This is a beautiful story of a community banding together to get through a hard time. I loved these women! I thought this was an interesting take on wartime rations, while still telling a compelling, enjoyable story.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This was my first Jennifer Ryan book and I need to read more. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle was charming, heartwarming and left me wanting to read more about this time period. I normally don’t like stories with multiple viewpoints but the author had such a gripping story, I actually enjoyed the switch between characters.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle weaves together the stories of three women in wartime Britain who find each other and themselves while mending old wedding dresses. They discover their own passions and forge their own paths over the course of the novel. Violet, Cressida, and Grace come from very different backgrounds and they all think they know what they want out of life, but war changes people. How will the wedding dress sewing circle help them all find their happily ever afters?

This is a sweet, heart-warming novel that will make you appreciate the friendships in your life. Jennifer Ryan does a wonderful job of tying together three stories together in a very natural way. I rooted for all of these friendships and love stories along the way. I have read many historical fiction novels, but never any that focus on the fashion changes during WWII. I appreciated that fresh perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine Books for the ARC of this book.

OMG, an actual positive, hope-inducing story set during WWII! I never thought I'd read the like.
I started it waiting for the usual river of depressed tears that any story set during WWII usually entails and I'm happy to report that the only tears were a couple shed in happiness. It has the sad parts and underlying threats that accompany any story set in WWII but I love how Ryan focuses instead on the positivity that got so many people through the hard times.
It focuses on three very different women that find themselves at what they see as their lowest points. Cressida has lost her house and company to The Blitz, Violet despairs of ever finding a titled husband, and Grace has buried her personality under the guise of obligations. When they all find themselves brought together by a sowing circle that offers to fix Grace's mother's wedding dress, it opens up possibilities and opportunities that they'd never considered before and leads to true happiness for all.
Truly a great story full of human moments, engaging characters, and fascinating relationships.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the outstanding read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Cressida Westcott, a designer living in London during WWII, is homeless. Her home and her business both destroyed by bombs, she is forced to return to her family's home. She hopes that since her brother has passed away that she will be welcome there.

Grace Carlisle, engaged to be married to a Vicar, finds her mother's wedding dress and is hoping that the local sewing circle can help her repair it

Violet Westcott, is definitely a character that had to grow on me. She was taught that as a woman, she has her place and her only goal is to marry a man with a title. She is thrilled when her Aunt Cressida comes to stay, as she is hopeful that she will no longer be a bored lady of the manor.

Violet brings Cressida to the sewing circle meeting and when Grace shows everyone the dress, they all decide to help work on it so Grace will be able to wear it to her wedding. Along the way, they learn from Cressida and they all begin to know their own worth. They not only mend Graces dress, but others as well. Women send in their dresses to be Mendes, but also to share them with other brides to be, so they will be able to wear white on their wedding day. This is definitely a very touching WWII novel and another hit for Jennifer Ryan! 4⭐

This was a touching fun read. While much of the story was predictable, the way in which the author wrote it made me want not want to put it down. Set in England during WWII, it was, for me, a very different part of the war than other WWII books I’ve read (and I’ve read a number of them.

3.5 stars rounded up! 😇

I love WWII books and this one touched on new topics that I was unaware of during the war, like the shortage of clothing and wedding dresses! It was a shock to learn that is was actually illegal to use parachute silk to make clothing/dresses 😧 I was genuinely interested in all 3 female leads (loved having MPOV) but I did get a bit bored around the 50-60% mark... I think that was just due to the length of the book and some repetitive text. The story ends with each woman having their own happily ever after, so if that’s your thing you will definitely be satisfied by the end of this novel 💗

Side note: It was so fun to read this book and then go sew on my sewing machine!! 🪡 🧵 Made me so appreciative of my sewing machine and what a privilege it is to have nice clothes 🥹

Thank you so much Net Galley & Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine Books) for my gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a review.

When Cressida Westcott is awakened in the middle of the night with explosions and fire all around, she realizes the War has finally come into her life. A famous fashion designer in London, she has mostly continued her life, regardless of WWII raging all over Europe. With Paris shut down, London has become the center of European couture, and Cressida is one of its shining lights. But now both her home and her workshop have been destroyed and she is forced to flee to the country - to a house she left over 20 years ago and a family she doesn't even know.

Her brother is dead and his son, Hugh< has inherited the house and seems bent on continuing all his father's practices, including doing as he will with the village and the grounds. His son is expected to marry an heiress to keep the homestead going, and his daughter, Violet, MUST marry a title, no matter who.

To say the arrival of fashionable, glamourous Cressida upset the balance of the household would be an understatement. In fact, she shakes up the entire town, possibly the county!!

It's a feel-good book. Sometimes you want to shake some of the characters, and the insight into everyday life in England during WWII is informative. But, like a good book does, everything works out in the end.

This was a charming book about three women, WWII in Britain and true love. Yes, it is a light read, but well told. Grace, daughter of the local vicar and childhood friend of Hugh heir to the manor house in their small village, is engaged to marry Lawrence, a vicar with the goal of advancing in the church. Violet, Hugh's sister, has never thought more about the world, who she is or much of anything but fulfilling her deceased father's expectation she marry a man with a title. Hugh, since childhood, was destined to marry Astrid, daughter of a wealthy family. Cressida, renowned fashion designer, is an independent single woman, whose great love died in WWI. She is Hugh and Violet's aunt, but they did not know her because she was estranged from their father. Got that? Cressida's home and studio are destroyed in London bombing and she moves to the manor house, needing her relatives to help her. She meets Grace, who is trying to assess whether there is a way to save her mother's wedding gown. A local sewing circle, a renowned designer and creative collaboration save the gown and start a fast friendship among the women of the sewing circle and, in particular Grace, Violet and Cressida. There's plenty of talk of true love with unexpected turns in each woman's life. Each faces the need to be true to herself and take significant risks. I am a fan of historical fiction, so the information on strict clothing and material rationing and the extremes the government went to to control even the sale of second hand clothing was fascinating. My generation certainly heard of the shortage of stockings, the invention of nylon and that women painted stockings on with a line included for a seam. However, this was more a metaphor for much more drastic shortages of all clothing. Clothing today is often cheap and plentiful with much of it ending up in landfills and rarely recycled. While this story is about finding a way to make wedding dresses available to women to use in wartime, when purchasing them was impossible due to a lack of required coupons for both new and used clothes, it is really a tale of resourcefulness, finding a path to normalcy in very unusual times and bringing something special to people in wartime.

The wedding dress is a magnificent story about a group of women who came together in the worst possible times during the war when all their dreams were stolen away making them believe that they couldn't celebrate the happiest day of their life their wedding.

This is the story of three women whose lives and stories come intertwine by destiny but also for a shared dream and aspiration.

Cressida Wescott lost her home during the war, she lost everything her work, and her most precious things now moving to her niece and nephew's house she is ready to start all over again not really knowing what her new life will entitle she meets a few ladies who had a seeing group and are helping in some way the people of the village to survive.

Violet, used to be so entitled and afraid to live, always under the shadow of her brother and father now she has a new propose since she met her aunt. a bold woman who will help her finally find love and break all her fears away.

Grace, is a beautiful woman who is ready to get married to the wrong man and also at the wrong time. she also meets Cressida a woman who will also change her life and take charge of her decisions.

Hugh is a stubborn man who is only following traditions and laws that are not making him happy and are destroying his dreams and aspiration under the shadows of his terrible dead father.

The wedding dress sewing circle was a great book telling the story of how all these wonderful women started a sewing circle helping other women with their wedding dresses borrowing them to other brides so they could get married with the perfect dress. after a while and after so much success many women across the UK and other areas decided to help and send their own wedding dresses so many others could have a proper dress and wedding during those terrible ww2 times.

it is a book of hope and kindness but what I really love about this book is the sense of sisterhood, company, and friendship all these women had, they all empowered each other never sabotaging or doing anything wrong. I really love the feeling while I was reading I wish more women were like this


Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle in exchange for my honest review.

A historical fiction set during WW2 in a Village outside of London.There are 3 primary characters, Cressida, Grace and Violet. Each Chapter in the book focuses one one of these women.This style of writing . worked extremely well. Cressidais a well known fashion designer who loses her dwelling and business in a bombing and moves back to her " home" .She is the woman who would fix another woman's crown, without telling the world it was crooked. She also is surprised to realize that life is for living not just working. Grace is a "My Fair Lady" character coming into her own. Violet realizes life is not just about being pretty and looking for a titled man to marry. She trains in the Military and does very well there despite initially wanting to go home.The premise of the book is availability of Wedding dresses during wartime. This is extended to address clothing rations in general as well as re making old and worn clothes into new fabrics even using parachutes.
This is a very positive , heartwarming read of a group of women in a sewing circle that will grab your heart. It is about friendships. True friends that help each other, work together and together help other women in the time of war.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Ball engine Books, NetGalley and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle follows three smart, driven women during World War II, as they celebrate love by bringing repaired and renewed wedding dresses to local brides as well as brides throughout England. Cressida is a famous designer evacuated from London due to the bombings, Grace is the town vicar’s daughter, planning her own arranged wedding, and Violet is Cressida’s niece trying to find a proper society husband while doing her war work. Together they bring hope to others for a beautiful dress even with the clothing rations existing during this war. And if they are lucky, Each woman might even find her own chance at love and happiness.

Although touched by some sadness and loss, this historical fiction was full of love and light. It was uplifting, entertaining and spirited. The bond of female friendship shines throughout the pages, keeping me interested and anticipating the ending. Lovely book!

This was my first book by Jennifer Ryan and I really enjoyed it. This book combined historical fiction and women’s fiction and drew me right in with interesting and relatable characters. Cressida Westcott loses her home and design business location in the London Blitz and returns to her family home she had left years ago to stay with her niece and nephew. Through the local Sewing Circle meetings Cressida, her niece Violet, the vicar’s daughter Grace and others this inspiring group of women through wartime bring hope, happiness and love to the village while mending wedding dresses for local brides, and find themselves dedicating their time to helping brides throughout the country. I appreciated the fact that this story taught me about the sewing circles during wartime and the ways women found to work together and be friends. This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

A historical war time read bringing 4 women together through the sewing circle.

I enjoyed the storylines of all 4 women even though I didn't connect with any of them that strongly.

Another solid read for Historical Fiction WW2 lovers.

An historical fiction novel set during WWII in Great Britain.
No spoiler here, as the title tells you, it's about a sewing circle in a small town.
There is one very special wedding dress. And then, there are lots of others.
The deprivations of WWII in Great Britain were a centerpiece of the story.
Being an American, I had no idea how bad it was. Yes, there were bombings and destruction.
But also, there seemed to be shortages of so many things (that we take for granted today).
The people of the town worked hard to "make do".
The characters were clearly drawn; you'd want to be their friends.
Yes, a sad period of history, but a warm tale of a town pulling together.

World War II fiction it’s a genre that I slip on like a glove. Most of it involves women and usually is inspired by a specific woman or a group of women. Some however are lighter and fluffier like this one. Not inspired by anyone in particular. It sheds light on how clothing rations during the war in London impacted the women. How even women who weren’t directly helping in the line were doing their part at home.

The wedding dress sewing circle was a group of women who made it their mission to make sure that women had a beautiful wedding dress to wear on their special day. They took in donations, and mended and redid the dresses.

Predictable yet charming. Spoiled little rich girl. Hard-working woman making it in a man’s world. Haughty estate owner living in his dad’s shadow. You can see the end a mile away but that’s OK.

If you like all your I’s dotted, your T’s crossed and happy endings all around this book is for you. It was just what I needed, with the constant bombardment of bad news after bad news on the TV. I received an ARC of the book.

I loved this book! It was such a great story with amazing writing. It was great to read a WWII book not necessarily focused around the war itself!

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle was a lovely World War II Britain setting book that was a pleasure to read. I enjoyed following to three characters of Cressida, a fashion designer from London, Violet, Cressida's niece who lives in the countryside and is looking for a titled potential husband, and Grace, the vicar's daughter who has an upcoming marriage. While the events of the book center on Grace's wedding dress, which had been her mother's and later they find was probably originally Violet's mother's dress too, it is also about women's fashion during World War and friends new and old.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

If you think you’re tired of reading novels about World War Two, you are not alone. However, this one is different and I enjoyed it thoroughly, just as I did another of Jennifer Ryan’s books, The Kitchen Front. Once again Ryan has found an interesting aspect of the “home front” in England to explore as the basis for a book. In this one, we find out about clothes rationing during the war and how it impacted everyone’s lives, with a special focus on wedding dresses. We have three women whose POVs carry the book: Cressida, a high-level couturier whose London home and workplace both get bombed out, and so she returns to her home village in Kent; Grace, the daughter of the local vicar; and Violet, the niece of Cressida, who is intent on marrying someone with a title.

It’s a heart-warming tale, filled with personal growth and transformation. There are three women and (unfortunately) I could see the three romances coming a mile away. It didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book, but I wasn’t surprised at how things turned out for each woman. I loved the concept of women getting together and re-working clothing (wedding dresses as well as other items) so that they could be re-used in those hard times, when new fabric was virtually impossible to get (partly due to the war effort itself and partly due to shipping issues due to the war).

Reading this book reminded me that both my mother and her sister wore the same wedding dress in 1945 and 1946 (in the United States). Good ideas go global.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I’m a bit late to it. While I received the eARC from NetGalley, I wound up mostly listening to the published audiobook by Random House Audio, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Sophie Roberts, did an excellent job with the many voices and accents. All opinions are my own.

Set in a small village in Kent during WWII, the novel presents a clear picture of the home front in England. Cressida is a well known couturier in London until her home and design building get bombed in the blitz. With nowhere else to go, Cressida travels to her late brother’s estate after years of being estranged. Hugh, her nephew, is now the lord of the manor, and his sister, Violet, were brought up to think they had to uphold the family heritage. Violet evolves as she realizes the societal changes that are occurring, for women in particular. The third main character is Grace, a shy vicar’s daughter who changes the most in the story. The sewing circle starts out with mending Grace’s wedding reds before moving on to more “Make and Mend” projects. I really enjoyed this view of the English home front, reflecting the changes in society as the war continued. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.