Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors; she is such a beautiful writer that the words jump off the page and stay with you long after you have closed the book.
The Invisible Hour was very compelling and I had a hard time putting it down. Such a powerful story about love, and stories, and finding yourself. I will admit that I found the magical realism about a third of the way thought the book a little jarring but I ended up really liking the direction it took the story. A beautiful read.

<i>ARC Provided by NetGalley<i>

I have and would read anything by Alice Hoffman but The Invisible Hour was a dream that was just a little too far out of my realm of realty. When I read Hoffman I always plan to suspend belief so I can embrace the story and move with the rhythm of the mystical weave that she creates. I was totally on board with the fairy-tale locale of West of the moon but it all became too hard a sell. The here and now and the travel back to 1837 was a far and not always successful leap. A cult created a fanatic that begot an escapist who needed to create her own faith to survive and flourish.

I will continue to admire and love Hoffman’s skill and her ability to craft magical tales that walk the edge. Long ago she made me a believer in the strength of women and the daughters of the witches that couldn’t be subjugated. I still believe and will just chalk The Invisible Hour as a personal miss.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy.

This love letter to books was exactly the story I needed for all of the fall feelings to begin to flow! Filled with beautiful imagery, literary references, and words that jumped off the page and grabbed my book loving heart, this atmospheric read was one I could not put down!

Ivy flees her home in order to keep her daughter, but exchanges one desperate situation for another. In order to stay alive, she endures life in a community filled with control and manipulation. Mia must learn to live within its confines, but is drawn to the library in town and the books inside that are forbidden to her. The stories she discovers there open her world up to so much more than her meager existence within the Community and send her on a journey to find a life and a love she never imagined possible. Infused with a bit of Hoffman's renown enchantment, Mia and readers alike are transported to unexpected places in time and find that indeed, books may well be the only true magic!

I enjoyed the quiet, gentle pacing and the beautifully immersive, descriptive setting of this book. The plot pulled me in right from the prologue and I remained interested the whole time. I couldn't believe how fast I flew through it!

I loved the magical/time-travel twist that brought in the Nathaniel Hawthorne plot line. I think that part was especially intriguing to me since I've been to Salem, and his home, and Seven Gables. Cool to get some of the history of his life in this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this egalley. All opinions are my own.

Alice Hoffman’s The Invisible Hour may have been my most anticipated book of the year and I adored it. It had so many elements that appealed to me. A cult, libraries, The Scarlet Letter and Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter may very well be my favorite novel and when I first read it as a teen I fell a little bit in love with Hawthorne. And like Mia in the novel it was read during a difficult time in my life. I was a junior in high school and this book was assigned reading for class. I was captivated. Literature was definitely my savior during this period of my life. Because of this, I connected with Hoffman’s book in a wonderful way.

How to describe this book. Hoffman explores so many themes here. The relationship between a mother and child, libraries as a haven and their sacred place in our society, the power of books to transport and women having control over their own bodies- timely subjects indeed. Yes, it sounds like a lot, but it was never too much, and with Hoffman’s deft hand it is all integrated perfectly into this beautiful book that never seems preachy but does give you a lot to think about.

The way Hoffman plays with words never fails to amaze me and it is highlighted here. Her descriptive ability is unparalleled and she finds the inherent beauty in language and it is an enchanting thing to read. The only criticism I have is that the section where she writes about the background of Hawthorne seemed to drag. It was material I already knew so it felt redundant to me. This is a small quibble however.

The main thing I took away from this book is that it is a love letter to libraries and the power of literature to transport and sometime save us and that is where true magic resides. I adored it.

This book is mystery, intrigue, and fantasy all mixed into one book. This favorite and talented author has written a cannot put down unique story. I liked this book. I will tell friends about this novel. It reads, at times,
Iike nonfiction. Nathaniel Hawthorne a character? Really? Amazing story. Although I seldom read fantasy, this book kept my attention from page one. I would give it more than five stars. Innovative concept. Thanks to Netgalley for the book.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman is like nothing else I've read. The writing is beautiful, the story well constructed, and the literary theme is, of course, a love letter to all readers and writers. Thank you for this beautiful novel.

I went into this book blind, without reading anything about it beforehand. The first part is about a young woman expecting a child who runs away to a commune when her family and the father doesn’t support her. Her child, Mia, grows up at the commune, the leader her stepfather and a very cruel man. I loved this part of the book - it was captivating. Mia secretly develops a love for reading, a passion that changes her life in many ways.
The time travel aspect was jarring and completely surprised me. Mia is now grown and it felt like a completely different book - 2 books in one. Nathaniel takes center stage in this part and the story slowed down so much so that I put it aside.
When I finally started reading again and the story returned to Mia, the plot did pick up. I was surprised by the twist near the end but still was left underwhelmed at the ending.
Overall, in spite of its slow parts and jarring plot shift, I enjoyed the book for its historical aspects and beautiful writing. Any reader who is a fan of Nathaniel Hawthorne, history, and magical realism will love it as well.
Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Didn't love this one. It felt like two different books once you get to Part II. It also felt sort of weird. I don't know that the Nathaniel Hawthorne bits were necessary. It made the whole story feel very on the nose and not subtle at all. I understood from very early on that this book is somewhat of a retelling of The Scarlet Letter so I didn't need the overt allusions.

Absolutely captivating! This book takes you on a profound journey through intricate emotions, seamlessly weaving together love and hate in a way that leaves a lasting impact. The depth and poignancy with which these emotions are explored make for an enthralling read.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is the skillful connection between the past and present. The author's ability to transport you through time is nothing short of enchanting. It's like embarking on a time-traveling adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover every hidden connection.

The characters in this story are the true heart and soul of the narrative. Expertly crafted and richly developed, they become more than just ink on the page—they become cherished companions. You'll find yourself deeply attached, experiencing their triumphs and heartaches as if they were your own. The emotional investment in these characters makes every moment of their journey feel intensely personal.

The writing style is nothing short of masterful. It has the power to evoke tears and stir your emotions with every sentence. The author's ability to capture the complexities of the human experience is awe-inspiring. It's a writing style that not only draws you in but immerses you fully in the world and emotions of the story.

In conclusion, this book is a literary masterpiece that will leave an indelible mark on your soul. It's a journey worth taking—a story that transcends time and emotion, and that will resonate with you long after you've turned the final page.

I love Alice Hoffman. Her writing style is one I could read day in and day out. She writes smooth like butter, but where every word holds meaning and leaves you with this profound sense of fullness.
that said, I wasn’t a huge overall fan of the story line. I felt like it was two stories mashed together in a way that seemed odd and not complete. Like Hoffman was attempting to write the story to fit into certain parameters and follow certain paths without stepping back and seeing where the story should naturally go.
All in all, it was a decent story and I would recommend this novel to my readers.

Mia was raised in a harsh commune community with her mother. The leader is her father but not biologically. Through the words of secretly read books, she learns of life outside the walls of the commune.
Magically beautiful and harsh at times, Mia has a story to tell-all of it real, all of it alive. A story to read and savor.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alice Hoffman has published many books but this one seems to be entirely different. She has written about a sad tale of a young pregnant woman who ends up in a commune married to an unstable but oppressive man who thinks that everything/person with whom he associates belongs to and is beholden to him. He runs the commune where women must obey, noone can read any book of which he doesn't approve, no outside contact, etc, etc. The illegitimate child grows up and realizes that she is not like the others. She makes herself invisible to others, and in turn, hides her true self. She ends of escaping, first figuratively in books and one particular book, and the literally. Ironically, a librarian takes her in and provides her with books, access to school and libraries, and also love. The protagonist becomes successful but wishes for more...a true love, and she finds it in the author a book that she has cherished since her youth. She time travels and has a brief relationship with him, then realizes that she is in an era where women are invisible (merely a man's chattel), so she returns to her reality where her mother's husband tracks her down. She time travels once more, and then leaves the author with her legacy, a letter from her mother, allowing him to write a hugely successful book. She also traps her oppressor in the same barn where he once locked her up. An interesting book that takes some reflective thinking. I enjoyed it, but found the time travel a bit hard to sort out at times. Extremely well written, and reflective of our times. Do we really appreciate our freedom, and especially that of women today,

I was a tad bit bored at the beginning of this one. But then it picked up...then it dragged again. I had a rollercoaster of emotions while reading this to say the least. Overall it ended on a high note which bumped it up a star for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Atria for the ARC! All opinions are mine and voluntary.

*
Summary: One brilliant June day when Mia Jacob can no longer see a way to survive, the power of words saves her. The Scarlet Letter was written almost two hundred years earlier, but it seems to tell the story of Mia’s mother, Ivy, and their life inside the Community—an oppressive cult in western Massachusetts where contact with the outside world is forbidden, and books are considered evil. But how could this be? How could Nathaniel Hawthorne have so perfectly captured the pain and loss that Mia carries inside her?

As a girl Mia fell in love with a book. Now as a young woman she falls in love with a brilliant writer as she makes her way back in time. But what if Nathaniel Hawthorne never wrote The Scarlet Letter? And what if Mia Jacob never found it on the day she planned to die?

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote: “A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.”

This is the story of one woman’s dream. For a little while it came true.
*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*
My thoughts: thank you so much @atriabooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy, this released earlier this month and is available where books are sold! I really enjoyed this one it was beautifully written and hooked you from the first page. I could have read about Mia and her mom for the entire book, the cult aspect was just so interesting. However it kind of lost me when Nathaniel Hawthorne became a character in the story, I was expecting to love that piece of the book. If you enjoyed Hester you would really love this one! Im looking forward to picking up practical magic by her to read this fall!
*
QOTD- how was your weekend ?! We just finished moving into our first house 😍 so this is a very sleepy Monday while I start to prepare for the school year to start 👩🏼‍🏫
*
#theinvisiblehour #alicehoffman #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booksofinsta #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #bookobsessed #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #readerlife #readersgonnaread #readmorebook

This book almost felt like two seperate ones with the living on the farm/cult and a time traveling romance with Nathaniel Hawthorne. This left it feeling a bit disjointed.

I liked the first half a lot better than the second. Mia being born into a cult and trying to learn about the outside and escape was a good coming of age type story. The beginning is almost as much about Mia's mom Ivy's life as it is about hers.

The second part really had too much Nathaniel Hawthorne facts and would have been fine with just figuring out those things when Mia went back in time to see him. I liked how the love of reading was brought into this book, but the time travel portion wasn't as exciting to me.

I enjoyed this book overall, but my feelings were hot and cold about it throughout. Definitely a unique plot though.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Truly enjoyed this book - I do have to admit, at first I was a bit bored, not sure where it was going to go, however, it picked up + didn’t stop! I love Alice’s writing (any Practical Magic fans!?) - she keeps you intrigued + glued to the pages. I was impressed with the connections made to Nathaniel Hawthorne - I'm not an avid fan nor do know a lot about him and his writing, but I still felt completely invested in Mia's story. Highly recommend!

Oh my, I’m so in love with this book I’ve already recommended it to all my friends. It’s a little slow in the beginning, but I would say its done in such a way that I didn’t even care – it was worth it. I did have to double check that this was magical realism because that portion of the book didn’t kick in until after I thought it would – be patient it is there and worth the wait. I loved that this was a play on the scarlet letter. This story is so enchanting, and I can’t wait to hear what everyone else thinks.
Don’t miss the authors note in the beginning – touching and heartwarming.
My biggest complaint was that it was over too quickly. It did wrap up wonderfully and beautifully, I just never wanted to leave the characters. This book is one of the best retellings I’ve ever read.

If you’ve enjoyed previous books by Alice Hoffman, or are looking for a delightful magical realism book then check this one out August 15th.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria Books, @atriabooks, and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” -Nathaniel Hawthorne. This is the story of one woman’s dream. For a little while it came true.

The Invisible Hour is a beautifully written story of a girl growing up in terrible circumstances and rescuing herself. What makes this story so unique is how the story of The Scarlet Letter is intertwined in every single chapter along the way, yet not in the way I expected at all.

The setting was detailed & real, the magic was present but believable, and the prose was lyrical and masterful. I enjoyed this story from start to finish & was enthralled with Mia's journey. this was a beautiful balance of character, plot, and setting. Bookish friends will love the literary threads woven into this story from end to end. This would be a perfect fall read to cozy up with a blanket & cup of tea on a cold, blustery day.

The beginning of this book was really good. A young woman runs away and joins a cult after her family started making plans for her future and her pregnancy without her input. She catches the cult leaders eye and quickly becomes his love interest. The young woman gave birth to her own daughter, Mia, and raised her as the cult leader's daughter. As Mia grew, she found books and fell in love, which made here desire to live a life outside the cult, come to life. There were a few spots that made me question some of the characters decisions; like, if the cult leader was on Mia's birth certificate and was so controlling, why didn't he just take her instead of stalking her? He came off as bully more than a great leader. I was all for giving this book a 4-star review, until the second half. Time travel and a romance are just too much for me. When this story took a turn towards outfield, it was just too cringe for me. It felt like a short story searching for a direction to be a full story.