Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Alice Hoffman does it yet again!!! Another masterpiece!!! beautifully written and execution was on point. 5/5 stars

The Bookstore Wedding is a heartwarming and charming tale that beautifully captures the magic of love, books, and unexpected connections. Set against the cozy backdrop of a quaint bookstore, the story follows two unlikely souls brought together by fate and their shared passion for literature. The author creates a delightful blend of romance and nostalgia, weaving in rich details about the bookstore's history and the characters' personal journeys. With its tender moments and engaging plot, this novel is perfect for book lovers who enjoy stories about love blossoming in the most unexpected places. A true literary escape!

I am sure many readers will disagree with me, but this novella was so-so. The author is very good at writing books, fleshing out the characters, magical scenes and drawing in readers with descriptions. Perhaps because this was so short, she just didn't have time to do that. It fell flat for me, as did the first in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary arc. This is my own opinion.

Thank you Amazon Original Stories, Alice Hoffman and Netgalley for the eArc of The Bookstore Wedding.


This is the first book Ive read of Alice Hoffman and it's the second in The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. Even though this is a short novella, it has a little bit of everything and is written beautifully. The story telling of Isobel and Johnny who plan to get married come across barriers in doing so. Life often throws things at you and this little gem portrays this very well. I loved the MC's including Isobel's sister Sophie. For such a short novella, it's very emotive and has me tear up, especially at the end. A truly lovely book and would love to read more of these in the future.

4 stars

This is a sweet short story in the romance genre but not sappy. It's believable and you want the characters to have a happy ending. Hoffman does a great job of pulling together the whole story in such a short piece. I didn't realize that this is actually the second story in a series (and yes, of course I'll go back and read the first one - and wait for the third)

This is a nice, enjoyable, and refreshing little read.

The Bookstore Wedding is the 2nd installment in what has now become the Once Upon A Time Bookshop Stories. This a beautiful short story filled with hope and love. It’s about 2 sisters, Isabel and Sophie, who come back together after Isabel has moved away to be there for each other during a trying time. It goes on to tell how Isabel surprises Sophie by giving up her very special day to make Sophie’s life complete only to be surprised herself when the love of her life, Johnny Knox, arranges an unexpected union at the couples favorite spot. This is a fun and heartwarming read quick afternoon on the beach read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

I haven't read the first offering in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series (I found out about its existence after I'd read this). I'm sure that readers of the first story would have enjoyed this even more, but I didn't feel like that impeded my enjoyment of this charming story in whimsical Alice Hoffman fashion. I will now go back and read The Bookshop Sisters while we wait for #3 in the series!

This short story had heart, but not in the overly romantic, semi-believable way that most romance novels have. This love was the type that hangs on through the messy heartbreak that comes from living life along with its trials but still remains steadfast and beautiful and special in it’s own unique way. With the loss they experienced as young girls, Isabel vows to not attach herself and fall in love, even though she’s always been in love. You get to follow the two sisters move away, become a mother, work through health issues and fall in live while they navigate life running their fathers bookstore and selling their mothers baked goods. This book is not a grand love affair in the showy, loud way stories are made to be, but it is a love story found nestled in the marshes of a small town.

The most fun, short story and perfect follow up! Sisters through thick and thin in a story of love and heartbreak. Cannot wait to read the next one!

I absolutely loved Alice Hoffman’s INVISIBLE HOUR and knew that I wanted to read this book. I did not realize, at first, that it was a short story or that it was the second of three books. For it being such a short story, I would say it was compelling and a cute read. I don’t usually read short stories so I didn’t really know what to expect. Alice Hoffman did a good job setting up the characters and the storyline fairly well. Thank you netgalley for this advanced copy.

*The Bookstore Wedding* by Alice Hoffman is a charming short story about love, timing, and family. Isabel Gibson returns to Brinkley’s Island to reunite with her sister Sophie and niece Violet, while planning her wedding to Johnny Lenox. Despite three failed wedding attempts, Isabel wonders if fate is working against them. As family history resurfaces, the Gibson sisters must confront their painful past to move forward. Hoffman’s writing captures the warmth of family, the complexities of love, and the magical charm of small-town life. This heartfelt story is perfect for fans of romantic, bittersweet tales.

Love this follow up to “The Bookstore Sisters”. Hoffman did a great job with this short story, & the dog was my favorite part. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

This book was a little out of my comfort zone when it comes to genres but I was pleasantly surprised. It was short and sweet with a great meaning behind it. I look forward to reading more from this author.

beautifully written. quiet and slowly tickling along - a story more about the characters themselves and what they are doing instead of an actual plot.

but i love the writing, the characters and how the entire little story and now this series is more focused on the sisters than the romantic love but it still has those elements as well.

it’s the type of story that is cozy without being cutesy or just fluffy because this story talks about harder topics.

a short story that takes the reader through the entire spectrum of emotions in the best ways. it works perfectly as a short story because it gives the story and but doesn’t take to long to get to the point.

i really enjoyed this and thinks it’s a wonderful story in itself and a fantastic addition to the first story -bookstore sisters.

The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman. Pub Date: August 1, 2024. Rating: 5 stars. Alice Hoffman is an author that I will always read because I love how she writes heartwarming stories with depth, understanding and substance. This short story is no exception and I absolutely adored it. This is a story about sisterhood, love, sacrifice and wedding bliss. Pick this one up for a quick satisfying read. Thanks to #netgalley and #amazonoriginalstories for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

ARC Review
4 or 4.5 stars!
I love this little series. It feels like a warm hug, even with the deeper/more serious subplots happening. It's hard for me to feel anything for novellas, but somehow, this town, these sisters, and the bookstore are all holding a special place in my heart.

This was lovely and rich as Alice Hoffman work usually is. This short story is filled with love, friendship, fear, illness, small town life and a touch of magic. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will enjoy.

What a great second story. The Bookstore Wedding was a sweet short story about Isabel and Johnny. Isabel has loved Johnny since they were kids. However, Isabel left her small town to move on to bigger and better things, only to return and find love. Johnny has been trying to marry Isabel for years now only for disasters to happen at every turn. This time the disaster involved her sister. Will they ever get married? You must read this to find out. It was magical and sentimental.

I was hooked on this Fairy Tale for Adults from page one. Alice Hoffman's voice and style drew me in from the first line because it was so lyric and compelling it left me feeling like I was being read a bedtime story. The tone was inviting, the writing tight and concise, and the single narrator commanded the page and wove a literary magic spell I willingly fell i to. Its a rare author sho can claim this space, not to mention create characters who can live on the page and in my imagination with this style and voice; however, Hoffman takes this one step further and by controlling the pace and length sustain it.. Doing this, even for the length of a novella is spellbinding.

Although I usually do not like short stories and novellas because I feel as if I am 'missing something', Hoffman's tight plotting, excellent use of narrator, and interconnection between stories made all my normal issues with the genes non-starters because this felt like I was stepping into a world I was familiar. If you have never read Hoffman before, this is a great place to start!