This is the 4th book in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. I’ve read the previous 3 and have quite enjoyed myself. They come in around 43 pages so a quick read and again I was left feeling that this would make a great full length story. But alas, this installment was still an enjoyable read.

It was great to get caught up with his family again. This installment takes place mostly in Paris as Violet is working for a Patissiere. She seems at odds within herself and feels a little lost. Then she meets someone.

Haven’t gotten to know the two sisters that run the family bookstore this point of view from Violet, the daughter/niece brought the story full circle. It was sad and happy at the same time. A powerful message in a short story

My thanks to Amazon Original Stories for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

I. have been a fan of Alice Hoffman for years, so I was delighted to get an ARC of "The Bookstore Family" from Net Galley. I wasn't aware that this was the last of a series and that it was only 43 pages in print! I'm not sure how a 43-page book can qualify as a book and if I were a reader who paid for the book, I might be quite upset about that. I was looking forward to settling in with the character who was struggling with her life in Paris, but the story evolved so quickly and then simply ended. I liked the characters and I would've liked the story if I could've spent more time with it.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC. My opinion is my own.

I enjoyed reading The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

"Every time a book is reread it’s entirely different depending on who the reader has become."⠀
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Alice Hoffman, The Bookstore Family ⠀
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The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman is a beautiful short story that explores love and grief in such a powerful way. As someone who recently lost their mom, I immediately connected with Violet and her need to return to her roots and soak up as much time as possible with her loved ones. The descriptions of the bakeries, museums, and bookstores were quaint and homey and I loved the cozy feel of the hometown island. This is definitely a tearjerker but it's also such a poignant and satisfying tale.

3.5 ⭐

As with the other novellas in this series, The Bookstore Family is perfect for when you need a little break from it all. It's heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novella in the wonderful Once Upon a Time Bookshop Series by Alice Hoffman. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Violet took the chance of a lifetime to pursue her dream of attending culinary school in Paris, which required leaving her family bookstore on Brinkley's Island, Maine. While she achieved her dream, all she can think about his home. What is she missing?

I will read anything Alice Hoffman writes, and I have thoroughly enjoyed this series of short stories, Every time I open one, I am instantly transported to the little island bookstore and its surrounding family. The characters feel so real, and I love the connection between love, loss, and food. While this could be the last in the series, I'm hopeful for more. What I'd love to see is a cookbook with recipes of all these amazing-sounding foods!

Such a cute book that you can start and finish in the same day. I didn't know it was the 4th book of a series but I feel like I got enough back story for it all to come together. I will be adding the other books in the series to my TBR. I really enjoyed that the entire plot was fast, simple and cute. This story wasn't spicy yet it did have a pinch of cinnamon that made it a perfect read. Cute & Clean Romance books are the the best quick reads that make you smile.

Congratulations to the author for another book, wish you all the success in future writings and thank you for allowing me to ARC read your amazing work.

The Bookstore Family is apparently the fourth story in a series, though I was unaware of that and managed just fine. Alice Hoffman has written a sweet story about family, loss, and love, perfect for reading in a cozy chair on a rainy afternoon. Violet is a lovely main character.

I received this book via ARC form from @netgalley. A big thank you to them and the publisher Amazon Orginal Stories. This in an unbiased review.
Such a good read!
This is a cozy story that starts the main character, Violet, in France. She feels unmoored being there and baking every day when she is so far from home and her family. Violet is very close to her mother, Sophie, and her aunt Isabel-- these relationships alter the course of Violet's life in France and she ends up back home to be closer to her mother after she meets Remy, a fellow pastry chef.
It was incredible the way that Hoffman was able to create such emotion and connection in a short story. This is my first read of hers, and it perfectly encapsulated the fact that Hoffman is an incredible writer. I was not very connected to Violet or the story at first, but this felt intentional. It mirrored how Violet was not engaged with her surroundings and lacking the passion for the life she was living. She floated around until Isabel drew emotion from her, causing her to seek out her own happiness and story while she could.
#netgalley #amazonpublishing
I won't give any spoilers, but there is a list of life accomplishments her mother wants to check off. While helping her mother do this, Violet starts to find herself along the way. Being connected to her family again and putting them first brings her to life. The repetitive message she is told is to live her life and fall in love.
The characters had their own backstory that created more depth. It felt like a warm hug when the setting was described-- I could picture their island and the history of the town there. If you can think of her Practical Magic movie setting, that is what I saw--a small community surrounded by water and nosey lovable neighbors.
It was a sweet, heartwarming, quick read for her fans. I truly thought it was beautiful. Definitely recommend to anyone that is a fan of hers, and for new readers of her writing, dive in! It was worth it for the first read of hers, and it gives you a glimpse into the storyweaving Hoffman is masterful at.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7564173842

The Bookstore Family is book 4 in The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series. I was drawn to the title as I love to read and enjoy bookstores. Even though this is the fourth book in the series it can be a stand alone, not leaving you confused or lost. I read the first book in the series, The Bookstore Sisters, several years ago and after reading this book I went back and read the whole series.
The Bookstore Family is Violet's story. She is a pastry chef in Paris who is lonely and searching for her place in the world. She then receives unexpected news and returns home to the United States. As Violet reconnects with family, she rediscovers who she really is and what was missing in her life. The book has themes of identity, love, family, and happiness. This book can be read when you have a short break and need an escape from daily life as it is a quick, easy read. I enjoyed spending time in the bookstore with Violet and her family. I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I do enjoy Alice Hoffman's books, and this one didn't disappoint! It is short, and kept my interest ,so it was read in one sitting. It is a family saga about a young woman who has distanced herself from family due to past circumstances. She doesn't allow herself to feel close to anyone, separating herself by distance and an unfulfilling job. Follow along on her journey as she awakens, and makes amends before it is too late, for her family and herself. Thank you to Netgalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.u

The Bookstore Family is the 4th book in Alice Hoffman’s Once Upon A Time Bookshop Stories. They are all short stories and I have read them all but I truly believe that this one is my favorite! This book centers mainly around the life of Violet. It describes her past, how she’s feeling during her present and what she has to look forward to in her future. In this story there is equal parts sad but yet equal parts happy. There is an ending and there is a beginning. You really need to read it to understand why I say that. I have really enjoyed reading this series, my only wish is that they were a little longer. I feel like I’ve really come to know the characters and can feel all the pain and happiness that they are feeling. It also doesn’t hurt that the series is centered around a family bookstore, as books are one of my favorite things. It’s a series I highly recommend to all fiction lovers. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I found on the Read Now section. I’m giving this a 5 star rating and really hope that the author decides to continue with this series as I’d love to see more into Violet’s future to see if she finds her happily ever after!

This is a beautiful installment in this short story series.
The look at love and family legacies is really lovely.
It is sad, but you can feel the love that will continue on.
I would love to go to this bookstore and try all the yummy treats.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

An addition to the novella series, Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, told with Alice Hoffman’s earnest tone, continues the saga of the Bookshop Sisters. A short read, but filled with love, encouragement,sadness….all the emotions a family experiences.

I thought this would be more about the events surrounding a bookstore and there were some children's literature references as well as plenty of food but it was more about family and love.
As a short story, characters don't get developed as thoroughly as I would like and the plot doesn't unravel in a smooth way but if you are looking for a sweet, cozy,clean short story about the importance of love and relationships you will not have wasted the 35 minutes of your time to read this one.
It does include death and cancer so be aware of that as a possible trigger.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this one in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is part of Hoffman’s Once Upon a Bookstores short story series. You can check out my thoughts about the previous one at https://www.instagram.com/p/DFsb5PbI1Xc/?img_index=1. This continues the story of the family through the point of view of Violet, the daughter and niece, who moves to Paris to discover what it is that she wants from her life, only to have to return home to Maine, and to unexpected passions and discoveries despite a season of loss. This fourth story is apparently the final one, but I’ll read another if the author writes it. Her writing style and choices don’t always work for me, and yet, there is something about this series that prevents me from looking away.

This was a simple, short book which I did not mind at all. I finished it in one sitting, which was great but it just didn’t feel like it flowed with the rest of the series.

The Bookstore Family is a welcome addition to Alice Hoffman’s Bookstore Series. I enjoyed following Violet’s search for something missing in her life, and meeting up again with her family along her journey.

"The Bookshop Family" is the fourth novella Alice Hoffman has written in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series. This time, we meet Violet, who has left the island in Maine for a life in Paris. But it’s lonely there, and when she is called back home by her family, it’s to say a difficult goodbye to someone she loves dearly.

Reading these novellas feels like coming home. Full of Hoffman's beautiful descriptions and dialogue, good character development, and, most importantly, atmosphere—her writing is always a sure winner for me. This part of the story includes new love, loneliness, and the loss of a beloved family member. Alice Hoffman manages to write about all of this in a beautiful way that engages me in the story and makes me feel all the feels. I will always return to Hoffman's work, and I will always return to Brinkley’s Island, Maine whenever I have a chance.

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to review this book.

This is the fourth of Alice Hoffman’s heartwarming ‘Once Upon a Time Bookshop’ series. Like the others, this novella is basically a fable about love—of family, of friends, of lovers—and of books. Unlike the others, the bookstore in Maine is not the main setting, but the characters reappear. This is Violet’s story. Now 30, she has the Brinkley’s Island of her childhood to study culinary arts in Paris. She has a dream job for any aspiring young chef: she is a pastry chef in an arty restaurant, where she replicates her grandmother’s homespun recipes, lovingly passed on, with a French twist.

Violet tells herself that she is on her way to getting all she hoped for, and in many ways she is. But she is also very alone. When her Aunt Isabel visits, she is made to see the that the loss of her father when she was a young teenager is a factor in her flight to Paris, and her current melancholy. Her aunt, who runs the family bookstore with her sister (Violet’s mother) encourages her to read the stories she grew up with, both to find her lost self and to find new meaning in them as an adult. I love the way Hoffman makes books and reading a healing process as much as an educational or entertaining one. What does she want? Do geographic and emotional distance allow her to become herself, or do they make her less so? And what about the charming poetry-loving chef she is suddenly drawn to?

It’s hard to say more because Violet’s story unfolds in about 40 pages, as did the others. This novella is really another chapter in a beautiful larger work about the quiet lives of ordinary people. It can stand alone, but I’m betting those who haven’t read the others will very much want to do so. It’s incredible how much Hoffman reveals about her characters, their sorrows and their striving, their losses and victories, in such a small space and in such spare prose. I just hope this isn’t the final installment!