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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I got this book for free from my local library who was giving away books. I picked it up because I quilt, and the title was about a sewing circle. Little did I know! I enjoyed the book; however, it was strange when a story would just end. There are little stories throughout the book that were never finished, and that annoyed me. I also didn’t see the “best friend” relationship between Caroline and Angelique. Where did that come from? That could have been developed more. All in all, it was a quick read that kept me interested.
I won this book on Goodreads! I was very excited as this was the first book I would read by Susan Wiggs. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was so much more than I expected. Yes, it’s ultimately a romance but it is so much more. This story is also about empowering women - mind and soul. The characters are real and believable. The story is relevant today. I highly recommend this book!
I liked this more than I want to admit, as it is a bit too romance-y and happy ending for my taste.
emotional
slow-paced
Will it ever end? Year after year one bully after another comes crashing down but there is still more. Men with power seems to go hand in hand with abuse of women. This story was well told to show the heart of a woman for her friend and what she was willing to give up to support that friend. Loving yet sad!
Caroline loved her hometown, but was anxious to escape the family restaurant business to pursue her dream of fashion designer. Her true talent took her to NYC where she was mentored by a fashion giant. She developed a friendship with Angelique and her two children. However her ideal life turned on a dime, and she found herself back in Oysterville, WA with two children in tow. This is a #metoo novel which shows how all realms of society are trapped with the abuse for fear of losing their job, income, reputation, children, and do much more. It demonstrates the power of finding a trusted tribe to trust. Four stars as it seemed to wrap up a little too nicely to be realistic at the end.
I thought I knew what to expect when I began reading Susan Wiggs' The Oysterville Sewing Circle, but this novel far, far exceeded my expectations.
At the heart of this emotionally and thoughtfully compelling novel is Caroline Shelby, a creative spirit who discovered at thirteen that she loved to create, particularly to take a swath of material and design garments. Caroline was also the self-described black sheep of her family, the only one who didn't go into the family restaurant business, the one who capriciously dyed her hair bold colors, the one who inevitably left her small town in Washington State for the designer big leagues of New York City. And the one who returns home with two motherless children and a career in tatters.
Parts of the story are told in flashback and read like a young adult novel as we live with Caroline through some of the events of her teenage years. During those passages we learn how Caroline became best friends with Will and then Sierra. We learn and share Caroline's heartbreaks. To say that I was frequently moved to tears would be an understatement and I am not one to shed a lot of tears while reading a book.
Another layer exists to this beautiful novel, one in which secrets prevail, and layers of pain that have been hidden are revealed. Where people who are mentors are shown to be opportunists and frequently worse.
No, this novel was not what I expected when I began reading. It was so much better and will stick with me not only because of the heartbreaking dark sides, but because of the amount of love it exudes from Caroline's amazing family to the two children she brings into her life to a group of women who pull together to stand up for each other.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
At the heart of this emotionally and thoughtfully compelling novel is Caroline Shelby, a creative spirit who discovered at thirteen that she loved to create, particularly to take a swath of material and design garments. Caroline was also the self-described black sheep of her family, the only one who didn't go into the family restaurant business, the one who capriciously dyed her hair bold colors, the one who inevitably left her small town in Washington State for the designer big leagues of New York City. And the one who returns home with two motherless children and a career in tatters.
Parts of the story are told in flashback and read like a young adult novel as we live with Caroline through some of the events of her teenage years. During those passages we learn how Caroline became best friends with Will and then Sierra. We learn and share Caroline's heartbreaks. To say that I was frequently moved to tears would be an understatement and I am not one to shed a lot of tears while reading a book.
Another layer exists to this beautiful novel, one in which secrets prevail, and layers of pain that have been hidden are revealed. Where people who are mentors are shown to be opportunists and frequently worse.
No, this novel was not what I expected when I began reading. It was so much better and will stick with me not only because of the heartbreaking dark sides, but because of the amount of love it exudes from Caroline's amazing family to the two children she brings into her life to a group of women who pull together to stand up for each other.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Caroline left Oysterville, Washington the day of her best friend’s wedding, she never planned on returning. A fashion career rubbing elbows with the best of the best in New York, Caroline had reinvented herself and planned on leaving her past behind. A knock at her in the middle of the night suddenly brings Caroline’s life to a full stop. She finds herself the sole guardian of a close friend’s young children as her fashion career in New York implodes. Caroline finds herself driving across the country and back to Oysterville. She hasn’t been in Oysterville for more than five minutes before she sees Will Jensen, her first love, her childhood summer friend and the husband of her best friend. Back in town living in his family home with his wife, Sierra, Will found his place as the high school math teacher and football coach. Will was home much sooner than he’d ever planned. Joining the Navy right after graduation, Will became a Navy SEAL, deploying to lands far from home. When he returns, it’s as a decorated Navy SEAL with one less eye and a whole lot more baggage. Sierra knew that Will would be in her life for the long haul the moment she saw him that summer as teens. Each summer Will came to Oysterville to spend with his grandparents, their connection got stronger and stronger. But Will wanted the house, the kids and the settled life. Sierra wanted the fashion shoots and City life. Suddenly her marriage doesn’t seem as stable as it once had. .
- There were A LOT of heavy subjects in this one. Sexual assault, domestic assault, drug abuse/overdose, orphaned children, abortion, etc. There were just a little too many heavy subjects for one book. I would’ve loved to see one or maybe a few of those storylines really dug into and detailed. I really loved the idea of starting a support group for those who are/have suffered abuse and their friends and family. I go into more detail on my Goodreads, but do you ever wish a different author had written a book? I think Krisitin Hannah or Jodi Picoult could've done something better with this idea!
- There were A LOT of heavy subjects in this one. Sexual assault, domestic assault, drug abuse/overdose, orphaned children, abortion, etc. There were just a little too many heavy subjects for one book. I would’ve loved to see one or maybe a few of those storylines really dug into and detailed. I really loved the idea of starting a support group for those who are/have suffered abuse and their friends and family. I go into more detail on my Goodreads, but do you ever wish a different author had written a book? I think Krisitin Hannah or Jodi Picoult could've done something better with this idea!
Started reading it but the swearing was too offensive.
4.5 stars
plot moved a little too quickly in the last quarter or so, but a thematically relevant read with excellent characters/character relationships
plot moved a little too quickly in the last quarter or so, but a thematically relevant read with excellent characters/character relationships