The Fashion Orphans

 The Fashion Orphans written by Randy Susan Meyers and M J Rose.... fabulous.

Two terrific authors have joined forces and written a very entertaining novel.  Randy Susan Meyers has written a number of interesting novels about family relationships and MJ Rose is also a prolific author writing historical novels about fashion and jewels.  Together they took the story of two half sisters who have grown apart and brings them back together after their mother dies and leaves her apartment and belongings for them to work together on distributing and clearing out.

Like so many sisters each has a very different personality with ideas and lifestyle differences.  Like so many sisters they have to find a way to connect and not argue.  Gabrielle is the first born daughter and she grew up in a in a luxury apartment on the upper east side of Manhattan.  She is a costume designer on Broadway and recently  divorced.  Lulu grew up in a working class neighborhood in Brooklyn, mainly  raised by her grandparents.  She is a grieving widow now, working to make ends meet at a bakery owned by her in laws.

The two sisters come to the reading of their mother's will each hoping to divide the estate and walk away with enough money to set their lives in order and leave the other sister behind.

To their surprise they have been left a secret collection by their mother, who it seems starts talking to them from the next life through inspiring messages she has left behind in her vintage clothes and accessories.

The sisters become closer to each other and to the group of friends they never knew their mother had. These friends also help the sisters learn so much about their mother and each other.

Written in a light and entertaining style there really is a great depth to this novel, so much to think about and aa great discussion starter.