The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman is like nothing else I've read. The writing is beautiful, the story well constructed, and the literary theme is, of course, a love letter to all readers and writers. Thank you for this beautiful novel.

I went into this book blind, without reading anything about it beforehand. The first part is about a young woman expecting a child who runs away to a commune when her family and the father doesn’t support her. Her child, Mia, grows up at the commune, the leader her stepfather and a very cruel man. I loved this part of the book - it was captivating. Mia secretly develops a love for reading, a passion that changes her life in many ways.
The time travel aspect was jarring and completely surprised me. Mia is now grown and it felt like a completely different book - 2 books in one. Nathaniel takes center stage in this part and the story slowed down so much so that I put it aside.
When I finally started reading again and the story returned to Mia, the plot did pick up. I was surprised by the twist near the end but still was left underwhelmed at the ending.
Overall, in spite of its slow parts and jarring plot shift, I enjoyed the book for its historical aspects and beautiful writing. Any reader who is a fan of Nathaniel Hawthorne, history, and magical realism will love it as well.
Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Didn't love this one. It felt like two different books once you get to Part II. It also felt sort of weird. I don't know that the Nathaniel Hawthorne bits were necessary. It made the whole story feel very on the nose and not subtle at all. I understood from very early on that this book is somewhat of a retelling of The Scarlet Letter so I didn't need the overt allusions.

Absolutely captivating! This book takes you on a profound journey through intricate emotions, seamlessly weaving together love and hate in a way that leaves a lasting impact. The depth and poignancy with which these emotions are explored make for an enthralling read.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is the skillful connection between the past and present. The author's ability to transport you through time is nothing short of enchanting. It's like embarking on a time-traveling adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover every hidden connection.

The characters in this story are the true heart and soul of the narrative. Expertly crafted and richly developed, they become more than just ink on the page—they become cherished companions. You'll find yourself deeply attached, experiencing their triumphs and heartaches as if they were your own. The emotional investment in these characters makes every moment of their journey feel intensely personal.

The writing style is nothing short of masterful. It has the power to evoke tears and stir your emotions with every sentence. The author's ability to capture the complexities of the human experience is awe-inspiring. It's a writing style that not only draws you in but immerses you fully in the world and emotions of the story.

In conclusion, this book is a literary masterpiece that will leave an indelible mark on your soul. It's a journey worth taking—a story that transcends time and emotion, and that will resonate with you long after you've turned the final page.

I love Alice Hoffman. Her writing style is one I could read day in and day out. She writes smooth like butter, but where every word holds meaning and leaves you with this profound sense of fullness.
that said, I wasn’t a huge overall fan of the story line. I felt like it was two stories mashed together in a way that seemed odd and not complete. Like Hoffman was attempting to write the story to fit into certain parameters and follow certain paths without stepping back and seeing where the story should naturally go.
All in all, it was a decent story and I would recommend this novel to my readers.

Mia was raised in a harsh commune community with her mother. The leader is her father but not biologically. Through the words of secretly read books, she learns of life outside the walls of the commune.
Magically beautiful and harsh at times, Mia has a story to tell-all of it real, all of it alive. A story to read and savor.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alice Hoffman has published many books but this one seems to be entirely different. She has written about a sad tale of a young pregnant woman who ends up in a commune married to an unstable but oppressive man who thinks that everything/person with whom he associates belongs to and is beholden to him. He runs the commune where women must obey, noone can read any book of which he doesn't approve, no outside contact, etc, etc. The illegitimate child grows up and realizes that she is not like the others. She makes herself invisible to others, and in turn, hides her true self. She ends of escaping, first figuratively in books and one particular book, and the literally. Ironically, a librarian takes her in and provides her with books, access to school and libraries, and also love. The protagonist becomes successful but wishes for more...a true love, and she finds it in the author a book that she has cherished since her youth. She time travels and has a brief relationship with him, then realizes that she is in an era where women are invisible (merely a man's chattel), so she returns to her reality where her mother's husband tracks her down. She time travels once more, and then leaves the author with her legacy, a letter from her mother, allowing him to write a hugely successful book. She also traps her oppressor in the same barn where he once locked her up. An interesting book that takes some reflective thinking. I enjoyed it, but found the time travel a bit hard to sort out at times. Extremely well written, and reflective of our times. Do we really appreciate our freedom, and especially that of women today,

I was a tad bit bored at the beginning of this one. But then it picked up...then it dragged again. I had a rollercoaster of emotions while reading this to say the least. Overall it ended on a high note which bumped it up a star for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Atria for the ARC! All opinions are mine and voluntary.

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Summary: One brilliant June day when Mia Jacob can no longer see a way to survive, the power of words saves her. The Scarlet Letter was written almost two hundred years earlier, but it seems to tell the story of Mia’s mother, Ivy, and their life inside the Community—an oppressive cult in western Massachusetts where contact with the outside world is forbidden, and books are considered evil. But how could this be? How could Nathaniel Hawthorne have so perfectly captured the pain and loss that Mia carries inside her?

As a girl Mia fell in love with a book. Now as a young woman she falls in love with a brilliant writer as she makes her way back in time. But what if Nathaniel Hawthorne never wrote The Scarlet Letter? And what if Mia Jacob never found it on the day she planned to die?

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote: “A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.”

This is the story of one woman’s dream. For a little while it came true.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts: thank you so much @atriabooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy, this released earlier this month and is available where books are sold! I really enjoyed this one it was beautifully written and hooked you from the first page. I could have read about Mia and her mom for the entire book, the cult aspect was just so interesting. However it kind of lost me when Nathaniel Hawthorne became a character in the story, I was expecting to love that piece of the book. If you enjoyed Hester you would really love this one! Im looking forward to picking up practical magic by her to read this fall!
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QOTD- how was your weekend ?! We just finished moving into our first house 😍 so this is a very sleepy Monday while I start to prepare for the school year to start 👩🏼‍🏫
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#theinvisiblehour #alicehoffman #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #booksofinsta #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #bookobsessed #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #readerlife #readersgonnaread #readmorebook

This book almost felt like two seperate ones with the living on the farm/cult and a time traveling romance with Nathaniel Hawthorne. This left it feeling a bit disjointed.

I liked the first half a lot better than the second. Mia being born into a cult and trying to learn about the outside and escape was a good coming of age type story. The beginning is almost as much about Mia's mom Ivy's life as it is about hers.

The second part really had too much Nathaniel Hawthorne facts and would have been fine with just figuring out those things when Mia went back in time to see him. I liked how the love of reading was brought into this book, but the time travel portion wasn't as exciting to me.

I enjoyed this book overall, but my feelings were hot and cold about it throughout. Definitely a unique plot though.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Truly enjoyed this book - I do have to admit, at first I was a bit bored, not sure where it was going to go, however, it picked up + didn’t stop! I love Alice’s writing (any Practical Magic fans!?) - she keeps you intrigued + glued to the pages. I was impressed with the connections made to Nathaniel Hawthorne - I'm not an avid fan nor do know a lot about him and his writing, but I still felt completely invested in Mia's story. Highly recommend!

Oh my, I’m so in love with this book I’ve already recommended it to all my friends. It’s a little slow in the beginning, but I would say its done in such a way that I didn’t even care – it was worth it. I did have to double check that this was magical realism because that portion of the book didn’t kick in until after I thought it would – be patient it is there and worth the wait. I loved that this was a play on the scarlet letter. This story is so enchanting, and I can’t wait to hear what everyone else thinks.
Don’t miss the authors note in the beginning – touching and heartwarming.
My biggest complaint was that it was over too quickly. It did wrap up wonderfully and beautifully, I just never wanted to leave the characters. This book is one of the best retellings I’ve ever read.

If you’ve enjoyed previous books by Alice Hoffman, or are looking for a delightful magical realism book then check this one out August 15th.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria Books, @atriabooks, and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” -Nathaniel Hawthorne. This is the story of one woman’s dream. For a little while it came true.

The Invisible Hour is a beautifully written story of a girl growing up in terrible circumstances and rescuing herself. What makes this story so unique is how the story of The Scarlet Letter is intertwined in every single chapter along the way, yet not in the way I expected at all.

The setting was detailed & real, the magic was present but believable, and the prose was lyrical and masterful. I enjoyed this story from start to finish & was enthralled with Mia's journey. this was a beautiful balance of character, plot, and setting. Bookish friends will love the literary threads woven into this story from end to end. This would be a perfect fall read to cozy up with a blanket & cup of tea on a cold, blustery day.

The beginning of this book was really good. A young woman runs away and joins a cult after her family started making plans for her future and her pregnancy without her input. She catches the cult leaders eye and quickly becomes his love interest. The young woman gave birth to her own daughter, Mia, and raised her as the cult leader's daughter. As Mia grew, she found books and fell in love, which made here desire to live a life outside the cult, come to life. There were a few spots that made me question some of the characters decisions; like, if the cult leader was on Mia's birth certificate and was so controlling, why didn't he just take her instead of stalking her? He came off as bully more than a great leader. I was all for giving this book a 4-star review, until the second half. Time travel and a romance are just too much for me. When this story took a turn towards outfield, it was just too cringe for me. It felt like a short story searching for a direction to be a full story.

loved this one! what a great read. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Alice Hoffman’s writing and this newest from her is no exception. The story is a bit unusual as it transports readers into different time periods, but in the same area. I felt the story had a wonderful sense of place and culture.

When Ivy gets pregnant and the father turns his back on her, she ends up on a farm in Massachusetts living with a group of people who are led by a charismatic, yet cruel man. He is immediately attracted to Ivy and claims her as his own, as well as her baby daughter, Mia.

As Mia grows up, she naturally rebels against some of the archaic rules on the farm. After a tragic accident, Mia manages to escape and spends years away from the farm, yet is in fear her “father” will find her.

Throughout these difficult times, Mia learns to live through books and one book in particular saves her and that is the book written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Somehow Mia stumbles upon a portal to the past and what happens has a dramatic effect on the future.

The Scarlett Letter theme is strong throughout the story, as well as other topics that held women back throughout history.

Many thanks from NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend this to readers.

This is the story of Mia, a strong, independent woman desperate to find her way out of the horrific cult she was born into. As we follow Mia’s journey, we watch her fall in love - first with books, then with freedom, and finally, with Nathaniel Hawthorne. As Mia magically makes her way back in time, she realizes the true power she has over her future.

I’m one of those girls who has to reread Practical Magic every October. I keep the entire series on my nightstand. Just in case. Alice Hoffman is one of my all-time favorite authors. But….I also have to admit that this book missed the mark. I started out completely invested in this interesting and unique story, but towards the middle, it started to fall apart. The time travel was muddled, too many loose ends, too much rushing to attempt to tie them up neatly. I wanted this to work for me. It really is a beautiful story and Hoffman has the potential to really do it justice. This could have been one of her best works - but, unfortunately, it isn’t.

Thanks to the author, Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

4.25 Stars

Hoffman’s latest book continues with her recurrent themes of historical fiction and women’s rights. Although in this story it leans more towards magical realism, rather than pure magic. But don’t worry, Salem and Nathaniel Hawthorne are still featured. In fact, one criticism of the book is that having a little more background on Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter would have been helpful. Hoffman eventually makes all the connections clear, but the early hints were more frustrating to me rather than helpful.

Through the story, Hoffman also provides a commentary on many current day issues.

Women’s rights ...
“I began to see the price some women pay for breaking the bus set by those in power - a majority of them men”

Book banning ...
“In a place where books were banned there could be no personal freedom, no hope, and no dreams for the future.”

Autocracy ..
“men who’d risen to power and fought to keep it, no matter who they might hurt or destroy.”

Overall, it’s a captivating, well written story. If you’re a fan of Alice Hoffman, you’re sure to love this one too.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #AtriaBooks for the ARC.

The Invisible Hour is a beautifully written story of the love of mother and daughter, women's rights, the strength of books, love, cults and magic. Ivy runs away when she becomes pregnant as a teenager. Hearing about The Community in western Massachusetts she sets off to a place she thinks will save her. Too late she realizes the man in charge is more dictator than savior but she is now stuck with her baby daughter, Mia.

Mia discovers books, which are banned in The Community, and her world expands with the knowledge in books. She escapes at the age of 15 and is taken in by librarians. The first half of the book centers on Mia's young life and I was very drawn to it.

The second half of the book takes a completely different turn. I shouldn't have been surprised given the author but was not ready for the magical realism that suddenly appeared. With no warning, Mia is transported back to 1837 to meet her favorite author, Nathaniel Hawthorn. The rest of the book centers around their fated love. The entire feeling of the book was different, there was still a lot about women's rights but other than that, very different. I much preferred the first half with Mia. It was well written but I just didn't feel invested in their relationship.

thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book, while especially given the fact that it was Alice Hoffman, was a wonderful read. Engaging, transporting, and interesting. Highly recommend for anyone who has loved all of Hoffman's previous works.