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A Novel
by Noelle Salazar
Book Reviewed by:The discovery of a hidden label on a famous gown unearths the story of a talented young seamstress in this glittering novel of family, love, ambition, and self discovery by the USA Today bestselling author of The Flight Girls.
2023, The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History: A costume conservator is preparing an exhibition featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to present day. As she gingerly places a gown once worn by Greta Garbo on a mannequin, she discovers another name hidden beneath the designer's label, leaving her to wonder—who is Zora Lily?
1924, Seattle: Poverty-stricken Zora Hough spends her days looking after her younger siblings while sewing up holes and fixing hems for clients to bring in extra money, working her fingers to the bone just to survive. But at night, as she lies in the bed she shares with one of her three sisters, she secretly dreams of becoming a designer like Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin.
When her best friend gets a job dancing in a club downtown, Zora is lured in by her stories of music, glittering dresses and boys. She follows her friend to the underground speakeasies that are at once exciting and frightening—with smoke hanging in the air, alcohol flowing despite Prohibition, couples dancing in a way that makes Zora blush and a handsome businessman named Harley. It's a world she has only ever imagined, and one with connections that could lead her to the life she's always dreamed of. But as Zora's ambition is challenged by tragedy and duty to her family, she'll learn that dreams come with a cost.
Author Noelle Salazar is a master at painting vivid snapshots. It is easy for the reader to imagine the characters, locations, fashions and clubs (Shannon L). The Roaring Days of Zora Lily is a terrific read, especially for fans of historical fiction. … We see life from the tenements of Seattle to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood during the '20s (Catherine S). I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical fiction, and it's the perfect read if you're looking for an uplifting tale or if you need some encouragement while you're going after your dreams (Emily)...continued
Full Review
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(Reviewed by First Impressions Reviewers).
Noelle Salazar's The Roaring Days of Zora Lily follows a fictional aspiring fashion designer living in Seattle in the 1920s. But who were the real fashion designers of the day? In Salazar's novel, Zora wants to have a career like Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin. While most American readers have likely heard of the Chanel brand and its eponymous founder, fewer may be aware of her contemporary Lanvin. Nevertheless, Lanvin's fashion house is considered one of the most successful and innovative of her era, and she remains internationally known as a designer and perfumer, perhaps most notably for her iconic fragrance Arpège.
Like Salazar's Zora, Lanvin came from modest beginnings and worked hard to achieve her dreams. Born to a large ...
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You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think.
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Chanel Cleeton, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Cuban Heiress
A sensational novel set during the glittering height of the Jazz Age, The Roaring Days of Zora Lily transports readers through speakeasies and Hollywood studios as a daring seamstress chases her dreams. Brimming with emotion, romance, and dazzling prose, historical fiction readers will love this one!
