I didn’t love this book nor did I completely hate it. The concept of this book is super interesting and I think it could have had a lot of potential but it has so much extra fluff and it drags on SO much that it’s just becomes boring. There are a lot of characters introduced in the beginning within a short period of time that it just becomes super confusing about who is who. I forced myself through this book hoping that the ending wouldn’t be awful and it was a decent ending. It’s not a horrible book but not one of my favs

My dyslexia said, please try the audiobook. DFN at 56%

I was provided an ARC by the publisher; all thoughts are my own. I have purchased the audiobook and will update after i finish listening.

This debut fantasy novel was a surprise, and not what I was expecting, in a good way! I enjoyed the multi-POV and how all of our questions as readers got answered, the secret libraries, and magical books! This was a fun, clever story about time travel and good versus evil. However some of the negative opinions I have about this book stem from one of the villains being unnecessarily racist (calling a character a “black bitch” and another a “jap”) and a few lines that were the epitome of “women written by men.” Other than that, I greatly enjoyed this book!

I loved this book’s concept—a magical book that turns any door to every door + time travel? Sign me up! I had such high expectations, but found this to be just an okay read.

I was so ready to get lost in this world of magical books and doors, but found a lot of the dialogue off/awkward, which I felt prevented me from being able to do that.

While I thought Cassie’s relationship with Drummond felt forced, I absolutely loved her friendship with Mr. Webber and how it played out over time.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

📱 “The Book of Doors” by Gareth Brown
Published February 13, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you @netgalley for this digital ARC

A slow start fantasy novel mixing magic, time travel, adventure and mysterious magical books. Cassie enjoys working in an ordinary NYC bookshop until a favorite customer passes away right in the store at closing time. The last book he was reading has a note for her- “any door is every door.” This book is magic and can transport Cassie through any door of her choosing if she just thinks about it. The problem is the book and the others like it are coveted and there are those willing to kill to obtain the books and the powers they give. I loved the idea of such magical books.

Review copy on NetGalley from the publisher William Morrow

The Book of Doors was a fun read but one that never quite moved into the wow level, which I was expecting and hoping for. I love a book that has a little magical mystery, even fantasy, within a world of books and worlds of books, and this has that in spades and some interesting background looming characters, but perhaps this was just a little too fantastic, a bit YA feeling at times in tone/writing style, and the book didn't become a big win for me. It's a good story, a set of books with magical powers and people seeking them for nefarious reasons, a young woman protagonist who stumbles into one of the books and it's power to take her through doors to other parts of the world, a sense of enduring mystery and long standing fights and searches for all the books with these kinds of powers, a looming sense of possible doom, villains and good vs evil It's all here but it never fully comes together in a fully compelling, can't put down/must read way (for me, hey I hope and know others will love it, my two cents as someone a little less than enthused about how the book read).

3.5 stars

This book was amazing. If you're looking for a space/time travel book, you should pick this one up!

The book of doors follows Cassie, a girl working at a library who loves to read and perhaps even hide inside books to shield herself from reality and the problems that comes with it (relatable? Yeah...). One day, she is given the book of doors by Mr Webber (an old man who comes often to the library and who we get attached to super quickly, I might add) but at first Cassie doesn't realize its powers and potential. However, once she does, she will quickly find out that power means danger and that a lot of very dangerous people are going to come looking for this book.

I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything. I read this book without knowing much and honestly, it was perfect to be surprised at every twist and turn. I'm even thinking of buying myself a physical copy, that's how much I loved this book (and especially the second half, the planning and the way the story wrapped up with two special characters <3)

**Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for letting me read and review an ARC of this book**

Cassie Andrew’s was gifted a very Special Book, the Book of Doors, instructing her that “any door is every door.” And so begins a thrilling adventure as she is thrust into a new reality in which other Special Books exist and are hunted down by an evil woman who is willing to kill anyone who stands in her way of obtaining this most powerful one of all.

I was so enthralled by the storytelling in this debut novel by Gareth Brown. It’s magical realism at its finest, and Brown adeptly balances multiple storylines and various POV’s, without losing the momentum of each chapter, successfully ramping up the pace and intensity until we reach the crescendo - I could not wait to turn the pages and discover what happens next (as well as the how and why and when of it all!) While our friends are taking major risks and figuring out how to protect everyone and the books, there were a few well-chosen quiet moments that will pinch your heart and make you want to get ahold of your loved ones and give them a big, strong hug. Maybe you’ll even shed a tear or two.

In the book description it does mention if you’re a fan of The Midnight LIbrary and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, then this book is for you, and I quite agree. It’s an incredible read, from beginning to end, and I cannot wait for all of you to pick up a copy so you can discover the magic yourself! Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown was an amazing read especially for book lovers. This was an excellent and entertaining fantasy novel. I enjoyed all the characters but especially Cassie. Cassie was an engaging female protagonist. Cassie has been living in hardship since the death of her grandfather. Until, an unexpected book was given to her that has the magical power to be transported anywhere in the world. With a magical book in her hands comes a trail of danger. I loved the magic system of this world and the writing was amazing. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this opportunity.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the arc!

If there’s one genre I’ll always love, it’s magical realism. This book was so fun - a magic book that opens doors and the price it costs to keep it. Lots of twists and turns but ultimately a satisfying end. A book for book lovers everywhere who understand the magic of reading.

As someone who is not a fantasy fan, I went into this one a bit wary. But I loved it so much! It was more magical realism than anything in my opinion, and I got lost in the story.

⭐️rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed the magical realism of The Book of Doors. It was very enjoyable to read and there were so many fun and interesting magic books! And while it was mostly from the FMC POV, it was fun to occasionally read from another’s perspective.

The story was interesting and the plot took a turn I hadn’t expected, but it opened so many doors (pun intended🚪) for what they could do! It was also more emotional than I expected, touching a lot on grief, but I liked what that brought to the characters and the story, so I think it worked well.

It came full circle in the end in a satisfying way. I just wish we had gotten a liiiiiiiiittle bit more at the end, like a view a little bit in the future showing what the group is doing, or even where a certain someone uses a certain book - that would have been really fun. I also don’t know if I missed something while reading the end, but I wish we knew a little more about what Dr. Barnaby does next.

Overall, I liked the story and enjoyed reading about the magic books and all the crazy things going on, wondering what would happen. I’d definitely recommend. And now I’m craving croissants🥐

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cassie receives a magical book that allows her to basically teleport to anywhere in the world through any door. Others are desperate to get their hands on the book, putting Cassie and her friend, Izzy, in danger. Despite being marketed as fantasy, this book felt more like magical realism for me. It was fun and creative, and the main characters were likeable. The pacing did seem a bit off at times, but I would definitely pick up the author's next book. Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the ARC.

Books about books always appeal to me as a voracious reader. As an author, it always seems like an easy gimmick to really get into, but they never truly impress me. Usually, they merely concentrate on a bookshop, but The Book of Doors defies all of the clichés. The fact that books played such a major role in the story actually made me adore it, and it didn't feel at all like a lot of the books with the same theme I have read before. Time travel and magic are combined in Gareth Brown's fiction to inspire readers to embrace the boundless potential of the human spirit and broaden their understanding of reality. Cassie's character changes dramatically as she embarks on her adventure, evolving from an inquisitive and naive young woman into a strong and confident person. Get ready for an intense emotional journey as this tale tugs at your heartstrings, bringing up feelings of melancholy, joy, worry, and more. This gripping tale is full with mystery, adventure, tension, and even a hint of terror. I give this six out of five stars!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I expected some elements of fantasy with a mystery mixed in, but I was sucked into the plot of this book and couldn’t put it down. The time travel aspect was surprising to me and I thought handled really well by the author.

I enjoyed the multiple character points of view throughout the book and I was especially impressed with the authors ability to tie so many nuances and plot lines together seamlessly.

I especially enjoyed the redemption aspects when it came to Cassie’s relationship with her grandfather and Mr. Webber. As someone who has lost a parent, I was moved by those interactions and the opportunity to make those endings right.

Highly recommend this book!

While fantasy isn’t my genre of choice, this fell more on the “magical realism” spectrum of fantasy, and I ended up really liking it!

Cassie is gifted a mysterious book, that she quickly finds out is the Book of Doors; allowing her to use the book to enter through any door to anywhere in the world, and at any time in history — “any door is every door”. But this gift puts her, and her friend Izzy, in incredible danger.

I enjoyed that this book had a fresh take on time travel, and cementing the notion that while you can go back in time, you cannot change the events that occur anyway. While the book starts off a bit slowly (in my opinion), the last few chapters alone are worth the wait. Gareth does an amazing job of having the plot come full circle, weaving together the past and present.

Things I loved: the main character Cassie and her development, friendships portrayed throughout, Cassie’s relationship with her grandfather, the love of books theme, and the ending.

Things I didn’t love: most of the characters, especially the “bad guys”, problematic language including identifying characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Pub Date: 2/13/24 (out now!)

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise is great, but the story and characters are bland.

This was such a disappointment. The characters were all one dimensional, with no background story. Which made the two most horrible characters a waste of time…because why were they so evil!!?! “WHAT WAS THE REASON?!”

I didn’t care for the narrative it just seemed to be all over the place with no real descriptive content. There was a lot of “telling” of what happened. The dialogue wasn’t that great.

This just didn’t work for me.

On one winter day in New York, a favorite customer leaves Cassie Andrews a book with the inscription that it's the Book of Doors and that any door is every door. Thus begins an amazing adventure unlike anything she could imagine, taking her around the world, meeting new friends, and introducing her to an evil worse than anything she could ever have imagined.
In the acknowledgements, the author mentions that someone told him "more wonder!, put more wonder in it! where's the sense of wonder?". This debut author definitely found the wonder! I thought this book was magical, unique, and exciting... unlike anything I've read before. It's a wonderful book about books that you won't be able to put down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Darling Doors

Rarely do I encounter a book that leaves me yearning to dive back into its pages immediately upon finishing. Gareth Brown's "The Book of Doors" falls squarely into that exceptional category. As someone still navigating the realms of fantasy literature, time-travel narratives often prove hit or miss for me. However, from the moment I laid eyes on the title, I found myself inexorably drawn into Brown's enchanting world.

At the heart of the story lies Cassie, a character who resonated deeply with me, reflecting facets of my own journey. Witnessing her evolution and resilience throughout the narrative filled me with an immense sense of pride. Her dynamic relationship with Izzy, characterized by their stark differences yet undeniable synergy, added layers of depth to the story. Similarly, the subtle yet electrifying chemistry between Cassie and Drummond enriched the narrative without overshadowing its essence.

What truly sets "The Book of Doors" apart is its meticulous world-building, anchored by a sophisticated magic system revolving around mystical tomes. Brown's modern setting seamlessly integrates with the intricacies of this magical realm, captivating readers with its immersive detail. Each character possesses a distinct voice and personality, contributing to the narrative's richness and authenticity.

Throughout the book, I found myself enraptured by the relentless action and unexpected plot twists. Moments of clarity illuminated the storyline, while others left me reeling, necessitating moments of quiet reflection to absorb the magnitude of what I had just read. In my eyes, "The Book of Doors" stands as a masterpiece of the time-travel genre, showcasing Brown's remarkable storytelling prowess.

As a debut novel, "The Book of Doors" heralds the arrival of a formidable literary talent. I eagerly await Brown's future endeavors, eager to see where his boundless imagination leads. This book has left an indelible mark on me, its impact destined to linger in my thoughts for years to come.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC

4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was actually pretty good. I really liked the authors writing style and how interested this book kept me. I've read a few time travel books and this is probably one of my favorites. I loved the contrast between good and evil that and how the power of the books of magic turn the people who own them. If you love fantasy books then I would definitely check this one out.