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.

I remember the feeling of reading my first Elm Creek Quilts book: it was like I’d been given entry to a warm world populated by the loveliest people. This latest installment feels the same way, with the addition of giving historical background to the Sears national quilt competition at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. There’s no high stakes tension here or spicy hot romantic scenes, just a sweet cozy read that makes the reader feel enveloped in the warmth of an Elm Creek Quilt.

I devoured this book like it was a fast paced thriller, but it's definitely not. It's a reflective novel about an octogenarian looking back at her teen years and her relationship with her sister while addressing required changes in her business. These characters are always great to hang out with!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. The author has given us a story of a woman who has returned to her ancestral home via inheritance and has created a Quilting Retreat in order to maintain the lovely property in Pennsylvania. Established as a horse breeding farm, it nearly went bankrupt during the depression and fell into neglect during the time Sylvia’s sister was in residence. This is the only book in the series that I’ve read, so I missed a lot of references. The author used the book as a vehicle to shine a light on the largest quilt contest ever held - The Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. I consider this a “grandma book.” It was a pleasant read with the worst thing that happened was someone got her feelings hurt.

I've read books by Jennifer Chiaverini before, but for some reason I've never heard of this charming series. I'm excited that I now have a whole new set of books to go back to. In this book, the 23rd in the series, we went back in time to remember when the girls of Elm Creek entered their quilt in a contest to have their quilt displayed at the Chicago World's Fair. In present times the family at Elm Creek is dealing with changes and figuring out how to keep their beloved business going. I really enjoyed this and didn't feel like starting at the end of the series hurt my understanding of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book!

The author begins the book by reminding us all gently who the major characters are in the Elm Creek Quilt series. I appreciated that, as it's been awhile since I have read an Elm Creek Quilt book.
We follow two time lines this time, 1933 and 2004. We get quite the insight into Sylvia's young teen life and her rapport with both her sister Claudia and brother Richard, as well as some of the hurdles that need to be overcome in the "present day". She and Claudia decide to make a quilt to enter into the World's Fair. As we go back and forth between the two timelines, we feel the hope and perseverance that Sylvia has always shown over the years. This was a delightful read and I'm proud to say I've read ALL the novels in this series.
Thanks again to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

. This installment of the Elm Creek Quilters find the team furiously working to expand Elm Creek to include an orchard for apple picking. Meanwhile Sylvia is asked by Summer to borrow her World’s Fair quilt for the Union Hall. Sylvia, unsure if its historical significance, begins reminiscing of its creation for the World’s Fair quilt contest. It was one of the few times Sylvia and her sister, Claudia, collaborated successfully. As Sylvia realizes, change is important in order to move forward and solidify her legacy.