When I first read the excerpt for this book I was really intrigued. It's always fun to find books with a unique magic system. The book started off slower than I was expecting so it took me a bit to really get into it, but when I did I was hooked! Once this book dug its claws in I stayed up until 2 am because I HAD to know what happened. As I stated before, one of the things that drew me in was the unique magic system. In The Book of Doors, the magic comes from special books that give those who can read it abilities. There were 2 different antagonists and both were formidable in their own right. The male antagonist does make some comments that are both racially derogatory and misogynistic. However, they were a small part of the dialog so I was able to look past them, if you don't believe you can maybe consider skipping this book. Aside from that Gareth Brown did an impeccable job of interweaving the past and present timelines seamlessly and really explaining why and how everything happened. I can't wait to read more by this author.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing a digital review copy of this imaginative and bingeable book with me in exchange for my honest review.

The concept of this book really interested me however, it couldn’t keep me interested. I do plan on trying again in the future because again the concept of being able to travel through the pages of a book and bringing whoever was with along was intriguing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an arc.

Full transparency: I have struggled with the idea of writing this review and leaving a rating because I did DNF this book at around 35%. Please take my feedback with a grain of salt. Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean you won’t.

I was so excited to read this and I am so sad to say that I knew from about 10% of the way through that I was not going to enjoy it.

To begin with the positives, the premise and magic system described in the synopsis really intrigued me. I really enjoyed the magic books, even the more simple ones were made to feel exciting.

But, the pacing was inconsistent and the prose was odd to me. Everything felt very clunky and forced. In my opinion there were several instances where details that added nothing to the world/character building or plot. I also did not appreciate the author’s stereotypes he applied to the female characters. Some of the first introductions we get to Cassie and her roommate Izzy are them complaining about their bodies which to me is just lazy writing.

The main characters and villains also felt very flat to me. I couldn’t connect with any of them and I struggled to focus while reading.

All this to say, I was disappointed but that doesn’t mean someone else out there won’t enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The adventures and quest by various characters to collect the books kept me interested and kept the story moving. I have to admit the nefarious characters scared me a little. That added to the classic good vs. evil plot line. I also enjoyed the hint of romance between some of the characters. Finding out where the books came from, Cassie herself when she goes into the Nowhere, was very clever. All in all, a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow for an ARC copy of this book.

Oh my gosh - I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It sounded interesting from the synopsis, but it ended up being so much more than I expected. Although Cassie is our "main" character, all of the other characters get their time to shine and all of their backstories really adds to the depth of the entire novel. Although there were a few twists I figured out, the story had other surprises & action that kept my attention. And by the end all of those pieces came together nicely - I'm always so fascinated when narrators are able to do that. (I envision a wall of sticky notes moving around.) In the end I finished the book with a smile and wanting to be apart of a world with magic books... maybe.

This was suchhh a fun book! I’m truly a sucker for books about books so I had to jump on this one immediately.

Book of Doors by Gareth Brown follows Cassie, a bookseller in NYC, who is left a book by her favorite customer. She soon learns it’s a magical book that can transport her to any door in her imagination. This sets off an adventure of others with ill intentions trying to get their hands on the book to add to their collection of other magical books.

I found this book to be whimsical and magical. All of the characters were interesting to read about. It was truly a fantastic journey to read through. I don’t usually love fantasy books but this one was definitely a good one.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I was thrilled to get the chance to read this book because it has a similar vibe to some of my favorite books. If you like The Starless Sea + The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue + The City of Stardust + The Atlas Six then you will like The Book of Doors.

This book is a fun literary portal fantasy about magical books that will appeal to literary fiction readers and fantasy readers alike. Our protagonist, Cassie, acquires one of these books called The Book of Doors, which allows her to open any door anywhere at any time. At first, she is having fun exploring the world, but then she learns that sinister individuals want her book to add to their magical book collection, and they will do whatever it takes to get it. So ensues a chase through time and doors that is both mysterious and exhilarating.

I had such a great time reading this book. It's fun but also has moments of seriousness. There are great characters and great portrayals of friendship. I definitely recommend giving this one a go, and I cannot wait to read more from Gareth Brown in the future.

An enchanting tale, The Book of Doors opens up unending possibilities of portals to adventure around the world for any who have it. This magical book is not the only one and floating around the world. This unique magic system was captivating, especially for those who are lovers of books, Fast-paced with action, fights, mystery, and wonder, my attention was held throughout the story as I wondered what books would be uncovered and characters revealed. This book did get a bit detailed and gruesome at some points, but it also showed the length of insanity and power some feel. The romance was a slowburn and not the center of the book, both of which I enjoyed. There were a lot of characters, places, and time lines in this plot, that in a few occasions lost me, but they all came together in the end.

In his debut, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀, Brown presents an intriguing concept - a book that gives one the ability to travel anywhere via any door. The adventure begins in the most magical of places - a bookshop!

One evening as Cassie’s closing up shop, one of her regular customers, passes away, leaving behind a book for her. He’d always encouraged her to travel, and claimed this book would help her. Baffled and skeptical, she shows her roommate Izzy, and they both learn that it’s the real deal! Unfortunately, it puts them in harm’s way for anyone looking to own this book. It’s also not the only book of its kind out there. There are bad people with nefarious motives who want to get their evil hands on it.

While the premise is good, I felt the characters were one dimensional, and lacked the kind of depth that gets me emotionally invested in the journey. The one character who elicited a reaction from me was only known as ‘the woman’, and she was vile! Her scenes were disturbing.

That being said, there are some creative twists more than halfway through the book that I was happy to see. I think it’s a good debut, and that the things I felt were missing will improve as this talented author grows.

Read this for:
*time travel & magical realism
*suspense/thriller vibes
*lots of croissants

Be aware of: racist & sexist language (bad guys), body issues talk (FMCs)

Thanks to @williammorrowbooks for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such an interesting and dreamy read!! Loved it but was a little slow at times for me. Definitely would want to read more from this author!

The authors concept of time travel really hasn't spoken much to me in past reads. However, I was drawn into this read for its beautiful depiction of life and all the doors we have to go through to end up where we are today.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown in exchange for an honest review. When I first started this book it felt a lot like Locke and Key by Joe Hill. As I kept reading though, it developed more into its own story. I really enjoyed it and the characters. This was a sci-fi/philosophy/fantasy novel that kept my interest until the last page. I finished this book sad that it was over and wishing for more.

As an avid reader and a book publisher, it is rare for me to reach the end of a story and feel drawn to start it all over again. Yet "The Book of Doors" was just such a book for me. I think perhaps it is one of the best books of the year!

I loved the relationship between Cassie and Mr. Webber (although I wondered why, after spending so much time together, they never graduated to a first-name basis). But there were plenty of other relationships I enjoyed too, including Izzy and Lund's, and Cassie and Drummond's.

Overall, "The Book of Doors" is an excellent time travel fantasy story that focuses on the power of books and friendships, and the pain of love and loss. I enjoyed the characters, the twists and turns of the plot, and the narrative. The pacing kept me enthralled with the story and there were many times I was surprised by a sudden turn I hadn't anticipated.

My only "complaint" is that the author has set the bar high for his next book. :-)

Thank you to Gareth Brown, William Morrow, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

The Book of Doors was such a fun and magical read, though not quite what I was expecting. I really loved the adventure found in these pages, and the thought of having a magical book that could literally transport me is an idea that I think all avid-readers can appreciate and love. The book went in a direction that I did not expect - the beginning of the story felt so unique and mystical, but by the end it read more like a general good versus evil story. The pacing also wasn't consistent, and I found some parts dragged a bit. Some dialogue was a bit problematic to me, but overall it was an enjoyable story.

*spoiler-filled summary*

Have you ever read a book and wondered how the author’s mind is able to create such elaborate stories and intricate characters? This is how I felt about the Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. When I started this book, I had no idea what to expect with this concept of a magical book, capable of opening every door. I started to imagine what I would do if I owned the Book of Doors. Probably never drive again and save a lot of money on flights. I thought the main character, Cassie, would discover new cities and make profound discoveries about life and happiness. Instead, I was pulled into a whirlwind adventure about secret societies, evil villains, and time travel.

Time travel is one of the main points of the book. Honestly I am amazed at how the book kept me on my toes at where the characters would travel to next. I enjoyed every minute of this book and I adore all the characters.

Aside from time travel, grief is heavily touched on in this book. Cassie’s relationship with her grandfather and Mr. Webber was heart-warming to see. I loved that she used the book to connect with them even after they passed away. It makes me wonder what it would be like to talk to someone at an older age, an age they never got to see in their lifetime.

Overall, the premise of this book was spectacular. I enjoyed my experience reading this book. I felt that it was thought-provoking and I often catch myself wondering what I would do if I had a Book of Doors.

*side note*
I am still not over the ending of Hugo Barbary and Rachel. I can’t believe how full circle it was knowing where the villain came from and why she changed so suddenly. I quite literally audibly gasped.

Love love loved this book ! Fantasy, action, adventure that really held my attention. 5 stars.
I have no negatives for it.
Cassie works in a book store and lives a quiet life with her friend Izzy. Mr Webber is a customer who has become a friend to Cassie. He loves to talk about books and encourages Cassie to read “The Count of Monte Crisco”. Mr Webber passes away in the store after giving Cassie a book.
When she returns to her apartment, feeling depressed, she opens the Book of Doors . The friend soon discover that any door will lead them somewhere else in the world, even the past .
Cassie and Izzy travel to distant places and meet up with a book hunter that wants the magic book but he wants their trust. He warns of others looking for their book with violent intentions.
Wonderful story that ends perfectly. Thank you NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

First and foremost I'd like to thank netgalley for sharing my arc copy of the book of doors. The plot of this book was very intriguing and I even encourgaed several friends to pick it up. A few of them really Loved it. Personally, I really enjoyed the unique magic system that the books provided. However, I did struggle thru in overcoming my uncomfort for some of the darker themes. I think it just wasn't the proper genre for me. Thank you again for the opportunity

I love the idea of a book filled with magical doors and would love to find such a thing myself. This book, however, just annoyed me.

The author holds the reader's hand way too tightly. There are lots of bits like, "the old man sighed, as if he was sad." I can draw my own conclusions here! If you can't think of another way to tell me the guy is sad other than to outright tell me, you need to be practicing your craft more. Context clues were already there, please trust me enough to figure out what the sigh means on my own.

I got bored. The sweet, smart, bookish and beautiful Brooklynnite with the sassy roommate, the cute quips about finding magic doors and the interminable expressions of disbelief about the magic doors, wonderment at what to do about the doors, just the whole production felt cliched and predictable. I didn't trust the author to take me anywhere I wanted to do with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

🚪 fantasy, magical realism
📖 time travel
🚪 good vs evil
📖 Special books
🚪 friendship, found family, love, loss, grief

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) Okay I loved this book!! I finished last night and have been bouncing between four and five stars ever since. I finally landed on five because for one, this was the first book I've read in a while that made me sad instead of relieved when I knew it was almost over and two, this read like a magical movie and it was truly a unique and fun adventure.

I went into this thinking it would be a cutesy fantasy and I put it off because that wasn't really my mood. Well I was wrong, because things get DARK at times. I don't want to spoil but I will say that it's multi-pov and one character in particular is not a nice person and their view is quite disturbing. So keep that in mind because although it didn't bother me, I'm not sure this will be for everyone. Feel free to dm me if you need more on this before deciding to read. Anyway, it all begins with main character Cassie. She's just a normal young adult working at a bookshop in NYC. Until, one night an old man who's a regular customer dies in the shop and Cassie discovers he has left her a mysterious book. She quickly discovers it is not a regular book, when she and her roommate are able to transport through doors while in possession of the book. What begins as a fun night out hopping through doors in New York, turns into a journey through different places and time, and ends in an epic battle against evil.

Overall, I'm not a huge fantasy reader but books like this make me think I should read more in the fantasy/magical realism genre. So I definitely think The Books of Doors can be enjoyed by casual fantasy readers like me! Lastly, this was a DEBUT novel! I'm so impressed and will definitely be reading the author's next work.

I was not able to finish the book and therefore do not feel that I can give an unbiased review about the book, its plot, characters, or the author's work. I might revisit this book at a later time and finish it then, but not right now.