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.

I would have liked the book to be a little longer. AND You know how a book can become boring? No Chance is this one.

I don’t usually choose short stories but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. It was very well written and held my interest until I reached the conclusion… which (like the whole story) was very satisfying. This was my first read by this author and I see that I have been missing out! I look forward to reading more of her books.

Light hearted and beautiful this is a special story for anyone who has ever been in love or loves someone now or who hopes to be in love one day.

A wonderful tale that I wanted to last much longer. The characters were lovely—the story line superbly sweet—but I felt like I was reading a condensed version. Please make this a novel!

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.

The family owned a local bookstore. After the death of each parent, sibling Sophie was left to keep the business going after her sister Isabel left town to follow her own dreams. Now, the business is in trouble and Sophie needs her sister more than ever. Sophie's daughter, Violet, quietly contacts Isabel asking for her help. Heartwarming story of forgiveness and moving forward.

With such a seemingly heady title of this review, this book(or story), the second in the Bookstore Sister series, is not at all heady or complex. It is an easy read that expands upon the lives and relationships of the characters in the first "book". It has a lighthearted, playful quality to it while, at the same time including challenging circumstances. The storyline is woven from numerous characters learning the meaning of love: self love; family love; romantic love...all of which is addressed and woven together without complexity or intensity. One quote from the book that I particularly liked that relates to this is: "People make 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."...a simple, but true reflection on the realities of people's lives. If you want to read a light hearted but engaging book that is essentially a short story and/or if you want to read more about the development of the lives of the characters in the first installment of this series,I recommend reading this.