Upfront, I received an Advance Reader’s Proof from the publisher through <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a>. And, I rarely summarize fiction plots, mainly because I think it unfair to the author - there are plenty of people who do for those on the hunt, and there is almost always an extra teaser blurb somewhere - and I think it unfair to the reader who, like me, dislikes spoilers.

It's a rare page-turner that I find myself reading these days and this is one. For that, and leading me to want another in this world, I bump it an additional star for though there are other novels in this genre that work with similar ideas but I think Mr. Brown has come up with a ...<i>novel</i>... approach. The pacing of some sections is quite different from that of most of the book and some might think it uneven, but I took it as a manifestation of one of the powers of the Book of Doors (again, I don't spoil.) I did find myself annoyed at some of the characters' actions/inactions and that means I was engaged. I enjoyed the twists and was satisfied with the conclusion. Four stars plus one.

One line in particular resonated with me:
"I've read it before, but as I get older, I find comfort in rereading favorites. It's like spending time with old friends."

I have my "comfort" books that I rely on to get me through periods of what I call "reader's block", rereading them helps a lot. So I really understand that sentiment.

This is my first read for this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to read.
I loved this book. I enjoy this genre to begin with. There were some areas that were a bit longer than they needed to be. However the characters were well written. The story drew me in from the very beginning. Just when you think you know where its going, it takes a bit of a twist. I liked that it wasn't too "out there" in the story line. If you enjoy this genre I think you will really like this book

I want to live in the world of The Book of Doors! Gareth Brown has written a fun sci-fi mind bender with interesting characters, time travel, and best of all, magical books! Each characters have their own mysterious, complex motivations and agendas that blend well together to add to the already complicated world of mystical books. I read past my bedtime, because I had to know what each of the characters were up to and how everything would all play out in the end. I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this story.

I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of THE BOOK OF DOORS by Gareth Brown through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and happy holiday season!

Anyone who reads knows you can be transported anywhere through a book, but what if a book could actually open a door and put you somewhere else or someplace else in time. Cassie, the main character, has been given a book, not any book, but the Book of Doors. This book is so special that numerous people will do anything to have it. Enter the friends and enemies.
I think Gareth Brown has come up with a unique twist on time travel and other bits of magic with this novel. I will admit I felt it moved a bit slow in the beginning, while setting up the story and introducing numerous characters. Also, Cassie learning to use the book was a chapter of flowery words and place dropping. After all of that was out of the way, it did pick up the pace and give more than one or two twists that in the end made for a highly satisfying read.

Thanks to Net Galley and
William Morrow for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It's a blend between a cozy bookstore mystery and a quest to thwart a thoroughly evil serial killer with magical powers. The best character is Drummond Fox, who has a hidden library of books with magical powers, and is on the run from the evil woman who is hunting him. He crosses paths with Cassie when she receives the Book of Doors. The magical books, and their origin, and the backstory of the evil woman are all cleverly entangled, thanks to some time traveling. The evil characters are pretty one dimensional psychopaths, and the relationship between Cassie and her best friend and roommate Izzy feels a bit off. Cassie was fine traveling solo through Europe when her grandfather died, but when sent to the past she spends a decade living in the apartment of an older man she befriends and never works or travels or attempts to be independent, which felt inconsistent and strange. Aside from that, an interesting book with a clever plot.

The Book of Doors was such a fun concept and one I was eager to read. But ultimately, I found the author’s note at the end of the book that included his agent’s plea for “more wonder,” “put more wonder in it,” “where’s the sense of wonder!” to be interesting because that’s how I felt reading the book. I wanted more magic and more fun and instead it was a book with a lot of terror and gore and honestly, pretty amateur writing and unrealistic, lame dialogue. The level of gore was completely unexpected.

I didn’t care for any of the characters as the character development and description was pretty scarce. The antagonist was a complete sadist and killed for no reason other than she enjoyed it. The plot was either too fast (and skipped or sped through certain necessary parts) or meandered aimlessly describing croissants and other foods and pointless dialogue between the characters.

I know the cover and description will pull in a load of book-loving readers, and I’m curious to see whether others will think it delivers on what it advertises. For me, despite enjoying the concept and some of the time travel elements, it was a definite no.

_The Book of Doors¬_ by Gareth Brown is an emotional, character-centered, time-traveling read. It mainly follows Cassie Andrews, a bookshop worker with a traumatic past living in New York City with her best friend Izzy. Unexpectedly Cassie receives a gift from her favorite customer, which turns out to be a magical device called The Book of Doors. It takes Cassie all over the world and to different times, and to new friends, but she soon discovers the danger inherit to magical books and those who collect them.

It's been years since I've read in this genre and gosh did this book make it feel like coming home. The characters were phenomenal. I felt like I was watching it all unfold right in front of me

3.75 out of 5. I really wanted to love this book. Calling it Midnight Library like raised my expectations really high and the problem was that they were not fully met. It is a good book, just not to the expectations and it was all a bit confusing. It also took me way longer to read than i was expecting. I kept putting it down.  I really liked how some things wrapped together in the end but the middle was a tad convoluted. Also the tension between Cassie and Drummond never got fully realized SPOILER ALERT- like are they now living together but are they together? and since we are in spoiler alert mode, I have many questions, like: how did they appear/where did the books come from? what about Hugo I get he made the woman but does he not come back in 2023? what is the magic?

This is the only book I have ever read about time travel that ACTUALLY takes the mechanics of it into consideration - Thank you so much! I could not put it down wanting to know how it all came together in the end. This is a movie in a book as I found myself picturing everything as they went from location to location and the characters changed. Suspense & Fantasy in a great read.

I know a book is good when I can’t stop thinking about how to find time to sit down and read. I plowed through this in 2 days but could have happily made an entire day of just reading. It is a true page turner continually making you wonder what in the world will happen next. It is creative and confusing and a little terrifying in places with characters that you either love or hate. The chapter Nothing and Nowhere seemed like filler while reading it but does eventually make sense in the overall story. The ending felt like there might be another volume in the works so we can follow Cassie and her friends on new adventures. I would definitely be on board for that. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley, but this did not impact my opinion.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a page-turner. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways. Cassie is a clerk in a bookshop who receives an old book from a customer right before he died. Her roommate, Izzy, her best friend, accompanies her as the book leads them into unexpected places. They are met by Drummond Fox who knows how much danger they are in. He used to be the librarian for the secret magic books that are held by various people. They encounter many people both good and evil. The most terrifying is a beautiful woman who wants all the books for herself. The book crosses into horror as her deeds are described.
There were times that I almost quit reading. I did have to take breaks, but persisted in hopes of a positive outcome. The book resolved all the various plot threads in a very satisfying manner.
I expected a light interesting story, but what I got was much more. I wish there was a trigger warning at the start, but the description of the woman as sadistic was present.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book gave similar vibes to the Gold Finch. Especially with a specific artifact that is highly sought after in the hands of someone who is not aware of the danger they are in. There were a lot of side characters, which I loved! My favorite was Lund. Also, lots of action and intrigue. I loved the ways the books are all used and described. I also enjoyed the little history lesson showing the way books were discovered overtime. The convergence of time was really cool and interesting. Especially the way the plot was circular. It was very thought provoking.
Now for the not so great parts: I felt like too much happened in the ballroom scene BOTH times. It just felt like one big reveal after another and didn’t seem very cohesive. Like I feel like the auction shouldn’t have resumed or one character shouldn’t have appeared. It felt too busy. As a main character, Drummond and Cassie were kind of annoying. They felt like side characters for most of the book with actions just happening around them or to them. The middle seemed to drag on for me. I know that the scene in the nothingness needs to happen to explain the book creation but it just felt so different than the rest of the book’s tone.

A Book of Doors is a completely original take on the story of an ordinary person introduced to the world of magic and its powers. Cassie Andrews works in a bookstore. A favorite customer dies while she's there, leaving behind a nondescript book and a note that any door is every door, you just need to know how to open them. As Cassie tries to understand that message and the images in the book, she and her best friend realize that magic is real and that the book is both powerful and dangerous. They discover there are other books with other powers and world full of people who want these books, both for good and for bad.

Gareth Brown takes Cassie on an adventure of clever twists and turns leading her through sorrow and happiness as she tries to escape the book hunters who want to use her book to do great harm. With skill Brown introduces characters, each with a slate of private agendas and neither the reader nor Cassie are sure who can be trusted.

The Book of Doors is an engaging read with much more to it than just a fantasy book about magic. I enjoyed reading it and hope this will turn into a series.

I was completely captivated by the story and characters. The book follows the life of Cassie Andrews, a young woman working in a New York City bookshop, who is thrown into a world of mystery and danger when she inherits a unique and powerful book.

The story starts off with a shocking and heartbreaking event, the death of one of Cassie's favorite customers. Cassie is devastated by the loss of this charming old man, who always had interesting stories to tell. But she soon discovers that he has left her with something more than just memories. He has left her with the Book of Doors.

This book is no ordinary book, it is inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, and it promises Cassie that any door is every door. With the help of a mysterious and intriguing librarian named Drummond Fox, Cassie learns that the book is one of many in a secret and coveted collection known as the Special Books.

As Cassie delves deeper into this world of secret books and powerful forces, she is hunted by those who want to obtain the books for their own selfish purposes. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, Cassie must decide if she will help Drummond protect the Book of Doors and the other books in his care.

I was drawn in by the unique concept of the Special Books and the idea that any door could lead to anywhere. The author does a fantastic job of creating a sense of mystery and intrigue throughout the story. The characters are well-developed and I found myself rooting for Cassie and Drummond as they faced numerous challenges and dangers.

The book is also filled with action, suspense, and even a touch of romance. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The plot twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the beautiful writing. The descriptions of the secret library and the different worlds that Cassie and Drummond visit were so vivid and imaginative. I felt like I was right there with them, experiencing everything they did.

This book was just ok for me . I’m not a fan of magical realism and this was a lot of what book was about . If you like that genre you will love it

I received and ARC copy of the Book of Doors....thank you to Gareth Brown, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. I leave this review of my own free will!

The Book of Doors is a fantastic trip through a unique world of magic! The magic system, using books and ultimately doors, takes the main character, Cassie, on a journey to her past, present, and future. The emotional journey she takes with her gramps, her best friend, and her found family will tug your heart strings and you will root for her to solve the problems brought to her through the Book of Doors.

I really felt, to my core, the emotional journey Cassie took through the doors. Grief. Loyalty. Love. All these emotions are explored as the story progresses though the world. The people Cassie befriends along the way become her found family in a way that help heal her from the lost of so many people who are important to her. People that save her.

I can't recommend this read enough. Mr. Brown does such an excellent job describing a unique magic system and makes the emotions just jump off the page at you. A Five Star Read from a wonderful debut author!

A wild ride! This book was not at all on my radar, but once I was granted an ARC I decided to dive in and didn't look back! Fantasy, suspense, murder- this book has a little of everything! I thought the premise was so intriguing and like nothing else I've ever read. Twisty and addicting- don't miss this one!

I would give this book more than five stars if I could. The plot, the characters; the pacing, the storytelling - absolute perfection. I loved that this was a unique story and drew me in immediately. It read like a classic fantasy and I’m so excited to recommend it on publication day. This is going to be one of the big books of the year. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!