A Vintage Affair - Review

Title: A Vintage Affair
Author: Isabel Wolff

Synopsis: "Phoebe Swift’s friends are stunned when she abruptly leaves a plum job to open her own vintage clothing shop in London – but to Phoebe, it’s the fulfillment of a dream, and her passion. Digging for finds in attics and wardrobes, Phoebe knows that when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re not just buying fabric and thread – you’re buying a piece of someone’s past. But one particular article of clothing will soon unexpectedly change her life.
 "Thérèse Bell, an elderly Frenchwoman, has an impressive clothing collection. But among the array of elegant suits and couture gowns, Phoebe finds a child’s blue coat – an item with which Mrs. Bell is stubbornly reluctant to part. As the two women become friends, Phoebe will learn the poignant tale of that little blue coat. And she will discover an astonishing connection between herself and Thérèse Bell – one that will help her heal the pain of her own past and allow her to love again."


Review: A Vintage Affair is a wonderful story about love, life and repentance. Phoebe’s struggle with her past touched my heart. I felt badly for her and wished for her to find happiness all the way through the novel. When she meets Mrs. Bell I was moved by their budding relationship and Phoebe’s search to bring her peace. The characters were so well formed that I was angry, for most of the novel, with Miles and Roxy. I fell deeply in love with Dan and was angry at Phoebe for not seeing what was right under her nose.

 There was a single point that bothered me. It’s when the man wanted to try on corsets and Phoebe says that of course she didn't let him. It took up two lines. Why even bother to put that in? If this was a character flaw it needed to be expanded on more, because put this way it just appears as if the author is prejudiced against transgender individuals. It made me angry because I don’t understand why he couldn't try on the corset and why Ms. Wolff felt the need to throw that in our faces? However despite this malicious and prejudicial remark I did enjoy this book. I laughed, I loved and I cried. A Vintage Affair is a wonderful read.



Publisher: Bantam Books
ISBN: 978-0553386622

If you like this book you may want to read:

The Love Goddess’ Cooking School by Melissa Senate (ISBN: 978-1439107232)

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (ISBN: 978-0553384840) See my review of this novel here.