Previously I had read and enjoyed [book:The Littlest Library|58986627] by Poppy Alexander, so I was happy to pick this one up to try it. Storybook ending says "happily ever after" to me, so I was hoping for that type of book.

Description:
In her books she can write “happily ever after”— but real life? That’s another matter…

For children’s book author Imogen, an idyllic life in the English countryside seems like the perfect fit for her and her husband. But when tragedy strikes, Imogen is left widowed, and finds herself moving into Storybook Cottage alone with only her monstrously narcissistic cat for company.

After discovering she is pregnant, Imogen grows determined to embrace a new start in Middlemass, with its duckpond, cricket matches and village fêtes. The only thing Imogen can’t seem to shake is her neighbor—a brooding, artisan blacksmith named Gabriel—who she can’t quite decide is friend or foe. That is until she realizes, thanks to an arcane clause in her deeds, that Gabriel— not just an artist, but lord of the local manor house— has the power to take her home and leave her completely broke.

Devastatingly, he seems keen to do exactly that. Yet, Imogen finds herself drawn to him nonetheless. And in her darkest hour, Gabriel may just be the bright spot to save Imogen in more ways than one.

My Thoughts:
Overall this was a charming book and I enjoyed it. Yes, Imogen went through some hardship for sure with the death of her husband, a baby on the way, a new home in the country, and then a difficult obstacle with the new home arises as well. The blacksmith neighbor was both irritating and intiguing. There was something about him that Imogen found attractive. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys happily ever after type books.

Thanks to Avong and Harper Voyager through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander is a heartwarming tale.
I absolutely loved the writing and was happy with the ending.
This is such a sweet, light-hearted story with the best characters.

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book was fine. I honestly didn’t have any strong feelings one way or another toward it. Essentially, I simply didn’t feel any real connection to much of the story and therefore never got truly invested in it.

The main feeling I had while reading was sympathy for Imogen in the loss and confusion she faced and having to sort the unexpectedness of life on her own. I did enjoy her finding her place in the small community she landed it, most especially in her friendships with Genny and Simon.

As far as the romance plot, it fell almost entirely flat for me. I felt like there was a lot of development missing to get from meeting to “I love him” and so many non-conversations in favor of assumptions. Imogen and Gideon barely spent any real time together that allowed for actual feelings to grow between them in my mind. I think I would have felt more invested in the book as a whole if the romance hadn’t even been in it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mostly enjoyable read. Not really enemies to lovers but more grumpy to puppy dog. The friendships were really nice in this book. Everything was handled well. My only complaint is that the main character seemed to just forget she had a cat sometimes. Despite that cat turning into the inspiration for her new career.

My arc was provided by the publisher.

From heartbreak to romance, this book will give you all the feels. I definitely grabbed this based on the cover and it did not disappoint.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Simply delightful! Imogen is a charming character that you can‘t help but fall in love with completely. She is going through a lot, recently widowed, so much change and worry dropped upon her but she finds herself in a quaint cottage in the most lovely village filled with kind people and starts to find her way. That is all I‘ll share, spoilers, but I really enjoyed this and highly recommend! Releases on August 20th.

I LOVED this cozy fall read! It was such a delight getting to stay in the English countryside with Imogen in her cozy little cottage. I loved the fun cast of characters she met in Middlemass and the descriptions of the town and everything in it were the best vibes. I also loved watching Imogen come into her own. She had a great journey and it was super fun to read about. This is the perfect book for fall! I truly think it is the best cozy book that I have read. You do not want to miss out on reading it.

This is a cute story and will be a cozy ready for the upcoming fall season.
The beginning starts with a bang when she loses her husband in an accident. She decides to go ahead with her dream to move to the country, and we get to follow her adventure from there.

Imogen (love that name) ends up with a sweet romance, and it’s tied up with a bow at the end, just as the name exudes.

If you like rom-com this book is for you. Imogene is an aspiring illustrator/author and lives in the big city with her husband. Her friends think he is a "wet blanket." He is a lawyer and ready for the next step in life. A home in the country and children. As the house closes escrow, her husband dies and now Imogene, without a means of support, moves to the country. She is a city girl and soon realizes that living in the country is very different. This book is about meeting new friends, falling in love and pursuing a new career. Unfortunately I could not become invested in Imogene and I think it is because she seemed so unemotional about the stress in her life. Her husband dies and I can't remember her showing any real grief--even if you don't love someone--you should feel something that can be shared with the readers. It was also entirely too predictable. I appreciated the digital ARC I received from NetGalley and the publisher. This opinion is mine.

After losing her husband, Imogen follows through with their planned move to the country. Things were off to a rough start, but Imogen began to love life in the village of Middlemass, but when things go sideways, will she be able to make Middlemass her forever home?

I honestly had no idea I was returning to Middlemass. I fell in love with this quaint little town when I read The Littlest Library, and I could not think of a better place for Imogen to heal and rebuild her life. Alexander assembled an all new cast of lovely characters who delighted me. I loved the way they embraced Imogen and offered their support during this time of great change.

I grew especially fond of her brooding neighbor, Gabriel. He was a bit a grump, but he did the sweetest things for Imogen. Imogen had complicated feelings for Gabriel given her personal situation and their business situation, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Gabriel seemed to always come through when she needed him most, and what he did there towards the end was precious.

Yes, great characters, sweet romance, and a lovely setting gave me all the warm fuzzies. It was fantastic to return to Middlemass and get witness Imogen's personal journey. It was filled with challenges, self discovery, and some great surprises. Once again, Alexander crafted a feel good story that warmed my heart.

Soooooo heartwarming and charming! I’ve loved Poppy Alexander’s previous three novels, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Alexander has crafted an idyllic bucolic escape in the British countryside, called it Middlemass and filled it to the brim with fascinating characters. In this outing, she pops widowed artist Imogen into a lovely dower cottage and again creates a veritable love letter to country living and community. As before, some of the characters could have been a bit better developed. That aside, Poppy Alexander has written another cozy novel populated with strong, talented, intelligent women that proved an absolute joy to read.

Highly recommend. Sure to be enjoyed by fans of Jenny Colgan, Tracy Rees’ contemporaries, Trisha Ashley and Susan Branch. Poppy Alexander’s 25 Days. Three and a half stars rounded up.

Many thanks to Avon / HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me a complimentary digital ARC. Opinions are my own.

This was a charming read that I picked up because of the artwork on the book jacket! The descriptions of food and surroundings were quaint and detailed - these were my favorite elements of the book. I also enjoyed the characters and their personalities! There were lots of little side plots to track that made it feel a bit cluttered and hard to sink into overall. The pacing of the romance storyline (that I wanted so badly!!!) was particularly slow and then accelerated rapidly at the very end in a pretty unrealistic way. That said, it was a cozy read that I was able to put down and pick back up over a few days around other activities and work. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is my 2nd read by this author and I loved it more than the first! I was captivated by the characters and the village of Middlemass. It has a small town feeling, and a very relatable main character. Imogen is a scared children's book illustrator wannabe. She and her husband are getting ready to move to their new cottage in Middlemass. She feels like this will be a fresh start for her, little does she know how much. Her Husband Nigel is unexpectedly killed in a motor vehicle accident and now Imogen is starting over on her own, that is until she discovers that she is pregnant. She wants the best for her child and in some ways it makes it a little easier to be brave. I think we can all relate to wanting/needing to be brave in the face of our fears for someone else.

There is also a small side plot of Imogen trying to uncover her husband's possible mistress, so if you like a bit of mystery thrown in... there you go! And it shows some positivity for Imogen's future.

There are also many cute, funny moments, which kept me smiling aplenty! The grumpy groundskeeper that she encounters on her new property is a treasure. She finds out that he has the ability to destroy her new life, and he might not even have a choice. But, the way he looks out for her throughout the story is beautiful! In both big and small ways. I kept rooting for a happily ever after. And the way it unfolded thoroughly pulled me in.

I whole-heartedly say give this one a try! Especially if you enjoy small town British romance or female main characters that learn how much they are capable of. I always wish there was just a little bit more romance in these types of stories, but <b>this one earns a solid 5 stars from me!<b/>

**Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Avon & Harper Voyager, and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review**

While I enjoyed the book, I think the character development needed a bit of work. There were many times I wanted to shake Imogene. At times she was entirely too clueless to be believable. Other times she was sharp and perceptive. I just couldn't see how someone could be both. Oh well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of Storybook Ending!

This was such a cozy, cottage core read! There were some significant elements and story details, but the way the story was told, it didn’t feel intense, just very muted. The reader gets a sense that despite bad things, everything will work out. While I enjoyed that for some elements of the story, there were other parts where it didn’t make sense such as when she found out her husband had passed or when she found out she was pregnant. While her emotions feel muted, it’s clear she’s a bit lost after her husband passes and has to find her way on her own now. I enjoyed both characters - Imogen had a wispy, artsy personality and Gabriel was a total grumpy/broody neighbor next door. So many of the side characters were lovable and had such small town charm to them! I wish they had more presence in the overall story line.

Also, this story was marked as a romance, but it felt like such a subplot! The connection was lacking and didn’t come together until the very end. The resolution didn’t make any sense in the end and makes me want to rate this 2 stars, instead of 3!

loved this romance and her mom wants her to date this guy she has these amazing friends who are all dealing with different relationship issues . loved that she found her way in the job and found love

This book was honestly so cozy and charming. The English countryside setting was perfect for Imogen and her surly cat and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing of this story. Imogen's flightiness is paired really well with Gabriels breading personality and I think they're very well balanced characters. I picked this up when I was itching for a cozy read and it for sure scratched that itch.

This just wasn't for me. The elements necessary for a good story were present, but the execution was lacking.

My biggest issue was the underwhelming character development. Imogen’s reaction to her husband’s death, even before she learned he might have been less than honorable, was bizarrely detached. Same for her pregnancy. And yet she falls in love with a man she seemingly barely knows, less than a year after being widowed. And Gabriel - he was a different character from one page to the next. His main two qualities are apparently surliness and bailing Imogen out of trouble.

I also found the resolution of the conflict to be borderline cruel - surprises are fun and all, but not when the keeping of them causes the recipient to feel abandoned. Not to mention that the resolution felt abrupt.

Speaking of abrupt - the transitions between scenes within chapters were often awkward or jarring.

I'm rating this 3 stars, which may seem high considering the above, but I reserve 2-star ratings for books riddled with plot holes and grammatical issues, and 1-star ratings for books I despise. This book was okay but needed some work.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

An all to familiar story about love and loss... a young woman, Imogen, finds herself adrift after the sudden death of her husband. She moves into the house, in the English countryside, her husband had purchased just before his death. She is adrift; not having an anchor and not knowing what to do with herself. How is she going to afford the house without an income? Her husband never encouraged her work; he wanted her to be a "proper housewife". This is Imogen's tale of finding the fortitude and confidence in herself to make a new life for herself and take chances. Along the way she makes marvelous friends in her new "hometown" and finds herself getting involved in the village.

A poignant look at widowhood and new beginnings. An adventure of self-discovery for the main character. Wonderfully written with realistic characters. This is a delightful and charming story.

If only I didn't have to wait so long for books by this amazing author!!!! The story was absolutely beautiful, the writing was perfect, the characters were endearing, and I loved every moment of my time in this daydream. I would recommend this a million times over, perfect.