Cassie, a young woman who works in a New York bookshop, finds one of her favorite customers dead in his chair, holding two books, one a novel he was reading, and the Book of Doors, which he has inscribed as a gift to her. She discovers that the book has the power to transport its owner through any doorway they can imagine to visit any place in the world.
At the same time, the reader is introduced to Drummond Fox, a Scottish librarian, whose job is more dangerous than it sounds. He is pursued by Mr. Azuki and his bodyguard, who are hired by the person known only as the Woman. There are other titles mentioned, the Books of Joy, Luck, Dispair, Destruction, and others, each volume having its own special magic.
Normally, this would be the kind of book I enjoy, full of magical books and the people who love them. It is not badly written, but I had to stop reading 27% of the way through (my unpublished Kindle copy had no pagination beyond "locations" and percentages) because it was making me feel sick.
I had already felt disappointed by the characters. Cassie, who I assume is supposed to be the main character, seems oddly limited. I learned that she is an orphan who has traveled widely and now lives a life full of small pleasures and not much hope. I found it difficult to relate to a person whose imagination seems oddly stunted. When she discovers the magical powers of her new book, she spends every spare moment revisiting her favorite travel destinations (watching a sunrise in Prague or having coffee and a croissant in Paris) or opening a doorway to allow her to visit the scene of a postcard sent to her from Egypt. When she brings her friend, Izzy, with her, they travel to a rooftop restaurant in Japan or use the book to get back to work before Cassie's break is over. I found myself wishing Cassie could come up with something more interesting to do. There are, after all, sunrises and croissants in New York. She never engages with any of the people in the places she visits or takes advantage of any of the cultural opportunities. Even the Japanese restaurant (which moves her to declare that the city is much more impressive than New York) doesn't tempt her to try any of the food.
Drummond Fox, the Librarian, who seems to spend all his time hiding from the Woman who wants to steal the books in the famous Fox Library, seems colorless. He is handsome when he smiles and has a brogue. That's all I learned from reading about him.
Izzy is beautiful and stylish and worries that using the Book of Doors might be dangerous. She is right to worry.
This brings me to the reason I had to stop reading less than a third of the way through.
The Woman is a horrible person who lives to steal books and inflict pain on other people. That's her whole life.
When she sees a happy little girl walking with her mother, the Woman uses the Book of Dispair to destroy her happiness, permanently and completely, for no other reason than that she can.
She derives no pleasure from any of her books, except that of ownership and their ability to hurt others. In a moment of introspection, she wonders what she will do when she has stolen all the magical books and killed their previous owners.
She lives in a decaying house that belonged to her parents, who are buried on the property along with many other hapless victims. The reader learns that when she was a girl, the Woman's parents took her on a trip to New York City, where she was changed. While I was curious about what might have caused the change, the description of how she tortured her innocent mother over several months before burying her next to her equally blameless father creeped me out so badly that I could not bear to read any more. Life is too short. Perhaps if I were more invested in the other characters I might have pushed on, but since I didn't care about any of them enough to continue, I stopped reading The Book of Doors before it gave me nightmares.
While I feel badly about not finishing a book given to me by NetGalley in exchange for a review, I refuse to subject myself to something so unpleasant and so lacking in other redeeming qualities.

I loved the concept of this book. It’s execution, however, has left me conflicted.
The first 20 % of the book bored me. The pacing felt off- rushed- and the characters were very flat. I didn’t like the main character until about 50 % percent of the way in, but then I loved her. That’s also about the point that the story became much more detailed and vivid and finally drew me in, and I couldn’t put the book down.
The dialogue between characters often felt clunky and awkward; the phrasing often struck me as “off” too. There were quite a few scenes that were much gorier than I expected.
I think this book had the potential to be great; but instead is just good, and that’s why I feel so torn. However, I would definitely recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great debut.
Enter a world where books have magic. Special books with a singular power. One that can be used to give or take away pain, one to travel, to heal, cast illusions, and so on. The book of doors where any door is every door.
Cassie works at a local bookstore. The night where she finds the book of doors is the night that one of her old customers, Mr. Webber passes away. When the police and coroner leave his copy of The Count of Monte Cristo is there along with another books she has never seen or heard of. She finds out that she can travel to anywhere she wishes. Any door can be used as a portal to another as long as she thinks and concentrates. Egypt, Vencie, Prague, London, you name it she can go.
I found that I was super fascinated with this story. I really liked the plot and sometimes in certain areas where I struggled a little bit to get through, it got kind of repetitive, I was still needing to know what happened in the end. I may have cried a few times as there were a few parts that definitely made me sad. But overall, I really liked the book. I really enjoyed the magic system as I haven't read anything exactly like it before. I hope to see and read more from Gareth Brown in the future.

A book that combines my love for, well, books… but also ✨ magic ✨ is a book I already know I need to be reading.

This one started a bit slow for my liking, mostly because I was trying too hard to piece together how the individual parts and characters were related. By the end of part one I feel like the pace picked up and I was completely invested in the world and learning more about these magical books.

I LOVED this book!! I highlighted so many quotes and passages and genuinely felt so connected to the characters as I was reading. This was a really interesting spin on time travel that I think most readers will really enjoy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my copy of this ARC to read and review.

I received an e-ARC of this book and I gave it 4.5 stars. It took a little bit for me to really get into it because it was a little confusing in the beginning when new characters were introduced but once I understood the characters I was very interested and I enjoyed the different twists. I even cried a couple times.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I'm sure it will find its audience. I wanted to like it. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

"The Book of Doors" promises a literary escape room, and boy, does it deliver! Cassie, our relatable bookworm heroine, stumbles upon a mystical tome that throws her into a world of hidden libraries, magical secrets, and thrilling danger. Prepare to have your coffee-making routine forever replaced by adrenaline-fueled door-unlocking sessions.

Beyond Narnia: Forget your typical whimsical portal fantasies. This book throws in gritty, shadowy villains and edge-of-your-seat chases, making it a perfect blend of cozy and chilling. Drummond Fox, a librarian with a past as intriguing as his brogue, adds a touch of enigmatic charm to the mix.

Secrets in Every Spine: The heart of the story lies in the captivating Special Books, each holding unique powers and whispers of forgotten lore. It's like joining a secret society of literary alchemists, where words transform into keys and libraries become doorways to adventure.

Page-Turning Twists: Brace yourself for a narrative rollercoaster. Just when you think you've cracked the code, another intriguing layer unfolds, keeping you guessing till the very end. Be prepared to stay up late, fueled by curiosity and the desperate need to see what door Cassie unlocks next.

Room for Growth: While the story keeps you glued to the pages, some character development feels a tad rushed. A bit more depth for Izzy, Cassie's loyal confidante, and Drummond could have added another layer of emotional connection.

A Must-Read for Bibliophiles and Thrill-Seekers: If you're looking for a book that will ignite your imagination, send shivers down your spine, and leave you yearning for a library card to a hidden trove of magic, then "The Book of Doors" is your next literary adventure. So, grab your favorite mug of tea, curl up with this enchanting tale, and prepare to be whisked away through doors you never knew existed.

Final Verdict: A thrilling journey beyond the bookshelf, where every page crackles with magic and danger. Just remember, some doors are best left unopened... unless you're ready for a wild ride.

This book could have gone so many ways and I have to say that I love the direction the author took with it. The magic system is unique and so well done. I love the main characters, and the villain is so dark. The time travel aspect is incredible. The way the timeline is woven is so intricate and expertly done. I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it.

Gareth Brown's "The Book of Doors" promised to be a whimsical romp akin to the Midnight Library and the Night Circus, and boy, did it deliver – with a twist! I was ready for whimsy, but I got a darker adventure.

Meet Cassie, who stumbles upon the titular Book of Doors – a magical passport to anywhere. Forget Narnia; this is a literary rollercoaster with cutthroat book hunters, magical tomes, and a cast of quirky characters.

But wait, there's more! Time travel crashes the party. I'm usually iffy about timey-wimey stuff, but Brown nailed it. The explanations of open and closed time travel aligned with how I think of traveling through time. And I think about it a lot. Kudos!

The third-person POV is like a game of literary musical chairs, jumping between characters. It is confusing at first, but Brown ties everything up with a bow so neat that even Marie Kondo would be proud. My only gripe? The pacing was a little rough! The first half had me slogging through, but the second half? I couldn't put it down. The pieces all started falling into place, and I needed to finish the puzzle.

Emotionally, "The Book of Doors" is a roller coaster, not just because of its magical premise. Brown takes you on a feels trip: sadness, happiness, anxiety – you name it. Beyond the page-turning narrative, Brown dives deep into life's big questions. Destiny, the power of choice, and the awe-inspiring magic of the mundane – it's like Hogwarts for the existential soul.

In the end, "The Book of Doors" challenges you to reconsider reality and embrace the limitless potential of the human spirit. If you're ready for a literary ride that's both fantastical and thought-provoking, strap in – this book is a must-read!

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
What a wild ride this book is! It centers on Cassie, an introverted bookstore employee, who is gifted the Book of Doors.
Thus begins a new life for Cassie and her best friend, Izzy. They are transported to wonderful places around the world that Cassie had visited before. To Cassie, it feels like she’s hit the lottery. Suddenly, though, life spins out of control. Drummond Fox enters their lives, and nothing is ever the same. They’re torn apart, but Cassie never gives up trying to get back to her old life and Izzy.
There’s so much more to this story, but it all involves spoilers. Suffice it to say, I highly recommend The Book of Doors. All that’s needed by the reader is to sit back and enjoy (endure?) the ride.

Thanks to the Publisher and Net galley for a chance to read this advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book has a unique premise- special books that enable the holder to impart special powers- the book of memories, the book of illusion, the book of joy. All can be used for good or evil purposes. Most special of all- the book of doors: it can make any door every door- eg a door in your apartment can open to the streets of Paris, or a rooftop bar in NYC. However it can also open up to 50 years, or any time or place in the past.
When book store worker Cassie befriends an older customer over their love of books- she never imagines what his last gift to her “ the book of doors” will do to her life. As she as her best friend Izzy begin to play with it, they attract the attention of a number of “book collectors” who wish to add this book to their collection- some of which are pure evil. The main villain “ the woman” makes Hanibal Lecter and Darth vader look like a delightful party guest. She is evil personified.
I enjoyed this book, but have to note that the middle bit dragged for me and I did a good bit of skimming, from when the characters separate until I reached the part where the characters join up again for the final battle. The ending was great, and I appreciate how the story tied up the loose ends of how the woman became evil, and how the book of doors came to Cassie.
Note though it is categorized as a “ Romantic Fantasy “- I don't see any romantic other than the affection of good friendship that “ might” blossom into something more sometime in the future.

4.25

okay first thing first, there is NO romance here! some places online say there's romance in here and there's just not, so don't go into this expecting a fantasy romance. instead, go into this expecting time travel, magical books as well as magical realism, and darker fantasy aspects.
definitely a solid stand-alone book with a lot more time travel than expected and i flew through this since it was very fast paced and you get multiple POV's!

i love a good fantasy/magical realism book with a unique premise, and this matched that for me. it's definitely darker than expected, and sometimes the main character made choices that were so obviously stupid which was aggravating.. but

my biggest bone to pick with this book is that there's a certain "villain" that says some things that were completely unnecessary and did nothing to further the plot, or give anything to the story/character. i understand that you're supposed to hate this man, but sometimes these things aren't necessary, and said one too many times. again i am all for making a bad guy seem like a horrible person, but there's a point where it can be too much. that's just my opinion, everyone may and can view it differently. i'm in no means an expert with these things :) besides that, really enjoyed my time reading this and was on the edge of my seat for a lot of the time!

I could see this book being a movie or tv show it had a lot of action straight from the start I’m newer to fantasy and I liked the magic realism in this

DNF I was not able to finish this book in the 72 hours allowed me to read thus I only got a tenth of the way through. I should have waited a day to accept it and will be mor careful next time. The premise is very engaging and the ideas are wonderful so I highly recommend thus book do 4 stars for the part I read!!! Thank you NetGalley for this read!

4.5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


When I first started this book I was filled with wonder. Then a certain character appeared and I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue reading. However, I did, and I am so so glad that I did. While that character certainly knows how to darken a mood, the overall feel of the book is enchanting and mysterious. It is definitely worth the dark pages.

Cassie lives in New York City. A simple life, she lives with her best friend Izzy in a small apartment and works in a bookstore. Kellner Books is her second home. It is where she met Izzy. It is also where she will come across The Book of Doors.

When Cassie receives The Book of Doors, she has no idea of its powers. Then she opens a door onto another place, where she can live out her fantasies! She has the power to open any door onto any place she can imagine. Travel to other places, all by just imagining being there.

But as Izzy soon realizes, this book doesn’t just bring happiness, it can bring pain. As there are those who know about the book and want its power for themselves. Evil people, decent people, but people who will go to great lengths to possess this particular book, putting Izzy and Cassie in danger.

It’s a good one. The writing is engaging and the concept amazing. There is darkness but there is also great light. Absolutely thrilled that I read this one.

I was surprised by the constant labeling of characters in this book only to pigeon hold them into tropes that are harmful and often not true. Why mention a character is a certain gender or ethnicity only to have them immediately be a ruthless murderer?

I really had high hopes for this book and was hoping to enjoy it more than I did, but I instead I could barely finish it.

The Book of Doors was an odd book for me to review. There were parts of the book that I found compelling and well thought out, while other points I found disheartening and even disturbing.

The concept of this book was extremely enchanting. I was captivated by the idea of magical books that can take you anywhere you want in the world, heal people, replay memories, build illusions, time-travel, etc. I fell in love with the sweet relationship between Cassie and Mr. Webber and how their relationship unfolded throughout the book. I cheered on Cassie as she thought of ways to out smart her opponents and protect her best friend while she was stuck elsewhere. I also sympathized and related to many of the decisions she made throughout the book. Delightfully, this book was FILLED with suspense and action.

Unfortunately, there were a few concepts in this book that I found troublesome. Mainly, obsession with food while also portraying negative body images placed on the main female characters, referenced domestic violence, and some extremely dark and disturbing scenes that seemed to drag on.

With that being said, I appreciate the hard work and dedication that the author put into this book regarding the lore of each and every book that he created and the wild and extremely well thought-out timeline. At times, I wished I had a white board so I could keep up with the time-traveling agenda that spanned multiple states, countries, and jumped from character to character (there were quite a few). While this book didn’t leave me feeling as fulfilled as I hoped it would, I am thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to have read this book as an ARC and the journey that it took me on.

If you love books that talk about books and build a wonderful world, then this is the book for you. This book starts slow but once you invest your time reading this book, you will not be disappointed. I will definitely read more from this author.

Oh my. I had high hopes for this book. I feel like the idea was original, but this just did not deliver for me. I expected a plot filled with mystery and more grasp and that’s not quite what this provides. The character development was lacking and parts of the book was too slow without being followed by something huge. I finished it, but was really forcing myself through the last half of the book.

The Book Of Doors sounds like a book with an interesting premise, a book that can open doors all over the world. A young woman encounters upon the book and is soon embroiled into a fantastical adventure. That was the premise that lured me. In reality this book may fulfil that promise, but it wont for me. I am DNF'ing this book at 20% in complete agreement with other reviews on NetGalley about how uncomfortable this book is. Even if I could disregard the incredibly clunky writing and dialogue I would still have issues with the early representation of the female characters in this book and what seems to be a grotesque point of view to other people.
I point to the fact that the male author goes out of his way within the first 20% of this book to have our two main female leads bemoan how unhappy they are with their bodies, one of them calls herself "disgusting" for eating pancakes. Not only this but the same two characters decide to reminisce briefly about a bus trip that they had taken in the past and the choice part of their remembrance is about a fellow passenger who smelled badly. He is described as if he had defecated himself on the bus. This is incredibly mean spirited and honestly a repulsive way to introduce these characters. Essentially these two are who we are to root for? Two young, single women in NYC who complain about their bodies and make fun of other people.
While I really appreciate the chance to read and review this book from NetGalley and William Morrow, I cannot make myself continue with a book that I am so uncomfortable and disgusted reading already. I will not be promoting this book on my social media and I am glad that this book is clearly finding a home with other readers as seen by the other reviews on NetGalley it is not finding one with me.