Author Biography

Elizabeth Ross studied French at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and between semesters she worked in Paris and Brittany. She lives in Los Angeles. When she isn't writing, Elizabeth edits feature films. Visit her at elizabethrossbooks.com or follow @RossElizabeth on Twitter.

Review

A William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"Both touching and fun, this is a story about many things—true friendship, real beauty, being caught between two worlds—and it will delight fans of historical fiction."—Publishers Weekly

"A refreshingly relevant and inspiring historical venture."—Kirkus Reviews

"A compelling story about friendship, the complexity of beauty, and self-discovery…full of strong female characters."—School Library Journal

"With resonant period detail, elegant narration, and a layered exploration of class and friendship, this provocative novel is rife with satisfaction."—Booklist

"Much to offer a contemporary YA audience…flirtation and match-making to tantalize romance fans…prime book-club fare."—The Bulletin

"This delectable Parisian tale left me sighting with sweet satisfaction. J'adore Belle Epoque!"-Sonya Sones, author of What My Mother Doesn't Know and To Be Perfectly Honest

"This is an excellent cross-genre read that many will appreciate for its themes on how young women view themselves and the world around them."-Historical Novels Review, Editor's Choice

Review Quote

Booklist , April 15, 2013: " With resonant period detail, elegant narration, and a layered exploration of class and friendship, this provocative novel is rife with satisfaction." Publishers Weekly , May 6, 2013: "Ross offers not one, but two strong heroines in her debut novel, both navigating the choppy waters of the Paris debutante season, albeit from different social classes. Though Maude is the chief protagonist (and narrator), Isabelle is highly engaging as a young woman determined to challenge the expectations of her gender and study science at a university. Both touching and fun, this is a story about many things-true friendship, real beauty, being caught between two worlds-and it will delight fans of historical fiction." Historical Novels Review Editors' Choice "This is an excellent cross-genre read that many will appreciate for its themes on how young women view themselves and the world around them." From the Hardcover edition.

Excerpt from Book

CHAPTER 1 "Perfect, just perfect," says the stout man. He scrutinizes me, his suit pinching across his rotund torso, and I assume that this is Monsieur Durandeau, but he doesn''t introduce himself. Instead he walks around me in a circle as I stand still and awkward in the middle of the sitting room. A faint perfume lingers in the air. Perfect: no one has ever described me like that before. I glance down at my grubby hem and scuffed boots. What I see is a stray, a runaway--just another waif on the streets of Paris. A younger man, tall and handsome, with a square jaw and waves of brown hair, pops his head around the door. "Laurent, come in." Durandeau beckons him over and nods toward me. "What do you think?" The young man approaches and looks at me like he''s sizing up a prize heifer. This is supposed to be an interview, but neither of them is asking me questions--am I a hard worker, can I cook or sew? They haven''t even asked my name. I think back to the job notice, now crumpled in my pocket. YOUNG WOMEN WANTED FOR UNDEMANDING WORK. PROPRIETY GUARANTEED. APPLY IN PERSON TO THE DURANDEAU AGENCY, 27 AVENUE DE L''OP

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