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!

Not a fan of short stories but any book with a wedding and bookstore count me in. I so much love this book.
This is my first time reading a book from this author and I must confess I am in love with her writing style.
I was glued to the story from beginning to end, there was no disconnect.
Thank you Alice for the gift of these stories, now I am off to read all the other stories in this series.
Thank you the publisher for allowing me read this book and share in this experience of amazing writing and storytelling.

This short story tells the tale of love: the love of the two Gibson sisters, the love those sisters have with the men in their lives, and the love the have for their family & their family's bookstore.

If you are wanting a quick read that packs a powerful punch, this is the right story. Isabel and Sophie show you what it's like to know that your sister is there for you through all the trials of life.

A great novella by the wonderful Alice Hoffman that will captivate your from the first word to the last; she never disappoints.

Cute perfect short read that is clean and cozy. Sometimes a short book with a good story is all a reader needs to meet the need. THE BOOKSTORE WEDDING says it all !!!!

Love is not a linear clean cut box we can grasp. It is messy and involves heartache, despair, joy and every emotion consumed into one big bite. Somehow in the 30something pages this book contains you are on a rollercoaster ride.

The story follows Isabel who moved away from her small island town in order to escape. But many years later, she returns back and has left to pick up the pieces of her life. Throughout her journey, we follow her through broken hearts, swearing off of love, finding true love through her family, fighting for misfortunes, and believing in true love yet again.

I was laughing, I was crying, I felt despair, and I fell in love at the end. This is such a quick book that you should definitely read!

I was gifted in advance copy of this book, but these are my personal opinions

THE BOOKSTORE WEDDING is a heartwarming short story by the super talented author of PRACTICAL MAGIC and my personal favourite HERE ON EARTH. A sweet tale of sisterhood and love, this quick read will give you all the warm fuzzies. Full of delicious sounding treats and references to classic and popular books, this story is perfect for foodies and booklovers alike.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

“The Bookstore Wedding” by Alice Hoffman was a sweet short novella story. It’s hard to build charter in such a short story, but you are still able to understand the love the two sisters have for each other. Note, that this is book two of a three book series. I did read it as a stand alone and did just fine missing the first book.

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Alice Hoffman for an eARC copy of The Bookstore Wedding.

Sweet romantic tale returning to the bookstore and the bond between sisters. Delightful to curl up with this short story. Author is a professional at making the reader comfortable with the characters she creates making you want more.