The Book of Lost Hours beautifully blends together a historical tale and turns it into a fantastical mystery novel.

I loved this story and was so surprised to learn it was a debut.

The story takes place with dual timelines of Lisavet Levy, a child trapped in the “time space”, and Amelia Duquesne, who is grieving the death of her uncle, when she is approached by a government agent who asks for her help in retrieving a lost book that was in her uncle’s possession.

The stories eventually combine, in such an unexpected way. I was both shocked, and impressed, that a voracious reader like me could be so surprised by a twist.

This book had me turning the pages as quickly as I could, I just had to know what would happen next.

I highly recommend this story to fans of The Midnight Library, or readers who enjoy historical fiction blended effortlessly with fantasy!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Hayley Gelfuso, and the publisher, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Book of Lost Hours is an exceptional debut that had me at hello just a few pages in!

In 1938, young Lisavet finds herself trapped in time space after her watch maker father hides her from the Nazis, but never returns for her. Time space is a vast library where books of memories are stored, only accessible by special watches. Initially, only the watch makers had access to time space, but eventually, governments took control of the remaining watches. Lisavet notices that agents are burning books and vows to save the memories they're trying to destroy. Lisavet can only experience the world through the memories in the library until 1949, when she meets a US agent, Ernest.

In 1965, young Amelia gets pulled into this story after her Uncle Ernest, her guardian, is killed in the line of duty. Amelia is told that she inherited her uncle's watch to access time space by another US agent, Moira. Moira is assigned to watch over Amelia, but only because the agency thinks she may be able to find Lisavet's book of lost memories. When Amelia finally gets to time space, she finds out there's much more to the story than she's been told.

I initially thought this book was a fantasy, but it's classified as sci-fi. It tackles some pretty big physics concepts without being overwhelming. It also tackles some pretty big moral questions about who should get to decide what memories or ideas get destroyed? I couldn't help but feel Orwell's 1984 knocking on my forehead while reading this. "He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past." I also couldn't help but feel like this is eerily relevant to today's world.

If you aren't into sci-fi, don't let the classification scare you. The Book of Lost Hours is so much more. It's a great mystery, with historical fiction and even a little romance that wasn't irritating to one who doesn't enjoy romance 😆 The writing was absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait to see what else Hayley Gelfuso will write. Finding shining debuts like The Book of Lost Hours is the reason I read ARCs! A big thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review an early copy!

Simply a must read! This book is perfect for fans of Addie, Leroux and history lovers with a romance twist. This book is great for Book Clubs. The beginning was a little bit of a slow breed however, it really sets the scene for the later part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a really solid read. I always love a good science-fiction-time-mess. And like, "mess" in a good way I promise. The pacing of my this novel was on point. I never noticed any dragging or parts I wish weren't there, etc. This book was made to be a movie - that was the vibe I got. That this could be the new "Notebook" or "Time Travelers Wife". If you like those, you'll like this one.

I will say, though it never dragged, I was never DYING to get to the next page to see what was going to happen. It did take me a wee bit longer to get through than some books of this size, but ultimately I think this was just because the pacing was so steady.

Big, emotional twists or plot points hit, but they didn't hit HARD like they could have. I also think this had to do with the way the FMC reacted to traumatic events. We know it impacted her, but I never really felt it as hard as I know I could have if it was written more emotionally charged. That said, it was never dull or unmoving either. Which is why, 4 stars.

Overall I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes scifi really. It's got some interesting concepts and I loved the first half a lot. I do think the ending was a little quick and left me wanting, but it works. I'm happy to have read it & look forward to future projects from this author!

This was fantastic. Definitely a savory read rather than a quick one. Loved the genre blending of it all and the meticulous detail that went into plotting.

I loved this very much. If you’re a fan of time travel, this is a book worth picking up. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I’m not usually a historical fiction kind of person, so in the first half, I found it a bit slow, and had to take a break and come back to it. But then, by the midpoint, there were a lot of twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and the story really picked up speed. I was fully intrigued by the book by the end - the magic, the drama, the time travel, the ending! Overall I really enjoyed this book!

I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley.

This was an interesting twist on historical fantasy mixed with time travel. I love all things historical fiction, especially if it’s World War 2 era. I really enjoyed the time travel element of this story. It isn’t your typical time travel which made it really fun.

Lisavet and Ernest’s story is exciting and heartbreaking. It’s a roller coaster of emotions and hard choices. Jack is definitely my least favorite character, as you’d expect. He’s harsh, rough, and a womanizer. I don’t love how he manipulates Moira and uses her for his own career boost.

The Book of Lost Hours was well written and researched. When an author can take historical events and mix it into a fiction story, you know they mean business. Hayley did an excellent job making her story feel real. The imagery used to create the time space made it easy to imagine what it looked and felt like. Like, you can almost imagine opening a door and walking into yourself.

The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso

This book was a delightfully unique mix of historical fiction, adventure and fantasy. Featuring a time space, where you can enter a library containing memories. Now controlled mostly by governments, Lisavet is hidden here by her father in 1938 and is stuck. Told through two timelines - and countless memories, I loved this unique concept and how it was explained.

I did find the story liked to meander a bit, it definitely could have been tightened up and taken a few less turns along the way. I greatly appreciated the mash of genres though, and was vert curious to see how it all worked out.

This was chosen as a @gmabookclub pick! I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks.

Thanks to @atriabooks for my early copy!

I adored this book. It is beautifully written, crafted in a way that really makes the reader think about the overarching themes and ideas, while still keeping you engaged in the story. It also took me on an emotional roller coaster, keeping me turning pages late into the night. I will be thinking about this one for a long time, and I highly recommend everyone pick it up.

I really enjoyed reading this one! The concept was unique and the writing style was so immersive—I loved how easy it was to sink into the atmosphere of the story. The author did such a great job painting the world in a way that felt haunting and beautiful.

My only real issue was with the pacing. At times, it felt a little uneven—some parts dragged on longer than I wanted, while others I wished had been explored more. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it did make the flow of the story feel a bit off at times.

Overall though, this was a solid read! If you like stories with gorgeous writing, a touch of mystery, and an atmospheric vibe, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

The concept of this book was super different, unlike anything I’ve read. A girl, Lisavet, grows up in the “time space” that is filled with books of memories. The magic system is a unique blend of fantasy and time travel. It started off a little slow, but really drew me in. The ending is absolutely beautiful and everything comes full circle for Lisavet. The twist also took me completely by surprise and I’m still thinking about it a few days later! I loved this book.

I ended up really liking this book. it did take me until about 30% through to really get hooked but from then on I was on board. there were a few fun twists i didnt see coming (theyre not completely unpredictable I just was not expecting it so points for catching me off guard)!

I liked that we end up getting a story of love and family and what starts as 2 separate plot lines definitely connect to bring a satisfying end for all involved. this book held so many beautiful themes about destiny and history and memory and it truly made me think and had a lot of genuinely beautiful moments. the imagery was so good without being extra as hell and the romance was making me feel all my feelings.

definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes time travel shenanigans and cold war history. also for people who like crying about how much you can love a person (non romantically) and how far you'll go for the people you love.

this was an ARC read!! ty netgalley and the publishing team and author etc etc

This was such a great read!
If you liked The Ministry of Time and The Midnight Library, this book is for you!
The Book of Lost Hours is an amazing, unforgettable novel that follows two remarkable women moving between postwar and Cold War-era America and the mysterious time space, which is a library filled with books containing the memories of those who bore witness to history.
Sit back and let your mind wander the aisles of memories in the time space that happens between the seconds, and find out how history is erased, and saved in The Book of Lost Hours.

I am a little obsessed with time travel books which is why I was ecstatic to read this. What an interesting concept this was. I won’t spoil it by giving too much away. It starts off a little confusing with all of the characters but once you get through that, it’s wonderful. Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

4.5⭐
Thank you net galley for the arc. This book read like a movie. It was very unique and nothing like I've ever read before. Your going between 2 different years starting in Germany in 1938 then 1955 is Boston, following Lisavet and Moira.
When they were walking thru memories it made me think of the movie Christmas Carol when the ghost were taking Scrooge thru the past, present and future. This was so interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A stunning 4-star debut. I LOVED (!!!) the premise of this book and that there is a secret space in time that houses the memories of the past in books. The time space can only be accessed using watches. I honestly feel like this premise would be perfect for a video game. In fact, it reminds me a lot Split Fiction but based more so on memories rather than written fiction. The characters and the mystery you are trying to solve kept me engaged the whole way through. This was well on its way to being a 5-star read for me but fell just short due to the writing style. The writing could have been a bit more purple and streamlined throughout, but for a debut author and work, this one is a must-read.

✨ The Book of Lost Hours is a hauntingly beautiful debut about memory, loss, and the stories we choose to preserve. A magical library + dual timelines + emotional depth = a must-read. 📖💫

📚⏳ What if every memory was a book on a shelf—and someone was trying to erase them?
Hayley Gelfuso’s The Book of Lost Hours is atmospheric, emotional, and unforgettable. Perfect for fans of The Midnight Library & The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

🕰️💔 Two women, decades apart. A library of memories. And the fight to keep history alive.
The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso is lyrical, immersive, and full of heart. Don’t miss this debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review!

This was a very intriguing and enjoyable read. The premise was such an incredible and exciting idea, and the plot was very well formed. It was beautiful, imaginative, and an exciting read. I'll admit, it took me quite a while to get into it, and it spent a fair amount of time just sitting at three percent. However, when I finally picked it back up, I couldn't put it down. I ended up finishing it within the day.

The charecter dynamics were so fun to read, with interactions ranging from wholesome to unsettling. Although it did get a bit confusing sometimes, it was overall a great read! Check it out once it's released!

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for giving me to opportunity to read this story.

This book was quite amazing. All the characters and their interconnections just made my mind explode. Usually I don’t care for time travel and changing fate but this book made it feel understandable.

Lisavet’s character development is just amazing and I suggest everyone reads this book.