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Astor Place Vintage

by Stephanie Lehmann

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19419138,693 (3.59)7
The proprietor of a vintage clothing store in Manhattan comes across a journal written by a young woman who wished to become a department store buyer, a goal which--in 1907--meant butting against the prevailing mores that dictated that women be confined to marriage and motherhood.
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Showing 1-5 of 16 (next | show all)
This book is an old favorite of mine.

Astor Place Vintage is set in both past and present day New York City. In this book you will meet Amanda, a vintage clothing store owner and Olive, who wishes to become a buyer in a department store in the year 1907. The story goes back and forth between both women and their struggles.

Olive has to deal with women rights issues along with a life changing event that will force her to find her voice and strength. Amanda has to deal with her own questionable choice of boyfriend and what does this choice has to do with her past, also her vintage clothing store may go through a change.

Amanda starts to question some of her choices when she finds a journal, written by Olive from 1907, in the pocket of a vintage piece of clothing.

Get a picture of what New York City was like in the beginning of the 1900's, this book actually has pictures circa 1907. Meet Amanda, Olive and their friends. Find out how different but yet similar their lives were.

This author does a superb job of making the stories of these women blend together! I look forward to reading more from Stephanie Lehmann!

This review was originally posted on Fictional Reviewer ( )
  fictionalblonde | Apr 10, 2019 |
The proprietor of a vintage clothing store in Manhattan comes across a journal written by a young woman who wished to become a department store buyer, a goal which -- in 1907-- meant butting against the prevailing mores that dictated that women be confined to marriage and motherhood.
  mcmlsbookbutler | Jan 2, 2017 |
This is a very enjoyable book. It's about two women. Amanda in 2007 and Olive in 2007. Amanda finds Olive's diary and begins to look at New York differently, tries to see it through Olive's eyes. The chapters are very defined as they go back and forth between the two women. You know who you are reading about, who the narrator is in that chapter. There are a few issues in both their lives and a few twists and turns. I found this entertaining, enjoyable and a good summer read. Stephanie is a good writer and she was able to suck me into the story and really see the characters, be a part of the story. ( )
  MHanover10 | Jul 10, 2016 |
I began this book ages ago and only read the first two chapters, somehow knowing it wasn't the right time for me to read it. And then - picked it back up and read it over three or four days! It was just the right time for Olive and Amanda's stories, which I loved much more than anticipated. I don't usually read historical fiction anymore, or chick-lit-type books, but was pleased by the detail in this story and the strong message of self-determination. 4.5 stars for sure. ( )
  Kristin_Curdie_Cook | Apr 29, 2016 |
Stephanie Lehmann's latest novel, Astor Place Vintage, is a dual time narrative set in New York City in both the modern-day and the early 20th century. When vintage store owner Amanda Rosenbloom agrees to purchase clothing from a wealthy client, she has no idea that her latest acquisitions will yield more than just dresses and skirts. For Amanda's purchase also includes an old diary that she finds sewn into the lining of an old fur muff. The diary was written by Olive Westcott, a young woman who lived in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Intrigued by Olive's story, Amanda quickly becomes lost in the pages of the diary. As Amanda learns more about Olive's life and her struggles to achieve independence in a society where women are still expected to conform to strict social conventions, she comes to realize that she is at a crossroads in her own life. This realization forces Amanda to confront some of her life choices -- choices that she knows are limiting her future.

I'm a sucker for dual time narratives, and Astor Place Vintage didn't disappoint. Alternating between Amanda and Olive's stories, Lehmann's characters are well-developed and engaging. While I initially found Olive's narrative to be the more intriguing of the two, by the end of the novel I had become equally enthralled by Amanda's story. While I can't condone some of the choices Amanda has made, I ultimately found her to be a sympathetic character, and I very much wanted her to take charge of her own destiny. Olive is portrayed as an intelligent and wholly capable young woman, one who is determined to attain her dream of becoming a department store buyer even though the odds seem to be against her. Readers will undoubtedly find Olive's story to be a compelling one.

One of my favourite aspects of Astor Place Vintage is the social history that it recounts. Through Olive, the reader gains an appreciation of the daily life of single, working class women in New York City in the early 20th century, as well as for the workings of a large department store. It is also through Olive that the reader becomes aware of some of the more restrictive societal rules and expectations placed on women. For example, were you aware that reputable places of accommodation (e.g., hotels and apartment rentals) would not permit unescorted women to stay, no matter what their circumstances? Setting also plays a prominent role in this novel, and I think Stephanie Lehmann does a fabulous job bringing New York City of both yesterday and today to life.

Well-written with engaging characters and story lines, Astor Place Vintage is recommended to fans of dual time narratives, historical fiction enthusiasts interested in the early 20th century, and to readers who enjoy novels featuring strong female protagonists.

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )
  Melissa_J | Jan 15, 2016 |
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The proprietor of a vintage clothing store in Manhattan comes across a journal written by a young woman who wished to become a department store buyer, a goal which--in 1907--meant butting against the prevailing mores that dictated that women be confined to marriage and motherhood.

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