaring Days of Zora Lily" is an absolute gem of a book that deserves all the praise it can get. From the moment I cracked open its pages, I was transported into a vibrant world filled with unforgettable characters and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Zora Lily, the titular character, is a true force of nature. Her wit, resilience, and unwavering determination make her an instant favorite. You can't help but root for her as she navigates the challenges and adventures that come her way. Her journey from a small-town dreamer to a charismatic, fearless protagonist is a testament to the author's skillful character development.

What sets this book apart is its vivid and immersive world-building. The author's meticulous attention to detail in describing the settings, from the bustling streets of the Roaring Twenties to the smoky jazz clubs, makes the story come alive. It's a world you won't want to leave, and you'll find yourself completely absorbed in its atmosphere.

The writing style is exquisite, blending lyrical prose with a snappy, engaging narrative that keeps you turning the pages. Each sentence feels carefully crafted, and the dialogue is sharp and filled with authenticity. It's a joy to read, and you'll find yourself savoring every word.

"The Roaring Days of Zora Lily" is not just a story; it's an experience. It's a celebration of friendship, love, and the pursuit of dreams. It's a reminder that, even in the face of adversity, one can find strength and resilience within themselves. This book will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.

This is the story of a young Zora who sews from childhood with her mother to make ends meet to help support her large family. She always dreamt of owning her own dress shop with her beautiful creations. During her journey, she has the opportunity to go to Hollywood and make gowns for Greta Garbo. She took over at the last minute for their original designer and made gowns that far exceeded the styles and beauty of the original designer. However, problems ensued as is the way of Hollywood and she lost all confidence in herself. Thank goodness that was temporary and she continued to strive for her goals.
This book also tells the fairy tale romance Zora has with a prosperous handsome Brit - Harley, who remained ever supportive.
I am a seamstress and costume designer and viewed this story from that perspective. Personally I would have liked the author to have given more detailed descriptions of Zora's creations to make them come alive. Also the Cinderella romance was sweet but kind of typical.
I think this story could be in the young adult as well as adult category as it is a story of never giving up on your dreams.

I wish I loved The Roaring Days of Zora Lily. Noelle Salazar, the author, addressed many of the elements present during the so-called "roaring twenties." She showed us the extreme poverty which lurked beneath the wealth of American society and integrated the working conditions of the lower classes into her dialogue. Zora's social life is a microcosm of the underground clubs where the poor forgot their poverty and the rich squandered their money. The longing to better herself through her dream of a dress shop of her own, is Zora, dreaming for every immigrant who came to this country in the mass migration between the late eighteen hundreds and the early years of the next century. And, in the time switch to the modern day with its character of a Smithsonian Institute conservator and her discovery while mounting a retrospective of costumes of the era, gives us a picture of the influence of Hollywood on culture and design of the twenties. All these historic events provide fodder for a richly realized story full of complex characters created by their place in society and economic status.
Instead, Salazar has written a book which, to me, is a step above a "cozy" in the way the lives of its characters evolve and in the short shrift given important events in American history. I wanted to like Zora. Instead, I found her ordinary and familiar with little depth and a lot of cliché. Sorry, I'd skip this one.

This book started with an interesting twist: a modern day Smithsonian curator coming across a 1920s Hollywood costume designer mystery, at which time the book takes us back to 1924 where the story unravels and the mystery is eventually solved. While that story line sounds intriguing making the reader want to delve further, I found the writing style simplistic and adolescent, more appropriate for YA audiences. While the story introduces us to a host of different characters, none are deeply examined including the main character, Zora. The story reads like an early 20th century fairy tale, complete with one dimensional characters.