the Art of Vanishing follows a dual perspective between a museum janitor and the son of Matisse. Claire starts working nights at an art museum gallery and soon discovers there is more to the paintings that meets the eye. This love story was sweet and I enjoyed the plot twist at the end! The historical elements were also interesting to learn about. My only note is that if you aren’t into COVID themes, you might want to avoid this, as it’s a main plot point. thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was really intrigued by the subject of this novel! I love art and romance also I felt like this could be a great combination of the two. Unfortunately I didn’t feel like this totally landed.

It started off a little slow for me. I wished Claire had a larger role and we had learned more about her background earlier on in the novel.

Jean was a great character but I didn’t find him to have much depth. Mostly because he is a painted figure and his life exists within that confined space.

The twist at the end also didn’t recover the book for me. It was well written but not my favorite book.

This is a ✨magical✨ novel in which the night shift custodian at a fine art museum is able to step into paintings… so what happens when she falls in love with one of the subjects, Matisse’s son Jean? It was wholly original and such a fun read. It had me on the edge of my seat until the end.

This was book was frustrating. Decent and fun sometimes even although the development of the relationship could have been better. Reading this was like watching a kid climb a very tall tree only to fall off of it halfway through, break their leg and give up on ever climbing again.

Really compelling read! Pager has a way of blending mystery and memoir that kept me hooked. It’s about disappearance on the surface, but underneath it’s more about identity and what it means to start over. Some parts were a little slow, but I actually liked that—it gave me time to sit with the emotions. Thought-provoking and definitely one that sticks with you.

I had really high hopes for this book. Magical Realism is my favorite genre, and was really excited to get into this book especially with a small hint of mystery as well. I found that the book was too slow paced for me especially for being such a short read. The ending felt a bit rushed. I would read Morgan Pager's next book, but this one fell a bit flat for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this eARC!

I really liked this story up until the end. I just felt it was rushed. Its a little magical and a little romance , with si.e mystery. I hink I will wait and see what this author does next.

I wanted to like this. The cover is gorgeous, I like the magical element to it, but it just isn't for me.

I do not enjoy instalove and these characters feel a little flat.

I was completely swept away by this book! It’s one of the most magical stories I’ve read in a long time. Set inside a quiet museum, it follows Claire, a soft-spoken employee who unexpectedly discovers she can step into the paintings she works around every day. That discovery leads her into the world of Jean, the son of Henri Matisse and the subject of a long-forgotten painting. What starts as a surreal, dreamlike experience slowly unfolds into a deeply emotional love story that spans art, time, and something even deeper.

I adored the way the novel brought art to life - literally and figuratively. The writing is lush and transportive; I could practically feel the brushstrokes and smell the oil paint in the air. Every scene felt like stepping into a painting of its own.

This debut really surprised me - in the best way. It’s tender, imaginative, and just the right amount of whimsical. I’m already looking forward to whatever this author writes next.

Huge thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy! I’m so glad I got the chance to read this early.

This was such a unique and enchanting read! Set against the backdrop of a museum, it tells a beautifully atmospheric love story between Claire, a quiet museum employee, and Jean—the son of Henri Matisse and the subject of an early 20th-century painting. When Claire discovers she can step into the worlds within the artwork she helps to oversee, what begins as magical curiosity becomes a deeply emotional journey across time, art, and love. The rich references to art and the lush descriptions of each setting made for a fun, transportive reading experience!

This is an incredibly imaginative and charming debut novel. I’m so excited to see what this author does next!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would rate this a solid 3 stars. It was a short, pleasant read that didn’t require any deep thinking. It read more like a YA romance novel, which normally isn’t my thing, but I tolerated it so I could find out what happened at the end. While the ending wasn’t a surprise, I was put off by the fact that Luna wasn’t introduced until more than halfway through the book. Isn’t that odd? It seemed weird that she was never brought up, even in inner dialogue, when she was such a huge part of her life. It just seemed very sudden and didn’t make sense. The “reveal” wasn’t that big of a deal honestly.

Overall, a decent read but not something that will stick in my mind, unfortunately.

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager is a bewitching blend of literary fiction and magical realism within the walls of a Philadelphia art museum. Claire, a young night-shift janitor, discovers she can step into paintings entering worlds where time stands still and emotions are painted in broad, poignant strokes. Claire becomes enchanted by Jean, a man frozen in a 1917 Matisse by his father, Henri Matisse. Their love blooms across canvases, from sun-drenched beaches to lush settings, floating between the real world and the transcendental.

The dual narration between Claire’s present-day struggles, including single parenthood and COVID-era disruptions, and Jean’s static, painted existence grounds the novel in emotional reality. The romance is complicated by real-world stakes: a stolen painter’s journal, museum closure due to a pandemic, and the moral weight of Claire’s inter-world abilities.

This is a special debut. For me it perfectly depicts an escapist journey through art and time, anchored by genuine emotional stakes. This is a book for anyone who has ever wondered about the hidden stories behind brushstrokes, longing for connection that defies era or canvas. It offers both gentle romance and a thoughtful probe into how we carry our identities across different worlds.

If you're drawn to tales that blur boundaries between reality and imagination, and romance that resonates with both wonder and realism, this novel will likely leave a lasting impression

Morgan Pager’s debut novel enchants with a whimsical premise: Claire, a janitor at a Philadelphia art museum, becomes captivated by Henri Matisse’s The Music Lesson—and especially by the enigmatic young man in the painting. That man, Jean, is Matisse’s eldest son…and he can see Claire, too. When she discovers she can step into the painting and leap from masterpiece to masterpiece, Claire and Jean embark on a slow-burning, magical romance across the canvas.

The novel sparkles when immersed in this world of art, history, and love. As a Pennsylvania resident, I loved the obvious nod to one of my favorite museums, the Barnes Foundation. The romance between Claire and Jean is tender, and the idea of traversing paintings is a joy to imagine.

When the pandemic hits and the lovers are forced apart, the pacing falters. The story loses some of its earlier momentum, and the absence of the art-world adventures leaves a noticeable gap. Still, Pager’s prose is charming, and her debut shows both creativity and heart.

A promising first novel that will appeal to romantics, art lovers, and anyone who’s ever wished they could step into a painting. I’ll be watching to see what Pager creates next.

This book was a DNF for me. I gave it 50% and then just could not finish. I liked the premise and thought it could be fun, but it was slow-paced, boring, one-dimensional, and simply not believable in any way. The main characters, Jean and Claire, have a romance where she can step into the picture and enter his world. The plot was slow to start, and the beginning did not pull me in. It wasn't the magic, as I often enjoy magical books, but this book didn't feel magical; instead, it felt unrealistic and slow, with little to no character development and not enough dialogue. I thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Art of Vanishing! Morgan Pager weaves an imaginative and layered story that pulled me in from the start. The setting—inside a museum—was rich and vivid, and the way she intertwined art, mystery, and personal discovery made the narrative feel both grounded and magical. I especially appreciated that the story took place during the COVID pandemic. It added an emotional weight and relatability that made the characters' isolation, longing, and transformation even more powerful. A beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that lingers after the final page.

A slow unfolding story where the magic of art and museums comes to life for a janitor. I found the whimsy of the lives of the characters in the art much more entertaining than the "real life" of the janitor. The dialogue was a bit clunky, and the modernization of the art characters was a bit much. The mystery of what the FMC was hiding was too drawn out and overwrought for the circumstances.

Fun for museum lovers! I liked the nod to From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The only thing better than living in a museum would be to step inside the frame.

What a unique and beautiful book. It was so well written. It is part love story, part historical fiction and part fantasy. This book will stay with me for a long time. I loved all of the characters. I cannot wait to see what this author writes next. I highly recommend this book!

I genuinely wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading but this book kept me hooked from the start and the twists really surprised me.

I've been waiting for Morgan Pager's debut for what feels like forever and holding it in my hands felt like art in and of itself.

Honestly, I would have loved to hear more of Odette's story!!!

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book has such a unique premise that I thought was executed well. Magical realism can be tough and I think the author did a great job of capturing the worlds of the characters and how they intertwined. Selfishly, I wanted an explanation for the magic (though after finishing the book I think it’s better that it wasn’t explained), and there were several key parts of the story I wish we’d gotten some more detail about (backstories especially), but overall this was a sweet, fun read with a little magic and a lot of heart! I look forward to (hopefully) reading more from this author!