This was a fun read, it was not quite what I expected (romance) but I still had fun reading it. The friendship theme was lovely to read.

This was a lovely and amusing story about loneliness and friendship, which I really enjoyed. The main characters were delightful and charming, but there were several side characters so it was a bit confusing at times.

April works at home helping people with virtual listings of real estate, not her ideal job after studying English Literature! Her refuge is the bookstore nearby, ‘Read the Room’,where she spots the handsome and shy Westley. She decides to go out on a limb and leave a note in a book for him,hoping to create her own fairy tale romance.

Laura, a young mother who is a personal shopper, also has her eye on Westley, reads one of these notes thinking that it is for her! Laura is also a widow, struggling with her grief for her wonderful husband Sam, but after five years, her babysitter thinks that it is the right time for her to find romance.

I especially liked the story revolving around a leap of faith which changes several people’s lives. I can also see this as a mini-series or a film - it is a pity that Julia Roberts is too old to play Laura! Lily James would be perfect for either woman but the story is set in Seattle so maybe an Amercian actress, such as Mandy Moore would be a better chouce.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

3-

Hmm. Okay. Not what I was expecting. First off, the blurb (and You've Got Mail reference) was giving me romance vibes, and while there is a hint of romance in here that's definitely not the focus of the story. It's about loneliness and friendship, which are both great themes but the execution was somewhat lacking.

I usually roll my eyes when people complain about telling vs showing, but this book is SO MUCH telling. Just like info dumps about characters' lives and summaries of interactions that left me unengaged and unable to make a connection. Particularly with Westley whose personality seems to consist of liking books and not liking The Princess Bride.

And there's too many side characters. Some of them have great potential but don't get enough time on the page. Also how does Jeanie have time to micromanage April's blind date (never mind continuously setting her up), but no time to respond to basic texts?

I do feel like there's a cute story buried in here, but - I'm sorry to sound harsh - this feels like it could have done with a few more drafts before publishing. It has good and sweet moments, and I like the idea of having bits about things found in used books, but this part too didn't live up to its potential. Actually, I would love to see a mini series based on this though cause I do think there's something here, just that the writing style was not for me.

Westley loves working at 'Read the Room' an independent bookstore based in Seattle, his job is to check the used books over before sending to be shelved. He's sometimes uncomfortable because his good looks seem to result in him being treated differently. There is a lot of excitement within the bookstore as a famous director is coming to shoot a few screens in the store. IT worker April has been struggling since the work from home directive meaning she seldom sees anyone except for occasional visits from her wannabe actor brother, she decides to contact the hot guy at the bookstore buy leaving a letter in one of the books he is sorting. However, Laura is the person who finds it, resulting an a lot of confusion. I loved the characters and the day to day happenings in the bookshop.

I had expected this to be a romance-focused book based on what I read in the blurb and, in a way, it was, but the main focus was firmly placed on friendship and it's importance.

The concept of leaving a note for someone in a book and having it end up in the wrong hands was fun, but it left the writing feeling a little chaotic for me at times. Two-person POV books are a bit of effort, but trying to follow three people's stories at the same time, in three different voices, took some getting used to.

I think I found it particularly challenging because I was struggling to relate to two out of three of those voices. Laura was a good character, and the one who left a lasting impression on me after the book had finished. April was ok as a character, but other than being the instigator for the plot in the first place, she didn't really seem to add much to the story. Westley was someone I actually found quite annoying to read - he was overly focused on his own looks and appeared to be a bit lacklustre in the personality department.

The book wasn't bad and I'm sure there are plenty of readers out there who will love it, it just wasn't for me in the end.

I thought the concept for Storybook Ending was cute and charming and I liked the bookshop setting but the story fell flat for me. Within the first half of the book, the story became stagnant. Nothing really happened. It did pick up pace three-quarters of the way through but the ending was rushed; as were the emerging relationships.

The author did explore themes of loneliness and finding connections but the characters lacked depth. Westley was so bland and boring that I actually felt sorry for April and Laura who were pining after him. I didn't care for the additional characters at all.

Told through the POVs of the three main characters, Storybook Ending is a rom-com that never quite goes where you expect it to. Tropes include miscommunication (or mistaken identity), and a love triangle (which only two people are privy to).
The book revolves around a quaint bookshop, which is the set of an indie movie, and is filled with many colourful side characters.
I didn’t quite click with the romance that wasn’t a romance, and wish we’d got to spend more time with the romance that was clearly blossoming – as I enjoyed the last 10% so much! However, I did love the premise and can see other readers really enjoying it.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. It's title called me but I was afraid this was going to be the usual love triangle, thankfully it isn't.

I've got to say the pacing and the character development wasn't the best for me but it's a good cozy reading where I liked the best the friendships that were developed not so much the romance. I also loved that it was a book in a world full of books. I think this book is perfect for a chill reading in the summer/winter when you need something that won't make you think too much.

Unfortunately, I chose to DNF 'Storybook Ending' by Moira Macdonald at 10%.

I was drawn to the title, cover, and premise of the book, which looked like the sort of sweet, cosy novel I would usually enjoy.

The opening was lethargic and the backstory of the characters was immediately dumped on the reader, which may be fine for some readers but I find that this grates on me. I can usually put aside lacklustre writing if the plot is action-packed and exciting, but I did not feel that this would be the case. I made it to 10% and knew that this would not be a book for me.

Really sorry, I have only ever DNF'd one other Netgalley approval before, and do not like to abandon books early.

No review was posted of this book on social media, I thought that would be unfair to the author's hard work.

- Katie

2.5 ⭐️

Storybook Ending had such a promising premise—an anonymous note tucked into a book at a neighborhood bookstore sets off a chain of miscommunications and unexpected connections. I love stories that revolve around books and bookstores, so I was immediately intrigued. And while there were definitely some lovely, cozy moments, especially in the setting and the writing style, this one just didn’t quite land for me in the way I’d hoped.

The narrative switches between three perspectives, and while I appreciate that kind of structure when it’s done well, I found myself more interested in some characters than others. Laura’s storyline was the strongest for me—grief, motherhood, and starting over are always compelling. But I struggled to connect with April and Westley. The romance element felt secondary at times, and pacing-wise, the story dragged a little in the middle.

That said, I did enjoy the overall warmth of the writing—it has that comforting, rom-com feel—and there’s a definite charm to the idea of bookish strangers becoming entangled through letters and literary references. I think this will hit the mark for readers who are after a slow, character-driven story that leans more into friendship and second chances than big romantic gestures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the opportunity to read this early!

This was a beautiful read, filled with humour and heart, making it an easy and enjoyable journey from start to finish.

Sweet story - it didn't really feel like a romance but I enjoyed the love triangle and I liked how sweet Laura and April were, in particular, and how they were keen to try to open up their lives again.

I wasn't sure about Westley's story as it had a few too many odd things (e.g., his character just kept being called hot? Donna's role? what was the whole meeting with Kelly?) but I liked how it all ended. The writing and characters were good, and I loved the cosy bookstore setting. Great cover too.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Bloomsbury Publishing and the author for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 ⭐
Storybook ending has a very cozy setting (it's set mainly in a bookshop!), and tells a story of friendship, loneliness, books and love. It's slow paced, it features letters and a love triangle (kinda, maybe...).

Unfortunately, they pace of this wasn't for me. I think I couldn't enjoy this properly because of it. I felt like I was trying to move through quick sands. The chapters being in third person and having a lot of descriptions also didn't help me.

This is not a bad book, but I don't think it was right for me, at least not right now. I think I was expecting something different, especially because this is kinda marketed as a romance. In reality, it's 100% a women's fiction, and it's fine, I have no problem with that, but, again, the blurb kinda makes it seem something else.

I was expecting this to be more of a rom-com and I was so pleasantly surprised that it ended up being more of a love story to friendship. It was a wonderful read and I'd highly recommended it!

Several reviewers on here were disappointed that this was quite a slow-burn novel and that it didn't feature an actual love triangle as they had been led to believe - I was pleased it was more an ode to friendship than a straight romance, and absolutely loved it. Westley is a handsome man who's shy and doesn't really like being handsome, he's also got what he considers an annoying name. April works from home and is getting lonely, with her best friend absorbed in her small children and a useless brother. Laura is a single mum and personal shopper who's not sure she wants to meet anyone, still dealing with her husband's death five years ago, but with a more present (and interfering best friend).

When someone leaves a note in a book in the bookshop Westley works at, we enter a cleverly done and intricate world of beliefs and misunderstandings. I loved the quirky characters with their odd jobs (and the presence of at least one character with a system for making life simpler (sleeping in tomorrow's outfit) plus Westley accidentally having a dinner system that means he always knows what day of the week it is make me suspect the author admires Anne Tyler). I also loved the bookshop and friend circle characters and the quiet humour. Articles, essays by the bookshop people and email exchanges vary the text and everything looks like it's going to spiral into a satisfying conclusion ... but will it?

Blog review published 29 May 2025: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/05/29/book-reviews-two-books-about-books-moira-macdonald-storybook-ending-and-emily-kerr-read-between-the-lines/

I have grown a new love for a "quieter" reads - those unassuming, simpler slice of life stories that just appeal to your heart - and this is a wonderful example of such a book. A wonderful read

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald is a cute book with a refreshing focus on friendship rather than romance.
April is increasingly lonely since she started working from home and has found herself in something of a rut, so she decides to take a chance and put a cute little note in a book that she donates to her local bookstore, hoping it will reach the cute guy that works there.
Westley ,who may be cute but is not all that perceptive, is normally very careful about checking donated books but a momentary distraction means that he misses the note and the book is sold to Laura, a young widow and single mum who is just about ready to start dipping her toe back into the dating pool. She thinks that Westly put the note in the book for her, and so the story of mistaken identities and crossed wires begins.
I picked up this book when I was in the mood for something light hearted and a little fluffy, and it really worked for that reading mood, but it did have enough depth and emotion that I would be happy to recommend it. I loved the use of letters to give us more insight into the secondary characters, and although romance is not the main focus of the book, it did not disappoint on that front either. The pacing is a little on the slower side, as a heads up for readers who like things to move quickly, but personally I did not mind that at all. I really enjoyed this take on a tale with a book shop as the setting.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I loved this book , I found it unusual and wonderful that the focus of the book wasn't romance, it was the various different friendships written throughout the story, and not necessarily same sex friendships either. I could feel myself shopping in the bookshop and having a coffee in the coffee shop and I always think a book that makes you feel like you could be there is onto a winner and this one is no different.

It was a fun read about 3 people in a bookshop. The owner decides to lease the bookshop to a film crew, one of the actors can’t do it so one of the staff members joins the actors. I liked the wee back story about the letter writing in the books, it was cute and added another part to the story. The characters are likeable and it’s an easy 4 star read. It’s set in a bookshop which I love and written well. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

A cute story.

I enjoyed the concept of the bookshop, and notes being left between the pages of a book. The story is told through 3 pov; Westley, April and Laura all with the bookshop in common.

I found the pace of the book quite slow, and struggled to connect to it. A cute and cosy read, but wasn't for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advance digital read of this, opinions expressed here are my own.