My favorite author didn’t disappoint with this lovely story that is basically a love letter to books, authors, libraries and librarians. I kept looking down at how much was left in the book in my kindle and found myself getting sad when nearing the end because it’s the kind of story that you don’t want to end. These women! How relevant is this theme right now? So many issues about trust and innocence and evil men. But I love how the author shows her love of libraries and librarians and how the impact of being kind can affect someone, especially a lost soul. Just so special.

I really enjoy Hoffman's writing. She is a gifted writer and I enjoy her unique style. I absolutely loved the first half of this book. Unfortunately, as many other reviewers mentioned, the second part felt like a research paper. If you don't mind suspending reality and time travel, this book may be for you. It was not my favorite book of hers.

I loved this book! Mia is a child just trying to survive her life in a commune with her Mother. Mother came to this place to find refuge when she was pregnant with Mia. A refuge it was not. Mia struggles daily to complete her daily tasks and to be the person those in charge demand she be.. Life is not easy in the commune, where children work but do not really go to school. No books or other influences from the outside world are permitted. Mia has little hope in this grey wasteland of a life until she discovers a Library. When Mia finds The Scarlet Letter she feels as if, the author understands her and her life. The book gives Mia hope for the first time. Through a strange chain of events, Mia will learn that there is always hope in the darkness and that impossible dreams can come true.

Alice Hoffman is a gifted writer, so it pains me to write a less than favorable review of The Invisible Hour. This book was not given the attention it deserved by the editors. There are timeline inconsistencies, storyline inconsistencies, and weak writing in the section about Nathaniel Hawthorne, which reads in large part like a Wikipedia entry (I'm sure of this because I stopped mid-book to read what Wikipedia said about Hawthorne and then had a deja vu experience reading the facts again in the book, in a similar fashion). The best part of the book was Hoffman's brief and beautiful introduction about her mother's work, which was worthy of greater treatment on its own. I guess it's too late to fix the book, but I wish it could be done.

This began with so much potential. My heart was literally racing as I lived beside Ivy, Joel, and Mia. I loved the discussion through the beginning of the text about the importance of literature.
However, my love for literature has a foundation. That foundation is the Bible. God’s living, breathing Word.
If that is the same for you, this book will not work. It twists too much.
May we be discerning and of a firm foundation.

Additionally, I agree with other reviewers who acknowledge that plot wise the second half of the book feels completely disconnected to the first. Too much attention was paid toward getting a liberal point across than creating a quality, literary piece.

Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity to read this title ahead of the publication date.

I am a huge fan of Alice Hoffman! This book did not disappoint. The author incorporates magic in her stories and it provides one more layer of imagination that who knows may come true. I'm not generally a fantasy reader but when I read books by this author it pulls me into a genre worth exploring. If you like Alice Hoffman make sure to put this on your to-read list.

I was provided a copy of the book for an honest review.

Picked this one up because I really enjoyed the Practical Magic series. This novel was just ok to me and fell a little flat in some places

Glad that I got to read this early. I like her Practical Magic series, but this one was just okay. Got a bit boring in the second half and very unrealistic. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Such a beautiful story! I found myself highlighting so many passages throughout the book. This was an enchanting ode to the power of books and the importance of libraries. And having it exist in the same universe as The Red Garden made the experience even sweeter. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Alice Hoffman creates magic with every sentence, every description and with every mood. She has an enchanting way with words that transcends the ordinary into the extraordinary. The Invisible Hour is unique, a love letter to the power of words, books and women.
Mia lives with her mother on a commune run by authoritarian Josh, and although it is modern day the women there have no more freedom or control over their lives than they did hundreds of years ago. On the day Mia decides to end her life she is saved by The Scarlet Letter which seems to tell the story of her very existence. What’s more the book is dedicated to her by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Mia finding the courage to run away is given a second life with two librarians who love and raise her, and finds within her the means and magic to transport back in time meeting Hawthorne himself.
A beautiful and enchanting book in Alice Hoffman’s unforgettable unique style. The cover is perfect for this book.