Josephine Reynolds is grief-stricken and lost months after losing her husband of 15 years. She feels so low that she wishes she could just disappear. But when she buys her ancestral home and steps through its original door, she’s transported to 1927 and meets her great-grandmother Alma. All her wishing and time traveling set off an alternate timeline in which she really does begin to disappear, and she has to figure out how to stop it.

Josephine’s time is the Jazz Age is the most enjoyable historical fiction I’ve ever read! The characters are so sweet and the bonds are so rich. I wanted to find a flapper dress and a speakeasy! Jennifer Moorman’s magical realism is easy to believe. Her characters and story are like a warm cup of tea. She does a great job of processing real issues like grief and codependency through escapist settings and relatable characters. This was a unique time traveling story with a little fantasy and lot of love, and I highly recommend it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Writing style
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Characters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Premise
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pacing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Impact

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I quickly found that this wasn't for me because it wasn't what I expected. I expected a time-traveling story with suspense and hard-hitting character introspection around grief and finding yourself once you realize you've been molding yourself to whatever partner you're with.

While the character does find herself even though it took her husband dying, her sister telling her that she changes depending on the man she's with, and accidental time travel to realize and actually do something about her lack of authenticity, it bothered me that her journey involved another romantic relationship.

Overall, this lacked depth and interest to me. A lot of that is a me problem, though. I think a lot of people will love this book if they go into it wanting and expecting a feel-good historical romance with a happy ever after, and I definitely recommend it if you're looking for something like that.

"Can one thoughtless wish erase a life?

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. Immersed in the vibrant Jazz Age, Josephine forms a profound bond with Alma, only to discover upon her return to the present that history has been altered. Alma's life was tragically cut short in a speakeasy raid just a week after their fateful meeting.

Josephine has a chilling revelation - her own existence is unraveling/vanishing - and she must race against time to rewrite history. Josephine is desperate to not only save Alma but save her own future in a time-bending journey where past and present intertwine in a desperate battle for survival."

Always be careful to not Marty McFly yourself!

Jennifer Moorman has done it again with THE VANISHING OF JOSEPHINE REYNOLDS centered around a home full of magic, love, second chances and an ensemble of endearing people. We travel between present day to 1927 when Josephine discovers a passage in her home teleporting her to the days of her great grandma’s amazing life. Josephine is determined to fix a wrong while finding herself, forgiveness, community and of course - love!

Jennifer Moorman’s words transported me back to exactly what I pictured during the Roaring 20s - a time filled with incredible fashion, dance and fun! Makes me want to drive to the closest speakeasy and order a Mary Pickford and take in all the jazz music. This book gave me all the feels!

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is out January 14! Pre-order your copy today, clear your schedule when it arrives. You will thank me later when you get to the last words - it’s perfect!

Oh and while you wait for it, pick up The Magic All Around - another house you can’t wait to step into 💚🧡

Thank you to Net Galley for this early copy!

This was slightly different from the usual quite light magical realism books Jennifer Moorman writes, it felt a little 'heavier' to me, just as enjoyable but in a different way.

Josephine has recently lost her husband and is finding life very difficult, so decides (with the help of her sister) to make a new start, sell their old house and move to a new house, which is actually an old family house that her great grandmother first owned. Once there she sets about restoring it to fit in with the neighbourhood, and replaces the current modern front door with the original front door. But there were very small words on the frame of the door and when Josephine speaks them and goes through the door she finds herself back in the 1920s when her great grandmother, Alma, owned the house.

Alma was a wonderful character who ran an illegal speakeasy in the basement of her house. In the present day one report said she died on a certain day during a raid on the speakeasy, and one said she lived. Can Josephine make sure events happen so her great grandmother lives, and in turn Josephine is born... or will she disappear forever.

It was very enjoyable hearing about the speakeasy and the 1920s, but quite sad in parts too as Josephine needed to make sure events ran correctly and had to leave behind people she loved. But I really loved the ending in the present day which kind of made up for it!

4.5 stars!

but oh what to say— i've always found it so much harder to write about the things i've loved. and i definitely loved this. i loved the themes covered in the book and how there were discussions of grief, of family, of love. i loved how finding yourself after loss was a central theme, and how this wasn't glossed over and dealt with really well.

the character's in this were also easy to love, and i really enjoyed seeing josephine find herself and pick herself back up again after her grief. there were just so many strong female characters in this, and i loved the relationships formed between all of them. alma and katherine were particularly loveable. i will say the romance in this was fast, but i did enjoy it surprisingly enough. though that might just be because i liked danny and he had a couple of really good flirtatious lines in him that had me kicking my feet a little lol.

i loved the time travel aspect of this as well, and really enjoyed the 1920s setting. and oh, the ending! the ending was perfect and had me getting a little misty-eyed. the half star docked is just for some little issues i had with pacing (at times too slow, at times too fast).

all in all, this book is one about healing. of the importance of finding your people and not letting yourself drown alone in your grief.

thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC! i received a complimentary copy of this book, and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A beautiful cover, time travel to the 1920's, and the discovery of a generation of women tied into modern day? I was DYING to read this book.

Unfortunately, it fell a little flat. The writing isn't up to par with what the story could have been, and the inconsistencies in the time travel prove very distracting. I have a list of questions that might be spoilers, but they stood out glaringly.

1. How did the book Josephine brought back just turn into ashes? When she came back to her regular time, the book had aged significantly. Okay, I get that. But then she goes to bed in her own timeline, wakes up the next morning, and it's a pile of ashes. Why? Wouldn't it have just been gone or ashes when she came back? Why did it take overnight?

2. When she wakes up, she says she took a shower and got ready. Then later on she notices items are missing - including her shampoo and conditioner. She didn't notice that when she took her shower?

3. Did Josephine have the key, or say the words, the first time she went back and didn't realize it? But then on future trips she makes sure she is holding the key and says the words out loud. Then Eleanor takes the key and she doesn't time jump?

4. The whole idea of the "wish" thing doesn't make sense. And neither does Leo saying he must also be living two timelines. Felt like a cop-out.

5. If Lita from the costume shop doesn't remember Josephine at the meet-up, then that means Josephine doesn't exist for her - so why does Josephine in later scenes still have all the clothes and accessories from the shop?

6. Josephine states the kitchen is a mess, all the work undone, no sink, pipes burst ... then comes inside and washes out her mug. Where?

Okay. So all of that being said ... I really love the heart of this book. I love the characters, and while the romance is a little thick, it's sweet. But is it a little odd Josephine is now going to fall for Danny's great grandson?

As I feel with most house-centric books ... I wish there was more of the finding of hidden things/rooms/clues in the current day timeline from the past. And definitely more letters from Alma to Josephine, especially since they got to meet when Josephine was 7. I wish there was also a letter from after that.

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

I loved everything about this book. I connected with both Josephine and Alma, and constantly thought about what it would be like to spend time with relatives the way Josephine was able to. Jennifer Moorman writes in a way that does not make me feel like I have to suspend belief, and even though a big factor of this story was time travel, it was easy to follow. I did not find myself getting confused or frustrated keeping up with the changes in time periods.

The Vanishing Of Josephine Reynolds
By: Jennifer Moorman

5 Stars

Josephine just lost her husband of 15 years. She finds a house that happens to be linked to her family and buys it to start anew. When she walks in the door, magic is happening. She steps into the past. Her life will never be the same as she goes on an adventure that defies logic and sets her on a path she never saw coming.

Wow. This was such an interesting and fun story to follow. The characters are well done and likable. The setting of an old house, with its secrets, was well described. To think, a simple wish could bring about such adventure and drama. I was mesmerized by the magic of this book. It presented a mix of mystery and fantasy that keeps you spellbound. It definitely had a pull on me. It was amazing and well written.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

I loved Josephine’s story so much. I wish I could read it again for the first time. The idea of traveling back in time and having a friendship with a relative is just so fascinating. I have so much to say but I don’t want to give anything away about this magical story. If you love the 1920s, if you love time travel and you’d love to meet a great grandparent when they were your age, definitely pick up this book.

Jennifer Moorman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors for cozy magical realism. The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is a time traveling story of love after loss. Josephine is a recently widowed, distraught 35 year old who makes an errant wish that she never existed. That wish had the unfortunate effect of splitting her timeline into two: one where she does exist and one where she never existed. The timelines duel back and forth for the upper hand and Josephine is the only one who can save herself and her family. As she fights to save her life (and the lives of her loved ones), Josephine discovers that life is worth fighting for.

With time travels back to the roaring 20s and a handsome love interest, this book is cozy and delightful and ties up exactly the way it should. Definitely one to read around a cozy fire in Nashville.

I would like to thank HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I went into this read blindly and it did not disappoint!

This was such a great read. The historical fiction in this book was right up my alley. I loved the characters and how they intertwined in the now and the past to give all of us hope. No matter the pain of losing ourselves, we can come back and grow from it. And, thrive! Loved this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review!

#TheVanishingOfJosephineReynolds #NetGalley #HarperCollins #JenniferMoorman

What an amazing story! When I first read the synopsis of this story, I immediately thought of "It’s a Wonderful Life", however, I was taken on an even more incredible journey than I expected! Imagine being in one of the lowest points in your life and making a wish that changes your entire life and the life of your loved ones? How far would you go to make amends?
Jennifer Moorman is one of my favorite authors of magical realism. Her seamless transitions from the present time to the past time are incredible, making the story smooth and taking the reader between timelines with no confusion. I truly fell in love with the characters, and the vividness of the scenes made me feel as though I was right there throughout the entire story.
A definite 5 star read for me and one that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of magic!

What a heart-tugging novel! When recently widowed Josephine Reynolds makes a desperate wish that she was never born, things are put in motion that will change her life - or get rid of it entirely. It's up to her newfound ability to travel back to 1927 to keep her entire family from being erased. Can she save her great-grandmother's life, ensuring her own continuation?
There is so much heart in this novel. I loved it. The support Josephine receives from her sister, the new romance she stumbles into, getting to know her grandmother as an adult... all of it hits the right feelings and I found myself on edge and turning pages to find out what would happen. I love magical realism and this novel definitely does not disappoint.

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds
by Jennifer Moorman
Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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. Immersed in the vibrant Jazz Age, Josephine forms a profound bond with Alma, only to discover upon her return to the present that history has been altered. Alma's life was tragically cut short in a speakeasy raid just a week after their fateful meeting.

Josephine has a chilling revelation--her own existence is unraveling/vanishing--and she must race against time to rewrite history. Josephine is desperate to not only save Alma but save her own future in a time-bending journey where past and present intertwine in a desperate battle for survival.

Infused with Jennifer Moorman's signature blend of magical detail and heartfelt storytelling, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is a tale of resilience in the face of loss and a testament to the timeless bond of family. Great book!

Josephine Reynolds is a young widow, at only 35. Somehow during her marriage, she had lost her sense of self, and molded herself to fit her successful husband’s needs. Even the house she lives in doesn’t reflect her style - if she even knows what that is anymore. Six months after his death, she’s still just going through the motions during the days, with no sense of purpose. That all changes when her great-grandmother’s mansion The Carter House comes up for sale. Her uncle had purchased it, but ran out of money and left it with much still to do. Encouraging Josephine in this adventure is her realtor sister Katherine. When Josephine enters the house, she truly feels she is home, but as she starts to explore, there’s a whole other world literally beneath her feet. She finds out that her great-grandmother ran a speakeasy in the basement of her house in the 1920’s.

As she begins to research her great-grandmother’s past, she discovers a newspaper article that could drastically alter her future. Josephine journeys back to 1927, to try and prevent a tragedy that could affect her and her family’s future, and in the process learns that she is stronger than she knows. But how much of changing events in 1927 will affect events in her current day? Lots of jazz age music and fashion details blended with the magical aspect of time-traveling makes this an enjoyable read - I couldn’t wait to see what happens next! Thanks to the author for sharing an ARC with my book club. Pub date is 1/14/25, but available for preorder now!

While I enjoyed this, it was perhaps marketed slightly incorrectly. I thought this was a light fantasy book, but it was more so a contemporary story with magical realism. Since I primarily read fantasy and science fiction, I had questions on how the door actually worked that were never answered. This probably wouldn’t bother most readers, but I had to suspend my disbelief in order to enjoy the story. Overall, a solid read that most likely more contemporary and literary fiction readers will enjoy!

I was in the mood for something with an element of magical realism, and I knew it had to be The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman. I read and loved her book The Magic All Around but I loved this one even more and it was such a delight to read. I love time travel and when you throw in parallel timelines where the characters have big decisions to make, it just creates an even more intense and interesting read. I loved the present timeline and Josephine’s relationship with her mom and sister, and the 1920s timeline was excellent with its Prohibition era speakeasy and dash of romance and drama.

I was so close to ugly crying at the end of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds, and I definitely found myself tearing up often. Despite the serious subject matters Moorman touches on, this book made me laugh as well and I can’t imagine a better way she could have wrapped the story up. There is a lot of tension throughout along with moments that will touch your heart in the best possible way. Read this if you enjoy time travel, family themes, romance, and hopeful endings!

I really enjoyed The Baker's Man and I was really excited to read this 1920s time travel story. The book is a lovely exploration of grief and family ties, and I liked the historical atmosphere.
A lot of the writing focused on telling instead of showing, which made the narration appear choppy at times. The characters also felt flat and I wish we had gotten some more development. I liked the way that Josephine did change throughout the book and learn to find happiness on her own.
I really liked the fall setting and the time travel - readers will love to get cozy with this book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the eARC!

The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is a heart-warmingand magical tale of accepting life's challenges and finding yourself.
Our protagonist is, Josephine Reynolds, a 35 year old woman, who is struggling to come to terms with being a widow and the need to rebuild her life. When Josephine's sister, tells her that their old family home is up for sale, Josephine makes the impulsive decision to buy the house, and slowly restore the damage, caused by the previous owner (her uncle).
It's not long before the house starts to reveal it's secrets to Josephine. And when she replaces the front door, with the original, Josephine is given a pathway into the past.
I loved the chapters set in the 1920s, the descriptions are so vivid, and just beautiful. The costumes (or rather outfits), and music, helped to build up the atmosphere and I was almost disappointed to return to the contemporary timeline. During her trips into the past, Josephine realises that her beloved great, great grandmother, Alma is due to die shortly and if she does, then Josephine and her sister would not exist. Josephine's race to save her grandmother acts an extra layer of drama and heightens the tension.
A wonderfully bittersweet ending, but one that gives the reader hope for the future.