Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and author Alice Hoffman for providing me with the ARC for an honest review.

"Invisible Hour" follows a young woman who faces an unsupported pregnancy and runs away with a fellow runaway. She becomes ensnared in a cult, isolated from her daughter, Mia. As Mia grows, she explores the world beyond the cult and navigates her path towards a meaningful life.

Alice Hoffman skillfully develops characters, delving into their inner workings. The protagonist embodies hope and resilience, with a touch of magic and a found family dynamic that shapes the narrative. The book, while moving at a slightly slower pace, masterfully weaves through various character stories, conveying significant depth in its concise novella length.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my free and voluntary review. Alice Hoffman is nothing short of amazing.. Her stories capture you from the first sentence, taking you from one emotion to another, bringing you to feel as if you are in the story yourself. She is a spectacular author, as I have read other novels written by her, that are just as wonderful as this one. Read this book, and then be sure to find and read her others. You will not be disappointed, except for the fact that the story ended. I adore this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an interesting retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne's the Scarlet Letter, but the setting is today in the right to life versus abortion political climate. It is also the story of the power of books, a mother's love and finding your safe home.

Ivy is an unwed teen during the time when pregnant unwed moms were shipped off to be out of sight. She runs away and joins a cult in Massachusetts. Fast forward 16 years and Ivy's daughter, Mia, is still living in the compound. Mia finds her escape in the library and becomes obsessed by one book, The Scarlet Letter by the author Nathaniel Hawthorne. This book and the library save her life.

In planning her escape from the cult, Mia discovers how reading can transport you to another time (literally). Here is where the story falters for me a bit: Mia has fallen in love with her favorite author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and time travels back to him, becomes involved with him and pregnant by him. I think this is called magical realism but for me this was too far off the deep end and ruined the story.

The first half of this book is so well done. I loved the story of Ivy and Mia, the cult, the lives of Constance and Sarah, the libraries and Mia's life. The prose is so lyrical and the characters are well developed. What I did not like was the forced addition of abortion and the time travel which was odd and not well done in my opinion.

I have mixed thoughts about this one but I do think its worth the read if you are ok with the above.
3.5 stars.

Alice Hoffman is such a talented writer; her prose are beautiful and this story was completely captivating. It follows Mia who is born into an oppressive cult in Western Massachusetts, who doesn’t see a way out. In that moment she finds Nathaniel Hawthorne’s A Scarlet Letter and quickly begins to understand her own existence, and the struggles her mother faced.

This book is like a mix of contemporary fiction, historical fiction and magical realism, so there is a portion of this book where you must be able to suspend your disbelief. The only reason I didn’t give it four stars, is that I thought the portion where she travels back in time to meet Nathaniel a little slow, and I expected them to have a more interesting discourse around what they learn from each other. However, I still couldn’t put this one down and couldn’t wait to see how it ended.

This book is an ode to the power of books, libraries, librarians and the strength of women who must make sacrifices to survive in impossible circumstances. It also touches on the author/reader relationship and its importance. I loved how this book touched on themes that were important hundreds of years ago, but still resonate today— the importance of access to libraries and books, and women having bodily autonomy.

My favorite quote (and there are endless quotable moments in this book): “…once a girl walked into a library she could never be controlled again.”

Thanks to Netgalley + Atria Books for the ARC!

As the current climate in the USA involves public schools banning books, this was a timely read juxtaposing Ivy and Mia (mother and daughter) and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic “The Scarlet Letter”. A lot goes on in this novel, for me, too much. Hoffman tackles a lot of important subjects and although she does it in an interesting way (time travel?!) I never felt connected to the characters or felt the tension in the running plot I knew I was supposed to feel. I loved the focus of the true power of books and reading as well as learning so much about Hawthorne. Thanks to Atria Books for the advanced copy!

4.5/5

“To Mia, If it was a dream, it was ours alone and you were mine.”

This was my first Alice Hoffman book outside of the Practical Magic series and it was just as magical and wonderful as I expected. She’s easily one of my favorite authors and I will reread her books until I, too, become invisible.

As with everything Hoffman writes, your heart will be full and then it will break, but you will have no regrets reading this. Her books never have typical “happy endings,” but they each have a perfect conclusion (I hesitate even with this wording because her stories never really end; rather they end with a new beginning).

I’m not one who likes to read too much into the plot ahead of time, but I will say this book is for any woman (or anyone) who has ever felt confined by society and found an escape in books. And it’s us readers who know that magic really does exist, because we experience it every day (and if you’re not convinced, just read a book by Alice Hoffman).

Alice Hoffman really knows how to make her readers feel the emotions of her characters. I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this story. I didn’t read any other reviews beforehand and barely skimmed the synopsis. I was pleasantly surprised when the second half of the book began. We follow Mia as she grows up in a cult-like community with her mother. She learns the world through books she secretly checks out from the library in town. No spoilers, but the adventures she has and the conclusion to the story made me sob. This was a beautiful and magical novel. 5 stars from me. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC copy of this book.

The author, Alice Hoffman, is what enticed me to read this book. I have always enjoyed her writing. I was also intrigued to learn that there was a connection to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter.
Time travel and suspense made this an interesting story. Hoffman made a point of incorporating a women’s right to choose and was nicely able to weave the two different worlds, centuries apart, into a very good story.

The Invisible Hour is the latest magical, lyrical novel by consummate storyteller, Alice Hoffman. It is a story of the powerful connection between mothers and daughters, between friends and lovers, as well as an homage to the rich history of the literature of New England. It is also a quiet yet powerful indictment of men, past and present, who wield their power to control women and suffocate their spirits.
In Boston, teenager Ivy, pregnant and rejected by her parents, finds her way to a cult-like Community in western Massachusetts, run by a charismatic man, Joel. He is entranced by her beauty and aware of her vulnerability, and he weds her immediately. Fifteen years later, Ivy and the other women of the commune are submissive and broken by his dictatorial rules. Ivy’s daughter, Mia, chafes at the oppression and dreams of a freer life, dreams that are fed by her stolen moments with books in the local library, which, it is said, “is a place with a thousand keys to a thousand doors.” It is there that Mia discovers Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, “The Scarlet Letter,” inscribed to Mia.
From that moment, this tale unwinds in a magical way, with one foot firmly planted in the present and the other in Hawthorne’s Salem of 1837. A wonderful sense of place and history envelops the reader, with impactful quotes from literary giants like Thoreau, Emerson, Hawthorne and Melville. The beautiful prose adds an ethereal quality to the descriptions of places and seasons, with Hoffman’s imagery and allusions to magic and the powers of women beautifully represented.
The preface is a poignant letter to the reader explaining the author’s deep feelings for her subject matter, rooted in her own childhood and her single working mother, who gave her the gift of independence, an upbringing without restricting rules, and a love of books.
For women of all ages and book lovers everywhere, immerse yourself in this magical story and savor every beautiful moment.

My deepest thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

If you could travel back in time to any era in history, when would it be?

Mia, a young girl raised within the confines of a dangerous and radical cult, is saved by the power of books. She escapes her harsh reality by becoming lost within the pages— a most grievous sin for members of “The Community.” On the day that Mia is certain she can no longer go on, she opens the pages of The Scarlet Letter, a book written by Nathanial Hawthorne two hundred years prior. Through the mysterious parallels, Mia finds herself a piece of hope to cling to. Thus starts a love affair that spans a lifetime, in this world and in a world two hundred years past.

This book felt like two books in one. The first half— the tale of Mia and her mother Ivy— was quick and compelling. Unwed and pregnant in a time much different from today, Ivy is taken in by Joel, the leader of The Community. However, things quickly change and I found myself speeding through the pages to see what would happen and whether Ivy and Mia would ever escape.

The second half was quite a different experience. I didn’t realize there was a magical realism/time travel aspect to this book and it was a pleasant turn of events. By 65% I was digging out my old copy of The Scarlet Letter to read, as learning about Nathaniel Hawthorne was truly fascinating.

So here’s where this one lost a few stars for me: this is a book with a LOT of telling rather than showing. There is limited dialogue, as the author prefers summarizing conversations rather than writing them out. Reading about Nathaniel’s life was akin to reading from a textbook— which is not to say it was unpleasant, it just didn’t flow well within the context of the novel. On one hand, the author seems to fly through days, months, years within just a few pages, which keeps the action moving, but on the other hand, it lacks depth, particularly when developing a romance.

This book is a true story— it tells a tale, without relying on many of the modern literary devices we may be accustomed to. In that way, it almost felt nostalgic, as if written from another time itself. At its core, it’s an ode to women and a love letter to readers, and I won’t soon forget it.

Thank you to Atria Books, Alice Hoffman, and NetGalley for providing my advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5

The first half of this book is totally gripping and immersive, and the writing throughout is gorgeous, but once the plot veers into timeslip elements, it loses its power. I wish I'd loved this book more than I did -- so much about it is wonderful, including the messaging about books having the power to change lives.

Another brilliant, magical novel from Alice Hoffman. Pure delight and Ms. Hoffman has such a gift for words and story. This novel is an ode to the power of those words and the way we can be saved through books.
Mia Jacob is raised inside an oppressive cult, called the Community. After her mother is killed in a terrible accident, and Mia refuses to give up her grief, she plans to join her mother in the afterlife. However, she discovers a 1st edition copy of The Scarlet Letter, which seems to tell her mother, Ivy's, story to a tee. The inscription inside the book also seems to hint at something more. Mia learns through a journey of time that love is stronger than any chains that bind you.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this e-arc.*

A magical look at The Scarlet Letter, self empowerment, and the choices women have had to make. I loved Mia's story and it's is woven with elements that are currently in the forefront. Finding freedom, living the life you want and keeping banned books available to everyone.

Alice Hoffman’s books never disappoint. The invisible hour has cults, magic , love and even some time travel. This was truly a story about how your love of books and reading are really magical in some cases they can even save you.

This novel tells the story of Mia, who escapes from a cult as well as suicidal thoughts with the help of the book The Scarlet Letter. She becomes obsessed with Nathaniel Hawthorne throughout her life, even as the leader of the cult continues to haunt her. On the one hand, the writing in this novel was beautiful. On the other hand, the time travel aspect was too jarring and simplistic for the story being told.

“In a place where books were banned there could be no personal freedom, no hope, and no dreams for the future.”

Equal parts cult novel and historical fantasy, The Invisible Hour is fully a love letter to the written word. We see how people are taken in by the charisma of a corrupt leader, as well as the difficulty in leaving. We experience the town’s suspicions, as well as their helplessness to shut down “the community.” We see a mother’s love, a daughter’s rebellion, and a fight for survival. Throughout the story, books figuratively, and then literally, save lives.

There is pain and sorrow and love, and as happens often in Hoffman’s novels, there is a sense of whimsy in its magical realism. I loved the flawed characters and the mysterious magical system whose ins and outs are not spelled out for us. I enjoyed the historical aspects, as well as the connection to how relevant these still are to our lives today. And most of all, I cherished the importance of literature to the story and its characters.

Thank you so much to Alice Hoffman, Netgalley, and Atria for the advanced readers copy!

Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I really loved this book. We all know Alice Hoffman is a very gifted writer.

The running theme is about how powerful books are but the story is about a woman and her daughter getting involved with a cult.. The daughter grows up and realizes her life is not as it should be. At this cult books are forbidden, as is communication with the outside world.

However, .ia, the daughter finds her way into the library in town and falls in love with The Scarlet Letter. The similarities to that classic book and this one cannot be ignored.

I've been a fan of Alice Hoffman. Some of her books are not my favorite but this is not one of them. 4 stars. Highly recommended..

This was a tale of two books. The beginning was fantastic, and I was super into it and intrigued. The cult, the books, the story... all of it was mesmerizing. But then the second half of the book happened and it lost me. It was such an abrupt shift away from what was working. It was disappointing. I also thought the setting (supposedly Massachusetts, where I'm from) was not very Massachusetts-ish. There was none of the charm or character or real facts that would make it feel like New England.

Sorry to say that I didn't love this one! But I think it will have an audience, and Alice Hoffman will always be an author I'll read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I absolutely adored this book. Alice Hoffman is one of the most gifted writers being published today, and she is the absolute gold standard for magical realism.

This was an excellent mix of a story of a woman and her daughter who get involved in a cult, and how the daughter grows to realize that her life is not what it should or could be. And somehow, Hoffman manages to turn it into a book about how The Scarlet Letter was inspired. It's just another example of her ability to connect dots between the unlikeliest of subjects and come out at the end with an incredibly unique and magical novel. Highly, highly recommend, and I actually bought a hard copy of this book just so I can lend it to people.

Alice Hoffman has done it again! If you enjoy magical realism with a touch of time travel, influence and fate this one is for you! There are themes of how powerful books and reading is, how every woman should have a choice with her body and life, as well as a mother’s love.

What starts off as the story of Ivy, a soon to be mother who escapes the life she knew for one that believed women were to be submissive, children were to be shared, books were burned and you must obey the leader. Ivy and her daughter Mia had an unbreakable bond, and shortly before her birth, Ivy realized that this life maybe wasn’t a life at all but she married the leader anyway…

As Mia grew older she realized that this certainly wasn’t a lifestyle she believed in, and found a bit of relief when her mother instructed her to briefly visit the library when they were supposed to be selling their harvest at the market. Mia befriended the librarian and found a whole new world in books! She took a chance by bringing some back to the Community, and of course they were found by Joel, the leader and her “father”.

Ivy took the blame and was punished, meeting Mia later and giving her a strict warning to be more careful. It’s in these moments that Mia tries to convince her to leave, to find a new life. If only Mia tried harder… the very next trip to the market, Ivy was killed in an accident with the bushels of apples.

Mia has intentions of committing suicide until a startling ode in the book The Scarlet Letter resonates with her. She feels it’s written for her.

Enter Author Nathan Hawthorne, an interesting interlude that includes some of his family history, and his struggles with writing.

Mia travels back in time with a copy of The Scarlet Letter and meets Nathan Hawthorne, in hopes of inspiring him to write the book and to change her future, by trapping Joel.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!