Thank you net galley and Amazon. Sweet short story or family and love. Holding o.n And letting go. Starting over and living the life you choose.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this wonderful story. I reread #1 and 2 in preparation for this one. Wonderful story and characters and fingers crossed there will be more installments!

What a lovely novella this was, a great completion the the trilogy. Alice Hoffman always has a way of catching your attention and your heart with her stories. Loved this.

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.

There was really nothing special here. This was definitely something that did not really resonate with me as a past reader of this author. It is the little moments of magic that really set her apart and bring her stories to life after all. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

3.5 stars

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman is a short story and a third in this little series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Amazon, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Note that this section may contain spoilers from previous books)
Isabel Gibson returned to Brinkley's Island in Maine after running away to New York to learn art. She ran from the family bookstore, the death of her mother, a grieving father, an angry sister, and a boy who was in love.  Twelve years later, she returns.  Her sister Sophie is now married to a doctor, and Isabel, after 4 failed attempts to marry Johnny, finally succeeded.  Isabel and Sophie now run the bookstore together, and a bakery.  They are helped out by Violet, Sophie's daughter.  Isabel now illustrates.



My Synopsis and Opinions:    
Because these are short stories, I provide a short synopsis and my opinions together.  I'm surprised I'm reviewing short stories at all, so bear with me.

Johnny is grieving the death of his father, and tries to go it alone. This annoys me, as what does he think marriage is for?   Meanwhile, Violet has decided she wants to go to Paris after graduation, but struggles to tell her family that she doesn't want to return to run the bookstore.  Isabel is keeping more than one secret from her sister.

The story is about grief, about family, about secrets, about love.  Hoffman's writing is wonderful, and although this series is not my normal genre (it lacks mystery and excitement),  it is nice feel-good fiction.

Book #3 in Once Upon A Time In A Bookstore series, the next chapter in the lives of The Bookstore Sisters as they try to live a quiet life running their bookstore. Alice Hoffman's writing style will bring all the "feels" as the bonds that tie the family together are stretched thin. This is a novella length story that can easily be read as a stand alone, but you'll get more sigh worthy chapters by reading the first two books. Recommend to anyone who loves women's fiction with an emotional ending.

Amazing how such a short book can make such a big emotional impact! I ached for these characters, rooted for their success and happiness, and left feeling proud and hopeful for them all.

I have loved all of the Bookstore series. This one was good not my favorite. I hope the series is over because I think it should finally come to a conclusion.

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 Gibson sisters weren’t expecting to speak to each other ever again after Isabel ran off to New York and left Sophie alone. But here they are, years later, running the family bookstore together on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. Isabel also thought she’d left Johnny Lenox behind, but whether or not she knew it, Johnny was always going to be there for her.

Five years into their happily ever after, Isabel and Johnny are making the most of their second chance at love. Then one night, Johnny awakens from an extraordinary dream…and their 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.

Alice Hoffman is a favorite author of mine, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read this third story in her The Once Upon a Time Bookshop series.

The story, the setting and the characters immediately drew me in. The description of the bookshop and bakery made me want to spend an afternoon there! While the story is centered around the bookshop that has been in the family for many years, it is mainly about two sisters, Sophie and Isabel. After their lives had taken them in different directions, they return to run the bookshop together. They are each dealing with changes in their lives, one around her husband and the other around her daughter. It is a story full of hope for the future with fond memories of the past.

I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the two stories that came before this one. I hope the author continues to write about these characters. I am interested in what happens next in their lives.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

This is another wonderful heartwarming addition to the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories collection by Alice Hoffman. I love both Isabel and Sophie, and it has been fun to see their lives evolve with each short story. Once again, something unexpected happened in this story that caught me off guard but also made me love them even more. These stories are deeply moving and evoke such a strong sense of love, family, community, and following your dreams. I do wish there had been more involvement with the bookstore and more discussion of Sophie’s life and how she has been doing since the previous story, but I still really enjoyed it overall! Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Hoffman, and Amazon Original Stories for the gifted ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

When I got this short story, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. With that being said, I’m sure I would have liked it a lot more if I had a better knowledge of the characters. I thought the story was alright, but I didn’t find it as moving as some might. I’m not sure that I will look to read more of these short stories in the future, as I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I would have liked.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Loved the continuing stories of the sisters in the bookstore. Connected with characters and really enjoyed it.

A beautifully written story with compelling characters. It's easy to get lost in the almost lyrical prose of this tale.

WOW, this was my first Alice Hoffman read and it does really well as a standalone but now I definitely want to read the first two short stories in this series! Such a beautiful, raw depiction of grief in all its forms and having supported my partner through losing his dad way too young, I appreciated the realness. I loved the whimsical descriptions and overall vibe. One star off because I didn’t feel like their sudden decision as a solution to grief was necessary.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wish this could be a full length book because I loved the characters. Simple prose, gentle reading. Enjoyed this short story a lot

"The Bookstore Keepers" is the third short story about the sisters Isabel and Sophie, who run a bookstore/bakery on Brinkley’s Island. In this story, the focus is mainly on Isabel's husband, which adds even more depth and quality to this series. I love how we continually learn more about the lives of the Gibson sisters while also getting to know the characters around them better. The story beautifully depicts grief and hope, about losing someone but then gaining something else in return. The text is short, but it holds a lot. Alice Hoffman is an expert at portraying people's lives and emotions, setting a fantastic atmosphere, and giving the reader more than just words. I love Hoffman, I love this series, and I loved this story. Absolutely worth reading!

Unfortunately, when I started this I didn’t realize it was part of a series. It’s a quick, lovely short story of life. New lives and old lives, new beginnings and endings.

This was a very emotional short about Isabel and Johnny finding their happily ever after and then type of emotions and reactions he has to certain things. A VERY GOOD short story read. Is has you thinking when you are finished.