I love Alice Hoffman!! I love this series, The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, they make me smile, they make me happy, they make me sad, they make me cry, I have all the emotions in one book., one story, but yet I get pure excitement each and every time I see a new installment. Alice Hoffman makes my heart happy with this series even when there is sadness. The writing is pure bliss. I will not give a synopsis because I just can't, its Alice at her best in my opinion. Please take the time to read and enjoy these stories, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have and feel all the emotions as I did.

A beautiful short story, that got me feeling emotional! This story captures the joy of family, and valuing the time we have with the ones that we love. Time is limited, and death is imminent. This book touched upon cancer, and experiencing loss and grief. I have lost someone I love to cancer, and the void of that loss never truly goes away. But you hold on to the memories with them, their love, and cherish the time you had in those final months.

Some of the thematic takeaways for me:
⭐ Sometimes we can feel stuck in life - we forget who we are because we're trying to be someone we're not, and nothing feels quite right. We go through the paces, but we're missing an intrinsic joy.
⭐ There's an ache of loneliness, when we haven't found the right person to share our life with, or haven't discovered our true purpose. We have to be patient, and not give up trying.
⭐Experiencing loss or heartbreak in any capacity can result in us being guarded with our hearts. We have to have the courage to open up again, with acceptance and hope.
⭐Change is inevitable. We all need to make difficult choices at key junctures in our lives, and that can set us down beautiful unexpected paths that help us discover our unique purpose.

This book captured the charm of chance encounters, love for books, feeling inspired by that childhood magic, and redsicovering meaning in our lives. The postcard exchange was really cute. It was short, but gave a glimpse into various characters, and was a lovely read.

Apparently this is the fourth short story in this series - I'm definitely going to check out the first three!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon for providing an Advance Reader Copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Okay, I don't cry at books (except one other). This made me cry. This was so beautifully written and the emotions throughout this short story really hit home for me. There's something special about connecting with a character, flaws and all.

Violet is living in Paris as a pastry chef at a bakery where she feels like an outcast and doesn't allow herself to feel love (not literally, but she avoids it at all cost). She comes from a small island in Maine where her family still resides. She lost her dad at a young age and even though she's a grown woman and didn't really know her father well, she grieves his loss. Her mother remarried, her aunt upended the life she dreamed of for a life she loves, and Violet meets someone that becomes very special to her. This story follows Violet and her family as they all journey through emotions of loss and love and how, as the cliche goes, "love prevails."

I resonate a lot with Violet. Her beliefs at the beginning of the book are recognizable and relatable, no matter what stage of life you're in. Being a short story, this story ripped my heart out. I, too, live far from my mom. I, too, lost my dad and grieve his absence. I, too, struggled with the concept of love and whether it was worth it.

Combining themes of love and loss with books and food make this such a cozy and emotional read. Alice Hoffman does an amazing job at making you connect with each character...and she did that in 43 pages. She has two others in this series that I already had downloaded on my Kindle and I am not waiting to read them any longer. I absolutely loved this and honestly can't stop thinking about it.

I love all things Alice Hoffman, and this book fit right into that list! It was an easy read and very enjoyable. As always, I recommend this Hoffman book!

The Bookstore Family is a short story in Alice Hoffman's "Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories" universe. I wasn't familiar with the rest of the series before going in, and can confirm it works well as a standalone introduction, although returning readers will likely find references and recurring characters I might have missed.

Before I get into it, heads-up that the story goes into pretty heavy topics like serious illness and death. I was expecting a light, short read and was a bit surprised by the topics considering the lighthearted summary. I would have appreciated some indication ahead of time.

The story itself is a quick read and alternates between heartbreaking and hopeful, ending on a positive note. A tragedy strikes the family, leading Violet to leave her dream job and hopes of a new beginning in France to return to her island home. The family members are excellently portrayed even for newcomers to the series, and you'll find yourself rooting for each of them in turn as they navigate the difficult situation and their individual hopes and dreams.

Overall I enjoyed this short story as an introduction to the series, and it made me interested in picking up the rest of the books. If you're into strong family bonds or stories about following your dreams and finding connection, you'll likely enjoy this one.

✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

Oh how I loved this book so much! I enjoyed literally everything about it. It’s always amazing to watch “read” a story about someone living out their own dreams. I ate this book up.

Thanks for my free copy @netgalley

Thank you to Alice Hoffman, Amazon Original and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful ending to the series! Having followed Violet since she was young it was a pleasure to watch her story evolve and grow as she did. Seeing her find her happy ending after so much heartache and tragedy was the perfect little bow to tie this series up in a neat little package.

highly recommend this series of short stories!

Violet is a pastry chef living in Paris who is unfulfilled with the direction of her life. She doesn't have many friends and her job is not satisfying her. By chance, she meets Remy, another pastry chef and they begin to fall in love. When her mother's terminal cancer returns, she rushes home and her and Remy continue their relationship through letters.

I think this could have been a really great novel. As a (very) short story, it felt entirely too rushed. There were just too many things happening in the approximately 30 pages.

3⭐s from me because I love Alice Hoffman

Thank you, Netgalley for this Arc.

The bookstore family follows Violet on her journey to find love and happiness. This is a very short novella, about 30 pages long. So, the pacing had to be quick, overall, about halfway through my attention span finally kicked in and I was more intrigued. However, the beginning took some time.

This is the fourth book in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, these short stories were all so wonderful to read. I am not sure if it is the last one, but it wrapped up the story of this family so well and I have to say, I loved these stories. This story was about Violet, who left what was expected of her and went to follow a dream, to be a pastry chef in France. Five years later she is working at a good job, but something is missing in her life. She seems to have lost her knack for adding something special to her cooking. After a vist from her Aunt, she starts to see things clearly. She is then suddenly called home and soon realizes that that is where she was meant to be after all.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publshing house, Amazon Original Stories and the amazing author Alice Hoffman for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this shortstory in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Growing up, Violet was so engrossed in helping others achieve their dreams that she barely had time for her own pursuits. However, five years ago, she seized an extraordinary opportunity by leaving her family bookshop on Brinkley’s Island, Maine, to enroll in culinary school in Paris. Today, she works her dream job as a pâtissière in an upscale Parisian restaurant, but all she can think about is her home. Does she go home to be with the family she loves and misses or does she stay in Paris and pursue her dreams?

I devoured this entire short story. I thoroughly enjoyed all four books and the journey of getting to know Violet as she grew up. This beautiful story is filled with both ups and downs that deeply resonate with you. I only wish it were a full-fledged novel so that we could delve deeper into the past and present. I also hope for another book that will allow us to witness Violet’s future and explore her family dynamics. I am an avid fan of this author and all her books. Her writing style is truly exceptional.

If you’re seeking a lighthearted and uplifting read or a palate cleanser between books, this is the perfect choice for you.

The Bookstore Family was a lovely story about family and love. If this is the last novella in the series, I think it would be a nice way to close the story. It was sad, though, and part of me feels like it wasn't necessary, but I also know that Violet's characters needed her story too.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Bookstore Family is a short and cozy read. To be read in one sitting when you want a story that’s uplifting and beautiful. The prose is stunning and draws you in. I loved the characters and the setting. Most of all I loved the idea of chasing dreams and what’s really important in life. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

The fourth and maybe the final book in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series

It was lovely to meet up with the family again although this book begins in Paris where Violet is working as a pâtissier in a restaurant. Despite herself she meets a man she could love but then she has to return home where her mother is battling cancer.

So it is a story with sad moments and happy ones too and it effectively ties up all the loose ends for everyone concerned. I enjoyed it very much.

A sweet quick read about a woman who goes to Paris but finds love only upon leaving it to go home. I enjoyed the story and the bittersweet ending.

Five years ago, Violet left behind tiny Brinkley Island, Maine, to attend culinary school in Paris. Despite her dream job as a pâtissiere, she still feels like something is missing. When she returns to Maine for a family emergency, she finds that the place she was looking for all along was right there at home.

I’m in awe of how Alice Hoffman can pack so much emotion into 30-ish short pages. Each installment of the Once Upon a Bookshop short story series is sweet and heartfelt, and The Bookstore Family is the most poignant of all, moving me to tears multiple times. This little story is brimming with themes of love, grief, and finding oneself. I’m not sure if it’s the final book in the series or not, but if it is, it ends on a perfect lovely note of hope.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Great addition to the little stories about this family. Wish they were longer and more detailed. Still a fun quick read.

The Bookstore Family
Author: Alice Hoffman
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: May 13, 2025

I am a devoted fan of Alice Hoffman and eagerly read her books. The Bookstore Family is the fourth installment in a series of short stories about two sisters, Sophie and Isabel, who own a charming and magical bakery in Maine. Violet, Sophie’s daughter, the youngest of the ladies, lives in Paris, where she is trying to improve her culinary skills, but she’s called back to Maine to help her mom, whose health is failing. Paris has disappointed Violet, plus she needs to support her family. Sometimes, when we venture out into the world in search of our place, we unexpectedly find our way back home, and as a delightful bonus, we might discover love. This particular book might have been my favorite among the four. I believe Hoffman possesses a talent for crafting sweet, loving, and sentimental stories that linger in our hearts forever.

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This is a short story from Amazon Original Stories featuring a sweet romance about a young woman who follows here dreams from her family bookstore in Maine to become a pastry chef in Paris only to realise that something is missing from both her pastries and her life. Touching and satisfying!