Mrs. Harris is a salt-of-the-earth London charlady who cheerfully cleans the houses of the rich. One day, when tidying Lady Dant’s wardrobe, she comes across the most beautiful thing she has ever seen – a Dior dress. She’s never seen anything as magical, and she’s never wanted anything as much.

Determined to make her dream come true, Mrs. Harris scrimps, saves, and slaves away until one day, she finally has enough money to go to Paris. Little does she know how her life is about to be transformed forever …

Mrs. Harris’s adventures take her from her humble Battersea roots to the heights of glamour in Paris and New York as she learns some of life’s greatest lessons along the way.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It’s so sweet and charming. Mrs. Harris has become one of my favorite literary characters of all-time. She is so cute and kind and helpful. She just has such a good heart and a sweet soul. She wants the best for everyone and is willing to help anyone. She is so selfless and keeps such a cheery disposition that is very contagious; she’s hopelessly optimistic, which was really refreshing to read. I found myself smiling from ear to ear most of this book. I wanted her to be my cleaning lady. 

It is two books in one. In the first book, she goes to Paris to find herself a Dior dress. Then in the second book, she goes to New York to help a neighbor boy who is not being taken care of very well by his foster parents find his long-lost father. I enjoyed the first book a lot more than the second, but they were both entertaining novels. Both are pretty short as well. 

These are books written back in the 1960s, and they do read a little older, but they aren’t difficult to read. I would say the only difficult part was how British it was. I didn’t understand all the terms and references since I’m American, and Mrs. Harris speaks in a cockney accent, which is spelled that way, and it was a little hard to figure out what she was saying at times. 

I loved how this story is much more than a woman who wants an expensive designer gown. It’s about the lives she touches in both London and Paris, and then what that dress means and represents to her. Firstly, I loved seeing a woman in her sixties chasing her dreams. She works very, very hard to save up for her dream dress. It takes almost three years to do so. She sacrifices a lot, but you see her determination and persistence, which eventually pay off. I also loved the messaging that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams, no matter how old you are. 

And even though they were simple stories, there were unpredictable twists and turns, which were nice surprises. The prose was rich and descriptive, which really immersed me in the stories. 

I did watch the movie on Amazon. Now, from a book to a screen adaptation, I would give it two stars. They changed so much from the book, specifically the ending, which ruined it for me. They took out what was the heart of the story, but I think you would’ve only gotten that had you read the book. But if you haven’t read the book and just want a feel-good, sweet, heartwarming chick flick, I would give it four stars. It was enjoyable, and the actors did a great job. 

Definitely recommend the book. If you’re going to watch the movie, do it first and then read the book, and you’ll get a better story the second time around from the novel.