Alice Hoffman is the type of wonderful author that has the ability to turns words into music. Every time I read her books, the writing just flows from the page that reminiscently sounds like a score from Beethoven or Mozart's greatest works. I LOVED this book. This book is brimming with romance, history, drama, and classic literature (Hi Nathaniel Hawthorne!). I sat down and was lost in the wonderful world and story Ms. Hoffman created, and did not want to return to everyday life until I turned the last page. You won't regret reading this book, it is breathtaking. One of the best I have read this year! Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher! Ten Stars!!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up and I think that might have made it all the better. This book is a love letter to books and to writers and to readers and to the mighty power of reading in our lives. I myself have found myself saved by the power of the written word and this book encompassed all of those feelings and more, all written in with Alice Hoffman's beautiful prose. What I read here is going to stick with me forever. The story that Hoffman weaves of a girl raised in a bad place with a mother trying to do her best and the ways in which her life unspools from there through the kindness and love shown to her along with the choices she makes for herself was beautiful. I cried and I smiled and I fell so deeply in love with everything written here. This book has touched me deeply and I am so glad that I got read it. Just like it celebrates the power and magic of books, it is part of that power and magic.

Within the archaic confines of The Community in Western Massachusetts, runaway Ivy Jacobs and her daughter Mia are dreaming of a better life--a life of freedom in which their every thought isn't decided for them. In The Community, children are shared by all, contact with the outside world is prohibited, and books are forbidden. As Mia grows up under the oppressive eye of The Community's leader, her rebellious spirit and love for books--particularly "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, grows as well.

Before long, Mia's trips to the library do lead to that life she's been dreaming of for so long.
And so much more.

"The Invisible Hour" is--somehow--my first venture into the magical world of Alice Hoffman. Despite it coming in under 300 pages, it's a well-crafted, wide-sweeping story that surpasses the boundaries of time, place, and generation. Hoffman's descriptive, transportive writing certainly bears an enchanting quality; and, despite the heaviness of the story, there were moments where it felt light, otherworldly, and wonderfully-escapist.

Overall, the plot of "The Invisible Hour" tries to accomplish a lot in a few amount of pages. There were moments when the story felt slightly disjointed or mis-paced a bit, but for the most part I really enjoyed Mia's journey and the magical realism elements to it. Without giving too much away, there was a part of this story that was completely unexpected, and though it was decently-executed, I'm still not sure how I felt about it or its blending of worlds.

Nonetheless, "The Invisible Hour" is an ode to the many lives books allow us to live; this is a read for readers everywhere, and for those longing to find freedom in a place yet unknown. Just lovely.

So amazing. Has cults which I love and a beautiful story. Definitely liked the first section more than the second but still great.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman follows a girl born in a cult-like community that treats women similarly to how they were in the early 1800s. While secretly visiting the nearby town's library, she finds a new world within the books - ones that she's not supposed to read. What follows is a time-bending adventure that incorporates a lot of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlett Letter and even the author himself. It's also a view of how much things have changed for women even though we're still dealing with issues related to our own choices today. The Invisible Hour has all the beautiful, verbose descriptions that Alice Hoffman shows in her prior works which also can be compared to how Hawthorne writes as well. For anyone who love Hoffman's Practical Magic series or have even liked Emilia Hart's Weyward, you would really enjoy The Invisible Hour. I only rated it 4 stars out of 5 stars as I was a bit confused by the ending and I'm learning that these types of stories aren't really my favorites even though I think I'm an outlier on that. I'm sure this could be a 5 star or maybe even a new favorite for many readers.

Ivy's story---all in on it.
Mia's story---loved it.
Nathaniel's story---just fine.
The overlap---didn't work for me.

Starting off with a teenager's escape to a commune (CULT) to have a baby, it was interesting to see how Ivy changed AND stayed the same, to watch her relationship with Mia grow, and to see some glimpses into the power struggles within the camp. Mia's life was interesting, but I was completely thrown off by the time travel and the relationship between Mia and Nathaniel.

Eventually, I did wind back around to the story. The tie ins to Mia's influence on Nathaniel and the importance of facing struggles kept me going to the end.

Overall: 3.5 stars

I'll tell my students about: sex, language, physical violence, LGBTQIA+, parental death, trauma

**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I always enjoy Hoffman's work. That being said, I unfairly hold all of her books up the Practical Magic series and nothing will ever beat those in my opinion. Although, the writing was great as usual and there was an underlying of some magic, the whole section about Nathaniel Hawthorne and going back in time threw me off and I do not feel like the novel flowed after that. However, I did really enjoy the story of Mia and Ivy and the Community. I was so here for a cult novel from Hoffman.

I was so interested in the premise of this book, and then it all just kind of fell flat for me... Mia and her life in the cult felt so short, and then the remainder of the book went so quickly it almost felt like continuous plot summaries rather than a full fleshed story. Even the parts with her and Nathaniel were so quickly and then suddenly the book was ending. I usually love Alice Hoffman books, so this was disappointing because I know it could have been so much better.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
It’s been several years since I’ve read an Alice Hoffman book but I’ve always loved her striking & thoughtful writing style & how she infuses her powerful stories with magic.

The Invisible Hour is another story in that vein, with a story that celebrates books & bravery & love, especially that of a mother for her daughter.

Playing with time, the book offers several different perspectives & time periods.

When the book opens, Mia Jacob is leaving the community where she’s lived her entire life, under the thumb of her adopted father who is also the strict leader of the community.

Despite its strictures, Mia has found solace before in books—especially The Scarlet Letter—& in her mother, whom she had a secret bond with. But now her mother is dead.

In the outside world, Mia forms new relationships, deals with the lingering threat of the community leader, & is haunted still by the words of Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose work offers her so much.

This fixation on Nathaniel Hawthorne struck me as a bit odd in moments but overall it adds another haunting note to a story of love & sacrifice & freedom. There’s a compelling parallel between Hawthorne’s time period & Mia’s life in the Community.

Though I found the story of motherly love & self-freedom inspiring, I also wanted more from Mia’s story itself. Some final, permanent proof that she would actually give herself the life she deserves on a daily basis.

But this story raises some captivating points & as always, I was moved by Alice Hoffman’s voice.

4⭐️. Out 08/15.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

ID: Jess’ white hand holds the ebook in front of a sunset.

Alice Hoffman does it again! A beautiful coming of age story about a young woman escaping the cult she was born into in search for freedom, knowledge & to find herself. I really loved the character of Mia and her strength & fierceness. A wonderful story full of wonder

Alice Hoffman's latest tale is enchanting and whimsical. The characters are engaging and full of hope, though our female leads are a bit naive. I struggled with debating what to rate this. At times it was a three star read and at others it was a four star read.
The time travel within the book was a bit different but I really liked Mia.

This was a beautifully descriptive novel. I adore Alice Hoffman and her books, and I can now include this title as well. The story of Ivy and Mia was impactful. I loved how Mia was able to get time with her favorite author and, in the end, find happiness in her life post- The Community. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone that's looking into diving into another world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 5
Plot development: 5
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 5
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

The Invisible Hour was beautiful. It poignantly touches on love, relationships, freedom. It explores the idea of following your heart, living a life that you deserve, regardless of what societal expectations or people tell you to do. It makes it clear that relationships can transcend barriers.

I was immediately captivated by Mia and the strength she found to leave the Community. I loved how the library and the books within it captured her and showed her the possibilities of a world so much bigger than she could’ve imagined. I was uncertain when the POV shifted to Nathanial and went back to his time, and I was even more confused when he met Mia. That being said, it was wonderfully put together and I finished this with a smile on my face, wishing it wouldn’t end.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am so excited for the opportunity to read Alice Hoffman's newest title, The Invisible Hour. I am a huge fan of her books and so enjoy her storytelling. This newest title did not disappoint. I loved the dual story timeline and how the character was able to travel back and forth. Great homage to The Scarlet Letter within a story that stands on its own. Another win by Hoffman!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I LOVED it! Such a great book! I could get back to it quick enough each day. i rate this book a 4.3

Wonderful read. It was great. Alice knows what she is doing. She never fails me. I would recommend this book.

Alice Hoffman never disappoints in her ability to charm readers and transport them to magical places. The Invisible Hour is no different. Hoffman is always a must read for me!

This book truly feels like magic. The magic of finding love, the magic of freedom, and the magic of books.

Hoffman’s prose is beautiful and quick, diving headfirst into the journeys of Ivy, Mia, and Nathaniel. The pace is quick but ends ambiguously (which I didn’t entirely love, since it was chugging right along until whoops, it’s over). A few of Mia’s internal monologues were repetitive, but after the trauma she’s been through I was able to forgive her.

Despite all of the ups and downs this story had, it maintained a happy optimism (which I would say is one of Hoffman’s signatures). I was eager to finish but want to keep this book’s optimism with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pros: I loved Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic series, but I had not read anything else by her until I read this newest novel. My favorite thing about it was its theme of the magic of books and how reading can transport a person (usually figuratively but, in this book, literally). This book has inspired me to read more of Hoffman’s books because I really like her writing style. I think this book’s use of The Scarlet Letter would make it an interesting reading pairing with the new book Hester. I also think it will be a great book for book clubs to read because of its use of time travel.

Cons: The transition from the first half of the book to the second half of the book was a bit jarring, but this is really a con to me and not the book because I had not read the description that noted there would be time travel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book.