Book number 52 in my Goodreads Reading Challenge is the new novel by Poppy Dolan, The Woolly Hat Knitting Club.

Finding happiness one stitch at a time

When Dee Blackthorn’s brother, JP, breaks both wrists not only is he in need of a helping hand – or two – but the knitting shop he owns can’t function. Sisterly duties take Dee away from her demanding job and she is unceremoniously fired amidst rumours of inappropriate behaviour. Dee is certain that her hot-shot nemesis, Ben, is behind it all but has no proof.

When Dee bumps into an old friend who is a new mum to a premature baby she convinces JP to enlist his knitting pals to make lots of tiny woolly hats. Then Ben turns up denying involvement in Dee’s sacking and she ropes him into helping the knitting cause. 

But before long Dee’s good intentions backfire and she risks losing her friends, her family and Ben, who’s turned out to be not so bad after all…(Thanks Netgalley!)

Dee Blackthorn is a high flying professional who thrives on working hard and making money.  She could not be more different from her brother JP, who runs a knitting shop and blogs regularly about all his knitting pursuits.  When JP accidentally breaks both his wrists (that bunting is a danger!!) Dee finds herself rushing to his aid.  Following her brief absence from work she finds herself fired from the job she loves (which of course is her nemesis Ben’s fault) and back home, adjusting to a slower pace of life.  What follows is Dee struggling to find herself again as she has to re-evaluate her life up until this point.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to think of this book – I have no idea how to knit for a start, but now I feel like I should learn!  I loved the fact that the knitting theme of this book revolves around a man rather than a woman, it really turns the idea of knitting being an older womans pastime on its head.  I also liked seeing Dee, JP’s sister, as the ‘bread-winner’.  She was a driven woman who knew what she wanted from her career, which in turn enabled her to financially support her brother to achieve his dreams.

This novel also explores what Dee gives up in order to pursue her dream career.  She did not manage to maintain friendships or hold down relationships, something that she wasn’t able to see until she was back home helping her brother.  This is a novel about a woman who when faced with serious life changes is forced to rethink her priorities and work out what she really wants.  Thrown in for good measure we have family, friendship, love and knitting!  This is a great easy read, and I really enjoyed it. Go grab yourself a copy!

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖