Amazing book. This book had a really good story and the element of time travel made it magical. I love this author and her books. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book as part of a NetGalley ARC book. I absolutely loved the first part of this story. I found it an intriguing, page-turner, but the middle and ending really took me by surprise. I will use the new term which I have heard used recently in describing Winnipeg "I didn't NOT NOT like the remainder of it, but I did find it long with some very unusual plots involving not only Mia but Joel, as well. I am not a fan of science fiction or witch craft or other-worldly type of plot turns and this took place around the middle of this story and onwards.

Without giving any spoilers, Alice Hoffman is a great author, and this book opened up a lot of interest for me to Nathaniel Hawthorne, his writings and the era he lived in. I want to thank the author. Atria Books, Simon & Schuster, Inc. and NetGalley for the opportunity and privilege of reading an advance copy.

Alice Hoffman is such a recognizable author that I knew I'd want to read her latest release. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for the purpose of this review. Five stars from me. I enjoyed the Western Mass setting because that's where I live. The concept of the story was different just as I expected from Hoffman. I'm happy that I was able to read the story!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Any books by Alice Hoffman are always an auto-read for me. Her beautiful prose and inventive stories always have a bit of magic and The Invisible Hour did not disappoint.

Heartbreaking, beautiful and infuriating at times as we still seem to be in a time where women are still fighting for control of their own bodies, it’s a tale that was timely in Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter and today in 2023.

Overall: If you want heartbreak and wonder interwoven with a creative story that always boggles the mind of how Hoffman can weave her words with a thread of magic, this book is for you.

Alice Hoffman's latest book "The Invisible Hour" is incredibly meaningful for the times we live in. A clever story weaving time travel, magic and women's rights into a compelling package, I couldn't put this one down. An unwed mother flees to a cult community where books are forbidden and disobedience is severely punished. Her daughter finds solace and courage in the local library where she discovers a Nathaniel Hawthorne novel mysteriously inscribed to her. What follows is a magical journey with a satisfying ending. Highly recommended.

This book was disjointed, the timelines were weird, and in the second half of the book the narrator was never clear. This book felt as if it were put together too quickly.

I loved Mia! She came through loud and clear how reading can take you away. Her amazing bravery was felt throughout.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for this advanced copy of The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman. First off, if I could give this book six stars I would. Second, I have long been a fan of her writing. Like her other stories, this one uses magical realism in an effective way.

Pregnant teenager Ivy leaves her home feeling all alone and ends up in a commune in western Mass. After the birth of her baby, Mia, she realizes her mistake. Children are shared in the commune, meaning they are raised by everyone and to single a child out as your own is forbidden. Mia, is raised in this subjugating compound where if you disobey, you have to wear letters of your sin or even be branded, much like The Scarlet Letter, which features prominently in this book. Somehow she retains her strength and can still see beauty in the world. One day, her mother lets her visit the library (also not allowed) and she falls in love with book, with Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter in particular. I won’t say more except this is a must read for Hoffman fans and everyone else. It’s pure magic and I could not put it down!

From sheltered cult to a public library led entry to the wider world. Pure Alice Hoffman but with an (intriguing) slant. Dual timelines and both work

This almost reads like two different books. Part One is about a mother and daughter in a cult, and how Mia, the daughter, breaks free. The rest of the novel will require suspending disbelief as Mia and her favorite book/author experience something unique.

I have some questions about the plot, but don't want to post spoilers here. See my Goodreads review for more.

*This ARC copy was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. Here are my thoughts...

In Hoffman's newest novel she takes us to a community in which a branded A on your arm stands for Acts of wickedness or for Anarchy; punishments include beatings and shorn hair; a community in which all children belong to all of the families. But Ivy needed a place to stay, a place to call her own and raise her daughter, some place safe. And so she became a part of The Community, marrying their leader, Joel, and playing along in the role to keep her daughter safe, for if she tried to leave Joel would take Mia from Ivy. But eventually Mia grew to be a beautiful red haired young woman with fantasies of her own, thanks to her mother allowing her to visit the local library. It is there she comes across a magical book with an inscription made out to her by Nathanial Hawthorne, and she knows that this book is meant for her.

This novel is beautifully enchanting. The time travel element took me by surprise, but it was a pleasant addition to the story, tying in Mia's modern world with the world of Nathanial Hawthorne. With vibrant imagery and lyrical storytelling, I was transported to another place and time, longing for fall and apple picking. This was thoroughly an enjoyable reading experience, Ms. Hoffman did not disappoint (does she ever??) with this one.

This is the third book b Alice Hoffman I've read and I enjoyed this one as much as I did the others. This story has an alternate timeline and while i usually find in books that have an alternate timeline that one is stronger than the other I found both timelines equally engaging. What I particularly enjoyed about his novel was the theme of how books inspire and empower the readers. I think this book would be enjoyed by most people.

Alice Hoffman at her best. Mis grows up sheltered in a commune in the Northest. She is sheltered from the outside world until her mother tells her to sneak a peak in a public library. From there her world opens up.
Deeply moving and full of wonder and enchantment. A must read.

The Invisible Hour captivated me from the beginning until the end. This book was very endearing and as a fellow book lover, I absolutely loved how the main character's love for books was woven throughout the story. My first book by Alice Hoffman, but won't be my last! Highly recommend!

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adore Alice Hoffman. I love her Practical Magic series so when I saw this come up I had to request it. I love books and reading so much so when the mc finds a book that saves her life and helps her flee her imprisonment I was enamored!

I am always excited to read the next Alice Hoffman book. She always writes compelling stories with complex interesting characters.
Her Practical Magic books are a favorite of mine … especially Magic Lessons. So needless to say a combination contemporary fiction/historical fiction seemed right in my wheelhouse.
That being said …I have mixed feeling about this book. The contemporary part of this book was everything I wanted. The story of Mia and her mother living in a rural cult was taut and engrossing. The added theme of how books and literature can change a life was an added bonus.
Once the book reverted to historical fiction with Nathaniel Hawthorne as a character is where she lost me. I found myself skimming over large parts of this story line. Maybe because I recently read (and enjoyed) Hester … which actually covered much of the same ground … including the inspiration for Hester Prynne and The Scarlet
Letter… this did not capture my interest.
As a result my overall feeling is lukewarm.
Thank you to net galley for providing me with this book for an honest review.

Hoffman returns to the town of Blackwell, Massachusetts, which has featured in other works, for the story of Mia Jacobs. Mia is born out of wedlock to her teenage mother, Ivy. Mia's father has no interest in helping Ivy or the child she is carrying. Ivy's parents reject her for the shame she causes them in their wealthy social circle. She flees to the Community, a group living on farmland in western Massachusetts, run by the charismatic leader, Joel Davis. As one might expect, this is not an improvement.

Hoffman devotes the beginning of the book to the story of Ivy and Mia in the Community. One thing the two share is a love of reading and the feeling of magic and sanctuary to be found in the public library. The latter part of the book is Mia's journey to discover her own ability to love and to right the wrongs suffered by her mother. Hoffman brings her usual delightful blend of magic and woman-centered power to a story that owes its foundations to The Scarlet Letter. A terrific read and an homage to the power of story.

Such a beautiful whimsical story. Alice Hoffman truly has the most wonderful ability of weaving a poignant, heart-wrenching story filled with magical realism. Without giving too much away this story describes the love of book and stories and how much they mean and influence who we are. I also adored that part of this story is influenced but Concord, MA because I pretty much grew up there.

Alice Hoffman's The Invisible Hour is an ode to the power and magic of books, transporting the reader into a new world with alluring prose and enchanting descriptions. I've never read one of Hoffman's books before, but this first dive into her wonderous and lyrical writing leaves me already searching for more.

The Invisible Hour is a love letter to books and the power that words have, as the novel follows first through Ivy's story before veering off to continue through her daughter's eyes, Mia. The first half was by far the height of this story, as I felt the second half falling a bit short and unrelated to where I initially thought the writing would go. All in all, this is definitely a tale worthy of those who adore reading, as Hoffman's captivating style will leave readers hungry for more of her gorgeous prose.

The author is a wordsmith who creates the perfect ambience in which the feelings of the main character can be developed. Paying homage to another master of the novel gives the reader a double dose of emotions.