I had no idea what to expect from the book with a really intriguing cover! The story is more of a Fantasy genre and that has to be my least favorite. I was still invested in the characters in the family though.

Three stars and a big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm stunned by the originality and boldness of this story! It was a fascinating, fresh concept. I liked the structure of the book and the characters were mostly pretty interesting as well. This will be a must-read for those who enjoy fiction that's a mix of reflective, but also quirky.

Wow. This was a completely different read from what I was expecting - but in a good way. The writing style, story, and ideas felt so new and I've never read anything like this. At times I felt that I didn't understand the author's "true" meaning behind the book or the symbolism, but I think that's the beauty of it (to me anyway). I'm not sure it will win over all readers, but it's worth the shot.

Thank you NetGalley and Ecco for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Annie, Edward & their daughter Rose live in a cramped apartment, but then find a hidden, secret terrace in one of their closets, but it’s not always there. It apparently only shows itself when their friend Stephanie visits. But this extra space doesn’t come without consequences of other aspects of their lives and others’ lives changing. This story follows the repercussions on the lives of all of these individuals.

This is a contemporary fantasy, and I don't think I have ever read anything like it. I can appreciate the wonderful writing and telling of the story. I'm not sure if this was the book for me, but I still enjoyed the writing style and creativity. I kind of wanted it to go into a different direction, but the author surprised me a lot!

I started this book expecting one kind of story, and ended it having read something entirely different. The chapters are oriented almost as a collection of short stories, tied together by a common thread, and can function independently at times (perfect if you only have time to read one a day, like me).

The narrative opens by orienting itself on Annie, her husband, and their daughter. Soon, an invitation to a workplace friend reveals a magical terrace that appears in their new home seemingly out of nowhere. Like a fairy tale, things quickly spin out of control for all involved.

What I liked most about this story was how the characters opened up and evolved throughout the book. My perception of them changed as I read more, and their interactions felt so much more meaningful in retrospect. In some ways, this feels reflective of some of the larger themes in “Terrace Stories.” Our worlds, as they exist to us, are fairly small. But when you expand them to include the full lives of those around you, more space is added to your own—and the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of Terrace Story in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

This story was a bit different from what I normally read. It is a contemporary fantasy.

Annie, Edward & their daughter Rose live in a cramped apartment, but then find a hidden, secret terrace in one of their closets, but it’s not always there. It apparently only shows itself when their friend Stephanie visits. But this extra space doesn’t come without consequences of other aspects of their lives and others’ lives changing. This story follows the repercussions on the lives of all of these individuals.

This book was well written and very intriguing for the most part. I went through all the different emotions. With that said, I wouldn’t place it at the top of my list of books I’ve read so far this year, but absolutely believe it is worth a read and that you SHOULD give it a read.

I rated it 3.5 Stars

Terrace Story by talented author Hilary Leichter is a well written novel in search of a theme. Each segment, by itself, held my interest but as a cohesive story it fell flat. There are funerals (with bagels, the only reason to attend), apartments (with secret rooms that come and go), couples (who trade), friendships (and frenemies), fables (that kept popping from “time” to “time”), time itself (that is wonky), and characters (who are too shallow to care about). I am reluctant to admit that while reading this novel it reminded me of what one would find in a creative writing class.

Although these words may seem teetering on the negative, I found the novel a good airport read. Quick, entertaining, and certainly unique. Don’t pass it over.

Thank you #NetGalley #TerraceStory #TimeOutOfSequence

Loved this book and am so excited to give it a glowing, passionate, and full review for my followers 1. Closer to publication date, and 2. When HC Union is able to come back to work with fair compensation!

This is a series of short stories about a family of intermittent friends. While some of the content borders on the uncanny valley (time travel, magic of expanding rooms, etc.), the author’s greatest skill (in this novella) exists in grounding the characters in their emotions — be it happy, sad, angry or as they are most of the time: human.

Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter is a profound and haunting collection of interconnected stories about grief, time, and the lengths we’ll go for love and companionship.

I found myself at times moved and horrified by the stories in this novel, torn between wanting to put my head in the sand and not wanting to put the book down.

A cautionary fable for the future we could all one day face, this story is on not to be missed! Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC.

I’ve got some questions.

How do you review the perfect novel?

What do you say when every sentence is so expertly crafted, that you find yourself re-reading entire paragraphs just for the sheer pleasure of the language?

What can you do to express how deeply moving the characters are, how hard your heart can break for these people in the pages, feelings so intense that when the book is set down, the characters are still with you in the room?

How do you explain that when life jerks you back to reality with work or errands, you wanna scream because these obligations have interrupted your time with this novel?

I don’t know how to talk about this book but I’m never gonna shut up about it.

This title was not my favorite. The writing was creative and beautiful. Much of the emotions the characters felt were so well expressed and compelling (especially Stephanie's). However, at times I felt that this book couldn't decide what it wanted to be. Some of the connections between narratives seemed forced. I plan to read other titles by this author because I wanted to like this, but just didn't "get it."