While this story is full of interesting and original concepts -- from the folded time travel plot to the various powers of the magical books -- I feel it struggles with what kind of fantasy it truly wants to be. There are many points, especially early on, that seem to aspire to a cozy fantasy, full of the wonder of books and trite rhapsodizing over pastries. But this atmosphere is thoroughly spoiled by cartoonishly evil villains and gratuitous violence.

I have a particularly bad taste in my mouth regarding a scene in which a villain -- already well established to be evil, powerful, and frightening -- goes off on a highly misogynistic rant and throws a few racial slurs out for good measure. This was simply unnecessary. It didn't really add to the plot in any way. The character was already clearly A Very Bad Guy, but the author seemed to believe upping the stakes was necessary and the only way to do so was in this fit of Joss Whedon-esque white knighting.

There are a few moments like this where the author seems to view shocking the audience at any cost the mark of successful writing. Like, a-ha! I've pulled one over on you Reader - I win! It is overall a well crafted plot, but this lightly adversarial sense turns me off from rating the book very highly.

CW: torture and gore, misogynistic language, racial slurs

Thank you to publisher William Morrow for my advance copy, provided in exchange for an honest - albeit very belated! - review.

I really enjoyed Book of Doors! The story is imaginative and full of surprises, with a world that feels both mysterious and exciting. The way the plot unfolds kept me intrigued, and the characters were so well-written that I found myself rooting for them throughout. It’s the kind of book that makes you think while still being a lot of fun to read. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for something unique and engaging!

I was super excited when I got this arc and I began reading it immediately, but I lost interest around the 30% mark. There was just way to much going on and I started to lose track of what the characters were doing. The characters also lacked depth, which made it hard to connect with them. One character was a complete sadist and I hated him. I also felt like the story was rushed at times. The story would jump really far all of a sudden and then I was lost.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown sucked me in with the concept but pacing and other parts let me down.
I love fantasy and I love when fantasy is mixed with the real world. And I know I'm being picky but if magic exists then bread can't make you fat.

An adventure into magical realism where well-drafted characters pull you along as they discover travel at the turn of the knob with a little time travel thrown in. A fun read that speaks to the heart of all book lovers, travel lovers, and mystery sleuths, this makes a great vacation read.

The audiobook was fantastic, but the story isn't without it's flaws. I would not have finished this book if I hadn't listened to it (HIGHLY recommend the audiobook). There are a lot of interweaving storylines to keep track of, but ultimately I really enjoyed it. Give me all the books about books... especially magical ones.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the gifted eArc.

I really enjoyed this book except for the ending which I felt was a bit rushed. I was really invested in Cassie’s character evolution and discoveries along the way. This book won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but for those who like a longer read a want to guess how until the very end you’ll enjoy this book.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much! I was hooked from the start and loved the premise. I also enjoyed the writing and the characters

This book presents a dreamy formula for fantasy readers, complete with time travel, an epic battle between good and evil, and the tantalizing idea that the source of superpowers is intertwined with books. In this captivating narrative, seizing the most powerful books bestows wealth, invincibility, and unrivaled supremacy upon the possessor. As readers, we've always known that books are the most precious treasures in the world, and this riveting, action-packed, and magical adventure featuring the Midnight Library and time travel delivers a story that firmly underscores this belief.

'The Book of Doors' is a decent read if you're looking for something light and imaginative. It combines an intriguing blend of fantasy, mystery, and adventure that promises much but doesn't quite deliver on all fronts. The premise is captivating: a mysterious book that opens doors to different worlds, each with its own set of rules, dangers, and wonders. It's the kind of concept that sparks curiosity and draws you in, especially if you're a fan of portal fantasies.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a long time to write this review, for a couple of reasons. One is that I have ADHD and genuinely kept forgetting, but the other reason is that I couldn’t quite figure out how to put this review into words.

The Book of Doors is good. That’s a fact, considering how highly I rated it and how highly others have rated it. It’s a good book. The characters are great, the writing is pretty fantastic, the plot and heart at the center of it all are stupendous…it’s a good book. But for some reason it took me almost an entire year to write a review.

Part of it is that it disappointed me in a few ways. It was compared to books like Babel, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and The Night Circus, so that in and of itself gives it some weight. The problem is that it failed to measure up.

You can really tell this book was written by a cis man lol. The way the protagonist describes herself was cringeworthy and the weird emphasis on how women can’t eat certain things because it all goes to their hips…yikes, man. It wasn’t exactly “she breasted boobily down the stairs” but it was definitely along those lines. The pacing was off as well, inconsistent throughout the book; for example, the start of the book goes so quickly that it’s almost forgettable. A lot of debut novels have this problem so I won’t focus too much on it.

Overall, the book was entertaining and there were a few moments that made me tear up (the author is definitely good at writing emotional scenes!), but it disappointed me a little. I think Gareth Brown’s next few books will get better. I’m looking forward to seeing what he comes out with next!

If you're a big fan of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY like I was, then THE BOOK OF DOORS by Gareth Brown is an absolute must-read! It has fantasy and such a fun whimsical adventure at its core.

Cassie is given a book from a customer of the bookstore where she works. She learns that it has magical properties in that she can use it to go through any door to another place. At first she travels with her friend Izzy from her NYC apartment to Paris, then beyond. When they return they discover that someone is threatening to harm them to get the "Book of Doors". She also learns that the Book of Doors can also take you to places in the past. She meets the Drummond Fox the Librarian who is looking for the Book of Doors to destroy it so it can't get into the wrong hands. There is a woman who has some magical books and uses them to cause despair, pain, and murder in the search for all the magical books.

The travels of Cassie, Izzy, Drummond, and others is a twisty adventure that pits good vs. evil; hope vs. despair, happiness vs. pain. It is also about how we can make our own destiny with a little help from our friends.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

Loved this book. A truly unique premise and plot, with twists and turns that were anything but predicatable. Will definitely recommend this book to my students!

This book was outside my normal purview, but I really enjoyed the story. The pacing was spot-on and kept me engaged, despite the fantasy elements that might have otherwise distracted this realist. Every single character was memorable and I found myself relating to them all at least in some small way. Excellent reading.

I loved this book! It has time travel, a couple of evil villains and most important, "special books". The plot comes together perfectly as the author spins a story of time travel by way of the Book of Doors that doesn't change the future, but instead changes the present. It is smartly written and throroughly entertaining. I sure hope there is a sequel!

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown follows a group of unlikely heroes who discover a mysterious set of doors that transport them to other worlds, each with its own dangers and secrets. The concept is intriguing, and the journey through these doors keeps the suspense alive. However, as the story progresses, some characters make racist and fatphobic remarks that feel out of place and detract from the overall experience. These elements pull focus away from the adventure and could be off-putting for readers looking for a more inclusive narrative. An imaginative premise but not without its problematic moments. I most likely would not recommend this to my students, as some of these characters can be harmful to certain ages.

I really liked this book and the idea that there are special magical books out there that have different powers to give people different powers. Made me think of the figurative power of books, and reading, and imagination. A book is a window to the world, and in this case it was a literal door to actual other worlds. Loved the suspense/chase aspect too. Thank you for the opportunity to read a great book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!