This is a book that I would really recommend you go into blind. I honestly can’t believe that it is a debut as the author's writing was well developed. I felt immediately transported to the places the author described. There is also amazing character development and so many twists and turns that had me invested until the very end. I also really hope there is a sequel!

If you are a fan of time travel, great adventures, and magic, definitely grab this one out February 13th!

4 ⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @williammarrowbooks for the early copy

“Life is full of hard and scary things. . . but you have to get on with it.”

The Book of Doors is a beautiful magical fantasy novel. What would you do if you found a magical book that turned every door into any door? You could travel the world, or even back into the past. Cassie finds herself in this situation and our story unfolds!

I loved the magical elements of this story as well as the characters. In the beginning, I did get a bit overwhelmed because there was so many people and elements being introduced. Once you you were given all of the necessary information, the story really took off.

I found myself smiling, crying, and anxiously awaiting what was next. I really enjoyed this story and am so excited for it to be released soon! Preorder today, as it is out February 13th!

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this Advanced Reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Book of Doors is a magical premise that is unfortunately poorly executed.

The premise: Cassie, a bookseller, is gifted a magical book that allows her to open any door, and travel through it to another door. What initially seems like an uncomplicatedly joyful present (she goes to a roof bar with her roommate! They travel through New York without having to use the subway!) turns out to be far more complicated than she thought. This book is just one of many that has powers, and many people will stop at nothing to own and wield these books, often for nefarious purposes (violence, power, money, etc).

I love this concept! What could be better than magical books? I unfortunately really struggled with the writing. Here are just two representative examples:

- "Oh, I'm not a real doctor. I mean, I did go to medical school. But it was so boring that I didn't finish. I just call myself 'doctor'." - a villain, in the midst of threatening one of our main character's lives.

- "She turned a man to liquid. I think...I think he was screaming as she did it. But it sounded like a gurgle because he was all liquid. Oh god..." - I don't know what context I could give that would make this quote better.

The pacing was often too slow and I struggled to get into the book. There were also relationships, both romantic and platonic, that did not make sense. I also felt that the book chose to overexplain things at times. For example, we get the origin story of the books but it doesn't really make sense and I didn't need them to be explained.

The last 20% had more of a buddy heist / Scooby gang saves the day vibe and I enjoyed that more. There were also a few bold choices I respected that I will not give away. Overall, the plot of this book is an ode to the magic of books but the writing is not strong enough to bring that magic off the page.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC.

I adored this book. From about 20% through, I knew it was going to get timey wimey, but I never quite knew how it was going to happen. While it took me a while to get through it, it never felt slow or boring.

I hate to do this so much, but this was a DNF for me. The writing/dialogue felt like it was written by a teenager, and I hated that one of the female characters berates herself for eating pancakes and bacon and calls it "gross," then talks about how her aunts are heavy and that it's "in her genes" to get fat. I started looking at other reviews at this point that talked about racist comments by characters later in the book and I just didn't think I could get through it without getting even more frustrated. I liked the initial concept of the story but the execution just felt so amateurish.

This was such an amazing concept! Magic books that each do something very different, torn between good and evil. Inspired! I loved the way each tiny detail was all wrapped together to explain everything happening. My one negative would be that I didn’t love the writing itself. It seemed disjointed somehow? I’m not entirely sure how to explain it other than to say the flow wasn’t what I had hoped. The first half of this book felt sooo slow, but really picked up towards the end making this a solid 4.5 star read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"Any door is every door." I loved the concept of this fantasy book so much. Magical books? Yes please! This book is said to be for readers of The Midnight Library and The Night Circus, both books I absolutely loved.

While this book did not quite hit the mark for me to LOVE IT, there were still a lot of promising components that kept me reading.
1. I was intrigued by the concept of magical books. It reminded me of my love for reading The Magical Treehouse books while growing up and again as a teacher. I started the book thinking it was only about the magical book called The Book of Doors and was pleasantly surprised that more books were included. HOW the many books were used went far beyond what I initially expected, which was exciting!
2. I enjoyed the many different characters in this story.
3. It was exciting to see how the author used time travel to fill in "holes" in the story. Sometimes I wouldn't even realize that something had happened as foreshadowing until it was revisited.

Then there were the aspects of the book that left me wishing for more...
1. There were many points throughout this book where I was confused. At the beginning of the book during the "world building" phase it was not immediately clear why I was reading about different characters in completely different times and places. Thankfully, it all came together and made sense.
2. I was hoping for more romance. The author wrote in moments periodically that let the reader know that some of the characters were interested in each other. I wished for more development of that plot.
3. While I love the concept of time travel with the book of doors, the time jumps were confusing at times.
4, SPOILER: I had to reread the chapter about Cassie making the books because that was confusing at first.

Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to read this book. Thank you William Morrow and Gareth Brown for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I almost never, ever DNF books. But I was struggling. I read four other books while trying again and again to pick this back up, but I just couldn’t get into it.

The premise sounds amazing and I’m sure it’s a great story, but the writing style didn’t allow me to get there. I felt like I was reading some sort of fanfiction or a school project - The writing seemed juvenile and clunky. I love long books but 400 pages of this I just couldn’t do. I made it a quarter of the way through before I had to give it up.

I’m glad to see others enjoy it, though!

The Book of Doors
by Gareth Brown
Pub Date: 13 Feb 2024
Mark your calendars! You are going to want to get this one. I used to be a huge fantasy/magic reader, but then, quite frankly, most fantsy books got pretty monotonous for me.
This one got me out of that slump. It's more of a mystical thriller.
Cassie works in a bookstore and when one of her favorite customers passes away, he leaves her a book. It's a special book called The Book of Doors, where any door is every door. Cassie and her roommate soon discover they can travel anywhere by using the book and any door. But a book like that? Just think of what could happen if it fell into the wrong hands...and there are many hands who will do anything to get a hold of it.
Cassie learns there are more books with other powers out there. Some of these books are being kept safe by The Fox Library; others have been bought or stolen by countries, cartels, world leaders, and pure power-hungry, evil human beings who will stop at nothing to collect them all.
This book does contain some gruesome scenes (The Book of Pain doesn't do pretty things); however, there's no sex and very few curse words. Some people have complained that the dialogue seems disingenuous, but I didn't feel that. I usually dislike time travel because it never makes sense and there are usually so many holes; however, this one wraps everything up nicely. That was a pleasant surprise!
Definitely a fun ride! My high school students will like this one.
#GarethBrown #TheBookofDoors #NetGalley

"The Book of Doors" is a captivating debut novel that seamlessly blends magic, adventure, and romance into a thrilling contemporary fantasy. Reminiscent of beloved works like "The Midnight Library," "The Invisible Life of Addie Larue," and "The Night Circus," this novel introduces readers to a world where the wonders of the unknown are intertwined with a touch of darkness.

The story follows Cassie Andrews, an ordinary New York City bookstore employee, whose life takes an extraordinary turn when a favorite customer passes away before her eyes. Left with the last book he was reading, Cassie discovers the extraordinary nature of the "Book of Doors." This enchanted tome, adorned with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, promises Cassie the keys to any door, if only she knows how to open them.

Enter Drummond Fox, a gaunt stranger in a rumpled black suit with a Scottish brogue, who reveals himself as a librarian guarding a unique set of rare volumes. Cassie's book is not the only one with great power, but it is the most coveted by those who collect them. As Cassie becomes hunted by those aware of the Special Books, she must decide whether to aid Drummond in protecting the Book of Doors and the other books in his secret library.

The novel excels in its prose and plot, delivering an engaging narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The author's writing style is both vivid and enchanting, creating a world where magic and reality seamlessly coexist. The characters are well-developed, and the dynamics between Cassie and Drummond add depth to the story.

The plot unfolds with a perfect balance of suspense, mystery, and a touch of romance. The concept of the Book of Doors is both imaginative and intriguing, setting the stage for a unique adventure that explores the boundaries between worlds. The inclusion of a shadowy, sadistic antagonist adds a layer of darkness that intensifies the stakes for our protagonists.

Overall, "The Book of Doors" is a spellbinding read that will appeal to fans of contemporary fantasy. With its interesting prose, well-crafted plot, and a cast of compelling characters, this debut novel is a must-read for those seeking a magical journey into the unknown.

"Any door is every door"

The Book of Doors was an exciting and enthralling fantasy about a series of magical books, and the lengths people will go to acquire them.

Cassie is a young woman living in New York City, working at a local bookstore. When one of the patrons passes away. he leaves a mysterious book to Cassie. She soon realizes that the book is magical and allows her to travel anywhere in the world just by opening a door. Unfortunately, she has gained the attention of magical book hunters, who have been searching for the elusive Book of Doors. Soon, Cassie and her companions are caught up in a terrible hunt, where they are fighting for their lives, and trying to keep the magical books away from those who would use them for their own evil ends.

The Book of Doors was a thrilling fantasy read. The first portion of the book moved a bit slowly, but as Cassie and her friend Izzy learn more about the books, and those searching for them, the story picked up and moved at as fast pace. I really enjoyed how the magical books are each tied to a specific use or purpose, and have certain limitations. I also enjoyed the idea that there are those people seeking the books to enhance their own power or for nefarious purposes, and those who seek them to keep them safe and out of the hands of those wishing to use them for their own gain. The story also took a slight turn I was not anticipating, which added a new dimension to the story. While it could have been confusing, the author did a good job keeping the timelines clear, and wrapping up the story by the end. This book is a great stand alone fantasy for anyone who is a fan of books, and adventure, and fighting against evil.

The only comments I have are to be sure to check the content warnings on this book. Some aspects of the book were a little more gory and explicitly violent than I was expecting, and some language used to characterize some characters could potentially be harmful. The lines in question were used in context to illustrate how horrible one specific character is, but still could be triggering. Additionally, there was one scene of a child being harmed (not physically, and not violent or explicitly written), However, as a mom, that scene was hard to read. These elements are contributing to my 4 star rating, while overall, the story was very good.

Thank you to NetGalley and to William Morrow publishers for the electronic advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When I first started this book, I thought it was really intriguing and the premise was fascinating. A book about books is always going to be something I gravitate towards and naturally enjoy. When it's a book about magic books, sign me up immediately. All that to say, this was...fine. There were parts I liked, there were moments I really disliked, the middle bit was really tough to get through, and I feel exhausted now that I've finished.

I loved the concept of the magic books. Every book was honestly so cool and most of the scenes where they were being used were really fun. I wished there had been a little more romance. When the book is billed as "...full of romance..." and then it's like the E plot, it's kinda annoying. I was shocked by how gory, brutal, and just plain awful some of the scenes were.

Overall, I wanted to like this book but it just wasn't for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC - all opinions are my own.

Until 70%, I had planned to give this book a lukewarm 3 stars, but the last 30% was so ridiculous, I had to knock off a star. The premise, that there are magical books out in the world, some in the hands of good people, some in the hands of evil people, is a unique one. But the story was not executed well. The tone constantly shifts from sentimental to action. Many of the chapter titles are spoilers for what's about to happen. After introducing us to several characters in the first 2/3 of the book, the last 1/3 gives us a host of new ones to keep track of. The writing itself is amateurish, there are offensive terms used towards women, and I found myself either bored, irritated, or repulsed for the majority of the book. This is a story is dire need of more developmental editing. It is not ready for public consumption yet.

I loved the premise of The Book of Doors. I mean, what reader hasn't hoped to be able to open magical doors like this?
It starts out really strong. I was invested from the first page. At around the 25% mark up until around the 50% mark or so the pacing slowed way down. It felt a bit repetitive in places and the dialogue didn't seem natural. I did take a few notes on who the different characters were and what books they (allegedly) had. Later on I perhaps should have tried to keep track of the different timelines instead. The pace of the story picked back up around the 50% mark and sped up until it exploded around the 75% mark. After this point everything just fell into mass chaos and confusion. I think maybe I might have received a copy with at least one chapter out of order which didn't help at all but I still felt like I should have had a massive cork board with index cards and red string to try to keep track of everything. I wish that some of the chapters at the end would have been drawn out more. Everything was so rushed! I did enjoy seeing a lot of the puzzle pieces fall into place and just how magical everything felt while reading.

Special thanks to William Morrow books and NetGalley for an e-arc of this new novel by Gareth Brown.

I wanted to love this book. It had so much - fantasy, a battle between good and evil, time travel, superpowers, books, and an introverted, quirky young woman as the main character. Who could ask for more?

My problem was there was really too much going on and I kept getting lost. I just couldn't keep up.

The Book of Doors was amazing! Magical, whimsical, fantastical in all the ways I crave during cold weather. It was cozy but high-stakes and quick paced but full of plot. My only criticism is that in the beginning, so many characters were introduced all at once and I had a hard time keeping track of who was who and why I cared about them. In the end, everything tied back together so brilliantly, and I felt like I was fully immersed in the story and understood how it all worked - even though it's such a wide, complicated web of plot points. I really loved how strongly the characters cared for each other and how every relationship and interaction was so clearly explained. I loved having the opportunity to read this and look forward to sharing it with my friends.

If you are a fan The Midnight Library or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, then you will love this magical realism debut novel, The Book of Doors. While I did enjoy the story line I found it confusing at times as the time travel in some chapters was 10 years and the others a few months. I thought the characters were well written and enjoyed the multiple POV. It highly enjoyed this book and will recommend to others!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. The Book of Doors is out on February 13th.

Cassie Andrews, who works in a bookshop in New York City, comes across The Book of Doors one day after one of her favorite customers dies in front of her. As fate would have it, this book not only has a note inside that says it belongs to her now but it is also one of a kind in that it allows her to open doors, taking her wherever and whenever she wants to go.

Naturally, because of the book's magical properties, it soon puts Cassie and her best friend, Izzy, in danger. Booksellers, collectors, librarians, and those who want to use to the book for more nefarious means, begin to pursue them in an effort to get their hands on this extraordinary book and others like it. To protect her life, and keep the book out of evil hands, Cassie embarks on a journey that involves new and old connections, multiple timelines, and the magic of imagination.

Like many readers, portal novels have always been a draw for me. There's something inherently enchanting about a book about books that is imbued with magic, that opens and takes characters to faraway places in space and time, showing them possibilities beyond their wildest imagination, and for that reason, I was so excited to get my hands on this. However, while the premise was phenomenal, the plot was rickety. Disjointed. And the characters fell flat. Cassie's relationships with Mr. Webber, Drummond, and Izzy, were sweet, and had touching moments, but I felt like they were lacking in the depth I had hoped to find. In addition to that, the woman's villainy was too one-note for my taste.

I'm sure others may find much to love and dazzle in this story, but it didn't quite work for me. Not my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book follows a bookseller after she gets a book from a customer. Only this isn't a normal book, it allows its owner to open doors, and where do the doors lead you ask?

Well anywhere and everywhere. This book is really fun following the adventures and journeys that our main character gets to go on. But all is not well in paradise, this book is a well sought after treasure and she could be in danger by possessing the book.

This one was fun, a 3.5/5 star for me.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the arc copy.

Thank you, Net Galley and William Morrow, for this ARC! This book is one of my favorites so far this year. I loved the fantasy aspect mixed with a tinge of darkness. I felt that this story was so eye opening and really made you think! It definitely gave me The Midnight Library vibes which also happens to be one of my favorites!