I struggled with this book. In my opinion there were way too many moving parts and it was extremely hard to keep my attention and interest. I felt as if the roles were very predictable; be the keeper of memories but also fight the destroyer of memories to form a certain narrative.
I also did not love the character development. Lisavet had little development from her toddler self as she was reckless and selfish and more concerned with her love interest.

Thank you NetGallery and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book. Such a unique idea, plot and perception of time and memories.

The book follows Lisavet, Ernest, Moira, and Amelia. Beginning with Lisavet who is thrown into a world where memories are stored in books and she is thrown into a different reality of the Timespace. We have multiple different points of view but I wish we would have seen a bit more of Lisavet’s. There was a shocking plot twist I was not expecting. I really enjoyed the romance between Lisavet and Ernest as well, Ernest was my type of book boyfriend kind of nerdy, smart but very caring and sweet once they get past the somewhat enemies to lovers beginning.

Overall I thought this was a really unique fantasy book and really liked all of the characters, the plot was also very engaging. Really was a first debut novel for Hayley Gelfuso!

What a FANTASTIC book! Interdimensional libraries, Cold War espionage, and time travel? Yes, please!

Hayley Gelfuso really nailed this one. Her prose is excellent, grammar impeccable and historically accurate (granted, I'm no 20th century historian). Lisavet, Amelia, and Moira came alive on the pages; the settings were descriptive without being overwhelming and the characters were believable and relatable. I loved everything about this book.

It made the reader ask those giant questions of life, such as "What makes life worth living?" and "Who controls the narrative?" Obviously, the question of narrative is a relevant one today. Gelfuso handles it tactfully while also subtly pointing fingers in the direction of long-established and venerated systems that have not been nearly as altruistic as they have pretended. Misogyny in the 1960s is also handled well; I hated one particular character from the very beginning and as the story progressed, it turns out that I had a good reason for that early instinct.

If you enjoyed The Time Traveller's Wife or The Invisible Library, you'll enjoy The Book of Lost Hours!

Content warnings: gun and war violence, misogyny, pregnancy and labour, childbirth, suicide (off-page), implied sex off-page, blood and injury.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Lost Hours is a great read if you like both sci-fi and romance. The author does a great job of balancing the two genres and writing a captivating story. The story follows Lisavet, Ernest, Moira, and Amelia as they deal with the implications of navigating the time space in their respective times. Since there is a romance story, I figured the couple would get their happy ending and I figured out what happened to Lisavet about 40% of the way through the book. However their were a couple other plot twists that did catch me by surprise. The story moved at a good pace. It's easy to follow despite jumping time periods and dimensions. It was very easy to get invested in the characters and their stories. It was one of those books I plowed through because I couldn't put it down.

I was provided this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A unique take on time and how we experience it. In the first chapter you are transported into the time space with Lisavet and learn of her experience trapped during her most formative years. Stuck among books full of memories and specters of the past. I could have spent a little longer with Lisavet before her abrupt transition into the time space.

When she discovers that there are others with access to the time space, her new home, she observes them. She watches as they destroy memories of the past to combat the war(s) of the present. She makes it her mission to protect all the pages of memories she can.

The writing style provides a mystic feel to the story, even while changing the POV. There were times when it felt a little confusing on how the time space was meant to work (but honestly, this could just be a me thing) and there were a few times that I found it easy to guess the twists. Although, knowing didn't take away from the experience of the story.

This could be a very fun read for anyone who is interested in literary fiction with a science fiction twist. Book comes out on August 12th!

"...memories are the realest thing any of us have, Lisavet."
This book tore my heart out in the first 10 pages and then never gave it back. Books that make me feel things, good or bad, joy or grief, are always my favorites.
I didn't see the twist coming at all, and that moment upped this book from a 4 to a 5. I love being surprised.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC ebook.

I loved this book! Thank you to Net Galley and Atria books for the advanced copy of this book coming out on August 12, 2025! Usually I am not drawn to fantasy/sci-fi type books but this book was recommended to me and I am so glad! This book’s writing hooked me from the very beginning! Told in multi timelines- the author gives you a complete picture of the entire story from different point of views. It is a general fiction book but has memories from history giving a historical fiction feel.
The main characters: Lisavet, Ernest, Anton, and Amelia had me invested in each one of them! Even the side characters (Jack included) kept me wanting more. Their character development and depth was just phenomenal! All the poetry references throughout just connect the flow of the story. It is a beautiful work and you would never know this is a debut novel! I can’t wait to read more from Hailey Gelfuso!

received this book as an ARC through Net Galley. It sounded very interesting. Time travel, love, World War II, nazis, communism—what’s not to like? I can honestly say I loved this book. It is so original and beautiful. The writing is lyrical and poignant. It was a great read.

Lisavet’s father is a special kind of watchmaker. His watches open the door to time space, a mysterious library that holds all the memories of time. When the nazis come for him one dark night, he thrusts Lisavet into the library and shuts the door before she can be hurt. Once he closes the door, she is trapped there with no watch and no way to escape. While wandering aimlessly through the shelves, Lisavet meets the ghost of a memory, named Azrael, and he shows her around space time and how to access the memories she’s surrounded by.

As time passes, Lisavet educates herself by walking through history. She notices other people who come and go. Asrael tells her these people are timekeepers and they are the keepers of the memories of the library. But not all of them are benevolent. Some come in to destroy books and change memories. Lisavet makes it her mission to stop this sabotage, and this causes her to meet Ernest.

At first, she’s cautious around Ernest, not knowing if she can trust him. But she soon opens her heart and her life to this stranger. He teaches her more about life than she could ever learn from a memory and she soon finds herself falling for him. As their lives get more intertwined, things from outside the time space begin to interfere with their relationship and erode their trust in each other.

As I said above, I loved this book. The story is very original, being a love story that takes place in the time space library and all. Ernest and Lisavet are two beautiful people I aspire to be more like and reading about their relationship unfolding was such a joy. The different aspects of the library are fascinating and each character is their own complete person. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss out. This book is released on August 12, 2025.

I read this book in one sitting. I was drawn to it because I recently read the invisible life of addie larue and loved it. This book is a mix between the midnight library & the book of doors with a heartfelt romance between main characters. Will definitely be adding this ti my print library once released

What an absolutely stunning book. I laughed, cried, and was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

It has been a long time since I’ve read something so beautifully written, with such intricately crafted characters. And the world that is built in this book is both original and captivating.

I could not recommend this book more- a perfect blend of history, fantasy, and emotion. It both inspired me and devastated me at every turn. What an accomplishment Hayley Gelfuso!

she is a dnf for now- i tried multiple times and i simply wasn’t in the right headspace to continue but at no fault of the book or writing! i will come back when i have hopefully completed the book!! i truly am still intrigued by the premise and would love to review this 💫💫

This is one of those books where the description sounds like there's too much going on, but when you start reading, it just works.

The Book of Lost Hours is an absolutely mesmerizing blend of history, mystery, and a touch of the fantastical. With its richly imagined time space—a library of lost memories—this novel sweeps you into a world where history is fragile and truth is constantly at risk. Lisavet’s journey is both heartbreaking and powerful, and I thoroughly enjoyed Amelia's adventure in Boston.

Thought-provoking and beautifully written, this book is perfect for fans of historical fiction with a magical twist. A stunning, unforgettable read!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Arc!

Wow. I’m not sure what else to say besides that The Book of Lost Hours has become a book I love, an easy favourite, a book of the year leader. I am immediately googling this to preorder because I want, no, need to own this to reread and annotate and borrow to friends and family and wear out the spine on. It is a magical, heartbreaking and heart-mending story that pulls you through the pages and right into the threads of time.

I was hesitant to read this on NetGalley, I don’t gravitate towards novels that lean historical because the handling of it can teeter so easily into something that leads the novel an a decline for me, but this book was such a refreshing point of view in how the magic integrated with the history that it made it even more engaging. I was on the edge of my seat more than once. The plot reveals are executed extremely well and feel like achievements to the reader when you predict them, only to be surprised by ones you didn’t see coming. I did audibly gasp with palm to open mouth on 2 occasions. It was so well paced and the intermingling perspectives were written very well, they all felt like distinct characters, each one I’ll hold in my heart.

I know a book will be 5 stars when it moves me to tears, it’s hard to come down from that when words on the page can be so emotionally impactful. Gelfuso is an exceptional writer and I will pick up anything they publish in the future.

For comps, this was what I wanted out of The Book of Doors, which fell short for me. Perfect for fans of the magic of the Midnight Library and The Ministry of Time. Even if you thought any of those books listed were ‘just okay’ and didn’t do it for you, try this one. Please.

Note: There is one scene that ends with dubious consent, not on page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning, I could not put this book down. It immediately grabbed my attention in the first chapter. In this closed-door, unique story of traveling through time and memories you will follow Lisavet Levy through adventures, falling in love, mystery and suspense.

While this book could have been very confusing going through different time periods, it was written well and I was able to follow the story line.

The only drawback for me was some predictability to the story line and the end left me questioning everything I had just read.

If you loved the Midnight Library, but want more of a love story - this is the book for you!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

I really liked this book. It reminded me a bit of a wrinkle in time just ever so slightly but overall it was different and an enjoyable read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The concept was new and intriguing. At times I did get a little confused and found the story a bit hard to follow. However, I really loved how everything came together in the end.

4.33 stars

Oh
My
Gosh

This was amazing!! I can't believe that this was a debut novel!! The writing was beautiful, and I kept forgotting I was reading!! I love how Ernest loves poetry!! The fact that Ernest was named after her grandpa was kind of weird... but oh well 🤣

I didn't like some content in it, thus the 2/3 of a star that I cut, but I LOVED this book otherwise!! I couln't stop reading it, and read it for almost 7 hours straight!!

I was also crying for like half this book it was SO. SAD. 😭😭
Thats part of the reason that I loved it, though!


If you enjoy fantasy, romance, and heartbreaking books that will leave you sobbing at 2 am, I'd reccomend this!!heartbreaking books that will leave you sobbing at 2 am, I'd reccomend this!!

I'm teetering between 3 stars and 4 stars for this one. I loved the structure of the story and I enjoyed the weaving of time and experiencing the years through different characters' eyes, but some aspects of the story felt predictable or similar to other books I've read. I don't know if I can say more without spoiling, but I think the romantic relationships in this story were a strength while the magic system and the side characters were slightly lacking. I also was hoping that Amelia's character would be more developed by the end of the book.

That said, this book was overall enjoyable and I probably would recommend it to others, but I don't think it's the most unique or well done in this genre. I really look forward to what this author does next!

Lisavet Leavy’s father was a timekeeper. He made watches that could send a person through time. In Berlin, 1938, the Nazi’s were coming. He opened a door and put Lisavet through it to keep her safe. He told he to stay while he went to look for her brother. He never returned. Lisavet didn’t know anything about the time/space she was in. She discovered it was a place for saving memories, but some people wanted to burn them from history. Lisavet became the keeper of the memories. I loved reading The Book of Lost Hours. At the end of every chapter the author made you want to continue to find out what happened. Fantasy and love story all combined in one.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Hayley Gelfuso for the ARC for my review.

4.7⭐

now playing: One More Light - LINKIN PARK

—minor spoilers—

15+

romance: 7/10 (Lisavet and Ernest have sex but it is not on page or described. The sexual relations lead to a pregnancy. Kisses. Dirty jokes. Some of Moira’s coworkers are shown sexually harassing her. While kissing, Ernest has an erection, which is described as a “tingle”, that he is embarrassed about. Several easy to skip fade to black scenes.)

cursing: 2/10 (infrequent hell, damn, shit, and bitch, with occasional uses of the Lord’s name in vain.)

violence: 8/10 (gun violence. Death. Blood. Secret war. Terrorism.)

other: Smoking. Mentions of alcohol. Teen pregnancy. A mention of two men stealing longing glances.

tw: Suicide. Depression. Grief. Lack of father figure. The Holocaust

tropes: Enemies to lovers (kinda? lol), who did this to you?

third person

multiple pov

publish date: 8-12-2025

“Who cares if one more light goes out 
in the sky of a million stars?”—


–OVERVIEW–

The way this book slaughtered me…

Words cannot even begin to describe this experience. The amount of tears shed is not good. I’ve been beaten and bruised, and left to stumble along with half a heart barely beating in my chest. HAYLEY HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME???
Someone put me out of my misery 😭😭

Read this if you fancy a broken heart, love, or books of any kind.

The Timespace was excellent in theory, but I feel like it was poorly explained bc I’m confused as hell, BUT that’s ok. I love the Timekeepers and the memories stored in books and all of that. But, I don’t understand the history. Like the first Timekeepers got to the timespace through mediation and sundials, so what’s the deal with the watches being so important? Why couldn’t the TRP just train their Timekeepers to mediate and solve the problem all together? It’s kinda backwards to me buttttt okie.

The poetry references were so amazing and I loved that aspect.

ARE WE GOING TO IGNORE HOW AMAZING A MAN ERNEST IS? He’s standards. Period.

—the writing—

-> starting out strong, this is somehow a debut novel??? Bro, I honestly can’t even believe that. This book was so well written, the style is my favorite kind (descriptive and lyrical). It was lush and flowery while maintaining reading ease. The pace was a little bit off, at times it could be unputdownable and others I would struggle to read a page. Which, I guess, isn't too bad. But just be warned.

I can’t wait to see what else Hayley has in store for us.


—“It flickers, flickers”—


–PLOT–

It was engaging, and intriguing. It kinda switched from two different plots as the time we read in switched, giving us the whole history and a full meaty book.
The amount of point of views we have in this book is actually kind of wild– but it’s all to tell the story in a way that even though we know more than the mc’s we are JUST as clueless.
The second half of the book was really confusing and I had no idea what was going on, or why characters were making the decisions they made.


—“Who cares when someone’s time runs out”—


–CHARACTERS–

ERNEST
-> (aka best gentleman of all time) the amount of times I sobbed over this man is in no way healthy or normal, but WHO CARES bc I love him more than Lisavet ever could. He’s kind and caring and thoughtful and smart and nerdy. WHAT IS MORE TO LOVE? There was one time when he was kissing Lisavet and it’s their first date/kiss and he (as mentioned above in the content warnings) has an erection and his embarrassment killed me. It was cute in a way I probably shouldn’t think is cute… UHHH it’s fine. I’m fine 😋

He’s definitely one of my book boyfriends now. I’m in love.

BUT who names the MMC in a ROMANCE book after their grandfather? UHM… especially a guy who falls into bed with Lisavet more than once, who has passionate kisses with Lisavet, and even has his ✨desire✨ make an appearance. How did she not get crazy uncomfy? I could never…

**“You’re like the moon, only brighter.”**

LISAVET
-> this girl is a queen, albeit stupid at times, but that’s fineeeee. Her fierce love for her baby and for Ernest is so sweet and I loved reading her story. Her pain is my pain. Her grief is my grief.

**“I’ll take care of you. I won’t let anything happen to you,” she promised her. “I’ll rewrite all of history if I have to.”**
Hayley ate with that.

AMELIA
-> I feel like we’re kinda similar and completely different. If she were real and from THIS time we would probably be friends ngl. She reminds me of my best friend, Maylee.

MOIRA
-> when I first read her name I thought I had read it wrong. But girlie needs to quit smoking, she’s destroying her lungs. I hated her in the second half of the book. WHY did she sleep with Jack??? EW. Like there was no point in sleeping with him, she could have stolen his memories a different way. That just made me really uncomfortable bc he was weird with the “my girl” thing and it was just ick.

**“Are you always this rude or am I just getting special treatment?”**

SPOILER

Honestly, the “plot twist” of Moira and Lisavet being that same person was a leettlleeee beettt obvious. I wondered it since chapter 3, but guessed in chapter 8. SAURRR

END SPOILER

ANTON
-> STOPPPP him and Amelia are so cute. And koshka??? BROOOO– bc of 

**“You think I want to keep arguing with you? It is like talking to a cat. I do nothing at all and scratch, scratch, scratch.”**
😭😭😭 I was giggling my head off.

JUSTICE FOR ANTON. I’m seriously so sad we didn’t see more development in their relationship, they had all this cute banter and tension and then it disappeared literally at the end… disappointing.

JACK
-> go to hell.


—“If a moment is all we are, or quicker quicker?”—



–CONCLUSION–

So concludes another book, another life, another escape. So ends another review, another experience I can never live for the first time again. What I would give.
Read it. Please.

—“Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do”—


–PLAYLIST–

Before You Leave Me - Alex Warren
If I Would Have Known - Kyle Hume
Better Off Without Me - Kyle Hume
Yours - Conan Gray
Best Sea In The House - Jamie Miller
Empty Room - Jamie Miller
Falling Up - Dean Lewis
One More Light - LINKIN PARK
See You Again - Jake Cornell
Astronomy - Conan Gray (idk man it just vibes)
I Love You, I’m Sorry - Gracie Abrams
Water Fountain - Alec Benjamin
And Then Some - Alex Sampson