Author Jennifer Ryan of "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir" has brought readers another wonderful story about women in WWII Great Britain.

Clothing is a big part of our identities as women, and many little girls have dreamed of a white wedding. What if, when the time came war stole that dream? In this historical fiction novel, clothes rationing brings together women of all classes in a local sewing circle. Here, they collaborate to mend an old wedding dress for the local vicar's daughter. This act leads to a white wedding dress exchange, as the women learn to follow their hearts.

This story follows three women from the village of Aldhurst. Each of them is confronted with new possibilities because of the war. Cressida Westcott, an independent woman with no time for love, is forced to revisit her past. Violet Westcott is the spoiled niece, whose entire life revolves around marrying a title. Conscription service makes her see another side of life. Last is Grace Carlisle, the vicar's daughter, who always puts duty first. New purpose gives her the confidence to live the life she truly desires.

I enjoy Ms. Ryan's novels because she always manages to bring a fresh perspective to WWII material, while also showing women supporting other women in a meaningful way. Readers will learn the clever ways women managed to look their best during wartime. As well as the many ways war changed the outlook for women. Friendship and growth are major themes of the novel, and it is enjoyable to watch as each women is awakened to different opportunities. Of course, no great historical fiction book would be complete without romance, which is also a thread throughout the novel. While Ryan doesn't shy away from showing the realities of war, this read will leave you feeling uplifted. I recommend for lovers of historical fiction with strong female leads.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed all of Ryan's books and this is no exception! This WWII novel focuses on women on the homefront in England and specifically clothes rationing. It was an enjoyable read and I also learned a lot about clothes rationing and fashion at that time.

I liked all the characters and loved seeing their growth throughout the novel. I loved how things played out for our characters in the end. I highly recommend for fans of historical fiction!

This book gave me so much Information about a side of WW2 that I had never thought about, and it done so in a way that kept engrossed in the tales of the 3 different women. They each had a different path that entertained then together and made the story a joy to read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan. I read to learn new things. What I learned in this story was about the shortage of wedding dresses during the war. How a group of friends solved the problem by altering existing wedding dresses from past years and creating a wedding dress exchange. This all toke place in Britain along with their program of mending old clothes and/or making new clothes out of them. Also a fashion contest to style clothes using less fabric to mass produce for Britain 🇬🇧 The stories of the friendships and how they helped each other while altering these wedding dresses and finding Mr. Right was sweet and enduring. Publishing date is May 16th right in line with all the summer brides!

Reading this book was like sitting down for an evening with three good friends. Set during the early days of World War II and told through the experiences of three totally different women, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle will warm your heart. Grace is engaged to be married and thoughts of her fiancé’s safety and how the war will affect her wedding dominant her actions. Famed fashion designer, Cressida, a successful businesswoman faces ruin when her home and business are completely destroyed in the London bombings. Lastly is Violet, spoiled debutante whose only ambition is to marry a title. These three women, ever unlikely to meet without the intervention of a war bringing them together in the small English village of Aldhurst, define exactly who they are when faced with adversity and like what they find. A most enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

I loved Ryan's other books so much, so I was really excited to see she had a new one. And many thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!
Although this wasn't my favorite one of her books so far, it was still good. In fact, really good. I found all the information about clothing designing, the fashion industry during the war, and the wedding dress exchanges so interesting. It's an aspect of WWII that I really hadn't encountered in any of the historical fiction I've read. As for the stories of each of the main characters, they were romantic and feel good. This was really a story of transformation as each of the three main characters really undergoes a personal crisis (brought on by the war) that helps her find her true self, what she wants out of life, and how to reconcile that with her past. In all of Ryan's books she truly shows how the ordinary British citizen found the extraordinary in themselves as they did their part for the war.
The one thing I didn't love about this, compared to her others, was that I found the historical details and information a bit clunky. Too much information delivered through dialogue in a way that seemed very unnatural and only existed to educate the reader.

Jennifer Ryan does such a good job in this story of giving the reader a strong sense of the difficulties and suffering of the British people at all levels during WWII. She shows how friendships and cooperation helped people to survive the destruction, privation and death. She also explores the arrival of the American troops in England. There is plenty of history and romance in this well-told story. Strongly recommended.

This is simply a feel good heartwarming story. I liked the way each character was introduced in their own chapter and I looked forward to returning to each character as the story progressed. A light read set during a very trying period in history.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This isn't your typical WWII novel. The setting is a small village in England in 1942 and mainly highlights the lives of three different, yet very resourceful, women and how they deal with the circumstances of their past, their present, and the outlook for their future.

I think that this book did a wonderful job of covering this time period when women began to have more opportunities and more freedom. It also celebrates the resilience and ingenuity of the women left to keep the home fires burning while their fathers, brothers, sons, husbands and sweethearts were sent to battle. These women had to bravely maneuver the hardships of rationing and bombings while also grieving the loss of loved ones. They pulled together and supported each other in a myriad of ways, along with doing acts of charity and kindness for others.

There is not much guesswork needed to know in which direction these character's hearts are going to lead them, but it is still fun to join them on their journeys. I would recommend this book to all readers who love a happy ending.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
Delightful tale of friendship and love in the midst of WWII. Historically accurate with loveable characters. Great entertaining read.

4.5 stars

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan was one of those books that just jumped out at me by the title. I love WWII historical fiction and it being about a sewing circle was intriguing to me.
Because of the war, there were rations on food AND clothing. This included rations on fabric as well. Any silk was to be used for parachutes only. This book tells the story of 3 women, the main characters, whose lives are touched by the war. The restrictions forced them to come up with new ideas and their ambitions to help other women wear a wedding dress for their wedding became their passion.
These women in the sewing circle figured out a way to use donated wedding dresses, take them apart and remake them for brides. I loved that so much!! This story shows their resonance in making their idea a success.
It's a really such a great story. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

A heartwarming story based on true events during WW2 with three women creating wedding gowns. Beautifully written characters, great plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC of The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle in exchange for an honest review.

The book follows three main characters. There is top fashion designer who lives in London, Cressida Westcott, her niece Violet Westcott, who starts off spoiled and shallow, and selfless vicar's daughter Grace Carlisle. The London Blitz brings the three women together when Cressida's London home is destroyed and she is forced to stay with her niece and nephew, Hugh, who live on a country estate.

I've read most of Jennifer Ryan's other books and I enjoy how she shows women coming together to do their part during the war, namely WWII. Cressida, Violet, and Grace come up with an innovative way to help other women, since goods are scarce and/or very expensive, by using their individual talents to create a wedding dress exchange and mend clothing that is close to tatters. I liked learning about the clothing rationing/coupons during the war and also how coveted a silk parachute was.

All three women were likable and evolved from the people they were at the beginning of the novel. Cressida learned to not be alone, Violet matured and let go of her frivolous cares, and Grace gained confidence. Jennifer Ryan does a good job of showing the camaraderie amongst women and how every woman has a valuable talent or skill to offer.

A very light, rosy view of a small group of women in an English village during WWII. The tragedies of this narrative happen off the page, mostly before the story begins, leaving several interwtined happy stories for these characters. I wondered if I should be bothered that there wasn't more discord between these women or in their lives, but really, who needs that right now? I was happy to just get sucked in to this English village and get to know these ladies, view their friendships and romances, and appreciate their creative solutions to the difficulties of the war.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Grace's father gives her, her mothers wedding dress for when she gets married. She goes to a store where they can fix it and meets Cressida who she has looked up to for many years. Grace is hoping that the war will end sooner than later. This was an enjoyable read.

The setting: WWII. "Three plucky women lift the spirits of homefront brides in wartime Britain, where clothes rationing leaves little opportunity for pomp or celebration...renowned fashion designer Cressida Westcott loses both her home and her design house in the London Blitz, she has nowhere to go but the family manor house she fled decades ago. Praying that her niece and nephew will be more hospitable than her brother had been, she arrives with nothing but the clothes she stands in, at a loss as to how to rebuild her business from a quaint country village.

Her niece, Violet Westcott, is thrilled that her famous aunt is coming to stay--the village has been interminably dull with all the men off fighting. But just as Cressida arrives, so does Violet's conscription letter. It couldn't have come at a worse time; how will she ever find a suitably aristocratic husband if she has to spend her days wearing a frumpy uniform and doing war work?

Meanwhile, the local vicar's daughter, Grace Carlisle, is trying in vain to repair her mother's gown, her only chance of a white wedding. When Cressida Westcott appears at the local Sewing Circle meeting, Grace asks for her help--but Cressida has much more to teach the ladies than just simple sewing skills."

And so it goes.

Was this novel predictable? ABSOLUTELY! I saw every turn coming and all my predications were spot on.
SWEET [almost treacly]? YES. CHARMING? For sure.
Did I care? NO. Same for the occasional oy moment.

The Wedding Dress Circle is based on true events as clothes rationing meant bridal wear was challenging. The women of the village of Aldhurst band together to help Grace. Friendships and backbones develop.

A fast, enjoyable read that alternates between the stories/voices of Grace, Cressida, and Violet. And their lives/loves.

Ryan's The Chillbury Ladies' Choir is my favorite [also read The Kitchen Front] but this was an enjoyable read of people banding together in dire times [and today].

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review an advanced reader’s copy of this book. I have enjoyed several of Jennifer Ryan’s previous novels and thoroughly enjoyed this latest novel too. (The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle). This is a heartwarming historical fiction story taking place during WWII in Britain. Highly recommended !

"The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle" by Jennifer Ryan was SENSATIONAL and Extremely Memorable!! I LOVED this book, it reminded me of how my grandma taught me to sew by hand. Cressida, Grace and Violet's stories are so remarkable and unforgettable!! Set during WWII when the British had to ration clothes. The sewing circle women would gather and mend old wedding dresses into something NEW and BEAUTIFUL for the upcoming brides!! Sticth by stitch Grace, Violet and Cressida found Love, Courage, Strength and Everlasting Friendships!!

💫THANK YOU to Jennifer Ryan, Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an Honest Review!!

#TheWeddingDressSewingCircle
#NetGalley
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4.5 stars

It turns out reading about The Blitz and bombing during WWII right when Russia invades Ukraine is not an ideal time for that subject. So this book took me a bit longer to get through due to that but it's no fault of the novel at all.

This was a really engaging read mainly about a woman designer who leaves London after The Blitz and moves back home to her small hometown. It's told from her perspective and two women from the town she returns to and it is a pretty interesting change from each woman through their various lenses of the war and how it affects them.

Overall this is a VERY engaging novel and despite all of the WWII books I've read in my lifetime this offered a fresh perspective that was enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved The Kitchen Front so when I was offered the opportunity to read an advance of Ms. Ryan’s newest title, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, I accepted with gratitude.

I fell in love with this novel almost from the first chapter. We have three women, all very different, put together and coming to terms with the life-changing that they’re enduring on the homefront, during WWII, in England.

A novel of community, friendship, personal growth, and endurance, this was such a heartwarming, lovely read and I strongly recommend it.