Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Alice Hoffman's writing spins magic and this short story was no exception. I was completely and utterly sucked into the world of Brinkley's Island. Completely immersive to a point where I was very disappointed when the store ended, I immediately bought the first short story in the series. Hoffman's books put the feelings I have surrounding books, reading, and the natural word into text and that is something rare and incredible in my opinion. I will continue to work my way through her backlist while also looking forward to her new releases. Please pick up this short story- you won't be disappointed!

Alice Hoffman never disappoints. I read the first of the series 'The Bookstore Sisters' and couldn't wait until the next story came out and it was worth the wait. The richness of her characters and the way she makes you feel about them is just unlike other authors i've read. I cannot wait till next year for the next one!!

This was a short and sweet novella following the bookstores sisters. Loved the characters and their bond they have developed..

Thanks to NetGalley, Alice Hoffman, and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Bookstore Wedding. I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the second short story about two sisters, Isabel and Sophie. They are both so likeable. I really wish this could turn into a miniseries to watch. I loved everything about this second installment and really hope there will be more to follow. Alice Hoffman is a brilliant author that truly knows how to play with the readers emotions through a limited page count.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the second novella in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series. It is a short story but so full of emotion and feelings. Sophie and Isabel are sisters, whose family own a bookshop in a small town in Maine. Isabel was gone for many years after a falling out between them and then returned upon being called home to help her sister. Once there, Isabel realized that you cannot outrun fate and sometimes love is just where you left it, waiting for you, and for her, that is Johnny Lenox. Johnny wants nothing more than to marry Isabel, but it seems like it may never happen, not for lack of love though. This was such a beautiful short story, It wrapped me up in a warm hug an left me smiling.

Thank you Netgalley, Amazon Original Stories as well as the author Alice Hoffman.
What a wonderful short story of love and family.
Recommend
4 stars

I'll read anything written by Alice Hoffman and her short story "The Bookstore Wedding" is no exception. I was thrilled to revisit the Gibson Sisters who live on Brinkley's Island, Maine. I do think it's best to have read "The Bookstore Sisters" first, but it's not necessary. I'm looking forward to third story in the "Once Upon a Bookshop" trilogy!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this short story about two sisters, their bookstore, and love in its multiple forms. I’ve only read two Alice Hoffman books (so far) and just from those two, I know she’s an excellent storyteller. Hoffman demonstrates her skill again in The Bookstore Wedding, even with its short length

The Bookstore Wedding is about two sisters that need to let love follow its own path in this amazing short story. The author wrote a lovely story that had me turning pages until the end. I loved the characters in this book and I look forward to reading the first book in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series. I liked how the first few pages recapped their story since it helped with not reading the first book. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend this to any reader who loves a good romance story. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this read in exchange of my review of The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman.

The Bookstore Wedding is a lovely short story about family, loss, & love. This really was a beautiful story that is more about family than romance though there is some of that as well. A lot of emotion has been packed in, even though it’s a short read, Hoffman really knows how to make the most of every page.

Thank you to NetGalley & Amazon Original Stories for the advance copy.

What an absolutely stunning and magical short story written by one of the best. I can't praise it enough. Books, cake, sisterhood, romance.and the beauty of love and nature. Not to be missed.

The Bookstore Wedding
Alice Hoffman

‘Don’t say hello or goodbye. Don’t fall in love, don’t break my heart, don’t take me to dinner, don’t ask me who I am.’

This was a sweet little short story about life and the peaks and troughs that make up an existence. No life is perfect and set backs and disappointments are par of the course.

‘Life would slip away before you knew it so you had to live every day as if it was your last, for it just might be.’

Timing can be everything. Disasters always seem to be conspiring against their set plans and happy ever after.

‘They both knew that stories didn’t always end where you wanted them to.’

Sophie has to face the pain and mistakes of her past and present, and decide what it means for their future.

‘A year could go by quickly or it could seem to last forever, and this year had done both.’

What’s a wedding day superstition or saying you know?
I always heard, Marry in the Rain, Marry Again.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This short story is about Isabel & Johnny being together and planning to get married, except things keep causing their wedding to be postponed. I love the names of the baked goods they make. The short story wasn’t my favorite which is the reasoning for 3 stars. It just kinda felt all thrown together quickly and repetitive.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Bookstore Wedding.

I am absolutely obsessed with this book!!! I have never read a more sweet and darling book. This just melted me. It was phenomenal! Highly recommend!

EXCERPT: The original building had been a barn, built in 1670 by the island's founder, William Brinkley, who had lived alone with no other company for a dozen years. The sisters had added a bakery, and now on weekends there was often a line out the door. Their mother's secret recipes brought the crowds; people couldn't get enough of their favorites, especially I Must Be in Heaven Chocolate Brownies or Blue Moon Blueberry Muffins. Visitors came from Portland and Boston on hot summer days, and they continued taking the ferry over all through the fall. They sprawled in the grass with their new books and their sticky treats or made themselves comfortable in the old wicker chairs where Isabel and Sophie used to curl up to read when they were girls.

ABOUT 'THE BOOKSTORE WEDDING': Isabel, the long-lost Gibson sister, is finally back home on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. With Sophie and Violet, her sister and her niece, she’s got the family bookstore—and with Johnny Lenox, she’s got something even more special.

But even as life settles, not everything is falling into place. Isabel and Johnny have set the date three times, baked three wedding cakes, invited the whole island to three parties, only to have each attempt at matrimony fall apart at the last minute. Disasters seem to be conspiring against their happy ending, and Isabel is starting to wonder if their love is meant to be.

When family history comes back to haunt the Gibson sisters, Isabel knows that if she wants to make it down the aisle with Johnny, first she and Sophie will have to face the pain of their past and their present and decide what it means for their future.

MY THOUGHTS: A wonderful story about love, friendship and the importance of family.

The Bookstore Wedding follows on from The Bookstore Sisters, which does need to be read first, and there is a third novella in the pipeline, expected to be published February 2025.

This is more of a family drama than a romance, focusing on the relationship between sisters Isabel and Sophie, although it does have a romantic element to it.

I wish recipes were included, because the cakes sound amazing and enticing.

A brief and satisfying read, ideal for an afternoon at the beach or curled up in front of the fire.

⭐⭐⭐⭐+

#TheBookstoreWedding #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Alice Hoffman was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. She currently lives in Boston.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for providing a digital ARC of The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

This was a quick and easy read. I did expect it to be a bit more light hearted and was surprised to have some heavy topics in such a short story. Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

One sweet, heartwarming cozy, easy going, captivating yet flowing bookish-wedding story where love finally wins at the end despite many challenges. A summer must read for all .

Cute short story! It is harder to connect with characters in such short stories but the author does a great job of helping readers to feel for these sisters. The love story is super cute and the relationships between the sisters and mother/ daughter were lovely to read.

I really enjoy this book - it kept me engaged from start to finish and I didn’t have any difficulty understand or relating to the prose. The characters were well developed and easy to like. I’d definitely recommend reading this book!