I’ve seen Alice Hoffman books around and have a couple on my tbr! I was very excited when I came across this short story. It’s the third in a series and I did not realize, but it still flows very well as a standalone! I’m jumping in to read the other two.

This is a feel good story about a family who navigates some loss and also discovers love in new ways. It’s a cute and wholesome read. There wasn’t anything earth shattering, but it was a nice read to have in between my other books. It makes me excited to read other stuff by this author!! A beautiful way of writing.

Alice Hoffman never disappoints. I have indulged in many of her books over the years and when I saw this, I immediately jumped on the opportunity.

It's a short story, very short. I love the characters but wished that there was more to it. She's an amazing author and I will recommend it to my book club.

Alice Hoffman brings back characters from previous stories, Family, love, supporting each other, living with losses, and looking towards the future are all packed into this short story. An enjoyable read.

Charming but a little light.

With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this e-ARC.

This was such a lovely short story! The writing was beautiful and poetic and I definitely want to follow the stories of these sisters. I'll be going back and reading Hoffman's other short stories about these characters and I hope she comes out with more! This was the perfect way to spend a cozy, stress-free hour. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

When it says "short story," it truly delivers on the "short" part! Going into this, I had no idea it was the third book in a series, but surprisingly, I didn’t feel like I missed much by skipping the earlier installments.

The story delves into themes of grief, love, and loss, focusing on how each character copes with life’s challenges and the consequences of choices made by those around them. I appreciated the exploration of personal growth, as it’s always rewarding to see characters evolve and learn from their experiences. It was a quick, light read, perfect if you're in the mood for something simple.

That said, the brevity of the story left much to be desired. The lack of detail and emotional depth was noticeable, and while the themes were meaningful, they were only skimmed over rather than fully explored. The complexities of the characters’ struggles felt underdeveloped, and this made it harder to connect with their journey on a deeper level.

Ultimately, it was a sweet concept but didn’t leave a lasting impression. For a story with such emotional themes, I wish it had taken the time to delve into its characters’ conflicts more thoroughly. A decent, surface-level read, but not one I’d revisit. 1.5 ⭐.

This was the third Novella in the Bookstore Sisters series by Nora Robert’s. I would suggest reading these in order. The story continues with Isabel, Sophie, Violet, and Johnny. I really won’t talk to much about the story as to not spoil the first two novellas. It is a heartwarming story that takes place on an island off the coast of Maine. I really hope that Nora continues on with these stories of the sisters and their families.

TOO SHORT! I knew it was a short story but it ended too soon!!!!

The Bookstore Keepers was very emotional story of loss, love, hope and family. From the beginning, I found the characters relatable.

This is the third book in ’The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories’, and while it isn’t the first in the series, it is, more or less, a continuation of the lives of the characters in this series. A story of family, of love, life, hope, and finding a way to heal.

A relatively short story which is a very moving, believable story, of life, relationships, sorrow, and ultimately, hope.


Pub Date: 18 Feb 2025

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Amazon Original Stories

I immediately saw the name Alice Hoffman and knew I had to read this! I had no clue that this was part of a series of novellas titled The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories but since i didn’t read the other 2 I feel that this one is a stand alone read. Right from the start I was so engrossed with the story and could vividly imagine the scene playing out. So many emotional stories concerning grief, acceptance, healing and hope. This short story spans so much and you really feel for the characters and live through their experiences. I really admired the relationships between all of the characters and the message of love and family being of utmost importance and value. Such an amazing novella as Alice Hoffman never disappoints since her writing transports you into another world altogether. Truly magical and beautifully written! Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Alice Hoffman always writes so beautifully! This was one story in the book The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. It evokes a lot of emotions from sadness, grief, loss, love and hope. It is about family and relationships centered around a bookshop that had been in the family for a long time. This story is not about the bookshop so much as it is the two sisters. One is dealing with her daughter, and the other is dealing with her husband's loss of a parent. Then there is a new dream to pull the family together and bring them all closer. I loved the story and the characters.

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I read the blurb and was iintrigued. I thought why not, lets give the book a try.
The Bookstore Keepers by new to me author Alice Hoffman, is a complex story.
Estranged sisters Isabel and Sophie are back home, just like Johnny. Johnny who never left and Sophie still has feelings for him. A beautiful warm, quiet story, a slow burn that gives all the feels. 4.5 stars.

I was unaware that this was the third in a series of novellas entitled 'The Bookstore Keepers' however that did not impact my appreciation for this story. This novella stands firmly on it's own. The opening page immediately grabbed my attention when Johnny awakens from a vivid dream because that is something that is common to many people. His wife Isabel silently accompanies him to the nursing home where Johnny's father is living. Upon arrival, they see the EMT's which sets in motion a story about grief, support, acceptance, and joy. My recommendation is to read this story when you need affirmation that our life paths are different, but contain similar moments.

I adore Alice Hoffman’s work and this book was no exception. It was an excellent continuation to the story and helped me to understand and love these characters even more. I recommend that you read this entire trilogy!

Gorgeously emotive, vividly descriptive, and engagingly whimsical in a unique narrative blend that only Alice Hoffman can pull off more often than not. This story and the other one in this series are ones I will be returning to in the future.

Alice Hoffman is one of my favourite authors and I have loved all the books in this series. The Bookstore Keepers is about love, loss and letting go. So beautifully written.

A delightful, feel-good novella about family and love. What’s not to like?

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC to read and review.

*May Contain Spoilers*


I loved it. I wish there was more. I wanna know what happens with Violet as in does she come back for good after going and being in Paris for awhile? Do Isabella and Johnny get another dog? How are they as parents? What’s their little girl like? I can’t wait though to see the final product of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Alice Hoffman, and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me to read this story before it’s officially published in Feb 2025.

The Bookstore Keepers is a beautiful short story by one of my favorite authors. This story is about sisters Isabel and Sophie, the love of family, and following dreams. Short and sweet, a delightful read. Thanks to author Alice Hoffman, Amazon Original Stories, and Net Galley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

This is the final and third book in "The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories". It was a perfect and sweet ending to a lovely series.

As always, Alice Hoffman writes beautifully and spins a perfect story. I have yet to find a book by Alice Hoffman that I didn't love!

The short story covers so much from grief to healing to incredible life changes to following one's dreams. It is a lot in a small package.

To enjoy this story the most, please read the first books in this series before this one.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6562802755 - posted 1/20/2025
Books by Dorothea blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/01/review-bookstore-keepers-earcebook.html- posted 1/20/2025