The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a debut novel with a fun premise. The concept of this book- there are magical books that give you powers such as traveling across time and distance using any door, hiding in the shadows, manipulating matter, etc.- was exciting and held a lot of potential. Brown built an interesting world that blended magic into the real world. The plot was engaging, and while it had a slow start, it picked up and kept me interested. Brown also did a good job of tracking the time travel and how events in the past affect events in the present. I found the time travel aspect of the book to be the most engaging. While the world-building and plot worked well, I found the characters, particularly the protagonist Cassie, challenging to care about. While we are supposed to like Cassie, I found her rude and hard to root for. So, while the characters were a disappointment, I enjoyed the plot and look forward to seeing how Brown's writing grows in future novels!

I had a hard time getting into this one, but once I was 40% in I was hooked. There was a lot to keep straight at first but once the bits started to mix and converge, I wanted to know more. The twists and turns were fabulous. I hope this becomes a series!!

The Book of Doors starts with a fascinating premise - a book that you can hold in your hand to open a door to magically take you anywhere in the world. I wanted to love the book. I never could connect with the main character, Cassie. I should - she's a fellow book pusher in a beloved bookstore but that's where all the similarities end. Izzie seems to care deeply about her friend but I couldn't really buy into their friendship. It felt surface level.

The plot was engaging but moved too slowly for me. There were also too many characters to try to keep track of. The woman made a horrific villain - I'm going to have nightmares about her. Kudos to creating a truly terrifying villain.

The concept for this book is truly brilliant. The writing and execution just did not work for me. Thank you kindly for giving me an opportunity to read and review The Book of Doors.

There were four books that I was really looking forward to (and had preordered) for the beginning of 2024 and this was one of them. The premise, lore behind the magic, and idea was reminiscent of The Binding which intrigued me. I also LOVED the cover art on both the US and UK preorders and found myself looking forward to reading this. Thank you to the publisher for providing this ARC for me to read and review, I appreciate it.

As a female reader, at about 10% in I found myself becoming wary. Our perception is heavily influenced by our culture, our gender, and our life experiences and in this case my perception of the author’s portrayal of the characters and what they chose to focus on early on was not favorable. For example, having a female character complain about their appearance, not looking pretty enough, not feeling thin enough, not wanting to eat because they are afraid they will gain weight, feeling disgusted by themselves when they eat more than one pancake or (heaven forbid) pancakes AND bacon came across as a man telling women that is how they should feel in that moment. Later on there are times where one of the other characters, Drummond, tells Cassie that she needs to eat and that she needs the energy to recover which is a step in the right direction but immediately after (in the next line) makes reference to Izzy who “was already eating as a woman who never needed encouragement to eat”. As a self-assured, healthy, female reader who has fought against media portrayals that mess with what is truly “healthy”, this insecure body image/unhealthy relationship with food as a recurring theme was not something I found compelling. If anything, it was enough for me to reflect on the book more critically than I would have if my perception (again based on culture, gender, and experiences) were different. There are attempts at including marginalized groups (Japanese Americans, LGBTQIA+) but slurs for the groups are also present. Overall, this to me was a glaring reminder of how hard it is for us to truly see the world the way others see it. For me, I could not relate positively to the characters in this story and found myself vacillating between wanting to jump into the book and explain things that I feel they should already know and wanting to close the book and leave them to their own devices.

In summary, this was a great idea but the execution came across a bit dated. I wish some of the sensitive topics that were mentioned briefly on the sidelines of the main story were either excluded or handled differently because the magical lore and the fantasy ideas were compelling.

This book absolutely does secret magical realism in a modern setting right. Every instance where I wondered why more people wouldn’t know about magic was explained, and it was done in a manner that didn’t distract from the story. I liked that technology was used in a manner that made the story feel more realistic. This truly felt like a story that could exist within our world.

Additionally, I loved how well the settings were described. One of the main focuses of the book is the ever-changing location the story is occurring in, so the level of detail that the book went into to describe these places really added to the story.

I think that marketing this story to fans of The Night Circus is very accurate, as the slow way that the plot unravels through the viewpoint of multiple characters was similar in this story. As someone who loved The Night Circus, I found myself enjoying this book for many of the same reasons.

I really enjoyed how realistic the characters’ reactions were to magic. A lot of times in books, characters who previously had no experience with magic existing will simply brush off the impossible suddenly becoming reality, but the characters in this book were suitably awe-struck. I liked that they took pictures, talked about the possibilities that had just become available to them (including several more mundane, but realistic, considerations), and also considered what someone else might do in their shoes. It was also extremely refreshing that the characters were quick to understand what was happening and make connections. I also enjoyed how many different characters the book focused on, as it made how all of the stories came together extremely satisfying.

The creation of the books was so incredibly clever and I absolutely did not see it coming! I literally gasped out loud when I realized what was going on. I loved the fractured timelines in this story and I think they made for such a unique and interesting plot.

My only real critique of this book is that I thought the interactions between characters sometimes felt a bit dry. There were several instances where either the way a character responded to another or the dialogue tag used didn’t quite match the tone of the rest of a scene, which lessened the impact of the conversation happening. For example, a character tells Cassie thank you for saving their life and her response is “okay”. The book was also a bit gorier than I expected!

All in all, I really enjoyed this book! The plot was very intricate and full of surprises. I liked that I didn’t feel like there were any loose ends by the final chapter. The actions of the characters were realistic—the mistakes they made and the solutions they came up with to solve them made for a very enjoyable book that never had me rolling my eyes at how the characters proceeded. The imagery and descriptions was stunning. The cyclical timeline that this book follows was brilliant and so well done.

Thank you to William Morrow & NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I am going to recommend this book for my friends to read. I will warn them that it is a little difficult to start but once you push through to maybe 30% of the book it really starts getting your mind going. I was really entertained and it slowly revealed different plot points where it made you want to keep going but you couldn’t figure out exactly where the book was going to next. I will say though, due to this fact, there were some points where I was quite a bit lost on what was happening but by the end I was able to make sense of it. The different POVs at first was hard to grasp but it soon revealed why it was important to the plot.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 ☆

To be honest, this book really shines with the world building. The possibilities with these ‘magical’ books are endless and I found it a great topic to make a book about! Though, I will say, I couldn’t really connect with the characters. Perhaps there was some character development, but I couldn’t see them as people instead of just characters written in a book. In the beginning, I felt that the writing could be confusing as we would be given random details in the middle of the plot that would disturb the story- though I was happy to see that these details had a use in the later parts of the story. The story had a lovely wrap up and I was happy that the plot points could connect in a success way, especially with a broad topic like this.

Cassie Andrews is a bookstore worker who befriends Mr. Webber, a regular customer with a love of classic books. One day, Cassie unexpectedly receives a strange book from Mr. Webber which she later learns is called “The Book of Doors.”

Cassie unexpectedly uses the book to open doors to anywhere she imagines in her head, and excitedly shows her roommate, Izzy, who suspiciously warns Cassie this book may be dangerous. Suddenly, they are being hunted after learning the importance and the history of the book…and that there are other magic books with different powers.

Gareth Brown does an excellent job at throwing in twists and turns in this book that takes us anywhere we want to go. Although parts of the book (including the history of the book) were slow and hard to read through, I thought this book was original and a fun read!

Recommended for fans of fantasy and suspense, I recommend this book to find out the fate of Cassie, Izzy, the book of doors, and what all of the magic books can do. Warning: parts of the book contain swearing and graphic violence.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review. The beginning is a little slow, but once the pace picks up, you will be sucked into the story. The main character is given a magical book that allows her to travel from one place to another by opening one door while visualizing another. The villains soon appear to try to take possession of the book and the adventure begins. Eventually, it is discovered that the Book of Doors not only controls place but also time so we get time travel too!
The ending is satisfying and I can see the possibility of a second installment.

Spectacular! This is my grown up escapism exactly how The Neverending story was for me as a kid. This book follows our MC Cassie as she is gifted The Book of Doors and its magical possibilities. She meets some characters along the way who come to be very important to her and the outcome of this fantasy.

I finished reading this on December 31st, my last book of 2023, but I had to take time to absorb and process all that the story was. It was captivating. The plot, the twists, characters. Time travel stories can be tricky and sometimes confusing, this was not an example of that. I thought the storyline was truly well thought out, well written and easy to follow. I also think it's a feat when a writer can introduce many characters into a story, and still maintain clear descriptions of who's who. I could visualize each of them and felt like I could relate to many of their emotions. I found the idea that each book held different powers and elements of magic very symbolic. Books in general have the ability to transport readers to other places and evoke emotion simply with words on a page. Books really are, in a sense, magical in our everyday life. I loved that aspect of the book. It made me, as a lover of books and an avid reader, in a way feel powerful myself. This book definitely brought to life works of a creative imagination. I enjoyed it immensely.
The only part(s) I wasn't most fond of were the gory ones, and there were a few, but I also think they were necessary to make the desired impact of those scenes. So while I can't say I would change that, it still creeped me out and made me cringe. Therefore if fractions of stars were an option, I'd give this book a 4.75. Overall this was a great read and I would/will recommend it to others.
I did want to mention that I've seen reviews where people were offended by certain phrases and descriptions of some characters and to that I would like to say, people will find offense over anything these days. I'm personally from South Carolina and a regular church attendee (I'm a Christian **gasp**) and yet I managed to find no offense to pastor Merlin Gilette, nor his childrens, characters ;-)

In addition I would like to include my favorite quotes from the book:

"I am firmly of the view that more people in this world could use their brains more often..."
"Don't waste your life hidden away in your own mind. Make the most of the time you have, otherwise before you know it, you'll have no time left."

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

If you’re a fan of midnight library or the wishing games, I highly recommend this for similar vibes! I really enjoyed the plot and characters. There was plenty of action and the writing was well done. I read this a bit slower than I expected to fully absorb it but overall I recommend checking this out when it releases!

Wow, this book immediately hooked me. This is one of those books where I will be thinking about it for months and months after I have finished reading it.

At first, I thought Cassie accepts her Book of Doors very quickly which initially threw me off. However, I haven't been put in her position so who am I to judge? The way the books were introduced, and the uses of every book was done so well. I truly was able to visualize and see each and every scene.

The foreshadowing was fantastic. I don't want to say too much because I truly believe the less readers know going in the better. Each surprise and twist left me speechless and eager to know more.

This was a large cast of characters and I think each was done so well. I would also like to join the Fox Library please.

Needless to say this is a must read for fantasy and thrill readers alike!

A couple times a week, Cassie Andrews who works in the local bookstore is visited by a lonely old man who becomes her friend through the years. One night while he is visiting, he dies unexpectedly and leaves behind a book as a gift to Cassie. The book is leather bound and very old filled with lines and boxes written within. Soon Cassie discovers exactly what those lines and boxes mean. Wherever in the world Cassie wishes to go, all she has to do is open a door into that world. But little does she know, there are many more books out in the universe and they all have different powers. With power comes danger and soon she will find out there is a very wicked woman who will resort to violence to posses these books.

An entertaining wibbly wobbly timey wimey novel.

Cassie Andrews lived a fairly typical life working at a bookstore cafe in New York. One day, one of her favorite customers dies, leaving two books by his side – ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and ‘The Book of Doors.’ Cassie, along with her roommate Izzy, soon realize that ‘The Book of Doors’ is literally a book with the power to open any door anywhere in time and space. And soon after, they learn that there other special books – ‘The Book of Joy,’ for example, or ‘The Book of Pain’ - and that there are others who covet these special books, especially the book Cassie now possess. One of these people is merely known as 'the woman' who's shown she will use violence to collect all the special books.

Of course, there's also those that want the books for positive reasons - to secure them so they can't be used to hurt anyone. One of these people is Drummond Fox, the librarian of the Fox Library where a number of these special books are stored. He's hidden the library using ‘The Book of Shadows’ so it's safe. But the challenge is how are Cassie, Izzy and Drummond going to keep ‘The Book of Doors’ safe, especially from the woman?

I'm not usually a fan of fantasy, but the cover enticed me to pick it up. And I'm glad I did - it was a good book! On one hand, I felt like there wasn't much that was unique about this book, but on the other, somehow the way it was woven together was different and enjoyable. It did feel a bit Doctor Who-ish, with people have roles as their names - the librarian, the bookseller, the woman - and lots of timey wimey aspects where characters' timelines and actions overlapped each other. It could be a bit disconcerting how characters did keep jumping through time, though, if you weren't expecting it.

Overall, an entertaining book with the possibility of a sequel laid out at the end. Recommended.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to delve into "The Book of Doors" as an eARC.

My long-standing wish to read this book, born from the first sighting on Goodreads, has been granted—thank you!

"The Book of Doors" invites readers on a captivating journey where the ordinary intertwines with the extraordinary. Focused on Cassie Andrews, a New York City bookseller leading an unassuming life, the narrative takes a captivating turn when a mysterious gift from a favorite customer disrupts her world.

This book brought me immense enjoyment, progressively improving until I found it impossible to put down. Its cleverness and originality consistently brought a smile to my face, and I thoroughly appreciated the well-crafted and seamlessly integrated story.

I cannot emphasize enough how genuinely I relished and cherished the experience, akin to a delightful treat, of reading this book!

With a beautiful cover and a mysterious title, I had to pick this one up. I'm glad I did and I loved this story. Gareth Brown is a new author for me.

Description:
In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It's a book - an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .

What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want.

But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals - individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses.

Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons - a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .

Because some doors should never be opened.

My Thoughts:
This was a great fantasy adventure type book involving magical books that could be used for either good or bad. It follows Cassie who has received one of the books, but is now in great danger. Much of the book is her adventure trying to survive amidst bookhunters searching for the books who will do anything to get their hands on one. There is one woman who is everyone's nightmare, and she is known solely as "the woman" throughout the book. It was fun to follow the advanture and the relationships Cassie formed in her struggles to survive, save her book, and keep her friends safe.

Thanks to William Morrow through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication date is February 13, 2024.

Complex but well-managed story line. There is some interesting world building here. Most of the characters have depth and dimension, even the villains, which is refreshing.

The Book of Doors
A Novel
by Gareth Brown
This was one difficult book to read.I became so confused and the people were just far too many to keep up with. It just was not something I had expected.

I was so excited when Netgalley accepted my arc request because I love this specific niche type of fantasy, that is similar to Narnia, Wonderland, or Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series. I don’t think there is a specific term for this specific whimsical type of fantasy but we need to make one a term for it. It’s this specific fantasy that feels almost childlike in a way, usually involving a magical adventure full of whimsy. This type of book is most commonly seen in middle grade books, so I love when I see books with this specific niche type of feel in adult fiction. I feel like it is a rarity because I don’t see it often. This book also felt weirdly British (lol) like Harry Potter, even though it takes place in America.

Quick breakdown: a bookseller named Cassie is given a gift by her favorite customer, an unusual book that gives her the power to travel anywhere in the world that she wants. Yet, possessing this book puts her in danger, as the book of doors isn’t the only magical book in existence and people with nefarious intentions are seeking them all. This book had the whimsy of Wonderland and the magical adventure of Harry Potter, and it fed my inner child. You know when you’re in the mood for a fun adventure movie? This is like the book equivalent of that and it really hits the spot. You get to go on this magical fantasy adventure without even leaving your couch, and what could be better than that?

Cassie, like me, is a book lover who takes comfort in bookstores and libraries and she’s extremely relatable. Not to mention, the bookstore where Cassie works sounds sooooo cozy and perfect. Comfortable, with books, coffee, comfy chairs and soft music. This book was so nostalgic and extremely well written. It had me feeling sad and nostalgic for a time that Cassie spent in Europe, something that I myself had never even experienced. It was as if I were the one who had met the handsome German boy in Paris or the kind middle aged couple in Venice who treated Cassie like a daughter, people who she had promised to keep in touch with but never had. This book had me sad and missing fictional people from all walks of life that I had never even met.

This book’s strongest suit is how visual it is, all the surroundings and people described very well so that everything is easy to visualize. I had to check because it’s very impressive that this is a debut author, since the writing was honestly better than most of the established author’s books that I’ve read, and better than I generally expect from a book. Beautiful descriptions and scenery, wonderful characterization, and all the magical fun of an adventure story.

The second strongest suit is that there is no boring filler, none of the whole, nothing happens until 60% of the book. This book jumps right into it, and you feel like you’re in the middle before even 15% in because it jumps right into the action. My undiagnosed ADHD appreciates this. Wish more books were like this and didn’t waste my time with too much filler.

The book is also excellently plotted. The way that things come together in different timelines is genius. And the evil characters in this are truly evil, some of the most evil, horribly terrible people I have ever read in literature. The plot is so imaginative, and such a wild adventure. I can tell so much thought and effort was put into plotting this story. Fantastic worldbuilding and very imaginative story. I thought the ending could’ve used a more brighter conclusion rather than ending on that note but I liked how everything tied together and all the questions were answered.

This author is definitely on my radar now and I am eager to see what he comes up with next. Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.