I was so disappointed in this book. It didn’t match my expectations at all. I thought the narrative was really dry and not too interesting. Switching perspectives didn’t help either: I did not believe the different voices were too distinguished and I drifted through this narrative until the very end.

To be honest, it was the historical aspect that made me award this two stars. In this story, we learn about the resistance movement in Denmark. I had no knowledge of this area of the Second World War so was thankful for the fictional insight into this. Inger and her cousins become involved in the resistance, helping move persecuted Jews to safety. It wasn’t until near the end that I felt the story became more interesting and this was because relationships had been developed enough. Otherwise, very little held my attention.

The story does switch to present day: Inger’s granddaughter discovers her diary and this is her story of what happened during the war. I would have preferred this element of the story to have been omitted: I don’t think it added much to Inger’s story. A concluding Epilogue that explained what happened to Inger and other characters would have been just as fulfilling to the narrative.

I went into this book thinking that the story would be about an illicit sewing club. To date, I am still puzzled over the relevance of the title. I don’t think Gyland made this clear at all and, apart from book binding, I don’t think there was any reference to literal sewing! Perhaps a metaphorical title, I really missed the meaning behind it.

I feel a bit guilty not enjoying a book that is based on historical fact. I am always keen to read historical novels and challenge myself but this one did not engage me at all. I thought the writer’s style was quite dry and I did not come to care for any of the characters. It is such a shame, as this was a great opportunity to learn about another part of this tragic time in world history.

With thanks to Harper Collins, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

In an era when resistance guaranteed death if discovered, these citizens of Denmark still risked everything to save their Jewish neighbors. A beautifully written book that unwinds the tale as a granddaughter discovers her grandmother's courage during war time.

Changed my mind about this title - when I downloaded it I was reading a lot of duel timeline novels, but I must have read one too many as I feel this format is a bit tired now.

Thank you for the advance reader copy of this novel. I enjoyed this historical fiction WWII about the bravery of ordinary people. Very inspiring.

When her grandmother dies, Cecilie discovers long hidden secrets that lead her to Denmark and a remarkable story of bravery during World War II.

I'm a big fan of historical novels and The Helsingor Sewing Club didn't disappoint. It covers a period of the war that I didn't know anything about, and reading about the bravery of Danish families trying to help Jews escape to Sweden and safety was very moving. Ella Gyland treats the subject sympathetically but realistically and has produced a very entertaining read.

A beautiful book telling the story of Denmark and it’s have citizens during world war 2. When Cecilies grandma dies she finds a mysterious box of jewellery hidden away at the bottom of a wardrobe long kept on storage, Cecile decides to find the owner of the jewellery an old man named David, when he arrives with his Grandson Rafi a diary is also found. Going from past to present this book tells the heartbreaking story of the Jewish people in Denmark and how an extraordinary country of people came together to help their fellow country men.

I think this novel has some good parts about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to save Jews during WWII. However, the plot was meandering around with the four stories, Inger/ grandmother, her friends in WWII occupied Denmark and then the granddaughter finding the jewels and journey in 2018. It was too convoluted and needed a little editing to be more intricate in plot and character development. I liked the detailed information of what they ate in WWII, how they managed to outsmart the Nazis and the bravery to save total strangers because it’s the right thing to do. Our book club liked parts of it but felt it was missing a cohesive story.

Have been unable to review due to illness. Review coming soon! This novel looks fantastic and I highly recommend this author to everyone! Can't wait to read this one!

Compulsive reading - I finished this book in a couple of sessions. Based on a real-life story, an account of a community helping to protect Jews from the Nazi invaders. Tense and moving, with some romance thrown in. Highly recommended.

A great piece of historical fiction based on the resistance of the Danish nation against their enemy occupiers during WW2. I always love a read where little known true events are brought to life. Told over two timelines, Cecilie is clearing out her grandmother’s apartment when the surprise discovery of a box of jewellery opens up a past she had no knowledge of..

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers One More Chapter for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I should have enjoyed this much more than I did as my Danish MiL was a nurse in Copenhagen during the Occupation and carried newspapers in her bicycle basket too.
I didn't find it convincing though, so only 3 star for me.

Inspired by an incredible true story, Ella Gyland’s The Helsingør Sewing Club is an extraordinary historical tale of courage, hope and triumph that will break your heart.

During the Second World War, the Germans had occupied Denmark and wreaked plenty of havoc and destruction. With the Jewish community in Denmark in fear of their lives, seeking a new life in Sweden seemed like the only available option. But their journey to freedom is not going to be without its problems – which is where the underground resistance steps in and tries its utmost to ensure that this voyage to a better life is not jeopardised by the Germans. Inger Bredhal cannot sit idly by and pledges to do something to help the Jewish community in Denmark and joins the resistance unaware that this decision will have repercussions that will echo across the decades…

In 2018, Cecile is mourning the death of her beloved grandmother, Inger, when she makes a startling discovery while clearing out her flat. As the past and present intertwine in the most unexpected of ways, long-buried secrets come rushing to the surface which compel Cecile to see her late lamented grandmother Inger in a completely different light. As she loses herself in Inger’s past, Cecile learns that her grandmother was a brave, bold, courageous and fearless woman who had selflessly put herself in the line of fire at great personal cost.

Ella Gyland’s The Helsingør Sewing Club is a captivating historical novel that is all the more remarkable because it is based on a true story. Completely fascinating, immensely absorbing and so incredibly moving that it could seriously sever your heartstrings, The Helsingør Sewing Club is an unforgettable tale of love, friendship, hope and courage historical fiction fans will be enthralled by.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author.
I really enjoy WW2 historical fiction so I was a little disappointed by this novel. The story and characters felt under-developed, the potential was there but everything was a little bit 'fluffy'. The writing style was also much too cheesy and contrived to be truly involving and enjoyable.
A shame because it is an important story about an important time, just needed more substance! 2 stars.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

This was an emotional read for me but I'm glad that I did read it and it was beautifully written.

This was a roller coaster of a read. It is based on the story of how very few Danish Jews were captured by the Nazis during World War II. The narrative is split between the present day and the war itself. It is almost a detective story, in that the Cecile Lund is clearing out her Grandmother's apartment after her death and comes across some jewelry. The story is the explanation of how her Grandmother came to have this jewelry in her possession.

All the characters are interesting, great courage is shown by many. It also shows the darker side of what happens in war with those that collaborate, no matter how innocent that collaboration is. The descriptions of the fear, the courage and the desperation are believable. As are the descriptions of the landscape.

The whole story was so believable that I almost reached for the internet to search for the names that were mentioned and find the paper that had been published by one of the resistance workers after the war.

An excellent, compulsive read.

Ella Gyland has crafted an engaging and thought provoking story that weaves a careful balance between two related narratives separated by three quarters of a century. It evokes the ever-present fear of discovery and betrayal by the brave resistance fighters in occupied Europe during the Second World War, with particular focus on the Danish heroes who helped to save many lives when the full force of the Third Reich fell on the Jewish population in Denmark. The narrative device, where two stories unfold in parallel, is far from new, but the author uses it to good effect and leaves the reader both better informed about what is becoming a forgotten corner of the conflict and satisfied with a plot that reaches a closure over the unknowns that were identified at the beginning of the book. It would be stretching the truth somewhat to say that the author had avoided all clichés that lie in wait for the unwary author who sets out to tell a story about the struggles of the resistance fighters in the Second World War, but the reader is spared an excess, and the narrative flows fluently as the central characters’ stories are revealed.

A beautiful and emotive tale very well told. loved the two timelines. Perfect for fans of the Tattooist of Auschwitz or The Sewing Machine.

What a remarkable story of courage and a nation united. I didn’t know the history of Denmark during WW2 and this book tells of the incredible actions of a country under German occupation determined to protect the Danish Jewish community. It is superbly researched and I learned so much. The story is told through a shared reading of a hidden diary discovered after the death of Cecilie’s grandmother and the owner of some hidden jewellery that she discovers in her grandmother’s possessions. For me, I’m not sure I needed the love story of the present day. I think her meeting with David Nathan would have been enough for me. The wartime story however, will grip you and fill you with emotion.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for a review.

The Helsingor Sewing Club is a Historical Fiction dual timeline novel focusing on WWII when the Germans occupied Denmark. It is a fact that the Danes saved 95% of its Jewish population saving them from concentration camps. This book brings that story to light, one that is skillfully written describing the time when the country, despite years of German rule and hardship did what was morally right. This was a heartbreaking novel that shook me to its core. It is one thing to know the history of a country, yet another to actually read the pages (even fictionalized) where the story and characters actually jump off the pages. This novel is one of the best WWII novels I have read!! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.