I am in a magical, witchy mood! So naturally, I gravitated towards this one and absolutely loved it!

The opening letter Alice wrote to her readers was so cute, “The bond between writer and reader is a cherished and mysterious one. A book doesn’t live when it’s written. It lives when it’s read.”

Reading being forbidden? My worst nightmare. The FMC lives in what is presumed to be a cult and is not given access to read. However, she falls in love with a particular book that changes the course of her life. I don't want to give a lot of spoilers away, because I highly recommend going into this one blind. The love interest is so adorable and well developed. There are elements of magic, time-travel, women's fiction, self-growth and love.

My favorite part was a reflection on women's history and how much women in our past have shaped the future we now live in. Her writing was beautiful and vividly descriptive. So hard to put down, need to back list her other books now! Highly recommend.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman is truly enchanting, riveting and magical! I fell in love with the following words in author's note to readers at the beginning of the book: "A book doesn't live when it's written. It lives when it is read." Readers who love books as much as I do will devour this book. It shows how words can not only educate, but dream and take you to magical faraway places. Books are knowledge and escape. I don't want to give away any details other than you will journey to the past to Nathanial Hawthorne's time. I love the author's original fictitious take on his inspiration for "The Scarlet Letter." Ivy and Mia will take you on a journey that you will not want to end. I feel like Mia learned from books how to be free and to truly live the life she was meant to live.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Atria Books for this fascinating escape!

In this lyrical, haunting novel, a young woman struggles from a childhood in a restrictive cult toward a life of freedom, relying on the kindness of other women as well as her own will. Like many of Hoffman's novels, the story is set in Massachusetts and explores questions of female agency and supernatural power as well as the patriarchal fear of their overlap.

The first half of The Invisible Hour, which is about Mia's mother Ivy, Mia and Ivy's relationship, and Mia's childhood in the cult, is both powerful and sad; I found it absorbing, but could only read a little bit at a time. Once Mia escapes the cult, the story lightens somewhat. Mia accidentally travels back in time and meets Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose famous novel gave her the will to survive her oppressive upbringing. I found this second half less compelling; Mia's adult personality felt underdeveloped and her romance with Hawthorne unmotivated. Although many of the characters from the first half appeared in the second half, the pace and focus of the story had changed so much it felt as if I were reading two different books, and that the second one was going on a bit too long.

Still - this was a memorable and affecting read, a beautifully written meditation on female freedom and maternal love.

Run and read this book, it was heartbreaking, thought provoking and magical. I truly enjoyed this time traveling, captivating story. The writing is beautiful. What I thought to be just another cult novel, turned out to be so much more. I will sure be reading this author again. Thank you to Net Galley and Atria for a copy of this, all opinions are my own. 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐.5
The first part of this book is following Mia’s life growing up in what was basically a cult through the power of books and how her mother came to join said cult was really good and I enjoyed it. When it suddenly became a time travel romance when Mia ends up meeting Nathaniel Hawthorne before he wrote The Scarlet Letter and their romance it felt like a completely different book. It still had Hoffman’s spectacular writing (and extremely long chapters) but it felt like I was reading two different books that tried to blend together and only sometimes worked out.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mia finds the enduring magic of books that saves her when she can no longer see a way to survive. Her mother's story seems very similar to The Scarlet Letter. A familiar story to their life inside the Community, an oppressive cult in MA. Books are considered evil and contact with the outside world is forbidden. Nathaniel Hawthorne has perfectly expressed the emotions she has been carrying. Mia realizes she needs to leave the Community, that books can transport her to a different life, and both readers and writers affect each other in different ways. Mia falls in love with a book and years later she falls in love with the writer. What if he never wrote The Scarlet Letter, and what if she didn't find it the day she planned to die?

The Invisible Hour was immersive and beautifully written. This is the first Alice Hoffman book I have read but I do have all of her others on my TBR list, and plan to read her Practical Magic series as we move into the new season. The first half of the book was great, and I found myself flying through it. As I got into the second half, it felt like a completely different book, and it took me longer to get through. I wasn't as invested in Hawthorne's story for reasons I can't quite put my finger on. Magical Realism is one of my favorite genres when it's done right and even though this wasn't my favorite book, I can appreciate Alice Hoffman's artistry and I look forward to reading her others. I am curious to see everyone's thoughts on The Invisible Hour, especially from her longtime fans. The Invisible Hour is available now!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.

Happy reading!

“They thought I only had the life that I lived here, but I had found other possibilities every time I read a book.”

“Reading is never wasted time.”

“‘You shouldn’t trust me,’ Mia said. ‘You don’t even know me.’ ‘I know what you like to read.’ Sarah shrugged. ‘That’s good enough for me.’”

4.5 stars! This was like a love letter to books and the people that tend to, read, and adore them. If you have ever had a book that spoke to you in a way only you can understand or that helped you through life’s very difficult times, then you will love this book.

“Right now, she had what she had always wanted, the man whose words had saved her, the story that let her know she could save herself.”

This is one of the most quotable books I’ve read in quite awhile. I feel like I could have just used all of my highlighted passages and have that stand as my review. And with those quotes alone you would understand my rating.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, Simon and Schuster, and the author for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I went into The Invisible Hour blind, only knowing that I like Alice Hoffman's books, so I was sure I was going to love this one. As someone who loves The Scarlet Letter, I found this story to be remarkable. I loved how Hoffman brought to life a present-day story of The Scarlet Letter while transporting Mia into the past with the help of the same book that she found in the library on the day she planned to end her life.

The Invisible Hour blends fantasy, magical realism, history, and romance into a beautifully written novel that will have you unable to put it down. I read this cover to cover in just a few hours and was mesmerized by the prose and story.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

It's just really unfair how beautiful Alice Hoffman's writing is.

You can't help but fall in love with Mia, who runs away from a cult with the help of a librarian. All grown up and after the funeral of one of her foster mothers, Mia takes an incredible journey, and even though it is something you know could never happen, you find yourself believing that yes, yes, this could actually happen. Literally impossible, but Alice Hoffman weaves her magic and suddenly you believe.

This was a gorgeous book, and the only fault I can find with it is it's just...too short. I needed more of Mia and her fantastic flight and incredible journey into the past.

Happy Pub Day to Alice Hoffman’s <i>The Invisible Hour</i>!

Mia Jacob was born and raised in a cult in western Massachusetts. At 15, she thinks the only way out is to kill herself, but she happens upon <i>The Scarlet Letter</i> and is immediately sucked into the story, feeling like it could have been written about her mother and their life inside the Community. Over the years, Mia falls in love with the author of the book, too, and magically wishes her way back in time to meet him. What if meeting him changes his life so that he never writes the book that saved her life?

The first and second parts of this book seemed very different from each other, though both parts were captivating. This story definitely makes me want to learn more about Nathaniel Hawthorne. Alice Hoffman’s beautiful prose is present in this book. Be sure to check this book out!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

What were my overall thoughts about the novel?

This isn't my first rodeo with an Alice Hoffman novel and I will always be impressed with how atmospheric she writes as well as how well she develops her characters. I enjoyed this novel and found myself really sucked into the story - I didn't mind having to wait patiently for the plot to develop over time. The story itself reads like two separate novels split between time periods and I was very surprised by the turn the book took within the second half. I would have read both books as stand alones and I enjoyed the stories, but I would have preferred to have these come as two separate books if I'm being honest.

Is it story or character driven?

I just don't think you read Alice Hoffman if you're looking for fast paced story telling. Each of her characters is developed in a way that makes the reader continue to be invested over time.

Would I recommend this?

Yes. But, be warned that it takes an unexpected turn. I think this is a perfect read for fall with some magic and cozy vibes!

The latest book from the author of PRACTICAL MAGIC is a stunner! It truly gave me all of the fall feels and will definitely be added into my seasonal rotation. It was also so beautifully written, I truly felt I was in Blackwell, Salem, etc. wherever the characters happened to be at any given moment I could feel the crisp air and see the bright leaves in my head. I highlighted so many passages because the prose was just so stunning. Mia’s story of saving herself and her voyage of self discovery was so beautiful to witness and I simply LOVED how Nathaniel Hawthorne and his story/The Scarlet Letter were seamlessly woven in. It really felt like a love letter to books and stories and it was so moving.

TL;DR… it’s got cults, it’s got magic, it’s got Salem, it’s got The Scarlet Letter, it’s got cozy fall vibes, it’s got beautiful musings about stories. READ IT!

Manipulating Our Destiny

Alice Hoffman’s childhood and regard for her own mother was the motivation for writing this book. Women alone are functioning through a man’s world is well noted, but nothing I have read is so profound and successful.

She begins with Ivy, a beautiful girl in her teens, who becomes pregnant and is devastated that the father of her child only wants her to disappear. He will not allow her to ruin his life. She is in trouble and goes to her parents telling them truth. Her father’s first reaction is to slap her, it is a shock, neither one expected his reaction. Noting only disappointment from her mother, Ivy leaves her well-to-do existence and is easily influenced to join a cult in western Massachusetts. Most readers are familiar with these male dominated cults, the women succumbing to the will of the dominating and ruling man. This one is no different except they have men toiling in fields, malnourished in body and mind.

Ivy has the child, Mia, and marries Joel Davis, the sole director of this commune. Davis became more obsessed with his power and drives Mia to escape. Mia’s heroes are two lesbian librarians who keep her safe and contribute to her education and sense of family. The book becomes fantastical when Mia goes back in time, Salem 1837 to be exact. She meets and loves Nathanial Hawthorne with exotic passion. Time -Travel becomes a question of altering history. The book is replete with women’s rights and this is when the ideas become old news and somewhat moralistic.

The fantasy and real life do not always jibe. I always loved Hawthorne’s work; hopefully this book will encourage many to read or reread Hawthorne. We are living in a time when women’s rights are more than ever at risk. It is worriesome. Be sure and read the Prologue about Alice Hoffman’s own mother.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Atria for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman is a novel that feels like a love story for women who find themselves in the books they cherish.

It starts with the story of Mia and her mother Ivy and their life leading up to and with the puritanical cult. When Mia's mother dies, Mia finds the courage to flee. The novel is told in three parts and for the first time in a while, going in blind wasn't the greatest idea for me. Part two took me a moment to adjust too. Hoffman's writing style is always beautiful and her stories lean towards the witchy or magical realism. Surprisingly though, I personally was not prepared for when the magical realism hit. That's not a bad thing! It just changed the tone quicker than I was ready for. I was so engrossed with the move away from cult life into freedom. I would've even enjoyed more of that perspective.

The transition moves to 1837 and takes a very unique time travel twist that includes the life of Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the Scarlet Letter (a favorite classic of mine). The way Hoffman merges the beauty of that classic, womens rights, family, love and the power of books was really well done. Even though it took me a moment to adjust to the transition I still really enjoyed this one.

Lastly I want to note the letter to the reader is everything. Please don't skip that part before you start this one.

I love everything Alice Hoffman and cannot wait to add the physical to my collection. Thank you atria books for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

The author's note made me sob.
This book packed so much emotion into an incredible story. It's women's fiction, fantasy, and a little bit of a thriller. Incredibly compelling.

A beautiful story of love and self discovery- perfect for book lovers and lovers of magical realism. Alice Hoffman is a brilliant storyteller and The Invisible Hour has it all- drama, tension, and emotion. A fantastic read.

This story is absolutely gorgeous magic.

Books are truly magic and this story is absolutely gorgeous magic.
The Invisible Hour is not really a romance but instead a story of love. Love in all its magic and in so many of its forms.

“Sometimes when you read a book it’s as if you were reading the story of your own life. That was what had happened to me. I woke up when I read the first page. I saw who I was and who I could be.”

The story involves a cult, an abusive leader, time travel, Nathanial Hawthorn, the magic of books and the stories they tell.
Beautiful, beautiful book!!
-5 Stars-

I will preface this by stating that I love everything Alice Hoffman writes – so therefore I am biased. She has such a beautiful writing style and writes stories so vivid, you can see them playing out like a movie in your mind. The Invisible Hour is no exception.

A young woman, Ivy, finds herself pregnant and escapes her parents’ home and joins a cult in western Massachusetts. At first, she enjoys the simpler way of life. One of the rules is that no one can own books or teach the children to read, something that Ivy has trouble following. The cult’s leader, Joel, falls in love with Ivy and they marry. He accepts her child, Mia, as his own. But as time goes by, Ivy finds the rules of the cult stifling and breaks them by teaching Mia to read and allowing her to hide away books so she can read them.

As she grows up, Mia begins to sneak into town to go to the library so she can read books. She comes upon an old copy of Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and is shocked to see an inscription in it written to “Mia.”

Mia finally escapes the cult and goes to live with the librarian she’s befriended and makes a new life for herself. But she continues to be obsessed with The Scarlet Letter, and its writer, Hawthorne. She is also fearful of Joel, because he continues to track her down no matter where she goes.

There is so much more to this imaginative story and I don’t want to ruin the entire plot by giving it away. It is a truly unique story with well-rounded characters and a beautifully written storyline. A must read for those who love the imagination of Alice Hoffman.

First, you should know that I am an Alice Hoffman fangirl. She is the author who made me fall in love with the genre of magical realism, and I'm intentional about pacing myself with her bibliography so that I have unread works by her to enjoy for years and decades to come. That said, when I heard that her newest novel was about a cult, and about the power of books to save our lives and literally transport us to another place and time -- I simply could not wait to read it, even though time travel books are not really my thing.

Mia Jacob was raised in a Western Massachusetts commune/cult called the Community, where books are forbidden and residents must adhere to a strict set of rules for behavior or face severe punishments. When she's 15 years old, she sneaks into the town library and discovers a first edition of The Scarlet Letter in the stacks. Strangely, there is an inscription inside addressed to her...

When a tragedy brings Mia to her knees, when she is completely without hope and on the verge of ending her life, it's The Scarlet Letter that saves her. As Mia looks ahead to a new life she never could have imagined, the magic of the book transports her back in time and into the arms of its author, Nathaniel Hawthorne -- a collision that will have a resounding impact on both their lives.

Alice Hoffman's books are magical, so it only makes sense for her to write a novel about a book that is, literally, magic. I just wish I'd enjoyed The Invisible Hour more. The book is relatively short, and it suffers for it. Hoffman's writing, always beautiful and poignant and emotionally resonant, becomes more telling than showing as she rushes through major plot points. I think it would've worked better as an epic trilogy than a 270-page novel. I wanted more depth from the entire book: more about Mia's life in the Community, more about her life after it, and definitely more about her time with Nathaniel. As it was, the past and present timelines don't feel cohesive -- and Nathaniel's section is largely an inf0-dumping history lesson, which didn't hold my interest. The time travel element was a bit jarring and not very well-integrated into the plot. I won't be specific to avoid spoilers, but something happens late in the past timeline that would have completely altered the present timeline, potentially negating the entire plot. This is why I don't read time travel books! They just make me anxious because I can't always make them make sense.

There is a lot, though, that Hoffman does well in The Invisible Hour. She tenderly explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, the transformative power of stories, the evolution of female autonomy, and the timelessness of true love. There are beautiful descriptions of the natural world and some profound observations that made me catch my breath. I think this book will appeal to a lot of readers, and even though it wasn't an impactful read for me, I definitely appreciate the overall message about how books are, sometimes literally, lifesavers. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity. 2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book!

Alice Hoffman does it again with a weaving of magic and intrigue into her stories. I very much enjoyed this and can't wait for the rest of the world to read it!