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Monday, May 26, 2025

REVIEW - The Bookstore Family (ebook/ short story)


 The Bookstore Family (Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories #4)                                          by Alice Hoffman (ebook/short story)


OVERVIEW

This was a special treat! I had no idea Alice Hoffman had written a fourth short story in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. I am hoping for a fifth short story in this series. Yes, I am being so greedy!

This was another great short story by the amazing Alice Hoffman. This is the fourth and final (say it isn't so!) short story in The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories about a family bookstore on the fictional island of Brinkley's Island, Maine. I so love this sweet and lovely series.  

Caveat: Please read the first three short stories before reading this one.  


OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars


Writing: 5.0 stars

Alice Hoffman is my favorite author, period. Her writing is beautifully spectacular, poetic, and brilliant. This fourth short story was another great addition to this lovely series.  


Character development: 5.0 stars

As always, there is good character development! This short story is primarily about Violet (Sophie's daughter), who is living an unhappy life as a pastry chef in Paris.  

The secondary characters are Sophie (Violet's mother), Isabel (Violet's aunt), and Remy (Violet's friend in Paris).  

The tertiary characters are Johnny (Isabel's husband), David (Sophie's husband), and Suzy (Johnny and Isabel's young daughter). 


Storyline:  5.0 stars

This short story concerns family, loss, grief, and unconditional love, as in the first three short stories. 

Violet leaves Paris to return home to the island. Sadly, her mother, Sophie, has had a recurrence of her cancer. The family rallies to help Sophie meet all of the tasks on her bucket list.  

We receive a lovely, bittersweet ending (maybe not) to this wonderful short story series! 

The main location is the fictional Brinkley's Island, Maine 


Memorable/Informative:  5.0 stars

This is another beautiful short story in a short story series. Alice Hoffman could write her grocery list, and I would read it!


Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous.


Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect!  


HIGHLY recommend


BOOK INFORMATION

Purchased Kindle digital copy

The Bookstore Family (Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories #4) by Alice Hoffman

43 pages 

Amazon Original Stories

Release date of 5/13/2025


INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Alice Hoffman

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Amazon Original Stories


TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Death of a parent, terminal illness



Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜



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