In Jennifer Ryan’s “The Wedding Dress Circle,” a group of women from the village of Aldhurst near London get together to try to mend a wedding dress for an upcoming wedding for Grace, who lives with her widower father in the vicarage. Mending has become a necessity due to clothing rationing imposed during World War II. The task seems impossible until the sewing circle ranks are joined by 46 year old Cressida Westcott, a refugee from London whose home and dress design business were destroyed during a bombing raid. She has returned to Aldhurst Manor, her childhood home, now occupied by her niece, Violet, and her nephew Hugh, who spends most of his time at his war office in London. The goal to renew and revitalize one dress soon grows to seeking out other older wedding dresses to mend, and lending them out to brides throughout the country in need of a traditional wedding gown.

The novel is essentially a tale of women getting together during adversity to help each other out in times of need. As each character makes her contribution to the war effort, she grows and changes in ways she never anticipated, finding hope, friendship and romance.

I’m generally not a fan of romance novels, but I love Jennifer Ryan’s World War II historical fiction novels for their sense of camaraderie in the midst of devastation, and the strong, well-defined characters who reach self-awareness and personal growth as the novel progresses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me an ARC copy of the book for my review.

This was one of the best heart-warming stories that I've read in a long time. Although I suspected the "happy ever after ending," I still could not put it down. I knew about rationing as I experienced it myself as a child in this country but didn't realize that it actually lasted until 1949 in England. Small thing, but who knew that underwear was fastened with buttons because elastic wasn't available? Wonderful story.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is based on facts about the rationing of clothes in Britain during WWII and The IncSoc Utility Fashion Show. It is a story about community, friendship, and family. Cressida Westcott returns home to a small country village after losing her home in London during the Blitz. Being a designer and owning a fashion business, she joins the village sewing circle and we learn of all the good that comes when we band together and help each other out. Jennifer Ryan is being added to my favorite author list. Historical fiction fans will not want to miss this book. Thanks to author Jennifer Ryan, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was another fantastic WWII historical fiction from Ryan. I lived the chilbury ladies choir and this had much the same feel..... different chapters told by different women in an English village trying to do their bit for the war by sharing a wedding dress. The characters definitely had a lot of growth and my favorite was Violet. I loved all of the dialogue between her and Landon. Excellent storyline that was well researched and tender. I can't wait to read more by this author. 5stars!!!!!

Fabulous page turner with a great cast of characters. Lifting the spirits of brides in wartime Britain. A get cozy and settle in type of historical fiction novel. I loved it!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for my copy all thoughts are my own.

I lovedJennifer Ryans engrossing book the Kitchen Front I was so excited to her latest and it was another hit for me.I was drawn in from the opening scene and got so involved I didn’t want to put it down.Will be recommending both books.She is an author with the special touch of bringing characters alive #netgalley#randomhouse

4.5 stars! Thank you Random House and net galley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The Wedding dress sewing circle is an engrossing character driven historical WWII novel. As Jennifer Ryan’s novel The Kitchen Front centered around food rationing in England during WWII, this novel of hers centers around clothing rationing. A delightful read!

4.0 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Jennifer Ryan, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This was an interesting book about WWII (although, I am totally burned out by this time period). Primarily about the women who were left behind and had to make do with food and clothing shortages/rationing. Three specific women in a village sewing group are highlighted.

At times, I felt that the story was obvious from the very beginning. Also, it was just too wrapped up in a big bow finish.

I liked this book but didn't love this book like I was hoping.

RECOMMEND

Silence your phone and grab the snacks because this is a page turner that you’ll want to read in one sitting. Ryan is back with her blend of history and humanity in this character driven story. Friendship and feminism are the backbone of this World War 2 home front novel. It’s the perfect blend of history, romance, and women’s empowerment. I love that Ryan includes a middle age heroine to remind us that dreams don’t die with the arrival of grey hair. You won’t need tissues for this World War story. There’s plenty of happily ever afters for all the characters.

What a lovely story by Jennifer Ryan. She has once again written a novel about a lesser known subject of the war, the women who sewed using old material to keep clothes on everyone's backs. Grace, Cressida and Violet are each heading down a comfortable path when the war intervenes and their lives change. Friendship is at the heart of this story, how much each person needs it.

Out of the ballpark again! Just as I start to tire of the WWII genre, along comes another of Jennifer Ryan's "feel good" standards, with just enough tension to satisfy the toughest critic.

Previously having read The Kitchen front and thoroughly enjoyed it I was thrilled to read the upcoming book The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle. The story of 3 women set in world war 2, this historical fiction was excellent. It was a very heart warming story and i would highly recommend this to all.

I truly enjoyed Jennifer Ryan’s soon to be released (May 31, 2022) novel, The wedding Dress Sewing Circle. This story is based true events and takes place in a small village in England during WW2. It revolves around three women who, with the help of the local sewing circle, transforms old, moth eaten wedding dresses into beautiful wedding gowns. The gowns are then loaned out to brides all over the country.
This is wonderful historical fiction based on friendships and women supporting each other in difficult times. Would highly recommend to anyone that enjoys WW2 historical fiction with a little romance.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Thank you Jennifer Ryan this most enjoyable book.

THE WEDDING DRESS CIRCLE is a sweet story about the bonds of community and friendship even during difficult times. The author does a fantastic job of conveying what this time period must have been like, with the various shortages and rations and concerns about the war. I enjoyed reading about how it was patriotic to stay busy and it was heartwarming how a small operation grew into something much larger and widespread. The romance angle is lovely as well, even if a bit predictable.

Recommended for fans of uplifting historical fiction.

I often pass over some historical fiction books as “just another WWII novel”. However, having recently shared a video on my BookTube channel about the numerous historical fiction novels with a fashion focus that are on my shelves, my interest was piqued by The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle. It came as such a pleasant surprise to me that I was hardly able to put this book down. Following the intertwining stories of 3 women as they attempt to support the war effort yet maintain their own identities in war-torn Britain, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is full of family, grit, determination, strength, and love, sprinkled generously with a fashion theme. Violet, Cressida, and Grace are newfound friends that I won’t soon forget.

Thanks go to @NetGalley and @BallentineBooks for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is set in wartime Britain where three protagonists try to cheer up brides in a time when clothes rationing leaves scarce garments for events, such as weddings. The events are based on true stories. The three main characters, Cressida, Violet and Grace are all spunky and come from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. What starts out as a small operation of mending weddings dresses for local brides quickly escalates into a cross-country effort for brides all over Britain. This is a story of resilience, love and friendship in the face of a devastating world war, and the power of human bonds. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of WWII history and women-centered friendships and plots.

Taking true events in England during WW II, the author brings a village to life with impressive women who become stronger and yet more vulnerable supporting each other and learning what they really want from life. Unlike many stories of war, this one does not create unbelievable heroes or heroines, but many ordinary people and what they did to keep up their spirits during a terrible time. There’s romance and new and renewed relationships and the changing attitudes about traditional social standing.
Cleverly written with humor and seriousness, this is a great read that draws the reader in and carries you along beside the characters.

Review- Wedding Dress sewing Circle
If this novel had not included the fascinating author’s notes my review would be much different. Romance novels are never my first choice, this story included 4 rather predictable romances. But the glue that held together these romances was the new-to-me fascinating history that made this a 4 star read.
I had no idea the impact WW2 made on clothing in England. Not only are romances not my first pick I usually become rather distracted by stories that dwell on what girls wore. But the history tied in to this story about necessity driving creativity made it a great story. I have read a number of stories based on England during the blitz, and I thought I understood about rationing and shortages. This novel brought in little known facts not just about wedding dresses, but everything down to underwear and just how long these shortages and regulations carried over even into the 1950’s.
I liked the focus on adaptability and the flattening between the snooty upper class and those people considered more common. I enjoyed the focus on women’s roles during the war in England.
This was an advance reader copy provided by Net Galley and the publisher.

During WW2, at the height of the London blitz, three British women are brought together as their lives are changed by the ongoing war. Cressida, a successful London fashion designer, Violet, an aristocratic socialite, and Grace, daughter of a small town vicar, have their lives intertwined as war upends their traditional roles in society and have them each facing new challenges, and new ways of viewing their own lives and choices.

From the author of The Chilbury Ladies Choir comes this gorgeous story of friendship, love, perseverance, and hope, at one of humanity’s darkest hours. Each of the three main women in this book (as well as the sparkling cast of supporting characters) must decide what path their future will take and what will truly bring them happiness. I loved the characters and found myself particularly rooting for Violet, loving to see her development from haughty socialite to a woman who realized what was actually important in life. Though the book covers plenty of the trials and hardships of life for the women of World War 2 era Britain, overall I came away with a sense of hope, and the importance of having a strong supportive group of friends by your side.

4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle is based on true events – when clothes rationing during WWII leaves young brides in challenging situation, a group of women comes up with an idea to start a charity to give out white wedding dresses. In the process, they lift spirits and learn resilience.

England, 1942. In the village of Aldhurst, as Grace is preparing for her wedding, she finds her mother’s wedding dress visibly damaged by moths, and in need of mending. Thus, she seeks help with the Sewing Circle.

In London, Cressida Westcott, a noted couturier, has just lost her home and her design house in the London Blitz. She is forced to seek shelter with her estranged family in Aldhurst. Estrange from her family, because she is a woman of strong character, who broke from conventions and that put a rift between her and her brother, the late owner of Aldhurst Manor.

Violet Westcott is ecstatic to have her famous aunt at the manor, but at the same time she receives conscription letter, which is very problematic for her. She is of aristocratic blood and doesn’t like to mingle with lower class people. But the army conscription opens her eyes to her own hypocrisy. How can she hate being told what to do by her superiors, while also be willing to abide by her aristocratic husband?

The backbone of the story is the challenging shortages of clothes during the war, but it is also about one woman helping other women find their voice, not to follow the path they were put on. As Cressida supports the Sewing Circle with her ideas how to mend dresses, she also gives some women much needed boost in confidence. And as she does all the supporting work, she encourages women to take chances in their lives, but will she take her chance?

The story weaves a wonderful atmosphere of both the place and its people: the circle of women supporting each other and learning resilience and in an enchanting way presents the village community. The story also intertwines fascinating historical facts. For example, of how unpatriotic it was to simply sit idle. Hands were supposed to be busy with knitting or sewing and supporting either your family or the troops by creating necessary clothing.

Despite the dark side of the war, the warm writing spins a magnificent tale of home-front camaraderie, women coming together and supporting each other, showing that by joining forces you can achieve great things. They also grow on an individual level, forge their own paths, and despite all odds find love.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com