This was a cute story about romance, friendships and misunderstandings and it all takes place in a little bookshop called Read the Room. The story starts off with April, who decides to leave an anonymous note in a book for Westley, who works at the bookstore. Unfortunately for April, it isn’t Westley who discovers the note. Laura, who is a widowed single mom, buys the book with the mysterious note, and she mistakenly believes the note was meant for her. Now April and Laura continue to exchange letters and they have no idea how their lives will change. Throughout this letter exchange, Westley has no idea that he is the center of these letters.
Overall, the story is good and entertaining. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good cozy story. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton. All opinions are my own.

This is a cozy, comfortable read. While the term "Unlikely love triangle" is used, I think this is more about friendship and loneliness. It's a slow read, but it's just a quiet story.

Amy is a remote employee at a tech company. Laura is a single mom. Westly is the bookstore employee who just happens to be handsome. The love story is more a story of miscommunication.

Using various forms of media (letters, emails, etc.) adds elements to the story that help provide insight other than inner thoughts. It's a creative use, and I would love it if more books did this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Storybook Ending
Author: Moira Macdonald
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date:  May 27, 2025

“Storybook Ending” is a sympathetic tale about being alone and the resulting more profound loneliness that can creep in when charting your future doesn’t turn out as planned. The story follows two lead female characters, April and Laura. April is a 30-something work-from-home employee, while Laura is a widow trying to raise her daughter as a single mom after her husband’s tragic passing. Laura works for an online home search company, and Laura is a talented clothing stylist. Both are passionate readers and frequent the “Read the Room” bookstore, where they find unique and affordable books. Little do they know, they’re both drawn to the same hunky employee named Westly, whose name becomes a running joke throughout the book. Each time someone says, “As you Wish,” I chuckle. The ladies do not know each other but are all stuck in a rut. April decides to take a bold step. She writes an anonymous note to Westly, the hunky bookstore employee, hoping he’ll be interested in chatting. She then places the note in the returned novel so they might connect. Westley oversees returns, including checking the books that go back into circulation. But there’s a twist! The book goes back into circulation with the note still inside, and Laura picks it up, mistaking it as a message meant for her. This delightful mix-up sets off a series of fun events that beautifully illustrate the power of connection and the importance of belonging. A mistake changes several lives, making this book a truly sweet and gratifying read.

#StorybookEnding @notquitemoirarose #debutnovel #moiraMacdonald @penguinrandomhouse @netgalley #bookstore #booksaboutbooks #book #books #bookstagram #romance #fiction #chicklit

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

I liked the beginning of Storybook Ending but the main conflict/tension started to drag and feel frustrating and the characters more two-dimensional. Wish there was more humor or depth to the dialogue as well!

A cute story of miscommunication and new friends. The character dynamic in this book is great and makes you root for each main character.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

hmmmm.... while a slow burn typically doesn't bother me, this one felt almost too slow. I really struggled to get through this book despite its cute premise.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars

This is a story about taking a chance. And even when things don’t end the way you expect them to, it’s worth putting yourself out there and opening yourself up. You might not get what you were looking for, but you might find something even more valuable.

When April leaves a note in a book for the cute used book guy at her local bookshop, she is hoping for the kind of meet cute you see in a rom com.

When Laura finds a note from the cute used bookstore guy, she thinks she might finally be ready to put herself back out there.

Westley, the cute bookstore guy, doesn’t know anything about any notes.

I loved the premise of this book. The little inside knowledge that you the reader are aware something has gone wrong the the characters continue on towards some ending they are surely not expecting is fun. I also love the multi pov. It is nice to see Laura and April both grow and go outside their comfort zones to find happiness. Westley feels incredibly lost but by his own making. The cast of side characters were also lovely. Alejandra is amazing and she could have her own story!

While I ended up liking the book, there were some things I didn’t like. The start was slow, I was about 35% through and considered dnf’ing. I’m glad I didn’t but the buildup was too long. Also, though I liked getting some of the pov’s of the side characters, they felt like they came up out of nowhere and I couldn’t really remember who they were in the moment. My initial feel while reading impacted my overall experience reading.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded down

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald was a cozy, slow-paced tale about friendship, books, and love. I think this book was very well written and I know that there are readers out there who will absolutely adore this book. Calling all fans of You’ve Got Mail, this is the book for you!

Unfortunately for me, I found that the pacing of this book was off and it caused me to not enjoy the story as much as I thought I would. Storybook Ending is incredibly character driven, and it felt like at least 70% of this book was spent building these characters and telling us every single detail about them and it got to a point where it felt unnecessary and excessive. I really didn’t have any clue what the plot was building to or what the end goal of this book was for over 90% of it. While I did find the ending incredibly sweet and satisfying, with all the romance plots working out in an ideal way and a beautiful friendship blossoming, it just felt so so rushed and I think the book suffered because of it. The second to last chapter rushed through several months time and all the events of that chapter included everything I had been waiting for the entire book, so it was pretty disappointing. The last chapter felt like an epilogue and while it was touching, it felt like the author decided to tie everything up neatly with a bow and I wished we spent longer exploring the characters lives at the end of this story.

A huge thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

To break out of her comfort zone, April leaves a note in a used book for a local bookstore employee to see. Thinking it a grand romantic gesture, hijinks ensue when the wrong person gets the note and starts to respond. Meanwhile, a movie crew shows up at the bookstore, leaving room for more mix-ups and mayhem.

I love books about people who love books, so this was right up my alley. What starts as a romantic comedy quickly turns into a lovely tale of connections and found family. I won't lie; halfway through, I was rolling my eyes at the description of the object of affection as so handsome but so aloof about it, but stick with it! The turn of events left me smiling in the end. I was pleased with the HEA all the characters received!

An advanced reader copy provided by Penguin Group Dutton Books via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.

This book can be summed up in one word: cozy. The story is cozy. The characters are cozy. The vibe is cozy. All of it, cozy.

I thought the premise seemed unique, and it was! The story was interesting and I enjoyed how it unfolded (and then wrapped up). While slightly predictable, the author did a good job of keeping the story fresh and captivating.

That said, I did find the style and dialogue a bit stilted and formal for my taste — it made the characters seem pretentious at certain points, which I don’t think was the intention. The last third of the book felt a lot more comfortable in this regard, specifically the string of email exchanges toward the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

Storybook Ending did have a nice ending, but most of the story was pretty slow going and there were too many characters to really keep track of who was who, other than the main three. I didn’t even find the main three characters all that interesting. I appreciated the found family/friendship at the end though.

Probably wouldn’t recommend.

Storybook Ending is a warm and cozy read with a bookstore setting. I wouldn’t describe this as a romance book as much as I would a book about friendship.

The pace of this book can be a bit slow and the author does not use a lot of dialogue to tell the story.

I think where she thrives is creating a cozy atmosphere with funny real life characters. I loved the differences in their personalities.

Overall I found this book a very warm hearted comforting read! Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in advance!

This book ended up being a bit middle of the road for me.

The synopsis for this story sounded interesting with the love triangle aspect, but it felt more like a friendship story than a love story. The pacing in the first half was pretty slow, and I was struggling a bit at times to stay invested. I wanted to love the characters more than I did, and even though they were lovely people, I just didn’t feel that connected to them.

That said, there were things I liked. April and Laura’s love of books was fun to read about, and I liked how they bonded through that (who doesn’t love a book about books?). The alternating POVs added a lot more depth to the story, and I liked getting the perspective of everyone in a plot like this. I also loved the addition of all the side characters, and what they added to the story.

Overall this was a very cozy book, and would be good for someone in the mood for a slower, low stakes read.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book and read it in one day. I thought the storyline was well written and the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

Warm, whimsical, and quietly powerful, The Cardinal by Allison Weir is a charming debut that unfolds like a handwritten letter tucked inside a beloved book.

Set in a cozy Seattle bookstore, the story follows April, a lonely remote tech worker, and Laura, a widowed single mom, who both find anonymous notes hidden in books and believe they’re sharing a flirty connection with the bookstore clerk, Westley. But Westley is unaware of their letters—and caught up in the chaos of a film being shot at the shop, where he’s unexpectedly cast as the lead.

Told through alternating POVs, emails, and letters, the narrative slowly builds a tapestry of found friendship, miscommunication, and quiet resilience. While the first half leans heavily on character development and moves at a slower pace, the second half shines with warmth, wit, and heart. The side characters and setting add rich texture, and the gentle twists are surprisingly satisfying.

Moira Macdonald’s prose is quietly magical—full of cozy atmosphere, heartfelt lines, and lovely observations that linger. If you're a fan of You’ve Got Mail, stories of found family, or books about book lovers, this is one to curl up with.

A love letter to bookstores, serendipity, and the surprising bonds between women.

A big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Storybook Ending is a cozy literary novel based in Seattle. This is set in present day modern times but gives off the vibes of a bygone era. This book has two plots happening. The first is the exchanging of correspondence in the form of letters hidden in the books of the bookstore. However, the letters are not being received by their intended recipients. The second plot is a movie being shot inside the bookstore and the shenanigans surrounding the movie. This is a cute book. I rated it 3.25. It lost points because there are so many characters! The perspective changes to someone new each chapter and it took to the end of the book to truly figure out who is who and how they all pieced together in this story. I was confused for a good portion of the book. The dual plot lines also led to some points being dropped. It felt like I was reading two totally different stories. However, I loved the vibes of this book. I also loved the email exchanges at the end of the book because they acted like a creative epilogue.

An intriguing premise but ultimately I was left feeling average about Storybook Ending. I felt the first half of this book lagged, with a lot of story and character building but not anything that really grasped my attention. Despite the character building, I was left feeling they were a bit two-dimensional and unfortunately, didn't have a strong desire to keep picking the book up and reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy. Storybook Ending is available on May 27, 2025.

This was such an interesting novel for me. I really enjoyed the plot line, and the creativity that went into the creation of this story.

April works from home, however she misses the office due to the human interaction in person. She feels quite lonely and just does not enjoy working from home as he coworkers do. April leaves an anonymous note for Wesltey, the clerk at her local bookstore in hopes of making some sort of connection.

Laura, a widow of five years is busy being a single mother and is not sure whether or not she is ready to start dating yet or not. Laura gets a book that has a note inside it and thinks that the clerk wrote it for her to find.

Wesltey has his own issues that he needs to focus on when an actor making a movie at the bookstore goes missing and he is thrown into the role, and therefore misses the interactions of the two women. Someone finally braves asking for a coffee date after both women begin messaging Westley back and forth.

This novel is so cute, and honestly had me hooked. It is very similar in vibes to “You’ve Got Mail”” and anyone who loves that movie should pick up this novel. This is a debut novel and though it is not written the best, it is a good novel!

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy lighthearted, character-driven stories about everyday people navigating the complexities of modern relationships through humor and serendipity.

I skimmed most of this book, and honestly, it didn’t do much for me. The story follows three main characters—Laura, April, and Westley—whose lives are a bit stuck, and somehow, a bookstore becomes the magical place where things start to shift. Laura is a single mom still grieving her husband after five years, and she starts to open up to the idea of dating again when she notices a charming clerk at the bookstore. April, who works from home and watches the bookstore from her window, also starts to feel a connection to this same guy. Cue the confusion—both women believe they’re having a secret letter exchange with him through books.

Westley, the supposed heartthrob, just kind of floats through the story. He’s attractive but doesn’t seem to do much with it. The whole mistaken letter-writing plot was kind of interesting at first, but it dragged on and felt awkward rather than romantic. When April and Laura finally realize they’ve been corresponding with the same (clueless) man, it’s more bizarre than touching.

The whole thing felt a bit disjointed. There were moments that could’ve been emotional or meaningful, but they didn’t quite land. The characters did find some connection in the end, but it all felt a little too odd and forced for my taste.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this free advance copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.