I loved the premise of this one. Time travel a girl travels back to Hawthorne's time while he's writing The Scarlet Letter. And her life also mimics the story. However after reading this one it made me realize that Alice Hoffman's writing is not for me.

3.5 stars
I am a huge fan of Hoffman's work, so I requested this book as soon as I saw it on NetGalley. Once again, Hoffman writes a story through generations, with a bit of magic thrown in for good measure.
Hoffman begins with a heartfelt note about the importance of The Scarlet Letter in her own life, and then expertly weaves the history of this famous book into The Invisible Hour.
In beautiful settings, Hoffman renders a picturesque Massachusett's town into a symbol of something eerily sinister and acutely hopeful at the same time. While I loved the incorporation of the famous location and book—what book lover doesn't love a character inspired by a book?—I think the story would have been better without actually including Nathanial Hawthorne as a character. I felt like this added an unnecessary plotline that actually took away from the seriousness of the original story's theme.

I will forgive Hoffman the sentiment that may have led to that, because I loved so many of the other characters in this book. Her compelling sense of story still made this a must-read for me.

Realistic fiction with a little bit of magic. The magic is never explained, and the second half is like a different book, but I felt the ending paid it all off eventually. I wasn’t always eager to pick this up but I’m glad I finished it.

Alice Hoffman is hit or miss for me. I absolutely LOVED the practical magic books, but I disliked the world that we knew. Unfortunately, her latest novel falls into the latter category. It is extremely well written and will undoubtedly appeal to many, but the story failed to reel me in.

The Invisible Hour

Hmmm I loved one of her books and a couple I didn’t love and this was halfway. I liked parts but some parts were odd. After taking time after reading the book to process my thoughts I found that I only liked half the book.

Mia is an Angel and I loved her I loved getting her story. While I did love how Nathaniel and Mia then had this story together and how she influenced his future career with her life. However, there was this middle part that was setting up their relationship that I didn’t love. I found it slow and quite boring. Getting to know Nathaniel wasn’t interesting at all.

It felt like she wrote multiple books or storylines and then just smashed them together into one book without it making much sense. We have one plot storyline going on and then all of a sudden it’s a huge weird twist and we have a completely different type of story. The twist in the story came out of nowhere and didn’t make sense. I wish Hoffman would have stuck with the beginning cult story and taken a magical turn somewhere Whit in that timeframe instead of the weird turn it took. I think I would have like this more if she separated the plots into two separate books.

I came to Alice Hoffman late in my reading life and I am so glad that I found her. This book does not disappoint and I read it in large chunks as I could not help but want to know where Mia's story would bring her. The parallels between Mia and her mother and Hester from The Scarlet Letter are eery and the premise that Hawthorne wrote the novel based on time-traveling Mia is both perfect and heart breaking. I hated to say good bye when the book ended but find myself anxiously awaiting Hoffman's next novel.

I absolutely loved this story. Full of magical realism, the love between mother and daughter, finding hope at the top of a library shelf, time travel, and The Scarlet Letter. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. I loved the parallels between the Puritans and the community that Ivy finds. The ending did feel a little rushed and I would have liked to see more of a slow wrapping to the end of the story. It was beautiful though.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It’s available now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

One day, when fifteen-year-old Mia Jacobs has decided that she can no longer live in the oppressive cult where she has spent her entire life, she is saved by a book: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The book was written almost two hundred years earlier, but it seems to tell the story of Mia’s mother, Ivy, and their life in the cult. As Mia makes the decision to change her life, she discovers that time is more fluid than she believed. As a child, she fell in love with books. Now, as an adult, she has fallen in love with the brilliant writer who saved her life. But could her time spent with Nathaniel affect the past? What if he never writes The Scarlet Letter?

This is a beautifully written book. I need to say that first. It’s beautiful. Now, normally I’m not a huge fan of magical realism, but I really liked this book. I loved Mia, and the life she created for herself. It’s a very emotional novel, and the parallels drawn between then (mid-1800s) and now regarding book banning and bodily autonomy are a little terrifying, if I’m being honest. I also feel like I need to reread The Scarlet Letter. I highly recommend this love letter to writers, readers and novels.

Quick and Dirty⁣
-a dual timeline that reads like two books⁣
-highly bookish, a story for book lovers⁣
-found family⁣
-a trauma story ⁣
-check TWs⁣

Thoughts⁣
Is there anything Alice Hoffman cannot do? Her writing style is a favorite of mine, so it’s no surprise that I loved this book. While it’s not witchy like her Practical Magic series, it’s definitely magical. Her lyrical prose and atmospheric style cast a spell on me, making it very hard to tear my eyes away from these pages. I wanted to live in this book, mostly because of Hoffman’s incredible way with words. Some may find the second part of this book odd or unrealistic, but that’s the beauty of magical realism in my opinion. The romance in this novel is symbolic, representing a love of stories and characters. I found a mirror in this book that allowed me to see how books have been a lifelong love story in my own life. Like a good lover, books can give hope, comfort, strength, inspiration, and much more. One of the things I loved most about this story was the way Hoffman dealt with intergenerational trauma. Mia’s trauma response is evident throughout the book, making moments of anxiety and fear palpable. In her darkest days, she finds the book that changes her life in ways she (and the reader) can only begin to fathom. Highly recommend it for magical realism lovers!

3.5 stars rounded up

I went into this book blind. I really enjoyed part one and breezed through it. I was pleasantly surprised at the cult related themes because is something I frequently read. I also love Alice’s atmospheric, incredibly descriptive writing. This book gave me autumn vibes for sure. If this book left off at part one, I would have enjoyed it and it would have felt complete and a solid 4 star read. What happens after that, the historical fiction and magical elements turned me off and was confusing and kind of boring. It took me a long time to slog through the rest. But I guess those are the themes Alice Hoffman is known for so I’m not sure what I was expecting. Part two and three to me were worth 3 stars.

Thank you to Alice, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the digital copy!

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the chance to read Alice Hoffman's newest witchy tale, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫. I absolutely loved it!⁣
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"Once a girl walked into a library, she could never be controlled again."⁣
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I know I'm not supposed to quote advanced reads...But there were just so many wonderful, quotable moments in 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫 so I had to!⁣
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This book kicked off my fall reads with the perfect amount of magical realism and witchcraft, and the little voice in my head shouted "YES!" at every little touch of feminism sprinkled throughout.⁣
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Mia Jacobs feels a deep connection to Nathaniel Hawthorne's 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. It's as if the book was written for her, written about her and her mom's experience living within the confines of an oppressive cult. When Mia transports to an earlier time, before 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 was written, we see the transformation of a girl and her love story.⁣
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My only wish is that this novel was longer! I wanted more from the Miathaniel (I made that name up) story. If you're looking for a fall-vibing, atmospheric book by an amazing writer, then check this one out!

My love of Alice Hoffman started way back when with Practical Magic and I am always excited to read anything by her. Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Invisible Hour in exchange for my honest review.
This one was a slow burn for me but I'm glad I stuck with it and finished. Perfect for Fall and the spooky season. 3.5 stars

This book was a love story to books. I loved the mystery, the time travel and the characters. Beautiful cover and beautifully written

THE INVISIBLE HOUR is a stunning tale of love, loss, and how magic can take us to a place beyond our wildest dreams. As Hoffman eloquently delves into the life of Mia Jacob, the reader gets to explore the character’s hardships, blessings, and the path she follows to discover who she wants to be.

To say this book was amazing would not do it justice. The characters brought to life within this prose make an impact on the reader. I felt for Ivy as she navigated through a life she chose and thought was the better option. I hated Joel and the toxic energy he seemed to bring into every scene he entered. Reading about Mia’s journey out of the cult life and how she struggled to cope with the damage it had on her being was compelling. The emotions explored within these pages radiate off the page. However, the story that truly hit me was Mia’s journey to Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is nothing short of magical.

THE INVISIBLE HOUR was nothing of what I thought it would be because it was simply better. The writing was beautiful and effortlessly propelled it forward. Hoffman continues to blend real life with the spellbinding idea that something otherworldly can take us to places we only think about in our dreams.

Wow! This book was so good!
The story starts with Ivy, who gets pregnant, and is rejected by her wealthy Boston parents and her boyfriend who is off to Harvard. She runs away and joins The Community in - a cult with strict rules and rigid enforcement. She has the child (who is raised with other children), but loves her little girl, Mia, and knows her well (in spite of the rules). Eventually Ivy marries the head of the cult- Joel- but tends to break the rules (and is punished). When she dies, Mia considers ending her life, but runs away to the library where she has found different worlds in (forbidden) books. She finds love and beauty in a new family with the librarian and her companion. She repeats how one book saved her life - and time travels back to meet the author and fall in love with him.
While magical realism and time travel books are not my usual go-to genres, I have read several of Alice Hoffman's books and love here writing . This book is no exception as she pays tribute to the power of books and the written word. She incorporates commentary on social issues from the past and the present day. Although the book gets a little slow in the middle section, the ending makes up for it.
I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and Atria books. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

If there is a more timely title that will be released in 2023 than 'The Invisible Hour', I can't imagine what it would be. Addressing the difficult topics of book banning, parent-child separation, women's autonomy over their bodies, and considering suicide, the protagonist Mia's life takes a dramatic shift through a kindly librarian, reading 'The Scarlet Letter', magic, and time travel. Author Alice Hoffman is truly an imaginative writer who uses her writing gift for the good.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Let me start by saying I have read a few Alice Hoffman books in the past and enjoyed them. The Invisible Hour had an intriguing premise but parts of it fell flat. I really enjoyed the cult aspects and part 1 I was hooked. The parts with Hawthorne were not very exciting to me and the relationship felt strange. I would have liked to see more in-depth with the cult aspects and with Joel.

Book Summary:

Any reader can tell you that books can save you if you listen. That is more true than usual for Mia Jacob. On one June day, she found her way out of the horror that is her life, and that way out was in a book.

Mia's story is generational in several ways. It's a love letter to The Scarlet Letter – and the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne.

My Review:

The Invisible Hour has got to be one of the most interesting book-about-a-books I've read in quite some time! (And I've read a fair few recently). The biggest deciding factor for your enjoyment of The Invisible Hour will be how you feel about The Scarlet Letter.

While I enjoyed this novel, it was unfortunately not my favorite Alice Hoffman novel. Granted, I adore Practical Magic, so it's pretty hard for any other novel to live up to that expectation, you know?

Part of the problem was that I've never felt a profound connection to The Scarlet Letter. Did I appreciate it? Yes, of course! But it was never one of those novels that resonated with me. As such, it felt like a slight wall between me and Mia.

The first half of The Invisible Hour reads like a classic historical fiction novel. However, it switches to historical fantasy right around that mark, pulling hard on the time travel elements. Even knowing it was coming, that transition was jarring because of how long it took to get there.

Overall, I would have to say that I enjoyed The Invisible Hour, perhaps a little less than I had hoped.

Highlights:
Magical Realism
Books-about-Books
Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Time Travel

Trigger Warnings:
Controlling/Abusive behavior
Cult

Although I normally love anything by Alice Hoffman, time travel isn't my thing. I'll look forward to another book by her soon.

THE INVISIBLE HOUR by Alice Hoffman bends time and space to connect readers deeply with Mia, a young girl trapped in a dangerous situation, and Nathanial Hawthorne, author of the classic THE SCARLET LETTER.

I wanted Part I, which covered Mia's story, to be its own book. Hoffman is a masterful writer who drew me in from the very beginning. Things started to unravel for me starting in Part II, but I know folks who appreciate a good time travel/space-bending story will enjoy it.

2 stars - it was okay