A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

Published by

Sarah Ann

on

March 23, 2010

A Vintage Affair is a lovely story about new beginnings.

When her best friend dies, Phoebe Swift abruptly leaves her successful career to open Village Vintage—a shop that sells authentic vintage clothing made by the world’s most esteemed fashion designers.

One day, when sorting though an older French lady’s clothing collection, Phoebe finds a blue children’s coat the woman refuses to part with. Over time, Phoebe becomes friends with Mrs. Bell—the older French woman—and learns they share a surprising connection that allows her to fully heal from her friend’s death.

A Vintage Affair is utterly charming, and so is Phoebe. I love how she’s written to be elegant, classic, and intelligent, as opposed to ditzy, awkward, and clumsy, like some of the characters in other books by this author. She’s very prim and proper, and it just fits.

The prologue and first chapter in this book are so sad and dreary, but don’t let it deter you. Just keep going. The story picks up a LOT after this and isn’t at all predictable.

Another thing I really love about A Vintage Affair is how it truly is about new beginnings. Phoebe meets new friends and new love interests, and has new revelations or epiphanies, so to speak. Also, there are lots of fun history tidbits about vintage clothing dating as far back as the 1920s. It’s all so interesting.

Isabel Wolff was one of my favorite “chick-lit” authors back in the day. I featured her in my post called The Best-Ever Chick Lit Authors. I read the majority of her novels in my 20s, long before I started this website.

Other books by Isabel Wolff include:

What did you think about A Vintage Affair? Have you read anything else by this author?

Last Updated on February 23, 2026 by Sarah Ann

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