A review by mysterefantasy
The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs

5.0

This story features Caroline Shelby, a fashion designer in NYC, whose designs are stolen by the man she thought was her mentor. Because he was the better known designer and had some power, he was able to blackball her from the industry. When Caroline’s best friend Angelique, a fashion model, is found dead of an apparent overdose, Caroline who’d agreed to be Angelique’s children’s guardian, takes them in. With no career left to her in NYC, she and the kids drive across country to her hometown in Oysterville, WA. Caroline never had any desire to be a parent, has zero parenting skills, and acts on instinct and memories of growing up with her four siblings. She soon learns that Oysterville, like NYC, is no stranger to domestic violence, Caroline’s guilt about not knowing Angelique was in an abusive relationship grows. She wants to do something to help the survivors of domestic abuse in her small town – thus is born the Oysterville Sewing Circle.

This a fast paced novel that tells the story of Caroline growing and learning to be both a mom and a success in life. Wiggs’ characters are well drawn, especially Caroline, Addie, and Flick. The plotline is unique as is the setting.

There are times when Wiggs’ gets a little preachy about domestic violence, but they are far enough apart that the reader won’t start rolling her eyes. While the reader is not party to the violence, Wiggs treads carefully with the topic.

If you want a book that is hard to put down, is well written and moves along at a spritely pace, then this is the novel for you. You’ll want to put it near the top of your reading list.

Thanks to William Morrow Publishing and Edelweiss for a free eARC.