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.

Isabel is back running the family bookstore on an island off the coast of Maine. Sophie is happily settling down after a whirlwind few years. Sophie's daughter, Violet is heading back to the island after graduation to run the bookstore, but it's not what Violet really wants. Should Violet follow her heart or abide by her family's wishes?

I have been a huge Alice Hoffman fans for years and this short story did not disappoint. I read it in quick succession with the other two in the series and I just love this little island and the sisters. One of the trademarks of Hoffman's stories is the relationships between women, sisters in particular, and family lines. This short story is just the perfect next chapter to follow the first two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC of The Bookstore Keepers.

Hoffman’s books have always had a special place in my heart, and this novella was a short and sweet reminder of why. Though I haven’t read the first two iterations (and will probably do so now that I went through this one quickly) this third was something I could pick up where it was, and Hoffman was able to get me up to speed without missing a beat. It was a nice short read, and truly showing that not every book has to be a long epic to be meaningful.

Thanks again to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a wonderful continuation of this short story series. I enjoy seeing the lives of the bookstore sisters continue.