The Oysterville Sewing Circle: A Novel

Written by Susan Wiggs

Narrated by Khristine Hvam

The #1 New York Times bestselling author brings us her most ambitious and provocative work yet—a searing and timely novel that explores the most volatile issue of our time—domestic violence.

At the break of dawn, Caroline Shelby rolls into Oysterville, Washington, a tiny hamlet at the edge of the raging Pacific.

She’s come home.

Home to a place she thought she’d left forever, home of her heart and memories, but not her future. Ten years ago, Caroline launched a career in the glamorous fashion world of Manhattan. But her success in New York imploded on a wave of scandal and tragedy, forcing her to flee to the only safe place she knows.

And in the backseat of Caroline’s car are two children who were orphaned in a single chilling moment—five-year-old Addie and six-year-old Flick. She’s now their legal guardian—a role she’s not sure she’s ready for.

But the Oysterville she left behind has changed. Her siblings have their own complicated lives and her aging parents are hoping to pass on their thriving seafood restaurant to the next generation. And there’s Will Jensen, a decorated Navy SEAL who’s also returned home after being wounded overseas. Will and Caroline were forever friends as children, with the promise of something more . . . until he fell in love with Sierra, Caroline’s best friend and the most beautiful girl in town. With her modeling jobs drying up, Sierra, too, is on the cusp of reinventing herself.

Caroline returns to her favorite place: the sewing shop owned by Mrs. Lindy Bloom, the woman who inspired her and taught her to sew. There she discovers that even in an idyllic beach town, there are women living with the deepest of secrets. Thus begins the Oysterville Sewing Circle—where women can join forces to support each other through the troubles they keep hidden.

Yet just as Caroline regains her creativity and fighting spirit, and the children begin to heal from their loss, an unexpected challenge tests her courage and her heart. This time, though, Caroline is not going to run away. She’s going to stand and fight for everything—and everyone—she loves.

This audiobook includes an episode of the Book Club Girl Podcast, featuring an interview with Susan Wiggs about The Oysterville Sewing Circle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Aug 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9780062425621

Susan Wiggs

Susan Wiggs is the author of more than fifty novels, including the beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages. She lives with her husband on an island in Washington State’s Puget Sound.

Reviews for The Oysterville Sewing Circle

[Kylie Hood · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book feels like a story for the hallmark channel with little character development and dropped plot lines. However, it was a feel-good, easy read, but it’s not Shakespeare.

[Rasha Dahrouj · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Light romance.. takes you back to the day dreaming days of the teenage years

[Deb McLean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a fantastic book with a well needed message. Lovely

[Steve J · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Overall somewhat predictable, but a perfect feelgood escape. A fun story, good characters.

[Kaarin Hedberg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A nice feel good story. Slightly predictable, but some good unexpected turns.

[An Autistic Reader · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This says it starts on chapter 1, but really starts on part 5. I wanted to read along while I listened to the audio book. Can’t do that since this starts in a completely different spot.

[birgitta strand · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My new favourite author. Love the way she handle all our human feelings with delicacy, the way she weaves life's windeling/unpredictability ...
A bit unnecessary is the narrator's quick starting the tape so she misses a word or two at the beginnings of each chapter ... otherwise wonderful readings???

[Praise · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is such a great story. It was such a breeze to get through!

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Caroline Shelby has always had an eye for fashion, eschewing working at her family's restaurant in favor of spending hours sewing. So, when her friend, fashion model Angelique is killed, and designer Mick Taylor steals Caroline's designs, Caroline flees back to Oysterville with Angelique's children, Flick and Addie, to rebuild her life. She left years earlier after the man she adored since she was a teen, Will Jensen, married her best friend, Sierra. Now, back in Oysterville, Caroline must come to terms with her love for Will and being a mother to these two children, while trying to recreate her dream of being a fashion designer. This is a sweet story of love, family, and friendship, along with following your heart and your dream. This also explores abuse, drug use, and industrial theft. Overall, however, the novel is uplifting and hopeful.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Caroline is a fashion designer, trying to establish her own line. Through several disheartening and tragic circumstances, she ends up going back to her hometown, with two children entrusted to her care, and her career in shreds. This story deals with several serious subjects, including adoption, illegal aliens, domestic violence, drug addition, theft of fashion designs, and date rape. The story itself vacillates from present day to the past when Caroline was a teenager. These long flashbacks gives readers a detailed look at Caroline’s and her friends’ coming-of-age years. It helps to explain how the relationships that formed between these three close friends had repercussions that echoed into the future. It’s a useful devise, and well handled, with several chapters at a time being devoted to each time period, instead of constantly jumping back and forth. I found the present day story to be more interesting and intriguing, dealing with the social issues mentioned before. I thought the past story to be more consistent with teen novels, too much angst and the problems of love and romance that teen girls are consumed with. I thought the story just lacked that elusive something that would have made it a gripping tale. Instead of really seriously dealing with these issues, the story seems more superficial in resolving the problems. I enjoyed the story; I just expected more from it.

[pennykaplan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Caroline returns home to Washington with two orphans and her fashion design career ruined. She finds herself and true love in the bargain. A bit forced!

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs is a poignant, heartwarming novel that features a meaningful and topical storyline.

Caroline Shelby is on the cusp of attaining her dream of becoming a successful fashion designer when her hopes and dreams are soon dashed by her boss Mick Taylor. She is still reeling from her professional loss when her best friend Angelique Baptiste unexpectedly dies. Caroline is now the guardian of Angelique's two young children, six year Flick and his five year old sister Addie. Soon after, she packs up the children and leaves New York to return to Oysterville, her hometown on the Washington coast.  Living with her parents, Caroline hopes to salvage her tattered career but getting used to instant motherhood takes some adjustment. Determined to understand what happened to Angelique, Caroline puts together a domestic violence support group for the women in her area.  Growing into her new life, Caroline finds unexpected success with her fledgling design line. But will the opportunity for success slip through her fingers when she decides to confront her past in New York?

Growing up, Caroline is the only one in her family whose future plans did not include working in her family's wildly popular restaurant. She has spent the past several years working hard and barely scraping as she pursues her career goals. Powerless when she is betrayed by someone she trusts, Caroline is frustrated at being forced to start over again. She is also very concerned by her suspicions that Angelique is being abused. After her friend's death, Caroline has no choice but to return home. She is grateful for her family's support but Caroline is troubled by the uncertainty about their future.

Caroline's happiness over reconnecting with Will and Sierra is tempered by her unresolved feelings about her childhood friends. The high point of her childhood summers revolve around Will's yearly visits with his grandparents. They spend every waking minute together and their easy camaraderie results in shared secrets and a deep emotional bond. Fast forward a few years, and Caroline is now best friends with Sierra. But the addition of Sierra to her summers with Will causes unforeseen complications for Caroline. Deciding the best course of action is moving to New York after high school graduation, Caroline tries to forget how she feels about Will. After he and Sierra marry, her friendship with the couple gradually fades away. Which is why Caroline is so stunned to discover she still has feelings for Will. What impact will Sierra's decision to chase her own dreams have on Will and Caroline?

The Oysterville Sewing Circle is a captivating novel of family, redemption and ultimately, love. The narration weaves back and forth in time and provides a touching portrait of Caroline's and Will's magical summers and close friendship. The characters are richly developed with relatable strengths and all too human foibles. The coastal setting is idyllic and quite healing as Caroline, Addie and Flick settle into their new life together. The domestic abuse aspect of the storyline is heart-wrenching and realistically portrayed.  Caroline's struggles with her former boss shine a much needed light on how easy it is for powerful men to take advantage of the women who work for them.  With a realistic storyline and endearing characters, Susan Wiggs has deftly woven together a multi-layered and deeply affecting novel that will touch readers hearts and linger in their minds long after the last page is turned. I absolutely adored and highly recommend this charming yet sometimes bittersweet novel.

[julyso · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Oysterville Sewing Circle is a story about Caroline Shelby. Caroline is a designer in New York City, but she is originally from a small town...Oysterville, Washington. Life is good until a good friend overdoes and her designs are copied by her mentor forcing her back to her home town with two small children in tow.A very sweet, enjoyable book about women helping each other through the hard times.

[lisa5127 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.This was the first book that I have read written by Susan Wiggs. I would read another book of hers in a heartbeat. I love the hope that this book gives to women. I loved that, for the most part, the women in this book were there to help each other, not tear each other down. I loved that there were more people to cheer for in the book than there were to hate. I love that, in the end, there was justice. I loved that inspiration was found in unexpected places.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You don't need to know anything about sewing to appreciate Susan Wiggs' latest novel, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, as the sewing circle is not exactly what the name implies.Caroline Shelby is trying to make a name for herself as a designer, working in New York City for popular designer Mick Taylor. He has used many of her designs for his sucessful line, and Caroline is on the cusp of becoming famous herself as she is entered into a contest for new designers, and poised to win with her creative designs for pregnant women and new moms.Her new life takes a turn when Taylor steals her designs and then her best friend Angelique dies, leaving Caroline with two young children to care for. Caroline drives Flick, six years old, and Addie, five years old, across the country to her family home in Oysterville, Washington.Caroline's family takes them in, even though Caroline hasn't been close to them since she left town for New York ten years ago. Her mom and dad own a restaurant on the waterfront, and her two sisters and two brothers are all a part of the restaurant business.The first person Caroline runs into as she enters the town is the man she has loved since she was a young girl. Will and Caroline were best friends as children, and just as they were beginning to become something more than friends, beautiful Sierra moves into town and sets her sights on Will.Will, Caroline and Sierra were best friends, until Sierra and Will became a couple and a heartbroken Caroline stepped aside, never telling Will of her feelings. With Caroline back in town, they all resume their friendship, but things have changed.Caroline comes to love Addie and Flick, and has to decide whether to pursue legal guardianship of them. When she designs some cute outfits for them to go to their new school, the parents at the school love them and Caroline soon finds herself designing children's clothes.She also feels guilty about her friend's death, and wants to help women who are suffering from domestic violence- thus, The Oysterville Sewing Circle is born. With the help of her sisters and some friends, they create a safe space for women to come and share their stories and get help.Wiggs creates characters that are believeable and in this time of such discord in this country, it's wonderful to read a story about people who genuinely care for each other and root for each other to win. Even in the conflicts between characters, each one is a good person trying to be true to themselves.The difficult subject of domestic violence is handled with honesty and dignity, and it reminded me of Dorothea Benton Frank's The Hurricane Sisters, which also dealt with the subject. (My review is here.)I hope that Wiggs' returns to Oysterville again, as there are more stories to be told here; I'd like to know more about the Shelby siblings. I recommend The Oysterville Sewing Circle for anyone who likes a story of resilience and friendship.

[jbarr5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan WiggsStarts out with listings of other works by the author which I think I've read them all and enjoyed.Dedication which I have no idea why but will find out by the time I've read this and a table of contents.Caroline arrives back in town and sees her old boyfriend with a bunch of guys running.....Love new words I'm learning and I know they won't be overused.She rushes to get the young boy, not her kids and then rushes back to young girl. Coach Jensen had held onto the young boy for her...Then we get to the story about when Caroline is in NY and she's in the middle of a fashion show-for Mick...Love hearing of the design world and the sewing parts of it, so interesting and recyclable using things others would've tossed away.Had tears come to my eyes when she learns on the runway that Mick's stolen her designs and used them for himself....So realistic, up to date with undocumented pregnant model...Blacklisted and then her best friend who's pregnant moves in with her and the children There is so much to this story about love romance sewing helping others, handling anger, making it through difficult times, surviving and finding out the truth.Wow hits her when she finds out who really killed her friend, didn't see that coming but now the dedication makes sense to me.Proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards domestic abuse.Learned so many cool things reading this one-Krav Maga for one-maybe it'll help my grandson with his disease/illness.Note from the author, acknowledgements, about the author and publisher are also included at the end.Received this review copy from HarperCollins Publishers via William Morrow at NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read most of Susan Wiggs' books and her new book is definitely my favorite. It's got everything you need for a great novel - well written characters, a fantastic plot and a beautiful setting. There's some romance, lots of family love along with learning to overcome defeat. It's also about domestic violence that occurs in every level of society and is often hidden from other people.As Caroline returns to Oysterville after 10 years in New York City, she's a different person than the girl who couldn't wait to get out of the small town and live in the big city. She left with big dreams of being a fashion designer but has come home in defeat. She's also different because she has two young children under her care. She never wanted children growing up and is not sure of how to parent the two children whose mother died in her apartment in New York. The first person she runs into is Matt, who she loved as a teenager and is now married to her best friend. The more she settles into town, she learns that there are several women who are hiding their secret of violence in their lives. This problem makes her start the Oysterville Sewing Circle—where women can join forces to support each other through the troubles they keep hidden. The two main questions that are answered throughout the novel are: Will Caroline be able to learn to parent the two small children in her care and quit questioning herself and will she able to be successful as a clothing designer and overcome her past defeats.This was a wonderful heart-warming story with fantastic characters that addressed several major problems that exist in our world now - domestic violence and drug usage. I highly recommend it!Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Susan Wiggs has been a favorite author of mine for a while now and this book has to be my favorite now. I love her writing and development of characters and to include such an important subject as Domestic Violence this way was great. A place for survivors and people who need to be listened to, meet as a group, no judgment, and name the group something else so they feel safe and won't be found out is just an incredibly smart approach. I loved the story here and the small town home feel, but I'm also more informed about DV due to this author also.

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Competently written with decent characterizations, but underwhelming.