I thought this book was going to be a bit different than what it turned out to be. It was decent, but it fell kind of flat for me. The MC definitely made decisions that got on my nerves, and I didn't really care about any of the characters too much. The story just kept going on and on and it could've been so much shorter. The way some of the characters were described by their race was off putting as well.

Overall I wouldn't read it again and it was underwhelming. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m of two minds about this book. One, the premise is fantastic,; magical books being sought by good and bad people and two young women caught in the crossfire. Loved this, loved the traveling to various points on the globe by just walking through a door. Fantastic, magical, full of wonder. Liked parts of the sinister mystery surrounding the books and the hidden Fox Library existing in the shadows to keep it safe from those seeking the books to inflict harm. All of this was good.
However, this is what dragged the story down for me. (Just my opinion- grain of salt and all that) Most of the characters felt dull as dishrags for most of the story. Every time I felt they were getting interesting, they just sort of fizzled out. You have people dealing with actual magic, and they behave as if it’s just another Tuesday afternoon! The story felt very disjointed at times and my mind would start to wander. Which made me keep checking to see if I was even close to the ending, which I never was. All of this said, I would recommend this to anyone who wanted something with some magic and a bit of mayhem.
**Thank you NetGalley for allowing me a chance to read this book.**

The Book of Doors introduces us to Cassie Andrews, a kind, but reserved, clerk as a bookstore in New York City. Cassie shares an apartment with Izzy who is delightfully commonsensical and tough. A favorite customer dies at a desk in the bookstore, leaving Cassie a book with strange scribblings and sketches. She discovers that it has the magic power of transporting her from door to door.

When Cassie and Izzy appear and disappear from the roof, Drummond Fox notices her and immediately knows what book she has because he is the heir to the Library of magical books, a library he has hidden away because wicked people seek the power of the books. The most coveted book, though, is the Book of Doors. Several malefactors are trying to capture it and they don’t much care what happens to people in their way.



The Book of Doors does an excellent job of creating a complex plot full of time travel. The intricacy of Cassie’s exploits with the Book of Doors to weave a clever plan in the past and present. Of course, the risk of changing the past is considered and then sort of solved in a not-quite-convincing way. I liked the characters and the plot, except for the malefactors who are one-dimensional and giving us insight into how they became one-dimensionally evil doesn’t really address the fact that they are one-dimensional.

This has the construction of a series introduction. We have met a cadre of friends who have a goal, a magical entity needing protection. There is a potential for quests, for more books, to find more people using books for ill. To be honest, I hope Gareth Brown resists the temptation. One of my personal peeves is a lot of meeting and greeting and catching folks up. There was already some in this book, I can’t imagine book five.

I received an e-galley of The Book of Doors from the publisher through NetGalley

The Book of Doors at William Morrow | Harper Collins
Gareth Brown author site

This is a story of a woman who loves books and through a series of events has to save herself and her friend. Though I loved parts of the story and was entertained, I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I had hoped. Lots of potential = just not written as well as it could have been/developed enough.

What a simply divine book of the living in a world with magical books. These books are wonderful in the right hands and can help one move into new places and have different skills. I love how some do not show themselves until the right person comes along and holds it. This book is refreshing and super fun to read. The characters were well developed and the settings were so fun to travel through especially the Fox home that is hitting.

I love Cassie, who was gifted the book of doors by a man who was a customer in the book shop she works in. She realizes this isn't an ordinary book at all. She thinks of a place and the book opens doors for her to go to and go on adventures. If only she had realized that there was a price to using this type of book. Her roommate, Izzy, tried to get Cassie to not use the book and then all of a sudden they were in a crazy world of magic.

This book travels through time, worlds and lives of many wonderful characters. in this book. The language was fun to read and I found myself wanting more and wishing the book was longer. I enjoyed how the characters moved through the shadows.. I think this would be a wonderful way to see the truth of things. The way these things happen in the shadows and how smart the characters were to bring it all together.

What a fun read that any bibliophile would enjoy. Super amazing characters, settings and plot. I wish I could read this again for the first time!! Bravo Gareth Brown on a book well done that I hope will have follow up books.

Thank you William Morrow, NetGalley and Gareth Brown for my ARC in return for my honest opinion. Keep reading and find your next adventure in black and white. momstr

Imagine you can open a door into France for breakfast croissants, open another door to a lazy afternoon in Venice, and then transport yourself home. Cassie finds herself in possession of a magical book that's capable of making any door a portal to any other door that has existed. She has fun exploring the possibilities with her BFF Izzy. They soon realize that such an extraordinary book may be more dangerous than they thought as other book collectors, with other unique books, come after them. Suddenly it's up to Cassie, Izzy, and a Scottish magical librarian to protect the world from evil.

I loved this book, it has such a unique concept! Books that possess magic and give the holders such a variety of powers was so fun to read about. Cassie was a wonderful and believable main character. We switch POVs a few times, but it was never confusing and introduced us to quite a few great characters. I really enjoyed the relationships that developed, not romantically, but the close friends-who-become-family friendships. The atmosphere in the book was so well-written, I wanted to cozy into a blanket with a book in the Fox Library myself. Some of the time travel got a bit confusing, as time travel is prone to do, but definitely worked out in the end in such a perfect way. Brown did a great job of creating an intricate storyline with some unexpected twists. The plot moved pretty quickly and kept me reading late into the night to find out what happened next.

If you're a fan of The Midnight Library, or other modern fantasy, you should definitely give this book a read. It does get a tad dark at times with a little violence if that's a trigger for you, but it's definitely not the main focus of the story. I look forward to reading more from Gareth Brown. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my opinions. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

“A good story is just as good the second time around.” ~Cassie, The Book of Doors

A magical book that can transport you around the world. Thank you @williammorrow for my early copy of this perplexing novel.

What a fascinating read, jumping back and forth between decades of time, the questionable characters, who is who, so many perplexing moments. I couldn’t stop reading, just trying to figure out WHAT THE HECK IS GOING TO HAPPEN?!

The story follows not only a Book of Doors, but also books of pain, illusions. All at the start of just a small gift to a bookseller, Cassie, from a dear old friend.

There were so many moments I sat there thinking, “wait did that really just happen or was it an illusion?” And I lost count of how many times I thought I had it all figured out, only to jump into the next plan and realize that I had it all wrong! Ha!

I really didn’t like the villainous character, which is to be expected, I suppose. He does have some very questionable statements throughout the novel, which left me wondering a big WHY… I still never answered that question.

Definitely read this one if you like mind-bending magical realism + time travel. If you liked the Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, then you may really enjoy this one as well. I still like Addie La Rue better, for those of you that asked! It also reminds me of The Ten Thousand Doors of January”...I think I liked this better than that one.

Brown's "Book of Doors" is a mesmerizing tale that effortlessly blends elements of fantasy and magic. Set against the backdrop of New York City, there is a secret world with magical books with powers unbeknownst to many. the story takes readers on an adventure through decades following protagonists Cassie and Drummond. However, amidst the adventure and magic, there lies a subtle undercurrent of romance that tantalizes readers' senses. The dynamic between Cassie and Drummond, a mysterious stranger she meets on her journey who has a secret about the magical books, is fraught with tension and longing, hinting at a deeper connection waiting to be explored. Yet, despite the palpable chemistry between them, the book never fully delves into the romantic aspect, leaving readers yearning for more. While the lack of explicit romance may leave some readers wanting, it does not detract from the overall allure of the story. Brown's vivid descriptions and masterful storytelling transport readers to a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, and where the possibility of love and adventure looms. .In conclusion, "Book of Doors" is a spellbinding tale that will captivate readers with its magical elements and tantalizing hints of romance and encounters with dark forces. While some may wish for a bit more spice in the romantic subplot, the book's enchanting narrative and richly imagined world more than make up for it. Gareth Brown has crafted a truly enchanting adventure that will leave readers eagerly anticipating what lies beyond the next door.

Wait, wow. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I loved The Midnight Library and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue so I thought I would give it a try. Cassie is a fun character to adventure with- she loves her people fiercely and will protect them at all costs. There were some moments when I had trouble understanding why she cared quite so much for her friend and roommate, but by the end I appreciated the way that this book looked at what it means to love people in a non-romantic or sexual way. It was lovely. The magic in this story was fun. Typically in a story with magic and time travel like this one, there are holes where the universe just doesn't quite make sense to me. This story fills them all and everything has closure by the end. It isn't the deepest story I've read this year, but it was entertaining and was a great escape. Do recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Most avid readers would say books are magical. There are some books, though, that are magical in more than just a metaphoric sense. Some would see the possibilities in these books and work to protect them. Others….well, they see power and want to use them for control.

This is a very character driven story. As the characters become mired in the fight to collect and protect the books, they go through periods of introspection. Some of those periods were a bit slow but they add context, provide some history and were often emotional; there were a lot of difficult good-byes, a lot of "we'll meet again". I found myself tearing up many times over the course of the story.

I was intrigued by the premise of this story, but it was different than I expected and it took some time to become immersed in the fantasy. Once I did, though, I had to keep going. I was never quite sure where the story was headed.

I have a hard time rating this, but I think I would give it 3.5 stars. It's one of those books that after closing the cover at the end, you need to sit a moment to let it all soak in.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't expecting much from this book but I ended up loving it. The world that was created in this book was amazing. We already know that books have special powers just by taking us to a different world but I loved the idea of books actually being magical.

The villains in this book are truly terrible people. Like I haven't seen people this evil in a while. They actually felt terrifying.

The Book of Doors is magical, whimsical, and just plain fun. A longtime bookstore patron dies (in the store, no less!) and leaves bookseller Cassie a Book of Doors, which takes her anywhere she wants to go. Cue: Reading Rainbow theme song.

Her first destination of choice: NYC’s Library Hotel rooftop (a real-life magical space in and of itself). She then bounces to The Strand and the New York Public Library, all part of every literary person’s dream.

Soon though, she encounters Drummond Fox, whose nickname is “The Librarian” with a vast collection of his own magic books, which many will do anything to get a hold of. What ensues is a story about the book hunters trying to capture these valuable books to wield as weapons.

While I liked the fantastical elements of the book, especially time travel (one of my favorite subjects), there were a LOT of different books to keep track of, as well as characters, timelines, and outcomes.

It’s an adult debut novel but reads a little YA and gets somewhat convoluted near the end. But it was entertaining and felt unique, with the good outweighing any bumpy parts.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read a digital ARC of The Book of Doors. I saw this one getting some buzz on social media, so I really wanted to have the chance to read it. The Book of Doors is one of those unique books about books that makes you remember why you love reading and why you love to get lost in a book. literally. It's an ode to book lovers and readers everywhere; readers will be enchanted and captivated by the story!

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. So, if every door could be any door where would you go? To France for pastries because that's where you go when you work at a bookstore/coffeehouse. There are books in the world that are magic and do different things. The good guys want to talk about them the bad guys want to use them for bad things. There is some running, some fighting and then some wibbly wobbly timey-wimey stuff. In the end our girl goes from working at the bookstore to working at the library. The library is full of magic books so that's cool.

WOW I loved this book so much 😭😭 This is truly a book for the bookish peeps IYKYK

It took a little bit for me to get into this one, but once I was in, I was completely hooked on the story. There is a time travel element to this, which usually throws me off - I often find myself poking holes in the theory and it takes me out of the story. The way it works in this book is so simple and digestable, but also so realistic (not in the physics-sense, but in the continuity sense, lol). I'm getting bogged down here, but all that to say, don't let a little TT scare you, it is totally worth it!

The storyline is so intricate, but the way that everything comes together at the end is so SATISFYING and also, incredibly impressive. I just loved loved loved everything about this book and I just know it will be a lasting favorite of mine. Cannot wait to read more from Gareth Brown.

Thank you to NetGalley + William Morrow for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was very excited to read The Book of Doors as I have been loving books that feature magical realism and time travel. Sadly, this debut novel fell a bit flat for me.

What I liked:
-the premise of the novel
-the mc’s relationships with those she cared about
-the mc determination

What didn’t work for me:
-unnecessary romance
-boring at times, pacing was off
-problematic language throughout the book

While I thought this novel was just ok, overall it wasn’t for me.

I have a special place for this book because it had everything I could ask for. I love books about books so this was just perfect for me. Loved the worldbuilding and the storyline. Good job!

Any door is every door. 🚪

Wow. 🤯

This left my mind spinning. It was fantastical, and thought provoking. It surprised me. It was so different than what I was expecting, and really blew me away with how charming, but complex it was. This book held nothing back, and made no apologies. It was at times BRUTAL, but every brutal moment had purpose.

⭐️𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐢 𝐏𝐎𝐕
⭐️𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲
⭐️𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥
⭐️𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦
⭐️𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
⭐️𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬

The writing was exceptional. I could envision everything so easily. There was no info dumping, just very fluid descriptions. The way the author described things was unique, and truly beautiful. It really resonated with me.

“𝑨 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕.”

This was a book of possibilities. The way the dots were connected blew my mind. I didn’t guess a single thing. It had me flabbergasted. It was like a magician saying look here, while they did something out of your line of sight. I was blindly along for the ride, in the best way. It was absolutely magical.

“𝑰𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒌𝒆.”

The ending was incredibly satisfying, but left open for a sequel?! 👀🤞🏼 I’m truly sad to say goodbye to Cassie, Drummond, Izzy, Lund and Azaki. What a ride! 🙌🏼

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As an avid reader, who doesn't love reading books about books!? And Magical books at that! It was such a fun journey and from a debut author at that!

This one is a mixed bag for me. There was a lot I liked and some that I didn't.

The concept and magic system were so incredibly interesting. I love the idea of magical books. It's greatest strength was this and world building. I could imagine this making a great TV series.

Cassie wasn't always my favorite as an MC, but then again a lot of the characters rubbed me the wrong way. The dialogue was clunky as well. The characters especially the women needed more work. Like why are they always thinking about food and in a negative way? That's just not needed.

There were insightful lines about life, old age, grief, family. It's a very quotable book.

My favorite part was Cassie's and Mr. ¿Webber? Relationship! I have a soft spot for old people and every time I read any part with them I was in tears.