Le Fil de Nos Vies, by French author Alexandre Marcel.

Le Fil de Nos Vies is the heartfelt story of twenty-year-old Leo Sandart, whose passion is drawing. But not any kind of drawing, fashion clothes drawing. Since his childhood, and despite being misunderstood by his father, whose dream is for his son to take over Sandart Sport, his local shop specializing in sports materials, Leo has dreamed of the highly esteemed Parisian fashion houses. Following the fashion shows featured in the magazines that his mother would leave for him on the tables of her hair salon, they would hold their own shows every Wednesday in their living room, away from patriarchal judgment. His mom - she had been the one to first see his talent, to nurture it, and she would be one of the greatest strengths behind his elevation to the position of design director at the famous Parisian fashion house, Arthur K., followed by Manon Trielle, the CEO's daughter, and his grandfather Pipa.

Entering the fashion universe as an intern, Leo will quickly learn some of the most important lessons of his life: that creation and relationships are an extension of our identity, what we are made of, and the result of our past. That in order to create, we first need to go back to our past, revisit the places that have shaped us, and understand who we are. That some of our feelings are deceiving, and that temporary love, like Lucie, needs to give place to the person (Manon) who was a part of us from the beginning and who would stand with us until the end. That we need to cherish the most precious people in our lives because our lives, even the ones of those we love the most, are held only by a thread. Just like career and fame, if not kept by integrity.

Yes, through his journey from his past and toward his destiny, Leo Sandart also brings us behind the scenes of the fashion universe. We discover with him that the glamour and the glow of this world often hide a dark reality that nobody wants to see and talk about, but once exposed to the light, can give way to greater purity in creation.

As I journeyed with Leo, I laughed, and I cried also, as I could relate to him and to his feelings in front of the fragility of our relationships, and of life itself. Realizing that everything in this universe is held only by a thread. The thread of our lives. I was feeling even closer to him as I am very familiar with the environment and atmosphere of the Parisian Mode. My mom worked almost all of her life at the famous fashion house called Chanel, in Paris. I spent a lot of my childhood in their offices, and yes, Stephano Di Angelico (the first design director in the book) has a lot to do with Carl Lagarfield.

Book review written by Aurore Claire Dupuis.