The Shop on Blossom Street

Sometimes, after reading a long historical novel fraught with disasters or a dark detective tale -- never mind the news of the day -- you just need a light and enjoyable story. In just such a mood I picked up The Shop on Blossom Street, the first of Macomber's series about a Seattle yarn shop. Since my daughters are knitters, my most recent (far too long ago) trip to Seattle included stops in quite a few yarn shops, so I was familiar with this milieu. (I don't knit, but I like to look at all the colors.)
What I enjoy about Macomber's books, of which I've read two or three a year for the past few years, is that she always injects a healthy dose of reality into the romance. In this case, her 30-ish protagonist is a two-time cancer survivor show more who has recently lost her father. Her life has been on hold for far too much of the time since her first diagnosis at age 16, and she takes a giant leap in opening a yarn shop in a transitional urban neighborhood. To get things going, she offers a knitting class on making a baby blanket. The three women who sign up all have different reasons for wanting to make one. One is a young married woman with fertility problems, desperate for a baby; one is a society matron whose only son's "unsuitable" wife has just announced her pregnancy; and one is a street-smart, prickly video store clerk who will donate the blanket to the Linus Project as part of her court-mandated community service hours. The ways these women interact, the friendship they find, and how they help solve each other's problems in surprising ways make for a quite enjoyable read. Yes, they find romance too, but it seems that the community of women is the main focus of the book. The Seattle setting is evocative without being a travelogue. I'll probably pick up the next in the series the next time I need a break. Recommended for people who like this kind of book. show less

Three women with very different lives and problems meet and become unlikely friends through a knitting class at a new local yarn shop.
Part sweet (not at all racy) romance, part girl-friends-being-strong-for-each-other feel-good story, this was a comfy, easy read and a re-read for me. I would have liked...more?...in most aspect of the book: each woman's story could have been fleshed out better, the endings all seemed a little too pat. And also in some places I would have liked a little less, mostly in the needed-more-editing department, as some of the characters' thoughts and feelings were rehashed a few times too many. I'm also not a huge fan of Christian romance themes, and although this one only skated round the hint of a God-y plot, show more I still balked a bit at how close one storyline came to Youth Pastor Falls for and Then Saves Poor Bad-Girl Godless Uncouth Woman. (Just, ew.) Despite all of this, I still enjoyed it, which may come down the nostalgia of a re-read. *shrug* show less

Lydia is in remission from cancer, is missing her recently deceased father, and decides to finally live her life. She starts a yarn store on a street under construction. To build business, she starts a knitting class. Only 3 women join. They are so different from each other - from a young felon knitting away her community service hours to a rich socialite knitting for a new grand-baby to a woman trying desperately to conceive a child, that Lydia despairs of ever building the group up. Everyone eventually becomes friends (spoiler-not-spoiler).

This is my first foray into the drama section of chick lit. It wasn't bad. But unfortunately, that means I can't really compare it to other books in the genre. On the plus side, it was well written show more and engaging. I cared about the characters. I did not miss the smut of the romance novels I had been reading lately. It was overall fairly refreshing, but that might just be the difference in genres. show less

This is the story of four women: Lydia, a cancer survivor who opens a yarn store, and her first three customers/students, Jacqueline, a society matron, Carol, a business woman trying to get pregnant, and wild-child Alix. The book takes us through their lives and how being in a knitting group together changes them.

This was, by far, the most predictable, formulaic book I've ever read. As soon as every woman's story, and those of supporting characters, was laid out, I knew exactly what was going to happen with each main character, and, sadly, I was right.

It's a fine story if you're looking for a comfortable, female-centric feel-good novel. But don't come to this looking for any depth. It's very simply a light, happily-ever-after.

As a show more yarn-crafter, and member of my own crafting group, I wanted to love this book. I'm a little sad that I didn't. show less

Gender stereotypes, ahoy! Seriously, I think if you can turn off the part of your brain that goes "well, not all women would want that.." I think it would be enjoyable enough of a read, but I just couldn't.

If you knit as I do you'll understand why this hobby is so enjoyable and The Shop on Blossom Street is just icing on the cake for us knitters. If you haven't tried to knit, the book will most certainly make your itchy fingers drive down to the locat knit shop where the folks there will gladly share this wonderful hobby with you. I just loved this book and the way Ms. Macomber descibed the three disparate women seeking something more in life. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone.

This was a lovely tale about 4 very different women and how their connection through a knitting class really helps them all, just when they need it. The story is sweet and leaves the reader feeling hopeful for the characters.