Magic. Adventure. Romance. Suspense. This book had everything you could want from a great read. I highly recommend this for all ages.

Is there a way to time travel and read a book for the first time? I definitely want to do that if possible! I loved loved loved the plot of this book and the idea of being able to be able to transport to anywhere you want with the power of the book of the doors. This one had me so very intrigued and interested to see how it would end

The Book of Doors starts strong with a clever conceit. The rest of the book has moments, but I kind of wish I'd taken notes while reading (lots of characters and books and...). Fine way to spend the time, not sure it will stay with me though.

I realized pretty early on that this book isn't really for me, and I did not finish reading it. That doesn't mean it isn't for other people, I just didn't connect with it and had some issues with the way the women were speaking about their bodies. The negative talk about being bad for eating bacon and bread really put me off. I was also really bothered by some of the comments about race in the book, so this one just wasn't for me!

This book was so well written and the plot takes you on various twists and turns. It is a palpable feeling of mystery as you try to determine what will happen in this unique story. Magical realism always transports the reader to a world of endless possibilities and this story does not disappoint the reader. Anyone who is a fan of mysterious stories and plots that tie together at the end in a perfect way will love this book. A great debut novel that excites the reader for the author's next release!

Thank you so much netgalley for this book! I loved the magical aspect of it and it kept me hooked from the beginning to see how it would play out. I've recommended this to my book club and we'll be discussing this book next month! It was very thought provoking and imaginative!

The Book of Doors is a standalone contemporary fantasy by Gareth Brown. Released 13th Feb 2024 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format out in 2nd quarter 2025 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This debut fantasy has a wonderful premise with loads of potential. There are books here which are actually magical. Protagonist Cassie is gifted one such book, with the power to turn a door, any door, into any other door throughout time and space.

Naturally, there are people looking for the books for their own purposes, both benign and malign. Bookhunters are picking off collectors and taking their books. There are inevitable comparisons to The Midnight Library and The Ten Thousand Doors of January. It's definitely reminiscent, if not directly derivative. Readers who enjoyed either of those books will likely find a lot to enjoy here.

The prose and characterizations are oddly rough in places for a top shelf publisher and a book which must have had a thorough editing process (thus it seems intentional artistically). There is a great deal of telling instead of showing, and readers will struggle to maintain engagement with the protagonist.

Three and a half stars. It would make a good choice for public library acquisition, and for readers who really enjoyed the Midnight Library or The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In an interview with the staff of the Los Angeles Public Library (Feb. 15, 2024) Brown spoke of authors that inspired his desire to write. Their influence and his talent have created a stellar debut time travel fantasy. What if you had a book that gave you the ability to travel any where any when just by opening a door? What if you were given a book that allowed you to travel anywhere or any when? What would happen if you, a person who is bright, but unnoticed discovered not only this magic book is real, but there are others offering other magical tools? That is how Cassie becomes captivated by the magic. Spiraling through dangers found in the present, for a while trapped in the past, she becomes all that the reader hopes for. This debut novel generated high interest when first published, being noted by Amazon as an Editors Pick in February 2024. I really enjoy Brown's treatment of the key villain. Not a stereotypical mustache-twiller, the Woman remains almost silent enigmatic and very very deadly. Tension was high enough that this reader did cheat and read the last chapter. Nevertheless, I was up most of the night speed reading to see the resolution unfold.
Brown speaks of writing 5 novels in the last few years, and plans to take some time off. Make that time short please, Readers will hope for a sequel

Full disclosure: I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank for for this opportunity.

Being the booknerd that I am, I’m always drawn to books about book. And sadly, I’m often disappointed. This book of books, however, delivered on every level. Books, magic, danger, love, grief, villains, heroes…who could ask for more?! Clever and witty, with great character development. The gentle-seeming beginning lures the reader in, and suddenly takes them on a wild adventure. The author has managed an epic tale, with no shortcuts, in one modestly-sized novel. Best I’ve read this year.

There was way too much world building in this book. It kept pulling me out of the story which I did not enjoy.

I was immediately drawn to this book when I saw it because I love books with time elements: Addie Larue, Ten Thousand Doors of January, etc.
Overall, I really really liked this book! The main reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is, in some of the scenes, it was painfully obvious that it was a man writing a woman and it made me cringe.

I really enjoyed this book! Magic that kept me guessing. I loved the time travel vibes and the connections built.

After reading what this novel was about I was excited to read it and it did not disappoint! I do not tend to read books not written by women except on specific occasions so I was slightly nervous but I absolutely enjoyed this. The writing was incredible and so was the story and world. This was so compelling and sucks you in immediately, not letting you go until you reach the end.

✨This book grabbed my attention from the first page and never let go! It was a wild, creative, and immersive experience.

✨I’ve always been drawn to books about books—typically comfy tales that celebrate the wonder and magic of literature. However, this story defies that convention. Within its pages magical books exist, but they span a spectrum from benevolent to malevolent.

✨For instance, the Book of Doors possesses the remarkable ability to transport individuals anywhere (and any time) in the world through doorways. On the darker side, the Book of Pain inflicts unimaginable suffering upon its victims. And there’s an array of other mystical tomes, including the Book of Illusion, the Book of Memories, and the Book of Safety.

✨In this contemporary fantasy/thriller, dark forces covet the power within these books, while others are trying to protect the books from falling into the wrong hands. The book’s tagline, “This book is worth k!lling for,” proves chillingly accurate. The novel includes some brutal scenes because malevolent forces will stop at nothing to harness the extraordinary powers these books can provide.

✨The plot is intricate, and the characters are fantastic. Does it have a few flaws? Yes. Did I care? Not even the slightest bit. This was an exciting read, and I can confidently say it will secure a spot among my top reads for 2024. I also think this would be an amazing limited series for television.

Thank you @netgalley and William Morrow for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

When the time came for me to read this book and I looked back into the blurb for a reminder of what this book was about, I was shocked. What a boring-sounding book. A book that takes you anywhere you want to go? Didn’t we already do that with Magic Tree House? I’m also not particularly keen on fantasy, so I wondered why I put it on my TBR in the first place. I think I thought it was a thriller based on death being mentioned so early in the blurb.

The first few chapters proved to be so boring. The book could take the unassuming book-loving blond woman anywhere in the world! Based on the beginning of the book, I thought I would be dragging my feet to finish it. And for a while I was.

But how WRONG I turned out to be.

The blurb doesn’t tell you what the book is really about, and I think that’s because it can’t. Any explanation at all would be too much of an explanation. The story is so intricately weaved with unexpectedness that sharing one detail would lead to sharing them all.

Not a moment of this story is wasted. It’s pure brilliance. Multiple times something would happen that made me contemplate how a loose end had been tied that I thought would play a bigger role in the story. Turns out it did play a bigger role, a bigger role than I could ever think.

This book is pure madness. Insanity. The best take on time travel I have ever seen, and so expertly done. That’s all I can really say about it, for fear of ruining the experience: this book is insanity, and you need to read it.

I’ll share the one detail that intrigued me, though, and started me on a journey to loving one of the best books of the year:

There’s more than just the Book of Doors. There are many books. And you’ll want to learn about them all.

This one had me sucked in from the get go and held my attention until the end (even during the few slower parts). The Book of Doors gives us fantasy, suspense, mystery, and magic books. The cast of characters is well developed and the settings are described in such a beautiful and vivid manner. I adored the relationships between the characters and couldn’t wait to find out how this plot was going to wrap up in the end.

Feeling very neutral about this one. Clearly, I was interested in the premise of this but it didn't grip me the way that I thought it would. I think if I had the physical copy or tried the audio, I would enjoy. Definitely still read if you're interested!

3.5 stars rounded up. I think the overall idea for the book's plot was intriguing, but the execution of it fell short for me. It was a bit slow, and sometimes the dialogue felt juvenile. It is an easy read with a unique premise and mostly likable characters.

Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #thebookofdoors

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a genre bender that is done very well! You will feel immersed in the story because of the intrigue. Can't wait to read more from this author.

"The Book of Doors" by Gareth Brown is an intriguing blend of mystery, fantasy, and adventure that immerses readers in a world where ordinary life intersects with extraordinary magic. Gareth Brown does a commendable job of weaving suspense and magic into a narrative that keeps the reader on edge. The concept of the Book of Doors is fascinating, offering endless possibilities for exploration and adventure. Brown’s descriptive writing brings the bookshop and the magical realms to life, making it easy for readers to visualize the settings and become immersed in the story. The narrative pace is well-balanced, maintaining a good rhythm of action, mystery, and character development. In summary, "The Book of Doors" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of magical adventures and mystery. A solid addition to the fantasy genre, it leaves readers eager for more of Cassie’s adventures.