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

Description: Five years into their happily ever after, Isabel and Johnny are making the most of their second chance at love. In the wake of loss Johnny and Isobel’s 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.

What I loved 💕:
💕multiple types of love depicted (sisterly& couple)
💕love story between Isabel & Johnny
💕Hypnotic type of writing
💕Dream Realm

Not my cup☕️:
☕️the leaving the nest trope
Some of my favourite Quotes from the book:📕

📕”You can’t love someone too much”

📕”She had married a man who cried & was patient & who wasn’t afraid to love someone.”

📕”Some things would always be remembered because they were handed down, things like love and memories and stories.”

Ideal Reader:
✨ Fans of magical realism
✨ readers who enjoy lyrical writing
✨ Fans of Hoffman’s other work like Practical Magic
✨ Fans of long lasting romances

Trigger Warnings:‼️
‼️Death of a parent

Thanks to NetGalley, Author Alice Hoffman & The publisher for this ARC audiobook & paperback in exchange for a fair & honest review.

Book 3 in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories is set to release on February 18. It is the continuing story of the Gibson sisters and their life on Brinkley Island, off the coast of Maine. Like I said in my reviews of the two previous books I feel this would make a great full length novel, however it works great as a short story.

It’s been five years since Isabel and Johnny began their second chance of love. Without going into detail about a dream that Johnny had which changes the course of their lives. While Johnny and Isabel play center stage here, Sophie, as well as her daughter Violet play pivoted roles. I don’t know how long the series will be, but I am enjoying them and hope that there is a book 4 especially with the ending to this one.

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

As a huge fan of Alice Hoffman, I was really looking forward to this. Sadly, it left me a little disappointed. It is her signature cozy writing style, but, for me, it lacked a lot of depth and nuance, which maybe was simply due to this being so short. It was a nice, quick, read, but not much more. I will, however, keep reading everything she publishes nonetheless.

One night, Johnny has a dream, and after that, his life with Isabel changes. She tries to help him, and together they find the only possible solution. At the same time, we follow the storylines of Sophie and Violet.

A short, bittersweet novella that touches on many themes: loss, love, self-discovery, and sacrifice for others. I had a lovely time reading it. The ending, while happy, carries a hint of sadness. I would gladly read a sequel. To better understand the novella's storyline, I recommend reading the previous installments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

didn't want this collection of short stories to end. Alice put love, strength and sweetness into this collection. It's beautifully written and readers will love the cute bakery inside the bookstore for their unique baked goods names like "I'll miss you forever cake." I was given this book to read prior to its release thanks to both the author and Netgalley.

Isabel is back running the family bookstore on an island off the coast of Maine. Sophie is happily settling down after a whirlwind few years. Sophie's daughter, Violet is heading back to the island after graduation to run the bookstore, but it's not what Violet really wants. Should Violet follow her heart or abide by her family's wishes?

I have been a huge Alice Hoffman fans for years and this short story did not disappoint. I read it in quick succession with the other two in the series and I just love this little island and the sisters. One of the trademarks of Hoffman's stories is the relationships between women, sisters in particular, and family lines. This short story is just the perfect next chapter to follow the first two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC of The Bookstore Keepers.

Hoffman’s books have always had a special place in my heart, and this novella was a short and sweet reminder of why. Though I haven’t read the first two iterations (and will probably do so now that I went through this one quickly) this third was something I could pick up where it was, and Hoffman was able to get me up to speed without missing a beat. It was a nice short read, and truly showing that not every book has to be a long epic to be meaningful.

Thanks again to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a wonderful continuation of this short story series. I enjoy seeing the lives of the bookstore sisters continue.

Rating edit: 3.5 stars.

The story captures the themes of love, loss, grief, and familial bond. It's a short story, so a quick read, something that can be finished in one sitting. However, sometimes I felt it wandering; it didn't bother me because the writing is beautiful that creates vivid imagery. I really liked it!

This book was a really beautiful short story covering grief, change, and new beginnings. I love how Alice Hoffman can make even the most normal/human experiences feel touched by magic. She can always make me cry. I didn’t realize this was third in a series but even having not read the others I still really enjoyed it.

Its a sweet novel / story of Gibson sisters and how they navigate life. The one sister Isabel had taken off after high school and left Sophie on the small part of Maine. Flash forward to present day and Isabel is navigating her relationship with Johnny and her sister is facing the challenges of her strong willed daughter. Its a cute story. Way shorter then I thought.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book! I am providing an honest review.

This book had me emotionally all over the place. Unlike the first two of the series, I felt there was a bit too much packed into this short story. Though, it was absolutely beautifully written as Alice Hoffman’s books always are. The details and descriptions make you feel as though you are right there. Helping you picture exactly what she’s writing about. The structure of this book is also a bit different than the first two books, but that wasn’t here nor there for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

As always, so beautifully written. This story is about Isabel and Johnny, their love, and how it survives time and grief and happiness. Thrown in there is a bit about Isabel's niece and her plans for life, similar to how Isabel started out. Great story! What impressed me most is that this was written in just a few pages but had me feeling complete when I was done. There are times I read a short story or novella and I feel like I have missed so much background or info. This was not the case, which again speaks to the author and her writing.

Another wonderful installment in this series delving into the lives of two sisters and their life interactions. This is not a long read and enjoyable for the reader.

This was a nice read back down memorylane. Its been a few years since I read Alice Hoffman and her books about the witches, but this really made me want to read them all over again. It was such a nice little moment in life, and Alice writes with gusto. I truly enjoyed this short story, and it didn't need to be any longer. Even short, it made me feel it was longer and it had me hooked. I highly recommend this to all Alice Hoffman readers. Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc, and letting me give my honest opinions.

A sweet short story about a family living on an island with their own bookshop. The bookshop was a delight - I want to go to there!
However, I discovered that this was book 3 in a series, and I haven't read the first two. This explains why I felt like I was stepping into the middle of a story. The characters had lives and relationships and personal stories that I wasn't privy to. I felt like I was just starting to get to know them at the end of this story, but I may have got more out of it if I knew them from the beginning. In particular, I want to know what the backstory with the mother's book is.
I do recommend this story, it was very nicely written. But be sure to read the Bookstore sisters first. Given that each story is only 30ish pages, I wish they had been published as a single book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

"(Happiness) It lasts such a short time, but you remember it."

This is my favorite of this series of short stories so far! Johnny wakes up one morning from a dream that will change the course of his and Isabel's lives.

While I love a story about books and bookstores, the deeper themes in this book on grief, longing, and adventure hit even closer to home. Though not particularly earth-shattering, and the ending was a possibly a little too good and sweet to be true, Hoffman writes in a poetic prose that paints a beautifully vibrant picture.

Lovely story, and I can't wait for the next one!

This was both heartbreaking and heartwarming!
I usually struggle to connect with characters in short stories but since this is the third installment for the Gibson sisters I felt like coming back to old friends. This story starts with Johnny's dream (mentioned in the blurb) and takes the couple down a heartbreaking path. The way they come back to each other put the pieces back together. This is beautifully written and features the same characters we have come to love in this series.

An endearing short story focusing on the themes of family and loss. Although it was short it included great character building so you really felt for all of the characters.