The Invisible Hour is different from my usual mystery books that I love to read. I must say Alice Hoffman is an expert storyteller that captured me from the beginning of this book. Any book written by Alice Hoffman is a wonderful read.

With THE INVISIBLE HOUR, Alice Hoffman once again wields her storytelling magic in the story of young women facing dilemmas between who they are at heart versus the person others expect them to be. While there is a strong focus on a woman's ownership of her own body, appearance and movement and reproduction, other aspects resonate as powerfully: the right to read, to learn, to move freely and discuss ideas, swim in the pond, love one's child. Between the distant past and the present, Hoffman shares the fates and decisions of strong, intelligent women insisting upon thinking for themselves and loving who they love, all based in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, with a deft management of Utopian ideals, Puritan realities, and our current time with time-traveling, books, mothers and daughters, all the themes that Hoffman explores so well. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Me crying on the train over the librarian love. The first part was by far better but I liked it, Alice magic in full effect

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 3.5/5

I really liked the first 1/3 of the book. I found Ivy and Mia’s journey while at the community very powerful. Ivy left her house searching for a better life for her and her daughter and I admire that. They are both such strong women.
When the story drifted toward Nathaniel’s story it got a little confusing and boring. If found the story hard to follow and it felt like another book after Part 2. I can appreciate the authors attempt to tell a story where two words meet but I just could not connect the dots when I got to the end. Maybe it’s above my intelligence and just went over my head.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

“The Invisible Hour” by Alice Hoffman (5 stars) (pub day TOMORROW! 08/15/2023!) is a story in love with love. Love of self, love of power, love of life, love of nothing, love of control, misguided love, sacrificial love, and exciting new love. Passionate love, obsessive love, and comforting, protective love. Sexual love, parental love, sibling love, childlike love, and family-of-the heart love. Love of books, love of nature, love of stories, love of home, and love of place. Love of time and love of what is yet to come. So many uses of the word ‘love’, but really. It is what it is and you should read it.

Positives: The mechanism in which the main characters come together (spoiler avoidance here), was familiar but not overcooked It relied on the reader to accept at face value the logistics in play and that time and space technicalities and theory don’t need to be an integral or productive use of my time. I was good with not having to think deeply about this and gleefully gave myself over to the love stories. All 782 of them layered throughout the story. I also appreciated the not-so-subtle stance on the importance of women’s bodily autonomy, and the feeling of hope woven throughout. It was bad, it got a bit better, and it’s still not great to be a woman in America. But i might get better. And that optimism is a comfortable, warm, blanket to throw on in the chill of reality.

Wish List: I’ve racked my brain and really…almost nothing. I only felt off balance at one point when I couldn’t figure out my “place in time” for the start of the story. I’m still uncertain but I think that can be considered value-add with how the story develops.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read by netgalley and Atria Books. The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #TheInvisibleHour #netgalley @ahoffmanwriter #alicehoffman @atriabooks

Details
Review Shared on Goodreads - www.goodreads.com/leah_cyphert_butidigressbookclub
Review Shared on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/butidigressbookclub/
Review will be Shared on bookseller websites - 8/15/2023
Publishing Review 8/14/2023

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Alice Hoffman for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities." That couldn't be more true for Mia Davis, a 15-year-old who is a dreamer despite growing up in a community where reading a book is considered a sin. A community run by a man who uses words to twist the minds of those around him. As Mia learns more and more about the outside world, she stumbles across a book that changes her life. In fact, it saves her.

The twists, the romance, and the inspiration for another great masterpiece are mind-blowing. I had so much fun with this book that I literally read it in one day. This is why I fell in love with books—stories like this one. Where you think, Wow, the imagination is limitless; The writing is a chef's kiss, as they say nowadays, and the self-discovery is even better, Thank you, Alice, for this inspirational story. I've never been more proud to be a woman.

4.5 stars

The Invisible Hour is now added to some of favorites reads by Alice Hoffman. This story drew me in effortlessly and enchanted me with its connection to a classic novel.

Ivy is outsider in her affluent home, and runs away when she finds herself pregnant at sixteen. She lands at the doorstep of a western Massachusetts community (cult). Its here she's seen and cherished by its leaders as she raises her daughter, Mia for the next sixteen years. Her daughter becomes inquisitive in her learnings which goes against the ways of the cult. Mia finds power in words, and secretly visits the local library befriending the librarian. In the stacks Mia finds the the following words in The Scarlet Letter - a story of women who loved her daughter more than anything, more than life.

"To Mia, If it was a dream, it was ours alone and you were mine."

In true Hoffman fashion, magic lies in Mia's connection to Hawthorne. Her connection to the nineteenth century showcase struggles women are still facing today. This is a wonderfully creative novel especially for lovers of this classic tale. Books are truly a portal to a fantastical time and place as The Scarlet Letter literally speaks to both mother and daughter.

The Invisible Hours is NOT to be missed as it is a captivating story.

Thank you Atria Books for the complimentary copy.

Alice Hoffman is my new go-to for cozy magical reads! I read the Practical Magic series last year and I was really intrigued by what else this author has to offer. I am here to say I LOVED The Invisible Hour! It has magic, cults, beautiful descriptions of New England and a strong female character. I loved the tie ins to The Scarlett Letter too! This is a brilliant book and will be perfect for a cozy autumn night in!

I struggled with this one.
The first past was fine and I cheered Mia’s independence and hoped something dreadful would befall Joel.
I thought the juxtaposition to Nathaniel Hawthorne was jarring and abrupt. It’s like the narrative jumped the curb and plowed straight into oncoming traffic.
I didn’t enjoy the part with Hawthorne.
I thought the time hop would occur much earlier than it did.

After reading the Practical Magic series, this book would be great on a shelf right next to them. I loved the magical writing I know Hoffman for, and the cult inclusion was great too. Her writing is so beautiful and creates a believable sense of magic.

I just love a Hoffman book, always amazed by her range of settings and characters while always offering deft notes of magical realism, strong female characters, and engaging plots. The Invisible Hour is great, an ode in a way to the value and power/importance of books (alas still a timely topic) as well as an examination of how decisions impact multiple lives. I am always here for a book that has themes on cults as awareness of these themes is also still valuable and relevant and I valued how Hoffman developed this part of the book in the first part of the story as well as the mother/daughter relationship.
Reading a Hoffman book does mean you need to expect the magical realism/somewhat fantastical elements of her stories but here, once again, these add resonance to the themes she is trying to present: we are all looking at times to escape (books can do this), we all yearn to understand our lives and the lives of others we love, and we all seek connection and meaning.

I appreciate the review copy from Atria, who via S&S Bookclub favorites, also sent me a well loved physical copy as well. With appreciation for a book from a favorite author!

recommended for fans of Hoffman as well as readers open to a different kind of magical realism and homage to books and how books can save lives. A great discussion book for book clubs!

I was sucked into the story at the start. Ivy's story of finding herself pregnant and running away only to end up as part of a cult with little to no contact with the outside world was both sad and interesting. Especially when the cult leader takes a liking to her and she ends up marrying him before realizing that this is all a mistake. From their we following Mia, Ivy's daughter and how the community tries to keep children separate from their parents, since they believe children belong to everyone. Mia finds her escape in books thanks to the librarian in the neighboring town. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is the book Mia credits with saving her life because she feels like it is telling her mother's story. Mia manages to escape the community but the cult's leader is not willing to let her go so easily. Mia learns that books can transport you to another place, literally. She finds herself back in time with the beloved author she credits with keeping her alive. I enjoyed the story a lot but was a bit jarred when Mia ended up time traveling, since the story really didn't have a magical element to it up to that point. Despite this, I still had a good time reading this book.

This is the first Alice Hoffman book I've read. Gasp! I know, right? Well, if all of hers are THIS good, them I'm her newest fan. I can't even begin to review this without spoilers. If you love "The Scarlet Letter" and a bit of magic mixed in, this is the book for you. It wasn't SO woo-woo as to be unbelievable, but wow. What a beautifully written story. I loved all the characters (at least the ones we are SUPPOSED to love) and the ending was divine. Perfect for crisp fall days and with a bit of dreaming.

This was not at all what I expected, but in the absolute best way! I definitely questioned it a few times and braced for disappointment, but it was perfectly executed despite being out of my comfort genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and author Alice Hoffman for providing me with the ARC for an honest review.

"Invisible Hour" follows a young woman who faces an unsupported pregnancy and runs away with a fellow runaway. She becomes ensnared in a cult, isolated from her daughter, Mia. As Mia grows, she explores the world beyond the cult and navigates her path towards a meaningful life.

Alice Hoffman skillfully develops characters, delving into their inner workings. The protagonist embodies hope and resilience, with a touch of magic and a found family dynamic that shapes the narrative. The book, while moving at a slightly slower pace, masterfully weaves through various character stories, conveying significant depth in its concise novella length.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my free and voluntary review. Alice Hoffman is nothing short of amazing.. Her stories capture you from the first sentence, taking you from one emotion to another, bringing you to feel as if you are in the story yourself. She is a spectacular author, as I have read other novels written by her, that are just as wonderful as this one. Read this book, and then be sure to find and read her others. You will not be disappointed, except for the fact that the story ended. I adore this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an interesting retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne's the Scarlet Letter, but the setting is today in the right to life versus abortion political climate. It is also the story of the power of books, a mother's love and finding your safe home.

Ivy is an unwed teen during the time when pregnant unwed moms were shipped off to be out of sight. She runs away and joins a cult in Massachusetts. Fast forward 16 years and Ivy's daughter, Mia, is still living in the compound. Mia finds her escape in the library and becomes obsessed by one book, The Scarlet Letter by the author Nathaniel Hawthorne. This book and the library save her life.

In planning her escape from the cult, Mia discovers how reading can transport you to another time (literally). Here is where the story falters for me a bit: Mia has fallen in love with her favorite author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and time travels back to him, becomes involved with him and pregnant by him. I think this is called magical realism but for me this was too far off the deep end and ruined the story.

The first half of this book is so well done. I loved the story of Ivy and Mia, the cult, the lives of Constance and Sarah, the libraries and Mia's life. The prose is so lyrical and the characters are well developed. What I did not like was the forced addition of abortion and the time travel which was odd and not well done in my opinion.

I have mixed thoughts about this one but I do think its worth the read if you are ok with the above.
3.5 stars.

Alice Hoffman is such a talented writer; her prose are beautiful and this story was completely captivating. It follows Mia who is born into an oppressive cult in Western Massachusetts, who doesn’t see a way out. In that moment she finds Nathaniel Hawthorne’s A Scarlet Letter and quickly begins to understand her own existence, and the struggles her mother faced.

This book is like a mix of contemporary fiction, historical fiction and magical realism, so there is a portion of this book where you must be able to suspend your disbelief. The only reason I didn’t give it four stars, is that I thought the portion where she travels back in time to meet Nathaniel a little slow, and I expected them to have a more interesting discourse around what they learn from each other. However, I still couldn’t put this one down and couldn’t wait to see how it ended.

This book is an ode to the power of books, libraries, librarians and the strength of women who must make sacrifices to survive in impossible circumstances. It also touches on the author/reader relationship and its importance. I loved how this book touched on themes that were important hundreds of years ago, but still resonate today— the importance of access to libraries and books, and women having bodily autonomy.

My favorite quote (and there are endless quotable moments in this book): “…once a girl walked into a library she could never be controlled again.”

Thanks to Netgalley + Atria Books for the ARC!

As the current climate in the USA involves public schools banning books, this was a timely read juxtaposing Ivy and Mia (mother and daughter) and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic “The Scarlet Letter”. A lot goes on in this novel, for me, too much. Hoffman tackles a lot of important subjects and although she does it in an interesting way (time travel?!) I never felt connected to the characters or felt the tension in the running plot I knew I was supposed to feel. I loved the focus of the true power of books and reading as well as learning so much about Hawthorne. Thanks to Atria Books for the advanced copy!

4.5/5

“To Mia, If it was a dream, it was ours alone and you were mine.”

This was my first Alice Hoffman book outside of the Practical Magic series and it was just as magical and wonderful as I expected. She’s easily one of my favorite authors and I will reread her books until I, too, become invisible.

As with everything Hoffman writes, your heart will be full and then it will break, but you will have no regrets reading this. Her books never have typical “happy endings,” but they each have a perfect conclusion (I hesitate even with this wording because her stories never really end; rather they end with a new beginning).

I’m not one who likes to read too much into the plot ahead of time, but I will say this book is for any woman (or anyone) who has ever felt confined by society and found an escape in books. And it’s us readers who know that magic really does exist, because we experience it every day (and if you’re not convinced, just read a book by Alice Hoffman).