This sounded amazing, unfortunately the app is experiencing issues and won't allow me to download the audio.

The Bookstore Keepers is short story number three within The Once Upon A Time Bookshop Stories series from Alice Hoffman, where "family, independence, and finding your place in the world" take centre stage.

This was a heartfelt and cozy story about loss, grief and change yet had such a strong message of hope woven throughout. Its never-ending atmosphere translated into vivid imagery within my mind. Although this is the only book from this series I have read, I found the characters and island to be well developed (especially for a short story), and I never felt that I was lacking previous information!

Jennifer Jill Araya narrated this audiobook in the perfect fairy tale way. Her narration was straightforward, yet had a magical air to it!

This series features 40-ish page/hour-ish long books, and they're just the sort of story to slip into when you've got just a bit of spare time!

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary copies to read and review.

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman is part of the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. It is a brief but beautifully written slice of life centering on two sisters and the generational family bookstore the two sisters currently run. It is a book about life, love, sadness, grief, mothers and daughters. It is a book about family and ultimately love of family. Thank you to Net Galley, Brilliance Publishing, and Amazon Original Stories for my ALC. I gave this book 3.5 stars.

Short and sweet. Great little audiobook. Love anything Alice Hoffman writes and actually found I wanted more of this novella.

A short story that takes readers back into the lives of the Gibson sisters, the Book delves into second chances—both at life and love (one of which I am a fan of, the other not so much). Centered around a dream that’s about to alter the family dynamics, the story unfolds with the bookstore as its backdrop, metaphorically acting as a bond between the two sisters and their shared history.

The main reason I always pick up Alice Hoffman’s books is her writing style. It’s cozy, the pacing is comfortable, and the depiction of the surroundings holds true to Hoffman’s signature style. While there’s only so much one can explore in a short story, what you get here is pretty satisfactory. My only qualm is that it didn’t leave a lasting impression, which I had hoped for.
3.5/5 ⭐️

This is the third book in the series. Each book is simply amazing. it's about sisters and finding love life, and oh, wow, so much more..

Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's almost gone or sometimes it could be gone, but what remains is simply the best.

Family is always there for you, and you have love unconditional..

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novella in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series by the wonderful Alice Hoffman, with the audio perfectly narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

We once again meet the Gibson sisters as they are running the bookstore on Brinkley's Island in Maine. I love this series and have so enjoyed each short story as we see the sisters through different phases of their lives, capturing all the ups and downs of both romantic love and mother-daughter relationships. These stories are heartfelt, relatable, touching. Start at the beginning to get the full impact of this wonderful series - I can't wait for more to come!

This was a lovely short read. Written and narrated beautifully. The audiobook was perfectly paced, and pulled out lots of emotion in me. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this read and review!

3.5 🌟 (rounded up)

I enjoyed the 3rd installment of the ‘Once Upon a Time’ Bookstore series. An author can only do so much with such short Novella‘s, but I think that hers do pack a punch and I enjoy her writing.

Again, I didn’t enjoy this one like I did the first book in the series. It was more emotional for me and I connected to that storyline the most. However, I am invested in the characters and what might come next for them. I did like seeing some of the focus on Johnny and his storyline for a change. If Hoffman continues to carry on with the series, I’ll continue to try to read it. They are quick and a lovely way to spend an hour.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a yes for me!🖤

DeAnn
@deannsreadingriot

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman is the third novella in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series. This was an emotional and thought provoking story about family relationships, the passing of loved ones, and so much more. I'm home nearly impressed by how much I ended up caring for these characters in such a short time. The writing is beautiful. Alice Hoffman never seems to disappoint. The audiobook was perfect for listening to while doing some chores around the house or any other unpleasant activity. It made boring chores so much better.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge Alice Hoffman fan, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. What I didn’t realize, however, is that it is the third book in a series. I’ve read a few other Amazon Original Stories, but I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, and might have gotten more invested in the story if I was already familiar with the characters.

Short stories are a hit or miss for me, but I was willing to give it a shot for the chance to read Alice Hoffman’s beautiful writing. And I wasn’t let down. She writes gorgeously, painting a visual picture of the story that made it simple to feel like I was right alongside the characters. Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya is perfect for this story, with a beautiful narrating voice that made it feel like the characters were talking directly to me.

I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story, since it was short and I didn’t fully have a grasp on the characters or their lives. Even without being fully invested, I still found myself empathizing for these characters with their family dynamics. We are given the basics of the dynamic between Isabel and Sophie, but earlier books have a lot more information. Even without having read the previous books, this was still enjoyable.

Overall, Hoffman uses this short interlude to depict one character going through the worst of the grief process, and demonstrate the supports and love given in the most beautiful way. I loved how they were able to show their enduring love for each other no matter what, and the beautiful way of supporting a loved one through their challenges, regardless of what it was. It makes me curious about reading the rest of the series, this time, starting from the beginning, to learn more about the characters who managed to capture my heart in a short half hour. This one might be a good fit for you if you like Alice Hoffman’s writing, can empathize with people experiencing grief, and especially if you like books featuring bookstores, or depictions of realistic characters experiencing grief together and in a supportive way.

This was a sweet short story that introduced me to a pair of sisters whose lives and families I would love to know better.

A slice of life story that will leave readers reflecting on life, loss, and love.

Admittedly, this was my first taste of a Hoffman's writing. She is a larger than life figure in the writing world and I was so afraid that her stories wouldn't live up to the hype. I am so pleased to share that the tale she has woven here is everything I expected and more.

Readers follow a husband and wife living on a small Maine Island. We are given glimpses of who they were in the past and tag along as they become something new. Grief is the driving force that helps our characters evolve and that journey is shown is such a genuine and evocative way way. I was supremely impressed that I felt so invested in the outcome of each and every character in such a short time!

This is a great pick for anyone who has known the heartbreak and evolution that comes with loss.

I was lucky enough to both read and listen to this story. I found that the narration was well suited to the tale and greatly enhanced the experience!

I don’t know how Alice Hoffman managed to fit so much into such short stories but I really enjoy this series and getting to visit with these characters at different points in their life. I do hope we see a few more installments in this series!

This is the third installment in a novella series about a pair of sisters who runs a family bookstore on a small island in Maine. I definitely recommend reading this after you've read the first two stories in the series, otherwise it will not be as meaningful. This one revisits the sisters 5 years into the future. One sister's daughter has recently graduated college, while the other has been happily married, but she and her husband are at a crossroads of whether to expand their family.

The is a short but sweet story that packs an emotional punch. I always appreciate Hoffman's crafting of different types of relationships, her insight into human behavior, and her lovely descriptions of nature in the settings of her stories, which become a character themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Brilliance Publishing for an advanced e-book and audiobook in exchange for my review.

Description: Five years into their happily ever after, Isabel and Johnny are making the most of their second chance at love. In the wake of loss Johnny and Isobel’s world is irrevocably altered. Isabel does her best to give Johnny space as he struggles to accept the new chapter life has opened for them. But Johnny can’t do it alone—no one can. As the whole family is soon to discover, seasons change, but love never does.

What I loved 💕:
💕multiple types of love depicted (sisterly& couple)
💕love story between Isabel & Johnny
💕Hypnotic type of writing
💕Dream Realm


Not my cup☕️:
☕️the leaving the nest trope

🎧Audiobook:
🎧The narrators voice Jennifer Jill Araya is easy to listen to and enhances the lyrical writing of Hoffmans work.
🎧Araya brings both the female and male parts to life and demonstrates a good variation in vocal tone for the female and male parts.

Some of my favourite Quotes from the book:📕

📕”You can’t love someone too much”

📕”She had married a man who cried & was patient & who wasn’t afraid to love someone.”

📕”Some things would always be remembered because they were handed down, things like love and memories and stories.”

Ideal Reader:
✨ Fans of magical realism
✨ readers who enjoy lyrical writing
✨ Fans of Hoffman’s other work like Practical Magic
✨ Fans of long lasting romances

Trigger Warnings:‼️
‼️Death of a parent

Thanks to NetGalley, Author Alice Hoffman & The publisher for this ARC audiobook & paperback in exchange for a fair & honest review.