The Oysterville Sewing Circle

June 17, 2019
This moving novel from Wiggs (Between You & Me) is about a group of women who find the will to move forward together after a trauma. Caroline Shelby returns to Oysterville, Wash., from New York City after toiling as an aspiring clothing designer for 10 years. On the brink of her big break, her designs are stolen by her boss. Things get worse when her friend Angelique, a successful model, dies of a drug overdose. With no way to prove that her designs were ripped off, and after agreeing to take custody of Angelique’s two young children, Flick and Addie, Caroline moves them all home to her family’s house in Oysterville. Once there, she enrolls the children in school, starts her own sewing business, and rekindles her friendship with Lindy, owner of Lindy’s Fabric and Notions, where Caroline worked years earlier. Caroline suspects that Angelique was a victim of domestic abuse and learns that Lindy was also a victim. Adding to her parenting and entrepreneurial roles, Caroline starts the Oysterville Sewing Circle, a domestic violence support group, in Angelique’s honor. Wiggs’s characters are believable not only because of their complexity, but because of their ability to deal with their faults. This story about discovering strength from friends and within is a winner.

Gravelly voiced Khristine Hvam brings passion and love to this story of tenacity, perseverance, and hope. Creative clothing designer Caroline Shelby returns home to Oysterville, Washington, after two tragedies in her life: first, the theft of her designs and then, the sudden death of her best friend and model, Angelique Baptiste. With Angelique's two children, Addie and Flick, now her responsibility, Caroline finds refuge in the town, especially the protective arms of friends and family. Hvam's smoky tones weave in and out of descriptions of spousal, sexual, and emotional abuse during the Oysterville Sewing Circle support meetings. Using lighter tones for Addie and Flick, Hvam echoes the children's joy. Most importantly, she captures Caroline's passion for fashion design and her love for the children and her friends. M.B.K. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine