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alegal2205's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I always love a war book. Loved how the women were very uplifting and inspiring to each other during hard times
caaleros's review
3.0
I knew when I read the summary that "The Wedding Dress Circle" would be a delightfully heartwarming and feel-good book. I was not wrong. If you're not in the mood for any depressing historical fiction, you can definitely count on this book. That in itself is a gem. The three main characters were all distinct and interesting. My main complaint is that the main moment of development for each character happens off stage. There is a lot of telling throughout the book and it doesn't do the work to develop those moments or relationships. I wondered while I was reading if this bothered me and the answer is yes and no. It bothers me because I was taught to expect more, but it also didn't because the book is what it is. It delivers on being cute and exactly what you expect from it based on the summary. It's a Hallmark-level historical fiction, but I think there's value in that and I'm interested in reading some of the authors other books.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
jennnafziger's review
5.0
I have always had an affinity for stories that center around the lives and culture of people living through the 1940’s. This book is a lovely story focusing on three women in a small English village during that time. It is sweet, romantic, and feels like a story straight from a TCM film. Does it all get neatly tied up at the end? Yes, but that doesn’t make it less special. Sometimes we just need to read a story that makes us believe in love’s power to endure.
lilays43's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
drusmilford's review
5.0
Enjoyable read! Great story. Clearly shows the importance of the friendship, support, love, community for women to belong a a group of women with similar interests. Thank you my Winkster sisters!
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan is a heartwarming historical novel. The story is told from the perspective of: Cressida, Violet, and Grace. I thought The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle was well-written with realistic, developed characters. I enjoyed getting to know Cressida, Violet, Grace, Hugh, Ben, Landon, and the other characters. The village women were kind and quirky. I liked getting to see the main characters learn and grow from their experiences. We get to see the ladies come into their own. The women were resilient and creative amid such hardship. I enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing which brought the story alive. I could tell that the author did her research. She included details that made the story authentic. The people in England endured so much during World War II (bombings, rationing, loss of loved ones). The rationing of clothing was a complicated system (I do not know how they figured it out). I love how the women came together in the story to help brides have a white wedding gown. They were a supportive group of women. I thought it was interesting to learn that it was unpatriotic to be idle. If you were sitting and listening to the wireless in the evening, you should be knitting, crocheting, or sewing. If you were not knitting something for a family member, then you should make socks for the troops. There are some dark moments in the story, but there are many light ones as well. It was important to enjoy the good times. To live and use what time you had because you never knew what tomorrow would bring. Despite the war, the people were optimistic and hopeful. You did not have to do something on your own as one of our characters learned. There were others there willing and able to lend a hand. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle was a little bit of a slow starter, but I soon became involved in the story. I just loved the ending. I appreciated the author’s note at the end. It provided some interesting information. I liked that we get to see that it is possible to have a career (do work they loved) and be married. It was a new concept for women at this time. Some of the themes in the story are friendship, family, rationing, life choices, danger from war, and romance. I liked that we get to see that no task is impossible if people work together. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is a heartwarming, positive story that will leave you smiling. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is an uplifting tale with a waging war, make do and mend, bursting bombs, ration regulations, wedding dress worries, firm friends, and rare romances.