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Five Brides
One dress, five women, a lifetime of memories.
Five single, fiercely independent women live together in a Chicago apartment in the early 1950s but rarely see one another. One Saturday afternoon, as they are serendipitously together downtown, they spy a wedding dress in a storefront window at the famous Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. After trying it on—much to the dismay of the salesclerk and without a single boyfriend or date between the five of them—they decide to pool their money to purchase it. Can one dress forever connect five women who live together only a short time before taking their own journeys to love and whatever comes happily ever after?
Five single, fiercely independent women live together in a Chicago apartment in the early 1950s but rarely see one another. One Saturday afternoon, as they are serendipitously together downtown, they spy a wedding dress in a storefront window at the famous Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. After trying it on—much to the dismay of the salesclerk and without a single boyfriend or date between the five of them—they decide to pool their money to purchase it. Can one dress forever connect five women who live together only a short time before taking their own journeys to love and whatever comes happily ever after?
453 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2015
72 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Eva Marie Everson
63 books363 followersEva Marie Everson is a best-selling, multiple award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction. She is the CEO of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference. She enjoys teaching and speaking at writers events across the US. Eva Marie was the 2022 recipient of the Yvonne Lehman Legacy Award and the 2022 recipient of the AWSA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023 her book, The Third Path, won the Golden Scroll Book of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
June 23, 2018
Five Brides by Eva Marie Everson is the most delightful Christian historical romance that will warm your heart.
Set in the 1950's surrounding five friends, the reader is treated to the customs of the day. Parents were respected and morals expected to be high. Unmarried mothers were frowned on but every child was seen as a gift from God no matter what the circumstances of their conception.
There were some gentlemen within the novel as well as some cads. Infatuation blinded women to the character flaws in men.
We need to be true to ourselves. "You deserve to be loved... Not for the person your boyfriend is trying to make you into, but for who you are." If someone is pressurising you to change, they are not Mr Right. Finding true love is the order of the day. Love can often be found in the most unlikely of places and even when we are not looking.
God's plans are best. We need to seek His will for our lives and let Him be in the driving seat.
Lessons learnt in our childhood will set us up for adulthood. "Warnings from God's Word - kept me in line." Building a firm foundation in our lives will keep us on the right track. If our conscience starts to prick us, we must be travelling down the wrong road.
There is a big difference between going to church and knowing God. Religion gives rules. God desires relationship. "I'm not talking about religion... I'm talking about faith." Faith in God will get us through life. Church is not just to become a good habit. Church is the place where we can have fellowship with other believers and where our faith can grow. "I'm more than just a person who goes to church every Sunday... I love God."
Eva Marie Everson has drawn a marvellous set of unique characters. The female camaraderie and friendship just oozed from the novel. I loved the bond of one of the characters with her Negro servant. They shared a warmth that was lacking with her parents.
A wonderful feel good read of a bygone era. Positively delightful.
Set in the 1950's surrounding five friends, the reader is treated to the customs of the day. Parents were respected and morals expected to be high. Unmarried mothers were frowned on but every child was seen as a gift from God no matter what the circumstances of their conception.
There were some gentlemen within the novel as well as some cads. Infatuation blinded women to the character flaws in men.
We need to be true to ourselves. "You deserve to be loved... Not for the person your boyfriend is trying to make you into, but for who you are." If someone is pressurising you to change, they are not Mr Right. Finding true love is the order of the day. Love can often be found in the most unlikely of places and even when we are not looking.
God's plans are best. We need to seek His will for our lives and let Him be in the driving seat.
Lessons learnt in our childhood will set us up for adulthood. "Warnings from God's Word - kept me in line." Building a firm foundation in our lives will keep us on the right track. If our conscience starts to prick us, we must be travelling down the wrong road.
There is a big difference between going to church and knowing God. Religion gives rules. God desires relationship. "I'm not talking about religion... I'm talking about faith." Faith in God will get us through life. Church is not just to become a good habit. Church is the place where we can have fellowship with other believers and where our faith can grow. "I'm more than just a person who goes to church every Sunday... I love God."
Eva Marie Everson has drawn a marvellous set of unique characters. The female camaraderie and friendship just oozed from the novel. I loved the bond of one of the characters with her Negro servant. They shared a warmth that was lacking with her parents.
A wonderful feel good read of a bygone era. Positively delightful.
March 29, 2019
Everson transports readers to the early 1950s with stunning accuracy. The swiftly moving plot keeps you excited to discover what will happen next with each of the characters. There is adequate development of each of the five women, none feels neglected, and all add to the narrative. Authentic, yet poignant, this story will stay with you long after reading.
SUMMARY: As World War II ends, Joan Hunt, born in the US, moves from England to Chicago to find work. She shares an apartment with four other women: Betty, a privileged woman who resists engagement to a man her parents want her to marry; Magda wants to write and works for a publisher, and her twin sister Inga is a stewardess with big dreams. Evelyn rounds out the group, coming from a farm and wanting more than to be a farmer's wife. As the women navigate life in the city, they explore and discover their potential.
SUMMARY: As World War II ends, Joan Hunt, born in the US, moves from England to Chicago to find work. She shares an apartment with four other women: Betty, a privileged woman who resists engagement to a man her parents want her to marry; Magda wants to write and works for a publisher, and her twin sister Inga is a stewardess with big dreams. Evelyn rounds out the group, coming from a farm and wanting more than to be a farmer's wife. As the women navigate life in the city, they explore and discover their potential.
July 14, 2015
Everson at her finest! I loved this book. It follows five women, strangers really, except for two who were pen-pals. They all end up flatmates in Chicago in the early fifties. The story follows their lives and friendships and I found myself completely immersed in their stories. Each one is different in personality and every woman will see herself in one of theses characters. They are characters you care about and want to know more about them. I'd love to see how their lives went after the close of this book. And that's that typifies Eva Marie Everson's writing, I always want more. Novel Rocket and I giver it our highest recommendation. It's a must read!
July 18, 2017
Deb’s Dozen: Five brides, one wedding dress. Five stories, five romances, five wonderful weddings.
Chicago, early 1950s. Joan Hunt, recently returned to the country of her childhood from England, embarks on a journey she could not have invented—no job, staying at the Y, but determined to make her way and be independent. When she secures a job at Hertz, she also meets Betty Estes, soon to become one of her best friends. Betty invites Joan to room with her and her two other roomies. Joan agrees after finding there will also be room for her longtime pen pal, Evelyn, who will be joining her soon. So begins the story of Joan and Betty and Evelyn and the sisters from Minnesota, Magda and Inga.
On a day when they all unexpectedly find themselves at home, the young women decide to make a day of it. Off they go to see Singing in the Rain starring Gene Kelly. After the movie, as they’re walking down the street, they see the most gorgeous wedding dress in the window of Carson Pirie Scott. On a whim, led by the irrepressible Betty, they go into the store, all try on the dress, then impulsively decide to buy it together.
As the years passed by, they got married one by one and then passed the dress on to the next bride. Though they were not all close friends, the dress continued to connect them after their early days in Chicago in the little basement apartment were long past.
You’ll love these five women, you’ll agonize with them over their jobs and their romances, and you’ll beam with them as they each wear that very special wedding gown. This is a story you’ll not soon forget. Five stars plus!
Eva Marie Everson told me at our recent interview that a friend brought her the story with a “You have to hear this!” Eva agreed the story was very special and determined to write it. However, three years passed before she was able to get an interview with the last surviving bride, eighty-three-year-old Joan Hunt Zimmerman. Eva wrote the story, turned it in to her publisher who loved it, but came back to her saying Joan’s story was great. However, they wanted a book with all five stories in it and they hoped to have it within two months. Out went the eighty-five thousand word book (which I was a beta reader for and which was wonderful) and in two months, in went the over one hundred twenty thousand word new manuscript.
I asked Eva what she had learned about herself while working on the book(s). She said she was often reminded that no matter how crooked the path we walk upon, God straightens it and points us down His path. She learned that she could rise to the challenge of creating and writing within a very short time frame when she loved and believed in the subject.
Eva’s first published book, One True Love, published in 2000, was a compilation of stories about the engagements of people she interviewed. Once she interviewed them, she wrote their stories. This book was so successful that it was quickly followed by One True Vow about their weddings. Shadow of Dreams, a novel, followed next—the first in a series of three books—also published in 2000-2001.
Eva Marie Everson is a Carol Award Winner, has finaled for the Christy Awards, has two Maggie Awards, and two AWSA Golden Scroll Awards for Fiction. The Pot Luck Club books she wrote with Linda Evans Shepherd have sold over two hundred thousand copies. Her book adaptation of the movie, Unconditional, was a Christian Booksellers Association best seller.
Eva says she writes because she believes in the importance of fiction in faith. After all, Jesus taught in stories. She uses her fiction to tell of Jesus’ love to people in a gentle fashion.
One thing her readers don’t know about her is that while she was on a telephone interview with Christian Retailing Magazine, she was struck by lightning. Lightning struck her house, came through the phone, and literally blew her across the room. She picked herself up, apologized to the interviewer, and continued. When the interviewer, Sean Fowlds, asked what had happened and she explained, his comment was, “Shocking!”
I guarantee that no matter which Eva Marie Everson book you purchase, and there are many, you will never be disappointed.
Chicago, early 1950s. Joan Hunt, recently returned to the country of her childhood from England, embarks on a journey she could not have invented—no job, staying at the Y, but determined to make her way and be independent. When she secures a job at Hertz, she also meets Betty Estes, soon to become one of her best friends. Betty invites Joan to room with her and her two other roomies. Joan agrees after finding there will also be room for her longtime pen pal, Evelyn, who will be joining her soon. So begins the story of Joan and Betty and Evelyn and the sisters from Minnesota, Magda and Inga.
On a day when they all unexpectedly find themselves at home, the young women decide to make a day of it. Off they go to see Singing in the Rain starring Gene Kelly. After the movie, as they’re walking down the street, they see the most gorgeous wedding dress in the window of Carson Pirie Scott. On a whim, led by the irrepressible Betty, they go into the store, all try on the dress, then impulsively decide to buy it together.
As the years passed by, they got married one by one and then passed the dress on to the next bride. Though they were not all close friends, the dress continued to connect them after their early days in Chicago in the little basement apartment were long past.
You’ll love these five women, you’ll agonize with them over their jobs and their romances, and you’ll beam with them as they each wear that very special wedding gown. This is a story you’ll not soon forget. Five stars plus!
Eva Marie Everson told me at our recent interview that a friend brought her the story with a “You have to hear this!” Eva agreed the story was very special and determined to write it. However, three years passed before she was able to get an interview with the last surviving bride, eighty-three-year-old Joan Hunt Zimmerman. Eva wrote the story, turned it in to her publisher who loved it, but came back to her saying Joan’s story was great. However, they wanted a book with all five stories in it and they hoped to have it within two months. Out went the eighty-five thousand word book (which I was a beta reader for and which was wonderful) and in two months, in went the over one hundred twenty thousand word new manuscript.
I asked Eva what she had learned about herself while working on the book(s). She said she was often reminded that no matter how crooked the path we walk upon, God straightens it and points us down His path. She learned that she could rise to the challenge of creating and writing within a very short time frame when she loved and believed in the subject.
Eva’s first published book, One True Love, published in 2000, was a compilation of stories about the engagements of people she interviewed. Once she interviewed them, she wrote their stories. This book was so successful that it was quickly followed by One True Vow about their weddings. Shadow of Dreams, a novel, followed next—the first in a series of three books—also published in 2000-2001.
Eva Marie Everson is a Carol Award Winner, has finaled for the Christy Awards, has two Maggie Awards, and two AWSA Golden Scroll Awards for Fiction. The Pot Luck Club books she wrote with Linda Evans Shepherd have sold over two hundred thousand copies. Her book adaptation of the movie, Unconditional, was a Christian Booksellers Association best seller.
Eva says she writes because she believes in the importance of fiction in faith. After all, Jesus taught in stories. She uses her fiction to tell of Jesus’ love to people in a gentle fashion.
One thing her readers don’t know about her is that while she was on a telephone interview with Christian Retailing Magazine, she was struck by lightning. Lightning struck her house, came through the phone, and literally blew her across the room. She picked herself up, apologized to the interviewer, and continued. When the interviewer, Sean Fowlds, asked what had happened and she explained, his comment was, “Shocking!”
I guarantee that no matter which Eva Marie Everson book you purchase, and there are many, you will never be disappointed.
August 28, 2015
I loved this book! The five women portrayed in Five Brides are significantly different from one another, but as women, shared many of the same needs and desires. Each character is represented with strength and definition. I felt as if I actually had formed a relationship with each of them. This author developed her characters in a way that although each depended upon another, they were distinct individuals with diverse goals and unique responses to their respective circumstances.
I highly recommend this novel for the originality and depth of character portrayed throughout. My attention to the stories of these five women was captured and never wavered. If you're looking for a great novel to take on vacation or just for the pleasure of relaxing for several hours, this is one you don't want to miss!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
I highly recommend this novel for the originality and depth of character portrayed throughout. My attention to the stories of these five women was captured and never wavered. If you're looking for a great novel to take on vacation or just for the pleasure of relaxing for several hours, this is one you don't want to miss!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
July 1, 2015
This is not a book for teens! Even if you love 1950s clothes (like me!) you will not want to read this book or this review because of Sexual Content in it! :(
*This review is my opinion which I have a right to.
About this book:
“One dress, five women, a lifetime of memories.
Five single, fiercely independent women live together in a Chicago apartment in the early 1950s but rarely see one another. One Saturday afternoon, as they are serendipitously together downtown, they spy a wedding dress in a storefront window at the famous Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. After trying it on—much to the dismay of the salesclerk and without a single boyfriend or date between the five of them—they decide to pool their money to purchase it. Can one dress forever connect five women who live together only a short time before taking their own journeys to love and whatever comes happily ever after?”
Series: No, it is a stand-alone.
Spiritual Content- All the girls are different forms of Christians (like: Betty is Catholic, Evelyn is Methodist, The sisters are Lutheran (and their family to a professor at a Lutheran Bible College; Inga says that she’s not keen on religion, though), etc.); Prayers & talks about it; Mentions of God & Him directing our paths; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; A few Scriptures are quoted and mentioned; A few mentions of those in the Bible; Talking to a nun; Mentions of going to Mass and Church; Two mentions of how Jesus came into the world (a virgin birth); A dream about Heaven.
*Note: Harlan says a quote by Karl Marx (which is basically it’s foolish to have a religion; he is not a Christian by any means and is most likely an Atheist.)
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blimey’, a ‘bloody’, two forms of ‘dumb’, three ‘stupid’s and four ‘gosh’s; Mentions of clubs, bars, pubs, drinking, cocktails, wine & drunks; Mentions of smoking, cigarettes, & tobacco; Mentions of drugs and opium.
Sexual Content- a almost kiss, four not-detailed kisses;eleven barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, seven semi-detailed kisses, six detailed kisses; Many nose kisses, two hand kisses and nine cheek kisses; Wanting to kiss; Watching another couple kiss (semi-detailed); Noticing; Touches, Embraces, Shivers, & Nuzzling (semi-detailed); Many mentions of kisses, intimate moments, boyfriends, and dates (up to semi-detailed): Mentions of sharing beds and sleeping around; a ‘vixen’, two ‘harlot’, two ‘baby’s, two ‘bimbo’s, two ‘sexy’s; Mentions of flirting; 3 mentions of a honeymoon; Mentions of unwed mothers; A mention of guys following a girl’s caboose; Mentions of chastity, wanting to have passion and the marriage bed; (Also: “One thing my mama and daddy taught me is that a man isn’t going to buy a cow when the milk comes to the door every morning for free.”) Trying to sashay; A cocky guy proposes; Betty call George a womanizer (which he is); When Frank wants to take Inga to his room she says she won’t go into a man’s apartment alone; Inga plays with fire *Spoiler* *End of Spoiler*; Magda is afraid that a married man wants to have dinner so she leaves when he’s not looking *Spoiler* *End of Spoiler*; Love falling in love, & the emotions (times 5!)
*Note: Two mentions of puberty; Mentions of leggy girls and tight clothes; Mentions of underthings and lingerie (from girls, not guys).
-Joan Hunt
-Evelyn Alexander
-Betty Estes
-Inga Christenson
-Magda Christenson
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1951-1956 {Prologue & Epilogue is in Julie’s POV and set in 2015}
453 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star
Oh. I was so wanting to like this book, really, I had high hopes for it. *sigh* At the beginning it completely pulled me it, it was written so beautiful and elegant. And then you get 75 pages in and the major romance emotions come in—between five girls. So, yes, there’s a lot of love, the emotions and kissing. Truly, it’s a great plot and I wish it could have been cleaner so I could rate it higher, but it just wasn’t. :(
No, this book wasn’t as sexual as another book I reviewed a few weeks ago, it’s cleaner than that one star, but to hold “Five Brides” up to the Philippians 4:8 standard…it fails to be clean for teens.(I can hear the haters now…) Joan was truly the only girl I liked out of the main five (Evelyn was naïve, Inga was a twit (as my British Nana would say), Magda was…interesting and Betty was decent). This author has a good writing style, it’s very flowy and sweet but I do think that this book was dragged out just a bit too long—450 pages and six years. It might have been better if this was a series with each girl having her own (smaller) book instead of one large book with many POVs. Personally, I think this book would have been better set in the 1920s because of the Sexual Content. (Not that this stuff didn’t happen in the 50s, mind you, I just wasn’t expecting this kind of content in a 50s novel from what I would expect from a book set in the 20s).
Will I try this author’s books again? Maybe. But I will be cautious if I do so.
This was a great plot with a beautiful cover but in the details it was just too sexual.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Tyndale House Publishers) for this review.
*This review is my opinion which I have a right to.
About this book:
“One dress, five women, a lifetime of memories.
Five single, fiercely independent women live together in a Chicago apartment in the early 1950s but rarely see one another. One Saturday afternoon, as they are serendipitously together downtown, they spy a wedding dress in a storefront window at the famous Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. After trying it on—much to the dismay of the salesclerk and without a single boyfriend or date between the five of them—they decide to pool their money to purchase it. Can one dress forever connect five women who live together only a short time before taking their own journeys to love and whatever comes happily ever after?”
Series: No, it is a stand-alone.
Spiritual Content- All the girls are different forms of Christians (like: Betty is Catholic, Evelyn is Methodist, The sisters are Lutheran (and their family to a professor at a Lutheran Bible College; Inga says that she’s not keen on religion, though), etc.); Prayers & talks about it; Mentions of God & Him directing our paths; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; A few Scriptures are quoted and mentioned; A few mentions of those in the Bible; Talking to a nun; Mentions of going to Mass and Church; Two mentions of how Jesus came into the world (a virgin birth); A dream about Heaven.
*Note: Harlan says a quote by Karl Marx (which is basically it’s foolish to have a religion; he is not a Christian by any means and is most likely an Atheist.)
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blimey’, a ‘bloody’, two forms of ‘dumb’, three ‘stupid’s and four ‘gosh’s; Mentions of clubs, bars, pubs, drinking, cocktails, wine & drunks; Mentions of smoking, cigarettes, & tobacco; Mentions of drugs and opium.
Sexual Content- a almost kiss, four not-detailed kisses;eleven barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three boarder-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, seven semi-detailed kisses, six detailed kisses; Many nose kisses, two hand kisses and nine cheek kisses; Wanting to kiss; Watching another couple kiss (semi-detailed); Noticing; Touches, Embraces, Shivers, & Nuzzling (semi-detailed); Many mentions of kisses, intimate moments, boyfriends, and dates (up to semi-detailed): Mentions of sharing beds and sleeping around; a ‘vixen’, two ‘harlot’, two ‘baby’s, two ‘bimbo’s, two ‘sexy’s; Mentions of flirting; 3 mentions of a honeymoon; Mentions of unwed mothers; A mention of guys following a girl’s caboose; Mentions of chastity, wanting to have passion and the marriage bed; (Also: “One thing my mama and daddy taught me is that a man isn’t going to buy a cow when the milk comes to the door every morning for free.”) Trying to sashay; A cocky guy proposes; Betty call George a womanizer (which he is); When Frank wants to take Inga to his room she says she won’t go into a man’s apartment alone; Inga plays with fire *Spoiler* *End of Spoiler*; Magda is afraid that a married man wants to have dinner so she leaves when he’s not looking *Spoiler* *End of Spoiler*; Love falling in love, & the emotions (times 5!)
*Note: Two mentions of puberty; Mentions of leggy girls and tight clothes; Mentions of underthings and lingerie (from girls, not guys).
-Joan Hunt
-Evelyn Alexander
-Betty Estes
-Inga Christenson
-Magda Christenson
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1951-1956 {Prologue & Epilogue is in Julie’s POV and set in 2015}
453 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star
Oh. I was so wanting to like this book, really, I had high hopes for it. *sigh* At the beginning it completely pulled me it, it was written so beautiful and elegant. And then you get 75 pages in and the major romance emotions come in—between five girls. So, yes, there’s a lot of love, the emotions and kissing. Truly, it’s a great plot and I wish it could have been cleaner so I could rate it higher, but it just wasn’t. :(
No, this book wasn’t as sexual as another book I reviewed a few weeks ago, it’s cleaner than that one star, but to hold “Five Brides” up to the Philippians 4:8 standard…it fails to be clean for teens.
Will I try this author’s books again? Maybe. But I will be cautious if I do so.
This was a great plot with a beautiful cover but in the details it was just too sexual.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Tyndale House Publishers) for this review.
June 25, 2015
A "stay up all night reading" book
This book was by far one of my favorite summer reads. Five women, five lives, one dress. The way that God was woven into the story was both subtle and captivating. I loved the vivid descriptions of the clothes, the food, the architecture and the music. I could imagine myself laughing on the streets of Chicago, drinking hot coffee in the chilly German air, or smelling the beautiful flowers of a southern spring. Another great book by Eva Marie.
This book was by far one of my favorite summer reads. Five women, five lives, one dress. The way that God was woven into the story was both subtle and captivating. I loved the vivid descriptions of the clothes, the food, the architecture and the music. I could imagine myself laughing on the streets of Chicago, drinking hot coffee in the chilly German air, or smelling the beautiful flowers of a southern spring. Another great book by Eva Marie.
June 17, 2016
I hope there is a sequel to this book. I need to know what happened after the weddings to Betty, Inga, Magda, Joan and especially Evelyn. With the exception of Betty, once the brides got married their story stopped. I need to know what happened in the following 50 years. Did everyone stay married? Did Inga find love? Did Magda's step-daughter grow to love her? How did Joan put her stamp on the southern woman? What happened to Evelyn and Ed? I need details!
September 21, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. It was a little confusing to keep the five women straight at times but overall I loved this book. I would enjoy more books about each of the five women and how their lives have continued.
June 7, 2020
I really liked this book.....at first. The first few chapters had me hooked.....at first.
I even followed the author because I was enjoying it so much.
Well, about 25% into the story, the bottom fell out of the story and the writing.
There wasn't much wrong with the story, per se. My gripe is mostly, with the author.
The characters weren't really likable.....well, most of them weren't likable.
Both the women and men seemed to be so much alike. There was no substance in their characters.
I had trouble keeping them apart; they were so much alike.
The plot. I loved that part. Five young women chip their money in to buy a wedding dress for their future weddings.
I think the story could have been so much better with a different author.
This book is 453 pages; still there wasn't enough detail.
It left me wondering what happened with so and so.
For example, After one girl had been married; the author never wrote from her view point ever again. I wanted to hear it.
Or some event was about to happen, the author completely skipped over it.
I wanted to be there.
The author didn't even put the last girl's wedding in the book.
I wanted to attend that last and final wedding of these five women.
Halfway through, I was in a mad dash to finish it; a few times, I even thought about DNFing it.
No, I was invested in these lives. I wanted to know. I had to know.
The avoidance of details left me nauseated.
I un-followed the author but would give her another chance in reading more of her work.
October 29, 2025
I enjoyed this! Christian fiction that takes place in the 1950s. It follows 5 women who become roommates in Chicago. Although they are barely at the flat at the same time, one joint outing leads to them purchasing a wedding dress together. The plan is to wear it, have it dried cleaned, and then hold onto it until the next girl is ready to wear the dress. There are plenty of sticky situations that arise on their journey but the book is filled with hope and nostalgia. It left me wanting more!
This has been on my TBR for a while and I’m so glad I finally got to it!
This has been on my TBR for a while and I’m so glad I finally got to it!
July 19, 2015
What wonderful story based in the 1950s. The prologue and the epilogue are actually set in current time and I just adore the story in between. The story is set in Chicago in the 50s. It stars 5 young women, Joan, Betsy, Evelyn, Inga, and Magna, who are roommates. Though born in Chicago, Joan’s family moved to England when she was a child. Evelyn is a Georgia farmer’s daughter and she and Joan were international childhood pen pals. When Joan decides to move back stateside after the War in attempt to earn money to send back to her struggling family in England, Evelyn decides it is time for her to leave the South and the two meet up in Chicago. They room together, along with the other three ladies and their stories unfold.
Ms. Everson does such a pristine job with the development of each of the lady’s characters. The idea seems like a lot to keep up with, but it is not. I appreciated the qualities and even the faults of each character. The author made them very easy to get to know. Again, I adored this story and highly recommend it. It’s a nice fat book and you certainly get your money’s worth.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
Ms. Everson does such a pristine job with the development of each of the lady’s characters. The idea seems like a lot to keep up with, but it is not. I appreciated the qualities and even the faults of each character. The author made them very easy to get to know. Again, I adored this story and highly recommend it. It’s a nice fat book and you certainly get your money’s worth.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.
February 9, 2020
I was taking a quiz on Tyndale's Reader Rewards site to see "what romance novel I should read for Valentine's Day" and this one was my result. I'd not heard of it, so I read the summary and found the story-line intriguing enough to try it! I'm glad I did! I enjoyed a "new to me" author in a genre I don't typically seek out. In this story, 5 apartment-mates have an odd Saturday off and decide to spend the day together. They find the most beautiful wedding dress and though none of them are engaged, go into the store on a lark to try it on. All of them love it, and so they buy it with the intention that they will each get to wear it on their special day. This book was each of their love stories.
While I enjoyed all of the girls' stories and was thrilled to find this book premise was based on a real story, having 5 main characters at times felt a bit much for me. Don't get me wrong - each character's story was well told and all of the characters were well fleshed out, but with 5 main characters it is difficult to get the full depth of a similar length novel with only 1 or 2 main characters. Overall though, I enjoyed the premise and the writing was well done. I would recommend this one to fans of historical romance.
While I enjoyed all of the girls' stories and was thrilled to find this book premise was based on a real story, having 5 main characters at times felt a bit much for me. Don't get me wrong - each character's story was well told and all of the characters were well fleshed out, but with 5 main characters it is difficult to get the full depth of a similar length novel with only 1 or 2 main characters. Overall though, I enjoyed the premise and the writing was well done. I would recommend this one to fans of historical romance.
September 6, 2015
I adored this book! Five women make their way in the world mostly in 1950s Chicago. The clothes! The working girls finding success in post-war America! The romance! I enjoyed how each story was unique and relatable in its own way. I could find something to admire and something to shake my head over as Betty, Joan, Evelyn, Inga, and Magda each found her own path. And the fact that Joan is based on a real person who really did share a wedding dress with four other women? Utterly priceless. The ONLY flaw for me was wishing I could know a bit more about how Inga's life turned out. I so wanted her to find redemption . . . Dig in--Eva Marie is at her best!
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July 31, 2015Like A Favorite Classic Movie
This engrossing story set in the '50s played out in my mind like one of my favorite classic movies. For Betty & Joan I kept picturing Ginger Rogers & June Allyson in those great '50s style dresses. Must read for all nostalgia fans!
This engrossing story set in the '50s played out in my mind like one of my favorite classic movies. For Betty & Joan I kept picturing Ginger Rogers & June Allyson in those great '50s style dresses. Must read for all nostalgia fans!
October 8, 2021
Five women and five Brides- interesting story that connects one bridal dress with them all--each woman interacting with the other and their ups and downs as if they were all sisters. As Eva follows the lives of each woman, you find yourself wondering, who's first? Who's wearing it next? And how will their stories connect?
July 7, 2016
Joan's story is great! The rest of it not so much. I found Joan to be the most interesting of the girls, but found the rest of them to fall into stereotypes and cliches pretty fast. You have Betty, who is rich and wants to live but her family wants her to marry right, as in the boy they've basically picked out for her but she's not interested in. Evelyn, who is chubby and sweet and earnest and willing to change herself entirely for a man and always seems a bit out of place in the city. One of the sisters (Inga and Magna, but I honestly had trouble keeping which was which in terms of names) is a secretary with dreams of being a writer and falls in love with her boss whose wife is dead and his mother doesn't like her. The other sister who is a flight attendant and falls in love with the wrong guy and gets pregnant and then is married off to hide it.
I feel like I've head most of those stories one way or another. The workaholic Brit come to America was the only one I felt was something remotely new. Everything else felt rather predictable and a more boring Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with the shared wedding dress. Maybe if the dress had been purchased when they all had no plans to marry, just a wild whim there would have been more intrigue. But other than Joan who clearly has prioritized working, everyone else seems to so clearly want to get married and constantly have their eye on some guy. In that circumstance, yeah just buy the dress and share it who cares.
Also, yeah I get that it's the 1950's and admittedly I didn't know the author wrote "Christian Lit" but there was an aspect of the whole plot being wiped clean instead of actually dealing with some of the issues laid out in the plot. Conflict was low and with nothing to really fight for the characterization and plot suffered.
Not my cup of tea and not something I would recommend. I need something with a little more backbone and spice. This was very vanilla, and seemed very safe. In the end the came out on the wrong side of is it interesting and compelling line.
And the connection? Spoiler alert, that's not developed and not there for life.
I feel like I've head most of those stories one way or another. The workaholic Brit come to America was the only one I felt was something remotely new. Everything else felt rather predictable and a more boring Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with the shared wedding dress. Maybe if the dress had been purchased when they all had no plans to marry, just a wild whim there would have been more intrigue. But other than Joan who clearly has prioritized working, everyone else seems to so clearly want to get married and constantly have their eye on some guy. In that circumstance, yeah just buy the dress and share it who cares.
Also, yeah I get that it's the 1950's and admittedly I didn't know the author wrote "Christian Lit" but there was an aspect of the whole plot being wiped clean instead of actually dealing with some of the issues laid out in the plot. Conflict was low and with nothing to really fight for the characterization and plot suffered.
Not my cup of tea and not something I would recommend. I need something with a little more backbone and spice. This was very vanilla, and seemed very safe. In the end the came out on the wrong side of is it interesting and compelling line.
And the connection? Spoiler alert, that's not developed and not there for life.
April 28, 2020
Not a fan of this book at all. I found myself more frustrated than anything else. There were too many “main” characters for the author to talk about for any real character development to take place. Most of the dialogue seemed stiff and un-natural. Perhaps it was because this is a period piece, but the plot was too tidy. The historical parts seemed just thrown in and every single female in this book was just waiting to be rescued by marriage. I found the author more focused on trying to deliver lessons than about actually writing well. I stuck it out to the end just to see if there were any redeeming qualities, but there were none. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Christain woman and I can appreciate how much work goes into writing a book, but I’d much rather read something that’s remotely realistic instead of this book.
August 4, 2015
This is the first book I have read by Eva Marie Everson. I can honestly say I enjoyed it and wouldn’t mind reading more from her in the future. Everson made me really like the characters, and I was able to relate to them. She did a great job at explaining the surroundings so I could try to picture myself there. Five Brides is kinda like 5 books in one. It was a lot of fun to be able to read one book and get all the stories at the same time.
Five Brides is set in the 1950’s in Chicago, Illinois. The story follows Joan, Betty, Magda, Inga, and Evelyn. The five very different women find themselves living together in an apartment with a window to the street. All living different and busy lives they rarely have time to spend together. When they all have a day off they decide to spend it on the town. That is when they see the dress. The dress that not only fits them all, but is full of dreams for them all to find the right one someday, whether they are looking or not.
I can’t say too much without giving anything away. Everson keeps you guessing and trying to figure out who each girl will end up with. The characters in the book aren’t perfect and it just makes you love them all the more. Some look for love in the wrong places, but God has a bigger plan for their lives. You’ll just have to read the book in order to find out what that is. I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers and TBCN in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
Five Brides is set in the 1950’s in Chicago, Illinois. The story follows Joan, Betty, Magda, Inga, and Evelyn. The five very different women find themselves living together in an apartment with a window to the street. All living different and busy lives they rarely have time to spend together. When they all have a day off they decide to spend it on the town. That is when they see the dress. The dress that not only fits them all, but is full of dreams for them all to find the right one someday, whether they are looking or not.
I can’t say too much without giving anything away. Everson keeps you guessing and trying to figure out who each girl will end up with. The characters in the book aren’t perfect and it just makes you love them all the more. Some look for love in the wrong places, but God has a bigger plan for their lives. You’ll just have to read the book in order to find out what that is. I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers and TBCN in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 10, 2015
Wow! This is the kind of story that comes to life the minute you start reading, I was so immersed in the lives of the characters that I'm convinced I actually slept on their couch a night or two! The time period is perfect -- maybe because I've seen so many movies set in the fifties and it was easy to visualize everything from the fashion to the architecture -- even the hairstyles. In fact, I cast period actresses to play the role of each young woman. It seemed to me that Everson captured the essence of that era -- especially the opportunities opening up to women after the war and the push/pull that resulted between work and home.
And, honestly, who can resist five love stories for the price of one? Each totally unique, and not without a dose of heartache, not to mention some mistakes along the way. The author has created five very distinct heroines with personal obstacles to overcome. I especially appreciated reading about each girl's faith journey. Loved the overall unity in a common goal even though they represented diverse denominations and were at different places on their journey. Five Brides not only delighted my heart, it fed my soul.
And, honestly, who can resist five love stories for the price of one? Each totally unique, and not without a dose of heartache, not to mention some mistakes along the way. The author has created five very distinct heroines with personal obstacles to overcome. I especially appreciated reading about each girl's faith journey. Loved the overall unity in a common goal even though they represented diverse denominations and were at different places on their journey. Five Brides not only delighted my heart, it fed my soul.
June 23, 2015
Five roommates from completely different parts of the world and walks of life, fall in love with the same dress. But not one of these lovely women has a man to marry. This book follows the story of all five women as they wade through love in the 1950s. It's a beautiful story of love amidst hardships and uncertainty. Each woman must decide what direction she wants her life to take and if she is going to allow the past to dictate the future.
I really enjoyed this author's writing style. It was unique. Instead of telling each story separately, the author tells the stories together since the women first came together as roommates. The word pictures helped place me in the city during the 50s and feel like I was experiencing their life with them. The romances were sweet, but not the primary focus of the story. This was a character driven story and the characters had depth and were each unique. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this author's writing style. It was unique. Instead of telling each story separately, the author tells the stories together since the women first came together as roommates. The word pictures helped place me in the city during the 50s and feel like I was experiencing their life with them. The romances were sweet, but not the primary focus of the story. This was a character driven story and the characters had depth and were each unique. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
December 10, 2015
I'm fully aware this is a Christian romance, but perhaps because most novels in this category nowadays are merely clean and not preachy, I wasn't expecting the strong theme within its pages and didn't appreciate its message about "a man isn't going to buy a cow when the milk is delivered for free every morning".
This novel makes it seem like those of us who have a taste of carnal pleasure without a ring on our finger do not deserve love and happiness. Inga's story.
And the women within the pages are too quick lose themselves and their independence as soon as they meet suitable men. Evelyn disgusted me. Magda...I don't feel marrying into a family that despises you is finding happiness. Joan does nothing but work until the last 20 percent, making her an uninteresting character that by that point I didn't care about.
I simply didn't like this one.
This novel makes it seem like those of us who have a taste of carnal pleasure without a ring on our finger do not deserve love and happiness. Inga's story.
And the women within the pages are too quick lose themselves and their independence as soon as they meet suitable men. Evelyn disgusted me. Magda...I don't feel marrying into a family that despises you is finding happiness. Joan does nothing but work until the last 20 percent, making her an uninteresting character that by that point I didn't care about.
I simply didn't like this one.
July 6, 2015
This was one of those books that, while it was a well-written story, was just not for me. I'm not going to write a negative review, because there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. The characters were relatable, the dialogue was good, everything was GOOD -- it just didn't grab me. I enjoyed it alright, but it wasn't really my kind of book. With five main characters, it felt strained to get to know any of them very well, and I didn't really get into the 1950's period. (Plus it was about city life. City life to me = boring.)
HOWEVER, I know some other people who'd enjoy it. I'm sure many readers will absolutely love it. Me personally, I'd rather spend my time reading books that are more my style.
HOWEVER, I know some other people who'd enjoy it. I'm sure many readers will absolutely love it. Me personally, I'd rather spend my time reading books that are more my style.
March 28, 2016
This is a very unique story of five girls who share a basement apartment in Chicago in the early 1950's. One day while they had a day off they all went shopping together and on a lark they decided to try on a wedding gown. They ended up pitching in together and buying the gown for all of them to wear when they married. This is a story woven around all the girls, their love stories and how some suffered heartbreak but all ended up wearing the gown for their wedding. Eva Marie Everson has woven a story that will touch your heart and keep you reading until the very end to see how it all turns out. I won this book in a contest and there was no requirement for a positive review.
This is my honest opinion.
This is my honest opinion.
September 30, 2016
It always amazes me how a nugget of fact can blossom into a novel. Everson has done a fine job of weaving fact and fiction into a charming story of five girls, the circuitous journey taken to find their true loves, and one wedding dress they each vowed to wear on that special day. At first, it was difficult to keep all the characters straight, but, once their individual personalities landed, I could follow, rejoicing and sometimes despairing over the decisions they made. . . for better, or, for worse.
August 7, 2015
Five Brides is an interesting read about five brides and one dress. I did like the story and enjoyed the 1950s time period, but it was just confusing to me with so many main characters. I feel like that this book could've been separated in another book or two so I could've got to know the characters a little bit better.
3 1/2 stars
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion, which was given.
3 1/2 stars
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion, which was given.
March 16, 2019
I really liked the idea of the story, 5 single friends buying a wedding dress to be shared when each one marries. I also liked the setting Chicago in the 50's. But I didn't care for the religious side of it (I didn't know it was a christian book when i first started reading it). It touches Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists and Baptists!
I did like the first part of it, but didn't care for most of their romances. The endings seemed "unfinished".
I did like the first part of it, but didn't care for most of their romances. The endings seemed "unfinished".
August 3, 2015
What a fun book! I can't imagine buying a wedding dress with 4 other women who are more acquaintances than friends. That's the premise of the story and it follows the women through the exciting changes in their lives. Enjoyed it a lot.
July 20, 2022
Despite the sad parts, this book has a sweetness I come back to.
I received this book for free. Everything I've written, good and bad, came entirely from my own head while or after reading.
I received this book for free. Everything I've written, good and bad, came entirely from my own head while or after reading.
February 27, 2019
I scheduled Five Brides for my book club’s February read thinking it would be perfect for the month-of-love. It was. Although not everyone liked this book, it did win over the majority of us. Set in the 1950s, Five Brides captures the spirit of the era, especially the dreams and aspirations of modern young women. Five roommates spend one rare afternoon together and decide to purchase a wedding dress (yes, it is that beautiful) to share on their special days. Unfortunately none have a ring on their finger, so the future is shadowy. But all believe that one day they will walk the aisle towards their Prince Charming wearing the perfect dress.
Five very different characters (and their love interests) are portrayed in this historical novel. While there is romance involved, Five Brides is more than hearts and flowers and happily-ever-afters. In fact, an HEA is in doubt for most of the women during the course of the book. The 50s-era expectations of marriage and family contrast with the women’s desires for independence and freedom. All five — Joan from England, Evelyn from Georgia, Betty from Chicago, and sisters Inga and Magda from Minnesota — start out as career women escaping from poverty, societal expectations, and strict upbringings. Yet the lure of romance causes more than one of the women to make unwise choices. It was just those choices that gave my group its best discussion. As one of our members stated, our varying opinions on the characters was intriguing. We liked and disliked different characters, while our sympathies rested on different characters as well. While the novel is definitely from a different time, the women were not all that different from women today. Women still compromise or settle, put dreams aside, and place misguided hopes on a man.
If you are looking for a bit of nostalgia and romance in your next women’s fiction, I recommend Five Brides. It was definitely an entertaining and engaging read.
Recommended.
Audience: adult women.
Five very different characters (and their love interests) are portrayed in this historical novel. While there is romance involved, Five Brides is more than hearts and flowers and happily-ever-afters. In fact, an HEA is in doubt for most of the women during the course of the book. The 50s-era expectations of marriage and family contrast with the women’s desires for independence and freedom. All five — Joan from England, Evelyn from Georgia, Betty from Chicago, and sisters Inga and Magda from Minnesota — start out as career women escaping from poverty, societal expectations, and strict upbringings. Yet the lure of romance causes more than one of the women to make unwise choices. It was just those choices that gave my group its best discussion. As one of our members stated, our varying opinions on the characters was intriguing. We liked and disliked different characters, while our sympathies rested on different characters as well. While the novel is definitely from a different time, the women were not all that different from women today. Women still compromise or settle, put dreams aside, and place misguided hopes on a man.
If you are looking for a bit of nostalgia and romance in your next women’s fiction, I recommend Five Brides. It was definitely an entertaining and engaging read.
Recommended.
Audience: adult women.
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