Cover Image: The Oysterville Sewing Circle

The Oysterville Sewing Circle

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Member Reviews

This book rating hovers between a 3 and a 4. Chick lit yes, but it had a good deal more depth to it than the average chick lit. Parts of the story were presented very well, believable; other parts, not so much. Caroline is from Oysterville, Washington, the epitome of small town. Interested in fashion and designing from an early age, she is admitted to fashion school in New York. A talented designer, she sees her design collection stolen by someone she used to work for. Along the way, she becomes good friends with a top-notch fashion model. When the model dies, Caroline takes the model's children and flees to the only safe place she knows, back to Oysterville. As she learns more about her friend's death, and realizes it was domestic abuse, she starts a local group for abused women, calling it the Oysterville Sewing Circle. As the group grows, so does Caroline's design business, and she taps into many of the Sewing Circle members' skills and talents.
Caroline's and Will's relationship rocks along. Friends since they were young, the relationship never seemed to move beyond friendship until Caroline arrives back home. Will is married to Sierra, Caroline's best friend, and Sierra is very unhappy in her marriage, as her career plans lead her to the big city.
The Oysterville Sewing Circle provided enjoyable reading about life in a small town with a dash of big city thrown in for good measure.

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I will be reviewing this novel for the early August issue of Library Journal. Be Sure and see my complete review there

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Susan Wiggs did a great job researching and writing this book about domestic violence. It’s an important and timely book about women juggling careers, marriage and family. There was a deeper message here about women being harassed at work and standing up for themselves. As the book continues you are able to see the Caroline’s growth and determination. We are able to experience her downfalls and her triumphs right along with her. The author did a great job getting out an important message. #NetGalley #The OystervilleSewingCircle

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I didn't realize how depressing this book would be. Did not really enjoy it. My first and could be last Susan Wiggs book. Reminded me of Brenda Novack

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Wow, this fantastic novel had me 100% invested from beginning to end! In The Oysterville Sewing Circle Susan Wiggs has created an incredible cast of characters that face so many situations. My heart went out to every character and because of that, I found myself not wanting this book to end! I honestly could read a dozen books based on these characters—they were that endearing! I love small town based novels and The Oysterville Sewing Circle is the perfect example of why! I can’t believe this the first Susan Wiggs book I’ve read, but the good news is I have added a lot of her novels to my summer reading list—already looking forward to diving into another one of her books!

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I have read many books by Wiggs and enjoyed all of them. The Oysterville Sewing Circle is no exception. The characters are well developed, the plot is interesting enough to keep my interest, the book is a fast afternoon’s read, and the issues tackled (domestic violence and adoption/families) are important. I enjoyed how Wiggs interwove the characters’ stories together focusing on past and present. That said, if I had one criticism, the ending came together too quickly. As a reader, I needed more time for resolution. Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.

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I liked this book very much, and I think it will have a lot of appeal to a certain type of reader -- one who enjoys a great romance but would rather skip the graphic love scenes, and one who wants a bit more substance. One of the book's themes is relationship/domestic violence. The main character, although not directly affected, makes it her mission to help women affected by this by starting a support group. She is strong and relatable, especially when she stands up to the bullies! .

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This is an okay book, but it could have been a great book with the right editing. As it is, the novel is all over the place. Story lines compete for attention.. Given the tagline, "We believe you. We believe in you." on the cover of the book, along with establishing Caroline's and Angelique's differing stories early on, the theme of abuse and violence should have take center stage over the love story. On page 2 it was obvious Caroline and Will would end up together, Their backstory could have been threaded through the novel instead of taking up valuable chapters that could have been devoted to more a in-depth exploration of the impact of abuse and violence in work and domestic spaces, and outcomes.

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Another winner by Susan Wiggs! This was a great story - did not want it to end. As with all her books this is definitely one I will recommend to others.

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Susan Wiggs again delivers a well-developed story which leaves the reader satisfied. Caroline finds herself out of a job and back home with two children in tow, though she's had a successful career and has never given birth. Circumstances unfold which return her to her Pacific Northwest coastal home and the man (boy when she left him) she's never forgotten. I loved how the story revealed itself bit by bit, and I found myself surprised at the twists and turns shown as the storyline was resolved. The dialogue within the story is authentic, especially in how Caroline and her mother speak to the children in the story. The domestic violence tie-in is also spot-on, and readers who've experienced this or befriended a victim will find these portions accurate without being graphic. Kudos for that. This will keep you reading, and you'll cheer on Caroline as she finds meaning in her work and in parenthood that was thrust upon her.

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A fascinating look at the dark side if the fashion industry and the abuse of women. I enjoyed the story because above all we have survivors.
Caroline doesn't just survive, she thrives and she loves and gives back so much.
Woven into this story is so much love.
A sense of community and family.

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This book was a great story, but it also deals with the important issue of domestic violence. The characters were well developed. This is the second book I have read by Susan Wiggs, and I will be reading more!

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I really enjoyed this adventure. The book included so many important issues: being true to yourself, friendship trials, abusive relationships, promises made, abandoned children, finding true meaning. There are so many issues to discuss! I wish I were in a book club that read this book. Wiggs seamlessly moves from early scenes to present day. The main character, Caroline, was real - there was a truth to her character. The only criticism I have is at the end - everything was tied up quickly and I wanted more detail, especially about Caroline and Sierra. That is a very small criticism though. I loved this book!

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Life has taken a big turn and Caroline finds herself back in her hometown with the 2 young children of her deceased friend in tow and her fashion career over after being blackballed by her stealing former boss. Somehow she has to find a way to make a life for herself and the 2 devastated kids. With the support of friends and family she embarks on an unexpected journey to make a life and find out the truth about her friend's life and death.

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I have read and loved many of Susan's books (still looking for Chicago Fires trilogy).
I have been looking forward to this book since Feb 14th, so I was excited to read an ARC.
The title had me curious, then I started reading

WE BELIEVE YOU. WE BELIEVE IN YOU.

Oysterville is the farthest corner of Washington State, town forgotten by time. After 10 years of silence, two old friends are here again.
Sometimes the last place you want to be is exactly where you belong.

I love the bedtime books, a nostalgic walk through children's books.

Once I started reading I did not stop --reading through lunch and dinner to finish this story!
.

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Friendships, family, and careers. This book weaves all three together in a relatable story of striving, feeling 'other', big dreams, unexpected life-altering curve balls, and long term friendships craft a good life. Not a romance novel but still a sweet story.

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