The Book.of Doors is an amazing read...imagine being able to go wherever you want to go via a book. Isn't that the point of reading? To be able to go wherever you want without ever leaving your room? Books take you places you might not ever go, but the Book.of Doors actually can take you there, even though it could be dangerous and full of intrigue.. It's the best of both worlds, a book that allows you to escape, in more ways than one.

This was a very interesting book - I loved all of the different characters and how everything was woven together. It was very atmospheric. I enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

This debut novel reminded me of the contemporary fantasy books The Midnight Library and The Night Circus, because it mixes a modern story with the wonder of the unknown, with a tinge of darkness swirled in.

Cassie Andres works in a New York City bookstore, shelving books and making coffee for customers. She lives an unassuming ordinary life. Until the day one of her favorite customers—a solitary yet charming old man—dies right in front of her. Cassie is devastated. She had loved the old man’s stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by. Only the last book he was reading.
The Book of Doors.

The book is inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings. It promises Cassie that any door is every door. You just have to know how to open them.

As she tentatively explores The Book of Doors, she is approached by a stranger in a rumpled black suit and with a Scottish brogue, who calls himself Drumond Fox. He’s a librarian who keeps watch over a unique set of rare volumes. The book now in Cassie’s possession should belong in Fox’s library, and it is the book most coveted by those who want to steal the whole collection.

Cassie’s life changes completely with the gift of the Book of Doors. She is hunted by those few who know of the special books. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, she has to decide if she will help the mysterious Drummond protect his secret library from those who will do evil.
It turns out, only Drummond knows where the library is, and only Cassie's book can get them there.

There are several villains, and I truly hated all of them. ‘The woman’ as she’s called throughout, is the true embodiment of evil. Then there’s Mr. Barbury—also terrible—who has been chasing Drummond for years trying to get his books. This is no children’s book, it’s aimed squarely at adults. In fact, it’s very, very dark.

But I must admit the main plot twist was my least favorite part. You may agree, and, if so, I hope it doesn’t spoil the story for you, because it made everything come together in a perfect puzzle.

Themes of exploration, self-discovery, and the consequences of our choices resonate throughout "The Book of Doors." Brown encourages readers to consider the paths they take in life and how those choices shape their identities and futures. The novel serves as a reminder of the power of possibility and the importance of embracing new experiences, even in the face of uncertainty.

This book was too dark for me and I found the main character, Cassie, made a few too many dumb decisions, even while having a trustworthy mentor at her side. The idea of magical books was intriguing, though, and it was a quick read. Overall, I think most people would enjoy this book, and my opinion of it is due to my preference for a lighter tone.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I am pretty sure I requested this one because it is unlike any other book I have ever read....even after reading it, I still stand by that statement. It had a lot of time travel, some intrigue, and even a little bit of romance...not much in that department but I will take any little bit I can. There were so many twists and turns that sometimes I had to go and read a paragraph twice just to make sure I was reading what I thought I was reading...I loved the parts where she could go into the past and see people she had known and lost...that is a dream for many people. Let's not forget the battle between good and evil...and there is a ton of evil in some of these characters. Many people have rated this as a 4 or 5 star and while I liked it, I wouldn't be able to give those stars as it didn't really make me FEEL anything.

This book has an exciting premise and is interesting in the first half. Unfortunately, the characters fall flat and the villain's big reveal takes away from the entire build up. The end felt silly so I am not sure if this is more targeted towards children or teens.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I devoured this book—The Book of Doors is pure magic, and it completely swept me away. 📖✨🗝️

This story is a love letter to readers, bookshops, and the power of stories themselves. With a premise that feels like The Midnight Library meets The Starless Sea, it pulls you into a world where books hold unimaginable power—and doors can lead to places far more incredible (or dangerous) than you ever imagined.

The writing is beautiful without being overly flowery, and the pacing? Spot on. There’s adventure, mystery, a touch of darkness, and characters who feel like they’ve stepped right off the page. It explores grief, choice, and fate in a way that’s thoughtful but never heavy. I felt completely transported.

It’s one of those rare books that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. Highly recommend going in with as little info as possible and letting the magic unfold. ✨

📚 Huge thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Book of Doors was such a great read. I loved the character development, the storylines, and the buildup. I would give this book a 5/5 review.

There’s a reason The Book of Doors has been so widely praised—it’s a truly compelling and imaginative story that pulled me in right from the start. With a mix of time travel, magic, and a classic battle between good and evil, it delivers everything I love in a fantasy adventure. The premise of a magical book that allows you to go anywhere is endlessly intriguing, and Gareth Brown uses it to build a story full of surprises, emotion, and high stakes. The death of a trusted confidant adds real weight to the plot, giving the story emotional depth as well as excitement. I was all in—every hour of every day. This is a standout novel that’s easy to recommend to fans of fantasy, mystery, and speculative fiction alike.

I really enjoyed reading this book and listening to the audiobook (both great experiences).

The Book of Doors is such an interesting and unique concept for a novel. While this book is on the whimsical side in theory (you have a book in your possession that allows you to open doors to seemingly anywhere), this book is actually quite dark which I did not expect.

I was kinda on the edge of my seat and filled with a minor sense of dread while reading this. However, I did enjoy the book, it was just not what I expected when I started reading it.

The book of doors was an absolute delight, and was completely different from anything I was expecting. This was time travel done in almost a cozy way. Yes there was constant fear but it still gave me cozy bookshop codes. The idea that these doors can grant powers felt truly magical—just like books do in their own way, opening up entire worlds and ideas.

Cassie stood out as the most kind, patient, and sincere character. She was so inspiring in just waiting. Her warmth was remarkable and made the journey even more meaningful. I also felt such deep attachment to each character, and Drummond’s arc was beautifully done, giving him the closure he deserved.

Reading along with the audiobook was a damn treat, they were all well chosen voice actors. But truly this book is beautiful.

I expected a more simple and whimsical book than what it really is, and I am so thankful for that! The book keeps twisting and turning up to the last moment. A perfect blend of mystery and magic! The characters are a smidge more flat than I would prefer, but they did still grown on me as the book progressed.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a spellbinding debut that blends magical realism, mystery, and adventure into an imaginative and heartfelt tale. At its center is Cassie, a New York City bookseller who discovers a strange book that can open doors—literally—to other places, times, and possibilities. What begins as a dreamlike gift quickly unravels into a dangerous journey filled with secrets, power struggles, and ethical dilemmas.

Brown’s love for books and storytelling shines through every page. The premise is rich and whimsical, with echoes of The Midnight Library and The Ten Thousand Doors of January, yet it holds its own with a compelling voice and brisk pacing. The world-building is immersive, and the themes of choice, destiny, and the consequences of curiosity are thoughtfully explored.

While some secondary characters could have used more depth and a few plot turns are a bit predictable, the novel’s charm, emotional resonance, and clever central concept make it a thoroughly enjoyable read. It’s a story that celebrates the magic of books—both literally and figuratively.

A great pick for fans of contemporary fantasy with a literary twist.

Well, this book has a great concept and should have been incredible. Unfortunately there were several reasons that it fell short with me. I had difficulty getting into the story. Then there was a lot of racist and misogynistic statements that were just unnecessary to the story. An author can make it clear which characters we should feel compassion for and which are the evil ones without this gratuitous ugliness. It definitely did nothing to improve the story and will limit who I recommend this to.

#TheBookofDoors #NetGalley #WilliamMorrow

I wanted to love this one. The concept was amazing. But the book itself was just okay.

I didn't love the main character for a lot of the book. The first third or so bored me somewhat. And some of the interactions between the characters were awkward.

It just ended up leaving me wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC.

I am a sucker for a fantasy with a door. It is a beautiful symbol and also a fun way to go to another world. It feels like it could be real. Every time I open my pantry door or closet door I wonder if I am going to find myself in a fantasy world. Beyond the door trope, this story is also just beautiful. Beautiful writing and beautiful story telling. A must for library purchase.

I REALLY liked this book, but it took me quite a while to really get into it. When I first started it, while I liked the premise, I was expecting it to be a 3 or 4 star book for me. Once you finally get into the meat and potatoes of this book, it gets GOOD and is actually kind of stressful at times? I found myself gasping a lot and having some existential crises at points.

Imagine you found a book that could turn any door into a door to anywhere... then imagine that someone out there intends to use that book for evil. And that there are actually people out there who would kill and maim and torture for that book (and more). This book is the story of how all of that comes to happen to sweet, easy-going Cassie - a bookseller in NYC who doesn't really do much and doesn't really go anywhere. Until she is given the book. And then everything goes NUTS.

This book gives Invisible Life of Addie LaRue mixed with The Atlas Six vibes. Very good, and LOTS of stuff happening. I really enjoyed it!

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. Pub Date: February 23, 2024. Rating: 4 stars. I never know what to expect when I pick up a book based on fantasy/magical realism because it is not often genres that I read, but this book was a pleasant surprise and I really enjoyed it! This book is a journey through the experiences of Cassie who is opening doors to the past, fighting evil and protecting powerful books. She is overcoming grief all while protecting what is close to her. I really enjoyed this novel! It was quite an adventure to read. Thanks to #netgalley and #williammorrow for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This book had an amazing premise. We all know that books are special, but these books are REALLY special. Cassie works in a bookstore in NYC. One of her regulars dies in the book shop moments after she has talked to him. He leaves her a book. This is a book unlike anything she even knew existed. This book allows her to travel to anywhere she can image, as long as she has a door to open. The books jumps between a couple POV's. There was a spot that was pretty triggering for me, and I struggled with that, but otherwise, this was a magical, beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Al thoughts an opinions are my own.

I’ve occasionally likened the reading of certain books to being on a roller coaster ride, replete with sharp twists and unexpected turns. Reading The Book of Doors, however, is more like being in a fun house full of trick mirrors that make you appear taller or fatter than you actually are or look distorted in any number of ways. The story has so many twists and turns it’s mind boggling and is so choc full of surprises I rarely could anticipate. I cannot imagine how author Gareth Brown managed to keep the myriad threads straight to form a coherent story.

The Book of Doors is a fantastical tale, yet its characters (or most of them, anyway,) are so genuine and down to earth that it often feels realistic. It’s hard to believe that this is Mr. Brown’s debut novel. His writing is so superb! I expect many great stories from him in the future, and I look forward to reading them. Thank you to NetGalley, Gareth Brown, and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me an advanced reader’s copy. My opinions are voluntary.