What do you think?
Rate this book
Elm Creek Quilts #23
The World's Fair Quilt
A timely celebration of quilting, family, community, and history in this latest novel in the perennially popular Elm Creek Quilts series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini.
As fall paints the Pennsylvania countryside in flaming colors, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson is contemplating the future of her beloved Elm Creek Quilts. The Elm Creek Quilt Camp remains the most popular quilter’s retreat in the country, but unexpected financial difficulties have beset them and the Bergstrom family’s stately nineteenth-century manor. Now in her eighth decade, Sylvia is determined to maintain her family’s legacy, but she needs new resources—financial and emotional.
Summer Sullivan—a founding Elm Creek Quilter—arrives to discuss an antique quilt that she wants to display at the Waterford Historical Society’s quilt exhibit. When Sylvia and her sister Claudia were teenagers, they had entered a quilt in the Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. The Bergstrom sisters’ quilt would be perfect for the Historical Society’s exhibit, Summer explains.
Sylvia is reluctant to lend out the quilt, which has been stored in the attic for decades, nearly forgotten. In keeping with the contest’s “Century of Progress” theme, the girls illustrated progress of values—scenes of the Emancipation Proclamation, woman’s suffrage, and labor unions. But although it won ribbons, the quilt also drove a wedge between the sisters.
As Sylvia reluctantly retraces her quilt’s story for Summer, she makes an unexpected discovery—one that restores some of her faith in this unique work of art, and helps shine some light on a way forward for the Elm Creek Quilts community.
As fall paints the Pennsylvania countryside in flaming colors, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson is contemplating the future of her beloved Elm Creek Quilts. The Elm Creek Quilt Camp remains the most popular quilter’s retreat in the country, but unexpected financial difficulties have beset them and the Bergstrom family’s stately nineteenth-century manor. Now in her eighth decade, Sylvia is determined to maintain her family’s legacy, but she needs new resources—financial and emotional.
Summer Sullivan—a founding Elm Creek Quilter—arrives to discuss an antique quilt that she wants to display at the Waterford Historical Society’s quilt exhibit. When Sylvia and her sister Claudia were teenagers, they had entered a quilt in the Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. The Bergstrom sisters’ quilt would be perfect for the Historical Society’s exhibit, Summer explains.
Sylvia is reluctant to lend out the quilt, which has been stored in the attic for decades, nearly forgotten. In keeping with the contest’s “Century of Progress” theme, the girls illustrated progress of values—scenes of the Emancipation Proclamation, woman’s suffrage, and labor unions. But although it won ribbons, the quilt also drove a wedge between the sisters.
As Sylvia reluctantly retraces her quilt’s story for Summer, she makes an unexpected discovery—one that restores some of her faith in this unique work of art, and helps shine some light on a way forward for the Elm Creek Quilts community.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
294 people are currently reading
6244 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Chiaverini
78 books5,254 followersJennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She has also written seven quilt pattern books inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin. About her historical fiction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews
April 2, 2025
Sew, sew good! I can’t believe this is #23 in the series. There were a few in recent years that I didn’t enjoy as much because they were too contemporary. This one was just right. The historical detail filling in the present day. I hope the author keeps these books coming for many years. I want to move to Elm Creek!
May 22, 2025
I chose this book for our book club and what a lively discussion we had. I had everyone bring quilts that either they’d entered into a contest, and had a story to tell or a quilt they collaborated on with someone.
We discussed the 1933 Chicago World Fair and the quilt contest within it. We were all surprised to learn 25,000 people entered quilts, the most ever and still to this date if my research serves me right. We all remembered the Sears catalog as well as going to Sears for anything and everything as kids.
Sylvia and Claudia’s relationship was pondered too.
We’ve read some in-depth books in our club and it was mentioned that this one was a ‘fluff’ read with not much depth.
For me, it ignited a love for quilting once again, a light that burnt out years ago after having my own quilt shop, designing my own patterns and traveling the country doing 30-36 shows a year, for years. It’s been a 13 year hiatus and might be time to pick back up 🪡 needle and thread!
We discussed the 1933 Chicago World Fair and the quilt contest within it. We were all surprised to learn 25,000 people entered quilts, the most ever and still to this date if my research serves me right. We all remembered the Sears catalog as well as going to Sears for anything and everything as kids.
Sylvia and Claudia’s relationship was pondered too.
We’ve read some in-depth books in our club and it was mentioned that this one was a ‘fluff’ read with not much depth.
For me, it ignited a love for quilting once again, a light that burnt out years ago after having my own quilt shop, designing my own patterns and traveling the country doing 30-36 shows a year, for years. It’s been a 13 year hiatus and might be time to pick back up 🪡 needle and thread!
August 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book!
The author begins the book by reminding us all gently who the major characters are in the Elm Creek Quilt series. I appreciated that, as it's been awhile since I have read an Elm Creek Quilt book.
We follow two time lines this time, 1933 and 2004. We get quite the insight into Sylvia's young teen life and her rapport with both her sister Claudia and brother Richard, as well as some of the hurdles that need to be overcome in the "present day". She and Claudia decide to make a quilt to enter into the World's Fair. As we go back and forth between the two timelines, we feel the hope and perseverance that Sylvia has always shown over the years. This was a delightful read and I'm proud to say I've read ALL the novels in this series.
Thanks again to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!
The author begins the book by reminding us all gently who the major characters are in the Elm Creek Quilt series. I appreciated that, as it's been awhile since I have read an Elm Creek Quilt book.
We follow two time lines this time, 1933 and 2004. We get quite the insight into Sylvia's young teen life and her rapport with both her sister Claudia and brother Richard, as well as some of the hurdles that need to be overcome in the "present day". She and Claudia decide to make a quilt to enter into the World's Fair. As we go back and forth between the two timelines, we feel the hope and perseverance that Sylvia has always shown over the years. This was a delightful read and I'm proud to say I've read ALL the novels in this series.
Thanks again to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!
April 2, 2025
Jennifer Chiaverini’s *The World’s Fair Quilt* is another installment in the long-running Elm Creek Quilts series, bringing readers back into the world of quilting and history. This time, the narrative revolves around the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, where a group of women set out to create an extraordinary quilt to represent their time and talents.
The premise is promising, especially for those who love historical fiction and quilting, but the execution feels a bit lackluster. While Chiaverini clearly does her research—bringing historical details to life—the storytelling can feel more like a history lesson than an engaging novel. The characters, though well-intentioned, sometimes fall into predictable patterns, and the dialogue doesn’t always feel as natural or compelling as it could be.
Fans of the series will likely appreciate the attention to quilting history and craftsmanship, but for those looking for a more dynamic or emotionally rich story, *The World’s Fair Quilt* may feel a bit flat. It’s not a bad book, but it doesn’t quite rise to the level of Chiaverini’s stronger works. If you love quilting and historical detail, you may enjoy it—but if you’re looking for deep character development and a gripping plot, you might find yourself skimming.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
**Rating: 3/5**
The premise is promising, especially for those who love historical fiction and quilting, but the execution feels a bit lackluster. While Chiaverini clearly does her research—bringing historical details to life—the storytelling can feel more like a history lesson than an engaging novel. The characters, though well-intentioned, sometimes fall into predictable patterns, and the dialogue doesn’t always feel as natural or compelling as it could be.
Fans of the series will likely appreciate the attention to quilting history and craftsmanship, but for those looking for a more dynamic or emotionally rich story, *The World’s Fair Quilt* may feel a bit flat. It’s not a bad book, but it doesn’t quite rise to the level of Chiaverini’s stronger works. If you love quilting and historical detail, you may enjoy it—but if you’re looking for deep character development and a gripping plot, you might find yourself skimming.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
**Rating: 3/5**
April 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars (Excellent)
Setting: Waterford, Pennsylvania
Genre: Historical Fiction
Jennifer Chiaverini once again delivers a richly woven tale of history, family, and the enduring power of quilts in The World’s Fair Quilt. This novel, like a cherished heirloom, is stitched with layers of emotion, historical intrigue, and the deep bonds that connect women across generations.
At the heart of the story is Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, the steadfast guardian of Elm Creek Quilts, now facing financial difficulties that threaten its future. When Summer Sullivan arrives with a request to display an antique quilt from Sylvia’s past, the request stirs up long-buried memories of a quilt made for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair—a quilt that once won ribbons but also caused a painful rift between Sylvia and her sister Claudia. As Sylvia revisits the past, she uncovers unexpected truths, not only about the quilt but about herself, her family, and the possibilities that still lie ahead.
Chiaverini’s gift for blending history with personal narratives shines in this novel. The details surrounding the Sears National Quilt Contest and the Century of Progress Exposition add a fascinating backdrop, offering readers a glimpse into a unique piece of quilting history. The themes of resilience, reconciliation, and the way art preserves the voices of the past make this book particularly poignant.
While the novel’s pacing lingers in places, and some resolutions feel a bit too neatly tied up, the emotional depth and historical richness more than make up for it. Longtime fans of the Elm Creek Quilts series will appreciate this heartfelt installment, while newcomers will find themselves drawn into the warmth and wisdom of Chiaverini’s storytelling.
A touching tribute to both quilting and the enduring power of family, The World’s Fair Quilt is a worthy addition to the series—one that reminds us that every stitch tells a story, and sometimes, looking back is the key to moving forward. #netgalley #theworldsfairquilt #booked_this_weekend
Setting: Waterford, Pennsylvania
Genre: Historical Fiction
Jennifer Chiaverini once again delivers a richly woven tale of history, family, and the enduring power of quilts in The World’s Fair Quilt. This novel, like a cherished heirloom, is stitched with layers of emotion, historical intrigue, and the deep bonds that connect women across generations.
At the heart of the story is Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, the steadfast guardian of Elm Creek Quilts, now facing financial difficulties that threaten its future. When Summer Sullivan arrives with a request to display an antique quilt from Sylvia’s past, the request stirs up long-buried memories of a quilt made for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair—a quilt that once won ribbons but also caused a painful rift between Sylvia and her sister Claudia. As Sylvia revisits the past, she uncovers unexpected truths, not only about the quilt but about herself, her family, and the possibilities that still lie ahead.
Chiaverini’s gift for blending history with personal narratives shines in this novel. The details surrounding the Sears National Quilt Contest and the Century of Progress Exposition add a fascinating backdrop, offering readers a glimpse into a unique piece of quilting history. The themes of resilience, reconciliation, and the way art preserves the voices of the past make this book particularly poignant.
While the novel’s pacing lingers in places, and some resolutions feel a bit too neatly tied up, the emotional depth and historical richness more than make up for it. Longtime fans of the Elm Creek Quilts series will appreciate this heartfelt installment, while newcomers will find themselves drawn into the warmth and wisdom of Chiaverini’s storytelling.
A touching tribute to both quilting and the enduring power of family, The World’s Fair Quilt is a worthy addition to the series—one that reminds us that every stitch tells a story, and sometimes, looking back is the key to moving forward. #netgalley #theworldsfairquilt #booked_this_weekend
August 10, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I wanted to like this book more - topically right up my alley with quilting and a later in life protagonist.
But I feel the back and forth between time frames lacked punch. There are a lot of characters that don’t add much to the story and a lot of details that dragged rather than excited.
Recommend some tightening of the storyline and making the main character more positive.
I wanted to like this book more - topically right up my alley with quilting and a later in life protagonist.
But I feel the back and forth between time frames lacked punch. There are a lot of characters that don’t add much to the story and a lot of details that dragged rather than excited.
Recommend some tightening of the storyline and making the main character more positive.
April 1, 2025
Another interesting story about the past at the Bergstrom farm and the future of Elm Creek Quilts. I enjoyed learning more about what created the tenuous relationship between Sylvia and her sister as well as the large quilt contest they entered together. I’m also intrigued by the new side hustles they are taking on at the estate but found overall that there isn’t much more that can be added to the story of the quilt camp or the farm overall. The recap at the beginning is crucial for new visitors to the series but gets tiresome if you’ve read the previous books as it seems so long and drawn out. Otherwise, it’s a good addition to the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #HarperAudio, and #WilliamMorrow for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #HarperAudio, and #WilliamMorrow for an honest review.
April 10, 2025
I love this series. Can it just go on forever?
June 29, 2025
Lovely series and amazing narrator.
April 7, 2025
I’ve loved the other books in the series but this one feels like filler, without plot or character development.
May 20, 2025
The World's Fair Quilt
is #23 of Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts series which has grown on me. . .many of the books have two timelines and this is one that has Sylvia Bergstrom (last surviving owner of the Elm Creek Manor) at two different times of her life.
First we read of a graciously aging Sylvia, although still rather grumpy about techy stuff. She comes home to the "home" of the series - Elm Creek Manor, to solve problems with the old home place as they prepare to commercialize it into a quilt retreat - and that old place needs updating in all the ways of progress. Over generations (there are at least 3 generations in the characters of this book) progress has changed mightily!
At the heart of it is the second timeline set in 1933, revealing her prickly relationship with Claudia, her older sister. A notice falls into their hands that has an award that is irresistible! They work with their family's elder quilters as they collaborate on answering the national call for quilters to enter their own representations of a "Quilt of Progress" to show at the Chicago World's Fair of 1933.
Definitely in the cozy category, but weight added for historical layers, and family engagements full of conflict, sibling rivalries, compassion, regret, forgiveness and mind changing. Recommended to those who like a light read filled with needles, thread, design and fabric.
BONUS: Singer Featherweights are herein mentioned! (another obsession of mine. . .who of you have painted featherweights?????)
*A sincere thank you to Jennifer Chiaverini, William Morrow, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:41a
First we read of a graciously aging Sylvia, although still rather grumpy about techy stuff. She comes home to the "home" of the series - Elm Creek Manor, to solve problems with the old home place as they prepare to commercialize it into a quilt retreat - and that old place needs updating in all the ways of progress. Over generations (there are at least 3 generations in the characters of this book) progress has changed mightily!
At the heart of it is the second timeline set in 1933, revealing her prickly relationship with Claudia, her older sister. A notice falls into their hands that has an award that is irresistible! They work with their family's elder quilters as they collaborate on answering the national call for quilters to enter their own representations of a "Quilt of Progress" to show at the Chicago World's Fair of 1933.
Definitely in the cozy category, but weight added for historical layers, and family engagements full of conflict, sibling rivalries, compassion, regret, forgiveness and mind changing. Recommended to those who like a light read filled with needles, thread, design and fabric.
BONUS: Singer Featherweights are herein mentioned! (another obsession of mine. . .who of you have painted featherweights?????)
*A sincere thank you to Jennifer Chiaverini, William Morrow, HarperAudio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:41a
August 5, 2024
I devoured this book like it was a fast paced thriller, but it's definitely not. It's a reflective novel about an octogenarian looking back at her teen years and her relationship with her sister, while addressing required changes in her business. These characters are always great to hang out with!
May 11, 2025
This was such a letdown! This installment was so boring, with no plot, no conflict, and nothing added to the series. For such a short book it took me so long to finish because I just wasn’t interested. This feels like a cash grab.
June 12, 2025
Too much detailed description and story line was pretty thin.
May 13, 2025
I was a little nervous jumping into a series for the first time at Book 23, but Chiaverini makes the reader feel like she’s been with the characters from the beginning. There were only a couple of things I wondered about while reading, and my answers were quickly found just by reading the previous books’ summaries.
Sylvia grew up at Elm Creek Manor, but a disagreement with her sister forced her to flee her home and her dream of running the manor and thoroughbred farm that her father had started. When she returns home due to her sister’s death, she has to find a way to bring the manor out of debt. She brings in a younger couple, Matt and Sarah, and allows their new ideas to bring the farm out of debt, including opening an orchard.
The novel begins in 2004, with the opening of the orchard approaching. Sylvia, in her 80s, is a bit old school. She isn’t used to some of the new ideas that Matt and Sarah have, but she tries to go along with the hope that their ideas will bring in enough money to replace the leaking roof. Sarah and Sylvia are also planning their upcoming Quilt camps for the many quilters who converge on Elm Creek Manor for a week of quilting.
As Summer Sullivan is working on the historical quilt display at the local Union Hall, her visit to pick up the World’s Fair quilt forces Sylvia to flashback to 1933 when she and her sister worked together to create a Quilt of Progress for the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. As the story unfolds, long-buried feelings of resentment and hurt are brought to the forefront of Sylvia’s mind along with regret and nostalgia.
This dual-timeline story takes readers back to the Great Depression on a thoroughbred farm in Pennsylvania. Two families live together at Elm Creek Manor to help each other, and two teen girls are trying to make a quilt with dreams of winning the contest to save their family farm. The two storylines mimic each other as Sylvia, now the matriarch of the farm, is hoping an orchard will help them earn enough money to keep the manor open.
“The muslin center rectangle of each block was inscribed with a name, the names and penmanship unique to each block. The ink had faded away long ago and, in some places, had deteriorated the muslin fabric, but the black embroidery over each signature remained.”
I only knew Jennifer Chiaverini for her stand-alone historical fiction, but her Elm Creek Quilt series is wildly popular among quilters and readers alike. As the daughter and sister of quilters (I didn’t get the quilting gene), I was taken back to my own childhood of sitting underneath the quilt frame at our country church and pushing the needles up to the women sitting around the quilt. I even have inherited a quilt similar to one mentioned in the book, with embroidered signatures of all the women and their families who worked on the quilt.
Setting is important to Chiaverini, whether she is describing the orchard with the smell of apples about to be picked, or at Elm Creek Manor while Sylvia and her sister are poring over ideas for their quilt design, or walking into Sears’ Hall at the World’s Fair and seeing all of the winning quilts hanging up for viewing. I could imagine each of these scenes in my mind, including the various quilt designs that Sylvia and Claudia viewed.
This book is based on the real 1993 Chicago World’s Fair, where Sears, Roebuck & Co. sponsored a National Quilt Contest for the fair, offering a $1,000 grand prize and an additional $200 for quilts depicting the theme of the Century of Progress. In 1933, $1,000 was a lot of money, especially for a struggling farm, and Sylvia and Claudia dreamed of winning the grand prize money. Eventually, this particular quilt drove a wedge in their relationship and was the last time the two of them would ever work together on anything.
“If only she and Claudia had not squandered so many opportunities to be kind to each other, to be tolerant and forgiving, to admit their mistakes and reconcile—”
Aside from the sister story and history of the World’s Fair, I found myself nostalgic for simpler times of quilting and the joy of a family taking an adventure of a lifetime by riding the train to Chicago and spending a few days at the Chicago World’s Fair. I remembered days of excitement when the Sears catalog would arrive in the mail, especially the Christmas edition, and how exciting it would be to order something from the catalog, only to arrive soon in our mailbox. Sears was the original Amazon and way ahead of its time.
If you grew up with a mom or grandma who quilted or loves the story of a family coming together to save a farm, then this might just be the story for you. Even though I enjoyed the World’s Fair timeline more, I still connected to the more present-day story of a group of people finding ways to change and adapt to the times and keep their business relevant. Several of Chiaverini’s stand-alone novels were already on my list, and I look forward to reading more from her.
Sylvia grew up at Elm Creek Manor, but a disagreement with her sister forced her to flee her home and her dream of running the manor and thoroughbred farm that her father had started. When she returns home due to her sister’s death, she has to find a way to bring the manor out of debt. She brings in a younger couple, Matt and Sarah, and allows their new ideas to bring the farm out of debt, including opening an orchard.
The novel begins in 2004, with the opening of the orchard approaching. Sylvia, in her 80s, is a bit old school. She isn’t used to some of the new ideas that Matt and Sarah have, but she tries to go along with the hope that their ideas will bring in enough money to replace the leaking roof. Sarah and Sylvia are also planning their upcoming Quilt camps for the many quilters who converge on Elm Creek Manor for a week of quilting.
As Summer Sullivan is working on the historical quilt display at the local Union Hall, her visit to pick up the World’s Fair quilt forces Sylvia to flashback to 1933 when she and her sister worked together to create a Quilt of Progress for the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. As the story unfolds, long-buried feelings of resentment and hurt are brought to the forefront of Sylvia’s mind along with regret and nostalgia.
This dual-timeline story takes readers back to the Great Depression on a thoroughbred farm in Pennsylvania. Two families live together at Elm Creek Manor to help each other, and two teen girls are trying to make a quilt with dreams of winning the contest to save their family farm. The two storylines mimic each other as Sylvia, now the matriarch of the farm, is hoping an orchard will help them earn enough money to keep the manor open.
“The muslin center rectangle of each block was inscribed with a name, the names and penmanship unique to each block. The ink had faded away long ago and, in some places, had deteriorated the muslin fabric, but the black embroidery over each signature remained.”
I only knew Jennifer Chiaverini for her stand-alone historical fiction, but her Elm Creek Quilt series is wildly popular among quilters and readers alike. As the daughter and sister of quilters (I didn’t get the quilting gene), I was taken back to my own childhood of sitting underneath the quilt frame at our country church and pushing the needles up to the women sitting around the quilt. I even have inherited a quilt similar to one mentioned in the book, with embroidered signatures of all the women and their families who worked on the quilt.
Setting is important to Chiaverini, whether she is describing the orchard with the smell of apples about to be picked, or at Elm Creek Manor while Sylvia and her sister are poring over ideas for their quilt design, or walking into Sears’ Hall at the World’s Fair and seeing all of the winning quilts hanging up for viewing. I could imagine each of these scenes in my mind, including the various quilt designs that Sylvia and Claudia viewed.
This book is based on the real 1993 Chicago World’s Fair, where Sears, Roebuck & Co. sponsored a National Quilt Contest for the fair, offering a $1,000 grand prize and an additional $200 for quilts depicting the theme of the Century of Progress. In 1933, $1,000 was a lot of money, especially for a struggling farm, and Sylvia and Claudia dreamed of winning the grand prize money. Eventually, this particular quilt drove a wedge in their relationship and was the last time the two of them would ever work together on anything.
“If only she and Claudia had not squandered so many opportunities to be kind to each other, to be tolerant and forgiving, to admit their mistakes and reconcile—”
Aside from the sister story and history of the World’s Fair, I found myself nostalgic for simpler times of quilting and the joy of a family taking an adventure of a lifetime by riding the train to Chicago and spending a few days at the Chicago World’s Fair. I remembered days of excitement when the Sears catalog would arrive in the mail, especially the Christmas edition, and how exciting it would be to order something from the catalog, only to arrive soon in our mailbox. Sears was the original Amazon and way ahead of its time.
If you grew up with a mom or grandma who quilted or loves the story of a family coming together to save a farm, then this might just be the story for you. Even though I enjoyed the World’s Fair timeline more, I still connected to the more present-day story of a group of people finding ways to change and adapt to the times and keep their business relevant. Several of Chiaverini’s stand-alone novels were already on my list, and I look forward to reading more from her.
August 27, 2025
While I didn't read the first 22 books in the series, it was easy to tell this wasn't the first. A lot of it read as if ways to remind a reader of a previous storyline when bringing characters in and out of the Elm Creek Compound. This was told as a dual timeline between 1933 and 2004 reminiscing about the largest quilt contest ever recorded for the Chicago World's Fair and two sisters who worked together on their entry.
April 21, 2025
A delightful addition to this sweet series that I have been enjoying for my entire adult life ❤️
Source: public library hardcover
Source: public library hardcover
May 3, 2025
Another great addition to the Elm Creek Quilts Series. An interesting view into a portion of the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. Now I need to read the nonfiction book “Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 World’s Fair” hoping to see some pictures of the winners.
June 3, 2025
Generally enjoyable, but some of the 'mood building' descriptions slipped from painting a rich picture to straight up rambling. Along that vein, I feel that the number of side characters is a confusing mess, and their backstories get quickly dumped on us and then never really come up again. I also feel that the resolution at the end was very mild. I was expecting it to build up to the sisters reconnecting.
Want to read
April 20, 2025* felicity recc. from libby
October 7, 2025
In 2004, eighty-five year-old Sylvia Bergstrom Compson is anxious as she watches her friends turn her beloved family farm into a pick-your-own orchard but money is tight and if they want to continue to run Elm Creek Quilt Camp, they need an influx of cash. Sylvia is a child of the Depression and admitting she needs help and asking for it is not easy for her. Neither is the decision to place a quilt she and her sister made in childhood as an entry for a contest during the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. Summer asks Sylvia to place the quilt in an exhibition of local history in Union Hall but Sylvia doesn't think her quilt merits the attention. Summer sets out to prove it does as Sylvia goes down memory lane. Thinking of the quilt brings back happy memories of learning to quilt with her beloved mother but also unhappy memories of after her mother's death when sibling rivalry, gender norms and the tensions of the Great Depression were a part of Sylvia's daily life.
This is another book about Sylvia's past and her family. I haven't read all the books in the series but Sylvia recaps nicely and the few that I did read, I remembered the history. I didn't read about Sylvia's mother though and I probably should have read (or reread) The Quilter's Legacy. I felt engrossed in the story of Claudia and Sylvia's quilt even though there are clues that the contest didn't go the way they had hoped. There's still enough of a mystery about the quilt and how far they went, whether they got to the fair and something that happened afterwards that has long been hidden away. I kept reading until very, very late at night because I couldn't put it down. There's one maybe tiny spoiler for Sylvia's background if you haven't read the books about her great-grandparents and Great-grand aunt Gerda. Jennifer Chiaverini has a bad habit of info dumping and this book was so much better without it until 3/4 of the way through when she info dumps the opening of the Century of Progress Exhibition (World's Fair). Provide a bibliography instead and show it to us through your character's eyes. Sylvia wasn't there! She read about it in the newspaper and saved the clippings but it wasn't necessary to info dump. Like.... here's some history on the quilt contest. The author took quite a few liberties with her story!
I didn't like Sylvia very much in this novel. She's such an anxious and obnoxious old lady. It's not the 1930s anymore. It's Ok to let people know you need help, especially if you run something like a quilt camp. It's apparently Ok to look for sponsorships but not ask for donations or let someone know you need money? She was so worried about all the what-ifs of the orchard. Do you need money or not? I love pick your own orchards and have been apple picking many times. I don't think anyone has ever confused the business and the private property. A good solution would be to offer tractor or wagon rides out to the trees and have the driver give the rules just before people get off. Sylvia is too proud to even let her friends help her. They seem to have dragged her into this plan kicking and screaming and it takes a lot for her to sit down with Sarah and discuss Sarah's ideas for raising money. Who wants to work for this woman in the first place? Not me. I thought everyone else was supposed to be her friend but Sylvia doesn't treat them like friends. I didn't know she was married and I was surprised to learn she had recently married her younger brother's childhood friend. What does Andrew see in cranky old Sylvia? She treats him like a flunky too. However, she grows and realizes some important things she should have realized long ago. It's sad she didn't.
It's ironic because young Sylvia hated her older sister's personality growing up and now Sylvia is doing EXACTLY the same things she objected to Claudia doing when they were kids. I didn't like kid Sylvia very much either. I related more to Claudia even though I didn't care for her cranky, moody personality. Like Claudia, I'm the older sister and was treated like the big kid while the other two were the little kids. I was older, smarter and yet expected to set a good example and be understanding because they're younger than you and don't know better. I sure do feel bad for Claudia and can relate to having a house full of siblings and cousins to boss around! It's not easy. Sylvia thinks Claudia gets all the praise and admiration but the one thing Sylvia is better at than her sister is quilting. She does indicate in the present day timeline that Claudia improved with time and practice so that indicates Claudia just didn't bother to practice much in those days.
Claudia was so unkind to Sylvia and such a brat. She let the notoriety of being a local pseudo-celebrity go to her head and she kept pushing Sylvia, bugging her for answers. Sylvia meant well but I would have shown the judges' comments to my aunts and let THEM deal with it. I didn't understand why Sylvia didn't think of that. The aunts didn't interfere much but as the adults in the house and the experienced quilters, they would understand how to take the criticism and help Claudia deal with it. Yes their little brother was spoiled. He was a scamp but as the baby and the boy, he was allowed to get away with almost anything. Sylvia spoils him but she knows how to handle him with a gentleness that Claudia doesn't have. I also didn't understand why Sylvia didn't ask her dad about the stables instead of worrying about it for months. It IS kind of a given that the boy will inherit. It WAS a sexist time but maybe living through the changes of the first few decades of the 20th century made people think a systemic societal change had happened and females were suddenly equal?
I really liked the great-aunts. They're kind and loving but firm when necessary and mostly allow the girls to figure out how to navigate adolescence on their own. Claudia is shockingly precocious though and needs a good talking to from her aunts. Sylvia's dad is lovely too. He is loving and caring with all of his children and wants them to be happy. He doesn't want them to know about the financial impact the Depression is having on their business and that's normal for parents to hide from their kids especially for that generation. When he realizes they do understand, he allows them to help out financially in their own way even though he would prefer they remained girls and not worry about it.
I don't know the present day characters very well. I vaguely remember Sarah and Summer but that's about it. I relate to Summer but she seems to like her mom and they get along well. Summer has good instincts and research skills. Is she majoring in American Studies now? I think that would suit her more than history. She can write her thesis on quilts. In fact she should have written The Runaway Quilt!
I mainly enjoyed this entry in the series and it sounds like it might be the final book.
This is another book about Sylvia's past and her family. I haven't read all the books in the series but Sylvia recaps nicely and the few that I did read, I remembered the history. I didn't read about Sylvia's mother though and I probably should have read (or reread) The Quilter's Legacy. I felt engrossed in the story of Claudia and Sylvia's quilt even though there are clues that the contest didn't go the way they had hoped. There's still enough of a mystery about the quilt and how far they went, whether they got to the fair and something that happened afterwards that has long been hidden away. I kept reading until very, very late at night because I couldn't put it down. There's one maybe tiny spoiler for Sylvia's background if you haven't read the books about her great-grandparents and Great-grand aunt Gerda. Jennifer Chiaverini has a bad habit of info dumping and this book was so much better without it until 3/4 of the way through when she info dumps the opening of the Century of Progress Exhibition (World's Fair). Provide a bibliography instead and show it to us through your character's eyes. Sylvia wasn't there! She read about it in the newspaper and saved the clippings but it wasn't necessary to info dump. Like.... here's some history on the quilt contest. The author took quite a few liberties with her story!
I didn't like Sylvia very much in this novel. She's such an anxious and obnoxious old lady. It's not the 1930s anymore. It's Ok to let people know you need help, especially if you run something like a quilt camp. It's apparently Ok to look for sponsorships but not ask for donations or let someone know you need money? She was so worried about all the what-ifs of the orchard. Do you need money or not? I love pick your own orchards and have been apple picking many times. I don't think anyone has ever confused the business and the private property. A good solution would be to offer tractor or wagon rides out to the trees and have the driver give the rules just before people get off. Sylvia is too proud to even let her friends help her. They seem to have dragged her into this plan kicking and screaming and it takes a lot for her to sit down with Sarah and discuss Sarah's ideas for raising money. Who wants to work for this woman in the first place? Not me. I thought everyone else was supposed to be her friend but Sylvia doesn't treat them like friends. I didn't know she was married and I was surprised to learn she had recently married her younger brother's childhood friend. What does Andrew see in cranky old Sylvia? She treats him like a flunky too. However, she grows and realizes some important things she should have realized long ago. It's sad she didn't.
It's ironic because young Sylvia hated her older sister's personality growing up and now Sylvia is doing EXACTLY the same things she objected to Claudia doing when they were kids. I didn't like kid Sylvia very much either. I related more to Claudia even though I didn't care for her cranky, moody personality. Like Claudia, I'm the older sister and was treated like the big kid while the other two were the little kids. I was older, smarter and yet expected to set a good example and be understanding because they're younger than you and don't know better. I sure do feel bad for Claudia and can relate to having a house full of siblings and cousins to boss around! It's not easy. Sylvia thinks Claudia gets all the praise and admiration but the one thing Sylvia is better at than her sister is quilting. She does indicate in the present day timeline that Claudia improved with time and practice so that indicates Claudia just didn't bother to practice much in those days.
Claudia was so unkind to Sylvia and such a brat. She let the notoriety of being a local pseudo-celebrity go to her head and she kept pushing Sylvia, bugging her for answers. Sylvia meant well but I would have shown the judges' comments to my aunts and let THEM deal with it. I didn't understand why Sylvia didn't think of that. The aunts didn't interfere much but as the adults in the house and the experienced quilters, they would understand how to take the criticism and help Claudia deal with it. Yes their little brother was spoiled. He was a scamp but as the baby and the boy, he was allowed to get away with almost anything. Sylvia spoils him but she knows how to handle him with a gentleness that Claudia doesn't have. I also didn't understand why Sylvia didn't ask her dad about the stables instead of worrying about it for months. It IS kind of a given that the boy will inherit. It WAS a sexist time but maybe living through the changes of the first few decades of the 20th century made people think a systemic societal change had happened and females were suddenly equal?
I really liked the great-aunts. They're kind and loving but firm when necessary and mostly allow the girls to figure out how to navigate adolescence on their own. Claudia is shockingly precocious though and needs a good talking to from her aunts. Sylvia's dad is lovely too. He is loving and caring with all of his children and wants them to be happy. He doesn't want them to know about the financial impact the Depression is having on their business and that's normal for parents to hide from their kids especially for that generation. When he realizes they do understand, he allows them to help out financially in their own way even though he would prefer they remained girls and not worry about it.
I don't know the present day characters very well. I vaguely remember Sarah and Summer but that's about it. I relate to Summer but she seems to like her mom and they get along well. Summer has good instincts and research skills. Is she majoring in American Studies now? I think that would suit her more than history. She can write her thesis on quilts. In fact she should have written The Runaway Quilt!
I mainly enjoyed this entry in the series and it sounds like it might be the final book.
May 6, 2025
I was disappointed. Not near as interesting as the other Elm Creek Quilt series. The story moved very slowly.
May 4, 2025
Not as good as the others. I felt that Chiaverini was trying to put closure to some of the early issues while reminding readers of what had transpired in previous novels. A good, quick read
April 16, 2025
More like 2.5 stars because this book just wasn’t as interesting as I’d hoped. Others who love this series may disagree.
May 20, 2025
I think you need to be a quilter or quilt lover to enjoy the book. To me it wasn’t anything special.
April 3, 2025
The World’s Fair Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini is the long-awaited next visit to Elm Creek Quilts where things aren’t as well as they might me. Matt has been working long and hard on his scheme to open the apple orchards to self-pickers and Sylvia has not been as enthusiastic or supportive as she should have been. She recognizes it is his effort to do something on his own and she appreciates that. She is heartsick at the thought that that the quilting school isn’t turning out to be quite the legacy for Sarah and Matt that she had hoped and is adamant about not raising enrollment fees. Summer has appeared and asked about a quilt of Sylvia’s to hang in her exhibition as she will shortly need to return Sarah’s for use on the their bed as winter closes in. The request and looking in the attic for the quilt bring a plethora of memories for Sylvia. Some, perhaps, better forgotten.
This series has been a part of my life since 1999 and I have missed it. I enjoy Chiaverini’s other books but this is her best, as is recognized by the fact it is the twenty-third in the series. The characters are clean and crisp and are regular people. The community they have built. With help from some others, is to be admired. When one gets as old as Sylvia (past 80) there are always stories to tell, which is the point of a quilt, after all, of which she has many. The plot is simple, but effective, and told as a catharsis, of sorts, in two timelines. Sylvia has had a happy life, and when she looks back she realizes that more and more. The business is a success, but there is always room to grow, as she sees as the book progresses. The past stays in the past to be ruminated over and reassessed. The self-pick orchard is an astounding success and the matter of re-roofing the manor is resolved. What a wonderful book!
I was invited to read The World’s Fair Quilt by William Morrow. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #JenniferChiaverini #TheWorldsFairQuilt
This series has been a part of my life since 1999 and I have missed it. I enjoy Chiaverini’s other books but this is her best, as is recognized by the fact it is the twenty-third in the series. The characters are clean and crisp and are regular people. The community they have built. With help from some others, is to be admired. When one gets as old as Sylvia (past 80) there are always stories to tell, which is the point of a quilt, after all, of which she has many. The plot is simple, but effective, and told as a catharsis, of sorts, in two timelines. Sylvia has had a happy life, and when she looks back she realizes that more and more. The business is a success, but there is always room to grow, as she sees as the book progresses. The past stays in the past to be ruminated over and reassessed. The self-pick orchard is an astounding success and the matter of re-roofing the manor is resolved. What a wonderful book!
I was invited to read The World’s Fair Quilt by William Morrow. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #WilliamMorrow #JenniferChiaverini #TheWorldsFairQuilt
Read
May 10, 2025Rating: 2.5 rounded up to 3 -- I read through the first nine books in the Elm Creek Quilts series some years ago before I tired of the format and moved on to other authors. Then just about a year ago, I read Chiaverini's 22nd book, the Museum of Lost Quilts, and thoroughly enjoyed that edition. This volume, however, was just "okay". I learned a lot about the Sears National Quilt Contest with winners displayed at the Chicago World's Fair during the depression, but a lot of the details of that contest and the way prizes were -- or were not -- judged and awarded were disappointing to learn about. I enjoy historical fiction primarily because of the chance to learn about events from the past that never made it into any history book I ever encountered in school. So, for that reason, I gave the book a 3 rating. However, the book was mired in a lot of mental handwringing about Sylvia's old animosities attached to her older sister, Claudia. It felt like a lot of revisiting the past and storylines that have been hashed over repeatedly in the books that cover the decades explored in this series. I remembered early in the reading of this novel that Sylvia's sense that things need to always go her way was one of the reasons I gave up this series in the past. I think the reason I enjoyed volume 22 more than this volume was because the story revolved around Summer Sullivan rather than Sylvia Bergstrom.
September 29, 2024
Chiaverini provides another glimpse into life at Elm Creek Manor and the 1930s. Fans of the series will embrace this new book in the series and the continued saga of Sylvia and her family. There were 24,000 entries in the contest and the reader is drawn into the creative process and angst of the short timeline to complete the quilt. Quilters will empathize with trying to create a unique quilt while conforming to the contest guidelines and rules. Chiaverini weaves a compelling story of friendship, resilience, and family. I love when I enjoy the story and learn something new. Reviewed at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogsp...
October 1, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced read copy of this book. I enjoyed this book about sisters, community, and quilting, and want to learn more about the World's Fair in Chicago after reading it. Sylvia's story is told in two timelines, 2004, when she's tryinh to keep her quilting camp afloat and 1933, when she and her sister made a quilt and entered it in Sears Roebuck contest. If you're looking for a wholesome read, check this one out.
August 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've read several Elm Creek Quilers book but it's been a while. This book filled me in on enough of what I missed that I could pick back up on the storyline. I enjoyed the alternating timelines.
The parts about the new orchard are exciting. I can see there being another sequel and if so, I look forward to reading it.
I've read several Elm Creek Quilers book but it's been a while. This book filled me in on enough of what I missed that I could pick back up on the storyline. I enjoyed the alternating timelines.
The parts about the new orchard are exciting. I can see there being another sequel and if so, I look forward to reading it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews