The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a debut magic realism novel exploring the power of magic books and evil. It is highly recommended.

Cassie Andrews works at Kellner Books in Manhattan when long-time elderly customer Mr. John Webber passes away in the store. With him is the copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, which he was reading, and a small leather-bound book which says inside the cover: "This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door." After that is an inscription to Cassie from Mr. Webber: "This book is for you, a gift in thanks for your kindness."

It's a strange little book. Inside are indecipherable marks and illustrations of doors. When Cassie shows it to Izzy, her best friend and roommate, Izzy is leery about it, especially when Cassie is holding it and the door opens up to a scene from her trip to Venice, but then the two experiment with the book visiting some local haunts and deem it safe. Cassie and Izzy soon meet Drummond Fox, the librarian, a Scottish man who has a collection of magical books he protects. There are several copies of various magic books that are highly sought after by collectors and The Book of Doors is the most sought after powerful book. He warns them that malevolent people are seeking the book and will stop at nothing to get it.

The time travel drew me into reading The Book of Doors, but in reality the novel is much more focused on magic and dark forces wanting to use the books for evil. In some ways at the beginning it felt like a YA novel until the descriptions of the actions of very violent, evil people entered the narrative. I honestly hoped the novel would go in a different direction, one of wonderment, then the direction it went, but I gamely stayed with it. Admittedly, I often struggle with magic realism in novels.

This was an entertaining novel for me, like a super hero action movie, rather than a great read. There were a few things in the narrative that were a definite negative. The characters of Cassie and Izzy felt really young to me and I never felt any affinity toward them until later in the novel. Expect lots of magic, superpowers, and evil. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This cozy, magical realism book set in NYC follows a cast of mismatched characters who fall into a morally gray area while reflecting on grief and how it can change a person for better or worse.

There is a point in one's life where everything begins to change, and suddenly, everything starts to make sense. For Cassie Andrews, this is after a frequent customer of the NYC bookstore where she worked passed away one night while she was closing everything down. He left her a book with unbelievable powers to take her anywhere or whenever she wanted.

Cassie and her roommate/best friend, Izzy, are brought into the dazzling world of "special books." Drummond Fox, a special book librarian without a library, stumbles upon the pair of women and thankfully wants to help them.

Cassie quickly learns that while her book of doors is a wonderful tool, there are people in the world who would like to use it for horrible purposes, like The Woman. She has terrorized and killed members of the special book community for a decade when Cassie receives her book of doors.

Cassie, Izzy, and Drummond all have one goal with very different ways of achieving it: survival. Sometimes, that is easier said than done.

Everything Gareth Brown wrote in The Book of Doors was magical and cozy. Time travel to her past, connections being made, and ultimately trying to do what is best for all the book lovers. As their journey continues, Drummond and Cassie begin to have romantic feelings towards one another. While this aspect somewhat struggles, they could have had a more romantic feel beyond those unspoken feelings of camaraderie.

All of the characters present were unique and fully rounded, but Brown's writing style throughout The Book of Doors made all of the scenes and characters feel somewhat flat. Surprisingly, this worked well and added to the magical and unknown quality of the novel.

With the book being in multiple points of view with third person narration, the chapters jumped from character to character without much warning. This could be sometimes unclear, but overall, this formatting was enjoyable.

The story's pacing was well done and kept hold of my attention at moments when I would have otherwise not wanted to continue reading. There are a lot of ins and outs of The Book of Doors, but the way it was written caused little to no confusion and was easy to follow overall. As Cassie jumps from her 2022 timeline to 2012, then other characters to later dates, references to pop culture and cell phones were made and helped with that transition. Very creative!

The Woman is an incredibly disturbed character that the reader gets to know on an inside level. What made her character so well-rounded was that, as a reader, you got to see what she was doing and a little bit of the why, even though that is still a question mark at the end of the book. It reflected that something might be deeper affecting a person than they are willing to share or that others can outwardly see.

The Book of Doors is a cozy, magical realism book with everything someone could want in it. While being a somewhat heavy read since one of the main topics focused on was grief, it was delightful and would be a great winter read.

Thank you, William Morrow, for allowing me to be an early reader of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is scheduled to be released on February 13, 2024.

This is a book about books, magical books that bring the owner certain powers. Like, as the title of this book suggests a book that lets you use any door to go anywhere, and boy would I love a door like that. However, there are other not-so-nice doors as you'll discover during the course of this story. Ones that cause pain and other horrifying things that you wouldn't want to fall into the wrong hands. When our main character Cassie comes across the Book of Doors she has no idea the kind of people who will try and get their hands on it or the lengths they will go to, to get what they want.
This was a pretty unique story, it was a slow burn, but had some great action moments. There were plenty of dark and disturbing moments, with some moments that were heartwarming as well. I really enjoyed following Cassie and Drummond as they try and not only survive who is coming for her book but also try and stop them from hurting anyone else or getting any more books. I loved Cassie's friendship with Izzy and all of the crazy and unpredictable things that happened throughout the story. I never had any idea what was going to happen next.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading whatever Gareth Brown comes out with next

A whirlwind from start to finish, this is magic and time travel and mystery/suspense done right! While I generally prioritize female authors, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dive into this magic world of books and I am so glad I did!

For a debut book by this author, he has a winning first book! Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC. This is at this time, my favorite book that I have read this year!
It has everything I love: books, libraries, travel, TIME TRAVEL, a mystery, a chase, and a race to save humanity! And with the addition of a bad guy, NO Woman, and she is bad, very very bad! And evil! I was immediately drawn into the plot of this book, and the story brought me such excitement! The action is well-paced, and I was never bored. . The main character, Cassie, comes into possession of a magic book, the Book of Doors. From there, we meet other librarians, who want to protect the books and others who are searching for the books and want to use them for evil. I love the themes that emerge throughout the story: the strong bonds of friendship, overcoming fear, coming together for the benefit of humanity, and love between your chosen family. I would love to see this as a series, and I think the story leaves many doors open for more!

𝔹𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜

Are you looking for a book that has magic but does not require you to learn a complex system or navigate a different world filled with fantastical creatures?

Read 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨!

A contemporary story that incorporates time travel skillfully to develop its main character, and add to the suspense?

Read 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨!

Want a great action adventure story where good characters find each other banding together to fight evil?

Read 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨!

Cassie Andrews cherishes her job at a bookstore, serving coffee and sharing stories with her customers. One of her favorite customers dies right in front of her, leaving behind a book with an enigmatic message for her. This book is no ordinary book- it is 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨 and it promises that any door is every door. Soon Cassie finds herself meeting a unique Scottish librarian, Drummmond Fox, who knows more about her book and of the other books that hold special powers. He owns a special collection. Cassie's book is the most powerful book of all and it must be protected at all costs. Cassie's book leads to his library, and he will do anything to keep it safe.

He also knows about the book hunters seeking these titles and a certain sadistic woman who wants to hold all of the books.

I will be recommending 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨 all year. I have preordered it for our high school library, and know it will be on many Best of 2024 book lists.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨
by Gareth Brown
416 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 star read for me

Thank you @garethjbrown13 @williammorrowbooks @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I honestly loved this book.

#newbooks #arc #bookstareviewweek
#currentlyreading #timetravelbooks #amreading #bookreviews #bookstagram
@jm_bibliolater jm_bibliolater @mommaleighellensbooknook

I enjoyed this one. The twists and the turns kept me on the edge of seat I couldn’t predict what was to come next. The writing was so beautiful and the pace was perfect. And I love books that end in you thinking about a second one!

Thank you NetGalley for my copy!

The book of Doors was an interesting read, it just had too much of "adjustment bureau" flashbacks for me, I wish the author had done a bit more literary separation between the plot that was previously masterfully presented and the work. I enjoyed reading it, but the pacing was at times off for me, and several comments throughout the book resembling eating disorders, for no obvious reason, were distracting, either the theme needed to be explored more, or left out, for me it did not play a role.
But overall the concept of different types of magic was interesting, and truth to be told, can a bibliophile not enjoy a story about books...

Imagine a book that could transport you to any place and time, past, present, or future. What if there was a book that could heal your physical and emotional wounds? How much would you pay for such books? What would you sacrifice to obtain them? These are the questions that Gareth Brown explores in his novel, The Book of Doors. Brown crafts a tale of adventure and high stakes that keeps the reader hooked. He fills his story with intrigue, mystery, danger, friendship and magic. The characters are charming and unique and I wanted them to succeed. He reveals the origin and nature of the books in a way that is consistent and plausible within his fictional universe. If you enjoy adventures like Inkheart and The Librarians, you will love this story. Thank you Gareth Brown, Net Galley and Harper Collins for the DRC.

I want to thank NetGalley, author Gareth Brown, and the publisher Custom House (William Morrow) for the opportunity to review an ARC of this new book. I attest my review is my own original and unbiased opinion.

Normally I don't read a lot of fantasy-based literature but I was intrigued by the description of the book as well as the titles, and I probably have a weakness for anything that features "books" so prominently.

The Book of Doors is one of many books that have special powers in this novel. Whoever holds the book(s) has the power to do what the title suggests. In the case of Doors, it means the holder can open any door and be transported to another place, as the protagonist in the book Cassie Andrews discovers quickly. Cassie works at an independent Manhattan bookstore (how they can pay the rent is for another book) and an older customer that she has befriended gifts her the Book of Doors before his death.

Cassie and her roommate Izzy begin to explore with the Book of Doors, visiting familiar parts of the city as well as more exotic locations like Venice and Paris. But the young women soon discover they are being followed by someone who is also interested in the Book of Doors.

From there the plot thickens as other characters are introduced as well as new books and their mysterious powers (Book of Shadows, Book of Illusion, Book of Misery, Book of Safety, etc.), We don't know how, why or where these books were created. All we learn is the bad people want them and they will do anything including murder to get the books.

Time travel gets introduced as another tool of the Book of Doors, and then things get really interesting--or weird--if you prefer that option. I won't say there is action as much as drama, but it builds to a big ending and you have to read to find out who wins, who lives, and who dies.

I started this at the end of the year and it was fine to read during the holiday season but I struggled to keep up with the book. The shortcomings to me were as follows: little to know character development; no origins of the mysterious books or their source of power; time travel sequences that seemed out of place and confusing to the reader, and just a real stretch of any sense of realism.

As a debut novel it's a good effort, this is just not my favorite genre. Recommended if you like fantasy with an ample supply of time travel and no references to anything historical or real. I give the book four stars.

Books are magic. This is a truth I have known since childhood and one that I continue to marvel at. Gareth Brown's THE BOOK OF DOORS illustrates that truth beautifully. Though the story has a slow and sleepy start, I was ultimately happy that I stuck with it. What I found as soon as I endured the first couple of chapters was an atmospheric ouroboros of a book.

A young woman working in a New York City bookshop spends the final few minutes of her day chatting with an older man who is a frequent customer. They have a passing friendship, one characterized by warm smiles and friendly chatter about books. So, when the man passes away in the chair and leaves a mysterious book to Cassie, she is quite confused. The book is small and unassuming. There are sketches and scribbles inside, but nothing seems to make much sense, even this seemingly simple sentence:

"This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door."

A marvelous journey unfolds in the pages of THE BOOK OF DOORS. It is filled with friendship, darkened by danger, and filled with truly unforgettable adventures. A true testament to the timeless and time-bending quality of books to take us anywhere and everywhere.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. "The Book of Doors" is a truly magical novel filled with suspense, time travel, murder and chaos. I loved all of the different places this story took me to and all of the emotions it made me feel throughout. Such a cool concept, it was well thought out and unfolded with perfection.

The Book of Doors was a great read about friendship, time travel, and the power of books...with some magic thrown in. The world that Brown has built is wonderfully and realistically rendered, and I enjoyed this alternative theory of time travel. And of course, the battle between good and evil (with the twist of how the evil came to be) makes for a wonderful climax.

One thing that reading has taught me is to never accept a mysterious book from anyone; yet, fortunately, book characters continue to do so, and all kinds of adventures ensue.

This debut novel had several tropes I love – a bookshop, a ragtag group of unlikely heroes, and time travel. It was about friendship, found family, magical books, the people who wanted to exploit that magical power, and those who wanted to protect it.

Look, I don’t know if the time travel in this book works consistently within the author’s own parameters, but it certainly worked for me from an entertainment perspective. It tied my brain in knots in all the right ways and had me on the edge of my seat more than once. The plot line was fun and engaging, there were likeable characters to root for and some truly despicable ones whose evilness oozed off the page and got under my skin in a visceral way.

I did wish the author had spent a bit more time on character development of the main characters. I was also a little challenged by some periods of time that were covered quite quickly when I would have wished to have spent more time there. Overall, though, I found this book to be an enjoyable and imaginative foray into exploring what it would be like to have a book that could take you from any doorway to any other doorway.

For me, this book had vibes of The Midnight Library and a sprinkling of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue but ultimately lighter than both of them. I enjoyed my time with this book, and look forward to what Gareth Brown writes next.

3.5/5. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC!

I really did enjoy the idea of special books that hold immense power, but much of the book fell a little flat for me. The characters felt generic and not fleshed out, I felt no connection to them, and their relationships with other characters in the book weren't represented well (and I could have done without the hints of attraction that made no sense to me).

I did really like the plot, despite some things that felt confusing (but that's a me problem, time travel tends to do that to me). I did really like how the story was told in non-linear format, I enjoyed the parts where Cassie went back to the past, and I liked how the book itself was laid out, like the chapter headings - thought it was a fun touch.

Cassie works in a bookstore in New York. One night a regular customer dies while sitting in the bookstore leaving behind a book for Cassie. The books turns out to be magic, it can open any door in the world. Cassie and her roommate start experimenting with the book and going places till they meet Drummond Fox who warns of danger with the book now that there are book hunters looking for this book she is holding. The book was okay for me, if you like time travel and magic then this would be a definite read.

Thank you to NetGalley, author, and the publisher for this ARC

The Book of Doors' premise is wonderful; Cassie works at a bookstore where one day a regular customer gives her a book, The Book of Doors, a mysterious book with seemingly magical powers that allows you to travel into any door, anywhere, at anytime. I had a problem with the execution of the story tho. It was slow at first and I almost gave up reading it. I was so glad I didn't stop as it got really good after the first slow part. Halfway thru tho it got slow again but I was invested in the characters and the mystery enough to continue until the end. It does pick back up and had a satisfying ending. I really liked the characters (although there were a few moments when I became frustrated with how stubborn Cassie was being!), the settings and idea of this book.

What a beautiful and imaginative story. A snack for the imagination on a rainy day. I nibbled on it sparingly as the story pulled me down many winding corridors. The characters were full and hearty. They were good, bad, both. They were indecisive, selfish, compassionate. And they did a lot of things that I did not expect. I love the idea behind the book. It's a very original take on a common theme. I'm sitting here with my coffee thinking about it now. While it took me some pages to get thoroughly into the story, once it grabbed me, it wouldn't let go.

I look forward to where this author's mind goes next.

Thank you Gareth Brown, NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

I liked the idea of this story and overall, I was invested in it. It was an easy read and didn't get bogged down in convoluted explanations despite trying to include a lot of elements. I think the general storyline was good enough for me to forgive some of the things that annoyed me.

Examples of things that were meh: Several too convenient things happen (some others that happen have an explanation, so I'm not counting those). Characters keep saying that one of them is so lovable and charismatic and and beautiful, but she's only really shown to be just regular at best but also often annoying. Some of the dialogue, especially at the beginning, was rough. Implied insta-love, blah. Some dumb decisions that lead to totally avoidable consequences. I think my biggest wtf was the explanation for how this all started, but maybe this fits under the too-convenient category.

But anyway, I did like how there were no unanswered questions at the end, even if those answers were sometimes too obvious or convenient. I also like when a book takes a turn and surprises me. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say that they end up using a device fairly early that I wasn't expecting, which transitions to the middle section of the book where loneliness and longing are explored, leading to some touching moments. And the ending was fine.

Wow. This book has touched me. I'm so thankful I got to read it early. 💜 It brings back the nostalgia of reading as a teenager. Being lost in a story & so invested in the characters. The little twists & turns are so well done!

The way the book is broken down really helped with learning the characters & keeping track of the plot. The way it all ties together so beautifully at the end had me in tears. 🥹

I love it. Amazing book! 💜