This is a very good book. What an interesting storyline. I love reading about strong women and women that support each other. This book is full of that. The three main characters are Cressida, Violet and Grace. The story begins in Britain in 1942. Cressida is the oldest of the three and lives in London. Violet is her niece and she lives in Aldhurst Village. Grace also lives in the village, she is not related to the other two and her father is the vicar of the village. I don’t feel I need to recount the story- it’s not a book report. But it is interesting, the characters are believable and it moves rather quickly. I would recommend to friends and family and am glad that I took the time to read it to completion. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was a really good story and I learned something new! The three main characters evovled throughout the story. A quick easy read!!! Definitely will recommend!!

I loved this book! There are many novels set in England during WWII, so one must be pretty special and unique to stand out. This one definitely shines. I was immersed in the characters' lives. Each person felt so real and relatable as they struggled, changed, and grew. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this advanced copy. It was a treat from start to finish. Just fantastic.

Thank you Netgalley for furnishing me with the ARC. I read a lot of WW II fiction, and feel this novel was especially well done. It focuses primarily on how the women in a small English village coped when war changed their lives. Revolving around clothing shortages, it also touched on women conscription and how previous expectations for women changed as the war continued. I appreciated the way the main characters grew And evolved amid all the turmoil they endured. And how women depended on their friendships for support. Definitely recommend!

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

There are absolutely no surprises here, but for once that didn't bother me. "The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle" is the reading equivalent of mac-and-cheese or chicken pot pie: reassuringly comfortable. Of course, even comfort food and comfort reading vary in quality, and this was happily on the higher end. The writing was descriptive without trying too hard to be lyrical, and the pacing zipped along. Perhaps best of all, none of the primary characters were Mary Sues; all had good points and bad, and they all changed in realistic ways. And I learned a ton about the utility fashions of WWII Britain!

Thank you, Ballantine Books and NetGalley, for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure I was going to like the story as I couldn't relate to a few of the characters, but then everything changed and the story became an addictive one to read.
I love the growth of the characters and their roles in the book. All of them working towards a goal for their village and its people in the time of WWII.
The books chapters go back and forth between three women, Cressida Westcott, Violet Westcott and Grace Carlisle.
Some, local to the small village and one coming back after years of being away.
Cressida Westcott, a known fashion designer in London, had grown up in the village and had no thoughts of returning, but then she lost her apartment and design studio to the bombings in London and had nowhere else to go but back to her childhood home, which had been owned by her late brother but now owned by her nephew and niece.
Violet Westcott, Cressida's Niece, is a spoilt girl, and an elitist , mainly hoping to make a good marriage, but men are scares now that there was a war. She is excited about her Aunt moving to town, and the glamorous life she might bring, but before Violet can find, a husband, she is conscripted into service , where her views on life change.
Grace Carlisle, is the daughter of the local vicar, who was about to enter into a loveless marriage. She had found her mothers wedding dress, which had been partially destroyed by moths. So she takes it to the sewing group that had formed in town and now with Cressida there, they all work to make it new.
The author had read a memoir of about a young vicar's wife, who would let any perspective bride wear her own wedding dress for their own big day.
This along with the mend and repairing of clothes and the fashion for utility clothes, she has turned this piece of history into a wonderful story.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House publishing Group- Ballantine for a copy of this book.

There was a lot to love about this book., as it touched on history, war, fashion, friendship, love and more. Although I have read many books about WWII, I had never read about the clothing shortage. I didn't know that there were such stringent rations on clothing during this time. This book focuses on that and, in particular, how the clothing rations impacted brides looking for wedding dresses. It tells the story of three women, all from different backgrounds, who come together with the shared purpose of creating a wedding dress exchange by collecting and altering existing wedding dresses. I loved the camaradie and friendships that developed among the women, and their group in the sewing circle. I also loved learning about the Utility Clothes program and IncSoc Fashion Show.

However, I did find the storylines about the various romances very predictable. And while it was wonderful to see how the three main characters changed based on their circumstances, I felt like it happened way too fast. I would have liked to have seen greater character development.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful work of historical fiction.

Jennifer Ryan outdid herself! Throughout the Wedding Dress Sewing Circle Jennifer weaves not only the history of the war but the challenges that women at the time has to overcome. Learning about the stigmas that women had to overcome and how resilient they had to be is one of my top reads and this book just hits that mark! The 3 leads in the story share and show, not only their challenges but also how they overcome and persevere! Great read!

A really lovely read. Set during WWII three women are brought together in the village of Aldhurst. Grace Carlisle, the local vicars daughter; Cressida Westcott, a successful London fashion designer who had turned her back on her aristocratic family and Violet Westcott, Cressida’s niece.
Grace is to be married and her father discovers his late wife’s wedding dress in the attic. The dress is in desperate need of repairing which sets in train the beginnings of the Wedding Dress Sewing Circle.
Cressida’s home, design studio and shop are bombed in the Blitz and swallowing her pride she returns to the family manor in Aldhurst where she takes refuge with her niece Violet and nephew Hugh.
The interweaving stories of the three women set against the backdrop of clothes rationing and the hardships of the war makes for a truly heartwarming read.
The three women become the best of friends while assisting the war effort in their own way.
If you love history, fashion, strong women and a good love story or two then you will love this book.

I am a sucker for historical novel and was excited for a change to review “The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle” by Jennifer Ryan. The author introduces us to a group of women who are part of local sewing group in Aldhurst, England during the second World War. We meet recently engaged Grace who finds that her mother’s wedding dress has been damaged and requires mending. so she reaches out to the Sewing Circle. Meanwhile, Cressida has lost her home and business to the London Blitz. Hence, she retreats to Aldhurst to live with her estranged family. Finally, Violet believes life will be perfect is she marries a like-minded aristocrat. Part of the rationale for the sewing group was because material, including that for gowns, was in short supply so the group helps resource fabric and mend otherwise ruined gowns. More important, the group allows the women to build community while forming life-altering friendships.

Because I just got back from a trip to England, this novel really resonated with me. Jennifer Ryan does a fantastic job of weaving in the tension of the war while highlighting the importance of camaraderie. While the novel doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war, the focus was on the kinship of women and how important it was (and still is) to have someone on your side.

Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, Jennifer Ryan for the eARC in exchange for my review

This was a great book. Touching without being trite. The rending was a bit predictable but getting there was thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is Ms. Ryan's 4th historical novel, set in WWII England, and I devoured it, just as I did the first 3!

To begin with, I always enjoy books about ordinary people coping with life in extraordinary times. While stories about women who are spies and undercover agents and soldiers are, of course, fascinating, stories about regular women, coping as best they can, are even more fascinating - it's easy to see yourself in them, and to imagine yourself falling into those situations.

The book centers primarily on three women from a small town in England. Grace is a vicar's daughter, about to marry a curate because she believes that her role in life is to marry a curate and devote herself to serving other people, hopefully including a couple kids for whom she can be a good mother and make a happy home. She doesn't particularly love the curate, but he did suggest marriage, so she dutifully agreed. Violet, the daughter of the manor, is set on one thing only - she must marry a titled husband, regardless of how she feels about him, and she must downplay any possibility of intelligence or competence. Cressida, Violet's aunt, is a fashion designer, estranged from the family, but forced to go stay with them when she is bombed out of both ther home and her design house in London. The women of the town Sewing Circle are also essential characters, giving the heart and soul to the story.

The Women's Sewing Circle is focused on repairing clothing and helping people cope with the clothing rationing - their mission then expands to helping Grace repair her mother's wedding dress, so that she can have a "white wedding." That provides the catalyst for the women to develop a project to collect wedding dresses and repair/refit them to lend them to brides. Meanwhile, through their relationships with each other and their war work, Grace, Violet, and Cressida all learn and grow.

Why do I like this book (and Ms. Ryan's previous books) so much? It's wonderful to read about women supporting and helping each other, and learning and growing through dealing with adverse experiences. Of course a book has to have some sort of conflict - but here the conflict is with the war and the circumstances of the war. People aren't spending their time being nasty to each other - they're supporting and helping each other, and dealing with the conflict being imposed upon them by adverse circumstances. They rise to the occasion and grown through their experiences.

When you finish reading the book, you feel good about people - and that's a lovely feeling!

I loved 😍 the characters, descriptions and dialogue. So Sweet to wear your mother's wedding dress. Especially at a time when imports are so scarce.

LOVED this story! The story is as old as time but so wonderful The way a women has to be encouraged to become herself! Set in the 1900; when you've got to fight for every inch of being your self.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is a beautiful multi view story exploring the story of three women that are interconnected in a small english town. Grace, Cressida and Violet forge a friendship through unpredictable circumstances. We follow these three woman as they venture through life and new found relationships.

I loved this novel and could not set it down. It was moving and entertaining.

This book brings home the sacrifices that were made in Britain to keep supplies for the war effort high. The British women and the women in this book really got together to help each other find clothing including bridal dresses in spite of the shortages of fabrics and other supplies. Really great to see how they came together as a group regardless of class.

Cressida Westcott fled her family manor many years ago. She is now a very successful designer in London and runs her design house. Until the Blitz. Bombs drop on the poor and wealthy the same way. Like so many people, she now has no place to go. Swallowing her pride she calls her niece and nephew who still live at the manor and is told she is more than welcome.

Returning with only what she had on when the bombs fell. Her niece, Violet, is thrilled her aunt has come to stay. Violet is young and about as shallow as a saucer on the surface. Her father taught her from birth that it is her job to marry well and have children.

Cressida isn’t the only thing going to the manor. So is Violet’s conscription letter. She is furious. How in the world can she find a titled husband wearing a uniform and scrubbing toilets?

Meanwhile, in the village, the vicar’s daughter, Grace, is hoping her sewing circle can help mend her mother’s wedding gown so that she can wear it at her own wedding to a much older and staid man of the cloth.

While trying to be useful Cressida and Violet both volunteer at the sewing circle and much to everyone’s surprise it’s a great fit. Cressida has connections and Grace is a worthy protege for her. As she helps them, they also help her. What woman doesn’t want a special white dress for her wedding? The ladies soon hatch a plan to get as many gowns as they can and re-make them so the war brides all feel special on their day.

Having Cressida down in the village encourages her nephew, Hugh, to come as well. And he finds he may still have feelings for the little girl who was his best friend for so long.

Oh, the power of women having to make do. That is when things get interesting. And this book was full of women getting the job done. And figuring out who they are in this new world.

Such a beautiful concept and telling of a story that made me laugh and cry!

NetGalley/: May 31st, 2022 by Ballantine Books

4.0. Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. A quick, easy and uplifting read. As in her earlier novels, The Chilbury Ladies Choir and The Kitchen Front, Jennifer Ryan focuses on the resilience, pluckiness, and resolve of the British people in World War II. The story centers around a small English village not far from London where a community of women concoct up a mechanism to recycle old white wedding gowns, make more modern, and create a process to provide wartime brides with a wedding dress exchange. Throw in a few love challenges, and voila. The characters were all well developed and although the story was predictable, it was a fun read that offsets so many of the depressing and challenging novels I’ve read of late! Thank you NetGalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.

A charming read! It is a story of friendship, love and most of all resiliency. I think that fans of historical fiction will adore it, but it has wider appeal too. Slightly predictable, but overall a pleasant novel.

Jennifer Ryan continues to delight readers by combining romance with unique aspects of England's WW2 experience.
In the latest title the rationing of clothing and fabric focuses on the ingenuity of women who meet weekly to transform old clothes.
With Grace's wedding approaching they are challenged to remake her mother's wedding dress in time for the wedding.
When a former resident of the village, now a well known fashion designer, returns to escape the bombing in London, she brings her skills to the sewing circle.
Realizing that many brides would love to have a bridal gown, the Wedding Gown Sewing Circle is born.
As in her previous books Ryan takes an idea and blends it with multiple Cinderella romances. While the plot twists are predictable and character development happens at lightening speed, I shed a tear or two.
Well drawn characters and the camaraderie of the women coupled with the sewing circle, almost missed opportunities and a sweet village setting make for a satisfying read.