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.

I'm afraid I gave up on this a few chapters in. It was just so slow. I am sure that others will see that as a positive things but it wasn't for me.

Absolutely delightful, this was such a fun read with some great characters.
Taking chances, classic miscommunication and finding love in a chaotic world, this book is the perfect cosy romance, ideal for a lazy day of relaxing.
I loved the staff letters that dotted the split narratives, bringing more depth to the story and making me think that this could be the best book shop ever.
This is a debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

5 out of 5 stars – A Charming, Clever Love Letter to Bookstores and Unexpected Connection

Storybook Ending is a warm, whimsical delight that perfectly captures the magic of missed connections, found family, and the quiet hope that something beautiful can emerge from the everyday. With its irresistible premise—anonymous notes tucked into books and mistaken identities galore—it delivers a story full of heart, humor, and just the right amount of chaos.

With prose as cozy as a favorite sweater and characters you’ll wish were real, Storybook Ending is a feel-good gem for lovers of romance, books, and the beautiful messiness of human connection. A must-read for fans of The Rosie Project, You’ve Got Mail, and everything Nora Ephron ever touched.

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.