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Stitched
A hilarious story of found family that proves it’s never too late to discover who you are.
Betty Lou Dearden has been a member of the Ogden Quilter's Association for more than twenty years when it's announced that the biggest quilting competition in the country is coming to her small Utah town. With the clock ticking, the women welcome two young gay men to their group as they bicker their way to an award-worthy entry and attempt to beat their long-time rivals once and for all. With disarming humor and extraordinary heart, Eli McCann takes readers deep into the cozy but cutthroat world of competitive quilting and the sometimes-messy friendships that shape our lives.
Betty Lou Dearden has been a member of the Ogden Quilter's Association for more than twenty years when it's announced that the biggest quilting competition in the country is coming to her small Utah town. With the clock ticking, the women welcome two young gay men to their group as they bicker their way to an award-worthy entry and attempt to beat their long-time rivals once and for all. With disarming humor and extraordinary heart, Eli McCann takes readers deep into the cozy but cutthroat world of competitive quilting and the sometimes-messy friendships that shape our lives.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a very cute and heartfelt "slice of life".
I liked that the writing didn't overplay the characters' feelings and didn't rely too much on their personal history, while still being able to make you empathize with them and understand their situation.
If you're in the right mood, this is a good cozy story.
I liked that the writing didn't overplay the characters' feelings and didn't rely too much on their personal history, while still being able to make you empathize with them and understand their situation.
If you're in the right mood, this is a good cozy story.
July 1, 2026
This book was so hyped up on social media that I guess I just expected more from it. The premise is great—2 gay men joining a women’s sewing group and spilling ALL the tea. It could have been incredible, but while there were plenty of laugh out loud moments, it still just fell flat.
It felt to me like the men never really belonged in the group. For one, they never even learn to sew. Two, they barely speak any words in the whole book. They just seem to sit back, watch, and report on what they witness. There was basically no point to Rob at all. I thought that when the theme for their competition quilt was announced and had a gay reference to it, they would be the ones to come up with a quilt so clever to help guide this group of old ladies to a championship, but they didn’t even have any suggestions or bring new ideas to the group at all. I guess I pictured a book flowing with conversation…the kind that makes these wary old women fall absolutely in love with their new group members and form a tight bond.
While it had more than enough entertaining moments, and I’d still recommend the book to anyone looking for something a little different, it just felt like one big missed opportunity to turn it into something bigger.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
It felt to me like the men never really belonged in the group. For one, they never even learn to sew. Two, they barely speak any words in the whole book. They just seem to sit back, watch, and report on what they witness. There was basically no point to Rob at all. I thought that when the theme for their competition quilt was announced and had a gay reference to it, they would be the ones to come up with a quilt so clever to help guide this group of old ladies to a championship, but they didn’t even have any suggestions or bring new ideas to the group at all. I guess I pictured a book flowing with conversation…the kind that makes these wary old women fall absolutely in love with their new group members and form a tight bond.
While it had more than enough entertaining moments, and I’d still recommend the book to anyone looking for something a little different, it just felt like one big missed opportunity to turn it into something bigger.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
May 24, 2026
As a young queer person getting into quilting, I’m absolutely obsessed with this book. The ladies of the Ogden Quilters Association were so fun to get to know, Byron and Rob are a hoot, and I never thought quilting could be so cutthroat. More Golden Girls than Schitt’s Creek, but such a good time!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Character driven but over troped, STITCHED, by Eli McCann, is his debut novel.
A group of senior quilters from Ogden is trying to prepare for a regional contest to be held in neighboring Smithfield. There’s many years of consternation between the two clubs. Smithfield is usually the winner and Ogden? Well, they try; faithfully.
This year, the Ogden group is desperate for new ideas and some fresh blood for their club. The event is practically in their backyard. When no women are added, a member decides to coerce two gay friends to join in. Neither one has any quilting experience. Sigh…
A theme is declared for the contest and the group finally agrees on a plan to satisfy the contest. Each member will provide a square that supports their single quilt submission.
Women of the Ogden quilting club have been “friends” for decades but for the life of me, I cannot imagine why. This is a group of nasty, snarky women with gripes that go back years. They are mean girls gone Grandma!
Altho’ there are passages devoted to actual quilting, the majority is about these women, their relationships, families and problems. I did not enjoy their company but continued to read, hoping they would grow up. No. Such. Luck. I’m ever so thankful my card club is nothing like them.
The proliferation of expletives is so unnecessary and really made me cringe, especially the divine epithets. IMO, this is incongruous for the audience that might seek to read a quilting novel.
Author, McCann writes a monthly humor column for the Salt Lake Tribune and hosts a podcast called Strangerville. He’s currently got just shy of 150K followers and is getting a bunch of interest on social media. It would have been welcomed for some of his humor to show itself in STICHED.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a book I can recommend but I’m in the minority. Please read some 4-5 star reviews and the publisher’s blurb to see if you’re better suited than I was📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read and Reviewed from a PDF file provided by Publisher’s Weekly, the publisher and author.
A group of senior quilters from Ogden is trying to prepare for a regional contest to be held in neighboring Smithfield. There’s many years of consternation between the two clubs. Smithfield is usually the winner and Ogden? Well, they try; faithfully.
This year, the Ogden group is desperate for new ideas and some fresh blood for their club. The event is practically in their backyard. When no women are added, a member decides to coerce two gay friends to join in. Neither one has any quilting experience. Sigh…
A theme is declared for the contest and the group finally agrees on a plan to satisfy the contest. Each member will provide a square that supports their single quilt submission.
Women of the Ogden quilting club have been “friends” for decades but for the life of me, I cannot imagine why. This is a group of nasty, snarky women with gripes that go back years. They are mean girls gone Grandma!
Altho’ there are passages devoted to actual quilting, the majority is about these women, their relationships, families and problems. I did not enjoy their company but continued to read, hoping they would grow up. No. Such. Luck. I’m ever so thankful my card club is nothing like them.
The proliferation of expletives is so unnecessary and really made me cringe, especially the divine epithets. IMO, this is incongruous for the audience that might seek to read a quilting novel.
Author, McCann writes a monthly humor column for the Salt Lake Tribune and hosts a podcast called Strangerville. He’s currently got just shy of 150K followers and is getting a bunch of interest on social media. It would have been welcomed for some of his humor to show itself in STICHED.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a book I can recommend but I’m in the minority. Please read some 4-5 star reviews and the publisher’s blurb to see if you’re better suited than I was📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read and Reviewed from a PDF file provided by Publisher’s Weekly, the publisher and author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"I think your enjoyment of the book will hinge on whether you can believe that the friendship between these women is ultimately -despite the differences and problems- a positive element in their lives."
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC. I was mainly drawn to the book because of the strong themes of craft, friendship and working together towards a shared goal. I thought the premise – a group of elderly quilters taking two gay men under their wing as they work on their show stopper for a bi-annual quilting competition – sounded great. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The interpretations of the themes as well as the focus was different from what I expected. I came to this book without knowing the author, but from the other reviews I can see that he has a strong social media presence, so perhaps if you are already familiar with him, your expectations are better tailored to what the book is.
I thought we would see a group of friends dealing with the struggles and stress of making a show piece for an important quilt competition. However, the main story-line lies instead in the inner social workings of their decades long friendship, and the characters confronting years of resentment, pent up frustrations, passive aggression and clashing personalities, as well as a confrontation with the limitations that aging brings – which just happens to the backdrop of the quilt competition. This shifts the main story from a heartwarming found-family cozy story to an exploration of more heavy topics. Absolutely also a story worth telling, nothing wrong, but worth being aware of before starting.
I think your enjoyment of the book will hinge on whether you can believe that the friendship between these women is ultimately -despite the differences and problems- a positive element in their lives. The book failed to convince me of that, taking the group as a whole at least. Especially considering some of the issues they have with each other go back 30 years. Without this conviction, the book ultimately falls flat.
The crafting aspect is merely a somewhat prominent background to the conversations happening in the story, which happen during ‘quilt nights’ or in the fabric shop. I’m not sure what the group was actually doing during their nights. Until the halfway point I didn’t even know they were machine sewing instead of hand sewing. Which begs the question how these folks could even have so much conversation over the noise of at least 6 sewing machines, but I guess that’s fiction-magic at work.
I enjoyed the characters of the two new recruits, but I had expected more scenes in which they would learn how to quilt, or where they’d provide input on the design – as that is the guise under which they are roped into joining the group-, and at least a couple of scenes where working on the quilt was the focus, but that just wasn’t there. I’m not sure how the men were helpful to the goal of either the longevity of the quilt group or to the quilt competition. In fact, the design process as a whole was underwhelming and confusing. Until about 75% in, you have zero idea what blocks most of the quilters are working on. Perhaps the hodgepodge-ness of the quilt was meant to be a comedic reveal, but I doubt it, as it was telegraphed way earlier in the book. As a crafter, I’m not sure if working on something like this would be very fulfilling. I get that this is part of the message – the whole ‘we each do our own thing but still are a part of a whole’ – but that would have resonated more if the friendship had convinced me in the first place.
There´s also some moral messages that I simply do not agree with. There is a story-line whose point basically amounts to children having a duty to always take care of their elderly parents. One of the characters can be paraphrased as saying that none is too busy to be there for the people who birthed them. I empathically disagree with this, and it surprises me to see this in a queer positive book. I suppose this links to how one views the group of friends: are they a found family because they are so close, or is the friend group like a family in that you have to accept their flaws no matter what.
I also felt uncomfortable with the depiction of the main antagonist. Sure, Patricia is extraordinarily mean and awful. But apart from her meanness and her impeccable crafting skills, the thing that gets mentioned repeatedly is the cosmetic work she’s had done on her face. While I’m no fan of the plastic surgery industry myself, I don’t think that everyone who has had any work done is automatically a black-hearted maleficent. It felt like the oldest trope in the book and somewhat.. misogynist? Likewise, I was not charmed by the incessant pushing of a relationship on the happily unmarried of the elderly ladies.
I thought this book was supposed to be an ode to the craft of quilting, but that’s not what I found inside these pages. Quilts by other groups in the competition were portrayed as comic relief in a way that felt like caricature, which I had hoped the book would subvert instead of encourage. If I weren´t a crafter before, I´m not sure this book would have left me with the feeling that I’d want to become one.
It is a shame as I do think the premise was promising. That said, there were elements that I liked. I liked the queer representation as well as the mutual acceptance between the younger men and older ladies. I liked the humor, especially in the early chapters of the book. I think this book is written from a clear point of love for the real-life people that probably inspired these characters, and that shines through. Also of note: I think the cover design is amazing work.
Many other people did love this book, so if the premise still resonates with you, then go for it. You may like it better than I did.
September 26, 2026
I love it when books take you to places you’ve never been and expose you to new things. I’ll admit I never thought I’d read a book about the cutthroat behavior around a quilting competition, but this was such fun!
The members of the Ogden Quilters Association are beside itself when they learn that the Simpton Family Quilting Extravaganza will be held in nearby Smithfield, Utah. The competition has never been so close to home before, and they definitely want to make a good showing.
This year’s theme is “I Wish I Knew How to Quilt You: Famous Forbidden Relationships.” With their numbers dwindling due to advanced age (let’s not talk about Terry and the “needle incident “), the OQA is in need of new members. Candace, who owns an empire of fabric stores across Utah, decides to invite her store manager, Byron, and his best friend, Rob, to join.
The addition of two men—albeit gay ones—throws the remaining OQA members into a bit of a tizzy. They’ve never had a man join them before. Do their bylaws even allow it? But it’s not long before they’ve become fully engaged in the gossip, grumbling, and quilting.
As the group focuses on creating the best quilt ever, dynamics within and outside the group threaten its camaraderie. And then word gets out that the Logan Quilters Society, the defending regional champs and an overall menace, are trying to take control of the competition, which sends the group into a frenzy. Can the OQA create a winning quilt, soothe the in-group tensions, and vanquish their nemeses?
This was such a fun and sweet book. It was a beautiful story of found family, friendship, growing older, standing your ground, and realizing what’s most important to you. The characters were so warm—even the curmudgeons—and I just smiled through the whole book.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
The members of the Ogden Quilters Association are beside itself when they learn that the Simpton Family Quilting Extravaganza will be held in nearby Smithfield, Utah. The competition has never been so close to home before, and they definitely want to make a good showing.
This year’s theme is “I Wish I Knew How to Quilt You: Famous Forbidden Relationships.” With their numbers dwindling due to advanced age (let’s not talk about Terry and the “needle incident “), the OQA is in need of new members. Candace, who owns an empire of fabric stores across Utah, decides to invite her store manager, Byron, and his best friend, Rob, to join.
The addition of two men—albeit gay ones—throws the remaining OQA members into a bit of a tizzy. They’ve never had a man join them before. Do their bylaws even allow it? But it’s not long before they’ve become fully engaged in the gossip, grumbling, and quilting.
As the group focuses on creating the best quilt ever, dynamics within and outside the group threaten its camaraderie. And then word gets out that the Logan Quilters Society, the defending regional champs and an overall menace, are trying to take control of the competition, which sends the group into a frenzy. Can the OQA create a winning quilt, soothe the in-group tensions, and vanquish their nemeses?
This was such a fun and sweet book. It was a beautiful story of found family, friendship, growing older, standing your ground, and realizing what’s most important to you. The characters were so warm—even the curmudgeons—and I just smiled through the whole book.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
September 8, 2026
3.5 stars
Stitched is an incredibly sweet, warmhearted story, and on paper it has almost everything I should love: a group of elderly women, competitive quilting, found family, lots of quirky personalities, and two young gay men being welcomed into an unexpected community. Somehow, though, I liked this one more than I loved it.
The story centers on the Ogden Quilters Association, a group of women who take their quilting competitions VERY seriously despite the inconvenient fact that they have never actually won. There are rivalries, disagreements, decades-long grudges, and an impressive amount of knowledge about exactly which quilting groups are their biggest competition. Apparently competitive quilting is far more cutthroat than I ever imagined! And everyone knows you can’t underestimate the Amish.
This year is particularly exciting because the competition is being held locally, and the OQA is determined to finally make its mark. Along the way, the women welcome two young gay men into their group as they create a quilt with the theme “I Just Can’t Quilt You,” inspired by Brokeback Mountain—a movie, hilariously, none of the women have actually seen.
There are so many charming moments throughout the book. One of my favorites involved a woman talking about how she hasn’t been the same since Chuck died. The men naturally assume Chuck was her husband, only to discover that Chuck was her cat. 😂 That kind of gentle humor worked really well for me.
I also loved that Eli McCann narrated the audiobook himself. There is something special about hearing an author perform their own work when they can do it well, and McCann absolutely can. He brings a tremendous amount of heart and emotional depth to these characters.
I was also interested in the story’s exploration of a gay man who grew up in the LDS community and has found a way to make peace with parts of that upbringing while maintaining a loving relationship with his parents. There is a tenderness to the way McCann approaches family, faith, sexuality, aging, and the sometimes-unexpected places where we find community.
And yet…something was missing for me. Readers who follow my reviews know that a book filled with endearing elderly women is practically engineered in a laboratory for me personally. These women were funny and lovable, the premise was delightful, and the story checked so many of my boxes. But for whatever reason, it never quite reached the emotional level I kept waiting for it to hit.
Still, this was a lovely read, and I would absolutely pick up another book by Eli McCann. There is so much warmth in his storytelling, and I can easily imagine Stitched becoming a comfort read for other readers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5
Stitched was published September 8, 2026.
Thank you to Libro.fm and the Libro.fm ALC program for the gifted advance listening copy!
Stitched is an incredibly sweet, warmhearted story, and on paper it has almost everything I should love: a group of elderly women, competitive quilting, found family, lots of quirky personalities, and two young gay men being welcomed into an unexpected community. Somehow, though, I liked this one more than I loved it.
The story centers on the Ogden Quilters Association, a group of women who take their quilting competitions VERY seriously despite the inconvenient fact that they have never actually won. There are rivalries, disagreements, decades-long grudges, and an impressive amount of knowledge about exactly which quilting groups are their biggest competition. Apparently competitive quilting is far more cutthroat than I ever imagined! And everyone knows you can’t underestimate the Amish.
This year is particularly exciting because the competition is being held locally, and the OQA is determined to finally make its mark. Along the way, the women welcome two young gay men into their group as they create a quilt with the theme “I Just Can’t Quilt You,” inspired by Brokeback Mountain—a movie, hilariously, none of the women have actually seen.
There are so many charming moments throughout the book. One of my favorites involved a woman talking about how she hasn’t been the same since Chuck died. The men naturally assume Chuck was her husband, only to discover that Chuck was her cat. 😂 That kind of gentle humor worked really well for me.
I also loved that Eli McCann narrated the audiobook himself. There is something special about hearing an author perform their own work when they can do it well, and McCann absolutely can. He brings a tremendous amount of heart and emotional depth to these characters.
I was also interested in the story’s exploration of a gay man who grew up in the LDS community and has found a way to make peace with parts of that upbringing while maintaining a loving relationship with his parents. There is a tenderness to the way McCann approaches family, faith, sexuality, aging, and the sometimes-unexpected places where we find community.
And yet…something was missing for me. Readers who follow my reviews know that a book filled with endearing elderly women is practically engineered in a laboratory for me personally. These women were funny and lovable, the premise was delightful, and the story checked so many of my boxes. But for whatever reason, it never quite reached the emotional level I kept waiting for it to hit.
Still, this was a lovely read, and I would absolutely pick up another book by Eli McCann. There is so much warmth in his storytelling, and I can easily imagine Stitched becoming a comfort read for other readers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5
Stitched was published September 8, 2026.
Thank you to Libro.fm and the Libro.fm ALC program for the gifted advance listening copy!
June 17, 2026
4.5 stars
I enjoyed reading Stitched by Eli McCann. As a beginner knitter, I don’t know much about quilting, so I found that aspect of the story especially interesting, but what I loved most was the friendship between the older women and the way they always supported one another. Their sense of community and found family was heartwarming.
I also really enjoyed Byron and Rob joining the quilting group. It was fun and sweet to see the women so accepting of the two gay men, and I found myself wishing the story had spent even more time with them because they were such enjoyable characters.
Overall, Stitched is a heartwarming story about friendship, acceptance, and the family we create for ourselves. It left me with a smile and was a lovely read.
I enjoyed reading Stitched by Eli McCann. As a beginner knitter, I don’t know much about quilting, so I found that aspect of the story especially interesting, but what I loved most was the friendship between the older women and the way they always supported one another. Their sense of community and found family was heartwarming.
I also really enjoyed Byron and Rob joining the quilting group. It was fun and sweet to see the women so accepting of the two gay men, and I found myself wishing the story had spent even more time with them because they were such enjoyable characters.
Overall, Stitched is a heartwarming story about friendship, acceptance, and the family we create for ourselves. It left me with a smile and was a lovely read.
September 11, 2026
Competitive quilting. Yes, it’s a thing and it’s not for the faint of heart. STITCHED pulls back the curtain and shows what really goes on between the fabric swatches. The lesson here? Don’t mess with quilters. Their needles are sharp and their tongues sharper.
This charming story introduces two gay men to an established group of senior quilters in Ogden, Utah as they prepare for their big quilting competition. I expected quaint cozy, and comical. I was not prepared for cattiness, intrigue, and devious manipulation. Who knew?
This is a combination that immediately piqued my interest. It’s a recipe that’s worked for me countless times and it did here too; except the journey to the magic took a bit longer than expected. The ultimate payoff (or “sparkle” as my reading buddy called it) was there; it simply required patience.
The audiobook is read by the author. Eli McCann does a fine job reading his novel. While his performance may lack some polish, it is balanced by its sincerity.
I came away from STITCHED with a greater appreciation for the craft and a new villain. Patricia, I hope your needles are forever dull and your stitches crooked.
Thank you to @librofm for the gifted audiobook that I paired with my purchased physical copy. Reading with friends made this an enjoyable experience.
This charming story introduces two gay men to an established group of senior quilters in Ogden, Utah as they prepare for their big quilting competition. I expected quaint cozy, and comical. I was not prepared for cattiness, intrigue, and devious manipulation. Who knew?
This is a combination that immediately piqued my interest. It’s a recipe that’s worked for me countless times and it did here too; except the journey to the magic took a bit longer than expected. The ultimate payoff (or “sparkle” as my reading buddy called it) was there; it simply required patience.
The audiobook is read by the author. Eli McCann does a fine job reading his novel. While his performance may lack some polish, it is balanced by its sincerity.
I came away from STITCHED with a greater appreciation for the craft and a new villain. Patricia, I hope your needles are forever dull and your stitches crooked.
Thank you to @librofm for the gifted audiobook that I paired with my purchased physical copy. Reading with friends made this an enjoyable experience.
July 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars) rounded up!
This book was an absolute delight and exactly the uplifting read I needed. Who knew a story centered around competitive quilting could be so entertaining?
The Ogden Quilting Association (OQA) is made up of six elderly women who are looking to recruit new members after losing a couple from their ranks—one due to the infamous “needle incident,” which is hilariously never fully explained. Their search leads them to welcome two younger gay men into the group despite neither of them knowing the first thing about quilting. There’s Byron, who lives for the gossip, and Rob, the quiet, observant artist. Their personalities couldn’t be more different, and watching them become part of the OQA was one of my favorite parts of the story.
While quilting provides the backdrop, this is really a story about friendship, found family, and the people who show up for one another. It’s about trust, companionship, and finding a place where you belong.
The rivalry between the OQA and the quilting group from Logan adds another layer of fun, giving readers a delightfully easy villain to root against throughout the competition.
This was such a cozy, heartwarming read filled with humor, lovable characters, and plenty of charm. I genuinely hope this isn’t the last we see of the OQA. I’d happily return for another book filled with their quilting competitions, antics, and the continued stories of this wonderful found family.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was an absolute delight and exactly the uplifting read I needed. Who knew a story centered around competitive quilting could be so entertaining?
The Ogden Quilting Association (OQA) is made up of six elderly women who are looking to recruit new members after losing a couple from their ranks—one due to the infamous “needle incident,” which is hilariously never fully explained. Their search leads them to welcome two younger gay men into the group despite neither of them knowing the first thing about quilting. There’s Byron, who lives for the gossip, and Rob, the quiet, observant artist. Their personalities couldn’t be more different, and watching them become part of the OQA was one of my favorite parts of the story.
While quilting provides the backdrop, this is really a story about friendship, found family, and the people who show up for one another. It’s about trust, companionship, and finding a place where you belong.
The rivalry between the OQA and the quilting group from Logan adds another layer of fun, giving readers a delightfully easy villain to root against throughout the competition.
This was such a cozy, heartwarming read filled with humor, lovable characters, and plenty of charm. I genuinely hope this isn’t the last we see of the OQA. I’d happily return for another book filled with their quilting competitions, antics, and the continued stories of this wonderful found family.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2026
This was a perfectly pleasant book, but the middle dragged so hard I just couldn't finish it. I got to 66% and started reading other reviews that said it was just going to be more of the same. It was much more about the older ladies than the young, dynamic gay men who joined their group. The way this was pitched (I saw McCann's reel promoting it) was hilarious, but I think the problem is the kind of content he pitched is great in small doses, but I did not thoroughly enjoy an entire book of it. Also, some of the old lady gossip felt mean or really depressing at times. I appreciate that McCann really wanted to make this a deeply introspective look into the... stuff that comes along with getting older, but... yeah, it just kinda made me sad about old age. I wanted to laugh at old ladies bickering and gay men spicing up their lives. Either the book should have been shorter, or funnier.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
September 11, 2026
Thank you to Librofm and Torrey House Press for a gifted listeners copy of Stitched by Eli McCann in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Stitched is a dramatic comedy featuring competitive quilters in Utah. The story follows a group of long term female friends who hesitantly invite two gay men into their inner circle, in order to inject new energy and ideas into their annual sewing competition. I really wanted to love this found family story, but never felt a deep sense of connection to the characters. It worked as a palate cleanser for me with several funny moments and a rival quilter who was fun to hate.
The audiobook is narrated by the author himself. And although he may not be a professional voice actor, he brought sincerity to his story. Ultimately I enjoyed the initial idea behind the book, but the story just needed a bit more magic to truly capture my heart 3/5⭐️
Stitched is a dramatic comedy featuring competitive quilters in Utah. The story follows a group of long term female friends who hesitantly invite two gay men into their inner circle, in order to inject new energy and ideas into their annual sewing competition. I really wanted to love this found family story, but never felt a deep sense of connection to the characters. It worked as a palate cleanser for me with several funny moments and a rival quilter who was fun to hate.
The audiobook is narrated by the author himself. And although he may not be a professional voice actor, he brought sincerity to his story. Ultimately I enjoyed the initial idea behind the book, but the story just needed a bit more magic to truly capture my heart 3/5⭐️
September 13, 2026
This is so special and tender to me. This is exactly how generations of hobby crafters have always been. Makes me wanna make a quilt and excited to be old and crafting
August 1, 2026
Stitched is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. I loved the characters- they were all so funny and lovable in their own ways. As someone who loves quilting it was fun to see a story based around a quilting group and the world of cutthroat quilting competitions. Even better than the quilting storyline though were the friendships and found family of the OQA. I wanted even more time with these wonderful characters and hope there will be a sequel!
Many thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for access to an eARC in exchange for my review!
Many thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for access to an eARC in exchange for my review!
September 26, 2026
Betty Lou is a longtime member and current chair of the Ogden Quilters Association, and now that a big quilting competition is being held in Utah for the first time, she's determined to make this year's quilt entry a smashing success. Unfortunately, the other members of the OQA don't seem to have the same dedication to the project. Leera, the oldest in the group, has lost her filter and bickers constantly with Betty Lou. Lucy, while sweet, is a bit dense -- but who has the nerve to tell her that her proposed cross stitch square is totally off-theme? Diane is sharp and down-to-earth, but she's got her hands full with Alice, who's losing her hearing and possibly her mind. Candace is kind and capable, but she's invited two gay men from Salt Lake to join the OQA (isn't that against the bylaws? Can they even sew??). With the stress of the competition -- and the pressures of taking care of her family -- Betty Lou just might be unraveling at the seams.
This book was a lot of fun. Told through multiple POVs, we get to spend a lot of time with these endearing characters. I love how they each had such different personalities. There are plenty of books out there starring senior citizens, but its usually only one per book; this one has a whole cast of them.
Lots and lots of humor. Lots and lots of heart. I really liked this book and devoured it in a weekend.
The audio was done by the author. I really love Eli McCann, but gosh, I wish this could have been done by a full cast!
Quite a lot of mild language (mostly damn and hell, but I think also some instances of sh*t, ass, and the Lord's name in vain. NO f-bombs.)
Thanks to libro.fm for the ALC.
This book was a lot of fun. Told through multiple POVs, we get to spend a lot of time with these endearing characters. I love how they each had such different personalities. There are plenty of books out there starring senior citizens, but its usually only one per book; this one has a whole cast of them.
Lots and lots of humor. Lots and lots of heart. I really liked this book and devoured it in a weekend.
The audio was done by the author. I really love Eli McCann, but gosh, I wish this could have been done by a full cast!
Quite a lot of mild language (mostly damn and hell, but I think also some instances of sh*t, ass, and the Lord's name in vain. NO f-bombs.)
Thanks to libro.fm for the ALC.
September 20, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ rounded ⬆️
I’m stealing a line from the book here, this is a geriatric soap opera, and I freaking loved it!
I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more, then I cried some more.
This is a little bit of Real Housewives, The Golden Girls, and Steel Magnolias all balled up and stitched together. An endearing story about friendships. It reminded me that sometimes I could care less about the book we read for book club, I just look forward to going and having that sense of community. At the risk of being that obnoxious sounding millennial, I love that “third space” these sort of groups allow us to have to form these friendships. As someone who attends book clubs that tend to have some older (and undoubtedly wiser) members, I really enjoyed this book and the similarities I could pull out like threads! 🧵 🪡
(See what I did therewith that subtle pun 😉)
I’m stealing a line from the book here, this is a geriatric soap opera, and I freaking loved it!
I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more, then I cried some more.
This is a little bit of Real Housewives, The Golden Girls, and Steel Magnolias all balled up and stitched together. An endearing story about friendships. It reminded me that sometimes I could care less about the book we read for book club, I just look forward to going and having that sense of community. At the risk of being that obnoxious sounding millennial, I love that “third space” these sort of groups allow us to have to form these friendships. As someone who attends book clubs that tend to have some older (and undoubtedly wiser) members, I really enjoyed this book and the similarities I could pull out like threads! 🧵 🪡
(See what I did therewith that subtle pun 😉)
September 24, 2026
3.5-3.75 stars - this had potential to be fantastic, so my rating somewhat reflects my disappointment in falling a bit short. (I am familiar with the author from TikTok and had high hopes). There were aspects I enjoyed, but a lot of missed opportunities too. I wished there was more discussion of sewing and quilting and less about the politics of the clubs and who was going to host the competition. I wish the two gay men who joined the club were more of a plot point vs. rather silent observers. I wish there had also been far less use of acronyms (do NOT take a drink every time OQA is used, but there was also SFQE, LQS, etc. It stood out to my ear on audio and was a distraction).
But there were heartwarming aspects about the friendships among the group!
But there were heartwarming aspects about the friendships among the group!
September 13, 2026
I often say authors shouldn't narrate their own books, with a few exceptions. This not being one. Partly it might have been the editing of the book. There were so many long, run-on sentences, I thought he was going to run out of air and pass out! Take a breath, Eli!
So, the narration was not my favorite.
I have seen Eli on Instagram and enjoyed him, so I was looking forward to reading this, but I just didn't love it. There wasn't much of a story!
The best scenes were those in the fabric store and those with Byron and Rob. Unfortunately they weren't given that many speaking parts and the women weren't all that entertaining.
This was your typical quilt group, with more whining. And the gabby ill-tempered woman you don't want to get stuck sitting next to, she was there too.
Overall, these women were more annoying than the ones in my quilt group.
The Ogden, UT ladies use more profanity too! I wonder if that is an accurate depiction of meetings the author has attended. I was surprised!
Two stars-- just ok.
Note: A couple things that irked me-- the author sometimes refers to quilts as 'blankets' and to blocks as 'squares'. Maybe they do that in UT too?
So, the narration was not my favorite.
I have seen Eli on Instagram and enjoyed him, so I was looking forward to reading this, but I just didn't love it. There wasn't much of a story!
The best scenes were those in the fabric store and those with Byron and Rob. Unfortunately they weren't given that many speaking parts and the women weren't all that entertaining.
This was your typical quilt group, with more whining. And the gabby ill-tempered woman you don't want to get stuck sitting next to, she was there too.
Overall, these women were more annoying than the ones in my quilt group.
The Ogden, UT ladies use more profanity too! I wonder if that is an accurate depiction of meetings the author has attended. I was surprised!
Two stars-- just ok.
Note: A couple things that irked me-- the author sometimes refers to quilts as 'blankets' and to blocks as 'squares'. Maybe they do that in UT too?
September 19, 2026
This concept had such promise yet somehow managed to be completely uninteresting. Kept waiting for something to happen. The story simply rambled on. The plot consisted of preparing a quilt for a competition and the very unpleasant disagreements amongst the quilters.
The characters werent funny. Situations weren’t funny. I think Byron and the constant segues in his neverending stories was supposed to be humorous and maybe it was once or twice. Toilets overflowing is not funny.
Betty Lou was oddly the only fleshed out character. She had a job, husband and children. Some of the rest we learned bits and pieces about. Others we learned their names. Details weren’t important. A little more character development and a lot less cabbage sandwiches would have been nice.
The book seemed to be page after page of passive agressive bickering and eye rolling. For a group that got together every week for decades the “friendship” was the thinnest of threads. Speaking of thread, for a book about quilting, there was little to no explanation of technique. The words were there but if you werent a quilter (I am not) the words meant nothing.
The characters werent funny. Situations weren’t funny. I think Byron and the constant segues in his neverending stories was supposed to be humorous and maybe it was once or twice. Toilets overflowing is not funny.
Betty Lou was oddly the only fleshed out character. She had a job, husband and children. Some of the rest we learned bits and pieces about. Others we learned their names. Details weren’t important. A little more character development and a lot less cabbage sandwiches would have been nice.
The book seemed to be page after page of passive agressive bickering and eye rolling. For a group that got together every week for decades the “friendship” was the thinnest of threads. Speaking of thread, for a book about quilting, there was little to no explanation of technique. The words were there but if you werent a quilter (I am not) the words meant nothing.
Review of advance copy
I really wanted to like this book. I pre-ordered it and got it at least 3 weeks before I expected it. (and Goodreads says it is not out yet, although the author has posted pics of him signing copies to be sent out, I got mine from Bookstore). there is just no there, there. The characters are so flat. The personalities, what little they have, are stereotyped and no physical description is given so I couldn't begin to imagine them. The two male characters are finally said to be boyfriends in the very end, but they showed no affection to each other. The plot was so thin and uninteresting. One of the quilters left the group because of The Needle incident, but it was never explained. What happened? Two others lived together, were they friends or something more? They had little to no backstories and no depth. At the end it seemed that the moral of the story was they all wanted friends not winning quilts. Having been in a stitching group for just over 30 years (COVID moved us to online, and while it continues, it is not the same) I call bullshit on that. We are friends and we compete. We want to improve our skills and win ribbons and we lovingly tease each other when one of us beats another of us. And I am an old lady, like most of the characters in this book. And I want to improve my skills and continue to make friends. Honestly, the book was just boring. Even taking place in Utah, a place I don't consider to be very interesting, it was uninspired. What a disappointment.
September 11, 2026
Heartwarming story about friendship and family. The prose flows well, dialogue is engaging, and narrative tension throughout. The characters are well rounded and there is humor throughout. It was a treat to read this and be transported to the world of competitive quilting.
September 11, 2026
What a hoot! I see my future and I’m so excited!
September 22, 2026
Anecdotes do not make a book
If you can imagine writing down in detail the minutiae of an average day you would have this book. And it is equally riveting. Ignore the hype AND this book.
If you can imagine writing down in detail the minutiae of an average day you would have this book. And it is equally riveting. Ignore the hype AND this book.
September 25, 2026
Way more depth than you would expect. My crafting book group really enjoyed this one. A slice of life
September 28, 2026
SPOILERS MAY BE INCLUDED IN THIS REVIEW. Consider yourselves warned.
I wanted to love this book. I had such high hopes for it. Since I started quilting in 1986, I have been a member of more quilt guilds than I can count (I moved five times between 2002 and 2022), worked in a quilt store for five years, and have dozens of quilting friends. I’ve made hundreds of quilts. I’ve been to at least ten very large, national quilt shows in four states. So I’ve got lots of quilt credibility. But Mr. McCann portrays the quilters in his novel as adversaries, unable to get along with other quilters in a nearby guild. I am not saying that those kind of quilters don’t exist, but my fear is that people who read this book will think that this kind of behavior is far more prevalent than it actually is. And I’ve never heard of a group that required people to fill out paperwork to apply to be a member - each org I’ve been in happily accepts anyone who pays membership dues.
Beyond the misrepresentation of quilting friendships, he writes about a local show that has the judges doing the judging in the last hour of a weekend quilt show. Whatever gave him the idea that this is how judging is done?! Judging takes place the day (maybe two days) before the show is open to the public. That way when the show opens, the ribbons are attached to the quilts and the attendees can see which ones won in their respective categories. And judges do NOT meet with anyone who worked on the quilt. To take the chance that they’d be influenced one way or another by someone whose hands worked on a quilt they are judging is just never possible. Judging rules and guidelines would not allow that. Anywhere. No matter what.
A quilt shop in the book has a kitchen and they prepare cookies to put out for customers and employees. But there’s no mention of having napkins or a sink where people can wash their hands before they touch anything that is for sale in the shop, Sugary, crumbly fingers near fabric that is about $14 a yard? No no no no NO. Food anywhere near the goods for sale in the store is just not allowed. (We ate in the back of the shop I worked in at a tiny table, and only one employee at a time because the others were with customers. I don’t think we had drinks - even water - near merchandise.
People can have their differences when it comes to many hobbies - quilters are no different. But in the hundreds of women I’ve met who are quilters, every single one is the kind that would do anything for another quilter and fully support them in every way, shape or form. And if I had a friend with whom I had a difference of opinion, and he or she was not answering a phone call or a text, I would not let four months go past before I finally went in person to talk to that friend. It’s inconceivable to me that a true friend might not try to talk to me if it had been that long since we connected.
The book is not completely without merit. I just wish Mr. McCann had done far more research and learned about the strong, creative and supportive people who make up the quilting population in the USA (and beyond). The concept of his book had so many possibilities, but I fear he squandered his chances to have a resonant and powerful story to tell about quilters to share with the world.
I wanted to love this book. I had such high hopes for it. Since I started quilting in 1986, I have been a member of more quilt guilds than I can count (I moved five times between 2002 and 2022), worked in a quilt store for five years, and have dozens of quilting friends. I’ve made hundreds of quilts. I’ve been to at least ten very large, national quilt shows in four states. So I’ve got lots of quilt credibility. But Mr. McCann portrays the quilters in his novel as adversaries, unable to get along with other quilters in a nearby guild. I am not saying that those kind of quilters don’t exist, but my fear is that people who read this book will think that this kind of behavior is far more prevalent than it actually is. And I’ve never heard of a group that required people to fill out paperwork to apply to be a member - each org I’ve been in happily accepts anyone who pays membership dues.
Beyond the misrepresentation of quilting friendships, he writes about a local show that has the judges doing the judging in the last hour of a weekend quilt show. Whatever gave him the idea that this is how judging is done?! Judging takes place the day (maybe two days) before the show is open to the public. That way when the show opens, the ribbons are attached to the quilts and the attendees can see which ones won in their respective categories. And judges do NOT meet with anyone who worked on the quilt. To take the chance that they’d be influenced one way or another by someone whose hands worked on a quilt they are judging is just never possible. Judging rules and guidelines would not allow that. Anywhere. No matter what.
A quilt shop in the book has a kitchen and they prepare cookies to put out for customers and employees. But there’s no mention of having napkins or a sink where people can wash their hands before they touch anything that is for sale in the shop, Sugary, crumbly fingers near fabric that is about $14 a yard? No no no no NO. Food anywhere near the goods for sale in the store is just not allowed. (We ate in the back of the shop I worked in at a tiny table, and only one employee at a time because the others were with customers. I don’t think we had drinks - even water - near merchandise.
People can have their differences when it comes to many hobbies - quilters are no different. But in the hundreds of women I’ve met who are quilters, every single one is the kind that would do anything for another quilter and fully support them in every way, shape or form. And if I had a friend with whom I had a difference of opinion, and he or she was not answering a phone call or a text, I would not let four months go past before I finally went in person to talk to that friend. It’s inconceivable to me that a true friend might not try to talk to me if it had been that long since we connected.
The book is not completely without merit. I just wish Mr. McCann had done far more research and learned about the strong, creative and supportive people who make up the quilting population in the USA (and beyond). The concept of his book had so many possibilities, but I fear he squandered his chances to have a resonant and powerful story to tell about quilters to share with the world.
September 28, 2026
3.5 stars: This was cute. It’s a wholesome and funny slice of life kind of book, and speaking as a queer person and quilter from a rural area myself, it felt kind of nostalgic and true to how disparate groups find a common ground in certain areas of America.
It felt kind of like a bait and switch to me with how the story started out with Rob and Byron joining the group and then ended up being more about the old ladies’ lives. I guess the book works as something I could hand my grandma that wouldn’t scare her off and might make her open her mind/heart up more to queer folks, but as a queer folk myself reading this book written by a queer author, I was disappointed that we didn’t get more of Rob and Byron (especially since Byron was the funniest character in the whole book and I enjoyed his scenes the most).
There are also some plot elements that felt unaddressed, not in a “leaving things open to a sequel” way, but in ways that left the book feeling incomplete to me. Like Rob and Byron’s relationship seemed to happen largely off the page and I was annoyed when at the show it was stated there was a rule penalizing poor sportsmanship… and then the antagonist of the book is never punished for her blatant cheating.
Overall I enjoyed this book and it was a solid debut, but I feel like it could have used more editing.
It felt kind of like a bait and switch to me with how the story started out with Rob and Byron joining the group and then ended up being more about the old ladies’ lives. I guess the book works as something I could hand my grandma that wouldn’t scare her off and might make her open her mind/heart up more to queer folks, but as a queer folk myself reading this book written by a queer author, I was disappointed that we didn’t get more of Rob and Byron (especially since Byron was the funniest character in the whole book and I enjoyed his scenes the most).
There are also some plot elements that felt unaddressed, not in a “leaving things open to a sequel” way, but in ways that left the book feeling incomplete to me. Like Rob and Byron’s relationship seemed to happen largely off the page and I was annoyed when at the show it was stated there was a rule penalizing poor sportsmanship… and then the antagonist of the book is never punished for her blatant cheating.
Overall I enjoyed this book and it was a solid debut, but I feel like it could have used more editing.
September 16, 2026
I listened to this book using Libro app. It was read by the author who I also follow on social media. Eli did a great job of narrating his book. I wasn’t sure at first that I liked the story because some of the characters seemed somewhat annoying, but as I got deeper into the story and came to understand that the characters had their quirks, but they genuinely cared about each other, I came to appreciate the story more. I found myself being frustrated on behalf of one of the main characters that she wasn’t being treated very kindly by the others; however, once they came to understand that they had not been fair to her, the story resolved in a lovely way. I would have liked to have seen the character of Rob play a bigger role. It struck me that there was more to him than just being a quiet, artistic type, but I understand that the emphasis was on the older women quilters. Byron was a very annoying character and a little bit endearing, but mostly annoying to me. He needed ADHD medication. Byron did, however, provide some good comic relief in the story. In the end, I was glad I listened to this book read by the author and hope he will write another novel.
September 15, 2026
Members of the Ogden Quilters Association (OQA) are excited that the Simpton Family Quilting Extravaganza (SFQE) will be held in the city of Ogden this year.
Unfortunately, the group has lost a few members due to aging, accidents and moving away. One of the members begs/invites her employee Byron and his boyfriend Rob to join to make up for lost members. Somehow they find themselves at the meeting of the OGQ and being inducted into the group. Byron works at the Fab Fabrics shop and Rob who is an artist, but neither know how to quilt.
As the group works on their quilt, problems pop up. Internal within the group and personal issues to some of the ladies. Betty Lou is the one character that I will remember. She is the chairperson of the OQA but has difficulties speaking up for herself. At the end, you will hear her roar.
But most of all this is a book about long term, wonderful friendships.
Next time that I am at our state fair looking at a beautiful quilt, I’ll always think of this group.
Unfortunately, the group has lost a few members due to aging, accidents and moving away. One of the members begs/invites her employee Byron and his boyfriend Rob to join to make up for lost members. Somehow they find themselves at the meeting of the OGQ and being inducted into the group. Byron works at the Fab Fabrics shop and Rob who is an artist, but neither know how to quilt.
As the group works on their quilt, problems pop up. Internal within the group and personal issues to some of the ladies. Betty Lou is the one character that I will remember. She is the chairperson of the OQA but has difficulties speaking up for herself. At the end, you will hear her roar.
But most of all this is a book about long term, wonderful friendships.
Next time that I am at our state fair looking at a beautiful quilt, I’ll always think of this group.
August 12, 2026
I received an ARC ebook from PW Grab-A-Galley.
A 4.5 star rating for this heartwarming story. I enjoyed this book even though I know nothing about quilting. It’s the humorous dialogue and relationship between the members of the Ogden Quilters Association that makes this book memorable.
All the women in the group are over 60. A biannual competition is coming up and the group needs a couple of new and younger members. Current member Candace brings two gay men, Byron and Rob who know nothing about quilting, to join. As they begin working on their quilt, relationships within the group change as the leader, Betty Lou, faces personal challenges.
I learned about quilting, competitions and the lengths some people go to be winners and squelch competitors. There are many conversations full of witty and funny dialogue, especially from hard-of-hearing Alice and rambling Byron. The personal growth of Betty Lou is the part I liked best.
A 4.5 star rating for this heartwarming story. I enjoyed this book even though I know nothing about quilting. It’s the humorous dialogue and relationship between the members of the Ogden Quilters Association that makes this book memorable.
All the women in the group are over 60. A biannual competition is coming up and the group needs a couple of new and younger members. Current member Candace brings two gay men, Byron and Rob who know nothing about quilting, to join. As they begin working on their quilt, relationships within the group change as the leader, Betty Lou, faces personal challenges.
I learned about quilting, competitions and the lengths some people go to be winners and squelch competitors. There are many conversations full of witty and funny dialogue, especially from hard-of-hearing Alice and rambling Byron. The personal growth of Betty Lou is the part I liked best.
September 14, 2026
3.5 I really love Eli McCann and am a fan of his podcast and his column and stories on TikTok. I was very excited for this book, and it was a fun read! I listened to the audiobook and found it a little tricky to keep track of all the characters, some of whom are tough hangs. Some of the story lines felt super underbaked (Like Byron and Rob - how do they know each other? Why did someone make a comment to Byron about him getting to meet someone exciting at quilt group - hinting at rob - like they didn’t know each other already? Why do we get like two lines from Rob in the whole book?), and I would’ve loved more back story to some of the characters. This book has its flaws and I feel like it could’ve used some more development, but the does end up being pretty wholesome.
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