This story is a charming, feel-good rom-com set in a Seattle bookstore, where an anonymous note sparks an unexpected connection between two women—while the man it was meant for remains unaware. With lovable characters and a sweet, bookish atmosphere, it’s a heartwarming tale of mistaken identities and finding love in surprising places. Tts warmth and wit make it a delightful read on a cozy day!

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

I thought this was a cute read, but ultimately it wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy any of the characters and each time o went to pick this book up, it felt like a slog.

Absolutely beautiful. Poignant, thought provoking. It made me cry and stayed with me long after it was over. This is a beautiful story of loneliness and how the most random encounters can change us. I loved this!

Cute story and the title ties in nicely if you're a Princess Bride fan. It's interesting that you don't realize the build and connections until it all comes together, which does match the ways friendships and relationships can develop organically until one day you see what's been in front of you the whole time. I received this ARC from Penguin Group Dutton via Netgalley.

This book is the perfect rainy day read! It's a bit slow paced and very character driven, but you will fall in love with everyone in this quaint novel. I loved all the characters and the way their story intertwined seamlessly. This book follows the story of three separate characters whose paths cross because they all go to the same bookstore in their small town. Each person struggles with loneliness in a different capacity and eventually falls into an unconventional love triangle. I would say the romance really takes the back burner and it's more so an ode to friendship. My only issue with this book was the pacing. I found myself wanting to put it down, and then it was very hard to get back into it. It's not very heavy on plot, it really does focus on each character and their personal growth so if that’s what you’re looking for, this is the perfect book for you!

I loved Moira Macdonald's wistful novel about book lovers, mistaken identities and longing for connection.

The protagonist, April, works from home and misses human interaction. Westley, who handles the secondhand books at her favorite bookstore, catches her eye. April decides to write him an anonymous note and slip it into a book she's reselling. Naturally, the note falls into someone else's hands, and complications ensue.

Storybook Ending: A Novel reminded me of a favorite book from years ago, The Love Letter by Cathleen Schine. Read the pair back to back when you need a break from the miseries of the world.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy.

I read Moira Macdonald’s debut novel, “Storybook Ending” as a palate cleanser. Set in Seattle, Washington, this book alternates chapters between April, Laura, and Westley.

April works remotely, Laura is a widow with a young daughter, and Westley works for the bookstore April and Laura visit. The bookstore, Read the Room, becomes the main setting of an indie movie being filmed. April has decided to liven up her life a little and take a chance so she leaves a note in a book for Westley. Unfortunately, Laura finds the note instead and convinces herself that Westley left the note for her.

The first part of the book was on the slow side for me. I understand it was meant to let the readers get to know the three main characters. However, it felt like they thought and questioned the same things over and over again. The pace and storyline picked up towards the end. I enjoyed how the author resolved things, but it felt a little rushed to me.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was such a lovely little cozy read. I love a romance book about books, and this one didn't disappoint!

This was sweet, quirky, and had a lot of heart. The premise was clever and charming, with characters you root for even when the plot gets a bit tangled. I liked the themes of connection, hope, and the magic of books, though the pacing occasionally dragged. Still, it was an enjoyable and unique read with a cozy vibe.

This book has very cozy vibes with sort of a separate worlds colliding storyline to it. I thought it was an enjoyable read, I enjoyed the addition of the mixed media from emails, texts, the little character essays. It was definitely a uniquely told story. I definitely got a bit frustrated with the characters at times and wish I’d felt more chemistry but really liked it overall.

Storybook Ending is a cozy story following the lives of many in Seattle. The main focus is on the trio of April, Laura, and Westley. April is stuck in a rut working a remote job, searching for human interaction. Laura is raising her daughter alone after her husband passed away five years ago, weaning on the decision to get back out there! And Westley, well, he's lost in his own head sorting books at the main setting, a used bookstore, Read the Room. Both of these women end up in a secret correspondence through hidden notes at the Read the Room. Sounds fun right? It would be, if both women believed they were speaking to Westley (the super hot bookstore employee) which is exactly what happened.

Initially, I was not very excited to jump into this book because personally, a love triangle between two women and one man sounds yuck. But it was so untraditional and unique that I found it really amusing! All of the main characters are past college age and have settled into adulthood, which as a 24 year old reader, I found really refreshing. You don't have to deal with any irrational early twenties thoughts and events, instead everyone is level headed and just trying to do their best with the circumstances they have. Because of this, there really isn't much on screen drama. The story runs slow and steady, but if you approach this novel as a relaxing contemporary read where you get a glimpse of everyone's heads, then it's really a warm and enjoyable read. Perfect to read in May, when the story takes place, and the world around us is warming up too.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald!

This was a sweet book of finding love and friendship in unconventional ways.

This book was so cozy and perfect for a rainy day. Set in Seattle and in a bookstore? Say less. The concept to the book was interesting, with notes being left behind and you wanting to scream at them because if they would only just communicate, they would have figured out everything sooner. 🤣

At times, I found myself a little bored because not much was happening but overall, I enjoyed the last 20% of the book. It was really sweet and I’m glad everyone got their HEA.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Dutton and Moira Macdonald for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 ⭐

Storybook Ending had so many of the elements I love in a book: a book shop setting, mistaken identities, and a the hope for a sweet, cozy romance. However, I found the pacing of the first part of the book to be overly slow and I felt like I was being told rather than shown. Once the confusion of the love triangle was figured out I found myself much more invested in the characters and their stories.

While the pacing was a bit off I did love the characters and found the 3 leads to be quirky, charming, lively, and fun. Watching them come out of their shells and find their people and purpose was sweet. The secondary characters were mostly wonderful and those who weren't served their purpose and were excellent foils for our lead trio.

This was a charming book and I think so many will find it absolutely delightful.

3⭐️
I did end up enjoying Storybook Ending but unfortunately I went in thinking this was going to be a quippy love triangle book and it took me about 40-50% of the book to come to terms that this was not that at all. If it had been marketed as an ensemble/found friendship book, I think my rating might be higher. The first half of the book was all ensemble building and very slow and I kept waiting for the romance and drama. Around the half-way mark we started getting more into the plot and I became more invested.

Ultimately, I think this is a lovely, cozy book that is being presented wrong and that’s going to disappoint readers.

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

I’m always on the hunt for a cozy-but-unique romance book and Storybook Ending came at the perfect time for me. I love how easy it was to pick up, yet the comedy of errors led to greater story about love, friendship, and the joys of daily life.

For me the reason this is not rated higher is that the middle of the story slowed down a bit, whereas the ending was wrapped up quite quickly. Considering how many chapters were spent on Westley, I also wish I got more of his personality beyond his attractiveness. Overall, I enjoyed the honest relatability we got from each character. I think Macdonald is a great writer, and every reader will fall in love with this bookstore setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5

This was okay. The bookstore setting in this book made it feel cozy. I thought the book started off slow and honestly was just slow throughout.

The characters were likeable and i liked getting to know pieces of them. I didn’t find myself to be fully invested at times but was curious on the outcome of the story!

I did like the authors writing style though, so I may check out their future releases.

Overall it was not a bad book, I think this was just not for me.

Thank you Dutton for the arc.

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱.”

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 2/5 ⭐️⭐️

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 5/27/25

*Thank you @NetGalley and @DuttonBooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Wes works in a Indie Bookstore with a bunch of eclectic coworkers, one day April places a letter in a book for Wes in hopes he will take notice of her. When the letter gets in the wrong hands, a different type of relationship forms. Will it all work out in the end?

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
📚 Books about books
✉️ Miscommunication
📚 Literary Fiction
✉️ Complex character development

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: In this debut novel, its obvious the author is a strong writer. The text itself was easy to read, not choppy, and well developed. The storyline however left much to be desired. This was not my favorite. There was a lot and I mean A LOT, of character development and background that was pretty unnecessary as well as introduction of other characters that didnt play much of a role. The story aimlessly drug on without any real conflict or climax. The characters did all cross paths in one way or another which was fun, but the end although happy, was pretty unsatisfying. This was truly a story about a developing friendship among two lonely women, and a change romance between coworkers.
Lovers of Lit Fic will eat this one up!

#StoryBookEnding

I'm admitting that I DNF'd this one. The writing was fine, the characters were interesting, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I really dislike the "there's been a misunderstanding" trope, where characters are operating under an incorrect assumption and the reader just has to watch it all unfold. In this case, this review really is a "It's not you, it's me" situation.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP- Dutton for the E-ARC! So cute! Loved the characters & the bookish setting. Will definitely read more from this author.