A Thousand Tiny Stitches

This was an interesting read! it had themes of grief, sacrificing, and family issues. It was interesting and I had different opinions throughout the book. I think this would make a great book to read in a book club because I feel like readers will have different feelings on this one. Overall, I liked the themes and the storyline

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

What a heartwarming book. Lily has lost her only daughter and is raising her granddaughter Emma. They find healing in redoing an old house that her daughter had bought to open a quilt shop. As they overcome all the obstacles they find the help of many people who love them and help them to heal And in the process bring life back to a small town. A must read!!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 .