The Champagne Letters, Kate Macintosh (Review by Kristin Kurek)

Pop the cork on The Champagne Letters by Kate Macintosh and enjoy a journey of self-discovery! The Champagne Letters by Kate Macintosh follows Natalie Taylor, a woman who travels to Paris to escape the upheaval of her failed marriage. She finds inspiration in a book of letters from the widow Barbe-Nicole Clicquot. She follows the Widow Clicquot’s journey as she defies gender restrictions in establishing one of the most successful champagne houses in the world. I found myself rooting for both Natalie and Barbe-Nicole from the jump. I deeply enjoyed learning about France and the French wine industry during the reign of Napoleon. Additionally, reading about the established gender norms of the period gave me a vast appreciation for Mme. Clicquot‘s business acumen and ruthless pursuit of success. I found myself with an insatiable curiosity about the history of Mme. Clicquot. Natalie’s re-established independence was such an inspiration. Her developing love for fashion and self-confidence was so fun to witness. I bought myself a split Veuve Clicquot champagne and savored this book to the very last drop.