Mia has grown up in an oppressive cult. Books and communication with the outside world are forbidden. However, Mia is intrigued by the library in the nearby town and eventually finds her way in and learns the power of books. She falls in love with The Scarlet Letter, and the similarities to her cult cannot be ignored. Mia also discovers an ability to time travel. She ventures back 200 years and meets and falls in love with Nathaniel Hawthorne. But what happens if she changes the past and Nathaniel never writes The Scarlet Letter, the very book that saved her?

I have been a long-time Alice Hoffman fan. And while it was the first and final thirds of this book that worked best for me, the premise of this drew me right in. Hoffman is such a gifted writer and crafts spellbinding stories highlighting important issues, particularly those that affect women. She packed so much into this one, including several feminist themes and the power and life-changing importance of books and literacy.

Like all of Hoffman's books, the female characters in this are captivating and memorable. Mia is such a strong female MC and a survivor, and I rooted for her the whole way through. Another character I loved was Nathaniel's sister, Elizabeth. Her depiction here is so well-done that I became curious about her and researched the fascinating real-life woman.

This book is also a love letter to books, libraries, and readers. Not only does an iconic book play a pivotal role, but so does the author who wrote it. I loved the literary references, Nathaniel Hawthorne's appearance, and the magical realism that made it so powerful in the story. You don't need to have read The Scarlet Letter to enjoy this. Either way, it is poignant and thought-provoking and celebrates the life-changing power of books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review this ARC. I enjoyed it!

Books CAN save lives and take us to other worlds, times. Once again, Alice Hoffman writes a powerful story about women's lives, mixing in a bit of magical realism and even time travel. Lovely story!

I received an arc of this new novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Mia was born and raised in the Community—an oppressive cult in western Massachusetts where contact with the outside world is forbidden, and books are considered evil. Her mother, Ivy, ran away from home as a pregnant teen, and that was where she had landed. She was taken under the wings of the cult leader, who married Ivy. When Ivy died by a freak accident when Mia was in her teens, Mia finally sees her chance to escape. As a child, Mia used to sneak over to the local library in town and check out books. She struck up a friendship with the librarian there, and that is who she turned to when she made her escape. One of her favorite books that she had read from the library was The Scarlet Letter. That book made her fall in love with reading, and as an adult, she falls in love with the writer himself. As she travels back in time to meet him, using her beloved copy of the book, she must make sure not to interfere with his writing of that book... because what would happen if Nathaniel Hawthorne never wrote The Scarlet Letter? And what if Mia Jacob never found it on the day she planned to die?

This book is told in two parts - the first is the story of Ivy & Mia, and then the second is the time travel portion where she goes back in time and meets Nathaniel Hawthorne. After reading this, I kind of want to fish out my old copy of The Scarlet Letter and re-read it. As with all of this author's books there is the element of magic, although this is more of a time travel book than one about magic. This may not have been my favorite of all of this author's books, but it was still really good, and I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone who loves a good story, especially one with an element of fantasy to it.

Let me start this review by prefacing this:

I /hated/ The Scarlet Letter when I was in high school. In fact, I think my entire class did. It was required reading, of course we did. And my teacher, he knew. He knew we hated it but boy did he make us evaluate every minute detail of that damned book.

He became my favorite teacher. The one I would visit on a whim far after I had graduated. He unexpectedly passed away in 2017 and since then, I had seen The Scarlet Letter EVERYWHERE. It was as if he was trolling me beyond the grave. And I laughed every time.

So when I saw this book on NetGalley and skimmed the summary, I knew it was my teacher, laughing at me once again. And I knew I had to request it.

But enough about that.

The Invisible Hour was my first book by Alice Hoffman, as I'm not a hugeeeee magical realism fan. However, it was interesting enough that I would probably read more of her books.

The first portion of the book is told from a mix of Ivy and her daughter and the main character, Mia's point of view. They're members of The Community, a cult, of course. Ivy, a voracious reader, passes her love of books to Mia. Mia finds and steals a copy of The Scarlet Letter in a library and immediately falls in love with the book and with Nathaniel Hawthorne. She learns everything about him and his family and his influences.

So of course, add in a touch of time travel and "witchery" and she meets and falls in love with Nathaniel.

Overall, I liked the story. It was indeed magical and you felt the intensity in their forbidden romance. And I do love a good cult book. I, and I'm sure many of us readers, can relate to Mia and her love for books. Though I still don't think I can relate to her love for The Scarlet Letter yet. Sorry, Nathaniel.


Bullmer, this was for you. I hope you're laughing.



Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for my review.

In "The Invisible Hour" by Alice Hoffman, the power of words becomes Mia Jacob's lifeline on a seemingly hopeless day. Set against the backdrop of an oppressive cult called the Community, where books are condemned, the tale delves into Mia's discovery of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter." Despite being written centuries earlier, the novel strangely mirrors Mia and her mother Ivy's life inside the cult.

Hoffman weaves a poignant narrative that navigates heartbreak, love, and time itself, prompting Mia to challenge the Community's rules and embrace the world of books. This journey reveals the profound connection between readers and writers, as well as the fluidity of time and the enduring strength of love. The book's theme gains particular relevance amidst current attacks on women's rights and book bans.

While the story captivates, there are occasional hiccups in continuity and timeline that might disrupt the reader's immersion. The narrative's occasional jumps might leave one wishing for a smoother progression.

Through Mia's odyssey, the novel explores the extraordinary influence of a single dream. Hoffman's work underscores the remarkable potential of words to transcend boundaries and change lives. With a solid 4 out of 5 stars, "The Invisible Hour" is a captivating exploration of resilience, love, and the timeless magic of storytelling.

My ARC was provided by the publisher (Atria Books) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Born in a cult that forbids books, it's ironic that Mia's life was saved by one, namely The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne!

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

But, Mia thought differently than the other cult members because Mia knew the magic of a good book and was desperate to escape. Mia was strong and determined to not only survive, but THRIVE!

"I was the girl who knew how to escape, the one who could become invisible, who believed that a single dream was more powerful than a thousand realities."

The Invisible Hour took me on an unforgettable journey to another time and place, both literally and figuratively as Mia's dream of meeting Nathaniel Hawthorne is realized when she time travels to 1837 Salem, Massachusetts. As all readers know, just like magic, books can transport you to other times and places but, how will Nathaniel meeting Mia, a woman from the future, change him and the books he hasn't yet written, including Mia's beloved The Scarlet Letter? Will their love prevail despite the risk?

"In every fairy tale, the girl who is saved is the one who rescues herself."

"Every fairy tale ended with the same lessons. Trick your enemy, do what you must, believe in enchantments, save yourself."

"She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom."

Location: Blackwell and Salem, Massachusetts

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Alice Hoffman, and Atria Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I was very excited to read this, as I read the Practical Magic series for the first time ever last fall and fell in love. Hoffman's writing style is so stunning, and she knows how to write the perfect cozy fall book. The Invisible Hour is a great new addition to her repertoire that highlights her skill at storytelling and writing. This was a stunning read with an interesting premise that definitely transported me into the world of the book. I enjoyed the fairytale-esque quality of the entire story, and I loved seeing Mia journey as she escapes the Community and grows up to be her own hero. However, there were parts of the book that just didn't quite work for me, mainly being the connection to Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlett Letter. I think if I had a strong connection to that book, I would have appreciated this story more, but as it is, I read it only once in high school and didn't enjoy it very much. To read a book where a book I disliked is so central to the story made me feel a bit removed from what was fully happening. I also didn't realize there would be elements of magical realism in regards to Nathaniel Hawthorne, and for me personally, it didn't quite work. I do think this book was well-written and a lovely read in lots of ways, but for my personal taste, I definitley enjoyed Practical Magic more. I look forward to continuing to read Hoffman's works in the fall!

I liked the first part of the book dealing with Mia's story and especially her found family. I also found the connections between Ivy's story and The Scarlet Letter interesting but it didn't all really mesh well for me. I feel like it would have been a better book without Hawthorne's despair after Mia leaves & if Mia had not returned. I know Hoffman wanted to make Ivy's story into the inspiration behind The Scarlet Letter but that could have been done during the first visit. I skimmed thought some of the descriptions and I really like Alice Hoffman's writing style but sometimes it got to be a bit too much.

I'm an absolute sucker for books about books and the theme that librarians can save us. The Invisible Hour is a marvelous addition to this sub-genre. Alice Hoffman's writing is, as always, sublime. She has a way of providing the perfect small detail that can illuminate a setting, a character, or a way of seeing the world. This book takes on themes of mother-daughter relationships and of the limits set upon women with a story of a cult and its evil leader (in the present day) and of Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter (in time travel to the past). I thought the combination worked really well, and though I'm not always a huge fan of magical realism, this really worked for me (especially as I'm a fan of The Scarlet Letter). This is definitely a book we'll be recommending in our store!

I have been an Alice Hoffman fan forever but have struggled with her books over the last decade or so. This brought me back to why I loved her. Powerful characters a great storyline and women you can root for. Well done, Alice.

Well, this won't be a popular opinion. I have only read one other book by Hoffman, and I always thought she wrote elevated prose that would, by itself, make a book worth reading. This, however, was not that. It was a total mess from the beginning - the writing was very bland. It was a lot of fancy sounding purple prose with no heart or soul to it. The narrator was so removed from the story that it was like reading a summary of a story rather than a story. I wrote it off for a while because I figured she was just breezing through Ivy's story to get to Mia's, but then it continued. And the Ivy and Mia stuff was the only part of the book I liked.

From there, I don't even know what to call this. I thought I was getting a book about a girl in Western MA living in a cult and escaping, finding solace in books and using books to navigate her life as it changed when she left the cult. Instead, I got some kind of weird love story between said cult girl and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The entirety of the Hawthorne stuff felt like an extended Wikipedia entry on him. I didn't feel any connection to him as an author, and I had no understanding of why Hawthorne except the image of the A early in the book was neat.

This is coming from an English major who loves classics. Especially the Romantics. And who grew up in Massachusetts and has lived in MA for most of her life. I didn't see ANY of Massachusetts in here. It could have been set anywhere. There was nothing real in this. There was zero heart.

Also, I was beyond annoyed at the reference to the burning of witches in Salem. Really? Elementary school students know burning was not used in Salem.

I'm sorry, but this was terrible. I really wish it wasn't, because the cover, the setting, the cult, and the love of books should have been everything I wanted.

Alice Hoffman has done it again. Another enchanting, soulful, heartbreaking, and thought provoking masterpiece - Just a few words to sum up The Invisible Hour.

This story starts with Ivy, a beautiful 16 year old who finds out she is pregnant, with a man who wants nothing to do with them, and parents so ashamed they plan on giving away the baby. With no where else to go, she finds herself in western Massachusetts joining a community where practically everything joyful is a sin.

The second part is about Mia, Ivy’s daughter, and her desire to leave the community and find a new life as a free woman. After reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mia feels for the first time that she is understood. Then the book becomes about time travel. Mia somehow travels back in time to the 1800’s and not only meets her favorite author, but falls in love with him.

I LOVED both Ivy and Mia. Their connection and love for one another touched my soul and made me want to call my own mother, just to tell her that I loved her. Joel, the Community leader was terrifying and often made me uncomfortable. Nathaniel Hawthorne was very interesting and I didn’t know much about him going into this book, but I kinda want to learn more!

I just wish I knew more about what happens to Mia after the final pages. My only complaint- I need more!

Coincidentally, I just came home from a 4 day trip to Salem. So reading about the history and locations described in this book, and having fresh knowledge and visuals really made reading The Invisible Hour so special.

As always, 5 stars

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Alice Hoffman for the ARC

Blessed Be

3.5 stars rounded up. Being a big fan of Alice Hoffman, I was excited to read her newest, The Invisible Hour. And while reading the first half, I remember thinking it was so good and that I really loved her writing. Sadly, the second half lost something. It was almost as if it was written by a different person. It was still a very enjoyable story, there just wasn't a good transition between the halves and the tale shifted too dramatically. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I’m torn on how to rate this book. The first half of the book was great—a solid 4+ stars. It tells the story of Ivy and her daughter Mia, trapped inside a cult community and desperately wanting free. I enjoyed reading about their relationship and how Ivy would sacrifice freedom to protect her beloved daughter. The second half of the book felt like a completely different story. It didn’t flow together at all. It was about the life of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and some parts of the second half of the book dragged on. The two halves of the book do come together eventually, and it all ties up nicely in the end, but it just felt disjointed and strange. I love magical realism and fantasy, so I don’t need to read a fully realistic story, but this one just didn’t work for me. I am still giving it 3 stars because there were parts of the book that were fantastic…but I was left feeling a little disappointed.

Thank you so much to Atria Books for the ARC via NetGalley.

What a beautiful story about how the power of books can bring meaning and hope into our lives. When teenager Ivy becomes pregnant and has no support from home, she finds herself drawn to a welcoming cult community. It doesn’t take long for her to feel more like a prisoner than welcome member, but she can’t leave because they’d keep her daughter, Mia. As Mia grows, her free spirit leads her to the local library and welcoming librarian, and her world changes forever. Reading takes her into worlds shared by past author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and her mother, showing her what is really important to her and how their lives are joined. This book of magical realism is a book lovers delight. I loved it.

For me, reading a brand-new Alice Hoffman book has always felt like settling in for a good conversation with an old friend. Hoffman's writing is known for its lyrical prose, and vivid descriptions while blending magic and realism, and finding fantasy in our everyday world.

There are few authors whose “voice” is so unique to them and their writing that you know who is telling you this story within the first few paragraphs. Over the years I have worked my way through her catalog of books, holding some closer to my heart than others, and never once have I been disappointed. The Invisible Hour is no exception!

In this poignant novel, Hoffman delivers a powerful punch across its 270 pages, skillfully tackling themes of patriarchy, oppression, sexism, and even time travel. With her adept storytelling, she firmly establishes the notion that less can be more, demonstrating that a beautifully crafted narrative doesn't need 500 (or more!) pages. At the same time, she shows the reader the profound healing powers that books can provide. This idea was shown so exquisitely at the very beginning of this novel, in a letter to her readers: “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.” I was so touched by this! What a perfect way to preface a story that, at its heart, is an ode to the power of books and how they affect people’s lives.

This book is told in two storylines, the first of which is that of Ivy and her daughter Mia. Teenage Ivy finds herself pregnant and left with nowhere to go after her college-bound boyfriend rejects her and her wealthy family disowns her. On a whim, she agrees to go to a commune with a woman she meets at a bus stop. At first, they welcome her with open hearts and arms. It’s only after she’s there for a while does she realize she has fallen prey to the leader of a cult, running his own version of The Scarlet Letter. Told from Ivy’s point of view, and then that of her teenage daughter Mia, you see them within a commune living under the watchful eye of the leader, where nothing is theirs, any type of free thinking is met with punishment and children live in communal nurseries. Mia’s only reprieve is when the women in the commune sell their produce in town during the farmer’s market. It is then that she discovers what a library is and the magic of books. ⁣On the day Mia thinks about ending her life, she is saved by a copy of The Scarlet Letter which seems to tell the story of her life at the commune and shockingly, is dedicated to her by Nathaniel Hawthorne himself!

This is where our second storyline comes into play. The book takes a turn into the past (literally, time travel) and Mia meets the author of the book that gave her hope, well before he wrote The Scarlet Letter. A lot of other reviewers have said this was their least favorite part of the book but aside from some technical unanswered questions, it was my favorite part of the book! The fantasy and whimsy of it all just drew me in.

How refreshing it was to read this book, during a time when news of book banning is becoming all too common and laws are once again removing the rights of women to make choices for their bodies. Kudos to Hoffman for bringing us this wonderful story highlighting a woman’s right to choose and the importance of access to books and the endless possibilities they open up.

It’s hard for me to find criticism for this book. If pressed, I would say, the mechanics of the time travel were unclear. There were no devices (such as the stones in Outlander for example), was it just “close your eyes, make a wish and you land where you want to”? I would have liked to understand a bit more how that worked. Also, the ending seemed rushed or perhaps not as fully resolved as I would like it to be. I would suggest this book to everyone but especially those interested in historical novels, magical realism, or reproductive rights.

Many heartfelt thanks to @netgalley @atriabooks and @ahoffmanwriter for honoring me with the chance to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The Invisible Hour will be released on August 15, 2023.

** spoiler alert **

The Invisible Hour tells the story of Mia Jacobs and her mother. As a young, pregnant teen, Mia's mother Ivy is shunned from her home. She ends up finding Joel, who owns a large tract of land in rural Massachusetts. There, she joins The Community, and before she realizes it's basically a cult, she has married Joel and had baby Mia. Although in the Community "children belong to everyone", Mia and her mother grow close despite Joel and other members' abuse. When Mia's mother dies and she decides to escape, things change for her in a way she never could have imagined.

I really liked the first half of this book. Hoffman does a great job of weaving together not only how the Community functions, but a really beautiful setting. Mia as a character is well-rounded and I was rooting for her escape the whole time.

However, in the back half of the book, she travels through time and meets Nathaniel Hawthorne. This part was pretty clunky for me, and I would have preferred the book without it. The world of the Community and Mia's escape was so full and lush and I wanted to know more about that. There were also some ham-fisted references to the reversal of Roe v. Wade that took me out of the immersive world I was in. Never mentioned explicitly but mentioned enough times that I got annoyed by it. I've loved Alice Hoffman's other books so I was disappointed that this was a miss for me.

Getting into any Alice Hoffman book, you should expect some sort of magic. The Invisible Hour is no different.

Mia lives in a community, lead by a terrible man. Her life is secluded, only reaching modern society on the weekends when the Community goes to sell their wares at a Farmer's Market. One day, Mia goes to the library, and picks up The Scarlet Letter. This particular book has been personalized, to Mia, and this book changes her life.
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This is the story about a book, and about its writer. It's also about Mia, modern pressures on women, living your truth, love, family and the magic of a good book.

It's an interesting take on fiction. Reading about Mia falling in love with books was familiar. I less enjoyed the long-drawn out sections from the past. There could have been a stronger thriller element as well as a more fleshed out character development (especially for Elizabeth!)

All in all, it was a quick read and while I did enjoy most of it, I likely will not read it over and over, a la Mia and The Scarlet Letter.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
Publishing Date - 08/15/23
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this eARC.
Loved it! Will be one of my top favorites this year! This story reminds readers to never forget the power of books! I really loved how she incorporated Nathanial Hawthorne and his book ,”the Scarlet Letter” into the novel. Highly recommend this one when it releases next Tuesday!

I'm a huge Alice Hoffman fan and really enjoyed The Invisible Hour. I definitely liked the first half better...the part of the story that takes place in present time. I absolutely loved the theme throughout the story of how books can change people's lives and transport us to other worlds. That being said, while the time traveling bit was true to Alice Hoffman's "magical" style, I was just left feeling a little bit unsettled at the end of the story. The time travel wasn't explained, the relationship between Mia and Hawthorne developed very quickly, and the ending seemed a little untrue. All in all, if you are an Alice Hoffman fan, it's worth the read. Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy.