This was my first Quilt book, it won't be my last. I will read the previous books by Jennifer Chiaverini. I loved the story and the history. So much of hand sewing has stories waiting to be told. My Grandmother was a hand quilter and told me stories of the patterns she used. Thank you for bringing those memories back.

I received an ARC of The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini. I have read a couple of her books, “Switchboard Soldiers” and “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” and was eager to read this. Having never read any of the Elm Creek Quilt Series, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Though I would classify this as general fiction more than historical fiction, it does touch on some shameful events of the past.
Set in small fictional town Elm Creek, we are drawn into the fascinating world of quilts, especially old quilts. Where did they come from and why are they lost?
Samantha Sullivan comes back to Elm Creek to finish her master’s thesis to move on to her doctorate. Experiencing writer’s block, she seeks the support and comfort of her Elm Street Quilt Friends.
While home, she is asked and accepts a position with the Waterford Historical Society to oversee a quilt exhibit to raise funds for the renovation of the 1863 Union Hall. Like any good story, things don’t go as planned. Not everyone wants the past to come to light and will do what they have to so it doesn’t happen.
No, this book was not the historical fiction I had expected, but it was a good story of strong women, wonderful friendships and the importance of confronting the past. I would highly recommend it for those of you who need a break from the Historical Fiction “Heavy Hitters.” It was a breath of fresh air.

The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini is a heartwarming novel and the most recent in a series that spans decades about a group of women who are the "Elm Creek Quilters". I went into this novel having not read any of the previous series and had no problems following the story or characters. I enjoy historical fiction and have read the authors book, "The Canary Girls", and enjoyed it. Jennifer Chiaverini's writing style is exquisite and the descriptions of the settings transport you to the time and place she describes.
The Museum of Lost Quilts is a historical fiction novel based in rural Pennsylvania with research ties to the Civil War era. A small historical town with active community members who save a downtown historical building and use the refurbished space to build a community museum. The protagonist, Summer, is back in her beloved town and among her family and lifelong quilting friends attempting to restore her confidence after some challenging university issues with her graduate program thesis. She is asked to assist in some research to uncover the history behind a quilt that is discovered in a trunk at the historical building. Using her research expertise and knowledge of her community she uncovers some dark secrets during dark times in American small-town history. It's intriguing to go on that journey with Summer.
The novel is a celebration of friendships, finding your people, and gathering together to bond over doing something you love. In the case of this novel, a quilting camp at idyllic Elm Creek Manor. I hope to read more books about this lovely group of women.
Caution, the novel describes delicious food so often I found myself snacking too often while reading!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

We are back at Elm Creek Quilts. Summer, the youngest founding member, has returned from college. Unexpectedly.

Summer has a confession to make. She didn’t finish her thesis. She has writer's block.

Being at the manor again with people who love her and her quilts. Maybe she will be able to finish the thesis here. And she does find a passion project!

Organizing an exhibit of antique quilts to raise funds for the Waterford Historical Society. When her research uncovers some shocking facts. Racism, corruption, and all manner of bad things. The town leaders tell her to remove all of that. But Summer and her quilting circle of friends aren’t going to let the truth be shelved.

What a beautiful and warm story. And timely I would say.

I have been reading the Elm Creek Quilters books for years and have never been disappointed. Jennifer Chiaverinni's writing is like fine wine and only improves with age. Every page is so full of descriptions that I can not only see in my mind's eye the characters, the setting and the quilts, but I can smell and taste every food or beverage that she describes. The story describes the journey of a conflicted Summer trying to find her place in academia. She is faced with a choice of living up to her mother's expectations (in Summer's mind) or forging her own path. Mixed in with that is the development of a historical society and a new quilt exhibit that challenges the Summer and the community. I look forward to more Elm Creek Quilters books!

This installment in the series didn't do it for me; I was very much looking forward to catching up with the ladies and was disappointed that so much of the book seemed to be spent explaining the history and characters. Things didn't flow smoothly and the story felt forced; I work with MS and PhD students and I had a hard time connecting with Summer's struggles to complete a short (20-page?) thesis. Maybe the ultimate paper was much longer but I remember thinking it just didn't make a lot of sense that so much angst was going into such a small product.

Overall, I did not enjoy the abundance of expository writing and continuous explicit/redundant explanations and naming of characters. I'm sure this will strike others in a more positive light, it simply wasn't the right book for me at this time.

I adore Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts books so when I saw this title, I jumped at the change to review it from NetGalley because I knew I needed to read this book. I was not disappointed and was, in fact, thrilled with this story line featuring the youngest of the Elm Creek Quilters.

Having been a while since the last time I read a title from this series, I wasn't expecting this wonderful story about Summer. Summer comes creeping back to Elm Creek Manor, trying to figure out her life and the mess she felt it was in - her thesis wasn't done on time and she needed to straighten out some misunderstandings with her mom and the other quilters. She is quickly called to tell the truth to them all, her dearest friends and confidants. They hug her tightly and the push her forward with all the enthusiasm and encouragement they can dredge up.

The Museum of Lost Quilts comes about accidentally, almost, but Summer is the perfect curator for the exhibit. Summer seems to excel at finding and following clues to quilts that seem all but lost in the past. She dives right into the position, putting her thesis off as often as she can. She opens a beautiful exhibit piece by piece, honoring the quilts that showcase the Elm Creek Valley, it's people and it's history.

All is not simple pieces meeting easily, though. Controversy, in the form of an old nemesis, rears it's ugly head. Summer, with the help of all of the friends she has made through the years, faces it head on and life, like the opening of the exhibit, is opening ahead of her with bright possibilities.

History and the past are such a topic of discussion in the world today that this story fits in perfectly to help others see new ideas about how to view it. One of the main themes in the second half of the story is about how to tell about the past without bias and interpretation, resulting in a clear understanding for all and without denigrating one viewpoint or another.. I love the emphasis on telling the past as it is, with the facts, allowing the reader to understand and choose how it will inform the future. This topic runs through this story in so many ways and I love how the quilts actually help tell the story. I found myself really enjoying reading the ends of each chapter as the object card is written for each quilt that becomes represented in The Museum of Lost Quilts.

If you are fan of the Elm Creek Quilts books, this one is just as enjoyable as the others. And like the others, it makes me want to go to quilt camp! Some day perhaps. But until then, I have Jennifer Chiaverini's books and the stories of the Elm Creek Quilters.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishing for an early copy of The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini

Readers of the Elm Creek quilters series who believed that The Wedding Quilt was the finale to Chiaverini's saga will delight in this newest installment in the lives of unforgettable, everyday characters in a small Pennsylvania town.

Summer has unexpectedly returned to Elm Creek without completing her master's thesis at the University of Chicago. Burn out? Writer's block? She needs time and space to figure things out, and opportunities abound for her to get involved in the history, research and renovation of Union Hall along with developing a quilt museum. It is in this endeavor that she will discover a local history that includes possible racist ideas of the past. Unwilling to write a revisionist history, Summer will stand up to the town's local bully/businessman bent on conveying facts that do not align with the past. Summer's outmaneuvering will result in a vital, informative quilt museum.

The week-long quilt workshops continue with honored traditions along with new innovations featuring Sylvia, Sarah, Matt, Andrew and Anne along with new and exciting characters and possibilities.

This is a very sweet and wholesome story. Having never read any of the other books in the series, I was surprised to be able to follow along so easily! I always appreciate a book full of strong women characters who are supporting each other through times of change. A surprising undercurrent throughout is Summer’s academic research. It is clear Chiaverini did her own research to flesh out this story, and the impact is immensely positive and gives the book more depth.

This is a new entry in a popular series, and I'm sure readers will be excited! I found THE MUSEUM OF LOST QUILTS to be sweet, cozy, and charming.

The villain is a bit one-dimensional, like a cardboard cut-out, which is unfortunate and detracts from the story seeming real.

Otherwise, I enjoyed the characters very much. The plot, while predictable, certainly kept my interest.

I admired the historical aspects and how quilting can be such an important piece of history, especially for women in a community.

The bond between women is also another focus of the story, which the author does well.

A sweet novel recommended for fans of gentle, small town stories with low stakes and cozy vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are completely my own.

It's been a while since I read a Quilters novel and this was very good. Such wonderful history related and i totally get small town hierarchies and trying to fight them.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini.

The main character Summer has spent the last two years pursing a master's degree.. Summer returns home struggling to complete her thesis. She starts helping organize an exhibit of antique quilts. As she working on this project she uncovers a history of town that is unpleasant at times.
Jennifer Chiaverini artfully blends historical fiction with the love of quilting.
Summer researched the stories of the individual quilts and the stories behind them. These stories are filled with family, friends, overlooked contributions of women, the love of crafting and the exploration of history.

Great to be back with the Elm Creek Quilt gang! Summer returns home after failing to finish her thesis and finds support and love from her Elm Creek family. She is recruited to start a quilt exhibit by the Historical Society and discovers that she really enjoys researching the history of the quilts as well as writing the exhibit signs. She discovers that perhaps her life has a different route than getting a doctorate and discovers love with a fellow history buff. Along the way, she fights against a company who is out to discourage and stop the exhibit.

This is another in the Elm Street Quilters stories. Summer Sullivan, the youngest of the founders, has returned for the summer. She is struggling to complete her thesis having just had her topis "scooped" by another academic. Once back she undertakes a project to mount an exhibit of quilts of historic and social significance to the local community. The exhibit is a crucial fund raiser t save the Hisorical Society's Union Hall. Finding and tracking the quilt and their stories opens up new opportunities.
This is a review of an eGalley.

This latest installment from the Elm Creek Quilters series revolves around the unexpected return of Summer Sullivan to everyone’s delight. Summer is seeking solace and inspiration to overcome her writers block in order to finish her thesis. During her time home, she takes charge of the historical quilt search in the restored Union Hall. While researching quilts of the time, she discovers uncomfortable history of Elm Creek and their residents, bringing discourse to some current residents as well. I enjoyed the return of Elm Creek and their quilters far more than the author’s historical fiction novels.

Enjoyed returning to Elm Creek Quilts. I'm just going to pretend The Wedding Quilt never existed. Strangely - so does the author. While their pasts may have been difficult - these women really lead charmed lives. Also, I want to teach at Elm Creek Quilt Camp. While it was a bit predictable, it was still an enjoyable read.

I come from a historic community much like Summer, and a lot of the history of my community can also be told through the handmade quilts of the counties ladies. While I did not read the entire series, I found it really wasn't needed. Summer Sullivan has had a setback while trying to finish her thesis and now can't seem to write anything. She flees to the comforts and friendship of home (and who wouldn't?) to see if the quilters can help her gain some confidence once more. I have always love the historical fiction genre and was gratified to fall into this book, it's cozy but still brings family, friendship, activism, the importance of crafting and history into sharp focus. Yes, the villain is a bit wooden, but he wasn't the focus of the story. All in all, I really enjoyed stepping out of my usual read and picking up this series. It's a good one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book.
I have read two of Ms. Chiaverini's historical fiction novels as well as a couple of the Elm Creek Quilts titles.
I do enjoy seeing quilts and knowing about the stories behind them, so this book was quite a treat. Research, conflict with resolution, well-drawn characters....

Another well-researched, well-written and captivating novel from Chiaverini. She just keeps getting better and better. Book clubs will eat this one up.

I read this whole series and was excited for a new book in it. However, I was confused, because the story seemed to go back in time and not continue the series. I enjoyed the story on its own, but as part of the series, it didn't fit well.