Anna Butterfield comes from a small town and with the passing of her mother, her father sends her to relatives in big city London and with the culture shock she is expected to become a lady of society and find the match best for her family. When a chance encounter happens right when she gets in town, it will turn her life upside down.

What a great book! Another historical fiction book that informed me of what is going on in that time for society and women specifically and schooled me on the business of silk. I have read a lot of historical fiction books that comment on fashion and the evolution, but I loved how this book zeroed in on silk and the complexities of making it, designing with it and the business of it. I have said this before, but I love when a book makes me want to google and find out more and this one did over and over again.

As I touched on before this book dealt with class issues and the importance for women at the time to pick the right mate, not for love, but for the future of themselves and their families. It is always interesting to read a book where a character is conflicted with going along with the family expectations or completely rebelling and going the opposite direction!

I loved this one. I was nervous about reading it after having read a lot of historical fiction in a row, but with a different setting and a different spot in time, this one felt unique compared to my recent reads.

There is something about Trenow's historical fiction that pulls me in every time and The Hidden Thread is no exception. Most of my historical ficton reading consists of the wealthy or at least the comfortable and this gave me a peek at the struggles of those in the silk trade - both those that sold the silk and those that wove the silk - which I had never given any thought to before. It's a fascinating world full of tension, heartache, pride and artistry.

The story is told in third person but from two POVs. We go back and forth between Henri, a gifted young silk weaver with a tragic past, and Anna, the daughter of a country vicar and neice of a mercer who makes a comfortable living. After the death of her mother, Anna is sent to London to live with her relatives and hopefully make a good marriage for the survival of her family. She's completely and totally out of her element and incredibly homesick. I found the contrast between the life of a social climbing city woman and country woman incredibly interesting as we see Anna deal with the differences - especially the loss of both her freedom and responsibilities. Henri's responsibilities are also huge. He wants to earn enough to take care of his mother - a role he had to step into when he was very young. He wants to be a master weaver and he's concerned about the riots and the violence and what it will do to the people he loves and his craft.

One thing I really appreciated in The Hidden Thread was that I really saw how difficult these life changes were for Anna. Uprooting from the country to London and having to marry well to secure financial security for the family is not an uncommon plot but I don't think I've ever seen the internal struggle and sacrifice portrayed so well and so deeply.

This is a moving story with likable and sympathetic main characters and a fascinating setting. If you love historical fiction but haven't read Trenow before than I highly recomend you start here. I will be eagerly awaiting her next book!

Terrific! I really enjoyed this not only as a well researched and written historical novel but also because of all of the details of the silk industry in 1760. Trenow has crafted a wonderful tale that blends the political and social justice with romance between Henri and Anna. Wow. Loved Anna and how she grew over the course of the novel and loved Henri as well. Both of them are so believable. The plot gave great insight into a sector of UK industry we don't often see. THanks to netgalley for the ARC- this was a great and enlightening read. I really enjoyed it.

It is 1760 and Anna Butterfield travels from her family home in rural Suffolk to her fashionable Aunt & Uncle's home in London.
London is strange, noisy, dirty and, as a silk merchant, her Uncle's home is in an area full of French migrant weavers. Over the next 6 months Anna finds herself thrust into society to make a "good match" which she finds quite dull and boring. In fact, she would much rather get to know the French weavers, and in particular, a man named Henri that she met by chance, but who is totally beneath her in the societal hierarchy .
This novel takes inspiration from Anna Maria Garthwaite who lived in this area and produced thousands of patterns for silk during the early 1700s, but as the author explains at the end, she is an inspiration only for the timelines have been changed and the Anna in the novel is an entirely different and fictional person.
This is a lovely historical fiction novel for anyone interested in a period not often written about, that of the silk riots during the 1760s, and who enjoys a bit of romance thrown into the mix. Is there a "Happily Ever After"? My lips are sealed ;)
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Hidden Thread is an historical romance novel set against the backdrop of the silk trade in 1760s London and the silk riots of the period.

Anna moves to London following the death of her mother to find a suitable match and Henri is a young silk weaver apprentice. The romance that soon - but slowly - develops between them crosses the boundaries of class but readers can expect a 'clean read.' In fact I often felt as though I was reading a YA or MG novel.

The most interesting aspects of the novel for me were definitely the silk designs and imagining the damask patterns described in seamstress Miss Charlotte's dress shop. I also desperately wanted to see Henri's masterpiece of silk weaving, having had the pattern designed, woven and completed throughout the course of the novel. I dearly wish the design had been used to form the cover; now that would have been perfect.

The Hidden Thread also ignited my interest in seeing the silk weaving looms described in the novel at work, and references at the end for those wanting to learn more would have been a very welcome addition.

The Hidden Thread is recommended for YA readers and those looking for a light-hearted historical romance novel with a happy ending.

The Hidden Thread by Liz Trenow is set in London in 1760. George III is the King of England and the naturalist movement is gaining momentum. Anna Butterfield is heading to London to stay with her father’s sister and her family. Anna is leaving her small village and her family for the first time. She is to try to make an advantageous match to help her family. Anna arrives at Spital Square and there is no one to greet her. Anna ends up fainting in the street (lack of food, the heat, and nervousness). Anna awakens to find a young Frenchmen assisting her. But then her cousin, William approaches berating her for being late and hitting the Frenchmen for touching her. Anna is taken to Sadler and Son where her Uncle Joseph and Aunt Sara along with her cousins, William and Elizabeth (aka Lizzie) live and have their shop on the bottom floor. Joseph Sadler is a mercer (a dealer in silks) and has a thriving business. Aunt Sarah quickly commissions appropriate dresses for Anna so she can be presented to society. Anna is unused to the dresses, the many rules of society, inactivity and freedom to go out. Most of all she misses seeing gardens which is inspiration for her sketches and watercolors. While out with Lizzie, Anna encounters Henri Vendome, the Frenchman who assisted her. He is a journeyman weaver to M. Jean Lavalle and he will soon be working on his master piece. If this piece is accepted, Henri will become a master weaver. Anna and Henri are attracted to each other, but they are from different classes. The political situation in London is volatile as journeyman weavers want fair wages and are upset with mercers who are importing foreign silks without paying the import taxes. Is there a chance for Anna and Henri? Can they overcome the social divide and have a future together? How will the political situation affect mercers and weavers? Pick up The Hidden Thread to find out!

The Hidden Thread is nicely written and has good main characters. I appreciated a female main character who was intelligent and creative. Liz Trenow is a descriptive writer who includes minute details (about garments, the sights, of nature, etc.). This type of writing allows for me to picture the story in my head. The author did a wonderful job at capturing that period in time as well as the sights and smells of London. Readers are given delightful descriptions of finished silks. It was interesting to read about the origins of silk and what goes into making the finished product. I was especially fascinated with the weaving process. The Hidden Thread reminds me of books written by Rosalind Laker. I give The Hidden Thread 4 out of 5 stars. There are a couple of slow sections, but overall I thought The Hidden Thread to be an engaging novel. The cover of the book really does not do the book justice. The original cover is more eye catching and so is the initial title (The Silk Weaver). The title (to me) refers to the threads that are hidden in a tapestry—the warp threads. It also references a special technique used by Henri for his master piece. I did feel that the book is a touch too long. I felt a little more editing would have beneficial. I enjoyed reading The Hidden Thread. There are some good life lessons included in the story. The author provided an epilogue that wrapped up all the various storylines which I really appreciated.

London - 1760

Anna Butterfield, age 18, is traveling in a coach when they encounter a riot. She has left the coach at a public house in Spitalfields where she is to meet her Cousin William Sadler. After the long trip and little to eat, she faints. A young man speaking French kindly assists her and gives her some water. She tells him she is to stay with her uncle Joseph Sadler of Spital Square. He owns and runs Joseph Sadler and Sons, Mercers to the Gentry. When her cousin shows up, he is rude to the young man who has helped her. He calls French people like him cabbage heads.

Anna’s Uncle Joseph and Aunt Sarah welcome her as does her Cousin Elizabeth (Lizzie). Having recently lost her beloved mother, Anna is grateful to them for inviting her to stay. Anna’s father is a vicar who now has to care for Anna’s younger somewhat mentally and physically disabled sister.

Sarah, Anna’s father’s sister, insists that she be outfitted with beautiful clothes. Anna is fascinated with the beautiful silk fabrics and their unusual smell. Silk is their business.

One day, Anna sees the young French man, Henri, who helped her and stops to thank him for his kindness to her. He is an indentured silk weaver. His family escaped from France with only he and his mother surviving the trip. Henri is preparing his master piece silk weave after which he will become a master weaver and can have his own shop. He finds that smaller wildflowers are all the rage and these are the flowers that Anna loves to paint.

The story follows the family depicting the riots of the weavers for better pay. Although Anna’s aunt and uncle forbid her to have anything to do with Henri, she sees him now and then and together they develop a friendship.

I enjoyed this story very much. I have read other books about the Spitalfields area of London being the heart of the silk weaving industry and how difficult life was for the residents. But, this book goes into greater detail about the making of silk which I found fascinating. As the author comes from a family of silk weavers, she understands the craft and explains it beautifully. We also see how difficult the times were for the workers and the trials they faced every day. I hope other readers like this book as well. Congratulations, Liz Trenow on a great story.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Any fan of historical fiction will love this book.
Unbelievable that this is a debut novel and can't wait to read more from Liz Trenow's pen.
A story about Anna a country girl who comes to her relatives in London to be launched into society but a chance meeting on her very first step into the big city sets her onto a very different path.
Inspired by the silk weavers of the 1700's and the influx of the Huguenot's escaping persecution in France comes a romance that seems impossible from the start.
A rich tapestry of the silk industry and the people who lived and worked in it both rich and poor.
Amazing could not put it down.

Hidden Thread is set in London England during the 1760s. Anna Butterfield's mother passes away and her father sends her to live with her uncle in London, who is a silk merchant. She meets an immigrant from France, Henri. Henri hopes to one day be a Master Weaver. Both are attracted to one another but because they are from two different worlds, it is forbidden for them to be together.
I did find Anna and Henri's story in the Hidden Thread to be pretty good. I found the struggles of the merchants to be quite interesting. I had no idea that this was part of English history and found it to be intriguing and refreshing. I found the book to be emotional at times with the challenges Anna and Henri face. Though I did enjoy other books by Liz Trenow more, I still think this is a must read.

4 1/2 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley.com, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the wonderful advanced reading copy of The Hidden Thread by Liz Trenow. I really enjoyed this historical fiction story, set in England in the 1760's, during turbulent times for the silk trade. This story is of 2 talented people, from different backgrounds, which are challenged by rigid social orders of that era, and how they make their way to contentment against all odds. It's a delicate story of struggles and injustice, along with industriousness and innovation. An interesting read indeed!

The cover art captured my attention...however, this sweet story line held it. I enjoyed this novel. I have recommended it to all three of my local libraries.

Thanks SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and netgalley for this ARC.

Fans of Liz Trenow and those new to her novels will enjoy this one. It's what we've come to know of her style but fresh and new too. A powerful story that will appeal to all ages and heart's

Liz Trenow's The Hidden Thread is a historical fiction/romance novel about the silk weaving trade in 18th c London, inspired by Trenow's family history as silk weavers in Spitalfields, East London.

While researching her family history Trenow learned about Anna Maria Garthwaite, a silk designer who produced naturalistic, accurate designs of flowers for brocades and damasks which appear in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The novel centers around a vicar's daughter, Anna, who comes to live with her aunt and uncle in London. Anna is a very modern woman in her sensibility while conforming to the expectations of her time and class.

Anna's uncle is a prosperous, well-connected, silk mercer. It is hoped that Anna's prospects will be much better in London than in her small village. It is not only for her own sake that Anna must marry well; as pastor of a small church her father lives in a parsonage; he can never retire, as it means he would lose both home and income.

Life in upper crust London is bewildering and constricting for Anna. Like Belle in Beauty and the Beast, she both longs for more than her village offers but also rejects the societal values that constrict women's lives. She would like to marry for love but a man with prospects has shown an interest, and regardless of her personal feeling, she knows she should accept him.

Ideally, Anna would like to be an artist. London brings her into connection with several of the great artists of her time, including one who takes an interest in her work.

Upon arrival in London, Anna met an apprentice silk weaver, Henri, a French Protestant refugee who fled to England rather than convert to Catholicism. The Huguenots brought their skill in silk weaving, but like refugees across time, they are reviled.

Anna and Henri feel an attraction they both understand is 'impossible'. Henri learns of Anna's artistic skill and begs her to provide him with a design for the masterpiece he must weave for acceptance as a weaver. Through their relationship, the reader learns about the design history, mechanics, and politics of silk weaving in the 18th c.

The importation of French silk was banned at this time but was in such demand that mercers pirated it into England--including Anna's cousin, putting his father's reputation at risk.

Meanwhile, the silk weavers are asking for fair wages and violence is erupting.

The novel will appeal to readers who enjoy a progressive heroine and a wish fulfillment ending served with a slice of history.

I read Trenow's previous novel The Forgotten Seamstress, in which a woman seeks the history of a mysterious quilt. Read my review here.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This is an intriguing look at the silk trade in Eighteenth century London. It was very interesting to read about the fabric, the mechanics of weaving, and the skill plus politics in the industry. The author's family still operates on of the remaining silk mills in England. An enjoyable book.

So many words come to me when I recall my thoughts about reading this book. Sadness, loneliness, greed, young love, snobbiness, gut wrenching, these are just some of the feelings I felt and things that happen in this story.

A young girl (Anna) is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in the big city of London. Her widowed father and young sister still live in the country where she longs to still reside. Anna's aunt and uncle own a silk business and are considered not among the most wealthy but well off.

This is around 1770 when the silk riots were threatening to begin. Young French immigrants were fleeing their country and coming to England to weave their wares and wanted to be pay fair wages. However many English silk sellers were bypassing these young Frenchmen and importing directly from France and buying cheaper without paying import taxes.

On Anna's first day, she meets Henri who is one of these young Frenchmen. Immediately, William, Anna's cousin, sees her talking to Henri and forbids her to engage in conversation with a "cabbage head" under any circumstance. Their story with the background of the silk riots is the basis of this book.

A wonderful read, one that I am glad that I requested and most grateful that I got to read. A story that was well told and one that I was sorry to part with at the end.

Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

After her mother dies, Anna Butterfield is sent to live with her uncle and his family. Right away she meets Henri, who is a silk weaver. Although they are attracted to each other, they come from different classes. This is the story of how their relationship evolves. Along the way, the author give many details about how the silk is produced and woven. I found this to be fascinating. This is a great historical fiction story!

I received an advanced copy of The Hidden Thread from NetGalley and the publisher. It was an enjoyable and interesting account of a little know revolt of silk weavers in 18th century London. In the midst of the turmoil we have Henri and Anna who fall in love but find themselves divided by their social standing. Theirs is a touching story of overcoming the prejudices and judgment of society to be with the person of choice. It was well-researched and the descriptions of the weaving process were especially fascinating. But I never really figured out the meaning of the title and discovered that it was released earlier under a different title and cover: The Silk Weaver. I think the original title makes much more sense and the original cover was definitely more appealing. I would recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction/romance.

What a totally brilliant book. Not only did this novel have a brilliant storyline which gripped me from page one, but also had wonderful main characters. I also learned so much about the time period too. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

The Hidden Thread is well-written, well-researched, and very interesting book about silk weaving industry in 18th century London. At the time the industry faced a number of trials: competition from France, wage wars, and tensions between French immigrants and local English people. The book explores all these in detail.

The Hidden Thread is also a love story between talented but poor French silk weaver, Henri, and Anna, a young English woman from a well-off family. Henri is determined to become a master of the craft and rise above poverty. Anna is determined to have a more fulfilling life than what was expected of women at the time. She is an artist and becomes fascinated by fabric design and wants to learn more about it but women like her are not expected to work. Henri and Anna are from different stations and cultures so their love seems impossible and forbidden, and they face many difficult challenges. Will they or won't they get their happy ending? I liked them both very much so I was rooting for them and hoping for the best.

The Hidden Thread has a very interesting premise, compelling and likeable characters, and vivid historical details that make for a great read. It’s a perfect combination of historical fiction and sweet romance, and I really enjoyed it.