Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read a copy of Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald. :) The cover and the blurb caught my eye first, so I was really looking forward to getting started!

Epistolary novels are my weakness; it's so cute when unknown people correspond with each other, in the well-proven classic way: they write messages on little notes, which are then hidden in a book in a local bookstore.

However, this time there is a little twist: the person who intended it does not receive/find the little message. Instead, two other people are nervous while the other one responds to the correspondence. The person it was actually written to has no idea... I highly recommend it!

This book gets a ★★★★✰ from me!

This was a brilliant book!
As soon as I saw it listed I was hoping I would be accepted! Thank you for the ARC copy of this I really appreciate it!

A sweet story about two women wanting to find love, with a man caught in the middle - confusion abounds, but friendship and happy endings result. The book felt overly long to me, but I liked the side stories (Westley and his obsession with a male romance writer was fun) and the descriptions of Laura's job. I also felt there was a lot of random repetitiveness (details regarding extra characters for example) that was unnecessary and could perhaps be weeded out with further editing. I'm always a fan of a book set in a book shop - I loved the references to other works of fiction within this one.

Not that I have anything against this kind of book, but because they were passing it off as a romance I was a little disappointed. Women fiction can appeal to many and is definitely a genre, but to categorize this novel as a romance and even worse as a love triangle is an offense to all readers. After this disclaimer, it is clear that like all compulsive readers, stories revolving around a bookstore are definitely even more appealing than others, but it did nothing to cheer me up once I realized that there was just nothing romantic about it.

Non che io abbia niente nei confronti di questo tipo di libri, ma siccome lo spacciavano per un romance sono rimasta un po' delusa. La women fiction puó piacere a tanti ed é sicuramente un genere, ma catalogare questo romanzo tra i romance e peggio ancora tra i love triangle é un offesa a tutti i lettori/lettrici. Dopo questo disclaimer é chiaro che come tutti i lettori incalliti, le storie che girano intorno ad una libreria sono decisamente ancora piú appetibili delle altre, ma non é servito a tirarmi sù di morale una volta capito che di romantico non c'era proprio niente.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

This book was so lovely—it honestly felt like wrapping yourself in your favourite blanket with a foamy latte on a slow Sunday morning, or wandering through a cozy old bookstore while it rains outside. It's warm, charming, and gentle in the best way possible.

While Storybook Ending is pitched as a quirky love triangle sparked by a misplaced note in a book, it’s really more of a quiet celebration of found friendships, self-discovery, and girlhood. You follow April—a remote tech worker feeling lost after her job went fully WFH; Laura—a high-powered, stylish single mom who’s juggling a lot; and Westley—the hot-but-oblivious bookstore guy who somehow gets caught in the middle of it all. Their alternating POVs create this lovely rhythm that draws you deeper into their intertwined lives.

Sure, the pace can slow down a bit, but honestly? I didn’t mind. The slower moments gave space to soak in the atmosphere and appreciate all the small connections—like the emails, the interview-style inserts, and those little random interactions that don’t seem like much until suddenly they do.

I loved the bookish vibes, the setting of the bookstore, the notes hidden between pages—it felt like a love letter to readers, to bookstores, and to those serendipitous connections that change everything. The friendship that blooms between April and Laura was the real heart of the story for me. It’s tender and messy and real, and seeing them come together through notes and missed signals was just so satisfying.

All in all, this is a sweet, simple, and beautifully written book. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing, heartfelt read—something to curl up with after a long day. If you're a fan of stories about female friendships, second chances, and the quiet magic of everyday life, Storybook Ending might just be exactly what you need.

This like reading a Hallmark movie, it makes you sob, it makes you smile and it definitely leaves you with a warm cosy feeling after finishing! There is lots of characters,lots going on and it centres around finding your people and what makes you happy. A perfect holiday read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
A whimsical, heartfelt story about rewriting your own narrative. Moira Macdonald delivers warmth, wit, and a love for storytelling that leaps off the page. Ideal for fans of gentle romance and stories about bookish second chances.

Three people, all with different lives but all intertwined within the walls of the bookstore. I love how different and unique this book was. The characters are relatable and I really enjoyed how warm the writing was. These three people all have different reasons to visit the bookstore and it was interesting to see how the book would play out. It was about friendship and romance all set in a bookshop. I found it cosy, comforting and a hopeful read that I did not want to put down. It was so good.

Thank you for my earc of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t finish it, I didn’t really get on either writing style and I lost interest

I was go hoping for more from this book but it was a slog.

I loved the setting in the bookshop, I found this cute and cosy but there was too much inner monologue for my taste. I felt like not much happened until really far in and I lost interest. I wanted to DNF a few times. There were themes of loneliness, personal growth, and the ways people unknowingly impact each other’s lives.

This has little to no romance in it and is more centered around the two women and their building friendship. I think this would suit someone who has a more mature book taste. I prefer a romance or love story with fun characters.

Just how much havoc a letter left inside a book can cause! This is a humorous book telling a tale of a love triangle misplaced. A brilliant cast of characters and who doesn’t love a book about books! A great satisfying read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. It was a real pleasure.

What a fun read! This books tells the story of April, Laura and Westley in parallel as their life's intersect in the cozy local bookstore. The novel follows their personal lives and experiences during a series of mishaps, oversights and miscommunication in such a hilarious and charming way that had me constantly smiling. I absolutely fell in love with the author's storytelling and beautiful prose, that constantly reflected on bibliophile. This is more than just a romance story, talking about relationships and life.
I believe this is the perfect read for any book lovers looking for a light, heartwarming read. 100% recommend

A book that is set in a book shop... what's not to love?

When a letter that has been left inside of a book so happens to fall into the wrong hands, the story does not plan out as the creator of the note intended. Soon the usually calm bookshop is filled with a film crew, and the lives in which the inhabitants had known and loved is turned upside down.

We see the story unfold from various points of view, and really get to explore their own individual personalities and viewpoints on the recent events.

This was a lovely, light-hearted read from beginning to end.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest review.*

Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald is a charming tale that beautifully blends romance, friendship, and the magic of books. The story centres on April, a lonely tech worker who, in a moment of longing, leaves an anonymous note for Westley, the handsome bookstore clerk she has a quiet crush on. However, fate has other plans when Laura, a busy single mother who has given up on love, buys the book and finds the note, mistaking it for Westley’s message to her. This sparks a mix-up that leads to an unexpected love triangle, and soon both women are unknowingly entangled in a series of anonymous letters.

As April and Laura’s correspondence continues, their daily routines are challenged, and both women begin to find hope in the most unlikely of places. Meanwhile, Westley, distracted by a film crew in his bookstore, remains oblivious to the growing connection between the two women. But as the story unfolds, the focus shifts from romantic entanglements to the developing friendship between April and Laura, which adds depth to the narrative.

The book is a delightful tribute to the joy of books, the power of serendipity, and the unexpected paths that lead to personal growth and friendship. What I especially loved about Storybook Ending was how the relationship between April and Laura developed. It felt heartwarming to see these two women build a friendship, and it made the story all the more enjoyable. As someone who cherishes stories about womanhood and female friendships, I found this book to be an absolute delight.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

What was not to like about this book?! Set in the 'Read the Room' bookshop, a place that I would love to visit, along with the 'Charlotte's Web Cafe' for a coffee and a cinnamon bun, this is a story for bookaholics. When a letter left in a book falls into the wrong hands, things certainly do not turn out as the author of the note plan, particularly when a film crew invade the book store. Told from the points of view of three key characters, Laura, Westley and April, the novel explores a number of relationships. A heartwarming, enjoyable read.

A delightfully charming novel involving mishaps, oversights and miscommunication mainly set in the cosiest of bookshops. A lovely cast of characters all searching for a ‘Storybook Ending’ but the one they find isn’t necessarily the one they were looking for.

I enjoyed this immensely, it was cosy without being saccharin, romantic without being sappy, and talked about books and reading in ways I can totally get behind. It surprised me as well, kept me guessing until the end, and had me rooting for all of the characters. It was a book full of heart and I’ll definitely be watching for what this author writes next.

A solid 3.5 stars!

A lovely little novel about the magic of bookshops, this miscommunication leads to an unwitting trio getting to know each other. A great read!

A comedy of errors involving an unwitting love triangle made up of a busy single mother, a lonely woman working from home, and an oblivious book seller, this story delivers entertainment with a side of poignancy, taking an insightful look at modern lifestyles.

If you love bookstores and are in search of a little romance about real people looking for story tale endings, this charming book might be something for you. I enjoyed it very much, and give it 3.5 stars.

The characters in this tale are brought together in a bookshop, I liked the storyline and it's characters, lovely little easy to read book

Widowed Laura, single, lonely April, divorced Rebecca, single aspiring writer, Alejandra, Westley, bookshop assistant. All brought together by their links to a bookshop. Letters left in a book lead to meetings. Will it be a happy storybook ending? Loved it, excellent holiday reading.