#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?"

4.5 Stars

The Book of Lost Hours is a beautiful combination of historical fiction and magical realism. The story spans from the late 1930s into the 1960s and is told in dual POVs. It seamlessly blends romance with a touch of sci-fi and the importance of preserving history.

I really enjoyed Gelfuso's writing and the way she brought all of the characters together in the story. I found Lisavet to be the most intriguing character, and Gelfuso really brought her to life through her moments of isolation, loss, love, and sacrifice. I thought the relationship between Lisavet and Ernest was heart-warming and heart-breaking. Their love and what they are willing to sacrifice was the perfect romantic backdrop to the rest of the story.

The time space concept is done really well, and Gelfuso makes a great statement on who controls history, with corrupt government agencies being the villains of the story. I loved the way Lisavet adjusted to living in the time space and decided to make it her mission to save as many memories as she could, from the corrupt time keepers, who were out to erase them.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Historical References
* Loss of Family
* Complicated Relationships
* Hidden Identity
* Workplace Misogyny
* Sci-Fi, History, Romance

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
🥶 (No)

I highly recommend The Book of Lost Hours for readers who enjoyed The Midnight Library, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and The Ministry of Time.

Such a magical author, the prose feels both rich and informative but also ethereal?? The pace is perfect and it kept me hooked, loved this world, fantastic blend of historial/real world and fantasy

The merging of the real world with this magical element in a way that needs to be built within the story was extremely well written. It was easy to follow as far as how they accessed the time space and what it was used for. There were some points where I thought “ok so where did this person come from why do they matter” and everything lined up so well in such a satisfying way. At no point did it feel like the ending just needed to be tied off with a bow.

thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this Arc! my opinion of this book is my own only 💌

I'm not sure where to start, or explain properly how I feel about this book. I will try my best to not include any spoilers, and strictly describe my experience so that everyone who sees this will want to read it.

I truly have no words for this book.. it's written so incredibly well. The concept of time is one that I've always been so fascinated by. Other dimensions, alternate realities, time travel. All those topics can be so hard to execute if you don't understand it properly. but I think Hayley did such a perfect job at taking her own approach with it, all while making it coherent with what we think we know about the concept of time today.

I got so attached to Lisavet very early on, which helped a lot obviously.. but even after that, every single character that was introduced made sense, completed storylines well, and worked so well with our main character... almost to the point where I felt like there was more than one main character? there were different POV,, but it all came back to Lisavet one way or another and I absolutely loved the way it was done.

obviously, with discussing the concept of time comes twists and turns, and big reveals, and so much more that keeps you hooked.. and this story did just that. there were SO MANY THINGS that I thought to myself " what if this happens" and then something different happened?? although, I don't want to sound smart or anything, but I did figure out one thing, and started CRYING at how happy I was about it happening. everything was written so well, with the different time jumps, povs and characters. I honestly don't know how else to explain it without spoiling it,, so I'll stop here.

if you want a book that will hook you early and easily, make you fall in love with both the characters and the story, but especially a book that dabbles into the fantastic concept that is time itself,, PLEASE!!! I BEG OF YOU!!! read.this.book. You will not be disappointed I promise. when this book comes out I might be buying a copy for all my friends. this is and hopefully will be one of my top reads I've had the privilege to read this year.

thank you again so much for giving me the opportunity to read this early, I'm very grateful. I will now forever keep a little piece of Lisavet Levy with me, as time goes on 💠

Gelfuso's prose in "The Book of Lost Hours" possesses a haunting temporality—words that seem to inhabit multiple moments simultaneously, much like her characters. Her narrative voice achieves a delicate balance between historical precision and ethereal wonder, crafting sentences that unfold like the pages of the memory books central to her story.

The Book of Lost Hours is amazing! I didn't understand all of the time/space/memory details, but because the novel is so character and story driven it didn't bother me. I really was just along for the ride.

I loved all of the characters in this book. Lisavet learning about life through the memories of others. Ernest breaking the rules for love. Amelia going through loss and being placed in a situation she can't control. Not only were these characters very well written, but they were relatable and I loved the growth that they went through during the telling of the story.

This was such a compelling read, I cannot recommended enough!

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

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy of this book!

This was beautifully written, whimsical, and I really loved the concept of the time space and having a library of peoples memories!

We follow multiple characters throughout this story and I thought Hayley did a great job taking us through multiple characters in an interwoven time travel romance! I loved the characters, I shed tears, and I had a wonderful experience reading this! I think the best thing to do with this book is go in blind to get the full experience, but it was such a lovely read!

Some of it did confuse me, but I think it’s because I’m not used to time travel romance! However because of this I’m sure I will read more!

Whoa, am I crawling out of the time-space continuum? A lot just happened that I’m still wrapping my brain around. This book was a very fun read as it mixed time travel and historical fiction. Think Midnight Library meets in The Nightingale maybe? Very cleverly written. I wasn’t sure how it would wrap up or even make sense in a way I could follow, but I found the ending to be a great summation of the plot. The “Moira” character annoyed me, because I felt like she made her life more complicated than it needed to be. But I get that point that was trying to be driven home. All in all it was a fun read that bent my brain a bit thinking about the concept of Time.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.

"The Book of Lost Hours" is one of those rare books that kept me up late reading. It's twisty and turny and poignant and thrilling. One of it's comps is "The Ministry of Time" and I think that's very apt, though it doesn't have the anachronistic displacement, instead focusing on a type of "time travel" through memories. Both of the older generation of characters, Lisavet and Ernst, were compelling and I was rooting for them. I also liked the younger generation of characters, Amelia and Anton, who felt distinct from their predecessors. Lisavet in particular is a complicated character very much defined by the circumstances she was thrust into--what would it be like to grow up simultaneously trapped and able to go everywhere all at once?

There are two things keeping me from giving it a full five stars. One is that I wasn't a huge fan of one of the twists, and also I felt like the ending was a bit too pat. I can't say more without spoilers, but one thing that does distinguish this book from Ministry of Time is that this is a romance while Ministry of Time is not. The book is captivating, has interesting things to say about censorship and memory, and has lots of momentum through the end.

The Book of Lost Hours was absolutely amazing!! The writing was beautiful and I loved how Hayley created this magical element within the real world. This book was hard to put down when I had to and overall it’s an amazing read by a debut author. I can’t wait to read other books by Hayley Gelfuso in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this ARC 💕

This was an absolutely beautiful story about time, love, memories, and loss - and of course, books. The Timespace is an in between place where memories are kept in books. And there are countless numbers of books, and within those books are countless pages of memories. Some good, some not so good, all worth saving. When a young girl is thrust into the Timespace alone and with no way to get out, she decides to stay there and keep memories safe from those that would enter the Timespace to erase them. She is content with her work, though living in shadows and only accompanied by a whisper of a guide to talk to you. Until she meets a young man who goes into the Timespace and he changes her world forever.

I was completely enchanted with the writing and the characters were interesting to get to know. As a first book for this writer, I would say that she is off to an amazing start and I hope she has more stories to share with us!