I was gripped within the first few chapters of this book. The story of Ivy leaving home to find a better life for her and her unborn child, only to be met with a community run by a man who promises her love and protection and a better life. But this man is an evil wolf in sheep's clothing and the community is a cult-like atmosphere with strict rules and regulations that separates women from their children and punishes them for indiscretions. Her daughter, Mia, dreams of escaping the community and finds courage after stumbling upon The Scarlet Letter in the library, and the book changes her life.
Alice Hoffman is a beautiful writer, and the story is a powerful story of self-discovery, women empowerment, a mother's love, and the power and magic of books.
I deduct a star because I could have done without the last third of the book, the "magic" part. I usually prefer fantasy and magical realism in books I read, but in this case I feel like it didn't really add anything valuable to the story. It was entertaining, but I felt like the book would have been just as impactful (if not more) without it, which is funny since I have loved the magic in Hoffman's other books I have read. I just would have rather read about Mia staying in the present and going on with her life.

I love Alice Hoffman so much and I was really looking forward to reading this. I had such high hopes because I love her other works but this fell short, I wasn't the biggest fan of the time traveling.

Such a beautiful book written by Alice Hoffman. Strong characters with touching stories and how books bind us through time! This is the first Hoffman book I have read, and will definitely being seeking out all those I have missed over the years!
I love how she builds her character, with suspense intertwined and in the end, love and strength win! Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review!

I normally love Alice Hoffman’s book - this one has some of the elements that she includes; a touch of magic, interesting female characters, and excellent writing. I loved Mia’s story in the first half, but I really struggled with the Nathaniel Hawthorne storyline - I just didn’t find it interesting, let alone realistic. This one is okay, but not one of my favorites.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always been a fan of Hoffman’s. I love her strong (female) characters and the touch of magic in her stories. This one started out very strong. It was a love story to books and libraries and their power to shape lives. There were so many quotable moments. Then comes the middle when she travels to meet Hawthorne. That part was just so hard for me to get into. So, what would have been a 4 or 5 star ends up a 3.

I enjoyed this culty, magical story of first Ivy and then her daughter Mia. Ivy, pregnant and shunned by the baby's father and her own parents, runs away and joins a cult, where she believes she is safe. This does not end up the case. The cult leader is cruel and they both plan to run away. Tragedy strikes and only Mia is able to break away. I am not going to spoil anything from there, but I did enjoy it, definitely a book unlike anything I've read before. It got slow for me in some parts, so I am giving it 3.75 and rounding up. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for allowing me a copy to read in return for an honest review.

modern, tangible, magic realism. Alice Hoffman can weave a spell and intoxicate a reader like no other.

As a huge fan of Hoffman's, I was SO excited to get an early copy of this book. While this wasn't my favorite of her's, I really enjoyed how she incorporated The Scarlet Letter and the power of literature. Unfortunately this one was just "okay" for me, but would still recommend it to fans of her other books/series!

3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed this book and it was beautifully written. However the last half felt like it came out of nowhere. I wish it had been a larger part of the story, or rather had come in to play sooner.

I will always love Alice Hoffman's stories. The way she weaves magic through real life stories is remarkable.

I enjoyed the way this moved back and forth in time, which gave it the feel of historical fiction along with the magical realism. The threat of Mia's father always hanging over her head also gives a significant feeling of foreboding.

I didn't love this quite as much as the Practical Magic series, but I think that is because my love for those characters runs so deep.

This was still a solid read that I think lovers of her other books will not be able to put down.

I just sunk into the writing of "The Invisible Hour." The third-person point of view shifted perspective often and had an ambiguous feel. Very long chapters of distant and detached writing somehow worked. Haunting and sad.

I didn't love the magical realism aspect. It took me out of a story that was meaningful on its own, and I'm not sure what purpose it served. I was frustrated by the focus on a moping man when the women's lives had so much more strength and daring.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

This is such a beautiful story about the power of love between mother and daughter and how it can bypass time. Ivy joins ‘the community’ when she feels she has no other choice. Pregnant and alone, she’s easy prey for someone like their leader, Joel. When she has her daughter, she’s stuck but she raises Mia the best she can under the circumstances.

Mia, raised in ‘the community’ she’s at a loss after her mother dies. Her abusive step-father has had her in his sights for some time; he despises a woman who isn’t submissive, who goes against anything he says. Her only respite comes in secret trips to the library, smuggling in hidden books. It’s here that she meets her savior, opening up a whole new life for her, but escaping Joel can’t be that easy.

Moving through past and present, the story of mother and daughter is a heart wrenching story of love. Mia’s travel through time to fall in love with the young Nathanial Hawthorne is brilliant and magical and I loved every second.

Such a compelling and enthralling story!

The Invisible Hour was my first Alice Hoffman read and it was a little underwhelming. Told in two parts, I found myself immersed in the beginning which takes place within the strict confines of an oppressive commune in rural Massachusetts. I enjoyed reading Ivy and her daughter Mia’s story. There was a lot of love there and despite children being raised communally, Ivy constantly took risks and broke the rules not to keep the bond of motherhood alive and to encourage Mia’s adventurous spirit and love for reading. As Mia grew, so did her desire to escape the overwhelming oppressiveness of life and it was inside the walls of the towns library that she secretly sought escape and solace within the world of the classics, discovering the power of books and the magic within them.

The second part of the story lost me. The writing style shifted and it felt like I was reading a totally different story more about Nathanial Hawthorne. As much as I enjoy time travel stories, this just didn’t do it for me, the story went from magical to nonfictional. I found little satisfaction with the ending despite the epilogue. It left me with too many questions left unanswered. My experience with this story won’t preclude me from trying this author again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me a copy of this title. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really wanted to love this one-Alice Hoffman holds a special place in my heart for sure. But this one just didn’t do it for me. I was hooked the first half and thought it would be a 5 star, but ultimately…was left a bit disappointed in the second half. I don’t love retellings or The Scarlet Letter, so maybe that played a roll. I’m still glad I read it and would read anything Hoffman puts out!

"You'll write something beautiful and true, and I'll read it and love".

This book is many things, motherhood, daughters & mothers, the difficulties women faced throughout history, a story of love & growth, the joy & power of reading.

Mia Jacobs cannot survive this way anymore. Navigating in a world her mother Ivy chooses for the both of them, a list inside the community, an oppressive cult in western Massachusetts, where the outside world is forbidden and books are considered evil.

I loved the way this book told a story where books can transport and save you. The heartbreak in this story is felt in so many ways, but the beautiful words teach us that freedom is love, and books are our salvation.

A book that is magical, immersive, and perfect for people who love books! All the stars!

I love the way Alice Hoffman writes and have loved most of her books. This one was a bit different for me. The beginning of the story was great. Mia tried to convince her mom to leave the community that didn't allow anyone to leave the grounds, didn't allow reading, or much of anything, really. The mother-daughter connection was so powerful and heartwarming. Mia does escape the community and just when she is about to kill herself, she finds the book "A Scarlet Letter" and it changes her life.
Then the second half of the novel begins, and it feels like I'm reading an entirely different book. It goes back in time with the Nathanial Hawthorne, the author, who Mia meets.

I found this part hard to get through. I would've liked the story if it just continued on about Mia's life after escaping. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

“As a girl Mia fell in love with a book“

I felt that to my heart.

Reading this felt like, I was transported to reading as 10 year old and I discovered magic. The magic being books.

I received this ARC last year and somehow didn’t post my review here! It is on Goodreads.

Alice Hoffman knows how to weave a story that will have you mesmerized the whole way through. I cried so much reading this. Time travel? Romance? Cults? This book had it. Alice Hoffman may be one of my favorite authors of all time and I’m so grateful that this is one of my first ARCs I have ever received.

Thank you NetGalley!

Alice Hoffman has done it again! THE INVISIBLE HOUR was a beautiful and magical novel that will transport you through time. It was short and sweet, but it still packs a punch. Hoffman's writing is just gorgeous -- I couldn't put it down!

Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite living authors. I love the way she take take something and add the perfect amount of magic and heart to it. This was an incredible book.