This is an example of a creative idea that goes off the rails with silliness and lengthy, unnecessary details. If you have ever read a romcom you will determine the ending long before it arrives. But thank you to Bloomsbury/Dutton and Net Galley for this early copy to read and review.

Laura is a personal shopper for an upscale department store in Seattle. (Are there still department stores in this age of online shopping? Or Personal Shoppers?) April has a work-at-home job with a real estate company and makes suggestions to sellers about staging their homes. There is also Westley, (yes, named after the Princess Bride character), a handsome bearded bookstore clerk and several other minor characters. These include Julia, bookstore owner, Raven and Alejandra, bookstore clerks, This seems like a lot of staff for such a small independent bookstore. We also have Donna Wolfe (no relation.) and her large entourage who are filming in the bookstore. Book titles and notes inserted in them cause complications.

If you're totally without other reading material, you may stick with this to the end because it does have some cuteness. Otherwise, perhaps the sophomore effort of Moira Macdonald will prove more worthwhile.

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald 📚

A note in a book at a bookstore finds the wrong recipient! And a story of love, life and friendship ensues and boy was this fun.

Reading this book felt like cozying up with a coffee and a cozy blanket. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were all so unique and beautifully written.

I loved the development of friendships and relationships and how it came together. I couldn’t speak higher of this book ❤️

April decides to be brave and leave a note inside a book for the cute guy who works at the bookstore (who, by the way, is very cute, as we're constantly being told). But naturally he isn't the one who gets it. Thus ensues a love triangle with unwitting participants. The pace picks up speed toward the end -- too much so. But I liked the developments at the end the best.

This was a very sweet read! I was disappointed that there weren't more letters exchanged before the big reveal but I love how the characters were interwoven throughout the story. This was just the heartwarming read I needed!

This is the story of April, Laura, and Westley (Yes, from The Princess Bride!). April works from home and lacks frequent in-person interactions. April takes notice of Westley as he works in the neighborhood bookstore and decides to leave a note for him to find inside of a book. Laura, a widowed single mom, finds the note instead. Both women think that Westley is leaving them notes. Westley has no idea of the correspondence whatsoever. Will he find out what has been going on for weeks unbeknownst to him?
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I was very grateful to receive this ARC! It was my first one and there was much excitement to have the honor of reading and reviewing an unpublished work.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, of which there were many. In particular, I gravitated towards Laura more. She was relatable and I felt for her story of losing her husband and trying to get back out there!

I walked into this book thinking it would be a rom-com. Up until about 75% of the way through the book and then I realized it was most likely going another way. It wasn't a bad ending at all, I think I just went into it expecting something completely different to what it was!

I really didn't fall for Westley as much as I think I should have? He seemed sweet but it was as if the author had amnesia and kept forgetting that she had told us how good looking Westley was AND that his name came from The Princess Bride. It was humorous at first, but it just didn't seem realistic that every single person in his life was falling at his feet.

I would recommend this book for someone in need of an anti-rom rom-com! It's not overflowing with romance or flirty remarks, but the story ends up rounding out really well in an unexpected way. I rated it 3.5 stars because, as I said prior, I was expecting more of the rom and less com. If I had known a little bit more about it, I think I would have rated it slightly higher! Thank you again to Dutton Books for allowing me to read this book in advance!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Tropes: Mistaken Identity, Love Triangle

Synopsis: April has been feeling isolated in life. She works remotely and doesn’t have much of a social life, so she decides to break her routine by leaving an anonymous note for a charming bookstore employee. Laura, a single mother, stumbles upon the note and believes it’s meant for her and was left by the handsome bookstore employee. This mix-up leads both women on unexpected journeys of self-discovery and connection, all centered around their local bookstore.

Thoughts: This was a multi-person POV that intertwines the lives of several characters through a serendipitous misunderstanding. The story is a different twist on You’ve Got Mail capturing the urning for human connection and the magic of bookstores. While the plot hinges on a simple miscommunication, it’s executed in a clunky way at times. There were several mentions in Westley’s POV about how everyone thinks he is handsome because people are always staring at him or giving/doing things for him. It was kinda odd and felt out of place. I think Westley’s POV brought the books down a bit. I enjoyed Julia and April’s POVs and their storyline. The ending was nice to see how everyone’s lives are now connected and they have all gained something from this love triangle.

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald is a very sweet, cute beach read about a young woman who leaves a note in a book for the cute guy, Westley, who processes the used books at a bookstore. He doesn't see it and the book is sold to a young widow who answers the note, thinking she is speaking to Westley and the unusual romance proceeds from there. At times fun and adorable, at times so slow you want to skip to the end, Storybook Ending really is a sweet book if you want a light read. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Storybook Ending was a light, cozy read. I loved how we got to follow multiple pov’s and enjoyed reading the letters, texts and emails between the various characters. I thought the plot was fun however, the pacing was slow at times and felt repetitive. Overall, it was a fun read that teaches us love and friendship can be found in unusual and unexpected places.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

A very sweet story. It's just my personal ick to read/watch things where there is a change of someone getting embarrassed (because someone else knows something they don't) Since the big misunderstanding about the note is a huge plot point, it just didn't hit with me. Not at all a reflection of the author or the story, it's a me thing! Overall, the book was sweet and an enjoyable read (if you're not like me and can handle knowing that someone is getting hurt!)

April, Laura, and Westley are in a love triangle, but one they don't know about. Storybook Ending is told in three alternating perspectives sharing the three main characters experiences that revolve around the bookstore Read the Room. April works from home. Her friends are busy with their lives, spouses, children, and April doesn't know how she fits into their lives anymore. Her brother Ben basically only reaches out when he needs money. One day she decides to take a chance and leave a note in a book for the very attractive book seller, Westley (yes the same name as the Princess Bride). However, Westley doesn't get the note. It ends up in the hands of Laura who thinks Westley left the note for her. Both note writers think they are corresponding with Westley and Westley has no idea that the notes are being exchanged. He has his hands full with the movie that's being filmed in the book store. A charming, cozy story about love, friendship, and books.

Its a cozy tale about friendship.
I like how the ladies find friendship on each other even by miscommunication.

However the books feels too slow for me and maybe even too much with 3 pOV


Thanks Netgalley for the ARC

Such a cute story. Reminds me of like a secret admirer in a way. Quick and easy read and heartfelt. Moira also reminds me of myself in the way the she presents herself

In Storybook Ending, Moira Macdonald weaves a delightful tale of romance, friendship, and the magic of literature. The story centers around April, a smart but lonely tech worker who has grown accustomed to working from home. While longing for connection, she leaves an anonymous note in a book for Westley, the kind-hearted bookstore clerk who captures her attention with his gentle smile. However, fate has a different path in store when Laura, a busy single mom who has resigned herself to a life without love, purchases the book and mistakenly believes the note is meant for her.

As Laura embraces the idea of a handsome book-loving man, Westley remains blissfully oblivious to the budding interest from either woman, distracted instead by the excitement of a movie filming at the bookstore. Meanwhile, the anonymous correspondence between April and Laura blossoms, bringing unexpected joy and hope into their lives.

Macdonald cleverly constructs a humorous and intricate web of mistaken identities and serendipitous encounters, showcasing how books can connect people in the most extraordinary ways. Storybook Ending is a playful celebration of the power of love and friendship, reminding readers of the profound connections we can find within the pages of a book. This charming novel will resonate with anyone who appreciates the beauty of relationships and the heartwarming adventures that literature can inspire.

This what a cute premise. I liked the idea of the note being misdirected, so that drew me in quickly. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.

At times it felt as though the book was dragging. Sweet story but could’ve been shorter.

Thanks NetGalley for an arc

A love letter to books and to friendships with an homage to romcoms and You’ve Got Mail in particular. Overall a cute easy read (though at times it felt a little too sweet) this book is like comfort food for when you just want to cuddle up and forget the outside world for a few hours.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was very special! I loved the whole idea behind it and I think that it was very well executed. My only critique is that at times it felt like the pacing was dragging and it was hard to keep my interest. However, I think that this is very lovely and cozy. A perfect read for book lovers.

A charming, well-crafted story that is the perfect combination of sweet and melancholy- a thoroughly enjoyable read.

a charming and heartfelt novel that explores themes of love, second chances, and the complexities of relationships. Macdonald’s writing is warm and cozy. The plot, while engaging enough, felt predictable at times. The pacing of the story is also a bit uneven, with some sections dragging while others race toward resolution. I still enjoyed myself and think others will too.

I love books about books and bookish people. And this fit the bill. The characters were all well-written and I love miscommunication tropes!