There have been some extraordinary stories of women doing extraordinary things during wartime. Authors have revealed tales of women codebreakers, Resistance fighters, spies and more. Jennifer Ryan focuses this newest tale on the more subtle ways in which women supported the war effort. While women were called to do their duty and fill the job vacancies left by men who were drafted, they were also expected to get by with the strict rationing that was put in place by the government. Rationing impacted every aspect of family life. Clothing rationing meant that providing for growing children became a struggle, being prepared for the change of seasons difficult, and continuing traditions for marriage ceremonies almost impossible. Ryan gives readers a thoroughly wholesome tale surrounding three different women who each come into their own during the war. They each discovered that their rigid mindset of who they could be was holding them back from being their best self. Through friendship and acceptance they all find a way of making the war just a bit more bearable for them and those around them.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

The people you surround yourself with sometimes become your family. That is true in this tale of a group of acquaintances who become fast friends while working on a war time project. They collect used wedding dresses and refurbish them for new war brides to wear on their special day. Naturally there are included several love interests within the story, so it goes a little into a romance novel, but still a wonderful, entertaining story to read.

A heartwarming story about being true to yourself and determining whether the way you were taught to do things is the best way. The story follows three women at different points in their life and how they find themselves in their service during the war. I loved getting to know these characters and their friends as the navigated England amidst bombings and war shortages. Highly recommended as a feel good read.

A sweet (if predictable) engaging look at a small village in England during WWII. Life goes on despite shortages, rationing, and air raids. Because of the austerity, wedding dresses have become a luxury and are even discouraged as "unpatriotic", but every girl wants to feel special on her wedding day so the sewing guild in this small village works to refurbish gowns and lend them to anyone who is getting married. The story centers on three women -- a vapid aristocrat who is looking for an equally aristocratic husband, a vicar's daughter who has devoted her life to her father and the community, and a fashion designer who has returned to her home after her shop & apartment in London are destroyed.

As expected, the relationships that bind these women also affects changes in each of them. There's plenty of history, fashion, and romance before the happy ending. I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it's predictable and sometimes a bit sappy, but there are enough moments of wit, heart, emotion and romance to keep me interested . I love historical fiction, and this is a worthy example.

A heartwarming novel of three women brought together in Aldhurst, England, in 1942. Famous London couturier, Cressida Westcott is forced by the Blitz to the small village to stay with her niece Violet, at the Westcott estate. Violet feels the urgent need to find an aristocratic husband but receives her conscription letter. Third is subservient Grace Carlisle, the vicar’s daughter; engaged and feels duty bound to serve her community. Vicar, Ben Carlisle, has found his late wife’s wedding gown, ravaged by moths and time, for Grace to wear at her wedding. This is where Cressida finds her purpose, not only to help restore a dress for Grace, but to help Grace find herself.
Jennifer Ryan’s comforting words help readers rejoice as each character makes wise decisions and becomes involved in the community outside of individual desires. A competition in London to find well designed affordable clothing of good quality adds to the growth of Grace as a designer and Cressida as a businesswoman. The author weaves several budding relationships into the village sewing circle which evolves into the creation of a Wedding Dress Exchange. Some pairings readers will be rooting for, others not so much! Members of the Wedding Dress Sewing Circle learned more than “Make Do and Mend.” Jennifer Ryan’s strong character development leads to women finding their voice, a new calling, and discovering a path forward. A very different view of World War ll and the role of women and rationing.

"The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle" by Jennifer Ryan is a lovely historical fiction novel. Taking place during WWII in England, where several women discover their life path, voice, and their strength, via this productive, creative friendship source. I enjoyed this book. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a great historical fiction novel about women and their struggles during World War II. It tells the story of 3 women all dealing with different issues of love, family, responsibility and friendship during a challenging time in history. I loved these well developed characters and was moved by their struggles and story.

I had no idea what to expect when I picked up The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan. But only a few pages in, I was telling myself, “I love this book!” Set during World War 2 and featuring the lives of three very different women, each trying to figure out where they fit in the tumultuous world before them, this book held me captive. The characters, dialogue, storyline, and descriptions were absolutely entertaining, and I found myself completely immersed in the plot. At times light hearted, at others heart wrenching, this book was a joy to read!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Set in London and the surrounding countryside during WW2. I felt like I was in England, felt that I was a part of the marvelous Wedding Dress Sewing Circle. Made up of women of different ages, different stations in society, I loved every one of them. Such a heartwarming story on all levels, patriotism, friendship, love. I have already looked up more books by this author!

Ryan is one of my favorite authors and I loved this book. She knows how to tell a story snd brings her characters to life. I hated to finish this one!
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Heartwarming novel based in the English countryside during the Second World War. I thought this would be another wartime saga, however it turned out to be a pleasant tale about three bold, independent women, trying to break with convention and discovering their true natures in the midst of wartime hardship. Touches on an interesting bit of wartime history when women in Britain remodeled and redesigned their dresses, even wedding dresses, to overcome the shortages and keep their spirits up. This may have set the stage for high street fashion and even rent-a-wardrobe services which have gained popularity in recent times. A blend of historical and women's fiction, with a bit of romance thrown in, this book is an absolutely enjoyable read. My first from this author and definitely looking to read the rest.

Thank you Netgalley, Jennifer Ryan and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the pleasure of an advance copy.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan has so much to offer - life during the war, women supporting women, romance, and friendship. It is rich with historical information.

Another delightful title by Jennifer Ryan that once again depicts village life during WW2. Historical fiction at it's best gives you characters, context and something to root for. Ryan delvers on all counts. Country life is never boring.

Jennifer Ryan has become my go-to author when it comes to stories of women who pull together during WWII. These women feel like friends by the end of the story and I don't like saying goodbye.

Grace Carlisle, the vicar's daughter, is trying to repair her mother's wedding dress in preparation for her own upcoming wedding. She shows the dress to the sewing circle, a group of women who repair and repurpose clothes during a time when everything is rationed and money and availability are short. The women feel the dress is beyond their skills.

Cressida Westcott loses everything in a bombing blast in London. She returns home to the village hoping her niece and nephew will welcome her. While finding her footing, she becomes part of the sewing circle. What unfolds is the repair of Grace's mother's dress and many lessons learned along the way.

Violet Westcott is Cressida's niece. When Violet is conscripted she tries everything she can think of to get out of it and to make it as easy on her as possible. The growth and change in Violet through the novel is one of the best storylines in the novel.

Reading about these women pulling together in good times and hard times is something we can all relate to, even without living during the time of a world war. As they support each other, they each learn lessons about what is truly important in life and what happiness truly means It is often not at all what we think it is. Often what it takes to be happy is so simple and it was a joy to watch each woman discover what that meant for her.

Readers of historical fiction with will enjoy this novel. I enjoy novels that rotate between characters in the telling of the story and this one does a fantastic job.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House. All views expressed are simply my honest opinion.

Moving, engaging historical fiction about small-town life during wartime, and how the women of this particular village come together through a sewing circle to support one another, pursue their dreams, and make a difference in other people's lives.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan is an enticing story of World War II England as well as a happily-ever-after romance story, well, several really. I don't know that an American, certainly not one of our generation, can imagine what being in England during the war was like, between the privations, the loss of life, and the fear. Everyone in England had to do their part, many of them enlisting in some form of formal public service. It didn't matter if you were nobility or dirt poor. Many had to live through bombings: primarily England but other places as well, where there was something of historical significance to destroy or just happened to be on their way back to base after bombing London. Cressida Westcott was a clothing designer of some renown, based in London. In one night of bombing she lost her business and her house. She was wearing a nightgown under her coat as she fled to her brother's home in Kent. He had died but her niece and nephew still lived there. She was not welcomed with open arms as her brother's dismissal of her was still carried by her nephew but she was allowed to stay. Stay she did and helped changed the climate of the place as well as the lives of many as she became part of the community, which was a new experience for her.

An unlikely group of woman became friends, as women are wont to do, particularly in time of travail. From the sewing circle grew the idea of loaning wedding gowns to brides as there was no room for new ones in the rationing of clothing. They started with one and grew to having more than they could keep track of and being emulated all over England. Some they made, many they refurbished. Along with the wedding gowns, people changed and romance flourished. Cressida's formerly snobbish niece grew into herself when she joined the military and became a driver for an American; Grace, the vicar's daughter when she opted out of a potential marriage to someone who looked upon her as a parish worker and not much more; and Cressida, herself, when she discovered that love was more important than he cold and lonely life in London. It was a wonderful story with so many lessons it is hard to know where to begin. Loved it!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Ballantine Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #ballantine #jenniferryan #theweddingdresssewingcircle

I am picky about my WWII historical fiction novels. My personal opinion is that there are many other important historical events that should be written about. Ryan, however, is a unique WWII historical fiction author. With each one of her books, she approaches the war from a different angle. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle examines the lives of three very unique women as they struggle to adjust to the dearth of new clothes. The story rotates through the eyes of Grace, the vicar’s daughter, Cressida, a renown clothing designer, and Violet, a spoiled society young woman. All three women do their part for the war by arranging jumble drives, clothing swaps, and a wedding dress exchange.

Ryan’s writing is captivating and delightful. This book reflects the joy and hope so many people must have felt despite the horrific war that was tearing apart their lives. I loved that she focused on how scarce clothing was for people in England during WWII. This was something I did not know about.

I would highly recommend for people who are looking for a unique WWII novel. While there are intense scenes, for example the Blitz, much of the book is set in the relatively quiet countryside.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

This novel follows these three women, Grace, Violet and Cressida. Cressida is a dress designer. Her shop and her apartment were completely desiccated in a bomb. So, she has to bite the bullet and head to her brother’s estate. She has not seen her brother or his family in years. He did not approve of her life choices. So, when she arrives, she meets her niece and nephew for the first time in their adult life.

Cressida’s niece, Violet, is very sheltered and has no idea about the real world. Then there is Grace. Grace is the local vicar’s daughter. She is struggling to be exactly what everyone expects her to be. With the onset of the war, all three have extreme changes in life and their plans for the future.

Now, at the beginning of this book, I was not a big fan of any of these characters. But, they began to grow on me and I found all three amazing in the end! I especially love Cressida.

This story is a great tale about resilience, strength and hope. I enjoyed everything about this novel! I especially love how all three of these characters come into their own.

Need a great WWII novel with strong women characters…THIS IS IT!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I ended up liking this book a lot more than I was expecting. I was expecting yet another WWII story that would be similar to others that’s I've read, but this story managed to find something new and unique all its own and different from the other for me to read about.
Thank to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Reading this book is like drinking a big glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day. It is that refreshing!
The book centers around three ladies: Grace, Violet and her aunt Cressida. Cressida is a well-known fashion designer who has devoted her life to her craft. When a bomb destroys her studio and her home in London, she seeks refuge in the English countryside in her ancestral home. Her nephew is now the lord of the manor and her niece Violet also lives there. There are several more minor characters, but they all contribute very nicely to the story. The group comes together during WW2 when fabric is rationed, Grace is getting married and discovered her mother's wedding dress is moth-eaten. Can the sewing circle save Grace's dress? What does this dress end up meaning to the whole community and beyond?
This is a heart-warming story about family, friendship and the true meaning of life. Don't miss this one!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.