Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC. I have been reading Jennifer Chiaverini's quilt books since the first one. They only succeed in getting better and better. I loved this one because it wove together the challenges of running the Elm Creek quilt camp and managing a large house against the challenges of the depression and two adolescent girls and their rivalry. Time gives perspective.

Told in alternating chapters from 1933 to present, Sylvia relives making an important quilt with her sister while dealing with the present day problems of running a business. Throughout the book she discovers much about her sister and their relationship

I enjoyed learning more about quilting patterns and meanings, as well as the World's Fair in Chicago. Everything tied together, plot and character wise. An enjoyable series.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for early access to this title.

The latest visit to Elm Creek Quilts finds Sylvia reminiscing to Summer about the quilt she and her sister entered in the World's Fair. Summer wants to add the quilt and accompanying ribbons and historic documents to the exhibit she is curating in town.

The Elm Creek books are always well written, full of quilting history and emotions from the past and present as the Elm Creek Quilters help each other navigate the storms of life. I thoroughly enjoyed The World's Fair Quilt and the visit to Sylvia's past and new look at the relationship with her sister, Claudia.

What a beautiful story this was. I loved the idea of the quilt being passed down from generation to generation. Highly recommend!

I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I have read a lot if not all of the Elm Creek Quilts Series. I enjoy the characters and the setting. This one about Sylvia and her sister Claudia entering the Sears World Fair Quilt Competition in 1933 was a good one. If you like handicrafts such as quilting then you will find it interesting as well.

Another installment in Chiaverini’s feel good Elm Creek quilts series. While appearing like basic Women’s Fiction (not really my thing), I like this series for two reasons: I like the characters and the way of life they represent, and I love the “every person history” stories of the featured piece of the past.

This book recalled the 1933 nationwide quilting contest sponsored by Sears Roebuck. With a grand prize take of $1,200 in prizes (remember — this was depression era) and the best quilts to be displayed at the Chicago World’s Fair, it garnered over 25,000 entries. In our time, when you can see / experience anything with a tap on the screen, I enjoyed the excitement and wonder the book made me feel along with a couple of expert (but teenaged) quilters entering the contest. Their thoughts (and designs) on the contest’s theme (“A Century of Progress”) was excellent history and told completely within the context of the time period.

I also like the way the characters in these books tackle life — with strength and fortitude, a network of supporters, and a focus on doing the right thing. There is plenty of adversity (this isn’t a fairy tale) but little complaining, little blaming on past events, and little neuroticism. Kind of refreshing ;-)

Jennifer Chiaverini's The World's Fair Quilt is a wonderful addition to the beloved Elm Creek Quilters series. In this installment, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson revisits the past, reflecting on the quilt she and her sister entered in the 1933 Chicago World's Fair quilting contest.

It was a treat catching up with the familiar characters of Elm Creek. While Matt strives to revitalize the orchard, Sylvia's skepticism casts a shadow over his enthusiasm. Though aware of the financial benefits, she reluctantly supports his efforts, echoing her cautious and sometimes grumpy approach from the series' early days.

The World's Fair Quilt is a fun read that will leave has me eager for more.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced read copy of this book. I enjoyed this book about sisters, community, and quilting, and want to learn more about the World's Fair in Chicago after reading it. Sylvia's story is told in two timelines, 2004, when she's tryinh to keep her quilting camp afloat and 1933, when she and her sister made a quilt and entered it in Sears Roebuck contest. If you're looking for a wholesome read, check this one out.

Sylvia and her sister never really did get along. It takes until she looks back on her life to see that her sister had it a lot harder than she realized. Always hind sight is 20/20. The World's Fair Quilt was one thing that they did together that was a time in their past that they did get along. This was a unique look back in history and at a craft that is very special.

Chiaverini provides another glimpse into life at Elm Creek Manor and the 1930s. Fans of the series will embrace this new book in the series and the continued saga of Sylvia and her family. There were 24,000 entries in the contest and the reader is drawn into the creative process and angst of the short timeline to complete the quilt. Quilters will empathize with trying to create a unique quilt while conforming to the contest guidelines and rules. Chiaverini weaves a compelling story of friendship, resilience, and family. I love when I enjoy the story and learn something new. Reviewed at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-worlds-fair-quilt.html.

This is such a great series. I love the small town, cozy feels. Each book is like revisiting and old friend.

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.