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

A solid and enjoyable read if you enjoy magical realism. The book had a bit of a slower start but picked up about midway through and was a quick read to the end. If you enjoyed The Midnight Library, The Ministry of Time, and the Book of Doors, you will enjoy this read. The only critique I have is that the main character seemed inconsistent in their behaviors and I was struggling to connect the different points of the story based on what they've experienced.

This book has it all and I absolutely loved every minute of it. Romance, love, twists and turns, history and books! I loved the characters and they will stick with more for months to come

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review. PUBLISHING IN AUGUST 2025.

I loved "The Shadow of the Wind," "The Book of Doors," "The Midnight Library," and "The Ministry of Time." This book is in that vein: Time jump/travel, with strong personal connections between the characters. The characters themselves are compelling, especially Amelia, Lisavet, and Jack (the head of the CIA). But what sets this book above most is its multiple-threaded story that connects oh-so-perfectly as the book progresses.

I would highly recommend this stellar debut to anyone who is a fan of the above books and genre.
My only complaint about this book is that the first chapter feels lifted from Zafón's "The Shadow of the Wind," which is fairly unknown to US readers.

Okay, so this was like, totally intriguing but also kinda frustrating? The whole memory library thing? Obsessed. Timekeepers running around deciding what stays and what goes? Wild. And the dual timelines?? Love when a book makes me work a little.

Buuuut… it kinda lost me towards the end. Like, I was vibing with the whole concept, but some of the character choices made me wanna shake them and be like, “GIRL, WHY?” Also, some parts felt sooo drawn out, and then suddenly—boom!—major stuff happened way too fast. Pacing, people!!

Real talk though, the main character had me struggling. Like, I get why she did what she did, but some of her choices? Painful. Made it kinda hard to fully root for her, even though I had to see where it was all headed. Also, if you're here for a deep dive into timey-wimey memory mechanics—heads up! This leans way more into romance and personal drama. Not a bad thing! Just depends on what kinda ride you're looking for.

Still, it was beautifully written, super creative, and had some moments that totally hit me in the feels. Just wish the execution had been a little tighter.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! 💕

Perfect for fans of The Ministry of Time, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and The Midnight Library. I really enjoyed the coalescence of romance, historical fiction, and sci-fi. The blend of timelines was executed beautifully, and I never felt confused despite the complex concepts of time and memory. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books!

The Book of Lost Hours is a beautifully written blend of history, mystery, and magic. The story follows Eliza, a young historian, who discovers an ancient book that reveals lost moments in time, leading her to uncover secrets about her own past. Gelfuso’s lyrical prose and vivid imagery bring the story to life. The well-developed characters and the themes of time and memory are deeply engaging. The novel's seamless blend of fantasy and historical fiction keeps you hooked with its twists and turns.

This was certainly a unique take on a historical fiction. I loved the time swaps and really found myself enjoying all the characters. The timelines unfold exactly as they should. I was enthralled through the first three quarters but I put it down in the 4th and didn’t pick it up for a week. So the last bit lost me a little bit. I’m definitely interested in what a book club would have to say about this one.

The Midnight Library meets The Book of Doors and creates something unique, new and absolutely stunning!

I'll be honest the book cover - the simplicity and beauty of it - drew me in and the blurb captured my imagination. I knew I had to read it. And reading it was an adventure worth going on, again and again.

Gelfuso has created a story that draws readers into a world and captures their imaginations. This is a perfect read for these cool winter months when a quick escape is needed.

The Book of Lost Hours by Claudia Fox delivers a hauntingly beautiful tale of grief, magic, and self-discovery. The protagonist's journey to uncover the secrets of her family legacy is intricately woven with lyrical prose and vivid imagery. While the pacing can feel slow at times, the story's emotional depth and rich world-building more than compensate. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric fantasy with a touch of mystery.