The Gibson sisters weren’t expecting to speak to each other ever again after Isabel ran off to New York and left Sophie alone. But here they are, years later, running the family bookstore together on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. Isabel also thought she’d left Johnny Lenox behind, but whether or not she knew it, Johnny was always going to be there for her.

Five years into their happily ever after, Isabel and Johnny are making the most of their second chance at love. Then one night, Johnny awakens from an extraordinary dream…and their 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.

Alice Hoffman is a favorite author of mine, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read this third story in her The Once Upon a Time Bookshop series.

The story, the setting and the characters immediately drew me in. The description of the bookshop and bakery made me want to spend an afternoon there! While the story is centered around the bookshop that has been in the family for many years, it is mainly about two sisters, Sophie and Isabel. After their lives had taken them in different directions, they return to run the bookshop together. They are each dealing with changes in their lives, one around her husband and the other around her daughter. It is a story full of hope for the future with fond memories of the past.

I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the two stories that came before this one. I hope the author continues to write about these characters. I am interested in what happens next in their lives.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

This is another wonderful heartwarming addition to the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories collection by Alice Hoffman. I love both Isabel and Sophie, and it has been fun to see their lives evolve with each short story. Once again, something unexpected happened in this story that caught me off guard but also made me love them even more. These stories are deeply moving and evoke such a strong sense of love, family, community, and following your dreams. I do wish there had been more involvement with the bookstore and more discussion of Sophie’s life and how she has been doing since the previous story, but I still really enjoyed it overall! Thank you to NetGalley, Alice Hoffman, and Amazon Original Stories for the gifted ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

When I got this short story, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. With that being said, I’m sure I would have liked it a lot more if I had a better knowledge of the characters. I thought the story was alright, but I didn’t find it as moving as some might. I’m not sure that I will look to read more of these short stories in the future, as I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I would have liked.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Loved the continuing stories of the sisters in the bookstore. Connected with characters and really enjoyed it.

A beautifully written story with compelling characters. It's easy to get lost in the almost lyrical prose of this tale.

WOW, this was my first Alice Hoffman read and it does really well as a standalone but now I definitely want to read the first two short stories in this series! Such a beautiful, raw depiction of grief in all its forms and having supported my partner through losing his dad way too young, I appreciated the realness. I loved the whimsical descriptions and overall vibe. One star off because I didn’t feel like their sudden decision as a solution to grief was necessary.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wish this could be a full length book because I loved the characters. Simple prose, gentle reading. Enjoyed this short story a lot

"The Bookstore Keepers" is the third short story about the sisters Isabel and Sophie, who run a bookstore/bakery on Brinkley’s Island. In this story, the focus is mainly on Isabel's husband, which adds even more depth and quality to this series. I love how we continually learn more about the lives of the Gibson sisters while also getting to know the characters around them better. The story beautifully depicts grief and hope, about losing someone but then gaining something else in return. The text is short, but it holds a lot. Alice Hoffman is an expert at portraying people's lives and emotions, setting a fantastic atmosphere, and giving the reader more than just words. I love Hoffman, I love this series, and I loved this story. Absolutely worth reading!

Unfortunately, when I started this I didn’t realize it was part of a series. It’s a quick, lovely short story of life. New lives and old lives, new beginnings and endings.

This was a very emotional short about Isabel and Johnny finding their happily ever after and then type of emotions and reactions he has to certain things. A VERY GOOD short story read. Is has you thinking when you are finished.

The third short story in Alice Hoffman's 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘜𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 series is like a warm hug. I loved revisiting the characters and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Thanks to Amazon originals for the copy to reviewl.

I’ve read the previous two books in the series but this one feels a lot better and a big hug to the rest of the books.

It deals with grief, sadness, ambition and loneliness that all ties up and becomes one bittersweet ending.

I’ve really enjoyed seeing these characters grow up and go through milestones together.

I love Alice Hoffman so I jumped at the chance to read The Bookstore Keepers. I didn't realize it was a novella before I went in. Hoffman is no stranger to magical realism (she is the creator of Practical Magic, after all) and The Bookstore Keepers is a sweet story laced with small magic, even if it doesn't have the heft of her full-length offerings.

Much like Practical Magic, The Bookstore Keepers features two sisters who were once estranged but have found their way back to each other. All about family, love, loss, and grief, The Bookstore Keepers is a sweet, if middle of the road, story, perfect for a palate cleanser in between heavier or more difficult reads.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novella in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series by the wonderful Alice Hoffman, with the audio perfectly narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

We once again meet the Gibson sisters as they are running the bookstore on Brinkley's Island in Maine. I love this series and have so enjoyed each short story as we see the sisters through different phases of their lives, capturing all the ups and downs of both romantic love and mother-daughter relationships. These stories are heartfelt, relatable, touching. Start at the beginning to get the full impact of this wonderful series - I can't wait for more to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ebook in exchange for my honest review. Alice Hoffman’s The Bookstore Keepers is a beautifully crafted short story that captures her signature mix of whimsy and emotion. This quick read immerses you in a magical, atmospheric world where a bookstore becomes a sanctuary for its characters. Hoffman’s prose is captivating, drawing you in effortlessly and leaving you invested. While the story is satisfying, it left me yearning for more—this world and its characters deserve a full-length novel. Now to get my hands on a copy of The Bookstore Sisters and The Bookstore Wedding. After reading the Practical Magic series last year, Alice Hoffman has become one of my favorite authors.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

Oops, I didn't realize there was another short story about this family that I should have read first! Oh...two short stories that I should have read first! I for sure will go read them now. Even as a standalone, this short story is very short (about a 20-minute read) and emotional. I won't summarize it, given that I should go back and read the first two. But given the nature of the plots, I imagine this third one provides closure and happiness after some heartbreak.

This wasn’t my favorite in the series, as some of the choices felt a bit unrealistic, but I still found it really well written & I fall a little more in love with these characters each time.

Unfortunately I did not enjoy The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman. I did not realize that this was the third book in the series because I did not read the first two books in the series, which may be why I didn't understand the point of this story? There wasn't much to the plot and the sprinkling of magic or feel good feelings that are typical of Alice Hoffman books were missing from this book.

This cute story from Amazon Originals was perfect for an “in-between-novels” book! It gives us a little love story and brings sisters together to run a bookstore. It shows us that love that should have been, can still be, years later. Alice Hoffman can craft a story! So cute.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.