Loved it.. Can't wait for more. This is an author worth following. The story progresses so well that it was difficult to put down.

Builds extremely slowly. Interesting premise, any door could open anywhere you can imagine. Oh the places I would travel! But, as with any tool, it can and will be abused and so was. Viciously and brutally, and so, those with some of the "magic books" began collecting them to keep them out of the greedy hands of those who were using them to hurt. Thus is the storyline, and its a good one, but so much detail and it takes so long to build, that you get lost I the details. I'm a fast reader and I got bogged down and had trouble finishing. When I finally got to the end and put all the storylines together, and there are still quite a few at the end, it was a good read, but it just took so long to get there. I'm afraid there might be some readers who start and won't finish. I would advise to keep going, but to also maybe write down some of the storylines to keep track of them all.

The description said if you liked The Invisible Life of Addie Larue then this book is for you and I would agree. I enjoyed both books and their stories. There is a lot going on, but like with other books, I love seeing all the moving pieces come together. This book is a magical adventure.

Gareth Brown's debut novel, The Book of Doors, offers a delightful and fantastical journey into a world brimming with magic and wonder. While there are a few rough spots, they don't detract from the overall joy of the book. The characters are delightful, and I appreciated how Brown skillfully incorporated both heartache and heartful moments, making the story truly engaging. This is a great introduction to the fantasy genre and is particularly enjoyable for book lovers. It's definitely worth a read.

This book reads kind of like a 2000's romcom in the vibes and also the culture in the way the women are subject to focus on dieting and internalized body shaming. I appreciate the fact that women make up the main characters of this novel, however, I do think the author could've written them in a more positive way. I do think if you can overlook that aspect then this will be a fun read for you. I think this is the kind of story you curl up on the couch on a rainy evening for, but unfortunately it was not that kind of book for me. I am honestly really sorry to say that I had to DNF this book, something about the writing style was just not doing it for me, but I am definitely grateful I had a chance to give this story a try!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. This book was as magical as the books featured in the story. It reminded me a little of the Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. I loved the characters, the setting, and how everything tied together. I couldn't put this book down and read it in one sitting. Well done to the author. I will be recommending this to everyone I know who reads. This was a great book.

We all know books are magic, but what if they were literally magic? Like able to open doors to any location or create wondrous illusions or grant a bit of luck? Sounds great right? Abilities you might have dreamed about in childhood. Now think about what adults might do with these books, people who might look at how they can use these books in less savory ways.

I kind of loved this, it had cozy bookstores and magical libraries. The characters were loveable and complex and I really cared about what happened to them. The progression from a feeling of wonder to a threat of danger veering on horror adjacent, to emotional moments with impact was really woven together in interesting unexpected ways and was so well done.

I think if someone is looking for bookish vibes and wants to recapture the feeling of an adventurous story with magic and mystery from their childhood but written for adults with high stakes this is a really great read. It made me realize I want to read more books like this and now I have to search them out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher! I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Absolutely delightful! Gareth Brown’s The Book of Doors is a fantastical journey into a world filled with magic and wonder. The Books of Doors was an absolute joy. I really l enjoyed this one. The Book of Doors is Brown’s debut novel and I will admit there are a couple rough spots, but nothing that hinders the story. The characters were delightful and I loved how he tied in both heartache and heartful moments. It really invested me in the story. The Book of Doors is something book lovers especially will enjoy. This is a great jump into Fantasy for those that are looking to dive into the genre and absolutely worth a read.

Someone please make this a movie or a series on Netflix. I'm serious! The Book of Doors was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Books with a little magic and time travel are a double bonus for me as I love both. The time travel premise in The Book of Doors is fresh and inventive. If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go? Cassie is faced with that question when she is given a very old book, a magical book, by one of the regulars in the bookstore where she works. But danger ensues when the wrong people find out she has the book and will do just about anything to get their hands on it. Cassie finds some great allies along the way that become friends and unbelievable adventure ensues.
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

THE BOOK OF DOORS, by Gareth Brown, is magical adventure like no other. The Book of Doors has been bestowed upon Cassie Andrews and her world has changed forever. Pursued by good people and nefarious foes, Cassie has to figure out how not only to survive, but she has to weigh all of her choices and hope that whatever she decides doesn't ruin the world.
The reader is immediately introduced to the main character, Cassie Andrews, and one can't help but become attached to her and her wonderful spirit. She can't help being swept up in the awesomeness of the magical world she has recently discovered, but deep down she is always looking to do the right thing, even if it means making the tough decisions. She has some wonderful characters to support her along the way: her roommate Izzy who is as supportive and caring as a friend can be, Drummond Fox who at first is mysterious and allegiance is unclear but it is revealed that he wants to protect the magical world and finds that Cassie can help him, and the man that gave her The Book of Doors who perhaps is the most selfless and caring of them all. The magical world that Brown creates seems quite plausible and wonderfully exciting. Brown does a good job of slowly revealing more and more about how the magic works and how much of it is out there, but at the same time leaving enough unexplained that it keeps the reader engaged and intrigued. The evils hunting Cassie are serious and scary and the stakes feel high every time she comes across them. The ending is epic and electrifying.
I found THE BOOK OF DOORS to be as wonderful of a read as as any magical adventure story written in the last few decades and I hope Gareth Brown will return to Cassie and the world of magical books in the future.

This is such a beautiful, magical debut! The Book of Doors begins with our main character Cassie working in a bookstore. She stumbles upon a book called The Book of Doors. At first, she cannot believe this is real. However, she begins daydreaming about her travels through Europe and realizes the book is true and magic is real. Throughout this novel, we follow Cassie and her best friend Izzy navigate The Book of Doors while being watched in the shadows by others. As the story progresses, so does Cassie's knowledge of the book and possibly other books which bring a danger to Cassie and Izzy. I really enjoyed the magical realism, time travel and fantasy of this book, Thank you for the opportunity to read early in exchange for my honest opinion.

The” Book of Doors” was a delightful read! It is fantasy and mystery with a touch of romance. This book is full of interesting characters who make this story one which is hard to put down.
Cassie works in a bookstore in New York where she meets many interesting customers. One of her regular elderly customers gives her an incredibly special book just before he dies, the Book of Doors. Cassie is curious about the book as it is not like any other, she has seen. When Cassie goes home to her Roommate, they figure out how to use the book. The book can take you anywhere you think about. Unbeknown to them, the book is so powerful that it is coveted by many evil individuals. The story takes your imagination through numerous doors, and you will meet many undesirables.
I really enjoyed this book and all the magic and intrigue that goes along with a book that opens doors that you would not expect. Thank you to Netgalley and Garett Brown for this ARC.

I love books about time travel even if I don’t always understand the physics behind it because it’s just the vehicle to tell a story. The Book of Doors it is a story about the life we live, those we chose to live it with and choosing good over evil.

Fans of The Starless Sea should run and grab this one. I will be waiting for Mr. Browns’s next adventure.

I enjoyed this book so much! It felt like a cross between “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” and “The Midnight Library”, both of which I really liked. The story moved quickly, which I appreciated. It could’ve been easy for the author to draw things out, but this really kept a pace that was engaging. Definitely recommend if you like twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6193048770

If you've read The Magicians, The Night Circus, or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue this book is for you. The Book of Doors follows Cassie and her friends as Cassie transports through time, doors, and places to fight bad and to save her friends and some incredibly special books.

I enjoyed this book, but it was a slow start and there are a LOT of different timelines and characters to keep track of. The ending was fantastic and once I was able to start putting the pieces together and understanding how everything fit I finished this book in no time. There was definitely some muddling about in the middle and I think a character list at the beginning may have helped as there were at least 12 different characters you needed to keep track of.

This was a fun magical, fantasy read! Thank you for NetGalley and William Morrow for this ACR in exchange for an honest review.

I was just incredibly meh about this book. I liked the concept and the execution - magic books? Woohoo! The plot was intricately crafted, not a single bit felt out of place or unplanned. Any discrepancy you think you see gets resolved. I enjoyed the idea of books that can take you places, cause you pain, or bring you safety. Books already metaphorically do all of these things, so what if they actually did?

My problem was that it was just too long and drawn out. Things tended to drag, which really detracted from all of the action. And the action was great!! I didn't DNF because I truly *needed* to know how it ended which is a credit to the writing of Gareth Brown.

*Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was so delightful. The perfect winter read. Somehow THE BOOK OF DOORS it’s the perfect overlap of cozy AND thrilling. A combination I did not know I needed. I loved the characters, the journey, the twists, the revelations. Such an original take. I almost, almost wish this had been a series, there were parts I wanted more time with! But it was also wonderful to have a fully contained story.

This book will be extra fun for anyone who loves in NYC or has visited.

I also think this story would translate extremely well to the small screen as a limited series…which is not something I say lightly!

Can’t wait to bring this in to our store, as a NYC bookstore we think this will do quite well!

Thank you Netgally and Garett brown for the advanced readers copy and the phenomenal experience of reading this book!

Oh my what to say… this was magical and kept me picking it up to see where this journey was going. The way everything came full circle was excellent. There were some violent interactions but for me it was not to bad (I do read horror books so) I do believe so far this is the best book of 2024 for me. I will be recommending this to everyone I know who reads and maybe even those who don’t! Do not hesitate pick up this book.

What a world this book creates! I don't want to include spoilers, but I really enjoyed the premise of this book. There are a lot of character stories that intertwine and I was pleased with how they all resolved. There is a fair amount of violence, so be aware if that's not your thing. This a world of fantasy built upon the "real" world. Magic happens with explanation but not too much exposition about the magic itself. There is no real romance, but there is love and themes of family (biological and chosen).

This book was phenomenal from start to finish; I had a really hard time putting it down. The whole complex multiple timelines world building and character work was fantastic and there were so many moments where I was so wrapped up in the story that it was like I was watching it instead of reading it. It was gripping and enchanting - all unfolding so incredibly - with so many layers to unpack .. I was sad to finish it but SO happy to have picked it up. This book is a new addition to my list of all time favourite reads and I can’t wait to read it again!! I’m also looking forward to seeing what Gareth Brown writes next (because I’ll definitely be reading that too)!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.