Sandra Dallas author of The Persian Pickle Club Jennifer Chiaverini's first novel is a heartwarming story of relationships that, like pieces of a quilt, can be connected with discord or with harmony. You'll discover friendship here, and you'll learn a thing or two about quilting, too.

Marianne Fons co-author with Liz Porter of Quilter's Complete Guide and co-host of Sew Many Quilts I enjoyed every word of Jennifer Chiaverini's story about friendship and forgiveness. She very accurately portrays the spirit and sense of humor of today's quilters. If The Quilter's Apprentice were a true story, I would love to be a part of Sarah and Sylvia's brilliant project.

Charlotte Holmes author of Gifts and Other Stories With quiet intelligence and dry wit, Jennifer Chiaverini explores the delicate relationships between women -- mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. The world she creates in The Quilter's Apprentice is rich with the textured, complicated lives of memorable characters engaged in the hard business of ordinary life. Chiaverini tells an involving story of strong women who sustain and nourish each other, and of the young woman who comes to find her own strength and identity, both within this affirming circle and outside it.

Ami Simms author of How to Improve Your Quilting Stitch and Invisible Appliqué I enjoyed the way Chiaverini deftly stitched the lives of these two women together. That she chose patchwork and quilting to help tell the story was a special bonus. Tell Sarah and Sylvia I'd quilt with them any day!

Judy Martin quiltmaker, designer, author The Quilter's Apprentice is a novel that is sure to cause some buzz in the quilting bees. Quilting propels the plot and colors the background of this first novel by Jennifer Chiaverini. It is obvious that the author practices and loves quilting herself, as her many references to the art and social context of quilting are accurate and realistic. Best of all, the conclusion ties all of the story's threads together as only a quilter could.

Percival Everett author of Frenzy and Watershed I marvel at the craft of the work, the quiet architecture that allows the story to carry the load. Like the quilts described, the novel itself is carefully pieced together and each piece feels, sounds, and is fat with history and meaning. This is a quiet, beautiful novel, full of gentle wisdom and genuine humility. It is a rare work these days.