This was a dnf for me. I thought the concept was interesting but it felt boring and didn’t catch my interest.

I loved the first half of this book, but it slowed in the second half. Once the time travel started it kind of lost me and it didn't seem to fit.

This is the story of a mother and daughter who share beautiful long red hair, a deep bond, and troubled lives. When Ivy becomes pregnant with Mia as a teenager, rejected by the baby’s father and her parents, she joins a restrictive cult-like community where Mia is born and raised. As Mia grows up she sneaks out to the library and her world is changed by books.

I loved the first part of this book about Ivy and Mia at the Community, and I love the theme of how books change us, but the second half got a little wild. By wild I mean it included time travel, magical realism, and a deep dive on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s life. This was close to 4 star read but I deducted a half star for the Back to the Future vibes at the end.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @atriabooks for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman is a captivating blend of historical fiction, magical realism, and a tribute to the power of literature. This novel weaves together the story of Mia Jacob, a young woman who escapes a restrictive cult and finds solace in the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne, particularly The Scarlet Letter.

What I Loved:
Narrative Style: Hoffman’s writing is as enchanting as ever, with her lyrical prose drawing readers into Mia’s world. The seamless integration of historical and contemporary elements adds depth to the narrative.
Themes: The novel explores themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the transformative power of books. Hoffman’s homage to Hawthorne’s work is both respectful and innovative, making readers appreciate the timeless relevance of classic literature.
Character Development: Mia’s journey from oppression to self-empowerment is compelling and relatable. The supporting characters, including the enigmatic Joel and the literary figures Mia encounters, are well-crafted and add richness to the story.

What Could Be Improved:
Pacing: Some sections of the book can feel slow, particularly the detailed descriptions of Mia’s life in the cult. While these parts are essential for character development, they might test the patience of some readers.
Complexity: The intertwining of multiple timelines and literary references can be confusing at times. A bit more clarity in these transitions would enhance the overall reading experience.

Overall, The Invisible Hour is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that celebrates the enduring magic of books and the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone who believes in the transformative power of literature.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #atriabooks #ltbreaderteam #theinvisiblehour #alicehoffman

Really great book, it had me interested the entire time and I’m really interested in reading more from this author really soon.

I adore Alice Hoffman's writing style, so I was so excited for this book! And I was not disappointed. A similar feel the her other witchy books, but with a new voice as well. Both sad and hopeful but also eerie and magical.

Goodbyes are too final.

I love books around stories and other books and Alice Hoffman just has such a beautiful writing style, She is quickly becoming and autobuy author for me. I really like how this story devloped and the ending.... so good.

Only Alice Hoffman can write like this. Her characters crackle with life and are so bold and vividly described that you feel you actually know them.

This novel starts with teenager Ivy running away from her home and joining a cult-like commune, then picks up years later with the story of Ivy’s teenage daughter Mia - before taking a turn into the past/time travel with Mia going back to meet her author idol Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I have been reading Alice Hoffman’s books for 30+ years, but with mixed results - some I love, some I like, some are meh. When I first saw this one I instantly grabbed it from Netgalley - but then when I heard about the Nathaniel Hawthorne connection, I delayed reading it as The Scarlet Letter was one of my most loathed books I read in school. I absolutely loved part 1 of the book about Ivy and Mia and questioned my choice to have postponed this one so long - but then we got to Hawthorne (boring) and Mia’s magical time travel ability (inexplicable). So, a mixed bag.

3.5 stars

I absolutely lived inside the pages as I always do with an Alice Hoffman book.

How to sum up my emotions after this reading experience: I should be hopeful for the ending that was meant to be. It was an ending that Mia, ultimately the one who became the main character, fought for throughout her entire life. Her mother made the worst of mistakes—not the choice in having a baby while she was only a teen, but in her solution to the situation. Her mother, Ivy, ran away to The Community, a place that allegedly took anyone in who was willing to escape the pains of 21st century life. It was supposed to be a haven. An isolated farm that made its income from apple orchards. But that idyllic life was a lie as all promises from patriarchial societies are.

Ivy became a favorite of the cult leader,Joel. Even though she arrived pregnant, he decided he was the father of her child. In fact, he made that a rule for all children in The Community. The children lived separated from the adults in dormitory style housing. They were schooled and punished with a heavy hand, as were all the women.

Reading was absolutely forbidden, much like in Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. It was considered the devil's work. As a rebellious woman, Ivy began to explain things to her daughter in secret meetings or when they could work at the farmers' market among the outsiders. Ivy always wished to escaped when she realized how cruel The Community life was. She had the intuition to know or at least to wish that Mia would be free. That happened the day Mia was allowed to go into the library in town—a building shaped like a castle with thousands of worlds waiting for her.
The Community in Hoffman's version of a dangerous cult is absolutely accurate. We've seen other fictionalized versions, countless of them; but light is being shed on the real world ones from the past and present. From Jonestown to The Moonies to NXIVM to Scientology—today's techology allows people to be shown that these communes aren't farms run by pascifists. In many ways, the steps a cult leader takes to have control are the exact ones taken in abusive relationships:

Step One—Isolate people from their support system;
Step Two—Ban books and only allow "approved" curriculum;
Step Three—Demoralize them so they believe that new "family" is the only group to care about them;
Step Four—Get control of all the money.
These may be out of order, but it's a playbook.

Hoffman makes her young girls and adult women powerful in their own respects and not only through magic. There's always going to be a penchant for rebellion and marching to the beat of one's own drum. She allows her women to be sexually free when they're in time-spanning societies that begin from the demonization of Eve to the Feminist Revolution. Yet, the supporting characters will play out the roles of those who want, wish, and dream of the spirited fight in the main characters.

As the publisher's summary says, Mia is a modern woman, a librarian who moves from the hidden cult world to making her own in New York City. She doesn't think she has a place for intimacy with another person. Then there is the remarkable gift of time travel which takes her into the village where she meets the only person she could ever love romantically, Nathaniel Hawthorne. She credits his famous book, The Scarlet Letter, for saving her life. Time traveling is always a questionable as a plot device. In The Invisible Hour, Mia is very much aware that her visits to the past may undo what brought her there in the first place, namely Hawthorne's writing of The Scarlet Letter.

It's wonderful that Alice Hoffman and her peers continue to warn us about the patriarchy; classism; the dangers of forgetting history; the importance of education (whether book-smart, street-smart, or ingenuity); and that marginalized people no matter how young or old make a difference to someone out there. Yet, it is 2024 and another Presidential election year and things are dismal in our real world. How many times do novelists, academics, philosophers, and scientists have to warn us about allowing it to happen again?

Key points:
-Hoffman gives multiple examples of what makes a family (good and bad examples).
-Fight for and maintain your autonomy in the ways that are best for you. (#FreeKesha, #FreeBritney)
-Magic is real because it is science. The way there is no light without darkness, there is no science without magical thinking to get to the theories which lead to proofs.
-If you're eligible to vote, people fought long and hard for that right. Don't waste it.
-"You're in a cult. Call your dad." — This one actually comes from My Favorite Murder, but I'm sure Alice Hoffman would agree that it fits in here perfectly.

Summary:
It's truly difficult to come up with new ways to say how much I love spending time deep in the words of Alice Hoffman; and that I wish I read faster so I could consume everything in her catalog.

Few books make anything feel possible. This is one of them.

THE INVISIBLE HOUR delivers characters who come from the complexity of the emotional spectrum. From love (platonic, parental, sibling, adoptive, romantic) to narcissistic (controlling, self-absorbed, fear-based, authoritative)
- Ivy against Joel;
- Mia against Joel;
- Nathaniel pressured by his family;
- The Community clashing with the townspeople;
- Sarah and Constance adopting Mia informally and without any doubts about their commitment;
- Nathaniel's mental health;
- and, not to be left out, mothers for their daughters.

Rating: 5 shining stars

I wanted to love The Invisible Hour. The opening half of the book is absolutely excellent. I flew through it just wanting Ivy and Mia to be okay. When the time shifts to the time of Nathaniel, I began to struggle as I didn't feel connected to his character in the same way I was connected to Ivy and Mia. I liked the story, but it definitely needed a stronger second half.

I love everything and anything Alice Hoffman writes! As someone who was raised on Practical Magic and everything Stevie Nicks & witchy I am thoroughly invested in her books.

3.5 stars. An intriguing read made more interesting by the literary ties to Nathaniel Hawthorne and his work "The Scarlet Letter". {SPOILER ALERT} I enjoyed the unexpected plot twist of time travel. However, I did find some of the plot elements and evolution of the storyline a little too contrived in a few moments. {SPOILER ALERT} Specifically, although I appreciated the idea behind the Library and the librarian serving as a way for Mia to escape from The Community, some of the ways this actually played out in the novel bordered on cliche. However, in spite of the librarian's role of "coincidentally" being able to fulfill the unique and niche needs of Mia, this weakness in the plot did not detract significantly from my overall enjoyment reading this book. {END OF SPOILER ALET} I am looking forward to reading other books by Alice Hoffman. TW NOTE: "The Invisible Hour" does contain several scenes related to abuse. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Raise your hand if you looked up the dedication in The Scarlet Letter 🙋🏼‍♀️

I read The Scarlet Letter in middle school & remember thinking there was still so much shame for unwed mothers & unaccountability in men. 174 years after its publication & women are still fighting for bodily autonomy and we still exist in a world where men need to learn to mind their own business.

I generally enjoy historical fiction & find cults to be terribly interesting. The line between was is cult & what is community is terribly thin- stay vigilant. I typically do not like time travel, but felt it added to the story.

Ultimately there was still something missing for me… I just can’t quite put my finger on it.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a huge fan of magical realism! What a great coming of age story. I loved when the two timelines merged. Lovely read!

Alice Hoffman's books are always impeccably well researched, and this was no exception. She is one of my favorite authors, currently.

This is a tale of Mia, who is raised in a religious cult and her life there and afterwards. Mia finds a copy of The Scarlet Letter and that book builds her resolve to control her circumstances and escape the cult. A bit of magical realism kicks in and she is able to go back in time to see her idol, Nathanial Hawthorne, and we see a bit of his and his sisters' lives.

I enjoyed the glimpse into Nathanial Hawthorne's life, which made him sound interesting and not the dry, gloomy author of forced reading I remember from high school.

Alice Hoffman books are one of my great literary delights, and I was so surprised at the magical way in which she wove past and present in The Invisible Hour. As a recovering English major, I was intrigued by the way her imagination envisioned Nathaniel Hawthorne, and how she juxtaposed themes of freedom and persecution.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Wow, this was incredible and so unexpected. I haven't read an Alice Hoffman book in a few years and I forgot how truly talented she is as a writer. The way she brings you into a story and makes you feel part of the action is incredible. I literally could feel Mia's isolation and sadness. I also adored the connection to The Scarlet Letter. I had an obsession with that book after reading it for high school English so my teen self was squealing when Mia went back in time. Whether you're new to Alice Hoffman or a long-time fan, you will fall in love with this book.

Mia is a young girl whose mother, Ivy, ran away from home as a teenager when she was pregnant. Ivy sought refuge at a commune type place, where she met the villainous leader of the community named Joel. Mia yearns for a life outside of this place and tries to convince her mom, Ivy, to escape. From there, magical events start to unfold, and Mia takes a journey beyond her wildest dreams. 3/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!!!

Witchy, culty, literary vibes incoming…

🍂 REVIEW: THE INVISIBLE HOUR 🍂

By Alice Hoffman

📖 SUMMARY: Mia Jacob was raised in a cult called the Community, which forbids contact with the outside world, owning possessions, and reading books. As she grows older, she rebels against these oppressive rules and visits the neighboring town more and more often. There, she finds happiness in the library, and she finds magic in the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. But this magic, which began simply as a story that she deeply related to, becomes something much more real as Mia makes her way back in time to meet the book’s brilliant author.

💭 THOUGHTS: I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, though I knew Hoffman could create an incredible magical world in her writing. I also love stories about cults, and this blended the two perfectly. I was sucked into Mia’s story immediately. This is such an interesting and unique concept and it was executed well, so I highly recommend!

✨ MADE ME FEEL: intrigued, mystified, and more inclined to read older classics

🥰 YOU’LL ENJOY IF: you liked A HISTORY OF WILD PLACES or the PRACTICAL MAGIC series