Jennifer Chiaverini wrote a beautiful story in continuation of her favored Elm Creek Quilt Series. I didn't want it to end! Absolutely loved this story.

A great clean read combining different personalities, age groups, and talents all coming together around the craft of quilting with a twist of history thrown in.

The World's Fair Quilt
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A timely celebration of quilting, family, community, and history in this latest novel in the perennially popular Elm Creek Quilts series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini.
I wanted to like this book more - topically right up my alley with quilting and a later in life protagonist.
But I feel the back and forth between time frames lacked punch. There are a lot of characters that don’t add much to the story and a lot of details that dragged rather than excited.
Recommend some tightening of the storyline and making the main character more positive.

Sylvia Bergstrom Compson who runs the Elm Creek Quilt Camp is looking at ways to insure its future. Enter Summer Sullivan one of the Quilters who wants to display a=on of Sylvias earliest quilts at the historical society . Sylvia is reluctant but as she tells the history of making a quilt for the Sears National quilt contest for the 1933 Chicago. worlds we all get a history lesson and a look into Sylvia's early life and her relationship with her sister. An engrossing read. I loved it!

Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for a chance to read and review this memorable book.

I have been reading Jennifer Chiaverini since the first Elm Creek book. A chance to review “The World’s Fair Quilt” was a birthday and holiday gift all wrapped into one. I had honestly thought the author has finished the series when “The Museum of Lost Quilts” came out last year. This book picks up soon after that novel ends, though a new reader could pick up this book and understand what is going on as Chiaverini gives the necessary backstory to understand the dynamics between sisters Sylvia and Claudia, which is what this book focuses on.

This novel has two story lines—the “current” one in 2004 and 1933. In the “present,” Sylvia and her friends who jointly own Elm Creek Quilts plan for the opening of the new apple orchard, looking to it as a source of revenue. One of the staff (and a graduate student in library science) Summer approaches Sylvia about borrowing a family quilt as part of a display. The quilt was a project Sylvia worked on with her sister as part of a contest that Sears Roebuck sponsored The winner’s quilt would not only be displayed at the World’s Fair in Chicago but become a gift to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Sylvia and Claudia have always had a difficult relationship but this is one of the new times where the girls willing work together.

This book will have two very different readers. Fans of the Elm Creek series will eat this book up; reading it is like spending time with good friends. However, new readers can still find the story enjoyable. Nothing ground-breaking happens in this book, but that’s all right. You’re spending time with characters who remind you of people that you know.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for a chance to read and review this lovely book.

The World's Fair Quilt is like #23? in the Elm Creek Quilt series. Something that I didn't know when I requested this book. But I gave it a go anyways. I would say that for the MOST PART this book can be a stand-alone. Yes there are HEAVILY referenced characters from earlier books--which tells me that this series is chronological and just keeps on continuing in a story. But I felt there was enough to treat it as a stand alone and I appreciated the story unfolded. This particular story further explores the incredibly complicated history that the lead character Sylvia has with her older sister Claudia. From what I can gather--earlier books go into the reasons that Sylvia and Claudia were estranged as adults. This book has Sylvia in her...80s I believe.

The primary focus revolves around a quilt that Summer requests to display in a museum from Sylvia. A World's Fair Quilt which Sylvia and her sister Claudia stitched together when they were 13/15 years old. One of the few times they came together to work on anything. This quilt was part of a contest that Sears Roebuck hosted for the nation. The winner's quilt would be at the Worlds Fair in Chicago and be given to the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The girls just wanted to win the prize money for their family.

The book goes back and forth between present day and 1933. In the present day, Sylvias friends are readying for the grand opening of the elm creek orchard for the public. We also see sylvia battling internal monologue regarding her reluctance to change and her anger that Claudia let the place go so many years ago. Frustration that the place can't be totally self sufficient comfortably.

I enjoyed the story. It was a clean read and I now want to read the earlier books in the series. And I loved all the quilt descriptions. I just wish there were photos included for them!

4 Stars

*I was given a complimentary copy of the ARC from Netgalley and the publishers. All opinions and review are 100% my own.

I wasn't able to make it 25% of the way through this book before I decided to put it down.

I love the Elm Creek Quilt Books. I read them all up to this point and I was very excited to see that a new addition was coming out and aimed in history at the World's Fair.

The first chapter is catching the reader up- which I was grateful for. It has been a hot minute since I read the prior books in the series. But then the story started and I'm not sure what happened. Syvia's character was annoying to me and I found myself finding other things to do instead of reading- two weeks later I barely started the book.

This review feels very personal to me and nothing against the book. I'm not sure if too much time has gone by? 15 years ago I was a different reader and enjoyed many book series regularly, Elm Creek Quilts being up there as one of my favorites. I have since read hundreds of books and decidedly moved on from the book series format for the most part. Maybe I'm changed as a reader? Maybe the time difference between the last book and this one was too much? Whatever ever the reason, I'm putting this down and keeping my fond memories of the series I loved and won't be reading any further.

The author is one of my favorites and I enjoy her other historical fiction novels, so I will keep reading.

This is my second novel of the Elm Creek Quilters and I'm hooked! Revisiting old friends in the quaint mountains and small towns of rural PA.
Fall colors, family, and friends mixed with interesting history. Grab your tea or coffee and settle in for a lovely reading experience.

You don’t have to be a quilter to enjoy this latest addition to Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek Quilts series. It is a story of family and friends working together to help Elm Creek Manor stay afloat during trying times. Two timelines tell a contemporary story and a story from the past, both exploring how family and friends who sometimes don’t see eye to eye, find a way to save what is precious to them…their ancestral home and business.

One character in the story is described as “not knowing which end of the needle to thread.” That is almost me, not quite, but I am not a quilter, so some of the quilting jargon was over my head. However, that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book. A nice break from thrillers and family dramas, which I love and are my go-to reads. The World’s Fair Quilt was an enjoyable story.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advance copy for review.

First thanks for letting us visit our family The Elm Quilt family! Loved this book, as a quilter we like to hear the stories of Quilters. I was not around for the 1st World's Fair. But in reading this book I could understand the how and why's of working together to finish a quilt. Sister's are usually not best friend's I'm told.. But later in life understand the love it would take to complete a quilt! Enjoy the ride as I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've read several Elm Creek Quilers book but it's been a while. This book filled me in on enough of what I missed that I could pick back up on the storyline. I enjoyed the alternating timelines.
The parts about the new orchard are exciting. I can see there being another sequel and if so, I look forward to reading it.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

I received this book from NetGalley as an advanced reader copy for my honest review. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I was really looking forward to this book due to my personal interest in the history of World’s Fairs. I had no idea about the Sears Quilt contest before this book and would love to do more research.

What I enjoyed: I loved the factual history of the contest, the quilting and the World’s Fair. I have never been to Chicago and now want to research more about the locations that were mentioned in the book before going. I loved the detail and relationship Sylvia had with Claudia. Siblings aren’t always friends and the truth with rivalry was a nice change.

What I didn’t enjoy: Way too much detail in the quilts. Someone that has no idea about them will get lost in the crazy descriptions of the designs. I felt like all of that was too wordy and found myself skipping ahead.
I wish the story gave a bit more detail on what had happened to Sylvia and Claudia’s relationship. I was invested in Sylvia and families dynamic more than each little detail on the quilt and the process. I felt like it all came to an abrupt end and all the troubles throughout the book just disappeared.

This was another excellent book from Jennifer Chiaverini. For those who have not read her books in a while, it is a gentle reminder of things that happened in the past. (Some say it is too repetitive. But to me, it was a nice reminder of past events.) The reader is caught up in the excitement of the opening of Elm Creek Orchard. You cheer on the staff as they try to keep Elm Creek Quilts afloat. If you are a quilter who has entered a show, you commiserate with the girls as they face disappointment with their placement in the Sears contest. Ultimately, we should all be proud of our accomplishments and advancement in learning such a time honored craft.

I love this author's stories so much!
This one was different. I devoured it one sitting it was so good!
This particular story touched my heart deeply. I loved all the characters but most especially Sylvia.
I especially enjoyed in getting to know her. Memories are a delightful to have. Sometimes.
Sylvia is a wonderful storyteller and I learned much from her in how thing used to be.
A delicious novel that I couldn't put down 5 stars for sure! Looking forward to the next one.
I love stories above the World's Fair in Chicago. How lucky they were!
I was sad to see this book end. I love Elm Creek and it's residents! They feel like family!
I wanted to share a quote of sorts
For the theme of this book is about changes and offers hope along the way.
"How one responded to change-with optimism or timidity, resilience or resistance determinated whether it would bring about opportunities for growth and progress, or for disappointment and bitterness.
Sylvia ways chose hope. That's what I loved about her.
5 stars for a wonderful and pleasant read! I was NOT required to write a positive read. All opinions expressed are mine

Another wonderful Elm Creek Quilts story! So happy to be back in this lovely read. I love how this one reflects the healing Sylvia needed. The last paragraph of the story is beautiful, “ It was time to leave the heartache of the past behind, and to carry the best of her memories forward into a future bright with hope and promise, stitched together with compassion and bound in love.”

It’s Fall in Pennsylvania and at Elm Creek Quilts and Sylvia is looking to the future and realizing they may need some support. Money is tight but Sylvia is determined to keep things going.

Summer has asked Sylvia if her World’s Fair Quilt can be displayed at the Waterford Historical Society. Both Sylvia and her sister entered the 1933 event.
But something happened that led them to be estranged.

As Sylvia tells the story of the quilt, she discovers something that renews her faith.

All of these characters are lovely. And the issues they face are the same ones we all face, and I think that is one of the reasons I love this series!


NetGalley/William Morrow April 01, 2025

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I wanted to like this book more - topically right up my alley with quilting and a later in life protagonist.
But I feel the back and forth between time frames lacked punch. There are a lot of characters that don’t add much to the story and a lot of details that dragged rather than excited.
Recommend some tightening of the storyline and making the main character more positive.
It is possible that I am missing background and character development by reading this one first - rather than others earlier in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for providing and advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did not realize that this was not a stand alone book, but one of many of the novels Jennifer Chiaverini has written about quilting. That said I found the characters to be engaging and the relationship between sisters to be very interesting. Sylvia is 13 and her sister Claudia 15 when the story begins. Their mother was a "master quilter" and has passed away. Claudia always seems to "call the shots" as she is older. Sylvia has a mind of her own. They do not always see eye to eye. They learn about a quilting competition sponsored by Sears department store for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition - the Chicago World's Fair. They enter the contest. The story goes from the sisters entering the contest and present day where Sylvia is trying to save her present business as a Quilter's retreat. It is an nice easy read and I found the descriptions of the Chicago World's Fair interesting as well as the descriptions of quilting. I did enjoy reading this book, a nice change from detective/murder/spy/WW11 books that I usually read. I am interested in reading her other books to know what the relationship was between Sylvia and Claudia as they got older.

The World's Fair Quilt, An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini is a wonderful addition to the Elm Creek Quilts series. At the request of one of the Elm Creek Quilters, Sylvia is asked to display the quilt that she and her sister made for the Chicago World's Fair. This brings back many memories of the making of the quilt and of arguments with her sister Claudia. At a time when Elm Creek Quilts finances are in a difficult position, Sylvia must also contend with finding a way to take it into the future, debt free.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.