The Lipstick Bureau
1944, Rome. Newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency to establish a secret branch in Italy's capital. One of the OSS's few female operatives abroad and multilingual, she's tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers. Despite limited resources, Niki and a scrappy team of artists, forgers and others--now nicknamed The Lipstick Bureau--find success, forming a bond amid the cobblestoned streets and storied villas of the newly liberated city. But her work is also a way to escape devastating truths about the family she left behind in Czechoslovakia and a future with her controlling American husband. As the war drags on and the pressure intensifies, Niki begins to question the rules she's been instructed to follow, and her heart leads her in an unexpected direction. But one step out of line, one mistake, could mean life or death... Loosely inspired by real-life OSS operative Barbara Lauwers, Michelle Gable's The Lipstick Bureau is about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
A woman with three degrees and fluent in 7 languages is sent into WWII to spread propaganda and aid in the war efforts.This book was okay. I typically love WWII novels, so this one seemed to check all of my boxes, especially being inspired by a real-life hero. However, it was just very difficult for me to stay engaged with the story. I had difficulty understanding the time jumps at the beginning of the novel and then I had a hard time relating to Niki as a character. I felt like a lot of the story preferred to focus on her forbidden romance rather than the war efforts and found myself speed-reading through scenes to get to what was happening on the war front.Also, I have a hard time reading books that justify infidelity by making the husband/wife distant or “unloveable”. It just leaves a sour taste in my mouth, so I didn't care for that whole side-plot.Overall, I loved the historical aspects of this book and frankly, I think that's what kept me reading. I had hoped to be more engaged than I was. I almost wish I hadn't known that the book was inspired by a war hero because I think I found myself wanting to know her story rather than the fictional one that was presented here. Overall, it's well written and I enjoyed Niki's spunk and enthusiasm, I just didn't relate to her enough to be moved by her story.Content guide: Cursing is much higher than I expected, dropping several “f-bombs” and an array of others Gore was very low, I don't recall hardly any at all No spice – just mention of “pleasure” workers and a couple of undetailed kisses.I received this book from NetGalley for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
