The Wishing Thread

Lisa Van Allen

　

The Van Ripper women have been the talk of Tarrytown, New York, for centuries. Some say they’re angels; some say they’re crooks. In their tumbledown “Stitchery,” not far from the stomping grounds of the legendary Headless Horseman, the Van Ripper sisters—Aubrey, Bitty, and Meggie—are said to knit people’s most ardent wishes into beautiful scarves and mittens, granting them health, success, or even a blossoming romance. But for the magic to work, sacrifices must be made—and no one knows that better than the Van Rippers.

When the Stitchery matriarch, Mariah, dies, she leaves the yarn shop to her three nieces. Aubrey, shy and reliable, has dedicated her life to weaving spells for the community, though her sisters have long stayed away. Bitty, pragmatic and persistent, has always been skeptical of magic and wants her children to have a normal, nonmagical life. Meggie, restless and free-spirited, follows her own set of rules. Now, after Mariah’s death forces a reunion, the sisters must reassess the state of their lives even as they decide the fate of the Stitchery. But their relationships with one another—and their beliefs in magic—are put to the test. Will the threads hold? (from Netgalley)

My Thoughts

In this story, we spend time with three sisters - Aubrey, Bitty and Meggie. Each has their own distinct personalities that sometimes clash not the they are reunited after the death of their aunt. Ultimately, their bond as family holds them together as they work through some life changing events that resulted from their aunt leaving them her knitting store - Stitchery.

I’m not a knitter, but I still found this story to be very cute. In the beginning, I was not sure this book was one I would enjoy, but I’m glad I stuck with it. It became more interesting as we got to know each character better. I liked the idea of knitting a spell or magic into a piece - a hat, or scarf, maybe some mittens or socks. Each sister had their own personality, but Aubrey was the one who could work the magic and I felt she was the one who had the most to lose after her aunt passed away. The ending was different than I had imagined and I like when that happens.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for a review.

Publish date: September 3, 2013