Stella living in Louisiana, and Lily living in New York City are intelligent and capable women who eventually meet up is distressing conditions and become friends. Stella is trying to survive being the property of Frye, an egotistical slave owner, while loving William, an escaped slave who flees to sign up with the Union army.

Lily is the daughter of a wealthy Jewish sheet music businessman. She is a passionate member of women's groups fighting for the end of slavery, and for women's rights. She sews quilts, wraps bandages or anything necessary to help the Union army. She decides to search for her husband, Jacob, a musician with the Union army, when she doesn't receive letters from him. Her visit to the South is heartbreaking; she visits Union army hospitals seeing the reality of the devastation and huge loss from the Civil War.

A wonderful book that shows the power of friendship, love, generosity and music can help people heal and find their ways.

I was worried that a co-authored work of fiction might be disjointed or difficult/unpleasant to read. It was, in fact, consistent and flowed easily.

The story was unique and described parts of history of which I was unfamiliar. The characters were believable and fleshed out. Well done. ( )

Underlying The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J Edwards and Alyson Richman is the tapestry of the Civil War. What makes this story unique among others of the same time period is the combination of perspectives - Black and Jewish. It is sad to see how many of the conversation about prejudice and bigotry still exist. At the same time, the book is inspiring in its story about how individuals can make a difference, one action at a time.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/11/the-thread-collectors.html

Reviewed for NetGalley. ( )

Set during the middle of the American Civil War, this novel intertwines between two men and two women: William and Stella, Jacob and Lily. William and Stella are enslaved in New Orleans by a cruel man who takes Stella as his mistress. William, though, has a talent for music and this helps him first as a slave, then when he enrolls in the Union army. Jacob and Lily are Jewish, from a small immigrant community in New York City. War brings together first Jacob and William, who discover a shared love of music. Stella and Lily use their sewing to aid the war effort and eventually, to help each other. A good read, overall, and one that highlights lesser known aspects of the Civil War. ( )

Content Warnings: Rape, slavery, prejudices, use of N word, war-time gore, death, lynching. (moderate)

The Thread Collectors follows two young women who have no choice but to be strong. While their battles are vastly different, both Stella and Lily fight for what they believe in by using their talents and strengths. We also look into the lives of their loved ones and how harsh the times were during the Civil War. Full of passion, joy, sorrow, and suspense, this story is sure to capture your attention. It does so by giving a detailed look into the lives of slaves and those enlisted during the Civil War. Authors Edwards and Richman excel at creating likable and real characters that you want to root for all the way through. I enjoyed the plotline, characters, and settings. Another bonus was the excellent use of music in the novel. Having said that, I think the pacing throughout could have been better applied. Some chapters that should have been longer to create a deep emotion were cut short, or others were longer and harder to engage with. Overall, though, this was an enjoyable read. From the gorgeous cover to the charming characters, I recommend this as an entertaining Civil War historical fiction. ( )