Longtime fan of this author--was delighted to receive this advance copy!
Tho this was not my favorite of her books. Beautiful writing but the story was not as captivating--especially the historical timeline.
The strong underlying theme re women's empowerment & choice really resonated with me.

With great thanks to Atria Books for this e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Easily the most moving work of magic I have read in some great time. Brought me to tears, and nothing does that. Can’t remember the last time I credited over a book. A beautiful tribute to the magic of libraries, the magic of authors, the power of reading, the magic of women….and a fantastical call out to Nathaniel Hawthorne. Such a truly beautiful work.

This was the first Alice Hoffman book I have read and I was not disappointed at all! Cult community life has always been such an interesting topic to hear/read about, and to read about Ivy and Mia’s daily life struggling with the rules that were put in place by Joel was heartbreaking but also inspiring from their small acts of defiance. Mia and Ivy’s connection and love for each other was just beautiful, as mother and daughter love should be. I was also pleasantly surprised with the time traveling magic put in place and how it played a much bigger part than I was expecting it to be! This was an amazing read and I highly recommend it!

Mia is a teen born and raised in the Community with its many restrictions, rules, and strictures. She harbors secrets: she reads voraciously and she dreams, with her mother, of escaping. One story/book in particular brings solace and hope. Despite the generations and years that separate them, Mia more than imagines meeting its author. Is there enough magic in the universe to make that possible?

Mia sees the author in a highly idealized way. The descriptive passages, the language, the role of nature link the modern tale to Hawthorne's masterpiece. Romanticism echoes across the time space continuum.

I was intrigued by this book because of the cult storyline. I had no idea that the middle would be about Nathaniel Hawthorne. I just read another book about him and a woman he loved before he married his wife. I loved Mia and her fierce independence, her innate knowledge that there was more to life than the cult she was born into. I loved the deep connection she had with Ivy, even though it was forbidden. I cheered for her as she grew ever closer to full defiance. Loved this book from start to finish.

I loved this book, absolutely. It is a book about the love of books, the power of books, women’s rights, history, Nathaniel Hawthorne, daring to dream, and loving. It’s a WOW! Alice Hoffman is a miraculous writer, there were so many sentences that I wanted to remember or cheer “great sentence!” The story of a cult and the bravery of one young woman (and her mother) that led to a rescue by means of stories. And it includes time travel in the best sense of the word from story to story, and the power of women to rescue women and to rescue themselves. It is an inspirational read and captivating story. I struggled to pay attention to my own life while I was reading it. And the ties to Hawthorne’s work had me going back to reading The Scarlet Letter which I haven’t read in years. It reassures me that “reading is never a waste of time!” May we always see the world as it as and as it could be. Thank you for writing this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the Advanced Review Copy. Much appreciated.

I always look forward to Alice Hoffman's novels. She's the premier author of American magical realism, and when she's at her best, she writes passages that resonate long after you set the book down. Her most popular books are those in the Practical Magic series. While a lot of credit for their popularity goes to the Sandra Bullock/Nicole Kidman movie, the source material was much stronger than the film, which was not particularly memorable. The book, however, was remarkable for its beautiful descriptions of natural remedies and superstition. The real magic in those books came from the gorgeous prose.

In The Invisible Hour, Hoffman shifts her focus to time travel as a device for exploring her characters. Mia has been raised in a cult that doesn't believe in ownership. Books are not allowed, and anyone caught with the forbidden material faces a severe punishment, i.e., branding. Eventually Mia escapes from the cult, and she discovers the fiction of Nathaniel Hawthorne. And then she slips back in time to meet Hawthorne himself, with whom she falls in love.

Unfortunately, the story becomes highly sentimental at times, and the novel has too many fairy tale elements and not enough realism. The descriptions were more cliche than fresh and surprising. The characters have interesting backgrounds, but I never fully connected with them because the story never goes particularly deep into their psyches. However, if you prefer more magic and less realism, this book might appeal to you.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book. I'm still an Alice Hoffman fan and look forward to reading more of her novels in the future.

If you love all things Alive Hoffman, you are in for a wild ride. Following Mia as she grows up on a commune, she learns their way of life. Yet she refuses to follow along. Disobeying the rules, she sneaks into a library and discovers the love of reading. One book in particular Mia holds close to her heart. First she must find a way off the commune. Second she must meet her favorite author who has etched her name into a first edition from 1850….

THE INVISIBLE HOUR
BY: ALICE HOFFMAN

"The Invisible Hour," by Alice Hoffman is an Extraordinary, Beautifully written novel, that is so enchanting, it took my breath away. I feel so blessed that this is the second book in a row that I have read that is a Lifetime Favorite for me. Ever! Alice Hoffman writes vivid prose that every word seems perfect like sparkling gemstones. I did so much highlighting of the perfect phrases that I wanted to remember, than I have ever done with a novel in my lifetime as a reader. I definitely am going to re-read this because it moved me in ways I cannot express., but suffice it to say that it was powerful. One reason that I am going to read this a second time is because Alice Hoffman captures the strong feelings that anybody who ever had children before, can relate to how powerful and eternal that love is. How as a mother the great lengths I have gone to make sure my children know that they're loved, and how I would do anything to protect them. I really connected emotionally with the mother and daughter bond that is depicted between Ivy and her daughter Mia. Especially when Ivy takes Mia's punishment when the forbidden books are found and the horrible tyrant Josh cuts Ivy's hair, and he burns Mia's books. I will back up because I am getting ahead of myself, and I am going to be confusing whoever reads this review. The book showed the different kinds of love. It represents for me the love of books, how they can transport me, and this one absolutely absorbed me from beginning to end. It's a love letter to readers about how life changing and meaningful certain books are. How we can find parts of ourselves inside great storytelling, and this one represents exactly that to me. There were so many ways this book spoke to me on many levels that I want to go back and memorize stunning phrases that Alice Hoffman incorporated displaying her immense talent. It emphasizes the way only great writing does overcoming adversity, and how authors inspire with their creative imagination. This is my favorite book by Alice Hoffman. She just gets better with every novel.

Ivy is an only child that comes from an affluent family that lives on Beacon Hill in Boston, Massachusetts. When she tells her parents she is pregnant they want to send her away because they're embarrassed. They want her to give her baby up for adoption. They don't take the news well. Ivy goes to see her boyfriend at Harvard, and he basically tells her she is on her own. She ends up in Western, Massachusetts at a farm that seemed like a cult called the Community, where the leader tells her and her friend that it is a loving environment. It's leader's name is Josh, and he is in charge with rules that don't allow anything and if you break the rules he punishes the members. It's too late for Ivy because she has already married him and put his name on their daughter Mia's birth certificate. If Ivy doesn't obey him, or tries to leave he has threatened to keep Mia. Ivy gets small periods of time that she can spend with Mia. Ivy is a very loving mother to Mia, which was evident to me.

One day when Josh is busy Ivy allows Mia to go to the library. It is there that she finds a First Edition of a book inscribed to her that speaks to her by a Great Author. Mia has to hide the book in the barn. She goes back to the library and the kind Librarian gives her a key to the library, and she has already given Mia a library card and eventually a tragic thing happens and it's that Classic book that Mia is inspired by, and saves Mia from making a decision that brings her from the depth of despair and saves her life. The Librarian helps Mia escape by taking her to live in Concord, MA with a close friend.

I don't want to say anymore because it would spoil this outstanding novel. I will say that I loved the historical part of the novel. I loved watching Mia grow, and the way that her two mentors as well as Mia stand up to Josh. You do need to suspend belief, which was easy to do the way Alice Hoffman seamlessly did a brilliant job with the plot. There is a romance that takes place which shows the epitome of selfless love. The writing is so wonderful it elevates this to be deserving of one-hundred stars if I could give them I would. I can't insert any quotations, because the publisher forbids it until publication. There are so many universal truths contained in this magical and captivating tale I highly, highly recommend this. I learned so much in the historical section and LOVED it! DON'T SKIP THIS NOVEL! I already know that it is going to be among the best reading experiences that I will have this year. This is a Lifetime Favorite. A most charming, and heartfelt enjoyable reading experience.

Publication Date: August: 15, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Alice Hoffman and Atria Books for generously providing me with this Terrific ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheInvisibleHour #AliceHoffman #AtriaBooks #NetGalleyTHE INVISIBLE HOUR
BY: ALICE HOFFMAN

"The Invisible Hour," by Alice Hoffman is an Extraordinary, Beautifully written novel, that is so enchanting, it took my breath away. I feel so blessed that this is the second book in a row that I have read that is a Lifetime Favorite for me. Ever! Alice Hoffman writes vivid prose that every word seems perfect like sparkling gemstones. I did so much highlighting of the perfect phrases that I wanted to remember, than I have ever done with a novel in my lifetime as a reader. I definitely am going to re-read this because it moved me in ways I cannot express., but suffice it to say that it was powerful. One reason that I am going to read this a second time is because Alice Hoffman captures the strong feelings that anybody who ever had children before, can relate to how powerful and eternal that love is. How as a mother the great lengths I have gone to make sure my children know that they're loved, and how I would do anything to protect them. I really connected emotionally with the mother and daughter bond that is depicted between Ivy and her daughter Mia. Especially when Ivy takes Mia's punishment when the forbidden books are found and the horrible tyrant Josh cuts Ivy's hair, and he burns Mia's books. I will back up because I am getting ahead of myself, and I am going to be confusing whoever reads this review. The book showed the different kinds of love. It represents for me the love of books, how they can transport me, and this one absolutely absorbed me from beginning to end. It's a love letter to readers about how life changing and meaningful certain books are. How we can find parts of ourselves inside great storytelling, and this one represents exactly that to me. There were so many ways this book spoke to me on many levels that I want to go back and memorize stunning phrases that Alice Hoffman incorporated displaying her immense talent. It emphasizes the way only great writing does overcoming adversity, and how authors inspire with their creative imagination. This is my favorite book by Alice Hoffman. She just gets better with every novel.

Ivy is an only child that comes from an affluent family that lives on Beacon Hill in Boston, Massachusetts. When she tells her parents she is pregnant they want to send her away because they're embarrassed. They want her to give her baby up for adoption. They don't take the news well. Ivy goes to see her boyfriend at Harvard, and he basically tells her she is on her own. She ends up in Western, Massachusetts at a farm that seemed like a cult called the Community, where the leader tells her and her friend that it is a loving environment. It's leader's name is Josh, and he is in charge with rules that don't allow anything and if you break the rules he punishes the members. It's too late for Ivy because she has already married him and put his name on their daughter Mia's birth certificate. If Ivy doesn't obey him, or tries to leave he has threatened to keep Mia. Ivy gets small periods of time that she can spend with Mia. Ivy is a very loving mother to Mia, which was evident to me.

One day when Josh is busy Ivy allows Mia to go to the library. It is there that she finds a First Edition of a book inscribed to her that speaks to her by a Great Author. Mia has to hide the book in the barn. She goes back to the library and the kind Librarian gives her a key to the library, and she has already given Mia a library card and eventually a tragic thing happens and it's that Classic book that Mia is inspired by, and saves Mia from making a decision that brings her from the depth of despair and saves her life. The Librarian helps Mia escape by taking her to live in Concord, MA with a close friend.

I don't want to say anymore because it would spoil this outstanding novel. I will say that I loved the historical part of the novel. I loved watching Mia grow, and the way that her two mentors as well as Mia stand up to Josh. You do need to suspend belief, which was easy to do the way Alice Hoffman seamlessly did a brilliant job with the plot. There is a romance that takes place which shows the epitome of selfless love. The writing is so wonderful it elevates this to be deserving of one-hundred stars if I could give them I would. I can't insert any quotations, because the publisher forbids it until publication. There are so many universal truths contained in this magical and captivating tale I highly, highly recommend this. I learned so much in the historical section and LOVED it! DON'T SKIP THIS NOVEL! I already know that it is going to be among the best reading experiences that I will have this year. This is a Lifetime Favorite. A most charming, and heartfelt enjoyable reading experience.

Publication Date: August: 15, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Alice Hoffman and Atria Books for generously providing me with this Terrific ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheInvisibleHour #AliceHoffman #AtriaBooks #NetGalleyTHE INVISIBLE HOUR
BY: ALICE HOFFMAN

"The Invisible Hour," by Alice Hoffman is an Extraordinary, Beautifully written novel, that is so enchanting, it took my breath away. I feel so blessed that this is the second book in a row that I have read that is a Lifetime Favorite for me. Ever! Alice Hoffman writes vivid prose that every word seems perfect like sparkling gemstones. I did so much highlighting of the perfect phrases that I wanted to remember, than I have ever done with a novel in my lifetime as a reader. I definitely am going to re-read this because it moved me in ways I cannot express., but suffice it to say that it was powerful. One reason that I am going to read this a second time is because Alice Hoffman captures the strong feelings that anybody who ever had children before, can relate to how powerful and eternal that love is. How as a mother the great lengths I have gone to make sure my children know that they're loved, and how I would do anything to protect them. I really connected emotionally with the mother and daughter bond that is depicted between Ivy and her daughter Mia. Especially when Ivy takes Mia's punishment when the forbidden books are found and the horrible tyrant Josh cuts Ivy's hair, and he burns Mia's books. I will back up because I am getting ahead of myself, and I am going to be confusing whoever reads this review. The book showed the different kinds of love. It represents for me the love of books, how they can transport me, and this one absolutely absorbed me from beginning to end. It's a love letter to readers about how life changing and meaningful certain books are. How we can find parts of ourselves inside great storytelling, and this one represents exactly that to me. There were so many ways this book spoke to me on many levels that I want to go back and memorize stunning phrases that Alice Hoffman incorporated displaying her immense talent. It emphasizes the way only great writing does overcoming adversity, and how authors inspire with their creative imagination. This is my favorite book by Alice Hoffman. She just gets better with every novel.

Ivy is an only child that comes from an affluent family that lives on Beacon Hill in Boston, Massachusetts. When she tells her parents she is pregnant they want to send her away because they're embarrassed. They want her to give her baby up for adoption. They don't take the news well. Ivy goes to see her boyfriend at Harvard, and he basically tells her she is on her own. She ends up in Western, Massachusetts at a farm that seemed like a cult called the Community, where the leader tells her and her friend that it is a loving environment. It's leader's name is Josh, and he is in charge with rules that don't allow anything and if you break the rules he punishes the members. It's too late for Ivy because she has already married him and put his name on their daughter Mia's birth certificate. If Ivy doesn't obey him, or tries to leave he has threatened to keep Mia. Ivy gets small periods of time that she can spend with Mia. Ivy is a very loving mother to Mia, which was evident to me.

One day when Josh is busy Ivy allows Mia to go to the library. It is there that she finds a First Edition of a book inscribed to her that speaks to her by a Great Author. Mia has to hide the book in the barn. She goes back to the library and the kind Librarian gives her a key to the library, and she has already given Mia a library card and eventually a tragic thing happens and it's that Classic book that Mia is inspired by, and saves Mia from making a decision that brings her from the depth of despair and saves her life. The Librarian helps Mia escape by taking her to live in Concord, MA with a close friend.

I don't want to say anymore because it would spoil this outstanding novel. I will say that I loved the historical part of the novel. I loved watching Mia grow, and the way that her two mentors as well as Mia stand up to Josh. You do need to suspend belief, which was easy to do the way Alice Hoffman seamlessly did a brilliant job with the plot. There is a romance that takes place which shows the epitome of selfless love. The writing is so wonderful it elevates this to be deserving of one-hundred stars if I could give them I would. I can't insert any quotations, because the publisher forbids it until publication. There are so many universal truths contained in this magical and captivating tale I highly, highly recommend this. I learned so much in the historical section and LOVED it! DON'T SKIP THIS NOVEL! I already know that it is going to be among the best reading experiences that I will have this year. This is a Lifetime Favorite. A most charming, and heartfelt enjoyable reading experience.

Publication Date: August: 15, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Alice Hoffman and Atria Books for generously providing me with this Terrific ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheInvisibleHour #AliceHoffman #AtriaBooks #NetGalley

’Books may be the only true magic.’ - Alice Hoffman

This story is magical from the start. It is one of those books that pulled me in from the first pages, and I had to force myself to close the pages, as well, since I really wanted this one to last a bit longer.

Shared in alternate timelines, this shares Ivy’s story as it begins. Ivy is a young woman who becomes pregnant, and whose parents leave her little choice, ultimately driving her away. She ends up meeting another girl who is headed to a place where she believes is all about love, peace, and a communal way of living. There are rules, of course, and the man who ‘created’ this cult seems to fall in ’love’ with Ivy almost immediately, and marries her soon after.

This is how the story begins, however, this is really Mia’s story, the daughter she is carrying, overall. As time passes, Ivy seems less enchanted by this life. When Mia is born, she is but a young babe when she is placed with the other children, rather than with her biological mother. As the years pass, her mother becomes more desperate to leave this place, for both their sakes. Their only escape is found at the library. And when she sees Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, she is drawn to the theme, which is all too relatable.

This is, in part, a love story, at times to family, as well as romantic love. An ode to the things we do for love, the sacrifices we make. In part, it is also about the desire to control others, as well as the things we do to protect those we love, as well.


Pub Date: 15 Aug 2023


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books

Great read. It’s always a pleasure to be swept into an Alice Hoffman novel. Her books are captivating and beautifully written. I love the way she uses magical realism in her stories to take you on a wonderful journey. This book is written in two parts. The first half is the story of Ivy and her daughter Mia, who end up living in a commune where books are forbidden, and harsh punishments are common for disobedience. Mia develops a love for books and regularly sneaks out to the local library where she discovers and falls in love with a Nathanial Hawthorne novel. The second half of the book brings in the story of Nathanial Hawthorne with some magical time travel twists. I loved the beautiful message that books can save us. It makes me want to read The Scarlett Letter again. Highly recommend this one. 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Oh my heart! Alice Huffman never ever disappoints me. From the first pages, you’re taken into the story as if you’re being transplanted into the character’s lives.

I found myself obsessively reading, even creeped out at times! But still— Every night I stayed up way too late because I couldn’t find a place to stop. I was so enchanted that when I finally put the book down to go to bed, I was wondering if Nathaniel Hawthorne might visit me in my sleep— He did not. Bummer!

This book isn’t just for Alice Huffman fans. It’s for book lovers, history lovers and anyone that wants to be in an enchanting story. It’s like a fairy tale for adults.
Yes. Yes and yes!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for sharing this copy with me.

I received an ARC of this book!

It was really beautifully written, as is anything Alice Hoffman writes. The first half of the book was gripping and kept me invested even when parts two and three did not pull the same weight. At times it felt disjointed and I often wonder how we jumped from one instance to another, especially the jump from part one to part two. Part three brought the book back together for me.

Although I love Alice Hoffman I found this book a little too "magical" It was also scary! It is some what based on the Scarlet Letter of Hawthorne and what happens to assertive women.
Devotees of Hoffman will read this but I sis not think it was one of her best

There are times in life when a book will appear that reads as though it was written for you, Its message will be personal, its words so captivating that it must be a dream. Some of you will be lucky to have this experience once in a lifetime or if you're very lucky, many different times. Some books enter your life when they have a message specifically for you, to get you to shift, pivot, turn, or change things around, in order to take back control of the story of your life. Sometimes you hide in the shadows or live your life unseen from your heart's desires. Books are those messengers whose magic words render everything so visible and so bright you simply cannot ignore your truth any longer. Like the main character Mia in this story, a book saves her life altering her fate which in turn awakens the destiny of the author who will one day write a story so captivating that it must be a dream. There's a bit of fantasy in this story via time travel, but I believe it's a metaphor for the power of stories to transport its readers and the ability of books to defy time and place. How is it possible to feel as though a book written long before you were born is telling your story or a book already published predicts your future better than you ever could? These are the enchanting questions that Mia and Nathaniel ask and answer in this spellbinding story. When a book enters your life that feels as though it was written for you and about you consider it fate, that invisible magic that opens your heart helping you to see what you couldn't see before. To write your own story and to love your story is the exact same thing.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Magical Realism is my absolute favorite genre. I wish it had a category of its own. Alice is definitely one of the best female writers in this genre.
This was a great story, with time travel, mother's love, and love of books. Hoffman never disappoints.

The Invisible Hour was a moving story about the love of a mother for her child, the wonder of books, and true love knowing no boundaries, even those of time and space. Alice Hoffman captured the oppression of women through the ages and the beauty that books can unlock in the lives of readers. This book was a must-read! Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the advance copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Invisible Hour (ARC)
Author: Alice Hoffman
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2023
🍎
The Invisible Hour, written by Alice Hoffman, was a book with a rambling story featuring lead protagonist Mia, who is the daughter of Ivy and a time traveler. Mia is raised in a cult, escapes being rescued by two loving and liberal ladies who are librarians, then time travels to meet Nathanial Hawthorne to encourage him to write The Scarlett Letter. Wow. This book was disjointed and chaotic yet I remain a tremendous fan of Alice Hoffman, and I will read every book she writes. I thought the book's first half was five stars, but the second half was stuck in a strange time warp for a 2-star read. The cover is beautiful, the writer is grand, but the story lacks consistency for me. My apologies.
🍎

I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Pub Date: August 2023.
🍎

#Fiction #ContemporaryWomen #TimeTravel #NathanialHawthorne #LiteraryFiction #Fantasy
#Historical #AdultFiction #MagicalRealism #WomensRights #TheInvisibleHour #AliceHoffman @netgalley @atriabooks #alicehoffman #book #books #bookstagram #read #reader

Alice Hoffmann newest book The Invisible Hour was very good.

The storyline was solid but i got a little confused towards the end and then I realized what she did and had a face palm moment and had to go back and start over.

This was a heartbreaking love story of a mother’s love for her child and that child’s escape from something horrible.

I can not say enough about Alice’s books, she brings you on these intense journeys that bring you to the precipice and yanks you back again.

I love everything she writes and definitely recommend this one!

This book was great! I couldn't put it down! The premise was fresh and new, which is hard for me to say as I read so much each year! Sometimes it feels as though I keep reading similar stories, but this was a so original!