The Woolly Hat Knitting Club

One of the best romance/women's fiction novels I've read on a while. There are a lot of women's novels centering on knitting right now, but I like this one because it's not from the perspective of a knitter. I don't knit, either, and sometimes the jargon is distracting. I can certainly identify with the descriptions of the textures and colors, and the warm fuzzies one gets in a well-designed craft store. The characers are realistic and the situations feel organic, not contrived. The romance is sweet, too, and gratifying even without "sex" scenes. Will seek out this author again.

A story with a difference. Some romance, some mystery, friendships, relationships all entwined and at a gentle pace. An effortless book to read.

I really enjoyed this book, which bought the old fashioned craft of knitting into the modern era with technology. Sensitive and informative.

What a fabulous knit-tastic story and was a joy to read. Poppy Dolan has created the most delightful, charming, romcom that has left me with a wonderful warm cosy feeling. I want to wrap myself up in a rainbow coloured knitted blanket and read it all over again with a cuppa. This is my first introduction to the works of Poppy Dolan and I have absolutely no idea why it's taken me so long to read her work, such a gem of a writer.

Delilah (Dee) is a workaholic she thrives on the buzz surrounded by her very busy scheduling and fits in with the city life of London. However, when her younger brother, JP, sends a cry for help she has no hesitation of rushing to his needs. I loved this about Dee, even though she was so focused with her work her family means everything to her especially her brother who had suffered with his health in the past. Dee finds JP with two plaster casts on his arms after breaking his wrists. As he's totally immobilised Dee steps in and helps him run the knitting shop. However, during her call of family need Dee is unceremoniously fired from her prestige job. Dejected and totally mystified by this she returns back to the knitting shop pulling all her emotions into helping move JP's knitting shop into the crafting stratosphere. One of the highlights to the knitting shop is the great blog that JP set up which had a fabulous topical catchy name. JP was one of few male knitters and the crafting universe loved him. Following a chance encounter with one of Dee's old school friends, Becky, who had recently given birth prematurely to a little boy, Dee quickly realised that JP and his friends could help out her little baby boy by knitting tiny little hats for him. Tiny little knitted parcels soon started flocking into the shop overwhelming Dee with the generosity of the crafters. What started off as a small act of kindness spirals into an inspirational challenge of making more hats to widen this wonderful gesture to help more premature babies in need.

We follow Dee, JP and the ever growing circle of friends bringing this challenge into fruition. Obstacles are a plenty but the knitters will not give up.

Dee also hopes to get her career back on the right footing but helping her brother and the premature babies brings a different perspective to her life. What was once the thrill of the chase of her working life doesn't look quite as appealing anymore.

A gorgeous romcom that I simply didn't want to end. I feel quite uplifted and invigorated and want to cosy up with wonderful colours and textures. The perfect book to read on a cold day which will soon envelope you in a cosy cuddle of warmth.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I was sorry when it came to an end. There's a romance (more than one actually), but it doesn't dominate the story, which is about the main character, Dee, figuring out what makes her happy. Nothing new about that perhaps, but combined with the other strands of knitting, old friends, new friends, business, sibling relationships, and a very worthy campaign to knit tiny hats for premature babies, makes this an absorbing story. Dee is very likeable, even if she does like to be in the driving seat. I liked all the supporting characters, and I particularly enjoyed all the creative ideas.

As soon as I saw the cover for this book I knew this was a must read! The cover is bold and really eye catching and makes you want to pick up the book and read it. The Woolly Hat Knitting Club is based on knitting and I really found the whole story something different from the normal sort of stories I have read before.
The characters are very easy to warm to and I really enjoyed the character ''Dee's'' story. When we first meet her she is a very busy workaholic that doesn't seem to have any social time to herself, then we see her go through a change and she spends more time with her family and friends and she really becomes a new woman. I loved how kind and caring she is and how much she turned her brothers business around.
The Woolly Hat Knitting Club is really fresh and modern and very enjoyable.

This is the sort of book you want to read when you'd like a few happy hours of enjoying a good story which makes you smile. Dolan has created a nice little world with Dee and JP and the knitting store. So often books with knitting are cozies or about women who find themselves as a group but this is a bit different. Dee starts a knitting initiative to make hats for babies and ropes in her nemesis Ben, who insists he's not behind her termination from her job. She also starts down the path of social media and digital marketing. There's some romance but there's also a good tale of brothers and sisters. I'd not read Dolan before so thanks much to Netgalley for the arc. You will like this if you'd like a book that does have some ups and downs for the characters but is suffused with happiness.

Loved it! Dee is thrown from her corporate life into a gentle rural world centred around knitting. I loved the humour, the warmth, the romance and the recognition if what is really important in life.
Imagine being cuddled up into your most snuggly oversized and comfortable jumper. That's what this book feels like. Read it.

I read this book whilst I was on holiday and absolutely loved it. It has made me come back and getting out the knitting needles again.

I was drawn to this book because I love knitting!
A great bunch of characters in and around the knitting shop.
I liked how supportive they are as a family.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I enjoyed this book. There were a few clues in the early part of the book was a dead giveaway as to how it was going to end. I fell in love with all the characters and hope the author continues it into a series.

Wow! I loved this book! You are right at home in JP,s knitting store. If you are a knitter you will almost feel the yarn and needles in your hands as you grow to love Delilah, JP, Becky and the rest. A lesson in what really makes us happy, love,family and friends. And beautiful yarn knitted into tiny hats!

Poppy Dolan is fast becoming my new favourite author. First up lets discuss this beautiful and colourful cover. It's bright and draws you in immediately. Add in the stripped awning and you're in love with the cover! I love the cute little woolly hats hanging up in the shop window and the small potted plants either side.

Now with the story itself ... I can't say much else other than I loved it! As soon as I saw the cover of the book I knew I just had to read it. The description was intriguing and I couldn't wait to find out what the story was all about. As the whole story is based around Dee, her brother JP and his knitting shop. It's a completely different kind of story to which you normally tend to read and for that I found it to be totally refreshing and so, so interesting.

The characters themselves are so easy to relate to and I found myself loving each and every one of them. There wasn't a character that I thought was a bit annoying, or a storyline that was a bit far fetched. It was light-hearted and easy to read. Exactly what you want from a Chick Lit novel.

Without giving too much away, the story revolves around Dee and her workaholic life. After she's fired, she heads back home to help JP run their knitting shop, and it's there that she bumps into old school friend Becky. Becky had just had a baby - but he was born weeks and weeks early so found it difficult to find clothes that fit him to keep him warm. This is where JP and Dee step in, they plan on raising awareness and knitting lots of baby hats to help premature babies around the UK.

However, along the way there is of course romance, humour and some drama too! Which makes for a very enjoyable read. I just found this story to be so heart-warming, especially because it's all based around a good cause and raising awareness for it.

Overall, I loved this story and I'm sure you will too! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

The Woolly Hat Knitting Club is a nice and cute story that will touch your heart from the bright cover until the last page.

I liked to follow Delilah in this adventure.She is a workaholic who can't never live without a plan but I appreciated how she changes chapter after chapter becoming an improved person in the end,a person who enjoy her life and finds the time to live outside of her office.

Poppy Dolan created such a good group of characters that make this book really enjoyable.

I do have an affinity for knitting and I certainly don't get my needles out often enough, but I was drawn to The Woolly Hat Knitting Club like a granny to a woolshop. I expected it to be a bit of a chicklit book, with a bit of knitting in it, so I was really surprised to find myself taking note of some life lessons along the way. I love a book that gives me something to think about at the end, and I think it's rather apt that I am starting a new job on the day that I am releasing my review of The Woolly Hat Knitting Club for the blog tour. You will see why if you read on...

Delilah and her brother, Julian, (Dee and JP to their friends) co-own a haberdashery in the picturesque village of Fenwild. Not one to be sexist, but you would expect Dee to be the knitting enthusiast but instead it is her brother JP. JP has made quite a name for himself on social media as About a (Knitting) Boy so he is distraught when he breaks both his wrists and has to call on his sister for help. Luckily for JP, Dee has just been fired from her high-powered job in the city so she is around to help out...or take over and PR the hell out of his knitting business, more like! When she's not seething about her arch-rival, Ben, who she thinks got her fired, Dee is trying to secure investment in JP's business...but is that what JP wants or is it all that Dee knows?

When Dee runs into an old friend, Becky, in the local supermarket a new business plan is born. Becky has just prematurely given birth to her son, Chester, but she hasn't even been able to hold him yet, never mind find clothes to fit him. Although JP is unable to knit in his current predicament, Dee asks him to give a shout out to his followers to knit tiny baby hats and they are overwhelmed by the response. The idea snowballs into a knitathon and JP really gets to see who his friends are...with Dee finally seeing that there's more to life than work.

What a thought-provoking story this was, both about paying it forward by being charitable and about the work/life balance. I've heard all the 'work to live not live to work' sayings many times and at the beginning I really didn't see what was wrong with Dee throwing herself into her work 24/7 - after all that's all she had. EXACTLY!!! That's all she had but she could have so much more! Family, friends and love are all waiting to be plucked from the tree of life but you have to take a walk into the forest to see this as you can't see it from your desk at work. As soon as Dee felt the warm glow of happiness, I had a bit of an epiphany and saw where I had been going wrong for the last however many years. So like I say, I expected to settle down to some warm glow hot chocolate sipping chicklit but got a lot more out of The Woolly Hat Knitting Club than I expected.

The Woolly Hat Knitting Club ticked all the boxes for me with family and friendship playing a huge part, but also thinking of others as well as yourself. There really is something extra special about giving a gift you have made yourself as there's a little bit of love and happiness woven into the item along with every stitch. The Woolly Hat Knitting Club is what I would call an onion book; it has so many layers and it's a delight to see them being peeled away to reveal a shiny new core or whatever an onion has in its middle. Maybe an onion doesn't have a kernel, but there's definitely a kernel of wisdom in this book should you choose to see it.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. I am releasing my review as part of the blog tour.

Poppy Dolan is back again with her new novel "The Woolly Hat Knitting Club", and even though knitting is totally not my thing (but I have other talents, really!), it IS Poppy Dolan's book and I requested it without hesitation - I fell in love with her books some time ago and I am incredibly happy that after a long break she's back with her second book this year - keep them coming, Poppy!

The story started very promising and engaging, with Dee being very suddenly being fired from her beloved job. Then I think it went a little downhill and slowed down a bit but I was still caught up in the novel and kept my fingers crossed for (almost) everybody. Dee has really gone on a journey of self - developing and finding her priorities, becoming a new person in short. She had a passion, when she did something she put all her heart into it and she loved her family. She didn't hesitate for a single moment to leave behind her life in London when her younger brother JP breaks both his wrists and needs help. Actually, this is where her new life starts - even if she doesn't know it yet herself! What we don't know about JP yet is that he's a knitter, runs a blog and the crafting gangs out there just love him. Dee doesn't knit. At all. But she's still there to help him, especially as after a chance encounter with her school friend Becky Dee realises they can help! So then we follow her, JP and some of their friends (and enemies) bringing the challenge to life.

I admit, I had some problems to get into the book. I mean, all this knitting, the structure and colours of the yarn, descriptions of needles or whatever the right name is, and generally, there was something keeping me back, but fortunately this overwhelming feel - good factor, the positivity and the wonderful message took over and I just simply started to enjoy this book. It was so warm that you just can't not like it, and I really am not sure what my problem was.

We see Dee changing, seeing there are other things that count in life than work, seeing different perspectives, and I enjoyed watching her realising all those things. I always like such characters that set their priorities right. Actually, all of the characters are really well drawn. They are down to earth, they have their battles and struggles and they really feel realistic. They play their parts well and there is enough personality in all of them to like them and fell for them, even though their futures are a little bit predictable.

"The woolly Hat Knitting Club" was a lovely story about realising the importance of a family and friends with a beautiful message in it, also touching upon issues that are so important but not often talked about such as premature babies. It is thoughtful but also light - hearted and easy to read, fun and poignant and I simply liked it. It was written in a lovely, warm way and actually, it was all I was expecting from this book. Recommended!

TWG and knitting do not go hand in hand. I'm more likely to tie myself in a knot with the wool instead of knitting with it (and no, not in the kinky way either). I used to knit...a very long time ago, but I expected one of those Jean Greenhowe doll patterns to be completed a lot quicker than it actually was. Granted I was eight, but that's not the point. As an avid reader, I have only read one other book which has knitting as its theme...surprisingly! As soon as I saw Poppy Dolan's new novel I was rather eager to let myself loose into the knowledge of, er, purl stitch and such. Well, that and it looked so much fun.

To be perfectly honest, I really didn't know what I was expecting 'The Woolly Hat Knitting Club' to entail (apart from the obvious), yet I was still rather surprised when the 'drama' bells rang within the storyline after several pages. I rubbed my hands together with glee thinking that I was in for a bumpy ride....and it was two broken wrists. TWO BROKEN WRISTS. I never knew knitting was such a dangerous sport! I jest....kinda. I will probably sound mean now, but as soon as the two broken wrists became part of the storyline in great detail, I couldn't help but giggle. I could just imagine two arms stuck out like a snowman. Let me just say that if it happened to me, I wouldn't be laughing, but it was just the way it was described in the storyline that made me chuckle.

Whilst I hoped I would laugh, I never expected to feel tears prick my eyes when the storyline went from jokey, to incredibly serious. Reader, it gave me all the feels and I'm not even joking. Two words - premature babies. That's all I'm saying (it's in the blurb so I won't get told off). For me personally, the direction in which the storyline took after the emotional scene made the entire novel go up several notches. Instead of it just being about knitting and broken wrists; the storyline started to have meaning and incredible depth.

Now, as I admitted at the start of this novel - I am not a knitter. However, after reading about the woolly hats for premature babies, I have decided to re-learn how to knit and get some premature baby hats knitted for my local area. That whole situation hit home for many, many personal reasons and thanks to Poppy Dolan, I am actually going to give something back. Without the author's important message in her storyline, I wouldn't have been given the kick up the backside.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Woolly Hat Knitting Club' as it was cleverly written and so unique. That said, I couldn't really work out what the issue with Dee was later on in the book, I didn't see an issue in her actions so I became a little confused by her brothers reactions. Maybe that's just me I don't know!

The highlight of Poppy Dolan's novel (aside from the hats), was the 90's references. I laughed out loud to several of the band names, even re-reading a previous page to see whether what I read was actually what I read! Absolutely brilliant. 

All in all, 'The Woolly Hat Knitting Club' is a feel good novel which is guaranteed to make you giggle, whilst also preparing you for world dominance - knitting style. A perfect paced read from start to finish; Poppy Dolan has written a storyline with a heart of gold and never-ending hugs. The perfect pick me up book.

Thanks Canelo,

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

What a gorgeous book. Dee was a high flyer who loses her job unexpectedly. She's been called to help her brother who has managed to break both of his wrists. He runs a wool shop and has a vlog where he has lots of followers. When Dee spends time in the shop her background has her thinking of plenty of ways to raise the profile of the shop and raise lots of money.
Spending time with her brother has a great effect on her- she realises that her family is very important to her and that her work had overtaken her life. She also catches up with an old friend who's just had a prem baby.
That brought back lots of memories of being in hospital with prem twins and feeling that they didn't really belong to me until we could take them out of the incubator.
I loved the charity drive to knit lots of little hats for them and the way it was organised you could imagine yourself there.
I loved all of the characters- plenty of family relationships, friendships, romance all wrapped up in a lovely heartwarming story.
It made me want to visit a lovely 'yarn shop' and buy enough wool to make a pretty project- but as I am the world's slowest knitter, I might be tempted to pass it onto my mum

I have a confession to make I love the idea of knitting but I'm not actually that great at it. I do my best but I know my limits which appear to be knitting scarves. So when I saw the description for this book I knew I had to read it.

The characters are well written and instantly drew me into the story. The premature baby storyline gave an emotional pull that I wasn't necessarily expecting and really tugged at my heart strings. Even though there is emotion the story also has an uplifting vibe with plenty of funny moments that are guaranteed to make you smile. JP and Dee together made for some great scenes and I loved getting to know them.

Dee's character goes on quite a journey and it was just perfect to see how she makes certain realisations about her life. There are some wonderful themes of family, love and friendship all coming together to create a story perfect for seeing us into Autumn. With very likeable characters making this book a delight to read, Poppy Dolan has a lovely writing style that drew me right in. I really enjoyed the pace of the story along with the heart warming nature.

The Woolly Hat Knitting Club is full of love and heart!

With thanks to Ellie at Canelo for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

As a knitter myself i seen the cover and fell in love with this book and new i had to read it. It was a lovely feel good book. Nice characters that all blended in well. Great story and well written

I'm a knitter so that was my main draw to this book. I think it's the first book about a yarn shop I've read that was from the perspective of someone who doesn't craft. Crafters truly are the kindest people so the fast response in the book to knit and send in tiny hats is no shock to me.
I felt like the story was written very well and accurate from a knitters perspective.
I really enjoyed Dee's story as she finds herself and her purpose in life. As an older sister myself I could really relate to her.
I also really enjoyed the twist as to who the "bad" guy was.
I really enjoyed this book all over. A quick fun read with a good amount of laughs.

I have always been a lover of knitting. I must have been about 5 years old when my Grandma first taught me so there have been a multitude of creations made since then. So how could I possibly refuse this appealing title – The Woolly Hat Knitting Club.

Dee is a workaholic, she lives and breathes her job, always afraid of missing a call or an email but then horror of horrors she gets fired from her high powered job in the city.

Fortunately she co-owns a haberdashery with her brother Julian (JP) he is the main source of inspiration behind the venture, does all the knitting, ordering and understanding of yarns, needles etc.

But when JP breaks both wrists and becomes incapacitated with plaster casts sticking out front, Dee has to come to the rescue! Problem is she has no idea how to deal with any of the crafting side of the business.

However it becomes a learning curve for her when she sees how kind and caring the blogosphere that JP has formed with his knitting blog can be. A lovely reaction to premature babies with lots of woolly hats being made.

It’s during this time that Dee realises getting back into the rat-race of her career doesn’t look quite so appealing. A lovely story filled with warmth, family and friendship.

I really liked JP, there are some hilarious moments where he struggles with restricted hands, think shower, toilet etc, sisterly love becomes necessity! I struggled a bit with Dee while she was still working, just wanted to tell her to calm down and live life so I was extremely pleased when the emphasis moved onto the woolly side!

If this doesn’t get your fingers twitching to grasp the needles and wool nothing will. Absolutely perfect for an afternoon in a cosy armchair with a cup of tea.

Thanks to Poppy, Canelo and Netgalley for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Oh my goodness me this was a brilliant story and a gorgeous book and best of all it combined two of my favourite things for me reading and knitting!  The book is written really well and I loved the story - I thought that the characters were great and the different relationships and friendships really made the story come alive for me!

This book really touched me on a personal level too as my daughter was born on the 11th July this year and was taken straight to the Special Baby Care unit as she was very poorly where she was kept for 9 days - there were signs all over the unit saying "Keep Calm and Wear A Hat" - I had knitted a few hats to take in with me for Ava but have since knitted and donated some more hats to give back to the unit to help the next set of babies, it's the least I could do.  Every autumn I get my knitting needles out and this book really inspired me to look at some thing different, I make items to sell at craft fairs and now with Ava being here after reading this I'm even more inspired!! I've already told my mum this is a book she will love as she taught me to knit! 

I've already purchased another of Poppy's books and looking forward to reading that and more future releases - she is most definitely an author for me to watch!  I thought this was a truly heart-warming read and have given it 5 stars!

I’m not into crafting, I learnt to knit when I was a teenager and there are a few booties around in our family made by my fair hands, but that is as good as it ever got. The idea of a group of people coming together and helping to make hats for premature babies is beautiful, and I bet that there are people up and down the country who do that very same thing.

The book is more than just about knitting though. There are numerous secondary plots running through the story too, all captivating and worked seamlessly alongside one another. The characters are all relatable. None are perfect, each had their own voice, and for me this made them very realistic.

The book was an utter joy to read, one I could just switch off from the real world and settle into a world where knitting was king. I was held to the pages of this heartwarming story. Not only is it a beautiful read, but it is poignant too. I’m glad that Dee finally understood that there is more to life than just work.

I'm a procrastinating knitter was was delighted when asked to review this book. (I can knit, just hate sewing up!)

I've read a lot of books recently and many I have had to skim as they haven't held my interest. Not in this case!

And I certainly wasn't disappointed. Dee is a high-powered business woman forced to abandon her job when her brother breaks his wrists. There's more to it than that, but no spoilers. Her brother JP is a chilled guy into knitting and they come up with a brainwave to help premature babies.

But can Dee put her business head aside and do this for the love of the action, or will she have to spin it? Can she disregard her loathing of Ben long enough to see who he really is? And if he is the good man he swears to be, who was the troublemaker?

Lovely warm and affectionate read with laughs and tears - lovely read!

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was taught to knit by my grandmother and mother from the age of six. I spent many hours watching them both, listening to the clicking of their needles and attempting to knit myself. Although I mastered the art of crochet much easier than knitting, I like my sister am skilled in both. We definitely inherited the crafty gene!

I jumped at the chance to read and review this book, although I don't usually read romantic comedies, most of you who follow will know psychological thrillers is my usual gene. Over the past few years, I have made and donated many woolly hats to our local hospital, both the premature babies unit and blood clinic. I felt close to this book and drawn to read it, before I had even opened the first page!

Dee is an incredibly likable character, it is very easy to warm to her and her situation in the story. At the start of the book, she is a workaholic but quickly rushes to her brothers side when he has broken both of his arms. Dee loses her job, with speculation rife as to whether she was fired or quit. Over the duration of the story we see Dee change, consumed less with work and more caring towards family and friends.

The brother - sister relationship makes for an enjoyable read as Dee supports her brother at a time of crisis and turns his business around whilst he recovers. There is one very big difference between them. Dee does not knit, whilst JP knits, runs a shop, has a knitting gang who loves him and runs a blog.

This difference changes and Dee runs into Becky, an old friend who has a premature baby. Dee knows she can help with knitted woolly hats, before long parcels are flocking into the shop of knits for her friends baby and before long the challenge widens as they appreciate how many more babies they can support.

I don't want to give too much away... no spoilers here.... If you love knitting and reading, this book is a rare combination of both, a hidden gem.

This book is suited to those who enjoy reading comedies, built on family and friend relationships, with a touch of romance. This book makes for great reading, it leaves you with a warm and cosy feeling inspired to help others with the crafty genes.

Blog Tour review at www.serendipityloves.website

Poppy Dolan introduces us to some lovely characters, beautiful settings and a cute little storyline that just makes you want to snuggle up on the sofa on an autumnal evening with a hot cup of something, savouring every moment of this joyous book.

The main two characters; Dee and JP, are brother and sister with two very different personalities. Dee has a fast-paced job, very career minded and lives in the city. JP used to be all those things until he had a moment of clarity which led to him opening a haberdashery shop. He found a love in knitting when he needed it most, and with him being business minded still, he runs a successful blog, vlog and shop.

JP has managed to break both of his wrists which is not good for him and his business at all. He has a very close relationship with Dee, being his sister and also co-business owner, so she comes to the rescue and will do anything in her power to help him and also hold down her own tough job. That is until she finds herself unemployed after apparent “underperformance”. Will she manage to build a friendship with one of her rivals at her old company as a result…?! Sometimes things happen for a reason. There are many bumps along the way for Dee but she is a tough one, she can get through it with a little help from her friends…

Poppy writes beautifully, she has taken something she loves and turned it into a story that she can share with the world. This novel made me chuckle with the banter that passes between siblings, feel weepy with the premature birth aspect of the story – having given birth early myself I have seen firsthand what goes on in NICU and the emotions families go through – and The Woolly Hat Knitting Club has made me appreciate how important family and friendships are.

This isn’t your average chick lit, or women’s fiction as it is now labelled. It is refreshing, modern and I love the way Poppy uses a classic hobby to establish a story about hope, friendships and helping those in need. It is a truly lovely read.

Thank you to Canelo and Poppy for my copy and ‘cozy night in package’ – I loved it. For those interested, The Woolly Hat Knitting Club is available to buy now on e-reader only.

A cute book about second chances and not judging books by their covers... When JP has an accident and manages to need help with his knitting business, his sister must step in to help leaving her demanding life to come to a small town with lots of crazy neighbors willing to show her the slower way of life. This is such a cute story and filled with love and fun. If you love cute love stories, this is the ticket!!

The book tells the story of Delilah Blackthorn . She doesn't really have a very fulfilling job and in fact gets fired from it. Her brother JP is very close to her and she looks after him when he breaks both wrists.

JP is the brain behind a scheme to help Delilah 's friend Becky who has just given birth to a premature baby. Through the shop's website and YouTube channel amongst other events, Delilah and JP ask people to knit a woollen hat for the baby. This is a sort of "pay it forward" scheme that they hope will encourage people to help support the special care baby unit at a hospital and other mums with premature babies.

Multiple people end up responding to the request and Becky and her boyfriend are delighted.

I really liked the original ideas in the plot and was keen to read more. I'm a sensitive person who likes to do their best to help people, too and so the scheme fascinated me and I wanted to know how things would turn out for everyone.

Delilah and JP have had a difficult past because their parents did not have a lot of money. Even when Delilah does not have the job that she was working at the beginning of the story JP hope to see the positive side of life.

I was really taken by their aunt Mags, as well as Delilah herself and JP. Mags and Stan were cute together, too. Having been a premature baby myself, I really felt for Becky. After a brief period of feeling a little sorry for herself, Delilah is back on track and fighting to get her life back how she wants it. I loved her POV and was really cheering her on throughout the book!

Poppy Dolan does a great job of representing friendships and conflicts in her writing, and I wasn't bored by the story despite not being a knitter myself. The shop is a very busy and colourful place and is where a lot of the action is. There are some likeable chracters like JP, Delilah Mags Stan and Becky. I liked Ben, too and how he helped Delilah and JP in his own way. The storyline is natural and believable.

Poppy Dolan creates an interesting world of personal struggles versus work ones, and there's a good background (through what the characters go through) which allows readers to see what goes into setting up a business and trying to keep it going.

The book is not the first one that I have read by Poppy Dolan. I have also read The Bluebell Bunting Society.

The Wooly Hat Knitting Club is a wonderful story of fighting for what really matters to you and is a great feel good story with some funny parts and even romance within the plot.

The book is about looking deep inside yourself and seeing where your priorities in life lie. It's about that moment when you realise that what once made you happy does not any more and that you may have to find a different path in life, like Delilah had to. It's about embracing what, (or who) makes you happy and of finding out who you really are. It's a story of personal growth and development. I think this book will appeal to many people, whether you are a knitter or not. It is a great blend of drama and humour. It is an extremely British read, with lots of references to UK culture, but I think that will not deter from reading it you if you are not from the UK. All in all, it's a quaint and cosy read, and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the chance to read and review this book in advance in exchange for my honest review! Also, thanks to Canelo for inviting me on this blog tour. First comments: The cover, wow! I love the brightness, the colours, and most of all the simplicity of it. It’s gorgeous.

I loved this story. Everything was just warming, loving, and fun. The characters were funny, had depth, had great chemistry with each other and just worked really well. Seeing the change in Dee, or Delilah, from living her fast paced, city life to how she ended up was great. Seeing her change into this slower paced village person was a nice change to other stories that I have read recently. They all seem to go one way or the other.

I did suspect that the person who forced Dee into the position she ends up wasn’t who she though it was. There was something niggling me about the character and I’m glad I was right. Other characters, such as JP, were fantastic. He completely bucked the trend of what men are like in books like this. I was glad to find him in a wool shop than in his lawyer lifestyle.

Written beautifully, with fantastic witty characters and a slow simmering romance, you can’t really complain!!!

5/5 from me and I hope to read more by Poppy Dolan in the future!!!

5 Words: Betrayal, knitting, family, friendship, ambition.

This book was absolutely delightful. It was heartfelt and inspiring.

Before reading this book I had never knitted in my life. Now I'm a knitting machine (kind of) and halfway through the super-long, super-soft scarf of my dreams. I'm nowhere near knitting woolly hats for premature babies, but that's my goal.

Dee Blackthorn is ruthless when it comes to the corporate business world and she strives for one hundred percent success. She works hard and that is all she does, there is no stop, there is no pause. Dee lives for her work.

That is until one day she finds herself without a job and back living with her brother, JP. Suddenly working all the time is not the priority.

Which is not necessarily a bad thing because JP has managed to break both his wrists. JP becomes Dee's priority but also in some ways her project as she wants to help him get on better. JP is not any normal brother though.

JP runs the local haberdashery and has found peace and pleasure in his knitting. He is popular online and regularly helps anyone that he can. But how can he now when he can't even hold a knitting needle. Dee has to help him but there is a problem.....Dee cannot knit....

When she bumps into an old school friend, Becky in the supermarket who has just given birth to beautiful boy prematurely, she persuades JP that knitting little hats for premature babies would be a great way of just not helping Becky but lots of people in the same situation.

When Ben turns up looking for Dee, he becomes involved in the whole knitting furor and becomes friendly with JP. Trouble is Dee remembers what Ben was like to work with and thinks that there must be some ulterior motive. Ben becomes a surprise natural with the knitting, much to Dee's irritation but he does embrace the whole idea of expanding the premature baby hat campaign.

Dee's skills from her work life are in their element and what she can do is organise and make something small and successful, huge and mega successful. Is that what everyone and JP wants especially when it begins to hurt the people Dee loves. Dee cannot always see the real meaning sometimes of something so small and the pleasure that can be gained from a small number of people working for a bigger cause.

I loved this book, certainly one of my favourite of the year. Without a doubt because of the story but also because as a fellow knitter I can relate to all the yarn stories and the varieties of yarn, the difficulty in learning a new technique and being able to find someone to help you when needed.

This is a book which refocuses on the small little things in life because they are the most important and that sometimes having a big impact does not leave a lasting one. It is a great read and if you are a knitter as well, then this book is certainly a great read. Perhaps it might inspire you to pick up a pair of needles and knitting for someone.