REVIEW: Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander

In Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander, Newly widowed and a new homeowner to Dower Cottage in the small village of Middlemass, artist Imogen Hewitt was hoping that leaving London would help her with her grief. While the cottage and surrounding countryside is as gorgeous as it is restorative, she still feels out of sorts. One of the reasons becomes clear very quickly: she’s pregnant. And alone. Determined to give her child all the love and care in the world, Imogen must find a means of supporting them. Her newest sketches and paintings, loosely based around her finicky orange tabby cat, Tango, and a young girl she names Ruth, are her best shot at some type of income.

‘The almost impossible question of how to raise a child single-handedly whilst also earning a living, whilst also living in the middle of nowhere was ever-present in her mind these days.’

As Imogen works on her children’s storybooks and acclimates to Middlemass, the locals prove to be absolutely lovely. Well, aside from her nearest neighbor, Gabriel. Grumpy, handsome, and perpetually frustrated with her, his family has owned Middlemass Hall and the surrounding grounds for decades. Imogen can’t help but notice Gabriel–an actual earl!–runs hot and cold in her presence. And she can’t figure out why until the truth about part of her ownership of Dower Cottage is revealed–and it has the potential to leave her destitute and/or homeless. Surely Gabriel wouldn’t kick her out when she’s pregnant and with little options. But as that increasingly seems to be the case, Imogen finds herself in danger (again), with Gabriel swooping in to rescue her (again). And this time, the full truth as well as his honest thoughts on her finally come to light.

“We are on different sides, aren’t we? Not to put too fine a point on it, you’re the enemy.” Her voice broke on the last word.
“I’m sorry you feel like that about it,” said Gabriel quietly.

A sweet, emotional novel with beautifully detailed descriptions of the English countryside and a wide cast of delightful characters, STORYBOOK ENDING had a grumpy/sunshine pairing that warmed my heart as much as it made me chuckle.

‘Coming alone to Middlemass, waiting for the baby, she was cocooned, existing in limbo between the past and the future.’

STORYBOOK ENDING had a solid premise that sounded highly entertaining as well as heartfelt. A great combination. And author Poppy Alexander infused this story with the laughs, tears, and happy sighs that I was hoping for. Now, I’m sure our main character Imogen might not be everyone’s cup of tea as she was a children’s book illustrator who was a bit flighty at times and was always getting into some kind of predicament where someone–usually Gabriel–would have to save her. But I found Imogen to be charming. And thoughtful. And a woman who had been handed a lot by life all at one time. So, of course she was going to be reeling from it.

Gabriel I honestly wasn’t quite sure about. He was a broody Darcy-esque type of hero who said little but was always there when Imogen, or anyone in Middlemass, really, needed him. I had an idea that his feelings for her went deep but because she was newly widowed, he wanted to give her time to heal. Gabriel, though, did end up being a man of honor as well as one who cared intensely for people he held dear. I just loved the scenes where he and Imogen bickered–especially when she got him to crack a small smile. And I think readers will grow to adore him as well as the friends Imogen made in Middlemass, who constantly looked out for each other.

QOTD: Did you have a favorite children’s book series or character growing up?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: August 20th, 2024 | Avon |

From the author of The Littlest Library—a heartwarming novel about a widowed children’s book author who moves into a cottage in the English countryside and finds herself face-to-face with the handsome and brooding blacksmith who lives next door.

In her books she can write “happily ever after”— but real life? That’s another matter…

For children’s book author Imogen, an idyllic life in the English countryside seems like the perfect fit for her and her husband. But when tragedy strikes, Imogen is left widowed, and finds herself moving into Storybook Cottage alone with only her monstrously narcissistic cat for company.

After discovering she is pregnant, Imogen grows determined to embrace a new start in Middlemass, with its duckpond, cricket matches and village fêtes. The only thing Imogen can’t seem to shake is her neighbor—a brooding, artisan blacksmith named Gabriel—who she can’t quite decide is friend or foe. That is until she realizes, thanks to an arcane clause in her deeds, that Gabriel— not just an artist, but lord of the local manor house— has the power to take her home and leave her completely broke.

Devastatingly, he seems keen to do exactly that. Yet, Imogen finds herself drawn to him, nonetheless. And in her darkest hour, Gabriel may just be the bright spot to save Imogen in more ways than one.