I love the inspiration of this book, but overall the writing fell a bit flat for me — no real depth or motivation to keep the story going, kept asking myself “but why?!” while reading. I also admire the author’s central idea of “what if you could step into paintings?” but unfortunately the attempt at magical realism didn’t quite land. Would have benefitted from less practical details and more focus on relationship building. Disappointing, because I enjoy @nycbookgirl’s content and really wanted to like it! Thank you to NetGalley / Random House / Ballantine for my ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Time travel and magical realism all wrapped up into one, not usually my jam. But the premise to this one seemed somewhat intriguing. And it did not disappoint. Claire is the newest nighttime cleaning staff at the museum while Jean is the man posed in the painting with his family from far gone era. Claire has a lot going on in her life, but the job seems to be working for her and she seems to enjoy “talking” to the paintings as she works. She never expects them to respond. Until one evening when she suspects that they are engaging with her and she finds she can step into one. Is it really possible that this is happening? Is she the only one? And more importantly, is she and Jean really falling in love? Bit by bit, we see their relationship grow just as she’s about to share more about herself with him, the pandemic hits. How will they ever get back to one another? A different concept on a love story. Unconventional and unexpected. Worth checking out if you enjoy the magical realism genre even the slightest with a tad bit of time travel!

As a museum docent and all-around art lover, I was so excited by the concept of this book. To imagine a world where you could step inside a painting and experience that world at that time with those people sounds SO wonderful.

I did quite enjoy the first half of this book. I especially loved Jean's narration, imagining what a subject of a painting would think as he stared out at the world, observing and learning about things over time based on what he saw in the museum through the years. I liked the little details of what it's like to be inside an art museum and having knowledge of art history. I felt like the first half of the book was a really sweet development of the connection between Claire and Jean, seeing how they opened up to each other and getting the fun dual-POV mutual pining.

However, this book totally lost me in the second half. It kind of went off the rails a little bit in my opinion. First of all, I'm definitely not ready yet for COVID to be a plot twist in contemporary fiction. I feel like there could've been a variety of other reasons for either a) the museum to close, or b) Claire to have to be away from the museum for an extended period of time. Then once the museum re-opened, there was a whole new plotline with this mysterious journal, which on like day 2 of being out gets full-on stolen (after it being previously mentioned that the museum has a really good security system they're constantly updating, and later it's noted that the museum has never had a theft before, but these two dudes in ski masks who we never find out who they are just run in and take the journal?? Also the thieves seem surprised by the alarm sensor. How do you sneak your way in to a super secure museum without realizing that the featured priceless artifact might have added security?? Sorry I'm overthinking this but art heists are one of my special interests). Anyway. This all made the second half of the book feel extremely rushed. There's also a random storyline where her ex-fiancé tries to come back and be a part of her daughter's life and then just like...disappears again and isn't really acknowledged. Claire rushes her way through a confession about having a daughter (which Jean is just like, 100% cool about from the jump, even when he finds out because she tells the police officer and not him–why did the book build up this secret so much only for it to not even matter a little bit when it came to light?) and then due to the investigation, Claire is let go from the museum, has a rushed goodbye with Jean, and then it's just...over. These two characters were like, honestly falling in love and I believed it and then they were just like "oh well, we should've known this would never last".

I'll be honest, this might be on me a little bit because I'm not usually a literary fiction girlie. I'm used to books with romance ending in a happy ending somehow for the characters. But the second half of the book just felt so rushed and it felt like such a letdown for neither of the characters to really get a happy ending. I wish the author had just picked one of the big second-half plots to follow and really give it enough time to develop properly.

I gave this book a 2.75, but bumped it up to a 3 for Netgalley. Thanks again to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was so tedious and I should have tapped out early. Despite the intriguing premise, I knew almost immediately that this would not be for me. I know this is a debut novel, but it reads like a first attempt at storytelling period. To her credit, the way the author talks about loving art feels very authentic and true, but the everything else was mid to bad.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

This review is not spoiler free. Please do not read if you want to avoid spoilers

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager is a first person dual-POV romantic speculative where a museum cleaner and a man in a painting fall in love. Jean was painted a little more than a hundred years ago and has essentially been frozen that whole time, aware of the memories of who he is the image of but not what happened to the original Jean after the painting was done. Claire has recently gotten a job as a museum and is the first person in a long time to learn that the paintings are more than just paint on canvas.

I wouldn’t call this a romance because there is so little conflict between the two leads. When I think of a genre romance, I usually think of how the core wounds create internal tension in the relationship that involves the two people needing to work through something. On the occasions that it is entirely an external plot keeping them apart, my expectation is that a lot of page time is going to be spent on the couple together. In The Art of Vanishing, they weren’t physically together that much and I felt that the romance was a framing device for two character studies that happened to involve romance.

That being said, if I think of this as a contemporary speculative, then it does meet my expectations much more. There’s a section of the novel that takes place during lockdown and how that impacted not only when Claire and Jean could see each other but also impacted Claire’s job. The speculative elements aren’t fully explained but they are fairly light and don’t need any hard worldbuilding as long as you can buy into the basic concept of paintings secretly being alive and humans being capable of entering their world.

I feel that it’s very hard to talk about this book in the context of how it is sold (romantic/a romance) without discussing the biggest thing keeping Jean and Claire apart, which isn’t COVID or that Jean lives in a painting: it’s that Claire has a young daughter. This isn’t revealed until halfway through the book and it suddenly makes a lot more sense why Claire doesn’t just ask if she can stay with Jean. It does help to reframe a lot of things and it is subtly hinted at, but the daughter is not directly mentioned, named, or referenced until the halfway point.

I would recommend this to fans of speculative books with romance arcs and readers looking for a book where one of the leads is a parent

What a sweet and whimsical debut novel this was! As someone who’s always loved art, art history, and museums, I knew this story would be right up my alley. The characters were lovable and well-fleshed out, even if it took some time for them to open themselves up to the reader. The love in this story is so sweet, and although I knew the ending would be bittersweet, it was still lovely nonetheless. There were multiple unexpected twists in this book, which were all well done and only added another layer of depth to the plot and characters. This was easy to read and had me eager to come back to each night. Cannot wait to see what other magical stories Morgan Pager has brewing in her mind!

I loved this. It was sweet and fun and magical. I loved this story and how it progressed. Claire comes to work at a museum at a night janitor. She finds herself talking to the paintings. Then one day, she learns she can step into the paintings. There she finds Jean. Over the days, they fall in love.

I really liked seeing Claire and Jean interact and develop their relationship. It was so cool to see them interact with the individuals from the other paintings.

I do with the Claire’s story was a bit more integrated. You learn more about her history but it seems separate from the story in the museum.

If you liked From The Mixed Up Files of Basil E Frankweiler, you will enjoy this once.

Thanks PRH Audio for an early audiobook.

I found the writing to be lackluster on this. The plot was interesting, however the introduction of the characters and their development bordered on basic. I may have read this book with the bias of knowing that this author wrote a debut novel in one year and has publishing connections.

I had such high hopes for The Art of Vanishing. On paper, it seemed like the perfect book for me - Matisse, art museum setting, magical realism, and romance. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. First, despite what the marketing may say, this is not a romance. While it has a satisfying ending, it is not an HEA. Aside from that, I didn't buy the romantic tension between the main characters, and many of the connecting details felt murky. On the plus side, I loved the premise of a real-person jumping into a Matisse painting and interacting with the characters. Read if you enjoy: magical realism, art museums, Matisse

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Books, Ballantine Books, and Penguin Random House for this free copy of "The Art of Vanishing."

This lovely book asks "What if you had the ability to climb into your favorite painting and interact with its subjects?"

And "What do the painting's subjects do when no one's watching?"

The book is set at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, PA and features the very large Matisse family painting from 1917.

I found myself constantly googling information about the museum, rooms, and painting exhibited. Having illustrations of these in the book itself would have added tremendously to the reading experience.

I also wanted much more detail on what it was like INSIDE the painting and what the landscapes and people actually looked like inside - did they look kinda blurry like an animated Impressionist painting or did they look real? And how did they move from painting to painting and room to room?

Overall, a fascinating and enjoyable concept for a story and cheers to author Pager for her wonderful imagination!

I have been a fan of Morgan Pagers for quite some time and I was excited to see she wrote her first book. I really liked the premise, the love story + magical realism, and all things museums. Unfortunately this fell flat for me. I had a really hard to getting into the story and didn't feel like I truly connected with either character, making the love story feel detached.


Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy.

I wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't for me. The premise was very interesting, but I just wasn't into it. I think other people will really enjoy this book. Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was fully enjoying this story up until the 65% mark, which is where the dreaded C word (COVID) enters the story and takes me out of it. It's not only the fact that the introduction to covid completely slows the story down for me, but it's the entire last act of the book that goes into a weird direction. I think it was way overdone, drawn out and unnecessary. The love story itself ends at like 80% and we are just left with the scraps in the end that don't really carry any weight from the story.

This book has elements of magical realism and I am starting to realize that this type of story is not really for me. I don't like something that is unrealistic in a realistic world, because I just can't grasp exactly how it's supposed to work. Maybe there is a book out there where it is done well but I haven't found it yet. The explanation used here that Claire can jump into paintings because she "just felt like she could" doesn't satisfy me as a good enough explanation. Some of the other elements to the magic like jumping between paintings didn't make much sense to me either. And how does every single person in a painting make sure they are in the exact same spot every day? That is some epic choreography there.

I also can't help feeling weirded out that the main guy is supposed to be from the early 1900's and Claire is modern day age 21. It feels a little off-putting to me. And the mention of how she starts to get gray hairs in her hair and crows feet during covid makes me laugh because we are talking TWENTY ONE here.

Despite this, it was a short easy breezy read and I read it in a couple days. It was a pretty fun time up until the 65% mark and I just wish the story went a different direction. The concept is original - It gives off very much writing prompt from a post grad creative writing class vibe. Which isn't a bad thing. But maybe it could have been a short story instead.

3.5 ⭐️

This book follows Jean Matisse, a young man who was painted in a painting by his father, and Claire, a young woman who takes up a job as a night janitor at an art museum. Jean has accepted a life of monotony until Claire climbs into his painting one night. What follows is a story of love, heartache, and new worlds.

This book is a very fun premise. There’s a lot I enjoyed about it, and I loved that it was all based on very real paintings. The twist in the middle really threw me, and it actually suited the story extremely well. The ending shocked me - but in the best way. What kept me from rating it higher, though, was that it felt that it should have been either shortened into a novella, or expanded to add more detail. Claire’s storyline felt slightly distant, and I don’t know that it necessarily added to her as a character. It could have been explored a bit more. I also felt there were some slight pacing issues. It seemed their relationship just happened so fast, or that some things were glazed over. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot, and I could actually see this being an incredible movie.

I'm going to start this one with a disclaimer: romance is not typically my genre. If you love a love story, you may feel differently about this than me.

When Claire lands a job as a janitor in an art museum, she doesn't expect to also be landing in the art, but that's what happens when she develops a crush on Jean, a man in a painting in one of the galleries. When he reveals that he, and all the other paintings, have lives of their own after the museum closes for the night, Claire finds that she can step into the painting. As their romance blossoms, Claire has to make some hard choices about what she can share with Jean, and when her secret risks exposure, she must make the most difficult decision of all.

I found the story very sweet and readable. It was a really pleasant escape, and especially as a lover of art and art history, I was really excited about the premise. My biggest wish is that the story had a little more depth - I didn't really feel a connection to the characters, and the world felt, well, kind of flat. It was cute for what it was, but it left me wanting a lot more.

3/5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

♡ thank you to Ballantine Books and Morgan Pager for an ARC of this book! ♡

3/5 ⭐️

i was in love with this book up until about the 60% mark. the idea of this book was so interesting and the first 60% was PERFECT. a perfect love story with magical realism, a cozy & quick read for anyone looking for an escape! that being said, i felt there were holes in the plot and inconsistencies in the FMC claire.

i truly loved the premise of this book. i loved the writing style of Pager. this is the kind of book that makes you believe in love and feel all warm & fuzzy inside. overall, im still extremely happy i read this book, but it could've been better.

i felt Luna's character was integral to the story, but was left out until the half way mark, and then just thrown in with no build up. she had been around the entire time but never brought up? even though claire had explored most of her past? it didn't add up for me..

i was also extremely disappointed in the ending of this book. it felt very rushed and off beat from the plot of the beginning. i really do wish this book would have taken a different turn.

also, this gives such "night at the museum" vibes, which i LOVED. if that's your type of thing, this book will be such a ride for you!

If you are into art history, magical realism, and romance, then this book should be on your radar. This was one of the most unique concepts for a love story that I’ve ever read!

‘The Art of Vanishing’ begins in the year 2019, when a woman named Claire takes a job as a janitor in an art museum. One evening, one piece in particular catches her eye — a Henri Matisse oil painting called “The Music Lesson” — or, actually, one attractive man in the painting catches her attention. As she reaches out to take a closer look, she is sucked into the artwork, kickstarting a love story that transcends time.

Like Claire entering into the painting, I found myself quickly sucked into this unique love story too. At first, I didn’t understand why falling into a painting wasn’t a complete shock to the main character — but, hey, this is magical realism, after all, so I decided to just set all logic aside and enjoy being whisked away into the world of art.

There are so many references to art history and real-life famous paintings in this book, so it was fun to look them up online as I read along. If you’re an art history buff, I think you’ll really enjoy piecing all the portraits in this story together.

The ending broke my heart a bit, and it left me thinking a lot about the impact of artwork and the visceral experience of viewing it in a museum. All in all, this book about art was such a cozy and whimsical romance that I won’t forget.

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager is an enchanting tale where reality and art collide in the most unexpected way. One of the main characters Jean’s life is a static loop, forever confined within the painting created by his father, the iconic Henri Matisse, silently observing the daily parade of museum visitors who admire the genius of Matisse and his contemporaries like Renoir, Picasso, and Van Gogh. Everything changes when the other main character Claire, a lonely museum custodian, begins to notice the captivating figure hidden in the painting’s corner and dares to believe he might notice her too.
I was charmed by this story’s blend of magical realism and tender, impossible romance. Jean’s instant infatuation with Claire, paired with her quiet yearning and growing courage, made their connection feel beautifully inevitable. I especially loved how the book explored themes of loneliness and the need for human connection, as Claire’s mundane nights transform into a vibrant dreamscape where art, history, and deep companionship thrive together.
I’d recommend The Art of Vanishing to readers who adore stories with a touch of magic woven into mundane everyday life. If you love novels about art, timeless love affairs, and characters who find solace and meaning in each other when the rest of the world feels indifferent, this book will sweep you away. Perfect for fans of historical romance with a fantastical twist and for anyone who’s ever wished they could step into the world behind a painting’s frame.

Claire is a museum employee who works the night shift. She loves the paintings and feels a deep connection to them, especially one painted by Henri Matisse that depicts his family. Jean Matisse is front and center of the painting, reading a book but actually watching clare from inside his frame.

When Claire discovers that she can step into the painting and travel between the paintings in the museum, her entire world changes. Soon, she spends her days waiting for her shift to come so she can jump into his world. Jean and Claire fall in love and must find a way to defy reality and find happiness.

Trigger Warnings
pandemic

Why Jackie loves it
There are so many things that I love about this delightful novel. The story is told from the point of view of both Claire and Jean and I love getting their perspectives. I also love that this book takes place in the Barnes. It is not explicitly stated, however, as a local to the town where the original Barnes was located, it was interesting to hear about it from the paintings' points of view. This book is so original. I listened to and read the book and couldn't get enough. Thank you, Ballantine and PRH Audio, for my copies of this book.

From the minute I began reading this novel, I was obsessed with the concept. Reading from the perspective of a subject in a painting? How beautiful! As a museum and art obsessed artist myself, I was truly so enchanted by the premise. 



I will say, there were some plot points involving our recent world history (not going to give anything away!) that I didn’t expect and honestly wasn’t that excited about. I wish I had known that certain events were going to be involved in the story because I’m sort of sensitive to that subject matter (trigger warnings) and get a little anxiety whenever I read about the difficulties of 2020. I thought it was beautiful, but that whole segment wasn’t my favorite to read. 


The story itself reminded me of something that could happen in Doctor Who or maybe a tame episode of Black Mirror (does that even exist??). I loved the characters, I really enjoyed visualizing each setting we were taken to, and I thought about how I wish I could have this experience in my favorite museums to see what those people are thinking. Morgan Pager…beautiful job.

Thank you Ballantine, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this eARC, in exchange for my honest review.