The Shop on Blossom Street

By: Debbie Macomber

Narrated by: Linda Emond

Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

There's a little shop on Blossom Street in Seattle called A Good Yarn. You go there to buy knitting supplies and patterns, and now it's offering a knitting class. The first lesson: how to knit a baby blanket.

For owner Lydia Hoffman, the shop represents her dream of beginning a new life free from the cancer that has ravaged her twice. A life that offers a chance at love, and maybe marriage.

Jacqueline Donovan is stuck in a marriage that has dwindled into an arrangement of separate rooms and separate lives. She disapproves of the woman married to her only son, but if she knits a baby blanket, she can at least pretend to like her pregnant daughter-in-law.

For Carol Girard, the baby blanket brings a message of hope as she and her husband make a final attempt at in vitro pregnancy.

And tense-looking Alix Townsend, that's Alix with an "i", is learning to knit her blanket for her court-ordered community service project.

Brought together by an age-old craft, these four women make unexpected discoveries, about themselves and each other. Discoveries that lead to love, to friendship and acceptance, to laughter and dreams.

Don't miss Audible's exclusive interview with Debbie Macomber!

©2004 Debbie Macomber (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Clearly capturing each woman as she supports the others and searches for the answers to her own troubles, Emond outdoes herself in portraying counterculture proponent Alix....The warmth of Emond's voice so embodies the tenacious characters as to deliver a worthwhile story of change and hope." (AudioFile)

Shop on Blossom Street

I have read this book in print before. But, the abridgment takes away a lot. If the full book were here, I would give it four stars, but the abridgement rates only one star.

Doing it again

I started listening to audio books 12 years ago. Blossom Street was one of the first series I listened too. Sometimes I just get in the mood for a series of stories I enjoy, thus the Blossom Street series where the most unlikely small group of women meet in a new yarn shop learning to knit a baby blanket. Each women has a distinct personality and life circumstances unlike any other in this small group, but learning to knit together ends up knitting them together. If you need a soft relaxing story then this one is for you. My life is very stressfull so I need a nice enjoyable story. Debbie always provides that.

sugarcoated but good

I did like the story very much, sugar-coated and predictable as it was. The author even tried to grit it up a bit, but I think she kept to the straight & narrow to avoid alienating any readers. My sister recently opened a knitting shop in an old neighborhood and lots of people have come together because of it. It's created a great community of diversified women and I think that's why this book appealed to me so much. If you're looking for deep, intellectual material, this isn't it, but it's a good story nevertheless. I always feel gyped by abridgements though.

Beautifully Written

Listening to this book was like visiting with old friends I had read it many years ago and fallen in love with it was great to hear the story again I look forward to listening to the next books in the series

Sweet story of pulling together

Debbie Macomber never disappoints! A very sweet story about how pulling together as friends and family can be amazing!

Good yarns to the rescue.

Beloved persons in tangled situations seek to untangle and reshape lives as they shape yarn in lasting ways..

Precious sweet

From what felt like despair to bliss, this story tugged at my heart. Starting on book 2 “A Good Yarn” right now!

Great story

Loved reading this book, only wish it was longer. Can’t wait to go onto the next in this series.

A Good Yarn, A Good Listen

The story was great, as usual. I truly enjoy Debbie Macomber's stories. I didn't care for the music in between the chapters.

Excellent book and series.

Have always loved this book. Reread for the numerous time. This series got me into knitting and finding my own yarn store and knitting community. Thank you Debbie once again your books are the best.

Happy

A feel good book. Simple plot, some people with problems all of which get resolved by the end. Lovely.

Lovely story, awful narrator!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shop on Blossom Street?

There were many. Very well written story.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator is always THE most important ingredient of an audiobook. This one almost failed miserably for me, however, the subject and storyline just about saved it. I'm glad I persevered.
Very disappointed in the narrator.
However, I won't be getting anymore of the series, if this narrator runs through them.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Uplifting storyline despite covering difficult subjects.

Any additional comments?

Very enjoyable story about real women and their lives. With another narrator, I would continue the series.

Heart warming tale of love, loss and victory

Loved it, excellent narration and able to visualise the setting easily. Will look for more titles from this author