The Book of Doors pulled me in right away. I mean, who doesn't love a book about a girl who works in a library (dream job). I loved the concept of the book, I did get slightly lost along the way and had to reread some pages to try and understand. Overall, I was entertained and liked the story.

"The Book of Doors" is a captivating tale that quickly transports readers from the mundane to the magical. The story follows Cassie's discovery of a mystical book that turns doors into portals to anywhere. This enchanting premise, however, swiftly transitions into a darker narrative, illustrating the dangers of such power.

While the book excels in creating a world of wonder, its early chapters rush through Cassie's pre-magical life and initial explorations with her friend Izzy. A slower, more detailed unfolding here would have added depth. The dialogue sometimes lacks fluidity, yet these moments don't significantly detract from the story's overall charm.

For fans of the genre, "The Book of Doors" offers an enjoyable blend of whimsy and caution, leaving readers longing for more exploration into its magical possibilities.

4.5 stars!!

The amount of times in the last 20% of this book that I said WHAT out loud and looked around like Jim in The Office is too high to count. This was a THRILLING time travel/magical realism/mystery/heist adventure about some very special books!

Cassie Webber is having a normal work day at the bookshop when a regular customer passes away on her watch, leaving behind a book full of scribbles and text in languages that she can't even comprehend. She quickly learns that this Book of Doors is able to turn any door into every door, meaning she can go anywhere she wants in the world just by picturing the right doorway!! This triggers a chain reaction of absolutely chaotic events that send Cassie, her roommate Izzy, a mysterious Librarian, an angry not-actually-a-doctor doctor, a strong silent bodyguard, a gay single artist (self-described of course), a woman seeking higher power but doesn't use a name, and a high powered secret auctioneer on an adventure through time and across all corners of Earth.

I truly cannot state enough how innovative, well thought out, and genuinely enjoyable this book was to read. There were so many twists and turns that took the story to essentially a reset and left me thinking there was no way it could possibly get resolved. Time passed by both so slowly and yet so quickly. The characters grew through their circumstances and always stayed true to who and how they are. The twists and turns had me out of my seat, baffled and delighted with the turns it was taking. I felt like I was along for a super cool time heist- and I think this book truly has something for everyone!!

Thank you so much to Gareth Brown, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review. Check out The Book of Doors when it comes out on February 13- you won't regret it!!

Netgalley had this one on their site and I jumped on adding it to my requests and was approved. I am so glad that I got this one. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I will say that it was an adventure. I am glad I read it I want more. How it ended was so good. I am just glad I was able to experience this story.

THE BOOK OF DOORS is a standalone fantasy novel about the (literal) magic of books. We meet Cassie as she encounters a seemingly normal looking book that actually can take her anywhere in the world. This book entangles her in a deep-seated plot where people will kill for these magical books, especially the one Cassie has on her.

I think what this book does well is create a contained world in about 400 pages. It’s a feat to do standalone fantasy and have it make sense, and I think this does it well. I liked the magic and how everything in the plot connected. Some of the side characters felt a tad hollow, but nothing that really took away from the overall story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. THE BOOK OF DOORS out 2/13/24!

I was lulled to sleep by this book. Nothing that dragged me in and it didn't keep me occupied. DNFed

I was so excited about this book. Early reviews were stellar, the synopsis intrigued me, but there is a but: I didn’t enjoy reading this story. I kept picking up the book because I felt obligated to finish it. I love the concept of magical books, but the bookish details felt like heavy-handed attempts to appeal to readers: magical books + a bookstore + a bookseller + an ornate library hidden in the shadows + visits to bookish places throughout Manhattan… it was just a lot. When the how of the magical elements and certain plot points were revealed, I felt let down instead of amazed. My favorite part was the section about Cassie & Mr. Weber, honestly I could’ve read a book about them! Somehow the story just failed to capture my heart.

What did I just read?! This book was unlike anything I’ve read before. It was exciting and kept me interested the whole way through. Where would you go if you could walk through any door?

When one of Cassie's book store patrons drops dead right in front of her, she is sad that she will not have anything to remember him by. Until she picks up the latest book he was reading. Soon after she is approached by a strange man who claims to be the keeper of rare books and he need Cassie's help to return to a special library and keep those books safe. Perfect for fans of The Midnight Library and The Night Circus.

I wanted to like this book. I did like the idea of the story, I just feel that there were a lot of characters to keep up with and it was a little overwhelming.

I truly almost didn’t make it through part one of this book but I am extremely glad that I did. A true slow burn, slower than most I have read. But as the story finally unfolds and we get into the actual plot and past the world building, this was an incredible story. We experience Cassie finding herself and her purpose, confronting her past and future, found family, as well as a few moral dilemmas. We have time travel and magic, special books and the powers these books provide. Honestly this was one of the most unique books I have read in a very long time and because of that I think this is one I will think about for a long time to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an early eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read three books in a row about magical doors recently, and the premise of this one isn’t much different. Doors lead anywhere you can imagine (or can’t) and adventure ensues. But there’s more—a magic book gives you the ability to manifest these doors. And there are other magic books in existence that do the impossible, that belong to others. Some of whom are after “The Book of Doors.”

My biggest gripe with this story, however familiar and fun the premise, was that Cassie’s journey isn’t hers alone. It’s shared with her roommate Izzy, who was more a filler character than one with a unique charm. At least, she never grew on me though I tried to like her. Anyway, she is there to be Cassie’s conscience, to alert the reader of the obvious—crossing doorways can be dangerous, a power that shouldn’t be used lightly. And that’s all true and fine, but I was looking forward to Cassie being spontaneous and impulsive and learning this lesson along the way. After all, she’s so used to hiding behind the walls of a bookshop. And now she can travel anywhere.

The book eventually follows the trajectory of the FMC encountering a hidden world of magic and the stakes increase as navigates the rules of this altered environment, but I failed to form a strong enough connection to her to care what happened. The characters simply didn’t come alive on the page for me. And I struggled to keep reading and reading but I wanted to give a fair chance to this book so here we are.

Still, I maintain the premise is interesting and some readers will surely find this book entertaining. And they may feel along with these characters and follow their journey totally on edge and with great interest. If you’re the bookish type and gravitate toward the magic in the mundane, go ahead and give this a read. You might find it enchanting. Sadly, this book was not for me.

I loved the concept of this book- a book about books? Sign me up. I thought this would be a fun, cozy, magical read with The Invisible Life of Addie Larue vibes, but I was disappointed. I was hooked to the story at the beginning, when we were introduced to Cassie and her discovering the Book of Doors, but it lost me. After the first 20%, the pacing felt really rushed. I couldn't find myself to care about any of the characters, and thought the relationships were pretty bland. Overall, not for me.

I have so many thoughts about this book, though I can’t say most of them because of spoilers.

The plot was extremely well thought out. It was very complex, and there were so many twists and turns. It felt like every five seconds there was another reveal. And everything came full circle in the end, with not a single loose end left untied. And the DETAILS you don’t realize are important and then they ARE!! I want to re-read it and see all of the little things I missed reading it for the first time.

As for the characters, I wasn’t really attached to any of them aside from Mr. Webber, whom I absolutely adored. I also wish Azaki had more page time.

I cried multiple times reading this, and there were several more instances where I wanted to. Again, I can’t say why because spoilers, but just know that I was quietly sobbing for the last two chapters, and proceeded to sit and stare at the wall with tears running down my face for the next several minutes after I finished it.

This was a really fun read. 10/10 recommend, especially if you’re looking for an urban fantasy with lots of twists and turns and found family vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the e-arc!

"The Book of Doors" weaves an enchanting tale filled with magic, adventure, and a touch of romance. Cassie Andrews, a seemingly ordinary bookshop employee, is thrust into an extraordinary world when a mysterious book, The Book of Doors, falls into her hands. The author's vivid storytelling draws parallels to other beloved works like "The Midnight Library" and "The Night Circus." The characters, especially the charismatic Drummond Fox, add depth to the narrative, making it impossible to put down. This debut novel effortlessly combines the wonder of the unknown with a hint of darkness, captivating readers from start to finish. An absolute must-read for those craving a contemporary fantasy that pushes the boundaries of imagination.

Enter the world of magical books. <I>The Book of Doors</I> is a mind-bending story where books have literal power. This fantasy story is perfect for readers who can suspend belief and don't get hung up on impossible plot twists! Brown does a masterful job of creating fantastical yet believable characters with strengths and flaws. He adeptly weaves together fluid plot lines that bring the reader to an unexpected conclusion. Evil is tangible and some scenes were quite dark, but others conveyed emotions that were both palpable and uplifting. The old adage that says, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" came to mind numerous times while reading <I>The Book of Doors.</I> Should such power be allowed to exist? Or does this power already exist within us? This was a thoroughly enjoyable, yet thought provoking read.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the DRC!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review♥️

First and foremost The Book of Doors gets 282838482029209292 million stars however Goodreads will only let me give out 5….so 5 bedazzled stars it is! This book is so unlike any other book that I’ve ever read. It will be the perfect book for any age. When you are reading it—you feel like you are part of the story. That the characters are your friends…and that you are trying to help solve all the puzzles.
This book will definitely be “The must have to read book” of the year. The author was able to create a story out of thin air that is completely unique, fast paced, and thrilling. The process of reading this story was an adventure for me and was completely unputdownable.

Thank you @netgalley and @williammprrowbooks for the advanced copy!

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

This isn’t the typical book I’d choose to read but after seeing so many others post their positive impressions, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. So thank you @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the opportunity to read and review!

This book was magical and mystical in the best ways. This was such a fun and emotional (wasn’t expecting that) read for me - and I loved how dynamic it is. I’d say imagine being able to travel anywhere in the world at any point in time with just a thought and a book…but can’t we do that mentally? This book felt like so many visualizations come to life with an additional twist of good vs evil.

This was honestly so fantastic. I was so excited to get approved for an ARC through NetGalley, and as soon as I started I knew I wouldn’t want it to end.

The Book of Doors has the power to take you anywhere, but there are other books with other powers that people seek for personal gain and/or evil.

The characters were lovable, and Cassie and Izzy’s relationship was one of such strong friendship, it literally expands through space and time.

I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy for myself once this releases. Super fun read.

What an absolute unique and magical story! What's not to love about it? It's a fantastical story about good and evil for book lovers everywhere. I can feel myself being obsessed with this story and thinking about it every day, what I would do with the magic in this story and how it would make me feel.

If you love The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab or The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, I feel like this book could be for you. It's beautifully written with a lot of twists and turns and had me gasping about how things were pulled together. Each character was unique and vividly portrayed, and the magic system was very well developed and enigmatic. What I loved most about this book is that I've never read anything like it.

This story follows Cassie, a introverted book lover who spends her days working in a bookshop and living with her best friend Izzy. She enjoys her quiet life but longs to travel again. She is gifted a special book called The Book of Doors, which makes any door every door. It opens her world to magic, but eventually leads to dealing with the evil that comes along with wanting power. Cassie teams up with Drummond Fox and learns about the many magical books in existence and how each one is used. It's a fight of good versus evil.

I can't wait to read more by this author! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Check out the Pages n' Pages podcast, Chapter 137, for a full review!