Delayed ARC review!

This was a fun and cute story. Definitely a good cozy pick if that's your thing or you need a palette cleanser!

Take a peek at the synopsis and if it sounds like something you'd enjoy, definitely check it out!


Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for this e-ARC!

Laura and April were writing letters to each other and putting them in books. They each thought they were corresponding with Westley, the VERY handsome man who worked at the bookstore. Westley was not likable so the ladies were actually lucky to pen-pal with each other. Meanwhile, the bookstore was going to become a movie set. So, a couple things were going on in the book but not enough t0 recommend it as a great read. Thus, it rates 2 1/2 stars that round up to 3. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for the digital ARC. This review is written by me and is my own opinion.

How would I describe this book? Cute, but not memorable. I liked the characters and the premise with its not-quite-You've=Got-Mail letter writing, but there was still something meh about the execution of it all. The characters: Westley, April, and Laura were likeable but drab, constantly at the mercy of their bosses and circumstances beyond their control. This is my first read by this author and I was not extremely impressed.

The premise of Storybook Ending is phenomenal—two women anonymously writing each other notes but both believing their pen pal is a hot bookseller??—but that's the most enjoyable aspect of the book.

There were entirely too many perspectives, side characters, and subplots throughout the book. Had the story been streamlined, there would have been more time to actually develop the subplots for each of the women and less annoyance at trying to remember Random Side Character #5's relevance. The presumed main plot of anonymous letters was not given as much time as it should have been because of the aforementioned subplots.

I had high hopes for this book, but I was very unfortunately let down.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A whimsical, heartfelt tale that toes the line between real life and fairy tale. The voice is charming, and the story’s emotional layers are gently peeled back. A few plot points felt predictable, but the journey was sweet and meaningful

this book was definitely not something I would normally pick up — this was part of me trying to branch out into the literary fiction genre a bit more this year.

this is a story about a bookstore, the people who work there, the people who shop there, and a movie being shot there. there are many different storylines we follow throughout the entirety of this novel, so i’m going to try and concisely summarize the main plot line for you:

two women, april and laura, begin writing notes to whom they think is the handsome used bookseller westley, leaving the notes in a book at the store. in reality, the two women are writing to each other and westley has absolutely no idea this is going on. if you hate miscommunication— this is definitely not for you 😂

it’s more focused on friendship and character development— i just did not find myself totally connecting to any of the characters here. i think this is partly because the characters are older than i am and are in completely different stages and types of lives. they are all single 30 something’s that are looking for something MORE in life. if i related to that, i definitely would have enjoyed this a lot more.

at the end of the day, i think this was well written and the storyline was cute, and i think there were some lessons to be learned— it just boils down to the fact that this book just wasn’t for ME personally. i do think that if you really enjoy a general fiction book, you’d probably enjoy this one.

A fun read with three POVs, slow paced but very engaging audiobook narrators. Note passing via books at a bookstore between two women who think they are exchanging letters with Wesley who works there. The reveal was my favorite part, had a good bit of humor and lots of charming characters.

There is just so much going on in this novel. While the all the plot lines are great, I feel like with so many there was not enough time spent with each of them. It was an enjoyable read but I would definitely have loved if it was a bit more focused on the main correspondence plot line. The reactions od the characters felt flat because there was no real build or depth to make you actually invested in the characters or even make the characters onvested in what was going on.

I went in lot this book pretty confused about what was gonna happen but this was so cute! I loved that the 2 FMC found friendship with each other at the end. This story is one big miscommunication which normally is not my favorite but is was fine really well here.

This had a cozy vibe with a really cute setup. A woman leaves a note in a book at a used bookstore thinking the cute bookstore worker would find it. However, someone else finds it instead and it leads to a mix up that connects three strangers.

The penpal/secret messages trope is my favorite so naturally I was hoping for a bit more surrounding that. The story moves really, really slowly, and it took a while for things to really happen. Some parts felt a bit stretched out, some things felt unnecessary to even include and a few characters could’ve used more depth.

What a heartwarming story. I’ll admit it took me about 10 days to read the first half of the book and then flew through the second half in a day. It was absolutely worth it - a lovable cast of characters with a lot of missed connections that never makes the reader too uncomfortable. Without giving anything away, the book provides a really satisfying wrap up.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a really cute story and a fun & easy read! I'm a huge fan of bookstore settings, and loved the added storyline of the bookstore being in a movie. The story follows several employees & their customers in the bookstore, and felt like a warm hug at the end. If you enjoy found family/friends, cozy stories, in an indepdendent bookstore setting, pick this up and enjoy your time reading it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the e-ARC. These are my honest opinions.

Storybook Ending is a cozy blend of coming-of-age fiction and romance, wrapped in themes of friendship, grief, love, and the courage to embrace the unknown. I absolutely adored every character in this story—they felt so real and vivid that I could easily imagine myself in the bookstore, watching their lives unfold. The writing made me feel truly connected to each character and their personal journeys.

If you’re looking for a heartfelt escape into the lives of strangers brought together by a local bookstore, this book is the perfect read. It's warm, emotional, and leaves you feeling like you've just spent time with old friends.

This was a unique read about a case of mistaken identity, letters, friendship, and all in a bookshop! The descriptive writing helped me easily picture the bookstore and characters. How fun! I don't think I've read a book like this and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a good reminder about the importance of friendship. As someone who also works for home, I could relate to April's sense of loneliness. Some of the chapters were better paced than others, but overall, it was a solid read!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and Moira Macdonald for providing me with this E-ARC🥰🫶🏻🩷

‘“Have you ever been in a relationship with someone but you didn’t know it?”’

YEP… you heard correctly🦻🏻 Here’s your one liner to convince you to pick up Moira Macdonald’s FIRST novel.

After three individuals find themselves in an unusual and anonymous love triangle after a note is left in a book and the wrong recipient receives it. The two FMC’s that believe that they are writing to the MMC; spark, a penpal type of friendship that becomes unexpected but nonetheless just what these two women needed. This book is very playful and tributes the ideas of friendship, romance and a love for books.

‘“That’s why we read books, right? To disappear into other worlds?”’

You betcha we do! There were so many bookish references and relatable things in this novel that made it feel at home. I felt more connected to the story due to its cozy setting and diverse characters. And the way the plot was executed. I enjoyed the diverse representation of the characters because I felt connected and understand where each individual was coming from given the scenario they fell into.

This was the perfect palate cleanser for myself and I picked the right time to dive into this too. So if you’re anyone like me who’s looking for just that here you go! This also includes:

🏡Found Family🏡
🗣️Miscommunication🗣️
⚠️Love Triangle⚠️
💞Multi-POV💞
⏩Slow start, strong finish⏩

I am looking forward to what the author has in store for her future career in writing😌

#StorybookEnding #NetGalley

A sweet and cozy read! It starts off slow, building the characters, and I really enjoyed it. It is set in a cozy bookstore, a place most readers feel connected to. The story of a love letter received by the wrong person! Then continues with letter exchanges making it feel warm and cozy. It has multiple point of views, which I really love in my books. This is essential for the way the author has weaved in a profound humanity into these relatable characters. The ending of this was nicely wrapped up and do not disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the e-book copy!

I had high hopes for this novel as the synopsis had intrigued me. Sadly, this just ended up being such a snooze fest. I couldn't get to the halfway mark thats how painfully slow it was for me. I felt the characters were all show but no tell and i think for the plot it should have been the opposite. I think this could work for some but if you are like me and prefer more characterization rather then description then you will not like this.

This one snuck up on me in the best way. It starts off like your typical cozy romance, but the layered characters, bookish setting, and anonymous note exchanges made it feel fresh. The Seattle backdrop and indie bookstore vibe had me wishing I could teleport straight into the pages.

Pacing-wise, it’s a bit uneven. Some chapters flew, others dragged a little, but once the actual plot started moving, I was in. There’s a fun mix of sweet moments, strong friendships, and even a surprise love triangle that didn’t feel overdone. The writing was surprisingly sharp too. I caught myself jotting down new words more than once.

It gave “You’ve Got Mail” energy but with more found family and a quiet emotional depth I didn’t expect. Definitely one of those reads that gets better the further you go.

Recommended if you love books about books, soft romances with heart, and stories that reward your patience.

Cute and funny. Endearing characters. This book is not a page turner, so be sure you have a lot of time to invest and are wanting something you can meander through like a lazy river.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I love an epistolary novel and a back and forth/will they or won’t they? This was satisfying in that it took place in a bookshop with charming characters and it kept you curious to how it would play out. But it played out a little too long before you got your answer. It started to drag a little. Still…I love the way it ended!