The Bookstore Keepers

The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories

De: Alice Hoffman

Narrado por: Jennifer Jill Araya

From New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman comes a deeply moving short story about the love of family and the power of dreams.

The Gibson sisters weren’t expecting to speak to each other ever again after Isabel ran off to New York and left Sophie alone. But here they are, years later, running the family bookstore together on Brinkley’s Island, Maine. Isabel also thought she’d left Johnny Lenox behind, but whether or not she knew it, Johnny was always going to be there for her.

Five years into their happily ever after, Isabel and Johnny are making the most of their second chance at love. Then one night, Johnny awakens from an extraordinary dream…and their world is irrevocably altered. Isabel does her best to give Johnny space as he struggles to accept the new chapter life has opened for them. But Johnny can’t do it alone—no one can. As the whole family is soon to discover, seasons change, but love never does.

©2025 by Alice Hoffman. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Series narrator Jennifer Jill Araya continues her top-notch narration of a heartfelt story of family, love, and independence.… Hoffman's insightful prose sounds like poetry, and Araya delivers full-bodied flesh-and-blood characterizations. Because the family backstory would make character motivations clearer, listeners are encouraged to hear the other two excellent short stories in the series.”—AudioFile Magazine

Too drippy

Too short and choppy and soppy. The narrator was right on cue with the same.

just a short story

another story on a series. the sisters are keepers of this bookstore together and always will be.

The Bookstore Keepers

For a short story it was a beautiful love of life for a family to learn

I’m hungry for more!

Alice Hoffman is brilliant. How she managed to fit so much into a short story amazes me. I can’t wait for the next installment. Can. Not.

Still soo cute

I wish these books were longer. They are soo good. Wholesome, cute. So excited that the next one is coming out next month.

Sorrow and Joy

The way this story depicted the grieving process, and the pain and joy of love and loss, was so moving and authentic! Highly recommend.

When you need a good cry

These three books have been some of the most emotional I have read. They are this way, at least for me, because many of the feelings of love and loss are expressed in a deeply woven theme throughout. I have experienced most of these emotions very similarly in my own life. The way the three books shadow life, my own life, has changed me. “I think I might love too much….but maybe it’s just enough.”

Great little Story

Loving these little short stories! Perfect for a quick listen! Easy to follow and to stay one track

Nice, homey read

Not all coming of age stories feature young adults becoming adults. Like this story, most paint a picture with words about how people grow into the next phase of becoming who they are meant to be. In this story, Johnny and Isabel grow into the role of becoming parents, or...not becoming parents.

The story features extended family, and roots. It also includes the metaphor of wings--roots and wings in life. It explores holding tight with love, and letting go with trust, in love and in the process.

It moved a bit slow for my taste, but that was necessary, and it's a short story anyway. I listened entirely, and the narration is perfect for the story.

Recommended for times when you're in the mood for a slow, easy family tale that won't take all day to read.

Awful

Trite, boring, and ultimate depressing for no good reason. The dog scene was unnecessary and unrealistic in terms of emotion.

I liked the first installment in this trio of short stories but hated the second. Decided to give the third a try and am regretting it.

Also, the narrator sounds robotic to my ear.