📚 Book Review: The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman (Kindle Edition, Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories #4)
A lyrical, emotionally rich novella that explores the tension between ambition and belonging—Alice Hoffman returns with another tender installment in her beloved bookshop series, this time transporting readers from Maine to Paris and back again.
🧠 Overview
Published on May 13, 2025, The Bookstore Family is the fourth entry in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories series. It follows Violet, a talented pastry chef who left her family’s cozy bookshop on Brinkley’s Island, Maine to pursue her culinary dreams in Paris. Five years later, Violet has found professional success at an upscale restaurant—but emotionally, she’s adrift. Her desserts are technically perfect but lack the warmth and heart she longs to express.
When her aunt Isabel visits and urges her to reconnect with her roots, Violet begins to rediscover herself through a chance meeting with Remy, a pâtissier at the Rose Bakery who shares her love of children’s books. Just as a spark begins to form, Violet is called home with devastating news: her mother’s cancer has returned. Back in Maine, Violet must confront grief, family, and the possibility of love through letters exchanged with Remy.
💘 Key Themes & Highlights
- 🏡 Family and belonging: Violet’s journey is a meditation on the ties that bind and the courage to return
- 🥐 Art vs. heart: Her struggle to infuse emotion into her craft reflects a deeper search for meaning
- 📖 Books as healing: The family bookshop remains a symbol of comfort, memory, and connection
- 💌 Epistolary romance: The budding relationship with Remy unfolds through heartfelt letters
- 🌍 Dual settings: Paris and Maine offer contrasting backdrops of ambition and nostalgia
“Happiness is for idiots,” Violet says—a line that captures her guarded heart and sets the tone for her emotional arc.
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.25/5 from over 9,500 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise Hoffman’s lyrical prose, emotional depth, and bittersweet storytelling
- 💬 “A quiet, beautiful story about chasing dreams and finding home in unexpected places.”
- 🧾 Some readers note that while it’s moving, it doesn’t reach the magical heights of earlier entries like The Bookstore Sisters
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 42 pages, it’s a novella—best enjoyed as a reflective, one-sitting read
- 📚 Series continuity: Works as a standalone, but resonates more if you’ve read previous titles in the series
- 🧠 Subtle storytelling: Focuses on emotional nuance rather than dramatic twists
🏁 Final Verdict
The Bookstore Family is a poignant, introspective novella that blends Hoffman’s signature warmth with themes of grief, creativity, and rediscovery. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, returning home is the bravest journey of all. Perfect for fans of quiet literary fiction and stories that celebrate the healing power of books and love.
