What an incredible adventure, and such a unique concept! This is so well written - it is so much more than an entertaining tale! It is a discussion of power, the merits of time travel, and an introspective look into oneself. This world is one in which you can separate all your individual characteristics - your strengths and your weaknesses - and gift them to another. The magic within these pages is beautiful, amazing and scary! The detail of the timelines was very intricate, and I found no missteps (incredible considering the twisting of the tale). The Fox library was a place that felt so real to me! I enjoyed the characters and wonder if there is more in store for them. This book captured by attention from the start, and I only wish that I read slower so that I could savor it more.

𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 2/13/2024

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Cassie, a woman who works at a bookstore, is gifted a magical book that can take her anywhere. This book ends up turning her life upside down. She is brought into a world of high-stakes special book collecting with life or death consequences. She meets others who control books, and she meets people who not only possess books, but are willing to do anything to gain control over more books. Not only is she introduced to magic and a sub-world that she has never known, but she is faced with; adversity, misery, loneliness, joy, and utter despair along the way.

𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I have decided that this book just is not for me, but that doesn’t mean that this book won’t be for you.

I had a very difficult time getting into this book. I think the first 50% of the book took me over a week to read. That’s incredibly slow for me, and I think it was because I just couldn’t connect to any of the characters, or the story itself.

The story seems like a combination of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern meets Interstellar the movie. Well, I did enjoy the overall story and cleverness of the book, I just didn’t love it. The time travel aspect gives a very convenient way of tying the entire plot together in my opinion.

To be honest, I didn’t really enjoy how women were portrayed in this book. From quotes to actions, I wasn’t enthused. Even the main female characters seem to be lacking something fundamental in their character development. The only woman that got it in-depth dive into her character was the villain. I would’ve even liked a little more background on the main male characters of the book; Drummond, Lund, and Mr. Webber.

However, you get a very interesting villain and a few minor villains. You get a wonderful found family, you get some mind-bending, physics-defying time travel, and magic. You also get a small taste of romance, and a fun aspect of smut-free fantasy that not many books do anymore.

First off thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me a digital copy of this book to read and review. This story follows main character, Cassie, who is gifted a book by a patron of her work, Mr. Webber. Cassie and her friend Izzy quickly discover that this book isn't just any book, but it is a magical book that makes any door every door. Cassie can open a door in her apartment and step right into Venice. The possibilities of where this book can take her are seemingly endless and full of fun. But as with most things, the joy of it is too good to be true. There are sinister forces at work trying to take her book and collect it with a world of books similar. There is an element of terror in this book that reminds me of The Magicians. That first season with the villian and you are kind of learning all of the things and don't know what to expect. The Woman feels very similar to that. I loved the touching moments added to this story. Cassie's friendship with Mr. Webber and her relationship with her grandfather were so heartwarming and such nice additions. I loved what those aspects of the story did for Cassie and the development of her character. It kind of solved the problematic main female character trope of the quiet introverted female suddenly becomes a bad ass who isn't scared of anything. Good job figuring that out for me Mr. Brown. I really loved the way the story tied all ofthe characters together and the way time was used to build out the story and connect everything and everyone. There were some places that didn't flow quite as smoothly as maybe they could have. And the romantic in me would have like to have seen some of the relationships grow. Maybe space for a book two?? Thank you Gareth Brown for writing a great book. I definitely recommend grabbing it once it is released.

Review also found on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6050827272

At its core, this book is an imaginative story about the love of books, their cost, and the importance of relationships. The fantasy elements and thriller elements were done with attention to character development — especially Cassie’s development. The author did a great job of weaving all of the moving parts and elements of the story.

Interesting

This was a little uneven, but all in all a good read. The initial scenes where Cassie uses the magical Book of Doors to open one door and come out the other side through a totally different door made me a little concerned about my choice of reading this. She uses the power to re-visit a trip through Europe. The writing was a little weak and seemed like an American college student who may have spent a few weeks on such a trip, or just wish they had, would have written. I was surprised to find out the author lives in Scotland and is not college-aged. But, future adventures were better, There was a lot of conflict resolved by using time travel to go back and have safety measures for the times of crisis. But I still really enjoyed this and will look to see if there are any sequels.

A dazzling ya story! I really loved this one! The magic was perfect and the story kept me hooked. This will likely be a very successful book in 2024! So grateful I got to read this on a cozy weekend.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a unique and fantastic read! This book thrusts you into a world in which rare books hold magic- the rarest of them allowing you to transport yourself anywhere, through any door.

I liked this book a lot. The magic system is unique and well thought out, the main characters are interesting, and the plot is compelling, fast paced and fun. Seemingly unimportant details are woven throughout the story, and come back around to draw the events together and create that “aha” feeling when things click. Several times I found myself grinning when I picked back up on an earlier hint.

I do think that the ending felt a little abrupt in comparison to the expansive world building. Everything came together well, I just wish that the villains had a little more time to develop. Feels like there was more story here to be told.

Overall: highly recommend

I dont think I had very high hopes for this one, the reason being I recently picked up a book called The Midnight Library with felt like it would be a lot like this one from the blurb but thank goodness I was wrong. This was incredible. The story was given in a beautiful way, it completely covers you in that amazing fantasy feel, and the plot was incredible. I was hooked the second the first door was opened. I definitely recommend reading this one!

As I began reading this book, from the style of the writing and the characters, it seemed more suited to YA audience than adults. Cassie and Izzy are quite immature, which is fine if YA is the reading audience. I could not engage or identify with Cassie or Izzy as characters because they were so juvenile. I had a hard time believing that Cassie was a successful business woman owning and managing a bookshop in New York City. Her emotional intelligence and maturity for a woman just wasn't there. I had a lot of issues with the pace, characterizations, dialogue, and exposition that needed a tighter flow and polishing, but I will say that a qualified content editor in this genre would have made this a five star novel. The premise is really cool! I commend the author for what was probably a very difficult novel to write.

Well done Mr. Brown! Moments of lightness, moments of, "Oh, no." Surprise twists. Ordinary people become heroes and while I rooted against stereotypical super villains.
This is a well written and well crafted and highly creative book. Rarely does a book touch on why books have been my love and refuge lo these 65+ years. This one does.

As someone who loves to read and who loves to travel, this book had me hooked right at the start. Add the magical and mysterious properties of special books, characters willing to kill to get them, and a unique lakeside library hidden in the mists….it was no wonder I had a hard time putting it down. Told from multiple POVs, we see different characters getting to know one another and needing to trust one another as we learn about the threats that these books can present, along with the good. I like the way the author had the characters reaching into the unknown to learn the effects of time travel, and what the books could do, the possibilities made the book unpredictable. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book, it belongs on the shelves of fantasy lovers everywhere.

As someone who is always happy to grab a bag and go travel the world I really enjoyed this book.
Where would you go if every door was a portal to anywhere you want?? And does any of that affect our future?
This book is whimsical and fun and becomes twisty and a tad sinister by the end.
If you love fantasy, time travel, books and bad bad guys you’ll love this book!

Thanks to net Galley, Harper Collin’s and the author for the digital ARC in exchange for my opinion.

I have a particular love for books about books, and books written for and about book lovers. I think Book of Doors would appeal to a broad audience because of it's variety of characters and elements. I would place it solidly into speculative fiction, and would recommend it to readers who enjoy stories about time travel, portal fantasy, found family, and magical adventure. While there are allusions to possible romance, it is not a prominent part of the story and frankly, I appreciated that.

The villain in Book of Doors is one of the most frightening characters I've come across. Her scenes were actually bone chilling.

I enjoyed this book very much, the plot was great. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the books and how each of them had different abilities ,it was just not based on the book of doors. The book had time travel, action and fantasy elements . I see this being more towards YA audiences but overall it’s a great book Plot 4⭐️

Wow. As a lifelong reader I was enchanted with the idea of magical books. The characters were well written. The book does get dark at the end but leaves room for a sequel. Well done for a new author

A very enjoyable fantastical tale of acquaintances uniting to save the world from the havoc caused by the misuse of magical books. The story was so interesting that I began “mind casting” actors for the various characters. A definite must read for adult fantasy fans. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.

Any book lover will tell you that books are magic. And some will say books are small time-travel portals. But I dare any of them to claim the type of book magic and time traveling that Gareth Brown imagines in The Book of Doors. In addition to all the lovely books we enjoy, in Brown's world, there are magical books that allow humans to do magical things. These magical things go both ways, good and bad. Which use of the books will prevail? And what happens to those who are pulled into the fray because they simply know about the books? You'll have to read this magical book to find out.

There are very few books that I deem 5 star worthy, but this book is definitely deserving of them. Gareth Brown wrote a beautiful, inspiring, magical, fantastical debut novel with the Book of Doors. It is very much in the vain of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Night Circus but at the same time so unique and can stand alone. Magic just exudes from the pages as you read and imagine… well, I won’t give it away but this book is about love, friendship, sacrifice, heartbreak, faith, and lots and lots of magic.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for allowing me to read the arc in exchange for this review. The book comes out February 13, 2024 and I will be purchasing my own hard copy to add to my collection of favorite books! I can’t wait to read whatever Gareth Brown comes out with next!

RATING: 4.25/5 STARS

THE BOOK OF DOORS is for those who love reading and who love traveling to other worlds through books. It was magical and whimsical to read, with the settings painted so vividly that I truly felt I was experiencing everything the characters were. Towards the end the plot did get a little convoluted and gory but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. Recommend this for fans of The Midnight Library, The Wishing Game, and The Unmaking of June Farrow.

5⭐️ world building
2⭐️ for characters
3⭐️ pacing
3.5⭐️ overall

The world-building is truly fabulous; the concept of different types of books each having unique effects is intriguing.

Cassie, while not a fully likable protagonist, is compelling. Her tendency to make sharp comments without thought mirrors her impulsive nature.

However, I share the sentiment from another review regarding Hugo's language choices. The explicit words used feel unnecessary and unpleasant. Conveying his negative traits through alternative means would be more effective, and I hope this aspect is revised in the final version.

The pacing, unfortunately, presented a challenge for me. Several moments felt like climaxes, only to revert to a slower pace, disrupting the overall flow of the narrative. Looking forward to potential improvements in the final version.