After Lily's daughter, Amanda, and her husband, Matt are killed in an accident she is faced with a devastating loss and she now is raising her eight-year-old granddaughter, Emma. Amanda had plans to open a quilt shop, but can Lily do it. When she discovers a homeless vet living in the shop a bond is formed as they both try to deal with grief. The characters are lovely except for Phillip. The story was heartwarming and just what I needed right now. Surprisingly for a story centered around Lily's quilter friends and a quilt shop there wasn't a lot of quilt talk.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atmosphere Press for providing a digital copy.

After a hit-and-run driver tragically kills Lily's daughter and son-in-law, she is left with unspeakable grief, custody of her eight-year-old granddaughter Emma, and an impossible wish: to fulfill her daughter’s dream of opening a quilt shop in the old house in their small Western Pennsylvania town.

The house is in shambles, coated with years of grime, but Lily, unable to afford contractors on her late husband’s pension, tackles the job herself. As Emma’s emotional struggles deepen, the old house presents a barrage of increasingly costly obstacles. Worse, when Lily discovers a squatter living on the property, she fears for their safety. Only her unwavering belief that the shop is the best way to build a new life for herself and Emma keeps Lily pushing forward.

But not everyone in town is rooting for Lily’s success, and the line between helper and hinderer isn’t always clear, forcing Lily to make sacrifices she never imagined. She will need to prove it isn’t the patchwork that makes a quilt but the thousands of tiny stitches that bind the layers—and maybe hold a family together.

This was a very interesting book that had a bit of everything in it. From grief and healing to family, life and all the things that life throws at you. It is an intriguing read, heart breaking and warming as well as a book that will make you sit up and take notice. This is a read that will draw you in and engage you in the life and family story of loss and hope.

A great read and a very interesting and emotional story.

Thank you NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

After a tragic accident which claims the life of her daughter Amanda and son-in-law, Lily is left to care for Emma, her young granddaughter.
Lily is determined to give Emma the best possible life that she can. Part of this includes to fulfil the dream Amanda had of opening a quilt shop. She had already bought the house for the shop but it requires A LOT of work.

With the mantra of "Don’t think about the end. Just tackle one thing at a time" Lily is slowly achieving the dream with support of her quilting group and the community.

Through love, hard work, perseverance, and the therapeutic act of quilting, Lily and Emma gradually heal their wounds and find hope for the future.

This book has many difficult themes and some very emotional parts. However it also was a constant page turner which kept me guessing, I got very annoyed with one of the characters which showed the power of this book when you truly care about the characters and feel connected to them. I would highly recommend this very heartwarming and easy read which was also an absolute page turner 📚

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This was a perfect holiday read. A story about love. Not romantic love but love for family and friends. There were a couple of times that I worried that the author was leading to obvious, twist in the tale, routes but they were neatly and skillfully avoided.
Such an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley.

This title is a little overwritten. The descriptions ring hollow and brought me out of the story. I wasn’t invested in these characters.

A tragedy ,grief and a wish is the premise of this book. Although it starts with sadness , it’s a beautiful story where it all turns out ok in end.due to friendship and love. It’s a short story and is well written .

I am doing this review for Net Galley.

Lily lost her daughter Amanda in a tragic accident, leaving Lily to take care of Amanda's daughter Emma. During this time, Lily wants to take care of Amanda's shop while living in her house. In reality, the cost of both is too overwhelming causing Lily to sell her house in order to make ends meet. Through hurdles to overcome and obstacles to endure Lily must find a way to take care of Emma while covering costs for a place to live. Emma is also having troubles coping in school. The small town that Lily is living in is being very supportive. That is not enough to help Lily overcome her bearier..

This is a very cute, short romance book. I read this on my Kindle and you can finish this in one setting. It is kind of one of those cheesy small town stories. However, it is a perfect fit for a fall cozy read. There were parts of it that did not seem realistic to me. The small town vibe kept me interested in reading it. I rated it a high 4 star. I still highly recommend if you would like something easy to read.

Lily's daughter and son-in-law are killed in a car accident leaving Lily reeling with grief, but also leaving her as the guardian of her eight year-old granddaughter, Emma. Lily will do whatever is necessary to make sure that Emma is provided for, both physically and emotionally. Emma wants nothing more than to see her mother's dream of owning a quilt store come true. While Lily tries to figure out a way to fulfill the dream, she discovers that someone is squatting on the property, but rather than vandalize anything, the squatter is helping!

This is a beautifully told story of grief turned to purpose. Lily and Emma are both grieving in different ways, but they build a family of sorts around themselves as they renovate an old house into a new quilt store. Characters are well developed, and the reader can imagine living in the small Pennsylvania town and watching the various lives, and bolts of fabric, unfold. This story proceeds as a lively, but gentle, stream, and is a welcome read in between the deluge of more intense novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is about the devastating aftermath of losing a loved one(s).

While the synopsis of the book was quite promising (I expected a lit-fic about grief and hope), I found the story quite underwhelming and flat.

Halfway through the book, still nothing interesting happened. It felt like reading the display of a series of facts, but they weren’t hold together nicely.

The underlining theme was the main character, Lily, indecision about keeping or selling the house where her daughter, whom tragically passed away, wanted to open a quilt shop.

I became so frustrated about Lily’s inner struggle. It is clear that for her working on the house/potential quilt shop is a way to cope with the indescribable loss of her daughter, but she never faces her pain until past page 200. I feel like this book teaches avoidance rather than letting yourself feel the pain and then, possibly, start healing.

Another thing that bothered me was how the stigma surrounding therapy/counseling was reinforced throughout the book.
I understand the main character is worried about her granddaughter, Emma, but if you really want to help her get her the professional help she needs.

Moreover, it deeply upset me the part of the book about one of the characters appearance, in which the author explains how more confident and beautiful this character feels about having done a plastic surgery and that she wishes she would have done it sooner.
It felt so frivolous considering the theme of the book, and even worse, it doesn’t give a message of body acceptance and self love.

Moreover, even though this is slightly less relevant, I kept confusing the names of the main character (Lily) and the granddaughter (Emma). Being a fan of Modern Family tv show, in which Lily was the granddaughter, I kept switching them up. It was annoying but this was on me rather than the author.

Something that I appreciated, instead, it’s how the sense of solidarity and community is being highlighted throughout the story.
There are a series of people surrounding the main character that help her through her journey. It was nice to read about the relationships and see them unfolding in front of me.

Another thing I liked was the recurring message: take care of one thing at the time. It truly helped Lily but also anyone that feels overwhelmed by the big picture. I think it’s a very great advice.

Finally, the book was a bit difficult to read for anyone who lost someone, but it shines hope and somehow gives comfort that everything will be (eventually) alright. For this beautiful reminder, I am grateful I read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the e-arc.

An incredible and beautiful story about loss, grief, friendship and love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An incredible novel by a debut author. While navigating grief Lily overcomes multiple obstacles while building a new life for her and Emma. She develops beautiful, loving relationships with new and old friends.
This story is one of healing, resilience and how people bond in the midst of tragedy. It’s a beautifully written, profound read.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The loss of a child killed in a tragic accident is what feeds Lilys grief. Also the fact that she is now guardian to her granddaughter knowing she has to stay strong when all she wants is to crumble doesn't help

Lily is an amazing character. I loved how she made her daughters dreams come true opening the quilt shop and how the theme of love and family brought it all together.

This is a sad but heartwarming tale that is well written and I admit it made me emotional.

I loved it

What a journey! It’s been heartwarming to watch Lily surmount obstacles to open the quilt shop that would keep the memory of her daughter alive. The heartache of handling the grief of the passing of your daughter and your son-in-law, all the while taking care of their daughter is represented in a realistic, heartwarming and graceful manner.

Taking into account that grief is rarely linear, I could appreciate the dynamics of interaction between Lily and her grand daughter Emma, as well as their personal growth along the way. I also liked Lily’s circle of friends, which instilled humor and rapport into the book.

If you’d like a dose of humane quilt warmth, then this is a book you wouldn’t want to miss.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for sending me an ARC of this beautiful novel in exchange of an honest review.

Overall, it was a cozy read, but it felt a little drawn-out. Many scenes could have been cut from the .middle, as they felt repetitive. I think book clubs will enjoy this one.

I was first attracted to this book by the quilting theme as I used to be a quilter. The story is one of love, family, loss, friendship and support. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had the tissues out many times. Despite this it is not a soppy book. I laughed as well as cheering the main character Lily on in her aim to open her shop in honour of her daughter who was killed in a hit and run. There are several quite complex relationships in the book and the author handles these well especially the relationship between Lily and her granddaughter Emma which was beautifully written. It is a lovely book and I can't recommend it enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Lily is a window and newly retired when her daughter and son in law are killed in a car crash. Lily is left to look after her eight year old granddaughter.
A story about family, friends and second chances.
I really enjoyed this book, the characters were believable and the story was uplifting. I will be looking out for more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was attracted by the themes of a grandmother suddenly having to bring up a grandchild, of grief over her lost daughter and son-in-law and the challenge of dealing with an overwhelming situation. The title and cover were attractive.
Lily Wolfe is a strong and engaging character. The story of how she tackles her own, and other's grief through a house renovation, with the help of another damaged soul intrigued me. I found the novel absorbing and thought provoking. The quilting group, and the support Lily receives from her friends and community are life enhancing, a reminder that sharing is the best way to deal with grief. I loved the way Lily gradually draws in another trauma sufferer, in the same age group as the family members she has lost.
The descriptions were occasionally overdone on the physical world and underdone on the emotional world, which is why I have only given 4 stars. The dialogue was good, including when Emma, the grandchild, was involved. The gradual unfolding of the flaws of the 'good guy' and the strengths of the 'bad guy' added to the element of suspense in the plot.
I loved the way this story built into a new vision for the whole community, drawing in people from all walks of life, young and old, to work together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for this ARC.

Lily Wolfe is at a point in her life where she should be able to lean back and enjoy her retirement. But her daughter Amanda has recently died in a car crash together with her husband Matt, so their 8 year old daughter Emma is now an orphan and needs her.

Lily loves quilting and the love has clearly been inherited by Amanda who bought a run-down house with a view to turning it into a quilt shop before she died and which Lily is now trying to make habitable.

I'll be honest, I requested this book for the utterly gorgeous cover but I also love a renovation project, especially if it's done as a healing process. This delivers in spades, with Lily discovering how many good friends she has who love to help, like the women from her quilting circle and her friends Becca and Vicky.

Lily is warm-hearted, nurturing and loves to feed people, so when she discovers a young army veteran squatting in her barn she lets him stay in exchange for help with the renovation. Doug is a skilled wood worker but thinks he doesn't deserve a good life because of guilt he has over a fellow army friend who died on his watch. This was his friend's dad's house, but the Dad, Jack, is now in a care home with dementia and thinks he's his son Billy. Jacks old dog, a Jack Russell first called Jack then Russell, adopts Doug, Lily and Emma as his new family.

We need to talk about Philip - lawyer and widower of Lily's friend Rose who somehow thinks she wants him around all the time. He is bossy, arrogant, selfish and annoying. Instead of supporting Lily's new venture and friendship with Doug, he jealously tries to sabotage them at every turn.

No wonder Lily gets overwhelmed with trying to keep her daughter's dream alive while at the same time looking after grief-stricken Emma who resorts to pulling her own hair and acting up in school after being bullied by a classmate.

It is incredibly moving how Lily, Emma and Doug work through their grief while not only renovating a house but also trying to help the community. There is also a lot about how quilting is good for the soul and how it helps to bring people together. I really liked this gentle story about grieving people getting better.

This is an engaging read about strong and resilient women who deal with loss and find love and friendship. Recommended even if you don't care about quilting.

“We think it’s the patchwork that makes a quilt, but it isn’t. A patchwork alone is nothing but cloth. A quilt is when you layer it with batting and a backing and bind them together with a thousand tiny stitches.”

4.5 stars