I loved this book so much! The plot alone is just so enticing and captivating that I feel like just about anyone could love this story. I wish this library was real. The knowledge and wisdom, and lets not forget about the stories, that one could gain from having access to a library like this would change lives. Hayley Gelfuso has an amazing mind and I really hope this book lands on everyone's 'must read' list!

I absolutely loved this book. The history, the poetic writing, and the captivating story held my attention from start to finish. I genuinely loved and enjoyed getting to know these characters and felt like I knew them by the end. I will definitely be recommending this book to literally everyone!!

A very cool concept, but a massive info dump in the first 10 pages is a guaranteed turn-off for me. I was hoping this wouldn't be a trend, but was highly disappointed to find this writing style repeating itself again and again throughout the story. While I understand that monologues are a helpful way to deliver information, these info dumps felt pretty artificial and took me out of the story. This was 10000% a romance forward science fiction book which isn't strictly a bad thing but I wish this had been more clear in the marketing: a lot of cool ideas fall to the wayside in order to prioritize the central relationship. While this worked for me in Ministry of Time, The Book of Lost Hours tries to take on too much in the way of multiple timelines and an overwhelming scope. A closer focus on character and plot and taking the foot of the gas on the romance plot would have improved this greatly.

The Book of Lost Hours is a speculative/science fiction novel that investigates the philosophy of memory and time. It is set in both WWII and Cold War eras, with dual timelines. In this novel, the Time Space is the name of another dimension--a library of every human's memories. Main character Lisavet Levy becomes trapped in the Time Space to escape WWII. She meets young and handsome Ernest Duquesne and the two set out to escape the Time Space and its far reaching implications, and forge a life together. However, the CIA has other plans and Ernest and Lisavet race to protect each other from the impact of memories that can be erased.

My Impressions: From the book summary, I expected this book to be historical romantic fiction with elements of magical realism and speculative fiction, akin to The Lovely War. There are some elements that are similar between the two books, but this book leans very heavily into the speculative fiction aspects (which could be considered science fiction here) and there are only a few references to WWII and the Cold War.

I liked the parts of this book when Ernest and Lisavet were getting know each other. Their initial romance was endearing.

While reading this book, I kept thinking how much it reminded me of the movie Inception. I've seen other reviewers compare this book to The Midnight Library and The Ministry of Time, but I haven't read those books so I can't vouch for that opinion.

Although the author is a poet and references poets and poetry throughout the book, this book is not written in a poetic, descriptive, or lyrical style. It is a very plot-driven narrative. I personally found the writing style dry, the parts about the time space challenging to envision in my mind's eye, and the plot hard to comprehend. This book also contained many lengthy sections of telling instead of showing. It took me much longer to complete this book than I expected for a 400 page novel. Although I didn't personally enjoy reading this book, if someone is looking for a more plot-driven speculative/science fiction novel about time and memories, they might enjoy it!

Content Considerations: Light language, sex is implied multiple but not described beyond kissing, a few vague reference to body parts during make-out session.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

I loved this story from start to finish, this is such an impressive debut! The Book of Lost Hours has such a unique concept and really engaging, complex characters to love; I wanted to disappear within these pages. Gelfuso's writing style had just the right amount of intensity and yearning, not only to capture singular spaces in time, but to create a love story that has no limits. The author also navigated multiple perspectives and a nonlinear timeline seamlessly, never once did these aspects take me out of the world.

The time space, in its essence, sounds like a reader's dream. I definitely enjoyed this author's depiction of the space-time continuum more than I did Haig's The Midnight Library.

Selfishly, I wish there had been more time walking with Ernest and Lisavet simply because I loved the little world they created together. I would have happily devoured another 100 pages. 

"She was the moon no longer." I think it was the author's intent to make me cry at some point... and she definitely succeeded.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

The dual timelines was really well done in this story. Two timelines slowly getting closer as the dates catch up to one another and you slowly see how they converge.

Spoiler but it has a happy ending!

I loved that this took a turn towards science towards the end, it wasn’t just left as a magical mystery, they actually studied scientific theories.

The characters were dynamic and multidimensional, their hurts and love were visceral and you couldn’t help but feel for them. You were so angry for them and at them for their actions while also being heartbroken by their emotions and reasons.
This story drew me in and compelled me to keep picking it up and not wanting to put it down.

This book follows the stories of 4 main characters: Lisavet, Moira, Amelia and Ernest. Each part of the story happens during it’s own timeline and setting ranging from 1938 in Germany to 1965 in Boston, Massachusetts. Their stories intertwine in unexpected ways which was very engaging and packed full of fun-filled discoveries.

I really fell in love with all of these characters as their stories unfolded. Each story was written beautifully revealing plot points at just the right times! It really surprised me when connections were made and kept me reading. I loved the idea of the Timekeepers and their ability to travel through people’s memories and also their ability to save memories from those who seeked to destroy them altogether. I really didn’t dislike anything about the plot.

If you enjoy romance, time travel, historical fiction or fantasy, then this book is for you. It really has it all and was an enchanting read. I can’t believe this novel is a debut and I can’t wait to see what Haley Gelfuso writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this was super not up my alley, i thought it would be fun to read something out of my comfort zone but not at all.....

What an amazing read! Time travel, library of memories, world war 2, love, political/good v evil. It felt like reading Addie larue or the time traveler’s wife for the first time (those are my favorite books of all time). It kept my attention in a way no recent book has. It was such a wonderfully written masterpiece. Some say the change in pov was confusing, but I absolutely loved that! This would be an incredible movie someday!! It reads like that which is incredible! This book is bound to be huge if it gets in front of the right audience!! I’m a slow reader and I finished this in just a few days! The plot was done perfectly! The time travel element was perfection in this story! The quotes are some I won’t forget ever!!

Gelfuso’s writing is captivating, blending lyrical prose with vivid historical detail. The dual timelines are skillfully handled, weaving together a rich tapestry of memory, identity, and resilience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of *The Book of Lost Hours* by Hayley Gelfuso.

I absolutely loved the concept behind this story—it's rich with potential and filled with intriguing, imaginative elements. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the promise for me. The pacing felt uneven, and I struggled to connect with the characters at times. Still, Gelfuso’s world-building is unique, and I think readers who enjoy lyrical prose and atmospheric settings might find something to appreciate here.

#TheBookofLostHours opens with a man in 1930s Germany telling his daughter, Lizavet, a bedtime story about a timekeeper who can visit a place called the time space, which contains the memories of everyone who has passed; the the timekeeper is not safe because others want the power the he possesses. Before the bedtime story is over, the man must reveal that the story is true, the danger is real, and it is time for her to hide.

He puts her in the time space and promises to return, but after long she realizes no one is coming. In a dual timeline, which takes place in the 1960s, we meet Amelia, a teenager who is introduced to the time space after the death of her uncle.

What follows is a historical fiction and fantasy combo with light adventure as both young women try to do the right thing with the secrets and memories within the time space. There are some very cookie cutter bad guys and some predictable twists — But there is also a fascinating premise, an endearing love story, and some beautiful reflections on time and memories.

I enjoyed that these twists were not saved for the ending, and once they were revealed, the second half was where this book really thrived. I loved the character growth, which was marked by some very unexpected actions.

In a story dealing with time and memories, there are moments of dramatic irony where characters meet “for the first time” not knowing that they share a rich history — these moments always get me. And they got me here, too, making for some lovely, emotional scenes.

Overall, I thought this was a fun book to read. Thank you #NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This book. I fell in love with this story and keep thinking about it. I loved it so much especially once I got to know the characters, I just feel more in love with it. The concept was something I was intrigued by when reading the synopsis but it was done so well. I was invested in Lisavet, Ernest, and Amelia’s story almost from the beginning. I loved the history element to it all. What I think I loved most about it was that it conveyed the power of memories and history, erasing other people’s voices is just as damaging as. I don’t know if I have the proper words to convey how I felt about this book but I definitely strongly recommend it.

Great writer but I really could not get into this story. Thanks for the opportunity to read but it was just not for me. Good Luck with the boo.

This is an outstanding debut novel, showcasing genre-bending prowess that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, speculative fiction, literary fiction, romance, and more. The story alternates between two narrative timelines, set a few decades apart. One follows Lisavet Levy, an 11-year-old German Jewish girl hidden away in a mysterious realm called the "time space" by her watchmaker father on the eve of Kristallnacht. The other follows Amelia Duquesne, a 16-year-old American girl growing up during the Cold War, who becomes entangled with a mysterious CIA agent in an effort to track down a book once owned by her recently deceased uncle, Earnest.

Through both Lisavet and Amelia's stories, we explore the magic of the time space—a massive library containing books filled with the tangible memories of everyone who has lived and died. The time space can only be accessed through a once-secret tradition of specialty watchmaking, now overtaken by government officials from major world powers, who have seized control of the watches and selectively erase memories that do not align with their agendas. Reflecting real-world geopolitics, the time space has become a new battleground for control over the narrative of history and humanity.

Gelfuso's prose is beautiful and evocative. The dual timelines are thoughtfully and skillfully executed, coming together powerfully in the latter half to seamlessly connect both time periods and unite Lisavet and Amelia’s journeys. Beyond genre-specific appeal, this story will resonate deeply with lovers of literature, those who understand the inherent power and value of stories and lived experiences.

The novel explores overarching themes such as: Who holds the power to shape truth? What narratives are deemed too dangerous to exist? How do we resist and subvert the harmful actions of those in power? And when do we choose to compromise our principles to protect those we love? In an era of rising censorship and book bans, Gelfuso brilliantly weaves timely social commentary into a gripping romantic adventure that never feels forced or heavy-handed, yet still manages to move and transform the reader.

Where to even begin!?!
The Book of Lost Hours is a poignant, captivating, and immersive story.
It's truly a fantastic tale of love, time travel, science, ethics, survival, magical realism, and historical fiction. It takes you across different decades from different POV's all intertwined through love and family.
It's almost like watching an episode of Black Mirror. It so fantasy-filled, yet completely plausible.
I loved the characters, and the focus on romantic and familial love throughout the story and the decades; while also being historical and science based.
A strong and resilient FMC that holds everything together with fierce love and protective instincts. The science and theories are explained coherently and easily understandable.

I don't feel this often, but I would love to see a movie or limited series of this story, it would translate so well to the screen.

2⭐️

This book had so much potential but it really lost me halfway through. I never fully cared about our main characters and I think that was the main issue apart from the time jumps that confused me a little.

The writing was amazing though! And there were some parts that made me swoon over the romance!

3/5⭐

This was so interesting.

This book follows interweaving timelines from World War II and the Cold War along with a dash of magic. There's so much to unpack so lets break it down.

The History:
This was I think the stories biggest issue. We are told that it is the Russians against the Americans and both are trying to get a hold of these watches/timepieces that let them go into the 'time space' but we aren't explicitly told why both of them are after these pieces. From context clues I think it has something to do with how the Nazi's wanted to erase history and so do both parties in the Cold War but I still don't really understand why. I also wish that WW2 was a bigger part of the novel as the only parts used were the fact that Lisavet is Jewish and escaped Nazi Germany. The only government entity mentioned was the CIA and I found it slightly odd that there would be a project as big as this one happening and the President wasn't involved. I did really enjoy Lisavet's memory searching as those parts felt very rich and detailed in their history.

The Plot:
Woah, was the plot fun. It felt very marvel-esc to me with the sick fmc's and the political/military plotlines. I will say, I did guess every single plot twist and none of them blew me away but because of the writing and the uniqueness of the setting the book still kept my attention as I was curious to see how the author intertwined things at the end. I was really not a fan of that ending- without spoilers, I just am not a fan of books that invalidate everything that happened in the novel at the end. There were also moments in the 'time space' that still have me extremely confused which I guess is a given for any book that plays around with the space-time-continuum but I still don't understand the rules of the world. I also was frustrated with how some plots were wrapped up- like characters getting introduced at the beginning of the book and then 'oops they died and nope they don't come back' *cough* Lisavet's dad *cough*

The Romance:
100000000000% my favorite part. A perfect 'I would find you in any lifetime' trope. It's so hard to do this without spoilers but there are many times our main couple is separated but they find their way back to each other and the parallels each time had me tearing up. It could be seen as an insta-love and I was a bit thrown off how fast they liked each other but it worked for me- which is crazy to say because I hate insta-love. There was also another romance thrown in at the end and I wish there was more time to explore it because I was eating it up.

The Characters
Ernest: I love you. The closest I've ever gotten to a man like Roman Carver Kitt from Divine Rivals except he is a redhead. The way he talks, and teases, and is a nerdy boy, and loves hard and fast and will do anything for the girl he loves. No complaints- I adore him.
Lisavet: I found her motivation and story to be very interesting. There were moments I started to dislike the book because of her actions but I could also understand why even when I disliked her. She doesn't deserve my Ernest- at least older/adult Lisavet doesn't but young Lisavet can have him because she was the sweetest and OMG her relationship with Azrael???? My heart.
Moira: She could be placed in an action movie and absolutely slay but she wasn't my favorite. Her motivations/actions (especially her actions) weren't my favorite and she can't play with my faves like that.
Vasily/Anton: Dare I say this was the plot that ripped my heart out the most. I was explaining this moment to my sister and started crying. Everything comes back around and these characters stab you in the heart but I love it. Anton beegfiywegfwygfwy- love him.
Amelia: To be honest I couldn't really care less about her. She feels like a filler character that you need to have because someone has to be clueless but you don't really care about them (sorry bestie but I said what I said).
Jack: hated him.

Overall this was a very intriguing and atmospheric read and I enjoyed reading it (mainly enjoyed reading about Ernest but we aren't going to mention that). I'd recommend if you like magical realism/the 'in every lifetime' trope/a dash of history/ and a bit of espionage.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

*(I’m not sharing anything of this, nothing remotely spoil-ery. Not a single detail. I’m just begging you, if you’re reading this review, to read this story.)*

Gorgeous, wonderfully written, heartbreaking - I loved this (which I write while still weeping from this book, which has destroyed me). This, which is somehow a *debut* novel. I look forward to reading whatever Ms Gelfuso writes next.

Show me a book anyone writes for the love of a wonderful grandfather and I’m there, ready to read it.
This was one of my top reads of 2025, and I wholeheartedly recommend *The Book of Lost Hours*. I’m strongly urging everyone to read this.



Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you NetGalley and Atria publishing for the ARC of The Book of Lost Hours.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I just started this ARC and I can already tell it is going to be one of my favorite reads of the year. This dual-timeline novel is eloquently written. It’s one of those rare books you will read until the pages are worn and tattered.

The story beings in 1938 Nuremberg, Germany in a Jewish watchmaker's shop. The watchmaker, Ezekiel Levy, makes a special time piece that unlocks a door to Time Space, an alternate dimension where the world's memories are catalogued and stored in a massive library accessible only to the Time Keepers. When the Nazis target Levy and his magical timepiece, he hurriedly locks away his 11-year old daughter, Lisavet, into the Time Space to keep her safe. And there she is left ....alone.

Lisavet's life has no substance. There is only time in this space. No physical needs to eat, drink or sleep. There is nothing material in her world. Nothing but memories and a specter called Azrael, who serves as a friend and advisor . She ages, wearing the same gown she arrived in as a child. Her entire life is lived in other people’s memories. A treasure she cannot allow to be destroyed. Her world of isolation is disrupted when she meets Ernest, a handsome young operative for the Temporal Reconnaissance Program (TPR).

His previous assumptions that she must be lonely were proven false. Hers was a life more full than any he'd seen before. Years of walking through time had cultivated her into a woman of endless knowledge and incalculable wisdom.



The story oscillates back and forth between the Time Space in 1938-1950 and 1965 Boston, where TPR Director, Moira, makes contact with Ernest's impetuous orphaned niece, Amelia. Ernest has been allegedly murdered in the Time Space and he has left his magical timepiece to 15-year-old Amelia. Amelia is wary of Moira as she tries to teach her about the Timekeepers and Amelia's new responsibilities.

Through Lisavet's eyes, we enjoy the memories of distant times and places. Lisavet cannot interact with the people in the memories, but after a number of years, she is able to touch and retain objects. An anomaly that can only be explained by a change in her being.

He called it "temporal departure." A part of her marveled at the idea that Time was no longer a part of her, that it could not control her.


Lisavet is disconnected from the physical world and able to pass through the dimensions of time. She grows up learning how to "time walk" and explore history first-hand. In this, the story reminds me of "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue".

This is a story of love and loss. It delivers a beautifully developed, but tragic, romance. The twists and revelations are anticipated, but well timed in their delivery. Pacing is perfect. Relationships evolve naturally, not only between the characters, but also between the reader and the main characters. This author is in no rush to deliver, she takes her time. Her writing style is richly descriptive and emotionally charged. I immediately looked to see what other books she had available as I wanted more. It was surprised to learn that this is Gelfuso’s debut novel. She is a master of the craft right out of the gate.

The reader is left separating dreams from reality, all the while questioning, "Does it really make a difference, if what we perceive brings us happiness?"