This is a cute fantasy novel that handles time travel and magical doors that have existential powers. In some ways it was predictable. Unsuspecting girl gets magical book, uses magical book, becomes target of big bad evil, has to join forces with other people to defeat big bad evil before she is killed. It was just fun. Nothing deep, but nothing objectionable. I'd read it again.

What a fantastic read! The timing for this read was just perfect for me, as due to life, I needed a true escape. This was it! Magic, mayhem, and books. What more could one want? Definitely recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!

Absolutely incredible tale, definitely one that I will be adding to my shelf! This book embodies atmospheric magic!

I let this ARC from NetGalley sit around for far too long. By tackling “The Book of Doors” I was hoping to renew my interest in fantasy stories; however, reading this book and not enjoying either the plot nor the styling leads me to conclude that I may have grown too old for this book genre. So for those many folks who have read and enjoyed “The Book of Doors…” I am jealous. My poor review reflects more on my changing tastes in literature than it does this work.

I liked this book and felt it was a fairly entertaining read. I think this book will be enjoyed by fantasy readers that are also fans of time travel stories.

The premise was fantastic. A woman ends up in possession of a magical book of doors that is able to make an ordinary door any door. The possibilities are practically unlimited, but that’s part of what makes possession of this book also dangerous. It turns out it is not the only magical book. We discover that there are many magical books, and they are coveted by the wealthy and powerful.

The book of doors takes us on an adventure to other countries and even to the past. We learned how the books came into being, and how the very existence of the books shapes who the characters become. I enjoyed how the author presents the reader with two perspectives on time travel and how it could work so that we better understand how it works in the context of the book.

There are a few things I didn’t enjoy. One was the characters comments/thoughts on body image. The women seemed very body conscious. One claimed she shouldn’t be enjoying pancakes lest she gain weight and become “huge” like her aunts. The other has this odd thought about being too tall and too thin. Later the book tells us she somehow loses more weight (despite being “too thin” in her own opinion). Then the same character later comments that no one would accuse her of being too thin. What?! Meanwhile both of these women are constantly eating pastries, pizza, etc. It was really odd. I wish the author had just left out the comments about the characters’ weight and bodies out of the book. The two main characters also sometimes felt more like teenage girls than grown women in the way they conversed and interacted with each other and other characters, especially early on in the story.

I was expecting there to be something more with the story villains. I’m conflicted about how that all turned out given what we know at the end.

I’m glad I read this book. Thank-you Gareth Brown, William Morrow, and Netgalley for this free arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a lot of fun. Cassie was a great character and for me it never felt like the story dragged. I enjoyed this one so much, it got better the further into the story I got.

This book is full of twists and turns and is fantastically written. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for the the opportunity to review this book!

Surprisingly not confusing, assumed I would be based on the title alone! Nice juxtaposition of scary and whimsical. Emotional!

I just don't need male authors referring to female characters' breast size as if it were a plot point. And why was the FMCs flat chestedness a bad thing anyway?
Because she couldn't carry books in her cleavage?
The plot was weak, the descriptions felt like the way aliens might describe things their first time on earth, and a lot of the locations were watered down to their most basic stereotypes, i.e., “croissants in Lyon.”
A pass for me, unfortunately.

Short and sweet review here we come.

The Book of Doors is phenomenal and isn't getting the hype it deserves. First off, the cover? Stunning. Second, the writing style and story line? Nothing short of perfection.

This is a beautifully written fantasy book about Cassie who receives a book that isn't an ordinary book. It's a book that can open any door into any world, and any place. That's ALL you need to know!

I went into this one only knowing the above and I'm so glad I didn't look for more reviews and details because the twists and turns were very shocking and I just think this is one of those books that knowing less will make it better.

To be honest, I had to DNF just a little past halfway. I think there were just too many times where I felt the characters didn't act believably. I understand that this is a fantasy and a fiction book, but all those moments made it hard to connect with the protagonist and I just couldn't get into it. Love the concept however.

"Okay, so 'The Book of Doors' totally blew me away! It's like stepping into a whole new universe with every page turn. The characters are so real, you feel like they're your BFFs by the end. And the adventure? Non-stop excitement! Seriously, if you're looking for your next read, this is it. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!"

So many reviews have already compared the storyline to The midnight library and the age of Adeline and there are some parallels, seeing a life back and forth in different timelines. The uniqueness of this book for me is the evolution of multiple characters, and the breadth of the different books is still unknown.. an opening for a sequel of course.

I wanted to like this book so so so so badly. It has been compared to so many books I have loved. But the pacing felt too rushed, there were too many surprises in a bad way / not what I thought was going to happen but again not in a good way more of a jarring / "wait did i miss something?" way and this book just was not for me.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Excellent for fans of: The Seven Year Slip, The Starless Sea, The City of Stardust.

We all know that books are portals to other worlds. The Book of Doors takes this idea a step further. The Book of Doors is one of several rare, magical books. This particular book is able to turn any door into a door to anywhere, any when, else, including other dimensions. There are also books that cause pain or joy, books of illusion and fear. Cassie is given the Book of Doors by a friend who has just died. She and her friend, Izzy, discover by accident what the book can do. They have their fun but then they’re seen by the wrong person at the wrong time and suddenly, several interested parties are chasing them. The Book of Doors is a powerful thing, beyond any other book that exists in the world.

Cassie experiences trauma and joy beyond all she had experienced before. Old hurts are healed and new ones are created. Time doesn’t heal all wounds but magic might just be able to do so. She makes new friends and keeps old one close to her heart even as her world changes and falls apart and is repaired anew. She makes so many enemies in her quest to understand the book and protect it, all while using it to expand upon her understanding of her own life and how things fit together. Though the trauma, she gains perspective and wisdom and it’s almost worth it for the end scene alone. I feel she’ll never truly recover from the horrors she has seen but it’s a small comfort all the same.

I recommend this book for fans of The Seven Year Slip (though there is less romance, the concept of magical doors bind these two books together), The Starless Sea (again, magical doors, though this book is an easier read), and The City of Stardust. Magical doorways feature prominently in many novels these days but this one is unique in its method of creation, as well as the magical system in general. I feel it is an excellent addition to the fantasy genre because of how well rounded the characters are and how descriptive the writing is. I hope to read other books by Gareth Brown in the future!

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

This is a contemporary time-travel fantasy that, for me, stays just a bit too surface-level to work. I wanted something richer and fuller from this reading experience, but the plot and character development here felt shallow and a bit "blockbuster-y," like it would be a better movie instead. The premise is good, although there's a major plot point that I struggled immensely with, which was a problem because the entire book hinged on that event.

Gareth Brown's The Book of Doors is an absolute gem. From start to finish, this book grips you with its imaginative world-building and intricately woven narrative. The story invites you into a realm where doors aren't just physical objects but portals to transformative experiences and profound revelations. Brown’s prose is both lyrical and precise, drawing vivid imagery and evoking deep emotions with every turn of the page. The characters are richly developed, their journeys compelling and thought-provoking. It’s a book that combines fantasy with existential reflection in a way that’s both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. If you love a good adventure wrapped in layers of meaning, this is a must-read. It’s one of those rare books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.

Interstellar vibes but replacing outerspace with books instead 📚 and a crazy lady who makes the story way more disturbing than it has the right to be. The story was well executed and intriguing. The story was concluded in a way that left me satisfied. Bravo. This is at the top of my list of time travel style books.

One of my favorite books of the year so far! Could not out it down. I recommended this to our book club and can't wait foe them to read it.

I was really excited about this book and I had the hardest time getting into the story. I think the writing style kept taking me out of the story and it felt overdone. I did not finish this book because I couldn't ever get into the story.