The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman is the second book I’ve read by this author. I read The Baker’s Man by her that I totally enjoyed. This one had so many things that I enjoyed about it and for some reason it didn’t all come together for me. I can’t put my finger on it.

The main character is Josephine Reynolds who is a young widow. She doesn’t know how to pull herself out of the grief she is experiencing. Her sister talks her into buying their old ancestral home that belonged to her great-grandmother. I was drawn to the story of a young widow.

She lives in Nashville, Tennessee near my town. That was interesting because the house sits in a historical part of town. I enjoyed her run-ins with the neighborhood historical society president which led her to find the original door to the house and have it installed. This door becomes her entry into 1927 and meeting her great-grandmother Alma as a young widow herself. We soon learn that Alma runs a speakeasy in her basement! How fun would that be and imagine meeting your great-grandmother as a young woman?

Jennifer Moorman did a wonderful job building the suspense but, maybe she did too good of a job for me. I became attached to the characters and worried about their demise. I hated to keep reading. I was afraid of what I would learn. I will have to say that at the end I had warm feelings for the book. I was hoping for a sequel but I think that might be a little too weird. You’ll see what I mean.

I almost think someday I will go back and read this book again knowing how nicely everything works out. At least most of it does. If you like Magical Realism, you will likely love this book. I definitely think you should consider this one for your reading stack!
Until next time…Happy Reading!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Netgalley and Harper Collins. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Widowed at thirty-five, Josephine Reynolds wishes she could disappear, but her concerned sister convinces her to buy their ancestral home, a Craftsman bungalow in disrepair and foreclosure. It’s a welcome distraction, and Josephine can’t believe her luck when she finds the home’s original door in a salvage yard.

When she installs the door and steps through it, Josephine is transported into 1927, where she meets her great-grandmother Alma, a vivacious and daring woman running an illegal speakeasy in the bungalow’s basement.

I enjoyed so much about this tale! I loved the dual timelines, especially the speakeasy of 1927! I loved the old house with all the secrets! I loved the characters, especially Josephine, but, you can’t forget Alma!

The story magically transports the reader in more ways than one. Not only are you transported to 1927 and all that entails, the family secrets keep you coming back for more.

Need a magical tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I read The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman and here is what I think about that: this was a completely enjoyable read. There is time travel, romance, and a bit of mystery to solve. Josephine's husband has died. She is grieving. Wearing his old clothes, not showering, barely able to get out of bed. One day, her sister shows up bringing her food and telling her she has to get up and start living life again. She should sell her house and find something that is more her style. I should note that grief counselors tell you not to make any big decisions like selling your house for at least 12 months. But, then Kate, Josephine's sister, sends her an email about a house being foreclosed - it is their great grandmothers former house. Their uncle had owned it - he somehow conned their mom out of the house and then lost it to foreclosure but none of that is really explained in the book. Well, Josephine gets up and sells her house and buys her grandmother's former home and plans to restore it. One of the first thing she does is replace the front door - it isn't original, and she finds the original front door in a salvage yard. Next time she steps through the front door, she sees some words carved into the door, and she is transported back in time to 1927 - and walking in and meeting her great grandmother Alma. Alma is widowed and while she is seeing someone, she hasn't yet remarried and has yet to have kids. When Josephine steps out the front door, she is transported back to present day, but she begins to notice things missing. The timelines are altering. So, it is a bit like Back to the Future, where Marty McFly and his siblings begin to disappear. Josephine learns that the basement of the house is being used as a speakeasy and during a police raid, Alma is killed. If that happens, Josephine, her sister, her mother, her grandmother are all erased. So photographs are disappearing as are personal possessions. Josephine has to figure all of this out in the next couple of days to save all of them. In the meantime, in 1927, she is falling in love with Danny. This is a quick and enjoyable read with magical elements - like time travel. I enjoyed the story and the writing and I give this 3.75 stars.

I want to thank #netgalley and Harper Collins Focus for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book releases on January 14, 2025.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for an advanced copy of The Vanishing Of Josephine Reynolds.

Josephine is a young widow still reeling from the sudden passing of her husband. Her sister tells her that the home of their great grandmother Alma has been foreclosed on and Josephine decides to buy it and restore it to its glory. They find a speakeasy in the basement that their great grandmother ran. She replaces the front door with the original from the home and when she enters she walks into the 1920s. She realizes she needs to help Alma to save her future.

I really enjoyed the book. I liked the writing style and the characters. I also enjoyed the plot and how everything ended up tying together.

Fantastic story! This book was incredible—did not want to put it down. We have a dual timeline, along with great characters and storyline. This author was new to me and I will be looking for more from her. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I requested to read this book because I wanted to attend a pre-release event for it. It left me little time to get into it, which turn out to fine, because it's a compelling read.
The book begins with the grief of a widow who realizes she has ceased to be her own person. She lived in her husband’s shadow. But that’s not the “vanishing.” She makes a wish that she had never been born. I know what you're thinking. No—its not another “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Josephine, at the urging of her sister, sells her house and moves to a part of Nashville where she buys back her family home, the one her great-grandmother and grandmother lived and died in. That’s when things begin to happen. The house needs some renovation and Josephine buys back the home’s front door from a salvage dealer. When it is installed, she find an inscription beside a pane of window glass in the door.
Josephine, who at one point made a wish she had never been born, says the words out loud and finds herself in 1927. She meets her great-grandmother and discovers her ill formed wish has created an alternate timeline. The novel then becomes a race to save the original timeline (and her great-grandmother.)
You’ll learn about prohibition, and speakeasies, as Moorman crafts her characters to deal with a potentially fatal raid. That’s about as much as I can say without spoiling the read. Even if you not a big fan of time travel, I think you will enjoy The Vanishing of Jospehine Reynolds. I'm happy to recommend it to you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC and thanks to Libro FM and the publisher for the ALC.

I thought this was a mesmerizing novel. If you know me, I am a sucker for a good time travel story. And this book gave me all the feels. It had romance, it had drama, it had comedy. A little bit of something for everyone.

Kathleen Mcinerey did a great job with the narrating. This story was so beautiful and emotional. I really enjoyed it.

I love time travel books, the magical realism is written well, after finding her grandmothers hidden speakeasy we follow Josephine to the 1920s. A great story watching her start to live her life after becoming a widow.

Thank you #netgalley for an arc of #thevanishingofjosephinereynolds

I’ve been diving into a lot of historical fiction lately, and The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds immediately caught my eye with its intriguing premise. Time travel? The Jazz Age? A family mystery? Count me in.

The writing is beautiful, balancing vivid descriptions of the 1927 Jazz Age with the emotional depth of Josephine’s journey. From the glitz of the speakeasy to the quiet moments of reflection, Moorman’s prose brought every scene to life. The bond between Josephine and her great-grandmother Alma felt so genuine, making the stakes of Josephine’s journey even higher.

The blend of history, magic, and heart is seamless, and watching Josephine navigate both past and present was as moving as it was suspenseful. If you’re into richly detailed settings and stories where family ties transcend time, this one’s for you.

If you’re into richly detailed settings and stories where family ties transcend time, this one’s for you. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for the ARC!

An inherited house, a secret speakeasy in the basement and a magical door that takes Josephine back to the 1920s, where she comes face to face with her own great-grandmother…fabulous! One of my favorite reads of 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Jennifer Moorman for an ARC and including me in the IG book tour.

A thoroughly enjoyable story told with heart and warmth. Josephine is a recent widow, struggling with moving on after her husband dies. Her sister Katherine convinces Josephine to sell her house and purchase an old family home that was in foreclosure. When Josephine begins to restore some of the original house features, she replaces a door which starts her journey back and forth into 1927, the jazz age of speakeasies, where she will meet her great grandmother. Suspend your belief and you will love the characters, the time period, and the story line. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm in love with the writing style and the whole story of this book!!

Josephine is griefing when her husband unexpectedly dies, and it leaves her uncertain about how to proceed with her life. She wishes to disappear, unaware of the consequences of her wish. When she bought and moved to her late great-grandmother house to start her new life, she discover a door that can transported her back to 1920's, into her great grandmother, Alma.

The book is unexpectedly captivating and held my attention.

Time-travel story isn't something new for me, however, Moorman did an excellent job writing a beautiful story. The story explores friendship, family, romance, and hope, and dealing with grief. It's such heartwarming story. The execution of the story is satisfying! The character development is excellent, and I love how the story ends.

My only complaint is I'm not particularly fond of the way Josephine reveals herself to her great-grandmother, it appears chaotic.

Overall, it's an awesome and enjoyable read for me! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for allowing to read the eARC in return for my honest review!

This book was a joy. I've never read anything by this author before but I'm so glad I've come across her now.
It had everything. From historical fiction, romance, mystery. And it had just the right amount of all of them.
Josephine Reynolds is 35 and currently in deep with grief. She lost her husband 6 months previously and is struggling. And it doesn't seem to be getting easier. Her family are becoming increasingly worried. So when her sister sends her the listing for their great grandmother's home it seems like the perfect opportunity. Josephine sells her home and moves in with the hope of restoring it to its former sparkle.
As luck might have it she strikes a win when she comes across the original doorways in salvage yard. And when it's all installed she steps through.... and so starts her journey.
She's taken back in time to the younger days of her grandmother. With all that this entails! And let's just say her grandmother gets up to some adventures of her own. And not without risk.
When tragedy strikes Josephine must find it within to save more than her own future. And more than her own present.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

The story is a mix of fantasy and what could be unaccounted probability. Not disclaiming anything here but it does make one think that there is a lot we really do not know. Here is a story of a young woman, suddenly widowed, bereft of mental support and just trying to get through one day at a time. Whilst wondering how she going to just survive, her sister with the best of intentions sends her a listing of a house which was owned by their ancestors, and on a sudden whim Josephine buys the place.
It is from this point that the overlap between the present times and the 1920s take place. Her great grandmother Alma was a fun lady who in these days of prohibition ran a speakeasy. Glamorous and patronized by all the top people in town, they did not fear a raid, but going by records Josephine knew this was not accurate. Newspaper records show Alma being shot during a raid, but the fact this that Josephine is living proof that Alma did not die in the raid. So Josephine comes up with a plan to try to circumvent the raid and get Alma to safety.

The time travel back and forth adds more and more depth to the story because Josephine gets drawn into a relationship and is undecided whether to stay in the 1920s or move back to present times. The entire history of that man would change if that happened.

Altogether a very intriguing read which led to lots of questioning of what ifs and hows.

Josephine Reynolds is 35 and deep in the depths of grief after losing her husband. It has been six months since she became a widow, and is struggling as much as day one. Her family is trying to support her and help her heal but Josephine only wishes she could disappear. When her sister send her the listing of their great-grandmothers home being in foreclosure it presents the perfect way for her to focus her energy and get her life back. She sells the house she had with her husband and moves to her new home with the intention to restore it to its former glory.

First on her list is replacing the front door, and she is lucky and finds the original door at a salvage yard. When she first steps through it she finds herself transported to 1927, where her great-grandmother Alma runs a speakeasy out of her basement. When she returns back to her time she realizes the timeline has been changed and it turns out Alma now dies in a raid only days after Josephine visited. Now Josephine must go back and find a way to save Alma and set things back on their rightful path.

I love a magical realism, magical object, time travel book. The fact that the other timeline is prohibition era 1920's was everything I could want. The author delivered on so many aspects, the jazzy atmosphere, dynamic characters, a well paced plot, and an intriguing premise. Where this book did not deliver for me was the unnecessary romantic side plot, and how much of a part in plays. The author did not flash it out enough for it to really fit and not feel like an afterthought.

Eight months after the unexpected death of her husband, Josephine Reynolds moves into her great-grandmother’s mansion. She uncovers long forgotten family secrets, and soon finds herself transported through time to 1927. With her great-grandmother’s life in danger, as well as Josephine’s future existence, Josephine must do all ahead can to ensure her great-grandmother’s survival and her family’s future.

Let me start off by saying, I am a HUGE fan of magical realism. It’s not quite as intense as a full-fledged fantasy novel, but you still get that almost kind of sparkle that some fantasy books give off. With a magic door and timelines that need repair, this book certainly delivered on those elements. I also loved the setting of this book. I haven’t read very many books that take place during Prohibition, so getting to read a book that revolved so heavily around a speakeasy was really fun.

What I didn’t love about this book was the romance in it. Don’t get me wrong, y’all know I love a good romance, but I wasn’t crazy about this one. It felt really insta-lovey, and we really don’t get to know much about the love interest other than, like the main character, he also lost a spouse and works at a bank. That’s pretty much where his characterization ends.

All in all, if you’re looking for a cozy book with a hint of magic and historical fiction, this book will be your cup of tea.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Josephine Reynolds is widowed at thirty-five and feels like her life is over as well. She lost herself in her marriage and now that her husband is gone, she feels like she has nothing left. She makes a wish that changes everything. Convinced that she needs a new start, Josephine's sister sends her a link to their family home that has fallen into some disrepair and is for sale.

When Josephine finds the home's original door, she installs it only to discover that she is transported back to 1927. There, she meets her great-grandmother, Alma, who runs a speakeasy out of the house's basement. Soon Josephine discovers that by stepping into the past, she may have put her own future in jeopardy. Suddenly, things in the present begin disappearing like pieces of furniture and photos. She realizes that if she wants to save herself, she will need to save Alma as well.

Trigger Warnings:
Death of a Husband (off the page)

Why Jackie loves it"
Josephine's grief at the beginning of the book is palpable and yet, it does not weigh the story down. As Josephine fights to save Alma, she also learns to fight for herself as well. I love the way the story developed and the touch of magic makes to story feel hopeful. This is perfect for historical fiction fans as well.

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.


Time travel/dual timelines done differently and it’s so much fun!

THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS is the first book I’ve read by author Jennifer Moorman and it was a pleasure.
Historical Fiction is a favorite genre of mine. This story explores Prohibition era issues, women.’s issues and racial from the same time as well as providing a good amount of detail about food, clothing, art, architecture and a bit about cars.

To further enhance the story for me, the primary character goes through her journey and is able to identify her challenges, learn from others, grow, change and arrive at the end in a better place. I like that; tremendously.

Josephine is recently widowed and has withdrawn from life. She’s financially secure, doesn’t need to work so can avoid people. Her sister won’t be ignored and gets Josephine to purchase their great grandmother’s house. Without regurgitating the entire story, the front door is enchanted and Josephine learns to travel back 100 years to meet her remarkable great grandmother, affect history and reclaim her life.

Thankfully, the magical realism part of this book is minimal and the historical and fictional is stronger. Others might feel differently depending on why they chose to read the book. Under any circumstance, the writing is clean from descriptive sexual content, foul language and graphic violence. Were this a movie, it would be rated PG or PG-13

If you enjoy historical fiction, a touch of magic and time travel, rich family connections, well crafted period details with some romance and mystery on the side, knock on Josephine’s door📚

Read and Reviewed from a FirstEditions eARC thru NetGalley, with thanks

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the advanced readers copy of this novel.

This was the first time I have read anything by Jennifer Moorman. I was intrigued by the combination of historical fiction and magical realism along with the element of time travel. This novel felt a bit like a cozy mystery too. A quick read about love, loss, families, and finding one's self. The story of Josephine who bought her great grandmother's home and was able to time travel back to the days of prohibition and a speakeasy in the house, was a captivating one.

Though this story deals with the loss of a spouse, I think many readers will be able to relate to our main character, Josephine and her experience with grief.