5/5 stars. I loved this! Beautiful writing that had a way of simply reminding me of the beauty of books and words and the mystery of the way books have the ability to transport you. Loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an eARC of The Book of Doors in exchange for my honest review!

This tale of magical realism pulls me in with its charm and its heart. I must admit, though, that I wasn't entirely certain about it during the first act. Not that the first act wasn't engaging me, because it was, but it also came across too formulaically for my taste, dishing out tropes that I've already seen many, many times. But once the narrative develops past that point, then we get cooking as we further flesh out this secret world of supernatural books. It's a world that radiates a pleasant sense of wonder, especially as we experience that sensation right alongside Cassie. Granted, the narrative still sticks to tropey territory, but because we're diving deeper into the story and continuing to connect with the characters (even the villains, who turn out to be menacingly compelling rather than one-dimensional and bland) and the authentic stakes they're facing, I'm able to be more lenient toward that aspect.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Book of Doors 3.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 3 stars on Goodreads. I'll keep an eye out for more of Gareth Brown's work.

When an elderly who is a regular customer dies in the bookstore where Cassie works he leaves a book- The Book of Doors- behind for her. It allows the holder to open any door and travel to the place of which they are thinking. But others desperately want this book, and others like it, and are willing to kill to possess them.

This book has well-developed characters and intrigue, suspense, scary times and a touch of romance. If you are a fan of fantasy you will enjoy it!

Thank you to Net Galley for providing g an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is perfect for book lovers. For people who believe that books are magic, because they are.
Cassie Andrews works in a small NYC bookstore and is given the Book of Doors from her favorite customer. She opens the book and sees he leaves her a message, "Any door is every door." Cassie & her best friend Izzy discover that the book has special powers, they can travel anywhere and anytime they want. What they don't know is that the Book of Doors is not the only magical book out there. By the Book of Luck they run into Drummond Fox, the Librarian and they are swept up into a dangerous and wonderous world of books. Where people will kill to get their hands on those books.

This is Gareth Brown's debut novel and he knocked it out of the park. It was fast paced and well developed and with every chapter you can see Brown truly loves books and the powers they hold over everyone. I loved this book and recommend this to any and all book lovers. I gave this 4 stars and thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh, my, what a story within a story, within a story, within a story...... I just finished reading this incredibly unique book and scarcely have words to describe it. Author Gareth Brown takes readers on a journey through the experiences of Cassie, a 20-something young woman who works in a small bookstore in NYC. Her life is filled with routine and her nose is often stuck in books when she isn't spending time with her best friend and roommate, Izzy, but all that is about to change remarkably when she is gifted a small, inconsequential-looking book by one of her regular bookstore patrons. Her life and the life of her friend will be sent on an incredible, enlightening journey that soon changes to something much more nefarious, dark, and terrifying. The book holds magic within its pages and the story Gareth Brown writes about it holds magic for the reader. There are many parts of the book that are dark and evil but they are shown for what they are and never glorified and there are always forces fighting against them. Take the time to read this mysterious, magical tale about the Book of Doors and the journey Cassie takes when she opens its pages and the doors that follow. I loved the circular timeline of this book and how so many things that happen depend upon other events in different timelines with different characters. The characters are all very bold and very well defined, many likable and many loathsome but each with their unique story to tell and value to the story as a whole. I look forward to reading more by this author.

LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about this book. The setting, the characters, the story. All of it. I would recommend this to anyone that finds themselves getting lost in the book.

Loved the premise - a bookseller is given a mysterious book by a longtime customer. The book opens doors - offering adventure and excitement.
Villains quickly enter the book - desperate for its power and magic.
Just fell flat for me.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for an eARC in return for an honest review.

Everything changed for Cassie the day that her friend Mr. Webber died in the bookstore she worked at. Mr. Webber left behind a special book for Cassie. A book that can allow you to walk through doors to different places. All Cassie has to do is imagine the place she wants to go. Little does Cassie know that there are others who have magical books and they want the book of doors.

I loved the found family aspect of this book. This is time traveling done right!! The book is thrilling and full of twists and turns, and it has a great ending. If you haven't read it, I suggest doing so. You won't be disappointed.

Wow! This was a slow start but amazing story. The magical realism just hits the spot. I loved all the characters and the magical books! What reader wouldn't love magical books and saving the world! I also really liked the clean ending and very few questions left unanswered. Must read!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before its publication date.

I really loved this book. I am a sucker for a book about books, so this was right up my alley. I was expecting it to be a nice cozy fantasy, but it does get a bit dark in places, so be warned. It did a nice job asking the question of what people would do if they had a book that turned any door into any other door.

This book is thought provoking in a Whovian manner. All I could think of was Dr. Who (Matt Smith version) explaining time travel as a 'timey whimey thing'. This was a rollercoaster ride through past, present and future. I enjoyed reading this book, however, more importantly, I enjoyed the thoughts and ideas it brought to my mind. I was wowed by the characters, (SPOILER...) even the evil one was redeemed when the ending arrived.

Do you want to hear a story? The story of a debut novel full of wonder, about a bookseller who discovers the power of books. Deciding if they hold magic. And, unraveling the mystery behind one particular book. Here's another question. If you could open a door to anywhere where would you go?

When an elderly customer dies at New York City's bookshop, Kellner Books; Cassie Andrews finds herself in a situation she would never have dreamt of in her wildest of dreams. Cassie knew John Webber as a friend. Often coming to the bookstore to sit and read his favorite works with a cup of coffee in hand. On the night of his death, he has a special book; a small, leather-bound book in a language Cassie doesn't recognize. Filled to the brim with mysterious drawings of doors and scribbles of words. There are only a few words in English on the first page: "This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door." And then: "Cassie, This book is for you, a gift in thanks for your kindness." 

Later that night Cassie shows the find to her best friend and roommate Izzy, who's rightfully scared of what the book can do. And yet, despite reservations Cassie is enamored with the magical book soon opening doors to faraway places. Naturally, a book this powerful people are vying for it right? Soon enough Cassie and Izzy find themselves entangled in the underground world of rare book collecting.

“The best place to enjoy a stormy night is in a warm room with a book in your lap,”

Enter Drummond Fox. Known as the enigmatic Librarian, he emerges from the shadows, drawn by the allure of Cassie's newfound ability. Armed with his own Book of Luck, Drummond guides Cassie through the perilous landscape of magical tomes and hidden agendas, as he keeps watch over her. Yet, lurking in the shadows is "the woman," a mysterious figure whose intentions are shrouded in darkness.

As Cassie delves deeper into the mysteries of the Book of Doors, she discovers its profound influence over time itself. Past, present, and future collide in a mesmerizing tapestry of cause and effect, where every choice reverberates across the ages. Fans of enchanting narratives like "The Night Circus", "The Midnight Library", and "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" will be captivated by Brown's intricate world-building and compelling characters.


My Thoughts on The Book of Doors

I must admit I thought this book was amazing. Bolstered by the fact that "The Book of Doors" is a debut novel. I must also admit that it did take a little bit to get fully immersed in the story, despite my initial intrigue in the first chapters and the premise of the story. But once you are drawn into Cassie's world(s) you are fully suspended within the pages of the book.

Speaking of the premise. As a bibliophile, I love the idea that a book can essentially transport you into another world. Because that's what they do when you read them right? I mean if it's a really good book! Taking the figurative transportation and making it a literal thing. And then building on that with things like The Book of Luck.

“This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.”

What's more, is that the book is intricate when it comes to the plot. Weaving threads together that culminate into this grand story. With writing that is lush and descriptive without going over the top in building the layers of the story. The pacing often felt haphazard (this going back to the beginning of me saying it was hard to get into). I am not one for pacing that is too slow (my ADHD gets the better of me in those moments). But as mentioned once the tempo steadies and syncs with the story it is smooth sailing.

However, amidst the wonderment lies a darker truth. The narrative takes an unexpected turn as the veil of innocence is lifted to reveal the chilling reality of torture inflicted by "the woman" and her sinister arsenal of magical books. While these scenes may unsettle, perseverance leads to a conclusion that is both disorienting and deeply gratifying.

In "The Book of Doors," Gareth Brown transcends the bounds of traditional storytelling, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of time, choice, and the enduring power of literature. Prepare to be spellbound as you journey through the pages of this captivating tale, where the past holds the key to the future, and every door opens a new world of possibilities.

“Happiness is not something you sit and wait for. You have to choose it and pursue it in spite of everything else. It’s not going to be given to you.”

Overall, I had a great time with the story and was bummed that The Book of Doors is a standalone. It was fantastical and thrilling, (and a bit bloody lol). *side note* I did hear word that the author is penning his next book which will also be The Book of (Something) and I have to say I can't wait. I hope that Cassie and Drummond are in the next one. I highly recommend it if you are into books with time travel or are a fan of a story within a story like "The Starless Sea".

Thank you so much to William Morrow for an eARC of The Book of Doors. And, check out The Book of Doors on Libro.fm or support an indie bookstore.

The Book of Doors is a well written book about magic. It just was not a great fit for me.
It starts with the protagonist, Cassie, working in a bookstore, befriending an old gentleman, and living a pretty chill life. Then she is gifted a book that works a specific kind of magic that allows her to transport through any door to any other door. A door in an another country? Check. A door to a room in the past? Check.
It turns out lots of people would like to get their hands on the magic book and there are other magical books out there. This puts Cassie in some danger as people hunt the book. She brings her friend along for her misadventures and makes allies along the way. The characters are mostly endearing except the villains who are dastardly.
It took me a while to get through this book. I just wasn’t riveted to find out what happened next so I kept getting distracted and reading other books. Maybe if I had consumed it over a more concise timeframe, all the time jumps would have coalesced better. As a fan of audiobooks, I’m glad that was not the format I chose for this story because there’s no way I would have known what was happening and when I’m time the story was.
I’m not sure if I can recommend this one. It requires a specific audience so maybe I will mention it to real bibliophiles here and there but, truthfully, I’m glad to put this book in my past.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a really creative book. Unique idea by the author, I loved the idea of the portal and time travel. Enjoyable to read and a cahnge from the type of books I normally choose.

This was a unique book that took me on a wild ride. I loved the time travel and portal elements. It did feel a bit too long and could have easily been shorter, but it was a fun experience to read.

This was such a fun book! I wish I had a door to take me wherever I wanted to go! I was instantly drawn in!

100% for those who love The Midnight Library! I really enjoyed this version of different universes through books!
3.5/5

Did you know that any door could be any door? Wow. What a ride! The story’s plot had me up so late. I read this book in only a few days. It has evil people vs good people. The magic will leave you thinking about what you just read. I felt like the characters were developed well, and it kept everything super interesting, made me want to keep reading

If you are a fan of books about books, and love Matt Haig's The Midnight Library, then I'm pretty confident you will love this. I don't want to say too much as I feel this is a book better consumed without prior knowledge but this was an enjoyable, solid read for me.

An interesting ride that kept me wondering what was going to happen. Reminded me a bit of Matt Haig in the best way. I think this will appeal to a crossover audience.