Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
***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.
~ Copy provided by NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
emotional
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
fast-paced
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!
Thanks again to NetGalley for the ARC!
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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 one 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 (at least for me), Hoffman writes in a poetic prose that paints a beautifully vibrant picture.
Lovely story, and I can't wait for the next one!
"(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 one 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 (at least for me), Hoffman writes in a poetic prose that paints a beautifully vibrant picture.
Lovely story, and I can't wait for the next one!
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.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/01/review-bookstore-keepers-earcebook.html
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.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/01/review-bookstore-keepers-earcebook.html
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.
This is a nice cozy short story about family legacy, love, and finding yourself.
This is a nice cozy short story about family legacy, love, and finding yourself.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the third installment in a novella series about a pair of sisters who runs a family bookstore on a small island in Maine. I definitely recommend reading this after you've read the first two stories in the series, otherwise it will not be as meaningful. This one revisits the sisters 5 years into the future. One sister's daughter has recently graduated college, while the other has been happily married, but she and her husband are at a crossroads of whether to expand their family.
The is a short but sweet story that packs an emotional punch. I always appreciate Hoffman's crafting of different types of relationships, her insight into human behavior, and her lovely descriptions of nature in the settings of her stories, which become a character themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Brilliance Publishing for an advanced e-book and audiobook in exchange for my review.
The is a short but sweet story that packs an emotional punch. I always appreciate Hoffman's crafting of different types of relationships, her insight into human behavior, and her lovely descriptions of nature in the settings of her stories, which become a character themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Brilliance Publishing for an advanced e-book and audiobook in exchange for my review.