attytheresa's review against another edition
3.0
I so wanted this to be better, and it easily could have been. At times it delivered, but there were too many sudden story jumps around an unnecessary and loooong flashback that I can't reward it. I did add a half star because the author is sharing a percentage of her royalties to a nonprofit in her home county that provides safe, supportive, longer-term affordable housing for survivors of domestic violence. I borrowed this in ebook from NYPL. I will probably now buy a few copies to give as gifts.
Caroline is a young designer working in the NYC fashion studio of a hugely successful established designer. One of her best friends is supermodel Angelique, the single mother of 2 mixed race children for whom she agrees to stand as guardian if ever needed, and who also Caroline suspects is being physically abused. At the same time her boss is stealing her breakthrough designs and claiming them as his own, Caroline comes home to find Angelique dead from an overdose. Suddenly that casual agreement to be a guardian becomes real.
Having no other real options, Caroline returns home to Oysterville, WA where she reconnect with her family, beginning the process of providing a safe and secure home for the 2 kids and beginning from scratch as a designer. Personally struggling with understanding what happened to Angelique, Caroline atarts the Oysterville Sewing Circle as a safe zone support group for women experiencing, or have survived, domestic abuse.
And these chapters shine. What doesn't shine is the long revisit to Caroline's past relationship with her best friends Will and Sierra. Too much time and detail is spent on this, hurting the rest of the story and detracting from the eventual ending. Several chapters could easily have been summarized in a couple of paragraphs. Fortunately there is a terrific ending, one fitting in the era of #MeToo, that lived up to the initial promise.
Caroline is a young designer working in the NYC fashion studio of a hugely successful established designer. One of her best friends is supermodel Angelique, the single mother of 2 mixed race children for whom she agrees to stand as guardian if ever needed, and who also Caroline suspects is being physically abused. At the same time her boss is stealing her breakthrough designs and claiming them as his own, Caroline comes home to find Angelique dead from an overdose. Suddenly that casual agreement to be a guardian becomes real.
Having no other real options, Caroline returns home to Oysterville, WA where she reconnect with her family, beginning the process of providing a safe and secure home for the 2 kids and beginning from scratch as a designer. Personally struggling with understanding what happened to Angelique, Caroline atarts the Oysterville Sewing Circle as a safe zone support group for women experiencing, or have survived, domestic abuse.
And these chapters shine. What doesn't shine is the long revisit to Caroline's past relationship with her best friends Will and Sierra. Too much time and detail is spent on this, hurting the rest of the story and detracting from the eventual ending. Several chapters could easily have been summarized in a couple of paragraphs. Fortunately there is a terrific ending, one fitting in the era of #MeToo, that lived up to the initial promise.
megan_prairierose's review against another edition
1.0
I can't even. There are better books that deal with domestic violence. Also don't shame a woman for how she dresses or what she chooses to do with her body.
elste's review against another edition
4.0
"I read somewhere that people lose their way when they forget their dreams. Do we?”
Susan Wiggs offers up storytelling at its finest. Rich, warm, and inviting, Wiggs effortlessly pulls you into her vitally alive world populated with family, forever friends, and small-town life — complete with rivalries, romances, and regrets.
"This is how it starts. We settle. We make compromises. We let them whittle away, bit by bit, and don’t really notice, or we rationalize it away. We tell ourselves it’s for the greater good.”
The author has a remarkable way of presenting cataclysmic events that penetrate her character's spirit to enable a transformative awakening. This story unfolds through life's adversities and accomplishments of designer extraordinaire Caroline Shelby. As the despair and pain get a tenacious hold into Caroline’s psyche, it also initiates a sea change of hope and possibilities. One such brainchild is the formation of the Oysterville Sewing Circle. Evoking the power of women coming together to support, promote and habilitate, and to simply “be present” for one another, to listen and to be heard.
"We believe you. We believe in you.”
Susan Wiggs offers up storytelling at its finest. Rich, warm, and inviting, Wiggs effortlessly pulls you into her vitally alive world populated with family, forever friends, and small-town life — complete with rivalries, romances, and regrets.
"This is how it starts. We settle. We make compromises. We let them whittle away, bit by bit, and don’t really notice, or we rationalize it away. We tell ourselves it’s for the greater good.”
The author has a remarkable way of presenting cataclysmic events that penetrate her character's spirit to enable a transformative awakening. This story unfolds through life's adversities and accomplishments of designer extraordinaire Caroline Shelby. As the despair and pain get a tenacious hold into Caroline’s psyche, it also initiates a sea change of hope and possibilities. One such brainchild is the formation of the Oysterville Sewing Circle. Evoking the power of women coming together to support, promote and habilitate, and to simply “be present” for one another, to listen and to be heard.
"We believe you. We believe in you.”
rachelgallops's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
_isabellagrace_'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful, winding tale of going home and discovering yourself. Caroline Shelby returns home to Washington State with two children she’s adopted after her best friend suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances and after being abuses. Having lost her career in the fashion industry and struggling to figure out how to raise two kids, she forms a domestic abuse support group and begins picking up sewing projects, as well as reconnecting with old friends.
The characters completely made this one. I loved Caroline and her sisters, as well as all the characters in small town Oysterville. Will. Sierra. That slow burn, wonderful love story. If you love flashbacks, this is a great novel for you! Lots of rich, rich backstory and slow development of relationships that come together in the end. What a wonderful, richly drawn town with an interesting plot. Heartwarming and a great read.
Trigger Warnings:
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
The characters completely made this one. I loved Caroline and her sisters, as well as all the characters in small town Oysterville. Will. Sierra. That slow burn, wonderful love story. If you love flashbacks, this is a great novel for you! Lots of rich, rich backstory and slow development of relationships that come together in the end. What a wonderful, richly drawn town with an interesting plot. Heartwarming and a great read.
Trigger Warnings:
Spoiler
domestic abuse, sexual assaultPlease excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
ericadamore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
gracenow's review against another edition
2.0
I was a bit unhappy with this book from the start. The main character just whined and complained about not seeing a bad thing her friend was doing. A few times of worry make sense, dozens do not. Then, the title implies the book is about a sewing circle, but it's barely discussed. There's a lot of shifting time, from present day to when the main character was very young, and that would be fine but that title... Well, I felt cheated. Didn't even read every page, skimmed much of the last bits, was just tired of the story. Sad.
bobbikaye's review against another edition
4.0
It was a well written book telling of the many ways that domestic violence can touch people's lives. Domestic violence not only can be physical but mental as well. I liked the sewing circle Caroline formed helping those who had experienced it and what she did to help them.
On a lighter note, I've been to Long Beach, Washington, numerous times and up and down the peninsula. I loved the description. The beach has always been my happy place.
On a lighter note, I've been to Long Beach, Washington, numerous times and up and down the peninsula. I loved the description. The beach has always been my happy place.