The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle
Her niece, Violet Westcott, is thrilled that her famous aunt is coming to stay—the village has been interminably dull with all the men off fighting. But just as Cressida arrives, so does Violet’s conscription letter. It couldn’t have come at a worse time; how will she ever find a suitably aristocratic husband if she has to spend her days wearing a frumpy uniform and doing war work?
Meanwhile, the local vicar’s daughter, Grace Carlisle, is trying in vain to repair her mother’s gown, her only chance of a white wedding. When Cressida Westcott appears at the local Sewing Circle meeting, Grace asks for her help—but Cressida has much more to teach the ladies than just simple sewing skills.
Before long, Cressida’s spirit and ambition galvanizes the village group into action, and they find themselves mending wedding dresses not only for local brides, but for brides across the country. And as the women dedicate themselves to helping others celebrate love, they might even manage to find it for themselves.
My Thoughts: There have been some extraordinary stories of women doing extraordinary things during wartime. Authors have revealed tales of women codebreakers, Resistance fighters, spies and more. Jennifer Ryan focuses this newest tale on the more subtle ways in which women supported the war effort. While women were called to do their duty and fill the job vacancies left by men who were drafted, they were also expected to get by with the strict rationing that was put in place by the government. Rationing impacted every aspect of family life. Clothing rationing meant that providing for growing children became a struggle, being prepared for the change of seasons difficult, and continuing traditions for marriage ceremonies almost impossible. Ryan gives readers a thoroughly wholesome tale surrounding three different women who each come into their own during the war. They each discovered that their rigid mindset of who they could be was holding them back from being their best self. Through friendship and acceptance they all find a way of making the war just a bit more bearable for them and those around them.
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.
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