I absolutely loved the first book in the series. So was very excited to read the second in the series.

A Change of Heart at the Vintage Dress Shop is a charming and uplifting tale that beautifully intertwines personal transformation with the magic of vintage fashion. Cressida Collins, the talented seamstress at the heart of the story, embodies the spirit of reinvention. Her meticulous nature is put to the test when her long-term boyfriend drops a shocking revelation, shattering her carefully constructed plans for the future.

Annie crafts Cress’s journey with both humor and heart, capturing the struggle of moving on while also celebrating the joy of unexpected friendships. As Cress begins to explore new possibilities—spurred by a newfound friendship with the handsome film director Miles—readers are treated to a delightful exploration of self-discovery and the courage to embrace change.

The setting of The Vintage Dress Shop is a character in itself, filled with warmth and a sense of community that makes you yearn to step inside. The camaraderie among the shop staff adds depth and charm, making their interactions lively and relatable. The descriptions of the vintage dresses are vivid and enchanting, transporting you into a world where each piece tells a story.

The blossoming romance between Cress and Miles is both sweet and realistic, providing the perfect balance to Cress’s personal growth. Miles emerges as the ideal book boyfriend—charming, supportive, and undeniably swoon-worthy, making their chemistry palpable.

With its witty dialogue and richly drawn characters, this novel is a page-turner that captures the essence of a feel-good summer read. The underlying message about embracing imperfection and the beauty of letting go of the past resonates deeply, making Cress’s journey both inspiring and relatable.

Overall, A Change of Heart at the Vintage Dress Shop is a delightful escape that will leave you feeling uplifted and hopeful. This is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies and anyone looking to be whisked away into a world of love, friendship, and stunning vintage fashion.

Annie Darling has been one of my go to authors when I crave something light and romantic to read, ever since I started the Lonely Hearts Bookshop series. I was thrilled when I saw she'd started a new series and devoured "The Vintage Dress Shop in Primrose Hill", quickly followed by this, the second installment. I think I enjoyed this even more than Sophy's story and loved Cress's development. I can't wait to see more of these characters in what I'm assuming will be Phoebe's book, it will certainly be interesting to learn more about her!

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second in a series, I hadn’t read the first but I didn’t need to.
Cressida is an immensely talented dress maker, she and Colin are saving for a settled future.
But will the temptations of her new film making customers turn their head.
This book has its heroes and villains, and we cheer Cressida on.

"A Change of Heart at the Vintage Dress Shop" by Annie Darling is a delightful and heartwarming romance novel that blends the charm of vintage fashion with the transformative power of love and self-discovery. Darling’s writing is known for its wit, warmth, and the ability to create cozy, enchanting worlds that readers can’t help but fall in love with.

The novel likely centers around a protagonist who is at a crossroads in their life, whether due to a broken heart, a stalled career, or a feeling of being stuck in a rut. They stumble upon a quaint vintage dress shop, filled with beautiful garments from bygone eras, each with its own story to tell. As they spend more time in the shop, perhaps working there or visiting regularly, they begin to undergo a personal transformation, inspired by the elegance and history of the clothes.

The shop owner or another key character might become a mentor or friend, helping the protagonist to see life from a new perspective and encouraging them to take risks they’ve been avoiding. Alongside this personal growth, a romantic storyline likely develops—whether it’s a rekindled romance, a new love interest, or even an unexpected connection with someone who shares their appreciation for vintage style.

Darling’s characters are likely to be well-drawn and relatable, with their journeys of self-discovery paralleling the timeless beauty of the dresses they encounter. The narrative might also explore themes of letting go of the past, embracing change, and finding the courage to start anew.

"A Change of Heart at the Vintage Dress Shop" is perfect for readers who enjoy contemporary romance with a touch of nostalgia and a setting that feels like a comforting escape. Annie Darling has likely crafted a novel that’s as uplifting as it is romantic, making it an ideal read for anyone who loves stories about fashion, friendship, and the surprising ways love can change our lives. This book promises to be a charming, feel-good read that will leave readers inspired and with a renewed belief in the magic of second chances.

This was EVERYTHING I was hoping it would be! After book one I was desperate for Cressida's story as she seemed like a more relatable character to me than Sophy, and whooped when the author announced that she would be the protagonist of book two. It was lovely seeing timid, loyal and hard-working Cress come out of her shell and pursue her own ambitions for work and romance, and all the details about the dresses were delightful. I hope Phoebe is the star of book three, there's lots of interesting tidbits dropped here about her secret life...

Oh I really enjoyed this. What a lovely story!

The characters are very likeable and there is a lot of warmth and humour with a fair dash of romance which is cute without being cloying or sickly.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book to read and review.

Really enjoyed this story and the feel good happiness it brings. A great book that keeps you hooked in while you follow Cress through her story.

Loved it, laugh out loud moments, storyline good and entertaining. Cress is a successful sewer, transforming vintage dresses, but her love life is boring and staid. Enter Miles, an assistant film producer and a the film crew and everything changes. Perfect holiday reading

This was such a lovely book to read. Second in a series, but can be read on its own, but I have to admit to re reading the first book before I read this one. Cressida is a delight, knowledgeable, talented and with a real ability to produce wonderful clothing. Things change for her when her partner, who is a complete drip, opts out. I particularly liked the descriptions and attention to detail, as a stitcher myself.
it's beautifully written and I hope to read more from this author. Thank you for the chance to read and review this book.

This is the second book of the Vintage Dress Shop series, but can easily be read as a standalone book. We meet Cress who is a seamstress at a vintage clothes shop. She usually works on vintage wedding dresses, but longs to design her own clothes. She's been with Colin since school and they've been saving for their own place as they both still live with their parents. When Cress finds out Colin has been lying to her and hasn't saved any money, it prompts her to rethink her life and what she really wants.

This was a lovely read. I really liked Cress's character and fell into her storyline so easily. The vintage dress shop sounded wonderful and I could just imagine the wedding dresses and clothes that were for sale there. The storyline was fun and the other characters were all likeable (yes, even Colin in the end!) and I loved Coco Chanel! When we are introduced to director Miles, I guessed where the storyline was heading, but I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow and all the hand-holding and little touches made my heart go pitter-patter!

This was an absolutely perfect read. It was full of love and laughter, with lots of friends and family to carry the story along it's way. The storyline flowed well and I was hooked into Cress and Miles' stories right to the last page. Ideal for those lazy summer days where you just want to get lost in a cosy romantic story! Would recommend!

Cress is at a crossroads in her life- realising her childhood sweetheart isn't going to be her forever romance and dreams of having her own business working with vintage clothing seeming hard to achieve.
I loved the vintage dress shop and could imagine Cress' workshop in the eaves and Saturdays spent with brides whilst dreaming of creating her own ranges. Every character brought something to the mix and added interest. A new love interest for Cress, helping make her dream career a reality.

S really lovely cosy read.

I loved the first novel in this series and I think this one is better. Was lovely to see how much evolved the characters have become. Lovely to read Cress coming out her comfort zone! Will Miles be the one to also help her!

À delightful summer read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Light and easy to get into with diverse well depicted characters who each bring a touch of reality. This is part of a series about a slightly quirky dress shop but, having said that, the book certainly stands alone not relying on the previous one and it is so lovely to rediscover old characters as well as new ones. Excellent holiday book to escape with being heartwarming and lighthearted with a touch of humour and plenty of feel good factor. I look forward to reading and revisiting the next phase in this dress shop.

A lovely, warm-hearted summer read. Cress (Cressida) is in a good place: she loves her job repairing, restoring and altering vintage clothes (although it is not well paid), her side hustle is doing well, and she is in a long-term relationship. Her partner of 15 years drops a bomb shell and suddenly her future is no longer assured. Through work she then meets Miles and a whole new world of possibilities opens up, if only she is brave enough to try ...
I read this over a weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it, potentially this could be the first book in a new series. A great choice for fans of Bella Osbourne or Rachel Bennett.

The second in a series about the vintage dress shop. I thoroughly enjoyed the first and was looking forward to reading this second installment. Great characters and an altogether lovely novel. Cress is a woman totally on top of her game, altering vintage wedding dresses for the shops clients. There isn’t anything that she cannot cannot work her magic on. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for her romantic life. I just adore CC, the store’s dog. Although this is a sequel, it can still be read and enjoyed without having read the first installment. A great summer read.

A wonderfully funny book with brilliant characters which made me laugh. I loved the descriptions of the dresses and how they are put together. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book. This book is a sequel but its a perfect standalone for those having not read the first. A wonderfully written uplifting story with fabulous characters and wonderful vintage clothing. Quite a page turner in my opinion.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

It was great to visit the dress shop again.

Cress works her magic on dresses and transforms them into something that her customers love.

Sophy her step sister is in a lovely relationship, but Cress is wondering why things aren’t moving forward in her relationship with Colin, especially when they’ve been together a long time.

When they start to plan where they’ll live, some truths are revealed to Cress from Colin, she ends the relationship.

Now, shes wondering what’s going to do next with her life, and meeting Miles, only adds to those thoughts.

I recommend this book.

It felt so good to be at The Vintage Dress Shop. Cress knows what she wants and how she is going to do just those things. She does wonderful work with vintage clothing. I could close my eyes and picture the work she does and the clothes she works with every day.
The life she imagined was abruptly changed and her boyfriend of 15 years is no longer in her life.
The characters just all mesh together and make the story so perfect.
This is a perfect book to grab and get lost in the pages as you read.
Thank you NetGalley, Annie Darling and Hodder & Stoughton for the copy of A Change of Heart at the Vintage Dress Shop. This is my personal review.

A fast, easy read. It's an enjoyable book with some interesting characters. . .