It's been years since I've read in this genre and gosh did this book make it feel like coming home. The characters were phenomenal. I felt like I was watching it all unfold right in front of me

3.75 out of 5. I really wanted to love this book. Calling it Midnight Library like raised my expectations really high and the problem was that they were not fully met. It is a good book, just not to the expectations and it was all a bit confusing. It also took me way longer to read than i was expecting. I kept putting it down.  I really liked how some things wrapped together in the end but the middle was a tad convoluted. Also the tension between Cassie and Drummond never got fully realized SPOILER ALERT- like are they now living together but are they together? and since we are in spoiler alert mode, I have many questions, like: how did they appear/where did the books come from? what about Hugo I get he made the woman but does he not come back in 2023? what is the magic?

This is the only book I have ever read about time travel that ACTUALLY takes the mechanics of it into consideration - Thank you so much! I could not put it down wanting to know how it all came together in the end. This is a movie in a book as I found myself picturing everything as they went from location to location and the characters changed. Suspense & Fantasy in a great read.

I know a book is good when I can’t stop thinking about how to find time to sit down and read. I plowed through this in 2 days but could have happily made an entire day of just reading. It is a true page turner continually making you wonder what in the world will happen next. It is creative and confusing and a little terrifying in places with characters that you either love or hate. The chapter Nothing and Nowhere seemed like filler while reading it but does eventually make sense in the overall story. The ending felt like there might be another volume in the works so we can follow Cassie and her friends on new adventures. I would definitely be on board for that. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley, but this did not impact my opinion.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a page-turner. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways. Cassie is a clerk in a bookshop who receives an old book from a customer right before he died. Her roommate, Izzy, her best friend, accompanies her as the book leads them into unexpected places. They are met by Drummond Fox who knows how much danger they are in. He used to be the librarian for the secret magic books that are held by various people. They encounter many people both good and evil. The most terrifying is a beautiful woman who wants all the books for herself. The book crosses into horror as her deeds are described.
There were times that I almost quit reading. I did have to take breaks, but persisted in hopes of a positive outcome. The book resolved all the various plot threads in a very satisfying manner.
I expected a light interesting story, but what I got was much more. I wish there was a trigger warning at the start, but the description of the woman as sadistic was present.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book gave similar vibes to the Gold Finch. Especially with a specific artifact that is highly sought after in the hands of someone who is not aware of the danger they are in. There were a lot of side characters, which I loved! My favorite was Lund. Also, lots of action and intrigue. I loved the ways the books are all used and described. I also enjoyed the little history lesson showing the way books were discovered overtime. The convergence of time was really cool and interesting. Especially the way the plot was circular. It was very thought provoking.
Now for the not so great parts: I felt like too much happened in the ballroom scene BOTH times. It just felt like one big reveal after another and didn’t seem very cohesive. Like I feel like the auction shouldn’t have resumed or one character shouldn’t have appeared. It felt too busy. As a main character, Drummond and Cassie were kind of annoying. They felt like side characters for most of the book with actions just happening around them or to them. The middle seemed to drag on for me. I know that the scene in the nothingness needs to happen to explain the book creation but it just felt so different than the rest of the book’s tone.

A Book of Doors is a completely original take on the story of an ordinary person introduced to the world of magic and its powers. Cassie Andrews works in a bookstore. A favorite customer dies while she's there, leaving behind a nondescript book and a note that any door is every door, you just need to know how to open them. As Cassie tries to understand that message and the images in the book, she and her best friend realize that magic is real and that the book is both powerful and dangerous. They discover there are other books with other powers and world full of people who want these books, both for good and for bad.

Gareth Brown takes Cassie on an adventure of clever twists and turns leading her through sorrow and happiness as she tries to escape the book hunters who want to use her book to do great harm. With skill Brown introduces characters, each with a slate of private agendas and neither the reader nor Cassie are sure who can be trusted.

The Book of Doors is an engaging read with much more to it than just a fantasy book about magic. I enjoyed reading it and hope this will turn into a series.

I was completely captivated by the story and characters. The book follows the life of Cassie Andrews, a young woman working in a New York City bookshop, who is thrown into a world of mystery and danger when she inherits a unique and powerful book.

The story starts off with a shocking and heartbreaking event, the death of one of Cassie's favorite customers. Cassie is devastated by the loss of this charming old man, who always had interesting stories to tell. But she soon discovers that he has left her with something more than just memories. He has left her with the Book of Doors.

This book is no ordinary book, it is inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, and it promises Cassie that any door is every door. With the help of a mysterious and intriguing librarian named Drummond Fox, Cassie learns that the book is one of many in a secret and coveted collection known as the Special Books.

As Cassie delves deeper into this world of secret books and powerful forces, she is hunted by those who want to obtain the books for their own selfish purposes. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, Cassie must decide if she will help Drummond protect the Book of Doors and the other books in his care.

I was drawn in by the unique concept of the Special Books and the idea that any door could lead to anywhere. The author does a fantastic job of creating a sense of mystery and intrigue throughout the story. The characters are well-developed and I found myself rooting for Cassie and Drummond as they faced numerous challenges and dangers.

The book is also filled with action, suspense, and even a touch of romance. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The plot twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the beautiful writing. The descriptions of the secret library and the different worlds that Cassie and Drummond visit were so vivid and imaginative. I felt like I was right there with them, experiencing everything they did.

This book was just ok for me . I’m not a fan of magical realism and this was a lot of what book was about . If you like that genre you will love it

I received and ARC copy of the Book of Doors....thank you to Gareth Brown, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. I leave this review of my own free will!

The Book of Doors is a fantastic trip through a unique world of magic! The magic system, using books and ultimately doors, takes the main character, Cassie, on a journey to her past, present, and future. The emotional journey she takes with her gramps, her best friend, and her found family will tug your heart strings and you will root for her to solve the problems brought to her through the Book of Doors.

I really felt, to my core, the emotional journey Cassie took through the doors. Grief. Loyalty. Love. All these emotions are explored as the story progresses though the world. The people Cassie befriends along the way become her found family in a way that help heal her from the lost of so many people who are important to her. People that save her.

I can't recommend this read enough. Mr. Brown does such an excellent job describing a unique magic system and makes the emotions just jump off the page at you. A Five Star Read from a wonderful debut author!

A wild ride! This book was not at all on my radar, but once I was granted an ARC I decided to dive in and didn't look back! Fantasy, suspense, murder- this book has a little of everything! I thought the premise was so intriguing and like nothing else I've ever read. Twisty and addicting- don't miss this one!

I would give this book more than five stars if I could. The plot, the characters; the pacing, the storytelling - absolute perfection. I loved that this was a unique story and drew me in immediately. It read like a classic fantasy and I’m so excited to recommend it on publication day. This is going to be one of the big books of the year. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

What an incredible adventure, and such a unique concept! This is so well written - it is so much more than an entertaining tale! It is a discussion of power, the merits of time travel, and an introspective look into oneself. This world is one in which you can separate all your individual characteristics - your strengths and your weaknesses - and gift them to another. The magic within these pages is beautiful, amazing and scary! The detail of the timelines was very intricate, and I found no missteps (incredible considering the twisting of the tale). The Fox library was a place that felt so real to me! I enjoyed the characters and wonder if there is more in store for them. This book captured by attention from the start, and I only wish that I read slower so that I could savor it more.

𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 2/13/2024

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Cassie, a woman who works at a bookstore, is gifted a magical book that can take her anywhere. This book ends up turning her life upside down. She is brought into a world of high-stakes special book collecting with life or death consequences. She meets others who control books, and she meets people who not only possess books, but are willing to do anything to gain control over more books. Not only is she introduced to magic and a sub-world that she has never known, but she is faced with; adversity, misery, loneliness, joy, and utter despair along the way.

𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: I have decided that this book just is not for me, but that doesn’t mean that this book won’t be for you.

I had a very difficult time getting into this book. I think the first 50% of the book took me over a week to read. That’s incredibly slow for me, and I think it was because I just couldn’t connect to any of the characters, or the story itself.

The story seems like a combination of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern meets Interstellar the movie. Well, I did enjoy the overall story and cleverness of the book, I just didn’t love it. The time travel aspect gives a very convenient way of tying the entire plot together in my opinion.

To be honest, I didn’t really enjoy how women were portrayed in this book. From quotes to actions, I wasn’t enthused. Even the main female characters seem to be lacking something fundamental in their character development. The only woman that got it in-depth dive into her character was the villain. I would’ve even liked a little more background on the main male characters of the book; Drummond, Lund, and Mr. Webber.

However, you get a very interesting villain and a few minor villains. You get a wonderful found family, you get some mind-bending, physics-defying time travel, and magic. You also get a small taste of romance, and a fun aspect of smut-free fantasy that not many books do anymore.

First off thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me a digital copy of this book to read and review. This story follows main character, Cassie, who is gifted a book by a patron of her work, Mr. Webber. Cassie and her friend Izzy quickly discover that this book isn't just any book, but it is a magical book that makes any door every door. Cassie can open a door in her apartment and step right into Venice. The possibilities of where this book can take her are seemingly endless and full of fun. But as with most things, the joy of it is too good to be true. There are sinister forces at work trying to take her book and collect it with a world of books similar. There is an element of terror in this book that reminds me of The Magicians. That first season with the villian and you are kind of learning all of the things and don't know what to expect. The Woman feels very similar to that. I loved the touching moments added to this story. Cassie's friendship with Mr. Webber and her relationship with her grandfather were so heartwarming and such nice additions. I loved what those aspects of the story did for Cassie and the development of her character. It kind of solved the problematic main female character trope of the quiet introverted female suddenly becomes a bad ass who isn't scared of anything. Good job figuring that out for me Mr. Brown. I really loved the way the story tied all ofthe characters together and the way time was used to build out the story and connect everything and everyone. There were some places that didn't flow quite as smoothly as maybe they could have. And the romantic in me would have like to have seen some of the relationships grow. Maybe space for a book two?? Thank you Gareth Brown for writing a great book. I definitely recommend grabbing it once it is released.

Review also found on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6050827272

At its core, this book is an imaginative story about the love of books, their cost, and the importance of relationships. The fantasy elements and thriller elements were done with attention to character development — especially Cassie’s development. The author did a great job of weaving all of the moving parts and elements of the story.

Interesting

This was a little uneven, but all in all a good read. The initial scenes where Cassie uses the magical Book of Doors to open one door and come out the other side through a totally different door made me a little concerned about my choice of reading this. She uses the power to re-visit a trip through Europe. The writing was a little weak and seemed like an American college student who may have spent a few weeks on such a trip, or just wish they had, would have written. I was surprised to find out the author lives in Scotland and is not college-aged. But, future adventures were better, There was a lot of conflict resolved by using time travel to go back and have safety measures for the times of crisis. But I still really enjoyed this and will look to see if there are any sequels.

A dazzling ya story! I really loved this one! The magic was perfect and the story kept me hooked. This will likely be a very successful book in 2024! So grateful I got to read this on a cozy weekend.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a unique and fantastic read! This book thrusts you into a world in which rare books hold magic- the rarest of them allowing you to transport yourself anywhere, through any door.

I liked this book a lot. The magic system is unique and well thought out, the main characters are interesting, and the plot is compelling, fast paced and fun. Seemingly unimportant details are woven throughout the story, and come back around to draw the events together and create that “aha” feeling when things click. Several times I found myself grinning when I picked back up on an earlier hint.

I do think that the ending felt a little abrupt in comparison to the expansive world building. Everything came together well, I just wish that the villains had a little more time to develop. Feels like there was more story here to be told.

Overall: highly recommend

I dont think I had very high hopes for this one, the reason being I recently picked up a book called The Midnight Library with felt like it would be a lot like this one from the blurb but thank goodness I was wrong. This was incredible. The story was given in a beautiful way, it completely covers you in that amazing fantasy feel, and the plot was incredible. I was hooked the second the first door was opened. I definitely recommend reading this one!