Y’all!! This is a DEBUT and the storyline/writing style was so well done it definitely did NOT seem that way! I was wildly impressed with how this book drew out! The concept of the “Time Space” was absolutely captivating and gave the whole story an almost ethereal quality. And don’t even get me started on the poetry woven throughout! It was lyrical and felt like its own form of magic, always tying the characters back to each other in ways that made my heart flutter.

I especially loved Amelia’s storyline in the present-day timeline. She’s sharp, stubborn, and emotionally layered in a way that felt so real. Her journey amidst the grief she’s dealing with was so intense and I was on edge throughout her entire timeline. Besides miss Amelia, the memory walking scenes were some of my favorite moments in the book. I really enjoyed the imagery when any of the characters would step into another person in history’s memories and experience them for themselves. Also… Azrael was definitely my favorite character… his aloofness? Hysterical in all points in time, 10/10.

That said, I did have a couple things that brought my rating down just a bit. The pacing seemed slow and tended to drag from time-to-time, and I found myself skimming a bit in the slower sections. I also wished for more depth when it came to the agency and side characters—there was so much potential that wasn’t fully explored. My last little critique was that the romance between Lisavet and Ernest had all the setup but not enough payoff emotionally in my opinion—the time jumps occasionally left me confused with the relationships and linking together what was happening when.

Favorite quotes:
🖋 “Living is the most dangerous thing, after all. More than death. More than memories.”
🖋 “There’s no emptiness in death. You simply move on.”
🖋 “You are as perfect as the moon and every last star in the sky.”

Alas, I did enjoy this book a ton and believe that if you enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or The Midnight Library, you will definitely enjoy this read. It’s an adventurous, yet melancholic kind of story full of secrets, memories in time, and an unrequited love story amidst the action.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC ebook in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Even though books about time travel break my brain, it is of my favorite genres. In the description, The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso (published August 26, 2025) is compared to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig as well as The Ministry of Time by Kailane Bradley, both of which I have read.

This novel is a love story, both romantic and family love, and is also a mystery. One of the main settings is a tunnel in time in which memories are cataloged and held in books of the departed. Special watches allow their wearers to transport to this space and do with the memories as they wish. Some want to preserve the memories while others want to burn the books to create their own version of history.

It takes place in two separate times with two main protagonists. Eleven-year old Lisavet Levy lives in 1938 Nuremberg, Germany with her younger brother and father, who is a clockmaker and timekeeper. When danger strikes the shop and the lives of Lisavet and her father, he takes her to the tunnel in time and leaves her there where she will be safe. That is the last time she sees him, and grows up in the time space living through the memories of others. But the time space is not entirely safe for her; spies from all over the world visit the time space to burn entire books of memories. Lisavet takes on the mission to the save the memories from burning after the spies leave the time space. She is careful to hide but one day she is discovered by an American timekeeper, and her life changes.

Amelia Duquesne is 15 and living in 1965 Boston. Her beloved uncle and caretaker has just died and left her an orphan. A brisk and unfamiliar woman named Moira approaches her after the funeral looking for a special watch - one that her uncle always wore. She wants Amelia to help her recover a book that was lost in the time space, one Moira suspects that he knew the location of.

The Midnight Library is one of my most favorite books ever so I was excited to read this one and see if it lived up to my expectations. Sadly it did not; it was not unputdownable and it didn't sweep me away with emotion and touch my heart like TML did. It was closer to how I felt about The Ministry of Time, which was that it was kind of a slog to get through.

Don't get me wrong - the idea of the story is creative and the writing is good, but I didn't find the characters very likeable and I felt like the plot went off the rails at the end.

3 stars

this book surprised me to say the least! super unique setting and premise. in this world, we have timekeppers who can essentially access the time space, where memories are stored in the form of books, and they can basically delete the memories/books and this can change the course of time. each country has its own department/organization dedicated to training timekeepers and sending them into the time space to erase memories they don’t want to exist and be remembered. we follow Lisavet Levy and Amelia Duquesne as they navigate being entangled in the political mess of things as they both are VERY special timekeepers. the plot twists really were plot twisting and i only guessed one of them; the rest was just very unpredictable! highly recommend this book. it was very easy to read and i think a great entry point to fantasy as a genre🤭

I had high hopes for this book because I LOVED The Midnight Library, and The Book of Lost Hours lives up to the comparison.
It's a bit slow at the beginning but once it picked up I couldn't put it down. Such a great debut novel, so original and beautifully written.
Thank you to Atria, NetGalley and Hayley Gelfuso for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book publishes August 26th, 2025

I love this cover and title. This books sucks you and does not let go. The story of the time space is so unique and well written. I highly recommend this if you enjoyed The Midnight Library and the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I also like the historical fiction element to it. I look forward to more books from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc! Oh my gosh this was a great book! It was such a unique concept on time that I haven’t read before and it was refreshing! The way everything was thought out by Hayley Gelfuso is so impressive and amazing to read. How the time space was explained made me feel as though I was right there in it. All of the characters were so well written! This was a hard book for me to put down because it was just so interesting and such a cool idea. I have no questions now that I am done. I did get confused in the beginning about what was going to happen but then once it came together, wow it was so good. I also liked how there was a little bit of everything for everyone in here. I highly recommend this gets added to your TBR to be read immediately!!

The Book of Lost Hours follows Lisavet Levy as she gets trapped in a luminal space called the time space and works to save the memories of the world the Timekeepers are burning. This is alternated with Amelia who has inherited a watch from her uncle Ernest Duquesne and has suddenly discovered her access to the time space. The plot was so interesting and weaved such a thrilling story, I simply could not stop reading. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoyed the Midnight Library as the time hopping is very similar. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book took me on a rollercoaster ride through time and my many capricious emotions while reading. I initially had a tough time getting invested in the story. I found the dialogue to be clunky, and it felt scripted at times. I disliked skipping over Lisavet's first few years living in the Time Space. We were missing out on seeing what she was experiencing. It felt a bit rushed. But by the second half of the story, these concerns no longer bothered me. I became so enthralled by the romance and the story itself. I was trying to piece together what had happened to our characters that led us to the present day (1965). The Dual timeline worked so well for this story. I got to a certain point, and then I just needed to know what had happened. Lisavet and Ernest's romance had me hooked. The love and sacrifice they went through. Ugh, some of Lisavet's decisions just destroyed me. The yearning I experienced for them was criminal. I adored these characters. And the loathing I felt for Jack was so strong and real. If given the chance, I would shoot him thrice. This story felt like magic to read. And it is marketed perfectly when being advertised to fans of "The Midnight Library" and "The Ministry of Time".

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC of this INCREDIBLE book in exchange for my honest review.

This book, just…wow! History, science fiction, AND mystery all in one?! If you loved The Ministry of Time, (which I did), and The Midnight Library, (which I have yet to finish), then this book is for you!

The storyline is so original, yet familiar and transformed into a new and fresh take on time travel, history, and the memories from said history. The characters are so well written that you feel everything they do and you want only the best for them! I have been so over all the WWII media that continues to be made, but this is such a breath of fresh air that I didn’t mind the common event this time. The romance? Beautifully woven in as well. The historical context was pretty accurate as well. I cannot say enough good things about this book! I wish I could read this for the first time all over again! #TheBookofLostHours was a 5 star read and I will recommend it to everyone!

Suspenseful and intriguing, The Book of Lost Hours follows the story of a young girl trapped in a pocket dimension that houses memories to escape Nazis. She grows up there and sees people come and go, destroying memories and makes it her mission to stop them. Multiple POV and time jumps. Part romance, part historical fiction, part SciFi.

Books that deal with time travel or meddling with history aren't my usual picks but I enjoyed this on e a lot. There was enough action to move the plot and we get a clear look into the motives of some of the characters. I struggled with it early on, the time jumps and the concept of the Timespace kind of lost me but I'm glad I kept reading because things were a little more clear as I read on (or as clear and space time continuums can be).

Overall enjoyable read and recommended for the library collection.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC for my first Camp NetGalley, and thank you to Shelf Awareness for providing a physical copy in advance.

What drew me to this selection was the referencing of The Midnight Library. But I think this will also be great for fans of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, or The Librarians. Additionally, it is a great read for historical fiction fans, World War buffs, and anyone interested in time travel. While the book doesn't expressly mention magic, the magic within is those who are time travelers, and the ability to literally rewrite history, or destroy memories of people, places, things. Considering the current political climate, it is terrifying to think if this were real, how truly different everyone's lives would be.

The talent and skill mentioned within this novel with the watchmakers inspires a curious for such talent of craftsmanship, regardless of time travel or not.

While Moira and Amelia's characters were certainly predictable, their does not make the story, and how their stories affected and impacted the overarching story any less sad, curious, heartbreaking, and adventuresome.

I believe that the way the story concluded was in a way that did it justice. While not everyone got the happy ending they deserved, some did and their stories were the ones we were rooting for.

Although this book is and advanced copy, there are bound to be typos. I found roughly six or seven typos throughout. I did reach out to notify the editor in charge of this novel, and she assured me they were already fixed. That will remain to be seen upon official publication...

I am voluntarily writing this honest review after reading a free ARC of this novel via Netgalley and Atria Books. THE BOOK OF LOST HOURS by Hayley Gelfuso is a stunning fantasy romance novel with a strong timely message about censorship and the damage that can be done when governments try to shape our future by altering the story of our past. The book switches between multiple time periods between post war and Cold War era United States with two main protagonists. In 1938 eleven year old Lisavet Levy was trapped in the time space waiting for her watchmaker father to return. The time space was a library full of books holding the memories of those who have witnessed history. It could only be accessed with special watches historically passed from father to son, but which had mostly fallen into government hands. When her father didn’t return, Lisavet grew up among the books and specters, only able to see the world through the memories of people who came before her. When she discovered that government agents were entering the time space to destroy the memories which did not support the version of history that they preferred, she began rescuing memories, creating a book of her own. When an American spy, Ernest Duquesne, entered the time space in 1949 and showed her glimpses of the world she had left behind, he set her on a course to change history. In 1965, Amelia Duquesne was mourning the death of her Uncle Ernest. She was approached by a CIA agent who enlisted her help to locate a book that her uncle had been trying to retrieve. When she entered the time space, she learned that the truth was not always as straightforward as it seemed. This book delivered more than I ever imagined that it would. Both Lisavet and Amelia were incredible young women who were thrust into impossible situations at a very young age. The presence of Ernest in both of their lives had a profound impact, and I was impressed with his innate goodness despite possessing a great deal of power to influence the future. All of Lisavet’s actions were initially directed toward preserving memory and then to keeping safe those she loved most. She made great sacrifices in the name of doing so. When starting this book, I had no idea the direction the story would take and I am so very glad that I made the choice to read it. I highly recommend this novel for readers of fantasy and romantasy with strong female characters and a very thought provoking plot. I give this book a rating of 4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars when needed.

The Book of Lost Hours is a historical fantasy that explores the complications of time, space, censorship, and relationships across timelines. The time space is a library filled with books containing the memories of everyone throughout history and is only accessed via specialized watches. In 1939, Lisavet Levy’s father, a watchmaker, deposits her in the time space to protect her from horrific events of their timeline. Lisavet accidentally becomes trapped in the time space while waiting for her father’s return and begins to see the world through the memories of others. However, Lisavet isn’t alone in the time space. She soon learns to be cautious of timekeepers, government agents who are sent to destroy memories they’ve deemed unfavorable or dangerous from history. While in the process of rescuing memories, she befriends an American timekeeper, Ernest, which not only complicates her existence but also all of history.

I was blown away by the emotional and exciting journey Hayley Gelfuso took us on in her debut novel. The story is told across two timelines and from multiple points of view, primarily those of Lisavet, Ernest, Amelia, and Moira. Gelfuso’s writing and storytelling captivated me from the first chapter and kept me engaged throughout the entire story. What stood out to me the most about Gelfuso’s writing was her ability to reveal information to the reader by delicately interweaving it in the story. Oftentimes in fantasy or historical fiction books, “info-dumping” occurs early on or is rushed at the end, and I was so thankful this was not the case here. I also enjoyed Gelfuso’s ability to instill curiosity and doubt around the characters’ motives and actions throughout the story. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, a new surprise pops up that takes the reader down another rabbit hole.

At the heart of the story were the relationships crafted throughout time and space and lessons in how far people will go for the ones they love and to preserve history. I loved Lisavet and Amelia’s curiosity and resilience throughout the story and how Ernest bravely wore his heart on his sleeve even when the world was closing in on him. At times, I didn’t know if I was scared of Moira or wanted to be her. Azrael was precious, and I would’ve loved to have seen more of him and his story! Lastly, I appreciated the focus on the dangers of censorship and the importance of knowing and maintaining history, regardless of how horrific or uncomfortable it may seem.

Unexpectedly, this became one of my favorite reads of 2025! I would love to see this story in film or television in the future. I also look forward to sharing this story with friends and reading more of Gelfuso’s works in the future.

I always like books with some basis in history, and this one didn't disappoint. It was a very enjoyable and emotional story with lots of twists and turns. The theme of the book is subtle enough that it doesn't hit you over the head with it.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The characters were distintive - vividly drawn and emotionally connected; I felt for them and their struggles, and found myself tearing up in many parts. The plot was interesting, thought-provoking, and challenging, and the author did a great job of explaining the ins and outs of time travel, time stopping, and memory traversing. She also mended any potential plot holes with ease. The pacing of the book was excellent; I never found myself skimming over pages or rushing to the next chapter. In fact, I was sad to read the last few pages because I knew I had to say goodbye to these characters.

I cannot wait for this to be published so that I can recommend it to my friends. It looks like Hayley Gelfuso is a relatively new author. I look forward to following her career.

So many thanks to NetGalley for the early read!

I could not put this book down! Historical fiction with a bit of sci-fi and magical realism vibes thrown in, this was a definite page turner. I can't wait to recommend it to my book club!

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ✨

I really enjoyed this story—it gave me similar vibes to The Midnight Library, but with a stronger historical fiction angle and an engaging dual-timeline format. The pacing kept me hooked throughout, and I especially loved Ernest and his relationship with Lisavet.

That said, I found myself wanting more clarity around the timekeepers' roles within their governments and the Time Space. What kinds of memories were they targeting, and why? It felt a little underdeveloped for something that plays such a central role in the plot—especially with Lisavet’s mission to preserve these memories.

Still, this was a fast, immersive read with beautiful language and exceptional writing for a debut. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever Hayley Gelfuso writes next!

Beautiful!!!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew that I loved Midnight Library and This is How You Lose the Time War, so I figured I'd enjoy this too. Wow!! It was beautiful. I appreciated the time setting, that it wasn't too modern, yet it didn't feel placed in the past. I think the time space felt timeless, which made the story as a whole feel like it could be any time.

I am not really sure who the villain was. I would have liked to have what the timekeepers were trying to hide a bit more fleshed out, but I suppose in real life, you don't always get all of the answers.

this book was unexpected in a good way but I was reminded too much of Dr. who. although I love that show, this book was very strange and ran on too long.

“Whatever I have to do, as long as I don’t lose you.”

What better line can I find from this book to call out to future readers and share the Immediacy of Gelfuso's prose and the incredible way she has, with so few words, to rip right to the very heart of her characters and create a bond with you.

Written in a way that makes you feel as if you living on the page alongside the characters, this a book that sweeps you away in its pages and leave you clutching a tissue because you felt like you where the character you are reading and wondering how you would live through these events. Not only is the dialogue vivacious and real, but so is the world building. I know this is a term often used for science fiction and fantasy when the author's imagination crafts a world beyond our own, but I want to use this for Gelfuso's writing here because - and I can't believe I'm saying this - I literally felt as if i was in the library looking at the books and I felt as if I could move within the time space itself. I could almost hear the sounds of time agents rushing, i could see whispers of people, and I could feel the press of the events in 1938 Germany happening around me. For me that is the mark of a great read.

This book more than just a story of Time Keepers and Rebels, its more than just a tale of what happened, its an imaginative and compelling What If... that will leave you thinking and wondering and returning to key pages over and over again.