The Fashion Orphans

Half-sisters Gabriella and Lulu (named for designer Coco Chanel) were close as children, but they have grown apart as adults. Gabriella prefers high society; Lulu prefers a more pedestrian lifestyle. When their mother dies, each knows she will inherit half of the estate. What they don’t know is that their mother has created a Coco Chanel–related puzzle that they must solve in order to get their inheritance. Each daughter must learn to overcome regrets, fears, and assumptions so they can work together to solve the puzzle. On this journey they learn much they didn’t know about their mother and about each other. They find a circle of willing helpers from all social levels who provide moral and monetary support, expertise, and wisdom. Meyers and Rose describe the sisters with quirks and foibles that make them both endearing and irritating. That gives the narrators, Mia Barron and Callie Beaulieu, room to work, and they clearly and warmly narrate the story.