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Alice Hoffman
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The Bookstore Wedding (The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories) Kindle Edition

by Alice Hoffman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
#1 Best Seller in Magical Realism
See all formats and editions

In this star-crossed short story from New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman, timing is everything as two sisters learn to let love follow its own path.

Isabel, the long-lost Gibson sister, is finally back home on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. With Sophie and Violet, her sister and her niece, she’s got the family bookstore—and with Johnny Lenox, she’s got something even more special.

But even as life settles, not everything is falling into place. Isabel and Johnny have set the date three times, baked three wedding cakes, invited the whole island to three parties, only to have each attempt at matrimony fall apart at the last minute. Disasters seem to be conspiring against their happy ending, and Isabel is starting to wonder if their love is meant to be.

When family history comes back to haunt the Gibson sisters, Isabel knows that if she wants to make it down the aisle with Johnny, first she and Sophie will have to face the pain of their past and their present, and decide what it means for their future.

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  1. Part of series
    The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories
  2. Print length
    39 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Amazon Original Stories
  6. Publication date
    August 1, 2024
  7. File size
    4569 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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All 2 available for you in this series See full series
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Total Price: $3.98
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Get to know this book

Previous page

  1. Popular highlight

    People made mistakes, and sometimes they weren’t aware of how bad their choices were until they lived through them and came out on the other side.
    193 Kindle readers highlighted this

  2. Popular highlight

    Their mother had told them that cake was always helpful: you can have it for breakfast or lunch, you can have it while you’re celebrating or when your heart is about to break, and you can always share it with someone you love.
    158 Kindle readers highlighted this

  3. Popular highlight

    That I did always love, I bring thee proof: That till I loved I did not love enough.
    101 Kindle readers highlighted this
Next page

From the Publisher

THE BOOK OF LOVE HAS MANY CHAPTERS

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

I first visited the Once Upon a Time Bookshop in Alice Hoffman’s bestselling short story “The Bookstore Sisters,” and I never wanted to leave. It feels like a personal gift to be granted more time with the Gibson family.

In this richly layered short story, Isabel Gibson and Johnny Lenox are planning their wedding at long last, after years of separation and misunderstanding. But faced with natural disasters and family crises, they’ve canceled three times already. As an out-of-season hurricane sends their reception tent soaring away over the marsh, Isabel wonders if she isn’t destined for happiness after all.

In looking for a sign from the universe, Isabel risks overlooking her own power to change her fate. Sometimes, if the stars don’t align, you have to find a different way to see them—and that’s where love, in all its varied forms, comes in. Isabel’s sister, Sophie, and Sophie’s daughter, Violet, have just as much a role to play as Johnny in making the course of true love run a little smoother.

As for Isabel and Johnny, read on to find out if the fourth time’s the charm. And you’ll soon be able to visit the bookstore again—the next story is already on its way.

—Kjersti Egerdahl, Editor

About the Author

Alice Hoffman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the Practical Magic series, The Dovekeepers, and The Invisible Hour. Her works have been translated into more than twenty languages, nominated for multiple awards, and adapted for the screen. She lives in Boston.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CV4FFR71
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Original Stories (August 1, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4569 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 39 pages
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman

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Alice Hoffman is the author of thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, and, most recently, The Book of Magic. She lives in Boston. Her new novel, The Invisible Hour, is forthcoming in August 2023. Visit her website: www.alicehoffman.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
6,050 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book nice, soothing, and believable. They also appreciate the emotional themes and likable characters. Readers describe the storyline as cute, engaging, and keeps them savoring the words. They mention the book is great for a quick read and a good feel book.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
StorylineEnjoyabilityEmotional themesReadabilityDescriptivenessHumorEmotion
115 customers mention "Storyline"109 positive6 negative

Customers find the storyline cute, quick, and beautiful. They also describe it as a romantic, sweet, and lovely story. Customers also mention that the writing style is fluid and easy to read.

"...Her style is engaging and keeps the reader savoring her words. This is a good book. I really enjoyed.it’s short and sweet." Read more

"Vero cute and romantic story! Loved the characters and their respective struggles , a truly touching story!..." Read more

"...It's a quite lovely romance, and I wonder where the last installment will lead. A well written short story is a pleasure to read." Read more

"...Even though the story is short, it is full of emotion and has such a richness to it, I didn’t want it to end...." Read more

53 customers mention "Enjoyability"53 positive0 negative

Customers find the book nice, soothing, and beautiful. They also say it's a wonderful modern day fairytale, full of emotion and richness. Readers also say the book is full of reality and hope, and a perfect blend of imagery, romance, and love. They say the story didn't disappoint and is a great second installment.

"...Ellis Hoffman is a good writer. Her style is engaging and keeps the reader savoring her words. This is a good book...." Read more

"Vero cute and romantic story! Loved the characters and their respective struggles , a truly touching story!..." Read more

"...Even though the story is short, it is full of emotion and has such a richness to it, I didn’t want it to end...." Read more

"This is a nice, soothing short story of true love, in so many of its forms...." Read more

28 customers mention "Emotional themes"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book full of emotion, rich, and character-driven. They also describe it as a good human interest story, heartwarming, and about love, grief, healing, and moving forward.

"Sweet story about love, patience and forgiveness...." Read more

"...Loved the characters and their respective struggles , a truly touching story! This its like 40 mins read, super quick and nice" Read more

"...Since this is a character driven story, readers who focus on plot will be disappointed...." Read more

"...Even though the story is short, it is full of emotion and has such a richness to it, I didn’t want it to end...." Read more

22 customers mention "Readability"20 positive2 negative

Customers find the book very easy to read. They also say it's a sweet story of love.

"...This its like 40 mins read, super quick and nice" Read more

"...(It's a short story like this one and doesn't take long to read.)..." Read more

"...It's A quick read, but it tends to get monotonous her having to cancel the wedding for one reason or another...." Read more

"Alice Hoffman’s books are always a pleasure to read. Even her mini ones. I liked the Bookstore Sisters and didn’t know there was more to the story...." Read more

3 customers mention "Descriptiveness"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's descriptiveness, saying it provides fun and cute details. They also like that it deals with real life matters.

"I liked that it dealt with real life matters. If you want a book too read on a short flight this one is for you." Read more

"...Very easy and cute read. I love all the fun, cute, details." Read more

"This was an incredible story. So many aspects involved and oh so much love. Things always happen for a reason. Warms your heart!" Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book delightful, funny, and a quick summer read.

"...There's not a lot of dialogue. It's very to the point, but it's fun and sweet." Read more

"...Delightful, funny, yet touching page turner I had to read in one sitting." Read more

"...Delightful and heartwarming, a fun and quick summer read" Read more

3 customers mention "Emotion"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the emotion in the book sappy, sweet, and saccharine.

"...The story also ended up very sweet, sappy, and meh. The characters are simply not endearing - sorry!..." Read more

"Saccharine. This author has written some pretty frothy stuff in the past, but this one was downright syrupy. Think I’ll skip the rest of the series." Read more

"Probably the most sappy sweet book I’ve read in a long time. Not a bit realistic. Just sappy romance, not even entertaining at all...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Penny Dreadful
5.0 out of 5 stars COLORFUL SHORT STORY
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed reading this as much as I have in reading any of Hoffman’s books. Her characters are always described in vivid detail. She does tend to have tragedies happen, however this story did not. Maybe that’s why it was even better than I thought it might be. Her descriptions of places and seasons are always captivating, making everything easy to picture. Her writing style is fluid and easy to read. She makes magical things believable. I highly recommend every one of her books. I haven’t found one yet that I didn’t like.
12 people found this helpful
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Katherine Galvez
4.0 out of 5 stars very nice short story
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2024
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Vero cute and romantic story! Loved the characters and their respective struggles , a truly touching story! This its like 40 mins read, super quick and nice
2 people found this helpful
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Eun
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Sweet story about love, patience and forgiveness. Alice Hoffman delivers a story about a young girl who decides to leave her island home for New York City. After her mother‘s death, Isabel does not want to fall in love as those you love leave. Her childhood friend Johnny waivers and his love for her and waits for her return. After her father‘s death, Isabel and her sister Sophie inherit the bookstore. Once she returns to the island, Isabel and Frank decide to marry. But after three disastrous attempts, they still not tied the nut. Will the fourth time be a charm?

It’s difficult to leave a review for a short story without divulging most of the plot so I’m gonna leave it at that. Ellis Hoffman is a good writer. Her style is engaging and keeps the reader savoring her words. This is a good book. I really enjoyed.it’s short and sweet.
One person found this helpful
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Susan
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Exquisite
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2024
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A wonderful follow up to The Bookstore Sisters. Alice Hoffman is a gifted author and I adore these short Once Upon a Time Bookshop stories. The story continues with life on Brinkley’s Island. The two sisters, Sophie and Isabel, have settled into their lives together after previously being apart for many years. This new chapter, focuses on love and the unexpected curveballs that life throws in the mix when least expected. Even though the story is short, it is full of emotion and has such a richness to it, I didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
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Sweetpea
5.0 out of 5 stars SUGGEST READING BOOK 1 BEFORE THIS BOOK—THE STORY FLOWS FROM ONE INTO THE OTHER
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2024
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Like the first book in this series, this story is about Isabel's personal growth. Since this is a character driven story, readers who focus on plot will be disappointed. If you haven't read the first book you won't realize that Isabel's character development began in book one and continues on in this second book of the series, so I highly suggest you begin by reading the first installment called The Bookstore Sisters. (It's a short story like this one and doesn't take long to read.) Both stories follow Isabel's ongoing struggle with commitment phobia and track her gradual emergence out of the place where she was emotionally stuck and into a place where her outlook is more mature and she is able to fully connect. It's a quite lovely romance, and I wonder where the last installment will lead. A well written short story is a pleasure to read.
13 people found this helpful
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Lisa K. Blake
4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2024
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This is a nice, soothing short story of true love, in so many of its forms. Alice Hoffman weaves a lovely tale, and the setting here is as much a character as the people. A very nice read.
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Christine Gentes
4.0 out of 5 stars True Love - A Myth?
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
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Lovely short story about a bride who isn’t sure she wants to be a bride. When Isabel Gibson returns to Brinkley’s Island, Maine after years away, she soon discovers she cannot run away from love. Charming, sweet and an ode to true love.
6 people found this helpful
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Glynn Young
5.0 out of 5 stars Not a romance, but a love story - love of family, others, and community
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024
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When she’s old enough to leave, Isabel Gibson flees from her family on Brinkley Island. She was 10 when her mother died, and she was so overwhelmed by her father’s and sister’s grief, not to mention her own, she determined to leave and block herself from love. She eventually married, but it ended in divorce.

She not only left her family behind; she also left her best friend, Johnny Lenox, the boy she loved and who loved her since they were children. Her mother’s bookstore, which her father tried to operate but couldn’t get through his grief, has been run by Isabel’s sister Sophie.

Isabel and Johnny reconnect; they never really disconnected. And they decide to marry, but something always seems to be getting in the way.

“The Bookstore Wedding” by Alice Hoffman is a short story (related to the author’s Bookstore series) that isn’t as much about romance as it is about love – love for family, love for others, and love for community. It’s a simple story, told well, that ends in an unexpected but satisfying way.

Hoffman is the bestselling author of more than 30 novels, three books of short stories, and eight books for children and young adults. Her work has received a number of significant recognitions, including movie versions, Oprah Book Club selections, and Publishers Weekly honors. Her novel about Anne Frank, “When We Flew Away,” will be published in September. A native of New York City, she lives in Boston.
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Top reviews from other countries

Joanne
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed this quick read
Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2024
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What a delightful book. It’s whimsical yet filled with love and wisdom. I would highly recommend it if you are looking for an interesting diversion from ordinary.
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LeeLee
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story about family and forgiveness!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 23, 2024
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This short book is about a family suffering from loss, running the family business and forgiveness.

It's a beautiful little read and really touches on real life situations.
One person found this helpful
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Louise Steer
5.0 out of 5 stars Bookstore magic
Reviewed in Australia on July 3, 2024
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How does Alice Hoffman write long books about love gone wrong and short ones about love gone right? Magic, moonlight, books and baking - the right ingredients!
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Donna F.
4.0 out of 5 stars Quick simple sweet read
Reviewed in Canada on July 7, 2024
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Cute little story. Quick read. Easily read on a kindle or kindle app. Love in your pocket. Would recommend to others.
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Norman
4.0 out of 5 stars A decent read !
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2024
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I read this whilst on a long train journey and it certainly helped to pass the time , a story full of both happiness and sorrow . This story kept me interested from start to finish and is a nice tale with an emotional ending . Good !
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