The Woman in the Wallpaper: The spellbinding debut novel for readers of The Miniaturist and The Yellow Wallpaper
Paperback Published on: 15/01/2026
Price: £10.99
Bookseller Reviews
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A perfectly crafted historical thriller full of intrigue & suspense
On opening this book I knew I was holding something very special in my hands - the gorgeous endpapers a perfect representation of the tale to unfold.
Rich ... READ MORE
A sublime and decadent debut!
Paris, the year is 1789.
The Oberst Factory, a behemoth of industry responsible for crafting the finest, most exquisitely designed wallpaper for the most f... READ MORE
An eloquent and immersive historical novel.
The Woman in the Wallpaper is a captivating historical novel that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The novel skillfully intertwines elements of ... READ MORE
Heart-breaking and brilliant
I was fortunate enough to receive an early proof copy of this, and am now so excited to see other people's reactions when it comes out. It seems like a lon... READ MORE
Events Unfolded And I Was Truly Shocked By What Happened.
Not read a historical novel set around the French Revolution for a good while and the prologue has me wondering who would be facing the guillotine.
I en... READ MORE
Enchanting
Absolutely enchanted and engrossed by this story, from the very first page. The characters, so well written, jumped off the pages. I became completely inve... READ MORE
Gripping and it will keep you guessing till the end!
This is a fascinating story set during the French Revolution of 1789 and opens as an unknown woman is on her final journey to the guillotine! We do not dis... READ MORE
Synopsis
Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.
When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi's political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef's spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?
As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
- ISBN: 9781408731413
- Number of pages: 512
- Dimensions: 196 x 126 x 38 mm
- Weight: 349g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allLoved this book
I loved this book from beginning to end. I mean historical fiction with a supernatural type edge, what’s not to love? The relationship between the two sis... READ MORE
Vive les Femmes!
This is a captivating historical novel, that is set against the backdrop the French revolution. I particularly like the way that we see the current events ... READ MORE
This did take my breath away!
Sometimes you’ve just got to go with it. This bold historical debut with its setting of France at the time of the Revolution is certainly audacious, at ti... READ MORE
French Revolution Mystey
The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones
People unable to afford food, complaints about a living wage, disaffection with the wealthy and riots in the s... READ MORE
Nicely written
As France teeters on the edge of revolution, the Thibault women are forced to leave their home in Marseilles to work at the wallpaper factory owned by the ... READ MORE
A powerful debut
3.5 rounded up
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité. Vive la Révolution …From the fall of the Bastille to the executions, France will never be the same. In Pari... READ MORE
A stunning historical fiction debut set in the times of the French Revolution. Loved it!
This is once again one of those debut novels where you cannot believe you are reading a debut. So beautifully written with an intricate storyline that has ... READ MORE
3.5/5.
The Woman in the Wallpaper is a captivating tale set in the heart of Paris during a time of upheaval and change in 1788. After the tragic death of their fa... READ MORE
A beautiful and heartbreaking historical fiction book
This book is going to stay with me for a long time. It is inspiring, dark, heartbreaking, beautiful and sad. It shows women's raw strength and determinatio... READ MORE
Informative
Set during the French revolution this gives an interesting perspective on the time . It is set in an unusual sphere of a wall paper factory
A lengthy rea... READ MORE
Tragic tale
Written amidst the background of the French Revolution. The Woman in the Wallpaper follows the tragic circumstances of a working-class family caught up in ... READ MORE
Magical realism
This is a story based on the famous "toile du Juoy" wallpaper. A mother and her two daughters are forced to seek work in the wallpaper factory. They become... READ MORE
The Woman in the Wallpaper
This book is a fictional account of the lives of three young women during the French Revolution. The story begins in the south but moves a wallpaper factor... READ MORE
A Good Read
Set in 18th Century France at the time of the French Revolution ,the story follows three women ,two sisters Sofia and Lara and Hortense who is privileged ... READ MORE
Fascinating gothic tale
A fascinating story. Set just before and during the French Revolution the book opens in Paris in 1789 where an unnamed woman watches three people being ta... READ MORE
A creepy fascinating read
The woman in the wallpaper - Lora Jones due for publication Feb 2025
A fascinating fictionalised account of the early years of the French Revolution cen... READ MORE
Historical mystery novel taking place in France at the end of the 18th century - very interesting.
Two sisters are forced to move to work in a wallpaper factory outside Paris. The story involves the owners of the factory and the tragedy that has affected... READ MORE
Such an impressive debut and I'll be looking out for her future work.
I've been seeing proofs of this go out to people for ages and I admit I was soooo jealous as it sounded right up my street and so audibly squealed when I w... READ MORE
An excellent debut - heartbreaking yet full of lessons we could all do with learning
The Woman in the Wallpaper follows the story of three young women caught up in the French Revolution. The majority of the action occurs in and around a wal... READ MORE
Historical mystery
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this eCopy to review
Lora Jones's "The Woman in the Wallpaper" is a truly immersive experience. ... READ MORE
Powerful debut
A deeply intense multi perspective novel that follows 3 women in 18th Century France.
Sofia and Lara are sisters but are very different both in looks and... READ MORE
A gorgeously Gothic tale of the French Revolution.
"The Woman in the Wallpaper" opens in Paris, 1789. where a woman enters La Place de la Revolution, and is dazzled by the huge crowd gathered there. Execut... READ MORE
Revolutionary France in all its chaotic fervour!
This is an entertaining story set against the background of the French Revolution. Sofi and Lara are sisters in Marseilles whose father dies in a wagon acc... READ MORE
Strangely Enthralling!
Strangely enthralling.
Set at the time of the French revolution, this is the story of working people who are struggling to afford the very basics of lif... READ MORE
Riveting
Absolutely riveting. I couldn’t tear myself away from this amazing tale; a totally unexpected gem of a story. It’s an historical novel, based around fact,... READ MORE
Fine
When I started reading this book I didn’t enjoy most of it found it a bit boring but I persevered and about three quarters through the book I started to en... READ MORE
A perfect debut
The French Revolution is one of the most fascinating periods of history for me. So much more than the execution of a king, this book brings to life the bac... READ MORE
So so
Paris 1789 in the time of the French Revolution.
After their father dies Sara and Lara have been told by their mother that they must find work. So, the pa... READ MORE
Captivating historical fiction!
Set in revolutionary France, Woman in the Wallpaper follows the lives of three young women whose lives collide in the most unexpected way.
Full of tens... READ MORE
Creep and thrilling story
The Woman In The Wallpaper is a historical thriller that follows two Sisters that are very close. Unfortunate circumstances mean they have to move near to ... READ MORE
A great read!
Paris 1789 - after the untimely accidental death of their father, Lara, Sofi and their mother find themselves cruelly evicted by their landlord. Fortunat... READ MORE
Deftly plotted, brilliantly drawn, beautiful and compelling
I’ve seen a lot of hype for this one - the story of sisters working in a wallpaper factory in Revolutionary France, where appearances are deceptive and the... READ MORE
A promising debut
Set in the midst of the French Revolution, this historical novel turns to gothic when the two Thibault sisters are uprooted from their family home to trave... READ MORE
Exciting and thrilling
Exciting and thrilling, this is such a great, original story!
Set in a wallpaper factory in the late 18th century, the story follows sisters Lara and So... READ MORE
Fabulous historical novel set in Revolutionary France
Set around the time of the French Revolution this novel was full of historic detail and Gothic creepiness. We follow two sisters Sofi and Lara who after th... READ MORE
Quite good
I was sent a copy of The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones to read and review by NetGalley. While I enjoyed this novel it didn’t quite grip me as I exp... READ MORE
The Woman in the Wallpaper
What a rich tapestry this book turned out to be. And a debut to boot!
We follow Sofi and Lara who, after the death of their father, after fleeing with the... READ MORE
not for me
I imagine from the premise of this book that it could be really interesting and unusual and a lot of people will enjoy it.
However, for me, I found the p... READ MORE
Good but grim book about the French Revolution.
Gothic historical novel set at the time of the French Revolution. Overall I liked the book and the characters, especially the two sisters. The sections abo... READ MORE
An easy 5 star
An easy five from me. This is an excellent read which, for me, constantly kept me thinking. I had very strong emotions for a lot of these characters, and I... READ MORE
A super debut novel
An historical history novel set in 1780s France when revolution is in the air. In Marseilles, Sofi and Lara live a comfortable life with their stonemason f... READ MORE
Enjoyable historical novel
An exciting historical novel which I very much enjoyed.
There is some very sensitive issues covered around death.
I like the author’s writing style, very... READ MORE
More than just wallpaper
Never knew wallpaper had been around so long.
Story starts in 1793 in Marseilles.
Sisters Lara and Sofia are loved and indulged by their Father, Mother i... READ MORE