Julia Kelly is the award-winning author of emotional historical novels about ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances and thrilling historical whodunnit mysteries. In addition to writing, she's been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London with her husband. Readers can visit JuliaKellyWrites.com to learn more about all her books and sign up for her newsletter so they never miss a new release.

"Fascinating...While there are plenty of WWII novels out there, this one takes a different approach. I couldn't put this down." --Fresh Fiction

"An intricate narrative about sisterhood, wartime, and the complications of family secrets . . . . While the dresses will be a treat for fashion lovers, the heart of the novel is its sensitive exploration of the tangled relationship between the sisters and the fresh beginnings that lie ahead for them both." --Shelf Awareness

"I adore Kelly's smart, thoughtful historical novels about women finding their way . . . So good - sensitive and compelling and full of fabulous WWII fashion details." --Cakes, Tea and Dreams

"An uplifting WWII story about familial struggles, societal standards, and forgiveness . . . Kelly portrays friendships built, sisterhoods solidified, and new, deserving love stories formed. Women's strength in the face of adversity is the focus of this fine historical novel." --Booklist

"The Dressmakers of London should come with a warning. You will become so immersed in the lives of the characters, their dilemmas and their relationships, that you just might ignore the world around you as you keep reading to see how the sisters will ever come together again. Watching the journey is truly a lovely experience." --Bookreporter

"A captivating, uplifting story of family, fashion, and friendship during World War Two. Izzie and Sylvia are strong, resourceful sisters who have become estranged and I was rooting for them to heal the rift. The descriptions of fabrics, dressmaking techniques, and the ingenuity of fashion designers operating under wartime austerity measures are fascinating. Joyful!" --Gill Paul, USA Today bestselling author of Scandalous Women

"I absolutely adored this book and its rich cast of characters. The sisters are wonderful and their stories utterly absorbing, but what really wove a spell was the meticulous research...the result is a novel that is so authentic and powerful I felt like I could open the door to Mrs.Shelton's Fashions and step back in time. This is historical fiction at its finest!" --Kate Thompson, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Little Wartime Library

"I was gripped by this captivating novel about two estranged sisters in WW2. The characters leapt into life, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to them...It was both fascinating and entrancing. A real page-turner." --Maggie Brookes, author of The Prisoner's Wife and Acts of Love and War

Publisher: Gallery Books

Pub date: 2025-02-18

Length: 432 pages