a story about mourning, but mostly about love and closeness, very warm; the characters stand out and despite such a short moment with them, it is impossible not to love them

thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read

Alice Hoffman's beautiful writing style, amazing imagination, and a bookstore theme.... sign me up! This was so fun to read, my only complaint is I wish there was more of it!

I didn't realize this book was the third in a series. I haven't read the previous 2 books; however, I don't think it is necessary to have read them. It was was a short sweet novella dealing with grief and love. Like most novellas is lacks depth in getting to know the characters.

I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of Alice Hoffman books before.

I think is book 3 in a series and is probably aimed at those who have read the first two. I’ve not and I think the book missed its mark with me.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love all Alice Hoffman books and this series of short stories is a wonderful quick read. I saw this before reading the first two but got them via Kindle Unlimited and read all three in a row.

A heartwarming tale about the intricacies of family, sister and mother daughter relationships and what you do for the people you love most. This is the third installment in the Once Upon A Time Bookshop Stories. Personally, I would have benefited with these 3 installments all put together into 1 short stories package instead of them individually separated. I do love the lyrical writing and easy to follow narrative. These novellas have dipped my toes into Alice Hoffman's magic and I will be reading her other works asap.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Though romance and family-themed stories are not quite in my alley, I’ve read Hoffman’s ‘Practical Magic’ before and loved it, so I was happy to be able to read her new story before publishing. In order to write a review, I had also read the previous two instalments of the ‘Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories’ prior to reading the ARC.

Note: this review contains slight spoilers of the previous two instalments (The Bookstore Sisters & The Bookstore Wedding).

The series tells a story about Isabel and Sophie — estranged sisters that reconcile after years of not speaking to each other in hopes to keep their father’s bookshop running. Each part of the series takes places roughly five years after the one before.

In this third instalment of the series we follow the characters through their hardship and grief, after Isabel’s husband and childhood friend loses his father. As a result, their marriage turns strained, as Johnny avoids speaking about his emotions and rather turns to sneaking out at night to visit the cemetery.

On the other side of the sea, Isabel’s niece Violet struggles with her future after graduation; should she stay at the island and run the bookshop as per her mother’s wishes, or should she follow her own dreams?

If I had to choose a favourite moment of the story, it would be the one near the end, in which a character finally gets to choose what to do with her life. It shows the importance of having your family near — those who had left will someday return. Unfortunately, as all three stories are only around 30 pages long, there is not much space left for character development, and instead is more focused on the interpersonal relationships between the characters.

However, what I didn’t enjoy about the story, or the series itself, was the main character’s lack of independence. At many points of the story, I felt frustrated with the way Isabel kept changing her mind and wishes to conform to others’ expectations, rather than staying true to herself. I wish Isabel’s future had been more her own, without following the traditional values in which a person is “incomplete” without starting a family of their own.

Ultimately, as the story is really short and the entire series can be read in a day, I would still recommend it to those looking to relax with a quick read. Though I wasn’t the target audience for the series, I still found many moments enjoyable.

"I love you more than pancakes, more than ice cream, more than pickles, more than my life. I love you more than dogs or cats or diamonds or gold, more than anything else in the world."
Isabel and Sophia lost their mother, but she left them with a book store and a love letter, which they have published into a book, titled How Much Do I Love You.
That quote tugged on my heart strings because I too lost my mother, and I too used to play the "I love you more than _” game with her.
This is the 3rd book in a series of novellas, which you should read in order. In true Alice Hoffman form, there is love, there is loss, and there is family. And sometimes you have to fly the nest to discover who you are.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Another sweet magical story from Alice Hoffman. Perfect ending to the trilogy with enough magic mixed with romance. Short read and easy to digest. 4 stars.

A quick, treacly read. I typically love anything Alice Hoffman, but this was disappointingly trite. The characters lacked depth and development and everything was tied up in two neat bows. An easy skip, unfortunately. Added 1 Star for the stunning Maine island setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Alice Hoffman knows how to pack heart in even the shortest of stories. I will admit I haven't yet read the first and second of the "Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories," so all of these characters are new to me. It was incredibly easy to slip into the minds of each character and empathize with their inner turmoil. The only reason this short story wasn't a five-star read for me was that I felt there was too much packed into the short period. I would have preferred if Hoffman had kept the focus mainly on two perspectives, as I got confused there for a moment when more were added in after spending time with the original two voices.

I look forward to reading #1 and #2 and any future releases!

Thank you Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy to review.

***3 Stars***

This isn’t my typical read, but I found the premise interesting and when I realized it was the third book in a series, I did get the first two for continuity sake and it was a nice little journey to go on with the sisters and their families and the people of Brinkley’s Island.

This one does jump ahead in time a bit, so it was interesting to see how the dynamic has, or has not in some cases, changed with the sisters and how they view their lives and the world.

Alice Hoffman writes beautifully and I enjoy reading short stories, but I didn't realize this was the 3rd book in a series.

It was a well written and endearing tale. It had me wanting more about the characters and their before and afters. I would also like to eventually read more about the bookshop.

Alice Hoffman is the master of mother-daughter and sister stories and this short story delivers both! This is a lovely story that addresses emotions and experiences from all stages of life. Make sure to pick it up for a quick but powerful read. Thanks to Netgalley for access to this advanced copy. It publishes in a few weeks so look out for it!

I think Alice Hoffman writes so beautifully and I had so many emotions while reading this book! It was a heartwarming and easy read - the plot revolves around the family’s bookshop, which had me curious after reading the plot description, but it ended up being so much more. I loved this book! I loved the characters.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

A very short story about a family that lives on a secluded island only accessible by ferry. Isabel and Sophia are two sisters who run what sounds like the most magical, warm and welcoming bookstore.

Alice Hoffman always blows me away. She has the most beautiful writing style. It contains a bit of magic always no matter the plot. I was brought to tears in just three short chapters.

I highly recommend to anyone with a heart!

Really can’t wrong with Alice Hoffman and I read this at the perfect time. When my brain is on overdrive , Alice becomes one of my comfort authors.

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman is a quiet, magical gem of a story—one that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. Hoffman’s signature blend of the ordinary and the mystical makes the world of the bookstore feel like a place you could step into, full of secrets and second chances. The characters, especially the resilient and hopeful protagonist, feel beautifully human, navigating love, loss, and the power of stories to heal. It’s a book that reminds you why we turn to books in the first place—to escape, to dream, and to find our way home.

The Bookstore Keepers is a short yet deeply heartfelt story about family, love, grief, and finding the courage to follow your own path. I loved that it takes place years after the previous story, offering a fresh yet meaningful continuation. The ending was beautifully satisfying, tying everything together in a way that felt just right. With its easy-to-read style and engaging storytelling, this book is a perfect, emotional read that stays with you long after the last page