A heartwarming tale about the intricacies of family, sister and mother daughter relationships and what you do for the people you love most. This is the third installment in the Once Upon A Time Bookshop Stories. Personally, I would have benefited with these 3 installments all put together into 1 short stories package instead of them individually separated. I do love the lyrical writing and easy to follow narrative. These novellas have dipped my toes into Alice Hoffman's magic and I will be reading her other works asap.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Though romance and family-themed stories are not quite in my alley, I’ve read Hoffman’s ‘Practical Magic’ before and loved it, so I was happy to be able to read her new story before publishing. In order to write a review, I had also read the previous two instalments of the ‘Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories’ prior to reading the ARC.

Note: this review contains slight spoilers of the previous two instalments (The Bookstore Sisters & The Bookstore Wedding).

The series tells a story about Isabel and Sophie — estranged sisters that reconcile after years of not speaking to each other in hopes to keep their father’s bookshop running. Each part of the series takes places roughly five years after the one before.

In this third instalment of the series we follow the characters through their hardship and grief, after Isabel’s husband and childhood friend loses his father. As a result, their marriage turns strained, as Johnny avoids speaking about his emotions and rather turns to sneaking out at night to visit the cemetery.

On the other side of the sea, Isabel’s niece Violet struggles with her future after graduation; should she stay at the island and run the bookshop as per her mother’s wishes, or should she follow her own dreams?

If I had to choose a favourite moment of the story, it would be the one near the end, in which a character finally gets to choose what to do with her life. It shows the importance of having your family near — those who had left will someday return. Unfortunately, as all three stories are only around 30 pages long, there is not much space left for character development, and instead is more focused on the interpersonal relationships between the characters.

However, what I didn’t enjoy about the story, or the series itself, was the main character’s lack of independence. At many points of the story, I felt frustrated with the way Isabel kept changing her mind and wishes to conform to others’ expectations, rather than staying true to herself. I wish Isabel’s future had been more her own, without following the traditional values in which a person is “incomplete” without starting a family of their own.

Ultimately, as the story is really short and the entire series can be read in a day, I would still recommend it to those looking to relax with a quick read. Though I wasn’t the target audience for the series, I still found many moments enjoyable.

"I love you more than pancakes, more than ice cream, more than pickles, more than my life. I love you more than dogs or cats or diamonds or gold, more than anything else in the world."
Isabel and Sophia lost their mother, but she left them with a book store and a love letter, which they have published into a book, titled How Much Do I Love You.
That quote tugged on my heart strings because I too lost my mother, and I too used to play the "I love you more than _” game with her.
This is the 3rd book in a series of novellas, which you should read in order. In true Alice Hoffman form, there is love, there is loss, and there is family. And sometimes you have to fly the nest to discover who you are.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Another sweet magical story from Alice Hoffman. Perfect ending to the trilogy with enough magic mixed with romance. Short read and easy to digest. 4 stars.

A quick, treacly read. I typically love anything Alice Hoffman, but this was disappointingly trite. The characters lacked depth and development and everything was tied up in two neat bows. An easy skip, unfortunately. Added 1 Star for the stunning Maine island setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Alice Hoffman knows how to pack heart in even the shortest of stories. I will admit I haven't yet read the first and second of the "Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories," so all of these characters are new to me. It was incredibly easy to slip into the minds of each character and empathize with their inner turmoil. The only reason this short story wasn't a five-star read for me was that I felt there was too much packed into the short period. I would have preferred if Hoffman had kept the focus mainly on two perspectives, as I got confused there for a moment when more were added in after spending time with the original two voices.

I look forward to reading #1 and #2 and any future releases!

Thank you Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy to review.

***3 Stars***

This isn’t my typical read, but I found the premise interesting and when I realized it was the third book in a series, I did get the first two for continuity sake and it was a nice little journey to go on with the sisters and their families and the people of Brinkley’s Island.

This one does jump ahead in time a bit, so it was interesting to see how the dynamic has, or has not in some cases, changed with the sisters and how they view their lives and the world.

Alice Hoffman writes beautifully and I enjoy reading short stories, but I didn't realize this was the 3rd book in a series.

It was a well written and endearing tale. It had me wanting more about the characters and their before and afters. I would also like to eventually read more about the bookshop.

Alice Hoffman is the master of mother-daughter and sister stories and this short story delivers both! This is a lovely story that addresses emotions and experiences from all stages of life. Make sure to pick it up for a quick but powerful read. Thanks to Netgalley for access to this advanced copy. It publishes in a few weeks so look out for it!

I think Alice Hoffman writes so beautifully and I had so many emotions while reading this book! It was a heartwarming and easy read - the plot revolves around the family’s bookshop, which had me curious after reading the plot description, but it ended up being so much more. I loved this book! I loved the characters.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

A very short story about a family that lives on a secluded island only accessible by ferry. Isabel and Sophia are two sisters who run what sounds like the most magical, warm and welcoming bookstore.

Alice Hoffman always blows me away. She has the most beautiful writing style. It contains a bit of magic always no matter the plot. I was brought to tears in just three short chapters.

I highly recommend to anyone with a heart!

Really can’t wrong with Alice Hoffman and I read this at the perfect time. When my brain is on overdrive , Alice becomes one of my comfort authors.

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman is a quiet, magical gem of a story—one that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. Hoffman’s signature blend of the ordinary and the mystical makes the world of the bookstore feel like a place you could step into, full of secrets and second chances. The characters, especially the resilient and hopeful protagonist, feel beautifully human, navigating love, loss, and the power of stories to heal. It’s a book that reminds you why we turn to books in the first place—to escape, to dream, and to find our way home.

The Bookstore Keepers is a short yet deeply heartfelt story about family, love, grief, and finding the courage to follow your own path. I loved that it takes place years after the previous story, offering a fresh yet meaningful continuation. The ending was beautifully satisfying, tying everything together in a way that felt just right. With its easy-to-read style and engaging storytelling, this book is a perfect, emotional read that stays with you long after the last page

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
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.

Book 3 in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories is set to release on February 18. It is the continuing story of the Gibson sisters and their life on Brinkley Island, off the coast of Maine. Like I said in my reviews of the two previous books I feel this would make a great full length novel, however it works great as a short story.

It’s been five years since Isabel and Johnny began their second chance of love. Without going into detail about a dream that Johnny had which changes the course of their lives. While Johnny and Isabel play center stage here, Sophie, as well as her daughter Violet play pivoted roles. I don’t know how long the series will be, but I am enjoying them and hope that there is a book 4 especially with the ending to this one.

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

As a huge fan of Alice Hoffman, I was really looking forward to this. Sadly, it left me a little disappointed. It is her signature cozy writing style, but, for me, it lacked a lot of depth and nuance, which maybe was simply due to this being so short. It was a nice, quick, read, but not much more. I will, however, keep reading everything she publishes nonetheless.

One night, Johnny has a dream, and after that, his life with Isabel changes. She tries to help him, and together they find the only possible solution. At the same time, we follow the storylines of Sophie and Violet.

A short, bittersweet novella that touches on many themes: loss, love, self-discovery, and sacrifice for others. I had a lovely time reading it. The ending, while happy, carries a hint of sadness. I would gladly read a sequel. To better understand the novella's storyline, I recommend reading the previous installments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

didn't want this collection of short stories to end. Alice put love, strength and sweetness into this collection. It's beautifully written and readers will love the cute bakery inside the bookstore for their unique baked goods names like "I'll miss you forever cake." I was given this book to read prior to its release thanks to both the author and Netgalley.