The Bookstore Keepers Audiobook By Alice Hoffman cover art

The Bookstore Keepers

The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories

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The Bookstore Keepers

By: Alice Hoffman
Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
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About this listen

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.
Anthologies & Short Stories Family Life Genre Fiction Short Stories Small Town & Rural Dream
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Critic reviews

“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

Moving Depiction • Authentic Portrayal • Emotional Stories • Beautiful Life-story • Perfect Narration
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another story on a series. the sisters are keepers of this bookstore together and always will be.

just a short story

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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.

I’m hungry for more!

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

Too drippy

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I did not enjoy this book as much as the other ones. It seem more sad than the other ones although there were obviously happy parts. This is life it goes on.

Sad story

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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.”

When you need a good cry

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

Great little Story

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

The Bookstore Keepers

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I love these little novellas. This is #3.
I hope for more to come or possible a full-length novel?
I'm there for whatever!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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

Still soo cute

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

Sorrow and Joy

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