What do you think?
Rate this book
Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories #4
The Bookstore Family
New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman takes her sweet bookshop series to Paris with an emotional short story about chasing your dreams—and finding your passion where you least expect it.
Growing up, Violet was so busy helping others realize their dreams, she found little time to pursue her own. But five years ago, she took the chance of a lifetime, leaving the family bookshop on Brinkley’s Island, Maine, to attend culinary school in Paris. Now she’s working her dream job as a pâtissiere in an upscale Parisian restaurant—yet all she can think about is home.
Feeling unmoored, Violet finds herself still searching for something…Connection? Maybe. She hasn’t made any real friends in the city. Inspiration? Possibly. Her desserts are lovely, but they’re definitely lacking something.
After her aunt Isabel urges her to keep on looking, Violet finally gets a taste of what she’s been missing in the café at the Museum of Romantic Life. But just as life begins to come into focus, she’s abruptly called home to Maine. Like her aunt before her, Violet soon learns that family could hold the key to discovering what she truly needs.
Growing up, Violet was so busy helping others realize their dreams, she found little time to pursue her own. But five years ago, she took the chance of a lifetime, leaving the family bookshop on Brinkley’s Island, Maine, to attend culinary school in Paris. Now she’s working her dream job as a pâtissiere in an upscale Parisian restaurant—yet all she can think about is home.
Feeling unmoored, Violet finds herself still searching for something…Connection? Maybe. She hasn’t made any real friends in the city. Inspiration? Possibly. Her desserts are lovely, but they’re definitely lacking something.
After her aunt Isabel urges her to keep on looking, Violet finally gets a taste of what she’s been missing in the café at the Museum of Romantic Life. But just as life begins to come into focus, she’s abruptly called home to Maine. Like her aunt before her, Violet soon learns that family could hold the key to discovering what she truly needs.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2025
4224 people are currently reading
4153 people want to read
About the author
Alice Hoffman
119 books25.2k followersAlice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew; The Marriage of Opposites; The Red Garden; The Museum of Extraordinary Things; The Dovekeepers; Here on Earth, an Oprah’s Book Club selection; and the Practical Magic series, including Practical
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
Magic; Magic Lessons; The Rules of Magic, a selection of Reese’s Book Club; and The Book of Magic. She lives near Boston.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 869 reviews
May 16, 2025
I have enjoyed a number of Alice Hoffmann’s novels and stories from the more serious to those filled with magic to those sweet family stories. This fourth story in The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories is sweet , in more ways than one and sad , and it’s filled with love, a simple, predictable story that did me good ! I hope this isn’t the last of the series.
May 24, 2025
The Bookstore Family feels like it could be the perfect ending to this lovely series. Book 4 brings everything—love, hope, heartbreak, goodbyes, and new beginnings. I absolutely loved it.
It’s a short read, but it really delivers. This time, we follow Violet as she runs off to Paris, meets a charming man, and then has to return home when her mother falls ill. And yes—you guessed it—the handsome guy stays behind in Paris.
What follows is the sweetest snail mail romance that totally warmed my heart. Such a beautiful story. I loved every page.
It’s a short read, but it really delivers. This time, we follow Violet as she runs off to Paris, meets a charming man, and then has to return home when her mother falls ill. And yes—you guessed it—the handsome guy stays behind in Paris.
What follows is the sweetest snail mail romance that totally warmed my heart. Such a beautiful story. I loved every page.
April 30, 2025
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.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 16, 2025
I had read and enjoyed the three previous short stories that tell us about the lives of Sophie, Isabel and Violet and it was only sensible I read the 4th short story in the series.
Sophie and Isabel have already gone through all the possible emotions a human being can experience throughout their lives (joy, sadness, anger, despair, hope, love...and more). It is now Violet's turn to take her own path, make her own decisions and allow herself the opportunity to experience such emotions. After all, a person cannot be fully complete until they have learned to experience them all. However, being able to share our experiences with family and friends is a treasure that not all are fortunate to have.
Violet hasn't really been in love and that shows on most things she does because they seem to be lacking something special. Will love knock her door? It all seems to point out that way, but then again, life is full of surprises that can make us change paths over and over.
But...even if life forces Violet to take different paths...will she actually be able to get what she most desires?
This seems to be the last book in the series (I hope not), but if another one comes up in the future, I'll be glad to get hold of it.
Sophie and Isabel have already gone through all the possible emotions a human being can experience throughout their lives (joy, sadness, anger, despair, hope, love...and more). It is now Violet's turn to take her own path, make her own decisions and allow herself the opportunity to experience such emotions. After all, a person cannot be fully complete until they have learned to experience them all. However, being able to share our experiences with family and friends is a treasure that not all are fortunate to have.
Violet hasn't really been in love and that shows on most things she does because they seem to be lacking something special. Will love knock her door? It all seems to point out that way, but then again, life is full of surprises that can make us change paths over and over.
But...even if life forces Violet to take different paths...will she actually be able to get what she most desires?
This seems to be the last book in the series (I hope not), but if another one comes up in the future, I'll be glad to get hold of it.
April 21, 2025
So nice to read a book that you can finish in one sitting. Apparently this is the 4th, and maybe final, installment in this series but it is the first one I have read and I enjoyed the premise of the local girl/pasty chef who moved to Paris and returns to be near her dying mother just as she finds love. A touching story about love and even how the missing ingredient in her pastry was love. I enjoyed it a lot and while the entire plot was very fast and simple, that is why it is a short story and I am fine with that! 3.5***
April 14, 2025
I find it hard to believe that this was written by the author of Practical Magic (or a human at all - this reads as if AI attempted to write an Alice Hoffman book). It’s just a clunky, amateurish, weak and thin effort that reads like fan fiction/cozy chick lit.
May 31, 2025
Lovely fourth novella in this series about two sisters and a bookshop on a small Maine island. The saga continues, and maybe ends here? A great place to finish, so hopefully this will be the last. I loved this one the most I think, four full boxes of tissues.
April 17, 2025
Assuming this is the last of the series?
Regardless, it’s not the best, but still has beautiful prose and quotes only Alice Hoffman can create.
This is the fourth in the Once Upon a Bookshop series, all short stories. The first two captivated me - what great descriptions of the Gibson family, who deal with great losses, loves, and family business successes.
This time, it takes place in Paris, where Violet currently lives, and is using her mom's infamous recipes to bake in a completely different country. She realizes that Maine is where her heart truly is.
These stories could be expansive, but Hoffman manages to turn them into deep characterizations of a family's loves and losses.
Regardless, it’s not the best, but still has beautiful prose and quotes only Alice Hoffman can create.
This is the fourth in the Once Upon a Bookshop series, all short stories. The first two captivated me - what great descriptions of the Gibson family, who deal with great losses, loves, and family business successes.
This time, it takes place in Paris, where Violet currently lives, and is using her mom's infamous recipes to bake in a completely different country. She realizes that Maine is where her heart truly is.
These stories could be expansive, but Hoffman manages to turn them into deep characterizations of a family's loves and losses.
November 26, 2025
As an avid reader, I believe this to be true - ‘Every time a book is reread it’s entirely different depending on who the reader has become.’
'There are some things you must learn for yourself, and how to find happiness is one of them.’
'There are some things you must learn for yourself, and how to find happiness is one of them.’
September 28, 2025
I was going through my NetGalley reading list and realized I hadn’t reviewed Alice Hoffman’s new novella. I started reading and, nope, it felt completely new. Lol. I was so happy to discover a story I hadn’t experienced before.
Alice Hoffman has a way of pulling you into the story. Her writing is poetic and layered, yet warm, making every time I read her books feel like coming home. Even in an ordinary tale, without any magic, it still feels magical to read. I truly love her books.
The Bookstore Family really got to me. Paris is painted so vividly I could almost see it, hear it, even smell it. And the island where the family lives feels so real and cozy. The characters feel alive, like people I care about. Hoffman shows love and sorrow side by side in the most honest way.
Some lines stayed with me: Every time a book is reread it’s entirely different depending on who the reader has become. And Death wasn’t a foreign country ; it was the country we all walked past each and every day.
This novella is moving, beautiful, and I loved every page. I really recommend it if you enjoy heartfelt, thoughtful stories.
Huge thanks to Amazon Original Stories for letting me dive into this book and share my thoughts. I really appreciate it. And just so it is clear, all the opinions, feels, and occasional ramblings are entirely my own.
Alice Hoffman has a way of pulling you into the story. Her writing is poetic and layered, yet warm, making every time I read her books feel like coming home. Even in an ordinary tale, without any magic, it still feels magical to read. I truly love her books.
The Bookstore Family really got to me. Paris is painted so vividly I could almost see it, hear it, even smell it. And the island where the family lives feels so real and cozy. The characters feel alive, like people I care about. Hoffman shows love and sorrow side by side in the most honest way.
Some lines stayed with me: Every time a book is reread it’s entirely different depending on who the reader has become. And Death wasn’t a foreign country ; it was the country we all walked past each and every day.
This novella is moving, beautiful, and I loved every page. I really recommend it if you enjoy heartfelt, thoughtful stories.
Huge thanks to Amazon Original Stories for letting me dive into this book and share my thoughts. I really appreciate it. And just so it is clear, all the opinions, feels, and occasional ramblings are entirely my own.
June 9, 2025
Five years have gone by since the last installment .
Violet is now a pastry chef at a renowned restaurant in Paris.
She lives in a small apartment, is alone and thinks it's better that way, has no friends not even among their colleagues and is still grieving the father she never known.
She went home once for her cousin Suzy's first birthday and her mother visited her one time.
She hasn't been home in 4 years, because she fears she won't be able to leave again and that it will be considered a failure.
So her aunt Isabel comes to visit for a week.
She can see Violet is not happy, that she is lost, looking for something, not knowing exactly what she's missing.
She thinks she needs to start reading again and the day she returns home she leaves her a book Violet used to love as a child with a note saying "Books are always what we need. Don't forget to look for magic."
Every day before work she goes to Rosie's Bakery for a coffee but especially for the delicious treats they sell.
She picks up the book and can't seem to stop reading even when drinking the coffee.
While there a man, Remy, asks permission to seat and if she likes children's books as he does. The answer is yes and they connet instantely as if they knew each other for a long time!
The next day she hopes to see him again and when she's leaving for work the kitchen door is open and she finds out he's the bakery Patissier.
Not long after that she receives a call from David, her mother 's husband, asking her to come home fast because Sophie is very ill again and this time she will not recover.
She quits her job and leaves a message for Remy to know what happened .
Her mother is dying and has lists for what she still wants to do and for everyone else, so when she''s gone they have something to focus on besides their grief, their mourning and their broken hearts!
Its a sad time but also one to remember the good moments they had as a family!
And there's also the letters between Violet and Remy and the postcards he keeps sending, that only reaches her hands before everybody in town has already read them.
Violet asks him if he wouldn't mind living in an island again, he was raised in one, and one week after the funeral he arrives in town.
And together, with her grandmother's and his grandmother's recipes, they reopen the bakery in the Bookstore with the most delicious cookies and cakes the island has ever seen!!
Violet is now a pastry chef at a renowned restaurant in Paris.
She lives in a small apartment, is alone and thinks it's better that way, has no friends not even among their colleagues and is still grieving the father she never known.
She went home once for her cousin Suzy's first birthday and her mother visited her one time.
She hasn't been home in 4 years, because she fears she won't be able to leave again and that it will be considered a failure.
So her aunt Isabel comes to visit for a week.
She can see Violet is not happy, that she is lost, looking for something, not knowing exactly what she's missing.
She thinks she needs to start reading again and the day she returns home she leaves her a book Violet used to love as a child with a note saying "Books are always what we need. Don't forget to look for magic."
Every day before work she goes to Rosie's Bakery for a coffee but especially for the delicious treats they sell.
She picks up the book and can't seem to stop reading even when drinking the coffee.
While there a man, Remy, asks permission to seat and if she likes children's books as he does. The answer is yes and they connet instantely as if they knew each other for a long time!
The next day she hopes to see him again and when she's leaving for work the kitchen door is open and she finds out he's the bakery Patissier.
Not long after that she receives a call from David, her mother 's husband, asking her to come home fast because Sophie is very ill again and this time she will not recover.
She quits her job and leaves a message for Remy to know what happened .
Her mother is dying and has lists for what she still wants to do and for everyone else, so when she''s gone they have something to focus on besides their grief, their mourning and their broken hearts!
Its a sad time but also one to remember the good moments they had as a family!
And there's also the letters between Violet and Remy and the postcards he keeps sending, that only reaches her hands before everybody in town has already read them.
Violet asks him if he wouldn't mind living in an island again, he was raised in one, and one week after the funeral he arrives in town.
And together, with her grandmother's and his grandmother's recipes, they reopen the bakery in the Bookstore with the most delicious cookies and cakes the island has ever seen!!
December 31, 2025
So much depth in such a little story. I love how personal it felt, as if you were right there beside the characters. Bittersweet but as is life.
August 19, 2025
4 stars
As all the females in this family have done, Violet chases her dream - all the way to Paris. It is what she learns there that brings her home and helps her understand love. Although not always in a happy way, this fourth novella in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series ties up everyone's life - back on the Island, in the book store, where it began.
Of course this mini-series was well worth the read - it is authored by Alice Hoffman, who always champions the female in her stories.
As all the females in this family have done, Violet chases her dream - all the way to Paris. It is what she learns there that brings her home and helps her understand love. Although not always in a happy way, this fourth novella in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series ties up everyone's life - back on the Island, in the book store, where it began.
Of course this mini-series was well worth the read - it is authored by Alice Hoffman, who always champions the female in her stories.
May 20, 2025
Entertaining love listening 🏡👨❤️💋👨
This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book four of four
She is running a bookstore on the island. She goes to France to visit her daughter. Then a phone call about her sister. Back to the island where her sister has returned to. Her sister is dying of cancer and they enjoy the moments. 😏
I would recommend this series and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventures novels 😘😊 2025 🤗😉
This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book four of four
She is running a bookstore on the island. She goes to France to visit her daughter. Then a phone call about her sister. Back to the island where her sister has returned to. Her sister is dying of cancer and they enjoy the moments. 😏
I would recommend this series and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventures novels 😘😊 2025 🤗😉
August 19, 2025
Sad the series is over for now. Such a sweet story ♥️
May 14, 2025
The perfect ending to a heartwarming series. I have thoroughly enjoyed the adventures of Sophie, Isabel, Violet, Johnny, and others. In the end grief happens, but love is always there if you are willing to give it a chance.
May 31, 2025
Rating 4.5
My favorite of the entire series. I wanted to hear more....about the recipes, the cookbook, and more. I loved this line "Every time a book is re-read it's entirely different based on who the reader has become." Great end to this series.
My favorite of the entire series. I wanted to hear more....about the recipes, the cookbook, and more. I loved this line "Every time a book is re-read it's entirely different based on who the reader has become." Great end to this series.
June 11, 2025
"Once upon a time I lived in a bookstore, I looked out the window and couldn’t see the beauty of the place, I couldn’t see it until I described it to you."
*User can't write a review because she's too busy crying 😭*
*User can't write a review because she's too busy crying 😭*
November 13, 2025
“Every time a book is reread it’s entirely different depending on who the reader has become.”
May 20, 2025
My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great short story and second book in this short story series!!
This is the last book in a series of Amazon Original short stories called the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. These books are only around 40 pages each so really take no time at all to read.
They are about love and loss and finding what you lost once again. Two sisters Isabel and Sophie have been the main characters and they are both so different and so loveable in their own way. This book focuses on Sophie’s now grown up daughter Violet, who is living in Paris, she is supposed to be happy and avoiding love in a city that is full of it… however, despite her best efforts she is craving just that, and homesick in the midsts.
These short stories are quite sad but always have an uplifting story throughout.
This author wrote another short story I loved (What my Mother Taught Me) and so I have come back for more and I love her style. It is blunt and full of emotion, it’s just different and a real change of pace.
I have read all these little beauties highly recommend even if they don’t usually sound like your cup of tea.. it’s only short so why not!!
This is the last book in a series of Amazon Original short stories called the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. These books are only around 40 pages each so really take no time at all to read.
They are about love and loss and finding what you lost once again. Two sisters Isabel and Sophie have been the main characters and they are both so different and so loveable in their own way. This book focuses on Sophie’s now grown up daughter Violet, who is living in Paris, she is supposed to be happy and avoiding love in a city that is full of it… however, despite her best efforts she is craving just that, and homesick in the midsts.
These short stories are quite sad but always have an uplifting story throughout.
This author wrote another short story I loved (What my Mother Taught Me) and so I have come back for more and I love her style. It is blunt and full of emotion, it’s just different and a real change of pace.
I have read all these little beauties highly recommend even if they don’t usually sound like your cup of tea.. it’s only short so why not!!
May 14, 2025
4.5 🌟 Alice done did it again 🥹❤️
May 14, 2025
Paris and maine
What a wonderful story. Violet was living in Paris . Doing what she thought she needed but something was missing.
What a wonderful story. Violet was living in Paris . Doing what she thought she needed but something was missing.
August 21, 2025
My tears couldn't take it anymore. This book made me miss my grandpa so much. He went through the same thing as Sophie and it's hard going through that grief in life and in paper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2025
I need more of these great short stories!!
August 17, 2025
What a lovely, lovely sweet story! I must read the other books in this little series!
October 6, 2025
touching and sweet
The short stories in this series are fantastic palate cleansers in between heavy reads. While dealing with serious issues such as illness and death of a loved one, the soft, wholesome, and sweet storyline prevails. If this is the final installment, it has been a satisfying read.
The short stories in this series are fantastic palate cleansers in between heavy reads. While dealing with serious issues such as illness and death of a loved one, the soft, wholesome, and sweet storyline prevails. If this is the final installment, it has been a satisfying read.
November 7, 2025
This was a cute little series of short stories. Be prepared to laugh and cry throughout it all!!
June 12, 2025
«When was the last time you read a book?” Isabel said.
Violet laughed. “You think that’s my problem?” She’d grown up in a family that believed books were the solution to every problem.»
Violet laughed. “You think that’s my problem?” She’d grown up in a family that believed books were the solution to every problem.»
May 15, 2025
A sweet ending to the short story series
May 20, 2025
Alice Hoffman's fourth installment in her Once Upon a Time Bookshop series, The Bookstore Family, transports readers from the cozy confines of Brinkley's Island, Maine to the romantic streets of Paris and back again. In this poignant novella, Hoffman continues her exploration of family ties, the healing power of books, and the courage it takes to follow—and sometimes redefine—our dreams.
Like its predecessors in the series (The Bookstore Sisters, The Bookstore Wedding, and The Bookstore Keepers), this latest addition delivers Hoffman's signature blend of lyrical prose and emotional depth. However, while the novella captures the bittersweet essence of love and loss that fans have come to expect, it occasionally falls short of the magical heights reached by earlier entries in the series.
The Story: Between Two Islands
The Bookstore Family follows Violet, a talented but emotionally reserved pastry chef who left behind her family's bookstore on Brinkley's Island to pursue culinary dreams in Paris. Five years into her Parisian adventure, Violet has achieved professional success but remains disconnected from her surroundings—an outsider in a city renowned for romance and connection.
Violet lives near the Rue Chaptal, stopping each morning for coffee at the Rose Bakery in the Museum of Romantic Life—an ironic choice for someone who considers her own life "anything but romantic" and for whom "love was the last thing on her mind." Despite her talents as a pastry chef at the well-regarded Maison Blanc restaurant, she feels perpetually alone, unable to reproduce the warmth and heart found in the Rose Bakery's delicious offerings.
When her aunt Isabel visits from Maine, she immediately senses Violet's discontent. "Are you happy?" Isabel asks, echoing a question previously posed by Violet's mother. Violet's response—"Happiness is for idiots"—reveals the protective shell she's built around herself, a defense mechanism stemming from early loss.
The novella takes a significant turn when Violet meets Remy, a pâtissier at the Rose Bakery who shares her love of children's books and whose desserts contain the heart that Violet's technically perfect creations lack. Just as this connection begins to blossom, Violet receives devastating news: her mother Sophie's cancer has returned, and she has limited time left.
Returning to Maine, Violet reconnects with her family and faces the impending loss while slowly opening her heart to the possibility of love through letters exchanged with Remy. The story culminates in a moving reconciliation between Violet's past and future as she embraces both her island roots and the love she had been too afraid to accept.
Strengths: Hoffman's Literary Ingredients
Rich Thematic Exploration
One of Hoffman's greatest strengths is her ability to weave complex themes into seemingly simple narratives. In The Bookstore Family, she skillfully explores:
- The transformative power of literature: Isabel's suggestion that Violet read "Half Magic" to reconnect with her younger self proves to be a turning point. "Every time a book is reread it's entirely different depending on who the reader has become," Hoffman writes, highlighting how literature can help us reconnect with forgotten parts of ourselves.
- The tension between escape and belonging: Violet's journey from Maine to Paris and back again mirrors the emotional journey many take—seeking ourselves elsewhere only to find what we need was often at home.
- The inheritance of loss: Violet carries "the broken heart of a woman who'd lost someone early on—in her case, the father she'd never known, drowned during a storm at sea." This unresolved grief shapes her relationships and her ability to connect.
Sensory-Rich Prose
Hoffman excels at creating vivid sensory experiences, particularly when describing food. The "fragrant cookies dipped in chocolate, sponge cakes with spun sugar icing, tarts with rose-red fillings of raspberry and apple" from the Rose Bakery come alive on the page. Similarly, the descriptions of Violet's baking—both in Paris and on the island—engage all the senses and become metaphors for her emotional journey.
Continuity Within the Series
For readers of the previous novellas in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series, The Bookstore Family offers satisfying continuity. We see beloved characters like Isabel and her husband Johnny in their established roles, and references to events from earlier books create a sense of a living, breathing community on Brinkley's Island.
Weaknesses: Missing Ingredients
Limited Development of Supporting Characters
While Violet's character arc is well-developed, secondary characters occasionally feel thinly sketched. Remy, in particular, seems more symbol than fully realized character—a representation of the connection Violet needs rather than a complex person in his own right. Though charming in his interactions with Violet, his personality remains somewhat one-dimensional.
Predictable Plot Movements
The narrative follows a relatively predictable path without many surprising turns. For readers familiar with Hoffman's work, particularly the earlier entries in this series, the trajectory of Violet's journey may feel somewhat formulaic—the prodigal daughter returns, reconnects with family, and finds love.
Rushed Romance
The romance between Violet and Remy, while sweet, develops primarily through brief meetings and exchanged letters. Their connection, while meaningful, doesn't receive enough page time to feel fully earned by the story's conclusion when Remy arrives on the island declaring, "Let's not wait any longer."
Final Assessment: A Bittersweet Confection
The Bookstore Family is, appropriately, like one of Violet's Parisian desserts—technically accomplished and pleasing, though occasionally missing the indefinable warmth found in her grandmother's recipes. The novella delivers a satisfying reading experience with moments of genuine emotional resonance, particularly in the scenes between Violet and her dying mother Sophie.
In one particularly moving passage, Sophie tells Violet, "There is nothing like your first love... He'll always be the love of my life. After all, he's the reason I have you." This poignant acknowledgment of how past loves shape our present lives encapsulates the novella's themes of love, loss, and continuity.
While not Hoffman's most groundbreaking work, The Bookstore Family offers a comforting return to the world she has lovingly created on Brinkley's Island. It reminds us that sometimes finding ourselves requires both leaving home and returning to it, and that the stories we love as children continue to shape us throughout our lives.
For readers seeking a quick but emotionally resonant read, particularly those who have followed the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series from the beginning, Violet's journey between islands—both geographical and emotional—provides a satisfying continuation of Hoffman's exploration of family, books, and the courage to open oneself to love despite the inevitable losses that come with it.
Like its predecessors in the series (The Bookstore Sisters, The Bookstore Wedding, and The Bookstore Keepers), this latest addition delivers Hoffman's signature blend of lyrical prose and emotional depth. However, while the novella captures the bittersweet essence of love and loss that fans have come to expect, it occasionally falls short of the magical heights reached by earlier entries in the series.
The Story: Between Two Islands
The Bookstore Family follows Violet, a talented but emotionally reserved pastry chef who left behind her family's bookstore on Brinkley's Island to pursue culinary dreams in Paris. Five years into her Parisian adventure, Violet has achieved professional success but remains disconnected from her surroundings—an outsider in a city renowned for romance and connection.
Violet lives near the Rue Chaptal, stopping each morning for coffee at the Rose Bakery in the Museum of Romantic Life—an ironic choice for someone who considers her own life "anything but romantic" and for whom "love was the last thing on her mind." Despite her talents as a pastry chef at the well-regarded Maison Blanc restaurant, she feels perpetually alone, unable to reproduce the warmth and heart found in the Rose Bakery's delicious offerings.
When her aunt Isabel visits from Maine, she immediately senses Violet's discontent. "Are you happy?" Isabel asks, echoing a question previously posed by Violet's mother. Violet's response—"Happiness is for idiots"—reveals the protective shell she's built around herself, a defense mechanism stemming from early loss.
The novella takes a significant turn when Violet meets Remy, a pâtissier at the Rose Bakery who shares her love of children's books and whose desserts contain the heart that Violet's technically perfect creations lack. Just as this connection begins to blossom, Violet receives devastating news: her mother Sophie's cancer has returned, and she has limited time left.
Returning to Maine, Violet reconnects with her family and faces the impending loss while slowly opening her heart to the possibility of love through letters exchanged with Remy. The story culminates in a moving reconciliation between Violet's past and future as she embraces both her island roots and the love she had been too afraid to accept.
Strengths: Hoffman's Literary Ingredients
Rich Thematic Exploration
One of Hoffman's greatest strengths is her ability to weave complex themes into seemingly simple narratives. In The Bookstore Family, she skillfully explores:
- The transformative power of literature: Isabel's suggestion that Violet read "Half Magic" to reconnect with her younger self proves to be a turning point. "Every time a book is reread it's entirely different depending on who the reader has become," Hoffman writes, highlighting how literature can help us reconnect with forgotten parts of ourselves.
- The tension between escape and belonging: Violet's journey from Maine to Paris and back again mirrors the emotional journey many take—seeking ourselves elsewhere only to find what we need was often at home.
- The inheritance of loss: Violet carries "the broken heart of a woman who'd lost someone early on—in her case, the father she'd never known, drowned during a storm at sea." This unresolved grief shapes her relationships and her ability to connect.
Sensory-Rich Prose
Hoffman excels at creating vivid sensory experiences, particularly when describing food. The "fragrant cookies dipped in chocolate, sponge cakes with spun sugar icing, tarts with rose-red fillings of raspberry and apple" from the Rose Bakery come alive on the page. Similarly, the descriptions of Violet's baking—both in Paris and on the island—engage all the senses and become metaphors for her emotional journey.
Continuity Within the Series
For readers of the previous novellas in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series, The Bookstore Family offers satisfying continuity. We see beloved characters like Isabel and her husband Johnny in their established roles, and references to events from earlier books create a sense of a living, breathing community on Brinkley's Island.
Weaknesses: Missing Ingredients
Limited Development of Supporting Characters
While Violet's character arc is well-developed, secondary characters occasionally feel thinly sketched. Remy, in particular, seems more symbol than fully realized character—a representation of the connection Violet needs rather than a complex person in his own right. Though charming in his interactions with Violet, his personality remains somewhat one-dimensional.
Predictable Plot Movements
The narrative follows a relatively predictable path without many surprising turns. For readers familiar with Hoffman's work, particularly the earlier entries in this series, the trajectory of Violet's journey may feel somewhat formulaic—the prodigal daughter returns, reconnects with family, and finds love.
Rushed Romance
The romance between Violet and Remy, while sweet, develops primarily through brief meetings and exchanged letters. Their connection, while meaningful, doesn't receive enough page time to feel fully earned by the story's conclusion when Remy arrives on the island declaring, "Let's not wait any longer."
Final Assessment: A Bittersweet Confection
The Bookstore Family is, appropriately, like one of Violet's Parisian desserts—technically accomplished and pleasing, though occasionally missing the indefinable warmth found in her grandmother's recipes. The novella delivers a satisfying reading experience with moments of genuine emotional resonance, particularly in the scenes between Violet and her dying mother Sophie.
In one particularly moving passage, Sophie tells Violet, "There is nothing like your first love... He'll always be the love of my life. After all, he's the reason I have you." This poignant acknowledgment of how past loves shape our present lives encapsulates the novella's themes of love, loss, and continuity.
While not Hoffman's most groundbreaking work, The Bookstore Family offers a comforting return to the world she has lovingly created on Brinkley's Island. It reminds us that sometimes finding ourselves requires both leaving home and returning to it, and that the stories we love as children continue to shape us throughout our lives.
For readers seeking a quick but emotionally resonant read, particularly those who have followed the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series from the beginning, Violet's journey between islands—both geographical and emotional—provides a satisfying continuation of Hoffman's exploration of family, books, and the courage to open oneself to love despite the inevitable losses that come with it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 869 reviews