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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Good story. Heart wrenching at times and a bit dreamy eyed and predictable. I like how the plot pulled in awareness about domestic violence.
This book was a little disappointing.
I'm not sure that the author knew what story she wanted to write and so the end result was bloated with storylines that didn't have enough time to breathe.
This book is a romance. Except it's not.
This book is about a group of women getting together to support each other after trauma. Except it's not.
This book is about a honouring the memory of a woman who was abused and then died. Except it's not.
This book is about finding family. Except it's not.
This book is about a woman who unexpectedly became the guardian of two young children and now has to struggle through parenthood as she finds herself and creates her own little family. Except it's not.
This book is about how people drift apart and that's okay. Except it's not.
This book is about how people drift back together. Except it's not.
There's just too much going on. The prologue set up the story of a woman learning to be a mother/guardian after the death of her friend. But then Part 1 goes into the story of her friend and how she died. Part 1 was completely unnecessary. It could have been better woven into the story and taken up less space so that there was more time to focus on the present day part of the book.
The part that goes into the history of our FMC, MMC and their friend was also unnecessary. It was interesting and enjoyable, but unnecessary. Through the present day plotline we could already piece together how their friendship went about, we didn't need to detour into a full recap. It also made the male love interest seem kinda shitty. This storyline was about setting up the romance and how the MC and the love interest were always meant to be together, but because he marries the MMC's best friend (even though it's quite obvious that he had some kind of feelings for the MC) it just makes him look a little bad. It took away from their actual second chance love story because a big portion of the book was about how the love interest and the best friend were together.
Despite the beginning of the book setting up the struggle of trying to raise two children, the book spends a lot of time in the past and so the children get kind of side lined. They come back into the story a bit at the end but that big moment feels less about them growing as a family and more about sticking it to the man (and the #metoo movement).
Then there is the sewing circle for which the book is named. It's a really important thing to help and support women and people who have been in such awful situations. But it too gets sidelined. We don't really see the circle growing or supporting. We see the first meeting and we see it a year down the line. I would have preferred if the author had spent less time describing past events and more time developing these important relationships and conversations.
Maybe its me and I didn't adjust my expectations correctly, but I just wanted something more from this book. Something like The J.M. Barries Ladies' Swimming Society which does the group support and finding yourself part better. Or that movie with Katherine Heigl called Life As We Know It which balanced the grief of losing a friend with raising a child you didn't expect with the romance really well.
In any case, the ideas in this book were good, but the execution was lacking.
I'm not sure that the author knew what story she wanted to write and so the end result was bloated with storylines that didn't have enough time to breathe.
This book is a romance. Except it's not.
This book is about a group of women getting together to support each other after trauma. Except it's not.
This book is about a honouring the memory of a woman who was abused and then died. Except it's not.
This book is about finding family. Except it's not.
This book is about a woman who unexpectedly became the guardian of two young children and now has to struggle through parenthood as she finds herself and creates her own little family. Except it's not.
This book is about how people drift apart and that's okay. Except it's not.
This book is about how people drift back together. Except it's not.
There's just too much going on. The prologue set up the story of a woman learning to be a mother/guardian after the death of her friend. But then Part 1 goes into the story of her friend and how she died. Part 1 was completely unnecessary. It could have been better woven into the story and taken up less space so that there was more time to focus on the present day part of the book.
The part that goes into the history of our FMC, MMC and their friend was also unnecessary. It was interesting and enjoyable, but unnecessary. Through the present day plotline we could already piece together how their friendship went about, we didn't need to detour into a full recap. It also made the male love interest seem kinda shitty. This storyline was about setting up the romance and how the MC and the love interest were always meant to be together, but because he marries the MMC's best friend (even though it's quite obvious that he had some kind of feelings for the MC) it just makes him look a little bad. It took away from their actual second chance love story because a big portion of the book was about how the love interest and the best friend were together.
Despite the beginning of the book setting up the struggle of trying to raise two children, the book spends a lot of time in the past and so the children get kind of side lined. They come back into the story a bit at the end but that big moment feels less about them growing as a family and more about sticking it to the man (and the #metoo movement).
Then there is the sewing circle for which the book is named. It's a really important thing to help and support women and people who have been in such awful situations. But it too gets sidelined. We don't really see the circle growing or supporting. We see the first meeting and we see it a year down the line. I would have preferred if the author had spent less time describing past events and more time developing these important relationships and conversations.
Maybe its me and I didn't adjust my expectations correctly, but I just wanted something more from this book. Something like The J.M. Barries Ladies' Swimming Society which does the group support and finding yourself part better. Or that movie with Katherine Heigl called Life As We Know It which balanced the grief of losing a friend with raising a child you didn't expect with the romance really well.
In any case, the ideas in this book were good, but the execution was lacking.
A book about powerful women, the importance of family and true love. A thoroughly enjoyable read! And it takes place in Oysterville, WA!
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Enjoyable read about a woman who moved from her small town to NYC to be a fashion designer. When her friend dies, she takes in her two children and moves back to her home town. She starts a support group for domestic violence survivors and reconnects with her first love. Nice beach read.
I recieved an advanced copy of the book through NetGalley, in return for my honest review.
I recieved an advanced copy of the book through NetGalley, in return for my honest review.
I had really, really high hopes for this book as I generally enjoy Susan Wiggs' writing very much. This one was a slog for me. While there is great dialogue and incredibly descriptions that made me feel like I was in Oysterville, the plot and action were extremely lackluster and predictable. Nearly all of the conflict in the story took place in the last 50 pages.
If you enjoy a "slice of life" story you will probably really enjoy this book, but if you need a plot and some action this is not a good one.
If you enjoy a "slice of life" story you will probably really enjoy this book, but if you need a plot and some action this is not a good one.