The Wedding Dress Repair Shop

by Trisha Ashley

Can her heart be mended too? Garland Fairford has her dream job as a historical Costumier in London and is engaged to a handsome and successful playwright, Marco. Whilst working on an exhibition of dresses owned by a Victorian actress, Garland meets a long-lost relative - Honey Fairford. Garland, an orphan, is delighted, and intrigued to discover Honey is planning to open a wedding dress museum in Lancashire. When Garland loses her fiancé e and her job in the same week, she is excited to accept Honey's offer to work at the museum. Escaping London, and her old life, Garland is then shocked to be confronted with a ghost from her past - Thom. As Garland starts to repair the beautiful vintage wedding dresses for the museum, as well as her relationship with Thom, could this finally be the chance for her own happy-ever-after?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, Ebooks

400 pages, Hardcover

First published June 8, 2023

About the author

Trisha Ashley is now a full-time novelist, but she has been known to work for stained glass makers and/or plumbers. She likes to paint, eat, drink, and read literary biographies. Her previous hobbies included getting divorced and packing to move. She claims to have once actually eaten Bronte burgers at the Branwell café, but her publisher declines to verify this. She lives in North Wales.

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~]

DNF @ 26%.

I had high hopes from this one considering the author, the title and the cover, but maybe I was the wrong reader for it. The writing style is too conversation-driven, which is never something that clicks for me.

Some points that might be helpful for you to decide if this could work better for you:
😔 Unlike what the pastel cover suggests, this is not a romcom. It is more like contemporary women’s fiction, with a dash of romance. (I am assuming the dash will turn into a heftier dollop as we move ahead, but either way, there’s no “com”, only “rom”.) This didn't bother me as I prefer women's fiction to romance anyway.

😔 The titular wedding dress repair shop is nowhere in sight till the 26% mark, and looking at the hints provided, it seems like there is a wedding dress museum coming up, but not a repair shop. So I found the title and cover quite misleading, but as this opinion is based only on the first quarter of the book, I might be wrong. I hope the remaining three-quarters justifies the choice of title/cover because well-written descriptions of wedding dresses can certainly elevate such books.

😔 A major chunk of the plot (at least till the 26% mark) unveils through conversations, whether direct or overheard. There is hardly any direct action on the page. I am not comfortable with this writing approach, where dialogues exist for the sole purpose of providing a detailed update of what happened to whom and why. The first 10% or so is just one extended scene filled mostly with an infodump-providing conversation. This was the main reason behind my decision to stop reading this work.

😔 The lead character is in her mid-thirties but surprisingly blind to many basic facts, especially concerning her fiancé. Despite the first-person narrative, I never felt connected to her because of her attitude. (I must add: she is also quite judgemental, which irked me further.) If you have patience with such leading ladies, you might fare better with this book.

😌 The above protagonist (from the contemporary timeline) is a theatrical costumier, and hence, there are some lovely insights about costuming and dressmaking.

😌 There is a historical timeline, set in 1815 and focussing on a theatre actress who gives up the stage for marriage and regrets her decision. This timeline, which comes to us in the form of her journal, seems to hold a lot of promise. I wish I had enough patience to read only this part of the novel and skip the contemporary story.

😌 There’s a cat called Golightly. I hope there’s more of him in the rest of the book.


Leaving this without a rating as I didn’t reach even the halfway mark. If you do pick it up, I hope it clicks better for you. Considering that a majority of readers have loved this novel, there's a good chance that you might too.


I received a complimentary copy of this book at my request and these are my honest thoughts about it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este livro tem daquelas histórias que dá um filme perfeito de sábado à tarde. É querido, doce e tem uma pitada de mistério que cativa.

Contudo, como livro sinto que se torna demasiado - é demasiado extenso para a história que está a ser contada, não era preciso vermos as coisas assim...e para algo tão grande, a verdade é que acontece pouca coisa 😅

Gostei muito da escrita sim, e passei um bom bocado com esta leitura, mas confesso que o plot principal da Garland e dos vestidos nem foi o que mais me cativou...o que eu mais amei foram as partes do diário da Rosa-May 👀

Foi doce, foi querido, mas não foi inesquecível...ainda assim, gostei ❤️

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You've got to love Trisha Ashley's incredible character names; Garland Fairford, Mallory Mortlake, Wilfric Wolfram, she never disappoints! Much weaker storyline than usual, and much minute detail with every day to day activity but I enjoyed the cosiness of the story.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trisha does it again. I just love the way that she writes. It's very different than all other books out there which is joyfu. I really liked the main characters in this book and I loved the grumpy cat. I enjoyed the part that they were turning the most hurtful thing that can happen to person surrounding your wedding day into something that can be fun and engaging and giving the story a positive spin. I liked the fact that I was about new beginnings and starting again and the little country town sounded delightful. An absolute joy.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous read and one I devoured in a couple of days. A beautiful slow romance with such wonderful relationships.
I loved Honey and her attitude to everything - so refreshing and such a support to Garland.
The idea of the wedding dresses whispering to eachother and telling their stories was such a brilliant way to weave the dressmaking and the story together. The whole setting sounded idyllic and the way the community supported eachother a joy to read about.

[Angela Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read quite a few of Trisha Ashley’s books so could not wait to dive straight into The Wedding Dress Repair Shop. I loved the bright colour and design of the book cover but once I started reading the book it was much more interesting and detailed than I initially expected which goes back to the phrase never judge a book by its cover.
I expected it to just be an easy read romantic story and although there is romance it takes a back seat to the story of Garland while also sharing the story of Rosa-May.
I enjoyed the way the book flipped back and fore between the 2 characters and enjoyed the stories behind each wedding dress.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all of the characters apart from one (no spoilers)and would definitely recommend it .
Thanks to Netgalley, Random
House UK, Transworld Publishers and Trisha Ashley for this advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot to like about this book, but for me it was too drawn out, and far to many small details included.

First the positives:
The characters were great - even the 'villains were well drawn and the main characters were lovely
I loved the idea of a wedding dress museum
The general plot and story was good
I enjoyed the mini stories of each of the wedding dress disasters.
Rosa Mays back story

My main problem was once the main character left London it felt like I was reading some-ones diary: the minute detail of exactly what tasks she carried out each day, I could list every item she ate, and her cats every movement. It's just my opinion but we could of had the second half of the story in half the word count at no detriment to the actual tale.

[Anya Klimbishchuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly can't remember the last book that I rated lower then 3 stars, but this one is bad. I had high hopes due to the 'reviews' on the back of the book, and maybe this made my reading expirience more painful.

At first it was cute. A good starting point, a main charachter with a non-typical job and a not-the-one fiance. It felt like something that you could turn into a Hallmark movie, but after about 50 pages of talking the same things over and over again you start to question the good reviews.

Wrighting style is something that stunned me in a bad way. Is it really neccessary to tell your story all over again to EVERY new person that you just met? Oh, and of course you have to tell, that you usually do not do this, no, you are just the fifth person that I retold the whole story of my life.
The way author describes everything that a main character does through her day. I didn't need this information, espessially when it is the same things she did two pages ago.

The story of the actress was much better than the main story line, but the ending is something that I cannot comprehend to this day. Even the whole 'All you need is love' thing didn't save the impression.

I kept reading this book because I was under the impression that there eventually would appear a wedding dress repair shop, but, surprise, there isn't one. And wedding dresses maybe were the best part of this book that lasted maybe for 20ish pages.

It isn't cute. It isn't funny. Not even a cosy read. It is just a really bad book.

[Elisabete Cunha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quem me conhece sabe que eu adoro os livros da Trisha, é sem dúvida uma das minhas autoras favoritas, os seus livros são para mim leituras de conforto e mal podia esperar por ler este.
Claro que assim que o recebi comecei logo a lê-lo e ele passou á frente de toda a TBR e ainda bem que o fiz. Amei este livro, a autora voltou no seu melhor.
Neste livro temos Garland, uma figurinista, que está prestes a ser promovida, ela está a trabalhar num deslumbrante vestido para a nova peça do seu noivo, quando ouve uma conversa que irá mudar toda a sua. Ela vai descobrir que o noivo não é quem ela esperava e após o choque da traição, ela vê-se sozinha em Londres, sem noivo, sem trabalho. É quando Honey, lhe faz a proposta da sua vida, ir trabalhar para o Muséu dos vestidos de noiva que irá abrir. Garland muda-se para a pequena vila onde irá encontrar o seu antigo amigo de infância Thom. Com a convivência e após recuperarem a sua amizade perdida, eles irão perceber que o que os une é mais que amizade, mas será Garland capaz de esquecer o seu desgosto de amor e de entregar o seu coração?
Este livro é maravilhoso. Um romance lento e bonito com relações tão bem construídas.Gostei muito das personagens, principalmente Honey, mas a estrela deste livro foi sem dúvida Golightly o seu gato rabugento. Adorei a forma como o livro alterna entre o passado, através dos diários de Rosa May e o presente com a Garland.
També adorei conhecer as histórias por trás de cada vestido de noiva.
E por fim a forma como toda os habitantes da aldeia se apoiam e ajudam foi lindo de ler e deixou-me de coração quentinho. O Livro perfeito para ler nesta altura do ano.

[Linniegayl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of an odd book. In addition to the contemporary portion, we have flashbacks every few chapters to the past (1815) via the journal of a woman who was an actress.

The contemporary portion is filled with some rather quirky characters (typical for the author). Garland, our lead character, is a costumer and is engaged to a horrible man, Marco. When everything goes awry with their engagement (and it took far longer than I wished), Garland lands on her feet thanks to a newly discovered wealthy cousin as the curator of a soon-to-open wedding dress museum. Once in the small town, Garland meets her childhood best friend, Thom, and they slowly rekindle their friendship.

I liked the contemporary portion for the most part, even the very long descriptions of the wedding dresses Garland was working on for the museum, but I know some will be put off by these descriptions.

What I really didn't care for were the historical excerpts. It's clear from the beginning that something bad was going to happen to the actress (Rosa-May). And those excerpts just didn't seem to fit with the generally upbeat, quirky contemporary part. As a result, I mostly skimmed -- or at times just skipped -- the historical portions.

I will definitely continue reading books by the author, but hope that she doesn't write more with historical portions. Or if she does, that they fit the tone of the contemporary portion more than this one did.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was completely absorbed in Garland’s life, the wedding dresses, and the cat.

Garland is loving her job, working for a costumier in London and making a stunning Titania dress for her fiancé’s new stage production.

Then she overhears a conversation about her at the theatre. Her world crumbles and she sells her home, leaves London, and takes up a job with her newly found distant relative and bestselling author, Honey Fairford. Honey is setting up a wedding dress museum and Garland is tasked with preparing the dresses, all of which have their own stories, for display.

Moving to this small and friendly community is just what Garland needs and she soon fits in like a long lost friend.

Of course there is a love interest, and an ex fiancé who is trying to find her.

I adored this book. I liked Garland from the beginning, Honey is a fabulous diva, Thom is a lovable love interest. But. The absolute star of the show is Golightly, the cat who accidentally becomes Garland’s responsibility. What a character!

The perfect summer read.

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book took a few chapters to get into. An engaging story told in great detail with wonderful characters, a classic Trisha Ashley.

[M.W. Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope Trisha will forgive me for saying but, and this is only my opinion of course, but we have this author back to her best! This is a wonderful tale of reconnection and the triumph of the human spirit. More please! My thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the reading copy.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 *Not what I was expecting based on the others read my this other. I liked the cover if the wedding dress shop/museum but for some reason this book just didn’t work for me and struggled to read it.

[Lainy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Bantam press

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Can her heart be mended too? Garland Fairford has her dream job as a historical Costumier in London and is engaged to a handsome and successful playwright, Marco. Whilst working on an exhibition of dresses owned by a Victorian actress, Garland meets a long-lost relative - Honey Fairford. Garland, an orphan, is delighted, and intrigued to discover Honey is planning to open a wedding dress museum in Lancashire. When Garland loses her fiancé e and her job in the same week, she is excited to accept Honey's offer to work at the museum. Escaping London, and her old life, Garland is then shocked to be confronted with a ghost from her past - Thom. As Garland starts to repair the beautiful vintage wedding dresses for the museum, as well as her relationship with Thom, could this finally be the chance for her own happy-ever-after?


My Review

Duo timeline, present day with Garland a historical costumier her self absorbed fiancé who is a playwright and fixated on his new play. Honey is a very successful author who happens to be related to Garland and of course Marco wants to exploit that. We hate Marco! Anyway something kicks off and Garland ends up losing her job and taking up Honey's offer, to work at her new museum. What museum I hear you ask? Only one prompted by Honey's own story and links in with her new book. Wedding dresses of brides that didn't have their happy ever after and Garland will be repairing and restoring the dresses, collating their stories and sorting the displays. Asif Garland's life isn't turned upside down enough - when she flees to the small town she is faced with something from her past that pulls the rug out from under her.

Oooft Garland fair goes on a journey, did I say we hate Marco? He is narcissistic, self obsessed, inflated ego and just an absolute banger we do not like him. The book flips between present day and back to the past, diary format, of the original wearer of the dress Garland was working on before everything kicked off.

Little dramas, relationships, secrets, lies and a beautiful wee scene stealer in the form of an old judgey cat, I absolutely love him. Overall it isn't a book I would have picked up myself but I am so glad I got it sent because I really enjoyed it. Despite it having a fair few characters/scene switches it flows well and I really enjoyed it - I think this was possibly my first by this author, it won't be my last 4/5.

[Melanie Moreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que grande surpresa que foi este livro. Já tinha lido um livro da autora e não tinha gostado nada, mas este livro? Redimiu a minha primeira experiência com a autora.

Gostei imenso da história, dos personagens e a ideia de ter um museu com vestidos de noiva de casamentos que acabaram de forma trágica (ou não), é perfeita! Claro que, para mim, este livro poderia ser metade do que é porque há partes que não trazem nada de novo à história, mas por outro lado gostava que o interesse amoroso fosse mais desenvolvido. Percebo que exista química entre eles, mas não me perdi de amores pelo casal principal. Faltou-me algo para que pudesse ficar 🥹😍
De qualquer das maneiras, para mim, o casal e o romance também não era o foco principal do livro.

O facto de termos também um pequeno mistério por resolver, do desaparecimento da Rosa May (a antepassada de Garland e Honey) acho que deu um toque muito especial à história!

Lê o livro se gostas de:
💫 mistério na família
💕 slow romance
✨ new beginnings

[Mary Lofthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this story, as on starting it, I felt it wasn’t really to my taste!

But I loved all the characters including the flip back in time. As my daughter said, it was quite predictable in parts, but that didn’t really hinder my enjoyment. However I think we’d read the best of Trisha Ashley’s books at the start - the Little teashop of lost & found, that’s definitely my favourite of hers to date!

Thanks Isabelle for the recommendation! 😊

[Claire Weglowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from Trisha Ashley, this book had my hooked from start to finish, love her style of writing and how she captures every detail of what she's describing actually makes you feel like your experiencing this and you're not reading a book

[Carol Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story although all the ends tied up abit too neatly in the end. But Trisha is a great writer and I enjoy all her books

[Georgie Hallgath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to get into this book

[Fiona McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m always a bit dubious when there is a character list at the beginning of a book and in this case there was two pages of characters mentioned as to who they were and how they connected to the story. Why is there the need for it? Does it mean that I am going to be confused throughout wondering who is who so much so that I will have difficulty keeping track and it will in turn disrupt the flow of the story for me? Will I have to refer back to the list often? Thankfully, here in Trisha Ashley’s new book, The Wedding Dress Repair Shop, I didn’t have to do this although the further I delved into the story I came to appreciate the inclusion of the character list.

I haven’t read a Trisha Ashley book in quite some time and how I would sum this one up is quirky, and I mean that in the best of ways. It’s different from the usual women’s fiction I read and I loved how it wasn’t the done to death routine of boy meets girl, they fall in love, there is a bit of angst and boom they are together. It’s been done to time and time again and sometimes I just need a change from reading it. Instead, here Trisha has given her readers an engaging story with characters that are all different and have their own unconventional and idiosyncratic ways but you love them all the more for it.

Given the title, I expected the plot to follow someone working in a dress shop that specialises in wedding dress repairs but there is so much more to it than that and it’s not a traditional wedding dress shop. Well in fact it’s not a shop at all but rather a museum which has a peculiar theme at its centre. Initially, the idea of a museum dedicated to wedding dress misfortunes sounded completely off the wall and just that bit too far out there but trust me it works and as the chapters slip by you find yourself completely caught up in the stories of the various dresses and how they came to be placed in the museum. So within the book itself, there are several little stories which help the book to become inviting and intriguing. Two stories in particular really caught my attention with their sense of mystery and I loved how they played out towards the end.

What really makes this book though is the characters. Each has been so carefully thought about and even their names I found to be quite eccentric which only added to the quirkiness of the book and made me smile. The chapters are interspersed with diary entries from Regency actress, Rosa May Garland, who vanished in 1816 after the birth of her twin sons not long after her marriage to Guy Fairford. It details how her freedoms were curtailed once the shackles of wedlock had been placed upon her and how she longed to return to the stage. Initially, I did question why this diary was included alongside the modern day story? But the more the book progressed the more it began to make sense to me. Without Rosa May and her diary the main female protagonist in the present Garland Fairford would never have met crime novelist Honey Fairford and the delightful story that unfolded and the new life that Garland establishes for herself, well she would never had the opportunity to flourish in the way she does over the course of the book.

Garland has her dream job as a historical costumier in London and one day she hopes she will take over as head woman in her department. Garland is viewing an exhibition where she sees Rosa May’s costume that she wore when she played the role of Titania in a Midsummer Night’s Dream. The costume has been donated by Honey as she found it in Pelican Hall in Great Mumming which she inherited from Her Great Uncle Hugo. Rosa May’s journal was found tucked inside the dress and this is how the reader is able to read the extracts from it. Garland encounters Honey and they discover that they are distantly related and so sets in motion the most wonderful of friendships that I really enjoyed reading about and seeing its development.

I adored Honey. She had such an acerbic edge packed full of sardonic comments and really her productivity in terms of her writing and her establishment of the museum of wedding disasters and disappointments alongside the Rosa May collection was nothing short of incredible. I loved everything about her character. She was always on the go and seemed to have an amazing group that gathered around her and it was almost as if they created a family where everyone was welcomed and valued for their talents and personality. She was like a mother hen who gathered her chicks around her and when she met Garland I think she instinctively knew that she needed help and change. That her life in London was reaching a point where if she continued much longer then she wasn’t going to be happy. Yes Garland was happy in terms of the work she was doing but as for her personal life well the reader could easily see that it was about to go spectacularly off track.

Alongside Honey, Garland was my favourite character and I enjoyed reading of the journey she underwent. Her life implodes when on the same day she discovers fiancée Marcus cheating, her reaction to said situation sees her losing her job. Marcus was a playwright who was so caught up in his own ego that he came across as being so pompous and ignorant that in my mind Garland was way better off without him. He was like a bad smell though that just wouldn’t go away and I desperately hoped that she wouldn’t get sucked back in by his supposed charm. He needed her much more than she needed him. I admired how Honey offered Garland a fresh start in Great Mumming in a little mews cottage and in doing so she also acquired someone who knew all about old dresses and preserving and recreating them.

For Garland accepting the job as museum curator was a dream for her and the descriptions of Pelican Hall and the cottages and studios all alongside each other and the market square of Great Mumming was all wonderful and added to the homely feel that pervaded once she left London. Throughout, I sensed there were mentions of other places near to Great Mumming which I initially surmised that they featured in some of Trisha’s earlier books. They did start to ring a bell but specific details evaded me as it had been a good while since I had read said books but the mentions I think would inspire new readers to go back and discover Trisha’s back catalogue.

There is a whole host of characters introduced once Garland arrives and starts to settle into her new life and prepare the dresses for the opening of the museum. Too many to mention here but needless to say I found them all very interesting and each with their own little unique stories to share alongside those of the dresses that Garland begins to work on. It’s a small and cohesive community where it’s impossible not to get sucked into the company of others and perhaps this is for the best of everyone. One person I will mention is Thom. Garland gets quite the surprise when she discovers him living in a mews cottage. Thom is someone who had a significant presence in her life many years ago and then one day he just wasn’t there anymore and she had no idea where he went. To say, I was intrigued as to what was going on here would be an understatement. There were lots of undercurrents between the pair and let’s be honest about things, now that Garland was a free woman, I was desperate for the pair to clear the air and get together. But whether that occurs or not you’ll have to read this story for yourself in order to find out.

The Wedding Dress Repair Shop was an enjoyable read although I did think it was just that little bit overly long. It’s not one where you judge the book by its cover as there is so much more to it than the cover suggests and between the pages Trisha Ashley has given her readers a delightful story full of wonderful characters, new beginnings, second chances and friendship.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Wedding Dress Repair Shop” is a delightful story about three women who are passionate about their skills, careers and independence.

The book is written in the first person from the point of view of Garland Fairfield a talented historical costumier who working for a theatrical costume company. Throughout the book there are also extracts from the diaries of her namesake and distant ancestor Rosa May Garland, who was a renowned actress in the early 19th century, but after finding love and having children, disappeared completely, never to be seen again.

Rosa May is the subject of a temporary exhibit at the V&A museum and whilst on display Garland is employed to recreate Rosa May’s intricate Titania gown for a new play. Meanwhile introduced to Honey by a mutual friend. Honey is a highly driven, famous murder mystery writer. She is also a descendant of Rosa and instantly warms to Garland. So much so that she asks for her help with a project that would utilise Garland’s impressive skills. Her vision is a wedding dress museum, not one for happy stories but dresses with tales of woe from jilted brides to the famous Titania dress, which although not a wedding dress one with a sad tale to tell.

The first half of the book tells us about Garland’s life in London, with extracts from Rosa May’s diary interspersed throughout. The second part continues both of their stories but we begin to hear the stories of each bridal gown to be displayed in the museum as she spends more time getting to know her formidable “cousin” Honey and her amazing plans for the museum in Great Mumming.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Trisha weaves a story full of mystery. Although romance is a possibility it takes a huge back seat to the wonderful setting and descriptions of the restoration and creation of the gowns. The strength of character and independence of the women being key. I am reminded how much I have always loved entering “Trishaworld”. In this book we are taken back to landmarks and businesses mentioned in other Trisha Ashley books such as “The Garden of Forgotten Wishes”. We meet new friends and find a wonderful new community in Great Mumming where Garland settles down to curate the museum collection.

With many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC of the book.

[Caroline Mattinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced ,interesting read

An unusual museum,a group of interesting ,talented characters and an ancestor who mysteriously vanished.An enjoyable read with a satisfactory ending.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite slow-burn story but I absolutely loved this!

I would just say that I'm not keen on the title - but you'll see why through my review.

Garland thought her life was sorted. A great job in London and engaged to be married - but when things go wrong with Marco and she loses her job, she starts to despair.
When her relative Honey tells of her plan to open a wedding dress museum and offers her a job, Garland can't see a better time to sell up and move to Lancashire to start again.

As a costumier, Garland tends to the wedding dresses coming into the museum and fixes them up for display. She meets new friends and loves to hear the stories of each of the dresses.

When she meets up with Thom, a long lost friend from the past, she starts to repair her relationship with him and wonders if there could be more.

I loved all our characters. They all had their own stories and personalities - they bonded well and I loved the friendships that were formed.

This was a really steady paced read so took some time to get through but it was still a really enjoyable one.

I loved all the stories of the dress owners. Ranging from the 60's festival style to the more relatable 80's lovers....and I loved the descriptions throughout. I would have loved some pictures of the dresses too!

There was quite a bit more to this than your standard romance, although it was lovely to see the relationships develop - I also enjoyed the story of Rosa-May as Honey and Garland explored her story through her diaries.

There were some serious themes explored here but all with the underlying romance and love stories and I really loved the injection of humour to lighten the mood at times when needed. I mean, who can resist a cute, mischievous cat!

A really nice read which was not what I'd expected from the cover or title.
As this is the first book I've read by this author, I'd be interested to see what else Trisha has written.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theatrical costumier Garland Fairford hits an unexpected bump in her life when her engagement and job both go south after a crisis of suitably dramatic proportions. North is the only place to go, so Garland packs up and heads for the charming village of Great Mumming, where the long lost distant cousin she has recently met, best-selling thriller writer Honey Fairford, has offered her the position of curator to her quirky wedding dress museum. A fresh start is just what she needs, but she is unprepared to find out that one of her new neighbours is Thom, the childhood friend who disappeared from her life without a trace six years ago...

As Garland settles into her new life, making friends, and trying to negotiate her feelings about Thom, she begins to delve into the stories behind the wedding dresses in the museum, and the mysterious history of Rosa-May Garland, the Regency actress from whom she and Honey are descended - all while trying to fend off the attempts of her louse of an ex-fiancé to track her down. Can Garland mend the tatters of her life and find happiness in Great Mumming?

Trisha Ashley always knows how to capture you with a story, tying you to the trials, tribulations, and romantic adventures of her characters, and The Wedding Dress Repair Shop does that in spades. Here you follow the escapades of theatrical costumier Garland Fairford, whose life comes crashing down in a moment of misjudged (if fully justified) rage behind the scenes in London's theatreland. Ashley whisks you away to the wonderful setting of Great Mumming and a cast of delicious characters who work their way rapidly into your heart, cleverly connecting the parts of Garland's story through a voice from the past - actress Rosa-May Garland.

I thoroughly enjoy a book with a heart warming sense of community, and the one Ashley creates for Garland to make her new home in is absolute gold. I loved all the characters in Great Mumming, and they provide many moments of emotion and humour to tug delightfully on your heart strings. And if that was not enough, there are poignant storylines that weave around the tales of the wedding dresses in the museum, and the life of Rosa-May Garland, that reveal their bitter-sweet secrets over the course of the book. They provide rich ground for Ashley to drop in an intriguing twist or two at the same time.

At over 500 pages, this is a book on the more weighty side of the romantic genre, but at no time does it feel overlong as every part of the whole is utterly consuming. I became just as immersed in the theatrical and costume related aspects of the story, and all the little details of setting up the museum, as I did with the tales of the characters, and the flashbacks to Rosa-May's history through her journals.

This is the perfect book for those that enjoy compelling substance to their romantic choices, alongside a story that sweeps you away, as Ashley touches on a wealth of themes, especially around betrayal and escape. The love story(ies), mishaps, and all the mystery elements are beautifully written, and I laughed and cried my way through them all to the wonderfully satisfying ending. I adored it, and wish I could move to Great Mumming too!

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Trisha Ashley's latest offering, where romance takes a definite backseat, set in London where the protagonist, Garland Fairford, works for Beng and Briggs as a talented historical costumier, with a lucrative sideline in making miniature costumed mannequins. She is engaged to Marco Parys, a writer who is using her as a muse, his mother is making it clear she is not a suitable wife, and she is barely seeing anything of him. Garland has discovered she is related to Rosa-May Garland, a well known regency actress, of whom there is a temporary exhibition at the V&A museum, where she is introduced to Honey, a bestselling murder mystery writer, learning they are distant cousins. Honey is intent on setting up a museum, featuring Rosa-May, and displaying donated wedding dresses, on the theme of brides that have suffered a range of misfortunes.

Honey wants to employ Garland as curator of the upcoming museum whilst repairing the wedding dresses, and getting them ready for display. It takes a disastrous explosion of blind rage that results in Garland breaking her engagement and losing her job, for her to take up the job offer in Great Mumming in Lancashire. She sells her tiny flat, and takes with her a crazy and weird cat she had not bargained for, Golightly, and moves into a tight knit community that embraces her. It includes the surprising presence of Thom, a marionette maker, she used to be close to, but who had abandoned her when she took up with Marco. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time with Rosa-May's backstory, we are given the intricate details of the repairs to the wedding dresses in the frantic preparations for the museum opening.

Ashley immerses the reader into Garland's new small town life, both professionally, and her growing personal relationships with the likes of Holly, Thom, Pearl, the bookshop owner, and Simon, the hat maker. This is not a fast paced read, and it is perhaps a little too earnest in relaying all the details of Garland's new position. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable read with a mystery at its heart that is resolved in a shocking way by the end. What did get on my nerves was the OTT use of exclamation marks throughout the text, they are so off putting, hopefully the publisher will address this issue prior to publication. Readers who love wedding stories and descriptions of wedding dresses will love this! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The synopsis for this book is perfect and cleanly shares the gist of the story quite beautifully. However, what it doesn’t convey is the depth of emotion that the story evokes in the reader. Many of us may relate to Garland’s situation as she tries to gain the attention from her diva of a fiancé, Marco. Completely self-absorbed, he doesn’t give Garland the credit that she’s due, seeing her as a simple sewer. However, Garland creates showstopping costumes for the stage, and has even made her own wedding gown, on the theme of a costume that was worn by her distant relative.
The opening chapters do little to shed a positive light on Garland’s relationship with Marco, and I certainly disliked him intensely. When his true colours are finally revealed, Garland makes the brave decision to pack up and head up to Lancashire, to work for Honey Fairford, Garland’s distant relative, in her wedding dress museum. Packing her modest belongings into a moving van, Garland travels up to Lancashire with her newly acquired cat, Golightly. She soon finds that her new life is full of surprises, and she must trust her new neighbours if she is to finally find happiness.
The storytelling is flawless and the speed of Garland’s emergence from the shadow of Marco is perfectly timed. She soon discovers that there are some wonderful, trustworthy people in her midst and that there can be reasons that older connections drift away.
Garland and Honey take the lead quite beautifully. To discover such loving kindness from someone seemingly obsessed with the darker side of life, was a fun element, and I loved it. Garland is an extremely easy character to like, her honesty and integrity create absolute joy. I have to give a special mention to Golightly; as a cat lover and servant, I could definitely feel myself nodding in agreement at each of his idiosyncratic behaviours.
Following the stories of the collection of wedding dresses was a stroke of genius. I found myself invested in discovering the mysteries of what had happened to the original owners.
With an ensemble cast made up of the characters who tenant the shops in the local community, there was plenty of scope for multiple happy endings and Trisha Ashley didn’t disappoint. Trisha’s books are longer reads than I usually choose, but they are absolutely worth the added investment. This did not disappoint at all.

[Emma Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to see that there was a new Trisha Ashley book out. I love the cosy feeling in her books, the exciting and unusual careers the characters often have and that there's often another timeline told in diary form.
The wedding dress repair shop had all these elements. I loved the information about costumes and all the stories behind the wedding dresses. I liked Honeys character and her sense of humour, I enjoyed reading about Rosa May's life in the 1800s.
What I sadly, didn't like was how often certain phrases and adjectives were repeated 'acerbic' being one! I also didn't understand why thom hadn't told Garland all about Marcos involvement in his step brothers story. It didn't make any sense and Thom kept saying ' I wasn't thinking clearly at the time' everytime another character questioned his choice to not reveal Marcos true nature. I felt like the book had been bulked out with details about every meal they ate and unnecessary details about the main characters movements.
On the subject of food, lots of the food descriptions made me feel quite hungry but I did get a bit irritated by the constant comments of 'we'll walk up there after to burn off the calories' 'it was hard work but I suppose it burned off some calories' and even more irritating was Simon constantly being called greedy!! He's just someone who is often hungry and likes ice cream! Leave him alone. He's probably worked up an appetite running Pearl around everywhere!
I loved the animal characters in this book, especially Golightly. He was one of the best bits when she moved to the mews.
I found that I read this book quickly and I'd definitely pick up a Trisha Ashley book in the future. I like the slightly unbelievable aspects of her books, like how they always seem to have money to go out etc when they're earning a 'pittance' and the fascinating jobs they do. I also like the fact the romance element isn't the main story. I don't mind a love interest but it's much more fun hearing about, in this case, the wedding dress stories and setting up the museum... Because it was a museum, not a wedding dress repair shop...

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific read from Trisha – the writing captures every detail beautifully so we feel a part of the story. A magical atmosphere is skilfully crafted to bring this charming, whimsical, wonderfully wise story to life. I enjoyed every minute!

I liked the way the narrative moves between the timelines so we get to see things from their split perspectives. Rosa-May’s intriguing journal entries paint a vivid picture of how her effervescent nature is eroded by an unhappy marriage. It’s sad to see her loss of independence and I was invested to see how her journey played out.

Garland opens our eyes to the fascinating world of the theatrical costumier, the amazing attention to detail adds to the realness of her character. After a devastating discovery, she embraces a new opportunity with her cute companion Golightly in tow. Honey is a breath of fresh air and I adored her quirky character. She’s so supportive of Garland and makes her an offer she can’t refuse as they discover their ancestor’s past and embrace the future.

The idyllic country town setting of Pelican Mews was the perfect place for the story to unfold – I loved the welcoming community spirit and close-knit feel between the residents – they seem so genuine and real it’s hard not to get caught up in all the goings on! We see Garland grow and flourish as she’s in her element although the reappearance of Thom is more than she bargained for!

The wedding dress museum is a brilliant idea brought to fruition in the best way. It’s all hands on deck as everyone gets it ready for launch day! We hear about the joys and misfortunes experienced in the name of love and I enjoyed the stories woven through the book that go with the dresses and the mystery they bring.

The Wedding Dress Repair Shop is a fabulous feel-good read about reconnecting and new beginnings. It’s entertaining with a gloriously uplifting storyline and strong characters who are such a delight – I was cheering Garland on every step of the way!

A fantastic summer read!

With thanks to @emma_fairey, @TransworldBooks and @trishaashley for the early proof copy.